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  • MIL-OSI Russia: PISh SPbPU presented a new project at the educational forum — school design bureaus

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University presented the best practices, projects and initiatives for training highly qualified specialists needed by the modern economy at the XV St. Petersburg International Educational Forum. The Advanced Engineering School of SPbPU “Digital Engineering” (PES), as a flagship division of the SPbPU Technological Development Ecosystem, launched innovative projects at the forum with an emphasis on advanced digital and production technologies and held thematic events for teachers aimed at developing engineering education in cooperation with representatives of the domestic industry, and also became an active participant in discussion platforms.

    On the first day of the forum, a scientific and practical seminar “Formation of the inventive culture of students: from idea to implementation” was held at school No. 219 in the Krasnoselsky district of St. Petersburg on the topic of “Personnel for the economy and technological sovereignty”. Senior lecturer of the Higher School of Advanced Digital Technologies, junior research fellow of the 3D-education laboratory of the SPbPU PIS “Digital Engineering” Andrey Shimchenko spoke at the opening and took part in the discussion of key issues in the development of the intellectual and creative potential of schoolchildren.

    On March 27, the forum hosted a presentation of the school design bureau project and the signing of agreements with schools and partners. The project is based on the idea of creating a network of school design bureaus at specially selected educational sites, working together and coordinated by the Advanced Engineering School of SPbPU “Digital Engineering”. The project is being implemented in partnership with the Academy of Digital Technologies and with the support of the Government of St. Petersburg. The corporate style of the network of school design bureaus was developed by the winner of the federal competition “Design of the Young – 2024” in the “Bureau” nomination, student of the Sverdlovsk Art School named after I.D. Shadr Matvey Nechkov.

    The events took place during the strategic session “Creating a Single Space for Modern Digital Education in St. Petersburg”, the program of which included a plenary session, a discussion platform of the session “Development of Engineering Competencies of Students in School Design Bureaus” and a session “Quantum Collaboration: Development through Partnership”. The venue was the IT company “Sber IT-hub”. The organizers of the strategic session were the Advanced Engineering School of SPbPU “Digital Engineering” and the Academy of Digital Technologies.

    Today we will discuss two important issues related to the development of engineering competencies in school design bureaus and children’s technology parks. These topics are very important for the development of a modern educational environment. It is necessary for each educational institution to respond to the demand that the real labor market puts before us. I would like to thank all our partners, including manufacturing companies, universities and schools, for being ready, in the conditions of such positive collaboration, to create and build a truly future that will allow our children to become highly competitive specialists, – Valeria Zotova, Director of the Academy of Digital Technologies, welcomed the participants of the strategic session.

    SPbPU’s advanced engineering school “Digital Engineering” systematically develops career guidance and educational projects for schoolchildren and college students. These projects are based on the use of advanced digital and production technologies for teaching natural science subjects. They also include the development small-sized wheeled autonomous robot (MKAR) and its application in schools and educational centers of St. Petersburg for teaching robotics and related disciplines. In February 2025, on the basis of the project partner, the Academy of Digital Technologies, the School programming competitions MKAR, and 15 St. Petersburg schools received models of the robot.

    The development of these educational initiatives in cooperation between schools, colleges, universities, educational centers and industrial partners is supported by the government of St. Petersburg. For example, in September 2024, Governor Alexander Beglov highly praised the concept youth design bureaus, presented by the SPbPU PISh “Digital Engineering” at the opening of the first educational site at the College of Industrial Automation.

    School design bureaus are club-type platforms where children, under the guidance of experienced instructors, can learn engineering and solve real technical problems from industrial partners. The goal of the project is not only to give schoolchildren the opportunity to try themselves as engineers, but also to organize effective career guidance for students in grades 7–10. Participants in school design bureaus will be able to visit high-tech enterprises, listen to lectures by leading industry experts, and undergo internships at partners’ production sites.

    Industrial partners of the school design bureaus developed practice-oriented tasks for them and provided them with licensed software. The main partners of the project include: AEM-Technologies (part of the mechanical engineering division of the Rosatom State Corporation), Gazprom Neft, the Physical Rehabilitation organization, Ascon-Design Systems, and the Kronstadt Engineering Center. As the project develops, the number of partners will increase.

    The school design bureau project became one of the key topics of the plenary session of the strategic session “Creating a single space for modern digital education in St. Petersburg”.

    St. Petersburg has always been a leader in the field of education, and today’s forum is another step forward in providing high-quality and modern education for our children. Exchange of experience and discussion of current issues will help to determine the main areas of development and achieve the set goals, – Svetlana Bobrovskaya, Deputy Head of the General Education Department of the St. Petersburg Education Committee, opened the plenary session.

    Director of the Center for Continuing Professional Education of the SPbPU PISh Sergey Salkutsan spoke about the school design bureaus and answered questions from the audience about the project and tools of system digital engineering.

    “It is important to teach schoolchildren and students to understand the fundamental physical and chemical processes underlying the objects being modeled,” says Sergey Vladimirovich. “Mathematics and physics are critically important for understanding the structure of the world. Only by mastering these two disciplines will future engineers be able to effectively use software for modeling and design. It is also necessary to teach children not only to carry out technical assignments, but also to understand production technologies and the path of the product to the end consumer.”

    Sergei Salkutsan emphasized that school design bureaus are part of a continuous chain that continues in colleges and universities.

    Director of the Academy of Digital Technologies Valeria Zotova also noted the positive impact of the school design bureau project on the development of engineering education in the country: This will open up new opportunities for the development of technical creativity and engineering competencies in our students. Of particular importance is that each of you will have the opportunity to develop your own roadmap for opening school design bureaus in your educational institution. This is not just a theory – this is a real action plan that we will implement together.

    Then the official presentation of the school design bureau project took place and agreements on their opening were signed with 13 educational institutions of St. Petersburg. The signing was preceded by training of teachers of educational institutions, which took place at SPbPU. The teachers received certificates of advanced training during the ceremony.

    School design bureaus will be opened in the following educational institutions of St. Petersburg:

    Academy of Digital Technologies; Academy of Talents; Center for Children’s (Youthful) Technical Creativity “Start” of Nevsky District; Engineering and Technological School No. 777; School No. 707 of Nevsky District; School No. 422 of Kronstadt District; School No. 582 with in-depth study of English and Finnish languages of Primorsky District; Gymnasium No. 49 of Primorsky District; School No. 518 of Vyborg District; School No. 617 of Primorsky District; School No. 219 of Krasnoselsky District; School No. 500 of Pushkinsky District; School No. 258 with in-depth study of physics and chemistry of Kolpino District.

    Cooperation agreements were signed by the project partners: Ascon-Design Systems, Physical Rehabilitation, and AEM-Technologies.

    After signing, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of ASCON, Alexander Golikov, noted: The main motivation that guides us as a developer is that we want to live in a country that creates, not a consumer. In a country with a powerful industry, with its own aircraft, electronics, software. To achieve this, it is necessary to develop a culture of invention and engineering creativity at all stages of education, since all advanced developments are created by qualified specialists. School design bureaus are a point of attraction for future engineers, and we, ASCON, provide the necessary software tools for the implementation of engineering ideas.

    To implement the project, school design bureaus “Ascon-Design Systems” transferred licenses for full access to the software to schools.

    Training in school design bureaus will be launched in cycles, but the first launch is different from the others. Basic training began on March 27. Work on the first project, “Development of a housing for an electronic rehabilitation device for children,” commissioned by the Physical Rehabilitation organization, will begin on April 21. In May, the finished assembly will be submitted for testing and production, a championship of the school design bureau network will be held, and the first project will end with a presentation of the manufactured products and their transfer to the customer. Schoolchildren who successfully complete the training will receive certificates from Ascon-Design Systems confirming their skills. In the future, these certificates will be taken into account when entering Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University. The second task for schoolchildren by the fall of 2025 will be set by the partner of AEM-Technology.

    The development of school design bureaus was also one of the topics of the plenary part of the conference “Ecosystem of a specialized school: change management for technological sovereignty”, which was held at the project participant – school No. 258 with in-depth study of physics and chemistry in the Kolpino district of St. Petersburg. Engineer of the Advanced Engineering School of SPbPU “Digital Engineering” Tamara Korobova spoke about the launch of school design bureaus, highlighted the goals and objectives of the project, answered questions from teachers and took part in the discussion of current issues of specialized education for schoolchildren and the development of models of network interaction between educational organizations and industry partners.

    At the strategic session, students were able to immerse themselves in the tasks of future school design bureaus and try their hand at 3D modeling and printing.

    The leading engineering school of SPbPU “Digital Engineering” is developing three areas of development of design bureaus. Over the next year, we plan to methodically organize the activities of school bureaus, set up work with industrial partners and receive feedback from participants. Then, on the basis of the Polytechnic University, together with the Talent Academy, a bureau will be created that will be available to students of schools where there is no design bureau yet. The third area includes youth design bureaus based on secondary vocational education institutions, developed together with the College of Industrial Automation. Their activities are focused on in-depth study of the technological level of development and production of products. As part of their work, novice engineers should enter small-scale production, – summed up Sergey Salkutsan.

    The II All-Russian Digital Forum “From Lesson to Profession” was held as part of the XV St. Petersburg International Educational Forum. The second day of the event took place at the Polytechnic University. The co-organizers were the SPbPU PISh and School No. 619 of the Kalininsky District. More than 160 technical education specialists and heads of digital education centers from 33 regions of Russia took part.

    We have established a strong tradition of meeting, exchanging experience and practices. Within the framework of this forum, you will see the best of what St. Petersburg and other regions have to offer. And I am sure that you will remember the welcoming atmosphere of the Polytechnic University, and you will actively share the knowledge you have gained with your colleagues, – Pavel Rozov, Deputy Chairman of the St. Petersburg Education Committee, opened the event in a video address.

    Then the plenary session “National Policy in the Sphere of Digital Education” began. Natalia Gubkova, chief specialist of the Department of Information Technology and Digitalization of the Committee on Education of St. Petersburg, spoke about the influence of national projects on the work of digital education centers and the guidelines for the development of education until 2036.

    Experience of interaction with leaders of Russian industry for development of engineering education within the framework of the SPbPU PISh “Digital Engineering” program was presented by Mikhail Zhmailo, senior lecturer of the Higher School of Advanced Digital Technologies of the SPbPU PISh. He spoke about the practice-oriented model of polytechnic education, emphasized the need to develop modern educational tools and the importance of introducing advanced digital technologies in the education of young people at different levels. Mikhail Aleksandrovich noted the high interest of schools in participation in the project of development of school design bureaus and application in educational activities of a small-sized wheeled autonomous robot developed by engineers of the laboratory “Industrial Systems of Streaming Data Processing” (PSPOD) of the SPbPU PISh.

    Director of the Center for Advanced Professional Training Natalia Suddenkova gave a report on the implementation of the concept of continuous digital education in the context of developing cooperation between educational organizations and industrial partners, and also presented the project “My First Profession”.

    Director of the Academy of Digital Technologies Valeria Zotova highlighted the Academy’s projects and its role in the development of digital education and support of educational institutions, advanced training programs for teachers and managers.

    After the plenary session, the participants of the II All-Russian Digital Forum “From Lesson to Profession” visited the laboratories and scientific and technological spaces of SPbPU. Thus, in the laboratory “Industrial Systems of Streaming Data Processing” of the SPbPU PISh, teachers got acquainted with a model of a small-sized wheeled autonomous robot and learned more about its programming and the competencies of students that can be developed with its help.

    Senior Lecturer of the Higher School of Advanced Digital Technologies PISH SPbPU, Research Fellow of the Laboratory of Advanced Digital Technologies PISH SPbPU Georgy Vasilyanov presented guests a new version of the robot – MKAR 3.0, which was shown publicly for the first time. During the presentation, participants saw autonomous movement MKAR 2.0— version, already delivered to 15 schools in St. Petersburg, as well as the debut of MKAR 3.0 with improved sensors, modular design and support for ROS2 — the industry standard for robot control.

    Using the example of work Experimental Design Bureau of PISh SPbPU, opened within the framework VI International Forum “Advanced Digital and Manufacturing Technologies” In October 2024, participants became familiar with the implemented practices and approaches to designing high-tech products, which are planned to be replicated in the school design bureau project.

    The teachers also visited the Polytechnic Supercomputer Center and the Gazpromneft-Polytech Scientific and Educational Center on an excursion.

    And then the program of the II All-Russian Digital Forum “From Lesson to Profession” continued with a strategic session “Creating a Single Space for Modern Digital Education in St. Petersburg”, which was held by the Deputy Director for Educational and Methodological Work of the Academy of Digital Technologies Evgeniya Lineva.

    The session participants discussed the partnership, outlined development paths and prospects for further work.

    Read more about the events Here.

    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: Ingersoll Rand Appoints Michelle Swanenburg to Board of Directors

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DAVIDSON, N.C., April 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ingersoll Rand Inc. (NYSE: IR), a global provider of mission-critical flow creation and life sciences and industrial solutions, today announced the appointment of Michelle Swanenburg to its Board of Directors, effective immediately.

    Swanenburg currently serves as the head of Human Resources (HR) at T. Rowe Price (NASDAQ: TROW), a premier global asset management organization with $1.63 trillion in assets under management as of February 28, 2025. She brings over twenty years of experience as a strategic and accomplished HR leader, with a proven track record of leading growth and innovation by continually improving strategies focused on people and culture. Her commitment to advancing company culture and fostering engaged teams will support Ingersoll Rand’s Deploy Talent strategic imperative.

    Swanenburg is a member of T. Rowe Price’s Management Committee, the Strategic Operating Committee, the Enterprise Risk Management Committee, the Management Compensation and Development Committee, and the Corporate Strategy Committee. Prior to her current role, she was the head of HR at Oaktree Capital Management. She currently serves as a board member for The Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore Inc. and is a member of the President’s Advisory Council at Stevenson University.

    “I am excited to welcome Michelle to our Board,” said Vicente Reynal, chairman and chief executive officer of Ingersoll Rand. “She brings significant human capital management, corporate governance, and shareholder engagement expertise to the organization. Our people are our number one asset, and Michelle’s insights will be invaluable as we continue to grow and enhance workforce experiences on a global scale.”

    About Ingersoll Rand Inc.
    Ingersoll Rand Inc. (NYSE: IR), driven by an entrepreneurial spirit and ownership mindset, is dedicated to Making Life Better for our employees, customers, shareholders, and planet. Customers lean on us for exceptional performance and durability in mission-critical flow creation and life sciences and industrial solutions. Supported by over 80+ respected brands, our products and services excel in the most complex and harsh conditions. Our employees develop customers for life through their daily commitment to expertise, productivity, and efficiency. For more information, visit www.IRCO.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements related to expectations of Ingersoll Rand Inc. (the “Company” or “Ingersoll Rand”) regarding the performance of its business, its financial results, its liquidity and capital resources and other non-historical statements. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “outlook,” “target,” “endeavor,” “seek,” “predict,” “intend,” “strategy,” “plan,” “may,” “could,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “on track to” “will continue,” “will likely result,” “guidance” or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. All statements other than historical facts are forward-looking statements.

    These forward-looking statements are based on Ingersoll Rand’s current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from these current expectations. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or anticipated by such forward-looking statements. The inclusion of such statements should not be regarded as a representation that such plans, estimates or expectations will be achieved. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such plans, estimates or expectations include, among others, (1) adverse impact on our operations and financial performance due to geopolitical tensions, natural disaster, catastrophe, global pandemics, cyber events, or other events outside of our control; (2) unexpected costs, charges or expenses resulting from completed and proposed business combinations; (3) uncertainty of the expected financial performance of the Company; (4) failure to realize the anticipated benefits of completed and proposed business combinations; (5) the ability of the Company to implement its business strategy; (6) difficulties and delays in achieving revenue and cost synergies; (7) inability of the Company to retain and hire key personnel; (8) evolving legal, regulatory and tax regimes; (9) changes in general economic and/or industry specific conditions; (10) actions by third parties, including government agencies; and (11) other risk factors detailed in Ingersoll Rand’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), as such factors may be updated from time to time in its periodic filings with the SEC, which are available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. The foregoing list of important factors is not exclusive.

    Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release. Ingersoll Rand undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or developments, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements.

    Contacts:
    Investor Relations:                                                 
    Matthew.Fort@irco.com         

    Media:                                 
    Sara.Hassell@irco.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/af4b4ec6-1c46-4b8c-a85b-97228ff35243

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Lessons from El Salvador for US university leaders facing attacks from Trump

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Annmarie Caño, Professor of Psychology, Gonzaga University

    Salvadorans participate in a procession on Nov. 14, 2015, to commemorate the 26th anniversary of the murder of the Rev. Ignacio Ellacuría, five other Jesuit priests and two employees at Central American University in San Salvador. Marvin Recinos/AFP via Getty Images

    Even before President Donald Trump took office, university presidents expressed concern about the impact of his agenda on higher education.

    Now they must lead their institutions in the wake of executive orders and directives that appear to undermine their authority and autonomy.

    They include cuts to research grant funding and the prohibition of diversity programs. The Trump administration has also proposed the dismantling of the Department of Education.

    These mandates contradict most university missions, which often include references to advancing knowledge in service of democracy. But few university leaders are taking public actions to oppose these directives.

    As a psychology professor and a former dean focused on equitable educational access, I believe U.S. higher education leaders in Trump’s crosshairs would do well to reflect on the courage of university leaders in El Salvador who, during the 1980s, opposed injustice despite facing grave personal risks for doing so.

    The Central American context

    El Salvador in the 1970s and 1980s was at the center of Cold War politics. In the name of preventing the spread of communism, the country’s U.S.-backed oligarchy and military waged a repressive campaign against people who pushed for human rights.

    The ensuing civil war saw about 75,000 Salvadorans killed.

    Before and during the conflict, universities that took the side of the poor and marginalized experienced intense backlash, including the revocation of funding and attacks on the reputation of university leaders.

    These actions feel eerily similar to those being taken against U.S. universities today.

    As I write in my forthcoming book, the heads of the Central American University in El Salvador offer a model of courageous leadership.

    The university president, Ignacio Ellacuría, was a Jesuit priest and a renowned theologian and philosopher. His second in command, Ignacio Martín-Baró, also a Jesuit priest, was a social psychologist. Martín-Baró developed the field of liberation psychology, which argues that oppression in society must be addressed to enable mental health and well-being.

    These leaders advanced ideas to create a more just society.

    They didn’t serve the elite by reproducing a wealthy and educated upper class that would support the status quo. Instead, Ellacuría called for universities to center the needs of poor community members in their teaching and social outreach.

    These university leaders and their faculty immersed themselves in impoverished communities to understand their plight and work toward a common, empowered future.

    Their leadership was remarkable. They persisted in their work despite being wrongfully labeled as Marxists and communists. They were threatened with deportation and targeted with death threats and bombing attacks on campus.

    Because of their efforts to promote justice, Ellacuría, Martín-Baró and six other people were assassinated on campus in 1989 by U.S.-trained military forces.

    A mural pays homage to six Jesuit priests and two university employees murdered during El Salvador’s civil war.
    Marvin Recinos/AFP via Getty Images

    Elements of liberatory leadership

    The Central American University leaders understood the power of their authority as scholars. But they didn’t use it to dominate others. They exercised their authority in service of the poor.

    Martín-Baró created the Institute for Public Opinion to collect and disseminate survey data about citizens’ experiences. In a 1988 survey, respondents in the countryside reported high unemployment and the widespread sentiment that their condition had worsened over the past decade.

    He also published research on the psychological impacts of political violence and war in El Salvador, including post-traumatic stress in children and families.

    The university leaders and faculty did not distance themselves from the people.

    Instead, they listened to their struggles and supported community groups such as the ecclesial base communities that organized to resist oppression.

    A fundamental reason for the university’s involvement in the country’s struggles was its belief in the “preferential option for the poor.”

    The theological concept upholds God’s love for all of humanity, which requires that God take sides. According to the theologian Gustavo Gutiérrez, a contributor to the development of Latin American liberation theology, God does not remain neutral when people are oppressed, so neither should human leaders.

    US higher education

    These elements of liberatory leadership, I argue, can provide lessons for U.S. higher education leaders, even at U.S. secular institutions.

    Rather than refrain from communicating with faculty and students, university leaders might acknowledge the fear and pain people are feeling in response to anti-immigration and anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric.

    University leaders might hold listening sessions to learn how executive orders are impacting faculty and students. In my experience as an executive coach, such listening sessions are uncommon due to fear of reprisal from politicians and other powerful stakeholders.

    Rather than not discussing the impact of federal orders, they might conduct surveys to publicize the scope of the effects. Leaders could make public statements, rooting their arguments in the values espoused by their university mission statements.

    That would run counter to declaring institutional neutrality, which more than 140 higher educational institutions have adopted.

    Yet, some leaders – Patricia McGuire of Trinity Washington University and groups such as the American Council on Education, for example – are “taking sides.” They are affirming the value of diversity and inclusion in a mission-aligned manner that is akin to voicing a preferential option for the poor.

    To be sure, there are risks to this kind of leadership.

    U.S. academic leaders may not face the same outcome as their counterparts in 1980s Central America, but they do risk their reputations and livelihoods for speaking out.

    They may be called names or added to online watch lists. Their institutions may be threatened with investigations and the cancellation of critical funds. They may be fired.

    The Central American University leaders faced the same risks, yet they empowered people to continue to resist unjust actions. Among the ecclesial base communities, they remain an important example of leadership during troubled times.

    Fear did not guide their actions. Freedom and truth did – values that are foundational to democracy.

    Annmarie Caño is the founder and owner of Annmarie Caño Coaching & Consulting, LLC. In the past, she has received funding from the National Institutes of Health. She is a member of the American Psychological Association.

    – ref. Lessons from El Salvador for US university leaders facing attacks from Trump – https://theconversation.com/lessons-from-el-salvador-for-us-university-leaders-facing-attacks-from-trump-249251

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Susan Monarez, Trump’s nominee for CDC director, faces an unprecedented and tumultuous era at the agency

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Jordan Miller, Teaching Professor of Public Health, Arizona State University

    The Trump administration laid off thousands more employees at the CDC on April 1, 2025, as part of its workforce reduction. Anadolu/Getty Images

    The job of director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention carries immense responsibility for shaping health policies, responding to crises and maintaining trust in public health institutions.

    Since the Trump administration took office in January 2025, the position has been held on an interim basis by Susan Monarez, whom Trump has now nominated to take the job permanently after his first nominee, former Florida Congressman David Weldon, was withdrawn, in part over his anti-vaccine views.

    Monarez, in contrast, is a respected scientist who endorses vaccines and has robust research experience. While she is new to the CDC, she is an accomplished public servant, having worked in several other agencies over the course of her career.

    Monarez’s nomination comes at a time when the Department of Health and Human Services is in the midst of mass layoffs, and health professionals – and many in the public – have lost confidence in the federal government’s commitment to supporting evidence-based public health and medicine.

    After having already cut nearly 10% of the CDC’s employees earlier in the year, the White House laid off thousands more HHS employees on April 1, gutting the CDC’s workforce by more than 24% in total.

    As a teaching professor and public health educator, I appreciate the importance of evidence-based public health practice and the CDC director’s role in advancing public health science, disease surveillance and response and a host of other functions that are essential to public health.

    The CDC is essential to promoting and protecting health in the U.S. and abroad, and the next director will shape its course in a challenging era.

    A critical time for public health

    In addition to the massive overhaul of the country’s public health infrastructure, the U.S. also faces a multistate measles outbreak and growing concerns over avian flu. Cuts to both the workforce and federal programs are hobbling measles outbreak response efforts and threatening the country’s ability to mitigate avian flu.

    The Trump administration has also brought in several individuals who have long held anti-science views.

    Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s appointment to head of the Department of Health and Human Services was widely condemned by health experts, given his lack of credentials and history of spreading health misinformation.

    So the stakes are high for the CDC director, who will report directly to Kennedy.

    Two CDC workers – one who has been at the agency for 25 years and the other for 10 – protest mass layoffs on April 1, 2025.
    AP Photo/Ben Gray

    An abrupt pivot

    Prior to his inauguration, Trump had signaled he would nominate Weldon, a physician who has promoted anti-vaccine theories.

    But in March, Trump withdrew Weldon’s nomination less than an hour before his confirmation hearing was set to begin, after several Republicans in Congress relayed that they would not support his appointment.

    Instead, Trump tapped Monarez for the top spot.

    The role of a CDC director

    The CDC relies on its director to provide scientific leadership, shape policy responses and guide the agency’s extensive workforce in addressing emerging health threats.

    Prior to January, the CDC director was appointed directly by the president. The position did not require Senate confirmation, unlike the other HHS director positions. The selection was primarily an executive decision, although it was often influenced by political, public health and scientific considerations. But as of Jan. 20, changes approved in the 2022 omnibus budget require Senate confirmation for incoming CDC directors.

    In the past, the appointed individual was typically a highly respected figure in public health, epidemiology or infectious disease, with experience leading large organizations, shaping policy and responding to public health emergencies. Public health policy experts expect that requiring Senate confirmation will enhance the esteem associated with the position and lend weight to the person who ultimately steps into the role. Yet, some have expressed concern that the position could become increasingly politicized.

    Who is Susan Monarez?

    Monarez holds a Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology. She has been serving as acting director of the CDC since being appointed to the interim position by Donald Trump on Jan. 24.

    Prior to stepping into this role, she had been serving as deputy director for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, or ARPA-H, since January 2023, a newer initiative established in 2022 through a US$1 billion appropriation from Congress to advance biomedical research.

    Monarez has robust research experience, as well as administrative and leadership bona fides within the federal government. In the past, she has explored artificial intelligence and machine learning for population health. Her research has examined the intersection between technology and health and antimicrobial resistance, and she has led initiatives to expand access to behavioral and mental health care, reduce health disparities in maternal health, quell the opioid epidemic and improve biodefense and pandemic preparedness.

    Monarez has not yet laid out her plans, but she will no doubt have a challenging role, balancing the interests of public health with political pressures.

    Reactions to her nomination

    Reactions to Monarez’s nomination among health professionals have been mostly positive. For instance, Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, remarked that he appreciates that she is an active researcher who respects science.

    But some have advocated for her to take a more active role in protecting public health from political attacks.

    In her interim position, Monarez has not resisted Trump’s executive orders, even those that are widely seen by other health professionals as harmful to public health.

    Since taking office, the current Trump administration has issued directives to remove important health-related data from government websites and has discouraged the use of certain terms in federally funded research.

    Monarez has not pushed back on those directives, even though some of her own research includes key terms that would now be flagged in the current system, like “health equity”, and that health leaders expressed concerns in a letter sent to Monarez in January.

    One of the duties of Susan Monarez, the nominee to lead the CDC, is to communicate critical health information to the public.
    NIH/HHS/Public domain

    CDC staff have said that Monarez has not been visible as acting director. As of early April, she has not attended any all-hands meetings since she joined the CDC in January, nor has she held the advisory committee to the director meeting that is typically held every February. One agency higher-up described her as a “nonentity” in her role so far. Monarez has also reportedly been involved in decisions to drastically cut the CDC workforce.

    While some have commented on the fact that she is the first nonphysician to head the agency in decades, that may actually be an advantage. The CDC’s primary functions are in scientific research and applying that research to improve public health. Doctoral scientists receive significantly more training in conducting research than medical doctors, whose training rightly prioritizes clinical practice, with many medical schools providing no training in research at all. Monarez’s qualifications are well-aligned with the requirements of the director role.

    A time of change

    The CDC was founded at a time of great change, in the aftermath of World War II.

    Now, in 2025, the U.S. is again at a time of change, with the advent of powerful technologies that will affect public health in still unforeseeable ways. New and emerging infectious diseases, like measles, COVID-19 and Ebola, are sparking outbreaks that can spread quickly in population-dense cities.

    A shifting health information ecosystem can spread health misinformation and disinformation rapidly. Political ideologies increasingly devalue health and science.

    All these factors pose real threats to health in the U.S. and globally.

    The next CDC director will undoubtedly play a key role in how these changes play out, both at home and abroad.

    This story is part of a series of profiles of Cabinet and high-level administration positions.

    Jordan Miller 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. Susan Monarez, Trump’s nominee for CDC director, faces an unprecedented and tumultuous era at the agency – https://theconversation.com/susan-monarez-trumps-nominee-for-cdc-director-faces-an-unprecedented-and-tumultuous-era-at-the-agency-250356

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Imagining what the world could look like without fossil fuels spurs people to action

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Michael T. Schmitt, Professor, Simon Fraser University

    Human activity has already warmed the planet by more than one degree Celsius, fuelling forest fires, exacerbating floods, super-powering storms and increasing the frequency of deadly heat waves.

    The main human driver of climate change is carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels. Transitioning quickly off fossil fuels to other energy sources (solar, wind) is key to limiting global warming. To stay within 1.5 C of warming, we need to stop building new fossil fuel projects from this point forward.

    And yet, new pipelines, oil drilling projects and fracked gas wells are still being built. At a time when fossil fuel production should be decreasing, fossil fuel production is projected to expand — globally and in Canada.

    The total planned fossil fuel production for 2030 is double the level consistent with limiting warming to 1.5 C. In Canada, public support for expanding fossil fuel infrastructure seems to be increasing, possibly as a result of Trump’s tariff threats.

    What will it take to turn this pattern around? What might increase public support for a speedy transition away from fossil fuels?

