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Category: Science

  • MIL-OSI Global: Providing farmworkers with health insurance is worth it for their employers − new research

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By John Lowrey, Assistant Professor of Supply Chain and Health Sciences, Northeastern University

    Farmworkers at Del Bosque Farms pick and pack melons on a mobile platform in Firebaugh, Calif., in July 2021. AP Photo/Terry Chea

    Agricultural employers who provide farmworkers with health insurance earn higher profits, even after accounting for the cost of that coverage. In addition, farmworkers who get health insurance through their employers are more productive and earn more money than those who do not.

    These are the key findings from our study published in the March 2025 issue of the American Journal of Agricultural Economics.

    To conduct this research, we crunched over three decades of data from the Labor Department’s National Agricultural Workers Survey. We focused on California, the nation’s largest producer of fruits, nuts and other labor-intensive agricultural products in the U.S., from 1989 to 2022.

    We determined that if 20% more farmworkers got health insurance coverage, they would have earned $23,063 a year in 2022, up from $22,482 if they did not. Their employers, meanwhile, would earn $7,303 in net profits per worker annually in this same scenario, versus $6,598.

    Why it matters

    Roughly half of California’s agricultural employers are facing labor shortages at a time when the average age of U.S. farmworkers is also rising.

    Some of them, including grape producers, are responding by investing more heavily in labor-saving equipment, which helps reduce the need for seasonal manual labor. However, automated harvesting isn’t yet a viable or affordable option for labor-intensive specialty crops such as melons and strawberries.

    Despite labor shortages, agricultural employers may be reluctant to increase total compensation for farmworkers. They may also be wary of providing additional benefits such as health insurance for two main reasons.

    First, seasonal workers are, by definition, transient, meaning that the employer who provides coverage may not necessarily be the same one who benefits from a healthier worker. Second, it costs an employer money but doesn’t necessarily benefit them in the future if the worker moves on.

    Most U.S. farmworkers are immigrants from Mexico or Central America. Roughly 42% are immigrants who are in the U.S. without legal authorization, down from 55% in the early 2000s.

    As the share of farmworkers who are unauthorized immigrants has declined, the share who are U.S. citizens – including those born here – has grown and now stands at about 39%.

    The low wages farmworkers earn offer little incentive for more U.S. citizens and permanent residents to take these jobs. These jobs might become more attractive if employers offered health care coverage to protect the health of the worker and their household.

    Farmworkers who lack legal authorization to be in the U.S. are not eligible for private health insurance policies, and many can’t enroll in Medicaid, a government-run health insurance program that’s primarily for low-income Americans and people with disabilities. Regardless, some employers do take steps to help them gain access to health care services. As of 2025, a large share of farmworkers remain uninsured, including many citizens and immigrants with legal status.

    Limited access to health care is an unfortunate reality for farmworkers, whose jobs are physically demanding and dangerous. In addition, farmworkers are paid at or near the minimum wage and are constantly searching for their next employment opportunity. This uncertainty causes high levels of stress, which can contribute to chronic health issues such as hypertension.

    What still isn’t known

    It is hard to estimate the effect of employer-provided health insurance on workers and employers, since labor market outcomes are a result of highly complex interactions.

    For example, wages, productivity and how long someone keeps their job are highly interdependent variables determined by the interaction between what workers seek and what employers offer. And wages do not always reflect a worker’s skills and abilities, as some people are more willing to accept a job with low pay if their compensation includes good benefits such as health insurance.

    The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Providing farmworkers with health insurance is worth it for their employers − new research – https://theconversation.com/providing-farmworkers-with-health-insurance-is-worth-it-for-their-employers-new-research-253200

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Peru’s ancient irrigation systems turned deserts into farms because of the culture − without it, the systems failed

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Ari Caramanica, Assistant Professor of Archaeology, Vanderbilt University

    A pre-Hispanic canal funnels water from mountains to farm fields. Ari Caramanica

    Seeing the north coast of Peru for the first time, you would be hard-pressed to believe it’s one of the driest deserts in the world.

    Parts of the region receive less than an inch of rain in an entire year. Yet, water and greenery are everywhere. This is the nation’s agro-industrial heartland, and, thanks to irrigation canals, almost every inch of the floodplain is blanketed in lucrative export crops, such as sugarcane, asparagus and blueberries.

    However, the apparent success of this system masks an underlying fragility.

    Water shortages have plagued the region for centuries, and now modern climate change combined with agro-industrial practices have further intensified droughts. In response, the Peruvian government has invested billions of dollars in irrigation infrastructure in recent years designed to deliver more water from a resource more than 100 miles away: glaciers in the Andes.

    But the Andean glaciers are disappearing as global temperatures rise. Peru has lost over half its glacier surface area since 1962. At the same time, floods often connected to wet El Niño years are increasing in both frequency and intensity. These floods often destroy or obstruct critical irrigation infrastructure.

    Andean glaciers are disappearing as global temperatures rise. Peru lost over half its glacier surface area in the past half-century.
    mmphoto/DigitalVision via Getty Images

    As an archaeologist investigating societal responses to environmental and climate disaster in Peru, I’m interested in unraveling the histories of complex systems to understand how to improve similar systems today. To understand the Peruvian heartland’s vulnerabilities, it helps to look to the deep past.

    Most of the modern canal network originally dates to pre-Hispanic times, more than 1400 years ago. However, evidence suggests that while the canal systems of the past may have looked similar to those of the present, they functioned in more efficient, flexible ways. The key to adapting to our present and future climate may lie in comprehending the knowledge systems of the past – not just the equipment, technology or infrastructure, but how people used it.

    An environment of extremes

    The north coast of Peru is an environment of extremes.

    In this desert, thousands of years ago, societies encountered many of the same challenges posed by the modern climate crisis: expanding drylands, water scarcity, vulnerable food production systems, and frequent, intense natural disasters.

    Yet, people not only occupied this area for millennia, they thrived in it. Moche and Chimu societies created sophisticated, complex political and religious institutions, art and technology, and one of the largest pyramidal structures in the Americas.

    Relief of fish adorn an adobe wall in the historic Tschudi Complex archaeological site at Chan Chan, the former capital of the Chimu empire in Peru.
    FabulousFabs/Flickr, CC BY-NC

    When the Spanish arrived on the desert north coast of Peru shortly after 1532 C.E., early chroniclers remarked on the verdant, green valleys across the region.

    The Spanish immediately recognized the importance of the canal network. They had used similar canal technology in Spain for centuries. So, they set about conscripting Indigenous labor and adapting the irrigation system to their goals.

    Just a few decades later, however, historic records describe sand dunes and scrublands invading the green valleys, water shortages, and in 1578 a massive El Niño flood that nearly ended the young colony.

    So how did the Indigenous operation of this landscape succeed, where the Spanish and the modern-day agro-industrial complex have repeatedly failed?

    Culture was crucial for ancient canal systems

    Ancient beliefs, behaviors and norms – what archaeologists call culture – were fundamentally integrated into technological solutions in this part of Peru in ancient times. Isolating and removing the tools from that knowledge made them less effective.

    Scientists, policymakers and stakeholders searching for models of sustainable agriculture and climate adaptations can look to the archaeological record. Successfully applying past practices to today’s challenges requires learning about the cultures that put those tools to work effectively for so long, so long ago.

    The pre-Hispanic societies of Peru developed agricultural principles around the realities of the desert, which included both dry seasons and flash floods.

    Large-scale irrigation infrastructure was combined with low-cost, easily modified canals. Aqueducts doubled as sediment traps to capture nutrients. Canal branches channeled both river water and floodwater. Even check-dams – small dams used to control high-energy floods – worked in multiple ways. Usually made of mounded cobble and gravel, they reduced the energy of flash floods, captured rich sediments and recharged the water table.

    A drone’s view of sugarcane fields shows a pre-Hispanic adobe aqueduct on the right and small feeder canals in the modern fields.
    Ari Caramanica

    The initial failures of the Spanish on the north coast exemplify the problem of trying to adopt technology without understanding the cultural insights behind it: While they may be identical in form, a Spanish canal isn’t a Moche canal.

    Spanish canals operated in a temperate climate and were managed by individual farmers who could maintain or increase their water flow. The Moche and Chimu canal was tied to a complex labor system that synchronized cleaning and maintenance and prioritized the efficient use of water. What’s more, Moche canals functioned in tandem with floodwater diversion canals, which activated during El Niño events to create niches of agricultural productivity amid disasters.

    A handmade gate on a modern canal in northern Peru doesn’t seem that different from ancient canals, but the pre-Hispanic canal systems were generally more conceptually complex and interconnected.
    Ari Caramanica

    Desert farming required flexibility and multifunctionality from its infrastructure. Achieving that often meant forgoing impermeable materials and permanent designs, which stands in stark contrast to the way modern-day water management works are constructed.

    Copying ancient practices without the culture

    Today, the Peruvian government is pushing forward with a decades-old, multibillion-dollar project to deliver water to the north coast from a glacier-fed river.

    The Chavimochic project promises a grand transformation, turning desert into productive farmland. But it may be sacrificing long-term resilience for short-term prosperity.

    The project feeds on the temporary abundance of glacial meltwater. This is creating a water boom as the ice melts, but it will inevitably be followed by a devastating water bust as the glaciers all but disappear, which scientists estimate could happen by the end of the 21st century.

    Farmers sell locally grown corn and other crops at a street market in Piura, Peru.
    Christian Ender/Getty Images

    Meanwhile, sustainable land management practices of past Indigenous inhabitants continue to support ecosystems hundreds and even thousands of years later. Studies show higher levels of biodiversity, crucial to ecosystem health, near archaeological sites.

    On the Peruvian north coast, pre-Hispanic infrastructure continues to capture floodwater during El Niño events. When their modern-day fields are flooded or destroyed by these events, farmers will sometimes move their crops to areas surrounding archaeological remains where their corn, squash and bean plants can tap into the trapped water and sediments and safely grow without the need for further irrigation.

    Critics might point out the difficulty of scaling up ancient technologies for global applications, find them rudimentary, or would prefer to appropriate the design without bothering with understanding “the cultural stuff.”

    But this framing misses the bigger point: What made these technologies effective was the cultural stuff. Not just the tools but how they were used by the societies operating them. As long as modern engineering solutions try to update ancient technologies without considering the cultures that made them function, these projects will struggle.

    Understanding the past matters

    Archaeologists have an important role to play in building a climate-resilient future, but any meaningful progress would benefit from a historical approach that considers multiple ways of understanding the environment, of operating an irrigation canal and of organizing an agriculture-based economy.

    That approach, in my view, begins with saving indigenous languages, where cultural logic is deeply embedded, as well as preserving archaeological and sacred sites, and creating partnerships built on trust with the people who have worked with the land and whose cultures have adapted their practices to the changing climate for thousands of years.

    Ari Caramanica receives funding from The National Endowment for the Humanities.

    – ref. Peru’s ancient irrigation systems turned deserts into farms because of the culture − without it, the systems failed – https://theconversation.com/perus-ancient-irrigation-systems-turned-deserts-into-farms-because-of-the-culture-without-it-the-systems-failed-251199

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How racism fueled the Eaton Fire’s destruction in Altadena − a scholar explains why discrimination can raise fire risk for Black Californians

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Calvin Schermerhorn, Professor of History, Arizona State University

    Altadena is inherently prone to fire. But Black residents are the most vulnerable. Mario Tama/Getty Images

    The damage from the Eaton Fire wasn’t indiscriminate. The blaze that ravaged the city of Altadena, California, in January 2025, killing 17 people and consuming over 9,000 buildings, destroyed Black Altadenans’ homes in greatest proportion.

    About 48% of Black-owned homes sustained major damage or total destruction, compared with 37% of those owned by Asian, Latino or white Altadenans, according to a February 2025 report from the UCLA Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies.

    The Eaton Fire’s uneven devastation reveals a pattern of racial discrimination previously concealed along neat blocks of mid-century, ranch-style homes and tree-lined streets.

    ‘A place for white people only’

    In the early 20th century, Altadena was a professional enclave connected to Los Angeles, 13 miles away, by the Pacific Electric Railway, or “Red Car” system.

    It was also lily-white, and that’s how homeowner groups liked it, according to research by Altadena historian Michele Zack.

    These organizations, which had lofty names such as the Great Northwest Improvement Association and West Altadena Improvement Association, urged homeowners to write language into their deeds that would bar Black, Latino or Asian tenants from buying or renting there.

    “We want our section of Pasadena and Altadena to be a place for white people only,” read one homeowners association notice sent to property owners in 1919.

    A ladies golf lesson in Altadena, Calif., 1958.
    Maryland Studio/PGA of America via Getty Images

    By the end of World War II, most properties in Altadena had racially restrictive deeds or covenants – a trend being repeated in white suburbs across the country.

    In 1948, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down such restrictions in Shelley v. Kraemer as unenforceable. Still, the 1950 census shows that Altadena had no Black residents.

    Building the new LA

    But the Los Angeles area was changing. The West Coast economy boomed after the war, and Black Americans from Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas began heading to California. Many landed in Pasadena, directly south of Altadena.

    Claiming that Americans preferred buses and automobiles to trains, a consortium of automobile, oil and tire companies persuaded Los Angeles officials to rip out the electric railway and replace it with roads.

    Los Angeles’ “Red Car” system, which had connected the region, closed for good in 1961. Altadena had already lost its rail connection to Los Angeles long before, in 1941.

    By mid-century, broader Los Angeles had become a series of homeowner-controlled enclaves connected by freeways and choked with smog.

    The construction in 1958 of Interstate 210, which connected the San Fernando Valley to the San Gabriel Valley, ran a four-lane highway through mostly Black and Latino neighborhoods of Pasadena. Following a national pattern of displacing poor minority communities in the name of urban renewal, it was part of a redevelopment spree that ultimately pushed 4,000 Black and Latino residents out of the city.

    Some relocated within Pasadena or moved to Duarte, Monrovia, Pomona or South Los Angeles. But a handful of families bought homes in Altadena, defying the illegal racial covenants still in place there.

    One new Black resident, Joseph Henry Davis, bought a home west of Lake Avenue, the main north-south artery dividing the city, in what was, as one local newspaper put it in 1964, an “all-white Altadena neighborhood.”

    When Davis moved in, the story reports, his new neighbors put up “a 40-inch white plaster cross that (read) ‘you are not welcome here.‘” The Davis family “paid it no attention.”

    Altadena embodied a paradox seen nationwide. The city integrated, but block-by-block segregation kept white and Black residents apart.

    Discrimination in new forms

    By 1970, roughly one-third of Altadena’s population was Black, and 70% of Black households in Altadena owned their homes – nearly double Los Angeles County’s Black home ownership rate of 38%.

    Black residents almost exclusively lived in West Altadena. Lots there were smaller than those on the east side of town, so they were more affordable. They were also older, which made them more vulnerable to fires because they were built with materials that were more flammable than those used in newer homes.

    As my book “The Plunder of Black America: How the Racial Wealth Gap Was Made” shows, once Black families surmounted one obstacle, such as racial covenants, another rose in its place.

    In the 1960s and 1970s, many white Altadenans resisted school integration, opposing boundary changes and busing that would have put Black and Latino students in predominantly white Altadena schools. California passed Proposition 13 in 1978, freezing property taxes at 1% of their assessed value. Public schools lost significant funding, private schools gained affluent students, and educational segregation deepened.

    Educational discrimination feeds wealth inequality, which was severe nationwide: In 1980, for every dollar a white household owned, a Black one owned 20 cents.

    Rising home values, paradoxically, had a similarly malignant effect. In the 1980s, the Los Angeles area became one of the most expensive housing markets in the nation. Many Black Altadenans could no longer afford to live there. The share of the city’s population that was Black fell from 43% in 1980 to 38% in 1990. By the 2000s it had dropped to below 25%.

    Great Recession takes its toll

    Black homeowners who remained in Altadena were hit hard by the 2008 housing crisis. That crisis was caused in part by lenders steering borrowers, particularly borrowers of color, into subprime loans, even when they qualified for better deals.

    Between 2007 and 2009, Black households lost 48% of their wealth – nearly half their assets. White wealth dropped during the Great Recession, too, but only by about one-quarter.

    Research into this racial discrepancy later showed that because white families had more of a financial cushion, they could stem their losses.

    These and other factors have all dragged down the wealth of Black Californians over the years. In 2023, California’s task force on reparations calculated that the state’s discriminatory practices cost the average African American in California $160,931 in homeownership wealth compared with a white Californian.

