Noctilucent or night-shining clouds are rare, high-altitude clouds that glow with a blue silvery hue at dusk or dawn when the sun shines on them from below the horizon. These ice clouds typically occur near the north and south poles but are increasingly being reported at mid- and low latitudes. Observing them helps scientists better understand how human activities may affect our atmosphere. Now, the Space Cloud Watch project is asking you to report your own observations of noctilucent clouds and upload your own photographs. Combined with satellite data and model simulations, your data can help us figure out why these noctilucent clouds are suddenly appearing at mid-low latitudes, where temperatures are usually too warm for them to form. “I find these clouds fascinating and can’t wait to see the amazing pictures,” said project lead Dr. Chihoko Cullens from the University of Colorado, Boulder Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics. Did you see or photograph any night-shining clouds? Upload them here. Later, the science team will transfer them to a site on the Zooniverse platform where you or other volunteers can help examine them and identify wave structures in the cloud images. If you love clouds, NASA has more citizen science projects for you. Try Cloudspotting on Mars, Cloudspotting on Mars: Shapes, or GLOBE Observer Clouds!
Nineteen Senior Doctor Academy graduates in the Class of 2025 on May 14 received their honorary white coats and diplomas from the Health Career Opportunity Programs (HCOP) at UConn Health.
The event’s keynote speaker was City of Hartford’s Ebony Jackson-Shaheed, MPH, director of Health & Human Services (Photo by John Atashian).
At this year’s Academic Year Closing and Annual Recognition Ceremony the keynote speaker was City of Hartford’s Ebony Jackson-Shaheed, MPH, director of Health & Human Services.
Also, the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving generously presented a grant of $15,000 in support of the HCOP programs.
The Doctors Academy is part of the highly successful Health Career Opportunity Programs (HCOP) founded over two decades ago by physician-scientist Dr. Marja Hurley, where middle school and high school students of all backgrounds receive in-depth education in the health sciences and career path mentorship on Saturdays and in the summer. The Doctors Academy is one of 14 Health Career Opportunity Programs that are part of the Aetna Health Professions Partnership Initiative (HPPI).
Senior Doctors Academy graduates accepted their diplomas from keynote speaker the City of Hartford’s Ebony Jackson-Shaheed, MPH and Dr. Marja Hurley (Photo by John Atashian).
Meet the Doctors Academy Graduates
“I am looking forward to pursuing a career in genetics and surgery,” says Class of 2025 Doctors Academy graduate Javel Stewart, 18, of Hartford who has been part of HCOP since the 8th grade.
“The idea of being able to help people fight illness and disease inspired me to enter medicine. I became interested in HCOP’s great explorations program after a school guidance counselor recommended it to me as she knew I was interested in medicine,” recalls Stewart.
Javel Stewart is headed to UConn this fall. She graduated from the Senior Doctors Academy of HCOP on May 14.
“My favorite part of HCOP was being able to meet and connect with like-minded peers.”
After graduating from Classical Magnet School this spring, Stewart looks forward to attending UConn.
“I am very excited to go to UConn this fall, and I’m looking forward to all the new knowledge I will gain,” Stewart exclaims.
(Photo by John Atashian).
Stewart is the winner of a large Hartford Promise Scholarship, also the newly established UConn Freedman Award established by UConn Health Board of Director Joel Freedman, and the Friends of the Department of Health Career Opportunity Programs – Boake L. Plessy, Ph.D., Scholarship.
“I am very excited to have received scholarships to UConn in addition to the Hartford Promise Scholarship,” she happily shares.
(Photo by John Atashian).
And Stewart’s words of wisdom for other young people wishing to follow in her footsteps to also pursue future careers in medicine: “Some advice to the CT youth is to never give up. You might not see the results right away, but trust the process. Keep asking questions, keep showing up for yourself, and don’t be afraid to aim high.”
“One of the most meaningful communities I’m a part of is the Health Careers Opportunity Program (HCOP),” heartwarmingly shared Class of 2025 Doctors Academy graduate Jeneika Lugg, 18, of Hartford who is originally from Jamaica.
Jeneika Lugg is UConn Hartford bound. She graduated from HCOP’s Senior Doctors Academy on May 14, 2025.
Now a senior at Achievement First Hartford Academy, she joined the Doctors Academy back in the 9th grade. “This community is especially meaningful to me because it feels like a family. It is a welcoming environment where no one feels excluded, and everyone is respected for who they are.”
Lugg will be attending UConn Hartford in the fall. She is enrolled in the special Verto Huskies Pathway, a program that provides high achieving students the opportunity to study abroad with Verto Education, and then seamlessly transfer to UConn for the remainder of their college experience.
“This fall I’m very excited to go to UConn and I’m happy to be given the opportunity to go study abroad for my first semester in Spain through Verto Education. This is very exciting for me since I’m being introduced to a new culture, language, food, and people,” says Lugg.
HCOP program graduates of the Senior Doctors Academy (Photo by John Atashian).
At UConn, Lugg hopes to study biological sciences or areas of neuroscience, and also explore her longtime interest in art.
Lugg is also an excited recipient of the large Hartford Promise Scholarship, as well as a Jacob L. and Lewis Fox Scholarship.
“I was awarded the Hartford Promise Scholarship and Fox Scholarship. I was excited for this because it allowed a better affordability for school,” says very thankful Lugg.
Lugg also applauds the HCOP program for her great educational experience.
Senior Doctors Academy graduates (Photo by John Atashian).
“When I first heard about HCOP, I was eager to join, especially with my interest in the medical field. The program has not only expanded my academic knowledge but also provided a deeper understanding of medicine in the real world. It has equipped me with valuable skills in public speaking, research, and medical practices, while offering opportunities to learn from doctors and their personal journeys,” says Lugg.
She added, “What I love most about this program is how it consistently encourages us to pursue our dreams. The staff fosters an open-minded approach, urging us to reach for the stars and beyond. They are like a supportive family, cheering for our growth and success, always wanting the best for us. The students, too, contribute to this sense of community, as we all share similar goals and support one another, making it feel more like a team than a competition.”
Lugg’s advice to other Connecticut youth like her: “Keep striving, keep pushing and know that no dream is too big to not reach. It might seem a lot or impossible but in the end you will be amazed by the great results and accomplishments.”
Class of 2025 Graduates of the Senior Doctors Academy celebrating at HCOP’s annual Closing Ceremony (Photo by John Atashian).
Like Stewart and Lugg all the successful Senior Doctors Academy graduates in the Class of 2025 are following in the footsteps of hundreds and hundreds of successful HCOP graduates.
Dr. Marja Hurley and her very dedicated HCOP team are very proud of all the graduating students and share a special thank you to the parents who get the students up on Saturdays to get to the program.
“I am so proud of this year’s graduating class, and thankful for all the support of their parents. We also are especially grateful of the Hartford Foundation, the City of Hartford, and for all the generous scholarships bestowed on our amazing students this year,” says Hurley. “Congratulations to all our talented students.”
Dr. Marja Hurley sharing her congratulations with the students and parents attending HCOP’s annual Closing Ceremony on May 14, 2025 (Photo by John Atashian).
UConn School of Medicine Dean Dr. Bruce T. Liang shared during the event, “A special thanks to the amazing leadership of Dr. Marja Hurley, along with her talented HCOP team, for making the Doctors Academy and all the successful HCOP Programs of the Aetna Health Professions Partnership Initiative possible. Your hard work is keeping these programs thriving to new heights and always inspiring the next generation of youth and future doctors.”
(Photo by John Atashian).
Liang added, “I wanted to share a heartwarming congratulations with all our graduates, and with your supportive families. We are all so proud of your inspiring academic success, and tireless commitment and determination that you have demonstrated. Whether you are dreaming of becoming a future physician, dentist, or scientist — you are well on your way! And UConn is so grateful to be part of your journey! Make sure to come back and join our health care workforce.”
Congratulations to the Class of 2025 graduates of the Great Explorations, Jumpstart, and Junior and Senior Doctors Academy!
(Photo by John Atashian).
Other scholarship recipients this year of the John & Valerie Rowe Scholarship are Senior Doctors Academy graduates Valeria Buzzigoli and Anousha Hashim.
Also, Friends of the Department of Health Career Opportunity Programs – Boake L. Plessy, Ph.D., Scholarship recipients include Maham Chaudhary, Alec-Raive Gordon, and Javel Stewart.
The Class of 2025 Senior Doctors Academy graduated 19 Connecticut high school students at its Closing Ceremony on the evening of May 14, 2025. Graduates are pictured here with keynote speaker Ebony Jackson-Shaheed, MPH and Dr. Marja Hurley (Photo by John Atashian).
The Class of 2025 Senior Doctors Academy graduates include:
The Southwest Fire Science Consortium (SWFSC) gets emerging science on the ground by connecting scientists, land managers, and the public. By facilitating these connections, the SWFSC helps to assure that scientists are addressing the most pressing questions and managers are applying cutting-edge science and diverse knowledge in their efforts to protect communities and critical natural resources.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Alex Waterman, Lecturer in Peace Studies and International Development, University of Bradford
India and Pakistan stepped back from the brink of catastrophe on May 10 after a US-brokered ceasefire brought rapidly escalating hostilities between the two countries to an end. But tensions are still running high.
The Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, said on May 12 that India has only “paused” its military action against Pakistan and would “retaliate on its own terms” to any attacks.
The latest episode in the long-running conflict between these nuclear powers was triggered on April 22. Militants from a group known as the Resistance Front, which India says is a proxy for the Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist group, killed 26 tourists in the picturesque resort town of Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir. India alleges Pakistan’s involvement, which it denies.
The fact that India and Pakistan were able to agree to a ceasefire as escalations spiralled is reason for optimism. It shows that internal calculations and international pressure can pull the two parties back from the brink. However, the ceasefire represents an incredibly precarious peace. Can it be sustained?
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Recent experience shows that sustained ceasefires are possible between the two states. In February 2021, India and Pakistan’s militaries signed a ceasefire to end four months of cross-border skirmishes. The agreement was a reaffirmation of an original ceasefire understanding from 2003.
Only two violations were recorded across the line of control separating Indian- and Pakistani-administered Kashmir for the rest of the year, dropping to one in 2022. This compared to 4,645 such incidents in 2020.
The reduction led to optimism that armed rebellion in Kashmir, which both India and Pakistan claim in full, was in persistent decline. In March 2025, just one month before the deadly Pahalgam attack, security sources in India estimated that there were only 77 active militants operating on the Indian side of the border.
The drop in violence was a result of combined international and domestic pressure on Pakistan. The Financial Action Task Force, an organisation that monitors countries’ efforts to tackle terrorist financing and recommends financial sanctions against non-compliant states, added Pakistan to its “grey list” in 2018.
This listing forced Pakistan to introduce a string of policy measures to curb terrorism financing. Pakistan was removed from the list in 2022 due to significant improvements in its counter-terrorism framework.
But, as the Kashmir conundrum is at the heart of Pakistani national identity, it has often been employed as a political strategy to shore up domestic support. And in recent years, as Pakistan’s powerful army has grappled with overlapping economic and political crises, this strategy has been rolled out again.
The popularity of Pakistan’s army, for example, diminished significantly following the arrest of Pakistan’s leader, Imran Khan, in 2023. This has prompted army chief Asim Munir to use tensions with India to deflect attention.
Munir has called Kashmir “our jugular vein”, and has promised not to “leave our Kashmiri brothers in their historical struggle”. These comments followed an increase in the number and frequency of insurgent attempts to cross the border into India after India’s May 2024 general elections were held peacefully in Kashmir, a rare occurrence since the separatist insurgency began in 1987.
These cross-border operations are allegedly carried out by Pakistan’s so-called Border Action Teams, comprised of Pakistani special forces and militants from insurgent groups. Pakistan has never acknowledged the existence of such teams.
By April 1, tit-for-tat firing across the line of control had also already surpassed the total number of incidents in 2023 and 2024 combined.
Fragile peace
The latest ceasefire was agreed in the context of hostilities escalating beyond previous levels. Military strikes were launched outside Kashmir itself at military bases deep in Pakistani territory and in north-western India.
Certain actions by Islamabad were also widely interpreted as attempts to signal the country’s nuclear capabilities. These included the decision to convene the National Command Authority, the body responsible for control and use of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal.
The move may not have been a genuine alert. But the possible willingness to resort to nuclear threats is particularly concerning as, unlike India, Pakistan does not have a “no-first use” nuclear weapons policy.
India, as an aspiring political and economic power, has clear interests in preserving the ceasefire. New Delhi wants to project itself as rational and responsible, worthy of a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
At the same time, some of the decisions taken by India after the Pahalgam attack may compel further support for the insurgency in Kashmir. This brings with it the risk of further escalation between India and Pakistan in the future.
