Category: Science

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Domestic Tourism Growth

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 10 FEB 2025 5:17PM by PIB Delhi

The Ministry of Tourism has formulated a National Strategy for Sustainable Tourism and the following strategic pillars have been identified for development of sustainable tourism:

i. Promoting Environmental Sustainability

ii. Protecting Biodiversity

iii. Promoting Economic Sustainability

iv. Promoting Socio-Cultural Sustainability

v. Scheme for Certification of Sustainable Tourism

vi. IEC and Capacity Building Governance

The Ministry also launched the Travel for LiFE Initiative to promote sustainable tourism in the country and to encourage the tourists and tourism businesses to adopt sustainable tourism practices. Travel for LiFE aims to promote sustainable tourism in the country, through mindful and deliberate actions mobilized toward tourists and tourism businesses in the consumption of tourism resources. The Ministry of Tourism has also revamped its Swadesh Darshan scheme as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD2.0) with the objective of developing sustainable and responsible destinations following a tourist & destination centric approach. Through these initiatives, the Government seeks to ensure that tourism contributes positively to the economy while safeguarding the environment and benefiting local communities. The list of projects sanctioned under the schemes of the Ministry in various States/Union Territories including in South India are placed at Annexure.

This information was given by Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

ANNEXURE

State wise list of projects sanctioned under PRASHAD Scheme.

(Rs. in Crore)
S. No	Name of State/UT	No. of Projects	Sanctioned Amount	Amount released
1	Andhra Pradesh	4	150.22	84.55
2	Arunachal Pradesh	1	37.88	21.95
3	Assam	1	29.8	29.8
4	Bihar	2	33.25	33.25
5	Chhattisgarh	1	48.44	32.13
6	Gujarat	4	152.94	113.48
7	Goa	1	16.46	0
8	Haryana	1	48.53	34.68
9	Jammu & Kashmir	1	40.46	34.3
10	Jharkhand	1	36.79	34.95
11	Karnataka	1	45.71	0
12	Kerala	1	45.19	45.19
13	Madhya Pradesh	2	93.92	78.67
14	Maharashtra	1	42.18	29.93
15	Meghalaya	1	29.29	24.92
16	Mizoram	1	44.89	13.18
17	Nagaland	2	43.38	32.24
18	Odisha	1	50	10
19	Punjab	2	37.97	23.89
20	Rajasthan	1	32.64	26.11
21	Sikkim	1	33.32	28.31
22	Tamil Nadu	2	18.85	18.85
23	Telangana	3	142.28	54.32
24	Tripura	1	34.43	25.62
25	Uttar Pradesh	6	130.27	110.82
26	Uttarakhand	3	145.28	83.37
27	West Bengal	1	30.03	23.39
	Grand Total	47	1594.4	1047.92

State wise list of projects under Swadesh Darshan Scheme till 31.12.2024

(₹ in crore)

S. No	State / UTs	Swadesh Darshan
S. No	State / UTs	No. of Projects	Amount Sanctioned in ₹ Crore	Amount Released / Authorised* in ₹ Crore	Amount Utilised in ₹ Crore (as per UC submitted by the Implementing agency)
1	Andhra Pradesh	3	152.62	147.40	148.81
2	Arunachal Pradesh	2	146.49	139.16	139.16
3	Assam	2	185.66	185.65	176.36
4	Bihar	5	262.72	250.37	247.03
5	Chhattisgarh	1	96.10	94.23	94.23
6	Goa	2	197.00	197.00	195.24
7	Gujarat	3	176.97	165.74	161.11
8	Haryana	1	77.39	76.74	76.74
9	Himachal Pradesh	1	68.34	64.54	62.56
10	Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh	6	519.58	453.46	423.43
11	Jharkhand	1	30.44	28.04	28.04
12	Kerala	5	312.47	259.13	222.05
13	Madhya Pradesh	4	349.70	342.14	342.14
14	Maharashtra	2	64.53	61.29	55.85
15	Manipur	2	117.57	106.65	104.29
16	Meghalaya	2	184.10	184.07	176.08
17	Mizoram	2	158.63	145.35	145.35
18	Nagaland	2	195.50	195.50	190.63
19	Odisha	1	70.82	67.28	59.47
20	Punjab	1	85.32	81.05	81.05
21	Rajasthan	4	283.47	265.88	275.45
22	Sikkim	2	193.37	192.73	187.96
23	Tamil Nadu	1	73.13	71.03	71.03
24	Telangana	3	268.39	241.73	262.10
25	Tripura	2	127.68	113.01	100.13
26	Uttar Pradesh	8	490.95	452.08	437.39
27	Uttarakhand	2	145.49	138.08	138.11
28	West Bengal	1	67.99	65.07	65.07
29	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	1	27.57	22.13	22.08
30	Puducherry	3	142.84	135.54	135.34
31	Wayside Amenities in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar	1	15.07	14.32	15.83
Total		76	5287.90	4956.39	4840.11

* Includes amount of authorization to CNA through TSA Model I for Central Sector Scheme.

List of sanctioned projects under Swadesh Darshan 2.0 as on 31.12.2024

S. No	State	Destination	Name of the Experience	Sanctioned Cost (₹ Crore)	Date of Sanction
1	Andhra Pradesh	Araku-Lambasingi	Borra Cave Experience at Araku	29.87	05-03-2024
2	Arunachal Pradesh	Nacho	Unlock Nacho Expedition	14.02	05-03-2024
3	Arunachal Pradesh	Mechuka	Mechuka Cultural Haat	18.48	05-03-2024
4	Arunachal Pradesh	Mechuka	Mechuka Adventure Park	12.75	05-03-2024
5	Assam	Kokrajhar	Kokrajhar Wetland Experience	26.67	05-03-2024
6	Assam	Jorhat	Reimagining Cinnamara Tea Estate	23.91	05-03-2024
7	Goa	Porvorim	Porvorim Creek Experience	23.56	20-08-2024
8	Goa	Colva	Colva Beach Experience	15.65	20-08-2024
9	Karnataka	Hampi	Setting up of ‘Traveller nooks’	25.64	29-02-2024
10	Karnataka	Mysuru	Tonga ride Heritage experience zone	2.72	29-02-2024
11	Karnataka	Mysuru	Ecological Experience Zone	18.47	05-03-2024
12	Kerala	Kumarakom	Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary Experience	13.92	05-03-2024
13	Ladakh	Leh	Julley Leh Biodiversity Park	24.89	05-03-2024
14	Ladakh	Kargil	Exploring LOC and Hundarman village Experience	12.01	05-03-2024
15	Madhya Pradesh	Gwalior	Phoolbagh Experience Zone	16.73	29-02-2024
16	Madhya Pradesh	Chitrakoot	Spiritual experience at Chitrakoot	27.21	05-03-2024
17	Maharashtra	Pune	Shivsrushti Historical Theme Park- Phase 3	76.22	21-09-2024
18	Meghalaya	Sohra	Waterfall Trails Experience	27.84	05-03-2024
19	Meghalaya	Sohra	Meghalayan Age Cave Experience	32.45	04-03-2024
20	Nagaland	Chumoukedima	Eco-Tourism Exp at Chumoukedima viewpoint	7.87	20-08-2024
21	Nagaland	Chumuoukedima	Tribal Cultural Experience at Midway Retreat	21.56	05-03-2024
22	Puducherry	Karaikal	Karaikal beach and waterfront experience	20.29	05-03-2024
23	Punjab	Kapurthala	Eco Tourism experience at Kanjli wetland	20.06	05-03-2024
24	Punjab	Amritsar	Border Tourism Experience at Attari	25.90	20-08-2024
25	Rajasthan	Bundi	Spiritual Experience, Keshavraipatan	17.37	29-02-2024
26	Sikkim	Gyalshing	Eco-Wellness Experience at Yuksom Cluster	15.40	05-03-2024
27	Sikkim	Gangtok	Gangtok Cultural Village	22.59	29-02-2024
28	Tamil Nadu	Mamallapuram	Immersive experience at Shore Temple	30.02	29-02-2024
29	Telangana	Bhongir	Bhongir Fort Experiential Zone	56.81	29-02-2024
30	Telangana	Ananathagiri	Eco tourism zone at Ananathgiri forest	38.00	05-03-2024
31	Uttar Pradesh	Prayagraj	Azad Park and Dekho Prayagraj Trail Exp	13.02	05-03-2024
32	Uttar Pradesh	Naimisaranya	Vedic- wellness Experience	15.94	05-03-2024
33	Uttarakhand	Pithoragarh	Rural Tourism Cluster Experience at Gunji	32.20	05-03-2024
34	Uttarakhand	Champawat	Tea Garden Experience	11.21	05-03-2024
TOTAL AMOUNT				791.25

List of Destination Identified under Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD), a sub-scheme of Swadesh Darshan scheme

S. No.	State	Destination	Category	Funding Amount (₹ Crore)
1	Andhra Pradesh	Nagarjuna Sagar	Culture & Heritage	25.00
2	Andhra Pradesh	Ahobilam Temple	Spiritual Tourism	25.00
3	Arunachal Pradesh	Kibitho	Vibrant Village Programme	5.00
4	Arunachal Pradesh	Bichom Dam Site	Ecotourism and Amrit Dharohar Sites	10.00
5	Assam	Sivasagar	Ecotourism and Amrit Dharohar Sites	10.00
6	Bihar	Bhagalpur	Culture & Heritage	25.00
7	Bihar	Saran Dist. (Sonepur Fair)	Culture & Heritage	25.00
8	Chhattisgarh	Mayali Bagicha	Ecotourism and Amrit Dharohar Sites	10.00
9	Goa	Mayem Village	Ecotourism and Amrit Dharohar Sites	10.00
10	Gujarat	Porbandar	Spiritual Tourism	25.00
11	Gujarat	Thol Village	Ecotourism and Amrit Dharohar Sites	10.00
12	Gujarat	Vadnagar	Culture & Heritage	25.00
13	Himachal Pradesh	Kaza	Culture & Heritage	25.00
14	Himachal Pradesh	Rakchham, Chhitkul	Vibrant Village Programme	5.00
15	Jharkhand	Ramrekha Dham	Spiritual Tourism	25.00
16	Kerala	Varkala	Culture & Heritage	25.00
17	Kerala	Thalassery	Spiritual Tourism	25.00
18	Karnataka	Bidar	Culture & Heritage	25.00
19	Karnataka	Udupi	Ecotourism and Amrit Dharohar Sites	10.00
20	Ladakh	Mushkoh Village	Ecotourism and Amrit Dharohar Sites	10.00
21	Lakshadweep	Lakshadweep	Ecotourism and Amrit Dharohar Sites	10.00
22	Madhya Pradesh	Mandu	Culture & Heritage	25.00
23	Madhya Pradesh	Orchha	Spiritual Tourism	25.00
24	Maharashtra	Ahmednagar	Culture & Heritage	25.00
25	Manipur	Langthabal Konug	Culture & Heritage	25.00
26	Meghalaya	Nartiang Village	Spiritual Tourism	25.00
27	Meghalaya	Mawphlang Village	Culture & Heritage	25.00
28	Nagaland	Doyang Reservoir	Ecotourism and Amrit Dharohar Sites	10.00
29	Nagaland	Impur Village	Spiritual Tourism	25.00
30	Puducherry	White Town	Culture & Heritage	25.00
31	Punjab	Ferozpur (Hussainiwala Border)	Culture & Heritage	25.00
32	Punjab	Rupnagar (Anandpur Sahib)	Spiritual Tourism	25.00
33	Sikkim	Gnathang Village	Vibrant Village Programme	5.00
34	Sikkim	Kabi	Spiritual Tourism	25.00
35	Tamil Nadu	Rameswaram Island	Spiritual Tourism	25.00
36	Tamil Nadu	Thanjavur	Culture & Heritage	25.00
37	Telangana	Nalgonda	Culture & Heritage	25.00
38	Telangana	Kamareddy	Ecotourism and Amrit Dharohar Sites	10.00
39	Uttar Pradesh	Mahoba	Culture & Heritage	25.00
40	Uttarakhand	Mana Village	Vibrant Village Programme	5.00
41	Uttarakhand	Jadung	Vibrant Village Programme	5.00
42	Uttarakhand	Kainchidham	Spiritual Tourism	25.00
TOTAL				800.00

List of Project shortlisted by Ministry of Tourism in consultation with the State Governments on the given parameters and funded by Department of Expenditure for development

S. No.	State/UT	Name of the Project	Sanctioned Cost (₹ Crore)	Date of Sanction
1	Andhra Pradesh	Enriching the fort and Gorge Experience in Gandikota	77.91	26-11-2024
2	Andhra Pradesh	Akhanda Godavari- (Havelok Bridge & Pushkar Ghat) in Raja Mahendravaram,	94.44	26-11-2024
3	Arunachal Pradesh	Siang Adventure & Eco-Retreat in Pasighat	46.48	26-11-2024
4	Assam	Assam State Zoo Cum Botanical Garden in Guwahati	97.12	26-11-2024
5	Assam	Beautification of Rang Ghar in Sivasagar	94.76	26-11-2024
6	Bihar	Development of Matsyagandha Lake in Saharsa	97.61	26-11-2024
7	Bihar	Karamchat Eco-Tourism and Adventure Hub in Karamchat	49.51	26-11-2024
8	Chhattisgarh	Development of Chitrotpala Film City in Raipur	95.79	26-11-2024
9	Chhattisgarh	Development of Tribal & Cultural Convention Centre in Raipur	51.87	26-11-2024
10	Goa	Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum in Ponda	97.46	26-11-2024
11	Goa	Townsquare in Porvorim	90.74	26-11-2024
12	Gujarat	Ecotourism Destination at Kerly (Mokarsagar) in Porbandar	99.50	26-11-2024
13	Gujarat	Tented City and Convention Centre in Dhordo	51.56	26-11-2024
14	Jharkhand	Eco-Tourism Development of Tilaiyya” in Koderma	34.87	26-11-2024
15	Karnataka	Ecotourism & Cultural Hub at Roerich and Devika Rani Estate Tataguni in Bengaluru	99.17	26-11-2024
16	Karnataka	Development of Savadatti Yallammagudda in Belgavi	100.00	26-11-2024
17	Kerala	Ashtamudi Biodiversity and Eco-recreational Hub in Kollam	59.71	26-11-2024
18	Kerala	Global Gateway to Malabar’s Cultural Crucible in Sargaalayaa	95.34	26-11-2024
19	Madhya Pradesh	Orchha A Medieval Splendour in Orchha	99.92	26-11-2024
20	Madhya Pradesh	International Convention Centre for MICE in Bhopal	99.38	26-11-2024
21	Maharashtra	INS-Guldar Underwater Museum, Artificial Reef, and submarine Tourism in Sindhudurg	46.91	26-11-2024
22	Maharashtra	Development of RAM-KAL PATH in Nashik	99.14	26-11-2024
23	Manipur	Loktak Lake Experience in Loktak	89.48	26-11-2024
24	Meghalaya	MICE Infrastructure in Mawkhanu	99.27	26-11-2024
25	Meghalaya	Redevelopment of Umiam Lake in Shillong	99.27	26-11-2024
26	Odisha	Development of Hirakund	99.90	26-11-2024
27	Odisha	Development of Satkosia	99.99	26-11-2024
28	Punjab	Development of Heritage Street as a tribute to Shaheed-e-Azam, Sardar Bhaghat Singh at Khatkar Kalan in SBS Nagar	53.45	26-11-2024
29	Rajasthan	Development at Amber-Nahargarh and Surrounding Area in Jaipur	49.31	26-11-2024
30	Rajasthan	Development at Jalmahal in Jaipur	96.61	26-11-2024
31	Sikkim	Skywalk, Bhaleydhunga, Yangang in Namchi	97.37	27-11-2024
32	Sikkim	Border Experience in Nathula	68.19	27-11-2024
33	Tamil Nadu	Development of Nandavanam Heritage Park in Mammallapuram	99.67	26-11-2024
34	Tamil Nadu	Garden of Flowers in Devala	70.23	26-11-2024
35	Telangana	Ramappa Region Sustainable Tourism Circuit in Ramappa	73.74	13-12-2024
36	Telangana	Somasilla Wellness & Spiritual Retreat in Nallamala	68.10	13-12-2024
37	Tripura	Shakti Peethas Park at Banduar in Gomati	97.70	26-11-2024
38	Uttar Pradesh	Development of Bateshwar in District-Agra	74.05	26-11-2024
39	Uttar Pradesh	Integrated Buddhist Tourism Development in Shrawasti	80.24	26-11-2024
40	Uttarakhand	Iconic City Rishikesh: Rafting Base Station in Rishikesh	100.00	26-11-2024
TOTAL			3295.76

List of Projects Sanctioned under the Scheme Assistance to Central Agencies

S. No	Name of Project	State	Agency	Sanction Date	Amount sanctioned	Amount Released
1	Sound and Light Show at Dal Lake (Nigeen Lake)	J&K	ITDC	25-06-2012	500	400
2	Cruise Passenger Facilities Centre in the existing Passenger Terminal at Chennai Port.	Tamil Nadu	Chennai Port Trust	24-09-2012	1724.66	1724.66
3	Implementation of Multimedia /Laser show at Tilyar Lake	Haryana	ITDC	30-04-2013	500	224.05
4	Construction of Interpretation Centre at the World Heritage Site of Humayun’s Tomb, New Delhi.	Delhi	Aga Khan Foundation	04-03-2014	4944.84	4944.84
5	Cruise Terminal Building at Mormugao Port Trust	Goa	Mormugao Port Trust	24-06-2014	879.04	767.18
6	Sound & Light Show at Diu Fort, Diu	Daman & Diu	ITDC	28-02-2015	775.54	620.43
7	Illumination of monuments in Varanasi/Sarnath (Dhamekh Stupa in SarnathChaukhandi Stupa in Sarnath, Tomb of Lalkan in Sarnath and Man Mahal in Banaras).	Uttar Pradesh	ITDC	28-02-2015	512.43	381.47
8	Development of Kanoji Angre Lighthouse as a tourist Destination	Maharashtra	Mumbai Port Trust	09-08-2016	1500	1500
9	Development of a Walkway/Promenade on Willingdon Island, Cochin, Kerala	Kerala	Cochin Port Trust	28-10-2016	901	826.29
10	Central Financial Assistance for upgrading of Births & Backup area of Ernakulam Wharf	Kerala	Cochin Port Trust	31-03-2017	2141	1912.8
11	Project for Up-gradation of Golf Course at SAI Trivandrum Golf Club by the Sports Authority of India	Kerala	SAI	31-03-2017	2464.99	1232.49
12	Sound and Light Show at Yadavindra Gardens, Pinjore, Haryana.	Haryana	ITDC	16-10-2017	600	300
13	Sound and Light Show at Puttaparthy, Andhra Pradesh	Andhra Pradesh	ITDC	27-11-2017	708.67	354.34
14	Up-gradation/ modernization to International Cruise terminal at Indira Dock, Mumbai.	Maharashtra	Mumbai Port Trust	29-12-2017	1250	1250
15	Illumination of three monuments in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh- 1. Dashashwamedh Ghat to Darbhanga Ghat (stretch of 300 m) 2. Tulsi Manas Mandir 3. Sarnath Museum	Uttar Pradesh	CPWD	21-12-2017	293.55	293.55
16	Infrastructural Development at JCP Attari, Wagha Border	Punjab	BSF	12-06-2018	1312	1029.59
17	Improvement of immigration facility and deepening of existing cruise berth at Mormugao Port Trust	Goa	Mormugao Port Trust	24-08-2018	1316.4	658.2
18	Developing infrastructure at Cochin Port Cruise Terminal.	Kerala	Cochin Port Trust	12-12-2018	120.79	114.17
19	Creation of additional tourism facilities at the Cochin Port Trust Walkway	Kerala	Cochin Port Trust	12-12-2018	466.47	466.47
20	Construction of Cruise-Cum-Costal Cargo Terminal at Channel berth area in Outer Harbour of Visakhapatnam Port	Andhra Pradesh	Visakhapatnam Port Trust	14-12-2018	3850	2991
21	Restoration/ Renovation of ‘Jallianwala Bagh Memorial’ & Additional work to be taken at Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial at Amritsar, Punjab.	Punjab (GFR)	ASI	08-03-2019	2302	2250
22	Sound and Light Show at (Purana Quila) Delhi	Delhi	ITDC	05-08-2019	1404	685
23	Development of Additional infrastructure in the new Cochin Port Trust Terminal	Kerala	Cochin Port Trust	13-12-2019	1029.7	888.62
24	Illumination of Building of National Gallery of Modern Art	Delhi	NCSM	19-12-2019	380	304
25	Development & renovation of selected facilities of National Museum	Delhi	NCSM	26-12-2019	4373	2186
26	Development of Jetties at 9 main points of embarkation/disembarkation of River Cruize on National Water ways No. 1 & 2	Assam	IWAI	28-04-2020	2803.05	700.76
27	Tourism Infrastructure at Beltaal Lake, Damoh, Madhya Pradesh by ITDC.	Madhya Pradesh	ITDC	29-09-2020	2315.30	1008.27
28	Sound & Light Show at Leh, Ladakh & Water Screen Projection Multimedia Show at Tourist Facilitation Centre, Kargil, Ladakh	Leh & Ladakh	ITDC	26-11-2020	2321.99	765.99
29	3D visual projection mapping of NGMA Building	Delhi	NCSM	31-03-2021	616.27	464.58
30	Development of Convention Centre and associated Infrastructure at Aizawl.	Mizoram	WAPCOS	31-03-2021	3994.75	3057.03
31	Development of International and Domestic Cruse Terminal and allied facilities at Murmugao Port Trust, Goa	Goa	Mormugao Port Trust	10-09-2021	5000	4000
32	Upgradation/Modernization to International Cruise Terminal at Indira Dock, Mumbai Port Trust	Maharashtra	Mumbai Port Trust	20-12-2021	3750	3000
33	Development of 22 viewpoints in North Eastern State (i) Nagaland (2 view points)- Rs.5.77 Crore (ii) Meghalaya (3 view points) – Rs.6.26 Crore (iii) Mizoram (9 view points)- Rs.12.78 Crore (iv) Arunachal Pradesh (4 view points) – Rs.6.25 Crore (v) Manipur (3 view points)- Rs.5.93 Crore (vi) Sikkim/West Bengal (1 view point)- Rs.3.70 Crore	NER	NHIDCL	11-10-2022	4444	3555.4
34	Development of Border Tourism at Shri Tanot Complex, Jaisalmer Sector	Rajasthan	BSF	05-07-2022	1767.66	883.83
35	Multimedia Laser Show with Water Screen and Musical Fountain at Sanjeevaiah Park, Hyderabad, Telangana	Telangana	BECIL	31-10-2022	5000.04	4090
36	Design, Supply, Installation, Testing & Commissioning of Digital Multimedia Technology and Lightings at Osmania Arts University, Hyderabad Telangana	Telangana	BECIL	22-12-2022	1179.93	943.47
37	Project ‘Major Upgradation of National Science Centre	Delhi	NCSM	27-03-2023	3180	18
38	Installation of Musical Fountain & Water Screen Multimedia based projection show at Nawal Sagar Lake, Bundi	Rajasthan	ITDC	04-10-2023	925.67	92.57
39	Development of Light & Sound and Multimedia Show at Rashtrapati Bhawan	Delhi	ITDC	28-03-2024	4712.4	471
40	3D Mapping with Aqua Screen Projection and Sound Show at Buxar, Bihar and Dynamic Lighting & Motif at Ram Rekha Ghat, Bihar	Bihar	BECIL	10-06-2024	599.96	59.99
	Total (Lakhs)				78,861.10	51,416.04

***

Sunil Kumar Tiwari

tourism4pib[at]gmail[dot]com

(Release ID: 2101365) Visitor Counter : 70

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 11, 2025

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Measuring the Pulse of Indian Education
Source: Government of India (2)

Posted On: 10 FEB 2025 5:16PM by PIB Delhi

Union Budget 2025-26 Unveils Transformative Initiatives

“Education is not only the foundation upon which our civilization has been built, but it is also the architect of humanity’s future.”

~Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi

Education has always been a key priority for the government and with the vision to make India a global education hub, the Union Budget 2025-26 introduces innovative initiatives. Focused on expanding medical seats, enhancing skilling infrastructure and growing IITs, these measures aim to provide more opportunities and equip youth with essential skills for the future.