    Racism fuels the fire

    Those inequities were a tinderbox that the Eaton Fire ignited.

    Altadena is inherently prone to fire because it borders the Angeles National Forest, gets Santa Ana winds that spread embers, and has highly flammable vegetation. But because Black Altadenans’ homes sit on smaller lots, with structures and landscaping located closer together, the ember fire spread more easily in Black neighborhoods.

    Altadena, Calif., March 26, 2025: A scene of ruin.
    Mario Tama/Getty Images

    Black Altadenans also tend to be older than their white neighbors, because most had bought into the area before the real estate boom of the 1980s. The physical and financial strains typical of an aging household may have caused hardships for removing vegetation – a best practice in protecting a structure from an ember fire.

    All these factors likely contributed to the Eaton Fire disproportionately burning Black-owned homes. All are connected to the city’s legacy of discrimination and exclusion. And they will all make fire recovery harder for Black Altadenans, too.

    Calvin Schermerhorn does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. How racism fueled the Eaton Fire’s destruction in Altadena − a scholar explains why discrimination can raise fire risk for Black Californians – https://theconversation.com/how-racism-fueled-the-eaton-fires-destruction-in-altadena-a-scholar-explains-why-discrimination-can-raise-fire-risk-for-black-californians-250582

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Reality check: coral restoration won’t save the world’s reefs

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Corey J. A. Bradshaw, Matthew Flinders Professor of Global Ecology and Node Leader in the ARC Centre of Excellence for Indigenous and Environmental Histories and Futures, Flinders University

    A coral ‘rope’ nursery in the Maldives Luca Saponari/University of Milan, CC BY-ND

    Coral reefs are much more than just a pretty place to visit. They are among the world’s richest ecosystems, hosting about a third of all marine species.

    These reefs also directly benefit more than a billion people, providing livelihoods and food security, as well as protection from storms and coastal erosion.

    Without coral reefs, the world would be a much poorer place. So when corals die or become damaged, many people try to restore them. But the enormity of the task is growing as the climate keeps warming.

    In our new research, we examined the full extent of existing coral restoration projects worldwide. We looked at what drives their success or failure, and how much it would actually cost to restore what’s already been lost. Restoring the reefs we’ve already lost around the world could cost up to A$26 trillion.

    Bleached Acropora corals in the Maldives.
    Davide Seveso/University of Milan

    Global losses

    Sadly, coral reefs are suffering all over the world. Global warming and marine heatwaves are the main culprits. But overfishing and pollution make matters worse.

    When sea temperatures climb above the seasonal average for sustained periods, corals can become bleached. They lose colour as they expel their symbiotic algae when stressed, revealing the white skeleton underneath. Severe bleaching can kill coral.

    Coral bleaching and mass coral deaths are now commonplace. Last month, a massive warm-water plume bleached large areas of Ningaloo Reef on Australia’s northwest coast just as large sections of the northern Great Barrier Reef were bleaching on the northeast coast.

    Since early 2023, mass coral bleaching has occurred in throughout the tropics and parts of the Indian Ocean.

    Over the past 40 years, the extent of coral reefs has halved. As climate change continues, bleaching events and coral deaths will become more common. More than 90% of coral reefs are at risk of long-term degradation by the end of the century.

    Dead corals in the Maldives following a bleaching event.
    Simone Montano/University of Milan

    Direct intervention

    Coral reef restoration can take many forms, including removing coral-eating species such as parrot fish, transferring coral spawn, or even manipulating the local community of microbes to improve coral survival.

    But by far the most common type of restoration is “coral gardening”, where coral fragments grown in nurseries are transplanted back to the reef.

    The problem is scale. Coral restoration can only be done successfully at a small scale. Most projects only operate over several hundred or a few thousand square metres. Compare that with nearly 12,000 square km of loss and degradation between 2009 and 2018. Restoration projects come nowhere near the scale needed to offset losses from climate change and other threats.

    Conservationists work to garden coral and help preserve these unique life forms.

    Sky-high costs

    Coral restoration is expensive, ranging from around $10,000 to $226 million per hectare. The wide range reflects the variable costs of different techniques used, ease of access, and cost of labour. For example, coral gardening (coral fragments grown in nurseries transplanted back to the reef) is relatively cheap (median cost $558,000 per hectare) compared with seeding coral larvae (median $830,000 per hectare). Building artificial reefs can cost up to $226 million per hectare.

    We estimated it would cost more than $1.6 billion to restore just 10% of degraded coral areas globally. This is using the lowest cost per hectare and assuming all restoration projects are successful.

    Even our conservative estimate is four times more than the total investment in coral restoration over the past decade ($410 million).

    But it’s reasonable to use the highest cost per hectare, given high failure rates, the need to use several techniques at the same site, and the great expense of working on remote reefs. Restoring 10% of degraded coral areas globally, at $226 million a hectare, would cost more than $26 trillion – almost ten times Australia’s annual GDP.

    It is therefore financially impossible to tackle the ongoing loss of coral reefs with restoration, even if local projects can still provide some benefits.

    Rope nurseries nurture coral fragments until they’re ready to be planted out.
    Luca Saponari/University of Milan

    Location, location, location

    Our research also looked at what drives the choice of restoration sites. We found it depends mostly on how close a reef is to human settlements.

    By itself, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But we also found restoration actions were more likely to occur in reefs already degraded by human activity and with fewer coral species.

    This means we’re not necessarily targeting sites where restoration is most likely to succeed, or of greatest ecological importance.

    Another limitation is coral gardening normally involves only a few coral species – the easiest to rear and transplant. While this can still increase coral cover, it does not restore coral diversity to the extent necessary for healthy, resilient ecosystems.

    Measuring ‘success’

    Another sad reality is that more than a third of all coral restoration efforts fail. The reasons why can include poor planning, unproven technologies, insufficient monitoring, and subsequent heatwaves.

    Unfortunately, there’s no standard way to collect data or report on restoration projects. This makes it difficult – or impossible – to identify conditions leading to success, and reduces the pace of improvement.

    Succeed now, fail later

    Most coral transplants are monitored for less than 18 months. Even if they survive that period, there’s no guarantee they will last longer. The long-term success rate is unknown.

    When we examined the likelihood of extreme heat events immediately following restoration and in coming decades, we found most restored sites had already experienced severe bleaching shortly after restoration. It will be difficult to find locations that will be spared from future global warming.

    Sometimes the young coral is bleached before the restoration project is complete.
    Davide Seveso/University of Milan

    No substitute for climate action

    Coral restoration has the potential to be a valuable tool in certain circumstances: when it promotes community engagement and addresses local needs. But it is not yet – and might never be – feasible to scale up sufficiently to have meaningful long-term positive effects on coral reef ecosystems.

    This reality check should stimulate constructive debate about when and where restoration is worthwhile. Without stemming the pace and magnitude of climate change, we have little power to save coral reefs from massive losses over the coming century and beyond.

    Other conservation approaches such as establishing, maintaining and enforcing marine protected areas, and improving water quality, could improve the chance a coral restoration project will work. These efforts could also support local human communities with incentives for conservation.

    Reinforcing complementary strategies could therefore bolster ecosystem resilience, extending the reach and success of coral restoration projects.



    Read more:
    Coral restoration is a speculative, feel-good science that won’t save our reefs

    Corey J. A. Bradshaw receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    Clelia Mulà receives funding from the Australian Institute of Marine Science.

    Giovanni Strona 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.

    – ref. Reality check: coral restoration won’t save the world’s reefs – https://theconversation.com/reality-check-coral-restoration-wont-save-the-worlds-reefs-251055

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: A Winning Collaboration: How an Internship Program is Connecting Top Data Science Students to UConn Sports Teams

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Six years ago, UConn Field Hockey head coach Paul Caddy reached out to the head of the Department of Statistics in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. He wanted to find an informal way for students learning statistical methods to work with his team, integrating data analytics to gain a competitive edge.

    After a pandemic and various other obstacles, the collaboration never came to fruition.

    Then, in Fall 2023, Alyssa O’Keefe, an academic advisor in the Department of Statistics and Applied Data Analysis, launched a formalized sports analytics internship program and Caddy saw a new opportunity to bring that vision to life.

    For the past two years, the Sports Statistics Experiential Learning Program has provided UConn Athletics with statistical information to improve their performance while allowing students the opportunity to gain practical hands-on experience to prepare them for careers in data.

    O’Keefe says she got the idea for the program after the parent of an incoming student asked if it would be okay for her to leverage her connection with a coach to get her son experience with a team. O’Keefe says she saw an opportunity to expand that access to other students who may not have those personal connections.

    “I’ve had so many students sit across my desk telling me that their dream job would be sports analytics,” O’Keefe says. “We have 18 teams. How could we not have a way to make this connection for them?”

    In the Fall 2024, the program paired Caddy with Julia Mazzola ’25 (CLAS), a statistical data science and economics double major, who analyzed attacking penalty corners, a crucial scoring opportunity that happens when a foul is made in the area around the goal. The data provided real-time insights that Caddy says he’ll use as part of his coaching throughout the seasons.

    “In the couple of seasons leading up to this one, our performance has not been what it needs to be offensively or defensively on corners,” Caddy says. “So, we need to get some data to see what works and what doesn’t.”

    Julia Mazzola ’25 (CLAS), a statistical data science and economics double major, worked as a sports analytics intern with UConn Field Hockey in the Fall of 2024. (Contributed by Julia Mazzola)

    Having previously met Joe Ferriss, former director of Men’s Hockey Operations, O’Keefe reached out with her idea of partnering statistics students with athletic teams. Ferriss was impressed with the concept and became the first to agree to join the program.

    As word spread around the Athletics teams of O’Keefe’s initiative, more teams began to show interest. The program began with just three teams— baseball, men’s hockey and football—but has since expanded to 11 teams including the women’s basketball team which won the 2025 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship.

    The internship program will be adding the Department of Sports Performance to its list of participating athletics programs in the fall and O’Keefe says she hopes more teams will sign on.

    Unlike traditional coursework, this internship places students in dynamic sports environments where they work on various analytical projects tailored to the needs of the teams they’re paired with. Projects include tracking player positioning and movement through game footage, assessing player performance during various points of the game to refine strategy, providing statistical insights during competitions, and analyzing recruitment data.

    Many interns work directly with coaching staff, integrating data into team meetings and game planning, O’Keefe says.

    Students can earn credits for the internship and can intern for a semester or a full year. The time commitment varies from one placement to another, and O’Keefe says students selected for the program must agree to the conditions before they begin.

    Mazzola interned with Caddy’s team for one semester, and Caddy says she felt like a member of the team.

    “It is a unique experience,” Caddy says. “She’s on the sidelines during games. She’s going to get a championship ring because we won the Big East Championship. We think she’s part of the field hockey family.”

    He says he hopes to continue working with student interns and that Mazzola’s project is something the team “can lean on a little bit, moving through the seasons.”

    For Mazzola, the program is a career stepping stone. She plans to start her career in underwriting at the Cigna Group after she graduates in May and credits the internship with reinforcing her passion for analytics and problem-solving.

    “One thing about underwriting is there’s a lot of moving pieces, and there’s a lot to learn,” she says. “You have to take in many aspects when you make a decision, and the field hockey internship was very helpful in learning how to piece things together, like solving a puzzle.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn Graduate Programs Ranked Among the Best in the Nation

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    The University of Connecticut offers graduate programs across a wide variety of fields and disciplines that rank among the very best in the United States, according to rankings released Tuesday by U.S. News & World Report.

    Programs in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the School of Business, the Neag School of Education, and UConn School of Law were all singled out as being among the best among their peers. The recognition highlights UConn’s commitment to student excellence and support generally, as well as the efforts of the schools and colleges measured in the rankings.

    “We are proud to see our graduate programs recognized among the nation’s best in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings,” says Provost and Chief Academic Officer Anne D’Alleva. “This achievement reflects the exceptional dedication of our faculty, the talent of our students, and our continued investment in graduate education.”

    The School of Business’ Flex MBA programs ranked No. 33 in the nation for the second consecutive year, up from 37 two years ago. Executive Director Mia Hawlk credits the program’s commitment to innovation for its continued success.

    “The MBA market is very competitive, and we’ve worked hard to pair the best of a traditional business education with new, relevant, and current course topics. It is a constant cycle of re-examining and updating programs,” she says.

    The MBA program offers optional “MBA Now’’ courses which have included special courses on topics such as sustainability and artificial intelligence for managers.

    “I think our success is testament to the commitment of the University and the School of Business to deliver outstanding business education to our students and to the Connecticut workforce,’’ Hawlk says.

    For the second year in a row, multiple graduate programs within UConn’s Neag School of Education have earned recognition as among the best in the country.

    In addition, the Neag School appears for the tenth consecutive year as one of the top 30 public graduate schools of education in the United States, tied at No. 28. Among all graduate schools of education across the nation, both public and private, the Neag School stands tied at No. 37.

    All of the Neag School’s three departments are represented in the 2025 specialty education program rankings: No. 18 (tie) in Special Education Programs; No. 28 (tie) in Educational Administration Programs; and No. 34 in Curriculum and Instruction programs.

    “For more than a decade, the Neag School has been recognized as one of the preeminent schools of education in the nation,” Dean Jason G. Irizarry says. “The longevity of our impressive national rankings are a direct result of the unwavering dedication of faculty, staff, and students, and I’m proud that several of our individual programs are once again featured in the specialty rankings. This achievement reflects the pride we all share in our collective commitment to excellence and further solidifies our position as a leader in higher education.”

    Among graduate programs within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences ranked by U.S. News, the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences has long been renowned for its education, research, clinical practice, and public outreach missions. The new rankings reflect that, with the Audiology program rising 5 points to No. 14 in the country, and the Speech Language Pathology program rising seven points to No. 32 in the country.

    The UConn School of Public Policy, within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, earned praise for its Public Affairs program, which was ranked No. 36 in the country, up three places from last year. The School’s Public Finance and Budgeting Program was ranked No. 9 in the country.

    UConn School of Law rose 5 points to the rank of 50, up 21 from two years ago, and the school’s part-time Evening Division rose from No. 10 to the seventh best in the country. The overall rank in the magazine’s 2024-25 Best Law Schools list reflects particular strength in bar passage and employment outcomes for UConn Law graduates.

    In addition to U.S. News, in recent years The National Jurist’s preLaw magazine has listed the UConn School of Law among the best value law schools in the nation. It has also recognized UConn Law as a top school in environmental law, tax law, intellectual property, alternative dispute resolution, child and family law, and human rights law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 8 April 2025 Departmental update WHO launches new membership of expert group for behavioural sciences

    Source: World Health Organisation

    The World Health Organization has launched new membership for its Technical Advisory Group on Behavioural Sciences for Better Health. This group will provide scientific advice to channel behavioural science evidence into policy to achieve better health outcomes.

    Expert group for behavioural sciences

    Following a global call which attracted 340 applications from 71 countries, sixteen highly qualified advisers were selected. These experts represent a diversity of 15 nationalities across all six WHO regions and have expertise in social and behavioural sciences, including psychology, anthropology and behavioural economics. Their experience covers a variety of health topics such as maternal, newborn and child health; HIV and other sexually transmitted infections; cardiovascular disease, obesity and physical activity; vaccination; water and sanitation; and emergency preparedness and response. Importantly, they have substantial experience of using behavioural science to design and implement policies and programmes in low- and middle-income countries.

    The new members of the Technical Advisory Group on Behavioural Sciences for Better Health will support WHO’s response to Resolution WHA76.7 and contribute to WHO’s 14th Global Programme of Work, through advising on the development of methods, tools and mechanisms to support Member States in applying the behavioural sciences. They will also inform the implementation of the Behavioural Sciences for Better Health Initiative.

    “Integrating behavioural insights into policies is key to advancing health equity efficiently and effectively,” said Dr Ailan Li, Assistant Director-General of WHO. “Understanding human behaviour is essential to designing effective strategies. WHO has a very important leadership role in channelling behavioural sciences evidence into policy to achieve public health impact on the ground and global health outcomes.” 

    “Providing evidence-based advice is central to WHO’s mission, and the Technical Advisory Group will ensure that that advice is based on the latest behavioural science,” said Elena Altieri, Head of the Behavioural Insights Unit at WHO.

    Behavioural science for better health

    Human behaviour affects health outcomes. Understanding and integrating behavioural evidence at the individual, community, and population level is essential to design effective policies and programmes.

