Category: Science

MIL-OSI USA: UConn Waterbury’s Neurovariability Initiative: Where Cognitive Strengths Fuel Learning for All
Source: US State of Connecticut

UConn Waterbury is leading a bold transformation in higher education with the launch of its Neurovariability Initiative—a campus-wide effort rooted in neuroscience, learning science, and innovation. Rather than emphasizing challenges or labels, this initiative recognizes the natural variability in how people think and learn, designing systems that amplify cognitive strengths, remove barriers, and foster student success in a rapidly evolving world.

Co-created by Campus Dean and CAO Fumiko Hoeft and UConn Engineering Professor Arash Zaghi, both of whom bring lived experience as dyslexic, ADHD-identifying individuals—and as parents of neurodivergent learners—the initiative integrates educational neuroscience, AI-enhanced tools, and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) into a cohesive and forward-looking framework.

“Our goal is to cultivate an environment where every student’s potential can be maximized—regardless of how they process information,” says Hoeft.

“This is about unlocking talent that’s often overlooked—not by lowering the bar, but by rethinking how success is defined, supported, and scaled,” adds Zaghi.

This initiative complements university-wide efforts such as CETL’s inclusive teaching programs and UConn Engineering’s Include Program, which also emphasize neuroinclusivity, faculty training, and the responsible use of AI in education.

“The Neurovariability Initiative is a powerful example of how the Waterbury campus is leading with science, innovation, and compassion,” says UConn President Radenka Maric. “By recognizing that students think and learn in different ways, and by designing systems that build on those strengths, this initiative reflects our UConn-wide commitment to empowering every learner and preparing them to thrive in a rapidly changing world.”

Co-creator and Engineering Professor Arash Zaghi leads a discussion on the future of neurodiversity and its role in innovation. (Steve Bustamante / University of Connecticut)

Spring Break Pilot Training: Building Capacity Across Campus

UConn Waterbury hosted its inaugural Neurovariability Level 1 Training—a four-day hybrid workshop during UConn’s spring break, coinciding with the Neurodiversity Celebration Week, a worldwide initiative. Faculty and staff from across campus, including Student Services, Advising, Student Health and Wellness (SHaW), the Academic Achievement Center (AAC), Operations, and Academic Affairs, participated in hands-on sessions that focused on strength-based educational practices, UDL-aligned advising and teaching, responsible use of AI, and inclusive support strategies for all learners. This milestone training laid the groundwork for a growing community of practice focused on high-impact, personalized learning.

“This training challenged me to think differently about how we engage students—not just by accommodating their needs, but by tapping into their unique strengths from the start,” said Professor Laura Donorfio of Human Development and Family Sciences (HDFS). “As someone who’s dedicated to supporting human growth across the lifespan, I found the emphasis on brain-based learning and inclusive design incredibly powerful. It’s something I’ll carry into both my teaching and mentoring.”
Key Terms
- Neurovariability refers to the full spectrum of natural differences in how individuals think, learn, and process information. It emphasizes that these differences are not deficits, but essential to human potential, creativity, and innovation.
- Neurodiversity is the scientific and social understanding that all human brains are different, and that this variation—whether subtle or significant—is part of the normal range of human cognition. It encompasses everyone, not just those with diagnoses.
- Neurodivergent describes individuals whose cognitive functioning differs significantly from societal norms. This includes, but is not limited to, people with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, or other learning differences—who may face challenges but also bring unique strengths.
- Neuroinclusive refers to environments, practices, and systems that intentionally support, value, and include the full range of cognitive styles and brain-based differences—removing barriers and enabling all individuals to thrive.
The training brought together an impressive roster of national and international experts in education, technology, and cognitive science:

Kate Griggs, Founder of Made by Dyslexia, joined from London for a virtual fireside chat highlighting the global movement for recognizing and nurturing diverse thinking in schools and workplaces. “If we can teach dyslexic students in the way they learn, they will change the world,” Griggs noted.

Jessica Parker & Kimberly Becker, Co-Founders of Moxie, introduced their AI-powered academic writing tool designed to support student success through ethically guided, personalized feedback. “We build tools that adapt to learners—not the other way around,” said Parker.

Sam Johnston, Chief Postsecondary & Workforce Development Officer at CAST, framed UDL as a proactive, research-driven approach to building more flexible, accessible learning environments. “UDL is about designing for variability from the beginning—not retrofitting for differences later.”

Professor Arash Zaghi, co-creator of the initiative and lead behind Include Program (originally funded by the NSF RED grant), shared how cognitive diversity drives innovation in engineering and beyond. Zaghi is also the recipient of the prestigious White House PECASE Award—the highest honor for early-career scientists in the U.S. “This initiative isn’t about fixing students—it’s about fixing the system. We’re redesigning learning to work better for everyone, including those whose talents are too often missed.”

Staff attendee Nakeia Moore collaborates with guest speakers Stan Gloss and Jessica Parker during an interactive session. (Steve Bustamante / University of Connecticut)

Jesse Sanchez, Managing Director of Programs at the Neurodiversity Alliance and an ADHD individual himself, shared his lived experience, and offered guidance on fostering student-led learning communities and promoting self-advocacy.

Stan Gloss, a dyslexic entrepreneur, also shared his lived experience and discussed neurovariability as a competitive advantage in business and workforce development.

Dr. Andi Kent from CETL led training on inclusive advising and instruction.

Professor Mary Elizabeth Bruder, UConn Health, shared a powerful personal perspective on parenting, self-advocacy, and the importance of early support.

Connie Syharat, Include Program coordinator and teaching faculty, presented an adapted version of UConn Engineering’s neurodiversity training tailored for broader campus application.

Why It Matters: A Science-Informed Strategy for Unlocking Potential

The Neurovariability Initiative offers a forward-looking, research-based approach to education that focuses on talent development and innovation. Grounded in neuroscience and learning science, it recognizes that differences in how students think and process information are natural and valuable—not obstacles to overcome.

Rather than relying on labels or diagnoses, this model is about improving educational systems to better serve all learners. By integrating proven strategies like Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and responsibly implemented AI tools, UConn Waterbury is creating an environment where students are empowered to succeed based on their strengths, and where educators are equipped to support diverse ways of thinking and problem-solving—critical skills for today’s workforce and tomorrow’s leaders.

Guest speaker Andi Kent from CETL highlights the wealth of teaching and learning resources available to faculty and staff. (Steve Bustamante / University of Connecticut)

“This marks an exciting shift in how we recognize and cultivate the full range of student talent across disciplines,” says Provost Anne D’Alleva. “UConn Waterbury is leading the way with an innovative, research-informed model that reflects our shared commitment to academic excellence, student success, and inclusive educational design. I’m proud to see this kind of bold, thoughtful leadership emerging from one of our regional campuses.”

What’s Next: Scaling for Long-Term Impact

Building on the success of this pilot, UConn Waterbury will move forward with:
- Expanded training opportunities for faculty and staff;
- Launch of a student learning and leadership community in Fall 2025 in partnership with the Neurodiversity Alliance;
- Campus-wide adoption of Moxie, an AI-powered academic writing and research tool designed to support ethical, transparent, and personalized learning experiences;
- Collaboration with CAST to evaluate and enhance the physical and instructional environment through a UDL lens;
- Partnerships with K–12 schools like the Forman School and Waterbury Public Schools to co-develop flexible, strength-based academic pathways
“At UConn Waterbury, we’re not just teaching content—we’re cultivating adaptable thinkers, problem-solvers, and future innovators,” said Hoeft.

Judy Reilly, Director of the Werth Institute’s Center for Neurodiversity & Employment Innovation (CNDEI), shared: “This initiative is a critical leap forward—not just for student success, but for preparing a future-ready, innovation-focused workforce.”

Whether in advising, instruction, student life, or administration, faculty and staff across UConn Waterbury are playing a vital role in making the campus a place where all students can thrive.

As Christine Scott-Dougan, Associate Campus Director and attendee, shared: “At UConn Waterbury, we believe different ways of thinking lead to amazing ideas. Here, every mind is valued. I wish there were opportunities like this when I was in school.”

Sponsors: UConn Waterbury Enhancement Fund, R.I.S.E. Program, and Yale – UConn Haskins Global Literacy Hub.

Contact: Fumiko Hoeft, Campus Dean & CAO. wtby_leadership@uconn.edu

MIL OSI USA News –
April 3, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Mining Tenement System

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 02 APR 2025 2:24PM by PIB Delhi

The comprehensive report on States Best Practices in Mining documents the best practices adopted by various States in mineral administration to promote peer learning among the States and contribute to the overall growth of the mining sector. The key recommendations made in the report, focusing on improving exploration efficiency, promoting sustainability, simplifying regulations, and enhancing community benefits, inter-alia include streamlining mining clearances and approvals, integration of exploration data with National Geoscience Data Repository, Star Rating for minor minerals, strengthening State Directorates of Mining and Geology for building technical capacity, operationalization of auctioned mineral blocks, adoption of Mining Surveillance System (MSS) and Mining Tenement System (MTS) for minor minerals to curb illegal mining, and creation of land banks to facilitate compensatory afforestation.

The main objectives of the newly launched Mining Tenement System (MTS) are to digitize & streamline the mining related processes, enhance transparency, facilitate better data management, enhance collaboration among stakeholders, provide a flexible system to accommodate future technology advancements and improve efficiency of mineral resource management.

By adopting best mining practices, small and medium scale mining operations in India can increase their competitiveness & operational efficiency, ensure sustainability, and hence, lead to overall growth of mining sector.

The 3^rd National Mining Ministers’ Conference, held in January 2025, was attended by the Mining Ministers from mineral-rich States, industry leaders, and other key stakeholders. A major focus was on the National Critical Mineral Mission, which aims at securing long-term sustainable supply of critical minerals and strengthening India’s critical mineral value chains, encompassing all stages from mineral exploration, mining, processing and recycling. During the Conference, State Governments were encouraged to take proactive steps to promote exploration, mining, processing, Research & Development (R&D) in critical minerals, fast-track the operationalization of auctioned mines, integrate exploration data into the National Geoscience Data Repository and encourage industries to acquire and bring critical minerals from abroad to strengthen domestic supply. The Conference also marked the launch of auction of the fifth tranche of 15 critical mineral blocks across eight States including critical minerals like Graphite, Tungsten, Rare Earth Elements (REEs), and Nickel. These initiatives are intended to build and strengthen domestic supply chains and contribute to India’s long-term goal of achieving self-sufficiency in critical minerals.

This information was given by Union Minister of Coal and Mines Shri G. Kishan Reddy in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

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Sunil Kumar Tiwari

(Release ID: 2117706) Visitor Counter : 55

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

April 3, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ4: Education and talent development planning

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following is a question by Professor the Hon Lau Chi-pang and a reply by the Under Secretary for Education, Dr Sze Chun-fai, in the Legislative Council today (April 2):

Question:

It has been reported that the director of the film Ne Zha 2 chose to abandon a career in pharmacy in order to pursue his passion for animation production, ultimately achieving remarkable success. There are views that his story offers profound insights for education and talent development planning in Hong Kong. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) as it is learnt that many university students currently choose to pursue careers in fields unrelated to their major, whether the Government will consider providing students with more macro and comprehensive information at the stage of subject selection in secondary schools and in life planning education, so as to deepen students’ understanding of relevant disciplines and professions and help them explore their interests and give play to their strengths; if so, of the specific plans; if not, the reasons for that;

(2) as there are views that a large creative team and talent pool are important factors contributing to the success of the aforesaid film, whether the Government will further strengthen the training and guidance on creative thinking for students in the curricula of primary and secondary schools; if so, of the specific plans; if not, the reasons for that; and

(3) as there are views pointing out that Hong Kong’s current education system places too much emphasis on assessment and examination preparation, which is not conducive to the development of students’ creative thinking, whether the Government has plans to make improvements; if so, of the specific plans; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

Quality education is the key to nurturing talent, and is essential for the continuous development of the society. In the face of a complicated and ever-changing global environment, fostering creativity in students is crucial for their future development. As such, through kindergarten, primary and secondary education curricula, the Education Bureau (EDB) has continuously integrated elements that nurture creative thinking, facilitating students’ holistic development and enabling those with diverse interests, abilities and backgrounds to fully unleash their potential.

Regarding the question raised by Professor the Hon Lau Chi-pang, I will respond in four aspects including school curricula, student activities and competitions, latest developments in the modes of assessment, and life planning education (LPE):

(1) to (3) Nurturing creativity throughout the primary and secondary curricula

The school curriculum developed by the EDB in collaboration with the Curriculum Development Council consists of components including knowledge, generic skills, values and attitudes. Creativity is one of the generic skills which emphasises students’ demonstration of creative thinking in new ideas or products grounded on a solid knowledge foundation. Students are required to integrate knowledge, discern details from observation, synthesise and apply knowledge, be eager to explore, display perseverance and commitment in the face of difficulties, and solve problems with creative thinking.

To dovetail with the national strategy of invigorating the country through science and education, the EDB is proactively promoting STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) and innovation and technology (I&T) education in primary and secondary schools. By integrating and applying knowledge and skills in science, mathematics and technology, students develop their capabilities of innovation and problem-solving through the process of knowledge creation and I&T inventions.

At the same time, the EDB has reformed Science Education by introducing Primary Science and updating the junior secondary Science curriculum. A programme on artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted teaching has also been launched in junior secondary Science to foster pedagogical innovation. Moreover, we actively promote I&T education at the upper primary and junior secondary levels, such as teaching programming and AI learning to strengthen the cultivation of students’ innovative and problem-solving skills so that they can adapt to the ever-changing world.

As for other Key Learning Areas, Arts Education promotes arts technology and interdisciplinary learning, and Personal, Social and Humanities Education promotes “entrepreneurial spirit”, both of which cover the qualities of creativity and innovativeness. At present, there are 55 Applied Learning courses offered at the senior secondary level, of which courses under the Areas of Studies “Creative Studies” and “Media and Communication” place particular emphasis on nurturing students’ creativity. Courses such as Computer Game and Animation Design, and Film Production are specifically designed for students interested in creativity and the media. In the 2024/25 school year, a total of 3 932 students enrolled in the related courses under “Creative Studies” and “Media and Communication”, reflecting that the courses are popular among students.

