Category: Science

MIL-OSI: Viridien and Matnex partner to accelerate AI-powered materials discovery
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Paris, France – February 20, 2025

Viridien, an advanced technology and digital company, and Materials Nexus Ltd. (trading as Matnex), a leader in AI-driven materials discovery, are partnering to rapidly scale Matnex’s computational capacity for the discovery and production of groundbreaking materials.

The partnership between Viridien and Matnex reflects a shared goal to accelerate innovation and reduce the environmental impact of technologies critical to the net-zero transition in areas such as energy generation, energy storage, transport and sustainable computing.

This expansion of computational resources, powered by Viridien’s Outcome-as-a-Service model, represents a paradigm shift in materials discovery. By leveraging AI/HPC and optimization expertise, Viridien will industrialize Matnex’s innovation pipeline. This partnership is set to deliver the highest throughput of new material discoveries globally, unlocking unprecedented commercial opportunities and industry-wide transformation.

Dr. Jonathan Bean, CEO of Matnex, said: “This project marks a major leap forward in materials science. By harnessing AI at this scale, we can tackle complex challenges that have previously been beyond reach. This partnership with Viridien provides us with computational power that is not only unrivalled but transformative for the field of materials discovery.”

Chris Page, EVP, New Business Development, Viridien, said: “This agreement is another exciting example of how Viridien’s HPC & Cloud Solutions teams are collaborating with high HPC baseload scientific companies to achieve faster, more accurate results with lower and more predictable R&D and operating costs enabling them to accelerate scientific discoveries and push innovative products to the market more quickly and economically. We are particularly delighted to be supporting Matnex’s research into next-generation materials for the HPC industry. This fits well with our corporate commitment to help catalyze technology innovations for a more sustainable future for society.”

About Viridien:

Viridien (www.viridiengroup.com) is an advanced technology, digital and Earth data company that pushes the boundaries of science for a more prosperous and sustainable future. With our ingenuity, drive and deep curiosity we discover new insights, innovations, and solutions that efficiently and responsibly resolve complex natural resource, digital, energy transition and infrastructure challenges. Viridien employs around 3,500 people worldwide and is listed as VIRI on the Euronext Paris SA (ISIN: FR001400PVN6).

Contacts

Attachment
- PR Viridien Matnex HPC agreement
The MIL Network –
February 20, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: BD intent to separate business could allow competitors to rise in IVD test markets, says GlobalData

Source: GlobalData

BD intent to separate business could allow competitors to rise in IVD test markets, says GlobalData

Posted in Medical Devices

Becton Dickinson (BD) has recently announced its intent to separate its biosciences and diagnostic solutions business. The biosciences segment includes research instruments and reagents, and single-cell multiomics, while the diagnostic solutions segment consists of microbiology and infectious disease diagnostics. According to the company, the two segments earned over $3 billion in revenue in fiscal 2024. BD’s move could allow competitors to rise in in-vitro diagnostic (IVD) test markets, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

According to GlobalData’s US Healthcare Facility Invoicing Database, BD has market-leading products in the IVD space, holding just under 20% of the sexual health tests market, with strong products BD ProbeTec and BD MAX, which will be part of the split from BD. With Hologic holding the majority of market share for sexual health tests, it will be interesting to see if BD’s segments can be grown in this market.

Amy Paterson, Medical Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “BD’s intent to split two segments off from their company provides other companies in the IVD space with a unique opportunity to strengthen their own product offerings. For example, in the sexual health tests market, an IVD competitor could acquire the BD segments to compete against Hologic. Alternatively, Hologic could use BD’s segments to strengthen its position in the market and ensure they face no competition.”

In the respiratory disease tests market, no company is making up more than 50% of the market revenue. By acquiring and strengthening the point-of-care infectious disease tests, for example, a company in this space could potentially gain enough market share to dominate the respiratory disease tests space.

Paterson continues: “IVD competitors who are at the top of their market could acquire these segments from BD to secure more of the market and keep competition down. As well, smaller players in the market could use these segments to grow their market share and compete with the larger players.”

Paterson concludes: “Companies with IVD products in the sexual health test and respiratory disease test spaces should look at BD’s announcement as an opportunity to strengthen their presence and should consider how BD’s established products could help strengthen their sales and grow their market share.”

MIL OSI Economics –

February 20, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Chinese scientists achieve breakthrough in integrated photonic quantum chips

Source: China State Council Information Office 2

Chinese scientists have achieved a major breakthrough in integrated photonic quantum chips by demonstrating the first “continuous-variable” quantum multipartite entanglement and cluster states on the chip.
The breakthrough addresses a critical gap in the development of photonic quantum chips and lays the foundation for scalable quantum entanglement, with potential applications in quantum computing and quantum networks.
The research, led by scientists from Peking University and Shanxi University, was published in the latest issue of Nature.
Integrated photonic quantum chips are advanced platforms designed to encode, process, transmit, and store quantum information at the chip level. However, achieving large-scale quantum entanglement of photonic qubits on these chips has long posed a significant challenge.
One key difficulty has been the deterministic and scalable preparation of cluster states, which are crucial in quantum information science, particularly for photonic quantum chips, said Wang Jianwei, a professor at Peking University.
By developing new technologies for coherent pumping, control, and measurement of continuous-variable cluster states, the team successfully prepared various cluster states in a deterministic and reconfigurable manner. The entanglement structures were rigorously validated through extensive experimental testing.
“We have pioneered the development of a continuous-variable quantum chip, enabling the deterministic generation of cluster states directly on the chip,” Wang said. “Our work highlights the potential of these integrated devices for advancing quantum computing, networking and sensing.”
“This achievement marks a breakthrough by Chinese scientists in the field of integrated photonic quantum chips,” said Gong Qihuang, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
This breakthrough opens a new pathway for the preparation and manipulation of large-scale quantum entangled states, which are critical for the development of quantum computing and quantum network technologies, Gong said.
Earlier, the research team developed an ultra-large-scale photonic quantum chip that integrates about 2,500 components, providing a scalable and stable core for future quantum computers.

MIL OSI China News –

February 20, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Households are burning plastic waste as fuel for cooking and heating in slums the world over
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bishal Bharadwaj, Adjunct Research Fellow, Curtin Institute for Energy Transition, Curtin University

Poor people in vast city slums across the Global South are burning plastic to cook their food, warm their homes and boil water for hot showers.

Waste plastic is plentiful and highly flammable. So it’s not surprising people in developing countries, mainly in Africa, Asia and Latin America, are putting it to use – especially as wood is increasingly scarce.

But burning plastic is hazardous, as it releases toxins into the surrounding air – and possibly into the food on the stove.

We wanted to draw attention to this growing problem, which has received little attention to date despite the many potential harms.

In our new “perspective” paper, published in Nature Cities, we explain why so many communities are using plastic as an energy source.

We then explore further research needed and recommend ways for policymakers to tackle the issue.

Mountains of plastic waste

The world has produced more plastic in the past 20 years than the total previously produced since commercial production began in 1950. Roughly half a billion tonnes of plastic is now produced every year.

Plastic production is still accelerating. Global plastic use is predicted to almost triple by 2060 due to soaring demand from a growing population with rising incomes.

Unfortunately, most plastic is not recycled. Instead, it is discarded and ultimately ends up polluting marginal land such as flooded areas and open dumping grounds before making its way into the ocean.

Burning plastic waste for cooking and heating is becoming increasingly common in city slums. a–f, Photographs showing the use of plastic to start a fire in Koshi Province in Nepal (a), a household heating milk by burning plastic in Madhesh province of Nepal (b) and the burning of plastic in Guwahati, India (c), in Enugu, Nigeria (d,e) and in the slums of Lahore, Pakistan (f). Credits for photographs: a, Srijana Baniya; b, Pramesh Dhungana; c, Monjit Borthakur; d,e, Chizoba Obianuju Oranu; f, Sobia Rose.
Bharadwaj, B., Gates, T., Borthakur, M. et al. The use of plastic as a household fuel among the urban poor in the Global South. Nat Cities (2025).

A product of energy poverty in city slums

Increasing urbanisation is reducing access to traditional fuels such as wood and crop residue from farmland.

But plastic is readily available. Low-income households with little or no access to gas or electricity often find themselves living alongside mountains of rubbish.

This plastic, made from fossil fuels, represents a cheap and convenient fuel. It’s lightweight, easy to transport, and a nuisance material that people want to be rid of. Plastic is also relatively easy to dry and store, but can burn even when wet. It’s also flexible and pliable, so it can be used easily in traditional cooking arrangements such as basic stoves.

Burning plastic releases toxins such as dioxins, furans and heavy metals into the air. These chemicals are known to cause cancer, heart disease and lung diseases.

The more vulnerable people in the household – including women and children and those who spend more time indoors – tend to be most exposed to the fumes. But the problem also affects people in the neighbourhood and the wider community.

Burning plastic is likely to also contaminate food. For example, eggs from farms near plastic waste incinerators in Indonesia contained hazardous chemicals from burned plastic. However, more evidence is needed around food contamination.

Furthermore, when households burn plastic bottles and other containers, some of the original contents also burn. Given chemicals are poorly regulated, the consequences of burning plastic could be greater still.

Overcoming the problem

A first step to overcoming the problem is understanding the reality of those living in slums. Policy-makers need to recognise these people’s needs and the challenges they face.

Extensive research is needed to design the most effective and inclusive policy interventions. This needs to be addressed if we are to reduce the associated health and environmental impacts on such large populations across the world.

We have gathered a collaborative, multidisciplinary team of researchers from around 35 countries – mostly in the Global South – to better understand the problem. We recently completed a survey of people exposed to the issue such as local government employees, teachers and community workers in more than 100 cities in 26 countries.

We are also examining the emissions from waste plastic during food preparation to determine the extent of contamination in variety of stoves.

Nobody wants to burn plastic waste to cook food, so policies like ban on burning plastic with out contextual intervention will not work. There is a need to design inclusive policy interventions that provide equitable benefits to the wider community. For example, encouraging people to:
- wash any plastic before it is burned, to remove chemical residues
- use improved cookstoves that vent the fumes outside
- expand basic urban amenities like waste management to low income settlements
- provide support to help lift households out of poverty.
Each approach will depend on the specific requirements of the slum settlement. But by implementing multiple approaches in parallel, we can tackle the problem more effectively.

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

– ref. Households are burning plastic waste as fuel for cooking and heating in slums the world over – https://theconversation.com/households-are-burning-plastic-waste-as-fuel-for-cooking-and-heating-in-slums-the-world-over-250265
MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –
February 20, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Building climate resilience into food systems in the Eastern Gangetic Plains

Source: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research

The world’s highest concentration of rural poverty occurs in the Eastern Gangetic Plains of Bangladesh, India and Nepal – a region that is home to 450 million people.

Livelihoods in this part of the world rely greatly on agriculture. Opportunities to work with smallholder farmers can lay the foundations for a more productive, sustainable and diversified agricultural economy.

Among the research-for-development professionals on the ground is a team working on the Rupantar project, an ACIAR-supported initiative led by Dr Tamara Jackson of the University of Adelaide.

The Rupantar project operates at a whole-of-system level. It spans both social and farming practices and extends all the way through to policy settings, market opportunities and other agrifood system barriers holding smallholders back. It also builds on prior investments by ACIAR and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

Included in this integrated approach are considerations for climate impacts.

This concern saw 15 team members from the Rupantar project visit the University of Adelaide and regional South Australia and Victoria in October 2024. Funded as part of a DFAT Australia Awards Fellowship program, the study tour focused on climate resilience and adaptation.

The Rupantar project

‘Rupantar’ has a common meaning in Bangla, Hindi and Nepali. It means change on a level so profound that it is transformative. Launched in 2021, the Rupantar project is identifying opportunities for inclusive and diversified food production innovation.

Given the partnership model typical of ACIAR projects, these opportunities need to be priorities for local communities. They also need to be sustainable and to fit with longer-term climate, nutrition and available water resource projections.

Achieving this level of integration requires working on multiple levels at the same time. There is ground-up innovation – from personal to organisational. Then there are high-level policies that work down and can make important change on the ground.

Our hypothesis is that an integrated approach to livelihood change – coupled with inclusive and collaborative approaches – will result in more effective and sustainable development pathways.

Dr Tamara Jackson,
University of Adelaide

‘So, our goal is to understand the processes and practices needed to diversify food production in ways that improve farm livelihoods and reduce inequity, production risk and unsustainable resource use.’

The on-the-ground work with smallholders is implemented at sites in West Bengal (India), Rangpur (Bangladesh) and Koshi Province (Nepal). Implementation involves actioning ‘diversification pathways’ that were co-developed collaboratively with local partners.

Diversification pathways

The aim of these pathways is twofold. The first is to test diversification options and select the most appropriate crop and livestock options that are priorities for local communities. These are then implemented within existing networks and are aligned with institutional settings.

The second aim is to monitor the changes associated with the pathways, including long-term sustainability.

The project is also mindful that diversification can look very different to different members within households and can include off-farm income from seasonal male migration and greater reliance on women household members.

In all, three types of diversified systems are being explored:

• plant-based production, including crops and horticulture
• livestock-based, including chickens, goats and dairy that are especially important to women’s income
• irrigation-constrained systems.

‘The project is working on strengthening what already works about a farming system in the Eastern Gangetic Plain and building on innovations from prior projects, such as ACIAR’s introduction of conservation agriculture cropping practices,’ said Dr Jackson.

Long-running ACIAR initiatives in the Eastern Gangetic Plains worked with smallholder farmers across Bangladesh, India, and Nepal to introduce sustainable practices and innovations to intensify production.

The project team has spent the first 2 years on the ground running baseline surveys and mapping villages to better understand the system.

Implementation started in 2023 once it became clear what would work best in different settings. The visit to Australia in 2024 provided project partners with opportunities to observe what diversified and climate-resilient Australian farms look like.

Participants included Rupantar project partners from provincial government, cooperatives, farmer producer companies, NGOs, local university partners and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center.

Climate-smart innovation

Dr Jay Cummins from International Agriculture for Development hosted the study tour group and developed the course that focused on addressing the climate realities in collaboration with the Rupantar project.

The 20-day study tour was entitled ‘Supporting climate-smart, resilient food production networks in the Indo-Gangetic Plains’.

Key experts shared their experiences responding to climate change and on-farm visits examined how Australian agriculture builds climate resilience into its practices in different environmental and socioeconomic settings.

‘Included were visits to more rainfed, dryland cropping systems in the Mallee and, in addition, to irrigated production systems in the Murray–Darling Basin,’ said Dr Cummins.

The Australia Awards program provided a valuable mechanism to connect the participants with a whole range of Australian organisations and professionals, which in turn will help build international networks and collaboration.

Dr Jay Cummins
International Agriculture for Development

In the Eastern Gangetic Plain, food production can be heavily focused on wet season rice crops. In Australia, the visitors were able to explore dry season opportunities for diversified production of crops and livestock, including in mixed farming systems. They saw how Australian farmers manage risks around water scarcity and drought. At South Australian Riverland sites, discussions included irrigation and water management that present different diversification options.

Participant perspectives

Loxton farmer Brycen Rudiger (left)discusses the challenges of growing wheat in the Mallee region with Nepali participant Gautam Bhupal (right).

Among the participants were Dr Deepa Roy from India, Ms Bimala Pokhrel from Nepal and Dr Mamunur Rashid from Bangladesh.

Dr Roy is an agricultural extension expert based at Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, India. She told ACIAR that smallholder farmers in the Eastern Gangetic Plains face numerous challenges that can lock them into poverty.