    The World Health Assembly Resolution WHA76.7 on Behavioural Sciences for Better Health, which was adopted in 2023, called for the mainstreaming of behavioural sciences to achieve more effective, equitable, and people-centred health policies.

    The Behavioural Sciences for Better Health Initiative promotes and enables the systematic use of behavioural and social sciences in public health across the work of WHO and that of its partners. This initiative is part of WHO’s transformation to better promote health, keep the world safe and serve the most vulnerable in a changing world.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Two Major Grants for Teen Substance Use Treatment

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Sarah Feldstein Ewing, Vice Chair for Research in UConn School of Medicine’s psychiatry department, is fascinated by teen psychology. Why do teens make the choices they make? What factors influence their decision-making? And how can caregivers and counselors help support them in making healthy decisions? 

    Her research into these questions has spanned an impressive early career across multiple institutions. Now, Feldstein Ewing is the enthusiastic recipient of two major federal grants. 

    Pain and Teen Substance Use

    Feldstein Ewing leads one of two sites receiving a combined $3,355,184 over five years from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) for a project exploring young adult use of cannabis and opioids. As an expert in adolescent substance use, Feldstein Ewing is partnering with Anna C. Wilson, a pediatric pain specialist. Wilson is a colleague at Feldstein Ewing’s former institution, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). 

    The study follows young people in Oregon, where underage cannabis use saw a significant uptick following state legalization of recreational adult cannabis use in 2015. 

    “Kids in Oregon were starting to make choices not to drink, but instead to use cannabis, because they were under the impression that it would not have been legalized if cannabis wasn’t safe,” says Feldstein Ewing.  

    Sarah Feldstein Ewing is the Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Psychiatry at UConn Health. (Courtesy photo)

    At the same time, many teens and young adults are prescribed opioids at some point, whether due to a major injury or a routine procedure like wisdom teeth extraction. This means that co-use of cannabis and opioids is likely occurring for this age group.  

    But little is understood about the potential harms of using these two types of substances simultaneously, especially for young people. It is also unclear how effective and safe cannabis is for relieving pain in this age group, even though many young people report self-medicating pain with cannabis. 

    The research team will be alerted to new opioid prescriptions for emerging adults via local medical record updates. From there, they can follow up with the patients to assess their pain and substance use history, as well as personal risk factors for substance use and related problems. 

    Patients will be monitored closely for two weeks after their initial opioid prescription, and will receive follow-up check-ins at regular intervals over the next two years. Throughout this time, the researchers will track their outcomes in terms of pain, mental health, and substance use. The central hypothesis is that pain experiences, as well as patterns of opioid and cannabis use in the acute pain period (immediately after the inciting medical event), will influence opioid use, cannabis use, and related problems over time. 

    “Often, for people who have opioid addiction later on, they talk about how they started when they got a prescription after a broken bone or some other medical event during their teen years,” Feldstein Ewing says. 

    The team will also explore psychosocial risk factors for substance use and related problems, like loneliness and depression. 

    “We just don’t know what goes into the choice around who uses what [substances],” Feldstein Ewing explains. “We do know that if you’re struggling with sadness and loneliness, you’re more likely to use cannabis and other substances, so we want to know, is that also true for prescription pain medication?” 

    Into the Hyperscanner

    From the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), Feldstein Ewing has received a five-year grant totaling $2,737,888 to help determine the efficacy of group therapy for adolescents who are in counseling for alcohol use. 

    “Most kids get group therapy,” Feldstein Ewing says, “but even though group therapy is widely used, the data on how well it works and why are ambiguous at best.” 

    Part of the problem is that teens are uniquely influenced by what others think and say about them. Socially, this is a gift, Feldstein Ewing points out – it allows them to adapt to a variety of social environments, with greater ease than most adults – but it can be a hindrance in the context of group healing. 

    The research team is looking for iatrogenic effects, meaning effects that occur in the context of treatment.  

    Like an infection picked up at a hospital, harmful statements from peers in group therapy may lead to poorer therapeutic outcomes for teens. On the flip side, though, hearing positive encouragement from peers may provide a healing boost for this age group that is even greater than what adults would experience in the same type of behavioral treatment. 

    To test this hypothesis, the researchers are using a technique called hyperscanning, where MRI units are connected side by side so that two patients can interact with each other and be scanned simultaneously. The equipment is located at the University of Texas at Dallas, where Feldstein Ewing’s longtime neuroimaging collaborator and co-PI, Francesca Filbey, is a neuroscience professor.  

    In the scanner, each patient will hear negative and positive statements about their capacity to reduce or stop their drinking, in the voice of the other patient. These statements will come directly from their group therapy session, which will be recorded. 

    Then, the researchers can observe the real-time changes in the brain as the patients actively select each type of statement for their co-participating peer.

    How does it feel to hear a disparaging remark about your perceived ability to stop drinking – even when it’s something you’ve heard countless times before? How does it feel to be encouraged by someone whose opinion you value? How much does that make you feel like you can change your drinking? Feldstein Ewing will be able to examine how these peer statements impact patients’ brains, as well as how these statements impact patients’ own perceived ability to change their behavior.

    The researchers will also track the participants following their group therapy experiences to see how their drinking behavior changes or stays the same over the course of 12 months. 

    Toward Effective Interventions for Teens

    Both these projects are geared toward designing better interventions for teens who are struggling with alcohol and substance use.  

    Currently, many young people receive the same therapy as adults. But Feldstein Ewing’s research has shown that this may be a “square peg, round hole” approach – what works for adults may be ineffective or even discouraging for adolescents. 

    With the insight gained from these projects, Feldstein Ewing will help pioneer new clinical strategies to revolutionize the field of teen substance use treatment. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Sufficient uranium resources exist, however investments needed to susta in high nuclear energy growth

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

    Sufficient uranium resources exist to support both the continued use of nuclear power and its significant growth through 2050 and beyond.  However, timely investments in new exploration, mining operations and processing techniques will be essential to ensure that uranium becomes available to the market when needed.

    These are among the main findings of the latest edition of Uranium – Resources, Production and Demand 2024, commonly known as the “Red Book”, an essential global reference prepared jointly every two years by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

    The 2024 edition of the Red Book provides the latest comprehensive review of uranium market fundamentals, based on official government data, and delivers a detailed statistical profile of the global uranium industry. Covering the calendar years 2021 and 2022, it features data on uranium exploration, resources, and production . The report also includes 62 country profiles, offering in-depth insights into mine development plans, the environmental and social dimensions of uranium mining, and national regulations and policies.

    The Red Book indicates that global identified recoverable uranium resources amounted to 7 934 500 tonnes as of 1 January 2023. These represent all reasonably assured and inferred uranium resources that could be recovered at market prices ranging from $40 to $260 USD/KgU (equivalent to $15 to $100 USD/lb U3O8). Compared to the total reported in the 2022 edition, this represents an increase of less than 0.5%. Additions to the uranium resource base could however arise from undiscovered or unconventional sources, driven by the sharp rise in uranium spot prices since mid-2021 and the commitment first announced during COP28 and now signed by 31 countries to triple their nuclear energy capacity by 2050.

    Worldwide domestic exploration and mine development expenditures have increased dramatically after a period of decline due to poor market conditions and the COVID-19 pandemic. Annual expenditures reached USD 800 million in 2022 and preliminary data for 2023 suggest a further increase to USD 840 million.

    The Red Book also provides projections for nuclear power installed capacity and uranium requirements through 2050, outlining both low-growth and high-growth scenarios, alongside an assessment of uranium supply and demand adequacy under each scenario. According to these projections, the uranium resource base is sufficient to meet the needs of a high-growth nuclear capacity through 2050 and beyond. However, this will require essential investments in new exploration, improved processing techniques and new production centres to replenish reserves.

    Production increased 4% between 2020 and 2022 and the report suggests the increase will likely continue in coming years. The establishment of new production centres is anticipated to encounter significant lead times due to today’s risk-averse investment climate, and complex and lengthy regulatory processes in many uranium mining jurisdictions. Geopolitical challenges and technical difficulties related to developing new mines and milling facilities may further compound the situation. As a result, efforts must begin immediately to ensure adequate uranium supplies are available in the medium term.

    Notes to editors

    The Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) is an intergovernmental agency which operates within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). It facilitates co-operation among countries with advanced nuclear technology infrastructures to seek excellence in nuclear safety, technology, science, related environmental and economic matters and law.

    The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is the world’s central intergovernmental forum for scientific and technical co-operation in the nuclear field. It works for the safe, secure and peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology, contributing to international peace and security and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

    The Joint NEA/IAEA Group on Uranium (UG) contributes to the preparationof each edition of Uranium – Resources, Production and Demand. The Group also co-ordinates the preparation of periodic assessments of the world’s supply of natural uranium, examines the relationship of these supplies to demand projections and recommends actions that might be taken to ensure adequate long-term supply of uranium for nuclear power development.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Business of I&T Week upcoming

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Business of Innovation & Technology Week (BIT Week) will make a grand return in April, the Innovation, Technology & Industry Bureau announced today.

    Mega innovation and technology (I&T) events include InnoEX, the Hong Kong World Youth Science Conference, and the World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit.

    The third edition of InnoEX will take place from April 13 to 16 at the Convention & Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), bringing together I&T elites, enterprises and buyers from the Mainland and overseas to promote I&T advancements.

    It will showcase cutting-edge technology solutions across five key areas of low-altitude economy, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, cybersecurity and smart mobility.

    The event’s highlight is a Hong Kong pavilion set up by the Digital Policy Office to exhibit over 100 I&T solutions, including those developed by government departments concerning citizens’ daily lives as well as award-winning projects by local innovators and students.

    The second Hong Kong World Youth Science Conference and the Xiangjiang Nobel Forum 2025 will take place concurrently at the HKCEC, assembling top-notch I&T talent and renowned scientists including laureates of the Nobel Prize and Turing Award in the city.

    Through keynote speeches, roundtable forums and other formats, the conference participants will tap into global wisdom on cutting-edge topics in big data, AI, biotechnology, new materials and large models. 

    The World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit will happen on April 14 and 15 at the HKCEC, focusing on discussions in large AI models, digital finance, and digital government and smart life.

    Secretary for Innovation, Technology & Industry Sun Dong said that BIT Week will bring together I&T elites from 29 countries and regions and over 2,800 exhibitors, adding that Hong Kong’s I&T strengths will be showcased via a series of exhibitions, forums, seminars, business networking, and talent matching.

    Other industry events during BIT Week include the Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition), Smart Lighting Expo, and the Hong Kong Web3 Festival, the bureau said.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: LightSolver Appoints Former HSBC CEO Colin Bell to Advisory Board

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TEL AVIV, Israel, April 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LightSolver, inventor of a new laser-based computing paradigm, today announced the appointment of financial and banking expert Colin Bell to its Advisory Board. Bell will assist LightSolver with its go-to-market strategy for the financial industry and global enterprise market.

    Colin Bell is a Non-Executive Director of Serendipity Capital. He previously served as Chief Executive Officer of HSBC Bank plc and HSBC Europe and as Executive Director of HSBC Bank plc. Bell has deep experience in the banking and financial industry, having also served as the Group Chief Compliance Officer and Group Head of Financial Crime Risk at HSBC Group and Head of Compliance and Operational Risk Control at UBS. Additionally, Bell has held appointments with the UK Ministry of Defence and NATO.

    LightSolver has developed an all-optical Laser Processing Unit™ (LPU) that leverages laser interactions to compute large and complex problems faster and more efficiently than the most advanced classical HPC systems. The LPU processes at the speed of light and is ideally suited for computations that require massive numbers of iterations, such as combinatorial optimization problems encountered in transport scheduling, production and supply chain optimization, or trading and portfolio optimization, as well as physical simulations for computer-aided engineering (CAE) and scientific computations.

    “The potential of LightSolver’s all-optical technology to solve complex, compute-intensive challenges is remarkable and can open up new opportunities in the financial sector,” said Bell. “The outcomes of many challenges across risk management, investment and trading could be enhanced by this advanced computing method. I look forward to working with LightSolver to shape its offering and provide impactful solutions for financial institutes and beyond.”

    LightSolver recently announced a partnership with engineering software simulation provider Ansys focused on accelerating simulations for automotive, aerospace, and other industries. It also received a €12.5M grant from the European Innovation Council (EIC) to advance its all-optical supercomputer.

    “Colin Bell brings invaluable business insight and a deep network across the financial and enterprise sectors,” said LightSolver CEO and co-founder Ruti Ben-Shlomi, Ph.D. “His experience leading major institutions will be a key asset as we scale LightSolver’s commercial efforts and position our laser-based computing platform for real-world adoption. We’re excited to work with him to accelerate our growth and bring transformative computing power to the industries that need it most.”

    About LightSolver
    LightSolver is developing an all-optical supercomputer capable of solving complex and large computational problems at the speed of light. Utilizing the interference patterns of lasers, the Laser Processing Unit™ (LPU) can tackle challenges that were previously constrained by the limits of electronics, while fitting into a rack unit and operating at room temperature. Dr. Ruti Ben-Shlomi and Dr. Chene Tradonsky, physicists from the world-renowned Weizmann Institute, founded the company in 2020. More than 2/3 of the team are physics, math and computer science PhDs. LightSolver has secured investment from TAL Ventures, Entree Capital, IBI Tech Fund, Angular Ventures, Maverick, and Artofin. The company has also received a €12.5M grant from the European Innovation Council (EIC) to advance its all-optical supercomputer. Connect with LightSolver @LightSolverCo on X and on LinkedIn. For more information, visit lightsolver.com or email info@lightsolver.com.

    Media Contact:
    Seth Menacker
    Fusion PR
    lightsolver@fusionpr.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Opening of the Space for collective work in the Advanced Engineering School of NSU

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    On April 8, NSU opened a Collaborative Work Space for staff and students of the Advanced Engineering School. The new complex, located in the university building, will become a unique platform for scientific and educational initiatives that promote the development of engineering competencies.

    The key element of the Space are two fab labs: “Space Instrumentation” and “Chemical Synthesis”. The fab lab “Space Instrumentation” provides students with the opportunity to participate in the development and testing of small spacecraft for the federal project “Sphere” of the state corporation “Roscosmos”. It uses modern equipment for balancing and adjusting space devices.

    The Chemical Synthesis FabLab is aimed at student practice in the field of oligonucleotide synthesis and bioengineering. These modern opportunities give NSU undergraduates and students a chance to participate in solving real problems presented by industrial partners and gain valuable practical experience.

    The Space has a VR studio designed to visualize geological and geophysical research. Here, students will be able to test, debug projects, and practice their skills in controlling unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) using modern equipment.

    — All competence centers — there are six of them in our Advanced Engineering School today — they are aimed specifically at forming teams that are capable of developing, implementing, and realizing advanced tasks. And this is, in fact, the exclusivity of this Advanced Engineering School — this is the merit of the team that works here. The team that has assembled united employees of Novosibirsk University, representatives of scientific organizations of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, our industrial partners, including the largest corporations — Roscosmos, Rostec, Rosatom, Sibur Holding, Gazprom Neft and a number of other regional partners. All of them really closely monitor what is happening, but they do not just observe — they give specific tasks, and students of Novosibirsk University and students of other universities who have become participants in the Advanced Engineering School program successfully cope with their solution, — noted Vice-Governor of the Novosibirsk Region Irina Manuilova.

    In addition, the Deputy Governor of the Novosibirsk Region spoke about some figures of the project:

    — Over the three years of work, 46 educational programs have been developed within the framework of the PIS, under which 648 students are currently studying. 830 specialists have received unique competencies in six areas of the NSU PIS within the framework of additional education. During this time, 2936 schoolchildren from the Novosibirsk Region and other regions who come here have gone through a variety of pre-professional project-based events — Olympiad tasks and tournaments. Over three years, more than a billion rubles of extra-budgetary funds have been attracted to scientific developments. The opening of new spaces once again confirms the desire to create an environment that facilitates the training of qualified engineering personnel.

    Director of NSU PIS Sergey Golovin spoke about the projects being implemented, additional education for schoolchildren and the current structure of NSU PIS and shared his impressions:

    — The space we are opening today is a very important step for us. We finally have our own home — a place where students can do their project work, where we can bring our partners and work here with pleasure ourselves.

    The demand for the PIS is very high, since two events took place before the opening: a delegation from the Sibur company arrived, and a meeting with a representative of the Roscosmos company took place. I really hope that the number of such events will increase. And through these events, we will involve more and more industrial partners in our interaction, – shared the director of the PIS NSU Sergey Golovin.