India has suspended the Indus Water Treaty, which governs the use of water from the Indus River. Pakistan lies downstream from India and is heavily dependent on the river for irrigation and public consumption.
Intervention from global powers such as the US may again be able to prevent future hostility from spiralling out of control. However, substantive talks are unlikely.
The US, which is in advanced negotiations with New Delhi over reducing tariffs on Indian imports, has offered to act as a mediator. This has been welcomed by Pakistan. But India maintains that, on the question of Kashmir, it would prefer bilateral talks rather than involving a third party.
While the Trump administration initially signalled a hands-off approach to relations between India and Pakistan, deeming it “none of our business”, it is now clear how rapidly matters can escalate between them.
The US and other interested parties like China will probably continue in their efforts to regulate and manage the conflict, openly or covertly, even if deeper resolution appears unlikely.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
The EU is a safe and attractive place for global researchers, and the Commission is working to further enhance the attractiveness of the EU as a place to conduct cutting-edge research. For example, by supporting the implementation of the new European framework for research careers[1], including the new European Charter for Researchers[2], with a view to retaining EU talents and attracting international ones, including from the US[3].
Several initiatives are in the pipeline to further attract international talents. This includes a new ‘Choose Europe for Science’ Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action (MSCA)[4] already in 2025 to provide excellent researchers coming to Europe with pathways to stable employment[5], increasing the funding for European Research Council (ERC)[6] grantees who move to Europe from abroad, as well as a visa strategy.
At the same time, EURAXESS[7] continues to provide personalised support to incoming researchers, covering topics such as visas, relocation, career development, pensions, and family integration.
Furthermore, the European Research Area (ERA) Talent Platform[8] as a one-stop-shop for researchers ensures the visibility of the attractive environment of European careers, and a Research and Innovation Careers Observatory (ReICO)[9] will provide as of mid-2025 data from EU Member States and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development ( OECD) countries on research careers to support additional evidence-based policies. Targeted communication activities are currently being assessed.
A proposal for a legislative ‘ERA Act’ is expected in the 3rd quarter of 2026, which will include measures to further strengthen researchers’ careers and mobility, including the freedom of scientific research, thereby enhancing Europe’s attractiveness for researchers.
The upcoming advanced digital skills academies under the Digital Europe Programme will include the possibility of establishing fellowship schemes, allowing PhD students and young professionals to work in EU-based companies.
[1] Council Recommendation of 18 December 2023 on a European framework to attract and retain research, innovation and entrepreneurial talents in Europe, OJ C C2023/1640, 29/12/2023.
[3] Measures include for example a Mutual Learning Exercise ( https://projects.research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/en/statistics/policy-support-facility/psf-challenge/mutual-learning-exercise-research-careers ) under the Horizon Europe Policy Support Facility supporting the exchange of good practices by Member States, a Horizon Europe Talent Ecosystems pilot call https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/HORIZON-WIDERA-2024-ERA-02-03?isExactMatch=true&status=31094501,31094503,31094502&frameworkProgramme=43108390&callIdentifier=HORIZON-WIDERA-2024-ERA-02&order=ASC&pageNumber=1&pageSize=50&sortBy=identifie supporting attractive careers for early-career researchers, the HR Excellence in Research award https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/hrexcellenceaward to improve working conditions in organisations employing researchers, based on the principles of the European Charter for Researchers, and the enhancement of the RESAVER https://www.resaver.eu/ complementary pension scheme for researchers.
[5] The MSCA also provide a wide range of training, mobility and career development opportunities that are already available and open to researchers of all nationalities, including US researchers. See https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/.
MENLO PARK, Calif., May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Joveo, the global leader in AI-led, high-performance recruitment marketing, announced today the launch of its AI maturity model for talent acquisition – a comprehensive framework designed to help talent acquisition leaders evaluate where they stand on the AI adoption curve, and identify the next steps toward AI recruiting transformation.
As AI adoption accelerates across the HR tech landscape, recruiting teams face increasing pressure to improve speed, efficiency, and personalization at scale. Joveo’s five-stage AI maturity model provides a clear path forward, enabling organizations to pinpoint gaps in their existing workflows, benchmark progress, and unlock sustainable hiring velocity through AI.
“AI is no longer a futuristic concept – it’s here and now, and poised to change recruiting the way we know it. But without a clear path forward, many talent acquisition teams are stuck in pilot mode,” said Prateek Mishra, Chief Technology Officer at Joveo. “Our AI Maturity Model gives talent leaders the strategic clarity they need to move from experimentation to execution – unlocking smarter workflows, faster hiring, and real impact at scale.”
“Joveo’s AI maturity model equips talent acquisition teams with the direction they need to keep pace,” said Ryan Stene, Vice President, Global Talent Attraction and Engagement, Wells Fargo. “By bridging AI strategy and execution, it helps leaders like us optimize workflows, enhance candidate experience, and drive better hiring outcomes – ensuring our teams remain competitive.”
What Joveo’s AI maturity model offers
Five-stage framework: Ranges from no AI adoption to AI-led talent acquisition, with indicators for each level of maturity.
Guided self-assessment: A short questionnaire covering job advertising, talent engagement, data integration, governance, and more.
Personalized score and report: Respondents receive an AI maturity score and a custom roadmap tailored to their current stage.
Insights and recommendations: Clear guidance on how to move to the next stage of their AI maturity journey.
Benchmarks: Respondents can find out where they stand versus their peers and competitors.
Why it matters
AI adoption in talent acquisition is accelerating, yet maturity remains low. Without a clear understanding of their current state, many organizations risk falling behind.
Joveo’s AI maturity model gives talent acquisition leaders the visibility they need to identify where their teams stand today, uncover inefficiencies, and prioritize areas for investment. By pinpointing gaps across job advertising, talent engagement, candidate experience, automation, data integration, and governance, the model empowers talent acquisition teams to take informed steps toward adopting AI to improve hiring outcomes, enhance recruiter efficiency, and accelerate speed-to-hire.
As the global leader in AI-powered, high-performance recruitment marketing, Joveo is transforming talent attraction and recruitment media buying for the world’s largest employers, staffing firms, RPOs, and media agencies. The Joveo platform enables businesses to attract, source, engage, and hire the best candidates on time and within budget.
Powering millions of jobs every day, Joveo’s AI-led recruitment marketing platform uses advanced data science and machine learning to dynamically manage and optimize talent sourcing and applications across all online channels, while providing real-time insights at every step of the job seeker journey, from click to hire.
For more information about Joveo’s award-winning platform, visit www.joveo.com.
Media Contact Heather van Werkhooven Sr. Director, Content and Thought Leadership, Joveo pr@joveo.com
Dating apps have transformed how people meet romantic partners. But they seem to be falling out of favour.
Data shows that last year, four of the biggest dating apps in the UK lost over a million users between them. And research my colleague and I worked on suggested that this is because people have become frustrated and bored with digital matchmaking.
The frustration is usually the result of inconsiderate behaviour from other app users. And the boredom appears to stem from a growing belief that the AI used by these apps seems to prioritise short-term engagement metrics over meaningful connections.
This marks a significant shift from earlier online dating websites, which were notably more transparent about how they tried to establish authentic connections. Often this was through detailed answers to compatibility quizzes or personality assessments.
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For example, OkCupid.com (founded 2004) asked users a wide range of multiple-choice questions. It then went further by also asking them to specify the responses to those same questions they wanted to see from prospective partners.
In contrast, today’s dating apps increasingly rely on less transparent AI which seems to be based on simplistic engagement metrics (number of swipes, frequency of texts, time spent on the app) rather than a path to genuine compatibility.
The result is often a selection of vague, fleeting connections that do not amount to meaningful relationships. And the business model of today’s dating apps – selling increased visibility and access to matches – creates a challenging environment for many users to find the matches they want.
Because of this, many users experience a sense of dissatisfaction which manifests itself in four stages.
It begins with what I call a “boredom cycle”. General boredom prompts many daters to use the app in the first place, but resulting conversations often turn into uninspired and lacklustre exchanges. This adds to the boredom, which then spreads and grows throughout the entire dating app network.
After that is a general sense of disappointment, as users become jaded from regular “ghosting” (cutting off communication without notice), “flaking” (cancelling dates at the last minute), and mundane message exchanges which don’t lead to actual dates.
This all leads to a third stage of “algorithmic cynicism”. At this point, users become increasingly sceptical of dating app algorithms, suspecting that their primary function is to encourage the purchase of certain features rather than to establish authentic connections.
Finally, communication fatigue kicks in. Users go through the motions of swiping and texting with a sense that there are no better alternatives. It all becomes a somewhat hollow experience which ultimately drives many away from the platforms completely.
Swipe on, swipe off
Research has also shown that the initial rise of online dating usage among millennials coincided with early enthusiasm about social media. But this enthusiasm has diminished.
Social media users are now increasingly suspicious (and vigilant) about the risks of misinformation, scams, and offensive content.
Despite all of this, people still seek connections through dating platforms – whether for casual or long-term partnerships. So perhaps the issue is not with digital dating itself, but with how the industry uses AI. And an alternative is possible.
In related research on human-AI joint decision-making, my colleagues and I found that when people interact with an imperfect AI system, but also receive clear feedback about the their own behaviour patterns and how the AI responds, they can help to correct errors.
That research focused on financial decisions, but dating apps could do a similar thing by openly providing daters with personalised insights about how AI algorithms are responding to their activity. This is something that no dating app currently does.
Instead, they let users adjust certain filters, such as age, location and ethnicity. But then they use AI to create “revealed preferences” based on people’s patterns of engagement with the app, like swiping and messaging. These “revealed preferences” seem to greatly influence the kinds of profiles that the dating apps’ AI recommends.
For example, even if someone says they are keen to date people across a wide age range, the app may still end up recommending profiles of a narrower age group, because the user has tended to swipe right on those in the past. Because of this, users have expressed concerns that the AI could be adding unwanted limitations to their potential dating pool.
In the AI of the beholder
Indeed, our research shows that a cynical view of dating app algorithms is a key reason why something as potentially exciting as finding a romantic partner can become so dreadfully boring.
Addressing this issue, by simply explaining to daters how AI interprets their use of the app (the swipes, the matches, and actual dates) could be a valuable selling point. Giving users freedom to adjust other filters besides demographics, such as those related to their values and interests, could further increase interest.
This would represent a return to the more transparent match-making principles of earlier dating websites, but with the benefits of the latest technology.
Our research suggests that as dating app users grow ever more discerning, they will demand greater transparency and an improved overall dating app experience. The industry’s future may ultimately depend on whether companies can shift focus from impersonal engagement metrics to fostering authentic connections.
And platforms which embrace transparency and empower users could make many fall in love with dating apps all over again.
Anh Luong does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
More than 60 million people are estimated to be living with dementia, resulting in over 1.5 million deaths a year and an annual cost to the global healthcare economy of around US $1.3 trillion (almost £1 trillion).
Despite decades of scientific research and billions of pounds of investment, dementia still has no cure. But what of the old saying that prevention is better than cure? Is preventing dementia possible? And if so, at what age should we be taking steps to do so?
Despite what many believe, dementia is not simply an unavoidable consequence of ageing or genetics. It is estimated that up to 45% of dementia cases could potentially be prevented by reducing exposure to 14 modifiable risk factors common throughout the world.
Many of these risk factors – which include things like obesity, lack of exercise, and smoking – are traditionally studied from middle age (around 40 to 60 years old) onwards. As a result, several of the world’s leading health bodies and dementia charities now recommend that strategies aimed at reducing dementia risk should ideally be targeted at this age to reap the greatest benefits.
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We argue, however, that targeting even younger ages is likely to provide greater benefits still. But how young are we talking? And why would exposure to risk factors many decades before the symptoms of dementia traditionally appear be important?
To explain, let’s work backwards from middle age, starting with the three decades covering adolescence and young adulthood (from ten to 40 years old).
Many lifestyle-related dementia risk factors emerge during the teenage years, then persist into adulthood. For example, 80% of adolescents living with obesity will remain this way when they are adults. The same applies to high blood pressure and lack of exercise. Similarly, virtually all adults who smoke or drink will have started these unhealthy habits in or around adolescence.
This poses two potential issues when considering middle age as the best starting point for dementia-prevention strategies. First, altering health behaviour that has already been established is notoriously difficult. And second, most high-risk individuals targeted in middle age will almost certainly have been exposed to the damaging effects of these risk factors for many decades already.
As such, the most effective actions are likely to be those aimed at preventing unhealthy behaviour in the first place, rather than attempting to change long-established habits decades down the line.
The roots of dementia
But what about even earlier in people’s lives? Could the roots of dementia stretch as far back as childhood or infancy? Increasing evidence suggests yes, and that risk factor exposures in the first decade of life (or even while in the womb) may have lifelong implications for dementia risk.
To understand why this may be, it’s important to remember that our brain goes through three major periods during our lives – development in early life, a period of relative stability in adult life, and decline (in some functions) in old age.
Most dementia research understandably focuses on changes associated with that decline in later life. But there is increasing evidence that many of the differences in brain structure and function associated with dementia in older adults may have at least partly existed since childhood.
For example, in long-term studies where people have had their cognitive ability tracked across their whole lives, one of the most important factors explaining someone’s cognitive ability at age 70 is their cognitive ability when they were 11. That is, older adults with poorer cognitive skills have often had these lower skills since childhood, rather than the differences being solely due to a faster decline in older age.
Similar patterns are also seen when looking for evidence of dementia-related damage on brain scans, with some changes appearing to be more closely related to risk factor exposures in early life than current unhealthy lifestyles.
Taken together, perhaps the time has come for dementia prevention to be thought of as a lifelong goal, rather than simply a focus for old age.
A lifelong prevention plan
But how do we achieve this in practical terms? Complex problems require complex solutions, and there is no quick fix to address this challenge. Many factors contribute to increasing or decreasing an individual’s dementia risk – there is no “one size fits all” approach.
But one thing generally agreed upon is that mass medication of young people is not the answer. Instead, we – along with 33 other leading international researchers in the field of dementia – recently published a set of recommendations for actions that can be taken at the individual, community and national levels to improve brain health from an early age.
Our consensus statement and recommendations deliver two clear messages. First, meaningful reductions in dementia risk for as many people as possible will only be achievable through a coordinated approach that brings together healthier environments, better education and smarter public policy.
Second – and perhaps most importantly – while it’s never too late to take steps to reduce your risk of dementia, it’s also never too early to start.
Scott Chiesa receives funding from an Alzheimer’s Research UK David Carr Fellowship.
Francesca Farina receives funding from the Alzheimer’s Association and the University of Chicago.
Laura Booi does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Yiddish is a familiar presence in contemporary English speech. Many people use or at least know the meaning of words like chutzpah (audacity), schlep (drag) or nosh (snack).
These words have been absorbed into English from their original speakers, eastern European Jews who migrated to Britain in the late 19th century, through generations of living in close proximity in areas like London’s East End.
Linguistics scholars have even theorised that elements of a Yiddish accent may have influenced the cockney accent as it evolved in the early 20th century. Phonetic analysis of cockney speakers recorded in the mid-20th century suggests that East Enders who grew up with Jewish neighbours spoke English with speech rhythms typical of Yiddish.
A distinctive pronunciation of the “r” sound is thought to have originated among Jewish immigrants and spread into the wider population.
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But, as we explore in our new podcast, cockney reshaped the Yiddish language too. This can be seen in surviving texts from the popular culture of the Jewish immigrant East End, including newspapers and songsheets, where songs, poems and stories dramatise the thrills and challenges of modern London.
The Yiddish music of London’s East End brought together the Yiddish language and Jewish culture of eastern Europe with the raucous, irreverent style of the cockney music hall. Theatres and pubs overflowed with audiences eager to see the immigrant experience in Whitechapel represented in all its perplexity and pathos, with a good measure of slapstick comedy.
A Yiddish music hall song from around 1900 jokes that East Enders live on “poteytes un gefrayte fish” – a Yiddish version of the cockney staple fish and chips. The song lists the many novelties that immigrants encountered on arriving in the metropolis: trains running underground, women wearing trousers and people speaking on telephones.
Yiddish music hall song ‘London hot sikh ibergekert’ (London has turned itself upside down) performed by the author’s (Vivi Lachs) band Katsha’nes.
Yiddish was also the language of street protest in the Jewish East End. During the “strike fever” of 1889, when workers throughout east London were demanding better pay and working conditions, the Whitechapel streets resonated with the voices of Jewish sweatshop workers singing:
In di gasn, tsu di masn fun badrikte felk rasn, ruft der frayhaytsgayst (In the streets, to the masses / of oppressed peoples, races / the spirit of freedom calls).
This song was penned by the socialist poet Morris Winchevsky, an immigrant from Lithuania who spoke Yiddish as a mother tongue but preferred to write in literary Hebrew. In London he switched to writing in the vernacular language of Yiddish in order to make his writing more accessible to immigrant Jewish workers. The song became a rousing anthem in labour protests across the Yiddish-speaking world, from Warsaw to Chicago.
The decline of Yiddish
Yet from the earliest days of Jewish immigration to London, the Yiddish-language culture of the East End was a focus of anxiety for the Jewish middle and upper class of the West End. They regarded Yiddish as a vulgar dialect, detrimental to the integration of Jewish immigrants in England.
While they provided significant philanthropic support for immigrants, they banned the use of Yiddish in the educational and religious institutions that they funded.
In 1883, budding novelist Israel Zangwill was disciplined by the Jews’ Free School, where he worked as a teacher, for publishing a short story liberally sprinkled with dialogues in cockney-Yiddish.
By the 1930s Yiddish had begun to decline. As Jews moved away from the East End, local Yiddish newspapers folded and publications dwindled.
The Yiddish writer I.A. Lisky, who wrote fiction for a keen but diminishing readership in the London Yiddish newspaper Di tsayt, movingly described a young woman and her grandmother who each harbour complex hopes and worries but cannot communicate: “Ken ober sibl nit redn keyn yidish un di bobe farshteyt nor a por verter english. Shvaygt sibl vayter.” (But Sybil spoke no Yiddish, and her grandmother knew only a few words of English. So she remained silent.)
Jewish writers of the postwar period were haunted by the sense of a lost connection to the Yiddish language and culture of previous generations.
The novelist Alexander Baron, who grew up in Hackney, remembered his grandparents reading Yiddish literature and newspapers, and his parents speaking Yiddish when they did not want their children to understand what they were saying.
In his novel The Lowlife (1963) the narrator’s vocabulary is peppered with Yiddish words. But these fragments are all that remains of his link to the East End where he was born. When he returns to these streets, he feels that “my too, too solid flesh in the world of the past is like a ghost of the past in the solid world of the present; it can look on but it cannot touch”.
Yiddish in London today
If you walk through the north London neighbourhood of Stamford Hill today, you’ll hear Yiddish on the streets and see new Yiddish books on the shelves of the local bookshops. Although they have no connection to the Victorian Jewish East End, the ultra-orthodox Hasidic community who live there speak Yiddish as their first language.
And for a younger generation of secular Jews, Yiddish is also acquiring a new appeal. They look to past traditions of Jewish diasporism to forge an identity rooted in language, culture and solidarity with other minorities rather than nationalism.
London is one centre of this worldwide revival: the Friends of Yiddish group established in the East End in the late 1930s is now flourishing in its contemporary incarnation as the Yiddish Open Mic Cafe. And Yiddish is once again a language that anyone can learn.
The Ot Azoy Yiddish summer school is in its 13th year, and new Yiddish language schools are thriving, including east London-based Babel’s Blessing, which teaches diaspora languages including Yiddish and offers free English classes to refugees and asylum seekers. The annual Yiddish sof-vokh hosts an immersive weekend for Yiddish learners.
Yiddish culture too is being rejuvenated. Projects we have been involved with include the Yiddish Shpilers theatre troupe, the Great Yiddish Parade marching band, which has brought Winchevsky’s socialist anthems back onto London’s streets, and the London band Katsha’nes, which has reimagined cockney Yiddish music hall songs for the 21st century.
If Yiddish was once reviled as a debased, slangy mishmash, full of borrowings and adaptations, it’s precisely for those qualities that it is celebrated today.
Nadia Valman received funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council for research included in this article.
Vivi Lachs received funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council for research included in this article.
This year 80 people put on their waders, grabbed buckets and quadrats (square metal frames), and splashed through the clear shallow waters. Once they reached one of the many sampling locations, marked by miniature floats, they threw their quadrats into the shallow water, ready to collect all the sea life that landed inside their quadrats.
No one had any idea what they might find living on the seabed until they reached into the water. Nearby, kids peered down at the seabed using underwater scopes, grandparents chuckled as they returned for a second forage.
This citizen science project combines coastal ecology and gastronomy. Our groups returned to the sorting stations to identify, count, weigh and measure each bucket of creatures and algae. A typical bucket might contain four living Pacific oysters, nine dead, a brush-clawed shore crab, four folded sea squirts and a handful of snails.
Then, we sat down together to eat a gourmet oyster dinner, prepared by Denmark’s top chefs. Organised by a shellfish gastrotourism association called Danmarks Skaldyrshovedstad, this oyster hunt (Østerjagten 2025) is a new annual festival held at the Salling Sund Bridge in the Danish Limfjorden, a 110-mile strait of water in northern Denmark.
Citizen scientists gather flora and fauna samples from the seafloor. Lea Meilandt Mathisen, CC BY-NC-ND
The invasive Pacific oysters people had collected from the seabed then went on to be shucked and cooked. They were served au gratin, with wild flavour combinations, ranging from blueberry and blue cheese to shavings of prosciutto with strawberries and lime.
Most people told us they came along because of the quirkiness of this event, and the promise of gourmet food. Less than one in five people stated their interest in marine research as their reason for joining. Nobody attended the event just for the science.
As a coastal change researcher, this result was exciting – we were reaching an audience that might not normally engage. Even after participating, many people didn’t feel like citizen scientists. But when asked what they had learnt, most recalled facts about coastal ecology, as well as new ways to cook oysters.
A delicious plate of Pacific oysters served au gratin. Lea Meilandt Mathisen, CC BY-NC-ND
Back to the basket sample contents. Pacific oyster, brush-clawed shore crab, folded sea squirts: none are native to the Limfjorden or Danish waters. So many people were shocked to find out that their baskets were full of invasive species – these “alien species” are non-native and can compete with the resident species for both food and space.
Despite an increase in the number of empty Pacific oysters shells we found this year compared to last (indicating more oyster deaths), temperatures are rising in this estuary system. This means that conditions are becoming more suitable for the Pacific oysters and the other invasive creatures, many of which originate in warmer waters.
Individual Pacific oysters were measured by hand. Lea Meilandt Mathisen, CC BY-NC-ND
This, however, is not necessarily a good thing. As Pacific oysters take over European oyster and blue mussel beds, birds which once fed on these species are left without vital food sources. The thick shells mean they have no predators once they reach a certain size. Beach goers can also be affected as the razor-sharp shells occupy previously sandy bathing areas.
A young citizen scientist holds a small shore crab. Lea Meilandt Mathisen, CC BY-NC-ND
While children were discovering the joy of sea squirts, other marine scientists and I could have tougher conversations with adults about climate change. We explained that warming temperatures are clearly visible in the here-and-now of local monitoring data.
The Limfjorden is made up of a series of fjords and islands in northern Denmark which link the North Sea to the Kattergat (the sea between Denmark and Sweden). This area is characterised by undisturbed coastlines and rolling hills, as well as some famous geological sites. It is a popular holiday destination for those that enjoy being in nature, some Danish hyggelig (comfort) and seafood.
But the Limfjorden is subject to numerous pressures: eutrophication (when extra nutrients in the water cause toxic algal blooms), changing climate, fishing, dumping of dredged materials and the arrival of invasive species. Its resilience to these may serve as an ecological bell weather for the rest of the world’s coasts.
Our event highlights how we’ll have to deal with environmental issues together. One feedback form still sits on my desk, the participant wrote in Danish: “Forskning eralle mands projekt og at det har effekt.” This translates to “research is everyone’s project and it has an effect”.
This edible approach offers a new way of communicating complex issues such as biodiversity and the introduction of alien species. Oyster hunt-style events such as this offer an excellent opportunity for scientists like us to provide some food for thought.
Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?
Camille Saurel receives funding from the European Union, Danish Government and research councils.
Pedro Seabra Freitas receives funding from the European Union, Danish Government and Research Councils, Aage V. Jensen Naturfond.
Dominique Townsend does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Michael O’Reilly, Clinical Associate Professor of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences
Acne that won’t go away. Hair thinning at the crown. Unwanted facial hair, unpredictable periods, mood swings and weight gain. For millions of women, these aren’t just annoying symptoms – they’re signs of a deeper, often ignored condition: androgen excess. Despite affecting at least one in ten women worldwide, this hormonal imbalance remains underdiagnosed, misunderstood, and too often dismissed.
Androgens are commonly known as “male hormones”, but all women have them too. The problem arises when levels become too high. This excess can wreak havoc across multiple systems in the body, disrupting menstrual cycles, fertility, metabolism and even mental health. Yet because some of the more visible symptoms, like acne or hirsutism, are often brushed off as cosmetic, many women don’t get the support or treatment they need.
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But, even though PCOS dominates the conversation, it’s not the only condition behind androgen excess. Other, sometimes more serious, disorders can also cause elevated hormone levels like hormone-secreting tumours, congenital adrenal hyperplasia (a group of genetic disorders that affect your adrenal glands), Cushing’s syndrome (a rare hormonal disorder caused by prolonged exposure to very high levels of the hormone cortisol) and severe insulin resistance. Yet too often, the assumption is that any woman with high androgens has PCOS, which can delay diagnosis of these rarer but potentially serious conditions.
And yet, hormonal health is still too often treated as an afterthought. Many women describe years of feeling dismissed by doctors, told to “come back if you want to get pregnant”, or offered little more than the contraceptive pill. On average, women with PCOS wait over two years and consult several different healthcare professionals before receiving a diagnosis. Nearly half say their symptoms were initially ignored.
Part of the problem may be the name itself. “Polycystic ovary syndrome” is a misnomer – many women with PCOS don’t actually have cysts on their ovaries, and having ovarian cysts doesn’t necessarily mean you have PCOS. It’s a complex metabolic and hormonal disorder, not just a reproductive one. That’s why some experts and patient advocates around the world are calling for a name change to better reflect the condition’s true nature. A more accurate label could raise awareness and improve the way it’s diagnosed and treated.
Encouragingly, there’s been a major step forward in how androgen excess is addressed. In June 2024, the Society for Endocrinology in the UK published new clinical guidelines to help doctors better identify and manage the condition. These guidelines include clear diagnostic pathways, recommendations for when to carry out blood tests or scans, and guidance on when to refer patients for specialist care. Crucially, they acknowledge that androgen excess can affect women at all ages – not just during the reproductive years.
A real difference
Publishing guidelines is only the first step. To make a real difference in women’s lives, several things need to happen. First, there must be greater investment in research. We still don’t fully understand why some women develop excess androgens while others don’t, or why symptoms vary so much between individuals. Research in women’s health has long been underfunded and androgen-related conditions are no exception.
Doctors also need better training. General practitioners, gynaecologists, dermatologists and even mental health professionals all have a role to play in recognising the signs of androgen excess. If they don’t feel confident identifying the symptoms or knowing when to investigate further, women will continue to fall through the cracks.
Just as importantly, women need access to clear, trustworthy information. Too many are left to Google their symptoms or rely on online forums. Knowing what to look out for – and what to ask a doctor – can empower women to advocate for themselves and get the care they deserve.
Finally, we need to move toward more joined up, holistic care. Hormonal health doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It affects – and is affected by – mental wellbeing, lifestyle, metabolism and reproductive health. Effective treatment means looking at the whole picture, not just prescribing a pill or focusing on fertility alone.
Androgen excess may be invisible to those who don’t experience it, but its impact is profound. For too long, it has flown under the radar. With better understanding, better care, and a stronger voice for women’s health, we can ensure that hormonal symptoms are taken seriously – and treated with the urgency and compassion they deserve.
Michael O’Reilly receives research funding from the Health Research Board (Ireland) and Wellcome
Leanne Cussen does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Humans are finite creatures. Our brains have a finite number of neurons and we interact with a finite number of people during our finite lifetime. Yet humans have the remarkable ability to conceive of the infinite.
This ability underlies Euclid’s proof that there are infinite prime numbers as well as the belief of billions that their gods are infinite beings, free of mortal constraints.
These ideas will be well known to Pope Leo XIV since before his life in the church, he trained as a mathematician. Leo’s trajectory is probably no coincidence since there is a connection between mathematics and theology.
Infinity is undoubtedly of central importance to both. Virtually all mathematical objects, such as numbers or geometric shapes, form infinite collections. And theologians frequently describe God as a unique, absolutely infinite being.
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Despite using the same word, though, there has traditionally been a vast gap between how mathematicians and theologians conceptualise infinity. From antiquity until the 19th century, mathematicians have believed that there are infinitely many numbers, but – in contrast to theologians – firmly rejected the idea of the absolute infinite.
The idea roughly is this: surely, there are infinitely many numbers, since we can always keep counting. But each number itself is finite – there are no infinite numbers. What is rejected is the legitimacy of the collection of all numbers as a closed object in its own right. For the existence of such a collection leads to logical paradoxes.
A paradox of the infinite
The most simple example is a version of Galileo’s paradox and leads to seemingly contradictory statements about the natural numbers 1,2,3….
First, observe that some numbers are even, while others are not. Hence, the numbers – even and odd – must be more numerous than just the even numbers 2,4,6…. And yet, for every number there is exactly one even number. To see this, simply multiply any given number by 2.
But then there cannot be more numbers than there are even numbers. We thus arrive at the contradictory conclusion that numbers are more numerous than the even numbers, while at the same time there are not more numbers than there are even numbers.
Because of such paradoxes, mathematicians rejected actual infinities for millennia. As a result, mathematics was concerned with a much tamer concept of infinity than the absolute one used by theologians. This situation dramatically changed with mathematician Georg Cantor’s introduction of transfinite set theory in the second half of the 19th century.
Cantor’s radical idea was to introduce, in a mathematically rigorous way, absolute infinities to the realm of mathematics. This innovation revolutionised the field by delivering a powerful and unifying theory of the infinite. Today, set theory provides the foundations of mathematics, upon which all other subdisciplines are built.
According to Cantor’s theory, two sets – A and B – have the same size if their elements stand in a one-to-one correspondence. This means that each element of A can be related to a unique element of B, and vice versa.
Think of sets of husbands and wives respectively, in a heterosexual, monogamous society. These sets can be seen to have the same size, even though we might not be able to count each husband and wife.
The reason is that the relation of marriage is one-to-one. For each husband there is a unique wife, and conversely, for each wife there is a unique husband.
Using the same idea, we have seen above that in Cantor’s theory, the set of numbers – even and odd – has the same size as the set of even numbers. And so does the set of integers, which includes negative numbers, and the set of rational numbers, which can be written as fractions.
The most striking feature of Cantor’s theory is that not all infinite sets have the same size. In particular, Cantor showed that the set of real numbers, which can be written as infinite decimals, must be strictly larger than the set of integers.
The set of real numbers, in turn, is smaller than even larger infinities, and so on. To measure the size of infinite sets, Cantor introduced so-called transfinite numbers.
The ever-increasing series of transfinite numbers is denoted by Aleph, the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, whose mystic nature has been explored by philosophers, theologians and poets alike.
Set theory and Pope Leo XIII
For Cantor, a devout Lutheran Christian, the motivation and justification of his theory of absolute infinities was directly inspired by religion. In fact, he was convinced that the transfinite numbers were communicated to him by God. Moreover, Cantor was deeply concerned about the consequences of his theory for Catholic theology.
Pope Leo XIII, Cantor’s contemporary, encouraged theologians to engage with modern science, to show that the conclusions of science were compatible with religious doctrine. In his extensive correspondence with Catholic theologians, Cantor went to great lengths to argue that his theory does not challenge the status of God as the unique actual infinite being.
On the contrary, he understood his transfinite numbers as increasing the extent of God’s nature, as a “pathway to the throne of God”. Cantor even addressed a letter and several notes on this topic to Leo XIII himself.
For Cantor, absolute infinities lie at the intersection of mathematics and theology. It is striking to consider that one of the most fundamental revolutions in the history of mathematics, the introduction of absolute infinities, was so deeply entangled with religious concerns.
Pope Leo XIV has been explicit that Leo XIII was his inspiration for his choice of pontifical name. Perhaps among an infinite number of potential reasons for the choice, this mathematical link was one.
Balthasar Grabmayr does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11)
WASHINGTON, DC — As first reported in The Daily Signal, Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11), alongside Senator James Lankford (R-OK), introduced bicameral legislation to protect healthcare providers who refuse to support or promote abortion.
The Conscience Protection Act of 2025 strengthens and expands the Weldon Amendment, a federal provision—attached to annual appropriations bills since 2004—that prohibits any federal, state, or local government from discriminating against or penalizing health care providers who decline to perform, pay for, or refer for abortions. The bill codifies these protections into permanent law and establishes a civil right of action, allowing individuals and entities to seek legal recourse if their conscience rights are violated.
“As a father of three beautiful daughters and a firm believer that life begins at conception, protecting the unborn is not just a policy stance—it’s a moral obligation. That’s why one of my top priorities in Congress is defending life and the people who stand up for it,”said Rep. Pfluger.“The Conscience Protection Act of 2025 safeguards healthcare professionals from being penalized or discriminated against for not participating in, paying for, or facilitating abortions due to their deeply held beliefs. It builds on and strengthens the Weldon Amendment, ensuring no doctor, nurse, or provider is punished by government overreach for following their conscience. I’m proud to lead this effort alongside Senator Lankford as we push back on radical policies that threaten the sanctity of life and the freedom of those who protect it.”
“When conscience protections aren’t enforced, health care workers are forced to decide if they should lose their job or violate their beliefs by performing an abortion. Many health care professionals went into their careers to protect life, not take life. Doctors and nurses should never have to make the choice between their career and their conscience. The Conscience Protection Act defends health care workers and empowers them to stand by convictions as they care for their community,”said Senator Lankford.
The bill is co-sponsored in the House by Representatives Dan Webster (FL-11), John Moolenaar (MI-02), Dan Crenshaw (TX-02), Anna Paulina Luna (FL-13), Adrian Smith (NE-03), Don Bacon (NE-02), Roger Williams (TX-25), Sheri Biggs (SC-03), and Rep. Paul Gosar (AZ-09), and in the Senate by Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Jim Risch (R-ID), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Steve Daines (R-MT), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Ted Budd (R-NC), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Todd Young (R-IN), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Mike Lee (R-UT), and Jim Banks (R-IN).
Read the full text of the legislation here.
Rep. Pfluger’s legislation is supported by several pro-life advocacy organizations, including Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, March for Life, Alliance Defending Freedom, and the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AAPLOG).
The Honorable Marilyn Musgrave, Vice President of Government Affairs, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, said, “SBA Pro-Life America is proud to stand with pro-life leader Congressman Pfluger as he introduces the Conscience Protection Act. This bill’s comprehensive definition of ‘health care providers’ is a necessary response to the Biden Administration’s reckless decision to turn every post office and pharmacy into an abortion center. Women deserve real help and care—not high-risk drugs to take alone without medical guidance. This bill rightfully empowers medical professionals to protect women and defend life, not destroy it.”
Jennie Bradley Lichter, President of March for Life Action, said, “March for Life Action is grateful for Representative Pfluger’s introduction of the Conscience Protection Act which rightly ensures that the government cannot penalize healthcare providers who refuse to support or promote abortion. At March for Life Action, we remain committed to working alongside lawmakers to ensure pro-life institutions can uphold their values without fear of punishment.”
Matt Sharp, Senior Counsel, Director of the Center for Public Policy at Alliance Defending Freedom, said, “Americans—including doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals—ought to be free to live and work consistent with their conscience without fear of unjust punishment. At a time when our country is facing a shortage of qualified health care heroes, our laws should welcome those who seek to practice medicine in an ethical, conscientious manner. The Conscience Protection Act will enable more doctors and nurses to enter—and stay—in health care, leading to more choices for patients seeking a doctor who shares their values. We commend the leadership of Representative August Pfluger and Senator James Lankford on this critical bill. This is a win for people of all faiths.”
Christina Francis, MD, CEO of AAPLOG Action, said, “With medical professionals practicing in an environment that is increasingly hostile towards valuing human dignity, it is crucial that they are able to rely on the enforcement of laws protecting their right to serve patients in accordance with their conscience. This bill will ensure that medical professionals are able to continue offering excellent life-affirming care, including in under-served areas of our country.”
Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 2
News Release Thursday, May 15, 2025
NIH-supported gene-editing platform lays groundwork to rapidly develop treatments for other rare genetic diseases. A research team supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has developed and safely delivered a personalized gene editing therapy to treat an infant with a life-threatening, incurable genetic disease. The infant, who was diagnosed with the rare condition carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1 (CPS1) deficiency shortly after birth, has responded positively to the treatment. The process, from diagnosis to treatment, took only six months and marks the first time the technology has been successfully deployed to treat a human patient. The technology used in this study was developed using a platform that could be tweaked to treat a wide range of genetic disorders and opens the possibility of creating personalized treatments in other parts of the body. A team of researchers at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) developed the customized therapy using the gene-editing platform CRISPR. They corrected a specific gene mutation in the baby’s liver cells that led to the disorder. CRISPR is an advanced gene editing technology that enables precise changes to DNA inside living cells. This is the first known case of a personalized CRISPR-based medicine administered to a single patient and was carefully designed to target non-reproductive cells so changes would only affect the patient. “As a platform, gene editing — built on reusable components and rapid customization — promises a new era of precision medicine for hundreds of rare diseases, bringing life-changing therapies to patients when timing matters most: Early, fast, and tailored to the individual,” said Joni L. Rutter, Ph.D., director of NIH’s National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS). CPS1 deficiency is characterized by an inability to fully break down byproducts from protein metabolism in the liver, causing ammonia to build up to toxic levels in the body. It can cause severe damage to the brain and liver. Treatment includes a low protein diet until the child is old enough for a liver transplant. However, in this waiting period there is a risk of rapid organ failure due to stressors such as infection, trauma, or dehydration. High levels of ammonia can cause coma, brain swelling, and may be fatal or cause permanent brain damage. The child initially received a very low dose of the therapy at six months of age, then a higher dose later. The research team saw signs that the therapy was effective almost from the start. The six-month old began taking in more protein in the diet, and the care team could reduce the medicine needed to keep ammonia levels low in the body. Another telling sign of the child’s improvement to date came after the child caught a cold, and later, had to deal with a gastrointestinal illness. Normally, such infections for a child in this condition could be extremely dangerous, especially with the possibility of ammonia reaching dangerous levels in the brain. “We knew the method used to deliver the gene-editing machinery to the baby’s liver cells allowed us to give the treatment repeatedly. That meant we could start with a low dose that we were sure was safe,” said CHOP pediatrician Rebecca Ahrens-Nicklas, M.D., Ph.D. “We were very concerned when the baby got sick, but the baby just shrugged the illness off,” said Penn geneticist and first author Kiran Musunuru, M.D., Ph.D. For now, much work remains, but the researchers are cautiously optimistic about the baby’s progress. The scientists announced their work at the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy Meeting on May 15th and described the study in The New England Journal of Medicine. Funding for this project was provided by the NIH Common Fund Somatic Cell Genome Editing program grants, U01TR005355, U19NS132301, U19NS132303, DP2CA281401, and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute grants R35HL145203 and P01HL142494. In-kind contributions for the study were made by Acuitas Therapeutics, Integrated DNA Technologies, Aldevron, and Danaher Corporation. Additional funding was provided by the CHOP Research Institute’s Gene Therapy for Inherited Metabolic Disorders Frontier Program. About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov. NIH…Turning Discovery Into Health®
Reference Musunuru et al, “Patient-Specific In Vivo Gene Editing to Treat a Rare Genetic Disease.” N Engl J Med. Online May 15, 2025. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa25re
Source: United States Senator for Idaho James E Risch
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) today introduced the Protecting Minors in Federal Health Plans Act. The bill would prohibit Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) plans from covering gender transitions for minors.
“Taxpayer-funded federal health plans should never promote extreme gender ideology, especially on our youth,” said Risch. “My Protecting Minors in Federal Health Plans Act is commonsense legislation to ensure none of Idaho’s tax dollars fund these radical and harmful medical procedures.”
Risch is joined by U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), and Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) in introducing the Protecting Minors in Federal Health Plans Act.
“When President Trump took office, he represented the majority of Americans who agree mutilation and gender-transition surgeries for children are wrong,” said Lummis. “I speak for the people of Wyoming when I say our tax dollars should not contribute to these procedures, and I am proud to join Senator Risch and President Trump in restoring commonsense to America.”
“These experimental surgeries have long term, life-altering impacts that can’t be reversed and must end,” said Ricketts. “Take Luka Hein from Omaha, for example, who was sixteen when she received a gender-reassignment surgery. This bill stops these sex-change surgeries for children.”
Under the Biden administration, the Office of Personnel Management encouraged FEHB carriers to cover “comprehensive gender-affirming care,” including hormone therapy, genital surgeries, facial reconstruction surgeries, and other services. Taxpayer-funded government contributions for FEHB plan premiums are estimated to total $50 billion in 2025.
In January, President Trump issued an Executive Order on Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation, declaring that the federal government would not fund, promote, or assist gender-transition procedures for minors. The order emphasized that such interventions are based on ideology rather than sound medical science and directed federal agencies to eliminate policies that support them. The Protecting Minors in Federal Health Plans Act codifies a portion of President Trump’s executive order.
The Protecting Minors in Federal Health Plans Act has received support from the Idaho Family Policy Center and the American Principles Project.
“Our tax dollars should never be used for the purpose of sterilizing children with gender dysphoria. These children are struggling—and they need real help, not irreversible surgical and pharmaceutical interventions. Both the State of Idaho and the Trump administration have taken steps to protect these vulnerable children. Now, it’s time that the U.S. Congress follows this growing consensus. Idaho Family Policy Center thanks Senator Risch for his bold leadership in introducing this legislation to stop federal health plans from covering these destructive and highly experimental sex change procedures for children,” said Blaine Conzatti, President of Idaho Family Policy Center.
While President Donald J. Trump is in the Gulf region securing over a trillion dollars’ worth of investments in U.S. companies, deals on the home front keep coming:
Sanofiannounced it will invest at least $20 billion over the next five years in manufacturing and research and development.
Kraft Heinzannounced a $3 billion investment to upgrade its U.S. factories — its largest investment in its plants in decades.
Carrierannounced an additional $1 billion investment in manufacturing, innovation, and workforce expansion, which will create 4,000 new jobs.
Anheuser-Buschannounced a $300 million investment in its manufacturing facilities across the country.
Siemens Healthineersannounced a $150 million investment to expand production, including relocating manufacturing operations for its Varian company from Mexico to California.
That’s in addition to the trillions of dollars already secured in President Trump’s second term — investments that will bring tens of thousands of new, high-paying jobs to communities across the country as President Trump ushers in the new Golden Age.
This week, the dean of the School of Dental Medicine, along with faculty, received awards from the Connecticut State Dental Society (CSDA) during their annual meeting.
According to the CSDA, this year’s honorees have “demonstrated exceptional dedication, skill, and innovation in their respective areas.”
Dr. Steven Lepowsky, dean, received the CSDA Presidential Award, the highest recognition from the state dental association. The award is given to a CSDA member, dentist, group or any other contributor that has enhanced the image and professionalism of dentistry.
Dr. Afroditi Pita, assistant professor of general dentistry, received the Rising Star Award. This award recognizes advocacy, philanthropy, or community service, and excellence entrepreneurial skills, or ethical behavior. The Rising Star has also made significant contributions in the field of science and has held leadership positions in the American Student Dental Association (ASDA) chapter of their school, local dental society, or the CSDA.
Along with Pita, recent graduate in the Class of 2025, Dr. Sarah Nevolis, also received the Rising Star Award.
Dr. Elie Ferneini, associate clinical professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery, received the Horace Hayden Award. This award recognizes contributions to the interest of dentistry and dental health.
Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, on Thursday inaugurated the newly constructed Administrative-cum-Academic Block of the College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Central Agricultural University (Imphal), located at Jalukie in Nagaland.
Addressing the gathering at the inaugural function, the Union Minister lauded the progress made in the agriculture and livestock sectors in Nagaland. He acknowledged the region’s unique agri-products and potential, and announced a financial assistance of ₹338.83 crore for the overall growth and development of the agriculture sector in the state.
Chouhan urged the Nagaland government to formulate a comprehensive action plan for agriculture and rural development. He assured the state of the Centre’s full cooperation and support in this endeavour.
To strengthen grassroots agricultural development, the Minister suggested the formation of a core scientific team in each district. This team would include scientists, officials from Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), university professionals, and farmers. He said the team should engage directly with farmers in villages at least twice a month to understand their challenges, which would facilitate evidence-based policy making and appropriate technological interventions.
Highlighting the scope for natural farming in Nagaland, the Union Minister said the Central Government is committed to supporting such sustainable practices. He also appreciated the initiatives of the College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry and invited its students to Delhi to share their innovative ideas with him.
Chouhan assured full cooperation and financial assistance for entrepreneurship and start-up development among students, and expressed his desire to visit Nagaland again for further interaction with farmers and students.
Nagaland Governor La. Ganesan, who presided over the function, commended the role played by Central Agricultural University, Imphal and its constituent college in advancing animal healthcare and agricultural development in the region. He stressed the importance of scientific methods and collaboration among stakeholders to realise the vision of a developed India by 2047.
Deputy Chief Minister of Nagaland, T. R. Zeliang, also spoke at the event, underlining the need for technical interventions and research-driven farming to achieve agricultural and economic progress in the state.
The event witnessed participation from 639 farmers and 84 officials from both the State and Central Governments.
India and the European Union have jointly launched two major research initiatives under the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC), aiming to develop innovative solutions in the areas of marine pollution and green hydrogen production from waste. The projects, backed by a combined investment of ₹391 crore (approximately €41 million), mark a significant step in strengthening bilateral cooperation in science and technology.
The TTC, established in 2022 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, serves as a platform to deepen strategic collaboration in trade and technology between India and the EU.
The first initiative focuses on tackling the pressing issue of marine plastic litter and other pollutants. Co-funded by the European Union and India’s Ministry of Earth Sciences, this project aims to develop advanced tools to monitor, assess, and reduce the harmful impact of pollutants such as microplastics, heavy metals, and organic compounds on marine ecosystems. The research is expected to contribute to global commitments like the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and support national policies, including India’s National Marine Litter Policy and the EU’s Zero Pollution Action Plan.
Speaking on the occasion, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, Professor Ajay Kumar Sood, said that collaborative research plays a pivotal role in addressing shared environmental challenges. EU Ambassador to India, Hervé Delphin, underscored that joint efforts to address marine pollution and sustainable energy underscore the growing momentum in the EU-India partnership.
Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Dr. M. Ravichandran, remarked that marine pollution is a global concern that demands collaborative solutions, adding that this initiative will help in developing effective strategies to protect marine biodiversity.
The second initiative targets the development of sustainable hydrogen production technologies by converting biogenic waste into green hydrogen. Supported by the EU and India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, the project is in alignment with the EU’s Hydrogen Strategy and India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission. The focus is on creating cost-effective and environmentally sustainable methods to produce hydrogen using agricultural, municipal, and industrial waste.
Dr. Parvinder Maini, Scientific Secretary at the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser, described the partnership as a testament to the two sides’ commitment to sustainable development. Secretary of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Santosh Kumar Sarangi, noted that advancing waste-to-hydrogen technologies is key to meeting India’s clean energy goals.
Marc Lemaître, Director-General for Research and Innovation at the European Commission, highlighted the scale of investment and cooperation, calling it a clear demonstration of India and the EU’s joint commitment to a cleaner, more sustainable future.
The calls for proposals under both initiatives have been officially opened this month, inviting Indian and European researchers to collaborate and contribute to the development of transformative technologies for environmental protection and renewable energy.
In this newsletter, we are excited to highlight the release of the National Seed Strategy Progress Report for 2022 and 2023. The National Seed Strategy provides a roadmap for increasing the supply of genetically appropriate native seed for restoration in the US, and this new report highlights the critical role that USGS plays in providing research, scientific expertise, and tools to support native seed development and use. Our spring newsletter also includes updates on conference presentations and recently released publications. As always, please reach out to discuss any questions or potential collaboration opportunities for research and restoration in the Southwest.
RAMPS on the Road
Conferences provide an important opportunity for RAMPS to share relevant research updates with land managers and scientists while connecting with existing and new collaborations. So far in 2025, the RAMPS Team gave invited presentations on RestoreNet at the following symposia:
The Society for Range Management and National Native Seed Conferences were attended by a broad coalition of land managers, restoration practitioners, researchers and private landowners and ranchers. At the Native Seed Conference, RAMPS coordinator Laura Shriver also presented a talk, “Bridging theory and practice to improve native seed selection for restoration” with initial results from a literature review drawing comparisons between seed selection insights from the scientific literature and federal agency guidance for seed selection in practice. Laura also presented a poster summarizing information from the National Seed Strategy Progress Report for 2022 and 2023.
Project Highlights
National Seed Strategy Progress Report
RAMPS Coordinator, Laura Shriver, joined Plant Conservation Alliance leaders to write the National Seed Strategy Progress Report for 2022 and 2023. The report showcases the contributions of federal agencies and over 300 partners across the country to advance the National Seed Strategy, a pragmatic approach to meet the growing demand for native plant seed for restoration. In addition to summarizing data and project highlights, the report includes agency summaries outlining accomplishments, including from the USGS. The USGS provides essential research and scientific expertise to support the development and use of native seed for restoration, and the RAMPS program has led reporting efforts for all three National Seed Strategy Progress Reports.
REPORT CITATION: Plant Conservation Alliance (PCA). 2025. National seed Strategy Progress Report for 2022 and 2023. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, 64 pp.
Figure: Accomplishments in Native Seed Development. Submissions reflect advancements made at every stage of the Native Seed Development Process, including: Collection, where native seeds are harvested from wild populations, cleaned, tested, and banked for both long-term conservation and immediate seed increase; Evaluation and development, which involves research on species traits such as germination, pollination, and seed transfer zones; Field establishment, where agricultural protocols are developed for growing seed; Production, in which seeds are increased through agricultural practices; Procurement, where seeds are tested and purchased; Storage, where increased seeds are preserved for future restoration and rehabilitation; and Restoration, where native seeds are used to restore native plant communities. Figure from the National seed Strategy Progress Report for 2022 and 2023 (PCA 2025).
Picture: Covers of the Plant Conservation Alliance National Seed Strategy Progress Report for 2022 and 2023 (left) and the National Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation and Restoration (right).
Research Updates – New Publications
Natural resource management under drought and wildfire
In this study, RAMPS Ecologist, Seth Munson, and others developed a conceptual framework that links the scale and severity of drought and wildfire associated ecosystem impacts with management interventions. A Northern Arizona University researcher conducted surveys and interviews of natural resource managers on the Colorado Plateau to gain insight into their perceptions of the scale of drought and wildfire impacts, ecosystem responses to drought and wildfire, relationships between the scale and severity of impacts and associated natural resource responses, and perceived barriers to implementing management actions. Results of the collaboration indicated that resource managers experienced drought more frequently than wildfire, and perceived intensifying impacts to ecosystems resulting from both stressors. Results also indicated that resource managers recognized strategies to address the widespread impacts of drought and wildfire on ecosystems, but many adaptation-specific actions remained unclear or presented barriers for implementation. To overcome these barriers, the authors suggest improving effective science communication, refining information tailored to meet adaptation goals at management-relevant scales, and providing opportunities for adaptive management that can proactively address intensification of drought and wildfire.
CITATION: Munson, S.M., Vaughn, A.L., Petersen, B., Bradford, J.B. and Duniway, M.C., 2024. Natural resource management confronts the growing scale and severity of ecosystem responses to drought and wildfire. Ecology and Society, 29(4). https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-15517-290417
How does trait variability affect plant performance?
In this study, researchers from the USGS, BLM, and Northern Arizona University collaborated to explore the effects of variation of plant characteristics, or traits, of different populations of the same plant species on plant performance. They examined whether variation of traits influenced plant performance both at field sites, where seeds were originally collected, and in a New Mexico common garden. They found that variation of traits within the same species at field sites did not predict variability in the common garden and that greater trait variability did not consistently yield better plant performance, suggesting that trait variability among wild populations of the same species may have limited utility for predicting plant performance responses in restoration settings.
CITATION: Samuel, E.M., Mitchell, R.M., Winkler, D.E., Davidson, Z.M., Lencioni, S. and Massatti, R., 2024. Intraspecific trait variability in wild plant populations predicts neither variability nor performance in a common garden. Restoration Ecology, p.e14322. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.14322
Declining ecological resilience and invasion resistance projected in the sagebrush region
This study, led by USGS scientists and partners from other federal agencies, used an ecohydrological model to quantify the impacts of projected future climate on ecological resilience and invasion resistance in the sagebrush region of the US. Results suggest widespread decreases of resilience and resistance, especially in sagebrush ecosystems, highlighting a growing challenge for regional natural resource managers. The authors suggest that spatially explicit datasets can provide information to improve long-term risk assessments, prioritizations, and climate adaptation efforts.
CITATION: Schlaepfer, D.R., Chambers, J.C., Urza, A.K., Hanberry, B.B., Brown, J.L., Board, D.I., Campbell, S.B., Clause, K.J., Crist, M.R. and Bradford, J.B., 2025. Declining ecological resilience and invasion resistance under climate change in the sagebrush region, United States. Ecological Applications, 35(1), p.e3065. https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.3065
RAMPS is a program of the USGS Southwest Biological Science Center located in Flagstaff, AZ
RAMPS engages stakeholders within the U.S. Department of the Interior, other federal and state agencies, Tribal governments, and on private lands to provide guidance and support for effective restoration strategies across the southwestern U.S. The RAMPS network consists of over 500 individuals representing 50+ agencies, organizations, and universities working together to increase land productivity and reduce threats posed by environmental hazards.
Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –
The Advanced Engineering School “Digital Engineering” of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University (PISH SPbPU) presented the results of its work for 2024 and long-term development plans at the Council for the consideration of issues and coordination of the activities of the PISH chaired by the Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Valery Falkov.
The flagship project of the Ministry of Education and Science “Advanced Engineering Schools” has been implemented since 2022. Currently, 50 such schools have been created within its framework, and by 2030, on the instructions of Russian President Vladimir Putin, their number should be increased to 100. Starting this year, the first 30 schools from 15 regions, including PISh SPbPU, according to the terms of the project, are moving to a new stage of financing – after three years of budget financing, they will switch to off-budget and will work at the expense of funds attracted from industrial partners.
The first 30 advanced engineering schools are moving to a new qualitative level of development. The results presented by the university teams show that together we have managed to create an effective model for integrating education, science and production. The next stage for the first wave of schools will be scaling up their activities. Everything necessary for this is available: modern equipment, competencies, established contacts with industrial partners. It is important that regional authorities pay great attention to the development of advanced engineering schools in their cities, understanding their value for strengthening relations between higher education and the real sector of the economy, emphasized the head of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science Valery Falkov.
Today, 12 master’s programs are implemented at PIS SPbPU. From 2022 to 2024, the enrollment of students in the master’s programs of PIS SPbPU increased by 2.5 times, and the enrollment in the Applied Mechanics program became the largest in Russia – 68 people. In 2024, the first graduation of master’s students took place, and all graduates were employed at industrial partner enterprises, in partner universities, structural divisions of SPbPU and PIS SPbPU, as well as in companies in the high-tech sector of the economy.
Also, PISh SPbPU has developed and is implementing 53 programs of additional professional education (APE) for managers and engineering personnel of such companies as T Plus, Inter RAO, Power Machines, Severstal, companies of the United Aircraft Corporation (PJSC United Aircraft Corporation, Ilyushin Aviation Complex, Yakovlev, JSC AeroKomposit), UEC, UEC-Aviadvigatel, UEC-Klimov, etc.
The program of the Advanced Engineering School of SPbPU “Digital Engineering” allowed us to open many new modern laboratories and scientific and educational spaces at our university, develop and launch new master’s and additional professional education programs in relevant engineering areas. I would like to note that the Advanced Engineering School of SPbPU also expanded its effective and systematic interaction with industrial partners – high-tech companies and corporations. In addition, it was at the Advanced Engineering School “Digital Engineering” that the qualified partnership model was successfully tested, which formed the basis of the SPbPU Development Program until 2030 and in the long term until 2036. Formed teams with competencies and experience in solving breakthrough scientific and technological problems, the created scientific and scientific-technological reserve and the established effective qualified partnership with industry will help us make a breakthrough in the scientific and technological sphere, aimed at ensuring the technological leadership of our country, – commented the rector of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, chairman of the St. Petersburg branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences Andrey Rudskoy.
Over the past 2.5 years, the SPbPU Advanced Engineering School has made a significant contribution to the development of the university’s infrastructure. From 2022 to 2025, 11 research and educational spaces were opened in the SPbPU Advanced Engineering School, and six more are planned to be opened by 2030.
The Advanced Engineering School “Digital Engineering” of the St. Petersburg Polytechnic University is one of the most successful engineering schools, which is confirmed by the growth in the number of master’s programs and continuing education programs, the number of R & D projects implemented in the interests of high-tech companies and the successful employment of graduates. All this together has a positive effect on the overall qualification growth of the professional workshop of design engineers and developers. In fact, the SPbPU PISh makes a significant contribution to building up the intellectual potential of the Northern capital. It is important to note that the scientific and technological groundwork of the Advanced Engineering School “Digital Engineering” formed the basis of the Strategy and Development Program of the Polytechnic University until 2030, in particular one of the key scientific and technological areas “Systemic Digital Engineering”, – noted the Vice-Governor of St. Petersburg Vladimir Knyaginin.
The delegation of the Advanced Engineering School of SPbPU “Digital Engineering” included: the head of the SPbPU Office of Technological Leadership Oleg Rozhdestvensky, the vice-governor of St. Petersburg Vladimir Knyaginin, the director of the department of scientific and technical activities of JSC TVEL Alexey Shishkin, the first vice-rector of SPbPU Vitaly Sergeev, the director of the center for additional professional education of the SPbPU PISh Sergey Salkutsan.
As for developments, from 2022 to 2025, PISh SPbPU implemented more than 70 projects and attracted more than 1.8 billion rubles under commercial contracts for R&D and the provision of scientific and technological services commissioned by the high-tech industry.
Several large-scale projects were completed by specialists of the SPbPU PISh at the orders of various companies that are part of the Rosatom State Corporation. In the field of digital modeling, the school’s specialists were the first to create the architecture and digital models for a digital twin of a vitrification furnace for high-level radioactive waste. In 2024, at the order of the Composite Division of the Rosatom State Corporation, engineers developed a pilot industrial technology for the production of filaments from continuous carbon fiber based on thermoplastics and delivered ultra-high-performance installations to the Rosatom State Corporation – 12 km of filament/hour.
By order of JSC TVEL (Fuel Division of the State Corporation Rosatom), specialists from the Engineering Center (CompMechLab®) of the SPbPU PISh developed digital twins of fuel assemblies of water-cooled nuclear reactors of the TVS-K PWR and TVS VVER types. Over three years of work, engineers from the St. Petersburg Polytechnic University developed virtual test benches and ranges (VIS and VIP) for tetrahedral (TVS-K PWR) and hexagonal (TVS VVER) fuel assemblies: VIS “Gidrodinamika”, VIS “Prochnost”, VIP “Bezopasnost – TUK” and VIP “Bezopasnost – OR SUZ”.
Using digital systems engineering technologies, the school’s specialists performed comprehensive strength calculations of the ice-resistant fixed platform LSP “A” structures for the Kamennomysskoye-Sea gas field, guaranteeing the reliability of the structure for a period of 100 years of operation.
Also among the significant achievements is the development of improved sports sleds with improved aerodynamic characteristics for the Russian athlete, three-time world champion and two-time winner of the World Cup in luge Roman Repilov; the development and production of an optimal composite fairing for a modernized two-seater motor paraglider for the famous traveler Fyodor Konyukhov.
In 2024, the Advanced Engineering School of SPbPU achieved significant success in the field of unmanned aircraft systems, winning the competition of the ANO “FC BAS” as part of the implementation of the state Strategy for the Development of Unmanned Aviation of the Russian Federation and signed a contract for “Development of a system for constructing virtual test stands and virtual test sites, conducting digital tests of unmanned aerial vehicle elements based on a single digital platform for the development and use of UAS digital twins.”
We would also like to note the development of the Digital Platform for the development and application of digital twins CML-Bench® as a whole as one of the key tools for the implementation of knowledge-intensive multidisciplinary projects. In full accordance with the strategic state objectives of ensuring technological leadership of domestic high-tech products, the development of the Digital Platform CML-Bench® is aimed at active integration with the engineering software of Russian vendors, and in 2024 the platform was certified according to the sixth level of trust of the FSTEC and compliance with the requirements for state information systems of the third class, which provide the ability to process information constituting a commercial secret and information “For official use only”.
The implementation of the socio-economic development initiative “Advanced Engineering Schools” in the period from 2022 to 2024 was carried out within the framework of the federal project “Advanced Engineering Schools” of the state program “Scientific and Technological Development of the Russian Federation”. Since 2025, the continuity of the activities of the project “Advanced Engineering Schools” was ensured by including them in the federal project “Universities for the Generation of Leaders” of the national project “Youth and Children”.
In accordance with the Order of the Government of the Russian Federation dated May 26, 2022 No. 1315-r, Vice-Rector for Digital Transformation of SPbPU Alexey Borovkov joined the Council for Grants for Providing State Support for the Creation and Development of Advanced Engineering Schools. In order to avoid a conflict of interest, Alexey Ivanovich did not take part in the presentation and evaluation of the development results of the Advanced Engineering School “Digital Engineering” of SPbPU, of which he is the head.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) has introduced H.R. 3378, the Racehorse Health and Safety Act (RHSA), which protects the health and welfare of racing horses and improves the integrity and safety of horse racing. Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) has introduced companion legislation in the Senate.
This legislation is a direct response to the concerns surrounding the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA), which was signed into law, through an omnibus bill, in 2020. Passed with the intention of bringing uniformity to the horse racing industry, HISA establishes a wide set of rules that are implemented and enforced by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority. Since its passage, which Congressman Higgins opposed, HISA has been riddled with legal setbacks, including the death of 12 horses at Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby.
The Racehorse Health and Safety Act would:
Repeal the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA);
Grant states the right to enter into the interstate compact, which is a contract between multiple states to develop nationwide rules governing scientific control and racetrack safety for horse racing;
Establish the Racehorse Health and Safety Organization (RHSO), which will regulate the horse racing industry;
Establish three Scientific Medication Control Committees (SMCCs) to draft recommended rules for each breed.
“Government overreach is impacting industries across our nation with rules in places where they have no business being,” said Congressman Higgins. “The well-intentioned disaster of HISA proved that enforcing uniformed rules in horse racing plagues the industry with confusion and disruption. This legislation is rooted in science and draws from industry experts. It is of horsemen, by horsemen, and for horsemen. We must push back against federal oppression and protect the horse racing industry and the beautiful animals we love.”
“The RHSA will provide horse owners and racetracks flexibility, while also bringing safe and effective regulation to the horseracing industry,” said Senator Cotton.
Orange You Glad that Researchers Made a “Sweet” Discovery for the Citrus Industry?
By: Jessica Ryan Email: arspress@usda.gov
May 15, 2025
ARS scientists made a “sweet” discovery that may be important to solve a major problem within the citrus industry.
Huanglongbing (HLB), also known as citrus greening disease, poses a serious threat to the Florida citrus industry. HLB is associated with tree infection by its presumed causal agent Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus and is spreading to many citrus-growing areas worldwide. In Florida, HLB has caused about 90% of citrus production losses since it was first detected in 2005.
An orange from a Donaldson tree. (Photo by Giancarlo Buzzi, ARS)
ARS scientists at the U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory in Fort Pierce, FL, assessed citrus trees with oranges that could be potentially used for commercial production of orange juice. During their assessment, the scientists found a sweet orange tree named “Donaldson” at the A.H. Whitmore Citrus Research Foundation Farm in Groveland, FL. This tree is a selection from the USDA-ARS variety collection that represents over 100 years of USDA-ARS research on citrus in Florida.
“The Donaldson sweet orange tree stood out as being exceptionally healthy compared to the industry-standard trees that were planted close by and were in decline or had died,” said Matt Mattia, a research geneticist. “The Donaldson tree also tested positive for the presence of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus, one of the presumed causal agents of HLB. This indicates that the tree may have tolerance to the disease.”
The Donaldson orange tree. (Photo by Giancarlo Buzzi, ARS)
Historical records show that the Donaldson tree was first planted on the farm over 30 years ago. Another tree type named “Hamlin,” which has been ravaged by HLB, was also planted around the same time. Hamlin and Donaldson are early season trees that mature from December to January. While Hamlin has been used in commercial orange juice production for years, Donaldson has remained only on the farm.
Researchers assessed if Donaldson oranges could substitute Hamlin oranges for juice production. In the study, researchers conducted taste tests to study the differences between orange juice blends using Hamlin and Donaldson oranges.
“The taste testers noted that there was a difference between the two juices,” said Mattia. “However, those differences may be explained by the lower acidity in fruits from young Hamlin trees.”
According to Mattia, Donaldson oranges could replace Hamlin oranges for commercial production, maturing in the early season and presenting good orange flavor. However, future research should explore whether Donaldson fruit could replace Hamlin fruit in juice by comparing fruits from trees of the same age.
More research is underway to determine if the Donaldson trees have long-term tolerance to HLB and if citrus growers can successfully plant these trees to meet the demands of commercial production. ARS researchers plan to work with research collaborators and industry partners to assess Donaldson’s tolerance to HLB in field trials and study the possible underlying genetic mechanisms responsible for tolerance.
The study was published in HortScience. The research done by ARS was in collaboration with researchers at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences’ Horticultural Sciences Department.
The Agricultural Research Service is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s chief scientific in-house research agency. Daily, ARS focuses on solutions to agricultural problems affecting America. Each dollar invested in U.S. agricultural research results in $20 of economic impact.
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Fasheng Xu, a professor of Operations and Information Management (OPIM), has been awarded the 2025 Chelliah Sriskandarajah Early Career Research Accomplishments Award, a global honor bestowed on just one scholar annually.
The award, presented at the Production & Operations Management Society’s (POMS) annual conference in Atlanta last weekend, recognizes exceptional research contributions by a scholar who completed his or her doctorate in the last six years.
“Since joining UConn two years ago, Fasheng has made outstanding contributions to our research and teaching,’’ said professor Cuihong Li, head of the OPIM department. “He has enhanced our expertise in supply chain finance, risk management, and the integration of emerging technologies, particularly blockchain and Generative AI, into supply-chain management.”
“He exemplifies the qualities of a forward-thinking scholar, constantly exploring the evolving landscape of business and technology, analyzing their impact on supply chains and their intersections with other business functions, and bringing the latest insights into the classroom,’’ she said.
The Sriskandarajah award was created to recognize and reward exceptional faculty who have made significant accomplishments to the field and broadened, extended or altered the way production and operations management is conceptualized, practiced, and viewed.
Most recently, Xu’s research has focused on Generative AI, addressing questions about AI governance, market dynamics, and organizational transformation, including how companies can optimally integrate human and GenAI capabilities to enhance decision-making and drive innovation.
Xu said GenAI intrigues him. “I think GenAI will be more disruptive than other recent emerging technologies I’ve studied, and it’s a fascinating area that opens up new frontiers for both research and teaching,’’ he said.
Regardless of topic, Xu focuses his research to join theoretical rigor with actionable insights for the business community. One example is a series of articles he co-authored recently exploring the impact of blockchain technology adoption in various supply chain settings, identifying both the benefits and challenges. He typically has about 10 research projects underway at all times.
Xu also recently applied his knowledge to create a new UConn MBA course on supply chain finance, equipping students with analytical tools and practical knowledge to address real-world challenges. Creating a course from scratch was demanding, but something he enjoyed. Recently, he also led two faculty development workshops on the use of Generative AI for enhancing productivity in teaching and research.
His work has appeared in leading journals, including three papers each in Management Science and Manufacturing & Service Operations Management. Xu has also reviewed more than 130 manuscripts for leading journals.
Xu, who is based at the Stamford campus, said he was drawn to UConn because of the faculty’s research productivity, and that he has been able to collaborate with many of his colleagues here on new projects. He joined the faculty after working as an assistant professor of supply chain management at Syracuse University, where he was an award-winning faculty member. Xu earned his Ph.D. in Operations Management at Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis.
Xu credited Li’s encouragement and unwavering support as a factor in his receipt of the award.
“I likely wouldn’t have applied if it weren’t for Professor Li, who strongly believed in the quality and impact of my work,” he said. “I’m truly grateful for her mentorship and advocacy. Having my research recognized in this way has been a meaningful and motivating boost.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bill Huizenga (MI-02)
Today, Congressman Bill Huizenga (R-MI), Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL), Chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party John Moolenaar (R-MI), Ranking Member of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rick Crawford (R-AR), House Intelligence Committee Member Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), House Intelligence Committee Member Darin LaHood (R-IL), and House Foreign Affairs Committee Member Ted Lieu (D-CA), introduced the Chip Security Act.
The Chip Security Act would require advanced chip manufacturers to implement technical security measures to detect and prevent smuggling to unauthorized countries and end-users. This legislation responds to ongoing reports of AI chips being smuggled into China, where they are used to power state-controlled AI projects. Despite export controls, smuggling networks and front companies continue to move U.S.-made chips into restricted countries.
“American innovation and AI computing technology has the potential to change everything from how we complete daily tasks to unlocking the next era of scientific breakthroughs” said Congressman Bill Huizenga. “In order for the United States to maintain our technological advantage, we must employ safeguards to help ensure these advanced AI chips are not being shipped to bad actors who would use them for nefarious purposes. The Chips Security Act is a bipartisan solution that strengthens our ability to protect American interests as well as our technological advances.”
“As Congress’ chip designer, AI programmer, and PhD physicist, I know that we have the technical tools to prevent powerful AI technology from getting into the wrong hands. With advanced AI chips being smuggled into China and posing a national security risk, Congress must act,” said Congressman Bill Foster. “I’m proud to lead the effort on this bipartisan legislation, which is an important step in protecting our exports and ensuring that U.S. technology is not used to undermine democracy and global stability.”
“For too long, the Chinese Communist Party has exploited weaknesses in our export control enforcement system—using shell companies and smuggling networks to divert sensitive U.S. technology, fuel the PLA’s military advancement, and extend its surveillance capabilities to further its repression,” said Congressman John Moolenaar, Chairman of the China Select Committee. That puts our national security and our leadership in artificial intelligence at risk. This bipartisan bill closes those gaps with real safeguards to keep our most advanced chips out of the wrong hands. I’m proud to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and we’re committed to getting this legislation across the finish line and signed into law.”
“This bipartisan legislation will help ensure our most advanced technologies don’t end up in the wrong hands,” said Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ranking Member of the China Select Committee. “I’m proud to join my colleagues, including Congressman Foster—whose deep expertise and leadership on science and national security issues continue to strengthen our country—in introducing this commonsense measure.”
The bill would require:
Location Verification: High-end AI chips must have the ability to identify their location before they are exported.
Mandatory Reporting: Companies exporting these products must report any credible information about the diversion of the product, including if the location has changed.
Additional Technical Requirements: Requires the Secretary of Commerce to assess second-level security mechanisms to prevent misuse or diversion of these chips.
Enforcement: Provides the Secretary of Commerce enforcement capabilities to verify that the exported chips have not been diverted.
This issue was highlighted in the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party’s recent report on DeepSeek.
The Chip Security Act legislative text is available here. Companion legislation to the Chip Security Act has been introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR).
Are you passionate about making a difference? Are you a citizen of a NATO country? Would you like to work for the world’s most successful political and military alliance, which protects the freedom and security of one billion people?
Apply now for a six-month paid internship at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, starting in March or September 2026.
Whether your interests lie in political affairs, defence and security, innovation, operations, communications, human resources, finance, science and technology, or infrastructure and facilities, NATO is the place for you to gain invaluable hands-on experience in your chosen field.
An internship placement at NATO is an opportunity to acquire skills, become part of a community of international professionals, work alongside experts, share ideas and contribute to the goals of the Alliance.
If you are ready to embark on a journey that will not only shape your career, but also enable you to contribute to NATO’s mission of safeguarding one billion people, we encourage you to apply for an internship.
The deadline to apply for the NATO Internship Programme is 22 June 2025.
For more information about the NATO Internship Programme, including eligibility criteria, compensation and benefits, and the full application process, please visit the NATO Internship Programme page.
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN – May 15, 2025. Karolinska Development AB (publ) (“Karolinska Development” or the “Company”) held the Annual General Meeting on May 15, 2025. The shareholders have had the right to exercise their voting rights in advance through postal voting pursuant to item 13 in the articles of association. Therefore, shareholders have had the choice to exercise their voting rights at the AGM by attending in person, by postal voting or through a proxy. The following resolutions were passed by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting:
Profit and loss statement and the balance sheet: It was resolved to adopt the profit and loss statement and the balance sheet and the consolidated profit and loss statement and the consolidated balance sheet.
Appropriation of the Company’s result: It was resolved to approve the allocation of the result, proposed by the Board of Directors and the CEO, in total SEK 1,235,972,877 to be carried forward.
Discharge from liability of the directors and the CEO: It was resolved to grant the directors and the CEO discharge from liability for the financial year 2024.
Resolution regarding the number of directors and auditors and deputy auditors to be appointed: It was resolved that the number of directors shall be five without deputies and that the number of auditors shall be one. No deputy auditor shall be appointed.
Resolution in respect of the fees for the Board of Directors and for the auditor: It was resolved that the chairman will be paid a fixed amount of SEK 400,000 to be paid out in proportion to board meetings attended; that all other directors will be paid a fixed amount of SEK 200,000 to be paid out in proportion to board meetings attended; that the auditor will be paid as per invoice.
Election of Chairman of the Board of Directors, directors and auditors and deputy auditors: It was resolved to re-elect the directors Ben Toogood, Anna Lefevre Skjöldebrand, Philip Duong and Will Zeng, and to elect Anders Härfstrand as director, and it was resolved to re-elect Ben Toogood as Chairman of the Board of Directors. It was resolved to, in accordance with the audit committee’s recommendation, re-elect Ernst & Young Aktiebolag as auditor, currently with Oskar Wall as auditor in charge, for the time until the end of the 2026 Annual General Meeting.
Principles for appointing members and instruction for the Nomination Committee: It was resolved that the Nomination Committee shall have five members. Every year, the five largest owners (voting power, as set forth in the share register kept by Euroclear Sweden AB as of the last banking day in August) shall appoint one member each. The chairman of the Board of Directors shall convene the first meeting. If a shareholder does not exercise its right to appoint a member, the shareholder next in order of voting power, who has not already appointed a member or has a right to appoint a member, shall have the right to appoint a member to the Nominating Committee. The members of the Nomination Committee shall be made public as soon as the members have been appointed, and in no case later than six months prior to the Annual General Meeting. The members shall among themselves appoint the chairman of the Nomination Committee. If a member resigns or is prevented from pursuing his/her assignment, the shareholder that has appointed such member shall appoint a new member. In the event that the shareholding in the Company is materially changed, before the Nomination Committee has completed its assignment, the Nomination Committee may decide to change the composition of the Nomination Committee, as determined by the Nomination Committee (considering the principles applicable for the appointment of the Nomination Committee). Any change in the composition of the Nomination Committee shall be announced as soon as possible. No fees shall be paid to the members of the Nomination Committee. Out of pocket expenses shall be reimbursed by the Company. The mandate of the committee shall be until the members of the succeeding committee have been announced.
The Nomination Committee is to make proposals to the Annual General Meeting regarding the election of Chair of the Annual General Meeting, number of directors, Chair of the Board of Directors and other directors and remuneration to the directors. The Nomination Committee is also to make proposals regarding the company’s auditor, remuneration to the company’s auditor and election of members of the Nomination Committee or principles for the selection of a Nomination Committee. The Nomination Committee shall conduct an annual evaluation of this instruction and when necessary propose to amend it to the Annual General Meeting. The Nomination Committee shall otherwise carry out the tasks that, according to the Swedish Corporate Governance Code, are the responsibility of the Nomination Committee.
Resolution on approval of the Board of Directors’ Remuneration Report 2024: It was resolved to approve the Board of Directors’ remuneration report for 2024 in accordance with Chapter 8, Section 53 a of the Swedish Companies Act.
The Board of Directors’ proposal regarding authorization for the Board of Directors to resolve on transfer of own shares: It was resolved to authorize the Board of Directors, for the period until the next Annual General Meeting, on one or more occasions, with or without deviation from the shareholders’ preferential rights, to resolve on transfer of all shares of series B held by the Company at any given time. Transfer may take place on Nasdaq Stockholm or otherwise. Transfer on Nasdaq Stockholm shall be made at a price per share within the registered price interval at any given time, being the interval between the highest bid and lowest ask price. Otherwise, transfer shall be made on market terms. Payment for shares shall be made in cash, in kind or by set-off.
The Board of Directors’ proposal regarding authorization for the Board of Directors to resolve on new issues of shares: It was resolved to authorize the Board of Directors, for the period until the next Annual General Meeting to resolve, on one or more occasions, with or without deviation from the shareholders’ preferential rights, and for payment in cash, by set-off or in kind, to issue new shares of series B up to a number that, at the time of the first resolution under the authorization, corresponds to twenty (20) per cent of the total share capital; provided however that any such issue must not result in the Company’s share capital exceeding the Company’s maximum allowed share capital as set out in the articles of association.
Complete information regarding each resolution of the Annual General Meeting can be found on www.karolinskadevelopment.com.
For further information, please contact:
Viktor Drvota, CEO, Karolinska Development AB Phone: +46 73 982 52 02, e-mail: viktor.drvota@karolinskadevelopment.com
The information was submitted for publication through the agency of the contact persons set out above on May 15, 2025 at 16:45 CEST.
TO THE EDITORS
About Karolinska Development AB
Karolinska Development AB (Nasdaq Stockholm: KDEV) is a Nordic life sciences investment company. The company focuses on identifying breakthrough medical innovations in the Nordic region that are developed by entrepreneurs and leadership teams. The Company invests in the creation and growth of companies that advance these assets into commercial products that are designed to make a difference to patients’ lives while providing an attractive return on investment to shareholders.
Karolinska Development has access to world-class medical innovations at the Karolinska Institutet and other leading universities and research institutes in the Nordic region. The Company aims to build companies around scientists who are leaders in their fields, supported by experienced management teams and advisers, and co-funded by specialist international investors, to provide the greatest chance of success.
Karolinska Development has a portfolio of eleven companies targeting opportunities in innovative treatment for life-threatening or serious debilitating diseases.
The Company is led by an entrepreneurial team of investment professionals with a proven track record as company builders and with access to a strong global network.
NEW YORK, NY, May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Climb Credit, a leading student lending platform focused on skills education, today announced the launch of its new deposit collection feature, designed to give career-training schools greater control over enrollment and repayment outcomes—without adding operational overhead.
The feature enables schools to automatically collect and track student deposit payments through a seamless workflow integrated with the loan process. Once a student is approved for a Climb loan and accepts their offer, they receive an automated prompt to submit their school’s required deposit, with all payment tracking managed in Climb’s School Portal.
“Deposits are a key signal of student commitment, but schools have traditionally had to manage them separately from the loan process,” said Casey Powers, CEO of Climb Credit. “With this launch, we’ve streamlined deposit collection for schools and simplified the experience for students—reducing friction and accelerating enrollment.
Initial data from schools collecting deposits shows a 46–48% decrease* in the likelihood of borrower default for lower credit borrowers. This improvement is attributed not only to the upfront financial commitment, but also to a smoother path into auto-pay enrollment. When students submit deposits via bank transfer, those details can be automatically linked to Climb’s loan servicing platform—making it easier to activate auto-pay and receive a 0.25% interest rate reduction.**
The new feature is fully integrated into Climb’s lending platform, meaning schools no longer need to manually invoice students or track payments across systems. Adjusting individual deposit amounts, verifying funding status, and accessing real-time student-level data can all be done through Climb’s School Portal.
This launch adds to Climb’s growing suite of products aimed at improving access, outcomes, and operational efficiency for career training providers—particularly in healthcare, skilled trades, and technology.
*Data calculated through an assessment or repayment performance on loans from 2Q23 to Q12025 with and without a deposit requirement. Assessment included Climb advance loans without a full deferment period and borrower FICO scores below 660. Data was collected across market segments including programs in Computer Sciences, Healthcare, IT, and Trade Schools.
**The 0.25% auto-pay interest rate reduction applies as long as a valid bank account is designated for required monthly payments. This discount only applies to interest-bearing products, not 0%interest financing products.
Climb encourages students to do thorough research in selecting a training program that meets their unique needs. Details provided by Climb are for information purposes only and are not meant to qualify an institution or be relied upon in determining which institution is right for you.
About Climb Credit
Climb (NMLS# 1240013) is an innovative student payment platform that makes career-focused education more accessible and affordable. Driven by a mission to empower individuals to unlock their potential – no matter their credit profile – Climb identifies programs and schools that offer skill-based training programs, then provides learners with payment options that are structured to meet the unique needs of those seeking career training. Recognizing the dynamic and diverse nature of a rapidly-changing economy, Climb partners with schools that teach everything from cybersecurity to healthcare training, heavy machine operation to data science, and culinary arts to AI & Machine Learning. While status quo education pathways are struggling to meet the real-world needs of students and prospective employers, Climb and its partner schools are committed to an inspiring practicality that helps bridge the gap between people looking for career training and companies looking to build a skilled workforce.
At its meeting on 15 May 2025, the Bank Board of the Czech National Bank (CNB) approved changes in the bank’s organisational structure with effect from 1 June 2025.
The Resolution Division will be transferred from the Financial Markets and Resolution Department to the Financial Stability Department. This change is aimed at leveraging synergies in fulfilling one of the CNB’s primary objectives, namely maintaining the long-term stability of the financial system. In connection with this change, the departments concerned will be renamed the Financial Markets Department and the Financial Stability and Resolution Department on 1 June.
At the same time, the Bank Board decided to appoint Petr Frydrych new Executive Director of the Financial Markets Department with effect from 1 June. Ondřej Strádal will become the Department’s Deputy Executive Director. He will remain in charge of the Reserves Management Division. Daniel Krejčí will head up the Interventions Division.
Petr Frydrych graduated from the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics at Charles University in Prague. He joined the CNB’s Reserves Management Division in 1995, where he held the post of portfolio manager. He was appointed Director of the Reserves Management Division in 2001 and Director of the Interventions Division in 2005, and now serves as Deputy Executive Director of the Financial Markets and Resolution Department. He has long focused on monetary policy implementation in his work.
Ondřej Strádal graduated from the Institute of Economic Studies of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Charles University and qualified as a Chartered Financial Analyst in 2003. He began his career at the CNB as a money market broker and then worked as a portfolio manager responsible for international reserves management. After that, he worked at the London branch of Goldman Sachs. Between 2016 and 2019, at the decision of the Bank Board, he held the post of Advisor to the Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund in Washington. In 2008–2016 and since 2019, he has served as Director of the CNB’s Reserves Management Division, where he manages a team of portfolio managers.
Daniel Krejčí graduated from the Faculty of Finance and Accounting at the Prague University of Economics and Business and from the Institute of Economic Studies of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Charles University. In 1995–2007, he worked at ČSOB in various positions, ultimately as director of interest rate and commodity derivatives trading for clients. He joined the CNB in 2007, where he held the post of Deputy Executive Director of the Risk Management and Transactions Support Department responsible for the Risk Management Division until 2019. Since 2019, he has worked as a chief dealer and Deputy Director of the Reserves Management Division at the CNB.
Each year, between March and October, large amounts of brown seaweed called sargassum wash up on the shores of Caribbean islands – choking beaches, damaging marine life and threatening tourism and public health. But a number of local entrepreneurs are hoping the seaweed could create an economic opportunity.
From the coast of west Africa to the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, climate change is warming the temperature of the ocean. Seas are also becoming more acidic as water absorbs carbon dioxide. This all results in more intense growth of sargassum in the tropical Atlantic.
The piles of noxious seaweed on the Caribbean islands’ white sandy beaches are putting off visitors to these islands and probably dampening tourism revenues.
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The fishing sector is also suffering, with blooms of seaweed getting caught up in fishing nets, often ripping them due to the weight of the seaweed. This makes it hard for fishers to catch fish and make a living.
The sargassum problem is just one of many slow-onset events that are being exacerbated by climate change. But gradual changes get much less attention or resources to address the consequences than, say, alarming wildfires or flash floods.
Slow-onset events are also much harder to quantify than climate-change-induced extreme weather, such as worsening hurricanes or floods. Our team at ODI Global, a thinktank, recently published a study that estimated the cost of these at US$2,000 (£1,500) per person. Calculating the tourism lost each year due to seaweed inundation is trickier.
Despite these challenges, through small-scale, locally developed solutions, as well as government policies that support small businesses including helping them access climate finance, entrepreneurs can find sustainable solutions to help their populations thrive in an era of climate change.
Legena Henry, a lecturer at the University of the West Indies in Barbados, uses sargassum to produce a biofuel that can power cars. Johanan Dujon, the founder and chief executive of St. Lucia-based Algas Organics sells plant tonics made from sargassum and is trialling methods to convert sargassum into paper.
Meanwhile, other innovations are helping to minimise the impacts of sargassum in the region.
Andrés León, founder of SOS Carbon, a spin-off organisation from the mechanical engineering department at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has designed a boat-based harvester to collect sargassum at sea to stop it from beaching and causing damage onshore.
Some islands, such as Jamaica, are using early warning systems, typically used to predict hurricanes, to predict the ocean currents that might bring a bumper arrival of the seaweed to their shores. This could give fishers up to 30 days notice of just how bad the inundation will be.
Barriers to scale up
But while small businesses are emerging, turning them into larger enterprises across the region remains difficult. As usual, small island nations struggle to get funding because investors think the projects are too small and won’t make enough money.
As Legena Henry recently told us on the Small Island Big Picture podcast, spending a few million dollars (as opposed to a few hundred million dollars) can feel administratively cumbersome for funders as they often have limited administrative capacity and large sums of money to manage.
Another issue is ensuring the benefits from any sargassum solutions flow into the affected Caribbean islands to support local growth and economic development.
Several opportunities exist for small island nations to generate some income from sargassum. They could, for example, sell licences to permit companies to harvest sargassum within their exclusive economic zones, which can stretch around many islands for hundreds of nautical miles.
They can also sell licences to businesses trialling or operating new sargassum technologies within their exclusive economic zones — for example, SOS Carbon has a patent pending for technology designed to sink sargassum to the seabed to store carbon.
Will sargassum continue to be a nuisance, or could it be an important renewable natural resource? It’s not yet clear.
Ideally, as with other renewable natural resources in developing countries, small island nations that own the sargassum need to find ways to extract a fair share of the value from that ownership, as well as selling to external companies that come in, remove it and profit from it.
With tax incentives and low-cost finance for domestic innovators, small islands can manage and sell sargassum and then use the proceeds to develop climate resilience measures.
Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?
Emma Tompkins received funding for work on sargassum from the Economic and Social Research Council GCRF (Grant number: ES/T002964/1)
Emily Wilkinson does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
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