These range from small and fragmented landholdings that make mechanisation difficult, to a lack of agronomic knowledge, limited agricultural support services, limited market access, financial constraints and climatic hazards.

‘Through the course several key insights and learnings emerged that may help our farmers in understanding and adopting climate resilient technologies,’ said Dr Roy.

Key insights for participants included:

• assessing the carbon footprint of farming and taking action to reduce it
• introducing efficient soil moisture management strategies such as mulching
• adopting agronomic practices such as crop rotations and climate-resilient crops
• building soil fertility
• advocating for improved climate forecasting
• adopting grower-led research and extension
• developing digital tools to monitor the adoption of innovation
• providing financial management training to smallholder farmers
• using podcasts and radio to provide farm advisory services.

Overall, Dr Roy said that the course equipped attendees with a holistic understanding of climate-smart practices. ‘It helped us not only to strengthen technical knowledge but also to develop critical soft skill and a deeper understanding of sustainable climate resilient farming.’

It’s a point of view shared by Ms Pokhrel, who works with the Ministry of Industry Agriculture and Cooperatives in Koshi Province, Nepal. She said the course enriched efforts to both help farmers and policymakers with future planning. And it worked by enhancing both her professional and personal capacity.

‘What stood out was the extent that Australian farmers have already adopted technology to mitigate against climate change,’ said Ms Pokhrel. ‘This was particularly stark when it came to soil health and sustainable soil management practices. One of the key learnings is that we can tailor these practices for our context in the Koshi Province and, in that way, improve crop productivity by improving soil health.’

Mr Rashid agreed. He is a research fellow at Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University in Dinajpur, Bangladesh. He noted that while ACIAR is helping to introduce conservation agriculture to Bangladesh, South Australian farmers have already adopted these soil and soil-moisture conserving practices.

They are also growing more legume crops for soil health and fertiliser benefits, adopting risk-aversion strategies amid climate variability, and introducing carbon farming to adapt to climate change.

Improved water management

Both Ms Pokhrel and Mr Rashid were especially impressed by Australian water management systems in drought-prone landscapes. They think these kinds of Australian practices have a role to play at the project sites.

While the cost and expertise required to adopt and maintain technologies such as drip irrigation systems used in Australia may be beyond the capacity of many smallholder farmers, the study tour has already inspired a new water conservation pilot project.

The Bangladesh team will launch ‘Conserving soil moisture through mulching technique in chili farming’ in the Rupantar project areas, focusing on farmers in northern Bangladesh, who experience frequent floods and droughts.

The Rupantar project delegation on tour in the northern Mallee of South Australia.

‘This initiative aims to use soil moisture and reduce irrigation in chilli farming, aided by Chameleon soil water sensors that can support decision-making for the farmers of the Rupantar project,’ said Mr Rashid.

Ms Pokhrel was greatly impressed by the grower-centric research, development and extension infrastructure built around farmers’ needs in Australia. For her, this was typified by organisations such as the Grains Research and Development Corporation and the Almond Board.

She thinks there are opportunities to ‘sensitise’ the different boards in Nepal to this approach.

Surprises for the project partners included the large size of farms given the small number of people working in agriculture.

What also surprised us is the rate of technology adoption by farmers, along with their dedication and the satisfaction they receive from the agricultural profession.

Ms Bimala Pokhrel
Nepal

‘Mallee Sustainable Farming System was impressive and working with farmers groups and developing the communication material in local languages are the things that we can develop for our smallholder farmers too.’

Finally, they praised the networking opportunities provided by the course, including with farmers, and opportunities to understand the people, country and culture.

ACIAR Project WAC/2020/148: ‘Transforming smallholder food systems in the Eastern Gangetic Plain’

MIL OSI News –

February 20, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Two in five scientists in our survey reported harassment and intimidation. Often, the perpetrators are inside the institution
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Hales, Director, Centre for Sustainable Enterprise, Griffith University

Roman Samborskyi/Shutterstock

The goal of science is to uncover truths and create new knowledge. But this is not always welcome. Increasingly, scientific findings are being attacked or downplayed. And scientists themselves face intimidation or harassment.

In our global study of more than 2,000 scientists across six areas of science, two-fifths (41%) of respondents had, as a result of their work, been harassed or intimidated at least once over a five-year period.

Intimidation efforts included online abuse, physical threats, and threats to budgets or employment. Harassment, while personal, could be meted out by superiors, colleagues or outsiders. Some scientists felt their leaders had thrown them under the bus to protect the institution’s reputation.

Who’s doing the intimidation? Strikingly, a majority of cases of intimidation and harassment actually came from inside the institution for most fields. That is, it was perpetrated by senior colleagues or managers. But for climate scientists, most intimidation efforts came from outside.

Intimidation of scientists doesn’t happen in a vacuum. In recent years, there has been a rise in populist leaders who pour scorn on “elites” and evidence. Scientific issues are increasingly politicised. Disinformation is rampant. This atmosphere adds to the pressure faced by scientists, especially those working in politically sensitive areas such as climate science or COVID.

Harassment and intimidation can silence or isolate scientists.
Hayk_Shalunts/Shutterstock

What did we find?

We used an online database of scientists to find and contact experts publishing in six fields: climate science, medical health, humanities and social science, food and plant science, astronomy, and other STEM areas.

More than 2,000 responded to our survey on whether they had experienced various types of intimidation or harassment. We asked respondents for more detail on the perpetrators, what triggered the incident, and what effect it had on them.

Many respondents had a clear view as to what the intimidation or harassment was meant to do. The motivations of perpetrators varied greatly. But the most common reasons were to damage their reputation, to stop them from publishing certain types of research, or to “put me in my place”.

Specific fields of science were more prone to harassment and intimidation – in particular climate science, and humanities and social science.

Among those scientists who had been intimidated, climate scientists reported online abuse three times more often than astronomers. Climate science is politically charged, because climate change is clearly linked to pollution from some of the world’s largest industries – oil, gas and coal. Astronomy is not. Half of the climate scientist respondents experiencing intimidation saw the bad behaviour as a way to discourage them from undertaking specific research and speaking about it.

Researchers from humanities and social sciences faced similar levels of online abuse to climate scientists.

When it came to personal harassment, there was a clear gender dimension. Among those who reported experiencing harassment, female scientists were more than four times more likely to report “unwelcome or inappropriate behaviour of a sexual nature” than their male counterparts. Women were affected almost twice as much as men by non-sexual forms of personal harassment.

Our findings follow earlier research finding similar rates of intimidation. For instance, a 2021 survey of 321 scientists working on COVID-19 found 15% had received death threats and 22% received threats of sexual violence.

Intimidation and harassment are damaging

The consequences of intimidation are profound and far-reaching. Many scientists told us the experience had caused lasting damage, whether to wellbeing, career prospects or research activities.

More than 40% of those affected said their career prospects had worsened following incidents of harassment. Just over a third (34%) reported a decline in their desire to work in science. Scientists who experienced intimidation often cut back their collaboration with colleagues (35%), leaving them more isolated.

Many of our respondents described flow-on effects such as decreased access to funding (35% of respondents) and less public communication from their institution about their work (23%).

Scientists targeted with multiple types of harassment reported very damaging effects, from difficulty finding their next job to poor mental health.

Intimidation slows progress

Intimidation and harassment have a chilling effect on science. This, in turn, could hinder progress on crucial issues such as climate change, public health and technological advancements.

The disproportionate impact on women and researchers in politically sensitive fields threatens to undermine diversity and inclusivity in science.

Without targeted interventions, women in science may continue to suffer disproportionate levels of harassment and intimidation. This will have long-term implications for gender diversity in scientific leadership and the direction of research in various fields.

In the United States, the Trump administration’s withdrawals from the Paris climate agreement and the World Health Organization are likely to further embolden anti-science movements. Many American scientific institutions are engaged in anticipatory obedience of the Trump administration’s demands that diversity and anti-discrimination programs be abolished, or climate change stop being mentioned. Many even go beyond what is explicitly sought.

Female scientists are targeted in different ways.
PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock

What can be done?

Science and academia is often seen as a bastion of free inquiry and open discussion. One of our most surprising findings was how common intimidation was within scientific institutions.

The key to beating intimidation is organisational support and clear strategies, not obedience. These include:
- genuine commitment to institutional policies protecting scientists from both internal and external intimidation
- formal, well-resourced support systems for researchers facing harassment or pressure (not the HR office)
- programs to increase public understanding of the scientific process to build trust and resilience to misinformation
- boosting international collaboration between scientists and policymakers to ensure resilience against country-specific efforts to undermine science
- educating the public on the importance of scientific independence and of fostering respectful dialogue around contentious topics.
As populist movements gain traction in many countries, scientists working on controversial issues will face heightened scrutiny – and potentially more intimidation.

Climate science is likely to remain a particularly contested field. As the damage wrought by climate change becomes more and more apparent, it will get even more contentious.

Over the last few centuries, science has produced breakthroughs in many areas. But the integrity of science is not guaranteed. Harassment and intimidation from both inside and outside institutions has a very real effect on scientists.

The future of evidence-based decision-making and ability to tackle global challenges depends on fostering an environment where scientists can work free from fear and undue pressure.

Robert Hale receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

David Peetz undertook research over many years with occasional financial support from governments from both sides of politics, employers and unions. He has been and is involved in several Australian Research Council-funded projects, including this one.

Ian Lowe was president of the Australian Conservation Foundation from 2004 to 2014.

Carolyn Troup and Georgina Murray do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Two in five scientists in our survey reported harassment and intimidation. Often, the perpetrators are inside the institution – https://theconversation.com/two-in-five-scientists-in-our-survey-reported-harassment-and-intimidation-often-the-perpetrators-are-inside-the-institution-248013
MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –
February 20, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Chinese scientists discover ‘rocket effect’

Source: China State Council Information Office 2

Chinese scientists have attributed the sudden movement of a boulder on the surface of a comet to a phenomenon known as the “rocket effect,” which resulted from the asymmetric outburst of volatile ice inside the boulder.
The findings, published in The Astrophysical Journal, are based on data captured by the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Rosetta mission during its two-year close flyby and observation of the comet 67P from 2014 to 2016.
In 2015, ESA’s Rosetta spacecraft detected the boulder shifting approximately 140 meters northward near the comet’s perihelion. A team led by Shi Xian from the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences analyzed high-resolution images and thermal data, concluding that uneven sublimation of volatile ice within the boulder generated thrust, propelling it across the surface.
The main body of a comet is its nucleus. When it is far from the sun, the comet is just the bare nucleus. As it gets closer to the sun, the ice within the nucleus sublimates, carrying dust to form a coma around the nucleus and trailing a tail behind it.
By analyzing the thermodynamic history of the boulder and its surrounding area, the research team discovered an asymmetry in the heat accumulation on the northern and southern sides of the boulder. When moving, its inner temperature on the southern side reached a peak, while the northern side remained unusually cold.
Based on these findings, the researchers proposed a novel mechanism for boulder movement: the volatile ice within the boulder undergoes intense outburst on one side due to asymmetric heating. This process creates a “rocket effect,” generating a net thrust directed downward along the northern slope, which triggers the boulder’s long-distance movement.
The team also mapped out a detailed timeline of activity and changes in the area where the boulder moved. They noticed that during and after the boulder’s movement, there were frequent outbursts of dust nearby at night, which likely happened because the boulder’s movement exposed icy layers beneath it.
As remnants of the primordial solar system, comets tell a lot about the early stage of solar system, making them crucial subjects for studying the formation and evolution of planetary systems, Shi said.
“As our research progresses, we’re discovering unexpectedly diverse comet activities. Understanding the mechanisms behind these could help us unveil the mysteries of the solar system’s evolution and the origins of life,” Shi added.

MIL OSI China News –

February 20, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: NZ has long suffered from low productivity. A simple fix is keeping workers happy

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dougal Sutherland, Clinical Psychologist, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington

bbernard/Shutterstock

The low-productivity bogeyman has long haunted New Zealand, with people working longer hours for lower output than other comparable countries. The country is now one of the least productive in the OECD.

At its most basic level, productivity measures how much output can be produced with a set of inputs. The inputs can be the work of staff, as well as technical innovation, research and development and automation to encourage more efficient processes.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has committed to resolving this persistent productivity crisis with science sector reforms and overseas investment.

But after decades of lagging behind the rest of the world, a growing body of research shows the answer could lie in greater support for workers’ mental health.

Linking productivity and mental health

For many, increasing productivity equates to people working “harder” for longer hours – the implication being that if only we “pulled finger” and “knuckled down” the country’s productivity would magically increase.

Instead, could the answer to our productivity crisis be in improving the psychological functioning and mental health of our workforce?

There is a substantial body of evidence showing poor mental health is related to poor productivity. Recent New Zealand data show workers with the poorest mental health lost more than three times the number of productive workdays annually (71 days) than those with the highest mental health (19 days).

Poor mental health can take a toll in the form of time away from work (absenteeism), loss of focus, and emotional exhaustion (presenteeism).

Conversely, measures taken by employers to improve the mental health of workers show a strong positive relationship with increased productivity.

Data from more than 1,600 publicly listed companies in the United States found employee wellbeing predicts higher company valuations, return on assets, gross profits and stock market performance.

Of those interventions used to improve mental health and productivity at work, the most promising appear to target leadership capability, health screening and psycho-socially healthy working environments.

One of the more notable initiatives happened in our own backyard. Andrew Barnes from Perpetual Guardian has been a vocal proponent of four-day work week.

This doesn’t mean packing a 40-hour week into four days instead of five. Rather, its central tenet is reducing the working week (usually to 32 hours), keeping workers’ salaries at 100%, and continuing productivity at 100% (at least) of its existing level.

Results from a pilot with 61 companies in the United Kingdom show an average increase of 36% per annum in revenue for participating businesses, with over 90% of UK businesses that have trialled the programme choosing to continue with it.

Similarly positive results came from a widespread trial of a shorter working week (at full pay) in Iceland, involving 1% of the working population, including office workers, teachers, and healthcare workers.

The four-day work week trial in Iceland has been heralded as a success.
Canadastock/Shutterstock

More than a ‘nice-to-have’

But despite the need to improve productivity and the growing business case for improving employee wellbeing, demand for organisational mental health services has dipped.

Anecdotally, organisations involved in supporting the mental health of New Zealand workplaces have reported a decrease in demand, with many businesses and government agencies citing budget constraints as a major barrier to investing in this area.

This is likely a sign of the economic times, with more than three-quarters of New Zealand business leaders citing economic uncertainty as a key threat to their organisation in 2025.

To some, providing psychological support to workplaces may appear frivolous at worst, and a “nice-to-have” at best. Understanding the mechanisms by which these interventions can boost productivity may help dispel these doubts.

If we consider some of the core symptoms of poor mental health at work – namely exhaustion, reduced focus and greater sickness absence – it’s easy to see how improving workers’ mental health can improve the productivity of a business.

Maintaining workers

The idea of sustainable labour practices isn’t new or radical, nor is it just another attempt to load businesses with extra responsibility for worker mental health.

It is a way to enable people to work more efficiently in the time they have, and to keep them in their jobs for longer. In turn, this improves overall company performance and, crucially, improves population health.

For many businesses, people are their biggest asset. Ensuring your biggest asset is functioning well is as essential to enhancing productivity as regular maintenance and capital expenditure on physical machinery and buildings.

Like any business strategy worth its while, it’s not always easy. But there is too much at stake not to get it right.

Dougal Sutherland is an Honorary Teaching Fellow at Te Herenga Waka. He is also Principal Psychologist at Umbrella Wellbeing.