    The NSU PISH initiative is supported by the Novosibirsk Region Government, which promotes the development of youth engineering education and the creation of laboratories for talented students. Partnership with leading companies such as Rosatom, Roscosmos, Rostec, Sibur Holding and Gazprom Neft opens up broad prospects for professional growth and employment for NSU PISH students and postgraduates.

    The Advanced Engineering Schools Program, of which NSU PISH is a part, is aimed at implementing the Decree of the President of Russia and strategic initiatives for the development of engineering education in the country. By 2030, it is planned to increase the number of such schools to 100, transmitting the successful experience of existing schools and ensuring the continuity of educational activities, support for young talents.

    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.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Astronaut, Crewmates Arrive Safely at Space Station

    Source: NASA

    NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, accompanied by Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky, arrived at the International Space Station on Tuesday, bringing the number of residents to 10 for the next two weeks.
    The Soyuz MS-27 spacecraft carrying Kim, Ryzhikov, and Zubritsky docked to the Prichal module at 4:57 a.m. EDT, following a three-hour, two-orbit journey to the space station. They launched at 1:47 a.m. (10:47 a.m. Baikonur time) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
    When hatches open at approximately 7:20 a.m., the trio will join the Expedition 72 crew, including NASA astronauts Nichole Ayers, Anne McClain, and Don Pettit, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Kirill Peskov, Ivan Vagner, and Alexey Ovchinin.
    NASA’s live coverage of hatch opening will begin at 7 a.m. on NASA+. Learn how to watch NASA content through a variety of platforms.
    Expedition 73 will begin on Saturday, April 19, following the departure of Pettit, Ovchinin, and Vagner, as they conclude a seven-month science mission aboard the orbiting laboratory.
    Watch the ceremonial change of command at 2:40 p.m. on Friday, April 18, as Ovchinin transfers the distinction to Onishi, live on NASA+.
    Throughout his eight-month stay aboard the orbital outpost, Kim will conduct scientific research in technology development, Earth science, biology, human research, and more. This is the first flight for Kim and Zubritsky, and the third for Ryzhikov.
    Learn more about space station activities at:
    https://www.nasa.gov/station
    -end-
    Joshua FinchHeadquarters, Washington202-358-1100joshua.a.finch@nasa.gov
    Sandra JonesJohnson Space Center, Houston281-483-5111sandra.p.jones@nasa.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sols 4502-4504: Sneaking Past Devil’s Gate

    Source: NASA

    Written by Michelle Minitti, Planetary Geologist at Framework
    Earth planning date: Friday, April 4, 2025
    We continue to make progress driving up Mount Sharp, each day gaining new perspectives on the spectacular, towering buttes surrounding our path. To get to the next canyon we can ascend, we have to swing around the north end of a small ridgeline, “Devil’s Gate,” which is on the right side of the image above. 
    The blocks scattered around the base of Devil’s Gate are ripe with interesting structures, which motivated the acquisition of an RMI mosaic across the ridge. Those blocks are also inconvenient for driving and parking the rover with all six wheels firmly on the ground, the latter of which is needed to be able to unstow the arm for APXS and MAHLI observations. Our last drive ended with our front wheels not quite on solid ground, so we had to forego arm work this weekend. But as you can imagine with the view around us, Devil’s Gate was not the only feature that the team was excited to image. ChemCam added a second RMI mosaic along the base of “Texoli” butte, which you can see the flank of on the left side of the image above. Mastcam planned a mosaic across an expanse of bedrock that looks like rolling waves frozen in place at “Maidenhair Falls.” 
    The rocks right in front of the rover were also wonderfully complex in their textures and structures. ChemCam targeted two different textures expressed in the workspace — one across fine layers at “Arroyo Burro” and one across rough, platy, and gray material at “Arroyo Conejo.” Mastcam documented the block containing both these targets with a stereo mosaic that will give us a three-dimensional view of its structures. 
    We planned a drive to get us further around the base of Devil’s Gate, after which we will acquire an autonomously-targeted ChemCam LIBS raster and early morning Navcam and Mastcam mosaics looking back on the path we have recently traveled. DAN is scheduled for about seven hours of data collecting across the plan, both during science blocks and our drive. The sky gets a lot of attention in this plan with suites of observations taken at two different times — near midday and early morning — to assess variability across the day. Each window of time had Navcam dust-devil and cloud movies, and measurements of the amount of dust in the atmosphere. The early morning block of observations also had multiple cloud movies cover the full sky. REMS and RAD have regular measurements across the sols. 
    See you Monday, when we are a bit farther past Devil’s Gate!

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Caroline Cawthon: Supporting America’s Future in Low Earth Orbit 

    Source: NASA

    Since joining NASA in 2017 as a contractor supporting the International Space Station, Caroline Cawthon has held many roles supporting real-time operations as a certified flight controller, team lead, and lead systems engineer.  

    Caroline Cawthon
    CLDP Engineering and Integration Lead

    Now, she is supporting America’s future in orbit as the systems engineering and integration lead for NASA’s Commercial Low Earth Orbit Development Program engineering technical authority. Cawthon supports the program’s chief engineer office. In this position, she plays a key role in the oversight of phase 1 partner requirements and processes as part of the program’s two-phase approach to support the development of commercial space stations. 
    Growing up in military and NASA communities, Cawthon was fascinated with aviation and aerospace from a young age and aspired to become a fighter pilot and engineer. She first met an astronaut while attending Space Camp at the Euro Space Center in Belgium, sparking her interest in human spaceflight and solidifying her goals to work for NASA, make an impact, and be a part of making history. She later earned her bachelor’s degree in chemical and materials engineering and her master’s degree in aeronautics and space systems. 

    Cawthon describes the best part of her day as the people she works with, and her passionate and mission-driven team reminds her that the mission she’s working toward will make a difference in the future of human spaceflight.
    “Between the program, engineering team, and our industry partners, there are thousands of years of experience with human spaceflight that I get to leverage every day to learn and grow in my role and to help NASA accomplish our mission,” shared Cawthon. 
    A recent example of this mission-driven teamwork was the development of the program’s technical standards design evaluation document. As the lead for this task, Cawthon was proud of how everyone’s hard work and contributions came together. 
    The biggest lesson Cawthon has learned while working with NASA is to continue being curious, learning, and growing both personally and professionally.  
    “NASA is one of the biggest most impressive networks of engineering, science, and space program expertise in the world and to not leverage that experience in mentorship would be a waste,” Cawthon said. 

    Outside of work, Cawthon enjoys traveling and spending time outdoors with her husband and daughter. She and her family like to be on the road, exploring new places and meeting new people. They enjoy international travel and small weekend adventures like the local zoo and aquarium.  
    Learn more about NASA’s Commercial Low Earth Orbit Development Program at:
    Commercial Space Stations

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Connected Learning Ecosystems: Educators Gather to Empower Learners and Themselves

    Source: NASA

    Many educators would agree that despite working and communicating with dozens, even hundreds, of people each year, the role can feel isolating. Learners come and go, leaving educators to question: Was anything retained? Will they take this knowledge home? Will they share it at their after-school activities? How will it ultimately impact their lives and perspectives? What some educators may not fully realize is that they are not alone in their efforts. Their classroom or alternate education space is but one step along a learning pathway that winds through an entire network of educators. Learning pathways take many forms, but are most effective when each stop along the path builds upon what a learner has experienced during previous stops. These networks of educators, known as Connected Learning Ecosystems (CLEs), exist wherever learning takes place. Simply put, CLEs are made up of all the people involved at any point in a youth’s learning journey.
    With this in mind, the NASA Science Activation Program’s Learning Ecosystems Northeast (LENE) project has been working to connect and support the regional networks found throughout Maine and the Northeastern United States, with a shared focus on Science, Technology, Education, and Mathematics (STEM) education. This inspiring community includes classroom teachers, librarians, 4-H staff, and land trust educators, to name a few, all collaborating to advance education about our changing planet and improve data literacy across a variety of learning environments.
    In support of these regional networks, LENE hosts a Connected Learning Ecosystems Gathering twice each year, a multi-day event designed to unite educators who have these shared STEM education goals. These gatherings provide opportunities to reflect on past successes and plan future projects, ultimately benefiting not just the educators, but every learner they reach. They also help strengthen and amplify the lasting and positive impact these educators have on the lives of the youth they support.
    This year’s Gathering took place in late February in Orono, ME at the University of Maine (a LENE project partner). The event featured hands-on science activities adaptable to various learning spaces, dedicated reflection time for educators, and collaborative planning sessions to design cross-context learning opportunities for local youth. Participants engaged with NASA’s Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Program, supported by Jen Bourgeault (GLOBE US Country Coordinator) and Haley Wicklein (GLOBE Assistant US Country Coordinator), who facilitated field data collection and program exploration. NASA Subject Matter Expert Shawn Laatsch from UMaine’s Versant Planetarium led an immersive evening show on the molecular world inside the human body and also previewed other potential field trip shows for students. One highlight of the Gathering was a presentation on climate science and ice core collection by experts Sean Birkel and Daniel Dixon from UMaine’s Climate Change Institute. Educators also participated in a hands-on activity using model ice cores designed by project partner UMaine 4-H. Rounding out the two-day event were deep-dive sessions into various connected learning projects, where educators shared their insights, from idea formation to project execution and reflection.
    One educator shared about their experience: “I just want the leadership team to know how grateful I am to be part of this community. As a veteran teacher of 28 years, this is by far the BEST workshop I have ever attended. The passion for evidence-based science among this group is incredible. I feel seen and connected in ways that other workshops have never made possible. I will definitely be a lifelong member and will be bringing more people to CLE workshops. Thank you for making this meaningful and valuable.”
    Another educator shared, “During the gathering, I had the opportunity to strengthen existing relationships and make new connections within [my region]. I engaged in insightful conversations with several individuals, discussing shared interests in environmental education, science literacy, and place-based learning…. From these connections, I hope to foster new collaborations that enhance environmental literacy opportunities for students and communities. By working together, I believe we can create interdisciplinary programs that bridge science, sustainability, and civic engagement in meaningful ways.”
    Despite the support of regional groups, feelings of isolation persist, particularly in rural areas. These biannual gatherings serve as powerful reminders that this work is happening statewide, and that Connected Learning Ecosystems help establish and strengthen a network to bridge the distance between educators.
    These Gatherings are part of ongoing programming organized by Learning Ecosystems Northeast, based at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, that fosters peer communities across the Northeast through which teachers, librarians, and out-of-school educators can collaborate to expand opportunities for youth to engage in data-driven climate investigations and integrate in- and out-of-school learning.
    The Learning Ecosystems Northeast project is supported by NASA under cooperative agreement award number NNX16AB94A and is part of NASA’s Science Activation Portfolio. Learn more about Learning Ecosystems Northeast: https://www.learningecosystemsnortheast.org/

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Acting Governor Eleni Kounalakis proclaims California Library Week 2025

    Source: US State of California 2

    Apr 7, 2025

    Sacramento, California – Acting Governor Eleni Kounalakis today issued a proclamation declaring April 6 to April 12, 2025 as California Library Week.

    The text of the proclamation and a copy can be found below:

    PROCLAMATION

    During National Library Week, we celebrate the essential services, resources, and opportunities that libraries and library workers provide for all Californians. Free and open to all, each of our 1,127 public libraries is a community hub for education and lifelong learning, health and wellness, civic engagement, and workforce and economic development.

    Libraries are gateways not just to learning but to new opportunities and ideas. Our state’s public libraries provide hundreds of thousands of programs each year and continually evolve and adapt to the needs of all Californians. They offer online tutoring, adult literacy programs, summer reading, test prep, resources for science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math (STEAM), early learning for infants and toddlers, meals for children, and services for job seekers.

    Libraries are community centers and shelters, serving as heating and cooling centers, technology and communication providers, and safe places during emergencies. They provide free Wi-Fi and offer collaborative workspaces, career centers, quiet spaces for studying, and community gardens.

    But the heart and soul of California’s libraries are the workers who help people of all ages and all backgrounds access the resources, programs, and services they need and serve as a key source for trusted information. Librarians help us start new chapters at every stage of our lives, from showing us the magic of reading as children to teaching us new skills in our golden years, with expanded digital access offering more opportunities than ever before.

    School and library book challenges have been on the rise for some time, many targeting LGBTQ+ authors and writers of color. But now libraries themselves – and their critical programs and supports – are under attack, too. Now more than ever, we must celebrate and support the vital role that libraries, and all that they offer, play in keeping Californians informed and supported. These institutions house millions of books and materials that reflect the breadth of our rich diversity and defend the essential role of public libraries in protecting intellectual freedom.

    In California, we know libraries hold more than books — they are the heart of our communities. During National Library Week, we honor our libraries and the dedicated library workers who offer endless possibilities to enrich the lives of Californians across the state.

    NOW THEREFORE I, ELENI KOUNALAKIS, Acting Governor of the State of California, do hereby proclaim proclaim April 6 to April 12, 2025 as “California Library Week.”

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 3rd day of April 2025.

    ELENI KOUNALAKIS

    Acting Governor of California

    ATTEST:

    SHIRLEY N. WEBER, Ph.D.

    Secretary of State

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: We must get disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction right — here are 5 ways to deliver results

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    We’ve done well in raising the profile of disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction — now it’s time to deliver results on the ground.

    As Sendai implementation picks up pace, I suggest five areas that could offer lasting wins for persons with disabilities – a group that comprises 15% of the global population.

    In early April 2025, I had the privilege of attending the Global Disability Summit in Berlin, which was hosted by the Governments of Germany and Jordan. Held at Station Berlin, at historic Potsdamer Platz, the event brought together more than 4,000 participants from across the world to explore how we can put persons with disability at the heart of every aspect of human life, to ensure that they are fully included in our collective flourishing.

    The atmosphere was truly inspiring, charged with hope, optimism and a palpable “can do” attitude. The phrase, “nothing about us, without us” rang out clearly as a powerful, heartfelt dictum. I was particularly glad to see disaster risk reduction (DRR) featuring prominently at the Summit.

    While the global, national, and local discourse on the topic has come a long way, specific on-the-ground actions still need to catch up. As one speaker said during the Opening Ceremony, we need to cultivate a sense of “radical curiosity about the experiences of persons with disability.”

    We’ve seen in several recent disasters that mortality and morbidity rates among persons with disability have been several times higher than the general populace – a reminder of the urgent work ahead. In the remaining five years of the Sendai Framework, if we pursue the following five strands with urgency, we will show the concrete results that we need:

    1. Embed disability inclusion in DRR plans and strategies

    A decade into the Sendai Framework’s implementation, the most progress has been on Target E – plans and strategies for disaster risk reduction. Yet many of these still fall short of addressing the specific needs and capacities of persons with disabilities.

    These strategies must be informed not only by data and evidence – such as census information on persons with different types of physical and intellectual disabilities – but also by the lived experience of persons with disabilities themselves. To make this happen we need to build an institutional culture that is responsive to specific individual needs, especially those of the most vulnerable people.

    2. Gather data on disaster impacts on persons with disabilities

    The Sendai Monitor calls for disaster loss data that is disaggregated by gender, age, and disabilities. However, only a few dozen countries presently collect and report such data for persons with disabilities. In some data-scarce contexts, this may be a challenging task – especially when the baseline data on persons with disabilities don’t exist.

    However, we must start somewhere. If we begin collecting data on disaster impacts on persons with disabilities now, in a few years this will throw up rich insights that can help us refine our strategies for persons with disabilities.

    3. Move from policies and guidelines to specific actions:

    In recent years, several countries – and sub-national bodies – have developed and adopted policies and guidelines for disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction – a close-to-home example (for me) is India, with guidelines at the national level and the sub-national level(Kerala State as one instance).

    What specific actions flow from these instruments? In the context of early warning systems, we’ve seen examples of standard operating procedures developed to ensure a suite of disability inclusive actions – from accessible warning and inclusive evacuation plans to suitable evacuation infrastructure. However, such concrete actions should also extend to address comprehensive disaster risk reduction efforts.

    Let’s take flood risk management as an example: if a community has to relocate away from a flood-prone settlement, how can it ensure that the new location is suitable for persons with disabilities? Or if houses are being retrofitted and being raised on stilts, how can these meet the needs of persons with disabilities? Similarly, what does it mean for persons with disabilities to “build back better” after disasters? We need to stretch our imagination of risk reduction to turn policies and guidelines into concrete inclusive actions.