Announcements for a Smarter, Inclusive India
1. Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Scheme: To provide digital-form Indian language books for school and higher education. This aims to help students understand their subjects better.
2. National Centres of Excellence for Skilling: Building on the July 2024 Budget, five National Centres of Excellence for skilling will be established with global partnerships to equip youth with skills. These centres will focus on curriculum design, trainer training, skills certification, and regular reviews.
3. Expansion of Capacity in IITs: Additional infrastructure will be created in the 5 IITs started after 2014 to facilitate education for 6,500 more students. Hostel and other infrastructure capacity at IIT, Patna will also be expanded. Total number of students in 23 IITs has increased 100 per cent from 65,000 to 1.35 lakh in the past 10 years.
4. Centre of Excellence in AI for Education: A Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence for education will be set up with a total outlay of 500 crore.
5. Expansion of Medical Education: The government had added almost 1.1 lakh UG and PG medical education seats in ten years, an increase of 130 per cent. In the next year, 10,000 additional seats will be added in medical colleges and hospitals, towards the goal of adding 75,000 seats in the next 5 years.
Inside India’s Education System

The Indian education system has undergone significant transformation over the years. Serving 24.8 crore students across 14.72 lakh schools, it is supported by a dedicated workforce of 98 lakh teachers, as reported by the UDISE+ (Unified District Information System for Education Plus 2023-24). Government schools form the backbone of the system, comprising 69% of the total, enrolling 50% of students and employing 51% of teachers. On the other hand, private schools make up 22.5% of institutions, catering to 32.6% of students and employing 38% of teachers. This growing structure reflects the dynamic changes in the Indian education landscape, paving the way for continuous improvements in enrollment and access over the years.

Enrollment Trends in India

The NEP 2020 aims for a 100% Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) by 2030. The GER is near universal at the primary (93 %) and the efforts are underway to bridge the gaps at the secondary (77.4 %) and higher secondary level (56.2 %), driving the nation closer to its vision of inclusive and equitable education for all. In the realm of higher education, India has seen a dramatic rise in student enrollment. The total number of students enrolled in higher education reached 4.33 crore in 2021-22, a 26.5% increase from 3.42 crore in 2014-15. The Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) for the 18-23 age group also rose from 23.7% to 28.4% in the same period.

Women’s participation in higher education has also witnessed significant growth, with female enrollment rising from 1.57 crore in 2014-15 to 2.07 crore in 2021-22, marking a 32% increase. This progress is especially evident in fields like Medical Science, Social Science, and Arts, where women are now leading the charge in enrollment.

Decline in Dropout Rate

However, challenges still persist and the dropout rate remains a critical concern. While there has been a steady decline in dropout rates. School dropout rates have steadily declined in recent years, standing at 1.9 per cent for primary, 5.2 per cent for upper primary and 14.1 per cent for secondary levels. According to AISHE report the dropout rate at the secondary level has also decreased significantly from 21% in 2013-14 to 13% in 2021-22.

Transforming India’s Education Landscape

Over the years, India has seen a remarkable transformation in its higher education ecosystem. The number of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) has grown significantly, increasing by 13.8% from 51,534 in 2014-15 to 58,643 in 2022-23. This expansion reflects the country’s commitment to making higher education more accessible and diverse.
- Growth in Medical Education and Workforce: Medical Colleges grew from 499 in FY19 to 780 in FY25.
- Candidates aspiring to study MBBS increased from 16 lakh in 2019 to 24 lakh in 2024.
- MBBS Seats increased from 70,012 in FY19 to 1,18,137 in FY25.
- Postgraduate Medical Seats grew from 39,583 in FY19 to 73,157 in FY25.
- Doctors Available: 13.86 lakh registered practitioners as of July 2024, with a current ratio of 1:1263 per person. The WHO norm of 1:1000 could be met by 2030 with an annual increase of 50,000 doctors.
- Growth of Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs): The number of IITs increased from 16 in 2014 to 23 in 2023.
- Growth of Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs):The number of IIMs grew from 13 in 2014 to 20 in 2023.
- Expansion of Universities:The number of Universities grew from 723 in 2014 to 1,213 in 2024, marking a 59.6% increase.
- Increase in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs): Total HEIs increased by 13.8%, from 51,534 in 2014-15 to 58,643 in 2022-23.
Progress in Basic Facilities

Education infrastructure has significantly improved, with a rise in the number of higher education institutions. Key areas like medical check-ups, sanitation, and ICT availability have also seen substantial upgrades, highlighting positive progress in school facilities to enhance the quality of education. From 2019-20 to 2023-24, there have been notable improvements in school infrastructure. The percentage of schools with girls’ toilets increased slightly from 96.9% to 97.2%, while access to libraries/reading rooms rose from 84.1% to 89%. The availability of electricity improved from 83.4% to 91.8%, and computers in schools increased from 38.5% to 57.2%. Additionally, internet access grew significantly from 22.3% to 53.9%, marking a positive shift toward better-equipped schools.

Conclusion

The education sector in India is being strengthened through various government initiatives aligned with NEP 2020. Programs like Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, PM SHRI (Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India) and PM POSHAN (Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman) are driving improvements in infrastructure, teacher training and learning outcomes. The Economic Survey highlights the progress and the government’s commitment to making education more inclusive and accessible.

References

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Santosh Kumar/ Sarla Meena/ Kamna Lakaria

(Release ID: 2101363) Visitor Counter : 40

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –
February 11, 2025

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Allocation of Grants to Autonomous Bodies

Source: Government of India (2)

Posted On: 10 FEB 2025 5:10PM by PIB Delhi

Details of Grants allocated to various Autonomous Bodies under the administrative control of the Ministry of Culture is annexed at Annexure –I.

There have been the demands of excess budget during the said period by some Autonomous Bodies and the same have been met. Autonomous Bodies are continuously advised to enhance their internal revenue generation to meet the excess demand. Details of the excess demand and the reasons there for is at Annexure-II.

Grants are allocated to Autonomous Bodies keeping in view the overall allocation of the Ministry and their proposed programmes/activities during the year. Additional grants sought by the Autonomous Bodies are met through the Supplementary demands as per the GFR provisions. However, Autonomous Bodies are continuously encouraged to enhance their internal revenue generation to meet the excess demand.

This information was given by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

Annexure-I

AUTONOMOUS BODIES BE/RE FROM F.Y. BE 2021-22 TO 2023-24 (Rs. in lakh)

S.No.	Organizations	BE 21-22	RE 21-22	BE 22-23	RE 22-23	BE 23-24	RE 23-24
I	Support to Akademies
1	Sangeet Natak Akademi	5925.00	6087.00	6315.00	6660.52	6555.00	6855.00
2	Sahitya Akademi	3910.00	3787.00	3920.00	4198.16	3805.00	4055.00
3	Lalit Kala Akademi	2620.00	2558.00	2650.00	3310.80	2855.00	3255.00
4	National School of Drama	7065.00	6445.00	6975.00	4333.52	4855.00	5955.00
5	Centre for Cultural Resources and Training	2555.00	2455.00	2495.00	2495.00	2545.00	2545.00
6	Indira Gandhi National Culture for the Arts	5005.00	5330.00	5505.00	19005.00	10010.00	10010.00
7	Kalakshetra Foundation	1767.00	1872.00	1927.00	1977.00	2452.00	2662.00
8	Zonal Cultural Centers	5310.00	6419.00	6748.00	6748.00	7050.00	8208.00
	Total- Support to Akademies	34157.00	34953.00	36535.00	48728.00	40127.00	43545.00
II	Support to Museum
9	Victoria Memorial Hall	3377.00	3029.00	3099.00	2877.00	3134.00	3134.00
10	National Council of Science Museum	13186.00	13187.00	13902.00	14592.00	17260.00	20460.51
11	Allahabad Museum	1077.00	937.00	967.00	877.00	962.00	962.00
12	Indian Institute of Heritage (IIH)-NMI	2057.00	2057.00	2087.00	1902.00	1222.00	1222.00
13	Salarjung Museum	2397.00	2397.00	2487.00	2397.00	2522.00	2522.00
14	Indian Museum	2457.00	2392.00	4040.00	3282.00	4042.49	4042.49
15	Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sanghralaya	1772.00	1652.00	1702.00	1977.00	2355.00	2355.00
16	Prime Minister Museum & Library	3058.00	3058.00	3248.00	3608.00	4242.00	4242.00
	Total- Support to Museum	29381.00	28709.00	31532.00	31512.00	35739.49	38940.00
III	Support to Libraries
17	Raja Rammohun Roy Library Foundation	2707.00	2707.00	2752.00	3319.00	3367.00	3287.00
18	Delhi Public Library	3627.00	3237.00	3367.00	3252.00	3558.00	3538.00
19	Asiatic Society Library	2342.00	2342.00	2541.50	2261.50	2437.00	2237.00
20	Khuda Baksh Oriental Public Library	632.50	544.50	580.50	595.50	622.00	622.00
21	Rampur Raza Library	702.00	651.50	672.00	652.00	662.00	662.00
	Total- Support to Libraries	10010.50	9482.00	9913.00	10080.00	10646.00	10346.00
IV	BTI and Memorials
22	Gandhi Smriti Darshan Samiti	1402.00	1302.00	1366.00	1602.00	1560.00	2010.00
23	Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies	465.00	465.00	477.00	492.00	653.50	653.50
24	Nava Nalanda Mahavihara	1309.00	1609.00	1678.00	2177.00	2555.00	3804.50
25	Central Institute of Buddhist Studies, Leh.	2946.40	2576.40	2706.50	3338.50	3198.00	3545.00
26	Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies,Sarnath	5401.70	6283.90	4908.50	3935.50	3902.00	4032.00
27	Central Institute of Himalayan Cultural Studies, Dahung	1190.70	1151.70	1166.00	1211.00	1222.00	1352.00
28	Tabo			2.00	0.00	0.00	0.00

(Rs. in lakh)

S.No.

Organizations

BE 21-22

RE 21-22

BE 22-23

RE 22-23

BE 23-24

RE 23-24

Total- BTI and Memorials

12714.80

13388.00

12304.00

12756.00

13090.50

15397.00

Total- Autonomous Bodies

86263.30

86532.00

90284.00

103076.00

99602.99

108228.00

STATEMENT REFERRED TO PART(b) & (c) OF THE QUESTION NO. 1126 REGARDING ‘ALLOCATION OF GRANTS TO AUTONOMOUS BODIES’

(Rs. in lakh)

Annexure-II

		2021-22				2022-23				2023-24
S. No.	Organizations	BE	RE	Funds Status after adjustments	Reasons for excess demands	BE	RE	Funds Status after adjustments	Reasons for excess demands	BE	RE	Funds Status after adjustments	Reasons for excess demands
1	Sangeet Natak Akademi	5925.00	6087.00	5716.87		6315.00	6660.52	6505.52	For conducting various programmes/activities	6555.00	6855.00	7105.00	Additional requirement is for fellowship awards for the year.
2	Sahitya Akademi	3910.00	3787.00	4369.77	For payment to the CPWD Bengaluru towards construction of the sales-cum-godown and setting up of Metro Book Shop at their Kempe Gowda Metro Station	3920.00	4198.16	4381.96	For conducting various programmes/activitiesb	3805.00	4055.00	4356.59	For Festival of Letters was conducted at the large scale involving more than 1100 writers from across the nation, due to which amt of more than Rs. 4 crore was incurred and the bills are pending i.r.o. honorarium and TA to the writers and various vendors
		2021-22				2022-23				2023-24
S. No.	Organizations	BE	RE	Funds Status after adjustments	Reasons for excess demands	BE	RE	Funds Status after adjustments	Reasons for excess demands	BE	RE	Funds Status after adjustments	Reasons for excess demands
3	Lalit Kala Akademi	2620.00	2558.00	3022.57	For renovation work of old building of Regional Centre of Kolkata & Chennai and infrastructure development of newly built building at Regional Office, Kolkata, etc.	2650.00	3310.80	3110.80	For conducting various programmes/activities	2855.00	3255.00	3530.00	For maintenance of all regional centre and pension to staff for the month of Feb, 2024/salary to outsourced staff etc.
4	National School of Drama	7065.00	6445.00	5593.58		6975.00	4333.52	4333.52		4855.00	5955.00	6255.00	For pending payment of bill related to BRM
5	Centre for Cultural Resources and Training	2555.00	2455.00	3114.36	Rs. 2cr. To CCRT towards payment of construction of CCRT Regional Centre building of Udaipur & purchase of new furniture/fixture & equipment	2495.00	2495.00	2511.20	For conducting various programmes/activities.	2545.00	2545.00	2595.00
6	Indira Gandhi National Culture for the Arts	5005.00	5330.00	5330.00	To meet committed liabilities during the year	5505.00	19005.00	23208.82	For recoupment of advance taken of Rs.56.60 crore from Contingency fund of India in r/o IGNCA for parliament art works	10010.00	10010.00	10910.00	For Prerna School, Digitization of Sampurnand Sanskrit Vishwavidyalya and G20 Summit
		2021-22				2022-23				2023-24
S. No.	Organizations	BE	RE	Funds Status after adjustments	Reasons for excess demands	BE	RE	Funds Status after adjustments	Reasons for excess demands	BE	RE	Funds Status after adjustments	Reasons for excess demands
7	Kalakshetra Foundation	1767.00	1872.00	1872.00	To meet committed liabilities during the year	1927.00	1977.00	2127.00	For project sanitization, language moderation by third party agency for Mera Estimated exp. of Rs. 2.50 cr. By Kalakshetra foundation till 31.03.2023	2452.00	2662.00	2662.00	For creation of EL Fund with LIC
8	Zonal Cultural Centers	5310.00	6419.00	6499.56	To meet committed liabilities during the year	6748.00	6748.00	6746.00		7050.00	8208.00	11019.00	For organizing program on Cultural Components(Anant Sutra,Vande Bharatam and Tableau)during 75th Republic Day Celebrations,2024

		2021-22				2022-23				2023-24
S. No.	Organizations	BE	RE	Funds Status after adjustments	Reasons for excess demands	BE	RE	Funds Status after adjustments	Reasons for excess demands	BE	RE	Funds Status after adjustments	Reasons for excess demands
9	National Council of Science Museum	13186.00	13187.00	13287.00		13902.00	14592.00	14230.50	For development of Planetarium software by NCSM	17260.00	20460.51	20650.51
10	Indian Institute of Heritage(IIH)-NMI	2057.00	2057.00	2057.00		2087.00	1902.00	1934.90		1222.00	1222.00	1578.75	For expenditure towards special projects and enhanced expenditure on IIH campus such as security, housekeeping, horticulture, AMC of building, generator expenses etc.
11	Salarjung Museum	2397.00	2397.00	3046.00	To meet the committed liabilities during the year	2487.00	2397.00	2397.00		2522.00	2522.00	2522.00
		2021-22				2022-23				2023-24
S. No.	Organizations	BE	RE	Funds Status after adjustments	Reasons for excess demands	BE	RE	Funds Status after adjustments	Reasons for excess demands	BE	RE	Funds Status after adjustments	Reasons for excess demands
12	Indira Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya	1772.00	1652.00	1729.10	To meet the expense of DCRG fund, open air and indoor exhibition and other routine expense	1702.00	1977.00	1942.00	IGRMS for EPF arrears, DCRG fund	2355.00	2355.00	2545.25	For Wages, Tagore Scholarship,Biennale2023-24, Audit fee, EPF Interest payable etc.
13	Prime Minister Museum & Library	3058.00	3058.00	3366.62	To incur the expenditure towards water, electricity charges and other general expenditure, to Tagore National Fellowship for Culture Research Scheme for local TA/Honorarium, stationery, travel project staff, accommodation, misc., software and on account of financial impact of implementation of 7th CPC benefits for the pensioner	3248.00	3608.00	3555.00	Rs. 1.50 cr. for office expenses of PM Museum, electricity bill, etc. by PMM&L	4242.00	4242.00	7938.00	To facilitate the payment of property tax/ service charges to NDMC under the Grant-in-aid General head.
		2021-22				2022-23				2023-24
S. No.	Organizations	BE	RE	Funds Status after adjustments	Reasons for excess demands	BE	RE	Funds Status after adjustments	Reasons for excess demands	BE	RE	Funds Status after adjustments	Reasons for excess demands
14	Delhi Public Library	3627.00	3237.00	3256.07		3367.00	3252.00	3252.00		3558.00	3538.00	3638.00	For payment of communication to 12 pensioners, reimbursement of medical expenses to pensioners
15	Asiatic Society Library	2342.00	2342.00	2402.05	Additional Fund given by the Ministry under the Object Head ‘GIA-General’ to meet expenses on account of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsava and Digitization Project.	2541.50	2261.50	2189.50		2437.00	2237.00	2024.30
16	Khuda Baksh Oriental Public Library	632.50	544.50	544.50		580.50	595.50	608.50	For conducting various programmes/activities	622.00	622.00	700.47	For Payment of corporation tax and repairing of Old A. C. Plant

		2021-22					2022-23				2023-24
S. No.	Organizations	BE	RE		Funds Status after adjustments	Reasons for excess demands	BE	RE	Funds Status after adjustments	Reasons for excess demands	BE	RE	Funds Status after adjustments	Reasons for excess demands
17	Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies	465.00	465.00		465.00		477.00	492.00	602.00	For conducting various programmes/activities	653.50	653.50	763.50	For repair & renovation of Azad Bhawan premises of MAKAIAS & to conduct seminar/workshop/symposium/lecture session liability
18	Nava Nalanda Mahavihara	1309.00	1609.00		2291.57	To Nav Nalanda Mahavihara for upgradation of existing Residential Complex and administrative building, etc	1678.00	2177.00	2177.72	For conducting various programmes/activities	2555.00	3804.50	3804.50
19	Central Institute of Buddhist Studies, Leh.	2946.40	2576.40		2704.23	To central Institute of Buddhist Studies for clearing existing liabilities of CPWD, etc.	2706.50	3338.50	3044.30	For conducting various programmes/activities	3198.00	3545.00	3845.00	For CIBS to razzing and finishing of compound wall at new campus, repair and renovation of guest house and vertical extension of senior secondary school building another storey of classroom
		2021-22					2022-23				2023-24
S. No.	Organizations	BE		RE	Funds Status after adjustments	Reasons for excess demands	BE	RE	Funds Status after adjustments	Reasons for excess demands	BE	RE	Funds Status after adjustments	Reasons for excess demands
20	Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarnath	5401.70		6283.90	6129.40	For maintenance of Sowa Rigpa Bhawan (academic & hospital) under Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarnath, Varanasi	4908.50	3935.50	4347.58		3902.00	4032.00	4032.00	For maintenance of Sowa Rigpa Bhawan (academic & hospital) under Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarnath, Varanasi
21	Central Institute of Himalayan Cultural Studies, Dahung	1190.70		1151.70	1146.83		1166.00	1211.00	1216.40	For conducting various programmes/activities	1222.00	1352.00	1352.00	To meet the committed liabilities during the year

***

Sunil Kumar Tiwari

pibculture[at]gmail[dot]com

(Release ID: 2101353) Visitor Counter : 48

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 11, 2025

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Science Centres Established Under SPoCS Scheme

Source: Government of India (2)

Ministry of Culture

Science Centres Established Under SPoCS Scheme

Posted On: 10 FEB 2025 5:08PM by PIB Delhi

National Council of Science Museums (NCSM), an autonomous organization under Ministry of Culture, Government of India is the implementing agency of the Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science (SPoCS) of Govt. of India, under which Science Cities, Science Centres, Digital Planetarium, Innovation Hubs are set up across the country based on the proposals received from different State Government and UTs desirous to set up Science Cities, Science Centre, Digital Planetarium, Innovation Hub etc.

North Bengal Science Centre, Siliguri in Darjeeling district was inaugurated on 17^th August, 1997 and the centre is being operated and managed by NCSM. An Innovation Hub at North Bengal Science Centre, Siliguri in the Darjeeling district was inaugurated on 16^th February, 2018 and is being operated and managed by NCSM.

A Sub-Regional Science Centre at Kalimpong in the Kalimpong district of West Bengal, has been set up by NCSM under Science Cities scheme (Erstwhile). The Centre was handed over to State Government on 11^th September, 2007 for its operation and management and it was inaugurated on 2^nd October, 2008. An Innovation Hub at Kalimpong Science Centre, Kalimpong in Kalimpong district (erstwhile in Darjeeling district) was inaugurated and handed over on 25^th February, 2017 by NCSM to respective State Government.

The details of the specific programs or events organized under Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science by NCSM, Kolkata to promote hands-on scientific learning and experimentation for school and college students at North Bengal Science Centre, Siliguri is attached at Annexure-II.

The complete guidelines of Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science have been provided in the websites of Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India and NCSM, Kolkata. The details of activities undertaken under Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science have been highlighted every-year in the Annual Report publication of NCSM and all the achievements under Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science have been updated on the website of NCSM to raise public awareness about SPoCS and its programmes to increase participation and outreach.

The details of number of beneficiaries and the outcomes of initiatives under Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science as of January 2025, is attached at Annexure-III.