Dr Amanda Wallis from Umbrella Wellbeing contributed to this article

– ref. NZ has long suffered from low productivity. A simple fix is keeping workers happy – https://theconversation.com/nz-has-long-suffered-from-low-productivity-a-simple-fix-is-keeping-workers-happy-248752

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

February 20, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Five best articles in Russian for 19.02.2025

MIL Analysis: Here are the top five Russian language articles published today. The analysis includes five key articles currently prioritized.

The economy is productive. The Moscow Exchange is providing its new records of profitability and opportunities for investors and traders to expand.

Education is evolving, with an increasing trend toward humanitarization. Peter the Great University in St. Petersburg strengthens the psychological health of students, staff and parents.

At Novosibirsk University you can see the exhibition “Life as a Vocation” dedicated to the work of Varlen Lvovich Soskin on February 26 at 11:50.

You can read one of the articles below.

1. Financial news: Moscow Exchange launched a full-featured version of the Algopack analytical service.

Moscow Exchange has expanded opportunities for investors and traders by launching a full-featured version of the analytical service “Algopack”. All users of the service now have access to a graphical interface for presenting data on all stocks and futures traded on the Moscow Exchange.

2. Financial news: The Moscow Exchange Full Yield Index updated its historical maximum.

The Moscow Exchange Total Return Index set a historical record, at the close of trading on February 17, 2025, its value was 8,199.68 points. This is the maximum index value since the start of calculation in January 2004. The previous maximum was recorded on October 20, 2021 at 8,125.76 points.

3. Do you want to talk about it? Polytechnic’s psychologists help you cope with stress.

Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –

“All diseases come from nerves,” people say, and for good reason. Constant stress is not harmless at all, and sometimes we do not even realize what serious consequences can result from worrying about personal troubles or events in the world, anxiety and worry, fear of failure and hyper-responsibility, and other similar things. In order to preserve mental health and performance, it is better to seek help from a specialist in a timely manner.

4. Dmitry Chernyshenko, Sergey Kravtsov, Valery Falkov and Grigory Gurov, Head of Rosmolodezh, commented on the results of the stratsession on the development of education.

Dmitry Chernyshenko took part in the stratsession on education development.

Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko, Minister of Education Sergey Kravtsov, Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov, Head of Rosmolodezh Grigory Gurov and Head of Rosobrnadzor Anzor Muzayev took part in the strategic session chaired by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.

5. The exhibition “Life as a Vocation” will open at NSU.

Novosibirsk State University -.

On February 26 at 11:50 a.m., the NSU History Museum will open the exhibition “Life as a Vocation” dedicated to the activities of Varlen Lvovich Soskin. The exhibition is part of a series of events timed to the 100th anniversary of the birth of Varlen Lvovich Soskin, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor, Honorary Professor of NSU, Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation, founder of the scientific school of modern Siberian science and cultural studies, veteran of the Great Patriotic War.

Learn more about MIL’s content and data services by visiting milnz.co.nz.

Regards MIL!

MIL OSI Russia News –

February 20, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Appointments – New CEO for Grasslanz Technology Limited

Source: Grasslanz Technology

Grasslanz Technology Limited is pleased to announce the appointment of Megan Skiffington as its new Chief Executive Officer, starting on 3 March 2025.

Megan’s appointment follows Dr John Caradus’ decision to step down as CEO after 19 years and move to the new role of Chief Technology Officer, so that he can focus on the science side of the business.

Grasslanz Technology is a commercial subsidiary of AgResearch focussed on the development and commercialisation of cutting-edge plant and microbial solutions for the primary sector.

As CEO, Megan will be responsible for leading the organisation into its next phase of development, with a focus on commercial delivery, solving problems for the sector and collaboration. This includes collaboration opportunities arising from the upcoming science system reforms, in which AgResearch will merge with other Crown Research Institutes to form a Public Research Organisation.

Megan brings with her a proven track record of successful partnerships, understanding of the research commercialisation process and strong relationships within the primary industry.

Grasslanz Board Chair Dr Ian Boddy says: “We are thrilled to welcome Megan to the GTL team and look forward to seeing her working with John and the team to continue delivering value for Grasslanz, our shareholders and NZ”.

Megan says she is excited about the opportunity to lead a company that is always innovating and focused on solutions for farmers and New Zealand.

“I’m excited to get alongside the team at Grasslanz to keep delivering innovative solutions for our farmers with our partners.”

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

February 20, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: CDC layoffs strike deeply at its ability to respond to the current flu, norovirus and measles outbreaks and other public health emergencies

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

The CDC played an instrumental, if imperfect, role in the response to COVID-19. JHDT Stock Images LLC/iStock via Getty Images

In just a few short weeks, the Trump administration has brought drastic changes to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and public health. Beginning with the removal of websites and key public health datasets in January 2025, the Trump administration has taken actions to dismantle established public health infrastructure as part of its second-term agenda.

In addition, the administration has begun a widespread purge of the federal public health workforce. As of Feb. 19, around 5,200 employees at the CDC and the National Institutes of Health had been let go. About 10% of the CDC’s staff have been removed, with plans for additional firings.

As a teaching professor and public health educator, I, like thousands of other health professionals, rely on CDC data and educational resources throughout my work. CDC websites are the first stop for health information for my students and for health care practitioners, and are vital to protecting the U.S. from infectious diseases, like avian flu and COVID-19, as well as noninfectious health conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease.

Here’s a quick look at what the CDC does to protect Americans’ health, and how it’s likely to be affected by the Trump administration’s actions:

Gutting the CDC’s capacity

Prior to the February cuts, the CDC employed over 10,000 full-time staff in roles spanning public health, epidemiology, medicine, communications, engineering and beyond to maintain this critical public health infrastructure.

In addition to the centers’ wide variety of functions to protect and promote public health in the U.S., a vast amount of research in the U.S. relies on CDC data. The CDC obtains data from all 50 states, territories and the District of Columbia, which is collated into widely utilized databases such as the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, National Health Interview Survey and Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

Several of these datasets and CDC websites were removed at the start of the second Trump term, and while they are currently back online due to a federal court order, it remains to be seen if these important sources of information will remain accessible and updated going forward.

The CDC also publishes the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, which allows for ongoing and timely surveillance of key health conditions. The reports cover a wide range of topics, including wildfires, motor vehicle accidents, autism, asthma, opioids, mental health and many others. The CDC plays a central role in monitoring and reporting the spread of flu in winter months through its FluView, which informs clinical practice as well as public health interventions.

Physicians are reporting that their ability to respond to the surges in respiratory viruses they are seeing has been hobbled by the missing data and by prohibitions on CDC staff communicating outside the agency.

The CDC’s famed “disease detectives,” part of the Epidemic Intelligence Service, appear to have been spared following public outcry after more than half of its members were initially told they would be let go as part of the Feb. 14 mass layoffs.

It remains to be seen if this group will remain intact long term. Concerns are growing that shakeups to the nation’s infectious disease surveillance teams will hamper the government’s ability to respond effectively at a time when avian flu and measles are growing concerns in the U.S.

The CDC’s headquarters are in Atlanta.
Nathan Posner/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

History of the CDC

The CDC began as a small branch of the U.S. Public Health Service in 1946 as an outgrowth of successes fighting malaria in southern states during World War II and before. Its founder, Dr. Joseph W. Mountin, envisioned that it would come to serve all states, addressing all communicable diseases. Since that time, the CDC has evolved into the nation’s premier public health organization, leveraging both clinical and population health sciences to prevent and mitigate challenges to the nation’s health.

In its first 40 years, the CDC helped eradicate smallpox and identify the causes of Legionnaires’ disease, toxic shock syndrome and HIV.

As the country’s primary health challenges have shifted from communicable diseases to noncommunicable ones over recent decades, the organization has adapted, expanding its reach and priorities to meet changing public health needs. The CDC also has the ability to flex and scale up efforts rapidly when needed to respond to novel outbreaks, which is essential for containing infectious diseases and preventing escalation.

CDC’s global reach

Recognizing that health does not exist in a vacuum, the CDC also operates internationally to mitigate health challenges that could threaten health in the U.S. over time. The agency is active in addressing diseases that are endemic in certain areas, such as tuberculosis and HIV. It also responds to outbreaks from emerging threats, like Ebola and Marburg virus disease.

The CDC played a crucial role in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, coordinating with the World Health Organization, domestic health agencies and others to plan and execute a robust response.

In 2024, the CDC worked with the WHO to respond to a Marburg virus outbreak in Rwanda that lasted for several months. On average, about half of people infected with Marburg virus do not survive, so early detection and effective response are essential to prevent loss of life and contain outbreaks before they spread widely.

On Jan. 20, 2025, the White House announced President Donald Trump’s plans to withdraw from the WHO. This move further weakens the country’s ability to manage and mitigate threats to Americans’ health and national security.

Not only does the WHO do essential work to protect children around the world from needless death due to starvation, but it monitors and responds to infectious diseases. The U.S. has been the largest contributor to the WHO, with approximately 12%-15% of its operating costs coming from the U.S. That means that removal of U.S. support will also affect the WHO’s capacity to respond to international public health issues.

As the COVID-19 pandemic made plain, a delayed response to infectious disease outbreaks can exponentially increase long-term costs and consequences. It remains to be seen what impact the established relationships between the CDC and the WHO will have on their ability to coordinate effectively during times of crisis.

The CDC’s work around the world helps to stop outbreaks before they spread – and reach the U.S.

Future health care workforce threatened

The reach, flexibility, adaptability and robust foundation of relationships developed over the past eight decades enable the CDC to respond to threats quickly, wherever in the world they arise. This is important for protecting health, and it plays a vital role in global and national security as well.

In addition to its direct actions to promote public health, the CDC provides workforce development and training to help create an enduring public health infrastructure in the U.S. and abroad. This is more important than ever, as systemic factors have placed pressure on health professionals. The domestic public health workforce has shrunk drastically, losing 40,000 workers since the start of the Great Recession in 2009 due to economic constraints and social pressures during the pandemic. The CDC’s workforce development efforts help counteract these trends.

Public health workers were reporting high rates of burnout and stress even before the COVID-19 pandemic, which the pandemic worsened. Cuts to the federal workforce, as well as funding for public health programs, will no doubt add to these strains.

Jordan Miller received funding from CDC in the past.

– ref. CDC layoffs strike deeply at its ability to respond to the current flu, norovirus and measles outbreaks and other public health emergencies – https://theconversation.com/cdc-layoffs-strike-deeply-at-its-ability-to-respond-to-the-current-flu-norovirus-and-measles-outbreaks-and-other-public-health-emergencies-248486

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

February 20, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Major investment to boost growth and cement Britain’s place as cultural powerhouse
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Over £270 million Arts Everywhere Fund for arts venues, museums, libraries and the heritage sector in major boost for growth
Intervention is next step of Government’s Plan for Change to help boost local economies and increase opportunities to gain creative skills

Comes as Culture Secretary marks the 60th anniversary of the first ever arts white paper

People across the nation will benefit from access to the arts and culture on their doorsteps as a result of a major funding package to boost growth and opportunity.

Hundreds of arts venues, museums, libraries and heritage buildings will receive a share of more than £270 million as part of an Arts Everywhere Fund from the government, supporting jobs and creating opportunities for young people to learn creative skills while helping to boost people’s sense of pride in where they live.

The cash will be targeted at organisations in urgent need of financial support to keep them up and running, carry out vital infrastructure work and improve long term financial resilience.

Today’s announcement will help protect hundreds of jobs in the cultural and heritage sectors. Overall, cultural sectors support 666,000 filled jobs across the country.

Arts and culture are a vital part of our first-class creative industries and are a key part of what makes Britain so great. The creative industries are worth £124 billion to our economy, creating jobs, opportunities and showcasing the best of Britain to the world. That is why the creative industries were identified as one of the eight growth-driving sectors in the government’s Industrial Strategy – with the potential to boost economic growth throughout communities in the UK.

At an inaugural lecture marking the 60th anniversary of the first ever arts white paper by former Minister Jennie Lee, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy will gather leaders from across the arts and culture sectors at the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in Stratford-upon-Avon. She will set out how Jennie Lee’s vision of the ‘arts for everyone, everywhere’ will be made a reality as part of the Government’s Plan for Change.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said:

Arts and culture help us understand the world we live in, they shape and define society and are enjoyed by people in every part of our country. They are the building blocks of our world-leading creative industries and make a huge contribution towards boosting growth and breaking down barriers to opportunities for young people to learn the creative skills they need to succeed.

The funding we are announcing today will allow the arts to continue to flourish across Britain, creating good jobs and growth by fixing the foundations in our cultural venues, museums, libraries and heritage institutions.

As a government that is on your side, our Plan for Change will ensure that arts and cultural institutions truly are for everyone, everywhere.

During the lecture, the Culture Secretary will announce the following funding for the next financial year, beginning in April:

A new £85 million Creative Foundations Fund to support urgent capital works to keep venues across the country up and running;

A fifth round of the popular Museum Estate and Development Fund worth £25 million, which will support museums to undertake vital infrastructure projects, and tackle urgent maintenance backlogs;

A new £20 million Museum Renewal Fund to help keep cherished civic museums open and engaging, protect opening hours and jobs, continue serving communities, and tell our national story at a local level;

An additional £15 million for Heritage at Risk will provide grants for repairs and conservation to heritage buildings at risk, focusing on those sites with most need. This will restore local heritage, such as shops, pubs, parks, and town halls;

A fourth round of the Libraries Improvement Fund worth £5.5 million, which will enable public library services across England to upgrade buildings and technology to better respond to changing user needs;

A new £4.85 million Heritage Revival Fund to empower local people to take control of and look after their local heritage. It will support community organisations to own neglected heritage buildings bringing them back into good use;

An additional £120 million to continue the Public Bodies Infrastructure Fund, which will ensure national cultural public institutions are able to address essential works to their estate;

A 5% increase to the budgets of all national museums and galleries to support their financial resilience and help them provide access to the national collection;

Confirmation that DCMS will be providing £3.2 million in funding for four cultural education programmes for the next financial year to preserve increased access to arts for children and young people through the Museums and Schools Programme, the Heritage Schools Programme, the Art & Design National Saturday Club and the BFI Film Academy.

This package will be integral to ensuring that arts and culture are a catalyst for growth in the Creative Industries and local economies by making sure cultural venues are supported to reach their full potential and attracting more tourists through our cultural institutions.

The Culture Secretary is also set to confirm the advisory panel of experts who will be supporting Baroness Margaret Hodge with her independent review of Arts Council England, as well as the scope of the review within the newly agreed Terms of Reference.

The beneficiaries of the fourth round of the Museum Estate and Development Fund will also be announced, which will see 29 local museums up and down the country receiving a share of almost £25 million to upgrade their buildings.

The news follows another boost for regional growth and regeneration earlier this week, when the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government announced ten critical culture projects across the UK will receive a total of £67 million. This funding will support exciting projects such as the National Railway Museum in York, the International Slavery Museum and Maritime Museum in Liverpool, and in Leeds, both the National Poetry Centre and the revamping of ‘Temple Works’, paving the way for it to house the British Library North.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said:  

Our Plan for Change promises growth for every corner of the UK, which is why this week I announced more than £67 million for ten major cultural projects that celebrate our nation.

I had the pleasure to visit some of these projects last week and seeing the role they will play in igniting regeneration in their communities and on a national scale. This means more tourism, more growth and more money in people’s pockets.