    4. Extend access to assistive technologies

    The last decade has seen great progress in assistive technologies for persons with disabilities. Rapid advances in fields such as AI, neurosciences, and synthetic biology promise an even brighter future. But access to these technologies is highly unequal – between men and women, between developing and developed countries, between rural and urban areas, and so on.

    Governments must take a proactive policy stance to address these inequalities. Could disability-disaggregated census data be used to incentivize both public and private sector investments in developing assistive technologies that are cost-efficient and affordable?

    5. Ask: is it really working?

    And finally, we must find smarter ways to asses our impact. A good start would be for every post-disaster “after action review” to include this key question for persons with disabilities: “Did the systems work for you?”

    At UNDRR, we have made disability-inclusive DRR a priority. In my recent missions to Australia, Finland, Fiji and Germany, I was struck by deep commitment to this cause – and a rising sense of urgency – from governments. In Berlin, I had rich discussions with ministers from Italy and Scotland – both are serious about making real changes in their countries.

    UNDRR has endorsed the Amman-Berlin Declaration, the fruit of the Global Disability Summit. This declaration calls for all international development programmes to be inclusive of and accessible to persons with disabilities, and for at least 15% of country-level development programmes to explicitly pursue disability inclusion as an objective: “15 percent for the 15 percent.”

    We are making steady progress on disability inclusion in disaster risk reduction. With accelerated action and wider mobilization, transformational change is within reach!

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Center for Biological Diversity

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Mission

    The Center for Biological Diversity believes that human well-being is deeply connected to the natural world and the vast diversity of wild animals and plants it sustains. Recognizing that biodiversity holds intrinsic value and that its loss diminishes society, the organization is committed to securing a future for all species—both great and small—that are at risk of extinction. This mission is pursued through the application of science, legal advocacy, and creative media, with a strong emphasis on protecting the lands, waters, and climate essential for species survival. The Center envisions a future in which generations to come inherit a world where the wild still thrives.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: “VuzEcoFest” at GUU: join the ecological festival

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    The State University of Management invites students to join the events of the XI annual youth festival in the field of sustainable development “VuzEcoFest”, which is held within the walls of our university from April 7 to 27.

    This year the theme of the festival is adaptation to the consequences of climate change at the level of companies and regions.

    Students will enjoy a scientific seminar, a team quiz, a campaign to collect felt-tip pens and pens, film screenings, an environmental game library, a poster exhibition, a museum tour, and a video relay race. You can learn more about the events in the community of the Vernadsky Ecoclub of the State University of Management.

    In addition, the VK.Zvonki platform will host open webinars for anyone who wants to understand the topic of climate change and adaptation to it from the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, the Government of the Sakhalin Region, the Agency for Strategic Initiatives and others. The webinar schedule is available at the link.

    “VuzEcoFest” is held by the ANO “Territory of Sustainable Development” with the support of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia and the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia. Information partners of the festival are the Nature Conservation Embassy, Helpingver, EcoDao, ESG World, ESG Media, the Agency for Social Information, Typical Moscow, Youngspace and AGN “Moscow”.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 04/08/2025

    «ВузЭкоФест»,…” data-yashareImage=”https://guu.ru/wp-content/uploads/IMG_5996.png” data-yashareLink=”https://guu.ru/%d0%b2%d1%83%d0%b7%d1%8d%d0%ba%d0%be%d1%84%d0%b5%d1%81%d1%82-%d0%b2-%d0%b3%d1%83%d1%83-%d0%bf%d1%80%d0%b8%d1%81%d0%be%d0%b5%d0%b4%d0%b8%d0%bd%d1%8f%d0%b9%d1%81%d1%8f/”>

    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.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PRESIDENT RECEIVES ‘CITY KEY OF HONOUR’ OF LISBON

    Source: Government of India

    PRESIDENT RECEIVES ‘CITY KEY OF HONOUR’ OF LISBON

    ATTENDS BANQUET HOSTED IN HER HONOUR BY THE PRESIDENT OF PORTUGAL

    WE CONSIDER PORTUGAL AS OUR PARTNER IN HARNESSING INDIA’S STRENGTHS AS A KNOWLEDGE-BASED ECONOMY: PRESIDENT MURMU

    Posted On: 08 APR 2025 11:44AM by PIB Delhi

    The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu received the ‘City Key of Honour’ of Lisbon City from the Mayor of Lisbon at a function held at the City Hall of Lisbon, Portugal yesterday (April 7, 2025).  

    Speaking on the occasion, the President thanked the Mayor and the people of Lisbon for the gesture. She said that Lisbon is known for its open-mindedness, the warmth of its people and its culture, along with tolerance and respect for diversity. She was happy to note that Lisbon is a global city that is at the forefront of technological change, innovation, digital public infrastructure and digital transition. She said that in these areas India and Portugal could further cooperate. 

    Yesterday evening (April 7, 2025), the President attended a banquet hosted in her honour by the President of the Republic of Portugal, H.E. Mr Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa at Palacio da Ajuda. 

    In her banquet remarks, the President said that the cultural ties between our peoples span centuries, and these ties have left an indelible mark on our collective imagination. These include our shared past which is reflected in architecture, historical sites and languages, as well as our cuisines. 

    The President said that this year holds special significance as we celebrate 50 years of India-Portugal bilateral relations. With our natural synergy and potential for cooperation in diverse fields, our historic ties are firmly on their way to becoming a dynamic and visionary partnership. She was happy to note the steady and progressive growth in India-Portugal cooperation in various fields, including science and technology, defence, IT, start-ups, research, educational and cultural cooperation. 

    The President said that as a knowledge-based economy, India is harnessing its strengths in areas such as science and technology, information and communication technology, digital public infrastructure, start-ups and innovation to create an inclusive and sustainable development model that benefits all. She stated that India considers Portugal as its partner in these efforts. 

    The President appreciated Portugal’s role in promoting India’s relations with the European Union. She highlighted that it was during Portugal’s Presidency of the European Union that the first India-EU Summit was held in 2000, and in May 2021, once again under the Portuguese Presidency, the historic “India-EU Plus 27” Leadership Summit took place in Portugal. 

    The President expressed confidence that India-Portugal bilateral relations will become even closer and broader in the times to come and it will be beneficial not only for our people but for the entire world.

    Ceremony to deliver City Key of Honour -Lisban

    Banquet speech – Portugal

    ***

    MJPS/SKS

    (Release ID: 2119961) Visitor Counter : 101

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Business of Innovation and Technology Week in April to showcase Hong Kong’s innovation and technology strengths

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Business of Innovation and Technology Week in April to showcase Hong Kong’s innovation and technology strengths 
         The third InnoEX, co-organised by the ITIB and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), will occur from April 13 to 16 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). This annual event brings together I&T elites, enterprises and buyers from the Mainland and overseas to jointly promote I&T advancements and applications and explore global collaboration opportunities. Themed “Innovation • Automate • Elevate”, this year’s InnoEX will showcase cutting-edge technology solutions across five key areas: low-altitude economy, artificial intelligence, robotics, cybersecurity and smart mobility. A highlight of the event is the Smart Hong Kong Pavilion set up by the Digital Policy Office, which will showcase over 100 I&T solutions, including those developed by different government departments in relation to citizens’ daily lives, as well as award-winning I&T projects by local innovators and students, demonstrating Hong Kong’s achievements in I&T and smart city development. 
     
         The second Hong Kong World Youth Science Conference and the Xiangjiang Nobel Forum 2025 will also take place from April 13 to 16 at the HKCEC. Organised by the Hong Kong Alumni Association of Beijing Universities with the full support of the ITIB, the event will gather top-notch I&T talent and renowned scientists, including laureates of the Nobel Prize and Turing Award, in Hong Kong. Through keynote speeches, roundtable forums and other formats, participants will tap into global wisdom on cutting-edge topics in the areas of big data, AI, biotechnology, new materials and large models, thereby enhancing Hong Kong’s status in the international scientific arena.  
     
         Meanwhile, another major I&T highlight this April – the World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit – a high-level global Internet conference, will take place on April 14 and 15 at the HKCEC. Under the theme “Integration of AI and Digital Technologies Shaping the Future – Jointly Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace”, the Summit will focus on forward-looking discussions in large AI models, digital finance, and digital government and smart life, attracting around 1 000 participants from the Mainland and overseas, including representatives from governments and enterprises, international organisations, internet giants, experts and scholars to attend in person.
     
         The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, said, “This April, Hong Kong’s BIT Week will bring together I&T elites from 29 countries and regions and over 2 800 exhibitors. Through a series of exhibitions, forums, seminars, business networking, talent matching and industry events, we will showcase Hong Kong’s I&T strengths and unique edge to the world. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is particularly delighted to co-organise the Asia-Pacific Summit with the World Internet Conference for the first time in Hong Kong, creating a top-notch platform for exchanges, dialogue and co-operation in I&T, and further strengthening Hong Kong’s position as an international I&T centre.”
     
         Other major industry events during the BIT Week include the HKTDC’s Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition) and Smart Lighting Expo, as well as the Hong Kong Web3 Festival cohosted by Wanxiang Blockchain Labs and HashKey Group and organised by W3ME, all contributing to the prosperous development of Hong Kong’s I&T ecosystem and greater synergies. 
     
         Details of the BIT Week events can be found at bitweek.hktdc.com/enIssued at HKT 17:33

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Remarks by CE at media session before ExCo (with video)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following are the remarks by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at a media session before the Executive Council meeting today (April 8):

    Reporter: Chief Executive, two questions. Are there any concrete measures the Government would do to help local businesses affected by tariff and, in your perception, how would the tariff attack Hong Kong’s unemployment rate? And the second question is on the Panama deal, how should local companies respond to Beijing’s criticism, and would the antitrust probe and the possible failed deal affect people’s perception that companies in Hong Kong must ultimately answer to Beijing?
     
    Chief Executive: Last week, the US announced the imposition of so-called reciprocal tariff on trading partners around the world, including an additional 34 per cent tariff on Hong Kong products. Together with the 20 per cent tariff announced earlier, the total tariff imposed on Hong Kong products is up to 54 per cent. The US no longer adheres to free trade, arbitrarily undermining the internationally established rules of world trade. Its ruthless behaviour damages global and multilateral trade. The reckless imposition of tariff affects many countries and regions around the world with huge tax rate increases covering a wide range of goods, disrupting the world economic and trade order, and bringing great risks and uncertainties to the world. In response to the US’s imposition of tariff, the Government will strengthen its strategy in seven areas.
     
         First, we shall fully seize the opportunities in our country, China’s development, and actively integrate into national development. China is the world’s second-largest economy and second-largest consumer goods market, with a domestic market of 1.4 billion people. Hong Kong will take full advantage of CEPA (Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement) to attract more foreign companies to set up operations to capitalise on the benefits of “one country, two systems”. As of the end of last year, the accumulated tariff concessions on goods under CEPA exceeded RMB10.2 billion.
     
         Second, we shall strengthen international exchanges and deepen regional ties and co-operation. We shall sign more free trade agreements (FTAs) with countries and economies. Today, Hong Kong’s FTAs already cover 21 economies. We are currently negotiating investment agreements with Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Egypt and Peru. We will continue to push for Hong Kong’s early accession to the RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) to deepen regional co-operation. We are already planning to establish economic and trade offices in Malaysia and Saudi Arabia. Additionally, Invest Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council have set up offices in Cairo, Egypt; Izmir, Türkiye; and Cambodia to proactively expand Hong Kong’s global trade and economic network.
     
         Third, Hong Kong will accelerate industrial transformation by developing a high value-added, innovation-driven economic model. We will expedite the establishment of a high value-added supply chain service hub and promote the growth of a headquarters economy.
     
         Fourth, we will intensify efforts to develop technological innovation, attract top-tier talent, and further strengthen Hong Kong’s competitiveness. We will focus efforts on establishing Hong Kong as a technological and Innovation hub, accelerating development of the Hetao (Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone) and San Tin Technopole, and continuing to attract top-tier talent and enterprises, particularly key strategic companies.
     
         Fifth, we will vigorously advance international financial co-operation to attract investments and capital. I, along with government officials, have conducted multiple visits to emerging markets to forge new partnerships. Notably, we engaged with ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and Middle East countries to establish mutual recognition with their stock exchanges.
     
         Sixth, we will seize the world’s major trend of geographical diversification, proactively attracting foreign companies and capital to establish in Hong Kong, because Hong Kong can provide security and stability to investors and enterprises under “one country, two systems”.
     
         Seventh, we will continue to provide various support to help Hong Kong enterprises to cope with the impact of tariff and external challenges, including capital flow assistance, export credit insurance measures, supporting Hong Kong enterprises in brand development, upgrading and exploring new markets through the BUD special fund (Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading and Domestic Sales), etc.
     
         In respect to your question about Hutchison’s deal to sell some ports, I have earlier made three points, and they remain valid, clear and explicit. I will repeat them. First, there have been extensive discussions in society about the issue, and this reflects society’s concern over the matter. These concerns deserve serious attention. Second, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government urges foreign governments to provide a fair and just environment for enterprises, including enterprises from Hong Kong. We oppose the abusive use of coercion or bullying tactics in international economic and trade relations. Third, any transaction must comply with legal and regulatory requirements. Hong Kong will handle it in accordance with the law and regulations. I have noted that the State Administration for Market Regulation of the PRC (People’s Republic of China) has noticed the deal, and will review it in accordance with the law to ensure fair market competition and protect public interest.
     
    (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Polytechnic University held an international conference on construction

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    The Civil Engineering Institute of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University held the II International Scientific Conference “Civil, Industrial and Urban Construction – 2025” as part of the All-Russian Scientific Conference “Science Week of the Civil Engineering Institute 2025”. The conference was held in person with the possibility of remote connection for foreign participants.

    The event was attended by the Director of the Civil Engineering Institute Marina Petrochenko, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Water Management and Engineering and Communication Systems of the Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Civil Engineering Elgiz Hasanov, Rector of Segu University Yizhai Dau, Rector of Tahri University Mohammed Bujema Bezzazi, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Urban Development and Modern Transport of Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology Li Xiaolong, Dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering of the Belarusian-Russian University Olga Golushkova, heads and faculty of the ICI, as well as researchers, design engineers and representatives of design and construction organizations from Russia and foreign countries, including Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Cuba, China, Mali, Guinea, Niger, Algeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Uzbekistan and other countries. The conference became a significant platform for exchanging experiences and discussing current issues in the development of modern construction, engineering technologies and sustainable development of the industry.

    The opening of the conference began with a welcoming speech by the Director of the Institute of Civil Engineering Marina Petrochenko, who emphasized the importance of organizing such events: The Institute of Civil Engineering has been organizing the international conference “Civil, Industrial and Urban Construction — 2025” for the second year in a row. We are very pleased that representatives from 12 countries are taking part in the conference today. I hope that this event will become a platform for exchanging professional and scientific results and, of course, a way to expand your professional contacts.

    The conference featured 27 reports on such topical issues as:

    digital transformation of the construction industry; innovative construction materials and technologies; problems of integrating natural elements into the urban environment in accordance with the principles of sustainable development; ways to improve the quality of construction documentation and the level of training of specialists.

    Participants also discussed such important issues as reservoir management and wastewater treatment, extreme precipitation modeling, development of new building materials and technologies, including concrete with modifier additives for 3D printing, and the use of secondary materials to improve the energy efficiency of buildings. Particular attention was paid to the safety of hydraulic structures, seismic resistance of bridges, autonomous life support systems and innovative waterproofing solutions. Participants presented research on the use of renewable energy sources, environmental modeling, bioclimatic analysis of premises and the implementation of modern irrigation systems.

    The conference became a unique international platform for the presentation of advanced research and technologies from around the world. Among the reports presented, research related to the use of modern materials and technologies attracted special attention. Elgiz Hasanov (Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction) presented a report on new materials for creating the stability and durability of reinforced concrete structures used in coastal marine defense structures. Scientists study the features of using these structures in difficult operating conditions, which is key to ensuring the safety and reliability of hydraulic structures. Also of considerable interest was the report by Nabil Bella (Tahri Mohamed University), dedicated to geotechnical and environmental modeling of the use of coal waste in road construction. The author explores the possibilities of using these materials to improve construction efficiency and reduce the negative impact on the environment. Luo Pingping (School of Water Resources and Environmental Management, Chang’an University) presented a paper on GPU-based urban 2D hydrodynamic modeling of extreme precipitation events. This approach can help to more accurately predict the impact of natural disasters and develop effective environmental protection measures.