    Increasing opposition

    Recently, in the Sustainability, Identity and Social Change Lab at Simon Fraser University, we successfully increased people’s opposition to new fossil fuel projects by simply asking them to imagine a sustainable world. We recruited American participants online, who were paid a small amount to complete a survey.

    Half were chosen at random to spend two to three minutes imagining and writing about a world in which humans have a sustainable relationship with the rest of the natural world. The other half were asked to write about their morning routine. We then asked participants whether they supported or opposed the development of two major and controversial fossil fuel infrastructure projects.

    The Willow Project is a proposed oil drilling project in Alaska that was approved by former U.S. president Joe Biden’s administration in 2023, shortly after we collected our data. The Mountain Valley Pipeline carries methane gas for 300 miles through West Virginia and Virginia. At the time of our study, it was still under construction and facing legal challenges, but went into operation last year.

    The participants who were asked to imagine a sustainable world expressed more opposition to the two fossil fuel projects than did participants who were not asked to imagine a sustainable world.

    For example, among participants who did not imagine a sustainable world, 44 per cent disagreed or strongly disagreed that the Willow Project should be completed. That opposition increased to 53 per cent for participants who imagined a sustainable world. Participants who imagined a sustainable world were also more likely to support the U.S. signing a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty — a campaign to get governments around the world to commit to ending the development of new fossil fuel projects.

    Imagining alternatives

    When we looked at what participants wrote when describing a sustainable world, they frequently mentioned a transition from fossil fuels to clean energy. Participants generally described a sustainable world in positive terms, including a cleaner and healthier environment free from pollution, with more intact natural habitats and green spaces, and more harmonious and equitable relationships between humans.

    When focused on this alternative world, our participants brought their attitudes and intentions more in line with the desirable world they imagined and became more opposed to new fossil fuel projects.

    These findings are consistent with the idea that the more people can imagine alternative social arrangements, the more likely they are to support and work for social transformation. Bringing this idea into the environmental domain, we developed a measure of how well people can imagine a sustainable relationship between humans and the rest of nature.

    We found that people who agreed with statements like “I can easily imagine a world in which we supply all of our energy needs without harming the natural world” and “It is easy to imagine a world where we no longer use fossil fuels” were more likely to express a willingness to engage in behaviours that support climate change mitigation, like participating in an environmental protest or getting involved with an environmental group.

    In another study with Canadians, participants who could imagine a sustainable future were more likely to write and sign a letter to the Canadian environment minister asking for more action on climate change.

    Clear pictures

    Similar results have been found in research on utopian thinking: when people thought about a green utopia, they reported greater willingness to engage in pro-environmental actions, such as signing pro-environmental petitions and giving money to environmental groups.

    Other researchers found that asking U.S. participants to imagine “a positive future in which climate change has been significantly addressed” led to higher intentions to engage in climate action. In a study of French participants, reading a positive vision of a “decarbonated” world increased participants’ intentions to engage in pro-environmental behaviour.

    The implication for those who want to promote pro-environmental social change — including putting an end to new fossil fuel projects — is to provide people with clear and detailed descriptions of how a sustainable world would function and what it would be like to live in that world.

    With a clear picture of what a sustainable world would be like, and knowing what to work toward, people will be more likely to work for change.

    Michael T. Schmitt receives funding from the Social Sciences and Human Research Council.

    Annika E. Lutz receives funding from the Social Sciences and Human Research Council.

    – ref. Imagining what the world could look like without fossil fuels spurs people to action – https://theconversation.com/imagining-what-the-world-could-look-like-without-fossil-fuels-spurs-people-to-action-252111

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: SINTX Technologies Announces Strategic Changes to Board of Directors

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Company positions for long-term growth in medical device markets

    Salt Lake City, UT, April 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SINTX Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: SINT), an advanced ceramics company focused on medical device applications, today announced changes to its Board of Directors. The updates reflect the Company’s ongoing strategic transformation into a focused medical technology business.

    Key changes include the retirement of longtime Chairman Dr. B. Sonny Bal, the appointment of President and CEO Eric Olson as Chairman of the Board, and the addition of five new directors with decades of industry expertise spanning orthopedics, spine, interventional pain, cardiovascular, medical device business development and global commercialization.

    “These changes represent an exciting inflection point for SINTX,” said Eric Olson. “Our new Board brings a strong blend of industry leadership, commercial acumen, and strategic insight, all of which will be essential as we execute on our transformation and create long-term value for shareholders.”

    Retirement of Dr. Sonny Bal

    Dr. Bal has served as a Board Member since 2012, as Executive Chairman since 2014, and as President and CEO from 2015 to 2024. During his tenure, he helped establish SINTX as a biomaterials pioneer in silicon nitride and guided the company through its early evolution in orthopedic and spinal applications.

    Appointment of Eric Olson as Chairman of the Board 

    Mr. Olson has assumed the role of Board Chairman in addition to his ongoing duties as President and CEO. He previously served as CEO of Amedica Corporation, the predecessor to SINTX, and has played a key role in the company’s repositioning into the medical device space.

    Appointment of Jay Moyes as Lead Independent Director 

    Mr. Moyes served as CFO of Amedica from 2013 to 2014 and was a Board Member during the Company’s 2014 initial public offering and initial listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market. He also held the position of CFO for Myriad Genetics, CareDx and Sera Prognostics. He brings extensive experience in capital markets, corporate governance, and strategic finance, and has been a board member of multiple private and publicly traded life science companies. Mr. Moyes currently serves on the board of directors of Puma Biotechnology and BioCardia.

    Appointment of New Directors

    Chris Lyons brings more than 35 years of experience in the musculoskeletal and spine markets, with a strong focus on business development, M&A, and strategic growth. He spent 15 years at Smith & Nephew in senior commercial roles before joining Medtronic Spine and Biologics, where he led global business development for over a decade. At Medtronic, he managed acquisitions, investments, and partnerships worldwide. In 2018, he founded Southern Metrics Consulting, advising emerging medtech companies on commercialization and successful exits.

    Robert (Bob) Mitchell has over three decades of executive leadership experience in global medical device organizations. At Cook Medical, he led five business units, including interventional radiology and endovascular therapies. He previously served as Vice President of Worldwide Sales at Align Technology (Invisalign) before becoming CEO of Millimed Holdings in Denmark. He also held leadership roles as COO of AngioDynamics and CEO of Nellix (acquired by Endologix). Currently, he Chairs Convi’s HR and Governance Committee, is Chairman of LifeSeal Vascular and Amecath, and an advisor to TVM Capital Healthcare in Dubai. His expertise spans operational leadership, commercialization, and strategic investments.

    Mark Anderson is a seasoned executive with over 35 years in the medical device industry, primarily with Boston Scientific, a leading medical device company. His experience crossed four divisions Cardiology, Watchman, Endoscopy, and Corporate Contracts. Additionally, he managed the #1 customer for Boston Scientific (HCA Healthcare) for nearly 9 years. Mr. Anderson is recognized for building high-performing teams, expanding global markets, and scaling businesses with a strong commercial and clinical focus.

    Gregg Honigblum has been a long-time supporter of SINTX and its predecessor, Amedica. As a former board member and early financial backer, Mr. Honigblum helped raise over $100 million in private funding for the company across multiple rounds. He currently serves as SINTX’s Chief Strategy Officer and has led recent financing efforts, including a successful ATM and PIPE transaction. His background includes investment banking, founding and scaling of medtech companies and extensive experience in capital formation and business strategy.

    “We are fortunate to welcome such a strong group of individuals to our Board,” said Olson. “Their expertise will be instrumental in executing our strategic vision and delivering results for our patients, partners, and shareholders.”

    For more information, please visit www.sintx.com

    About SINTX Technologies, Inc.

    Located in Salt Lake City, Utah, SINTX Technologies is an advanced ceramics company that develops and commercializes materials, components, and technologies for medical applications. SINTX is a global leader in the research, development, and manufacturing of silicon nitride, and its products have been implanted in humans since 2008. Over the past several years, SINTX has utilized strategic acquisitions and alliances to enter into new markets. For more information on SINTX Technologies or its materials platform, visit www.sintx.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (“PSLRA”) that are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: “anticipate,” “believe,” “project,” “estimate,” “expect,” “strategy,” “future,” “likely,” “may,” “should,” “will” and similar references to future periods. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements we make regarding our ability to create long-term value for shareholders.

    Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made and reflect management’s current estimates, projections, expectations and beliefs. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Our actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, difficulty in commercializing ceramic technologies and development of new product opportunities. A discussion of other risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements can be found in SINTX’s Risk Factors disclosure in its Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the SEC on March 19, 2025, and in SINTX’s other filings with the SEC. SINTX undertakes no obligation to publicly revise or update the forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date of this report, except as required by law.

    Business and Media Inquiries for SINTX:
    SINTX Technologies
    801.839.3502
    IR@sintx.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to wildfires in Scotland and Dorset

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Scientists comment on wildfires in Scotland and Dorset. 

    Dr Rory Hadden, Rushbrook Senior Lecturer in Fire Investigation, University of Edinburgh, said:

    “Fire danger assessments in Scotland are Very High or Extreme.  This is not very uncommon at this time of year.  In late winter and early spring there is lots of dead vegetation around and living vegetation is dormant.  This vegetation dries out very rapidly during periods of low humidity and sunny weather.  First of all, fine vegetation will dry out which means these fuels become very easy to ignite.  Over time the ground surface also starts to dry which means the fire behaviours start to get more extreme.  At the moment predictions are that fires can be easily ignited in the dry vegetation and will spread quite rapidly especially where there is wind.  This is quite common at this time of year in the UK and we have seen several examples already.

    “Most fires start due to human actions which is why it is important to be considerate when enjoying the nice weather.  Do not light fires and take a picnic rather than a barbeque.  This will minimise the risk of starting a fire.  Even if it looks like a fire is out – smouldering of surface vegetation is hard to detect and may transition to a flaming fire many hours after people have left an area.  Better to not even take the risk.

    “Fires will eventually be extinguished either by direct firefighting or by the fire service and landowners allowing the fire to spread to be contained by barriers in the landscape.  These may be either natural (pockets of wetter ground or where vegetation is sparser) or man-made (roads, fuel breaks).

    “These fires are significant as they draw resources from the Fire and Rescue Services and will have impacts on local ecosystems.  We need to be able to use these to understand how wildland fire risk is changing in the UK and the scientific community will be learning from these events to help plan and prepare in future.”

    Prof Guillermo Rein, Professor of Fire Science, Imperial College London, said:

    “April marks the peak of the UK wildfire season.  After the winter months, vegetation is dry and flammable, and the rising temperatures in early spring promote the spread rate.  These spring wildfires tend to be small in size because they are usually quickly put out by the fire brigade.  Another peak in frequency but with much larger wildfires in the UK typically occurs later in the summer, especially during heatwaves when the vegetation is dry again and conditions are more extreme.

    “There is much the public can do to help.  Growing awareness is key.  Learn about wildfire in your local area and wider region.  Support your local fire brigades and land managers, ask questions to scientists and experts, and share your concerns with the relevant authorities.  A better-informed and engaged public makes a real difference in preventing and managing wildfires.”

    Declared interests

    Prof Guillermo Rein: “I declare that I have no conflict of interest.”

    For all other experts, no reply to our request for DOIs was received.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Meals4Moms: UConn, CT Small Business Develop Program to Support Gestational Diabetes Management

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    An interdisciplinary team of UConn and UConn Health researchers have teamed up with a Hartford-based small business, My Local Chefs, to develop a program to help pregnant persons diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus (also known as GDM) navigate their diagnosis and make choices to ensure a healthy pregnancy.

    This program, Meals4Moms, provides people diagnosed with GDM free meals aligned with the American Diabetes Association recommendations for GDM management, personalized exercise support, and access to evidence-based information and resources via a website.

    Dr. Andrea Shields, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology in the UConn School of Medicine at UConn Health, is spearheading the project team. Other members include Molly Waring, associate professor of allied health sciences in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR); Vanessa Sena, CEO of My Local Chefs; Ock Chun, professor of nutritional sciences in CAHNR; Linda Pescatello, professor of kinesiology in CAHNR; and Helen Wu, associate professor of psychiatry in the UConn School of Medicine.

    Gestational diabetes impacts 2 to 10% of U.S. pregnancies, and about 50% of patients with GDM will develop Type 2 diabetes in their lifetime. Having diabetes during pregnancy can impact both the long-term health of both mom and baby. Moms may experience higher rates of blood pressure. The baby may require special care after birth and could be at risk of developing obesity.

    The Meals4Moms program offers a unique opportunity to not only help pregnant individuals with GDM make changes needed to manage their health during pregnancy, but also to prevent diabetes over the long-term and promote maternal and child health. Specifically, the program offers weekly meal delivery and specific recipes to help with managing GDM, educational videos and podcasts, and personalized fitness plans to encourage more physical activity during pregnancy.

    UConn’s Office of the Vice President for Research’s Clinical Research and Innovation Seed Program (CRISP) funded the program. CRISP supports faculty in clinical roles to launch significant research projects.

    “Patients with gestational diabetes face significant challenges in adjusting their diet. Meals4Moms offers a practical solution to help them make necessary changes swiftly and maintain optimal blood glucose control. The funding from OVPR was crucial to bringing together a cross-campus collaboration of clinical, translational, and basic science research experts to put together this important lifestyle intervention,” says Shields.

    The research team recently published results of the first phase of this research in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior. In this study, the team interviewed nine pregnant adults with GDM to solicit their feedback about the Meals4Moms program.

    Participants were shown a mock-up of the Meals4Moms website, sample recipes, cooking demonstrations, exercise video, and free online yoga videos that the research team vetted. Participants were then asked about aspects of the Meals4Moms program they liked and opportunities for improvement.

    Overall, participants were enthusiastic about the Meals4Moms program. They were excited about being able to order meals for themselves and their families and felt that meal delivery would reduce the stress knowing what foods are “GDM-approved.”

    Participants also liked the idea of personalized support for exercise and access to recipes and exercise videos vetted by GDM experts. They emphasized the importance of offering meals and recipes in a variety of cuisines and that meet patients’ and families’ dietary patterns and food allergies.

    “It was really helpful to talk to women with GDM and hear from them how the Meals4Mom program would fit into their lives,” says Waring, who conducted the interviews along with graduate and undergraduate students on her research team.

    Study findings informed the project’s second phase, which consisted of a pilot randomized trial to test the feasibility of adding the Meals4Moms program to usual prenatal care for pregnant individuals with GDM.

    My Local Chefs also offers cooking demonstration videos and recipes online that are reviewed by pregnancy and nutrition experts.

    Data from these two studies will inform a clinical trial to test whether the Meals4Moms program along with usual prenatal care is more effective than usual care alone for helping pregnant individuals manage their GDM.

    The project’s goal is to support a healthier diet and lifestyle for study participants and their families. Additionally, the project seeks to evaluate whether the Meals4Moms program fits into the pregnant person’s life and improves diet and exercise over the long-term.

    The Meals4Moms program will also strengthen community engagement and improve Connecticut residents’ health by leveraging local stakeholders such as local chefs and farmers.

    “Collaborating with UConn and UConn Health has strengthened our ability to integrate evidence-based nutrition into patient care. Their research expertise has been invaluable in advancing our medically tailored meal programs,” says Sena, CEO of My Local Chefs. “We aim to expand our reach to support more expectant mothers and improve maternal health outcomes through personalized, medically tailored meals.”

    This approach has the potential to be applied to other communities within and beyond Connecticut.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Thales to recruit 8,000 people in 2025 and accelerate its ‘Learning company’ programme

    Source: Thales Group

    Headline: Thales to recruit 8,000 people in 2025 and accelerate its ‘Learning company’ programme

    • Thales, a global leader in advanced technologies for Defence, Aerospace and Cyber & Digital, plans to recruit 8,000 people worldwide in 2025 to support the strong growth momentum across its three business segments. Around 40% of new hires will join engineering roles (including software and systems engineering, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data, etc.), while approximately 25% will join industrial roles (including technicians, operators and industrial engineers).
    • In parallel, more than 4,000 employees will benefit from functional and geographical internal mobility.
    • In a context marked by interconnected geopolitical crises, a rebound in air traffic and accelerating global connectivity, all of Thales’s businesses are growing and hiring. This builds on the strong momentum established in recent years, with:
      • Over 30,000 new hires between 2022 and 2024, including 9,000 in the Defence sector;
      • Over 8,000 internal mobility moves between 2023 and 2024;
      • Ten consecutive years during which Thales has hired at least 5,000 people annually.
    • In 2025, recruitment will take place across all regions of operation, including approximately 3,000 people in France, over 1,000 in the United Kingdom, 500 in the Netherlands, 400 in the United States, 400 in Australia, 300 in Central Europe, 250 in India, 200 in Germany, and 150 in Africa and the Middle East.

    Learning company: supporting employees’ professional development and keeping Thales’s expertise at the highest level

    • For the past three years, Thales has invested in its “Learning company” global skills development programme, delivered by 2,000 internal trainers as well as numerous tutors and mentors. Since 2023, Thales has increased the number of its Academies, which are designed to share knowledge globally. The Group now operates 13 Domain Academies (AI, Cybersecurity, Radar, Naval, Tube, Pyrotechnics, etc.) and 18 Functional Academies (Software, Hardware, Systems, Industry, Bid & Project Management, HR, Finance, Communication, etc.). By the end of 2025, Thales will have more than 35 academies.
    • The Group has also introduced innovative skills development methods, including a shared competency management system, simulation and virtual reality tools, and hands-on training solutions.
    • In 2024, 90% of Thales’s global workforce – 72,000 people – took part in skills development activities.

    Thales is committed to raising awareness amongst youth about the importance of science and to promoting inclusion and diversity

    • Across all countries where it operates, Thales strengthened its outreach efforts in 2024, engaging with more than 150,000 young people and taking part in over 600 events. In France in 2025, the Group plans to host more than 3,000 interns and apprentices, around 25% of whom will go on to be hired on permanent or fixed-term contracts. Nearly 1,500 middle and high school students will also complete observation internships at Thales sites.
    • Improving gender balance within teams and leadership remains a key priority for the Group. In 2024, women accounted for 30% of new hires worldwide. More than 60% of the Group’s executive Committees included at least four women; Thales is aiming for 75% by 2026.
    • With the signing of a new Group-wide agreement in 2024 to further promote the inclusion of people with disabilities, Thales is reaffirming its commitment, with an employment rate of nearly 7% in France.

    « To support the Group’s growth and performance, recruitment and internal mobility are essential, but we must go further. Giving our teams the opportunity to continuously develop their skills and encouraging them to pass on their expertise to colleagues is both the spirit and the ambition of our ‘Learning company’ programme. Our goal is to support the professional growth of our people and maintain Thales’s expertise at the highest level,»

    Clément de Villepin, Senior Executive Vice President, Human Resources, Thales

    Interested candidates can learn more and apply online at
    ​    Thales careers

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Christine Lagarde: A “European moment” in an inverted world

    Source: European Central Bank

    Speech by Christine Lagarde, President of the ECB, on the occasion of the conferral of the Sutherland Leadership Award in Dublin, Ireland

    Dublin, 2 April 2025

    It is an honour to receive the Sutherland Leadership Award.

    There are moments in history when things that were once set in stone become fluid. Institutions, norms and alliances that seemed timeless can suddenly be remade.

    These moments typically come only once in a generation. Peter Sutherland faced such a juncture when the Cold War ended. The collapse of the Soviet Union could have ushered in a period of global instability and turmoil.

    But Peter demonstrated skilful leadership to leverage the defining geopolitical event of his time. As head of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, he successfully led the world’s largest trade negotiation, involving over 120 countries, which ushered in an era of unprecedented global cooperation and prosperity.[1]

    Compared with Peter’s era, however, the geopolitical landscape we face today has been turned upside down. We can see this inverted world playing out in different ways.

    After the Cold War, the global economy was generally one of openness, integration and certainty. Everyone benefited from a hegemon, the United States, that was committed to a multilateral, rules-based order. This allowed trade and investment to flourish.

    But today we must contend with closure, fragmentation and uncertainty.

    Geopolitical rivalries are spurring protectionism and upending global supply chains. The international institutions that Peter helped to build are facing increasing challenges. And one index of trade policy uncertainty now stands at more than eight times its average value since 2021.[2]

    This landscape poses a serious challenge for Europe on two fronts.

    Economically, it risks compounding existing issues like sluggish productivity growth and weak competitiveness. Europe’s reliance on external trade – its trade-to-GDP ratio is about twice that of the United States – makes it vulnerable to trade headwinds. On top of this, pronounced uncertainty may hold back the investment necessary for Europe’s recovery.

    Strategically, this new environment could also heighten our security vulnerabilities. We can no longer fully count on the security arrangements that have stood in place since the Second World War. If a security vacuum should arise, it may encourage opportunism by hostile actors on Europe’s doorstep.

    Yet despite this challenging landscape, I see a tremendous opportunity for Europe.

    Just as in Peter’s time, the structures that once seemed permanent are now becoming fluid again. And just as he did, we can harness the momentum created by geopolitical events to drive positive change.

    So how can we – as Europeans – rise to the moment?

    We can do so by embracing a simple idea that, at first glance, seems contradictory, but which in an inverted world makes perfect sense: we must cooperate to compete. And in doing so, we must also leverage our competitive advantage.

    On the economic front, we need to work together to simplify and scale up our economy so that we can hold our own in a world dominated by economic giants. If we do so, we can attract talent and investment.

    That means integrating our capital markets, allowing Europe’s ample savings to fund our much-needed investments. And following the powerful example set by Peter during his time as European Commissioner in the 1980s, it means removing internal barriers that stand in the way of our Single Market, allowing our firms to scale more easily and compete more effectively.[3]

    There is clear momentum on this front. The reports by Enrico Letta and Mario Draghi have opened the way. And with its Competitiveness Compass, the European Commission has put forward a concrete roadmap with milestones that should be urgently implemented.

    But we cannot stop halfway and we are pressed for time. As we scale up our economy, we need to scale up our decision-making to match it – and thereby stand tall and be heard.

    At a time when major economies are adopting cohesive strategic agendas – using tariffs, for example, to extract concessions on other strategic goals – Europe cannot afford to be disunited. If we cannot take decisions in a European way, then others will use that against us.

    To stand our ground, we need to be able to act as a single entity across several key areas. And that means we need to structurally change how we make decisions.

    We know what stands in our way: a historical tradition whereby a single veto can scupper the collective interest of 26 other countries. But given the geopolitical shift at hand, I am convinced that national and European interests have never been so aligned. In this inverted world, more qualified majority voting would therefore be inherently more democratic.

    I have no doubt that we can unleash a “European moment” – if leaders are willing to seize it.

    If it sounds like I am confident about Europe’s future, it is because I am. But I am in good company here tonight. A recent survey finds that of all the Member States, the Irish are the most optimistic about the EU’s future, and they are among the strongest supporters of the euro.[4]

    This sense of optimism is perhaps rooted in Ireland’s extraordinary transformation in recent decades. And here I am reminded of the words of Oscar Wilde, who once wrote, “Success is a science; if you have the conditions, you get the result.”[5]

    Ireland put those conditions in place during the most challenging of times, and has reaped the rewards. It is now incumbent on Europe to do the same.

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PARLIAMENT QUESTION: SEVOTTAM AND EFFECTIVE REDRESSAL OF PUBLIC GRIEVANCES

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 03 APR 2025 4:31PM by PIB Delhi

    The National Workshop on Sevottam and Grievance Redressal plays a key role in improving public service delivery across the country. Sevottam is a comprehensive framework focused on Citizen’s Charter, Grievance Redressal Mechanism, and Capability Building for Service Delivery. Under this initiative, Government provides financial support to State ATIs/CTIs for setting up Sevottam Training Cells. Over the past three financial years (2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25), as part of Sevottam, 756 training courses have been conducted, training 24,942 officers from various State Governments. In the current financial year 2 National Workshops on “Effective Redressal of Public Grievances” on November 18, 2024, in New Delhi and February 20, 2025, in Bhopal, with participation from Central Ministries, State Governments, and State Administrative Training Institutes (ATIs) were conducted. Government has been actively leveraging technology to modernize CPGRAMS for a better citizen interface.

    In December 2021, DARPG signed an MoU with IIT Kanpur to develop the Intelligent Grievance Management System (IGMS), an AI/ML-driven platform that introduces semantic search, exploratory data analysis, and predictive analytics for enhanced grievance management. Government publishes the Grievance Redressal Index (GRAI) as part of CPGRAMS’ 10-Step Reforms, ranking Ministries and Departments based on efficiency, feedback, domain expertise, and organizational commitment. The objective of the GRAI Index is to provide Ministries and Departments with a comparative performance assessment, enabling them to identify areas for improvement and implement policy reforms to minimize grievances. The Right to Service (RTS) Act has been enacted by 22 States and Union Territories as of date, with RTS Commissions established in 8 of them (Assam, Chandigarh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Haryana, Meghalaya, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal). DARPG conducts regular meetings/ webinars with State and UT governments, collaborates with RTS Commissions to exchange best practices and improve service delivery by promoting e-services, bringing citizens and the government closer through technology, and engages with commissioners, and appellate officials to boost egovernance and enhance e-service delivery in the nation.

    This information was given by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Department of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Space and Department of Atomic Energy, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.   

    ***

    NKR/PSM

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PARLIAMENT QUESTION: PERFORMANCE OF CPENGRAMS

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 03 APR 2025 4:30PM by PIB Delhi

    Centralized Pension Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPENGRAMS) has reduced the backlog and 1,94,611 grievances have been resolved during the last two years (from 01.03.2023 to 28.02.2025). For the redressal of grievances of family pensioners and super-senior pensioners, specific categorization of such grievances, including the delay in starting of family pension and additional pension, has been done for better monitoring. Further, regular reminders are issued and monthly Inter-Ministerial Review Meetings (IMRMs) are conducted for such cases. Also, under 100 days Action plan, a month long Special Campaign, for redressal of family pension grievances, was launched in July, 2024, which achieved 94% redressal. The Department has issued instructions including detailed instructions dated 16.10.2024 from time to time with emphasis on ultimate and conclusive redressal of the grievances within 21 days from earlier 30 days. Quality of redressal is monitored through feedback centre and Appeals are filed in the cases graded as ‘Poor’.

    These initiatives have helped in improving the redressal time and quality of redressal.

    This information was given by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Department of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Space and Department of Atomic Energy, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.   

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PARLIAMENT QUESTION: IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT, 2005

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 03 APR 2025 4:29PM by PIB Delhi

    In terms of Section 2(h)(d) of the RTI Act, 2005, any authority or body or institution of selfgovernment established or constituted by notification issued or order made by the appropriate Government including any (i) body owned, controlled or substantially financed; (ii) non – Government organisation substantially financed, directly or indirectly by funds provided by the appropriate Government is considered as public authority.

    It is the obligation and responsibility of each and every Public Authority established under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005 to implement the provisions of the RTI Act. They are also under obligation to undertake the suo motu/proactive disclosure as mandated under Section 4(1)(b) of the RTI Act and comply with the guidelines issued by the Government from time to

    time.

    In this regard, the Government issued exhaustive guidelines on implementation of suo motu disclosure under section 4 of RTI Act, 2005 vide OM No.1/6/2011-IR dated 15.04.2013 which were reiterated on 07.11.2019.

    Para 4.5 of the aforesaid guidelines provide that the Central Information Commission should examine the third-party audit reports for each Ministry/Public Authority and offer advice/recommendations to the concerned Ministries/ Public Authorities.

    Further, as per Section 25(5) of the RTI Act, if it appears to the Central Information Commission (CIC) that the practice of a public authority in relation to the exercise of its functions under this Act does not conform with the provisions or spirit of this Act, it may give to the authority a recommendation specifying the steps which ought in its opinion to be taken for promoting such conformity. The CIC being the apex adjudicatory body set up under Section 12(1) of the RTI Act, functions autonomously without being subjected to directions by any other Authority under the RTI Act.

    Furthermore, the CIC in terms of Sections 18-20 of the RTI Act, have sufficient powers to enquire into complaints and to adjudicate appeals, including complaints regarding any public authority claiming itself to not be a public authority.

    This information was given by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Department of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Space and Department of Atomic Energy, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PARLIAMENT QUESTION: GRANT OF NOTIONAL INCREMENT TO THE EMPLOYEES

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 03 APR 2025 4:29PM by PIB Delhi

    Instructions in this regard were issued vide D/o Personnel & Training’s O.M. No. 19/116/2024-Pers.Pol. (Pay)(pt) dated 14.10.2024 in pursuance of the Interim Order dated06.09.2024 passed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in M.A. Dy. No. 2400/2024, and after dueconsultation with D/o Legal Affairs and D/o Expenditure.

     It has been provided in para 6 of D/o Personnel & Training’s O.M. No.19/116/2024-Pers. Pol. (Pay)(pt) dated 14.10.2024 that the judgment dated 11.04.2023 will be given effect to incase of third parties from the date of the judgment, that is, the pension by taking into account one increment will be payable on and after 01.05.2023. Enhanced pension for the period prior to 30.04.2023 will not be paid. In case any retired employee has filed any application or writ petition and a beneficial order has been passed, the enhanced pension by including one increment will be payable from the month in which the application for intervention/ impleadment was filed.

    This information was given by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Department of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Space and Department of Atomic Energy, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.  

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Swearing in of FDA Commissioner and NIH Director

    Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)

    We proudly welcome Dr. Marty Makary as FDA Commissioner and Dr. Jay Bhattacharya as NIH Director. Their impeccable credentials and dedication to gold-standard science make them uniquely qualified to lead these agencies and ensure its priorities are aligned with this administration’s goal to Make America Healthy Again. We look forward to restoring trust, transparency, and excellence in public health.

    —

    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) | http://www.hhs.gov

    http://www.Twitter.com/HHSGov | http://www.Facebook.com/HHS http://www.Instagram.com/HHSGov
    http://www.LinkedIn.com/company/us-department-of-health-and-human-services

    HHS Privacy Policy: http://www.hhs.gov/Privacy.html

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qD_FS6DFv4w

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Education Secretary keynote speech at Festival of Childhood

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    Education Secretary keynote speech at Festival of Childhood

    The Education Secretary’s keynote speech at the Children’s Commissioner’s Festival of Childhood event.

    Good morning, everyone. It’s really great to be here!

    Thank you, Tristram, for hosting us today. And Hughie, what a privilege it is to speak alongside you. Thank you so much for everything you said.

    Your bravery and determination, raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, all while going through that treatment yourself – you are such an inspiration.

    I’m so glad to hear about your full recovery too, and everything you’re doing to make children’s voices heard, and it’s great to see you here today continuing to lead and inspire with your journalism.

    I was interviewed back in September by your colleague Scarlett at Sky FYI – and she definitely put me through my paces! One of the toughest interviews I’ve ever had.

    And it was great to see her again at World Book Day last month.

    It’s lovely to look round this room and see so many familiar faces this morning. Rylie and Sofia – it was great to meet you at the Women in Westminster event last year.

    And Sofia – I’ve heard more and more about everything you’ve achieved, about leaving your home in Ukraine and coming to England.

    About joining school in year 11 and passing your GCSEs – despite English being your third language.

    What an amazing achievement!

    There are just so many inspiring young people here today.

    And I’d like to thank Dame Rachel for bringing together all the Youth Ambassadors. And all your amazing work making young voices heard.

    It’s their job, the job of the youth ambassadors, to make sure politicians like me listen to children and young people – and act to make their lives better.

    And that’s exactly right.

    Because as Secretary of State – children and young people are my priority.

    I want to see them, I want to see you, back at the forefront of national life, back at the centre of our national conversation.

    I want all children to have the opportunity to succeed.

    So we are on a mission as a government – to break down the barriers to opportunity for every child.

    And I mean it when I say that it has to be every child.

    Because all children deserve the chance to get on and succeed.

    It’s tempting to think that the path to opportunity begins on the first day of school.

    Nervous little girls and boys, lined up outside the school gates clinging on for dear life to their mums and dads.

    When stories of success are told, that’s often where we start.

    But that’s jumping ahead.

    Like expecting a tree to grow strong and tall without first putting down deep roots that are deep and lasting.

    Because opportunity starts early, it starts much earlier than that.

    I’d just like us to think of two babies, born in the same hospital on the same day.

    Think of all that happens before they reach those school gates a number of years later.

    One baby goes back to an anxious home.

    Her parents work hard – two, maybe even three jobs to make ends meet.

    There’s mould on the wall in their bedroom because the landlord won’t fix it – and now that’s where that baby has to sleep too.

    There’s never enough time in the day, never quite enough food in the fridge, no help from extended family.

    The council baby group her brothers went to now gone; nursery or childminders have been completely out of reach – too few spaces, too far to go, too expensive.

    So she stays at home, simply watching as her family struggle around her.

    Missing out on so much: playing with other children, sharing and taking turns, learning about her emotions, about those of others, about taking the first steps into learning.

    Now think of the other baby from the hospital. Her parents drive her back to a warm and stable home.

    Right from that first night, her needs are all that matter.

    Parents who read to her, talk to her.

    And whose first thought in the baby food aisle, isn’t can we afford it, isn’t where’s the money – it’s about buying her first coat.

    When her parents go back to work, she spends her mornings in a great nursery at the end of the road – the best early years teachers introduce her to letters and numbers, she begins to explore the world around her.

    There are afternoons in the park with grandma, bedtime stories with grandad.

    A whole network of support, with just one goal: giving her the very best start in life.

    Step by step, year by year, she grows and develops, and she leaps forward.

    So, on that first day of school, those two children, born in the same hospital, on the same day, they arrive wearing the same uniform, they might even stand together in the playground, and when the teacher asks that they walk into the classroom in pairs, they hold hands, bouncing inside towards the rest of their lives, with no idea how different their paths are likely to be.

    Because that’s where opportunity can be lost or found, those early forks in the road, where those gaps start to open up.

    And with each year that goes by, those gaps grow and grow. And closing them becomes harder and harder as the years pass.

    That’s why, when I speak to school leaders and university vice chancellors, they urge me to invest in the early years.

    And as we begin to see the generation of children born during the Covid pandemic arriving at school, many already far behind where they would normally be, the importance of early years is more clear-cut than ever.

    I’m in politics because I believe that every child deserves every opportunity to succeed.

    I’m here to make a difference in their lives.

    And because early years is where the biggest difference can be made, and it’s where my biggest priority lies.

    Giving every child the best start in life is my number one goal.

    That’s where I want to be judged, that’s where my legacy will lie.

    It’s not simply my priority.

    Children are central to the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change. It sets the target of a record share of children arriving at primary school ready to learn.

    Because we know that our success as a country begins in the earliest years of children’s lives.

    The Prime Minister gets it, I get it, and the Chancellor gets it too. That’s why, despite the toughest fiscal inheritance in a generation, she chose to invest over £8bn in early years – £2bn more than last year. 

    But we’re just getting started.

    This is the beginning of a wave of reform to lift up the life chances of all children, to give parents power and choice and freedom – and to put money back in their pockets too.

    And that means great childcare and early years education.

    There is a rich diversity of early education and childcare of all shapes and sizes right across the country that is already working hard to give children the best start in life.

    And I can’t thank them enough.

    But now is the time to go further.

    So yesterday I announced funding for 300 primary schools to expand their nurseries and set up new ones.

    Up to £150,000 each to convert unused classrooms into new nurseries for our children.

    6,000 new childcare places – most of them ready to go by September.

    It’s 300 steps on the road to 3,000 new and expanded school-based nurseries.

    An important part of how we’re delivering the childcare entitlements parents were promised.

    Giving them the power to choose the jobs and the hours that they want.

    Support for parents is so important too, saving them money as well.

    But, deep down, early education and childcare is all about children’s futures.

    And what an impact high-quality early education can have on their futures. Analysis shows that children who go to a higher-quality pre-school earn about £17,000 more over the course of their lives.

    Across 6,000 high-quality new places, it could mean a boost of over £100m in lifetime earnings.

    Now given the prize on offer, we’re still going further, to make the most of that precious time, when horizons still stretch out ahead.

    Because if those early chances are missed, they won’t come again. The lives of our children march on, so those early brushes with education are just so precious.

    That’s why we’re twinning the childcare rollout with the biggest ever uplift in the early years pupil premium for disadvantaged children.

    Because this is how we can narrow the attainment gap, and give every child, no matter their background, every opportunity to succeed.

    Children are there to learn. And the adults in the room are at heart early educators.

    So we’re fully funding initial teacher training for early years teachers and supporting them to become early years experts too.

    And we’re doubling our Maths Champions programme – to reach 800 early years classrooms.

    A really big step change.

    Helping children to feel comfortable with numbers from their youngest years, building numeracy skills early, so that by the time they reach school, maths is already a familiar friend.

    But I said before that we’re just getting started – and I meant it.

    So later this year, I’ll launch a new strategy to revitalise early years education.

    Rooted in creating positive early childhood experiences for all of our children.

    Our new nurseries in primary schools will create a positive journey of learning for all children.

    Children, beginning in nursery at 2 or 3 years old – then moving along the corridor at 4 or 5 to start primary school.

    The same faces, the same friends, the same buildings.

    Parents can build relationships with teachers, teachers can spot issues early, and when children reach school, they already feel at home in the classroom.

    And so we’re backing parents too – supporting them with joined up family services as they guide their children through those early years.

    That’s where the journey starts, with those positive, supportive early experiences.

    And that must continue through school.

    Because this is a government that puts children first.

    I want all children to love learning.

    But I should say right now exactly what I mean when I say that.

    It’s building knowledge, growing skills, reaching into a variety of topics.

    High and rising standards, exams that can capture our progress.

    I want to grow a love of learning with deep roots, that is lasting, that shapes lives.

    The type that sustains join, that builds confidence, that fosters resilience, that doesn’t come from doing what feels easy.

    Putting children first isn’t soft. It’s not a sugar-rush, ice-cream-for-dinner approach to schooling.

    It requires exposing children to a wide range of ideas.

    So that they can find what inspires them.

    It requires supporting children to persist with subjects that might feel hard, when they don’t immediately like what is in front of them, to keep going when it’s hard, not to give up at the first sign of struggle.

    So that they can discover for themselves the quiet satisfaction, the happy resilience that comes from the pursuit of learning.

    That’s how we wake children up to their own power. It’s how we plant within them a sense of purpose as they leave school and move into the wider world.

    And it’s how we raise a generation of children who can think critically and act thoughtfully. A generation ready not just for work but ready for the rest of their lives too.

    Confident, creative, kind.

    At home in our country and in the world.

    And that matters more now than ever before.

    At a time when uncertainty is rising, and trust is falling, a time when disinformation can slip quietly into the pockets of our children, and young boys can fall under the spell of toxic role models online, men who preach misogyny, who cook up resentment, who feed on hatred.

    And sadly so much of that flows through smartphones.

    They have no place in the classroom, they’re disruptive, distracting, they’re bad for behaviour.

    So we’re backing schools to rid our classrooms, corridors and playgrounds of phones.

    It’s clear the behaviour of boys, their influences, and the young men they become, is a defining issue of our time.

    That’s why this week the Prime Minister convened a roundtable on rethinking adolescent safety – to listen to the experiences of children today and to prevent young boys being dragged into misogyny and hatred.

    We need to raise a generation of boys with the strength to reject that hatred – curiosity, compassion, kindness, resilience, hope, and respect.

    But hard skills as well as soft skills.

    Because to reject disinformation, children need critical thinking skills, maths too, a proper understanding of science, history, geography, economics.

    To think analytically, children need that foundation in English – to explore different points of view, to weigh up the arguments, to consider the facts, and to come down on the side of reason.

    And above all, to become active, engaged, curious about the world – children need knowledge and skills.

    And through our review of the relationships, sex and health education curriculum we will ensure young people learn about healthy relationships, boundaries and consent right from the start.

    With toxic online influences on the rise, our boys need strong, positive male role models to look up to. At home, of course, but also at school too.

    Schools can’t solve these problems alone, and responsibility does start at home with parents.

    But only one in four of the teachers in our schools are men.

    Just one in seven in nursery and primary school.

    One in 33 in early years.

    And since 2010 the number of teachers in our schools has increased by 28,000 – but just 533 of those are men.

    That is extraordinary – over the last 15 years, for every 50 women who’ve taken up teaching – they’ve been joined at the front of our classrooms by just one man.

    Now I want more male teachers – teaching, guiding, leading the boys in our classrooms.

    But in truth I want more teachers across the board as well.

    Because if today we’re here to talk about positive early childhood experiences, about the role of education in creating and sustaining joy and confidence, about the routes for giving children a sense of purpose, about setting children up for success, then it is all about our teachers. 

    Great teachers, inspiring teachers, teachers who believe in the power of their pupils.

    That’s why we’re working to recruit 6,500 more expert teachers across our schools and colleges.

    More teachers in shortage subjects, keeping the great teachers that we already have, restoring teaching as the profession of choice for our very best graduates.

    Now a couple of weeks ago I visited Cardinal Heenan School in Liverpool.

    And the first thing I did was sit down for a chat with an amazing group of students, the same age as many of you here today.

    And they were so excited to tell me all the things they wanted to do when they left school.

    I could see them light up; I could feel their joy.

    That’s the joy of learning.

    Now up on the walls of that school were pictures of all the ex-pupils who had gone on to do amazing things.

    One of them was Steven Gerrard.

    But there was another ex-pupil who wasn’t up on the wall. And I met him outside at the end of the day as he was helping all the students on their way home. 

    He was Mr Backhouse, now the school’s assistant headteacher.

    He said he’d been given every opportunity to succeed at that school. So he became a teacher to pass that on to the next generation of kids in his community.

    He understood the power of his job – it’s about unleashing the power in all of our children.

    That’s why my job is the best job in government – because I get to work with and empower you, the young people here today and across the country.

    From those earliest years, those babies leaving hospital, the nurseries, the childcare, through school, and then on into college, university and beyond.

    It’s my job, it’s the job of childminders, teachers, support staff, lecturers and leaders, together with your parents and carers, to shape your journey, to guide you on, to spur you, to give you every opportunity to succeed. That is what you deserve.

    But it’s your job to rise to the challenge, to give it your all and to grab those opportunities with both hands.

    Looking around this room, looking at all of your faces, I have no doubt you’re up to the task.

    I think our future is in very safe hands.

    Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 3 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK and Australia launch new partnership in weapons development

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    UK and Australia launch new partnership in weapons development

    The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and Defence Science and Technology (DST) Group Australia have announced a ground-breaking partnership.

    Early Concept for Testbed

    The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) and Defence Science and Technology (DST) Group Australia have announced a ground-breaking partnership to develop next-generation sub-systems for low-cost weapons systems, bringing together cutting-edge technologies from both nations.

    The partnership will combine the UK’s Modular Weapons Testbed and Australia’s SHARKTOOTH programme, which features innovative ‘plug-and-launch’ modular technology, aimed at accelerating the employment of advanced, yet affordable weapons technologies. This integration represents a significant advancement in complex weapons development and will help accelerate and de-risk industry’s development of guided weapon sub-systems.

    Under this collaboration both nations will develop new approaches and new technologies enhancing future weapon systems capability, including low-cost seekers (sensors which are responsible for detecting and tracking targets), additively manufactured engines (created by 3D printing or similar), modular warheads and fuses, algorithms to improve guidance, navigation and control and other novel weapons technologies.

    The partnership will deliver several key advantages:

    • reduced development costs and risks through shared expertise
    • accelerated deployment of new capabilities
    • enhanced interoperability between UK and Australian forces
    • develop and demonstrate innovation ideas from both nations, helping to invest in sovereign defence ecosystems
    • flexible, modular design allowing rapid adaptation to emerging threats.

    The collaboration enables both nations to access a wider pool of innovative ideas, co-operate on technology development and deliver faster against a broader range of operational use cases. For both the UK and Australia this will strengthen defence primes, small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and academia in support of Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) and the UK Ministry of Defence’s Complex Weapons Pipeline and Australia’s Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise.

    Each nation is developing a concept demonstrator equivalent to a concept car to enable us to prove future technologies before they go into sovereign industrial and military capabilities.

    SHARKTOOTH is Australia’s developmental weapon system, a small missile which will enable rapid integration of various components including sensors, warheads, guidance systems and propulsion units.

    A spokesperson for Dstl said:

    This collaboration represents a step-change in how we develop and deploy complex weapons systems.

    By combining Australia’s modular approach with the UK’s missiles know-how, we’re creating more versatile and capable systems for our armed forces.

    Updates to this page

    Published 3 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Polytechnic at a meeting of the consortium for the development of school engineering and technology education

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    An extended meeting of the heads of the participants of the Association of Educational Organizations “Consortium for the Development of School Engineering and Technology Education” was held in the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation on the topic “Development of Talents. Effective Management Practices for Creating Conditions for Self-Realization of Children and Young People in the Engineering and Technology Sphere.”

    The Consortium for the Development of School Engineering and Technology Education is an association of leading educational organizations of various levels: schools, universities, enterprises of high-tech industries, centers for additional education of children, colleges of Russia and Belarus. Polytechnic University has been a member of the consortium since 2023.

    The moderators of the meeting were the Chairperson of the Commission of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation on Education and Upbringing Natalia Kravchenko and the Director of the Engineering and Technology School No. 777 of St. Petersburg of the Russian Federation Vera Knyazeva. Natalia Vasilyevna noted the importance of engineering education in technical universities and engineering schools for the development of the country’s economy and industry, as well as for the implementation of the tasks set by the President of the country.

    The main topic of the meeting was important proposals aimed at training personnel in technical and engineering professions, systematizing career guidance and strengthening cooperation between schools, universities and companies. The speakers emphasized the importance of developing engineering classes, early career guidance programs and introducing new educational approaches to training future specialists.

    First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Economic Policy Denis Kravchenko noted in his speech: The unified plan for achieving national development goals for Russia until 2030 and for the long term until 2036 states the need to develop engineering education in Russia, create conditions for strengthening technological sovereignty and developing technological leadership. In this regard, it is extremely necessary to create a personnel reserve of engineering and technical specialties for the development of industry and the country’s economy.

    At the meeting, the Polytechnic University was represented by the Vice-Rector for Continuing and Pre-University Education of SPbPU, Dmitry Tikhonov.

    Dmitry Vladimirovich gave a presentation on the diversity of engineering Olympiads and the specifics of the Polytechnic Olympiad held by the university. In his report, he emphasized the importance of engineering sciences, which served as an incentive to change the format of the Olympiad.

    The main concept of the new Polytechnic Olympiad is to test not so much the theoretical knowledge of the participants, but their ability to find and apply the necessary information. This meets modern requirements for engineers, who need to be able to quickly navigate a large volume of data and use it effectively. The tasks were designed in such a way as to exclude the possibility of simple cheating, focusing on a creative approach and practical skills.

    Participants went through various tests that simulated real-life situations that engineers encounter in their work. For example, they had to study the properties of modern alloys and composite materials, analyze complex electrical circuits and propose optimal solutions, and develop robotics projects by calculating the trajectory of the mechanisms.

    Dmitry Vladimirovich separately noted the importance of referring to additional literature, emphasizing that a successful engineer is not someone who remembers all the standards and norms, but someone who knows how to search, process and correctly interpret information.

    The Vice-Rector emphasized that the new concept of the Polytechnic Olympiad promotes the development of engineering thinking and the quality of technical education among schoolchildren. Thanks to its innovative format, it helps students master practical skills in searching and analyzing information, which are necessary for a successful career in the field of engineering sciences.

    Discussion of issues of development of engineering education at the highest level is of key importance for the formation of a competitive economy and provision of a sustainable personnel reserve. Educational organizations of different levels participate in the consortium, this allows us to create effective mechanisms for training highly qualified personnel capable of making a significant contribution to achieving technological leadership of Russia. Engineering classes are one of the best practices of such interaction. Applicants who have completed this system become more successful as students and are more quickly involved in technological projects, – noted Dmitry Vladimirovich.

    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 Russia: Polytechnic University held the final stage of the Olympiad “I am a professional” in the direction of “Mechanical engineering”

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University held the final round of the All-Russian Student Olympiad “I am a Professional” in the Mechanical Engineering category. The competition in the bachelor’s degree category was held at the site of the Russian power engineering company JSC Power Machines. Participants in the final round solved interesting practical cases developed by experts from enterprises. The names of the winners of the VIII season of the All-Russian Student Olympiad “I am a Professional” will be announced in June. The Olympiad is being implemented within the framework of the federal project “Russia – Country of Opportunities” of the national project “Youth and Children” with the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia.

    The final round was attended by 19 people from 10 universities of the country: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, TPU, Bauman Moscow State Technical University, NSTU, MAI, MEPhI, Ulyanov Chuvash State University, RUDN, MISiS and Empress Catherine II St. Petersburg Mining University. Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University has been supervising the Mechanical Engineering program for several seasons in a row. In total, the Olympiad covers 71 subject areas. To reach the final, students passed the qualifying round and then participated in the semi-finals.

    Before the competition, the companies’ employees gave the participants a tour, during which they introduced them to the main areas of their activities. Then the students received assignments for the final stage. The Olympiad participants solved practical cases compiled by the company’s engineers. Severstal representatives from the Repair Directorate and the Talent Development Department also acted as experts. PAO Severstal is a partner of the I Am a Professional student Olympiad.

    Participation in the Olympiad is a great opportunity to test your knowledge and skills, make new acquaintances, and decide on a career development direction. In the eighth season, we not only involved our partners in compiling practice-oriented tasks, but also “asked to visit” so that the participants of the competition could test themselves on a real production site, that is, feel like engineering special forces in action. St. Petersburg Polytechnic University traditionally organizes several areas in the Olympiad “I am a professional”. Let me remind you that the winners of the Olympiad receive additional points when entering a master’s and postgraduate program, – noted Vitaly Drobchik, Advisor to the Rector’s Office of SPbPU and organizer of the Olympiad at the Polytechnic University.

    The All-Russian Student Olympiad “I am a Professional” is a large-scale platform for testing the knowledge and applied skills of students from Russian universities, as well as a unique system of career support. The Olympiad has been held since 2017 and covers 71 subject areas: from aircraft engineering to artificial intelligence. This year, SPbPU is organizing competitions in the Mechanical Engineering and Hotel Business tracks. An innovation of this season was the provision of access to the Olympiad career portal to participants in the selection round. Every student interested in professional development will be able to try their hand at internships at more than 700 companies – industry leaders.

    Organizing such competitions for students is an important part of our comprehensive work on training highly qualified engineers. The special value of the cases of this Olympiad is that they are based on real production tasks, and thus students can get to know the profession they have chosen better, and we can help them better prepare for their future work and try to interest them, – said Konstantin Savichev, Director of the Engineering Center of Power Machines.

    The Olympiad provides a wide range of career support opportunities: project diploma holders can take advantage of benefits when entering the next level of education, get the opportunity to do an internship and start their professional career with leading Russian employers. Cash prizes of up to 300 thousand rubles are provided for medalists.

    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 United Kingdom: Government kickstarts £100 million fusion investment

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 2

    Press release

    Government kickstarts £100 million fusion investment

    A first of its kind partnership between the government and private sector could see over £100 million invested into the UK’s growing fusion energy industry.

    • Government invests £20 million into “Starmaker One” – a British fusion investment fund which is expected to leverage £100 million into the UK
    • world first government partnership with fusion private venture capital fund – keeping Britain at the forefront of the global fusion race
    • fusion has potential to help make Britain a clean energy superpower as part of the Plan for Change – driving economic growth and creating skilled jobs

    Today (3 April) the government has announced £20 million to kickstart ‘Starmaker One’ – a British private fusion investment fund that will help fusion businesses and start-ups in the sector grow and commercialise at scale. 

    It is expected the upfront investment will unlock further investment from the private sector as the fusion industry grows – helping cement the UK as a world leader in the technology and creating highly-skilled jobs.  

    Fusion uses the same process that powers the sun by combining two forms of hydrogen and heating them at extreme temperatures, releasing vast amounts of energy. 

    Companies in the UK have often identified lack of access to capital as a barrier to scaling up and commercialising their businesses. An injection of cash from government will give the private sector confidence to invest in fusion, developing its vast potential as an unlimited source of energy and ensuring the UK continues to compete in the global fusion race.  

    The funding boost will help small fusion companies provide training for their workforce in key areas such as physics, engineering and chemistry. It will also support companies to develop technologies and capitalise on the opportunities of fusion energy in markets such as magnetics, industrial AI, robotics, healthcare, transportation and energy storage.  

    Fusion already supports thousands of jobs in the UK, in regions such as Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire and South Yorkshire, with thousands more to follow as the technology advances. Fusion is a key industry sector in the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor with independent research from London Economics showing that every £1 invested in fusion it benefits the economy by nearly £4. 

    Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:  

    This government is taking back control of Britain’s energy by driving for clean homegrown power through our Plan for Change.  

    Fusion has the potential to provide us with energy security, whilst attracting the best technologies to our shores and training up the next generation of British scientists and engineers.  

    We are backing both nuclear and fusion power, and today we take a step forward in growing this exciting industry.

    Science Minister and Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor Champion, Lord Vallance said: 

    Fusion energy is a technology with enormous potential, and an industry in which the UK is already well established.    This investment will help to unlock the funding the fusion industry needs to grow, which will boost regions across the UK such as Nottinghamshire and South Yorkshire, and in Culham in Oxfordshire, the epicentre of UK fusion.

    Energy Minister Kerry McCarthy, said:  

    This investment is our Plan for Change in action – we are backing British pioneers to secure the clean energy of the future while supporting jobs today, from scientists and welders to engineers and construction managers.  

    As countries around the world recognise the huge potential of fusion, breakthroughs in this technology are happening thick and fast, and we want to keep the UK at the forefront of the global race by helping projects to innovate and grow here, in turn driving economic growth.

    Investment in Starmaker One signals the first early-stage fusion energy venture capital fund outside the US and the first of its kind to partner with government as an investor. Investing in fusion technology will pave the way to delivering a clean safe, secure and abundant baseload energy, helping to meet rising energy demand in the years ahead. 

    This investment will give industry cash upfront to grow their businesses and supply chains. It follows on from a government commitment for a record level of £410 million, announced in January, for UK fusion research and collaboration with other countries to develop clean, unlimited power and drive economic growth. 

    Successful deployment of fusion energy would be globally transformative and allow the UK to export the technology to a global fusion market expected to be worth trillions of pounds in the future.

    This notice is for information only and does not constitute an invitation to invest. The fund is not available to retail investors. 

    Notes for editors  

    • Starmaker One is a limited partnership in which the government is a cornerstone investor. The fund has potential to raise between £100 million and £150 million overall (including the £20 million from DESNZ) for investment into fusion-related technology
    • East X Ventures will act as fund manager. Government will receive a share of any returns made by the partnership
    • East X Ventures is the venture capital arm of East X, a London based quantitative systematic research and investment firm operating across global commodity markets.  East X Ventures invests in early-stage, science-led companies with high-growth, world-scale potential
    • The funding comes from the government’s existing Research and Development budget for 2024/2025.

    Updates to this page

    Published 3 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Good news, beach lovers: our research found 39% less plastic waste around Australian coastal cities than a decade ago

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephanie Brodie, Research Scientist in Marine Ecology, CSIRO

    jittawit21, Shutterstock

    Picture this: you’re lounging on a beautiful beach, soaking up the sun and listening to the soothing sound of the waves. You run your hands through the warm sand, only to find a cigarette butt. Gross, right?

    This disturbing scene is typical of coastal pollution in Australia. But fortunately our new research shows the problem is getting better, not worse. Over the past ten years, the amount of waste across Australian coastal cities has reduced by almost 40%. We’re also finding more places with no rubbish at all.

    We surveyed for debris in and around six Australian urban areas between 2022 and 2024. Then we compared our results to previous surveys carried out a decade ago. We found less coastal pollution overall and reset a new baseline for further research.

    Our study shows efforts to clean up Australia’s beaches have been working. These policies, practices and outreach campaigns have reduced the extent of pollution in coastal habitats near urban centres. But we can’t become complacent. There’s plenty of work still to be done.

    One of the many beaches surveyed by CSIRO.
    TJ Lawson

    What we did

    In Australia, three-quarters of the rubbish on our coasts is plastic. Even cigarette butts are mainly made of plastic.

    To tackle the pollution effectively, we need to understand where the waste is coming from and how it gets into the environment.

    Research has shown much of the coastal debris comes from local inland areas. Poor waste management practices can result in debris eventually making its way through rivers to the coast and out to sea.

    We focused on urban areas because high population density and industrial activity contributes to waste in the environment. We examined six areas across Australia:

    • Perth in Western Australia
    • Port Augusta in South Australia
    • Hobart in Tasmania
    • Newcastle in New South Wales
    • Sunshine Coast in Queensland
    • Alice Springs in the Northern Territory.

    These places represent a starting point for the national baseline. At each location we studied sites on the coast, along rivers and inland, within a 100 kilometre radius.

    We inspected strips of land 2m wide. This involved two trained scientists standing in an upright position looking downward, slowly walking along a line surveying for debris items. Together they captured information about every piece of debris they came across, including the type of material and what it was originally used for (where possible).

    What we found

    On average, we found 0.15 items of debris per square metre of land surveyed. That’s roughly one piece of rubbish every five steps.

    Plastic was the most common type of waste. But in many cases it was unclear what the item was originally used for. For example, fragments of hard plastic of unknown origin were found in a quarter of all surveyed areas.

    Polystyrene fragments were the most common item overall (24% of all debris fragments). Other frequently encountered items included food wrappers or labels, cigarette butts, and hard plastic bottle caps or lids.

    We found more waste near farms, industry and disadvantaged areas.

    The types of waste varied among cities. For example, cigarette butts were the most prevalent items in Newcastle, Perth and the Sunshine Coast. But food wrappers and beverage cans were more prevalent in Port Augusta and Alice Springs, respectively.

    Hobart had the highest occurrence of beverage bottles and bottle fragments.

    The most common type of waste varied among cities.
    CSIRO

    Targeting problem items

    Identifying the different types of litter in the environment can help policymakers and waste managers target specific items and improve waste recovery.

    Research has shown container deposit legislation, which enables people to take eligible beverage containers to a collection point for a refund, has reduced the number of beverage containers in the coastal environment by 40%. Hobart did not have a container deposit scheme in place at the time of our survey.

    Plastic bag bans can reduce bag litter. Now polystyrene food service items are becoming increasingly targeted by policymakers.

    Hobart had the highest occurrence of beverage bottles and bottle fragments.
    Caroline Bray

    Making progress

    When we compared our results to the previous survey from 2011-14 we found a 39% decrease in coastal debris. We also found 16% more areas where no debris was present.

    Our results support previous research that found an ongoing trend towards less waste on Australian beaches.

    We think our research demonstrates the effectiveness of improved waste management policies, campaigns such as the “Five R’s – Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, then Recycle” – as well as clean-up efforts.

    It’s likely that increased awareness is making a big dent in the problem. But reducing the production of plastic, and invoking changes further up the supply chain, would likely further help reduce mismanaged waste in the environment.

    Implications for the future

    Measuring and monitoring litter can inform policymaking and waste management. Our research serves as a benchmark for evaluating and informing future efforts to reduce plastic waste.

    We are heartened by the findings. But continued effort is needed from people across government, industry and Australian communities. Everyone needs to address how we produce, use and dispose of plastic for a cleaner and healthier planet.

    Australians are increasingly aware of the need to keep the coastal environment free of litter.
    Qamar Schuyler

    As part of her role at CSIRO, Stephanie Brodie receives funding the federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, and the Australian Fisheries Management Authority.

    Britta Denise Hardesty received funding for this work from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water. Shell Australia previously provided funding for this research via Earthwatch Australia for surveys and citizen science projects carried out between 2011 and 2014.

    – ref. Good news, beach lovers: our research found 39% less plastic waste around Australian coastal cities than a decade ago – https://theconversation.com/good-news-beach-lovers-our-research-found-39-less-plastic-waste-around-australian-coastal-cities-than-a-decade-ago-253221

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Austin Scott Recognizes Congressional App Challenge Winners

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08)

    WARNER ROBINS, Ga.– U.S. Representative Austin Scott (GA-08) recently announced the Eighth District’s 2024 Congressional App Challenge Winners at a ceremony at Houston County High School.

    Houston County High School students Micheal Do and Hieu Tran won first place with their app Signify, which generates a real-time translation of American Sign Language (ASL) to English.

    “I am always blown away by the creativity and talent of our young constituents, and I congratulate our App Challenge winners on their amazing accomplishment,” Rep. Scott said. “I encourage all students to participate in the upcoming app challenge this year!”

    Signify collects images through a video recording using a mobile phone camera. It then utilizes a machine learning model that has been trained using hundreds of images to track a person’s finger and hand movements using sign language. It then compares these new gestures with the gestures it was trained on to classify and output the translation of the sign in English.

    Signify will be featured on the U.S. House of Representatives website and displayed in an exhibit in the U.S. Capitol Building alongside winners from other participating Congressional Districts across the country.

    The first runner-ups were Lowndes High School students Aarin Dave and Aarav Dave with their app Redove, which utilizes extended reality (XR) technology to immerse long-term or isolated hospital patients into a world that provides a sense of freedom or familiarity. 

    The Congressional App Challenge is an annual, nationwide event intended to engage students’ creativity and encourage their participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. This competition allows students to compete with peers throughout their own Congressional District by creating and exhibiting their software application, or “app,” for web, PC, tablet, mobile, or other platforms.

    All current middle and high school students (6-12th grade) residing in or attending school in the Eighth Congressional District are encouraged to start planning for the 2025 Congressional App Challenge. Students may compete as individuals or in teams of up to four as long as two of the teammates are eligible to participate in the district. More details will be announced this Spring.

    Additional details can be found on Rep. Scott’s website or by contacting Rep. Scott’s Warner Robins office at (478) 971-1776.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: How to break into cinema: director Alexander Zhigalkin gave advice to the younger generation

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    On April 2, a meeting of students with the famous Russian director Alexander Zhigalkin was held at the State University of Management as part of the VI All-Russian Festival of Student Short Films “Kinosfera”.

    Aleksandr Zhigalkin is a theater, film and dubbing actor, TV presenter, screenwriter, producer, director of such humorous projects as “6 frames” and “Thank God, you came!”, as well as the well-known television sitcoms “Daddy’s Daughters”, “Daddy’s Daughters. New” and “Voronins”. Winner of the Russian national television award “TEFI-2011” in the nomination “Director of a television program” for the sketch show “6 frames”.

    At the beginning of the conversation, Alexander noted that calling him “outstanding” is not entirely correct.

    “An outstanding director is Eldar Ryazanov, Andrei Tarkovsky, Federico Fellini, Michelangelo Antonioni and a huge number of great masters. I only have an outstanding nose. So I ask you to talk to me like a normal person. I just do my job well, so everything works out great,” the guest noted.

    The meeting was held in a question-and-answer format and provoked a lively discussion and response from students.

    The first thing we did was ask the director what inspires him to create and how he started his career.

    Alexander noted with regret that the films that inspired him as a child are not known to the modern generation, and this is sad, because being well-watched is an important quality for a director.

    “In the 2nd grade, I watched the film “Truffaldino from Bergamo” – a funny, wild comedy based on the play by Carlo Goldoni “The Servant of Two Masters”. I was shocked by how incredibly Konstantin Raikin played there: he danced, made faces, but did not sing himself, the songs were performed by Mikhail Boyarsky. I especially remember how the main character jumped and fell with plates, and I began to repeat this at home. After I broke several plates, my parents gave me plastic ones and approved of my hobby. In the 5th-6th grade, I began to attend classes at the ZIL People’s Theater and there I developed an incredible love for theater. After school, I went to a theater institute, I did not think about another profession. I failed the first time, but after serving in the army I tried again and entered,” the speaker shared.

    He also spoke about his first attempts at acting, the difficulties of life in the 90s, his first troupe and his first staged performance. Alexander Alexandrovich also noted why he ultimately chose cinema over theater, and why the profession of a director is better for him than acting.

    “I didn’t want to go to the theater as an actor, because at that time it seemed like theater was a bondage. I sincerely adore the theater, but only as a spectator. In the theater, a lot of things weigh on an actor: the director, the producer, the artistic director, etc. And for me, the lack of opportunity to freely engage in creativity is death. The director is freer, his creative life is longer. In addition, as an actor, I always have the opportunity to play a small role in a film, because the director approves me without auditions.”

    Alexander also told a funny story about how in the 90s a friend from Moscow State University helped him go to Germany as a student of the landscape science faculty for a paid internship.

    “I didn’t understand anything about this area, but I had a diploma as an actor from the B. Shchukin Theatre School, so I coped brilliantly with the role of a student. I came to the office at 8 a.m., colored cards, sometimes went out for practice. But after a month I ran away from there to earn money by tap dancing with a musical group from Hongover.”

    The guest emphasized that an important role in the formation of his life priorities was played by a meeting with the German Ferdinand, who was involved in cars.

    “It turned out that in his youth he taught physical education to Konstantin Raikin in Leningrad. And, apparently, something clicked in him when he met me, because I am also an actor, and he showed me the first Mercedes in my life, which I saw up close. When we got in, he showed me what incredible functions it had, that the car was like alive. And he said an important phrase: “A car should be either this or nothing. So wait for the opportunity to get exactly what you want.” Then I realized that since there are no roles like what I want, and I don’t want to play others, I need to do something else.”

    When asked how to understand that a script is worth taking on, Alexander answered simply: “You have to take what grabs you.” The director also emphasized that his goal is “to make films and TV series that give people the opportunity to lift their spirits, become kinder and brighter, and disconnect from the problems that are plentiful in real life. At the same time, the quality of humor is important; jokes should be subtle and ironic, and not stoop below the belt.”

    Since the meeting was attended mainly by students from the Department of Management in the Sphere of Culture, Cinema, Television and Entertainment Industry of the Institute of Management and Budgetary Culture, they took advantage of the opportunity to clarify how they could get onto the set and join the director’s team.

    “It is quite possible to watch the filming process, I think we can organize it. As for the team, everything is more complicated here. Today there is a shortage of specialists in all areas of the filming process. I am a tough guy on the set, a tyrant and a despot. My filming pace is fast, so I try to assemble a group so that everything works like clockwork. I always say before filming: guys, we came so that the actors in the frame feel as comfortable as possible. We will be letters in the credits, and they will carry everything we wanted to say to the viewers.”

    Of course, the guys asked how the director felt about the reboot of the project “Daddy’s Daughters”, which he directed from 2007 to 2011.

    “I would like to remind you that “Daddy’s Daughters” is our first sitcom that was created on Russian script soil, and not adapted from a foreign version. I was a guest director and took part in the development. It’s like sculpting, where you are not alone, but your hands are present on the clay. As for the new seasons, I only filmed the first of them. It is an excellent successful project, wonderful actresses whom I selected and with whom we communicate. But for me, after those 5 years when we were just starting out, that feeling of the team, the atmosphere, the children and the intonations that were there, something didn’t work out in the new seasons. It’s too decent, too bright, the apartment is too rich. In my opinion, it should be a family from the next door, with ordinary problems familiar to everyone. The new seasons are talented, interesting, but not for me.”

    Alexander also talked about how “Voronins” was filmed and what he considers to be the secret to the long life and popular love of this project.

    “It was the happiest time of incredible happiness, we were one family, spent a lot of time together. The viability of this sitcom is due to the fact that we all did not quarrel, did not break up, but lived in happiness and friendship for all these ten years. There is a channel “Voronins”. Sometimes I turn it on and think “My God, how good this is!”, although it is no longer a trend today, but there is so much sincerity and truth in relation to the viewer. On the set, we were disciplined and united by Boris Klyuev, who is no longer alive. I remember how courageously he acted until the last, when he was already battling cancer, but never asked for indulgences or anything like that. You can see all this on the screen and it became the life of families. If we talk about the reboot of the series called “Kostya-Vera”, then I watched two episodes and did not do more. Without Boris, it makes no sense to do this, he was the nail that held everything together.”

    When asked what advice the renowned master could give to young directors, Alexander gave advice that applies to many creative professions.

    “You definitely shouldn’t get depressed, be afraid, or be embarrassed by your expressions. You should definitely read literature, it provides a huge amount of plot material for work, for new stories, for building character relationships. You need to understand and accept that everything has already been filmed and written. Times change, but people, their problems, and relationships are essentially the same. Chekhov, Tolstoy, Gogol have already written all this. You need to read thoughtfully, it’s so funny, deep, and sometimes scary. If you think you’ve come up with something yourself, then put that idea aside, study historical experience, and you’ll understand that it definitely happened. It’s all about talented interpretation, so you need to learn from the greats.”

    There was also a question about how young talents can break into cinema. The guest’s answer is simple in essence, but difficult to execute, and can be framed for absolutely everyone and not to forget about it.

    “The first thing you need to understand is that in order to break through, you need to break through. 90% of success is work. My teacher Yuri Avsharov used to say: “If it doesn’t work out, don’t sit in the kitchen and complain. Open a book and read, go to people, they will see you and hear you.” If a person is creative, then they will find their place. It is important to always keep yourself in working tone, then everything will work out.”

    At the end of the meeting, there were photo and autograph sessions, and representatives of the student editorial board of the State University of Management SUM Times took a short interview from Alexander, which will soon be published in the Vkontakte group and on the Rutube channel.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 04/03/2025

    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: Foster Leads Colleagues in Demanding Answers on NSF Firings

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bill Foster (11th District of Illinois)

    Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) and Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) announced that they led 37 Members of Congress in expressing their concern with the recent firing of 168 workers at the National Science Foundation (NSF).

    In a letter to President Trump and NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan, the Members wrote:

    “These rash decisions, alongside the Administration’s freeze on NSF grant funds and cancellation of all grant review panels, will not only cause our country to miss out on the scientific breakthroughs that cancelled research could lead to, but we could also lose a generation of scientists who cannot complete their NSF-supported graduate and postdoctoral training. A “brain drain” from the federal government, or from the STEM fields overall, would be catastrophic […]

    “If our country fails to continue to make these advancements, we fear that China and our other research-focused adversaries will fill the gap and get ahead. This poses a threat to our national security not only because of the potential improvements in defense-related technologies, but also because more and more of the free world will become dependent on their inventions and economy, giving China the upper hand in world affairs.”

    A full copy of the letter can be found here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Diesel spill in Mooloolaba

    Source: Tasmania Police

    Issued: 2 Apr 2025

    A broken pump handle has resulted in approximately 1500 litres of diesel being released into the Mooloolah River at the Mooloolaba Harbour.

    The Pollution Hotline received a call at 10:45am on 1 April 2025 reporting the spill at a refuelling station.

    Our officers investigated and were advised that the spill occurred after a broken pump handle failed to shut off, resulting in diesel entering the water.

    Executive Director at the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation, Brad Wirth said the department will continue to monitor the spill to assess the impacts to the environment.

    “Our officers quickly attended the site less than an hour after the spill was reported to us and investigated the incident.

    “The diesel was already widely dispersed with the outgoing tide. We will continue to work with Maritime Safety Queensland and Sunshine Coast Council to ensure any potential impacts of the spill are minimised.

    “If you ever find yourself in this situation where fuel is leaking, it is important to let the refuelling station know so they can activate the emergency stop.”

    To report pollution incidents to the department please call the Pollution Hotline on 1300 130 372 or complete an online environmental report.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Digging into soil conservation

    Source: Tasmania Police

    Issued: 2 Apr 2025

    Meet the women leading the next generation of soil stewardship from the ground up as they embark on a new graduate program led by the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation.

    Jessica Cook, Mali Eagle and Bec Reeves will be digging into the world of agricultural and environmental science, with a focus on preserving Queensland’s soil health, through the new Queensland Soil Science Graduate and First Nations Engagement Program.

    Queensland Chief Scientist Professor Kerrie Wilson said the program would help build Queensland’s capability in this important science sector as the trio would work with leading soil scientists and First Nations groups to develop innovative ways to enhance farming practices and protect our natural environment.

    “This is such an exciting collaboration, with these graduates’ understanding of soil helping to inform agricultural management strategies, which will positively contribute to the sustainability of our environment,” Prof Wilson said.

    “Soil is important to everyone – without soil we don’t have plants, and without plants we don’t have food or oxygen.

    “The program will accelerate the training and development of graduate scientists and rangers in both western and traditional soil science practices to address critical knowledge and capability gaps.

    “First Nations peoples were Queensland’s first scientists, and their knowledge is key to protecting our biodiversity for generations to come.

    “I look forward to seeing these women lead the way in soil science and become the next generation of soil science practitioners.”

    As part of their training, the graduates will be hosted by a regional Natural Resource Management (NRM) organisation and a Queensland Government agency over 12 months.

    The Queensland Soil Science Graduate and First Nations Engagement Program is a $1.1M initiative jointly funded by the State and Federal governments as part of the $20M National Soil Action Plan.

    Soil science ranger Bec Reeves said the opportunity to contribute to cultural conservation practices and learn more about soil processes such as soil survey techniques and digital soils mapping analyses was exciting.

    “I’m a very hands-on and practical learner and enjoy being On Country, so getting to go out and get your hands dirty certainly piqued my interest,” she said.

    “I am passionate about the environment and want to learn as much as possible while I’m in this program.

    “There are so many niches within soil science and culturally for me as a First Nations person, the connection around environmental practices and conservation practices like traditional burning is something I’m really interested in exploring.”

    An additional three graduates will be employed as part of the Queensland Soil Science Graduate and First Nations Engagement Program in 2026.

    View more information about the National Soil Action Plan program

    Media contact:                  DETSI Media Unit on (07) 3339 5831 or media@des.qld.gov.au

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: The UK wants to screen Netflix’s Adolescence in schools. Should you watch it with your child?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joanne Orlando, Researcher, Digital Literacy and Digital Wellbeing, Western Sydney University

    UK Prime Minster Keir Starmer met with Adolescence writer Jack Thorne to discuss adolescent safety at Downing Street on Monday. Jack Taylor/ GettyImages

    Netflix’s Adolescence has ignited global debate.

    The series traces the disturbing journey of 13-year-old Jamie Miller, whose exposure to misogynistic online communities may have contributed to him to killing a female classmate. Its graphic portrayal has captivated audiences, with more than 66 million views.

    This week, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he wants to see it shown in high schools, framing it as a cautionary educational tool against the toxic “manosphere”.

    His office said showing Adolescence would

    help students better understand the impact of misogyny, dangers of online radicalisation and the importance of healthy relationships.

    Should parents be watching the series with their kids?

    Before you turn on the TV, remember Adolescence is not a documentary. It is a drama series. And the issues it raises require care and nuance.



    Read more:
    A child killer, parenting struggles and ‘innies’ running wild: what to stream in April

    What is the manosphere?

    The manosphere is a collection of digital spaces such as forums, influencers and content creators, that promote extremist sexist views under the guise of male empowerment.

    While initially focused on fathers’ rights, controversial content creators like Andrew Tate have shifted its focus toward pushing extremist beliefs to boys and young men. Core beliefs include:

    • men and women have strict and opposing roles they must follow

    • women manipulate men through sex and their appearance

    • men are either winners (dominant and attractive), or losers (weak failures), pressuring boys to obsess over power or resign themselves to failure.

    A growing body of research is showing some young people are being influenced by these views.



    Read more:
    We research online ‘misogynist radicalisation’. Here’s what parents of boys should know

    We need to make sure we include boys

    So it is hugely important to address misogyny and gender-based violence in our community. But we need to approach young people with care.

    Many boys are now growing up in a culture where masculinity itself can be framed as toxic.

    Adolescence fits into this framing, dramatising an extreme case of a boy radicalised into violence. But presenting it without nuance risks implying all males are innately aggressors.

    This could alienate alienate young men who might already be hesitant to discuss their struggles.

    We already know young men find it hard to get help

    Research shows boys often avoid seeking help for depression or anxiety because it makes them seem vulnerable and not masculine. They can be taught from an early age crying or admitting fear risks ridicule.

    So this presents a challenge. We need to be able to confront harmful behaviours without making boys feel “inherently broken”.

    We also need to be careful not reinforcing any feelings of shame that might prevent boys from seeking help.

    A growing body of research is showing how young boys and men can be influenced by the manosphere.
    Perfect Wave/ Shutterstock



    Read more:
    ‘I don’t really wanna consume his content’: what do young Australian men think of Andrew Tate?

    Social media is a ‘super peer’

    Meanwhile, we need to understand the power of online worlds and social media. Adolescence (ages 10–14) is a time of vulnerability. As puberty reshapes their bodies and brains, teens become hyper-sensitive to social judgement and peer approval. For insecure teens, social media can function as a “super peer” – shaping attitudes and behaviours, much like a big brother or sister.

    Extremist content preys on insecurity by offering dangerously simplistic answers to complex questions about who they are and how they should behave:

    • simplistic rules (“This is how you should act”)

    • belonging (“We understand you”)

    • scapegoats (“Your pain is their fault”).

    Platforms like Instagram and TikTok also use algorithms which promote the content that triggers strong reactions. We see this in manosphere content, and content that focuses on other ares of vulnerability, such as physical appearance, relationships and life goals.

    So teens need help to navigate this digital landscape in an informed and balanced way.

    How can you watch Adolescence with your child?

    Adolescence can serve as one potential starting point for crucial discussions about gender, identity and online influences.

    As a dramatic series rather than a documentary, it’s value lies in its ability to provoke questions and start conversations, rather than provide answers.

    If you are watching it with your child you could talk about:

    • why certain ideas about masculinity and femininity appeal to them and to others

    • how social media shapes their sense of identity

    • what healthy self expression and relationships really look like

    • what voices are missing from the series (such as the perspective of the girl killed and her family)

    • what support teens would find meaningful from parents and teachers.

    The series succeeds if it makes viewers more thoughtful about the content they consume and the identities they choose to embrace, but we shouldn’t mistake it for a comprehensive solution.

    And if it’s not right for your child or household, Adolescence should not be seen as mandatory viewing. The most important thing is to create spaces where adults and teens can critically examine how they use social media, identity and relationships.

    Good discussions can start anywhere from a Netflix drama, to a news article or a student’s personal experience. What matters most is that we’re having them – and we keep having them as children and young people grow up.

    Joanne Orlando receives funding from NSW Department of Education and previously from Office of eSafety Commissioner.

    – ref. The UK wants to screen Netflix’s Adolescence in schools. Should you watch it with your child? – https://theconversation.com/the-uk-wants-to-screen-netflixs-adolescence-in-schools-should-you-watch-it-with-your-child-253548

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Guthrie Presents Local Students with 2024 Congressional App Challenge Awards

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brett Guthrie (2nd District Kentucky)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02) presented winning Louisville area student groups awards for the 2024 Congressional Art Competition. The Congressional App Challenge allows middle and high school students to compete with peers in their own Congressional District by creating and exhibiting their software applications, or “apps,” for mobile, tablet, or computer devices on a platform of their choice.

    “I am so proud to see the hard work and thoughtfulness that our local students put into the designing their apps,” said Congressman Guthrie. “In total, more than 30 student groups from across our district showcased immense ingenuity in their submissions. From developing ways to increase access to mental health resources, to improving physical health, to deepening an individuals’ relationship with God, these students solved real-world problems using modern technology. I know that all these students have a bright future ahead and our nation is in good hands with the next generation!”

    Photos from yesterday’s event can be found here.

    OVERALL SECOND PLACE: Serenity by Sharvil Saxena from Dupont Manual High School. This app is designed to improve a user’s mental health by including guided daily meditations, a mood tracker, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbox to provide real-time emotional support, and a built-in interface to connect individuals with professional mental health providers as needed.

    OVERALL THRID PLACE: Personalized Intelligent Fitness & Nutrition Assistant by Manit Gupta & Bhavit Gupta from DuPont Manual High School & Meyzeek Middle School. This app works to educate users and improve health outcomes by developing individualized exercise routines, dietary recommendations based on available food, and data tracking to detect potential health issues.

    MIDDLE SCHOOL FIRST PLACE: Mindful Memory by Ava Zernickow from Hebron Middle School. Mindful Memory is an educational app designed to provide resources for family and loved ones of dementia patients as well as being directly used by individuals living with mild cases of dementia to help them navigate the illness. 

    MIDDLE SCHOOL SECOND PLACE: Chosen by Callie Pryor from Hebron Middle School. This app provides information and resources about the adoption process for families looking to expand their family through adoption. 

    MIDDLE SCHOOL THIRD PLACE: Just Breathe by Mia Johnson, Leela Schroerlucke, Philippa Bryant and Elaine Paul from Hebron Middle School. This app provides tools and resources to middle and high school students to navigate daily stress and anxiety.

    MIDDLE SCHOOL FOURTH PLACE: Mind Bible by Katie Ousley & Evelyn Kardols from Hebron Middle School. This app is designed to further teenagers’ relationship with God by providing educational opportunities about the Bible and Christianity.

    The Congressional App Challenge was established by Members of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2014 and is a nationwide event intended to engage students’ creativity and encourage their participation in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields. Eligibility is limited to students currently enrolled in middle or high school and either reside or attend school in the district. The overall first place submission will be invited to the #HouseofCode Showcase in Washington D.C. later this Spring.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pingree, Merkley: EPA’s Elimination of Scientific Research Arm Threatens Clean Air and Water for All

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (1st District of Maine)

     Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), the top Democrats on the subcommittees that oversee funding for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), are sounding the alarm over the EPA’s illegal plans to dismantle the Office of Research and Development (ORD) and fire hundreds of scientists nationwide. In a letter to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin today, the Ranking Members of the Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittees stressed the dangers of the EPA’s so-called reduction in force (RIF) plan, which would gut the agency’s main scientific arm that protects human health and our environment.

    “Reports detail EPA’s intent to dismantle ORD and terminate more than 1,000 critical positions including chemists, toxicologists, and biologists. This ‘reduction in force’ follows a pattern of politically motivated purges, where public servants reinstated by court order remain sidelined while allegiance to the president and his fossil fuel benefactors, not expertise, determines who stays and who goes,” wrote Ranking Members Merkley and Pingree. “To state the obvious, EPA is required to conduct research and develop the best available knowledge to support implementation of its regulatory authority.”

    Their letter follows the EPA’s reported plans to slash the ORD by potentially eliminating 50 to 75 percent of the office’s 1,540 positions and severely impacting scientific research into dangers such as PFAS, support for natural disaster responses, and environmental monitoring at the agency and at academic and non-profit research institutions, hospitals, state and local governments, and Tribal organizations.

    The senior Appropriators stressed, “Your actions will have devastating consequences. They will weaken scientific oversight, eliminate critical regulatory safeguards, and give polluting industries unchecked influence over environmental policy and ultimately human health. Stripping EPA of its independent research capacity would transform the agency into a rubber stamp for corporate interests rather than a protector of public health and the environment.  Eliminating ORD does not create jobs, does not promote economic growth, and does not serve the American people—it endangers public health and the environment.”

    They also denounced the illegality of the EPA’s actions to direct funds without Congressional approval. Merkley and Pingree concluded, “We strongly urge you to immediately reverse course and abandon this dangerous plan. The integrity of the EPA’s scientific research must be preserved to ensure sound policymaking and the continued protection of public health and the environment. The American people will not stand by while their air, water, and communities are sacrificed for the profits of a few.”

    Full text of the letter is available online here and copied below.

    +++

    Dear Administrator Zeldin:

    We write to express alarm regarding the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) plan to eliminate its Office of Research and Development (ORD)—a blatant assault on science, public health, and the agency’s core mission. This reckless decision would erode the agency’s scientific foundation to the benefit of polluting industries at the expense of working-class communities and exacerbate climate change. It is a betrayal of EPA’s obligation to the American people to understand and use the best available science and a violation of the law.

    For decades, ORD has been the backbone of independent, science-based policymaking at EPA. Its groundbreaking research has helped curb air and water pollution, regulate toxic chemicals, and protect communities from industrial waste. By dismantling ORD, you would gut the agency’s ability to conduct independent research and hand over environmental policy to industry insiders. This proposal is not about efficiency or improvement—it is a deliberate effort to strip away regulatory safeguards that protect ordinary Americans while boosting profits for the wealthiest polluters.

    Reports detail EPA’s intent to dismantle ORD and terminate more than 1,000 critical positions including chemists, toxicologists, and biologists. This “reduction in force” follows a pattern of politically motivated purges, where public servants reinstated by court order remain sidelined while allegiance to the president and his fossil fuel benefactors, not expertise, determines who stays and who goes. To state the obvious, EPA is required to conduct research and develop the best available knowledge to support implementation of its regulatory authority.

    Your actions will have devastating consequences. They will weaken scientific oversight, eliminate critical regulatory safeguards, and give polluting industries unchecked influence over environmental policy and ultimately human health. Stripping EPA of its independent research capacity would transform the agency into a rubber stamp for corporate interests rather than a protector of public health and the environment.  Eliminating ORD does not create jobs, does not promote economic growth, and does not serve the American people—it endangers public health and the environment.

    Over just the past decade alone, EPA researchers have produced ground-breaking research on cancer-causing chemicals (such as Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and Glyphosate), diesel engine exhaust that exacerbates asthma and is linked to lung-disease, Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) forever chemicals in our drinking water, and in-utero exposure to phthalates. ORD also provides critical support in response to disasters. For example, ORD developed tools for monitoring SARS-CoV-2 levels in wastewater to assess community infection rates, assessed damage to human and marine health after the April 2010 explosion and collapse of the Deepwater Horizon oil drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico, and studied the conditions of coastal waters and drinking water infrastructure following Hurricane Katrina.

    Moreover, if implemented, this proposal would violate federal law. ORD is recognized as EPA’s research organization in law throughout the United States Code (see 7 U.S.C. 4921, 15 U.S.C. 8962, 42 U.S.C. 4361c, among other examples). Further, the fiscal year 2025 Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act appropriates $758.1 million for the EPA’s research initiatives through the Science and Technology Account. Unilaterally dismantling ORD and impounding funds appropriated for science and technology contravenes the statute and appropriations and undermines Congress’s constitutional authority over federal expenditures.

    We strongly urge you to immediately reverse course and abandon this dangerous plan. The integrity of the EPA’s scientific research must be preserved to ensure sound policymaking and the continued protection of public health and the environment. The American people will not stand by while their air, water, and communities are sacrificed for the profits of a few.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoyer Statement on Trump’s Mass Dismissal of Federal Employees at HHS

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)

    WASHINGTON, DC –  Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) released the following statement today regarding President Donald Trump’s mass dismissal of thousands of federal employees at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS):

    “Donald Trump’s mass purge of staff at the Department of Health and Human Services today is outrageous, inhumane, and obscene. It is not an improvement to government efficiency; it is the wholesale destruction of government. Neither Elon Musk nor his minions have any idea of the consequences of their actions because they do not give them any forethought. In this case, those consequences will be measured in American lives lost.

    “The patriots who work at HHS devote their careers to keeping the American people healthy. They are inspectors who ensure our food and medicine is safe to consume; scientists and researchers who track, treat, and cure dangerous diseases; health care professionals who help Americans access Medicare and Medicaid; mental health and addiction specialists; and so much more. This administration has deemed them all ‘villains’ – to quote Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought.

    “We ought to attract the best and brightest to protect the health of the American people. These mass layoffs are wiping out a generation of top talent, however. Many of these employees are on the brink of breakthroughs on various diseases and treatments. Firing them – and rescinding vital funds for these programs – puts an abrupt stop to this work. Every day that HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. advances his extreme anti-science agenda further undermines the current and future health and economic prosperity of our nation.

    “These actions are almost certainly illegal. I believe our courts will arrive at that same conclusion, as they have so many times with this administration’s actions over the past few months. The Congress owes it to the Constitution, to the Founders, and to the American people to exercise the power of the People’s House. We make the law, not the president. The Trump Administration’s disregard for the separation of powers and our system of checks and balances threatens to destroy our democracy.”

    MIL OSI USA News –