This comes on top of the £60 million package recently announced by the Culture Secretary at the Creative Industries Growth Summit to support hundreds of creative businesses and projects across the UK. This is the first step towards delivering the Creative Industry Sector Plan, as part of the UK’s modern Industrial Strategy. Today’s announcement will build upon this, ensuring that the culture sector is able to achieve its full potential.

More details on how to apply to each of these funds and schemes will be made available in due course.

Supportive quotes

Daniel Evans, Tamara Harvey and Andrew Leveson from the Royal Shakespeare Company, said:

The RSC welcomes the government’s celebration of the anniversary of Jennie Lee’s White Paper for the Arts and its announcement of the £85m Creative Foundations Fund, an urgently needed intervention. Ageing capital infrastructure remains a tremendous drag on the sector’s ability to create the work for which it is globally celebrated and maximise its economic and social contribution. We stand ready to work with the government and other stakeholders to ensure that theatre buildings are effectively maintained and put to the most effective use in creating impactful programmes of work that, true to Jennie Lee’s legacy, make the arts accessible to as many people as possible.

Arts Council England, Chief Executive, Darren Henley said:

Today’s a good news day for arts organisations, museums and libraries. We know how much cultural places and spaces are valued in towns and cities across the land. For years to come, this new investment will help more people in more places to flourish by finding joy and connection with high quality culture close to home.

Baroness Hodge’s review gives all of us at the Arts Council the chance to make sure that we’re doing everything we can to serve audiences right across England – and that we’re nurturing an environment where artists, arts organisations, museums and libraries can create their best work for those audiences. We’re looking forward to working with Baroness Hodge and her advisory panel to make sure that happens for everyone everywhere every day.

Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive at Historic England, said:

The £15m Heritage at Risk funding will enable us to help regenerate cherished historic buildings in some of our most deprived areas, boosting local pride and wellbeing, as well as stimulating economic growth where it’s really needed.

Kate Varah, Executive Director and Co-Chief Executive, National Theatre, said:

The support announced today shows that, like the visionary Jennie Lee, this Government keenly understands the arts ecosystem and its leading role in boosting the economy, enriching local communities and enhancing soft power. Much-needed capital investment will begin the task of enabling arts venues in towns and cities across our country to upgrade their facilities, providing more jobs and training, improving their financial and environmental sustainability, and offering more opportunities for young people and communities. Today’s announcement is further proof that the Government sees the benefit of working long term, in deep partnership with our sector, to break down barriers to growth and opportunity. Capital isn’t about bricks and mortar, it’s about making space for creativity to flourish.

Alex Beard, CEO of Royal Ballet and Opera, said:

I am delighted that Government has recognised the need to invest in the country’s performing arts infrastructure. This one year programme is a vital first step in ensuring that future generations of audience members can continue to enjoy our world leading performing arts sector, which plays such an important role in the Government’s growth and wellbeing agendas.

Gurinder Chadha, Film Director, said:

Time and time again the creative industries have proved how much income they bring into our economy from box office sales to expertise, skills and jobs. I am proud to be a part of the British arts industry that is respected globally. Anything that helps local communities and local artists build their skills, to fulfil their potential and further the cultural economy is something to be applauded.

Kwame Kwei-Armah, Director and Playwright, said:

Today’s announcement by our government to invest in our world leading cultural sector could not have come sooner or at a better time. From personal inspiration to international soft power I, like many, will be overjoyed that our government has seen the cultural sector who we are and what we contribute to Britain and beyond.

James Graham, Playwright and Writer, said:

This new investment is an extremely welcome acknowledgement of the role culture can play in rebuilding local communities.

The sector has been just-about-surviving for too long and such injections mean much-loved local venues can begin planning for the future.

On a personal note, as someone who grew up in a town with very limited access to the arts, the new funding for education programmes is to be celebrated. I only fell in love with theatre because of the passion of the drama teachers in my comprehensive school. It’s deeply encouraging to see that the collapse of culture in education over the last decade can finally turnaround, and unleash the creativity of all young people everywhere.

Adjoa Andoh, Actress and Writer, said:

Arts and culture belong to all the people of our amazing creative nation.

Our drama, our literature, our music, our painting, our history – it’s what we’re known for across the world, so at home everyone should have access to their heritage with no barriers to participation. I am thrilled that with the announcement of this fantastic injection of targeted funding for arts infrastructure and education, locally and nationally, the government recognises that only with their active support can all the people fully share in our wonderful cultural inheritance. I am sure Jennie Lee whose white paper championed the arts 60 years ago, would be proud.

Tracy-Ann Oberman, Actress and playwright, said:

Lisa Nandy has shown a huge commitment to the arts. She has been incredibly supportive of my production of “The Merchant of Venice 1936” and the need to tell stories through theatre to bring communities together. I think this announcement shows a real commitment to the arts in the UK and investment in the rich cultural heritage of this country.

Lemn Sissay, Author and Broadcaster, said:

Investing in the arts is an investment in our communities, our creativity, and our future. The creation of the National Poetry Centre is a shining example of this commitment, offering a space where creativity can flourish and voices from all backgrounds are celebrated.

Lisa Nandy’s commitment to providing funding for the arts, for everyone everywhere, ensures that the transformative power of culture reaches every corner of our nation, fostering unity, inspiration, and opportunity for all.

Actors Sanjeev Bhaskar and Meera Syal said:

As not only a vital sector for tourism but also for local communities and businesses, it’s encouraging to see British arts and culture being supported in a tangible and constructive way.

Es Devlin, Stage Designer, said:

Now, more than ever, the cultivation of our collective consciousness, our shared imagination, our ability to seek patterns and imagine possible futures is critical, and this investment in the arts and arts education is urgent and most welcome.

Kate Mosse CBT, Novelist, Historian & Playwright, said:

Today marks the 60th anniversary of Jennie Lee’s visionary White Paper that changed everything. The idea – radical at the time and no less important today – that the arts are for everyone, that creativity can be found everywhere and fostered, that books, theatre, dance, music transform lives, these ideas took root because of Lee’s commitment, enthusiasm and passion. She was one of the great transformational politicians of the 20th century and writers – and artists – salute you.

Nicholas Cullinan, British Museum Director, said:

This additional funding is a wonderful investment in the UK’s museums sector. In every corner of the country, our national and civic museums play a vital role protecting our heritage, bringing communities together, and supporting and inspiring the UK’s world-leading cultural sector.

Mary Beard, Trustee of the British Museum:

This is great news. Museums across the country are places where we go to learn, to be challenged, to wonder, to debate and disagree, and to discover times, people and places different from ourselves. They deserve (and need) all the support we can give them.

Doug Gurr, Natural History Museum Director, said:

I really welcome and am grateful for the additional support from the government for the museums sector, providing a vital lifeline to ensure we continue to reach and inspire audiences locally, nationally, globally.

Tom Sleigh, Chair, Norwich Theatre, said:

We really welcome this announcement. There is a pressing need for better investment in cultural infrastructure, and this funding will be incredibly important for many regional arts organisations, who have such an important role to play in their local communities.

Isobel Hunter MBE, chief executive of Libraries Connected, said:

The Libraries Improvement Fund has been transformative in helping library services in England adapt to the changing needs of their users. This new round will broaden that legacy, creating more accessible, sustainable and inclusive libraries across the country. We can’t wait to see the successful projects take shape.

Jenny Mollica, Chief Executive Officer of English National Opera and London Coliseum, said:

We warmly welcome today’s announcement from the Secretary of State of a new Creative Foundations Fund. This will provide critical and transformative support for many performing and visual arts venues across the country, ensuring that they continue to play a vital role at the heart of their communities. These much-needed, urgent interventions in our cultural spaces will support creativity and innovation, locally and nationally – and are an investment in our audiences of today and the future.

Stephen Freeman, Chief Executive, Royal Exchange Theatre said:

Today’s announcement of a new capital fund to support our cultural infrastructure is most welcome. It is deeply encouraging to see the Secretary of State responding to the real and urgent need for support at cultural venues up and down the country. Many of our most iconic institutions are in serious need of capital funds to support the future sustainability of our world class cultural offer.

Sir Ian Blatchford, Director and Chief Executive, Science Museum Group said:

We are delighted with the Government’s continued strong support for national museums and the wider cultural sector. Museums benefit society in many ways, inspiring audiences with engaging stories, contributing to cohesive communities and showcasing creativity that helps drive tourism. The confirmation this week of £15 million Government investment in our ambitious plans for the National Railway Museum is a clear vote of confidence in the transformative work underway across the Science Museum Group.

Jon Finch – Chair of English Civic Museum Network (ECMN) and Head of Culture and Visitor Economy at Barnsley Council said:

On behalf of England’s regional museum sector, the English Civic Museum Network (ECMN) welcomes the Government’s unprecedented announcement of £45M investment to support regional museums. ECMN is delighted that the Government has recognised the compelling case for investment in local museums as part of its growth agenda. Civic museums are a fundamental part of England’s cultural, creative, and social fabric and are a catalyst for growth on our high streets

Michael Eakin OBE, Chief Executive of Royal Liverpool Philharmonic said:

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic welcomes this additional capital funding to support the sector in 2025-26. We are grateful that Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, one of the UK’s great concert halls, has benefitted from such essential support in past years, but we know that it will continue to need investment in the future. Many of this country’s great cultural buildings are urgently in need of capital works to ensure they can continue to function and meet the needs of performances and audiences, and this new funding will be very welcome and helpful in addressing some of those needs.

Jenny Waldman, Director of Art Fund said:

The £20 million Museum Renewal Fund is a vital lifeline for our civic museums, which have a central place in the lives of local communities. It’s a welcome response to the severe financial pressures museums are facing, particularly those reliant on local authority funding. How appropriate that this crucial investment has been announced to mark the 60th anniversary of Jennie Lee’s visionary first White Paper on the Arts. This investment is an important first step to ensuring financial resilience, economic growth and ensuring our public collections remain accessible for future generations.

Grayson Perry, Artist said:

We should be proud of the brilliant museums and galleries that we have all across the country. It is great to hear that the government understands how important they are and is putting a good chunk of money into maintaining them. These cultural powerhouses give our towns and cities a vital part of their identity, art is a central element of who we are.

Sir Alistair Spalding and Britannia Morton, Co CEOs Sadler’s Wells. Artistic and Executive Directors said:

We welcome today’s announcement. It shows that the Culture Secretary is listening to the needs of the sector and is prepared to act to protect our cultural infrastructure for future generations.

Joshua McTaggart, CEO of Theatres Trust:

Theatres Trust is thrilled that the government has announced its £85million Creative Foundations Fund. We know from our research and industry knowledge that this funding is desperately needed by so many theatres across England. Our diligent team is primed to advise and support theatres up and down the country as they begin their journey on developing and delivering new capital projects, and we encourage people to make use of Theatres Trust’s free impartial expert advice service as they begin their applications.

Rebecca Lawrence, Chief Executive Officer:

The British Library welcomes the extension of the Public Bodies Infrastructure Fund for the next financial year. We hope it will be a vital source of support for addressing some of the most urgent pressures on our buildings and estates, which continue to require substantial ongoing investment to ensure they are well maintained for our users and the national collection. We are also pleased to see the extension of the Libraries Improvement Fund for local authority run library services, who we collaborate with all across the country.

Maria Balshaw, Director of Tate and Chair of the National Museum Directors’ Council said:

Today’s funding announcements are fantastic news for the whole museum sector. We are incredibly grateful to see the Government’s recognition of the importance of our world-class museums.

The increase in budgets for national museums and galleries like my own organisation Tate will be vital in supporting our financial resilience, enabling us to continue caring for and providing access to the national collection and the incredible public benefit we deliver. We also warmly welcome the announcement of additional capital investment for national and regional museums through the Public Bodies Infrastructure Fund and the Museum Estate and Development Fund. This investment is urgently needed right across the museum sector for maintenance and repairs.

In particular, we are delighted to see the announcement of new funding for civic museums, who are facing an unprecedented set of economic pressures. They are some of the finest creative and cultural spaces in the world – caring for internationally significant collections, driving regional tourism and providing vital community services. The new Museum Renewal Fund will help bring civic museums back to a more sustainable position, and we are heartened that Government has listened to calls to protect this key part of our cultural and civic infrastructure.

Andrew Lovett OBE, Chief Executive, Black Country Living Museum

We welcome the financial support announced by the Secretary of State, coming as it does at a challenging economic time for many in the sector. A financial decision is a policy decision and we welcome this policy. On the anniversary of the publication of Jennie Lee’s white paper, this is a timely reminder that Museums and the arts are not only crucial to everyday lives and wellbeing, but are also a vital part of the UK economy and merit sustained investment. We make a mistake when we think museums are in the business of collecting and exhibitions; their business is social cohesion and helping us to better understand the world. And it doesn’t get more important than that.

Notes to editors:

On the review of Arts Council England

Arts Council England is set to undergo a transformative review that will reimagine how we support, develop, and celebrate creativity across every corner of our nation. This landmark independent review, led by Baroness Margaret Hodge, will shine a light on how we can break down barriers, amplify diverse voices, and ensure that arts and culture are truly accessible to everyone, regardless of background or postcode. By examining everything from funding mechanisms to community engagement, we’re taking a crucial step towards building a more inclusive, vibrant, and dynamic cultural landscape that reflects the rich creativity of every community in England.

Cultural organisations and other interested parties are invited to participate in a survey to feed in their views as part of the review.

Read the survey, the advisory panel of experts and the full Terms of Reference for the review.

On the fourth round of the Museum Estate and Development Fund

The Museum Estate and Development Fund enables museums across the country to deliver a better experience for visitors and staff, make access and environmental improvements, unlock income-generating opportunities, and continue to protect treasured buildings and collections for future generations. It is open to museums in England accredited by the Arts Council which are not directly funded by DCMS. This fourth round of funding, worth £24.8 million, will benefit 29 local museums across the country:

North West

Queen Street Mill, Burnley, Lancashire – £813,115

Furness Abbey, Barrow-in-Furness, Lancashire – £457,795

Fusilier Museum and Learning Centre, Bury, Lancashire – £81,244

North East

Weardale Museum, Weardale, County Durham – £499,665

Sunderland Winter Gardens, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear – £488,705

Preston Park Museum, Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham – £366,300

Hartlepool Art Gallery, Hartlepool, County Durham – £302,383

Yorkshire

Museum of North Craven Life, Settle, North Yorkshire – £798,500

Land of Iron, Skinningrove, North Yorkshire – £655,907

Bankfield Museum, Halifax, West Yorkshire – £441,978

Pickering Beck Isle Museum, Pickering, North Yorkshire – £388,023

Millennium Gallery, Sheffield, South Yorkshire – £315,684

Midlands

Tamworth Castle, Tamworth, Staffordshire – £1,716,238

Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Wolverhampton, West Midlands – £1,695,75

Newstead Abbey, Ravenshead, Nottinghamshire – £1,482,882

Creswell Crags, Worksop, Nottinghamshire – £499,999

East

Peterborough Museum & Art Gallery, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire – £137,745

Sainsbury Centre, Norwich, Norfolk – £1,276,711

Bressingham Steam Museum, Diss, Norfolk – £429,719

Colchester Castle, Colchester, Essex – £1,293,625

Southchurch Hall, Southend-on-Sea, Essex – £423,105

South East

Bletchley Park, Bletchley, Buckinghamshire – £2,451,350

The Lightbox, Woking, Surrey – £319,000

South West

Russell Cotes Art Gallery and Museum, Bournemouth, Dorset – £1,500,817

Nothe Fort, Weymouth, Dorset – £1,374,763

Dorset Museum and Art Gallery, Dorchester, Dorset – £940,500

Wheal Martyn Clay Works, St Austell, Cornwall – £707,200

London

London Museum of Water and Steam, Brentford, London – £2,626,277

The Foundling Museum, Camden, London – £319,000

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Published 20 February 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
February 20, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: In pushing for Ukraine elections, Trump is falling into Putin-laid trap to delegitimize Zelenskyy

Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Lena Surzhko Harned, Associate Teaching Professor of Political Science, Penn State

President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet on Sept. 25, 2019, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was shut out of the discussions concerning the future of his country, which took place in Saudi Arabia on Feb. 18, 2025. In fact, there were no Ukrainian representatives, nor any European Union ones – just U.S. and Russian delegations, and their Saudi hosts.

The meeting – which followed a mutually complimentary phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin just days earlier – was gleefully celebrated in Moscow. The absence of Ukraine in deciding its own future is very much in line with Putin’s policy toward its neighbor. Putin has long rejected Ukrainian statehood and the legitimacy of the Ukrainian government, or as he calls it the “Kyiv regime.”

While the U.S. delegation did reiterate that future discussions would have to involve Ukraine at some stage, the Trump administration’s actions and words have no doubt undermined Kyiv’s position and influence.

To that end, the U.S. is increasingly falling in line with Moscow on a key plank of the Kremlin’s plan to delegitimize Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian government: calling for elections in Ukraine as part of any peace deal.

Questioning Zelenskyy’s legitimacy

Challenging Zelenskyy’s legitimacy is part of a deliberate ongoing propaganda campaign by Russia to discredit Ukrainian leadership, weaken support for Ukraine from its key allies and remove Zelenskyy – and potentially Ukraine – as a partner in negotiations.

Claims by the Russian president that his country is ready for peace negotiations appear, to many observers of its three-year war, highly suspect given Russia’s ongoing attacks on its neighbor and its steadfast refusal to date to agree to any temporary truce.

Yet the Kremlin is pushing the narrative that the problem is that there is no legitimate Ukrainian authority with which it can deal. As such, Putin can proclaim his commitments to a peace without making any commitments or compromises necessary to any true negotiation process.

Meanwhile, painting Zelenskyy as a “dictator” dampens the enthusiastic support that once greeted him from democratic countries. This, is turn, can translate to the reduction or even end of military support for Kyiv, Putin hopes, allowing him a fillip in what has become a war of attrition.

What Putin needs for this plan to work is a willing partner to help get the message out that Zelenskyy and the current Ukraine government are not legitimate representatives of their country – and into this gap the new U.S. administration appears to have stepped.

Then-candidate Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a polling station during Ukraine’s presidential election in Kiev on March 31, 2019.
Genya Savilov/AFP via Getty Images)

Dictating terms

Take the narrative on elections.

At the meeting in Saudi Arabia, the U.S. reportedly discussed elections in Ukraine as being a key part of any peace deal. Trump himself has raised the prospect of elections, noting in a Feb. 18 press conference: “We have a situation where we haven’t had elections in Ukraine, where we have martial law.” The U.S. president went on to claim, incorrectly, that Zelenskyy’s approval rating was down to “4%.” The latest polling actually shows the Ukrainian president to be sitting on a 57% approval rating.

A day later, Trump upped the attacks, describing Zelenskyy as a “dictator without elections.”

Such statements echo Russia’s narrative that the government in Kyiv is illegitimate.

The Kremlin’s claims regarding what it describes as the “legal aspects related to his [Zelenskyy’s] legitimacy” are based on the premise that the Ukraine president’s five-year term as president of Ukraine should have ended in 2024.

And elections in Ukraine would have taken place in May of that year had it not been for the martial law that Ukraine put into place when the Russian Federation launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The Martial Law Act – which Ukraine imposed on Feb. 24, 2022 – explicitly bans all elections in Ukraine for the duration of the emergency action.

And while the Ukrainian Constitution only includes language regarding the extension of parliament’s powers until martial law is lifted, constitutional lawyers in Ukraine tend to agree that the implication is that this also applies to presidential powers.

Notwithstanding what the law says, the Kremlin’s questioning of the democratic institutions of Ukraine and its push for elections in Ukraine have found traction in Washington of late. Trump’s special envoy Gen. Keith Kellogg declared on Feb. 1 that elections “need to be done” as part of peace process, saying that elections are a “beauty of a solid democracy.”

The ballot box trap

Zelenskyy is not opposed to elections in principle and has agreed that elections should be held when the time is right. “Once martial law is over, then the ball is in parliament’s court – the parliament then picks a date for elections,” Zelenskyy stated in a Jan. 2 interview.

And he appears to have the backing of the majority of Ukrainians. In May 2024, 69% of Ukrainians polled said Zelenskyy should remain president until the end of marshal law, after which elections should be held.

The issue, as Zelenskyy has said, is the timing and circumstances. “During the war, there can be no elections. It’s necessary to change legislation, the constitution, and so on. These are significant challenges. But there are also nonlegal, very human challenges,” he said on Jan. 4.

Even opposition politicians in Ukraine agree that now is not the time. Petro Poroshenko, Zelenskyy’s main political rival, has dismissed the idea of wartime elections, as has Inna Sovsun, the leader of the opposition Golos Party.

Apart from logistical problems of ensuring free and fair elections in the middle of a war, the conflict would present logistical hurdles to campaigning and accessing polling sites. There is also the question of whether and how to include Ukrainians in Russian-occupied territories and those who are internally displaced, as well as the 6.5 million who fled fighting and currently reside abroad.

Good elections … and bad

Russia did, of course, hold elections during the current conflict. But the 2024 election that Putin won with 87% of the vote was, according to most international observers, neither free nor fair.

Rather, it was a sham vote that only underlined what most political scientists will confirm: Elections are at best a necessary but insufficient marker of democracy.

This point is not wasted on Ukrainians, whose commitment to democracy strengthened in the years leading up to the 2022 invasion. Indeed, a survey taken a few months into the war found that 76% of Ukrainians agreed that democracy was the best form of governance – up from 41% three years earlier.

There are other reasons Ukraine might be wary of elections. The adversarial nature of political campaigns can be divisive, especially among a society in high stress.

Ukrainian politicians have openly argued that holding an election during the war would be destabilizing for Ukrainian society, undermining the internal unity in face of Russian aggression.

Outside influence

And then there is concern over outside influence in any election. Ukrainians have had enough experience with Russian meddling in their politics to take it for granted that the Kremlin will attempt to put a thumb on the scale.

Russia has since the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991 employed its substantial resources to influence Ukraine’s politics through all available means, ranging from propaganda, economic pressures and incentives to energy blackmail, threats and use of violence.

In 2004, Moscow’s electoral manipulations in favor of the pro-Russian candidate, Viktor Yanukovich, led to the Orange Revolution – in which Ukrainians rose up to reject rigged elections. Nine years later, Yanukovich – who became president in 2010 – was deposed though the Revolution of Dignity, which saw Ukrainians oust a man many saw as a Russian stooge in favor of a path toward greater integration with Europe.

Putin’s history of meddling in elections extends beyond Ukraine, of course. Most recently, the Romanian Constitutional Court annulled the country’s presidential elections, citing an electoral process compromised by foreign interference.

An impossible position

In raising elections as a prerequisite to negotiations, Putin is setting a
“catch-22” trap for Ukraine: The Ukrainian Constitution states that elections can happen only when martial law is lifted; but the lifting of the martial law is possible only when the “hot phase” of the war is over. So without a ceasefire, no election is possible.

But in refusing to agree to elections, Ukraine can be cast as the blockage to any peace deal – playing to a narrative that is already forming in the U.S. administration that Kyiv is the problem and will need to be sidelined for there to be progress.

In short, in seemingly echoing Russian talking points on an election being a prerequisite for peace, the U.S. puts the Ukrainian government in an impossible position: Agree to the vote and risk internal division and outside interference, or reject it and allow Moscow – and, perhaps, Washington – to frame Ukraine’s leaders as illegitimate and unable to negotiate on the behalf of their people.

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

– ref. In pushing for Ukraine elections, Trump is falling into Putin-laid trap to delegitimize Zelenskyy – https://theconversation.com/in-pushing-for-ukraine-elections-trump-is-falling-into-putin-laid-trap-to-delegitimize-zelenskyy-250003

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

February 20, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Expanding Next-Generation Battery Innovation Company

Source: US State of New York

Governor Kathy Hochul and Senator Charles Schumer today announced that BAE Systems is investing $65 million to expand operations in the Village of Endicott, Broome County. The company will add a total of 150,000 square-feet to its existing site to make way for the addition of a new battery production line and lab space, and new office space. As a result of the expansion, the company has committed to creating up to 134 good-paying jobs onsite. BAE Systems is a global defense, aerospace and security company with approximately 93,500 employees worldwide. The BAE Systems facility in Endicott designs, develops and produces a broad portfolio of safety-critical electronic systems from flight and engine controls to power and energy management systems. The company has been operational at the Huron Campus site since 2011.

“BAE Systems’ decision to further expand its business represents yet another win for New York State and for the Southern Tier, which is laser focused on becoming a global hub for next-generation battery innovation efforts,” Governor Hochul said. “Since taking office, I have remained committed to bringing jobs back to Upstate New York. This incredibly successful company chose to grow its operations here, spurring top-quality, good-paying job creation in the region because they have seen firsthand how hardworking New Yorkers are.”

Senator Charles Schumer said,“BAE Systems is adding 130+ good-paying jobs right here in the Southern Tier to make sure the next generation of America’s batteries are stamped ‘Made in Upstate NY.’ This $65 million expansion to add a new battery production line, research lab, and office helps show how we can bring this supply chain back from overseas, with the Southern Tier leading the way to make sure the future of battery manufacturing is manufactured in Broome County, not Beijing. BAE Systems is a vital part of the Southern Tier economy, with a world-class workforce of over 1200 people, and selecting this area for their major battery production expansion is no accident. I’m proud of the millions in federal support I’ve delivered – via the American Rescue Plan and my bipartisan CHIPS & Science Act – to the region to make it a global center for battery research and set the stage for today’s announcement. Today BAE is helping add another loop to establish this region as a core of manufacturing and innovation for America’s battery belt.”

The project involves the expansion of BAE Systems battery production line, including the purchase and installation of machinery and equipment to efficiently produce an energy storage system for electric/hybrid electric aircraft. This facility will include an automated state-of-the-art production line, an engineering lab, and an aftermarket center, and is expected to be fully complete in 2027.

Empire State Development is assisting the project with up to $8.5 million in performance-based Excelsior Jobs Tax Credit Program in exchange for the job creation commitments. Broome County is also providing assistance for the project.

BAE Systems Senior Director Jim Garceau said, “This facility expansion reinforces our commitment to the Southern Tier and builds on New York State’s vision to create a regional hub for battery innovation. With this investment, we will enhance our capabilities to address the emerging needs of the next-generation hybrid/electric aircraft.”

Bolstering Next-Generation Battery Innovation
Governor Hochul and Senator Schumer were instrumental in the company’s decision having worked closely with company officials to ensure that the project would move ahead in New York’s Southern Tier region which is laser-focused on supporting next-generation energy efforts – a top priority for the governor and senator.

In January 2024, the Governor and Senator announced that the U.S. National Science Foundation had designated the New Energy New York (NENY) Storage Engine as a Regional Innovation Engine (NSF Engine), which was created by the Senator’s bipartisan CHIPS & Science Law. The NENY Storage Engine, anchored at Binghamton University in the Southern Tier Region, will receive up to $15 million in federal funding for two years and up to $160 million over 10 years to establish a hub that will accelerate innovation, technology translation and the creation of a skilled workforce to grow the capacity of the domestic battery industry. Through Empire State Development, New York State will match up to 20 percent for the first five years of the project as well as provide support through established programs. The NENY Storage Engine was chosen for its diverse, cross-sector coalition that will build a leading ecosystem driving battery technology innovation, workforce development and manufacturing to support U.S. national security and global competitiveness.

Schumer has long fought to secure federal investment to boost the Southern Tier’s battery manufacturing and R&D. In 2021, Schumer created the Build Back Better Regional Challenge in the American Rescue Plan that he led to passage as Majority Leader. The senator personally advocated for the selection of the Binghamton University-led New Energy New York’s (NENY) battery hub proposal, helping deliver a $63.7 million federal investment with a $50 million funding match from New York State. In 2023, Schumer also delivered the prestigious federal Tech Hub designation, also created by his bipartisan CHIPS & Science Law for the Binghamton University-led NENY proposal.

Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Hope Knight said, “Governor Hochul’s strategic and laser-focused support for next-generation clean energy companies accelerates this cutting-edge industry’s growing presence in New York State. BAE Systems’ expansion will create top-quality jobs and opportunities in the Southern Tier, furthering the region’s leadership in battery technology innovation.”

New York State’s Climate Agenda
New York State’s climate agenda calls for an affordable and just transition to a clean energy economy that creates family-sustaining jobs, promotes economic growth through green investments, and directs a minimum of 35 percent of the benefits to disadvantaged communities. New York is advancing a suite of efforts to achieve an emissions-free economy by 2050, including in the energy, buildings, transportation, and waste sectors.

New York Power Authority President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll said, “BAE Systems has been a major driver of economic growth in Broome County, and I congratulate them on their new $65 million expansion. Thanks to strategic investments from Governor Hochul and Senator Schumer, New York has become a testbed for battery storage innovation, and NYPA will continue to support firms like BAE Systems developing cutting-edge technology and spurring economic growth with low-cost power.”

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, “With this investment in next generation battery technology at their Broome County location, BAE Systems is supporting local jobs and strengthening the state’s clean energy supply chains, ensuring New York continues to lead the way in innovation and clean tech economic opportunity. The expansion will also advance clean transportation in the aviation industry and support NYSERDA’s efforts in research, development, and demonstration of new technologies in the energy storage sector.”

State Senator Lea Webb said, “It’s exciting to see BAE Systems expand its next-generation battery innovation operations right here in the Southern Tier, bringing up to 134 new jobs to the Village of Endicott, ” said State Senator Lea Webb. “This investment strengthens our region’s role as a leader in clean energy technology and advanced manufacturing. I want to thank Governor Hochul for her commitment to growing our local economy and everyone who made this expansion possible. This investment not only creates new opportunities for workers but also reinforces New York’s leadership in the future of sustainable energy solutions.”

Assemblymember Donna Lupardo said, “Years of hard work and dedication have made our area a designated hub for battery innovation and manufacturing. BAE’s expansion to include a new battery production line will further establish our community as a leader in clean-energy technology. Their work on electric/hybrid bus and aircraft battery systems are game changers for the industry and for our local workforce. I’d like to thank BAE Systems for their continued investment in our community, and the Governor and Empire State Development for their ongoing support of this important work.”

Broome County Executive Jason Garnar said, “BAE Systems’ expansion in Endicott is another major win for Broome County, reinforcing our region’s role as leader in next-generation battery innovation while creating even more job opportunities for our community. Thank you to Governor Hochul for her continued commitment to economic growth in the Southern Tier and to BAE Systems for choosing to expand here in Broome County.”

Village of Endicott Mayor Nick Burlingame said, “BAE Systems’ decision to expand its operations in Endicott is a testament to the strength of our community, our workforce, and our region’s commitment to innovation. This investment not only reinforces Endicott’s legacy as a hub for cutting-edge technology but also brings new opportunities for local families and businesses. We are proud to support BAE Systems as they continue to grow and shape the future of clean energy and battery innovation right here in our village. We look forward to the jobs, economic impact, and advancements this expansion will bring to Endicott.”

For additional information about BAE Systems, visit: https://jobs.baesystems.com/global/en/.

Accelerating Economic Development in the Southern Tier
Today’s announcement advances the Southern Tier Strategic Plan and complements “Southern Tier Soaring” strategy by facilitating economic growth and community development. These regionally designed plans focus on attracting a talented workforce, growing business and driving next-generation innovation. More information is available here.

About Empire State Development
Empire State Development is New York’s chief economic development agency, and promotes business growth, job creation, and greater economic opportunity throughout the state. With offices in each of the state’s 10 regions, ESD oversees the Regional Economic Development Councils, supports broadband equity through the ConnectALL office, and is growing the workforce of tomorrow through the Office of Strategic Workforce Development.

The agency engages with emerging and next generation industries like clean energy and semiconductor manufacturing looking to grow in New York State, operates a network of assistance centers to help small businesses grow and succeed, and promotes the state’s world class tourism destinations through I LOVE NY. For more information, please visit esd.ny.gov, and connect with ESD on LinkedIn, Facebook and X, formerly known as Twitter.

MIL OSI USA News –

February 20, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Benton Exhibit Honors Minnie Negoro, Pioneering UConn Ceramics Professor

Source: US State of Connecticut

A new exhibition at the William Benton Museum of Art celebrates the contributions of Minnie Negoro, a former professor who laid the foundation for UConn’s ceramics program, while also highlighting her journey through one of the darkest chapters in U.S. history.

Curated by faculty in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) with help from students, the exhibition tells the story of Negoro’s life — from her forced relocation to a Japanese American incarceration camp during World War II to her lasting influence as a beloved professor and artist.

Hana Maruyama, assistant professor of history and social and critical inquiry in CLAS and lead curator of the exhibition, hopes it will honor Negoro’s legacy at UConn while spotlighting the importance of public history.

“Her former students knew she had existed, her colleagues in the art department knew she had existed, but from the Asian American studies side, that kind of institutional memory had kind of been lost,” Maruyama says.

Rediscovering a Forgotten Story

Jason Chang—head of the Department of Social and Critical Inquiry, associate professor of history, and co-curator of the exhibition— first uncovered Negoro’s story while leading the former Asian and Asian American Studies Institute. Recognizing its significance, he partnered with Maruyama and a team of scholars and artists to examine Negoro’s impact at UConn. Their research soon uncovered an unexpected discovery—this year marks 60 years since Negoro’s arrival at the University.

Maruyama, who studies Japanese American incarceration and had family imprisoned at Heart Mountain, quickly realized that while Negoro had a profound impact on her students and the School of Fine Arts, little had been documented in archives or other public history sources.

Determined to preserve that legacy, Maruyama began seeking out information from Negoro’s former colleagues and students.

“One year is not a lot of time to create an exhibition,” says Maruyama, who previously worked at the Smithsonian Institution. “It’s very typical for an exhibition to take five to eight years, but I just think her story is so important and hasn’t gotten the attention that she deserved.”

From Internment to UConn Professor

Just a semester away from graduating from the University of California, Los Angeles, Negoro and her family were among the 125,000 Japanese Americans forcibly removed from the West Coast and placed in incarceration camps across the U.S. in 1942.

Although Negoro was an art major, she didn’t learn to use a potter’s wheel until she arrived at Heart Mountain, Wyoming. There, she was one of six people hired to work at the Heart Mountain Ceramics Plant, according to Maruyama.

She developed her skills through a government initiative to use imprisoned Japanese Americans to produce tableware for the U.S. Army and other incarceration camps. Despite the repressive circumstances, Negoro’s training at Heart Mountain launched her career and eventually paved the way for UConn’s ceramics program.

Negoro was able to leave Heart Mountain through a program that permitted Japanese American students to attend colleges outside the exclusion zone. Under the guidance of one of her mentors from Heart Mountain, she pursued an MFA at Alfred University.

After earning her degree, Negoro ran her own ceramics studio in New York for a decade and taught at institutions such as the Rhode Island School of Design and the Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles before arriving at UConn in 1965.

“They just kept renewing her contract and eventually she got on a tenure track and the rest is history,” Maruyama says. “She taught here for the next 20-plus years.”

Maruyama says now, decades later, many of Negoro’s former students are still eager to share how she impacted not only their education and careers but also their lives.

“They are so committed to preserving her legacy,” Maruyama says. “As an educator, it was inspiring for me to hear them talk about how much she impacted their lives.”

Minnie Negoro demonstrates the use of the potter’s wheel to a group of students on December 5, 1967. (Courtesy of UConn Archives and Special Collections).

Students Help Share Negoro’s Story

To further honor Negoro’s legacy, Maruyama involved her own students in the process of putting together the exhibit. She revamped her spring 2024 “Topics in Public History” course to have them create an initial draft of the exhibition.

“The students were excited to be working on something that was going to go on display,” Maruyama says. “They put their hearts and souls into it.”

Everett Padro ’26 (CLAS), a history major, says he’s been interested in public history since childhood.

“I used to go to the Smithsonian because I have family members that work there,” he says. “I would just be blown away by not only the artifacts they had but how they organized and kept track of and cared for them.”

Padro, who is now considering a career in museum curation, was excited to learn Maruyama’s class would allow him to get some hands-on experience while also exploring the history of something close to home.

“It was a pleasant surprise getting to work so intimately with first-hand accounts and structuring this as a teamwork effort to create this exhibit,” Padro says.

According to Maruyama, students contributed to multiple aspects of the exhibit, including working on oral and digital histories, writing content, researching UConn’s special collections, and creating a social media campaign.

Padro appreciated the opportunity to work on his interests, choosing to work on digitally archiving old photos.

“I was interested to see how we can preserve and tell this story to future generations–not only who she was but how she’s relevant to the University,” Padro says.

A Lasting Legacy

The exhibit features images, artifacts, and writing that explain Negoro’s life and impact as a teacher, as well as examples of her work. It also showcases the work of alumni, many of whom credit her guidance for their success.

“What I find kind of incredible about her is that she also had a reputation for being a tough teacher,” Maruyama says. “She was making those undergrads do ceramics math, and ceramics chemistry. This was not just an art class. She really got into the science of ceramics and that’s not something that a lot of undergraduate ceramics programs do.”

The exhibit will remain on display until July 27, 2025. Maruyama hopes it will cement Negoro’s legacy at UConn while also bringing attention to the broader history of Japanese American incarceration.

“This history is still so personal for many of us,” she says. “Minnie Negoro’s story is about resilience, creativity, and the power of education. It’s about making sure we don’t forget.”

—

Minnie Negoro: From Heart Mountain to UConn, will be on display in the Benton Museum through July 2025. Hana Maruyama, Assistant Professor of History and Social and Critical Inquiry at UConn, will lead a guided tour of the exhibit on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025.

MIL OSI USA News –

February 20, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: UConn Nursing Alumna Honored with Nursing Leadership Award

Source: US State of Connecticut

UConn Nursing graduated its largest Accelerated Second Degree BS/CEIN class to date. In celebrating this milestone, the School also awarded the Excellence in Nursing Leadership Award to Lucinda Canty.

Students in this accelerated program receive their second bachelor’s in nursing in just one year. Faculty, student, and alumni awards were announced by the School of Nursing’s Dean Victoria Vaughan Dickson, Ph.D, RN, FAHA, FHFSA, FAAN.

Canty first received her BSN at Columbia University, then went on to obtain her MSN from Yale. She joined UConn Nursing alum in 2020 when she completed her Ph.D. “It was a life-changing experience for me,” said Canty. “When I graduated from my undergraduate program, I would not have believed if you told me I would return to school for a doctorate.”

Lucinda Canty giving a speech to graduating BS/CEIN students (photo provided by Defining Studios)

She now works as an associate professor and is the director of the Health Equity in Nursing Program at the University of Massachusetts Amherst Elaine Marieb College of Nursing. She is a certified nurse-midwife and in 2022 created Lucinda’s House, a maternal health collective that aims to reduce racial disparities in maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity in Black mothers and mothers of color – dismantling systemic barriers to care through community, education, and research.

Canty was heavily involved and featured in the SHIFT Films documentary “Everybody’s Work: Healing What Hurts Us All”. Along with other UConn alumna Krystal Myers, DNP-c, MSN, BSN, RN, and Professor Emerita Peggy Chinn, RN, Ph.D., DS.c.(Hon), FAAN, Canty hosts critical conversations about racism in health care in this impactful film. In 2020, she and Christina Nyirati, Ph.D., RN, co-founded “Overdue Reckoning on Racism in Nursing”, a series of discussions amplifying the voices of nurses of color.

Lucinda Canty giving a speech to graduating BS/CEIN students (photo provided by Defining Studios)

Canty is co-chair of the Black Maternal Health Taskforce, serves as a member of the National Black Nurses Association, and is a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing and the American College of Nurse Midwives.

Preceding the 2024 Excellence in Nursing Leadership Award from the UConn School of Nursing, she was named recipient of the 2023 Yale School of Nursing Alumni Association (YSNAA) Distinguished Alumni Award and the 2023 Florence S. Wald Award awardee from the Connecticut Nurses’ Association. Most recently, she received the 2024 School of Nursing Distinguished Alumni Award for Nursing Practice at Columbia University.

The Excellence in Nursing Leadership Award is given to a UConn Nursing graduate for impactful contributions to practice, education, research, and service. Dean Dickson attributes this award to Canty’s outstanding contributions to the profession of nursing, exceptional leadership, and unwavering commitment to advancing health equity.

“Dr. Canty’s three-decade nursing career is driven by her vision for a more equitable future for new mothers, nurses, and midwives, achieved by fusing science with creativity and care delivery with compassion,” said Dean Vaughan Dickson.

“Her research focus on maternal health has led to an increased awareness of health disparities in maternal health outcomes and uses a Black feminist approach to center on the experiences, perceptions, and voices of Black women to understand the issues and challenges they face and develop solutions to promote health equity.”

Lucinda Canty and Dean Dickson together on stage in Jorgensen Theater (photo provided by Defining Studios)

Addressing the CEIN students, Canty said, “I graduated from my nursing program 33 years ago and remember it like yesterday.”

“Be open to continued growth and a journey that you will continue to learn about who you are,” she continued. “There will be things that will test you and challenge you.” She urged students to stay true to themselves and to remember that they will find support when they look for it.

“Understand that nursing is a foundation for many things you can do in your career,” she said. “This is only the beginning.”

She concluded, “As you step into your new nursing roles, remember that your backgrounds, history, experiences, and varied paths have uniquely prepared you for this journey. You are not just nursing program graduates; you are the future of health care – innovative, compassionate, and driven to make a difference.”

MIL OSI USA News –

February 20, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Government Response to the Report from the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor

Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant and growing public health threat which affects patients and communities, and threatens to undermine the modern health system. AMR can also have serious negative impacts on animal health, welfare and production, and the environment.

The New Zealand Antimicrobial Resistance Action Plan was published in 2017 to enable coordinated, cross-agency national action to minimise the impacts of AMR on New Zealand.

In March 2022, the Office of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor released Kotahitanga: Uniting Aotearoa against infectious disease and antimicrobial resistance.

Many of the themes and recommendations in the Kotahitanga report align with, and build on, the Action Plan. This publication notes that progress has been made on a number of the recommendations in the Kotahitanga report, as well as acknowledging that there is more work to do. The Ministries of Health and Primary Industries are working together on a new cross-agency AMR strategy to update and drive ongoing action.

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

February 20, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: New Ambassadors Program Begins in Alaska with Projects Exploring Three Food Systems
Source: US Geological Survey
Breadcrumb

News
New Ambassadors Program Begins in Alaska with Projects Exploring Three Food Systems
Projects from the first cohort of Alaska CASC Ambassadors recently launched, supporting food security in Alaska through research on invasive European green crabs, food systems on Kodiak Island, and mariculture policy.

The Alaska Climate Adaptation Science Center (CASC) launched its inaugural Ambassadors Program, funding three one-year projects focused on food security in Alaska. Each project addresses critical environmental challenges related to food security – including invasive species education, mapping local food systems, and mariculture policy.

1. Invasive Species Education. In Ketchikan, researchers are working to increase public awareness of the invasive European green crab – a threat to native species and habitats. First discovered in Alaska in 2022, efforts to control the spread of European green crabs have gained momentum. However, the invasive green crab is easily confused with a native green crab, leading to potential accidental harm to the native species. To help people distinguish the species, researchers will develop educational materials and lead in-person classes. For instance, the invasive species can be identified by three raised bumps between the eyes, which the native green crabs lack. By improving identification skills, the researchers aim to prevent accidental harm to native crabs and support future management efforts.

2. Local Food Systems. On Kodiak Island, a Food System Vulnerability Assessment is underway to evaluate challenges and opportunities in the region’s food supply. Researchers and community partners are gathering input from local growers and harvesters and are considering both wild food harvests and cultivated foods. The researchers will use climate projections from the Scenarios Network for Arctic Planning’s Garden Helper Tool, which models and visualizes future temperature and precipitation patterns to help growers in the region. Other findings from the assessment can help guide climate adaptation strategies that support local food production.

3. Mariculture Policy. In Southeast Alaska, researchers are examining how state and federal laws, such as harvest limits and seasonal restrictions, impact Tribal fisheries including salmon, hooligan, and clams. Researchers are exploring ways to include Indigenous Knowledge into marine regulations, ensuring that traditional harvesting practices and community needs are represented in decision-making. By fostering dialogue between policymakers and Tribal leaders, the project aims to strengthen trust, improve resource management, and support sustainable fisheries for future generations.

MIL OSI USA News –
February 20, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Collateral damage: how the war on ‘woke banking’ could backfire on New Zealand

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Martien Lubberink, Associate Professor of Accounting and Capital, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington

Getty Images

It would be hard to think of an industry less obviously “woke” than banking, but that’s how coalition partner NZ First has characterised certain practices within the finance sector.

The party’s tortuously titled Financial Markets (Conduct of Institutions) Amendment (Duty to Provide) Amendment Bill – dubbed the “woke banking” bill – takes aim at efforts to build sustainability concepts into investment practices.

Known as the “environmental, social and governance (ESG) framework”, such policies are designed to guide how a bank manages risks and opportunities beyond basic profit and loss.

NZ First’s bill seeks to ensure no New Zealand business can be denied banking services unless the decision is grounded in law. Its proponents argue it will prevent ESG standards from perpetuating “woke ideology” in the banking sector, driven by what they describe as “unelected, globalist, climate radicals”.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has supported the bill’s aims, recently calling it “utterly unacceptable” that petrol stations and mines were being denied banking services due to banks’ commitment to climate change goals.

Coalition partner ACT similarly called for the end of “banking wokery”. And last week the Finance and Expenditure Committee announced an extension of its inquiry into banking competition to include, among other issues, the “debanking of legitimate sectors”.

Risk management isn’t ‘woke’

Much of this is largely politically performative, however. A broader international trend has for, some time now, seen financial institutions increasingly aligning their lending practices with ESG criteria.

In Europe, for example, data from the European Banking Authority show banks have halved their exposures to mining firms since 2020, reflecting that global shift towards sustainability and risk management.

This is about more than “woke” agendas and is unlikely to reverse, given current global efforts to decarbonise. Encouraging or forcing banks to invest in carbon-emitting industries introduces financial risk. If those assets lose value, it constitutes irresponsible lending.

While the current US administration may be embracing fossil fuel industries, consumer and investor demand for sustainable policies is still strong. When banks such as the BNZ prepare for an orderly exit from declining industries, they are simply engaging in risk management.

Banks also manage regulatory risk. While the current government may enact the bill and force banks to invest in carbon-emitting industries, a future government could reverse that policy. This undermines long-term investment strategies.

Regulatory uncertainty

There is also a danger New Zealand is perceived internationally as not being serious about business and investment. In particular, the prime minister’s pressure on bank lending policies cuts across his stated commitment to the Paris Agreement on climate change.

The resulting regulatory uncertainty is counterproductive: it potentially deters international investors at a time when the government aims to attract foreign investment.

Ultimately, if bank lending policies lead to poor outcomes, it is ordinary New Zealanders who will likely bear the costs through higher interest rates or even bank failures.

In its eagerness to boost lending, the government is also encroaching on the Reserve Bank’s territory by directing it to prioritise competition, including reviewing risk weightings and capital thresholds (designed to build buffers against failure) for new entrants to the market.

But history shows that before the 2007-2009 global financial crisis, similar bank-friendly initiatives – often labelled “principles-based” – led to bad debt accumulation and increased economic vulnerability.

Institutional failure

The shift towards what we might call populist banking policies is not confined to New Zealand. Globally, there is a declining political interest in financial stability and prudential regulation.

For example, agreement on the “Basel III” reforms – developed in response to the global financial crisis and aimed at strengthening the regulation, supervision and risk management of banks – will likely be delayed by the Trump administration.

This will have ripple effects in Europe, Britain and the rest of the world, signalling a softening of global capital requirements. As Erik Thedéen, chair of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, described this:

Shaving off a few basis points of capital will not unlock a wave of new lending, but it will weaken your resilience. More generally, being well capitalised is a competitive advantage for banks and their shareholders. It ensures they can continue to grow and invest in profitable projects across the financial cycle.

Politicians need to be very careful when interfering with bank supervision policies in general. They risk undermining the independence of crucial institutions, with real consequences.

Last year’s Nobel Prize for economics went to Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson and James A. Robinson for their “studies of how institutions are formed and affect prosperity”. Their warning is that institutional failure can lead to the failure of nations.

A resilient banking system

While New Zealand isn’t in such imminent danger, political leaders need to be aware that populist appeals to certain voter segments can lead to policies that undermine the banking system and economic growth, and disproportionately affect the most vulnerable.

As Stelios Haji-Ioannou, founder of low-cost airline EasyJet, once remarked: “if you think safety is expensive, try an accident”.

New Zealand needs to focus on policies that promote long-term financial stability, enhance productivity and sustainable economic growth. Globally, there needs to be a recommitment to prudential regulation to ensure the lessons of the global financial crisis are not forgotten.

Only by doing so can we build a resilient banking system that serves the interests of all, not just a privileged few.

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

– ref. Collateral damage: how the war on ‘woke banking’ could backfire on New Zealand – https://theconversation.com/collateral-damage-how-the-war-on-woke-banking-could-backfire-on-new-zealand-249930

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

February 20, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Two in five scientists report harassment and intimidation. Often, the perpetrators are inside the institution
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Hales, Director, Centre for Sustainable Enterprise, Griffith University

Roman Samborskyi/Shutterstock

The goal of science is to uncover truths and create new knowledge. But this is not always welcome. Increasingly, scientific findings are being attacked or downplayed. And scientists themselves face intimidation or harassment.

In our global study of more than 2,000 scientists across six areas of science, two-fifths (41%) of respondents had, as a result of their work, been harassed or intimidated at least once over a five-year period.

Intimidation efforts included online abuse, physical threats, and threats to budgets or employment. Harassment, while personal, could be meted out by superiors, colleagues or outsiders. Some scientists felt their leaders had thrown them under the bus to protect the institution’s reputation.

Who’s doing the intimidation? Strikingly, a majority of cases of intimidation and harassment actually came from inside the institution for most fields. That is, it was perpetrated by senior colleagues or managers. But for climate scientists, most intimidation efforts came from outside.

Intimidation of scientists doesn’t happen in a vacuum. In recent years, there has been a rise in populist leaders who pour scorn on “elites” and evidence. Scientific issues are increasingly politicised. Disinformation is rampant. This atmosphere adds to the pressure faced by scientists, especially those working in politically sensitive areas such as climate science or COVID.

Harassment and intimidation can silence or isolate scientists.
Hayk_Shalunts/Shutterstock

What did we find?

We used an online database of scientists to find and contact experts publishing in six fields: climate science, medical health, humanities and social science, food and plant science, astronomy, and other STEM areas.

More than 2,000 responded to our survey on whether they had experienced various types of intimidation or harassment. We asked respondents for more detail on the perpetrators, what triggered the incident, and what effect it had on them.

Many respondents had a clear view as to what the intimidation or harassment was meant to do. The motivations of perpetrators varied greatly. But the most common reasons were to damage their reputation, to stop them from publishing certain types of research, or to “put me in my place”.

Specific fields of science were more prone to harassment and intimidation – in particular climate science, and humanities and social science.

Among those scientists who had been intimidated, climate scientists reported online abuse three times more often than astronomers. Climate science is politically charged, because climate change is clearly linked to pollution from some of the world’s largest industries – oil, gas and coal. Astronomy is not. Half of the climate scientist respondents experiencing intimidation saw the bad behaviour as a way to discourage them from undertaking specific research and speaking about it.

Researchers from humanities and social sciences faced similar levels of online abuse to climate scientists.

When it came to personal harassment, there was a clear gender dimension. Among those who reported experiencing harassment, female scientists were more than four times more likely to report “unwelcome or inappropriate behaviour of a sexual nature” than their male counterparts. Women were affected almost twice as much as men by non-sexual forms of personal harassment.

Our findings follow earlier research finding similar rates of intimidation. For instance, a 2021 survey of 321 scientists working on COVID-19 found 15% had received death threats and 22% received threats of sexual violence.

Intimidation and harassment are damaging

The consequences of intimidation are profound and far-reaching. Many scientists told us the experience had caused lasting damage, whether to wellbeing, career prospects or research activities.

More than 40% of those affected said their career prospects had worsened following incidents of harassment. Just over a third (34%) reported a decline in their desire to work in science. Scientists who experienced intimidation often cut back their collaboration with colleagues (35%), leaving them more isolated.

Many of our respondents described flow-on effects such as decreased access to funding (35% of respondents) and less public communication from their institution about their work (23%).

Scientists targeted with multiple types of harassment reported very damaging effects, from difficulty finding their next job to poor mental health.

Intimidation slows progress

Intimidation and harassment have a chilling effect on science. This, in turn, could hinder progress on crucial issues such as climate change, public health and technological advancements.

The disproportionate impact on women and researchers in politically sensitive fields threatens to undermine diversity and inclusivity in science.

Without targeted interventions, women in science may continue to suffer disproportionate levels of harassment and intimidation. This will have long-term implications for gender diversity in scientific leadership and the direction of research in various fields.

In the United States, the Trump administration’s withdrawals from the Paris climate agreement and the World Health Organization are likely to further embolden anti-science movements. Many American scientific institutions are engaged in anticipatory obedience of the Trump administration’s demands that diversity and anti-discrimination programs be abolished, or climate change stop being mentioned. Many even go beyond what is explicitly sought.

Female scientists are targeted in different ways.
PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock

What can be done?

Science and academia is often seen as a bastion of free inquiry and open discussion. One of our most surprising findings was how common intimidation was within scientific institutions.

The key to beating intimidation is organisational support and clear strategies, not obedience. These include:
- genuine commitment to institutional policies protecting scientists from both internal and external intimidation
- formal, well-resourced support systems for researchers facing harassment or pressure (not the HR office)
- programs to increase public understanding of the scientific process to build trust and resilience to misinformation
- boosting international collaboration between scientists and policymakers to ensure resilience against country-specific efforts to undermine science
- educating the public on the importance of scientific independence and of fostering respectful dialogue around contentious topics.
As populist movements gain traction in many countries, scientists working on controversial issues will face heightened scrutiny – and potentially more intimidation.

Climate science is likely to remain a particularly contested field. As the damage wrought by climate change becomes more and more apparent, it will get even more contentious.

Over the last few centuries, science has produced breakthroughs in many areas. But the integrity of science is not guaranteed. Harassment and intimidation from both inside and outside institutions has a very real effect on scientists.

The future of evidence-based decision-making and ability to tackle global challenges depends on fostering an environment where scientists can work free from fear and undue pressure.

Robert Hale receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

David Peetz undertook research over many years with occasional financial support from governments from both sides of politics, employers and unions. He has been and is involved in several Australian Research Council-funded projects, including this one.

Ian Lowe was president of the Australian Conservation Foundation from 2004 to 2014.

Carolyn Troup and Georgina Murray do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Two in five scientists report harassment and intimidation. Often, the perpetrators are inside the institution – https://theconversation.com/two-in-five-scientists-report-harassment-and-intimidation-often-the-perpetrators-are-inside-the-institution-248013
MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –
February 20, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Carnivorous dinosaurs thrived in Australia 120 million years ago, new fossils show

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jake Kotevski, PhD Candidate, School of Biological Sciences, Monash University and PhD Candidate, Museums Victoria Research Institute

The shinbone of a megaraptorid. Nadir Kinani/Museums Victoria

Between 122 and 108 million years ago, the Australian landmass was much farther south than today. Victoria was positioned within the Antarctic Circle, separated from Tasmania by a vast rift valley rather than open sea.

This was the Early Cretaceous, and lush forests filled with dinosaurs dominated the landscape. We still find traces of these animals in Victoria’s fossil record.

Most of the dinosaur fossils found in Victoria belong to small plant-eaters called ornithopods. But there are also a few theropod fossils — a diverse group that includes all known carnivorous dinosaurs, as well as modern birds.

More than 250 theropod bones have been found in the Victorian Cretaceous. In the palaeontology collections of Museums Victoria, we have now identified five theropod fossils of particular importance. Our work on these bones has been published today in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.

Artist’s interpretation of the Cretaceous Bass Coast, 121.4 million years ago. From left to right: carcharodontosaur, unenlagiine and megaraptorid.
Jonathan Metzger for Museums Victoria

Shinbones and tail bones

Research over the past decade has revealed striking similarities between Australian and South American dinosaurs. These include megaraptorids with claws shaped like scythes, and small, fleet-footed elasmarian ornithopods. There were also armoured parankylosaurians and colossal sauropods with long necks and small heads.

These parallels may seem surprising at first, but both continents retained a connection to Antarctica throughout much of the Cretaceous Period.

Our newly described fossils show that a bunch of different carnivorous dinosaurs seen in South America also thrived in the Cretaceous of southeastern Australia.

Two shinbones provide the first evidence of carcharodontosaurs (“shark-toothed lizards”) in Australia. A third shinbone provides strong evidence for the presence of unenlagiines, a southern group of dromaeosaurs (“running lizards”).

A fourth shinbone and two tail vertebrae with their chevrons, which are from a megaraptorid, represent one of Australia’s largest-known carnivorous dinosaurs.

A first for Australia

Carcharodontosaurs were apex predators in South America and Africa for much of the mid-Cretaceous. This group of theropods had large skulls, massive teeth and small arms. They were some of the largest predators to ever walk the Earth.

Despite their success in South America and Africa, carcharodontosaur fossils had never been found in Australia – until now. With the two shinbones, we now have the first evidence of the group on this continent.

Curiously, these Australian carcharodontosaurs are much smaller than their African and South American cousins, and the bones we have most closely resemble a carcharodontosaur from Thailand.

One of the Victorian carcharodontosaur shinbones was found on the Otway Coast. The other was found on the Bass Coast, in rocks nearly 10 million years older. This demonstrates these predators were successful in this area for at least 10 million years. It’s a notable find.

The large-bodied carcharodontosaurs of Africa and South America were seemingly specialised for hunting long-necked sauropods. However, this food source was likely not available to the Victorian polar carcharodontosaurs: sauropod fossils have never been found in Victoria.

A cliff face at Twin Reefs Bunurong Coastal Reserve, the area where some of the dinosaur fossils were found.
John Broomfield/Museums Victoria

The Australian ‘raptors’

Unenlagiines were lightly built (and likely feathered) predatory dinosaurs, related to Velociraptor of Jurassic Park fame.

Most unenlagiine fossil remains have been found in South America. Historically, Australia had limited evidence for their presence, as well.

Our description of a new unenlagiine shinbone from Victoria provides robust evidence for their success in polar Australia during the Early Cretaceous.

The snouts of unenlagiines were relatively longer, and their arms relatively shorter than those of their dromaeosaur cousins from the Northern Hemisphere. This implies they had a rather different diet. The Victorian unenlagiine presumably ate fish or small land-dwelling animals. One possibility is the small mammals for which the Victorian Cretaceous is perhaps most famous – more than 50 mammal jaws have been found to date, and some are from ancient relatives of platypus and echidna.

Theropod shin bones from the Bass Coast. From left to right: unenlagiine, carcharodontosaur and megaraptorid.
Nadir Kinani/Museums Victoria

The apex predators of Victoria

Large predatory dinosaurs – on the scale of Tyrannosaurus – are notably absent from the Australian fossil record. Instead, Australian dinosaur populations seem to have been dominated by medium-sized carnivores called megaraptorids.

Megaraptorid fossils are only known from South America and Australia. The most complete skeletons are from South America, including a relatively large one – roughly nine metres long. Australia’s only reasonably complete megaraptorid is Australovenator wintonensis from Winton, central Queensland.

The shinbone and tail vertebrae we describe provide evidence for a large megaraptorid in southeast Australia. Despite being almost 30 million years older than the roughly five- to six-metre-long Australovenator, the Bass Coast megaraptorid was at least 5% larger: approaching the size of its South American relatives.

The large, muscular arms and fingers tipped with fearsome scythe-like claws were presumably the primary weapons of megaraptorids. In contrast to almost every other group of medium-sized carnivorous dinosaurs, megaraptorids had elongated snouts with small teeth.

The abundance of ornithopods in Victoria presumably made this region more suited to smaller prey specialists like megaraptorids, rather than sauropod-stalking carcharodontosaurs.

Back row: two megaraptor fossils. Front row: the shinbone of a unenlagiine; two shinbones of carcharodontosaurs; the shinbone of a megaraptor.
Nadir Kinani/Museums Victoria

More discoveries yet to come

We have much to learn about Australia’s Cretaceous dinosaurs. Our study shows how even five isolated and incomplete bones can improve our understanding of our continent’s fossil heritage.

Carcharodontosaurs might have been the apex predators in South America, but megaraptorids ruled the roost in the land down under.

The fantastic dinosaur fossil record of Victoria has grown over nearly 40 years thanks to the efforts of Dinosaur Dreaming, an ongoing volunteer palaeontology project, and citizen scientists like Melissa Lowery. Thanks to their efforts, our window into Victoria’s ancient past continues to become ever clearer.

Jake Kotevski receives funding from an Australian Government Research Training Stipend and Monash University – Museums Victoria scholarship.

Stephen Poropat received funding from the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust to observe fossil specimens relevant to this paper.

– ref. Carnivorous dinosaurs thrived in Australia 120 million years ago, new fossils show – https://theconversation.com/carnivorous-dinosaurs-thrived-in-australia-120-million-years-ago-new-fossils-show-242290

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

February 20, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Screening of “American Coup: Wilmington 1898” Explores History of Massacre and Insurrection

Source: US State of North Carolina

Headline: Screening of “American Coup: Wilmington 1898” Explores History of Massacre and Insurrection

Screening of “American Coup: Wilmington 1898” Explores History of Massacre and Insurrection
jejohnson6
Wed, 02/19/2025 – 14:33

ELIZABETH CITY

The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, Museum of the Albemarle, and Elizabeth City State University, in partnership with PBS North Carolina and Working Films invite teachers and community members to a free screening of American Coup: Wilmington 1898. The film shares the little-known story of a deadly race massacre and carefully orchestrated insurrection in North Carolina’s largest city, Wilmington, in 1898. The screening is part of a statewide effort to better equip educators to share the story of the massacre, its place in US history, and its lasting impact. The screening will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 25, at 5 p.m. in the Gaither Auditorium of the Museum of the Albemarle.

American Coup: Wilmington 1898 documents this story, which was the only successful coup d’état in the history of the US. Stoking fears of “Negro Rule,” self-described white supremacists used intimidation and violence to destroy Black political and economic power and overthrow Wilmington’s democratically-elected, multi-racial government. Black residents were murdered and thousands were banished. The story of what happened in Wilmington was suppressed for decades until descendants and scholars began to investigate. Today, many of those descendants — Black and white — seek the truth about this intentionally buried history.

“American Coup: Wilmington 1898 is a cautionary tale about a breakdown of a cornerstone of our democracy: fair and free elections,” says Rachel Raney, PBS North Carolina’s Director of National Productions and co-executive producer of the film. “When we started researching these events in Wilmington, we quickly discovered that many North Carolinians are not aware of this important history, in part because it was intentionally buried. The more we learned, the more it became clear that all Americans need to know what happened.”

The screening will include North Carolina 2024 Teacher of the Year, Kim Jones, who will speak to available resources for educators to incorporate 1898 into lesson plans. These resources include a curriculum for incorporating the film into the classroom, as well as a virtual “Community of Practice” for continued support and conversations for teachers. This will be a place where teachers can go with questions as they undertake the curriculum.

A panel discussion and audience Q&A will follow the screening and will include three historians with Elizabeth City State University: Dr. Glen Bowman, Dr. Latif Tarik, and Dr. Tomiko Ballentyne. They will be joined by LeRae Umfleet, a historian and author featured in the film.

The American Coup: Wilmington 1898 screening and discussion will run from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 25. Teachers and community members are invited to join us at 5 p.m. for refreshments before the event starts. More event details can be found here and more details about the documentary and educational resources can be found here.

For high-resolution images and additional media assets, visit this link.

About PBS North Carolina

As North Carolina’s statewide PBS network serving the country’s third largest public media market, PBS North Carolina educates, informs, entertains and inspires its audience on air, online and in person. Through its unique partnership of public investment and private support, the network includes in-person engagement, digital-first social and online content delivery and four over-the-air channels: PBS NC, the North Carolina Channel, Rootle 24/7 PBS KIDS channel and the Explorer Channel. Its transformational events and content spark curiosity and wonder for all North Carolinians. Additionally, PBS North Carolina serves as the backbone for North Carolina’s state emergency services. To learn more about PBS North Carolina, visit pbsnc.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

About Working Films

Founded in 1999, Working Films is a national nonprofit organization based in North Carolina that leverages the power of documentary films to advance social justice and environmental protection. For more information, visit www.workingfilms.org.

About the Museum of the Albemarle

The Museum of the Albemarle is located at 501 S. Water Street, Elizabeth City, NC. (252) 335-1453. www.museumofthealbemarle.com. Find us on Facebook! Hours are Monday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Closed Sundays and State Holidays. Serving Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hertford, Hyde, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell, and Washington Counties, the museum is the northeast regional history museum of the North Carolina Division of State History Museums within the N.C.

Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, the state agency with the mission to enrich lives and communities and the vision to harness the state’s cultural resources to build North Carolina’s social, cultural, and economic future. Information is available 24/7 at www.dncr.nc.gov.

About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources

The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.

The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the N.C. Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.

Feb 13, 2025

MIL OSI USA News –

February 20, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: History for Lunch: Manteo During World War II and Manteo Boat Building Company

Source: US State of North Carolina

Headline: History for Lunch: Manteo During World War II and Manteo Boat Building Company

History for Lunch: Manteo During World War II and Manteo Boat Building Company
jejohnson6
Wed, 02/19/2025 – 14:26

ELIZABETH CITY

The Museum of the Albemarle will host our monthly History for Lunch on Wed., April 2 at noon in the Gaither Auditorium. Author LeVern Davis Parker will share the story of life during World War II in Manteo through the lens of the Manteo Boat Building Company.

The Museum will offer the History for Lunch program in-person and through Zoom. To attend the lecture virtually, register in advance by clicking here to receive the link. Registration is not required to attend the lecture in person.

The virtual program is supported by Friends of the Museum of the Albemarle.

About the Museum of the Albemarle

The Museum of the Albemarle is located at 501 S. Water Street, Elizabeth City, NC. (252) 335-1453. www.museumofthealbemarle.com. Find us on Facebook! Hours are Monday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Closed Sundays and State Holidays. Serving Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hertford, Hyde, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell, and Washington Counties, the museum is the northeast regional history museum of the North Carolina Division of State History Museums within the N.C.

Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, the state agency with the mission to enrich lives and communities and the vision to harness the state’s cultural resources to build North Carolina’s social, cultural, and economic future. Information is available 24/7 at www.dncr.nc.gov.

About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources

The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.

The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the N.C. Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.

Feb 14, 2025

MIL OSI USA News –

February 20, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Take It, Make It Saint Patrick’s Day

Source: US State of North Carolina

Headline: Take It, Make It Saint Patrick’s Day

Take It, Make It Saint Patrick’s Day
jejohnson6
Wed, 02/19/2025 – 14:21

ELIZABETH CITY

Stop by the Museum of the Albemarle on Saturday, March 15, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and pick up a free Take It, Make It packet to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day. You’ll find at-home activities and learning resources that explore the holiday’s history and traditions. Packets are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last.

About the Museum of the Albemarle

The Museum of the Albemarle is located at 501 S. Water Street, Elizabeth City, NC. (252) 335-1453. www.museumofthealbemarle.com. Find us on Facebook! Hours are Monday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Closed Sundays and State Holidays. Serving Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hertford, Hyde, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell, and Washington Counties, the museum is the northeast regional history museum of the North Carolina Division of State History Museums within the N.C.

Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, the state agency with the mission to enrich lives and communities and the vision to harness the state’s cultural resources to build North Carolina’s social, cultural, and economic future. Information is available 24/7 at www.ncdcr.gov.

About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources

The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.

The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the N.C. Zoo, the N.C Symphony, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.ncdcr.gov.

Feb 18, 2025

MIL OSI USA News –

February 20, 2025
MIL-OSI Video: How Long Does it Take to Get to the Moon… Mars… Jupiter? We Asked a NASA Expert

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

How long does it take to get to the Moon? Mars? Jupiter? The answer is: it depends — and speed is only one factor. Travel times also depend on distance, fuel, physics and clever trajectory planning. From quick trips to the Moon to years-long voyages to the outer planets, every mission follows a unique path. Watch as a NASA scientist breaks down what it really takes to travel through space.

Learn more about how we navigate the solar system: https://science.nasa.gov/learn/basics-of-space-flight/

Link to download this video: coming soon

Producers: Scott Bednar, Pedro Cota, Jessica Wilde
Editor: James Lucas

Credit: NASA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gDntIl2JSc

MIL OSI Video –

February 20, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Minister’s statement on treaty commissioner appointment

Source: Government of Canada regional news

Christine Boyle, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, has released the following statement on a newly appointed commissioner to the BC Treaty Commission:

“I wish to congratulate George Abbott on being appointed by the Government of British Columbia to a two-year term at the BC Treaty Commission as the commissioner.

“In recent years, First Nations, Canada and B.C. have been focused on creating innovative agreements that are strong but flexible, and better suited to addressing the needs of individual Nations.

“Abbott is a seasoned diplomat who has significant experience of working with First Nations, local governments, labour and business, and has a track record of engaging shoulder to shoulder with First Nations on agreements that advance reconciliation and self-determination to build a stronger province.

“First elected in 1996, Abbott served with distinction as a member of the legislative assembly for 17 years, including 12 years as a cabinet minister. Over his many years of public service, Abbott led portfolios in Indigenous relations, sustainable resource management, health and education.

“Throughout his time in elected office, Abbott had many notable achievements, including introducing the historic Haida Gwaii Reconciliation Act in 2010 and working with First Nations leaders to officially name the large area of coastal waters off the southern coast as the Salish Sea. During his role as minister of Aboriginal relations and reconciliation (now the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation), Abbott regularly engaged in the work of the Treaty Commission as the Province’s principal in the tripartite treaty negotiations process.

“He served as chair for the Institute for Health System Transformation and Sustainability until December 2024. He is the current board chair at Technical Safety BC. He completed his doctorate in political science at the University of Victoria in April 2019.

“I’d also like to acknowledge and thank Angela Wesley, who is serving her third term as the provincially appointed commissioner, for her important contributions to advancing reconciliation through treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements.

“Since her initial appointment in December 2018, she has brought her wealth of knowledge and experience to the role of commissioner. Thanks to her years of service to the Treaty Commission, she has helped shape many significant moments in treaty negotiations in B.C., including the initialling of three treaties last summer with K’ómoks, Kitselas and Kitsumkalum First Nations.

“The success of the treaty negotiations process is possible because of the hard work and dedication of individuals like Angela Wesley, George Abbott and all the other treaty commissioners.

“I look forward to continuing the work of my predecessors, by working in partnership with the Treaty Commission and alongside my colleagues in the federal government and the First Nations Summit, to support progress in negotiations of modern treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements.”

MIL OSI Canada News –

February 20, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: A new level unlocked

Source: Microsoft

Headline: A new level unlocked

Today Microsoft released Muse, a first-of-its-kind generative AI model that we are applying to gaming. But it’s so much more than that. What we’re sharing today is a huge step forward for gameplay ideation. And what’s even more exciting is what this breakthrough represents in our journey of building and using generative AI, and what industries, developers and creators of all interests will be enabled to do next.

The impressive abilities we first witnessed with ChatGPT and GPT-4 to learn human language are now being matched by AI’s abilities to learn the mechanics of how things work, in effect developing a practical understanding of interactions in the world. As a computer scientist, this ability to understand and model a 3D world is something I and many other great researchers have pursued for over 10 years and, personally, I was not sure that it could be made possible with such speed and quality.

In the case of Muse, just from observing human gameplay, this model develops a deep understanding of the environment, including its dynamics and how it evolves over time in response to actions. This unlocks the ability to rapidly iterate, remix and create in video games so developers can eventually create immersive environments and unleash their full creativity.

Beyond gaming, I’m excited by the potential of this capability to enable AI assistants that understand and help visualize things, from reconfiguring the kitchen in your home to redesigning a retail space to building a digital twin of a factory floor to test and explore different scenarios. All these things are just now becoming possible with AI. From the perspective of computer science research, it’s pretty amazing, and the future applications of this are likely to be transformative for creators.

—

At Microsoft, we have a long history of collaboration between research and engineering. Today, as we release Muse, we are also announcing Azure AI Foundry Labs, where the AI community can explore the latest from Microsoft Research. Azure AI Foundry Labs will help accelerate the transition from research to solutions, bringing new ideas to the broader community to help shape the future of AI. Learn more.

Tags: AI, Azure AI Foundry Labs, ChatGPT, GPT-4

MIL OSI Economics –

February 20, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Defense of Fort Dobbs Remembered

Source: US State of North Carolina

Headline: Defense of Fort Dobbs Remembered

Defense of Fort Dobbs Remembered
jejohnson6
Wed, 02/19/2025 – 14:13

STATESVILLE

Fort Dobbs State Historic Site will offer a glimpse of the harrowing days of the Anglo-Cherokee War on March 1 with a living-history commemoration.

The 265th anniversary program will feature living-history interpreters portraying colonial soldiers and settlers around the time when up to 70 Cherokee warriors attacked the fort in a confusing night-time skirmish on Feb. 27, 1760. Until then, the Cherokee and British had been allies when the French and Indian War started.

The commemoration will include musket and swivel cannon firing demonstrations and on-going demonstrations of life inside a blockhouse fort including woodworking and cooking.

The free program will run 10 a.m.-4 p.m., but $2 donations are suggested. For more information, contact Fort Dobbs at (704) 873-5882 or www.fortdobbs.org.

About Fort Dobbs
Fort Dobbs State Historic Site’s mission is to preserve and interpret the history of Fort Dobbs (438 Fort Dobbs Rd, Statesville, NC) and North Carolina’s role in the French and Indian War. It is open Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Special events and living history weekends are offered throughout the year. It is part of the Division of N.C. State Historic Sites within the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.

The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.

Feb 19, 2025

MIL OSI USA News –

February 20, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: The 21st Century Packhorse Librarians to Visit Mountain Gateway Museum

Source: US State of North Carolina

Headline: The 21st Century Packhorse Librarians to Visit Mountain Gateway Museum

The 21st Century Packhorse Librarians to Visit Mountain Gateway Museum
jejohnson6
Wed, 02/19/2025 – 14:07

The Mountain Gateway Museum will host the 21st Century Packhorse Librarians on March 1 to distribute free books.

The free, family friendly event will take place at the museum’s new location (78-C Catawba Ave., Old Fort, NC) from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Books ranging from children’s board books, to young adult titles, adult fiction, poetry, and more, will be available.

Inspired by the Packhorse Librarians of the 1930s who brought books to the community, Kirsten Turner launched a modern take on the group following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. The 1930s version was part of the Works Progress Administration programs delivering books to the communities of the Appalachian Mountains in Kentucky, while employing around 200 women. Often these women rode or walked into town on horses or mules loaded with books. Turner will deliver books from a trailer instead of a horse.

For more information, please call the museum at 828-785-9528 or visit our website at mgmnc.org. To learn more about the 21st Century Packhorse Librarians, visit them on Facebook at 21st Century Packhorse Librarians.

About Mountain Gateway Museum
A regional branch of the North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh, the Mountain Gateway Museum & Heritage Center (MGM) is the westernmost facility in the N.C. Department of Natural & Cultural Resources’ Division of State History Museums.

Nestled at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of historic Mill Creek in downtown Old Fort (McDowell County), the museum uses artifacts, exhibitions, educational programs, living history demonstrations, and special events to teach people about the rich history and cultural heritage of the state’s mountain region, from its original inhabitants through early settlement and into the 20th century.

As part of its education outreach mission, MGM also assists non-profit museums and historic sites in 38 western NC counties with exhibit development and fabrication, genealogical research, photography archives, traveling exhibitions, and consultations.

About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.

The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.

Feb 19, 2025

MIL OSI USA News –

February 20, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: President Meloni meets with the President of the State of Israel, Isaac Herzog

Source: Government of Italy (English)

The President of the Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni, received the President of the State of Israel, Isaac Herzog, at Palazzo Chigi today, as part of the recent meetings held with the main leaders of the Middle East and the Gulf region.

This was the fourth meeting between the two leaders since President Meloni entered office, providing her with an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of upholding the Gaza ceasefire agreement. Said agreement has allowed for a number of the hostages to be released and for humanitarian aid to be significantly increased to the Strip, where Italy is at the forefront also through its ‘Food for Gaza’ initiative.

During the meeting, President Meloni reiterated Italy’s commitment to the stabilisation and reconstruction of Gaza, as well as the need for a political horizon towards a just and lasting peace in the region.

A similar hope was expressed with reference to the ceasefire reached in Lebanon, where Italy plays an irreplaceable role including through its UNIFIL contingent.

Lastly, the meeting highlighted the common will to enhance the bilateral partnership in all sectors, starting with energy, science and technology.

MIL OSI Europe News –

February 20, 2025