    Conference participants noted that such events not only facilitate the exchange of experience, but also the development of new approaches to solving current problems in the construction industry.

    Today’s conference touches upon truly important and topical issues that will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the development of the construction industry and scientific research in general. Our cooperation with the Civil Engineering Institute is of particular joy. This partnership opens up new horizons and opportunities for all participants, Elgiz Gasanov emphasized.

    At the end of the conference, guests were given a tour of the campus of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University.

    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.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: President Lai receives credentials from new Tuvalu Ambassador Lily Tangisia Faavae  

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    Details
    2025-03-28
    President Lai meets British Office Taipei Representative Ruth Bradley-Jones
    On the afternoon of March 28, President Lai Ching-te met with British Office Taipei Representative Ruth Bradley-Jones. In remarks, President Lai welcomed Representative Bradley-Jones as she takes up her post in Taiwan, and thanked the United Kingdom government and parliament for demonstrating staunch support for Taiwan. The president indicated that Taiwan and the UK enjoy close economic and trade ties, and our industries complement each other well, with great potential for collaboration in such fields as semiconductors, AI, unmanned vehicles, and medium- and low-orbit satellites. He stated that he looks forward to expanding exchanges with the UK across all domains so as to enhance democratic and economic resilience, jointly advancing the prosperous development of the Indo-Pacific region and economic security around the world. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: It is a pleasure to meet Representative Bradley-Jones here at the Presidential Office for this exchange. I understand that she has proactively called at many government agencies since taking up her post last month. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I extend a warm welcome. Taiwan and the UK are partners that share the values of freedom and democracy. In recent years, our bilateral relations have continued to deepen. With the efforts of Representative Bradley-Jones and our respective governments, I look forward to the expansion of dialogue and cooperation between Taiwan and the UK. This will further elevate our bilateral ties. Especially in the face of expanding authoritarianism, the UK is not only playing an important role in crafting a unified European response; it is also demonstrating staunch support for Taiwan through various channels. For example, joint statements released after the Australia-UK ministerial consultations, as well as the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting, underlined a high level of concern for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. The UK government has publicly expressed support for Taiwan’s international participation on multiple occasions. And last November, the UK House of Commons passed a motion clearly asserting that United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 does not mention Taiwan. These actions attest to the UK’s belief in supporting democracy and peace, and have further solidified our countries’ friendship. I would like to convey my deepest gratitude to the UK government and parliament.  Currently, the UK is Taiwan’s fourth largest trading partner in Europe and second largest source of investment from Europe. We enjoy close economic and trade ties, and our industries complement each other well. There is also great potential for collaboration in such fields as semiconductors, AI, unmanned vehicles, and medium- and low-orbit satellites. We look forward to expanding exchanges with the UK across all domains so as to enhance democratic and economic resilience. We also hope the UK will continue to support Taiwan’s bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership so that together, we can work with more like-minded partners, jointly advancing the prosperous development of the Indo-Pacific region and economic security around the world. Once again, I welcome Representative Bradley-Jones to Taiwan and wish her all the best with her work. I anticipate that Taiwan-UK relations will continue to steadily advance through our joint efforts. Representative Bradley-Jones then delivered remarks, first saying in Mandarin that she is honored to meet with President Lai to discuss topics of mutual concern and jointly deepen Taiwan-UK relations, promoting mutual understanding, respect, and cooperation. She went on to say that she came to Taiwan last August to study Mandarin, and began her post as British Office Taipei representative in February this year, noting that every day she learns more about and gains a deeper understanding of Taiwan. Last year, she said, she visited Tainan and Wanli, and found Tainan’s wetlands and the scenery in Wanli very impressive. She added that she has also tried many different Taiwanese foods, and is looking forward to experiencing even more of Taiwan’s local culture and customs over the next four years. Continuing her remarks in English, Representative Bradley-Jones stated that since taking up her post, she has borne witness to the strength of the relationship between Taiwan and the UK and the potential for it to continue to grow. She said that on trade and investment, there is significant complementarity between Taiwan’s Five Trusted Industry Sectors and the UK’s Industrial Strategy, particularly in areas such as digital technologies, advanced manufacturing, and clean energy. Both governments are also together supporting Taiwan and UK businesses through our Enhanced Trade Partnership and annual trade talks, she said. Representative Bradley-Jones went on to say that on science and technology, Taiwan and the UK can and should do more together. She noted that the UK has the third largest tech sector in the world and is valued at over US$1.1 trillion, while Taiwan is the center of the semiconductor and AI hardware world. Given our complementary strengths, especially in areas such as semiconductors, space, and communications technology, she said, the UK has stepped up its level of activity in Taiwan, including by regularly hosting a UK Pavilion at SEMICON and funding 18 joint R&D programs through our new collaborative R&D fund, and looks forward to doing more together in the future.  In support of Taiwan’s whole-of-society resilience, the representative said, the UK is supporting valuable exchanges, co-hosting GCTF (Global Cooperation and Training Framework) workshops, sharing lessons on financial sector resilience, and reaching out to mayors and community leaders across Taiwan. From financial resilience to cyber resilience, she said, the UK’s public sector and private industries have plenty to share and learn. Representative Bradley-Jones stated that on people-to-people links, parliamentarians, civil society, and academics are continuing to deepen contact, and that she is particularly excited by a new smart parliament partnership agreed upon by the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy and the UK’s Westminster Foundation for Democracy, which aims to facilitate cross-party, cross-society, and cross-border exchanges on issues such as democratic governance, AI, inclusive policy-making, and public safety. The representative indicated that the examples she mentioned just scratch the surface of the full potential of the Taiwan-UK relationship. She said that the UK’s longstanding policy remains unchanged, and fundamentally, that is because we share a common set of values and interests. We are together focused on how to make our societies safer and more prosperous tomorrow than they are today, she said, and as like-minded democracies, innovative economies, and practical partners, the sincere and pragmatic cooperation between Taiwan and the UK is bringing material benefits to the prosperity and well-being of our people every day. 

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    2025-03-21
    President Lai meets Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy
    On the morning of March 21, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy. In remarks, President Lai said that Alaska has long been an important trading partner of Taiwan, and that we have built a solid foundation for cooperation in such fields as energy, fisheries, and tourism. The president expressed hope that Taiwan and Alaska will have more frequent engagement and exchanges so that our relations can continue to grow to create prosperous development for both sides. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I extend my sincerest welcome to our guests. This is Governor Dunleavy’s first visit to Taiwan, and last night, we both attended the Hsieh Nien Fan (謝年飯) banquet hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan. I am delighted to have this opportunity to meet with Governor Dunleavy today at the Presidential Office for further dialogue. Alaska has long been an important trading partner of Taiwan. Our sister-state relationship was established in 1988, and we have built a solid foundation for cooperation in such fields as energy, fisheries, and tourism. Currently, Taiwan is Alaska’s eighth largest export market and ninth largest source of imports. This goes to show just how close our trade and economic ties are and how much potential there is for further growth. As I said in my remarks at last night’s Hsieh Nien Fan banquet, Taiwan is interested in buying Alaskan natural gas. I am sure that Governor Dunleavy’s visit will help us explore even more opportunities for cooperation and continue to deepen Taiwan-United States relations. In the face of such challenges as expanding authoritarianism, climate change, and pandemics, we look forward to strengthening collaboration between Taiwan and the US. By drawing on our strengths, we can jointly build non-red supply chains to bolster our economic resilience and drive the advancement of global technology. I want to thank the US government for reiterating the importance it attaches to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and its opposition to any attempt to change the status quo by force or coercion. These statements backing Taiwan help in maintaining stability across the Taiwan Strait and in the Indo-Pacific region. Once again, I thank Governor Dunleavy for traveling such a long way to Taiwan. We hope to see more frequent engagement and exchanges between Taiwan and Alaska so that our relations can continue to grow, and we can create prosperous development for both sides. Governor Dunleavy then delivered remarks, saying that their trip to visit friends in Taiwan has been fantastic, thanking President Lai for the invitation to meet, and thanking all the staff. Governor Dunleavy said that as the pandemic was raging, the world went from “before COVID” to “after COVID.” Before COVID, he said, the world relied on a number of systems that were in place for decades after World War II involving supply chains, alliances, sources of energy, trading partners, and friends. He went on to say that as we go beyond COVID, we are reestablishing and reevaluating who our friends are, where we are going to get our energy, and who our trading partners are going to be. The governor said that we are creating a new world for the next 50 years with the new administration in Washington, and this is an opportunity for us to reevaluate and reinvest with our friends for the next 50 years in each other, our futures, and our security. Governor Dunleavy stated that one thing is for certain: that Taiwan is a friend of the US and a friend of Alaska, and has been for many, many decades. He said that it is their hope in this trip and subsequent trips to establish an even tighter bond among their friends in Taiwan, the US, and Alaska. The governor also said that we have much in common in that we are members of the Pacific family, are democracies, and believe in freedom, free speech, and capitalism. He indicated that he has much optimism for the future, and that as we reestablish relationships throughout the world, energy is going to be the key and the basis for our economic development, our national security, and our friendship. Governor Dunleavy said that he believes this trip is going to lay the groundwork for a fantastic future between Taiwan, Alaska, and the US, and that with President Lai’s support as well as the support of the US administration, we can work together to build even better relationships.

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    2025-03-20
    President Lai attends AmCham Taiwan 2025 Hsieh Nien Fan
    On the evening of March 20, President Lai Ching-te attended the annual Hsieh Nien Fan (謝年飯) banquet hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan (AmCham Taiwan). In remarks, President Lai pointed out that the United States is now a major source of investment in Taiwan, adding that last year US investment accounted for 11.5 percent of total foreign investment in Taiwan. The president also pointed out that the US has become Taiwan’s largest investment destination, as Taiwan’s direct and indirect investment in the US accounted for more than 40 percent of its total outbound investment last year. President Lai expressed hope that AmCham will continue to offer support in quickly resolving the issue of double taxation, further enhancing the mutually beneficial Taiwan-US economic and trade partnership. He also emphasized that one essential element for our economic prosperity is maintaining security and stability, both regionally and globally. The president expressed his belief that, so long as we coordinate our efforts, we can achieve more in our respective defense industries and build non-red supply chains, advancing peace, stability, and prosperity. A transcript of President Lai’s remarks follows: I’m delighted to be here tonight. I want to wish everyone and their families a happy, healthy, and prosperous year ahead. For many years now, AmCham has acted as a bridge between Taiwan and the US. It not only advocates for Taiwan to various sectors in the US, but also offers advice for the development of Taiwan’s industries. So tonight, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all our friends from the American business community. The 2025 Business Climate Survey, published by AmCham this January, demonstrates the confidence foreign businesses have in the Taiwan market. We are happy to see that over 80 percent of survey respondents reported stable or increased revenue last year, and around 80 percent expressed confidence in Taiwan’s economic prospects for the coming year. Moreover, 90 percent of businesses surveyed are planning to maintain or expand their investments in Taiwan. The positive developments in Taiwan made by our American friends here tonight, their outlook for the future, and their confidence in Taiwan, are further proof of Taiwan’s ideal environment for investment. The US is now a major source of investment in Taiwan. Last year, US investment accounted for 11.5 percent of total foreign investment in Taiwan. In 2023, Entegris opened a new manufacturing facility in Kaohsiung and Micron launched a new facility in Taichung. Last year, Google further solidified Taiwan as its biggest R&D hub outside of the US by opening a new office here. AMD, Nvidia, and major cloud computing companies from the US have also been choosing Taiwan to expand their presence. Over the past several years, the US has also become Taiwan’s largest investment destination. Taiwan’s direct and indirect investment in the US accounted for more than 40 percent of our total outbound investment last year. Four years ago, TSMC’s [Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company] investment in facilities in Arizona became the biggest FDI [foreign direct investment] in a greenfield project in US history. And this month, TSMC announced it would expand that investment, breaking another record and highlighting the enduring prosperity shared by Taiwan and the US. In addition to TSMC, Taiwan’s GlobalWafers has built a 12-inch silicon wafer factory in Texas, the biggest in the US. This will be followed by many other industries. These companies are confidently expanding their global presence across the Pacific and eastward into the Americas. The US is moving to reindustrialize its manufacturing industry and consolidate high-tech leadership, as it moves to become a global AI hub. In these efforts, Taiwan is an indispensable partner for the US. While the US is a leader in chip design, Taiwan’s semiconductor manufacturing plays an irreplaceable part in the supply chain. Adapting to the changing geopolitical landscape and the coming era of smart technology, Taiwan will continue to promote its Five Trusted Industry Sectors of semiconductors, AI, military, next-gen communications, and security and surveillance. This will drive the next stage in our economic development. A great time to invest in Taiwan is now. We will continue to better connect relevant government agencies and align with international standards to foster a friendlier investment environment. And I am confident that Taiwanese and American companies can leverage their respective high-tech expertise and invest in each other, boosting growth in industrial innovation and development for both our economies. At the same time, we hope to continue deepening Taiwan-US trade relations. Last year, Taiwan was the seventh largest trading partner of the US, up one spot from the previous year, and bilateral trade grew by 24.2 percent. Taiwan is going to expand procurement from the US of industrial and agricultural products, as well as natural gas. I am very happy to welcome Governor [Mike] Dunleavy of Alaska, who has specially come all the way to Taiwan. Alaska is a source of high-quality natural gas, and its relatively short distance from Taiwan facilitates transportation. So we are very interested in buying Alaskan natural gas because it can meet our needs and ensure our energy security. We hope that AmCham will continue to offer support in quickly resolving the issue of double taxation and removing tax barriers to bilateral investment and trade, further enhancing the mutually beneficial Taiwan-US economic and trade partnership. One essential element for our economic prosperity is maintaining security and stability, both regionally and globally. So we are grateful for the joint leaders’ statement issued by [US] President [Donald] Trump and Japan’s Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru, in which they expressed their solid support for maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. As we face growing authoritarianism, Taiwan will continue to uphold our values of freedom and democracy and will be a responsible actor in regional and global security. Currently, Taiwan’s defense budget stands at about 2.5 percent of GDP. Going forward, the government will prioritize special budget allocations to ensure that our defense budget exceeds 3 percent of GDP. At the same time, we will continue to reform national defense, further enhancing Taiwan’s self-defense capabilities. And we will advance our cooperation with the US and other democracies in upholding regional stability and prosperity. We also welcome continued Taiwan-US cooperation in the defense sector. I believe that, so long as we coordinate our efforts, we can achieve more in our respective defense industries and build non-red supply chains, advancing peace, stability, and prosperity. In closing, I look forward to seeing even greater achievements from Taiwan-US economic and trade cooperation. Thank you. After remarks, President Lai, AmCham Chairperson Dan Silver, American Institute in Taiwan Taipei Office Director Raymond Greene, and Governor Dunleavy raised their glasses in recognition of the strong Taiwan-US friendship.  