This information was given by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

***

Annexure-‘I’

The details of the Science Centres that have been established under Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science (SPoCS) initiatives (State-wise)

Sl. No.	Located in State/UT	Science Centers/Museums	Year of Establishment
	A & N Island	Science Centre, Port Blair	May 30, 2003
	Mizoram	Mizoram Science Centre, Aizwal	July 26, 2003
	Nagaland	Nagaland Science Centre, Dimapur	September 14, 2004
	Manipur	Manipur Science Centre, Manipur	May 18, 2005
	Arunachal Pradesh	Arunachal Pradesh Science Centre, Itanagar	Dec 3, 2005
	Meghalaya	Shillong Science Centre, Shillong, Meghalaya	February 27, 2006
	Sikkim	Sikkim Science Centre, Gangtok	February 22, 2008
	West Bengal	Sub-Regional Science Centres, Kalimpong	October 2, 2008
	Maharashtra	Sub-Regional Science Centre, Solapur	February 14, 2010
	Maharashtra	Pimpri Chinchwad Science Centre, Pune	February 8, 2013
	Jharkhand	Regional Science Centre, Ranchi	November 29, 2010
	Chhattisgarh	Chhattisgarh Science Centre, Raipur	July 13, 2012
	Rajasthan	Regional Science Centre, Jaipur	December 29, 2012
	Rajasthan	Sub Regional Science Centre, Jodhpur	August 17, 2013
	Assam	Jorhat Science Centre & Planetarium	July 6, 2013
	Tamilnadu	Regional Science Centre, Coimbatore	May 6, 2013
	Karnataka	Dharwad Regional Science Centre	February 27, 2012
	Karnataka	Regional Science Centre, Pilikula, Mangalore	October 01, 2014
	Puducherry	Dr. Abdul Kalam Science Centre & Planetarium, Puducherry	May 03, 2015
	Odisha	Bargarh Science Centre, Bargarh	January 21, 2020
	Tripura	Udaipur Science Centre, Tripura	February 28, 2021
	Kerala	Kottayam Science Centre, Kerala	May 11, 2022 (Handed over)
	Bihar	Bodhgaya Science Centre, Bodhgaya	July 20, 2023
	Uttarakhand	Regional Science Centre, Dehradun	Feb 03, 2016
	Uttarakhand	Manaskhand Science Centre, Almora	March 10, 2024
	Himachal Pradesh	Palampur Science Centre, Palampur	May 14, 2022
	Andhra Pradesh	Rajamahendravaram Science Centre, Rajamahendravaram	Completed and ready for inauguration

The details of the Innovation Hubs that have been established under Scheme for Promotion of Culture of Science (SPoCS) initiatives (State-wise)

Sl. No.	Located in State/UT	Innovation Hub (Location/Name of the Centre)	Year of Establishment (Date of Inauguration)
	Delhi	National Science Centre, Delhi	23^rd January, 2014
	Assam	Regional Science Centre, Guwahati	4^th February, 2014
	Assam	Jorhat Science Centre & Planetarium, Jorhat	Inaugurated on 15^th August, 2022.
	Maharashtra	Nehru Science Centre, Mumbai	24^th February, 2014
		Raman Science Centre & Planetarium, Nagpur	14^th February, 2017
		BVB’s Muktangan Exploratory Science Centre, Pune	28^th February, 2018
		Solapur Science Centre, Solapur	18^th February, 2022
	West Bengal	Birla Industrial & Technological Museum, Kolkata	23^rd August, 2013
		Bardhaman Science Centre, Bardhaman	10^th July, 2015
		Kalimpong Science Centre, Kalimpong	25^th February, 2017
		North Bengal Science Centre, Siliguri	16^th February, 2018
		Digha Science Centre & National Science Camp, Digha	26^th February, 2019
		District Science Centre, Purulia	17^th December, 2019
	Kerala	Regional Science Centre & Planetarium, Calicut	1^st October, 2015
	Kerala	Kerala State Science & Technology Museum, Trivandrum	17^th February, 2016
	Uttar Pradesh	Regional Science City, Lucknow	4^th January, 2016
	Uttarakhand	Regional Science Centre, Dehradun	3^rd February, 2016
	Uttarakhand	Manaskhand Science Centre at Almora	10^th March, 2024
	Andhra Pradesh	Agastya International Foundation, Kuppam	23^rd February, 2016
		Regional Science Centre, Tirupati	21^st May, 2017
		Science Centre at Rajahmundry	Completed and ready for inauguration
	Tamilnadu	Tamilnadu Science & Technology Centre, Chennai	5^th August, 2016
		District Science Centre, Tirunelveli	6^th September, 2017
		Regional Science Centre, Coimbatore	28^th October, 2021
		Anna Science Centre, Trichi	28^th October, 2021
	Bihar	Shrikrishna Science Centre, Patna	6^th November, 2016
	Bihar	Sub-Regional Science Centre, Bodhgaya	20^th July, 2023.
	Rajasthan	Birla Science Centre, Pilani	11^th April, 2017
		Sub-Regional Science Centre, Udaipur, Rajasthan	Completed and ready for inauguration
		Regional Science Centre, Jaipur	23^rd September, 2024
		Sub-Regional Science Centre, Jodhpur	Completed and ready for inauguration
	Karnataka	Visvesvaraya Industrial & Technological Museum, Bangalore	5^thDecember, 2013
		District Science Centre, Gulbarga	29^th June, 2017
		Pilikula Regional Science Centre, Mangaluru	7^th March, 2024
	Madhya Pradesh	Regional Science Centre, Bhopal	1^st September, 2017
	Punjab	Pushpa Gujral Science City, Kapurthala	30^th November, 2017
	Gujarat	Vikram A Sarabhai Community Science Centre, Ahmedabad	27^th March, 2018
	Gujarat	District Science Centre, Dharampur	26^th October, 2018
	Meghalaya	Shillong Science Centre, Shillong	14^th June, 2019
	Nagaland	Nagaland Science Centre, Dimapur	28^th September, 2018
	Odisha	Regional Science Centre, Bhubaneswar	11^th July, 2018
	Sikkim	Sikkim Science Centre, Gangtok	20^th November, 2020
	Tripura	Sukanta Academy, Agartala	9^th October, 2021
	Mizoram	Mizoram Science Centre, Aizawl	11^th September, 2018
	Arunachal Pradesh	Arunachal Pradesh Science Centre, Itanagar	8^th December, 2018
	Manipur	Manipur Science Centre, Imphal	16^th March, 2020
	Goa	Goa Science Centre, Panaji	1^st July, 2019
	Himachal Pradesh	Palampur Science Centre, Palampur	14^th May, 2022
	Puducherry	Dr. Abdul Kalam Science Centre & Planetarium, Puducherry	18^th May, 2022
	A & N Islands	Science Centre, Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair)	24^th October, 2024
	Telangana	Regional Science Centre, Warangal	Completed and ready for inauguration

Target for the Science Centres to be established under SPoCS scheme over the next five years (State wise)

State		Project
Arunachal Pradesh		1. Science Centre (Category-II), Namsai, Arunachal Pradesh
		2. Science Centre (Category-II), Dirang, Arunachal Pradesh
Assam		1. Guwahati Science City, Assam
		2. Kokrajhar Science Centre (Sub-Regional), Assam
Chandigarh		1. Science Centre (Category-II), Chandigarh
Haryana		1. Ambala Science Centre (Category-II), Haryana
Jammu & Kashmir		1. Srinagar Science Centre (Category-II), Jammu & Kashmir
Karnataka		1. Shivamogga Science Centre (Category-II), Karnataka
		2. Science Centre (Category-III), Yadgiri, Karnataka
		3. Science Centre (Category-II), Raichur, Karnataka
		4. Science Centre (Category-III), Chikkamagaluru, Karnataka
Madhya Pradesh	1. Ujjain Science Centre (Category-II), Madhya Pradesh
	2. Jabalpur Science Centre (Category-II), Madhya Pradesh
Puducherry	1. Science Centre (Category-III), Thirunallar, Puducherry
Rajasthan	1. Ajmer Science Centre (Category-II), Rajasthan
	2. Kota Science Centre (Category-II), Rajasthan
	3. Udaipur Science Centre (Category-II), Rajasthan
	4. Bikaner Science Centre (Category-II), Rajasthan
Telangana	1. Science Experience Centre (Category-I), Hyderabad, Telengana
Tripura	1. Science City, Agartala, Tripura
Uttarakhand	1. Dehradun Science City, Uttarakhand

Target for the Innovation Hubs to be established under SPoCS scheme over the next five years (State-wise)

Sl. No.	State/Union Territory	Name of the Science City/Centre/Museum where Innovation Hub is located
	Kerala	Regional Science Centre, Chalakkudy
	Karnataka	Dharwad Regional Science Centre, Dharwad
	Jharkhand	Ranchi Science Centre, Ranchi
	J & K	Srinagar Science Centre, Srinagar
	Madhya Pradesh	Jabalpur Science Centre, Jabalpur

***

Sunil Kumar Tiwari

pibculture[at]gmail[dot]com

(Release ID: 2101348)

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 11, 2025

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Ministry of Culture implements a “Global Engagement Scheme” to promote India’s rich cultural heritage

Source: Government of India (2)

Posted On: 10 FEB 2025 5:07PM by PIB Delhi

To organize cultural programmes of India at International level, Ministry of Culture signs Cultural Exchange Programmes (CEPs) for disseminating Indian art and culture across the globe. The Cultural Exchange programmes promote India’s soft power for developing and strengthening India’s inter-cultural relations with other countries. The CEPs facilitate cultural exchanges with other countries in different areas like music and dance, theatre, museums & science museums, libraries, archives, protection and conservation of historic monuments and archaeological sites, literature, research and documentation, festival, among others.

Ministry of Culture also implements a scheme titled “Global Engagement Scheme” to promote India’s rich cultural heritage and enhance India’s image in the global arena in a concerted manner. The objective of the Scheme is to provide artists practicing Indian art forms, an opportunity to perform abroad under the banner of ‘Festival of India’. Under the Scheme, artists from diverse cultural fields such as Folk Art including Folk Music, Folk Dance, Folk Theatre & Puppetry, Classical and Traditional Dance, Experimental/ Contemporary Dance, Classical/ Semi Classical Music, Theatre etc. perform in the ‘Festivals of India’ abroad. Ministry of Culture has empanelled 627 artists/groups under various art forms for performing in the Festivals of India abroad.

Besides, Ministry of Culture promotes Indian folk art, culture and music abroad through Grant-in-aid to Indo-foreign Friendship Cultural Societies in Foreign countries for organizing different cultural programmes and activities. Ministry of External Affairs has a programme called Promotion of Cultural Ties with Diaspora (PCTD) under which limited amount of funds are extended to Indian Missions/Posts abroad to encourage the Indian Diaspora overseas to organise cultural programmes with a view to connect them to their roots. The scheme aims to nourish and strengthen the cultural bonds between India and its Diaspora and to reinforce the cultural identity of the persons of Indian origin.

The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), an autonomous organization under Ministry of External Affairs, promotes Indian culture worldwide through its Cultural Centres and Missions/ Posts abroad. Activities conducted by them include inter-alia, teaching of Yoga, Dance, Music (vocal and instrumental), Sanskrit and Hindi; organising/ supporting Conferences/ Seminars/ Workshops in different fields of Indian culture; supporting Chairs of Indian Studies in foreign universities; gifting of busts/ statues of Mahatma Gandhi and other national icons, exchanging visual arts exhibitions, celebrating International Day of Yog, Ayurveda Day and Indian festivals, promoting Indian films, hosting visitors under various Visitors Programmes (Academic/ Distinguished/ Important/ Gen. Next Democracy Network) and sponsoring scholarships to foreign students under different scholarship schemes. ICCR has also concluded MoUs with various State Governments to promote their culture abroad and to facilitate cultural exchanges with foreign countries. ICCR also hosts incoming foreign cultural troupes to enable Indians to discover various foreign countries.

To organize cultural programmes at national level and to protect, preserve & promote various forms of folk art and culture, the Government of India has set up seven Zonal Cultural Centres (ZCCs) with headquarters at Patiala, Nagpur, Udaipur, Prayagraj, Kolkata, Dimapur and Thanjavur. These ZCCs organize various cultural activities and programmes like Shilpgram Utsav, Orange City Craft Mela, Octave-Festival of North East, Salangai Naadam, Geeta Jayanti Mahotsav, National Crafts Fair, Rashtriya Shilp Mela, Fete-de-Puducherry, Chandigarh National Crafts Mela, Sindhu Darshan Festival, Purbanchalia Lok Mohotsav etc. throughout the country on regular basis.

In addition, the Ministry of Culture also organizes Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsavs (RSMs) in the country and since 2015, the Ministry has organized 14 RSMs and 04 Zonal Level RSMs through its ZCCs up till now. These RSMs aim at bringing together the cultural diversity of India and reconnecting the younger generation to their roots and also make them aware about cultural heritage and ancient cultural values of the country by way of providing an effective platform to a large number of artists from all over India who display their talents during these programmes.

This information was given by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

***

Sunil Kumar Tiwari

pibculture[at]gmail[dot]com

(Release ID: 2101346) Visitor Counter : 51

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: SPARCS: Suppression and Planning Actions for Restoring Communities and Species in the Southern California Ecoregion

Source: US Geological Survey

Title: SPARCS: Suppression and Planning Actions for Restoring Communities and Species in the Southern California Ecoregion

Date: February 14, 2025, at 2:00-2:30 pm Eastern/11:00 -11:30 am Pacific

Speaker: Austin Parker, Biologist, USGS Western Ecological Science Center

MIL OSI USA News –

February 11, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Earth is already shooting through the 1.5°C global warming limit, two major studies show

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew King, Associate Professor in Climate Science, ARC Centre of Excellence for 21st Century Weather, The University of Melbourne

Earth is crossing the threshold of 1.5°C of global warming, according to two major global studies which together suggest the planet’s climate has likely entered a frightening new phase.

Under the landmark 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change, humanity is seeking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and keep planetary heating to no more than 1.5°C above the pre-industrial average. In 2024, temperatures on Earth surpassed that limit.

This was not enough to declare the Paris threshold had been crossed, because the temperature goals under the agreement are measured over several decades, rather than short excursions over the 1.5°C mark.

But the two papers just released use a different measure. Both examined historical climate data to determine whether very hot years in the recent past were a sign that a future, long-term warming threshold would be breached.

The answer, alarmingly, was yes. The researchers say the record-hot 2024 indicates Earth is passing the 1.5°C limit, beyond which scientists predict catastrophic harm to the natural systems that support life on Earth.

2024: the first year of many above 1.5°C

Climate organisations around the world agree last year was the hottest on record. The global average temperature in 2024 was about 1.6°C above the average temperatures in the late-19th century, before humans started burning fossil fuels at large scale.

Earth has also recently experienced individual days and months above the 1.5°C warming mark.

But the global temperature varies from one year to the next. For example, the 2024 temperature spike, while in large part due to climate change, was also driven by a natural El Niño pattern early in the year. That pattern has dissipated for now, and 2025 is forecast to be a little cooler.

These year-to-year fluctuations mean climate scientists don’t view a single year exceeding the 1.5°C mark as a failure to meet the Paris Agreement.

However, the new studies published today in Nature Climate Change suggest even a single month or year at 1.5°C global warming may signify Earth is entering a long-term breach of that vital threshold.

What the studies found

The studies were conducted independently by researchers in Europe and Canada. They tackled the same basic question: is a year above 1.5°C global warming a warning sign that we’re already crossing the Paris Agreement threshold?

Both studies used observations and climate model simulations to address this question, with slightly different approaches.

In the European paper, the researchers looked at historical warming trends. They found when Earth’s average temperature reached a certain threshold, the following 20-year period also reached that threshold.

This pattern suggests that, given Earth reached 1.5°C warming last year, we may have entered a 20-year warming period when average temperatures will also reach 1.5°C.

The Canadian paper involved month-to-month data. June last year was the 12th consecutive month of temperatures above the 1.5°C warming level. The researcher found 12 consecutive months above a climate threshold indicates the threshold will be reached over the long term.

Both studies also demonstrate that even if stringent emissions reduction begins now, Earth is still likely to be crossing the 1.5°C threshold.

Heading in the wrong direction

Given these findings, what humanity does next is crucial.

For decades, climate scientists have warned burning fossil fuels for energy releases carbon dioxide and other gases that are warming the planet.

But humanity’s greenhouse gas emissions have continued to increase. Since the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released its first report in 1990, the world’s annual carbon dioxide emissions have risen about 50%.

Put simply, we are not even moving in the right direction, let alone at the required pace.

The science shows greenhouse gas emissions must reach net-zero to end global warming. Even then, some aspects of the climate will continue to change for many centuries, because some regional warming, especially in the oceans, is already locked in and irreversible.

If Earth has indeed already crossed the 1.5°C mark, and humanity wants to get below the threshold again, we will need to cool the planet by reaching “net-negative emissions” – removing more greenhouse gases from the atmosphere than we emit. This would be a highly challenging task.

Feeling the heat

The damaging effects of climate change are already being felt across the globe. The harm will be even worse for future generations.

Australia has already experienced 1.5°C of warming, on average, since 1910.

Our unique ecosystems, such as the Great Barrier Reef, are already suffering because of this warming. Our oceans are hotter and seas are rising, hammering our coastlines and threatening marine life.

Bushfires and extreme weather, especially heatwaves, are becoming more frequent and severe. This puts pressure on nature, society and our economy.

But amid the gloom, there are signs of progress.

Across the world, renewable electricity generation is growing. Fossil fuel use has dropped in many countries. Technological developments are slowing emissions growth in polluting industries such as aviation and construction.

But clearly, there is much more work to be done.

Humanity can turn the tide

These studies are a sobering reminder of how far short humanity is falling in tackling climate change.

They show we must urgently adapt to further global warming. Among the suite of changes needed, richer nations must support the poorer countries set to bear the most severe climate harms. While some progress has been made in this regard, far more is needed.

A major shift is also needed to decarbonise our societies and economies. There is still room for hope, but we must not delay action. Otherwise, humanity will keep warming the planet and causing further damage.

Andrew King receives funding from the ARC Centre of Excellence for 21st Century Weather and the National Environmental Science Program.

Liam Cassidy 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. Earth is already shooting through the 1.5°C global warming limit, two major studies show – https://theconversation.com/earth-is-already-shooting-through-the-1-5-c-global-warming-limit-two-major-studies-show-249133

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Online algorithms could help save the planet with just a few small tweaks

Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Martin Gibert, Chercheur en éthique de l’intelligence artificielle, Université de Montréal

YouTube’s algorithm is extremely powerful. If the company were to direct some of its users’s attention to pro-climate content, this would likely have positive consequences on a large scale. (Shutterstock)

Have we tried everything to tackle the climate crisis? At least one simple idea has hardly been explored: prioritizing climate content on social media.

The climate crisis is seriously aggravated by a lack of attention, including in the recent United States presidential election campaign. But algorithmic recommenders could help, as they are responsible for a significant proportion of how human attention online is allocated. Algorithmic recommenders are artificial intelligence systems that suggest content, such as news feeds, music or videos, to people based on their behaviour and preferences.

Take YouTube, where hundreds of millions of users watch billions of hours of content each day. That’s a huge amount of brain time. But how do these users select the handful of videos they watch, out of the billions of uploaded content online? Well, in 70 per cent of cases, they merely follow YouTube’s automated recommendations. This system determines a massive proportion of human attention.

Effectively leveraging this attention could help achieve vital advances in climate action across the political spectrum.

Two per cent for the climate

In a recent article published in Ethics and Information Technology, we argue that YouTube — the world’s biggest online video library — should tune its recommendation algorithm in a way that favours the mitigation of the climate crisis. We even propose a precise figure: two per cent of recommendations should be selected for their climate content.

This goal raises a number of critical questions.

What kind of videos could be recommended? Educational videos on climate change are clear candidates, but so are conferences by climate activists, as well as content that encourages viewers to mobilize or change their behaviour, for example by promoting public transport, plant-based cooking or climate demonstrations. The two per cent figure is a proposal, not a dogma. It’s far from invasive, but it’s still significant.

Another fundamental question is: who decides which videos are good for the climate? From the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to relevant non-governmental organizations to video hosting platforms themselves, there are potential avenues for determining climate-positive content. In any of these cases, transparency will be key to effectiveness.

Algorithmic recommenders are responsible for a significant proportion of how human attention online is allocated.
(Shutterstock)

Ethical analysis of YouTube recommendations

Firstly, as American researcher Tarleton Gillespie explains in his book Custodians of the Internet, YouTube is already doing moderation, which is a central part of its business. For example, it removes pornographic, violent or illegal content in the name of user safety and well-being, and in accordance to copyright or local laws. Our proposal is merely an extension of these efforts.

Currently, YouTube’s algorithmic system appears not to be programmed to push relevant content for the climate, which is endangering the viability of climate content creators. Its own researchers report that it instead maximizes user engagement.

YouTube’s algorithm is extremely powerful. If the platform were to direct some of its users’ attention to pro-climate action content, it would likely go a long way toward boosting awareness and encouraging action on climate change. There is a strong argument to be made for programming the algorithm along these lines. Simply put, a significant potential benefit for us all is possible at relatively little cost.

Research has also found that YouTube has, in the past, contributed to spreading false information about the climate crisis. A 2024 report found that YouTube earned millions of dollars a year from content that promoted climate denial.

YouTube says that it won’t show ads on “content that crosses the line to climate change denial.” However, video-sharing platforms have a moral responsibility to also promote information that is factual. This could be done by amplifying climate videos as we propose.

YouTube’s algorithm may be likened to a librarian who is tasked with deciding how the library’s books are displayed. In the context of the climate crisis, a wise and informed librarian should put forward at least some books on this issue. Online algorithms should be designed less like an attention-grabbing machine and more like a responsible librarian.

Recommendation algorithms as part of the solution

Our proposal would likely not be without detractors. For example, would it amount to manipulating users? Our proposal is overtly about influencing people’s attitudes in favour of tackling the climate crisis. But it’s not about imposing specific content on the user, who remains free to choose whether to watch the content. The nudge is very gentle — and hardly all that different from the algorithmic nudges taking place all across the internet.

Our proposed intervention merely acts on a small fraction of recommendations. No one will force viewers to watch videos with Greta Thunberg, David Suzuki or Michael Mann. On the other hand, if successful, our proposal could help avoid the serious problems that would result from climate inaction.

In the face of the growing environmental crisis, recommendation algorithms like YouTube’s could help us build climate bridges across political divides, promote action and raise awareness — all essential tools to building a more just future.

Lê Nguyên Hoang is the President of the nonprofit Tournesol Association, which is mentioned in the paper.
He is also the YouTube content creator of the Science4All channel, which sometimes produce climate-related videos.
He was previously a researcher at EPFL, with a salary derived from an AI Safety research grant.

Martin Gibert and Maxime Lambrecht 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. Online algorithms could help save the planet with just a few small tweaks – https://theconversation.com/online-algorithms-could-help-save-the-planet-with-just-a-few-small-tweaks-240183

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Cyber scaleup Goldilock expands Wolverhampton hub to support rapid growth

Source: City of Wolverhampton

Goldilock is a UK based cyber security scaleup which has developed a unique network isolation and segmentation device that ringfences networks away from the internet to make them inaccessible to hackers. Over the past year, FireBreak has won Goldilock a place on multiple accelerators including the prestigious NATO DIANA programme and the MoD’s Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA). FireBreak’s applications for critical networks and sensitive data mean the product is being used by organisations responsible for critical national infrastructure (CNI) globally including the Ukrainian Cyber Command, as well as in sectors such as financial services, healthcare and manufacturing. Goldilock fuelled its growth in 2024 through expanding its channel partner programme, and now collaborates with over 50 partners across 18 countries in Europe, while the company’s headcount in the West Midlands hub has doubled over the course of the year to support a rapidly expanding customer base.

The West Midlands region, with its burgeoning community of forward thinking businesses and access to a talented pool of cybersecurity professionals, provides an ideal foundation for Goldilock’s continued success. FireBreak’s applications for defence and deployment by large UK CNI companies means Goldilock’s facilities in the West Midlands have been officially vetted by both NATO and UK security regulators. Now, as Goldilock scales up and moves from R&D and prototyping to large scale manufacturing to meet the global demand for FireBreak, it has chosen to re-invest in the West Midlands by expanding its facilities and continuing to conduct all manufacturing in its new dedicated space in the University of Wolverhampton Science Park.

Anticipating continued growth over the next few years, Goldilock expects to increase the team to 32 employees by the end of 2025 and forecasts that it will be able to create 44 new jobs in the area between now and the end of 2027, the majority of which will be engineers to help service customer orders for FireBreak as they continue to grow in size and number.

Stephen Kines, co-founder and COO of Goldilock, said: “We are thrilled to expand our capability to meet the large scale orders we have coming in and in doing so further strengthen our ties with the tech community in the West Midlands.

“With sophisticated ransomware and AI powered attacks on a continuous rise, paired with the increasing interconnectedness of systems, Goldilock’s technology provides a critical, foundational layer of defence. The West Midlands offers us an invaluable hub for innovation, providing access to a diverse pool of talented tech professionals and a supportive business environment from which we can continue to grow the business and get our critical product to where it’s needed most, as quickly as possible.”

Sharon Thompson, Deputy Mayor of the West Midlands, added: “We warmly welcome Goldilock’s commitment to growing its pioneering cyber security business in the West Midlands.

Goldilock is helping to strengthen our manufacturing supply chain and create new jobs for local people.”

City of Wolverhampton Council Leader, Councillor Stephen Simkins, said: “Goldilock’s expansion is a testament to the City of Wolverhampton’s growing appeal as a destination of choice for ambitious tech firms, with an extensive R&D network, deep pool of specialist talent and proximity to the region’s end to end manufacturing supply chain.

“We’re very proud that Goldilock chose to call the University of Wolverhampton Science Park home and look forward to supporting their continued growth, while encouraging many more tech firms to make the most of the valuable opportunity presented by our Green Innovation Corridor.”

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Sues Trump Administration over Unlawful NIH Funding Cuts for Universities and Research Institutions
Source: US State of California

Coalition also seeks court order barring Trump Administration from implementing drastic funding cuts

OAKLAND — As part of a coalition of 22 attorneys general, California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced filing a lawsuit against the Trump Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for unlawfully decimating funds that support cutting-edge medical and public health research at universities and research institutions across the country. Filed in the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts, the lawsuit challenges the Trump Administration’s attempt to unilaterally cut “indirect cost” reimbursements at every research institution throughout the country, including at the University of California (UC) and at the California State University (CSU). Indirect cost reimbursements are based on each institution’s unique needs, negotiated with the federal government through a carefully regulated process, and then memorialized in an executed agreement. In addition to filing today’s lawsuit, the coalition is seeking a temporary restraining order to bar the Trump Administration’s action from taking effect.

“We are suing President Trump and his administration because they are once again violating the law. Let’s be clear about what they are seeking to do now: they want to eviscerate funding for medical research that helps develop new cures and treatments for diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “The stakes are especially high here in California. Ours is a state known as a national and global leader in life-saving biomedical research, and I will not allow the Trump Administration to jeopardize the extraordinary work being done right now by scientists, scholars, medical professionals, and other workers.”

“Like scores of institutions across the country, the University of California has relied on NIH grants to pursue life-saving research that benefits Americans nationwide,” said UC President Michael V. Drake, M.D. “Cuts of this magnitude would deal a devastating blow to our country’s research and innovation enterprise, undermine our global competitiveness, and, if allowed to go forward, will ultimately delay or derail progress toward treatment and cures for many of the most serious diseases that plague us today. We stand ready to fight to protect this critical investment in a healthier and more prosperous America.”

“Federal grant funding is vital to the CSU’s teaching and research mission, which addresses some of society’s most urgent challenges in health care, agriculture, water, fire prevention and cybersecurity,” said CSU spokesperson Jason Maymon. “The NIH’s drastic reduction in reimbursement for previously agreed upon administrative costs will leave the CSU’s 23 universities with millions in unfunded expenses, jeopardizing critical research and support systems needed for program success. This decision threatens not only groundbreaking research but also the future of student innovation and scientific progress.”

This past Friday, February 7, the NIH announced it would abruptly slash indirect cost rates to an across-the-board 15% rate, which is significantly less than the cost required to perform cutting edge medical research. The NIH purported to make this cut effective the very next business day, Monday, February 10, giving universities and institutions no time to plan for the enormous budget gaps they are now facing. The reimbursements at issue cover expenses to facilitate biomedical research, like lab, faculty, infrastructure, and utility costs. Without immediate relief, this action could result in the suspension of lifesaving and life-extending clinical trials, disruption of research programs, staffing cuts, and laboratory closures.

In today’s lawsuit, the attorneys general argue that the Trump Administration’s action violates the Administrative Procedure Act in multiple ways. For example, the attorneys general argue that the action is arbitrary and capricious and violates a directive Congress passed during President Trump’s first term to fend off his earlier proposal to drastically cut research reimbursements. That statutory language, still in effect, prohibits the NIH from requiring categorial and indiscriminate changes to indirect cost reimbursements.

Most NIH-funding research occurs outside of federal government institutions such as both public and private universities and colleges. In California, this includes:
- The University of California. The UC system has 21 health professional sciences schools, five NCI-designated cancer centers, and six academic medical centers widely recognized as among the best in the nation, and they are international leaders in the education of health professionals, in research that develops new cures and treatments, and in public service that provides healthcare for all Californians regardless of ability to pay. Federal funds are UC’s single most important source of support for its research, accounting for more than half of UC’s total research awards. In Fiscal Year 2023, UC received a total of over $2 billion in NIH contract and grant funding.
- The California State University. The CSU system is the largest public university system in the United States and consists of 23 campuses. In the last audited year, CSU campuses received approximately $158 million in NIH funds.
The NIH is the primary source of federal funding for medical research in the United States. Medical research funding by NIH grants have led to innumerable scientific breakthroughs, including the discovery of treatment for cancers of all types, the first sequencing of DNA, and the development of the MRI. Additionally, dozens of NIH-supported scientists have earned Nobel Prizes for their groundbreaking scientific work.

In filing today’s lawsuit, Attorney General Bonta joins the attorneys general of: Arizona, Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.

A copy of the lawsuit can be found here.

MIL OSI USA News –
February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General James Sues Trump Administration for Slashing Vital Medical and Scientific Research Funding

Source: US State of New York

NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today joined a coalition of 21 other attorneys general in suing the Trump administration, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for attempting to illegally slash grant funding to universities and research institutions across the country. Attorney General James and the coalition are challenging the NIH’s new policy that caps “indirect cost” reimbursements at 15% for every research institution in the country. These indirect cost reimbursements cover all expenses that facilitate biomedical research, including laboratory space, equipment, faculty, infrastructure, and utility costs. Limiting these reimbursements will threaten lifesaving medical research at institutions across the country and could lead to layoffs, disruptions to clinical trials, and even laboratory closures. With today’s lawsuit, Attorney General James and the coalition seek to prevent the policy from taking effect.

“This is yet another unlawful and reckless attempt by the Trump administration to undermine vital public institutions and harm the people who rely on them,” said Attorney General James. “The administration’s decision to cap NIH reimbursement rates could force scientists to shutter their lifesaving research on cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, addiction, infectious diseases, and more. My office will not stand idly by as this administration once again puts politics over science and endangers public health. We are suing to prevent this harmful policy from taking effect.”

On February 7, NIH announced it would abruptly slash indirect cost rates for research grants to 15% across the board, significantly less than the cost required to perform cutting-edge medical research. The NIH also announced that cuts would go into effect the next business day, Monday, February 10, giving universities and institutions no time to plan for the enormous budget gaps they are now facing. Without immediate relief, this action could result in the suspension of life-saving and life-extending clinical trials, disruption of research programs, layoffs, and laboratory closures.

Attorney General James and the coalition argue that the rate change violates Congressional appropriations law, which has prohibited NIH from altering indirect cost rates without proper authorization since 2018. This directive was passed by Congress during the first Trump administration, following another proposal by the administration to drastically cut research reimbursements. In addition, the attorneys general argue that NIH exceeded its authority by making this cut retroactive to existing grants, and that the cut lacks any factual basis and was enacted without proper notice or any opportunity for comment. The attorneys general are seeking a court order barring the Trump administration and NIH from implementing the action.

The NIH is the primary source of federal funding for medical research in the United States. Medical research funding by NIH grants has led to innumerable scientific breakthroughs, including the discovery of treatment for cancers of all types, the first sequencing of DNA, and the development of the MRI. Additionally, dozens of NIH-supported scientists have earned Nobel Prizes for their groundbreaking scientific work. Most NIH-funded research occurs outside of federal government institutions such as public and private universities and colleges.

In New York, there are currently $5 billion in open NIH grants to institutions throughout the state. If the proposed funding cap takes effect, approximately 250 institutions in New York would be impacted, encompassing most universities and medical schools in the state. New York institutions stand to lose approximately $850 million from this policy. For example, the State University of New York (SUNY) system alone stands to lose $78 million through the full life of its current grants and would have to abandon breakthrough research projects on cancer and Alzheimer’s disease if the cap is allowed to go forward.

Joining Attorney General James in filing this lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.

This matter is being handled for New York by Special Counsel Molly Thomas-Jensen and Special Counsel for Federal Initiatives Rabia Muqaddam of the Executive Division, under the supervision of First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy.

MIL OSI USA News –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Four new members appointed and two reappointed to Defra’s Science Advisory Council
Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

Appointments and reappointments made to Defra’s Science Advisory Council
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has confirmed the appointment of four new members and the reappointment of two members to the Science Advisory Council.

The four new appointees are:

Professor Nicola Beaumont

Professor Camille Bonneaud

Professor Chris Hauton

Professor Jane Hill

Members will serve a three-year term, taking effect from 10 February 2025 until 9 February 2028.

Two existing members of the Science Advisory Council have been reappointed for a second term of three years. Professor Felix Eigenbrod’s reappointment began on 1 February 2025 and will continue until 31 January 2028. Professor Marian Scott’s second term takes effect on 1 June 2025 and will run until 31 May 2028.

The appointments have been made in accordance with the Ministerial Governance Code on Public Appointments.

Defra’s Science Advisory Council

Defra’s Science Advisory Council is an advisory non-departmental public body which provides expert independent advice on science policy and strategy to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

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Published 10 February 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: What you need to know about the new implants to patch up failing hearts – is it really a ‘breakthrough’?

Source: The Conversation – UK – By John Martin, Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine, UCL

There are many difficulties in converting any biological research into a medicine that will treat patients. Because of the complexity involved, these difficulties apply especially to translating cell research in the laboratory to a successful treatment for heart failure, where the heart is unable to pump blood around the body properly.

The definitive treatment for heart failure is a heart transplant – a difficult and costly procedure. Pills are prescribed for the condition, but they only delay death and are not effective in changing the cause of the disease.

Fifteen to 20 years ago, scientists started enthusiastically exploring the use of heart muscle precursor cells grown in the laboratory to transplant to the failing heart in the hope that they might make new heart muscle. Although results in animal tests were positive, they all failed in humans. Included in the failures was the one that my colleagues and I conducted.

We’d had success with animal studies and even some positive results in small groups of patients. Buoyed by these results, we organised a randomised controlled trial – the gold standard for medical studies in humans.

Our study was funded by the European Commission and entailed a massive effort by a large group of researchers across Europe. The result was that the therapy, which entailed injecting bone marrow cells into the heart muscle of patients who had had a heart attack, did not work.

I was therefore surprised to read recently that an article in Nature on this subject had an enthusiastic reception in the press. It was variously described as “groundbreaking”, “remarkable” and a “major breakthrough”.

The authors of the article report growing patches of heart muscle in the lab from precursor cells and then applying those patches to the hearts of monkeys that had had an induced heart attack, producing heart failure.

A woman who’d had a heart attack in 2016 also had the procedure. Three months later, she had a heart transplant, allowing the researchers to analyse her heart.

As this was the only case of a human receiving this treatment, and the procedure had failed, as the heart was removed from the patient, the title of the Nature article is perhaps too wide in its scope: Engineering heart muscle allografts for heart repair in primates and humans.

It is noted that a senior author of the article declares that he has shares in the company that will commercialise any success. This conflict may have been declared, but it is still a potential conflict.

Heart arrhythmia

The article does not discuss previous attempts to use heart muscle precursor cells for treating heart failure in humans. In particular, the pioneering work in Paris of the surgeon Philippe Menasché who in 2003 reported in the Lancet that he had injected heart muscle precursor cells into the myocardium (heart muscle) of a patient with apparent success.

He then published the results of a study where he repeated the same procedure in a larger group. The study was not successful. Menasché noted that some of the patients suffered from cardiac rhythm abnormalities following the procedure.

There was much discussion in the field that the junctions between the transplanted cells and the patient’s own heart muscle cells might give rise to abnormal electrical activity that would unpredictably produce potentially fatal heart rhythm change.

Because of the history of failure of cell therapy in human trials after positive tests in lab animals, the objective reader should regard results from animal experiments with scepticism.

John Martin received funding from the European Commission for the BAMI trial.

– ref. What you need to know about the new implants to patch up failing hearts – is it really a ‘breakthrough’? – https://theconversation.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-implants-to-patch-up-failing-hearts-is-it-really-a-breakthrough-248788

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: While the world is distracted by Trump, here’s how Putin and Musk are weakening European democracies

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Stefan Wolff, Professor of International Security, University of Birmingham

In an unprecedented decision on December 6 2024, the Romanian constitutional court annulled the November 25 presidential elections after it received credible intelligence of large-scale external interference rigging the results of the first round in favour of a hardly-known far-right candidate, Calin Georgescu.

Georgescu’s massive last-minute surge was largely blamed on the creation of thousands of paid-for Russian-controlled bots on TikTok and illegal campaign financing.

This may seem like last year’s news, but with elections coming up in Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, and possibly even Ukraine, there’s plenty to worry about – apart from a new US president who is disrupting Washington (and the world) with a flurry of executive orders and foreign policy initiatives that feel more like real estate sales pitches.

Concerns about Russian election interference are nothing new, but so far the picture of Moscow’s success is rather mixed.

Back in January 2017, the US intelligence community was confident that Russia had interfered in the 2016 presidential elections to get Donald Trump elected. The following year, similar accusations arose in the context of presidential elections in France. But in France, the Kremlin failed to prevent the victory of Emmanuel Macron.

More recently, in Georgia, the incumbent government of the Georgian Dream party won the parliamentary elections in October 2024 after alleged Russian interference. This sparked widespread protests and a government crackdown on media and civil society.

By contrast, despite alleged Russian interference in Moldova, the country’s pro-western president won a second term in November 2024. A referendum on a constitutional commitment to EU membership was supported by a razor-thin majority of voters.

Read more:
Maia Sandu’s victory in second round of Moldovan election show’s limits to Moscow’s meddling

Opinion polls on perceptions of Russia and Vladimir Putin across western democracies also offer some solace. According to a survey by the Pew Research Center in 2024, positive views of Russia and its leader remain very low across EU and Nato member countries. At the same time, approval ratings of the EU and Nato remained high among member countries’ citizens.

But these relatively comforting headline figures mask important, and somewhat worrying, trends. In Germany, which holds early parliamentary elections on February 23, positive views of Putin more than doubled from 8% in 2023 to 17% in 2024. This is still a far cry from the 76% who approved of Putin in 2003 or even the 36% who did so in 2019, according to the same survey. The German increase is an outlier among the 13 EU members, but in only one of them – Italy – did support for Putin drop, compared with the previous year.

Read more:
Why Romania’s election was annulled – and what happens next?

The same goes for support for the EU and Nato. The median level of support for the EU across nine member states surveyed stands at 63%, with 36% of participants holding unfavourable views. Germany, with 63% favourable views, however, recorded the second consecutive decline, down from 78% in 2022 and 71% in 2023. And Germany is less of an outlier here – favourable views of the EU among member states have generally declined somewhat over the past two years.

Musk speaks at an AfD rally.

When it comes to Nato, 63% of survey participants in 13 member countries thought more positively of the alliance, while 33% had more negative views. But again, with the exception of Hungary and Canada (where favourability went up), the share of those with favourable views had declined by between two and eight percentage points since last year.

Does this mean that Putin is winning? No, at least not yet. Attitude surveys are less important than election results.

Russia appears to have had some recent success in changing election outcomes, for instance in Romania where Romanian intelligance services discovered evidence of voter manipulation. But the Romanian example (in annulling the election) is also illustrative of how important it is for democracies to fight back – and even more importantly to take preventive action.

And this is a lesson that seems to have sunk in. On January 30, the foreign ministers of 12 EU member states sent a joint letter to Brussels urging the European Commission to make more aggressive use of its powers under the Digital Services Act to protect the integrity of democratic elections in the bloc. Article 25 of that act, crucially, establishes an obligation on online platforms to design their services free from deception and manipulation and ensure that users can make informed decisions.

While the commission has yet to demonstrate its resolve under the Digital Services Act, a Berlin court on February 7 2025, ordered that X must hand over data needed to track disinformation to two civil society groups who had requested it.

Musk and Putin: shared values?

If Putin is winning, he is not winning on his own. Democracies are not only under threat from Russia. Musk – an unelected billionaire wielding unprecedented influence under Donald Trump – has repeatedly been accused of interfering in European debates and election campaigns. Of his comments on the German election, Musk has argued that as he has significant investments in Germany he has the right to comment on its politics and that the AfD “resonates with many Germans who feel their concerns are ignored by the establishment”.

What Musk and Putin have in common is their deep dislike of open liberal democracies and a cunning ability to employ technology to further their goals by promoting political parties and movements that share their illiberal views.

Where they differ is that Musk focuses on the far right – Germany’s AfD or the UK’s Tommy Robinson. But Putin tends to back whoever he sees as serving Russian interests in weakening western unity and influence. This leads to the Kremlin lending support to leaders on both the far right and far left.

But often Putin’s and Musk’s proteges are the same. In the case of the German AfD, it was no accident that Putin echoed comments from a speech Musk gave at an AfD election rally, saying that Germans should move beyond their war guilt. Both were keen to remove the stain of being too close to Germany’s Nazi past from the AfD and make it not just electable but also respectable enough to bring into a coalition, much like Austria’s far-right Freedom Party which has a long history of friendly relations with Putin.

And what Musk can do openly on X, Putin tries to achieve with a campaign of his bot army on the platform.

Perhaps the most significant similarity between Musk and Putin – and others who have been accused of election interference – is that they tap into a growing reservoir of discontent with liberal democracy.

According to a 2024 survey of 31 democracies worldwide, 54% of participants were dissatisfied with how they saw democracy working. In 12 high-income countries – Canada, US, and 10 EU member states – dissatisfaction was even higher with 64% and has been increasing for the fourth consecutive year.

Pushing back against the kind of blatant election interference by the likes of Putin and Musk is clearly important. But it will not be enough to reverse persistent trends of decline in the support for democracy and its standard bearers including the EU and Nato. It is right to resist and prosecute election rigging. But it is also crucial to ask why people are dissatisfied with democracy – and to do something about it.

Stefan Wolff is a past recipient of grant funding from the Natural Environment Research Council of the UK, the United States Institute of Peace, the Economic and Social Research Council of the UK, the British Academy, the NATO Science for Peace Programme, the EU Framework Programmes 6 and 7 and Horizon 2020, as well as the EU’s Jean Monnet Programme. He is a Trustee and Honorary Treasurer of the Political Studies Association of the UK and a Senior Research Fellow at the Foreign Policy Centre in London.

– ref. While the world is distracted by Trump, here’s how Putin and Musk are weakening European democracies – https://theconversation.com/while-the-world-is-distracted-by-trump-heres-how-putin-and-musk-are-weakening-european-democracies-249400

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: What public-private-partnership scandals can tell us about wrongdoing in the water industry

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Daniel Fisher, Assistant Professor in Management, University of Sussex

Jory Mundy/Shutterstock.com

Water bills are going up in England and Wales, even after the series of scandals around water companies. Last year water firms paid £158 million in fines following a record-breaking number of sewage dumps in rivers and seas.

Severn Trent Water and United Utilities alone reportedly made 1,374 illegal sewage spills over two years. (Both companies took issue with the analysis that led to this figure but acknowledged concerns about sewage discharges.)

There have been other notable incidents. Whistleblowers have told of water companies that fail to treat legally required amounts of sewage and divert that sewage to public waterways. To add to the disgrace, water companies have generally failed to invest enough in the UK’s water infrastructure.

Research suggests that governments have been pressured to become more “business-like”. This has given rise to the use of public-private partnerships (PPPs) to run important public services, such as water, transport and even prisons. Water companies in England and Wales are private companies that bid for their contracts, while in Scotland, the water provider is a public organisation.

While other findings show that PPPs can support important public service needs, such as public health, research by my colleagues and I examines a consistent pattern in UK PPP scandals and wrongdoing. Over the past decade and a half, billions of pounds of taxpayers’ funds are unaccounted for. This appears to be largely because private interests have been prioritised over public needs.

As a researcher of PPP wrongdoing, the reasons for many of the scandals seem obvious. My colleagues and I studied parliamentary inquiries and reports that have scrutinised PPP wrongdoing. This research can tell us a great deal about the UK’s predicament with regard to the failings in the water industry.

The first lesson is that, in general, many PPPs are motivated actually to reduce the quality of the services they deliver. One parliamentary inquiry found that contracting services out from the public to the private sector had become a “transactional process” where cost-cutting is favoured and the “knock-on cost” to users results in a lower-quality public service.

Other findings showed that companies regularly reduced the quality of a service to maximise profits. One way was to bid for a public service at a low price. A Public Accounts Committee member observed that companies coming in with low quotes for contracts can end up damaging services by under-investing in them.

Another example is Sodexo – a private prison management provider. It cut employee numbers by around 200 and a subsequent BBC Panorama documentary detailed escapes and widespread drug use in the prisons they managed and also criticised a lack of safety for both prisoners and prison officers. Sodexo acknowledged the programme had highlighted problems and said it would investigate, but added that there had been “positive actions and improvements” already.

Similar practices were observed at a children’s prison run by security firm G4S, where an officer was left with brain damage after an attack by inmates. G4S admitted liability for the officer’s injuries and agreed a settlement with him.

Pay the fine, it’s cheaper

The second lesson is it can be cost-effective to breach contracts and pay fines. Companies sometimes breach the terms of their public-private contracts because it’s in their economic interest. This even has a name – economists call it “efficiency breach”.

For instance, a parliamentary report found that between 2010 and 2016 G4S was fined 100 times for breaching contracts – paying out roughly £3 million. As one MP suggested, these fines compared to its profits are a “slap on the wrist”. The same has been said of water companies.

When observing the fines in comparison to the profitable contracts, it’s easy to posit what the motivations of many in the UK’s public service system are. In 2017, despite previous indictments of wrongdoing, G4S won £25 million of government contracts.

In 2020 the firm won another £300 million contract to run Wellingborough “mega-prison” in England. Despite some raised eyebrows, G4S said at the time it aimed to make the site a blueprint for “innovation, rehabilitation and modernisation” in the prison service.

Pay the shareholders, invest later

The third lesson is that shareholders are more important than long-term investments in a service. This is perhaps the most notable feature of the UK’s public service system, where a vast array of shareholders benefit from the profits made by PPPs. In one of the parliamentary reports we analysed, which details the collapse of the facilities management firm Carillion, it was clear that shareholders’ interests trumped good management and long-term investment.

As was noted in the report, despite Carillion’s collapse, the firm paid out £333 million more to shareholders than it generated in cash between 2012 and 2017. Often, this shareholder primacy can even go against a firm’s own employees rather than just the state and taxpayers. One MP noted that despite its pension scheme being in deficit, shareholders were still receiving dividends.

Often, shareholders are prioritised because of short-term thinking. These processes can lead to firms passing these bad practices down their supply chains.

The behaviour of water companies is suggestive of these dynamics. Since water companies have been privatised, they have loaded themselves up with debt (£64 billion) but paid out £78 billion to shareholders. Some 70% of these shareholders are “foreign investment firms, private equity, pension funds and businesses lodged in tax havens”.

Water companies could give the UK’s rivers, estuaries and seas representation at board level.
jimcatlinphotography.com/Shutterstock

So what should be done? There are plenty of ways to enhance and improve the UK’s PPP problems. The most obvious may be to renationalise public services and renew the quality of public services through New Deal-style investments. After all, this is what what most of the UK electorate wants.

There are other options. An innovative and exciting frontier is opening for businesses to recognise their environmental responsibilities – initiatives in New Zealand, India and Ecuador are giving the status of personhood to rivers and ecosystems, for example.

Outdoor fashion brand Patagonia has “the Earth” as its only shareholder, and hair and skincare brand Faith in Nature has appointed nature to its board. Imagine if the UK’s water companies had the rivers and seas represented.

In the end, only time will tell how water companies will be held accountable. But for the moment it’s the UK taxpayer and consumer paying the price.

G4S was approached about this article but declined to comment.

Daniel Fisher receives funding from the Leverhulme/British Academy for his work with heritage steam train drivers, which is unrelated to his research on PPP wrongdoing.

– ref. What public-private-partnership scandals can tell us about wrongdoing in the water industry – https://theconversation.com/what-public-private-partnership-scandals-can-tell-us-about-wrongdoing-in-the-water-industry-249218

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: How the brain can miraculously switch off pain

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Dan Baumgardt, Senior Lecturer, School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol

Jack FotoVerse/Shutterestock

In the second world war, the physician Henry Beecher observed that some of his soldier patients, despite being injured on the battlefield, required no strong painkillers to manage their pain. In some cases, the injury was as severe as losing part of a limb.

A truly remarkable phenomenon had come into play – the effects of fear, stress and emotion on the brain had switched off their pain. But how does this work – and how can we use it to our advantage?

We all struggle with pain at times. The burning of indigestion, the wince of a scald from the kettle. The sharp stabbing of a sliced finger.

But despite its unpleasantness, pain has a critically important purpose, designed to protect the body rather than harm it. A fundamental concept to first understand is that you do not detect pain – it is a sensation. A sensation that your brain has created – from information it receives from the countless neurons (nerve cells) which supply your skin.

These specialised neurons are called nociceptors – they detect stimuli which are noxious, or potentially damaging to the body. This stimulation might range from a mechanical cut or crush injury, to extreme hot or cold temperatures.

So, if you touch a hot iron, or stand on a sharp nail, the correct reaction is to move your hand or foot away from it. The brain responds to pain by initiating muscle contractions in your arm or leg. In doing so, any further damage is averted.

The course of information, rushing along one neuron to another in a relay, is carried as electrical currents called action potentials. These begin at the skin, travel along nerve highways and into the spinal cord. When the information reaches the uppermost level of the brain – the cerebral cortex – a sensation of pain is generated.

Blocking pain signals

Many different factors can interfere with this transmission of information – we don’t perceive pain if the route to the cortex is blocked. Take the use of anaesthetics, for instance.

Local anaesthetics are injected directly into the skin to deactivate nociceptors (like lidocaine) – perhaps in A+E to perform stitches. Other agents induce a loss of consciousness – these are general anaesthetics, for more extensive surgical operations.

Pain is also a very variable experience. Commonly, we ask patients to quantify their pain by giving a value along a scale of nought to ten.
What one person would consider a five out of ten pain, another might consider a seven – and another a two.

Some patients are born without the ability to sense pain – this rare condition is called congenital analgesia. You might think this confers an advantage, but the truth is quite the opposite. These individuals will be unaware of circumstances where their bodies are being damaged, and can end up sustaining more profound injuries, or missing them entirely and suffering the consequences.

How to trick your brain

What is more extraordinary is that we all possess an innate ability to control our pain levels. In fact, a natural painkiller is found deep within the nervous system itself.

The secret lies in a structure located in the very middle of your brain: the periaqueductal grey (PAG). This small, heart-shaped region contains neurons whose role is to alter incoming pain signals reaching the cerebral cortex. In doing so, it is able to dampen down any pain that would otherwise be experienced.

Let’s consider this in practice using the extreme example of the battlefield. This is an instance where sensing pain might actually prove more of a hindrance than of help. It might hamper a soldier’s ability to run, or assist comrades. In temporarily numbing the pain, the soldier becomes able to escape the dangerous environment and seek refuge.

But we encounter many examples of this ability coming into action in our everyday routines. Ever picked something in the kitchen that you suddenly realise is extremely hot? Sometimes that casserole dish or saucepan descends to the floor, but sometimes we are able to hold on just long enough to transfer it to the stove-top. This action may be underpinned by the PAG shutting off the sensation of clasping something too hot to handle, just long enough to prevent dropping it.

The substances which generate this effect are called enkephalins. They are produced in many different areas of the brain (including the PAG) and spinal cord, and may have similar actions to strong analgesics such as morphine. It has also been suggested that long term or chronic pain – which is persistent and not useful to the body – might arise as a result of abnormalities within this natural analgesic system.

This begs the question: how might you go about hacking your own nervous system to produce an analgesic effect?

There is growing evidence to suggest that the release of painkilling enkephalins can be enhanced in a variety of different ways. Exercise is one example – one of the reasons why prescribed exercise might be able to work wonders for aches and pains (backache for instance) instead of popping paracetamols.

Besides this, stressful situations, feeding and sex might also affect the activity of enkephalins and other related compounds.

So, how could we go about it? Take up strength or endurance training? Alleviate our stress? Good food? Good sex? While more work is needed to clarify a role for these options in pain management, their reward might be greater than we thought.

Pain remains a complex, poorly understood experience, but the future is bright. Only last month, the FDA approved the use of a new medication Journavx for managing acute pain.

It works by switching off nociceptors in the peripheral nervous system, and therefore preventing pain signals getting to the brain. This represents a potential new breakthrough in a world which has become dependent on addictive opioid medications, such as morphine and fentanyl.

Developing new painkilling treatments relies on the work of pain researchers to help unravel the intricate neuronal circuitry and function. There is no denying that this is going to be difficult task. But in considering the neuroscience of how our bodies generate and suppress pain, we can hope to understand how they can act as their own healers.

Dan Baumgardt 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. How the brain can miraculously switch off pain – https://theconversation.com/how-the-brain-can-miraculously-switch-off-pain-248333

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to two papers assessing the impact of 2024 temperatures on Paris Agreement targets

Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

February 10, 2025

Two papers published in Nature Climate Change look at the impact of 2024 temperatures on Paris Agreement targets (1.5 degrees).

Dr Akshay Deoras, Research Scientist, National Centre for Atmospheric Science and the Department of Meteorology, University of Reading, said:

“The two papers help reflect the fact that we are getting dangerously close to breaching the Paris Agreement. Well-defined methodologies have been used, and conclusions are backed by solid data. However, a key limitation of these studies is that the models used might not account for all factors influencing global warming. This means that some uncertainty remains regarding whether the Paris Agreement will be breached in the late 2020s, early 2030s, or even earlier. This uncertainty should not be used as an excuse to continue business as usual, since the goal to limit global warming to 1.5°C is certainly dead in the absence of a rapid and robust reduction in emissions. Governments must urgently strengthen their commitments, align policies with science, and accelerate the transition to a sustainable future. The world cannot afford to abandon the Paris framework at this stage; instead, we must reinvigorate it with ambition and accountability.”

Dr Robin Lamboll, Research Fellow at the Centre for Environmental Policy, Grantham Institute – Climate Change and Environment, Imperial College London, said:

“These two papers show that we are already in a time of peril for the 1.5°C target.

“There is a subtle distinction between what they show and what you might assume: they show that IF we are in a scenario that exceeds 1.5°C, the time of exceedance has very likely already started.

“The work by Cannon does not investigate scenarios where we never exceed 1.5°C, and the work by Bevacqua states that, in a scenario where we risk but aren’t committed to exceeding 1.5°C, we are “likely” but not “very likely” to exceed 1.5°C in the long term (so, more than 66% but less than 90% chance), now that we have seen a single year above 1.5°C warming.”

Professor Stephen Belcher, Met Office chief scientist, said:

“A single year of exceedance of 1.5°C does not break the guardrail of the Paris Agreement. However, it does highlight that the headroom to stay below 1.5°C is now wafer thin. In a recent paper a collection of Met Office scientists calculated that the current global warming level is 1.3°C above pre-industrial levels. Added to this a Met Office forecast of carbon dioxide for the coming year reveals that the atmospheric concentration of CO₂ is now inconsistent with pathways keeping to 1.5°C; this suggests that only rapid and strong measures to cut greenhouse gas emissions will keep us from passing the first line of defence within the Paris Agreement.”

Dr Alan Kennedy-Asser, Senior Research Associate at the University of Bristol Cabot Institute for the Environment, said:

“I find the results of this modelling study to be, sadly, unsurprising and I would agree that the evidence suggests that 2024 (and now 2025) will be within a 20 year period which has an average temperature at or above 1.5°C unless something very radical changes in the next 5 to 10 years, suggesting we may be already living in the 1.5°C world the Paris Agreement referred to. Another way to think about this is that the year 2024 exists within 20 different climatology periods (one starting at 2024, one ending at 2024). The period ending 2024 is not above 1.5°C, however I would be very confident the one beginning in 2024 will be above 1.5°C unless something very radical changes in the next 5-10 years (in agreement with these papers). Meanwhile somewhere between these two will be the closest that one period is to precisely 1.5°C (perhaps the period 2018-2037 – we shall find out).

“Both studies use straightforward but, in my opinion, sensible methodologies and use the most suitable data currently available: these are precisely the research questions CMIP6 models are designed to answer. However, even though the planet may be in a period that is at or exceeds 1.5°C, there is great value in taking rapid action to slow further warming, as the rate of change matters and every tenth of a degree matters.

“I believe the press release is an accurate representation of the papers.”

Prof Daniela Schmidt, Professor of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, said:

“To determine whether the Paris agreement has failed is defined as two decades above 1.5C and not one year as we have just had, due to natural climate variability. These papers suggest that the forcing conditions have been reached now, and that we reached the decade in which the Paris agreement will be broken. They came to this conclusion by interrogating climate models and observed temperature anomalies in complex discussions about probabilities and model baselines. These are important papers exploring when 1.5C warming is passed, given the impacts projected and the need for adaptation to reduce risk.

“The key importance of the Paris agreement is to avoid risk. Every increment of warming avoided by dramatically increasing mitigation reduces the risks and impacts of human driven changes to our climate system on people, our cities, our infrastructure and the environments which support us.

“Fixating on a number of 1.5C, and that if will be surpasses, has the real risk of reducing actions, demotivating all of us – people, civic society, industry – to give up on trying. The consequence of a lack of ambition is that we will stay on the warming pathways we are currently on, which leads to nearly 3C warming globally, locally much more. Such warming has immense, and in parts irreversible consequences for Nature and people.

“So while breaching 1.5C is not good news, reducing action and reaching twice as much warming is clearly much worse.”

Prof Richard Allan, Professor of Climate Science, University of Reading, said:

“A single year being globally 1.5 degree Celsius warmer than preindustrial levels does not mean we have crossed the Paris climate agreement threshold but it does mean breaching this dangerous level is pretty much inevitable.

“The threshold of 1.5 degree Celsius above preindustrial climate decided at the Paris climate agreement applies to the global surface temperature averaged over multiple decades so a single year doesn’t mean we have breached this dangerous level. But given that warming of climate is accelerating, it is common sense that if a year unaffected by additional warming influences such as El Niño crossed this boundary it is pretty certain that crossing the 1.5 degree threshold will be inevitable without a step change in efforts to cut greenhouse gases. The new studies robustly confirm that even accounting for El Niño warmth, the persistence and magnitude of global temperatures in 2024 mean that to all intents and purposes breaching the 1.5 degree threshold is a given and that we need to double down efforts to avoid the even more dangerous 2 degree Celsius threshold by rapidly and massively cutting greenhouse gas emissions.”

Dr Richard Hodgkins, a Reader in Climate Futures at Loughborough University, said:

“While individual years may always be warmer or cooler than long-term averages, the analysis in both papers show that the record warmth of 2024 is likely to be part of a long-term shift above 1.5C, rather than being a one-off. However, this doesn’t mean that the Paris Agreement target of 1.5C is dead, because the Net Zero pathway to 1.5C always assumed that temperatures would increase above that target, before coming back down in the second half of the current century. So, in that sense, 1.5C is not dead.

“However, the anticipated decline of temperatures relies on the assumption that large-scale technologies to remove carbon dioxide from the free atmosphere will be rapidly developed, globally deployed, and operate successfully, which is speculative to say the least. So, in that sense, 1.5C is dead because achieving it relies on borderline science fiction. There are many who would say that the reliance on carbon dioxide removal meant that 1.5C was never a very plausible target in the first place. Regardless, it shows that focusing on targets and not actions is an ineffective approach, and that actual emissions reductions, which can be achieved with existing, successful technologies, are needed now.”

Dr Vikki Thompson, Scientist at the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, said:

“These studies use data from both observational sources and multiple climate models to show we should now expect to exceed the Paris Agreement within the next 20 years, much sooner than climate projections had suggested. With this January continuing the recent trend, becoming yet another hottest on record month, we have seen 18 of the last 19 months exceeded 1.5C above pre-industrial. Not quite the 18 consecutive months shown by Cannon to make it virtually certain we will exceed the Paris Agreement, but so very close.

“The rate we have reached these levels is terrifying and shows, yet again, how urgently we need to act. Without adaptation and mitigation we will continue to feel the impacts of the accelerating warming with more and more extreme weather events.”

Paper 1:

‘A year above 1.5 °C signals that Earth is most probably within the 20-year period that will reach the Paris Agreement limit’ by Emanuele Bevacqua et al. was published in Nature Climate Change at 16:00 UK time on Monday 10 February 2025.

DOI: 10.1038/s41558-025-02246-9

Paper 2:

‘Twelve months at 1.5 °C signals earlier than expected breach of Paris Agreement threshold ‘ by Alex J. Cannon et al. was published in Nature Climate Change at 16:00 UK time on Monday 10 February 2025.

DOI: 10.1038/s41558-025-02247-8

Declared interests

Prof Richard Allan: No conflicting interests

Dr Vikki Thompson: No interests to declare.

Dr Akshay Deoras: No conflicts to declare.

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

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Australia: Crocodile euthanised during search for missing man in Aurukun
Source: Government of Queensland

Issued: 8 Feb 2025

Wildlife officers, with the assistance of Queensland Police Service (QPS), have humanely euthanised a large crocodile as part of recovery efforts to locate a man who went missing from Aurukun on 1 February 2025.

The 4-metre crocodile was located by wildlife officers overnight near Watson River.

The animal was very distinguishable as it had dark skin colouration compared to other large crocodiles in the area.

Wildlife officers have handed the crocodile over to the Queensland Police Service.

The Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation expresses its sincere condolences to the family and friends of the missing man.

The Aurukun region is well known Croc Country and people should always be Crocwise in that area. In particular:
- Expect crocodiles in ALL waterways even if there is no warning sign
- Obey all warning signs – they are there to keep you safe
- Be aware crocs also swim in the ocean and be extra cautious around water at night
- Stay well away from croc traps – that includes fishing and boating
- The smaller the vessel the greater the risk, so avoid using canoes and kayaks
- Stand back from the water’s edge when fishing and don’t wade in to retrieve a lure
- Camp well back from the edge of the water
- Never leave food, fish scraps or bait near water, camp site or boat ramp
- Never provoke, harass or feed crocs
- Always supervise children near the water and keep pets on a lead.
MIL OSI News –
February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Generative AI, online platforms and compensation for content: the need for a new framework

Source: The Conversation – France – By Thomas Paris, Associate professor, HEC Paris, researcher at CNRS, HEC Paris Business School

The emergence of generative artificial intelligence has put the issue of compensation for content producers back on the table.

Generative AI offers undeniable benefits but raises familiar fears tied to disruptive technologies. In the cultural and creative sectors, concerns are mounting over the potential replacement of human creators, the erosion of artistic authenticity and risks of copyright infringement. Legal battles are already emerging worldwide, with intellectual property owners and AI developers clashing over rights. Alongside these legal and ethical concerns lies the economic question: how should revenues generated by AI be fairly distributed?

Copyright law (droits d’auteur), which is traditionally based on the reproduction or representation of specific works, may not be a fit for this question. Individual contributions to AI-generated outputs are often too complex to quantify, making it difficult to apply the principle of proportional remuneration, which holds that payment for an individual work is tied to the revenue it generates.

An asymmetrical relationship

The disputes surrounding generative AI echo long-standing tensions between digital platforms and content creators. Platforms such as Spotify, YouTube and TikTok dominate the music industry; Netflix and Apple lead in film and television; Steam in gaming; and Google and Meta in news media.

These platforms wield enormous power in reshaping industries, influencing consumption patterns and establishing new power dynamics. On the one hand, they amplify the reach of creative works, but on the other, they rely on an inherently unequal relationship. For example, if Spotify removes a song, the artist’s reach and revenue may decline sharply, but Spotify itself is unlikely to suffer significant consequences–perhaps losing a few subscribers to competitors, at most.

A Nobel Prize for platform economics

The economics of digital platforms have been widely studied. This includes platforms’ two-sided market structure–a concept for which economist Jean Tirole won a Nobel prize in 2014. In this model, platforms act as intermediaries between two groups that benefit from each other: the more content a platform offers, the larger its audience grows, and the larger audience, in turn, attracts more content creators. This dynamic often leads to market concentration, and to platform strategies that subsidise one side to grow the other.

However, most research in this area has not fully addressed the complexities of platforms’ relationships with different types of content. High-value “premium” content, such as live sporting events, holds a singular status compared to more common offerings. These distinctions are often overlooked, particularly when assessing the value different types of content bring to a platform’s economy.

This question of value is central to the conflicts between platforms and content providers, as well as the emerging disputes between AI operators and content owners. The disputes underscore the need for a new framework, as traditional tools are proving inadequate for addressing these complex issues.

The challenge of valuing content

The news industry provides a clear example of the complex relationship between platforms and content providers. News publishers worldwide have long sought compensation from platforms such as Google and Meta for featuring their content. Google, for instance, indexes news articles alongside other types of content to enhance search relevance and platform value. However, the exact contribution of news content to Google’s business model is difficult to determine due to its layered, interconnected nature.

Google’s ecosystem relies on indexing vast amounts of content, some of which is ad-supported, while other elements–such as Google News–do not generate direct revenue. Additionally, data collected across Google’s services improve ad targeting and search accuracy, further complicating efforts to isolate the value of specific content.

Depending on user behaviour, content may either appear as a hypertext link directing users to the original publisher, or as a summary that keeps users within Google’s environment. In cases where users stay on Google, the platform effectively acts as a content provider, displaying excerpts in a crowded layout in which individual contributions are unclear. When users click through, Google serves as a traffic driver, sending readers to the publisher’s site. As a recommender, Google adds value to content; as a content provider, it extracts value from it. This dual role blurs the lines of compensation and also complicates efforts to determine how much an individual piece of content contributes to a platform’s overall success.

A new paradigm

Print media has been particularly affected by the rise of digital platforms, which profit significantly from news content. Disputes over how to measure the value of individual articles or publishers to platforms such as Google and Meta remain unresolved.

These conflicts vary by country, with outcomes influenced by legal jurisdictions, power dynamics and negotiations. Some agreements are struck only to be later challenged, while in other cases, platforms respond by removing news content altogether. Courts often avoid setting explicit guidelines on revenue sharing, leaving many questions unanswered.

This uncertainty reflects a broader shift. In the platform economy, individual content, or even entire categories of content, no longer has a clear, measurable contribution to overall value. Given the importance of platforms in the economies of cultural industries, developing a new framework to address these complexities is increasingly urgent.

We were consulted on an occasional basis, in the context of a case mentioned, by a lawyer for one of the parties.

– ref. Generative AI, online platforms and compensation for content: the need for a new framework – https://theconversation.com/generative-ai-online-platforms-and-compensation-for-content-the-need-for-a-new-framework-242847

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: One Week in Nairobi to Study Urban Governance in a Large Metropolis

Source: Universities – Science Po in English

Students in front of the entrance at 1 St-Thomas (credits: Pierre Morel)

Virtual Undergraduate Open House day 2025

Come meet our teams and students at our campuses.

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Virtual Graduate Open House day 2025

Meet faculty members, students and representatives and learn more about our 30 Master’s programmes.

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MIL OSI Europe News –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: FRCSW Wins People’s Choice Award at 2024 Maintenance Innovation Challenge

Source: United States Navy

The competition, held during the Department of Defense Maintenance Symposium in Salt Lake City, showcased five finalists presenting innovative solutions aimed at improving military sustainment and readiness. Attendees selected FRCSW’s cold spray technology as the standout innovation.

Presented by FRCSW materials engineer Matthew Chu, cold spray technology addresses critical challenges posed by corrosion and mechanical wear on aircraft components. The repair process uses a high-velocity gas stream to accelerate metallic powder particles, forming durable coatings that restore damaged surfaces. The technology has already saved millions of dollars by extending the life of components that would otherwise require costly replacements.

“Cold Spray is revolutionizing how we maintain and sustain fleet readiness,” Chu said during his presentation. “It’s a practical, cost-saving solution that addresses immediate repair needs and enhances long-term operational efficiency.”

FRCSW competed against four other finalists:

• Enhancing Field Repair Capabilities through Mixed Reality by Stephanie Bryan, Marine Depot Maintenance Command

• Expeditionary Cold Spray by Jeff Campbell, NAVSEA 05T

• On-Aircraft Cold Spray to Optimize Maintenance and Reduce Logistics by Matthew Chu, FRCSW

• Repair Technology Exercise by Mathew VanRavenhorst, NAVSEA 05T

• XtruJog by Vis Madhavan, Fairmount Technologies, LLC

Cold Spray has proven to be a game changer for the Navy, restoring components previously deemed irreparable while improving fleet readiness and reducing reliance on limited supply chains. Hundreds of parts have already been repaired using this technology, with optimized procedures ensuring consistent quality.

As a winner of the People’s Choice Award, FRCSW received $50,000 in in-kind support from the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) to further demonstrate and advance this innovative technology.

FRCSW’s victory highlights its role as a leader in maintenance innovation, delivering solutions that reduce costs, enhance readiness and set a new standard for sustaining the modern fleet.

MIL Security OSI –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Neag School Alumni Board Announces the 2025 Alumni Award Winners

Source: US State of Connecticut

The UConn Neag School of Education and its Alumni Board are delighted to announce the 2025 Neag School Alumni Awards honorees. Eight outstanding graduates will be formally recognized at the Neag School’s 27th Annual Alumni Awards Celebration on Saturday, March 15.

Outstanding School Educator – Tracey-Ann Lafayette ’15 (CLAS), ’15 (ED), ’16 MA, ’22 6th Year

Tracey-Ann Lafayette ’15 (CLAS), ’15 (ED), ’16 MA, ’22 6th Year (Submitted photo)

A graduate of the Neag School’s Integrated Bachelor’s/Master’s Teacher Education Program and UConn Administrator Preparation Program, Tracey-Ann Lafayette is an innovative educator dedicated to fostering inclusivity and academic excellence. She taught grades three and four at Robert J. O’Brien Elementary School in East Hartford, Connecticut, from 2016 until 2024. Currently, she teaches seventh-grade English Language Arts at Illing Middle School in Manchester, Connecticut. With expertise in culturally responsive teaching, Lafayette integrates diversity, advocacy, and conflict resolution into daily lessons, ensuring a positive classroom climate. A leader in professional development, Lafayette has facilitated workshops on equity and secured grants to support educational initiatives. Beyond the classroom, Lafayette has mentored aspiring educators of color through organizations like the Neag School’s Leadership in Diversity (LID) group, which she co-founded as a student, and the Neag School’s Diverse Educators Making Outstanding Change (DEMO) program. She co-founded the international Melanin Magic Educators collective, exemplifying her commitment to supporting educators of color. Her work has been featured on Connecticut’s WTNH Channel 8 and earned her a Fund for Teachers Fellowship (FFT). Through FFT, she had the opportunity to travel to South Africa to explore the connections between the country’s anti-apartheid movement and the civil rights movement here in the U.S. As a sought-after speaker, Lafayette has also presented at numerous conferences on anti-racist education and student activism. She is also a Malka Penn Award Committee member, allowing her to highlight literature promoting human rights.

Outstanding Professional – Alicia Bowman ’01 (ED), ’02 MA, ’08 6th Year

Alicia Bowman ’01 (ED), ’02 MA, ’08 6th Year (Submitted photo)

Alicia Bowman is a highly accomplished educational leader with expertise in the instructional, operational, and financial aspects of school administration. As associate executive director of the Connecticut Association of Schools, Bowman champions visionary priorities for educational administrators through advocacy, coaching, and professional learning. Her tenure as assistant superintendent for finance and operations for Farmington Public Schools showcased her strategic leadership in mentoring, union collaboration, and large-scale improvement initiatives. Bowman’s impact extends to the classroom and beyond, having previously served as principal at Farmington’s West Woods Upper Elementary School, where she led innovative instructional models and established a Makerspace and flexible learning blocks. She is a lifelong learner, earning her bachelor’s, master’s, and 6th Year diploma from the Neag School, and her doctoral degree from the University of New England. She is also an adjunct faculty member, coach, and former mentor principal for the University of Connecticut Administrator Preparation Program (UCAPP). Widely recognized for her contributions, Bowman has been previously named National Distinguished Principal and Connecticut Elementary Principal of the Year. She has contributed to publications and presented at national forums on equity, leadership, and student-centered learning and is passionate about fostering inclusive, transformative educational systems.

Outstanding Early Career Professional – Paul Singleton II ’17 MA, ’24 Ph.D.

Paul Singleton II ’17 MA, ’24 Ph.D. (Submitted photo)

Paul Singleton II is an accomplished educator, counselor, and advocate for equity in education, dedicated to fostering student success across diverse backgrounds. He holds a master’s in school counseling and a Ph.D. in educational psychology with a focus on counselor education and supervision from the Neag School, where his research centered on the impact of psychoeducational groups on African American male college students and their career readiness. Singleton is a counselor for grades seven through 12 and the diversity, equity, and inclusion coordinator at The Potomac School in McLean, Virginia. Singleton supports students’ academic and social-emotional development in these roles while implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives to build an inclusive school culture. He is also the founding director of the Learning & Engagement at the Potomac School (LEAP) Program, a pioneering effort to enhance student engagement and leadership through tailored support and mentorship. Previously, Singleton has contributed to initiatives such as UConn’s ScHOLA²RS House, focusing on retention and success for Black male students, and has taught graduate courses in school counseling. His widely recognized work, publications, and presentations reflect his passion for empowering students to achieve their full potential.

Outstanding School Administrator – Lori Leibowitz ’19 Cert.

Lori Leibowitz ’19 Cert. (Submitted photo)

With over two decades of experience in education, Lori Leibowitz is a distinguished administrator, educator, and advocate for equity in gifted education who holds a graduate certificate from the Neag School in gifted education and talent development. As the district administrator for Gifted and Talented and the Arts in Norwalk, Connecticut, she has overseen the redesign and implementation of innovative programs, increasing gifted identification rates by 25% and ensuring equitable access for underrepresented populations. Leibowitz’s leadership extends across teacher coaching and districtwide events celebrating diversity and inclusion. A published author, Leibowitz has contributed to scholarly works on gifted education, talent development, and social justice for multilingual learners. Her dissertation at Baylor University focused on empowering Hispanic multilingual learners through a social justice curriculum. She is a sought-after presenter, sharing insights at national conferences such as the National Association of Gifted Children (NAGC), the National Association of Bilingual Educators (NABE), and UConn’s Confratute. Leibowitz has earned accolades such as the Gifted Coordinator Award (NAGC, 2020) and the Outstanding Dissertation Award (NABE, 2024). A dedicated advocate for transformative education, she continues to drive change through research, innovation, and collaboration.

Outstanding School Superintendent – Howard Thiery III ’91 MS, ’07 ELP

Howard J. Thiery III ’91 MS, ’07 ELP (Submitted photo)

A graduate of the Neag School’s Executive Leadership Program (ELP), Howard Thiery III is a dedicated and innovative educational leader with over three decades of experience spanning K-12 and higher education. Thiery also holds a master’s degree in physiology and neurobiology from UConn. As superintendent of Regional School District 10 since 2019, he has championed initiatives that enhance student creativity, increase access to college-credit courses, and improve special education services. Under his leadership, the district has implemented a systemic leadership development system, restructured administrative frameworks to focus on high-quality learning, and launched personalized learning opportunities. Previously, Thiery served as superintendent for Regional School District 17, assistant superintendent for Southington Public Schools, and principal of the Greater Hartford Academy of Math and Science, where he managed curriculum development and led a visionary approach to STEM education. His contributions have extended internationally through his work with UConn’s Advanced Instructional Leadership Program in Jordan and his role as chair of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges Commission on International Education. An accomplished educator and author, Thiery’s publications and teaching reflect a lifelong commitment to academic excellence and innovation.

Outstanding Higher Education Professional – Daniel Burkey ’23 MA

Daniel Burkey ’23 MA (UConn photo)

Daniel Burkey is an accomplished chemical engineer, educator, and academic leader. With degrees from Lehigh University, MIT, and the University of Connecticut, Burkey’s expertise spans chemical engineering and educational psychology, specializing in research methods and engineering education innovation. Currently the associate dean for undergraduate education, outreach, and diversity in UConn’s College of Engineering, he has overseen transformative growth, including a 70% enrollment increase and initiatives to triple female enrollment. He co-developed the College’s new Ph.D. in Engineering Education program and launched innovative undergraduate teaching programs. As an educator, Burkey integrates cutting-edge techniques like game-based learning, earning accolades such as the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) David Himmelblau Award and multiple university teaching awards. His contributions to process safety education and curriculum design are widely recognized, alongside his leadership roles in professional organizations like AIChE, where he was recently elected as a Fellow. Burkey has secured significant research funding, authored book chapters, and developed pioneering educational technologies. Beyond academia, his mentorship and advocacy for diversity and inclusion continue to shape the next generation of engineers.

Outstanding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Professional – Fany DeJesús Hannon ’08 MA

Fany DeJesús Hannon ’08 MA (UConn photo)

Fany DeJesús Hannon, who holds a Master of Arts in higher education from UConn, is an accomplished higher education administrator and educator dedicated to fostering holistic student success and belonging. She also holds a doctorate in education from New England College. As dean of students at UConn, she leads initiatives addressing critical issues like crisis management, free speech, and student equity, ensuring inclusive engagement and retention across diverse populations. With over 18 years of higher education leadership experience, Hannon has championed programs enhancing cultural identity, leadership, and academic achievement, notably increasing Latinx/a/o retention and graduation rates during her tenure as director of the Puerto Rican/Latin American Cultural Center. A passionate advocate for first-generation and marginalized students, Hannon collaborates with University leadership, faculty, and legislative bodies to develop policies supporting access, equity, and well-being. Her teaching philosophy, rooted in Paulo Freire’s scholarship, centers on student engagement and diverse learning styles. Recognized for her leadership, she has earned accolades like the Nuestro Orgullo Hispano award and has presented nationally on diversity and mentoring. Fluent in multiple languages, she combines strategic vision with cultural competency to empower and inspire future leaders.

Distinguished Alumnus – Mark Daigneault ’07 (ED)

Mark Daigneault ’07 (ED) (Oklahoma City Thunder photo)

Mark Daigneault is the head coach of the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder. He previously served as head coach of the Oklahoma City Blue, the Thunder’s G-League affiliate, for five seasons. Originally from Massachusetts, Daigneault graduated with a BA in education from UConn, where he also worked as a student manager for the men’s basketball team. He has credited his studies with being able to connect with players. Daigneault’s coaching career began at Holy Cross, followed by an assistantship at the University of Florida, where he was involved in scouting and working with players off the court. During his tenure, the Gators achieved three SEC titles and four Elite Eight appearances. In 2020, Daigneault became the Thunder’s head coach, guiding the team through a rebuilding phase. Daigneault was 35 years old at the time, becoming the second-youngest head coach in the NBA. In 2023-2024, the Thunder became the youngest team in NBA history to earn the best regular season record in the NBA’s Western Conference, with Daigneault being awarded NBA Coach of the Year. Known for his innovative coaching style, defensive strategies, and player-development focus, Daigneault is praised by players for his adaptability and fostering strong relationships.

For more information on the event, visit s.uconn.edu/NeagAlumni2025.

To learn more about the UConn Neag School of Education, visit education.uconn.edu and follow the Neag School on Instagram, Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.

MIL OSI USA News –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: UConn Engineering Boasts 9 National Academy of Inventors (NAI) Fellows
Source: US State of Connecticut

For people diagnosed with Atrial fibrillation, commonly known as AFib, the upper chambers of the heart beat rapidly and irregularly, leading to poor blood flow. This can cause an increased risk of stroke, chronic fatigue, or heart failure.

Professor of Biomedical Engineering Ki Chon was elected an NAI Fellow in 2020.

Professor of Biomedical Engineering Ki Chon has devoted his entire career at UConn developing advanced computational methods—or algorithms—that can improve accurate detection of AFib and other heart diseases. He holds multiple patents for these algorithms, which help monitor heart activity in smartwatches and other wearable devices.

For his life-saving innovations, Chon, who’s also a Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor and Krenicki Chair Professor, is recognized as a National Academy of Inventors (NAI) Fellow. He’s among 13 academic inventors at UConn “who have demonstrated a prolific spirit of innovation in creating or facilitating outstanding inventions that have made a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development and the welfare of society.”

Election to NAI Fellow status is the highest professional distinction accorded solely to academic inventors.

Chon and eight other UConn NAI Fellows are affiliated with the College of Engineering, including:
- UConn’s 17th and current President Radenka Maric, Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor and Chair Professor in Sustainable Energy in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering, earned the NAI Fellowship in 2019. Maric has significantly advanced understanding of materials and catalysts and has developed innovative manufacturing processes involved in fuel cell technologies, storage materials, and electrochemical sensors for health applications, leading to higher-performance, commercially viable clean energy systems. She also has six issued patents and 11 published patent disclosures.
- Ji-Cheng “JC” Zhao, dean of the College of Engineering and professor of materials science and engineering, received the NAI Fellowship in 2022. Zhao’s research focuses are on design of advanced alloys and coatings, additive manufacturing (3D printing) of alloys and composites, high-throughput materials science methodologies, determination of phase diagrams and other materials properties, computational thermodynamics and kinetics, and also hydrogen/energy storage materials. In addition to many materials innovations, he pioneered the development of a diffusion-multiple approach and co-developed several materials property microscopy tools for accelerated materials discovery and development. Zhao has 49 patents covering a wide range of materials, processes, and systems.
- Dr. Cato Laurencin, Albert and Wilda Van Dusen Distinguished Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, professor of materials science and engineering, and professor of biomedical engineering, received the Fellowship in 2013 and was the first UConn faculty to become a NAI Fellow. He’s also a current member of the NAI’s Board of Directors and president of UConn’s NAI chapter. He has received the Connecticut Medal of Technology and Innovation, and the National Medal of Technology and Innovation in ceremonies at the White House. As Chief Executive Officer of the Cato T. Laurencin Institute on Regenerative Engineering and a practicing sports medicine and shoulder surgeon, Dr. Laurencin is known for being the pioneer of the field of regenerative engineering. He’s also produced seminal research and technologies on nanotechnology and tissue regeneration, polymer chemistry and polymeric materials science and engineering.
  
  Dr. Cato Laurencin is currently a member of the national selection committee for the National Academy of Inventors and serves as a resource to individuals interested in becoming Fellows at UConn. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)
- Luyi Sun, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, was awarded the Fellowship in 2021. Sun studies polymeric materials, ceramics and glasses, and composites with a focus on designing materials with unique structure for specific applications, such as packaging, energy, or catalysis.
- Bahram Javidi, Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor and SNET Endowed Chair Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, received the NAI Fellowship in 2018. Javidi’s inventions are in a broad range of transformative imaging approaches using optics and photonics. He has made seminal inventions in passive and active multi-dimensional imaging from nano to micro and macro scales. His inventions include advanced 3D displays, 3D augmented reality devices, underwater sensing and imaging, multi-dimensional object recognition and classification, optics for security and authentication systems, field portable bio-sensors for automated disease identification, among others.
- UConn’s 16th President Tom Katsouleas, professor of electrical and computer engineering, was named a NAI Fellow in 2020. He invented the Surfatron accelerator that uses electromagnetic waves to accelerate charged particles.
- Steven Suib, director of the Institute of Materials Science, Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and graduate faculty member in Materials Science and Engineering, received the Fellowship in 2017. Suib, an inventor, holds more than 90 patents in the field of materials science, of which three are licensed. These patents are primarily for the synthesis of new compositions of matter of catalysts, ceramics, batteries, semiconductors, and other materials.
- Lakshmi Nair, from UConn Health, received her Fellowship in 2016. She is an associate professor of orthopedic surgery and is also on the graduate faculty for Materials Science and Engineering Department. Nair studies biomaterial design and synthesis, protein and small molecule delivery, and using matrices to help with tissue regeneration.
  
  Lakshmi Nair, who serves on the graduate faculty for the Materials Science and Engineering Department, is vice president of UConn’s NAI Chapter.
Other UConn faculty who are NAI Fellows include:

Guillermo Risatti, from the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, is UConn’s most recent NAI Fellow. He received the award in 2024. Risatti, professor of pathobiology and veterinary science and director of UConn’s Connecticut Veterinary Diagnostic Medical Laboratory, was nominated to the NAI in recognition of his pioneering work in veterinary vaccine research. Most recently, he was a lead inventor on a new vaccine for African swine fever. Risatti currently holds 19 patents, all in the realm of veterinary vaccines.

Dr. Se-Jin Lee, from UConn Health, earned the NAI Fellowship in 2015. Dr. Lee, Presidential Distinguished Professor of Genetics and Genome Sciences and a joint faculty appointment with The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, is an expert on reproductive health, particularly how various growth factors and signaling pathways impact health, aging, and disease.

Dr. Pramod Srivastava from UConn Health, was named a Fellow in 2015. Dr. Srivastava, professor of immunology and the Eversource Energy Chair in Experimental Oncology, also served as director of the Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center. He has earned international acclaim and holds many patents for his groundbreaking work in the immunological function of heat shock proteins and in cancer immunology.

And Diane Burgess, from the School of Pharmacy, received the NAI Fellowship in 2023. Burgess, Pfizer Distinguished Chair of Pharmaceutical Technology and Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor of Pharmaceutics, studies drug delivery systems including implantable biosensors for glucose monitoring for diabetic patients.

These 13 NAI Fellows are among 2,068 worldwide, representing more than 300 prestigious universities and governmental and non-profit research institutes. Collectively, the Fellows hold more than 68,000 issued U.S. patents, which have generated over 20,000 licensed technologies, 4,000 companies, and created more than 1.2 million jobs. In addition, over $3.2 trillion in revenue has been generated based on NAI Fellow discoveries.

Among all NAI Fellows, there are 755 members of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine; 63 inductees of the National Inventors Hall of Fame; 70 recipients of the U.S. National Medal of Technology and Innovation and U.S. National Medal of Science; and 57 Nobel Laureates, among other awards and distinctions.

In addition to the elected NAI Fellows, the Academy also accepts NAI Senior Members, who may not reach the NAI Fellow criteria, but foster a spirit of innovation within their communities and institutions while educating and mentoring the next generation of inventors. Senior Members are active faculty, scientists, and administrators with success in patents, licensing, and commercialization and have produced technologies that have brought or aspire to bring, real impact on the welfare of society.

Senior Members are nominated by their local NAI chapter. UConn’s NAI Chapter, NAI-UConn, is led by President Laurencin and Vice President Nair. NAI-UConn was established to promote scientific innovation across all disciplines in the UConn community.

“As a group, we work to identify individuals who would make ideal Fellows and Senior Members by evaluating how they contribute to the ecosystem of inventorship,” Laurencin says. Laurencin is a member of the national selection committee for the National Academy of Inventors and serves as a resource to individuals interested in becoming Fellows.

UConn currently has seven NAI Senior Members including:
- Changchun Liu, professor of biomedical engineering, elected in 2021.
- Yupeng Chen, associate professor of biomedical engineering, elected in 2021.
- Thanh Nguyen, associate professor of mechanical engineering, elected in 2024.
- Mostafa Analoui, executive director of venture development and the Technology Incubation Program, elected in 2021.
- Raman Bahal, associate professor of pharmaceutics, elected in 2024.
- Gregory Gallo, Director of Technology Transfer, elected in 2021.
- Randall Spencer, vice president of clinical innovation at Mimedx and UConn Health collaborator, was elected in 2020.
“Our inductees in the National Academy of Inventors confirm what we know to be true of UConn researchers and innovators,” says Pamir Alpay, UConn vice president for research, innovation, and entrepreneurship. “From engineering to health care, UConn researchers are helping to improve lives and advance technology. Congratulations to all our members of this prestigious Academy.”

MIL OSI USA News –
February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Gov. Kemp Announces 104 Appointments to Boards, Authorities, and Commissions

Source: US State of Georgia

Atlanta, GA – Governor Brian P. Kemp today announced 104 appointments and reappointments to various state boards, authorities, and commissions.

Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia

Patrick Jones was reappointed.

Thomas Chris Cannon is a business owner, business leader, and an active member of the Albany community and the State of Georgia. Early in his career, Cannon was the President and Chief Operating Officer of an entity that had varied business interests throughout Georgia, including a multi-divisional Caterpillar Tractor Distributorship, corporate farming operations and real estate development. In 1992, Cannon founded and developed a business group whose mission was to provide a variety of environmental services to businesses and city and county governments in Georgia, Florida, and Alabama. The business group consisted of a multi-location residential and commercial waste service company, a petroleum equipment company, a solid waste landfill developer and operator, and an environmental consulting and remediation firm. In 1998, Cannon completed a merger transaction of his waste service company with a publicly traded company – Waste Industries – based in Raleigh, North Carolina. For several years, Cannon served on the board of directors of the publicly traded company, until 1992 when he sold his shares in Waste Industries to pursue other business interests. Also in 1992, he founded Flint Holdings, Inc. Today, Cannon continues to own and operate Flint Equipment Company consisting of Flint Ag and Turf, Flint Power Systems, and Barber Petroleum Equipment Company. Over the years, Cannon has served as the president of many civic organizations, including the Albany Technical College Foundation Board, the Albany YMCA Board, and the Boys and Girls Club Board. He also served on the boards of the Darton College Foundation, the State of Georgia Department of Industry and Trade, NoVab Inc., Waste Industries Inc., Deerfield Windsor School, the Governors Council on Economic Development, the Georgia Mining Association, the Albany Museum of Art, Nations Bank, and regional Sun Trust Bank. Cannon is a graduate of the University of Georgia with a B.S.A. degree in Business. He has two children that are active in the businesses and continues to reside in Albany.

Haynes (Maier) Studstill is a partner in the Valdosta law firm Studstill Firm, LLP, where her practice is focused on representing individuals and families in disputes with insurance companies. Studstill is originally from Rome, where she attended Darlington School before graduating the Culver Academies in Culver, Indiana. She earned her B.S. degree from Vanderbilt University in human & organizational development. After graduating from Vanderbilt, Haynes worked in the journalism industry for several years. She worked at WRC-TV/NBC4 in Washington, D.C. and NBC-affiliate WSMV in Nashville, Tennessee. She also served as the life editor of The Brunswick News before joining her uncle, William S. Morris, III, of Augusta, at his equine publications, Quarter Horse News and Barrel Horse News, in Fort Worth, Texas. Morris is a former regent, as is his father and Haynes’s grandfather, William S. Morris, Jr., thus making Haynes the 3rd generation in her family to serve the University System of Georgia on the Board of Regents. Studstill attended Mercer University’s Walter F. George School of Law, where she met her husband, Justin D. Studstill. She and Justin both graduated from Mercer. She is a former barrister in the William Augustus Bootle Inn of Court. Studstill clerked for the Hon. C. Ashley Royal in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia and worked as an associate for King & Spalding, LLP in Atlanta, before joining her father-in-law, Danny Studstill, and her husband in practice in South Georgia at the Studstill Firm, LLP. She currently serves as a board member on the State Botanical Garden of Georgia Board of Advisors in Athens and on the Judicial Nominating Commission, having been appointed by Gov. Kemp in 2021. She also serves as a Special Master, appointed by the Georgia Supreme Court, on attorney discipline cases. She is the immediate past president of the Valdosta Bar Association, and former president of both the Alapaha Judicial Circuit Bar Association and the Valdosta Chapter of the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers (GAWL). She is a former board member of: Vanderbilt University Peabody College Young Alumni Board; the Museum of Arts & Sciences in Macon; SafeKids Lowndes County; and The Verdict magazine of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association (GTLA). She has been admitted to practice in all State Appellate Courts in Georgia, all U.S. District Courts in Georgia, and the Supreme Court of the United States. She and her husband have four children and live in Lakeland, Georgia.

State Board of Pardons and Paroles

Robert Markley is a dedicated and experienced law enforcement professional with a proven track record of leadership and service to the community. Markley served as the elected Sheriff of Morgan County from 2001 to 2024, overseeing all aspects of law enforcement operations. Prior to his role as Sheriff, Markley held various positions within the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office, including jailer, patrolman, investigator, and administrative officer. Committed to maintaining public safety, upholding the law, and fostering positive community relationships. During his tenure as Sheriff, he served as member of the Board of Trustees for the Sheriffs’ Retirement Fund of Georgia.

Georgia Composite Medical Board

Judy Lynn Gardner and Barby J. Simmons were reappointed.

Board of Natural Resources

Nancy Addison was reappointed.

Mike Peavy is a native of Hawkinsville, Georgia, and is a graduate of the University of Georgia. After teaching for several years, he transitioned into concrete and masonry supply sales, ultimately joining Cherokee Brick. At Cherokee, Peavy became vice president of sales and later assumed the role of president in 2008. In 2021, Peavy was named president of CBEL, the parent company overseeing Cherokee Brick, Cherokee Block, Cherokee Masonry, Stratton Stone and other complimentary businesses. With a history of leadership in the industry, Peavy served many years on the Brick Industry Association (BIA) Board, BIA Region 9 and as past president of Brick Southeast. He currently serves on the Georgia Mining Association (GMA) board and the Southeast Concrete Masonry Association (SCMA). Peavy resides in Macon with his wife, Kate. They have two children and are awaiting the arrival of twin granddaughters on the way.

Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council

Andy Hester and Ray Paulk were reappointed.

State Board of Education

Leonte Benton and Rich Valladares were reappointed.

Courtney Dove attended the University of Georgia where she earned a B.A. in political science and master’s in teaching. She went on to teach United States history, world history, government and Georgia studies at Winder-Barrow High School and Dodgen Middle School. She has served as department chair and a county representative of her department. Dove has also worked at Riverstone Church as the preschool and kindergarten lead and regularly volunteers at her children’s schools in various capacities. Additionally, she advocates for congenital heart defect awareness and serves as a heart swap chair for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Courtney lives in Marietta with her husband David and their three children.

Kristi Garrett has been with RA-LIN & Associates, Inc. since 2008, where she is the chief marketing officer. A graduate of Auburn University with a degree in business administration-marketing, Garrett initially worked in the healthcare industry before taking time to focus on her family. In 2018, she became a managing partner of Southern Home & Garden/ACE Hardware until its sale in 2021. At RA-LIN, she focuses on building relationships, fostering growth, and inspiring success. Beyond her professional career, Garrett is a dedicated community leader, serving on the Carroll County Chamber Board, the Tanner Foundation Board of Trustees, and participating in local organizations. A Carrollton, Georgia native, Garrett is married to Ben Garrett, and together they have four children.

Melanie Stockwell has had a longstanding passion for Georgia public education, beginning with her role as general counsel for the Department of Education from 1996 to 2003. She then served in various capacities in the Georgia State Senate, including as chief of staff to President Pro Tempore Eric Johnson, where she provided legal counsel and policy expertise, particularly in education. After her time in the Senate, Stockwell worked on policy initiatives for political candidates and later held a position at the Georgia Department of Labor before leaving full-time work in 2013 to focus on family. She became deeply involved in school volunteering, serving on PTSA boards and local school councils. After her youngest child graduated, she worked as a front desk receptionist at Lakeside High School for five years, supporting teachers and administrators. She holds a B.A. in political science from Carson-Newman College and a law degree from the University of Virginia. Melanie and her husband, Mitch, reside in DeKalb County with their two young adult children.

Lake Lanier Islands Development Authority

Alan Gravel and Stephen Syfan were reappointed.

Walter “Bill” Frobos is CEO and one of the owners of Lanier Treatment Center. He graduated from the University of Georgia with a B.S.A. Frobos worked for Leon Farmer & Co. for 20 years in management and marketing. He is also a licensed real estate agent with Southern Heritage Land Co. In 2005, he saw a need to help those that had inadvertently became addicted to opiates. Frobos founded Lanier Treatment Center with a local physician and another business partner to offer medication assisted treatment. His goal and philosophy have always been to focus on providing the best outpatient treatment by using quality and well-trained counselors to help the clients to live a healthy, sober life.

Georgia Council on Aging

Kenneth Brooks, Maureen Kelly, Ruth Lee, Patricia Lyons, Adrienne Mims, and Ashton Windham were reappointed.

Pamela Cushenan is an experienced dental hygienist and educator based in Marietta, Georgia. She holds an associate of science in dental hygiene from Tennessee State University and MeHarry Medical College, a bachelor’s and master’s in health arts and training & development from the University of St. Francis, and a graduate certificate in Gerontology from Georgia State University. With over 30 years of experience in dental hygiene, Cushenan has served in various clinical roles, from private practice to teaching at Georgia State University, where she has been a faculty member since 2005. She is involved in numerous professional organizations, including the Georgia Dental Hygienists’ Association (GDHA) and the Special Care Dentistry Association (SCDA), where she has held leadership positions. Her research contributions include serving as principal investigator on studies related to oral health and aging, and she has received several accolades for her work, including the Georgia Dental Award of Merit and the 2020 Carl V. Patton President’s Award for Community Service & Social Justice. Cushenan is passionate about advancing dental hygiene through education, advocacy, and specialized care for seniors and individuals with special needs.

Elizabeth Schulze is the long-term care ombudsman program coordinator and CEO of North Georgia Programs and Services. In her role, she advocates for long-term care residents through routine facility monitoring, facility consultation, providing information and assistance to the public and other agency officials, training for facility staff, and community education. Schulze has a bachelor’s in biology and is working towards her Master of Public Administration at the University of Georgia. While earning her undergrad degree, Schulze worked as a caregiver for people with developmental disabilities and older adults. Her interest in the aging population deepened during her time as a caregiver in Assisted Living and Nursing Homes, which led her to earn an A.S. in Gerontology. She has previously held positions as program coordinator at Athens Community Council on Aging and as a Medicaid case manager for an Oregon Area Agency on Aging.

Board of Juvenile Justice

Danny Lee Blackmon and Sandra Heath Taylor were reappointed.

Gary McGiboney is executive director of the government and education program with Sharecare. Prior to his role at Sharecare, McGiboney worked for over 30 years in the advancement of education and educational services as the Deputy Superintendent at the Georgia Department of Education and as the Deputy Superintendent of Support Services for Dekalb County Schools. McGiboney has a Ph.D. in psychology from Georgia State University. Throughout his career, he has been the recipient of many awards and accolades. McGiboney currently serves on the Council of Alcohol and Drugs.

Western Circuit Public Defender Supervisory Panel

William “Billy” Rennie graduated from the University of Georgia in 2005 with a degree in speech communications and the University of Georgia School of Law in 2011. Billy began his legal career representing indigent defendants in Athens-Clarke and Oconee Counties. In 2014, Rennie opened the Law Office of William R. Rennie, LLC and joined the Law Office of Russell W. Wall, LLC as of counsel, working primarily as the firm’s lead litigator. Rennie has won jury trials in Athens-Clarke, Oconee, Greene, Morgan, Putnam, Oglethorpe, and other surrounding Counties. He is a graduate of and a former facilitator for the Oconee Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Oconee program, and previously served on the Oconee County Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors, the Oconee County Arts Foundation’s Board of Directors, and the University of North Georgia Advisory Board. Billy’s hobbies include golf, soccer, and reading. He lives in Watkinsville with his wife and daughters.

Coweta Circuit Public Defender Supervisory Panel

Brian Lewis is a partner with the Kam, Ebersbach and Lewis, P.C Law Office and has been practicing there for over 20 years. He specializes in plaintiff personal injury and criminal defense. Before going into private practice, he served as an assistant district attorney for the Cowette Judicial Circuit. Lewis has a bachelor’s in finance and real estate, and a Juris Doctorate from the Emory School of Law. He is an active member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Newnan, where he served two terms as senior warden and currently serves as the chair of the Strategic Planning Committee. Brian is a member of the Board of Trustees for The Heritage School and is the chair of the Governance Committee, is a former chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Carolyn Barron Montessori School in Newnan, and supports local organizations and charities, such as The Coweta Samaritan Clinic, One Roof, Coweta Food Pantry, and the Lindsey Riggs Memorial Foundation.

Georgia Board of Private Detective and Security Agencies

Pamela Griggs, Tripp Mitchell, and Joel Peacock were reappointed.

David Sawyer is a forensic accountant and financial crimes investigator with extensive experience in both civil litigation and criminal prosecution. Sawyer currently works for Sawyer & Company as a private investigator. With over 300 investigations involving fraud, corruption, financial damages, and various legal disputes, he has provided expert witness testimony in more than 20 cases. He has also contributed to the development of software designed to detect fraud, waste, and white-collar crime, and has advised on global initiatives to combat issues such as economic espionage, terrorist financing, and money laundering. Sawyer attended the University of Auburn and received a bachelor of science in accounting. He has had roles as a partner at a top 50 regional CPA/advisory firm and a managing consultant with two big four accounting firms. He also has experience as an internal auditor for Fortune 500 companies. Additionally, Sawyer is a licensed private investigator. He is an active member of several professional organizations, including the Georgia Chapter of Certified Fraud Examiners, the Georgia Society of CPA’s Fraud and Forensic Services Advisory Council, and the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS). He also serves as co-chairman of the Atlanta Chapter of ACAMS and is on the Executive Committee of Business Executives for National Security (BENS). A graduate of Auburn University, Sawyer has also served as an adjunct professor and guest lecturer on fraud examination and forensic accounting.

Stone Mountain Memorial Association

Joan Thomas was reappointed.

Georgia Board of Landscape Architects

Betsey Norton and Jon Williams were reappointed.

State Licensing Board for Residential and General Contractors

Devell Frady is the owner of Devell Frady Homes. He is a custom home builder based out of Ellijay. Frady has been in the construction business for over 20 years. He is the former president of the Georgia High Country Builders Association and has extensive knowledge of the licensing and permit process.

North Georgia Mountains Authority

Charles DePriest serves as the executive vice president of Summit Materials’ East Segment. He brings more than 25 years of extensive experience in finance, operations, and executive leadership to his role. In 2016, he co-founded Georgia Stone Products, a construction materials producer in Georgia. Georgia Stone Products was acquired by Summit Materials in 2017 and has emerged as a cornerstone component in Summit’s greenfield growth strategy. His previous roles at Summit include East Region CFO, Leader of Enterprise Standardization, and Central Region President. A veteran of the U.S. Army, Charles holds a bachelor of professional accountancy from Mississippi State University, an MBA from Mercer University, and is an active CPA and Chartered Global Management Accountant. DePriest is an at-large representative on the Board of Natural Resources.

Mark Hennessey works for Hennessy Automobile Cos. in Atlanta, Georgia. Hennessy has served on the Board of Trustees for the Marist School in Atlanta and is a member of the Buckhead Coalition. He served on the first BRAC Commission for Fort McPherson. He was a member of the North Fulton CID for over eight years. He had the pleasure to serve on the Board of the Technical College System of Georgia from April 2020 until spring of 2023, when he was appointed to serve on the Board of Natural Resources.

Lesley Reynolds is the chair of the Board of Natural Resources. She is a native of Baldwin County, Georgia, and a graduate of Georgia Military College and Georgia College and State University. Reynolds taught elementary school at Midway Elementary in Milledgeville. She has and is engaged with several organizations that focus on education, Judeo-Christian values, and women’s safety and security.

Harley Yancey is the president of State Mutual Insurance Company in Rome, Georgia, where he also serves on the company’s Board of Directors. He joined State Mutual in 2018 after practicing law at Brinson, Askew, Berry, Seigler, Richardson & Davis, LLP. Prior to becoming president, he served as the company’s general counsel and now manages its day-to-day operations. Yancey holds a bachelor of business administration from the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business, a Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia School of Law, a master of laws from the University of Alabama School of Law, and a master of business administration from the University of North Carolina. Outside of his role at State Mutual, Yancey is the chairman of the Georgia Life & Health Insurance Guaranty Association, a director for the Oklahoma Life & Health Insurance Guaranty Association, and serves on the Board of Directors for United Community Bank of Rome. He is also involved with the YMCA Board of Trustees, the Darlington School Alumni Council, and the Georgia School of Law Alumni Council. He is the 14th Congressional District representative on the Board of Natural Resources.

Georgia Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Chelsea Tehan was reappointed.

Stormey Cone is currently the director of the deaf and hard of hearing family engagement and education program at the Georgia Department of Education. Cone is particularly passionate about ensuring access to services in rural Georgia and has a wealth of experience in the education of deaf and hard of hearing students, especially those enrolled in rural school districts. Cone is a former educator that worked with deaf and hard-of-hearing students in public schools for many years. Recently, she has specialized in improving Georgia’s early identification and intervention for young deaf and hard-of-hearing infants. Cone was the inaugural parent navigator for the Georgia Mobile Audiology, traveling around the state to develop a better understanding of parents’ experiences with diagnosing infants with hearing loss.

Russell Fleming has held many leadership positions in agencies that serve deaf and deafblind communities. Among other positions, he was state coordinator for Vocational Rehabilitation Services for the deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind consumers and dean of students and interim superintendent at the Georgia School for the Deaf. In his retirement, he serves as vice president of the Georgia Association of the Deaf and works part time as a deafblind Specialist.

Byron Smith is the father of a deaf child who uses ASL. He and his wife are hearing and had no contact with the deaf community before adopting their daughter. They are learning ASL as adults to provide the best language and learning environment for their daughter. He has been a fire fighter since 1993, working for U.S. Army, the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Airforce, and the National Park Service.

DeAnna Swope has held several positions of leadership in the deaf community. She currently works in the field of domestic violence where she educates hearing agencies on how to offer more culturally and linguistically accessible services for deaf and hard of hearing survivors of domestic violence survivors. Swope has received accolades, such as the prestigious Gender Justice Award from the Georgia Commission on Family Violence as well as Collaborate awards from the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence. In 2020, she was honored with a distinguished deaf community leader position at Hamilton Relay. She is a past president of the Georgia Association of the Deaf.

State Forestry Commission

Ken Sheppard was reappointed.

State Board of Occupational Therapy

Deborah Hinerfeld is the owner and director of Tic Tok Occupational Therapy Services in Roswell, GA. Hinerfeld holds a Ph.D. in Health Science with a concentration in health care administration and public policy from Trident International University. She also earned a master’s in health care policy and administration from Mercer University and a bachelor’s in occupational therapy from Utica College. Hinerfeld has extensive experience in occupational therapy, having worked in various roles including private practice owner, adjunct professor, and staff therapist at several institutions. She holds certifications in sensory integration, behavioral intervention for tics, hippotherapy, and youth mental health. Additionally, she has contributed to research, presented at numerous conferences, and held leadership positions within professional organizations such as the American Occupational Therapy Association.

Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority

Trevor Addison is the clerk of Putnam County’s Superior and Juvenile Courts and has since taken on additional roles as clerk of State Court, Juvenile Court, appeal administrator to the Board of Equalization, and jury manager. Previously, Addison served as a commissioner for Putnam County. During his tenure he served on multiple boards, including the Sinclair Water Authority and the Central Georgia Joint Development Authority, and was appointed vice chairman of the Board of Commissioners. He also serves as treasurer of the Putnam County Law Library Board of Trustees and is active on the Putnam General Hospital Foundation Board, the Legislative Committee of the Georgia Superior Court Clerk Cooperative Authority, and the Executive Board of the Putnam County Republicans. Trevor remains dedicated to serving his community at both the local and state levels.

Board of Directors of the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority

Dick Anderson, Frank Auman, Jace Brooks, William Tate, Jr. and BobVoyles were reappointed.

Himanshu Karnwal is the founder and CEO of ISHTECH INC, an IT Solutions architecture and design company that has been successfully operating for over 12 years. With 25 years of experience in the information technology industry, he has worked alongside Fortune 100 companies, including Sony Pictures, NBC Universal, eBay, and Nike, helping to design and manage global IT infrastructures. In addition to his business achievements, Karnwal is an active community leader. He serves as a planning commissioner for Johns Creek and is a member of the board of directors for the Johns Creek Chamber of Commerce. He is also involved with several other organizations, including Rotary Johns Creek North Fulton and the advisory boards of Quantiphi and Waypoint 2 Space. Karnwal is a strong advocate for the Indian and Asian communities in North Fulton, Johns Creek, and South Forsyth. He is the founder and chairman of a National Indian Association in the greater Atlanta area and serves on the board of the Georgia chapter of U.S. Impact, an organization that represents the Indian American community.

Jai Bum Park immigrated to the United States from Korea in the late 1980s and quickly transitioned into the telecommunications industry. He made the decision to leave college and focus on growing his business, starting in Chicago and later expanding his operations. In the early 2000s, Park relocated to Georgia, where he became a Master Coin Operated Amusement Machine (COAM) license holder and played a key role in generating millions of dollars for the Georgia Lottery Corporation, supporting the Georgia HOPE Scholarship. In 2009, Park served as chairman of the Korean Association of Augusta, working to integrate Korean-Americans into American society. In addition to his business endeavors, he has invested in real estate across Georgia. A strong believer in the concept of the “whole person,” Park is committed to personal growth and fostering meaningful connections.

State Board of Pharmacy

Michael Azzolin was reappointed.

Board of Directors of the Georgia Lottery Corporation

Missy Burgess was reappointed.

Board of Economic Development

Sandra Bland is the president of Vidalia Brands, Inc. and director of marketing for Bland Farms, where she has been instrumental in popularizing the Vidalia Sweet Onion. Her innovations include incorporating Vidalia onions into processed foods and expanding their reach across the U.S. Bland’s early entrepreneurial efforts included running a mail-order business that helped Vidalia onions gain widespread recognition. Under her leadership, Vidalia Brands champions sustainability by minimizing food waste. Before her role at Bland Farms, she attended College of Coastal Georgia where she received a degree in nursing. Bland built a career in healthcare, holding significant nursing positions. She is actively involved in Southern Roots Women in Produce and supports various philanthropic causes, including St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Bland, a devoted community member and family matriarch, resides in St. Simons Island with her husband, Delbert, and their three children and ten grandchildren.

Board of Corrections

Bruce Carlisle, Donnie Pope, W.D. Strickland and Rose Williams were reappointed.

Chris Clark will now serve as the Seventh Congressional District Representative.

Luis Solis will now serve as the Ninth Congressional District Representative.

Ester Fleming will now serve as the Thirteenth Congressional District Representative.

Barry Babb will now serve as an At-Large Representative.

Stacy Jarrard will now serve as an At-Large Representative.

Kellie Brownlow is the VP of development and community relations at First Step Staffing. First Step Staffing is a 501C3 that uses an alternative staffing model to provide individuals who are homeless, citizens returning from prison, and veterans with immediate employment. Brownlow is responsible for community partnerships and resource development in all five states in which the company has offices, including the headquarter office in Atlanta. Previously, she served as the executive director of the Georgia Alliance of the Boys & Girls Clubs. Before joining Boys & Girls Clubs, Brownlow was the deputy chief to the Cobb County Commission Chairman and director of economic development for Partnership Gwinnett. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and political science from Rhode Island College and a master’s degree in public administration for the University of Georgia. Brownlow serves on the State Workforce Development Board. She lives in DeKalb County with her husband and two daughters.

Rodney Bryant is a retired law enforcement executive with over 34 years of law enforcement experience. Bryant has held numerous key roles, culminating in his position as Chief of Police for the Atlanta Police Department. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated expertise in a wide range of areas including community engagement, crime reduction, crisis management, and public safety leadership. Known for his strong communication, negotiation, and strategic planning skills, he has successfully led teams, improved community relations, and managed multi-million-dollar budgets. Bryant’s achievements include serving as the President of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, overseeing the security operations for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and managing large-scale events such as the College Football Playoff Championship and Super Bowl LIII. Bryant holds a master of science in administration from Central Michigan University and a bachelor of science in criminal justice from Georgia State University. He is also a graduate of various prestigious law enforcement leadership programs, including the Police Executive Leadership Institute and the FBI LEEDA.

Georgia Rural Development Council

Betts Berry, Gabe Evans, Jim Matney, and Stuart Rayfield were reappointed.

Bárbara Rivera Holmes is president and CEO of the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce. Holmes is likewise CEO of the Albany Area Chamber Foundation. In 2018, Holmes was appointed by then Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal to serve on the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, for which she chaired the Committee on Economic Development. In 2020, Holmes was appointed by then Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan to co-chair the Rural Initiatives Subcommittee of the Georgia Innovates Task Force to help design the state’s innovation blueprint. Holmes is a former journalist whose work has earned four awards for excellence in journalism from the Georgia Associated Press. Prior to her role at the Albany Area Chamber, Holmes was vice president of the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission, where she developed the organization’s business retention and expansion program to facilitate existing industry job creation and capital investment in Albany-Dougherty County, and its marketing programs. Holmes is a 2014 graduate of Leadership Georgia, and served on the organization’s Board of Trustees; a 2022 participant of the U.S. Chamber Foundation Business Leads Fellowship Program; and a 2023 graduate of the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s Institute for Organization Management. She serves on the boards of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and the Commodore Conyers College and Career Academy. She graduated from Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida, with degrees in journalism and in Spanish. She continued her studies at Estudio Sampere Internacional in Madrid and Alicante, Spain. She lives in Albany with her husband, David, and their daughter.

Sheriff’s Retirement Fund

Dan Kilgore is the elected Sheriff of Upson County, a position he has held since January 2013. With over 40 years of experience in law enforcement, Kilgore’s career has spanned a variety of roles, including serving as a sheriff’s deputy, city police officer, county police officer, and district attorney’s investigator. Prior to his election as Sheriff, he dedicated more than 21 years of service as the chief deputy sheriff of Upson County. Kilgore is deeply involved in the law enforcement community and holds several leadership positions. He serves as vice chairman on the Board of the Peace Officer’s Annuity and Benefit Fund and is an advisory member of the Georgia POST Council. Additionally, he is the Georgia Sheriff’s Association Area 4 regional vice president. In 2023, he earned his certification as a retirement plan fiduciary, awarded by the Georgia Association of Public Pension Trustees. Outside of his professional endeavors, Kilgore is a devoted family man, married to his wife, Renae, and the proud father of three adult children and one grandson. The Kilgore family are active members of the First Methodist Church of Thomaston.

Horace “Billy” Hancock started his career in public safety in 1976, and he is currently serving his 3rd term as Sheriff of Crisp County. He has also served as the emergency management director of Crisp County since 2014. Hancock began his career as an emergency medical technician with Crisp County EMS. He has spent over 40 years in law enforcement, first sworn in in 1979 as a part-time deputy with the Crisp County Sheriff’s Office. He later went to work for the Georgia State Patrol. He returned to the Crisp County Sheriff’s Office in 1990. He held the position of chief deputy for 19 years and served as the deputy director of the Crisp County Emergency Management Agency for 14 years. He is a graduate of the 57th Georgia State Patrol Academy. He has an associate degree in criminal justice, a master’s certificate in emergency management, and a bachelor’s from Columbia Southern University in homeland security. Hancock was appointed and has served as a board member of the Georgia Peace Officer’s Standards and Training Council (the ABAC Region). He is past vice president of the Georgia Peace Officers Association and is an active member of both the Georgia and National Sheriff’s Association. He continues to teach on the state and federal levels. Hancock began serving as a lion with the Cordele Lions Club in 2001 and has received numerous awards from the organization. In 2018, Governor Nathan Deal appointed Hancock to the Georgia Emergency Communications Authority (GECA) Board. Hancock was also reappointed to the GECA Board by Governor Brian Kemp. Hancock is a member of the Cordele Church of Christ.

Frank Reynolds was sworn into office on January 1, 2017, as the 39th Sheriff of Cherokee County, Georgia. Reynolds has been a resident of Cherokee County since 1981. He began his law enforcement career in 1994 with the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office. Reynolds is committed to serving Cherokee County with honesty, transparency, and integrity. As a Georgia Constitutional Officer, Reynolds is mandated to oversee warrant service and civil process, maintain the adult detention center, courthouse security and provide general law enforcement within Cherokee County. He is a graduate of Riverside Military Academy, earned a bachelor’s degree from Reinhardt University and holds a master of public administration from Columbus State University. Reynolds is a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia class 244, and the Georgia Law Enforcement Command College. He is married to Dr. Jennifer DeBord Reynolds and is the proud father of three.

Georgia Technology Authority

Marie Mouchet is an accomplished technology and cybersecurity executive currently serving as a member of the Board of Advisors for Mimic and HData and managing director of Mouchet Ventures LLC. Her extensive experience and leadership on various boards demonstrates her exceptional talent and commitment to driving innovation and education across industries and also exemplifies her dedication to leveraging her knowledge and insights to make a positive impact in the community. Previous roles include senior vice president and CIO at Colonial Pipeline Company, where Mouchet led technology strategy and operations across both IT and OT domains, vice president and CIO at Southern Company Operations & Southern Nuclear, and director of financial and contract services at Southern Company’s Southern Wholesale Energy. She has served in various board positions, including board advisor and chairman of Georgia CIO and board secretary of the Women In Technology (WIT) Foundation. Marie holds advanced degrees from Georgia State University and completed executive education at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business. Her remarkable contributions to the industry and community led to her being honored with the highly regarded and prestigious Ed Steineke CIO Award by TechBridge in 2020.

Board of Commissioners of the Judges of the Probate Courts Retirement Fund of Georgia

Annie Doris Holder has served as the Probate and Chief Magistrate Judge of Calhoun County for the past 24 years, dedicating her career to providing fair and courteous service to the citizens of her community. A committed public servant, she strives to ensure that all individuals receive just and equitable treatment under the law. Holder is a proud graduate of Calhoun County High School and holds an associate degree from Darton College, a bachelor’s degree from Albany State University, and a master’s degree from LaGrange College. Beyond her judicial responsibilities, she is actively engaged in community service. She currently serves as the president of the missionary department of the Southwest Georgia Missionary Baptist Association, the district associate matron of Cuthbert District #13 OES, and a board member of Albany Technical College. Holder is married to Rev. Julian Holder and they share three daughters, as well as nine beloved grandchildren.

State Board of Veterinary Medicine

Matthew Bradley and Wendy Cuevas-Espelid were reappointed.

Seth Stowers grew up on a small family farm in Dawsonville, Georgia. In 2005, he began his own small beef cattle operation that he continues to grow today. Stowers graduated from the University of Georgia in 2014 where he received a bachelor of science in poultry science. While at UGA he was active in UGA Cattleman’s Association, Block and Bridle, UGA Poultry Science Club, and competed on UGA’s Poultry Judging Team. Dr. Stowers attended the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine where his studies were emphasized in food animal medicine and production. He graduated with his doctor of veterinary medicine in 2018. Throughout the curriculum at UGA CVM, he lived and worked at Rose Creek Farm, UGA’s Veterinary School farm. To gain a better knowledge and develop his skills in cattle medicine he completed externships at Krebs Ranch in Nebraska and bovine veterinary practices in Texas, West Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia. Stowers began Hillside Veterinary Services in May of 2018. His professional interests encompass anything involving beef cows, especially herd health and preventative medicine. Stowers is excited to have an opportunity to give back to FFA and 4-H, two programs that provided him with numerous opportunities, through working with local youth. In 2023, he was elected to serve as the district 1 Commissioner on the Dawson County Board of Commissioners.

John Tarabula is a seasoned veterinary professional with over 30 years of experience in small animal and exotic medicine. He earned his D.V.M. and B.S. degrees from the University of Georgia and has served as the medical director at the Animal Medical & Surgical Center in Canton, Georgia, since 1988. Additionally, he is the owner of Creekside Animal Hospital in Cumming, Georgia, where he has been practicing since 2015. Tarabula’s extensive career also includes roles as an associate veterinarian at Beach St. John Animal Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida, and as an emergency clinician at Jacksonville Veterinary Emergency Clinic. Beyond clinical practice, Tarabula is actively involved in professional service, having served on the Board of Directors for Cobb and Cherokee Emergency Veterinary Clinics, as well as holding leadership positions within the Georgia Veterinary Medical Association. He also has a history of public service, having been a city councilman and Mayor Pro-Tem in Holly Springs, Georgia. Tarabula has participated in medical missions with the Flying Doctors of America, providing veterinary care in Ecuador, Peru, and Bhutan.

OneGeorgia Authority Overview Committee

Senator Larry Walker, III and Representative Butch Parrish were reappointed.

Georgia Board of Behavior Analyst Licensing Board

Christina “Nina” Holland is an experienced office administrator with nearly 20 years of expertise in managing operations both in-office and remotely. She has spent eight years with ICB Construction Group, overseeing contracts, financial management, and accounts, and has worked with Southern Structures Fencing for the past decade. In addition to her professional success, Holland is a passionate advocate for children with autism. After recognizing early on that her son had unique needs, she became dedicated to navigating complex medical and governmental systems to ensure her son received the therapies and care required for his development. Holland’s personal journey through autism advocacy has fueled her desire to help other families, offering support in early intervention, Medicaid, and ABA therapy, while striving to improve access to essential services for children in need.

Board of Public Safety

Neal Jump is currently serving his fourth term as the Sheriff of Glynn County. Jump has been in law enforcement since he was 17 years old. Prior to being elected sheriff, Jump worked with the Georgia State Patrol for more than 30 years, beginning his career as a radio operator in 1975. Jump studied criminal justice at South Georgia College.

Georgia Board of Nursing

Lydia Watkins is the Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences at College of Coastal Georgia, as well as a professor of nursing. She has worked as a registered nurse since 1997, first in pediatric hematology/oncology at the Children’s Hospital of Alabama, and then as a pediatric hematology/oncology nurse practitioner at Sparrow Health System in Lansing, Michigan. She was an adjunct instructor with the Department of Pediatrics and Human Development at Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine prior to joining the faculty at College of Coastal Georgia. Since joining the college, Watkins has served in other roles such as the BSN program coordinator, interim program director of radiologic sciences, and chair of nursing and health sciences, prior to becoming the dean. Watkins holds a doctor of nursing practice from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, a master of science in nursing from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, a bachelor of science in nursing and an associate of science in nursing from Samford University. She is also a certified nurse educator (CNE) through the National League for Nursing.

Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Overview Committee

Senator Tonya Anderson, Senator Steve Gooch, Representative Demetrius Douglas, Representative Scott Hilton, and Representative Martin Momtahan were reappointed.

Senator Sonya Halpern represents Senate District 39 and is the Minority Caucus Vice Chair. Halpern was elected to the General Assembly in 2020. She is the vice chair for the Committee on Urban Affairs and a member of Senate Appropriations, the Committee on Banking and Financial Institutions, the Committee on Education and Youth, the Committee on Health and Human Services, and the Committee on Public Safety.

Soil and Water Conservation Commission

Jim Waters is a local farmer from Blackshear, Georgia. He is the elected Pierce County Supervisor for Satilla River Conservation District. He also serves as the chairman. He is a full-time farmer, planting crops that consist of cotton and peanuts. He is passionate about educating the community on conservation efforts and farmers on good conservation practices to protect our croplands.

Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission

P.K. Martin, Doug Roper, Jim Squire, and Pranay Udutha were reappointed.

Michael Foor is the president of state operations for Georgia for Kinetic. Foor previously served as vice president of state government affairs in Georgia, building relationships with legislators, electric cooperatives, and communities to support the deployment of rural broadband. Prior to joining Kinetic, Foor was the president of Georgia Communications Cooperative and part of Habersham Electric Membership’s efforts to build fiber-to-the-premise broadband service to communities in North Georgia. In addition to his responsibilities at Kinetic, Foor currently serves as chair for White County Development Authority and is a past president of Habersham Rotary Club, where he remains an active member. Foor holds an M.B.A. from Brenau University. He lives in Cleveland with his wife. They have three daughters and twin grandsons

MIL OSI USA News –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Xia Baolong inspects tech park

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

CPC Central Committee Hong Kong & Macao Work Office Director and State Council Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office Director Xia Baolong visited the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science & Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone on February 9.

This was followed by a tour of the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Co-operation Zone.

During his inspection, Mr Xia hosted a discussion session in Qianhai, where he was briefed by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government on its work plans on the economy and financial services.

During the morning visit to the Hong Kong Park, Mr Xia, accompanied by Acting Chief Executive Chan Kwok-ki and Financial Secretary Paul Chan, listened to presentations by Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn on the overall planning and development overview of the Northern Metropolis as well as by Secretary for Innovation, Technology & Industry Prof Sun Dong on the park’s latest development progress and the key focus of work.

Mr Xia also inspected the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Co-operation Zone and hosted a discussion session where the Financial Secretary introduced the Hong Kong SAR Government’s work and focus in 2025 to advance the economy.

During the four-hour session, there were also in-depth discussions on how Hong Kong could further understand, respond to and embrace changes under the new circumstances, accelerate reforms to foster progress, enhance Guangdong-Hong Kong co-operation, and better integrate into the Greater Bay Area (GBA).

At the discussion session, Mr Xia recognised the work of the Hong Kong SAR Government under the Chief Executive’s leadership and expressed hope the Hong Kong SAR Government would thoroughly implement the spirit of the important speeches by President Xi Jinping in Macau and the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, and continue to be bold in reform, dare to break new ground and to innovate continuously.

Mr Xia also wished for more reciprocal co-operation and collaborative development within the GBA.

The finance chief stated that under the Chief Executive’s leadership, the Hong Kong SAR Government team will firmly uphold the principle of “one country” while leveraging the advantages of “two systems”, and the Government team is determined to undertake reforms, dare to be innovative, and actively integrate into the national development and align with national development strategies.

In the face of a complex external environment, Hong Kong will co-ordinate development and security, maintain financial and economic security, whilst promoting the acceleration of economic progress.

As the country further deepens reforms, promotes high-quality development and advances high-level opening up, Hong Kong will leverage its unique advantages and functions of connecting with both the Mainland and the world as well as its strong international character.

Hong Kong will reinforce traditional advantageous industries such as financial services, trade and shipping, while also exploring new development areas. At the same time, Hong Kong will focus on nurturing new quality productive forces and new economic growth points and continue to make systematic investments in innovation and technology.

The Financial Secretary added that Hong Kong will harness platforms such as the above-mentioned co-operation zones, and strengthen collaboration with sister cities in the GBA, seeking to play to the comparative strengths of the cities and elevate their economic development.

The session was attended by Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang, Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui, Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Algernon Yau, Ms Linn, Prof Sun, Secretary for Transport & Logistics Mable Chan and Acting Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Raistlin Lau.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI: Analog’s Timechain Revolution: Pioneering Proof-of-Time with $ANLOG Major Exchange Listings

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SINGAPORE, Feb. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Analog is set to become the gateway to blockchain’s future, powered by Timechain — a decentralised, boundary-breaking Layer-0 network. With the simultaneous listing of its native token, $ANLOG, on KuCoin, Bitget, MEXC and Gate.io, Analog takes a bold step forward in reshaping blockchain connectivity and expanding $ANLOG’s reach across the ecosystem.

The $ANLOG token will be listed for trading on February 10th at 11 AM UTC with an ANLOG/USDT trading pair. Deposits and withdrawals will also go live at this time. Public sale and Airdrop participants can trade their $ANLOG tokens or use them within Analog’s growing ecosystem, while all users can acquire the token on the open market.

Analog is led by a team of blockchain and DeFi experts with over 150 years of combined experience. The project has attracted major partners and investors including key players such as Tribe Capital, Near Foundation, Black Label Ventures, Wintermute, GSR, and DeSpread. These collaborations attest to the industry’s confidence in Analog’s potential to address the long-standing challenges of blockchain connectivity.

As a multi-purpose utility token, $ANLOG supports transaction validation, staking, and governance participation. The token is used to secure the Timechain, a layer-0 blockchain that enables seamless cross-chain data and transaction flow, addressing one of the most critical bottlenecks in blockchain technology today. Analog’s suite of products, including the Watch SDK and GMP protocol, further distinguishes it from competitors, offering accessible solutions for developers to build interoperable decentralized applications without limitations.

Analog’s ecosystem is expanding rapidly, with 50+ projects across DeFi, AI, NFTs, and gaming building on its technology. At the core of this growth are ecosystem dApps like Zenswap and Pixelport, which are deeply integrated into Analog’s infrastructure. Zenswap is revolutionising cross-chain swaps, enabling seamless asset transfers across multiple networks, while Pixelport is redefining NFT trading and digital ownership in a truly omnichain environment. Beyond these flagship dApps, a diverse range of projects — including Frax Finance, XYO, StationX, and Parami Protocol — are leveraging Analog’s Watch, GMP protocols, and automation tools to enhance cross-chain interactions, decentralised AI, and real-time data sharing.

Analog continues to solidify its leadership in blockchain through the innovative proprietary Proof-of-Time (PoT) consensus mechanism. This cutting-edge protocol — validated by two officially approved patents. These patents highlight Analog’s commitment to pioneering solutions that overcome the limitations of fragmented blockchain ecosystems. Proof-of-Time is designed to enhance security and scalability by leveraging verifiable delay functions (VDFs), ensuring accurate data flow and secure operations across diverse chains. Although still under development, this mechanism exemplifies Analog’s forward-thinking ethos, positioning it as a transformative force in Web3’s future.

Interest in Analog has been solidified by significant engagement on its testnet, which has attracted over 380,000 participants globally which have been verified through their innovative Proof-Of-Humanity system. The growing support, both on-chain and in the demand for its recent public token sale, reflects the industry’s enthusiasm for Analog’s approach to solving blockchain’s primary fragmentation challenges. The project is now positioned as a leading force in the $2 billion blockchain interoperability market which is poised for exponential growth as Web3 adoption soars.

Analog’s innovations have broad appeal. From retail investors and blockchain developers to validators, DeFi enthusiasts, and those exploring decentralized science (DeSci), the potential impact is immense. Analog’s innovative solutions also hold significant promise for AI projects, enabling seamless cross-chain communication for data sharing and computation. Even communities centered around memecoins can benefit from a unified blockchain ecosystem, unlocking new possibilities for token utility and connectivity. With such a wide range of use cases, Analog is a compelling proposition for anyone interested in the future of interconnected blockchains.

Analog’s focus on cross-chain interactions is critical as the space becomes increasingly fragmented. By enabling communication and transaction flow between different networks, Analog lays the groundwork for new levels of scalability, efficiency, decentralization, and connectivity across the broader Web3 and DeFi.

The debut of $ANLOG on leading exchanges will enhance liquidity levels while making it easier for any user to access the token which will power Analog’s ecosystem and suite of products.

About Analog

Analog is the ultimate gateway for seamless blockchain connectivity, empowering developers to create dApps that work effortlessly across every network. Built as a natively chain-agnostic protocol, Analog redefines the multi-chain experience, enabling dApps and users to break boundaries and unlock new possibilities across blockchain ecosystems.

Learn more: https://www.analog.one/

Media Contact

Name: Jaime Ekner
Email: jaime@analog.one

Disclaimer: This content is provided by Analog. The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the content provider. The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities. Please conduct your own research and invest at your own risk.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/504de97e-ceee-4511-a31d-fef40b6eea78

The MIL Network –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: National University of Singapore wins 20th ICC Mediation Competition

Source: International Chamber of Commerce

Headline: National University of Singapore wins 20th ICC Mediation Competition

Taken place on Saturday 8 February 2025 in the historic Émile Boutmy Lecture Hall of Sciences Po University in Paris, the students gathered one last time to watch the two teams tackle the final mock mediation problem. Authored by Rissiane Goulart, a Strategic Commercial and Dispute Resolution Attorney at Goulart & Associados, the scenario focused on unauthorised logging in protected timber harvesting zones. The session was mediated by Andy Rogers, Director of Communications and Mediator at the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution.

The National University of Singapore reached the semi-finals of the Mediation Competition in 2024, while the University of New South Wales had reached the final rounds in previous editions, and won the Competition in 2018 and 2016. Mervyn Lin and TianAo Li represented the National University of Singapore on stage, while teammates Joan Goh and Taesha Tan and coaches Seth Tay and Melvin Loh supported from the audience.

Mr Lin said:

“This week has been a rollercoaster of emotions. We have a huge culture of mediation at our school and we are so excited that we could use everything we have learned during this competition. The final session was intense, we had to really stretch our knowledge because of the strength of the other team, which made it all the more enjoyable. We didn’t expect the win and I want to congratulate the Australian team on their strong performance.”

The ICC Mediation Competition is one of the biggest educational competitions worldwide dedicated exclusively to international commercial mediation. Hosted in Paris from 3-8 February, the 20th edition of the competition this year saw 48 university teams from 32 countries compete to resolve international business disputes through mediation. Guided by professional mediators and administered under the ICC Mediation Rules, over 75 mock mediation sessions took place. In total, over 300 students and professionals took part.

From left to right: Melvin Loh, TianAo Li, Joan Goh, Mervyn Lin, and Seth Tay – all representing the National University of Singapore

The judges for the final were Raffaella Maria Pileri, Joanna Campos Carvalho, David Lutran, Jody Sin, and Ido Kleinberger.

Mr Kleinberger said:

“This competition is an amazing opportunity for me as a professional and for the students. As mediators, we aspire to look at the problems together instead of looking at each other. The teams did an extraordinary job in trying to find an agreement together while striking the balance to ensure your company’s interests are defended. The session was very true to life: The teams encouraged each other to speak, establishing an open relationship. The call was very close but in the end the Singapore team deserved the win.”

The trophy was awarded by Alexander G. Fessas, Secretary General of the ICC International Court of Arbitration Secretary and Director of ICC Dispute Resolution Services.

He said:

“Mediation is a sign of an advanced level of civilisation and understanding of each other. In ancient Greece, mediation was a way to find a fair solution for each other. Sometimes we forget the lessons of the past to understand the world today. Openness in dispute resolution, but also in trade, is central to understanding how the world operates. Through mediation, we can overcome our differences peacefully.”

The runner-up team from the University of New South Wales consisted of Lihara Delungahawatte, Kyla Rivera, Lina Zaioor, Rhea Baweja, and coaches Anvi Kohli and Steve Lancken.

Ms Delungahawatte said:

“We already have some experience in similar student competitions but this week was really special to us. Not only are we incredibly proud to make it to the final round, the ICC Mediation Competition pushed us to our limits, enabling us to reach our maximal potential. The nights were often short, the mock mediation problems challenging, and the sessions intensive but in the end it was all worth it.”

Re-live all the highlights of the ICC Mediation Competition on X  and  Facebook by following the official event hashtag, #ICCMW2025. A recording of the final session is also available on the ICC Official YouTube channel @ICCWBO1919. 

For more information on ICC mediation services, visit the ICC International Centre for ADR. 

MIL OSI Economics –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Labour are “plumbing new depths” with filmed immigration raids

Source: Green Party of England and Wales

Responding to the news that Labour are now publishing videos of police immigration raids, Green Party Co-Leader, Carla Denyer MP, said:

“This Labour government are plumbing new depths with their plan to broadcast footage of people being detained and deported. Those involved should be searching their consciences to ask if such breath-taking cruelty is really worth it all for the sake of aping the rhetoric of Reform. The bitter irony is that following Reform to the right on migration won’t win Labour any support – it will only lend legitimacy to Reform’s extreme views. It’s time this government showed a bit of backbone and told the truth – that migration is good for this country.”

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Healthcare in Africa on brink of crisis as US exits WHO and USAid freezes funds: health scholar explains why
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Catherine Kyobutungi, Executive Director, African Population and Health Research Center

US president Donald Trump has taken a series of decisions that have delivered body blows to the global management of health. He has announced that the US will leave the World Health Organization. And a 90-day freeze has been placed on money distributed by the US Agency for International Development (USAid) pending a review by the US State Department. This includes funds for the President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar). The decisions have triggered alarm in the global health sector.

Catherine Kyobutungi, executive director of the African Population and Health Research Center, outlines which countries are most at risk and which health programmes will suffer the most damage.

What does the US exit mean for Africa?

The US exit from the WHO and the freeze announced on USAid funding are devastating moves that will have drastic effects on the health of millions of people in Africa.

The US is by far the WHO’s largest state donor, contributing approximately 18% of the agency’s total funding.

US development aid is used to run large-scale health programmes on the continent. For example, Nigeria received approximately US$600 million in health assistance from the US, over 21% of the 2023 health budget.

The WHO is a global health body that synthesises scientific research and develops guidelines that countries in Africa rely on to shape their own policies and practices.

The biggest loss for Africa under the USAID umbrella will be funding for Pepfar, which is used for HIV-related programmes including prevention, testing and treatment. Through Pepfar, the US government has invested over US$110 billion in the global HIV/Aids response.

Read more:
WHO in Africa: three ways the continent stands to lose from Trump’s decision to pull out

What’s going to be lost?

A range of capabilities.

Firstly, technical guidance. The WHO provides technical guidance to countries on issues ranging from TB management to cost-effective malaria control.

Secondly, the ability to mobilise resources. The WHO has the mandate and mechanisms to assemble experts from across the globe to evaluate new therapeutics, diagnostics and vaccines. They can evaluate new evidence on emerging patterns of new bugs, resistance to current treatments, and so on.

Thirdly, the WHO has tools and mechanisms that have been key to African countries’ health policy decisions. These include:
- the WHO’s list of Essential Medicines to inform decision-making on critical drugs
- a similar mechanism to evaluate new vaccines, resulting in guidance that makes regulatory approval faster and easier in African countries which don’t have strong systems.
Fourth, the WHO also provides resources for emergency response, as in the event of disease outbreaks such as Ebola and COVID-19. The WHO is able to quickly mobilise experts and funds and to coordinate emergency responses.

Fifth, the WHO provides evidence-informed guidelines. It does this by gathering and sharing information like the causes of outbreaks, while monitoring signals of potential outbreaks and coordinating efforts to develop new technologies, such as vaccines and medical devices.

Sixth, the WHO’s ability to support critical programmes in tuberculosis prevention and emergency response will be reduced.

Seventh, the withdrawal of US citizens working in these global agencies – and the orders to stop sharing data – mean the US is essentially excluded from global information-sharing mechanisms that keep us all safe. It will be harder to share information about emerging health threats in the US with the rest of the world and vice versa.

Which countries will be most affected?

Many African countries are heavily reliant on the support provided by Pepfar and USAID to fund programmes in the health sector and for humanitarian assistance.

Countries which will be most affected are those with a high burden of HIV, TB and malaria and those with large populations of refugee and internally displaced people.

Currently the top eight USAid recipients in Africa are: Nigeria, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, Kenya, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Without funds being rapidly mobilised to fill the gap left by the US withdrawal, the effect on the health of millions of Africans is at stake. Failure to prevent new infections, and the threat of drug resistance developing because of disrupted treatment, will have far-reaching consequences.

In Uganda, where about 1.4 million people are living with HIV/Aids, 60% of the spending on its HIV/Aids programme was from Pepfar, and about 20% from the Global Fund (partly funded from Pepfar).

A drastic reduction in funding will be devastating for patients and the greater health system.

The Pepfar programme, a lifeline for millions of Africans, has been under threat since before the most recent aid freeze. In 2024, the American congress only gave a one-year authorisation instead of the typical five-year funding authorisation.

A conservative backlash against this programme has been growing for years with concerns that some funds may be used to fund abortion. The current authorisation expires in March 2025 and falls within the 90-day aid review period. With the current approval expiring next month, and in light of the current atmosphere, it is very likely that it may not be renewed.

Read more:
How US policy on abortion affects women in Africa

What steps should African countries be taking?

There has a been a lot of discussion around jobs and lives lost, but not much around what happens next: how African governments are planning on mitigating shortfalls in their health budget in the short term and foreseeable future.

Therefore we need to ask our governments what that means for us and how they are planning to ensure that we do not reverse the gains made so far. This includes preventing millions of HIV infections, improved testing and provision of life-saving antiretroviral treatment.

The sudden and drastic decisions taken by the Trump administration have been hailed by several commentators as the wake-up call the continent needs – to wean itself off dependency on a flawed “development aid” system that is admittedly a tool for geopolitical influence.

Read more:
US health funding cuts: what Nigeria stands to lose

The disbelief and chaos in the global health sector should be rapidly mobilised into citizen action, for governments to invest in a critical sector that has depended on foreign assistance for too long. In the absence of sustained investment, the gains in the health sector may be lost, reversing decades of progress in global health.

Lastly, Africans, especially scientists and academics, need to stand up to the worrying anti-science trend that underlies some of these drastic policies. The growing mistrust in science and scientific institutions will not abate unless it is challenged.

It is ridiculous that a continent of 1.3 billion people is reliant on the whims of one man many kilometres away; on his signature on a single document.

The world needs to wake up. We need to wake up.

Catherine Kyobutungi works for the African Population and Health Research Center which receives funding from the National Institutes of Health, Wellcome, and the Gates Foundation

– ref. Healthcare in Africa on brink of crisis as US exits WHO and USAid freezes funds: health scholar explains why – https://theconversation.com/healthcare-in-africa-on-brink-of-crisis-as-us-exits-who-and-usaid-freezes-funds-health-scholar-explains-why-248906
MIL OSI – Global Reports –
February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Central African Republic: listening to people’s stories about foreign forces could help bring peace

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Tim Glawion, Senior research fellow at the Arnold Bergstraesser Institut, Freiburg, Germany, University of Freiburg

Since it became independent in 1960, the Central African Republic has grappled with poverty, instability and governance challenges.

A decade into former president François Bozizé’s corrupt rule, a rebellion broke out and toppled the president in 2013. What followed was a devastatingly violent civil war with thousands of people killed and a fifth of the populace displaced.

To halt violence against civilians, numerous international actors intervened, including the African Union, the United Nations, the European Union and France. From 2014 onward they put thousands of boots on the ground and pushed rebels from most towns, while protecting and supporting the interim administration.

But by 2016 all actors had retreated, save the United Nations (UN). The mission – Minusca – was not able to contain a resurgence in rebellion, and the newly elected president Faustin-Archange Touadéra turned to Russian paramilitaries to stabilise his rule in 2017.

These paramilitaries started out only as “trainers” but took on more prominent and direct combat roles as the years passed, making the country a geopolitical playing field. The Russian paramilitaries and national army again pushed the rebels out of most towns and into the countryside.

I have studied the Central African Republic’s politics for over a decade, conducting research in towns across the country. I wanted to find out why some areas were more affected by violence than others and how people locally lived together. I believed that in such local stories we might find missing links as to why all the actors involved failed to provide the protection from violence and provision of services that people desired.

To study people’s expectations of peacekeepers, I used a method I call the “qualitative” survey. This type of survey asks open questions, for example “what do you expect of international actors?”. This leaves space for people to say things that researchers might not have expected. It also included more typical closed questions like “how safe do you feel, on a scale from 1 to 5?”.

With a team of Central African researchers, I conducted these surveys in four places in 2019 and in two places in 2023 and 2024. At this stage respondents had experienced foreign peacekeeping missions and Russian paramilitary presence.

We found that peacekeeping missions were losing popular support because they were not fulfilling the expectations of people in the Central African Republic.

People wanted peacekeepers to confront armed actors. When peacekeepers failed to do so, they criticised them, even requested them to leave.

Russian paramilitaries offered the forceful response that autocratic regimes and many locals wanted. However, they provided a too simplistic answer to people’s demands, based only on the present. People also had future expectations: they wanted armed actors to be kicked out so that people might be treated fairly and witness the return of a caring state in the near future.

Thus, while peacekeepers frustrated initial expectations and Russian paramilitaries might fulfil them, the Central African state and their Russian paramilitary allies were not building the future people expected.

Expectations

The overall results of the survey showed that people had the most confidence in local institutions, while harbouring high expectations for the state (when it returns), and being broadly disappointed by international peacekeepers.

The results varied strongly according to local experiences with the state and international actors. Most intriguingly, respondents did not necessarily feel safest in those localities that had the fewest violent incidents. I call this the “security paradox” and it has much to do with unmet expectations for which we need to dig into individual responses.

Take the example of a middle-aged woman in the Central African Republic’s north-eastern and long rebel-held town of Ndélé, who made two points in early 2019. First, the United Nations peacekeeping mission, Minusca, was inactive in the face of aggression. Second, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) were doing a good job:

Partner organisations such as Minusca who reside among our population do not seem to be there to ensure our protection, as we hear on the radio. A person may well be raped, and they do not even react to rescue the person in danger, even if they know about it. On the other hand, the NGOs are doing a very good job, and it is thanks to them that Ndélé is doing well today.

However, my own analysis showed that, objectively speaking, both peacekeepers and aid organisations were doing a mediocre job. Under the peacekeepers’ watch few violent incidents occurred and the aid organisations were only covering a fraction of local needs, much less than in other studied localities.

The difference in perception, I argue, stems from the fact that local people have certain expectations for security and different expectations for service provision in the Central African Republic.

Security in the Central African Republic is marked by an abundance of armed groups threatening people’s livelihoods. Dozens are currently active, of which a handful have been roaming for more than a decade, controlling trade routes and resources, as well as wielding local political power.

Services like schooling, health and electricity are almost entirely absent in many areas outside the capital; not even the state provides them.

Thus, in the security sector, people expect confrontation of armed actors by either the UN peacekeeping mission or the Russian paramilitary, whereas in services they want NGOs to substitute for government failings. Or in the words of an Ndélé trader:

The international actors can help us during these absences of state authority.

However, Minusca was not ready to forcefully oppose armed actors as they pursued an approach based on negotiating peace agreements and pursuing voluntary integration or disarmament. What my study shows is that doing too little in the eyes of the population can quickly turn the rumour mill, as this woman in Ndélé suggested:

As for Minusca, we do not see its work in favour of our well-being, and we even want it to leave since we have seen that it is the cause of our current division and suffering.

But would confrontation have brought more popular support to Minusca? Well, it did to another actor that stepped in, as a national staffer of an aid organisation stated in early 2022 in Bambari:

Minusca patrols do not have the confidence of the population. Because in front of Minusca forces, the rebels kill the population. For seven years, Minusca was unable to secure the town. Within minutes, the Central African Armed Forces and their Russian allies managed to dislodge them from the town of Bambari, which is now secure.

Reality

I did not judge whether people’s expectations of interventions were realistic.

Given the state’s history in the Central African Republic, it was surprising how many people wanted a state and army to return.

However, people were hoping for a “benevolent” state return. This has not happened.

And as for the Russian “allies”, as they are called in the Central African Republic: their confrontational approach has caused heavy collateral damage and has failed to stabilise former rebel areas. Rebellion is again on the rise.

My study shows how important it is to analyse expectations in-depth, and to take them as a starting point of intervention policy. Not understanding people’s expectations is what caught peacekeepers by surprise when people started demonstrating in front of their bases and even calling for their withdrawal.

While there might be good reasons not to pursue a forceful approach against rebels, interveners must be aware that they thereby deceive public expectations and should thus proactively listen to and engage the population about their demands.

The dilemma is that fulfilling people’s initial expectations does not automatically lead to the future they desire. So there must be difficult and open discussions about what is and what is not feasible in peacekeeping.

Tim Glawion receives funding from the public German Science Foundation (DFG, project number: 437386574).

– ref. Central African Republic: listening to people’s stories about foreign forces could help bring peace – https://theconversation.com/central-african-republic-listening-to-peoples-stories-about-foreign-forces-could-help-bring-peace-247834

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

February 11, 2025

Category: Science

2024: the first year of many above 1.5°C

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Feeling the heat

Humanity can turn the tide

Two per cent for the climate

Ethical analysis of YouTube recommendations

Recommendation algorithms as part of the solution

Defra’s Science Advisory Council

Share this page

Updates to this page

Heart arrhythmia

Musk and Putin: shared values?

Pay the fine, it’s cheaper

Pay the shareholders, invest later

Blocking pain signals

How to trick your brain

February 10, 2025

An asymmetrical relationship

A Nobel Prize for platform economics

The challenge of valuing content

A new paradigm

Virtual Undergraduate Open House day 2025

Virtual Graduate Open House day 2025

Outstanding School Educator – Tracey-Ann Lafayette ’15 (CLAS), ’15 (ED), ’16 MA, ’22 6th Year

Outstanding Professional – Alicia Bowman ’01 (ED), ’02 MA, ’08 6th Year

Outstanding Early Career Professional – Paul Singleton II ’17 MA, ’24 Ph.D.

Outstanding School Administrator – Lori Leibowitz ’19 Cert.

Outstanding School Superintendent – Howard Thiery III ’91 MS, ’07 ELP

Outstanding Higher Education Professional – Daniel Burkey ’23 MA

Outstanding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Professional – Fany DeJesús Hannon ’08 MA

Distinguished Alumnus – Mark Daigneault ’07 (ED)

What does the US exit mean for Africa?

What’s going to be lost?

Which countries will be most affected?

What steps should African countries be taking?

Expectations

Reality