Unleashing students’ innovative potential through diversified activities

In recent years, Hong Kong students have had outstanding performances beyond the classroom in various fields, such as science and technology, and creative thinking, etc. Much to our delight, they bring glory to Hong Kong with remarkable achievements in international or major competitions, such as the International Mathematical Science and Creativity Competition, Odyssey of the Mind World Finals.

The EDB also provides diversified activities to offer students with more opportunities to unleash their creativity. We also arrange for students with potential in STEAM to participate in systematic training and competitions of a considerable scale, and they have thrived and flourished on international stages time and again. The EDB also continues to collaborate with the Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education to promote the effective use of the “school-based student talent pool”, so as to identify students who are gifted in different areas. At the same time, we arrange for students to engage in exchanges with arts and cultural specialists from the Mainland, so that students can gain an understanding of the country’s development and outstanding achievements.

Developing students’ potential by integrating creativity into assessment

Assessment is an integral part of the curriculum and learning and teaching. Students’ performance both within and beyond the classroom can reflect their learning progress and inform learning and teaching. The current assessment policy no longer relies solely on the conventional modes of assessment, but employs diversified formative assessments to promote student learning on all fronts and stimulate their learning motivation and curiosity. We have always recommended schools to adopt diversified assessment modes and assignment designs that allow students to demonstrate their learning outcomes and unleash their creativity in the forms of text, images, physical models and others.

The EDB continues to organise professional training activities for teachers and develop learning and teaching resources to support teachers in designing assessments and assignments. We also encourage schools to review and optimise their assessment policies, so as to enable students to participate in more inspiring learning activities and develop their potential.

Starting life planning early in age to understand aspirations

To help students understand early their own aspirations, interests and abilities, and develop a broader view of further studies, future careers and pathways, the EDB has strengthened LPE at primary and secondary levels.

Regarding information on subject choices, the EDB organises talks for parents annually and updates the website “One-stop Portal on Articulation to Multiple Pathways·Transition to Senior Secondary and Post-secondary Education” to disseminate the latest information on elective subjects and multiple pathways.

In addition, through the Life Planning Information website, the EDB provides the latest career information of over 300 types of work from different industries, including director and stage designer, etc. On the website, there is also an online learning system, “My Life Planning Portfolio”, for students to conduct career aptitude assessments.

The EDB also implements the Business-School Partnership Programme (BSPP) in collaboration with different business corporations, government departments and community organisations. Through the non-traditional learning platform provided by BSPP partners, students have been provided with diversified career exploration activities, with a view to equipping them with knowledge and information about different industries, including arts, culture and entertainment industries. In the 2022/23 school year, the EDB further promoted co-operation between the business sector and schools through launching the BSPP 2.0 with more business partners, covering more industries for widening students’ exposure. Holiday Work Experience Programmes arranged under the BSPP 2.0 enable senior secondary students to gain first-hand experience and understand different industries, including animation production and performing arts industries. Study tours to workplaces under the “Greater Bay Area Career Exploration Tours” Programme also deepen students’ understanding of the developments and talent needs of various industries in the Mainland cities of the Greater Bay Area.

To conclude, the EDB will continue to optimise the curriculum and collaborate with different stakeholders to nurture students’ creativity through diversified strategies, with a view to cultivating talent for our society.

Thank you, President.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

April 3, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Thales Alenia Space wins €51 million contract to extend EGNOS service life

Source: Thales Group

Headline: Thales Alenia Space wins €51 million contract to extend EGNOS service life

Strengthening Europe’s critical navigation infrastructure thanks to EGNOS satellite-based augmentation system

Cannes, April 2, 2025 – Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), has signed a new contract worth €51 million with the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) to extend the operational life of the European Satellite-Based Augmentation System (EGNOS). Named LIFEX 1 (Life Extension Phase 1), this contract will ensure that EGNOS V2 continues to provide reliable, secure, and high-performance navigation services for Europe’s aviation, maritime, land transport, mapping and agricultural sectors beyond 2028.

EGNOS © Thales Alenia Space

EGNOS system enhances the accuracy, reliability and integrity of positioning signals by improving the performance of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), such as GPS and, in the future, Galileo. As part of this contract, Thales Alenia Space will address EGNOS V2 critical system upgrades and infrastructure improvements, reinforcing the system’s resilience and operational durability. These updates will focus on enhancing security measures, modernizing components, and ensuring the ongoing reliability of EGNOS’s “Safety of Life” service, which plays a key role in aviation, enabling accurate approaches at European airports without requiring ground guidance systems. Operational since 2011, this service has significantly improved operational safety and efficiency for the greater benefit of European operators.

”EGNOS is a key asset for Europe, ensuring safer and more efficient transport across multiple sectors. This contract will secure the extension of the system in operations, making the service more robust to support a growing number of users and strengthening the European Union’s satellite navigation capabilities,” said Rodrigo da Costa, Executive Director of EUSPA.

“We are very proud to support our client EUSPA in extending the lifetime of an operational system that plays a key role in European navigation every day. With this latest contract, Thales Alenia Space demonstrates its European and export leadership in satellite navigation and contributes to the success of the EGNOS system in Europe” said David Philipona, Vice-President Navigation for Thales Alenia Space in France. “This is in line with Thales Alenia Space’s commitment to provide reliable and innovative navigation solutions to ensure safer and more efficient transport across the continent and across the world.”

About EGNOS

EGNOS is one of the European Union’s flagship space programs, designed to improve the performance of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), such as GPS and, in the future, Galileo. It enhances the accuracy, reliability, and integrity of satellite positioning signals, ensuring more precise and dependable navigation data for a wide range of industries. EGNOS’s “Safety of Life” service is essential for aviation, enabling precision approaches to airports without requiring traditional ground-based guidance systems.
First deployed in 2005 and providing operational “open” service since 2009, the current EGNOS system was developed by Thales Alenia Space as prime contractor and is managed by the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA).

Global Impact: EGNOS leading the way

The EGNOS system’s success has influenced the development of similar systems worldwide. For example, the Korean Space Agency chose Thales Alenia Space in 2019 to supply the Korean Augmentation Satellite System (KASS) which is based on EGNOS principles. The system is already being used to enhance aviation safety, after the first signals were successfully transmitted in December 2022.

In sub-Saharan Africa, ASECNA (Agency for Aerial Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar) chose Thales Alenia Space in 2019 to carry out a Phase B project for a Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) in the region including delivery of a pre-operational service in 2020, to provide enhanced satellite-based navigation for aviation, particularly for flights into and out of areas with limited ground infrastructure. Nigerian operator NIGCOMSAT and Thales Alenia Space performed successful demonstration flights in Lomé and Douala in 2021, using the SBAS signal they have transmitted in the Africa and Indian Ocean region since September 2020 – the first SBAS service provided in this region, via the NIGCOMSAT-1R satellite. They also carried out a series of demonstrations of additional services provided by the A-SBAS system in Brazzaville, Congo.

Thales Alenia Space: a long-standing leader in satellite navigation

Thales Alenia Space brings over 40 years of expertise in satellite design, development, and operations to the EGNOS project. The company has been instrumental in the creation, maintenance, and evolution of EGNOS since its inception, ensuring its effectiveness as a critical tool for European navigation systems.
EGNOS V2, which has been delivering the Safety of Life service since 2011, will continue to operate under Thales Alenia Space’s guidance, with a focus on infrastructure modernization and obsolescence management.

About EUSPA

The European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) provides safe and secure European satellite navigation services, promotes the commercialization of Galileo, EGNOS, and Copernicus data and services and coordinates the EU’s forthcoming governmental satellite communications programme GOVSATCOM and the EU SST Front Desk. EUSPA is responsible for the security accreditation of all the EU Space Programme components. By fostering the development of an innovative and competitive space sector and engaging with the entire EU Space community, EUSPA contributes to the European green and digital transition, the safety and security of the Union and its citizens, while reinforcing its autonomy and resilience.

About THALES ALENIA SPACE

Drawing on over 40 years of experience and a unique combination of skills, expertise and cultures, Thales Alenia Space delivers cost-effective solutions for telecommunications, navigation, Earth observation, environmental management, exploration, science and orbital infrastructures. Governments and private industry alike count on Thales Alenia Space to design satellite-based systems that provide anytime, anywhere connections and positioning, monitor our planet, enhance management of its resources, and explore our Solar System and beyond. Thales Alenia Space sees space as a new horizon, helping to build a better, more sustainable life on Earth. A joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), Thales Alenia Space also teams up with Telespazio to form the parent companies’ Space Alliance, which offers a complete range of services. Thales Alenia Space posted consolidated revenues of approximately 2.2 billion euros in 2023 and has around 8,600 employees in 16 sites in 8 countries across Europe.

MIL OSI Economics –

April 3, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: BMJ Mental Health

Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

Mission

BMJ Mental Health (formerly Evidence-Based Mental Health) is an open access, peer reviewed journal publishing evidence-based, innovative research, systematic reviews, and methodological papers in the area of mental health. It facilitates multidisciplinary collaboration among psychiatrists, psychologists and other mental health professionals, encourages debate on clinically relevant topics, and informs real world practice to improve patient and carer outcomes.

BMJ Mental Health invites submissions in all areas of mental health including digital health; medical statistics; precision mental health; evaluation of psychotherapies; studies in children, young people and in the elderly; forensic psychiatry; health economics; data science and computational mental health.

MIL OSI United Nations News –

April 3, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union government to establish 440 Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS), one EMRS in every block having more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons (as per census 2011)
Source: Government of India

Posted On: 02 APR 2025 4:02PM by PIB Delhi

The Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Shri Durga Das Uikey informed in Rajya Sabha today that the Central Sector Scheme of Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS) was started in the year 2018-19 to provide quality education at par with Navodaya Vidyalaya to the tribal children in their own environment.

Under the new scheme, Government decided to establish 440 EMRSs, one EMRS in every block having more than 50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons (as per census 2011). 288 EMRS schools were initially funded under Grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution, which are being upgraded as per the new model.

Accordingly, Ministry has set the target to set up total of 728 EMRSs benefiting around 3.5 lakh ST students across the country. To ensure quality education and holistic development for tribal students following facilities are being provided in EMRSs: –

Educational Infrastructure:
1. - Well-equipped classrooms with modern teaching aids.
  - Science and computer laboratories.
  - Libraries with diverse learning resources.
2. Accommodation and Amenities:
  - Residential facilities for students and staff.
  - Separate hostels for boys and girls with essential amenities like bedding, furniture, and hygiene facilities.
3. Sports and Extracurricular Facilities:
- Playgrounds and sports equipment.
  - Facilities for extracurricular activities like music, art, and sports
1. Health and Nutrition:
  - Regular health check-ups and medical facilities.
1. IT and Digital Learning:
  - Smart classrooms for digital education.
  - Computer labs with internet access.
1. Vocational Training:
  - Skill development and vocational training programs to enhance employability.
Further, National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS) has been established as an autonomous body under this Ministry to manage and implement scheme of EMRS. NESTS has organized Principals’ Conclave bringing together all Principals of EMRSs from across the country for orientation in the areas of academic management, mental health, safety, HR matters etc. and the conclave enriched their knowledge and professional skills. NESTS has also empowered State societies to impart induction training to Teacher’s towards residential culture and academic transactions.

The Ministry is implementing several initiatives in collaboration with other government bodies to provide tribal students with access to digital and skill-based education while maintaining the traditional curriculum. These initiatives include:

i) Establishment of Smart classrooms equipped with digital boards in partnership with ERNET, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), to enhance digital learning in tribal schools.

ii)    Setting-up of 400 Skill Labs in 200 EMRSs in collaboration with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MoSDE) to provide hands-on vocational training and industry-relevant skills to students.

iii)     Provision of online coaching sessions for IIT-JEE and NEET, along with recorded lectures tailored for Class 11 and 12 students, in collaboration with PACE- IIT & Medical. Additionally, special classes and focused training modules are provided to support both high-performing and academically weaker students.

iv)     Allocation of a dedicated DTH channel by NCERT to enhance both curricular and extracurricular learning, including vocational education, ensuring wider accessibility for students in remote areas.

Additionally, to preserve and promote traditional curricula, regional language teachers have been recruited to support language learning and cultural continuity.

Ministry of Tribal Affairs is implementing following Scholarship Schemes to promote and encourage basic and higher education amongst ST population: –
- Pre-Matric Scholarship for ST students (For Class IX and X)
- Post Matric Scholarship for ST students (For Class XI and above)
- National Scholarship Scheme for Higher Education of ST Students (earlier known as Top Class Scholarship Scheme): Scholarship is provided for pursuing Graduate/Post Graduate courses in the 265 top-class Government and Non-Government Institutes in professional fields such as Management, Medicine, Engineering, Information Technology, Law etc.
- National Fellowship Scheme for Higher Education of ST Students: Scholarship to meritorious ST students for pursuing M. Phil or Ph.D. in India
- National Overseas Scholarship for ST students: Scholarships are given to the meritorious Schedule Tribe (ST) students for pursuing higher education abroad. Pre and Post matric Scholarships scheme are open ended and every ST student with income up to 2.5 lakh can take benefit of these schemes.
Additionally, to encourage students to pursue higher studies, instructions have been issued to state societies to cover the application fees for national-level entrance examinations such as NEET, JEE, CLAT, etc., for students studying in Class XII in Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs). The cost of these application fees is to be borne by the respective State EMRS Societies, thereby reducing the financial burden on students and their families.

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RN/PIB

(Release ID: 2117788) Visitor Counter : 9

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –
April 3, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: “USE OF ANTIBIOTICS IN POULTRY”
Source: Government of India

Posted On: 02 APR 2025 3:32PM by PIB Delhi

As per the information provided by Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR), surveillance data on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in food animals including poultry is compiled and published as part of the Indian Network for Fisheries and Animal Antimicrobial Resistance (INFAAR) annual report, which is accessible to the public. The study conducted by ICAR – Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) examined various factors like agro climatic zones, pathogen phylotypes and host characteristics including utilization of machine learning algorithms to identify key drivers of AMR in poultry.

The measures and advisories are outlined as follows:
1. Department under Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme (LHDCP) scheme, 100% central assistance is provided to States/UTs for vaccination against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), Brucellosis, Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) and Classical Swine Fever (CSF), Lumpy Skin Disease, Black Quarter, Haemorrhagic Septicaemia etc. including disease surveillance, monitoring and capacity building. Vaccination reduces the use of antibiotics, hence reduce the AMR.
1. Department has developed The ‘Standard Veterinary Treatment Guidelines (SVTGs) for Livestock and Poultry’ for best practices in veterinary care to enhance livestock health and disease control while ensuring the responsible use of drugs including antimicrobials.
1. DAHD has formulated the Poultry Disease Action Plan, which emphasizes proactive disease management through biosecurity measures, enhanced surveillance, and vaccination protocols, thereby safeguarding both poultry population and public health.
2. Bharat Pashudhan application under National Digital Livestock Mission provides management of nearly 29 common ailments of dairy animals e.g. mastitis, indigestion, diarrhoea etc. using Ethno-Veterinary Medicine (EVM).
3. Department has constituted the Empowered Committee on Animal Health-Regulatory, a subcommittee to ‘Assess and provide recommendations on submission of veterinary vaccines/biological/drugs for policy input’ to examine the proposals received from DCGI regarding import and manufacturing of drugs and vaccine including antibiotics.
4. Department has formulated the National Action Plan on Anti Microbial Resistance (AMR) in consultation with MoH&FW and other stake holders for judicious use, surveillance and monitoring of antibiotics in animal health sector. MoA&FW is also one of the stakeholder in respect to use of pesticides and antibiotics in agriculture sector keeping in view the One Health Initiative and provisions under NAP-AMR.
5. Department has issued advisories to all State/UTs for judicious use of antibiotics in treatment of food producing animals, for stopping the use of antibiotics in animal feed and for general awareness.
6. As per information received from the Central Drugs Standards Control Organization (CDSCO) import, manufacture, sale, distribution of drugs including antibiotics are regulated under the provisions of Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules there under. Further, it is mandatory that the container of the medicine for treatment of food producing animals requires to be labelled with the withdrawal period of the drug for the species on which it is intended to be used.
7. On the recommendations of the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Colistin and its formulations have been prohibited to be manufactured, sold and distributed for food producing animals, poultry, aqua farming and animal feed supplement
1. ICAR has strengthened the surveillance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by initiating All India Network Programme on AMR (AINP-AMR) involving 31 centres across different states of the country. Further, INFAAR is a nationwide initiative that comprises 20 animals science centres establishing a strong frame work for monitoring and surveillance.
1. The Central Government has notified the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Egg laying Hens) Rules, 2023 to ensure the welfare of poultry specifically for the space requirement for sheltering the poultry bird. As per the Rule 10 of the said Rules following shall be prohibited for feeding of laying hens:
1. Feeding of laying hens with remains of dead chicks.
2. Use of antimicrobial growth promoters.
3. Use of antimicrobials, if required, may be administered for therapeutic purposes (disease treatment) and only under supervision of a veterinarian and
4. Withdrawal of feed to induce a molting.
This information was given by Union Minister of State, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel, in a written reply in Rajya Sabha on 2^nd April, 2025.

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AA

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –
April 3, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Internet connectivity can aid SA’s development

Source: South Africa News Agency

Internet connectivity has the potential to boost employment while also broadening access to education, healthcare and the speeding up of service delivery, says Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Nomalungelo Gina.

Internet connectivity also has the potential to broaden modern agricultural practices, mobility, and banking services.

“Internet connectivity’s potential to boost productivity and employment is well documented,” the Deputy Minister said during a parliamentary session on Tuesday.

Gina cited a study encompassing 14 countries that found a 10 percentage-point increase in 3G coverage raised the employment rate by 2.1 percentage points, as faster internet connections create better job opportunities.

The Deputy Minister was addressing a joint session of Parliament’s Portfolio Committees on Communications and Digital Technologies and Science, Technology and Innovation with the Deputy Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Mondli Gungubele.

The Departments of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) and Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) are collaborating in the development of a satellite communication strategy for South Africa.

The strategy is aimed at the establishment of a domestically owned satellite system that provides affordable, reliable, and secure communication infrastructure.

Over the past three years, the departments and their entities, Sentech and the South African National Space Agency (SANSA), have worked to develop the strategy, which is expected to significantly enhance digital inclusion, support economic growth, and bolster essential services such as e-government, telemedicine, and rural telephony.

“Following extensive consultations and feasibility studies, the strategy has received sign-off from the Presidency on the Social Economic Impact Assessment System process. The next phase involves further government cluster consultations and public engagement before final Cabinet approval.”

While commending the progress, committee members stressed the urgency of implementation, the need for gender representativity, and the establishment of required capabilities to complete the project.

The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation, Tsakani Shiviti, said that both committees were hopeful that quarterly reports on the strategy would encourage the two departments to expedite the process for final Cabinet approval.

Acting Deputy Director-General at the DCDT, Dr Tinyiko Ngobeni, said the strategy would be submitted to Cabinet to obtain approval to publish it for comment from the public. Additionally, a national workshop will also be convened to explore substantive issues.

According to the DSTI, South Africa currently spends approximately R100 billion a year on foreign communication service providers.

“In contrast, a locally owned satellite system with a lifespan of up to 20 years would require a one-time capital investment of approximately R6 billion. This comparison shows the immense cost-saving potential of a domestic satellite system.”

Meanwhile, the department believes that a domestic system would also strengthen South Africa’s sovereign capabilities, as required by the national defence and security clusters.

The acquisition and operation of the satellite will be managed by a national satellite organisation through a strategic partnership with an international satellite fleet operator, ensuring sovereignty over critical communication infrastructure.

“The satellite industry presents vast opportunities for skills development, job creation, industrial growth, and self-reliance in national security matters.

“The satellite communication strategy initiative will foster new technical expertise throughout the satellite’s lifecycle – from design and construction to launch, operation, and maintenance – creating sustainable, high-skilled jobs and stimulating the local space industry,” said the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation.

SANSA, with its extensive expertise in satellite operations, will play a key role in driving the initiative forward.

The project underscores the government’s commitment to a digitally inclusive society, where all citizens have access to reliable and affordable communication services. – SAnews.gov.za

MIL OSI Africa –

April 3, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: STATUS OF THE UMBRELLA SCHEME ON WOMEN’S SAFETY
Source: Government of India

Posted On: 02 APR 2025 4:20PM by PIB Delhi

Ministry of Home Affairs is implementing six projects under Umbrella Scheme for “Safety of Women” in collaboration with States and Union Territories for ensuring timely intervention and investigation in cases of crime against women and enhanced efficiency in investigation and crime prevention in such matters. Details of the project are as under-
- - 112 Emergency Response Support System (ERSS)
- - Upgradation of Central Forensic Sciences Laboratories, including setting up of a National Forensic Data Centre
  - Strengthening of DNA Analysis, Cyber Forensic capacities in State Forensic Science Laboratories (FSLs)
  - Cyber Crime Prevention against Women and Children
- - Capacity building and training of investigators and prosecutors in handling sexual assault cases against women and children
  - Women Help Desk & Anti-human Trafficking Units
The Ministry of Home Affairs is funding for the setup of Women Help Desks (WHDs) in police stations, to improve women’s access to police services. So far, 14,658 WHDs are operational across all States and UTs, out of which 13,743 WHDs are led by women officers. Additionally, 827 Anti- Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) have been established across all States/UTs. The Cyber Crime Prevention against Women & Children project is implemented in all States and UTs. So far, Cyber Forensic Training Laboratories have been setup in 33 States/UTs and over 24,624 officials including police officers, judges and prosecutors have been trained. A portal for reporting cyber-crime against women and children is also active. Under the Nirbhaya fund, projects worth ₹245.29 crore have been approved for enhancing DNA and Cyber Forensic capabilities in State Forensic Labs across 30 States/UTs. DNA Analysis facility has been established in Chandigarh. Six National Cyber Forensic Labs, along with a National Forensic Data Centre has been approved. 34,626 officials including Investigation Officers, Prosecution Officers and Medical Officers have been trained on DNA evidence management and the use of Sexual Assault

Evidence Collection Kits. Also, 18,020 Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kits has been distributed to States/UTs.

The Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) is operational across all 36 States/UTs. The upgraded ERSS (2.0) enhances emergency services with improved data centers, wider district coverage, higher call capacity, vehicle tracking, and disaster recovery. Disaster Recovery facilities are functional at C-DAC centers in Noida and Thiruvananthapuram. ERSS is now integrated with other emergency helplines such as Railway Helpline, Women Helpline, Child Helpline, and Disaster Response services.

This was stated by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs Shri Bandi Sanjay Kumar in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.

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RK/VV/ASH/RR/PR/PS

(Release ID: 2117800) Visitor Counter : 72

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –
April 3, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Citizen Scientists Use NASA Open Science Data to Research Life in Space

Source: NASA

How can life thrive in deep space? The Open Science Data Repository Analysis Working Groups invite volunteers from all backgrounds to help answer this question. Request to join these citizen science groups to help investigate how life adapts to space environments, exploring topics like radiation effects, microgravity’s impact on human and plant health, and how microbes change in orbit.
Currently, nine Analysis Working Groups (AWGs) hold monthly meetings to advance their specific focus areas. Participants collaborate using an online platform, the AWG “Forum-Space”, where they connect with peers and experts, join discussions, and contribute to over 20 active projects.
The AWGs work with data primarily from the NASA Open Science Data Repository (OSDR), a treasure trove of spaceflight data on physiology, molecular biology, bioimaging, and much more. For newcomers, there are tutorials and a comprehensive paper covering all aspects of the repository and the AWG community. You can explore 500+ studies, an omics multi-study visualization portal, the environmental data app, and RadLab, a portal for radiation telemetry data. (“Omics” refers to fields of biology that end in “omics,” like “genomics”.)
Each of the nine AWGs has a Lead who organizes their group and holds monthly virtual meetings. Once you join, make sure to connect with the Lead and get on the agenda so you can introduce yourself. Learn more about the AWGs here.
Have an idea for a new project? Propose a new project and help lead it! From data analysis and visualization to shaping data standards and conducting literature meta-analyses, there’s a place for everyone to contribute. Request to join, and together, we can address a great challenge for humanity: understanding and enabling life to thrive in deep space!
Want to learn more?
On April 17 at 3pm Eastern Time, the NASA Citizen Science Leaders Series is hosting an virtual event with Ryan Scott about these Analysis Working Groups and their work. Ryan is the Science Lead for the Ames Life Sciences Data Archive and the liaison between the Open Data Science Repository and the Analysis Working Groups. Click here to register for this event!

MIL OSI USA News –

April 3, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Re-evaluating EU engagement in the Arctic: addressing strategic challenges and geopolitical tensions – E-000451/2025(ASW)
Source: European Parliament

The Joint Communication[1] remains valid in the areas that it covers. Its implementation continues to deliver on its goals and objectives.

While climate change remains the most comprehensive threat to the Arctic, the overall security and geopolitical context has changed significantly as a consequence of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

In this context, the question of an updated EU Arctic policy becomes relevant. However, such a decision would require careful reflection and any potential process to review and update the Arctic Joint Communication in the future will take time[2]. The question of further enhancing the EU’s presence is relevant.

The EU is a major player in areas such as Arctic sustainable fisheries[3], environmental protection, sustainable blue economy development, science and research, and regional development in the European Arctic.

Since 2021, the EU has been increasing its presence in other areas, including municipal cooperation, and support to Indigenous peoples and the youth[4].

In relation to Greenland, the EU operates long-standing relations with Greenland based on its status as an Overseas Country/Territory[5]. The Commission opened an office in Nuuk in 2024.

In areas such as hybrid threats, critical infrastructures and demographic trends affecting also Arctic regions, the EU’s actions are anchored in competences and policies set out in the Treaties.

EU relations with Norway, Iceland and Greenland are based on existing agreements and arrangements[6]. Changes to those agreements and arrangements will require decisions in each country in line with their national rules and procedures.
- [1] JOIN(2021) 27 final, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52021JC0027
- [2] The decision must also take into account the civilian nature of the EU´s engagement in Arctic matters and available resources.
- [3] This includes the implementation of the Central Arctic Ocean Fisheries Agreement, to which the Commission is part on behalf of Member States, as well as EU fleets fishing in the Barents Sea or the deployment since 2023 of an inspection vessel to that area. The EU is also reflecting about additional areas where more presence could be of an added value.
- [4] This includes two new initiatives, namely the Arctic Youth Dialogue and the Arctic Urban and Regional Cooperation network.
- [5] In December 2024, the EU signed a new protocol of a duration of six years under the existing Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement concluded in 2021
- [6] E.g. European Economic Area, Schengen area and other areas of cooperation as well as Greenland’s association with the EU as an Overseas Country and Territory (OCT).
MIL OSI Europe News –
April 3, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung Introduces SmartThings Powered ‘Customized Cooling’; delivering intelligent automation, improved energy efficiency, and comfortable sleep environment

Source: Samsung

The struggle of sleepless summer nights is finally over. Samsung, India’s leading consumer electronics brand, is redefining home cooling with its latest innovation – ‘Customized Cooling’. This first-of-its-kind feature synchronizes Samsung Smart Air Conditioners with WWST (Works with SmartThings) certified fans and switches, delivering uninterrupted comfort while optimizing energy efficiency.

Why Do We Wake Up Tired? The Science Behind Sleep & Cooling
India’s electricity demand is growing at 6-7% annually, driven in part by increased use of air conditioners during the summer months (IEA Report). Despite this, many households still rely on both air conditioners and fans for comfort.

In fact, Samsung’s consumer experience study reveals that most of the Indian homes have at least three fans, highlighting the significant role these devices play in daily life. Moreover 50% of Indian consumer’s use both simultaneously, frequently adjusting settings throughout the night by turning the AC off when it becomes too cold or back on when the room warms up.

This constant adjustment not only disrupts sleep but also leads to higher energy consumption and discomfort. Recognizing this challenge, Samsung has introduced ‘Customized Cooling’, a SmartThings-powered solution in the 2025 Bespoke AI range of Air conditioners that automatically maintains a consistently comfortable temperature throughout the night – and even during the day – without the need for manual adjustments.

This seamless integration synchronizes Samsung Smart ACs with SmartThings-certified fans and switches, ensuring enhanced comfort along with reduced electricity bills.

“At Samsung, we believe true comfort goes beyond cooling – it’s about intelligent, personalized experiences that adapt to the user’s needs. Indian consumers often rely on a combination of ACs and fans to stay comfortable, especially at night. With Customized Cooling, we are eliminating the hassle of frequent adjustments by seamlessly operating the 2025 Bespoke AI range of ACs with SmartThings-certified fans and switches. This brings peace of mind, energy efficiency, and uninterrupted rest,” said Ghufran Alam, Vice President, Digital Appliances, Samsung India.

Moreover, while the feature is designed to optimize sleep, it’s equally useful for staying comfortable throughout the day without compromising comfort or energy savings, he further added.

Smart, Energy-Efficient, and Sustainable

The ‘Customized Cooling’ feature eliminates the need for manual adjustments, ensuring a balanced and restful night’s sleep. It automatically adapts to surrounding environment, adjusts fan and AC settings in sync, to maintain a comfortable room environment during sleep or any time of day, while reducing power consumption.

Available within SmartThings Energy Service, the ‘Customized Cooling’ feature ensures both comfort and sustainability. The feature is compatible with WWST-certified smart fans and smart switches, allowing users to integrate it effortlessly into their smart homes.

With this integrated SmartThings experience, Samsung is transforming how consumers experience home cooling. Whether it is ensuring comfortable sleep or providing smart comfort effortless during the day, the tug-of-war between AC and fan settings is finally over – because when technology works for you, comfort comes easy!

About SmartThings
SmartThings is a leading provider of smart home solutions, dedicated to making your life easier, more comfortable, and more sustainable. Our innovative products and services empower you to take control of your home environment, optimize energy usage, and create a smarter, more connected living space.

MIL OSI Economics –

April 3, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Preparing engineers of the future: GUU to open laboratory with CNC machines

Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

The State University of Management has become the winner of a grant from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation for universities to create modern educational laboratories for the aircraft manufacturing, shipbuilding and innovative transport industries.

The modern laboratory for the aircraft construction and innovative transport industry, created on the basis of the State University of Management, in terms of automated development of control programs and studying the basics of working on the CNC system (numerical program control) for machines of various technological groups, will become an important element of the university infrastructure. The laboratory will facilitate the integration of practical activities into the educational process, and in the future – the creation of mechanisms for opening scientific and production associations with partners of the real sector of the economy in the direction of more active cooperation with them and solving applied problems.

The key goal of the created Laboratory of CNC Control is to improve the engineering skills of young people, to involve students in solving practical problems and challenges of Russian industry and engineering science in the field of innovative technologies.

The development strategy of the State University of Management involves building up competencies and scientific and technical groundwork in the field of managing the technological process of manufacturing high-tech products to form basic technical training for university graduates. The laboratory will become a practical basis for implementing academic disciplines and additional professional education as part of developing international cooperation in programs for training senior and middle management personnel to work with high-tech CNC equipment in the field of intelligent manufacturing.

Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 04/02/2025

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 –

April 3, 2025
MIL-OSI: lowRISC and SCI Semiconductor Release Sunburst Chip Repository for Secure Microcontroller Development

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom, April 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — lowRISC C.I.C., the open silicon ecosystem organisation, together with SCI Semiconductor, a leader in CHERI solutions and both CHERI Alliance founding members, today announced the release of the open source Sunburst Chip design repository, a key milestone in phase two of the DSbD/UKRI-funded Sunburst Project (Grant Number: 107540). This marks a significant step in bringing CHERIoT-Ibex based secure microcontrollers to market, as leveraged by SCI’s ICENI device family, which will reach first commercial availability this year.

Why it matters: memory safety vulnerabilities account for around 70% of reported exploits, causing industries from automotive to IoT and industrial systems to require secure, efficient microcontroller solutions that balance performance, power consumption, and affordability. CHERI technology provides a critical solution, mitigating these vulnerabilities by enforcing memory safety at the hardware level.

“By addressing security challenges in a ‘by design’ manner, CHERIoT-Ibex has proven its potential as a next-generation secure microcontroller architecture. However, to move the needle, CHERIoT-based IP must be both commercial-grade and readily available,” said Dr. Gavin Ferris, CEO of lowRISC. “Our release, with SCI, of the permissively licensed open source Sunburst Chip repository is a significant turning point in bringing CHERI-based security to the embedded systems market, and represents a core deliverable of the Sunburst project.”

This news follows lowRISC and SCI Semiconductor’s commitment to tape out the Sonata™ design (incorporating Microsoft’s Ibex®-based CHERIoT core). This builds on the success of the first phase of the Sunburst Project, which introduced CHERI technology to embedded engineers through the Sonata™ FPGA board and RTL platform. The project was subsequently extended to deliver an open source SoC top-level, reusing much of the IP developed for OpenTitan “Earl Grey”, which itself has reached production with Google and is heading into Chromebooks this year. Sonata™ platforms distributed to key stakeholders by the Sunburst project are driving awareness, technical engagement and innovation around memory-safe microcontrollers as could be seen in the recent Digital Catapult / DSbD TAP Cohort 6 event.

SCI Semiconductor is leveraging the Sunburst Chip repository as the foundation of their ICENI family of secure microcontrollers. As part of this effort, SCI is targeting a 22nm commercial process and will drive this design to form the basis for the first ICENI secure microcontroller, a commercial chip available in the second half of 2025.

“The availability of commercial-grade CHERI technology is a key factor in shaping the future of secure computing,” said Haydn Povey, Chief Executive, SCI Semiconductor. “We are on a mission to ensure that the market has access to robust, open source foundations for secure-by-design microcontrollers enabling a focus on differentiation, just as we have with Iceni.”

The Sunburst Chip repository is now publicly available on GitHub at https://github.com/lowRISC/sunburst-chip. Developers and researchers are encouraged to explore the repository and leverage the technology for their own CHERIoT-Ibex based designs. For those looking to experiment with CHERIoT-Ibex today, the Sonata™ low-cost boards are available to purchase via Mouser.

About lowRISC®
Founded in 2014 at the University of Cambridge Department of Computer Science and Technology, lowRISC is a not-for-profit company/CIC that provides a neutral home for collaborative engineering to develop and maintain open source silicon designs and tools for the long term. The lowRISC not-for-profit structure combined with full-stack engineering capabilities in-house enables the hosting and management of high-quality projects like OpenTitan and Sunburst via the Silicon Commons® approach.

About SCI Semiconductor
SCI Semiconductor was formed to lead the commercialisation of CHERI enabled devices. With a strong focus on secure and high-integrity computing, the organisation has built a team of recognised industry leaders, with decades of leadership in security, processor IP and chip design, and high-integrity software.

About the CHERI Alliance
lowRISC and SCI Semiconductor are both founding members of the CHERI Alliance, a community interest organisation promoting the global adoption of the Capability Hardware Enhanced RISC Instructions (CHERI) security technology across the computing industry. Building on over a decade of pioneering research by the University of Cambridge and SRI International, CHERI introduces a proven architecture designed to enhance system security through fine-grained memory protection and software compartmentalization. The Alliance is actively engaging with industry, academia, and the public sector to standardise and implement CHERI across a diverse range of computing platforms. To learn more, visit http://www.cheri-alliance.org

Media Contact
lowRISC@w2comm.com

The MIL Network –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI: Haivision Showcases Cutting-Edge Mission-Critical Video Solutions at L3Harris Technologies’ C5ISR Exercise – Everest NL 2025

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

MONTREAL, April 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Haivision (TSX: HAI), a leading global provider of mission-critical, real-time video networking and visual collaboration solutions, participated in Everest NL 2025, an immersive C5ISR experiment hosted by L3Harris Technologies at Experience Island in Loon op Zand, Netherlands, from March 24-27, 2025.

Everest NL serves as a premier platform for showcasing the latest advancements in tactical communications, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), network management, and electronic warfare (EW). The event replicates a modern NATO maneuver-force communication environment, providing a live, operationally relevant setting where cutting-edge technologies are put to the test.

The Everest exercise offers a unique opportunity to demonstrate the power of true joint interoperability among leading manufacturers. Haivision’s participation underscores its commitment to advancing interoperable, secure, and real-time video technologies that support the evolving needs of modern defense forces. By participating in the event hosted by L3Harris and collaborating with industry leaders, Haivision continues to develop innovative, field-proven solutions that enhance operational effectiveness in dynamic military environments.

At the Everest NL event, Haivision showcased its mission-critical video ecosystem, demonstrating how high-quality, secure video and data sharing enhance operational effectiveness across the battlefield. For this exercise, Haivision delivered an ISR video solution powered by Makito video encoders and the Kraken video processing platform at the tactical edge. The ISR video was streamed to Haivision’s expeditionary video wall solution, powered by Command 360, to support a common operating picture and provide situational awareness to commanders in the operations center at HQ.

Everest NL served as an ideal proving ground for next-generation defense technology. “By working alongside industry leaders, we can showcase how open architecture and interoperability drive operational effectiveness. Haivision’s deep expertise in mission-critical video technology ensures that we deliver innovative solutions but also address the real-world challenges our end-users encounter in the field,” says Tyler Stephens, Vice President, International Mission Systems.

Engineered to meet rigorous cybersecurity and interoperability standards for defense networks, Haivision’s video solutions are built to handle the complex challenges faced by military and defense end-users. The company focuses on delivering cutting-edge solutions that seamlessly integrate with its partners to enhance mission success.

Deployed and trusted worldwide, Haivision’s mission-critical video solutions empower aerospace, enterprise, government, military, and public safety organizations to make informed decisions faster. Haivision’s video wall systems for command centers, video distribution solutions, and ISR video technology enable real-time analysis and decision-making. Haivision’s technology is designed to comply with strict government and industry standards, ensuring security, reliability, and interoperability. For more information about Haivision’s mission-critical video ecosystem for military operations, visit: haivision.com/industries/government-defense/

About Haivision

Haivision is a leading global provider of mission-critical, real-time video networking and visual collaboration solutions. Our connected cloud and intelligent edge technologies enable organizations globally to engage audiences, enhance collaboration, and support decision-making. We provide high-quality, low-latency, secure, and reliable live video at a global scale. Haivision open-sourced its award-winning SRT (Secure Reliable Transport) low-latency video streaming protocol and founded the SRT Alliance to support its adoption. Awarded four Emmys® for Technology and Engineering from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Haivision continues to fuel the future of IP video transformation. Founded in 2004, Haivision is headquartered in Montreal and Chicago, with offices, sales, and support located throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia. To learn more, visit Haivision.com.

The MIL Network –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Showcase for local suppliers interested in fusion energy
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

News story

Showcase for local suppliers interested in fusion energy

Businesses across Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire find out more about fusion energy at an event at Gainsborough Golf Club.
STEP’s James Heaton and a local supplier – Image credit: UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd.

More than 120 representatives from small and medium enterprises located close to the home of STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) at West Burton gathered recently for a local supplier engagement event, hosted by the team who are bringing fusion energy to the UK.

Howard Wilson, STEP’s Director of Science and Technology introduced the session with a presentation on fusion, STEP, plus supporting site information about West Burton where the prototype fusion energy power plant will be built.

Presenting from the local district councils, Julie Beresford Head of Growth and Economic Prosperity and Sally Grinrod-Smith Director of Planning, Regeneration and Communities demonstrated support for STEP from nearby local authorities and their fluid approach to hosting STEP. They covered the history of the area and identified the socio-economic opportunities that will result from the STEP Programme in the future.

Since the early days of the programme, the STEP team has worked closely in partnership with district and county councils. Both Julie and Sally observed the high levels of engagement on the day and commented on the positive nature of the event and the numerous business enquiries that have followed.

Commercial team members Andrew Atkinson and Ryan Cload represented the supply chain at STEP. Andrew commented:

It’s very important to the local economy that STEP brings opportunities to the area. Our initial priority is to establish what services we have on our doorstep and create the right channels of engagement to enable effective ways of future working with local businesses. This event was a great way to share information about STEP and it was encouraging to see the networking that took place amongst the local business representatives.

Helping to bring the work of STEP to life, a series of local case studies were given, to explore the early relationships already established with STEP. Clive Anderson from Elite Signs of Gainsborough commented on his long-established relationship with the site and what it meant to the business to be able to continue working with the STEP team. He welcomed future requests as the site works continue to grow. Photographer Chris Vaughan’s work was showcased, and he commented that he felt part of the team when commissioned to work for STEP.

The STEP team always create time for questions when spending time in the community to aid understanding of fusion. These covered the technical side of fusion, site transport, water licences, apprentices, skills and the processes behind tenders for work. The website also includes an area with frequently asked questions which are updated regularly.

Following the presentations, a speed-dating session was held with the local businesses to give them a chance to share information about their companies, the nature and size of their business and plans for future growth. The range of industry was vast and covered engineering, skills, security, transport, accommodation, catering, manufacturing, materials and many more.

For those who may have missed this event, future similar events are planned for the local area with all events published and shared with people who have registered their interest on our website: step.ukaea.uk. You can also follow our social channels @STEPtoFusion.

Notes to Editors

STEP is a major technology and infrastructure programme to build the UK’s first prototype fusion power plant and to create a UK-led fusion industry. STEP will demonstrate net energy, fuel self-sufficiency and a route to commercialisation. This will catalyse new ideas and technology that will benefit multiple industries and help secure our future on this planet. STEP is a government-funded industry partnership programme led by UK Industrial Fusion Solutions, a wholly owned subsidiary of UKAEA Group.

The West Burton site was selected in October 2022 as the home for STEP. The site is currently a demolition zone, with extensive works to decommission the former coal-fired power station, alongside this activity, the STEP Programme is preparing site characterisation information in readiness for construction.

Local Authorities in the area recently reported on the potential local impact of jobs and investment in the area. Headlines from Nottinghamshire County Council’s ‘Newsroom’ available here.

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Published 2 April 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI: VISTA Inhibitor Clinical Trials Market Size FDA Approval Patent Report 2025
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Delhi, April 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Global VISTA Inhibitor Clinical Trials, Drug Development Opportunities & Patent Insight 2025 Report Highlights & Findings:
- First VISTA Inhibitor Drug Approval By 2028
- US Dominating Global VISTA Inhibitor Clinical Trials Landscape
- Insight On Ongoing Clinical Trials By Company, Country, Indication & Phase
- Key Drugs Clinical Study Initiation & Completion Year Overview
- Global & Regional Market Development Insight By Indication
- Global VISTA Inhibitors Market Dynamics & Competitive Landscape
Download Report:
https://www.kuickresearch.com/report-vista-inhibitor-clinical-trials-fda-approval-vista-ligand-vista-agonist-vista-expression-vista-protein-vista-antibody

The global landscape for VISTA targeted therapies remains an under explored but highly promising area within the field of immunotherapy. Despite the absence of any approved VISTA inhibitors to date, a growing body of research underscores the potential of targeting this immune checkpoint as a novel approach to overcome tumor immune evasion. VISTA, or V-domain Ig suppressor of T cell activation, has attracted significant attention from researchers and pharmaceutical companies around the world, driven by the need for new treatments in cancer and, to some extent, autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. Although current efforts remain largely in the preclinical and early clinical phases, the advances made so far suggest that VISTA could become a key target in next-generation immunotherapies.

In US, the research and development of VISTA inhibitors have been characterized by robust academic investigation and active industry involvement. Numerous studies have delved into the mechanistic role of VISTA in modulating immune responses. For instance, a groundbreaking study from the Cleveland Clinic in May 2024 revealed a novel binding partner for VISTA—LRIG1—using innovative proteomic approaches. This discovery not only expanded the understanding of VISTA’s role in immune suppression but also pointed to a potential therapeutic strategy for selectively inhibiting the VISTA/LRIG1 interaction. Such insights have reinforced the notion that VISTA inhibitors could offer significant benefits in cancer immunotherapy, especially for tumors that exhibit resistance to conventional checkpoint inhibitors like PD-1 and CTLA-4.

The strategic moves in the industry further underscore the potential of the VISTA-targeted market. In December 2024, Florida-based TuHURA Biosciences made headlines by acquiring Kineta, thereby gaining the rights to KVA12123, a novel VISTA-blocking immunotherapy. KVA12123 is positioned as a best-in-class candidate with promising preclinical and early clinical data that support its future role in the immuno-oncology landscape. This acquisition reflects the growing confidence among investors and industry players in the long-term potential of VISTA inhibitors, even though the clinical pathway remains in its infancy.

Research on the VISTA checkpoint protein has gained significant momentum, with universities worldwide playing a pivotal role in uncovering its therapeutic potential. Institutions such as Yale School of Medicine, Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine, Columbia University, Washington University, Jinan University Medical College, and the University of Groningen have conducted collaborative studies, revealing crucial insights into the molecular mechanisms that regulate VISTA expression and its role in immune modulation, particularly in T cells and macrophages. These findings have spurred interest in exploring VISTA as a potential target for immune checkpoint inhibition, positioning it as a promising area for therapeutic development.

Major pharmaceutical companies, such as Roche, AstraZeneca, Novartis, and Boehringer Ingelheim, are already heavily invested in the development of immune checkpoint inhibitors and are now turning their attention to VISTA as a promising target for novel cancer therapies. With ongoing academic research and strong industry involvement, VISTA-based therapies could soon become an important addition to the landscape of immuno-oncology treatments.

Global collaborations and symposiums further exemplify the momentum in this field. Platforms such as the Annual Virtual VISTA Symposium and high-profile meetings like the AACR Annual Meeting bring together leading scientists, clinicians, and industry experts to share insights on VISTA biology and discuss early-stage clinical developments. These gatherings facilitate knowledge exchange and foster partnerships that could accelerate the transition of VISTA inhibitors from the bench to the bedside.

In conclusion, the global market for VISTA-targeted therapies, though currently under-explored with no approved agents to date, is teeming with potential. The convergence of innovative research from the US and Europe, strategic industry moves such as acquisitions and collaborative trials, and the concerted efforts of leading academic institutions collectively signal a promising future for VISTA inhibitors. As research continues to elucidate the therapeutic potential of VISTA, this emerging field is poised to become a significant pillar in the next generation of immunotherapy.

The MIL Network –
April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Innovation thrives in north China’s ‘city of the future’

Source: China State Council Information Office

Stepping into the exhibition hall of Mech-Mind Robotics, a Chinese unicorn company, visitors are captivated by a robotic arm that responds to voice commands and precisely grasps intricate workpieces.

With its expertise in equipping traditional robotic arms with “eyes” and “brains,” Mech-Mind Robotics has become one of the leading enterprises in its field, exporting products to over 50 countries and regions.

Last year, the company relocated its headquarters from Beijing to the Xiong’an New Area in north China’s Hebei Province, aiming to thrive in this “city of the future.”

“Our company has evolved from 0 to 1 and from 1 to 10, and we believe Xiong’an is a good place for us to advance from 10 to 100, or even 10,000,” said Zhang Dan, head of the president’s office at Mech-Mind Robotics.

In April 2017, China decided to establish the Xiong’an New Area as part of a strategy to promote the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. Xiong’an was designed to be a smart and livable city that is innovative, green and free from “urban ills.”

This futuristic city, with an urban landscape that has gradually taken shape over the past eight years, has a strong appeal for high-tech companies like Mech-Mind Robotics, with many opting to locate themselves in Xiong’an New Area Zhongguancun Science Park.

Founded less than two years ago, the science park has already attracted more than 140 companies. Carrying forward the innovative spirit of Beijing’s Zhongguancun, once known as “China’s Silicon Valley,” it is striving to become a paradise for businesses of all sizes seeking to break new ground.

One such startup is Xiong’an Xingyuan Technology Co., Ltd., which has quickly made its mark in this burgeoning science park. Since launching a year ago, the company has been developing advanced technologies, including metaverse, large-scale virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI).

Gong Wentong, CEO of Xiong’an Xingyuan, has been impressed by the business-friendly environment encountered at this location since his company’s inception. He recalled obtaining his business license on the same day the company was registered — and noted that the science park facilitates networking events linking startups and established local enterprises, thereby helping entrepreneurs like him access potential business opportunities.

Through such interactions, Xiong’an Xingyuan has developed cooperative relationships with enterprises in need of technological support. “We plan to cooperate with an elderly care service company, using our VR technology to help senior citizens enjoy immersive travel experiences and social activities,” said Gong.

Gong’s satisfaction was echoed by Wang Ling, deputy general manager of Zhijue Intelligent, a small company focusing on the application of LiDAR technology.

In an interview with Xinhua, Wang not only referred to multiple opportunities to communicate with her peers in the science park, but also spoke highly of the favorable policies issued by local authorities.

In recent years, Xiong’an has responded to the national call for innovation-driven development through a raft of incentive measures to pool talent from various sectors — especially those involved in aerospace information, AI, new materials, and other cutting-edge industries, aiming to build a high-standard platform for innovators.

As part of these efforts to foster entrepreneurship, competitions have regularly been held to support outstanding innovation projects. Wang’s team won one such competition — receiving housing subsidies, workspace allowances and extra bonuses as reward for their victory.

There was a time when living conditions in Xiong’an were a great concern for Wang, but the rapid development of the city has since dispelled her doubts and worries. With a batch of public facilities, including schools and hospitals, gradually put into use, people like Wang are now able to relocate their entire families to this city — thus embarking together on a new life journey.

“We feel that we are being pushed forward by the surrounding opportunities here,” Wang told Xinhua, adding that she even introduced her friends to new possibilities in this area.

Wang’s experience epitomizes the dynamics of innovation shaped by collaboration between government and market entities — a process that delivers benefits to all stakeholders, with companies thriving, talent converging and all citizens enjoying the fruits of innovative development.

“This year, we will step up efforts to build an industrial cluster featuring AI and robotics,” said Liu Jingjing, general manager of the science park. Liu also said that more companies are expected to arrive in Xiong’an and contribute to its scientific and technological innovation.

MIL OSI China News –

April 2, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Labor wants to give the minimum wage a real boost. The benefits would likely outweigh any downsides

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chris F. Wright, Professor of Work and Labour Market Policy, University of Sydney

Labor has called for an “economically sustainable real wage increase” for almost 3 million workers who depend on the award system for their wages.

In a submission to the Fair Work Commission’s Annual Wage Review on Wednesday, Labor said a real wage increase above inflation would provide cost-of-living relief for lower-income workers – especially in the early childhood, cleaning and retail sectors.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has said he’s not opposed to an increase in minimum wages. Several major business groups have also tentatively endorsed an increase.

But the size of the wage boost is in contention. The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry wants an increase to be no higher than headline inflation, saying:

[an] increase in minimum and modern award wages of no more than 2.5% is fair and reasonably responsible in the current economic environment.

Read more:
Labor will urge Fair Work Commission to give real wage rise to three million workers

Can the government actually raise wages?

The federal government doesn’t set minimum and award wages directly. That job falls to the Fair Work Commission, Australia’s independent national workplace relations tribunal.

Each year, the commission receives submissions for the Annual Wage Review from “interested parties” such as business groups, trade unions and governments.

Governments almost always make submissions, typically informed by economic logic, to the annual review.

Labor’s submission is consistent with that approach. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said businesses would benefit overall, because when low-wage workers receive a wage increase, they typically spend rather than save it.

Could a real wage boost fuel inflation?

Labor’s proposal has already attracted concern.

Some economists have argued it could increase inflation. That could make it harder for the Reserve Bank of Australia to deliver further interest rate cuts.

However, this concern was addressed in the OECD’s 2023 Economic Outlook paper, which argued:

in several sectors and countries, there is room for profits to absorb some further increases in wages to mitigate the loss of purchasing power at least for the low paid without generating significant additional price pressures.

In other words, with inflation falling in Australia and other parts of the world, there is scope for wages to increase without a significant risk this will generate inflationary pressure.

The OECD has also stated that much of the recent high global inflation was generated by the impact of the Ukraine war on rising food and energy prices, rather than wages.

Wage growth without productivity growth

A second concern relates to boosting wages in the context of Australia’s languishing levels of labour productivity – output per worker or per hour worked.

On Tuesday, Reserve Bank Governor Michele Bullock said without an increase in productivity:

the rate of nominal wages growth that can be sustained and be in line with the inflation target is lower.

However, as Mark Bray and Alison Preston found in their interim report from the review of the Secure Jobs, Better Pay laws, labour productivity growth has been consistently higher than capital productivity.

According to Bray and Preston:

It is, therefore, difficult to argue that industrial relations systems have a significant, dominant effect on national productivity outcomes.

If anything, a wages boost might be good for productivity. There is evidence to suggest measures to improve the quality of employment – including by increasing wages – can boost productivity.

If workers feel they are paid fairly, they are more likely to be satisfied and work harder, and less likely to leave their employer.

Staff turnover, on the other hand, requires employers to recruit and train new employees, which is time-consuming and resource-intensive, and can sap productivity.

What about inequality?

It’s important we don’t overlook another important factor in the minimum wage debate. Since its 2022 election victory, addressing inequality has been central to the Albanese government’s labour market reforms.

Before 2022, wages growth was persistently weak for several years, despite the lowest unemployment rate in almost five decades.

Low unemployment is generally assumed to stimulate wages growth, but this didn’t eventuate. This worsened workforce shortages, making it hard for employers to attract and retain workers.

Findings from a large body of academic research published before the passage and implementation of the December 2022 Secure Jobs, Better Pay amendments highlighted the need for fairer redistribution in pay settings.

The gender pay gap

This includes addressing gender-based pay inequalities.

Improving job quality – particularly by raising wages – in low-paid sectors is essential to advancing gender equality. The minimum wage and award-reliant segments of the Australian labour market are highly feminised. These include vital frontline roles in the care, cleaning and hospitality sectors.

The latest Workplace Gender Equality Agency scorecard, drawing on ABS Labour Force Survey data, shows wage growth in these sectors over the past two years has contributed significantly to reducing the national gender pay gap to its lowest point on record.

Lifting wages and job quality is not only crucial for attracting and retaining workers in these essential frontline roles. It also supports broader labour force participation, particularly for working parents.

An “economically sustainable” boost to the minimum wage is therefore unlikely to drive up inflation, or adversely impact productivity. However, it will provide cost-of-living relief to Australia’s lowest-paid workers.

Chris F. Wright has received funding from the Australian Research Council, the Canadian Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, the UK Economic and Social Research Council, the International Labour Organization, the Australian and NSW governments, and various business and trade union organisations.

– ref. Labor wants to give the minimum wage a real boost. The benefits would likely outweigh any downsides – https://theconversation.com/labor-wants-to-give-the-minimum-wage-a-real-boost-the-benefits-would-likely-outweigh-any-downsides-253624

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI: Notice to convene Annual General Meeting
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Company announcement no. 3/2025

According to Art. 9.1 of the Articles of Association, notice is hereby given of the Annual General Meeting of Columbus A/S to be held on:

Tuesday 29 April 2025 at 10.00
at Columbus, Lautrupvang 6, 2750 Ballerup

Agenda:

1. Board of Directors’ report on the business of the Company during the past year.

2. Presentation and approval of the Annual Report.

3. Resolution on the appropriation of profit or covering of loss as recorded in the adopted Annual Report.

4. Presentation of and indicative ballot on the Remuneration Report.

5. Proposal to authorize the Board of Directors to acquire for the Company up to 10 per cent of the Company‘s share capital

6. Election of members of the Board of Directors

7. Election of one or two state authorized public accountants as auditors.

7.1. Election of state authorized public accountants as auditors
7.2. Election of state authorized public accountants as sustainability auditors

8. Any other business

Full wording of proposals

Re. item 1:
The Board of Directors proposes that the General Meeting takes note of the Board of Director’s report on the business of the Company during the past year.

Re. item 2:
The Board of Directors recommends that the Annual Report 2024 be approved.

Re. item 3:
The Board of Directors proposes that the General Meeting approves the Board of Directors’ proposal for the allocation of profit as stated in the Annual Report for 2024, including distribution of an ordinary dividend to shareholders of DKK 0.125 per share of DKK 1.25 (nom.), corresponding to total dividends of DKK 16,159,533.

Re. item 4:
The Board of Directors recommends that the General Meeting approves the Remuneration Report.

Re. item 5:
The Board of Directors proposes that the General Meeting authorizes the Board of Directors for a period of 18 months from the date of the General Meeting to acquire for the Company up to 10 per cent of the Company‘s share capital against payment which shall not deviate more than 10 per cent up or downwards from the latest listed price of the shares at Nasdaq Copenhagen prior to the acquisition.

Re. item 6:
The Board of Directors proposes re-election of the following Board members:

Ib Kunøe
Sven Madsen
Peter Skov Hansen
Karina Kirk
Per Kogut

For further information about the individual Board members, see Appendix 1.

Re. item 7.1:
The Board of Directors recommends that Pricewaterhousecoopers Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, CVR-no. 33 77 12 31 be re-elected in accordance with the recommendation from the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee has not been influenced by third parties and has not been subjected to any agreement with third parties which limits the General Meeting’s election of certain auditors or auditing firms.

Re. item 7.2:
The Board of Directors recommends that Pricewaterhousecoopers Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, CVR-no. 33 77 12 31 be elected to provide a statement on sustainability reporting in the management’s review in accordance with the recommendation from the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee has not been influenced by third parties and has not been subjected to any agreement with third parties which limits the General Meeting’s election of certain auditors or auditing firms.

Adoption requirements
For adoption of the proposals under the items 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 on the agenda simple majority is required.

Registration date
The date of registration is 22 April 2025, at 23:59 CET.
Only shareholders who possess shares in the Company at the expiration of the registration date are entitled to participate and vote at the Annual General Meeting. On expiry of the date of registration, the shares held by each of the Company‘s shareholders on the date of registration date is determined on the basis of the shares registered in the register of shareholders and duly evidenced notifications to the Company of share acquisitions not yet entered in the register of shareholders, but received by the Company before expiry of the date of registration.

Participation is furthermore conditional on the shareholder‘s punctual requisitioning of an admission card as described below.

Procedure for participating in and voting at the Company’s Annual General Meeting
Requisition of admission cards:
digitally via the Shareholder Portal on the Company’s website: cgr@columbusglobal.com.

Registration must reach Computershare A/S or the Company no later than Friday 25 April 2025 at 23:59 CET.

Ordered admission cards will be sent out by e-mail. This requires that your email address is registered on the Shareholder Portal, or that you register your e-mail address when ordering admission card via the Shareholder Portal. After registration, you will receive an electronic admission card. Bring your electronic version on your smartphone or tablet. If you have forgotten your admission card for the general meeting, it can be obtained against presentation of appropriate proof of identification. Ballot papers will be handed out at the entry point at the General Meeting.

Proxies:
Proxies can be granted:
digitally via the shareholder portal on the Company’s website: Information from the Company

No later than 7 April 2025 the following information will be available to the shareholders at the Company’s website
By the notice to convene annual general meeting Columbus A/S has registered a share capital of nominal DKK 161,595,330, corresponding to 129,276,264 shares of nominal DKK 1.25. Each share of nominal DKK 1.25 provides 1 vote.

Ballerup, April 2^nd, 2025
Board of Directors, Columbus A/S

Appendix 1: Election of members to the Board of Directors

Election of members to the Board of Directors and recruitment criteria
Pursuant to Columbus A/S’ Articles of Associations, the Board of Directors must consist of 3-7 members to be elected by the general meeting for a term of one year.

When nominating new Board members, management experience, professional and financial competencies needed to ensure that the Board has the necessary competencies to be able to manage the interests of the Company and thereby the shareholders are carefully assessed.

Besides competencies and qualification, new candidates are selected on the basis of criteria such as the need for seniority, renewal and diversity.

The Company’s Articles of Association do not include restrictions concerning the number of times a member is allowed to be re-elected to the Board of Directors. Seniority in itself is not a crucial criterion, but the Board of Directors finds that long seniority and thereby extensive experience for part of the Board members is highly beneficial to the company. Seniority combined with continuous renewal ensure a broad-based composition of the Board of Directors.

Gender, age and nationality are not qualifications alone, but are part of the total assessment of the competencies of a board candidate.

Information about proposed candidates
Below, competencies and directorships in other companies are described for each of the proposed candidates.

It is the Board of Director’s assessment that the proposed candidates represent the necessary competencies in the Board of Directors to ensure that the size, composition and competencies of the Board of Directors is such that constructive discussions and efficient decision-making process can be ensured during Board meetings.

Ib Kunøe
Born 1943
Chairman of the Board
Member of the Board since 2004, re-elected in 2024
Does not fulfill the Committee of Corporate Governance definition of independency

Education:
Holds an HD Graduate Diploma in Organisation and Management as well as a background as a professional officer (major).

Chairman of the Board for:
Consolidated Holdings A/S, X-Yachts A/S, X-Yachts Marina A/S, CALUM Ballerup K/S, CALUM Åbyhøj K/S, CALUM Værløse K/S, CALUM Rødovre K/S, Komplementarselskabet Åbyhøj ApS, Komplementarselskabet Værløse ApS, Komplementarselskabet Rødovre ApS, Komplementarselskabet Ballerup ApS

Member of the Board for:
Atrium Partner A/S

Special competencies:
Company management, including management of IT companies, development of and dealing with companies.

Sven Madsen
Born 1964
Member of the Board since 2007, re-elected in 2024
CFO in Consolidated Holdings A/S
Member of the Audit Committee
Does not fulfill the Committee of Corporate Governance definition of independency

Education:
Holds a Graduate Diploma in Financial and Management Accounting and an MSc in Business Economics and Auditing

Chairman of the Board for:
Atea ASA, CHV III ApS, Dansk Emballage A/S

Member of the Board for:
Consolidated Holdings A/S, core:workers AB, core:workers Holding A/S, X-Yachts A/S, X-Yachts Marina A/S, Ejendomsaktieselskabet af 1920 A/S, DAN-Palletiser Finans A/S, MonTa Biosciences ApS.

Special competencies:
General management, M&A, business development, economic and financial issues.

Peter Skov Hansen
Born 1951
Member of the Board since 2012, re-elected in 2024
Chairman of the Audit Committee
Transitioning from being independent to no longer fulfilling the Committee of Corporate Governance’s definition of independence due to the duration of the board tenure exceeding 12 years.

Education:
Completed State Authorized Public Accountant education in 1980, registered as non-practicing

Member of the Board for:
X-Yachts A/S

Special competencies:
Business development and financial, accounting and tax related issues.

Karina Kirk
Born 1971
Member of the Board since 2018, re-elected in 2024
Owner of KIRK & CO., Executive and board advisory
Fulfills the Committee of Corporate Governance definition of independency

Education:
Holds a Master of Science in International Business Administration (1996), NYU Stern School of Business, MBA selected classes (1994), Executive, Board Leadership and Governance (2017)

Member of the Board for:
Ringsted Olie A/S, BRO Kommunikation A/S

Special competencies:
General management, management of consulting companies, market and customer leadership, business development and business transformation.

Per Kogut
Born 1964
Member of the Board since 2022, reelected in 2024
Fulfills the Committee of Corporate Governance definition of independency

Education:
Per Kogut holds a Master, Public Administration & IT science from the University of Copenhagen.

Chairman of the Board for:
Digital Hub Denmark

Member of the Board for:
Loyal Solutions A/S, Loyal Solutions A/S, Enhance TopCo A/S, Enhance BidCo ApS, Relatable Consulting A/S and Automize A/S

Special competencies:
General management, management of consulting companies, market and customer leadership and business development.

Attachment
The MIL Network –
April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Submissions: Universities – NTU Singapore scientists create ‘fungi tiles’ with elephant skin texture to cool buildings

Source: Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore)

Proof-of-concept shows promise as a sustainable passive cooling solution

A team of scientists led by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have developed ‘fungi tiles’ that could one day help to bring the heat down in buildings without consuming energy.

These wall tiles are made from a new biomaterial combining fungi’s root network – called mycelium – and organic waste. Earlier research has shown that mycelium-bound composites are more energy efficient than conventional building insulation materials such as expanded vermiculite and lightweight expanded clay aggregate.

Building on this proven insulating property, the NTU Singapore team worked with local ecology and biomimicry design firm bioSEA to add a bumpy, wrinkly texture to the tile, mimicking an elephant’s ability to regulate heat from its skin. Elephants do not have sweat glands and rely on these wrinkles and crevices on their skin to regulate heat.

In laboratory experiments, the scientists found that the cooling rate of their elephant skin-inspired mycelium tile was 25 per cent better than a fully flat mycelium tile, and the heating rate was 2 per cent lower. They also found that the elephant skin-inspired tile’s cooling effect improved a further 70 per cent in simulated rain conditions, making it suitable for tropical climates.

The construction industry accounts for nearly 40 per cent of all energy-related emissions worldwide, so the search for eco-friendly insulation materials is critical. NTU’s Associate Professor Hortense Le Ferrand, who led the study, said mycelium-bound composites could be a promising alternative.

Assoc Prof Le Ferrand, who holds a joint appointment at NTU’s Schools of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) and Materials Science and Engineering (MSE), said: “Insulation materials are increasingly integrated into building walls to enhance energy efficiency, but these are mostly synthetic and come with environmental consequences throughout their life cycle. Mycelium-bound composite is a biodegradable material that is highly porous, which makes it a good insulator. In fact, its thermal conductivity is comparable to or better than some of the synthetic insulating materials used in buildings today.

“We worked closely with bioSEA to integrate natural design principles that can optimise its performance as a building insulator. The result is a promising proof of concept that takes us one step closer to efficient, sustainable, and cheaper passive cooling solutions in hot and humid conditions.”

Dr Anuj Jain, the Founding Director of bioSEA explained the inspiration behind the elephant-linked innovation: “Elephants are large animals that live in hot and sometimes humid tropical climates. To withstand the heat, elephants evolved to develop a skin that is heavily wrinkled which increases water retention and cools the animal by evaporation. We were inspired by how an elephant could cool itself in hot weather without sweat glands, and tried to see how we could replicate the same cooling mechanisms of shading, trapping cool air, and increasing the surface area for water to evaporate.”

This study, published in Energy & Buildings in February, builds on Assoc Prof Le Ferrand’s work on possible uses for mycelium-bound composites, such as for greener construction materials.

Turning fungi into a functional material

Mycelium-bound composites are created by growing fungi on organic matter such as sawdust or agricultural waste. As the fungus grows, it binds the organic matter into a solid, porous composite.

For this study, the NTU scientists used the mycelium of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) – a commonly found fungus – and bamboo shavings collected from a furniture shop.

These two components were mixed with oats and water and packed into a hexagonal mould with an elephant skin-inspired texture designed by bioSEA using computational modelling and algorithms to select the optimal design.

The mycelium tiles were left to grow in the dark for two weeks, then removed from the hexagonal mould and left to grow in the same conditions for another two weeks.

Finally, the tiles were dried in an oven at 48°C for three days. This final step removes any remaining moisture, prohibiting further mycelial growth.

Elephant skin-inspired texture improves heat regulation

Previous research has shown that mycelium-bound composites have thermal conductivity comparable to conventional building insulation materials like glass wool and extruded polystyrene.

To assess how an elephant skin-inspired texture affects the mycelium tile’s heat regulation, the scientists heated mycelium tiles on a 100°C hot plate for 15 minutes and tracked temperature changes using an infrared camera.

They found that the elephant skin-inspired tile absorbed heat more slowly. When its bumpy textured surface faced the heat source, its temperature increased by 5.01°C per minute, compared to 5.85°C per minute when its flat surface was exposed to heat. As a control, the scientists also heated a flat mycelium tile and found it gained 5.11°C per minute.

To measure the tile’s cooling efficiency, the scientists heated one side at 100°C for 15 minutes, then exposed it to ambient conditions (22°C, 80% humidity) and measured temperature changes on the tile’s opposite side.

The elephant-skin-inspired tile cooled fastest when heated from the flat side, losing 4.26°C per minute. When heated from the textured side, its flat side lost 3.12°C per minute. The fully flat control tile lost 3.56°C per minute.

Based on these findings, the scientists recommended installing the tiles with the flat side adhered to the building façade and the textured surface exposed to external heat for optimal thermal performance (See image in Notes to Editor for how tiles could be used).

Tiles perform better in wet weather

To simulate the effect of rain on the tiles, the scientists heated the tiles as described earlier. While allowing them to cool, the scientists sprayed water onto the tiles at one-minute intervals over a 15-minute period.

When misted on its bumpy side, the elephant skin-inspired tile lost 7.27°C per minute – a 70 per cent improvement compared to its performance in dry conditions.

The scientists attributed this effect to the mycelium-bound composite’s hydrophobic nature. “The fungal skin that develops on the tile’s surface repels water, allowing droplets to remain on the surface rather than roll off immediately. This promotes evaporative cooling, increasing the cooling rate,” explained Eugene Soh, an NTU researcher and the study’s first author.

Building on this proof of concept, the scientists are now exploring ways to enhance the tiles for real-world use, such as increasing their mechanical stability and durability or using different mycelium strains.

The scientists are also working with local start-up Mykílio to scale up the size of the mycelium tiles and conduct outdoor tests on building façades.

A challenge they foresee in scaling up the production of the tiles is the time needed to grow the mycelium tiles. While it requires minimal energy resources, the process takes three to four weeks.

The scientists also expect high inertia towards using mycelium tiles as an alternative construction material due to the well-established infrastructure in production, storage, and transportation of common insulating materials.

Said Assoc Prof Le Ferrand: “We’ve developed a promising eco-friendly alternative that transforms waste into a valuable resource while rethinking conventional thermal management materials. This opens the pathway for more elephant skin-inspired designs and the use of different mycelium strains to overcome the challenges that come with using mycelium tiles as an alternative construction material.”

Notes

The research paper titled “Biodegradable mycelium tiles with elephant skin inspired texture for thermal regulation of buildings” was published in Energy and Buildings in Volume 328, 1 February 2025, 115187

DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2024.115187

MIL OSI – Submitted News –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI China: New discoveries in prehistoric culture shed light on origin of Chinese civilization

Source: China State Council Information Office 3

Archaeological discoveries in many regions of China have injected new vitality into the study of Hongshan culture, an important prehistoric archaeological culture dating back roughly 5,000 to 6,000 years.

Hongshan culture’s distribution covers three regions, which are located in the west of Liaoning Province, the north of Hebei Province and the east of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Among these, Liaoning is the core area in terms of Hongshan culture distribution and the focal region for studying this culture.

NEW DISCOVERIES

Multiple Hongshan culture sites were discovered in the city of Lingyuan, in northeast China’s Liaoning Province, said the provincial institute of cultural relics and archaeology in March.

The found sites are located in the Wubaiding site complex, where archaeologists from the institute conducted a systematic archaeological survey covering approximately 285,000 square meters.

During this survey, archaeologists collected pottery shards and stone artifacts from various periods and found a total of 53 sites, among which four have been confirmed as relic sites of Hongshan culture.

These archaeological exploration efforts have revealed the composition and spatial distribution characteristics of the relic sites, which provides detailed evidence for the study of the social norms of late Hongshan culture, said Yu Huaishi, a researcher from the institute.

Meanwhile, in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, three new jade dragons were unearthed in 2024, marking the largest number of such artifacts to be found in recent years — offering new evidence of the brilliance of ancient Chinese civilization.

A jade dragon, measuring 15.8 cm in length, 9.5 cm in width and 3 cm in thickness, was excavated from a stone tomb in Yuanbaoshan in Aohan Banner, the city of Chifeng in Inner Mongolia. It is the largest jade dragon ever discovered, providing valuable new insights into the study of this ancient civilization. Alongside the dragon, over 100 other jade artifacts, including rings, discs, silkworms and owls, were also found.

Chifeng, the birthplace of Hongshan culture, has more than 700 known Hongshan sites. The discovery of the Yuanbaoshan site adds to the region’s rich archaeological heritage.

According to Dang Yu, a researcher at the regional institute of cultural relics and archaeology, the Yuanbaoshan site dates back about 5,000 years and represents a late Hongshan culture burial and ceremonial complex.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The Niuheliang site, discovered in 1981 in the city of Chaoyang, Liaoning, represents a milestone in the study of China’s Hongshan culture. A large number of exquisite jade articles, painted pottery, stone tools and stone tombs were unearthed there.

According to Wang Xuanlong, curator of the Niuheliang relic site museum, the Niuheliang site, centered on the temple of the goddess and surrounded by altars and stone tombs, is a large-scale prehistoric burial and religious worship site independent of the residence. It was the place where Hongshan people worshiped both their ancestors and heaven and earth more than 5,000 years ago.

“The ruins and buildings of Niuheliang reflect the early state form of the combination of theocracy and royal power, and are important witnesses of the origins of civilization in China and even Northeast Asia,” said Guo Dashun, an expert in Hongshan culture who had previously presided over Hongshan culture excavations.

Archaeological excavation endeavors regarding Hongshan culture reveal the continuity and unity of migration and evolution from north to south and to the Central Plains, which strongly proves that the Chinese civilization has not stopped since its birth, provides key support for figuring out the early development of Chinese civilization, and serves as the core link for exploring the origins of Chinese civilization.

Notably, Hongshan, Lingjiatan and Liangzhu are known as the three major jade cultural centers in prehistoric China. Although more than 1,000 km apart, Hongshan culture experienced close exchanges with the Lingjiatan and Liangzhu cultures, according to Sun Jinsong, director of the Inner Mongolia regional institute of cultural relics and archaeology.

“The jade owl of Hongshan culture and the jade eagle of Lingjiatan culture both reflect the prehistoric ancestors’ yearning and reverence for flying. The shape of the jade dragon unearthed from Liangzhu is very close to that of Hongshan culture jade carving. It is this kind of exchange and integration that eventually merged into the diversified and integrated Chinese civilization,” Sun said.

The jade ritual system and jade culture, which originated from Hongshan culture and gradually expanded to East Asia, have become important sources of the unique cultural identity of Chinese civilization — and have profoundly influenced the etiquette system and cultural traditions of later generations.

MODERN INHERITANCE

The legacy of Hongshan culture continues to thrive in modern life. In the city of Chifeng, themed research activities have been organized, directly involving children by letting them make pottery and jade articles by themselves, thereby allowing them to immerse themselves in the charm of Hongshan culture. Symphonies and plays have also been staged to reveal more about this culture.

“We will make further efforts in terms of the protection of these relics sites and the pursuit of their inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List, with the aim of making Hongshan culture shine with new brilliance in Chifeng and to make this culture the pride and love of the people,” said Zhang Guohua, vice mayor of Chifeng.

In the future, via the deep integration of science and technology and culture, Hongshan culture is expected to break through geographical and time boundaries, enabling it to reach a wider audience with the assistance of technologies such as digital display and virtual reality.

At the Niuheliang national archaeological relic site park, an archaeological team is ready to continue the archaeological excavation efforts — seeking to reveal more secrets about the social organization structure, religious beliefs and economic life of Hongshan culture, while injecting new vitality into the study of ancient civilizations.

MIL OSI China News –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Scientists from Novosibirsk State University presented new type of training devices for forensic experts

Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

The II International Scientific and Analytical Forum “Digital Law” was held at the “Boiling Point – Novosibirsk” of Academpark. The event was organized by Novosibirsk State University (Institute of Philosophy and Law), Institute of Philosophy and Law of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Law School of Heilongjiang University (PRC).

— We hold many joint events with the Institute of Philosophy and Law of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, but today, thanks to cooperation with Heilongjiang University, we are already reaching the international level of discussing the problems of legal regulation in the field of information technology. The Forum program includes many reports on various aspects of digital law. And all this suggests that its topic is becoming more and more relevant every year, the emergence of new technologies entails the emergence of new tasks and conflicts that need to be resolved with the help of legal mechanisms, — noted Vladimir Diev, Director of the Institute of Philosophy and Law of NSU, Doctor of Philosophy, Professor, in his speech.

The forum program opened with a report by Doctor of Law, Professor of the Department of Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure and Forensic Science at NSU Roman Borovskikh, dedicated to the university’s developments in the field of new technologies for training future forensic scientists.

— Forensic science is an applied science, it requires honing certain skills, which is best done at a testing ground. But it is not always possible to create a full-scale, physical testing ground, and here its virtual version comes to the rescue. Simulators are used in many areas of training specialists — in cosmonautics, medicine, and others. We have applied this approach in jurisprudence, — he said.

Modeling of training scenarios on simulators is carried out in several directions. First of all, lines of models are built on the investigation of different types of crimes: violent against the person (murder, rape, etc.), property (various thefts), economic, official, etc. Within each such line there is a gradation depending on a specific situation in which the investigation takes place – place, time, situation, etc.

— Our simulators are based on the idea of a computer game, a quest, but at the same time they incorporate the entire arsenal of forensic tools for investigation, evidence collection, verification of versions, and so on. That is, they allow you to simulate the situation of investigating certain types of crimes in a game form. And the first lessons on them have already aroused great interest not only among students, but also among our fellow practitioners and scientists, — emphasized Roman Borovskikh.

In addition to NSU students, participants of the first international student festival of cybercriminology were able to work on cyber simulators CRIMELABE Fest-2024, organized by the university last fall. The event was a success, and Roman Borovskikh invited all the forum participants to take part in the next festival, which will take place approximately in September 2025.

It can be expected that by that time the list of situations simulated on virtual training grounds will expand even more – simulator developers are constantly improving their product.

— Not long ago, we formed a working group, which included university employees as theorists and employees of the Investigative Committee as practitioners. The goal is to improve this educational technology. In particular, we added to the range of simulated situations the investigation of an airliner crash, sabotage at infrastructure facilities. And we continue this work. I think we will be able to show a lot of interesting things at the next festival, — Roman Borovskikh summed up.

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April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Sobyanin: Hospital No. 31 has become one of the flagships of the capital’s medicine in 55 years

Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

City Clinical Hospital (CCH) No. 31 named after Academician G. M. Savelyeva celebrates its 55th anniversary. Over more than half a century of work, the institution has become one of the flagships of the capital’s medicine. Sergei Sobyanin spoke about this in his telegram channel.

“The largest traumatology complex operates here, as well as departments of cardiovascular surgery, urology, and gynecology,

modern perinatal center and a women’s health center and other departments. Emergency and planned care is provided according to the most modern standards,” the Mayor of Moscow wrote.

Source: Sergei Sobyanin’s Telegram channel @Mos_Sobyanin

Every year, about 70 thousand patients undergo treatment at City Clinical Hospital No. 31. More than 40 thousand operations are performed here, including those using robotic technologies, and over six thousand births are performed. In addition, the hospital serves as a clinical base for departments of leading medical universities in Russia.

In 2023, City Clinical Hospital No. 31 was named after Galina Mikhailovna Savelyeva, an outstanding physician, academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and Hero of Labor of the Russian Federation. This year, the staff of City Clinical Hospital No. 31 was awarded the Pirogov Order — for the first time among Moscow hospitals.

“I congratulate the employees on their anniversary and well-deserved award. Thank you for your work and care for the health of Muscovites!” added Sergei Sobyanin.

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HTTPS: //vv.mos.ru/mayor/tkhemes/12566050/

MIL OSI Russia News –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: From projects to expeditions: what children do in environmental clubs

Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

Distinguishing animals by their tracks, determining the quality of water in reservoirs and finding their way around the area are all things that students of environmental clubs open in the capital’s schools and institutions of additional education can do. Children participate in campaigns, go on hikes and expeditions, conduct research and implement projects. We tell you about the activities that help schoolchildren become real defenders of nature.

Moscow Palace of Pioneers: from expeditions to Kamchatka to space exploration

You can study the laws of nature and get acquainted with natural sciences at the environmental education center inMoscow Palace of Pioneers on Sparrow Hills (Kosygina Street, Building 17, Buildings 4, 5). There are classes for children from five to 18 years old.

“We introduce children to natural sciences. The center has more than 100 clubs in a variety of areas – from botany and zoology to medicine and organic chemistry. Among them, there is a unique one – a biogeography club, which helps children understand the relationship between biology and geography. Schoolchildren are told about the features of the climate, types of soil and plants. Our goal is to instill in children a love for nature and teach them to protect it. We show how important it is to take care of the environment, because it is a source of inspiration and knowledge,” says the head of the environmental education center, Alexey Bobrov.

To make studying sciences more exciting, a botanical garden has been opened in the Palace of Pioneers. Classes are held there for young biologists of the environmental education center. The botanical garden has a rich collection – more than five thousand species of plants from all over the world. Future zoologists can also get in touch with nature. A zoological museum has been created for them in the Palace of Pioneers, which contains four thousand exhibits. There is also a special living corner. It is home to basilisk lizards that look like small dragons, giant New Guinea grasshoppers, macaws, guinea pigs, chinchillas, meerkats and other animals.

From a young age, children in the environmental education center’s clubs develop projects and even participate in research by the state corporation Roscosmos. Children plan biological experiments that cosmonauts then conduct in flight. For example, for one of the studies, a container with duckweed leaves was sent into orbit. Together with the cosmonauts, the children tracked how the plant develops in zero gravity.

In the spring, students from different clubs at the center form teams and go to the Moscow region, where they have practical classes and conduct field research. The kids work in forests, meadows, rivers and swamps. Like real scientists, they take soil and water samples and then analyze them in a mobile laboratory. In addition, schoolchildren learn to identify species of animals, plants and mushrooms. Anyone can go on such an adventure starting in the third grade.

“From the age of 14, young ecologists, together with teachers from our center, go on expeditions to regions of Russia or other countries. Such trips last up to six weeks. During them, the children take samples on assignment from Russian research institutes or study flora and fauna, collect minerals. Schoolchildren have already visited Karelia, Baikal, Chukotka, the North and South Caucasus, and even China. Last summer, the children were in Kamchatka, where they studied plants and marine life from the Red Book, watched birds, and even saw a brown bear,” says Alexey Bobrov.

According to him, the knowledge and skills acquired in eco-clubs often help schoolchildren choose their future profession. Many of them enter the natural science departments of the country’s leading universities and build a career in science.

Northern rivers, smoking volcanoes and mountain peaks: what hikes Moscow schoolchildren and students have been on Winter Garden, Ship Laboratory and Robot Workshop: How the Palace of Pioneers on Vorobyovy Gory Is Organized

Palace of Children and Youth Creativity “Na Stopani”: from preschoolers to future scientists

The environmental center also offers great opportunities for young biologists. Palace of Children and Youth Creativity “Na Stopani” (Ogorodnaya Sloboda lane, building 6, building 1). Popular areas include the sections “Young connoisseurs of nature”, “Zoological research” and “Our pets”, where children study animals and the conditions in which they are kept, if they are domestic, or ways to preserve them as a species, if they live, for example, in forests, steppes or swamps.

“Each program is designed for two to three years. If the child wants to develop further, he can choose any other section. We have sections for children of different ages – from preschoolers to graduates. We strive to teach children to take care of nature,” says Andrey Rodionov, a teacher of additional education, head of the environmental center of the Palace of Children’s and Youth Creativity “Na Stopani”.

Classes for the youngest children (from age five) are held in a playful manner. Together with teachers, they go to parks, where they close their eyes and listen to the singing of birds or the rustling of leaves. Older children conduct laboratory research with microscopes, study the habits of animals and learn to care for them.

In addition, the center’s students traditionally participate in the All-Russian environmental social and educational project “Ekolyata”. They plant trees and hold clean-up days, defend their work at competitions and forums. Recently, the children performed in the library of the Moscow Zoo with the program “Ekostinye Ekolyata: “Amazing is Nearby””, dedicated to the Red Book of Russia. Young ecologists presented projects to preserve rare animals of the country and endangered species of the planet. The ideas interested scientists – now they await further development.

Thanks to the classes at the center, the children created a project of an invisible ecological shield — a system of ionizing nets, developed jointly with the participants of the physics club section “Robotics in Space”. Initially, the schoolchildren went to Lefortovo Park and examined local ponds, took water samples and analyzed its composition. The nets retain ions of heavy metals and other harmful impurities, preventing them from settling on water and plants.

And the guys from the robotics section will work on creating automated systems for cleaning networks from pollution and maintaining their magnetization. This approach will help effectively protect the capital’s water bodies from pollution.

Herbariums, microscopes and wild animals: what schoolchildren study in the Moscow Zoo’s young biologists’ club Amur tiger, anteaters and potto: how the scientific department of the Moscow Zoo helps to preserve rare animals

Palace of Children and Youth Creativity “Undiscovered Islands”: the world under the microscope

Schoolchildren are invited to get to know nature betterPalace of Children and Youth Creativity “Undiscovered Islands”. Each branch holds classes for children aged five to 15. For example, in the “Island of Freedom” palace division (65 Svobody Street, Building 1), children conduct research, study plants and animals, and participate in environmental campaigns.

“One of the most interesting areas is “The World Under the Microscope”, where children conduct natural science research. During lessons, they use microscopes with digital screens, binoculars, laboratory sets for experiments and interactive boards. In addition, the “Amazing Nearby” club is popular. At different times of the year, children go to natural areas, where they learn to identify the tracks of hares and squirrels or distinguish beaver teeth marks – gnawings – from broken branches. They also observe how nature changes with the onset of new seasons,” says Anna Lukyanchikova, an additional education teacher at the Palace of Children’s and Youth Creativity “Undiscovered Islands”.

This year, the Undiscovered Islands Children and Youth Creativity Palace opened a club called “Birds: Amazing Ornithology.” Its participants try to observe birds and learn how their living conditions are affected by proximity to humans. There are groups for every age. Registration is open from September to May.

“In addition, for interested children, we hold master classes where they can make crafts related to the topics of the classes. For example, if we study fauna, we make animal figurines. We also organize eco-quests. During them, children solve riddles, look for animal tracks and study nature in a playful way. In addition, we participate in clean-up days and feed birds. It is important to take care of what surrounds us and try to preserve it,” adds Anna Lukyanchikova.

Moscow Children’s and Youth Center for Ecology, Local History and Tourism: Go on a Hiking Trip

Environmental education helps not only to learn more about nature, but also to develop personal qualities, the director is sure Moscow Children and Youth Center for Ecology, Local History and Tourism (Odesskaya street, house 12a) Dmitry Morgun.

“Nature is a book that a child needs to be taught to read. To do this, we develop thematic programs and invite zoologists, botanists, ecologists, geographers and other experts to classes. More than 7.5 thousand people study at our center. Clubs are open to children from 10 to 16 years old. Younger schoolchildren study nature, and older students offer solutions to environmental problems, go on hikes and expeditions across the regions of Russia. During trips, under the guidance of teachers, children learn to pitch tents, cook over a fire and navigate the terrain. This not only develops practical skills, but also helps them develop leadership qualities and learn to work in a team,” says Dmitry Morgun.

Schoolchildren bring back rock samples, fossils and animal photographs from expeditions, which they then display at exhibitions in the center. Today, the exhibitions “Plant Diversity,” “Mammals of Russia,” and “Paleontological Finds in the Central Federal District” are open there.

The center’s students can study the nature of Russia not only on long expeditions, but also in the natural areas of Moscow. This spring, the center opened a club called “Young Naturalist Path.” Classes are held in the Losiny Ostrov National Park. The children learn to assess the environmental situation, find solutions to improve the environment, study plants and observe animals. Employees of the Losiny Ostrov Ecocenter the capital’s Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection talk about the importance of preserving biodiversity.

Closer to the summer holidays, a “Field Eco-School” will open for schoolchildren. Children will walk routes in parks every day, observe seasonal changes, and study flora and fauna.

“Nature will always be the center of attention. Therefore, if a parent sees that a child is interested in ecology, it is necessary to support such interest. And the capital has all the opportunities for this,” says Dmitry Morgun.

Enroll a child You can join an environmental club on the mos.ru portal in the “Education” section. The window that opens will show filters for selecting an institution and direction. You can also specify the most convenient area or the nearest metro station. It is recommended to enroll in clubs at the beginning of the school year, as the number of places is limited.

From Art to Science. The Best Educational Programs for Children in Moscow Robots, biochemistry and composites for the Arctic: what innovative developments are being created by Moscow schoolchildren From artistic fencing to eSports. What unusual sections do young Muscovites attend?

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

https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/152067073/

MIL OSI Russia News –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI China: China museum to screen international science movies

Source: China State Council Information Office 3

The China Science and Technology Museum said on Tuesday that it would launch a month-long display of 50 movies with special visual effects, to offer audiences an opportunity to engage with the world’s science-themed cinematic works.

Running from April 8 to May 5, the screening is a part of the sci-tech section of the upcoming 15th Beijing International Film Festival.

The films originate from 14 countries, including China, Russia, the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom. They cover a diverse range of topics, from nature and aerospace to frontier technology and fantasy animation.

They will be shown on dome screens, giant screens and 4D.

Four of the featured films will have their Asian premieres, and 21 will be shown for the first time in China during the screening, which will also include 21 classic and domestic science movies for free viewing, according to the museum.

Other activities, such as academic salons, science education initiatives and film concerts will be held along with the film exhibition.

MIL OSI China News –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Kim Il Sung University is exploring the possibility of opening a representative office in Novosibirsk’s Akademgorodok

Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

Kim Il Sung University, the leading university in the DPRK, is exploring the possibility of opening its representative office in Akademgorodok. Currently, the leadership of Novosibirsk State University, the Presidium of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and the scientific and technological park of the Novosibirsk Akademgorodok are actively engaged in resolving organizational issues and searching for a potential location for this representative office.

The opening of the representative office will strengthen scientific and educational ties between North Korea and Russia, create a platform for joint research and exchange of experience in various fields of science and technology, and attract the attention of students and scientists to the educational opportunities provided by Novosibirsk.

It is expected that this cooperation will result in joint research programs, student and teacher exchanges, and scientific conferences and seminars. This will create additional opportunities for the internationalization of education in both countries and will enhance the level of scientific research.

— The visit of the delegation of Kim Il Sung University to Novosibirsk took place at the end of January 2025, within the framework of it, the rectors of Novosibirsk State University and Kim Il Sung University expressed confidence that the establishment of the representative office will be an important step towards the development of bilateral relations in the field of science and education. They also emphasized the importance of interaction with international partners to solve urgent scientific and technological problems facing society, – commented Evgeny Sagaydak, Head of the Department of Education Export at NSU.

In addition, an agreement was reached that a partner school would be found in North Korea for WITH specialized educational scientific center of NSU (Physics and Mathematics School). This will allow us to jointly prepare North Korean schoolchildren for admission to Novosibirsk State University, providing them with the necessary knowledge and skills for successful study.

The delegation of Kim Il Sung University also confirmed its intention to participate in the events of Interweek, which will be held at NSU in late April. This will open up new opportunities for the exchange of experience and knowledge between schoolchildren and teachers, and will also demonstrate interest in establishing closer academic ties between the two countries.

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 –

April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Plan to boost financial support for tech innovation

Source: China State Council Information Office

China on Tuesday unveiled a plan to strengthen financial services for technology-based enterprises, as part of the country’s efforts to promote integrated advancements in technological and industrial innovation.

The plan, jointly issued by the National Financial Regulatory Administration, the Ministry of Science and Technology and the National Development and Reform Commission, outlines measures to boost financial services including service mechanism establishment, product supply, specialized services and risk control capabilities.

The plan aims to promote the establishment of a financial service mechanism, supporting parties such as governments at all levels, technology firms, financial institutions, venture capital funds, and third-party intermediary service agencies in building a multi-level technology financial service ecosystem.

Efforts will be made to bolster services in technology credit and insurance, promote the pilot projects of technology finance policies, strengthen cooperation with institutions such as venture capital, and support the bond financing of technology-based enterprises.

Financial institutions are encouraged to leverage advanced technologies including cloud computing, big data and artificial intelligence to develop digital business tools to enhance operational effectiveness and risk control capabilities.

Financing guarantee services will be enhanced for technology-based enterprises, with the establishment of a differentiated assessment and evaluation system, according to the plan.

MIL OSI China News –

April 2, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: The Medical Research Future Fund has grown far beyond its target. Why is so much of the money unused?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lesley Russell, Adjunct Associate Professor, Menzies Centre for Health Policy and Economics, University of Sydney

AshTproductions/Shutterstock

Australian researchers are reeling from the international reach of the Trump administration’s ideological war on science and research, which threatens local research projects that receive funding from the United States National Institutes of Health.

In this context, some may have found a grain of comfort in Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s budget reply speech with his commitment of continued support for the Medical Research Future Fund.

The fund provides a concrete opportunity to supplant those US funds without further cost to the federal budget. But to date the Medical Research Future Fund has struggled to deliver on the promises made at its inception in 2015 that, a decade on, are still so needed.

What is the Medical Research Future Fund?

This research fund was the sweetener in the Abbott government’s 2014–2015 budget, which slashed spending in health and Indigenous Affairs. Virtually all the savings were invested in the new research fund, with the target of reaching $A20 billion at maturity (this happened in 2020) and then distributing $1 billion each year.

The funds are allocated in accordance with the Medical Research Future Fund’s funding principles. They are based on Australia’s medical and research innovation strategy (revised every five years) and priorities (which should be revised every two years, but have not been updated since 2022). These are set by an independent medical research advisory board.

However, it is the federal government, via the Minister for Health and Aged Care, who develops the ten-year investment plan and has the final say in how funds are used.

How is the money being used?

The current ten-year plan (for the decade to 2033–2034) has four themes: patients, researchers, research missions and research translation. There are 22 initiatives under these themes across a wide range of basic and clinical research areas, population health initiatives and commercialisation endeavours.

The Future Fund Management Agency is in charge of investing the funds which, by September 2024, had now grown to $23.85 billion.

But although the returns on investment have always been above the annual set targets, the returns to research have fallen well short. This is because in 2021 the Morrison Government – with Labor support – enacted legislation to cap the fund’s expenditure at $650 million a year.

Since 2015, the fund’s investments have earned $6.435 billion. Yet only $3.15 billion has gone out to fund research (data as of September 2024).

This year, the Future Fund Board of Guardians has set the “maximum annual distribution amount” at $1.053 billion.

The cap on yearly spending means $403 million that could boost research funding remains locked up in an oversubscribed investment portfolio. That pot of unallocated research funds will continue to grow unless there are legislative changes to lift the cap.

A tough climate for research

It’s not an exaggeration to say these are tough times for Australian researchers. Australian investment in research and development, as a proportion of GDP, has been falling steadily behind the OECD average.

Funding awarded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (the other main source of government funding for biomedical research) has almost flat-lined over the past decade, at an average of $887 million a year.

Success rates for researchers securing National Health and Medical Research Council and Medical Research Future Fund grants are at historic lows. The adverse impact on research and researchers is recognised on the National Health and Medical Research Council website.

The COVID pandemic, the growing obesity epidemic, the burgeoning mental health crisis, health threats of climate change, the disappointing failures of Closing the Gap initiatives, and growing health inequalities – all point to the need to spend more on research and to do this smarter.

The Medical Research Future Fund could and should do much more to fulfil its aim “to transform health and medical research and innovation to improve lives, build the economy and contribute to health system sustainability”.

So, is it working?

Over the years, there has been a range of criticisms of the fund’s processes. These prevent it from realising its mission and include:
- funds have been allocated outside the established priorities
- reporting on the fund’s activities and outcomes is not timely and lacks transparency and accountability (note the required report to parliament for 2022–2024 is not yet available)
- there is no collaboration across research missions and with the various agencies of the federal government, particularly the the National Health and Medical Research Council
- not enough has been done to ensure consumers and patients are actively consulted and involved
- funding is focused on disease groups with high rates of premature deaths at the expense of those that cause disabilities.
What’s being done to fix the issues?

Some of these issues are being addressed. In particular, efforts are underway to reform the governance and administration of the Medical Research Future Fund and the National Health and Medical Research Council’s Medical Research endowment account. This to ensure the community obtains the greatest benefits from these investments in health and medical research. However, the timetable is regrettably slow – this work began in May 2023.

The hard reality is that boosting Australia’s biomedical research capabilities and capacities requires bipartisan political commitment, which has been scarce in recent times.

The last two budgets from the Albanese Government offered little for research, aside from the existing commitments to the fund. To date, all we have from Dutton is a single statement highlighting his role in establishing the fund and his ongoing commitment to it.

It’s time to boost Australia’s reputation as a country that nurtures and promotes research excellence. This would be both an investment in Australians’ health and well-being and Australia’s economy and a counter to Trump’s denigration of biomedical science.

I have previously worked as a health policy advisor to the Australian Labor Party.

– ref. The Medical Research Future Fund has grown far beyond its target. Why is so much of the money unused? – https://theconversation.com/the-medical-research-future-fund-has-grown-far-beyond-its-target-why-is-so-much-of-the-money-unused-253338
MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –
April 2, 2025
MIL-OSI China: China’s lunar exploration achieves systematic progress

Source: China State Council Information Office 2

A researcher shows a lunar sample retrieved by the Chang’e-6 mission at the lunar sample laboratory in the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 24, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
China’s lunar exploration program has made systematic advancements across scientific research, technological innovation, engineering development and international collaboration over the past two decades, Wu Weiren, the chief designer of China’s lunar exploration program, told Xinhua.
Wu made the remarks in an interview on Tuesday at the opening of an exhibition at the National Museum of China, which highlights two decades of the country’s lunar exploration program.
Wu noted that China’s lunar exploration program has produced a wealth of geological and environmental data, uncovering new elements, minerals and phenomena — greatly enriching humanity’s knowledge of the moon.
He said that China has not only achieved breakthroughs in core aerospace technologies, but has also established a unique lunar exploration project system and formed a relatively complete infrastructure system.
“Furthermore, the country has actively promoted international collaboration through data-sharing and joint research initiatives, significantly advancing global lunar exploration efforts,” he said.
Looking ahead, Wu said that China plans to launch the Chang’e-7 mission around 2026 to explore the environment and resources of the south pole of the moon. The Chang’e-8 mission, set for around 2028, will conduct experiments for the in-situ utilization of lunar resources.
He revealed that scientists are developing a solar-powered device capable of melting lunar soil at temperatures of 1,400 to 1,500 degrees Celsius to produce “lunar bricks” through 3D printing — an essential step toward constructing a future lunar research station.
Lunar samples collected by China’s Chang’e-5 and Chang’e-6 missions are on display as part of the exhibition.
“This marks the first time in human history that samples from the moon’s near and far sides can be observed side by side,” Wu said, calling this a major achievement of China’s lunar exploration efforts.
He noted that China will make more lunar samples available for global scientific research, fostering discoveries that will benefit all of humanity.
The exhibition, hosted by the National Museum of China and the China National Space Administration, will run for two months.

MIL OSI China News –

April 2, 2025