    Details
    2025-03-18
    President Lai meets Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs  
    On the afternoon of March 18, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs. In remarks, President Lai said that Taiwan and Arizona enjoy close economic and trade relations, and expressed hope that through our joint efforts, Arizona will become a shining example for Taiwan-United States high-tech collaboration and the creation of non-red supply chains. The president indicated that the next goal for Taiwan and the US is the signing of an agreement for the avoidance of double taxation, which would provide greater incentives for Taiwanese businesses to invest in the US, facilitate the establishment of more comprehensive industry clusters, and generate more job opportunities, representing a win-win outcome for Taiwan-US relations. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: I warmly welcome you all to the Presidential Office. Governor Hobbs previously visited Taiwan after taking office in 2023. Her leading a delegation to Taiwan once again demonstrates Arizona’s continued friendship and the importance Arizona attaches to Taiwan. For this, I express my sincerest gratitude, and I welcome you again. In recent years, ties between Taiwan and Arizona have continued to expand and progress. For example, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC)’s investment in Arizona is the largest greenfield investment in US history. This month, TSMC announced that it would increase its investment in the US by US$100 billion. It plans to build more semiconductor fabrication and research and development facilities in greater Phoenix, transforming the area into a US semiconductor hub. Due to our close industrial engagement, we now have more than 30,000 Taiwanese living in Arizona. I would like to thank Governor Hobbs for taking care of Taiwanese businesses and people. I believe that through our joint efforts, Arizona will become a shining example for Taiwan-US high-tech collaboration and the creation of non-red supply chains. Taiwan and Arizona also enjoy close economic and trade relations. Taiwan is Arizona’s eighth largest export market and fifth largest source of imports. Last December, the first agreement under the Taiwan-US Initiative on 21st-Century Trade officially came into effect. I believe this will help further deepen our trade and economic ties. At present, the next goal for Taiwan and the US is the signing of an agreement for the avoidance of double taxation. I hope that we can work together to achieve this goal as soon as possible. This would provide greater incentives for Taiwanese businesses to invest in the US, facilitate the establishment of more comprehensive local industry clusters, and generate more job opportunities, representing a win-win outcome. With Governor Hobbs’s support, we look forward to continuing to advance Taiwan-US relations and promoting further cooperation and exchanges between Taiwan and Arizona across all domains. I understand that during this visit, you have visited many important companies and exchanged opinions with government agencies on how to strengthen bilateral relations. These efforts all go toward building an even more solid foundation for future Taiwan-US cooperation. Once again, I thank you all for supporting Taiwan and welcome you to visit us often in the future. Governor Hobbs then delivered remarks, stating that under President Lai’s leadership, Taiwan continues to thrive as a global hub for technology, innovation, and advanced manufacturing. She said that she is proud to be back in Taiwan alongside her secretary of commerce, Sandra Watson, as part of a diplomatic and economic delegation from Arizona. Since arriving, she said, they’ve hit the ground running, meeting with key partners, businesses, and leaders, noting that the takeaway from their meetings has been incredibly positive, and that they underscore the strong and enduring partnership between Arizona and Taiwan. Adding that our partnership that is built on shared values, mutual cultural appreciation, and commitment to innovation and economic growth, Governor Hobbs indicated that Arizona and Taiwan’s partnership extends back decades, as Taiwanese fighter pilots have been training at Luke Air Force Base in Phoenix since 1996. She said that we have built a strong base of collaboration across many areas, including technology, workforce, and cultural exchange, and that Arizona is even slated to get its own Din Tai Fung (鼎泰豐), which she expressed she is very thrilled about. Governor Hobbs went on to say that Arizona’s relationship with Taiwan is anchored by its ongoing partnership with TSMC and many Taiwan-based companies in semiconductor and other industries, and that TSMC’s US$165 billion investment in Arizona will help power development of the world’s most advanced technology, such as AI, and promises to cement an unbreakable bond between our two economies.  She stated that as governor, she can say with confidence that her administration is fully committed to strengthening this relationship in every way possible, because when Arizona and Taiwan succeed, we all succeed. Lastly, Governor Hobbs once again expressed gratitude to President Lai and the people of Taiwan for their warm hospitality. She then invited President Lai to Arizona to continue their productive conversations and further strengthen ties between our people and our economies, adding that she knows there is no limit to what we can achieve together, and that she is looking forward to what is to come. The delegation was accompanied to the Presidential Office by American Institute in Taiwan Taipei Office Director Raymond Greene.

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    2025-03-18
    President Lai meets 2025 Yushan Forum participants
    On the afternoon of March 18, President Lai Ching-te met with participants in the 2025 Yushan Forum. In remarks, President Lai thanked the guests for gathering here in Taiwan and discussing ways to enhance regional cooperation, demonstrating that our democratic allies and friends are standing together as we take on the challenges of a new world and a new era. The president reiterated that Taiwan will continue to engage with the world, and we welcome the world to come closer to Taiwan. He stated that Taiwan will continue to work with international partners to deepen cooperation, exchanges, and partnership in various domains and resist the expansion of authoritarianism. Together, the president emphasized, we can pursue regional peace and security and realize a new vision for a free and open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: I would like to begin by thanking Anders Fogh Rasmussen, former prime minister of Denmark and chairman of the Alliance of Democracies Foundation, for inviting then-President Tsai Ing-wen to address the Copenhagen Democracy Summit via video over five consecutive years since 2020, and for inviting myself to give remarks via video last year. Those opportunities allowed Taiwan to share with the world our motivation for, and our work toward, safeguarding freedom and democracy. I would also like to thank Mr. Janez Janša, former prime minister of the Republic of Slovenia, who has visited Taiwan many times already, for actively elevating the cordial ties between Taiwan and Slovenia during his term as prime minister, helping expand friendship for Taiwan throughout Europe. Today’s guests have traveled a long way to show their strong backing for Taiwan. For this, I express my deepest gratitude. Yesterday was my first time attending the Yushan Forum as president. I saw political leaders and representatives gather here in Taiwan and discuss ways to enhance regional cooperation. The event demonstrated that our democratic allies and friends are standing together as we take on the challenges of a new world and a new era. It was truly moving. As I stated at the opening ceremony, Taiwan will continue to engage with the world, and we welcome the world to come closer to Taiwan. Our government will help guide Taiwanese small- and medium-sized enterprises as they expand into the international market and extend Taiwan’s economic power. I hope that during this visit, our guests will be able to explore more opportunities for cooperation in such fields as AI, smart healthcare, and advanced technologies, and join hands in contributing to the prosperity and development of our democratic allies and friends. Taiwan will continue to work with international partners, building upon the shared values of freedom and democracy, to deepen cooperation, exchanges, and partnership in various domains and resist the expansion of authoritarianism. Together, we can pursue regional peace and security and realize a new vision for a free and open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific. And I hope, with the assistance of our guests here today, that we can further strengthen the ties between Taiwan and Europe so that we can all take up the work of maintaining global peace and stability. Once again, I welcome our guests to Taiwan. I look forward to hearing your thoughts in a few moments. I also hope you will visit Taiwan often in the future and continue to experience our vibrant democratic society and culture. Chairman Rasmussen then delivered remarks, saying that it is a great pleasure to be back here in Taipei after meeting with President Lai in 2023. He then thanked President Lai for the Taiwanese hospitality on behalf of the Yushan Forum international visitors and participants, who represent four continents and very different political parties but who are united by one thing – the commitment to democracy. Chairman Rasmussen mentioned that over the past few days, they have met with members of the government, legislature, and civil society in Taiwan. He said that he is more convinced than ever that in a very uncertain world, Taiwan continues to stand as a beacon of democracy, from which people in Europe and in the rest of the world have a lot to learn. Over the past eight years, he has been proud to step up his engagement with Taiwan, he said, as he has always subscribed to the view that freedom must advance everywhere, or else it is in decline everywhere. Chairman Rasmussen noted that they have many interests in making sure Taiwan remains free and that we must always stand up for freedom when it is under assault by a dictator. This is why Ukraine’s fight is also everyone’s fight, he explained. He then praised Taiwan for all of the support it has given to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion and honored the two Taiwanese volunteer soldiers who gave their lives for freedom in Ukraine. Chairman Rasmussen remarked that Taiwan is a strong feature of the Copenhagen Democracy Summit that he convenes each year. His foundation, the Alliance of Democracies, has even been sanctioned by the Chinese government due to its support of Taiwan, he said, which is something he takes as a badge of honor. He added that this year’s Copenhagen Democracy Summit in May will be no different, as they plan to focus on the new world order, urgent measures to strengthen Europe’s military, and the situation in Ukraine. But as the United States pulls back from the transatlantic alliance and Europe focuses more on its own defense, he said, Europe should not retreat from the world. He added that to ensure European security, we need more Europe in the Indo-Pacific, and that is why he has been making the argument for more political and economic cooperation with Taiwan. Chairman Rasmussen praised President Lai’s recent decision to increase Taiwan’s national defense budget to more than 3 percent of GDP, adding that it is important that each nation does what it can for its own defense. The chairman once again thanked President Lai for meeting with them today and for the opportunity to visit Taiwan, a beacon of democracy and liberty in Asia. Also in attendance at the meeting were Chairman of the Czech Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Security Pavel Fischer; Member of the National Security Advisory Board to India’s National Security Council Anshuman Tripathi; former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland Anna Fotyga; former Minister of Health of Canada Tony Clement; and former Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania and current Secretary General of the Polish-based Community of Democracies Mantas Adomėnas.

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    2025-04-06
    President Lai delivers remarks on US tariff policy response
    On April 6, President Lai Ching-te delivered recorded remarks regarding the impact of the 32 percent tariff that the United States government recently imposed on imports from Taiwan in the name of reciprocity. In his remarks, President Lai explained that the government will adopt five response strategies, including making every effort to improve reciprocal tariff rates through negotiations, adopting a support plan for affected domestic industries, adopting medium- and long-term economic development plans, forming new “Taiwan plus the US” arrangements, and launching industry listening tours. The president emphasized that as we face this latest challenge, the government and civil society will work hand in hand, and expressed hope that all parties, both ruling and opposition, will support the measures that the Executive Yuan will take to open up a broader path for Taiwan’s economy. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: My fellow citizens, good evening. The US government recently announced higher tariffs on countries around the world in the name of reciprocity, including imposing a 32 percent tariff on imports from Taiwan. This is bound to have a major impact on our nation. Various countries have already responded, and some have even adopted retaliatory measures. Tremendous changes in the global economy are expected. Taiwan is an export-led economy, and in facing future challenges there will inevitably be difficulties, so we must proceed carefully to turn danger into safety. During this time, I want to express gratitude to all sectors of society for providing valuable opinions, which the government regards highly, and will use as a reference to make policy decisions.  However, if we calmly and carefully analyze Taiwan’s trade with the US, we find that last year Taiwan’s exports to the US were valued at US$111.4 billion, accounting for 23.4 percent of total export value, with the other 75-plus percent of products sold worldwide to countries other than the US. Of products sold to the US, competitive ICT products and electronic components accounted for 65.4 percent. This shows that Taiwan’s economy does still have considerable resilience. As long as our response strategies are appropriate, and the public and private sectors join forces, we can reduce impacts. Please do not panic. To address the reciprocal tariffs by the US, Taiwan has no plans to adopt retaliatory tariffs. There will be no change in corporate investment commitments to the US, as long as they are consistent with national interests. But we must ensure the US clearly understands Taiwan’s contributions to US economic development. More importantly, we must actively seek to understand changes in the global economic situation, strengthen Taiwan-US industry cooperation, elevate the status of Taiwan industries in global supply chains, and with safeguarding the continued development of Taiwan’s economy as our goal, adopt the following five strategies to respond. Strategy one: Make every effort to improve reciprocal tariff rates through negotiations using the following five methods:  1. Taiwan has already formed a negotiation team led by Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun (鄭麗君). The team includes members from the National Security Council, the Office of Trade Negotiations, and relevant Executive Yuan ministries and agencies, as well as academia and industry. Like the US-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement, negotiations on tariffs can start from Taiwan-US bilateral zero-tariff treatment. 2. To expand purchases from the US and thereby reduce the trade deficit, the Executive Yuan has already completed an inventory regarding large-scale procurement plans for agricultural, industrial, petroleum, and natural gas products, and the Ministry of National Defense has also proposed a military procurement list. All procurement plans will be actively pursued. 3. Expand investments in the US. Taiwan’s cumulative investment in the US already exceeds US$100 billion, creating approximately 400,000 jobs. In the future, in addition to increased investment in the US by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, other industries such as electronics, ICT, petrochemicals, and natural gas can all increase their US investments, deepening Taiwan-US industry cooperation. Taiwan’s government has helped form a “Taiwan investment in the US” team, and hopes that the US will reciprocate by forming a “US investment in Taiwan” team to bring about closer Taiwan-US trade cooperation, jointly creating a future economic golden age.  4. We must eliminate non-tariff barriers to trade. Non-tariff barriers are an indicator by which the US assesses whether a trading partner is trading fairly with the US. Therefore, we will proactively resolve longstanding non-tariff barriers so that negotiations can proceed more smoothly. 5. We must resolve two issues that have been matters of longstanding concern to the US. One regards high-tech export controls, and the other regards illegal transshipment of dumped goods, otherwise referred to as “origin washing.” Strategy two: We must adopt a plan for supporting our industries. For industries that will be affected by the tariffs, and especially traditional industries as well as micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises, we will provide timely and needed support and assistance. Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) and his administrative team recently announced a package of 20 specific measures designed to address nine areas. Moving forward, the support we provide to different industries will depend on how they are affected by the tariffs, will take into account the particular features of each industry, and will help each industry innovate, upgrade, and transform. Strategy three: We must adopt medium- and long-term economic development plans. At this point in time, our government must simultaneously adopt new strategies for economic and industrial development. This is also the fundamental path to solutions for future economic challenges. The government will proactively cooperate with friends and allies, develop a diverse range of markets, and achieve closer integration of entities in the upper, middle, and lower reaches of industrial supply chains. This course of action will make Taiwan’s industrial ecosystem more complete, and will help Taiwanese industries upgrade and transform. We must also make good use of the competitive advantages we possess in such areas as semiconductor manufacturing, integrated chip design, ICT, and smart manufacturing to build Taiwan into an AI island, and promote relevant applications for food, clothing, housing, and transportation, as well as military, security and surveillance, next-generation communications, and the medical and health and wellness industries as we advance toward a smarter, more sustainable, and more prosperous new Taiwan. Strategy four: “Taiwan plus one,” i.e., new “Taiwan plus the US” arrangements: While staying firmly rooted in Taiwan, our enterprises are expanding their global presence and marketing worldwide. This has been our national economic development strategy, and the most important aspect is maintaining a solid base here in Taiwan. We absolutely must maintain a solid footing, and cannot allow the present strife to cause us to waver. Therefore, our government will incentivize investments, carry out deregulation, and continue to improve Taiwan’s investment climate by actively resolving problems involving access to water, electricity, land, human resources, and professional talent. This will enable corporations to stay in Taiwan and continue investing here. In addition, we must also help the overseas manufacturing facilities of offshore Taiwanese businesses to make necessary adjustments to support our “Taiwan plus one” policy, in that our national economic development strategy will be adjusted as follows: to stay firmly rooted in Taiwan while expanding our global presence, strengthening US ties, and marketing worldwide. We intend to make use of the new state of supply chains to strengthen cooperation between Taiwanese and US industries, and gain further access to US markets. Strategy five: Launch industry listening tours: All industrial firms, regardless of sector or size, will be affected to some degree once the US reciprocal tariffs go into effect. The administrative teams led by myself and Premier Cho will hear out industry concerns so that we can quickly resolve problems and make sure policies meet actual needs. My fellow citizens, over the past half-century and more, Taiwan has been through two energy crises, the Asian financial crisis, the global financial crisis, and pandemics. We have been able to not only withstand one test after another, but even turn crises into opportunities. The Taiwanese economy has emerged from these crises stronger and more resilient than ever. As we face this latest challenge, the government and civil society will work hand in hand, and I hope that all parties in the legislature, both ruling and opposition, will support the measures that the Executive Yuan will take to open up a broader path for Taiwan’s economy. Let us join together and give it our all. Thank you.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s Zhuji promotes quality development of private sector

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    China’s Zhuji promotes quality development of private sector

    Updated: April 8, 2025 08:55 Xinhua
    A worker is seen at a copper pipe workshop of Zhejiang Hailiang Limited in Diankou Town of Zhuji, east China’s Zhejiang Province, April 7, 2025. Zhuji has made continuous efforts in promoting the quality development of its private sector in recent years. Home to many state-level high-tech enterprises, the city’s value-added industrial output of enterprises above the designated size has maintained growth for 47 consecutive months. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A robot works at VIE Science and Technology Co., Ltd. in Diankou Town of Zhuji, east China’s Zhejiang Province, April 7, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A worker checks a roll of copper pipe at Zhejiang Hailiang Limited in Diankou Town of Zhuji, east China’s Zhejiang Province, April 7, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An automatic guided vehicle transports a roll of copper pipe at Zhejiang Hailiang Limited in Diankou Town of Zhuji, east China’s Zhejiang Province, April 7, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Workers are seen on the assembly and inspection line of automobile components at VIE Science and Technology Co., Ltd. in Diankou Town of Zhuji, east China’s Zhejiang Province, April 7, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Workers are seen on the ABS integrated relay value assembly and inspection line at VIE Science and Technology Co., Ltd. in Diankou Town of Zhuji, east China’s Zhejiang Province, April 7, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An automatic guided vehicle transports products at VIE Science and Technology Co., Ltd. in Diankou Town of Zhuji, east China’s Zhejiang Province, April 7, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China achieves breakthrough in solar-powered water splitting for hydrogen production

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    French sci-fi author Jules Verne predicted about 150 years ago that water would become the fuel of the future. Today, scientists are striving to turn this fantasy into reality.
    Chinese researchers recently achieved a breakthrough in “photocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen production.” By performing “structural reshaping” and “element substitution” on a semiconductor material, they significantly enhanced the efficiency of converting water into clean hydrogen energy by using sunlight.
    Current solar-driven hydrogen production primarily relies on two methods — one uses solar panels to generate electricity for water electrolysis, which requires complex and costly equipment, while the other employs semiconductor materials as catalysts to directly split water molecules under sunlight, according to Liu Gang, director of the Institute of Metal Research of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and leader of the research team.
    The key to directly splitting water with sunlight lies in a material called titanium dioxide. When exposed to sunlight, it functions like a microscopic power plant, generating energized electron-hole pairs that break down water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen, Liu explained.
    However, traditional titanium dioxide has a critical flaw — its internal structure resembles a maze, causing the activated electrons and holes to collide randomly and recombine and annihilate within a millionth of a second. Additionally, the high-temperature fabrication process of the material often leads to oxygen atom loss, creating positively charged “trap zones” that capture electrons.
    Liu’s team addressed these issues by introducing scandium, a rare-earth element neighboring titanium on the periodic table, to restructure the material.
    Scandium ions, similar in size to titanium ions, fit perfectly into the titanium dioxide lattice without causing structural distortion. Their stable valence neutralizes the charge imbalance caused by oxygen vacancies, eliminating “trap zones.” Moreover, scandium atoms reconstruct the crystal surface, creating specific facets that act like “electronic highways and overpasses,” allowing electrons and holes to escape the maze efficiently.
    Through precise control, the research team successfully developed a specialized titanium dioxide material with significantly enhanced performance — its utilization of ultraviolet light exceeded 30 percent, and its hydrogen production efficiency under simulated sunlight was 15 times higher than previously reported titanium dioxide materials, setting a new record, Liu stated.
    “If used to create a one-square-meter photocatalytic material panel, around 10 liters of hydrogen can be produced in one day of sunlight,” Liu said.
    The achievement was published in the latest issue of the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
    “We aim to further improve the technology to enable efficient utilization of visible light in sunlight,” Liu revealed.
    He also noted that China currently accounts for over 50 percent of global titanium dioxide production, supported by a robust industrial chain. Additionally, China ranks among the world’s leaders in terms of scandium reserves.
    “With continued advancements in photocatalytic water-splitting efficiency, this technology holds promise for industrial application, and could drive the transformation of energy systems,” Liu added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Moscow expands access to secondary vocational education for ninth-graders

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Department of Education and Science of the City of Moscow adopted and published the necessary regulatory legal acts in pursuance of the federal law on expanding the availability of secondary vocational education.

    College education

    This year, the capital’s ninth-graders, focused on acquiring practical skills, quickly realizing themselves in a profession and planning to study in college, will be able to take only two basic state exams (OGE) instead of four – in Russian language and mathematics. The certificate received on the basis of passing them is equal to the certificate issued after passing four OGEs, and gives the right to enter any college for any specialty.

    This year, Moscow schoolchildren will be enrolled in all city colleges in all specialties based on their initial OGE scores in Russian and mathematics. This will ensure transparency and objectivity.

    As the demand for graduates of secondary vocational education grows in the labor market, schoolchildren’s interest in studying at colleges increases. Therefore, Moscow has increased the number of budget places in city colleges by 10 thousand – up to 37 thousand. For the first time, a guarantee for every Moscow ninth-grader for a free place in a capital institution of secondary vocational education is being introduced by law.

    Going to college is a unique opportunity to get a secondary general education at the same time as a sought-after profession. You can learn more about this at website Here.

    Graduation from college is one of the ways to obtain higher education in the future. You can enter a university by taking internal exams of the institution for applicants with secondary vocational education, and also by passing the Unified State Exam (USE) to participate in the general competition. Free city courses are organized at colleges to prepare for it.

    To take advantage of the opportunity to take only two mandatory exams, you must change your choice of OGE from four to two subjects on the mos.ru portal before May 15.

    The college admissions campaign will begin at the end of June. Graduates will be able to apply simultaneously for five specialties either in one educational institution or distribute the choice between several colleges. The entire document submission procedure is available in electronic format on the mos.ru portal.

    Successful employment

    The capital’s colleges are modern educational spaces where schoolchildren become sought-after specialists, and in some industries even outpace university graduates in terms of employment speed. Most students begin working while still studying: 95 percent of graduates successfully find employment in their chosen specialty. This result became possible due to a complete transformation of the approach to student training. More than half of the programs are designed taking into account the needs of future employers, and almost 70 percent of the study time is devoted to practical classes.

    Moscow colleges closely cooperate with more than three thousand employers – leaders in their industries. Among them are large industrial enterprises, factories, gastronomic holdings, IT companies, professional associations and communities.

    By increasing the intensity of training, its duration is reduced: starting from the 2025 academic year, most training programs are designed for three years and include obtaining several professions at the same time. Thus, college graduates become more competitive in the labor market.

    To ensure a high level of education, the capital’s colleges are systematically improving their material base. They are actively modernizing and equipping college workshops and laboratories: to date, 70 percent of the equipment has been updated, and by the end of 2027, the renovation of workshops and laboratories will be fully completed.

    Opened in October 2024 flagship center practical training of Moscow colleges in the Rudnevo industrial park. This is the first site for in-depth practical training of personnel in industrial specialties in accordance with the requests of residents of the Technopolis Moscow special economic zone and other Moscow enterprises. More than three thousand students from 15 Moscow colleges study here annually. In 2025, two more such sites will open – Pechatniki and Yug. The educational capacity of the three centers will allow training 20 thousand people annually.

    In the coming years, seven new colleges with a total area of over 400,000 square meters will appear in Moscow, where over 60,000 students will be able to study. The Moscow Technological College is currently undergoing major repairs, as well as the Moscow College of Management, Hotel Business and Information Technology “Tsaritsyno”.

    Education in schools

    For those who plan to continue their education in the 10th grade, nothing changes. You need to pass the OGE in four subjects: Russian language, mathematics and two elective subjects and score a minimum number of points, which each school determines independently. Upon scoring the minimum required passing score, the school is obliged to enroll the student in the 10th grade if he or she has completed the ninth grade.

    If a ninth-grade graduate wants to improve his OGE results, the city provides him with an additional opportunity to take two free tests at the Moscow Center for Education Quality and present the results for enrollment in the 10th grade. If they have improved, the school is obliged to accept the graduate.

    Training young specialists and competitions: how the unmanned technology sphere is developing in the capital

     

    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.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/152327073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: “I am a happy person – my work was and remains my main passion in life”

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    Today, the outstanding scientist and teacher, head of the Department of Solid State Chemistry, celebrates his birthday Faculty of Natural Sciences, Novosibirsk State University, Academician Vladimir Vyacheslavovich Boldyrev. He turns 98 years old.

    One of the founding fathers of mechanochemistry, the founder of the first department of solid state chemistry in the USSR, a man of amazingly sharp mind – these are just a few strokes to his portrait. Vladimir Vyacheslavovich himself tells about how his childhood passion for chemistry grew into a life’s work, what real research should be like, how to find your way in science.

    — When did you first become interested in chemistry and who was your first teacher?

    — I started studying chemistry in the 4th grade of school. My first teacher was my father. He was not a chemist himself, but he knew well what books I needed to start with. He turned out to be a good teacher, he knew how to direct a child in the right direction, support, teach the general principles of studying any science. This is much more important than giving specific knowledge.

    — Who do you consider your main teachers?

    — First of all, Professor Alexander Pavlovich Buntin of Tomsk State University. He was one of the first in our country to study the reactivity of solids; in 1941 he defended his doctoral dissertation “Reactivity of Solids and Kinetics of Topochemical Reactions.” It was he who introduced me to this field of science. Initially, I wanted to study coal chemistry, and I had never even heard of topochemical reactions. Then, of course, Corresponding Member of the USSR Academy of Sciences Simon Zalmanovich Roginsky, the creator of the electron theory of catalysis and the theory of active states.

    — Why did you decide to go into science?

    — My childhood coincided with the time when the country sang: “Hello, country of heroes, country of dreamers, country of scientists.” Many people dreamed of going into science, and in our family this also coincided with our parents’ ideas about what the most wonderful occupation in life was. Since childhood, I was surrounded by books, I saw my father looking at minerals through a microscope right at home in our common room crowded with people, the children’s technical station was actively working, which I actively visited. At the age of 13, as a fifth-grader, I participated in the All-Union Chemistry Olympiad for grades 8-10 and, as a winner, was awarded a trip to Artek, where I celebrated the New Year of 1941.

    — What teaching difficulties did you encounter when you came to work at the university?

    — At Tomsk State University, my work involved both teaching and research. From my first days as a student, I worked in the lab at the same time. I started teaching right after finishing my postgraduate studies at TSU — I was assigned to teach a general chemistry course to the streams of geologists, biologists, physicists, and students from the special departments. I also taught a practical course for chemists on inorganic synthesis. My workload was the same as that of university teachers: 1-2 pairs of lectures and 6 hours of practical training every day. So the hardest part was finding time not only to teach classes and prepare for them, but also to do my own research and supervise the research work of students and postgraduates. But it was even harder for my wife — she also worked at the university, and no less than I did, but she also had a small child on her hands, and she also took on all the everyday problems, which were immeasurably more difficult than today. If it weren’t for my wife, I would never have succeeded as a scientist. She, being no less capable of scientific work, loving science and teaching no less than me, having at our meeting no less “initial achievements”, sacrificed her scientific career for her family. Of course, she herself achieved a lot in science, and educated many students, but this was far from her “ceiling” in terms of her abilities.

    — Have you ever experienced fear of public speaking? If so, how did you cope with it?

    – No, I didn’t. I had no time for that. I needed to convey the subject to the audience, and there was no time for self-reflection.

    — What techniques for activating students’ cognitive activity do you use during lectures, seminars or practical classes?

    — I always tried to talk to the audience, to have a dialogue, not to avoid difficult questions, on the contrary — I provoked them myself. I always started classes by getting to know the audience, to understand what background and expectations the students brought to my classes. The assignments for practical classes were selected in such a way that as a result of their completion, joint scientific articles were obtained, many of which are still relevant. It is a great joy for me that I still meet very old people who tell me that they listened to and remember my lectures. I guess I really managed to read interestingly.

    — Have you had any “difficult” students? How did you deal with them?

    — Over more than 70 years of teaching, of course, there were. Whenever possible, I tried to part with them. I didn’t part with some in time, felt sorry for them, for which I later had to pay dearly.

    — Do you have a teaching motto? If so, what is it?

    — You can’t say it better than Academician Budker: “Teacher, educate a student so that he has someone to learn from.”

    — What advice would you give to a beginning teacher?

    – Never stop learning yourself and don’t give up when faced with difficulties.

    — How, in your opinion, should one approach the choice of topic for scientific work?

    — And again, you couldn’t say it better than Academician Budker: “Choose not what to do, but who to work with.”

    — What should real scientific research be like?

    — Unpredictable in advance in terms of the result. A real researcher will not pass by a strange observation, an unexpected result, and will not rest until he finds an explanation for them, perhaps by setting up a whole series of new experiments for this purpose.

    — What advice could you give to a chemistry student who is just choosing his path in science?

    — As the creator of the first department of solid state chemistry in the USSR and still its head, of course, I consider it the best, and our science the most interesting. But seriously, when choosing a path in science, as with any other choice, I advise you to try, analyze and, most importantly, think with your own head.

    — Do you have a hobby?

    “I am a happy person – my work was and remains my main hobby in life.

    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.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Politics aside, new research shows there are good financial reasons to back working from home

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dorina Pojani, Associate Professor in Urban Planning, The University of Queensland

    Fizkes/Shutterstock

    In the pre-industrial era, people often lived and worked in the same building. This removed the need to travel to work.

    The separation of home and work occurred much later, during the Industrial Revolution. Factories and offices were grouped in designated areas and residential zoning was invented.

    Even then, people typically spent about 60 to 90 minutes travelling each day, no matter how technology or urban layouts changed. This is known as Marchetti’s constant.

    The rise of the internet in the 1990s – and more recently, the COVID-19 pandemic – sparked a rethink of commuting. As we head towards the polls in Australia’s largest federal election, working from home has become a hot-button issue.

    Labor and the Coalition have been polarised for and against working from home, citing research and even anecdotes backing their positions.

    That was until this week. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton swung from insisting all public servants would have to return to the office five days a week under the Coalition to saying current arrangements would remain unchanged.

    But beyond political squabbles, what does the latest research – including our own on workers in Brisbane – show?

    Impacts of working from home

    Working from home impacts multiple areas including transport, housing, business and health. A systematic literature review on working from home – covering international studies between 2000 and 2022 – shows it:

    • reduces traffic congestion and saves commuting time. However, it financially strains public transport operators due to lower demand.

    • boosts regional growth as workers relocate in search of larger homes with home-office space. But this raises regional housing demand and prices.

    • helps employers cut costs and increase productivity and job satisfaction rates. It can, however, limit promotion opportunities for remote workers.

    • cuts traffic pollution and improves work-life balance. But it may cause social isolation, overwork, strained family relationships and musculoskeletal problems if ergonomic furniture isn’t used.

    These are short-term effects, which may eventually disappear as society adjusts. The long-term effects are harder to predict because government and workplace policies change, as do economic conditions.

    While working from home reduces the need for daily commuting, people may reallocate this saved time to off-peak trips for shopping or recreation.

    As households move from urban cores, urban sprawl increases, resulting in less frequent but longer trips. This may lead to increased overall travel, offsetting environmental benefits. Marchetti’s constant may no longer hold.

    The redistribution of activity zones may create new economic dynamics. Suburbs and regional centres may gain from more local spending, while areas with fewer shops may rely more on online shopping. Traditional CBDs could decline, needing new uses for office spaces.

    New research on Brisbane workers

    Our new research – to be published in a forthcoming book in Elsevier’s series “Advances in Transport Policy and Planning” – assesses the short-term costs and benefits of working from home for individuals, the private and the public sectors in Brisbane.

    Here, a big shift to working from home occurred during the pandemic. We’ve used secondary and proxy data from 2020-2021 when working from home peaked. During that time, Brisbane was in and out of lockdowns.

    We’ve created an accounting tool that lists the costs and benefits of working from home. The net impact is calculated by subtracting total costs from total benefits, allowing us to measure tangible and, when possible, intangible effects.

    We found individuals and the private sector gained the most, while the public sector has felt the greatest losses. Employees have enjoyed more benefits from working from home than expected, while employers have cut spending in CBDs and seen increased revenues in suburbs.

    In Brisbane the total annual working from home (for individuals, the private and public sector) costs amounted to A$557.5 million, while the total benefits reached $4.1 billion. These benefits outweigh costs by a factor of seven.

    However, this is a preliminary look, rather than a comprehensive account. It is important to remember the cost-benefit balance may evolve over time, depending on technological advances, corporate culture and generational preferences.

    Should Australia continue to support working from home?

    Based on our findings and assuming other state capitals perform like Brisbane, we recommend keeping work from home arrangements. But what about public sector losses?

    While public transport revenues have been lower due to working from home, it doesn’t seem to be a major issue for South East Queensland. Here, 50 cent fares were introduced before the last state election and have since become permanent.

    However, the budgets of public transport operators in other states might be different. In those cases, more proactive measures might be needed. This might involve shifting from peak-hour services to frequent all-day routes and adjusting fares for vulnerable customers.

    Some agencies might offer demand-responsive services, like ride-sharing. If all public transport becomes financially unsustainable, community-based cooperatives could step in.

    These shifts in transport patterns may prompt land-use changes. For instance, businesses relying on daily commuters, like restaurants and shops in city centres, may move to the suburbs or pivot to delivery, take-out or meal-prep kits.

    In any case, not all jobs can be done remotely. Certain sectors, such as manufacturing, healthcare, justice and hospitality will continue to require employees to be physically present.

    Dorina Pojani has received funding from the Australian Research Council, the Australian Urban Research Infrastructure Network (AURIN), the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), and iMOVE Australia Cooperative Research Centre.

    Neil G Sipe has received funding from the Australian Research Foundation.

    Ying Lu 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.

    – ref. Politics aside, new research shows there are good financial reasons to back working from home – https://theconversation.com/politics-aside-new-research-shows-there-are-good-financial-reasons-to-back-working-from-home-253629

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –