July 14, 2025 — Ottawa, Ontario — Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Today, Dr. Paul Hébert, President of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), announced that Dr. Rae Yeung has been appointed Scientific Director of the CIHR Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (CIHR-IMHA) for a term of four years, starting October 1, 2025.
Dr. Yeung is one of the world’s leading experts on childhood inflammatory diseases. She is a Professor of Paediatrics, Immunology and Medical Science at the University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine, and a Staff Physician and Senior Scientist at The Hospital For Sick Children (SickKids). Her research focuses on precision medicine in childhood arthritis and rheumatic diseases, tailoring treatments to each patient based on presentation and biology.
By pairing phenotype with molecular insights, Dr. Yeung is uncovering the mechanisms that drive autoimmunity, with the goal of improving diagnosis, treatment, outcomes and prevention. With this innovative approach, Dr. Yeung has become internationally recognized for translational research that has transformed the clinical care of Kawasaki Disease and other inflammatory conditions.
Dr. Yeung also leads national and international efforts to develop guidance for the diagnosis and management of disease and to understand the underlying causes and progression of childhood arthritis and vasculitis. She is the driving force behind the Understanding Childhood Arthritis Network (UCAN), an international federation of research networks that involves over 50 countries with translational research hubs on three continents. UCAN has become a scalable model to improve health in many inflammatory conditions — from those affecting bones, joints and muscles to diseases associated with COVID-19.
During Dr. Yeung’s term, CIHR-IMHA will be located at SickKids in Toronto.
The people constructed an illegal hut and used that as a base for other illegal activity.
Targeted patrols conducted in the Curtis Island National Park in August 2024 led to the discovery of an illegal hut and evidence of significant illegal activity.
Rangers from the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) identified the people who built the hut in a remote area of the park.
Regional Director Great Barrier Reef and Marine Parks Region Tina Alderson said it is illegal to build any structure in a protected area and rangers will have the hut removed.
“Building an illegal structure in a protected area essentially excludes others from the area and causes damage to the environment. This hut was also used as a base for other illegal activities,” Ms Alderson said.
“People who want to build a hut for their own personal use for activities such as fishing, hunting and vehicle-based activities can do so on private land but not in a national park.
“Multiple fines and warnings have been issued for illegal activity within the protected areas of Curtis Island, and eighteen offenders have been identified.
“QPWS is serious about compliance and anyone who builds an illegal structure in a protected area will be caught.
“So far we have issued 22 penalty infringement notices totalling $7606, which includes two people receiving fines of more than $1000 each for their role in the offending.”
The illegal activities include:
Illegal fires in a protected area putting rangers, neighbours and other park users at risk
Bringing domestic dogs into a protected area impacting the environment and native wildlife
Hunting, including the use of firearms and other weapons putting rangers, neighbours and other park users at risk.
Multiple driving offences including driving in restricted access areas, use of unregistered vehicles and traveling with unrestrained people.
Illegal clearing and harvest of trees to construct the hut.
Anyone with information about illegal activities in Queensland’s protected areas is encouraged to call 1300 130 372. Information can be provided anonymously.
Source: United States Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico)
Senators Send Letter to Commissioner Olivia Trusty Urging Her to Support a Full Commission Vote on the Merger
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Telecommunications and Media Subcommittee, and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, wrote to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner Olivia Trusty, urging the FCC to hold a full Commission vote on the pending Paramount Global and Skydance Media merger. On July 2, Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS, agreed to pay $16 million to settle a frivolous lawsuit brought by President Donald Trump. In May 2025, as Paramount was reportedly pushing for the settlement to help facilitate approval of its merger, Senators Luján and Markey wrote to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr requesting that the FCC hold a full Committee vote on the Paramount-Skydance merger.
In the letter, the lawmakers wrote, “As we explained in a letter to Chairman Brendan Carr in May, the Paramount-Skydance merger is unique in the FCC’s storied history, with the sitting President actively litigating against a news organization whose parent is seeking FCC approval of a major media merger. In that baseless lawsuit, Trump falsely alleged that CBS had violated state consumer protection laws through its editorial decisions around an interview of then-Vice President Kamala Harris. Although the transcript of the interview indisputably showed that Trump’s claims were a flagrant attempt to intimate the media, Paramount has nevertheless agreed to settle that lawsuit for $16 million. This settlement casts a shadow over the proposed Paramount-Skydance merger and raises serious questions about the editorial independence of one of the nation’s largest media organizations. The Commission cannot turn a blind eye to this context.”
The lawmakers conclude, “For that reason, in our May letter, we urged Chairman Carr to hold a vote on the merger by the full Commission, instead of unilaterally directing the Media Bureau to approve it on its delegated authority. Commissioner Anna Gomez has similarly called for a full Commission vote on the merger. We respectfully request you to join her and encourage Chairman Carr to schedule a full Commission vote. The FCC owes the public a transparent, deliberative process on such a high-profile and controversial issue.”
As Ranking Member of the Telecommunications and Media Subcommittee, Senator Luján has pushed back against attacks on news organizations. In February, Senators Luján, Markey, and Peters wrote to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr and Commissioner Nathan Simington condemning actions taken by the FCC under the Trump administration demonstrating that the FCC is weaponizing its authority over broadcasters and public media for political purposes. In March, Senators Luján, Markey, and Rosen introduced the Broadcast Freedom and Independence Act, legislation that would prohibit the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from revoking broadcast licenses or taking action against broadcasters based on the viewpoints they broadcast. In May, Senators Luján and Markey wrote to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr requesting that the FCC hold a full Committee vote on the Paramount-Skydance merger.
Read the full letter here or below:
Dear Commissioner Trusty,
Congratulations on your recent confirmation to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). We write today regarding the proposed merger between Paramount Global and Skydance Media now pending before the FCC. Paramount’s recent agreement to settle for $16 million a frivolous lawsuit brought by President Donald Trump against CBS — a Paramount subsidiary — over its editorial decision-making raises serious questions about Paramount’s rationale for the settlement and its implications for media independence. For that reason, we urge you to insist that the FCC conduct its merger review with the utmost transparency, including holding a full Commission vote on any order to approve the merger.
As we explained in a letter to Chairman Brendan Carr in May, the Paramount-Skydance merger is unique in the FCC’s storied history, with the sitting President actively litigating against a news organization whose parent is seeking FCC approval of a major media merger. In that baseless lawsuit, Trump falsely alleged that CBS had violated state consumer protection laws through its editorial decisions around an interview of then-Vice President Kamala Harris. Although the transcript of the interview indisputably showed that Trump’s claims were a flagrant attempt to intimate the media, Paramount has nevertheless agreed to settle that lawsuit for $16 million. This settlement casts a shadow over the proposed Paramount-Skydance merger and raises serious questions about the editorial independence of one of the nation’s largest media organizations. The Commission cannot turn a blind eye to this context.
For that reason, in our May letter, we urged Chairman Carr to hold a vote on the merger by the full Commission, instead of unilaterally directing the Media Bureau to approve it on its delegated authority. Commissioner Anna Gomez has similarly called for a full Commission vote on the merger. We respectfully request you to join her and encourage Chairman Carr to schedule a full Commission vote. The FCC owes the public a transparent, deliberative process on such a high-profile and controversial issue.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. We look forward to working with you to ensure that our media and communications systems serve the public interest, uphold democratic values, and reflect the highest standards of transparency and accountability.
Sincerely,
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN – July 14, 2025. Karolinska Development AB (Nasdaq Stockholm: KDEV) today announces that the portfolio company Umecrine Cognition has raised SEK 24.6 million through a convertible loan to be used for the ongoing clinical Phase 1b/2a study of golexanolone in primary biliary cholangitis. The convertible loan with attached share options is directed to a consortium of existing long-term shareholders and investors in Umecrine Cognition, including Karolinska Development.
Umecrine Cognition is currently conducting a second part of the company’s clinical Phase 1b/2a study of golexanolone in patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), aiming to recruit a total of 84 patients in more than 30 sites in eight countries. The company previously concluded the first part of the study with interim results showing that golexanolone was well-tolerated and safe and that only mild adverse events were registered. The results also indicated that the treatment achieved clinically relevant steady-state drug exposure levels and generated positive outcomes in anxiety and depressing scoring (HAD).
The convertible loan with attached share options is directed to an investor consortium, including Karolinska Development, AB Ility and Ribbskottet AB. The funding will be used to finance the ongoing clinical trial of golexanolone in primary biliary cholangitis as well as operational expenses. The study is expected to be completed during the first half of 2026.
Karolinska Development’s ownership in Umecrine Cognition amounts to 73%. Upon conversion of the loan and full exercise of the share options attached to the convertible loan, Karolinska Development ’s ownership will decrease to 62%.
For further information, please contact:
Viktor Drvota, CEO, Karolinska Development AB Phone: +46 73 982 52 02, e-mail: viktor.drvota@karolinskadevelopment.com
About Karolinska Development AB Karolinska Development AB (Nasdaq Stockholm: KDEV) is a Nordic life sciences investment company. The company focuses on identifying breakthrough medical innovations in the Nordic region that are developed by entrepreneurs and leadership teams. The company invests in the creation and growth of companies that advance these assets into commercial products that are designed to make a difference to patients’ lives while providing an attractive return on investment to shareholders.
Karolinska Development has access to world-class medical innovations at the Karolinska Institutet and other leading universities and research institutes in the Nordic region. The Company aims to build companies around scientists who are leaders in their fields, supported by experienced management teams and advisers, and co-funded by specialist international investors, to provide the greatest chance of success.
Karolinska Development has a portfolio of eleven companies targeting opportunities in innovative treatment for life-threatening or serious debilitating diseases.
The company is led by an entrepreneurial team of investment professionals with a proven track record as company builders and with access to a strong global network.
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN – July 14, 2025. Karolinska Development AB (Nasdaq Stockholm: KDEV) today announces that the portfolio company Umecrine Cognition has raised SEK 24.6 million through a convertible loan to be used for the ongoing clinical Phase 1b/2a study of golexanolone in primary biliary cholangitis. The convertible loan with attached share options is directed to a consortium of existing long-term shareholders and investors in Umecrine Cognition, including Karolinska Development.
Umecrine Cognition is currently conducting a second part of the company’s clinical Phase 1b/2a study of golexanolone in patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), aiming to recruit a total of 84 patients in more than 30 sites in eight countries. The company previously concluded the first part of the study with interim results showing that golexanolone was well-tolerated and safe and that only mild adverse events were registered. The results also indicated that the treatment achieved clinically relevant steady-state drug exposure levels and generated positive outcomes in anxiety and depressing scoring (HAD).
The convertible loan with attached share options is directed to an investor consortium, including Karolinska Development, AB Ility and Ribbskottet AB. The funding will be used to finance the ongoing clinical trial of golexanolone in primary biliary cholangitis as well as operational expenses. The study is expected to be completed during the first half of 2026.
Karolinska Development’s ownership in Umecrine Cognition amounts to 73%. Upon conversion of the loan and full exercise of the share options attached to the convertible loan, Karolinska Development ’s ownership will decrease to 62%.
For further information, please contact:
Viktor Drvota, CEO, Karolinska Development AB Phone: +46 73 982 52 02, e-mail: viktor.drvota@karolinskadevelopment.com
About Karolinska Development AB Karolinska Development AB (Nasdaq Stockholm: KDEV) is a Nordic life sciences investment company. The company focuses on identifying breakthrough medical innovations in the Nordic region that are developed by entrepreneurs and leadership teams. The company invests in the creation and growth of companies that advance these assets into commercial products that are designed to make a difference to patients’ lives while providing an attractive return on investment to shareholders.
Karolinska Development has access to world-class medical innovations at the Karolinska Institutet and other leading universities and research institutes in the Nordic region. The Company aims to build companies around scientists who are leaders in their fields, supported by experienced management teams and advisers, and co-funded by specialist international investors, to provide the greatest chance of success.
Karolinska Development has a portfolio of eleven companies targeting opportunities in innovative treatment for life-threatening or serious debilitating diseases.
The company is led by an entrepreneurial team of investment professionals with a proven track record as company builders and with access to a strong global network.
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Julie Shantone Rubbi Nunan, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Early Childhood Education and Development, University of South Africa
South African primary schools are facing a crisis. Every day, learners fight, bully, destroy property, and intimidate other learners and teachers, turning what should be safe spaces into places of fear and mistrust.
Research shows that learner behaviour frequently involves violence, bullying and vandalism (damage to school property) that threatens the safety of both learners and staff.
The media usually report only serious cases of violence, but schools and teachers face challenging and dangerous behaviour every day that often goes unreported. This underreporting is not unique to South Africa; it’s a challenge seen in other countries too.
Researchshows that this kind of behaviour disrupts teaching and learning, leading to poor learner performance and school dropouts.
Teachers frequently face aggression and intimidation from learners, which undermines their ability to teach effectively. They feel unsafe and frustrated when learners act aggressively, and this problem worsens when parents protect their children’s bad behaviour instead of addressing it.
Violence, bullying, and damage to school property don’t just cause harm to learners and teachers. They also cost schools money to repair the damage and cause emotional trauma and suffering for victims and their families.
Given these realities, it is important to carefully explore the lived experiences of teachers, school leaders and caretakers to fully understand the severity and complexity of challenging learner behaviour. This understanding is essential for developing effective policies and interventions aimed at restoring safety and improving learning environments in South African primary schools.
As part of a wider study of challenging learner behaviour, I interviewed 21 participants from three primary schools in Durban, South Africa. It was a qualitative case study, in which the small sample size was well-suited and provided relevant and credible information on challenging learner behaviour. Thematic analysis was appropriate for identifying patterns and themes for further exploration.
The aim was to probe the participants’ perspectives to understand how learners’ challenging behaviour is experienced in primary schools. I wanted to know more about how behaviour stemming from children’s homes and environments, playing out at school, was affecting teachers and the overall school climate.
The interviews indicated that teachers were unhappy and wanting to quit the profession, learner victims faced constant fear and distress, and caretakers felt degraded. If this is a sign of how teachers, children and caretakers are feeling around South Africa, it points to the need for ways to reduce their stress.
Voices from schools
The schools in my study are located in semi-urban areas within the same district and serve learners from grade R (about age 5) to grade 7 (about age 12). The surrounding communities face high levels of unemployment, domestic violence, and various social challenges.
Fifteen teachers, three governors, and three caretakers shared their experiences through interviews, enabling open discussion and deeper insights. Consistency across school sites supported the trustworthiness of the findings. Ethical guidelines were followed throughout.
Across the three schools, participants described an environment where serious learner misconduct was a common, everyday problem.
Teachers, governors, and caretakers reported daily disruptions that affected teaching, learning and emotional wellbeing. Aggression and violence were constant. Learners engaged in physical fights – punching, kicking, and using sharp objects like pencils and knives. These were not minor scuffles but incidents that caused serious injuries. Teachers were also threatened, shouted at, and occasionally physically harmed.
Bullying was widespread, both verbal and physical. Learners harassed peers through name-calling, exclusion, extortion and intimidation, often in unsupervised spaces like toilets and tuckshops. Victims lived in fear, while teachers struggled to maintain discipline and protect vulnerable learners.
Vandalism and property damage were routine. Learners tore up textbooks, damaged desks and windows, defaced walls with vulgar graffiti, and clogged toilets with rubbish. Caretakers faced degrading tasks like cleaning and scrubbing faeces and graffiti off the walls. The costs of repairing damage strained already limited school budgets.
Adding to the tension, gang-like behaviour emerged. Small groups banded together to provoke fights, intimidate others, and sometimes fuel unrest rooted in xenophobia or local politics, creating fear, uncertainty and division among learners.
Some incidents had gendered and criminal implications, including the reporting of boys violating the privacy and rights of other boys in the school toilets, and girls being inappropriately touched and harassed. This contributed to emotional trauma and, in some cases, learner dropout – especially among girls. The United Nations Children’s Fund posits that school violence contributes to girls dropping out of school. The dropout rate is a concern in South Africa.
Stealing and lying were common. Learners stole from classmates, teachers, and school offices, often without remorse, and frequently lied or blamed others when confronted, further eroding trust and accountability.
Many participants believed learners expressed unspoken pain or mirrored violence and instability seen at home and in their communities. According to social cognitive theory, such behaviours are learned. Children exposed to violence, neglect, or chaos often replicate these actions in school. Without consistent guidance, role models, or consequences, the cycle intensifies.
Moving forward
In short, these schools are no longer safe havens for learning – they are in crisis. Without urgent and effective intervention, the very mission of basic education – and the wellbeing of children – is at risk.
Primary schools depend on governing authorities and communities for their safety and success. Stakeholders must take collective action to reclaim schools as safe learning spaces.
Governing authorities should address the issues raised by reviewing policies and implementing support programmes, including counselling, family-school partnerships, and teacher training to handle challenging behaviour in positive and sustainable ways.
Julie Shantone Rubbi Nunan 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.
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Julie Shantone Rubbi Nunan, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Early Childhood Education and Development, University of South Africa
South African primary schools are facing a crisis. Every day, learners fight, bully, destroy property, and intimidate other learners and teachers, turning what should be safe spaces into places of fear and mistrust.
Research shows that learner behaviour frequently involves violence, bullying and vandalism (damage to school property) that threatens the safety of both learners and staff.
The media usually report only serious cases of violence, but schools and teachers face challenging and dangerous behaviour every day that often goes unreported. This underreporting is not unique to South Africa; it’s a challenge seen in other countries too.
Researchshows that this kind of behaviour disrupts teaching and learning, leading to poor learner performance and school dropouts.
Teachers frequently face aggression and intimidation from learners, which undermines their ability to teach effectively. They feel unsafe and frustrated when learners act aggressively, and this problem worsens when parents protect their children’s bad behaviour instead of addressing it.
Violence, bullying, and damage to school property don’t just cause harm to learners and teachers. They also cost schools money to repair the damage and cause emotional trauma and suffering for victims and their families.
Given these realities, it is important to carefully explore the lived experiences of teachers, school leaders and caretakers to fully understand the severity and complexity of challenging learner behaviour. This understanding is essential for developing effective policies and interventions aimed at restoring safety and improving learning environments in South African primary schools.
As part of a wider study of challenging learner behaviour, I interviewed 21 participants from three primary schools in Durban, South Africa. It was a qualitative case study, in which the small sample size was well-suited and provided relevant and credible information on challenging learner behaviour. Thematic analysis was appropriate for identifying patterns and themes for further exploration.
The aim was to probe the participants’ perspectives to understand how learners’ challenging behaviour is experienced in primary schools. I wanted to know more about how behaviour stemming from children’s homes and environments, playing out at school, was affecting teachers and the overall school climate.
The interviews indicated that teachers were unhappy and wanting to quit the profession, learner victims faced constant fear and distress, and caretakers felt degraded. If this is a sign of how teachers, children and caretakers are feeling around South Africa, it points to the need for ways to reduce their stress.
Voices from schools
The schools in my study are located in semi-urban areas within the same district and serve learners from grade R (about age 5) to grade 7 (about age 12). The surrounding communities face high levels of unemployment, domestic violence, and various social challenges.
Fifteen teachers, three governors, and three caretakers shared their experiences through interviews, enabling open discussion and deeper insights. Consistency across school sites supported the trustworthiness of the findings. Ethical guidelines were followed throughout.
Across the three schools, participants described an environment where serious learner misconduct was a common, everyday problem.
Teachers, governors, and caretakers reported daily disruptions that affected teaching, learning and emotional wellbeing. Aggression and violence were constant. Learners engaged in physical fights – punching, kicking, and using sharp objects like pencils and knives. These were not minor scuffles but incidents that caused serious injuries. Teachers were also threatened, shouted at, and occasionally physically harmed.
Bullying was widespread, both verbal and physical. Learners harassed peers through name-calling, exclusion, extortion and intimidation, often in unsupervised spaces like toilets and tuckshops. Victims lived in fear, while teachers struggled to maintain discipline and protect vulnerable learners.
Vandalism and property damage were routine. Learners tore up textbooks, damaged desks and windows, defaced walls with vulgar graffiti, and clogged toilets with rubbish. Caretakers faced degrading tasks like cleaning and scrubbing faeces and graffiti off the walls. The costs of repairing damage strained already limited school budgets.
Adding to the tension, gang-like behaviour emerged. Small groups banded together to provoke fights, intimidate others, and sometimes fuel unrest rooted in xenophobia or local politics, creating fear, uncertainty and division among learners.
Some incidents had gendered and criminal implications, including the reporting of boys violating the privacy and rights of other boys in the school toilets, and girls being inappropriately touched and harassed. This contributed to emotional trauma and, in some cases, learner dropout – especially among girls. The United Nations Children’s Fund posits that school violence contributes to girls dropping out of school. The dropout rate is a concern in South Africa.
Stealing and lying were common. Learners stole from classmates, teachers, and school offices, often without remorse, and frequently lied or blamed others when confronted, further eroding trust and accountability.
Many participants believed learners expressed unspoken pain or mirrored violence and instability seen at home and in their communities. According to social cognitive theory, such behaviours are learned. Children exposed to violence, neglect, or chaos often replicate these actions in school. Without consistent guidance, role models, or consequences, the cycle intensifies.
Moving forward
In short, these schools are no longer safe havens for learning – they are in crisis. Without urgent and effective intervention, the very mission of basic education – and the wellbeing of children – is at risk.
Primary schools depend on governing authorities and communities for their safety and success. Stakeholders must take collective action to reclaim schools as safe learning spaces.
Governing authorities should address the issues raised by reviewing policies and implementing support programmes, including counselling, family-school partnerships, and teacher training to handle challenging behaviour in positive and sustainable ways.
– Bullying, violence and vandalism in primary school: study explores a growing crisis in South Africa – https://theconversation.com/bullying-violence-and-vandalism-in-primary-school-study-explores-a-growing-crisis-in-south-africa-260111
Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council
High-Level Political Forum,
1st & 2nd Meetings (AM & PM)
ECOSOC/7210
The high-level political forum on sustainable development kicks off today and runs through 23 July, under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council.
The 2025 forum’s theme is “Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for leaving no one behind”, with a focus on reviewing: Goal 3 on good health and well-being; Goal 5 on gender equality; Goal 8 on decent work and economic growth; Goal 14 on life below water; and Goal 17 on partnerships for the goals.
The forum serves as the United Nations central platform for assessing, steering, and strengthening the global implementation of the 2030 Agenda and its 17 Goals.
Water sustains life; it is a vital resource for people, nature and our economy. It is more important now than ever that we invest in protecting our freshwater to build a cleaner, safer and sustainable future for all.
The Great Lakes Watershed is a critical freshwater system that we have here in Canada. It supports industry, recreation, ecosystems, and culture. It also holds spiritual and cultural significance for Indigenous peoples and their way of life.
Today, the Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and Minister responsible for the Canada Water Agency, announced an investment of $9.3 million in 26 freshwater projects in the Great Lakes.
These projects are delivered through the Canada Water Agency’s Great Lakes Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative. Each project addresses key environmental challenges affecting water quality and ecosystem health in the region. They are also key in advancing Canada’s commitments under the Canada-United States Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. Each of these initiatives is community-led, facilitating collaboration on freshwater science and management.
Among the funded projects, four will support freshwater restoration in Hamilton and Burlington, representing a $1.6 million investment over four years:
Royal Botanical Gardens will receive up to $150,000 to enhance habitat resilience in Cootes Paradise Marsh in the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern through invasive species control, shoreline restoration, and ecological monitoring.
Hamilton Region Conservation Authority will receive up to $228,000 to engage landowners in implementing watershed improvement initiatives that reduce nutrient and sediment runoff in the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern.
Halton Region Conservation Authority will receive up to $242,000 to develop a science-based nutrient management plan for the Grindstone Creek watershed. This includes analyzing water quality data, identifying nutrient sources, and engaging stakeholders to recommend targeted best management practices.
The Regional Municipality of Halton will receive up to $995,000 to restore two kilometers of shoreline and dune ecosystems at Beachway Park in Burlington using nature-based restoration approaches.
This investment will help improve water quality in the Hamilton Harbour Area of Concern and throughout the Great Lakes. Local projects like these drive measurable improvements in water quality and ecosystem health across the region. These projects are also creating lasting economic and social value by supporting sustainable fisheries, protecting drinking water sources, restoring vital habitats, and engaging local communities and landowners in stewardship efforts that strengthen both environmental resilience and regional well-being.
Through the newly established Canada Water Agency, the Government of Canada is strengthening coordination and collaboration with provinces, territories, and Indigenous peoples to address freshwater challenges and opportunities in the Great Lakes and across the country. These efforts are part of a broader commitment to building a cleaner, more secure, and more prosperous future, because when we protect our water, we protect what makes Canada strong.
July 14, 2025 Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island Natural Resources Canada
The Government of Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories are working together to advance a new geoscience research initiative that leverages artificial intelligence (AI), digital scanning technologies and historic drill cores to unlock the North’s mineral potential and help solidify Canada’s position as a global leader in resource development and critical minerals.
As part of this initiative, Canada and the Northwest Territories will pilot a project to scan, digitize and analyze existing drill cores from the Northwest Territories Geological Survey’s collection using cutting-edge techniques to highlight new areas of high critical-mineral potential. These core scans and their associated data will be made available through a centralized digital platform, helping to reduce exploration risk, re-evaluate existing discoveries and enable new mineral development opportunities across the North.
This program will be centred on drill cores from the Slave Geological Province in the Northwest Territories, one of Canada’s most promising regions for mineral exploration and critical mineral development. This vast, underexplored area is home to past-producing mines and significant greenfield potential, particularly for critical minerals such as lithium, copper, cobalt and rare earth elements. By applying AI-driven analysis to historical core samples, both governments aim to spur new investment by giving industry the tools it needs to unlock untapped mineral value — without further disturbing the land.
This work will form the foundation for a future Canadian Digital Core Library and reflects both governments’ shared commitment to breaking down silos and building one Canadian economy. It also supports national priorities around clean growth, Indigenous partnership, Arctic sovereignty and securing the supply chains that power Canada’s transition to a net-zero future.
CHICAGO, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Chicago Scholars collaborated in a volunteer initiative alongside the SBB Research Group Foundation, which partners with local nonprofits through its Champion A Charity Program.
In celebration of Women’s History Month and in alignment with its mission to develop young adults from under-resourced communities, Chicago Scholars hosted its inaugural Women Lift and Lead networking reception on Monday, March 31st. The event welcomed nearly 50 guests and marked a vibrant kickoff to the 2025 program year.
Women Lift and Lead is a unique initiative within Chicago Scholars’ career readiness programming. For the past five years, the program has empowered young women of color to build direct relationships with women in senior leadership roles. Through carefully curated interviews and mentorship pairings, Scholars are matched with industry-aligned leaders to engage in honest dialogue about career journeys, leadership, and personal development.
The SBB Research Group Foundation provided resources to support the enrollment of 20 additional Scholars compared to last year and helped with the Women Lift and Lead networking event through event support and on-site participation. The event created a welcoming and dynamic space for students, mentors, and supporters to connect and celebrate the power of mentorship and education in shaping women’s careers. The reception also served as a recruitment event for the upcoming Women Lift and Lead programming set to take place later this year.
“It was so inspiring to see these young women getting to connect with business professionals who are truly making an impact in their lives. We are grateful to be able to support Chicago Scholars Women Lift and Lead Program,” said Mitchell Lederer a volunteer for The SBB Research Group Foundation.
The SBB Research Group Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that furthers the philanthropic mission of SBB Research Group LLC (SBBRG), a Chicago-based investment management firm led by Sam Barnett, Ph.D., and Matt Aven. The Foundation provides grants to support ambitious organizations solving unmet needs with thoughtful, long-term strategies. In addition, the Foundation sponsors the SBBRG STEM Scholarship, which supports students pursuing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics degrees.
Contact: Erin Noonan Organization: SBB Research Group Foundation Email: grants@sbbrg.org Address: 450 Skokie Blvd, Building 600, Northbrook, IL 60062 United States Phone: 1-847-656-1111 Website: https://www.sbbrg.org
CHICAGO, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Chicago Scholars collaborated in a volunteer initiative alongside the SBB Research Group Foundation, which partners with local nonprofits through its Champion A Charity Program.
In celebration of Women’s History Month and in alignment with its mission to develop young adults from under-resourced communities, Chicago Scholars hosted its inaugural Women Lift and Lead networking reception on Monday, March 31st. The event welcomed nearly 50 guests and marked a vibrant kickoff to the 2025 program year.
Women Lift and Lead is a unique initiative within Chicago Scholars’ career readiness programming. For the past five years, the program has empowered young women of color to build direct relationships with women in senior leadership roles. Through carefully curated interviews and mentorship pairings, Scholars are matched with industry-aligned leaders to engage in honest dialogue about career journeys, leadership, and personal development.
The SBB Research Group Foundation provided resources to support the enrollment of 20 additional Scholars compared to last year and helped with the Women Lift and Lead networking event through event support and on-site participation. The event created a welcoming and dynamic space for students, mentors, and supporters to connect and celebrate the power of mentorship and education in shaping women’s careers. The reception also served as a recruitment event for the upcoming Women Lift and Lead programming set to take place later this year.
“It was so inspiring to see these young women getting to connect with business professionals who are truly making an impact in their lives. We are grateful to be able to support Chicago Scholars Women Lift and Lead Program,” said Mitchell Lederer a volunteer for The SBB Research Group Foundation.
The SBB Research Group Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that furthers the philanthropic mission of SBB Research Group LLC (SBBRG), a Chicago-based investment management firm led by Sam Barnett, Ph.D., and Matt Aven. The Foundation provides grants to support ambitious organizations solving unmet needs with thoughtful, long-term strategies. In addition, the Foundation sponsors the SBBRG STEM Scholarship, which supports students pursuing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics degrees.
Contact: Erin Noonan Organization: SBB Research Group Foundation Email: grants@sbbrg.org Address: 450 Skokie Blvd, Building 600, Northbrook, IL 60062 United States Phone: 1-847-656-1111 Website: https://www.sbbrg.org
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44)
For Immediate Release
July 12, 2025
Contact: jin.choi@mail.house.gov
Rep. Barragán and Sen. Markey IntroduceResolutionto Confront Rising Public Health Threats fromClimateChange
WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, Congresswoman Nanette Barragán (CA-44), a member of the Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Health, and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, introduced a resolution recognizing climate change as a growing threat to public health and calling for a coordinated federal strategy to protect communities from worsening climate-fueled harms. The resolution urges the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and other federal agencies to lead a whole-of-government effort to protect public health and improve resiliency against climate-related threats throughout the health sector. Representatives Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Doris Matsui (CA-07), and Brad Schneider (IL-10) co-led the resolution in the House.
The climate crisis is here. In 2024, the United States experienced 27 climate disasters that caused more than a billion dollars each in damage. Increasingly frequent and extreme events—like wildfires, floods, and heat waves—are driving spikes in illness, displacement, and death. More than 150 million Americans live in areas with unhealthy air, and people with disabilities are 2 to 4 times more likely to die or be injured in climate-related disasters. Frontline workers in agriculture, construction, delivery, and manufacturing face growing health risks from extreme heat and poor air quality on the job.
“The climate crisis affects us all, but especially economically disadvantaged communities, communities of color, and other marginalized communities,” said Representative Barragán. “Now more than ever, we see families across the country facing significant health risks as a result of climate disasters such as extreme heat, excessive flooding, and unpredictable storms. Yet the Trump Administration has dangerously chosen to ignore the threat of climate change to our public health – firing staff and canceling programs that were focused on improving our resilience to harmful environmental exposures, such as the HHS Office of Climate Change and Health Equity. That is why I am proud to lead this bicameral resolution with Senator Markey and Representatives Carbajal, Matsui, and Schneider to acknowledge the federal government’s responsibility to mitigate the impacts of climate change and protect the health and well-being of all Americans.”
“With deadly extreme weather disasters, devastating heat waves, and pollution that triggers asthma and other health crises all on the rise, climate change is a full-blown public health emergency—and we need to treat it that way,” said Senator Markey. “This resolution calls on our government to protect the people most at risk from climate-related threats—those on the frontlines of the climate crisis, including Black and Indigenous communities, low-income families, and workers, especially those in construction, delivery, manufacturing, and warehouses. While Republicans pass bills that kick people off their health care, we are fighting for a resilient health system that helps everyone survive a warming and increasingly chaotic world.”
“It doesn’t matter if you live in a red or blue state, every American will be affected by climate change,” said Congressman Salud Carbajal.“We’re calling on the Administration to reinstate the OCCHE because it’s essential to protecting the health and well-being of every community in this country.”
“Over the past six months, President Trump and Congressional Republicans have launched a full-scale attack on the environment and public health,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “By blatantly disregarding climate change, they are driving us towards a dangerous future. Climate change is already harming human health nationwide, driving up heat-related deaths, increasing vector-borne illnesses, and disrupting medical care. This resolution demands urgent action to address the health impacts from climate change to prevent countless deaths across the country.”
“Climate change threatens every corner of our nation and must be mitigated through swift, coordinated action by our government,” said Congressman Schneider. “The Office of Climate Change and Health Equity is a critical asset in understanding the dire health implications of climate change and mobilizing strategies that ensure no community is left behind. The decision by the Trump Administration to place all OCCHE staff on leave poses a real threat to American lives and wellbeing. I’m proud to join my colleague Rep. Barragan in urging the Trump Administration to reinstate of the Office of Climate Change and Health Equity (OCCHE) and its Office of Environmental Justice.”
Specifically, the resolution:
Demands the release of funding appropriated by Congress that would help to address climate-related health threats that has been held up by Federal agencies;
Details the public health dimensions of the climate crisis, including increased risks of respiratory illness, cardiovascular disease, mental health stressors, pregnancy complications, infectious disease outbreaks, and disaster-related displacement;
Highlights the disproportionate health burdens on children, people with disabilities, low-income households, communities of color, Tribal nations, and workers in high-risk occupations;
Calls on the Department of Health and Human Services to lead cross-agency coordination to strengthen health system climate resilience, support frontline providers, close gaps in climate-health data, and help the health sector lower its own environmental impact;
Affirms the importance of engaging environmental justice and community-based organizations in local climate-health preparedness and response efforts;
Urges the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to adopt a national worker heat protection standard; and,
Calls for annual public reporting on federal climate-health resilience investments and progress.
The resolution is cosponsored by Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Representatives Hank Johnson (GA-04), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-00), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Ritchie Torres (NY-15).
The resolution is endorsed by Health Care Without Harm, Center for American Progress, Climate Justice Alliance, International Transformational Resilience Coalition, Climate and Community Institute, Earthjustice Action, Public Citizen, Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, Center for Oil and Gas Organizing, Physicians for Social Responsibility, and the American College of Physicians.
“Health Care Without Harm applauds Senator Markey for introducing this important resolution and is pleased to endorse it,” said Jenny Keroack, Director of Program Strategy & Management in the U.S.ClimateProgram. “Climate change is causing more severe and frequent storms, wildfires, and extreme heat events, creating safety and public health crises across our country. Our government must have a science-based, coordinated approach to prepare for and respond to these growing threats, and the Department of Health and Human Services has an indispensable role to play as the guardian of our nation’s health and well-being. Vital programs have been attacked, including a grant program that assists families with energy costs so they can afford to cool and heat their homes, funding that helps hospitals stay open and operational when the grid goes down, and research on how best to protect farmworkers from increasing heat waves. Such programs and the expert civil servants who help protect our communities from environmental health threats like climate change must be immediately reinstated and supported. Now is not the time to retreat.”
“With climate change and extreme weather events driving illness, injury, and death across the United States, the Department of Health and Human Services must harness its resources, leverage its authorities, and coordinate its expertise and action to prepare for and respond to the health and financial impact,” said Jill Rosenthal, Director of Public Health at the Center for American Progress.
“This resolution is crucial because climate change isn’t just an environmental problem; it’s a public health crisis hurting families right now,” said KD Chavez, Executive Director of theClimateJustice Alliance. “Low-income communities bear the brunt – suffering more asthma attacks, heatstroke, and toxic exposure. But these communities also have the answers! They’ve developed practical, replicable solutions. We need bold action: stronger environmental safeguards, smart investments in resilient infrastructure, and policies that prioritize everyone’s health and safety, no matter where they live. Let’s protect our families and build a healthier future for all.”
“The International Transformational Resilience Coalition (ITRC) strongly endorses this resolution,” said ITRC Founder and Coordinator Bob Doppelt. “We do so because the climate crisis is a public health crisis that requires significant leadership, support, and investments by the federal government to prevent and heal the accelerating climate-generated mental health, psychosocial, and physical health issues experienced by newborns, young children, adolescents, working age, and older adults nationwide.”
“Our hospitals and clinics are already seeing the devastating health effects of climate change every day – from children struggling to breathe polluted air to seniors collapsing in extreme heat,” said Ranjani Prabhakar, Legislative Director of Healthy Communities, Earthjustice Action. “Over 200 medical journals have called climate change the greatest threat to human health this century, and Senator Markey’s resolution affirms this data by putting health at the center of environmental solutions. Recognizing this crisis for the public health emergency that it is, is essential to protect our families and communities.”
“As the planet enters a period of increasing climate chaos, our collective response will either deepen disparities or address the drivers of climate breakdown and health inequity together,” said Batul Hassan, Labor Director at theClimateand Community Institute. “This resolution from Senator Markey establishes the urgent need for coordinated action across health and public health systems to ensure all people and generations to come can thrive in a warming world.”
The full text of the legislation can be found here.
Managing diabetes is a daily challenge faced by nearly 40 million Americans. It involves tracking food intake, timing medication and engaging in physical activity. Getting it wrong can lead to serious health issues; therefore, developing better prediction tools is a vital part of effective diabetes care.
To support better diabetes management, researchers funded by multiple U.S. National Science Foundation grants are developing innovative tools that help patients predict blood sugar levels more precisely without compromising the privacy of their health data. This cutting-edge approach could transform how people with diabetes monitor and manage their condition in real-time.
At the core of this technology is a method called federated learning, which allows artificial intelligence models to be trained across many patients’ devices without sending any personal data to a central server. This setup is ideal for healthcare, where data privacy is paramount and patients often use battery- and memory-limited smart devices. But early federated learning systems struggled to adapt to individual differences, like how people eat, move or react to insulin.
To address this challenge, the research team grouped patients based on their carbohydrate (e.g., sugar and starch) intake levels. The idea is that people who eat in similar ways tend to show similar glucose patterns. By training the AI on these grouped behaviors, the model became more effective at making personalized blood glucose predictions.
To test their approach, the team evaluated two machine learning models using data generated from an FDA-approved Type 1 diabetes simulator. As simulated data accumulated, model accuracy improved. Notably, even with limited input, the system could build personalized models — a key advantage for newly diagnosed patients or those just beginning to use digital tools to manage their care.
Because traditional AI systems typically require gathering large amounts of data in a central location, which can pose privacy risks, especially when dealing with sensitive health information, federated learning provides a good solution for the field. It keeps personal data on each individual’s device — like a phone or wearable sensor — and only shares the model’s learning, never the raw data. This protects patient privacy while still allowing the system to improve over time.
While the early results are promising, the researchers note that the models still rely on detailed food intake data — something not all patients can easily provide. They plan to expand their system to include other factors like exercise and medication, and to test it with larger patient groups. In the long term, the researchers hope to extend this personalized, privacy-preserving AI approach to other chronic conditions like heart disease or asthma, where individualized care is equally important.
With diabetes costing the U.S. economy over $300 billion yearly, innovations that enable earlier intervention and personalized care can drive down long-term costs and improve population health outcomes.
This project highlights how public investment in cutting-edge research drives innovation that benefits not just individual patients but the entire U.S. healthcare system.
SAN ANTONIO, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Time is running out to apply to participate in the Mark Cuban Foundation Artificial Intelligence (AI) Bootcamp hosted by Girls Inc. in San Antonio. Applications for the no-cost bootcamp are closing September 30.
The Mark Cuban Foundation, in partnership with Girls Inc. is bringing the only artificial intelligence (AI) camp of its kind, free of charge, to high school students in San Antonio. With a custom and highly-relevant curriculum focused on teaching students about the latest developments in the world of AI and Generative AI, the camp will provide the tools to make these technologies work for them and promises to educate, inspire and fuel the next generation of AI professionals.
The program aims to provide students with a foundational understanding of artificial intelligence and its applications to future careers. Students can select from six tracks: healthcare, arts and entertainment, business and entrepreneurship, computer science, sports science, or education and career readiness. Driven by the belief that fostering interest in AI at a young age is crucial for preparing the next generation for their future, the AI Bootcamps are introductory and accessible to students in 9-12 grade with an interest in technology. Students do not need any familiarity with computer science or programming to attend.
This free AI Bootcamp is hosted for underserved high school students with a transparent focus on recruiting girls, students of color, first generation college students, and those from low to moderate income households. The AI Bootcamp Program provides students with lunch and a snack, transportation assistance, and technology equipment during bootcamp.
“As AI continues to become an undeniable force in all of our lives, it’s crucial that we open the door to this knowledge, especially to young people who want to explore it,” said Mark Cuban, founder. “While technology expands and becomes more advanced, it becomes more critical that we ensure our students are prepared when they apply for schools or jobs in the future. Thanks to our work with Girls Inc., the bootcamp will offer an avenue to explore this fascinating field of technology to any student, no matter their means.”
This year’s bootcamp, taking place in San Antonio on November 1st, 8th, and 15th is hosted and staffed by Girls Inc., a national nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. Founded in 1864, Girls Inc. is the nation’s longest-running girls’ leadership organization, providing mentorship, safe environments, and research-based programs that help girls build confidence, develop leadership skills, and achieve academic and personal success.
Girls Inc. is one of more than 25 host companies selected to host camps across the U.S.
“Partnering with the Mark Cuban Foundation on this AI Bootcamp is a game-changer for the girls we serve. At Girls Inc., we are committed to equipping young women with the durable skills they need to succeed, not just in tech, but in any career they choose,” said Lea Rosenauer, President & CEO, Girls Inc. of San Antonio. “This program doesn’t just introduce our girls to cutting-edge technology — it empowers them to see themselves as future innovators, leaders, and problem-solvers in AI and beyond. Together, we’re creating access to opportunity and breaking barriers for girls in our community.”
There are just11weeks left until the September 30 deadline. Do not miss your chance—submit your application now, as spaces are limited.
This bootcamp is facilitated with support from Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamp Program’s media partner, Notified, a globally trusted technology partner for investor relations, public relations and marketing professionals.
About Mark Cuban Foundation’s AI Bootcamp Initiative The Mark Cuban Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private non-profit led by entrepreneur and investor Mark Cuban. The AI Bootcamps Program at MCF seeks to inspire young people with emerging technology so that they can create more equitable futures for themselves and their communities. Over 3 consecutive Saturdays underserved 9th – 12th grade students learn what AI is and isn’t, where they already interact with AI in their own lives, the ethical implications of AI systems, and much more. Learn more about the no-cost AI Bootcamp program at markcubanai.org.
About Girls Inc.
Girls Inc. of San Antonio is a local affiliate of the National Girls Inc. organization, which works with schools and communities across the United States and Canada to help youth prepare for their futures and reach their full potential. Our evidence-based programming is proven to make a measurable difference in the lives of girls. We work to advance the rights and opportunities of girls and young women through public policy and advocacy. Together with partners and supporters, Girls Inc. inspires all girls to be strong, smart, and bold.
SAN ANTONIO, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Time is running out to apply to participate in the Mark Cuban Foundation Artificial Intelligence (AI) Bootcamp hosted by Girls Inc. in San Antonio. Applications for the no-cost bootcamp are closing September 30.
The Mark Cuban Foundation, in partnership with Girls Inc. is bringing the only artificial intelligence (AI) camp of its kind, free of charge, to high school students in San Antonio. With a custom and highly-relevant curriculum focused on teaching students about the latest developments in the world of AI and Generative AI, the camp will provide the tools to make these technologies work for them and promises to educate, inspire and fuel the next generation of AI professionals.
The program aims to provide students with a foundational understanding of artificial intelligence and its applications to future careers. Students can select from six tracks: healthcare, arts and entertainment, business and entrepreneurship, computer science, sports science, or education and career readiness. Driven by the belief that fostering interest in AI at a young age is crucial for preparing the next generation for their future, the AI Bootcamps are introductory and accessible to students in 9-12 grade with an interest in technology. Students do not need any familiarity with computer science or programming to attend.
This free AI Bootcamp is hosted for underserved high school students with a transparent focus on recruiting girls, students of color, first generation college students, and those from low to moderate income households. The AI Bootcamp Program provides students with lunch and a snack, transportation assistance, and technology equipment during bootcamp.
“As AI continues to become an undeniable force in all of our lives, it’s crucial that we open the door to this knowledge, especially to young people who want to explore it,” said Mark Cuban, founder. “While technology expands and becomes more advanced, it becomes more critical that we ensure our students are prepared when they apply for schools or jobs in the future. Thanks to our work with Girls Inc., the bootcamp will offer an avenue to explore this fascinating field of technology to any student, no matter their means.”
This year’s bootcamp, taking place in San Antonio on November 1st, 8th, and 15th is hosted and staffed by Girls Inc., a national nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. Founded in 1864, Girls Inc. is the nation’s longest-running girls’ leadership organization, providing mentorship, safe environments, and research-based programs that help girls build confidence, develop leadership skills, and achieve academic and personal success.
Girls Inc. is one of more than 25 host companies selected to host camps across the U.S.
“Partnering with the Mark Cuban Foundation on this AI Bootcamp is a game-changer for the girls we serve. At Girls Inc., we are committed to equipping young women with the durable skills they need to succeed, not just in tech, but in any career they choose,” said Lea Rosenauer, President & CEO, Girls Inc. of San Antonio. “This program doesn’t just introduce our girls to cutting-edge technology — it empowers them to see themselves as future innovators, leaders, and problem-solvers in AI and beyond. Together, we’re creating access to opportunity and breaking barriers for girls in our community.”
There are just11weeks left until the September 30 deadline. Do not miss your chance—submit your application now, as spaces are limited.
This bootcamp is facilitated with support from Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamp Program’s media partner, Notified, a globally trusted technology partner for investor relations, public relations and marketing professionals.
About Mark Cuban Foundation’s AI Bootcamp Initiative The Mark Cuban Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private non-profit led by entrepreneur and investor Mark Cuban. The AI Bootcamps Program at MCF seeks to inspire young people with emerging technology so that they can create more equitable futures for themselves and their communities. Over 3 consecutive Saturdays underserved 9th – 12th grade students learn what AI is and isn’t, where they already interact with AI in their own lives, the ethical implications of AI systems, and much more. Learn more about the no-cost AI Bootcamp program at markcubanai.org.
About Girls Inc.
Girls Inc. of San Antonio is a local affiliate of the National Girls Inc. organization, which works with schools and communities across the United States and Canada to help youth prepare for their futures and reach their full potential. Our evidence-based programming is proven to make a measurable difference in the lives of girls. We work to advance the rights and opportunities of girls and young women through public policy and advocacy. Together with partners and supporters, Girls Inc. inspires all girls to be strong, smart, and bold.
Injectable lenacapavir – LEN, for short – is a highly effective, long-acting antiretroviral alternative to daily oral pills and other shorter-acting options, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
“While an HIV vaccine remains elusive, lenacapavir is the next best thing: a long-acting antiretroviral shown in trials to prevent almost all HIV infections among those at risk,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.
Test kit advantage
WHO’s support for the injectable drug is significant because HIV prevention efforts are stagnating around the world.
To make it easier for people to receive the injection close to home, the UN agency also recommends the use of rapid testing kits for the disease, as opposed to “complex, costly procedures”.
According to the agency, 1.3 million people contracted HIV in 2024; people most impacted were sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender people, people who inject drugs, people in prisons, and children and teens.
“WHO is committed to working with countries and partners to ensure this innovation reaches communities as quickly and safely as possible,” insisted Tedros, in comments during the 13th International AIDS Society Conference (IAS 2025) on HIV Science, in Kigali, Rwanda.
The recommendation for LEN is also in line with the US health authorities which approved it in June.
Call for implementation
Although access to the LEN injection remains limited outside clinical trials today, WHO urged governments, donors and partners to incorporate LEN “immediately” within national combination HIV-prevention programmes.
Other WHO-supported HIV-prevention options include daily oral tablets, injectable cabotegravir – which is injected once every two months – and the dapivirine vaginal ring, as part of a growing number of tools to end the HIV epidemic.
“We have the tools and the knowledge to end AIDS…what we need now is bold implementation of these recommendations, grounded in equity and powered by communities,” said Dr Meg Doherty, Director of WHO’s Department of Global HIV, Hepatitis and STI Programmes and incoming Director of Science, Research, Evidence and Quality for Health.
HIV remains a major global public health issue.
By the end of 2024, an estimated 40.8 million people were living with HIV with an estimated 65 per cent in Africa. Approximately 630,000 people died from HIV-related causes globally, and an estimated 1.3 million people acquired HIV, including 120,000 children.
More positively, access to HIV drugs continues to expand, with 31.6 million people receiving treatment in 2024, up from 30.3 million a year earlier. Without anti-retroviral medication, the HIV virus attacks the body’s immune system, leading ultimately to the onset of AIDS.
As artificial intelligence continues to transform industries worldwide, educators and researchers with the Neag School of Education are exploring how it might reshape teaching and learning. The Neag School’s annual Teaching and Learning with Technology Conference in May offered insights into AI’s promise and challenges in the classroom, including how AI can enhance creativity, personalize learning, and support teachers, while preserving the deeply human heart of education.
Timothy “TJ” Neville ’04 MA, ’18 MA, an instructional technology specialist with Farmington Public Schools who has over two decades of experience in education and technology and presented at the conference, emphasized that education remains fundamentally human. While AI is powerful, he insists it should be viewed as a partner, not a replacement, for teachers.
“Education has always been, and will remain, a deeply human endeavor,” Neville says. “AI offers an opportunity to elevate our practice — not to replace our expertise.”
“While AI is powerful, it should be viewed as a partner, not a replacement, for teachers,” Timothy “TJ” Neville ’04 MA, ’18 MA says.
He encourages educators to see AI as a collaborative tool that can generate resources, manage routine tasks, and give teachers time to focus on what humans do best: building relationships and fostering deeper learning.
One of AI’s biggest strengths is helping teachers tailor learning to students’ diverse needs. For example, simple tools like student interest surveys combined with AI allow teachers to craft lessons that engage learners more personally. Neville’s district trains educators to use AI to create leveled readings, contextual vocabulary lists, and visual representations of complex texts.
“AI can help teachers address students’ readiness levels, interests, and learning profiles,” Neville says. “Teachers can quickly generate differentiated resources that remove barriers and make learning more accessible to all.”
Neville recalls a successful example from his district, where teachers used AI to support multilingual learners struggling with reading comprehension. By generating differentiated resources and visual aids, teachers could offer immediate, personalized help. This approach soon expanded to benefit all students, as well as led to further training for staff, showing how AI’s impact can ripple through an entire district..
“Teachers could respond in the moment,” Neville says. “If a student struggled with a text, a teacher could create a visualization instantly, helping them understand.”
Education has always been, and will remain, a deeply human endeavor. AI offers an opportunity to elevate our practice — not to replace our expertise. — Timothy ‘TJ’ Neville ’04 MA, ’18 MA
Shuyu Wang, a Neag School of Education doctoral student who presented at the conference, agrees. Drawing on her experience with an educational technology company in China, Wang describes how AI-powered platforms let students interact through tablets while software tracks engagement data. This helps teachers analyze learning behaviors and tailor support in real time. She believes personalized learning is one of AI’s most promising contributions, helping teachers spot learning gaps and save time.
“Teachers spend so much time creating materials for different students,” she says. “AI can automate parts of that, freeing teachers to connect emotionally and socially with students.”
Despite its benefits, AI in education comes with significant challenges. Neville highlights the need for clear guidance on transparency, privacy, and equity: “It’s crucial that students know if AI is being used to provide feedback. Transparency is essential.”
He warns against “cognitive offloading,” where students become too dependent on AI and fail to develop critical thinking skills. Wang shares similar concerns, particularly about how AI might increase pressure on students to chase perfection or its lack of emotional intelligence.
“AI can’t read emotions like teachers can,” she says. “If a student is upset, a teacher can see that and respond with care.”
Another challenge is bias. Both Neville and Wang stress that AI models are trained on human-created data — which means bias inevitably seeps in, regardless of which country the AI or its training data originated from. Wang believes educators and students must learn to think critically about AI outputs.
“We should read classic literature, news from different countries, and diverse perspectives,” she says. “Only then can we judge whether AI’s answers are trustworthy.”
AI’s ability to produce polished work quickly raises questions about traditional assessments. Neville believes educators should shift focus from final products to the learning process itself.
Teachers spend so much time creating materials for different students. AI can automate parts of that, freeing teachers to connect emotionally and socially with students. — Shuyu Wang, Neag School doctoral student
“We want assessments that capture how students think, problem-solve, and apply tools,” he says. “The goal is to help students become more self-aware and reflective.”
Wang echoes this sentiment. She believes AI can improve the efficiency of assessments but worries that it often overlooks the emotional effort students pour into their work.
“It’s unfair if we only look at outputs,” she says. “AI can’t measure the feelings and creativity people invest in what they create.”
Beyond helping students, Neville sees AI reshaping professional development for teachers. Tools like Edthena let teachers upload lesson videos for AI-driven analysis and feedback. Other platforms, like Swivl’s Mirror Talk, provide live feedback during instruction.
“AI can make professional development more personalized and practical,” Neville says. “It can tailor support to each educator’s needs.”
He envisions AI simulations where teachers get feedback from AI personas acting as students or supervisors, helping them practice real-world teaching scenarios. Wang believes the same strategies used to personalize student learning can enhance teacher training.
“In our training programs, the learning needs are the same,” she says. “AI can help teachers build portfolios, gather feedback, and get support tailored to them.”
Del Siegle, the Neag School’s Lynn and Ray Neag Chair for Gifted Education and Talent Development and organizer of the Teaching and Learning with Technology Conference, has explored how AI can help overcome creative roadblocks. For many, the biggest challenge in creative work is the fear of the blank page. Siegle believes AI offers a way past that paralysis.
“AI isn’t here to replace our imaginations but to partner with them,” Siegle wrote in Gifted Child Today.
AI isn’t here to replace our imaginations but to partner with them. — Del Siegle
Creativity, he notes, is vital for problem-solving and well-being. Students who engage creatively understand their learning more deeply and gain confidence. While AI can generate poems, images, and ideas, Siegle argues it’s not truly creative in the human sense — it lacks emotion, experience, and personal meaning. But it can still be a powerful tool to help us get started.
“Just make it exist first. You can make it good later,” Siegle says about the importance of overcoming perfectionism.
AI tools like Goblin.tools and MagicSchool.ai help students break big tasks into smaller steps. They can produce rough drafts that students later refine, easing anxiety about starting.
“AI can be the friendly assistant nudging us to take that first step,” Siegle says.
Some fear AI will stifle creativity, leaving students reliant on algorithms instead of thinking for themselves, but Siegle argues that AI often sparks more original ideas. One study he cites found that students using ChatGPT generated more unique ideas than those using traditional brainstorming. He envisions students defining creative problems — like designing science experiments or writing stories — while AI suggests new angles, helps organize ideas, and offers fresh perspectives. This collaboration, he believes, creates results neither humans nor AI could achieve alone.
As AI grows more capable, Siegle predicts it will transform the skills schools emphasize. Instead of memorizing facts, students will focus on creative thinking, connecting ideas across disciplines, and evaluating information critically. AI can help students at every level of creativity, Siegle says, from small personal projects to professional innovations. For everyday creators, AI offers a safe, judgment-free space to experiment without fear of failure. Wang agrees, stressing that AI should remain an assistant, not a replacement.
“Teachers bring empathy, flexibility, and human understanding that technology can’t replicate,” she says.
Neville echoes the same optimism, with caution: “AI can be an incredible tool. But it must always serve to enhance — not replace — the deeply human work at the heart of education.”
As artificial intelligence continues to transform industries worldwide, educators and researchers with the Neag School of Education are exploring how it might reshape teaching and learning. The Neag School’s annual Teaching and Learning with Technology Conference in May offered insights into AI’s promise and challenges in the classroom, including how AI can enhance creativity, personalize learning, and support teachers, while preserving the deeply human heart of education.
Timothy “TJ” Neville ’04 MA, ’18 MA, an instructional technology specialist with Farmington Public Schools who has over two decades of experience in education and technology and presented at the conference, emphasized that education remains fundamentally human. While AI is powerful, he insists it should be viewed as a partner, not a replacement, for teachers.
“Education has always been, and will remain, a deeply human endeavor,” Neville says. “AI offers an opportunity to elevate our practice — not to replace our expertise.”
“While AI is powerful, it should be viewed as a partner, not a replacement, for teachers,” Timothy “TJ” Neville ’04 MA, ’18 MA says.
He encourages educators to see AI as a collaborative tool that can generate resources, manage routine tasks, and give teachers time to focus on what humans do best: building relationships and fostering deeper learning.
One of AI’s biggest strengths is helping teachers tailor learning to students’ diverse needs. For example, simple tools like student interest surveys combined with AI allow teachers to craft lessons that engage learners more personally. Neville’s district trains educators to use AI to create leveled readings, contextual vocabulary lists, and visual representations of complex texts.
“AI can help teachers address students’ readiness levels, interests, and learning profiles,” Neville says. “Teachers can quickly generate differentiated resources that remove barriers and make learning more accessible to all.”
Neville recalls a successful example from his district, where teachers used AI to support multilingual learners struggling with reading comprehension. By generating differentiated resources and visual aids, teachers could offer immediate, personalized help. This approach soon expanded to benefit all students, as well as led to further training for staff, showing how AI’s impact can ripple through an entire district..
“Teachers could respond in the moment,” Neville says. “If a student struggled with a text, a teacher could create a visualization instantly, helping them understand.”
Education has always been, and will remain, a deeply human endeavor. AI offers an opportunity to elevate our practice — not to replace our expertise. — Timothy ‘TJ’ Neville ’04 MA, ’18 MA
Shuyu Wang, a Neag School of Education doctoral student who presented at the conference, agrees. Drawing on her experience with an educational technology company in China, Wang describes how AI-powered platforms let students interact through tablets while software tracks engagement data. This helps teachers analyze learning behaviors and tailor support in real time. She believes personalized learning is one of AI’s most promising contributions, helping teachers spot learning gaps and save time.
“Teachers spend so much time creating materials for different students,” she says. “AI can automate parts of that, freeing teachers to connect emotionally and socially with students.”
Despite its benefits, AI in education comes with significant challenges. Neville highlights the need for clear guidance on transparency, privacy, and equity: “It’s crucial that students know if AI is being used to provide feedback. Transparency is essential.”
He warns against “cognitive offloading,” where students become too dependent on AI and fail to develop critical thinking skills. Wang shares similar concerns, particularly about how AI might increase pressure on students to chase perfection or its lack of emotional intelligence.
“AI can’t read emotions like teachers can,” she says. “If a student is upset, a teacher can see that and respond with care.”
Another challenge is bias. Both Neville and Wang stress that AI models are trained on human-created data — which means bias inevitably seeps in, regardless of which country the AI or its training data originated from. Wang believes educators and students must learn to think critically about AI outputs.
“We should read classic literature, news from different countries, and diverse perspectives,” she says. “Only then can we judge whether AI’s answers are trustworthy.”
AI’s ability to produce polished work quickly raises questions about traditional assessments. Neville believes educators should shift focus from final products to the learning process itself.
Teachers spend so much time creating materials for different students. AI can automate parts of that, freeing teachers to connect emotionally and socially with students. — Shuyu Wang, Neag School doctoral student
“We want assessments that capture how students think, problem-solve, and apply tools,” he says. “The goal is to help students become more self-aware and reflective.”
Wang echoes this sentiment. She believes AI can improve the efficiency of assessments but worries that it often overlooks the emotional effort students pour into their work.
“It’s unfair if we only look at outputs,” she says. “AI can’t measure the feelings and creativity people invest in what they create.”
Beyond helping students, Neville sees AI reshaping professional development for teachers. Tools like Edthena let teachers upload lesson videos for AI-driven analysis and feedback. Other platforms, like Swivl’s Mirror Talk, provide live feedback during instruction.
“AI can make professional development more personalized and practical,” Neville says. “It can tailor support to each educator’s needs.”
He envisions AI simulations where teachers get feedback from AI personas acting as students or supervisors, helping them practice real-world teaching scenarios. Wang believes the same strategies used to personalize student learning can enhance teacher training.
“In our training programs, the learning needs are the same,” she says. “AI can help teachers build portfolios, gather feedback, and get support tailored to them.”
Del Siegle, the Neag School’s Lynn and Ray Neag Chair for Gifted Education and Talent Development and organizer of the Teaching and Learning with Technology Conference, has explored how AI can help overcome creative roadblocks. For many, the biggest challenge in creative work is the fear of the blank page. Siegle believes AI offers a way past that paralysis.
“AI isn’t here to replace our imaginations but to partner with them,” Siegle wrote in Gifted Child Today.
AI isn’t here to replace our imaginations but to partner with them. — Del Siegle
Creativity, he notes, is vital for problem-solving and well-being. Students who engage creatively understand their learning more deeply and gain confidence. While AI can generate poems, images, and ideas, Siegle argues it’s not truly creative in the human sense — it lacks emotion, experience, and personal meaning. But it can still be a powerful tool to help us get started.
“Just make it exist first. You can make it good later,” Siegle says about the importance of overcoming perfectionism.
AI tools like Goblin.tools and MagicSchool.ai help students break big tasks into smaller steps. They can produce rough drafts that students later refine, easing anxiety about starting.
“AI can be the friendly assistant nudging us to take that first step,” Siegle says.
Some fear AI will stifle creativity, leaving students reliant on algorithms instead of thinking for themselves, but Siegle argues that AI often sparks more original ideas. One study he cites found that students using ChatGPT generated more unique ideas than those using traditional brainstorming. He envisions students defining creative problems — like designing science experiments or writing stories — while AI suggests new angles, helps organize ideas, and offers fresh perspectives. This collaboration, he believes, creates results neither humans nor AI could achieve alone.
As AI grows more capable, Siegle predicts it will transform the skills schools emphasize. Instead of memorizing facts, students will focus on creative thinking, connecting ideas across disciplines, and evaluating information critically. AI can help students at every level of creativity, Siegle says, from small personal projects to professional innovations. For everyday creators, AI offers a safe, judgment-free space to experiment without fear of failure. Wang agrees, stressing that AI should remain an assistant, not a replacement.
“Teachers bring empathy, flexibility, and human understanding that technology can’t replicate,” she says.
Neville echoes the same optimism, with caution: “AI can be an incredible tool. But it must always serve to enhance — not replace — the deeply human work at the heart of education.”
UConn’s Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy (InCHIP) is recognizing the recipients of its 2025 Faculty Excellence Awards.
These awards celebrate UConn and UConn Health faculty and students who are making important contributions to their field, providing impactful mentorship, furthering our understanding of racial and ethnic health disparities, and engaging with the community through research to improve health.
“InCHIP’s Excellence Awards honor the innovative work that principal investigators, faculty affiliates, and students are conducting to advance social and behavioral health sciences, provide students with transformative educational experiences, and enhance community well-being. Congratulations to our 2025 Excellence Award recipients,” says Tricia Leahey, director of InCHIP and professor in the Department of Allied Health Sciences.
The awardees will be recognized during InCHIP’s Fall 2025 annual meeting and in its annual report. They will also receive funds to support their program of research.
The 2025 Excellence Award recipients include:
Excellence Award for Junior Faculty Research
Sudha Srinivasan, assistant professor of kinesiology in the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources (contributed photo)
Sudha Srinivasan
Sudha Srinivasan is an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology in the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources (CAHNR). Her research focuses on the development of child- and family-friendly movement-based interventions and technologies that empower children with developmental disabilities. She has recently worked with children diagnosed with autism and cerebral palsy to create engaging therapies leveraging music, dance, yoga, and modified ride-on toys to improve movement and function. Srinivasan is mindful of parents’ needs and seeks to develop interventions that fit in the context of family and school life, ensuring treatments are affordable, accessible, and fun for children to perform.
Since arriving at UConn in 2019, Srinivasan has had 31 peer-reviewed journal articles published, many of which are published in high-impact journals in her field. Her work requires access to specialized equipment, such as the ride-on intervention like the Wild Thing. To support this work, she has sought research funding, securing an R21 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and a research award from the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy.
Na Zhang, assistant professor of human development and family sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (contributed photo)
Na Zhang
Na Zhang is an assistant professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS). Her research program underscores the importance of improving mental health and well-being outcomes in children and adolescents, parents, and couples. She directs the Family Resilience and Mindfulness Empowerment (FRAME) Lab, which develops, evaluates, and implements mindfulness-informed family-based interventions to promote mental health and well-being in high-risk families. She has published 35 peer-reviewed journal articles including 14 as first-author. Her research on mindfulness in the context of families has advanced the field by providing strong evidence for the use of mindfulness-based interventions to prevent mental health challenges in highly stressful circumstances.
Zhang is currently working on a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-funded K-01 to develop a fully web-based mindfulness parenting intervention for high-risk divorced families. The project aims to reduce mental health challenges, addressing key gaps in the research literature. Currently, there are no fully self-administered online parenting interventions to reduce parents’ mental stress. Additionally, her previous research has demonstrated that behavioral parent training programs are less effective for parents who are experiencing psychological distress.
Excellence for Research on Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities and Health Outcomes of Racism
Debarchana Ghosh, professor of geography, sustainability, community, and urban studies in CLAS (contributed photo)
Debarchana Ghosh
Debarchana (Debs) Ghosh is a professor in the Department of Geography, Sustainability, Community, and Urban Studies whose research focuses on the reciprocal relationship between place and health. Ghosh employs a variety of research methods including spatial analysis, public health theory, and community-engaged research to explore the complex interconnection between health disparities and social-environmental factors. She prioritizes the inclusion of underrepresented populations and communities in her work. Ghosh also developed the innovative structural racism and discrimination index (SRD Index) to illustrate how residential segregation, housing, healthcare, income, and crime and incarceration impact health.
Ghosh is currently working on a five-year NIH R01 to quantify the impact of structural racism on cancer-control behaviors among African Americans. This project addresses a critical knowledge gap in how cancer disparities are understood and how structural racism is embedded in individuals’ lives as they navigate cancer prevention, treatment, and survival. Her commitment to understanding how racial disparities affect health move past the idea of race as a variable, underscoring the role that racism, not race, has in influencing health outcomes. Her work has reframed how health disparities are studied and interpreted.
Community-Engaged Health Research Excellence Award
Beth Russell, professor of human development and family sciences in CLAS (contributed photo)
Beth Russell
Beth Russell is a professor and associate department head for graduate studies in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences. Her research focuses on how people manage emotional distress and the development of interventions that improve emotional well-being. Her research exemplifies the power of community-engaged research in solving pressing societal challenges. Community engagement is a vital component of her work for its role in improving health and well-being for individuals and families. She is working on projects related to mindfulness interventions for youth and young adults; substance use and recovery; and stress, coping, and resilience.
Russell directs the Center for Applied Research in Human Development (CARHD) and is co-director of the Collaboratory on School and Child Health (CSCH), both at UConn. CARHD facilitates community-engaged scholarship by connecting researchers and community partners to develop and evaluate human service programs that benefit communities. Russell and CARHD have worked with the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) for more than 15 years evaluating its federally-funded 21st Century Community Learning Centers After School Grant Program. She has also partnered with local state and nonprofit partners including the Connecticut Departments of Children and Families and Education, United Way, EASTCONN, The Village for Children and Families, and Family Life Education. She has been praised for her intentionality, improving programming and services without burdening staff and by considering a community partner’s needs and resources.
Excellence in Faculty Mentoring Award
Golda S. Ginsburg, professor of psychiatry, at her office in West Hartford on Aug. 13, 2014. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)
Golda Ginsburg
Golda Ginsburg is a professor in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry at the UConn School of Medicine. A leader in pediatric anxiety treatment, she has developed and evaluated interventions for children who have psychiatric disorders, and her research focuses on preventing anxiety disorders, one of the most pervasive psychiatric disorders impacting youth. Ginsburg directs the Child and Adolescent Anxiety and Depression Program (CAMP) Lab at UConn Health. This lab provides students and trainees with significant academic and training experiences.
Ginsburg has been praised for being a patient, dedicated, and supportive mentor who sees mentees as individuals and works with them to ensure they get the experiences necessary to achieve their goals and advance their careers. Since joining UConn, she has mentored more than 50 trainees at various levels of education from high schoolers to post-doctoral fellows. Many of Ginsburg’s student mentees have secured external funding, most notably from the U.S. Department of Education, published peer-reviewed journal articles, or presented at conferences. Ginsburg has also guided junior faculty in successfully applying for external research funding. She serves as a reviewer for the Department of Psychiatry’s mock grant reviews. Ginsburg has received a K24 Mentoring grant from the NIMH. This is a testament to her exceptional mentorship.
UConn’s Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy (InCHIP) is recognizing the recipients of its 2025 Faculty Excellence Awards.
These awards celebrate UConn and UConn Health faculty and students who are making important contributions to their field, providing impactful mentorship, furthering our understanding of racial and ethnic health disparities, and engaging with the community through research to improve health.
“InCHIP’s Excellence Awards honor the innovative work that principal investigators, faculty affiliates, and students are conducting to advance social and behavioral health sciences, provide students with transformative educational experiences, and enhance community well-being. Congratulations to our 2025 Excellence Award recipients,” says Tricia Leahey, director of InCHIP and professor in the Department of Allied Health Sciences.
The awardees will be recognized during InCHIP’s Fall 2025 annual meeting and in its annual report. They will also receive funds to support their program of research.
The 2025 Excellence Award recipients include:
Excellence Award for Junior Faculty Research
Sudha Srinivasan, assistant professor of kinesiology in the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources (contributed photo)
Sudha Srinivasan
Sudha Srinivasan is an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology in the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources (CAHNR). Her research focuses on the development of child- and family-friendly movement-based interventions and technologies that empower children with developmental disabilities. She has recently worked with children diagnosed with autism and cerebral palsy to create engaging therapies leveraging music, dance, yoga, and modified ride-on toys to improve movement and function. Srinivasan is mindful of parents’ needs and seeks to develop interventions that fit in the context of family and school life, ensuring treatments are affordable, accessible, and fun for children to perform.
Since arriving at UConn in 2019, Srinivasan has had 31 peer-reviewed journal articles published, many of which are published in high-impact journals in her field. Her work requires access to specialized equipment, such as the ride-on intervention like the Wild Thing. To support this work, she has sought research funding, securing an R21 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and a research award from the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy.
Na Zhang, assistant professor of human development and family sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (contributed photo)
Na Zhang
Na Zhang is an assistant professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS). Her research program underscores the importance of improving mental health and well-being outcomes in children and adolescents, parents, and couples. She directs the Family Resilience and Mindfulness Empowerment (FRAME) Lab, which develops, evaluates, and implements mindfulness-informed family-based interventions to promote mental health and well-being in high-risk families. She has published 35 peer-reviewed journal articles including 14 as first-author. Her research on mindfulness in the context of families has advanced the field by providing strong evidence for the use of mindfulness-based interventions to prevent mental health challenges in highly stressful circumstances.
Zhang is currently working on a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-funded K-01 to develop a fully web-based mindfulness parenting intervention for high-risk divorced families. The project aims to reduce mental health challenges, addressing key gaps in the research literature. Currently, there are no fully self-administered online parenting interventions to reduce parents’ mental stress. Additionally, her previous research has demonstrated that behavioral parent training programs are less effective for parents who are experiencing psychological distress.
Excellence for Research on Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities and Health Outcomes of Racism
Debarchana Ghosh, professor of geography, sustainability, community, and urban studies in CLAS (contributed photo)
Debarchana Ghosh
Debarchana (Debs) Ghosh is a professor in the Department of Geography, Sustainability, Community, and Urban Studies whose research focuses on the reciprocal relationship between place and health. Ghosh employs a variety of research methods including spatial analysis, public health theory, and community-engaged research to explore the complex interconnection between health disparities and social-environmental factors. She prioritizes the inclusion of underrepresented populations and communities in her work. Ghosh also developed the innovative structural racism and discrimination index (SRD Index) to illustrate how residential segregation, housing, healthcare, income, and crime and incarceration impact health.
Ghosh is currently working on a five-year NIH R01 to quantify the impact of structural racism on cancer-control behaviors among African Americans. This project addresses a critical knowledge gap in how cancer disparities are understood and how structural racism is embedded in individuals’ lives as they navigate cancer prevention, treatment, and survival. Her commitment to understanding how racial disparities affect health move past the idea of race as a variable, underscoring the role that racism, not race, has in influencing health outcomes. Her work has reframed how health disparities are studied and interpreted.
Community-Engaged Health Research Excellence Award
Beth Russell, professor of human development and family sciences in CLAS (contributed photo)
Beth Russell
Beth Russell is a professor and associate department head for graduate studies in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences. Her research focuses on how people manage emotional distress and the development of interventions that improve emotional well-being. Her research exemplifies the power of community-engaged research in solving pressing societal challenges. Community engagement is a vital component of her work for its role in improving health and well-being for individuals and families. She is working on projects related to mindfulness interventions for youth and young adults; substance use and recovery; and stress, coping, and resilience.
Russell directs the Center for Applied Research in Human Development (CARHD) and is co-director of the Collaboratory on School and Child Health (CSCH), both at UConn. CARHD facilitates community-engaged scholarship by connecting researchers and community partners to develop and evaluate human service programs that benefit communities. Russell and CARHD have worked with the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) for more than 15 years evaluating its federally-funded 21st Century Community Learning Centers After School Grant Program. She has also partnered with local state and nonprofit partners including the Connecticut Departments of Children and Families and Education, United Way, EASTCONN, The Village for Children and Families, and Family Life Education. She has been praised for her intentionality, improving programming and services without burdening staff and by considering a community partner’s needs and resources.
Excellence in Faculty Mentoring Award
Golda S. Ginsburg, professor of psychiatry, at her office in West Hartford on Aug. 13, 2014. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)
Golda Ginsburg
Golda Ginsburg is a professor in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry at the UConn School of Medicine. A leader in pediatric anxiety treatment, she has developed and evaluated interventions for children who have psychiatric disorders, and her research focuses on preventing anxiety disorders, one of the most pervasive psychiatric disorders impacting youth. Ginsburg directs the Child and Adolescent Anxiety and Depression Program (CAMP) Lab at UConn Health. This lab provides students and trainees with significant academic and training experiences.
Ginsburg has been praised for being a patient, dedicated, and supportive mentor who sees mentees as individuals and works with them to ensure they get the experiences necessary to achieve their goals and advance their careers. Since joining UConn, she has mentored more than 50 trainees at various levels of education from high schoolers to post-doctoral fellows. Many of Ginsburg’s student mentees have secured external funding, most notably from the U.S. Department of Education, published peer-reviewed journal articles, or presented at conferences. Ginsburg has also guided junior faculty in successfully applying for external research funding. She serves as a reviewer for the Department of Psychiatry’s mock grant reviews. Ginsburg has received a K24 Mentoring grant from the NIMH. This is a testament to her exceptional mentorship.
UConn’s Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy (InCHIP) is recognizing the recipients of its 2025 Faculty Excellence Awards.
These awards celebrate UConn and UConn Health faculty and students who are making important contributions to their field, providing impactful mentorship, furthering our understanding of racial and ethnic health disparities, and engaging with the community through research to improve health.
“InCHIP’s Excellence Awards honor the innovative work that principal investigators, faculty affiliates, and students are conducting to advance social and behavioral health sciences, provide students with transformative educational experiences, and enhance community well-being. Congratulations to our 2025 Excellence Award recipients,” says Tricia Leahey, director of InCHIP and professor in the Department of Allied Health Sciences.
The awardees will be recognized during InCHIP’s Fall 2025 annual meeting and in its annual report. They will also receive funds to support their program of research.
The 2025 Excellence Award recipients include:
Excellence Award for Junior Faculty Research
Sudha Srinivasan, assistant professor of kinesiology in the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources (contributed photo)
Sudha Srinivasan
Sudha Srinivasan is an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology in the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources (CAHNR). Her research focuses on the development of child- and family-friendly movement-based interventions and technologies that empower children with developmental disabilities. She has recently worked with children diagnosed with autism and cerebral palsy to create engaging therapies leveraging music, dance, yoga, and modified ride-on toys to improve movement and function. Srinivasan is mindful of parents’ needs and seeks to develop interventions that fit in the context of family and school life, ensuring treatments are affordable, accessible, and fun for children to perform.
Since arriving at UConn in 2019, Srinivasan has had 31 peer-reviewed journal articles published, many of which are published in high-impact journals in her field. Her work requires access to specialized equipment, such as the ride-on intervention like the Wild Thing. To support this work, she has sought research funding, securing an R21 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and a research award from the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy.
Na Zhang, assistant professor of human development and family sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (contributed photo)
Na Zhang
Na Zhang is an assistant professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS). Her research program underscores the importance of improving mental health and well-being outcomes in children and adolescents, parents, and couples. She directs the Family Resilience and Mindfulness Empowerment (FRAME) Lab, which develops, evaluates, and implements mindfulness-informed family-based interventions to promote mental health and well-being in high-risk families. She has published 35 peer-reviewed journal articles including 14 as first-author. Her research on mindfulness in the context of families has advanced the field by providing strong evidence for the use of mindfulness-based interventions to prevent mental health challenges in highly stressful circumstances.
Zhang is currently working on a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-funded K-01 to develop a fully web-based mindfulness parenting intervention for high-risk divorced families. The project aims to reduce mental health challenges, addressing key gaps in the research literature. Currently, there are no fully self-administered online parenting interventions to reduce parents’ mental stress. Additionally, her previous research has demonstrated that behavioral parent training programs are less effective for parents who are experiencing psychological distress.
Excellence for Research on Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities and Health Outcomes of Racism
Debarchana Ghosh, professor of geography, sustainability, community, and urban studies in CLAS (contributed photo)
Debarchana Ghosh
Debarchana (Debs) Ghosh is a professor in the Department of Geography, Sustainability, Community, and Urban Studies whose research focuses on the reciprocal relationship between place and health. Ghosh employs a variety of research methods including spatial analysis, public health theory, and community-engaged research to explore the complex interconnection between health disparities and social-environmental factors. She prioritizes the inclusion of underrepresented populations and communities in her work. Ghosh also developed the innovative structural racism and discrimination index (SRD Index) to illustrate how residential segregation, housing, healthcare, income, and crime and incarceration impact health.
Ghosh is currently working on a five-year NIH R01 to quantify the impact of structural racism on cancer-control behaviors among African Americans. This project addresses a critical knowledge gap in how cancer disparities are understood and how structural racism is embedded in individuals’ lives as they navigate cancer prevention, treatment, and survival. Her commitment to understanding how racial disparities affect health move past the idea of race as a variable, underscoring the role that racism, not race, has in influencing health outcomes. Her work has reframed how health disparities are studied and interpreted.
Community-Engaged Health Research Excellence Award
Beth Russell, professor of human development and family sciences in CLAS (contributed photo)
Beth Russell
Beth Russell is a professor and associate department head for graduate studies in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences. Her research focuses on how people manage emotional distress and the development of interventions that improve emotional well-being. Her research exemplifies the power of community-engaged research in solving pressing societal challenges. Community engagement is a vital component of her work for its role in improving health and well-being for individuals and families. She is working on projects related to mindfulness interventions for youth and young adults; substance use and recovery; and stress, coping, and resilience.
Russell directs the Center for Applied Research in Human Development (CARHD) and is co-director of the Collaboratory on School and Child Health (CSCH), both at UConn. CARHD facilitates community-engaged scholarship by connecting researchers and community partners to develop and evaluate human service programs that benefit communities. Russell and CARHD have worked with the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) for more than 15 years evaluating its federally-funded 21st Century Community Learning Centers After School Grant Program. She has also partnered with local state and nonprofit partners including the Connecticut Departments of Children and Families and Education, United Way, EASTCONN, The Village for Children and Families, and Family Life Education. She has been praised for her intentionality, improving programming and services without burdening staff and by considering a community partner’s needs and resources.
Excellence in Faculty Mentoring Award
Golda S. Ginsburg, professor of psychiatry, at her office in West Hartford on Aug. 13, 2014. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)
Golda Ginsburg
Golda Ginsburg is a professor in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry at the UConn School of Medicine. A leader in pediatric anxiety treatment, she has developed and evaluated interventions for children who have psychiatric disorders, and her research focuses on preventing anxiety disorders, one of the most pervasive psychiatric disorders impacting youth. Ginsburg directs the Child and Adolescent Anxiety and Depression Program (CAMP) Lab at UConn Health. This lab provides students and trainees with significant academic and training experiences.
Ginsburg has been praised for being a patient, dedicated, and supportive mentor who sees mentees as individuals and works with them to ensure they get the experiences necessary to achieve their goals and advance their careers. Since joining UConn, she has mentored more than 50 trainees at various levels of education from high schoolers to post-doctoral fellows. Many of Ginsburg’s student mentees have secured external funding, most notably from the U.S. Department of Education, published peer-reviewed journal articles, or presented at conferences. Ginsburg has also guided junior faculty in successfully applying for external research funding. She serves as a reviewer for the Department of Psychiatry’s mock grant reviews. Ginsburg has received a K24 Mentoring grant from the NIMH. This is a testament to her exceptional mentorship.
UConn’s Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy (InCHIP) is recognizing the recipients of its 2025 Faculty Excellence Awards.
These awards celebrate UConn and UConn Health faculty and students who are making important contributions to their field, providing impactful mentorship, furthering our understanding of racial and ethnic health disparities, and engaging with the community through research to improve health.
“InCHIP’s Excellence Awards honor the innovative work that principal investigators, faculty affiliates, and students are conducting to advance social and behavioral health sciences, provide students with transformative educational experiences, and enhance community well-being. Congratulations to our 2025 Excellence Award recipients,” says Tricia Leahey, director of InCHIP and professor in the Department of Allied Health Sciences.
The awardees will be recognized during InCHIP’s Fall 2025 annual meeting and in its annual report. They will also receive funds to support their program of research.
The 2025 Excellence Award recipients include:
Excellence Award for Junior Faculty Research
Sudha Srinivasan, assistant professor of kinesiology in the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources (contributed photo)
Sudha Srinivasan
Sudha Srinivasan is an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology in the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources (CAHNR). Her research focuses on the development of child- and family-friendly movement-based interventions and technologies that empower children with developmental disabilities. She has recently worked with children diagnosed with autism and cerebral palsy to create engaging therapies leveraging music, dance, yoga, and modified ride-on toys to improve movement and function. Srinivasan is mindful of parents’ needs and seeks to develop interventions that fit in the context of family and school life, ensuring treatments are affordable, accessible, and fun for children to perform.
Since arriving at UConn in 2019, Srinivasan has had 31 peer-reviewed journal articles published, many of which are published in high-impact journals in her field. Her work requires access to specialized equipment, such as the ride-on intervention like the Wild Thing. To support this work, she has sought research funding, securing an R21 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and a research award from the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy.
Na Zhang, assistant professor of human development and family sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (contributed photo)
Na Zhang
Na Zhang is an assistant professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS). Her research program underscores the importance of improving mental health and well-being outcomes in children and adolescents, parents, and couples. She directs the Family Resilience and Mindfulness Empowerment (FRAME) Lab, which develops, evaluates, and implements mindfulness-informed family-based interventions to promote mental health and well-being in high-risk families. She has published 35 peer-reviewed journal articles including 14 as first-author. Her research on mindfulness in the context of families has advanced the field by providing strong evidence for the use of mindfulness-based interventions to prevent mental health challenges in highly stressful circumstances.
Zhang is currently working on a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-funded K-01 to develop a fully web-based mindfulness parenting intervention for high-risk divorced families. The project aims to reduce mental health challenges, addressing key gaps in the research literature. Currently, there are no fully self-administered online parenting interventions to reduce parents’ mental stress. Additionally, her previous research has demonstrated that behavioral parent training programs are less effective for parents who are experiencing psychological distress.
Excellence for Research on Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities and Health Outcomes of Racism
Debarchana Ghosh, professor of geography, sustainability, community, and urban studies in CLAS (contributed photo)
Debarchana Ghosh
Debarchana (Debs) Ghosh is a professor in the Department of Geography, Sustainability, Community, and Urban Studies whose research focuses on the reciprocal relationship between place and health. Ghosh employs a variety of research methods including spatial analysis, public health theory, and community-engaged research to explore the complex interconnection between health disparities and social-environmental factors. She prioritizes the inclusion of underrepresented populations and communities in her work. Ghosh also developed the innovative structural racism and discrimination index (SRD Index) to illustrate how residential segregation, housing, healthcare, income, and crime and incarceration impact health.
Ghosh is currently working on a five-year NIH R01 to quantify the impact of structural racism on cancer-control behaviors among African Americans. This project addresses a critical knowledge gap in how cancer disparities are understood and how structural racism is embedded in individuals’ lives as they navigate cancer prevention, treatment, and survival. Her commitment to understanding how racial disparities affect health move past the idea of race as a variable, underscoring the role that racism, not race, has in influencing health outcomes. Her work has reframed how health disparities are studied and interpreted.
Community-Engaged Health Research Excellence Award
Beth Russell, professor of human development and family sciences in CLAS (contributed photo)
Beth Russell
Beth Russell is a professor and associate department head for graduate studies in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences. Her research focuses on how people manage emotional distress and the development of interventions that improve emotional well-being. Her research exemplifies the power of community-engaged research in solving pressing societal challenges. Community engagement is a vital component of her work for its role in improving health and well-being for individuals and families. She is working on projects related to mindfulness interventions for youth and young adults; substance use and recovery; and stress, coping, and resilience.
Russell directs the Center for Applied Research in Human Development (CARHD) and is co-director of the Collaboratory on School and Child Health (CSCH), both at UConn. CARHD facilitates community-engaged scholarship by connecting researchers and community partners to develop and evaluate human service programs that benefit communities. Russell and CARHD have worked with the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) for more than 15 years evaluating its federally-funded 21st Century Community Learning Centers After School Grant Program. She has also partnered with local state and nonprofit partners including the Connecticut Departments of Children and Families and Education, United Way, EASTCONN, The Village for Children and Families, and Family Life Education. She has been praised for her intentionality, improving programming and services without burdening staff and by considering a community partner’s needs and resources.
Excellence in Faculty Mentoring Award
Golda S. Ginsburg, professor of psychiatry, at her office in West Hartford on Aug. 13, 2014. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)
Golda Ginsburg
Golda Ginsburg is a professor in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry at the UConn School of Medicine. A leader in pediatric anxiety treatment, she has developed and evaluated interventions for children who have psychiatric disorders, and her research focuses on preventing anxiety disorders, one of the most pervasive psychiatric disorders impacting youth. Ginsburg directs the Child and Adolescent Anxiety and Depression Program (CAMP) Lab at UConn Health. This lab provides students and trainees with significant academic and training experiences.
Ginsburg has been praised for being a patient, dedicated, and supportive mentor who sees mentees as individuals and works with them to ensure they get the experiences necessary to achieve their goals and advance their careers. Since joining UConn, she has mentored more than 50 trainees at various levels of education from high schoolers to post-doctoral fellows. Many of Ginsburg’s student mentees have secured external funding, most notably from the U.S. Department of Education, published peer-reviewed journal articles, or presented at conferences. Ginsburg has also guided junior faculty in successfully applying for external research funding. She serves as a reviewer for the Department of Psychiatry’s mock grant reviews. Ginsburg has received a K24 Mentoring grant from the NIMH. This is a testament to her exceptional mentorship.
When the FIFA World Cup hits North America in June 2026, 48 teams and millions of sports fans will be traveling among venues spread across Canada, the United States and Mexico.
It’s a dramatic expansion – 16 more teams will be playing than in recent years, with a jump from 64 to 104 matches. The tournament, whether you call it soccer or football, is projected to bring in over US$10 billion in revenue. But the expansion will also mean a lot more travel and other activities that contribute to climate change.
The environmental impacts of giant sporting events like the World Cup create a complex paradox for an industry grappling with its future in a warming world.
A sustainability conundrum
Sports are undeniably experiencing the effects of climate change. Rising global temperatures are putting athletes’ health at risk during summer heat waves and shortening winter sports seasons. Many of the 2026 World Cup venues often see heat waves in June and early July, when the tournament is scheduled.
Some athletes are speaking out for more sustainable choices and have called on lawmakers to take steps to limit climate-warming emissions. At the same time, the sport industry is growing and facing a constant push to increase revenue. The NCAA is also considering expanding its March Madness basketball tournaments from 68 teams currently to as many as 76.
Park Yong-woo of team Al Ain from Abu Dhabi tries to cool off during a Club World Cup match on June 26, 2025, in Washington, D.C., which was in the midst of a heat wave. Some players have raised concerns about likely high temperatures during the 2026 World Cup, with matches scheduled June 11 to July 19. AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson
Estimates for the 2026 World Cup show what large tournament expansions can mean for the climate. A report from Scientists for Global Responsibility estimates that the expanded World Cup could generate over 9 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, nearly double the average of the past four World Cups.
This massive increase – and the increase that would come if the NCAA basketball tournaments also expand – would primarily be driven by air travel as fans and players fly among event cities that are thousands of miles apart.
A lot of money is at stake, but so is the climate
Sports are big business, and adding more matches to events like the World Cup and NCAA tournaments will likely lead to larger media rights contracts and greater gate receipts from more fans attending the events, boosting revenues. These are powerful financial incentives.
In the NCAA’s case, there is another reason to consider a larger tournament: The House v. NCAA settlement opened the door for college athletic departments to share revenue with athletes, which will significantly increase costs for many college programs. More teams would mean more television revenue and, crucially, more revenue to be distributed to member NCAA institutions and their athletic conferences.
When climate promises become greenwashing
The inherent conflict between maximizing profit through growth and minimizing environmental footprint presents a dilemma for sports.
Several sport organizations have promised to reduce their impact on the climate, including signing up for initiatives like the United Nations Sports for Climate Action Framework.
However, as sports tournaments and exhibition games expand, it can become increasingly hard for sports organizations to meet their climate commitments. In some cases, groups making sustainability commitments have been accused of greenwashing, suggesting the goals are more about public relations than making genuine, measurable changes.
For example, FIFA’s early claims that it would hold a “fully carbon-neutral” World Cup in Qatar in 2022 were challenged by a group of European countries that accused soccer’s world governing body of underestimating emissions. The Swiss Fairness Commission, which monitors fairness in advertising, considered the complaints and determined that FIFA’s claims could not be substantiated.
Alessandro Bastoni, of Inter Milan and Italy’s national team, prepares to board a flight from Milan to Rome with his team. Mattia Ozbot-Inter/Inter via Getty Images
Aviation is often the biggest driver of emissions. A study that colleagues and I conducted on the NCAA men’s basketball tournament found about 80% of its emissions were connected to travel. And that was after the NCAA began using the pod system, which is designed to keep teams closer to home for the first and second rounds.
These solutions are frankly not practical, in my view, nor do they align with other positive developments. The growing popularity of women’s sports shows the challenge in limiting sports events – more games expands participation but adds to the industry’s overall footprint.
Further compounding the challenges of reducing environmental impact is the amount of fan travel, which is outside the direct control of the sports organization or event organizers.
Many fans will follow their teams long distances, especially for mega-events like the World Cup or the NCAA tournament. During the men’s World Cup in Russia in 2018, more than 840,000 fans traveled from other countries. The top countries by number of fans, after Russia, were China, the U.S., Mexico and Argentina.
There is an argument that distributed sporting events like March Madness or the World Cup can be better in some ways for local environments because they don’t overwhelm a single city. However, merely spreading the impact does not necessarily reduce it, particularly when considering the effects on climate change.
How fans can cut their environmental footprint
Sport organizations and event planners can take steps to be more sustainable and also encourage more sustainable choices among fans. Fans can reduce their environmental impact in a variety of ways. For example:
Avoid taking airplanes for shorter distances, such as between FIFA venues in Philadelphia, New York and Boston, and carpool or take Amtrak instead. Planes can be more efficient for long distances, but air travel is still a major contributing factor to emissions.
While in a host city, use mass transit or rent electric vehicles or bicycles for local travel.
Consider sustainable accommodations, such as short-term rentals that might have a smaller environmental footprint than a hotel. Or stay at a certified green hotel that makes an effort to be more efficient in its use of water and energy.
Engage in sustainable pregame and postgame activities, such as choosing local, sustainable food options, and minimize waste.
You can also pay to offset carbon emissions for attending different sporting events, much like concertgoers do when they attend musical festivals. While critics question offsets’ true environmental benefit, they do represent people’s growing awareness of their environmental footprint.
Through all these options, it’s clear that sports face a significant challenge in addressing their environmental impacts and encouraging fans to be more sustainable, while simultaneously trying to meet ambitious business and environmental targets.
In my view, a sustainable path forward will require strategic, yet genuine, commitment by the sports industry and its fans, and a willingness to prioritize long-term planetary health alongside economic gains – balancing the sport and sustainability.
Brian P. McCullough does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
When the FIFA World Cup hits North America in June 2026, 48 teams and millions of sports fans will be traveling among venues spread across Canada, the United States and Mexico.
It’s a dramatic expansion – 16 more teams will be playing than in recent years, with a jump from 64 to 104 matches. The tournament, whether you call it soccer or football, is projected to bring in over US$10 billion in revenue. But the expansion will also mean a lot more travel and other activities that contribute to climate change.
The environmental impacts of giant sporting events like the World Cup create a complex paradox for an industry grappling with its future in a warming world.
A sustainability conundrum
Sports are undeniably experiencing the effects of climate change. Rising global temperatures are putting athletes’ health at risk during summer heat waves and shortening winter sports seasons. Many of the 2026 World Cup venues often see heat waves in June and early July, when the tournament is scheduled.
Some athletes are speaking out for more sustainable choices and have called on lawmakers to take steps to limit climate-warming emissions. At the same time, the sport industry is growing and facing a constant push to increase revenue. The NCAA is also considering expanding its March Madness basketball tournaments from 68 teams currently to as many as 76.
Park Yong-woo of team Al Ain from Abu Dhabi tries to cool off during a Club World Cup match on June 26, 2025, in Washington, D.C., which was in the midst of a heat wave. Some players have raised concerns about likely high temperatures during the 2026 World Cup, with matches scheduled June 11 to July 19. AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson
Estimates for the 2026 World Cup show what large tournament expansions can mean for the climate. A report from Scientists for Global Responsibility estimates that the expanded World Cup could generate over 9 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, nearly double the average of the past four World Cups.
This massive increase – and the increase that would come if the NCAA basketball tournaments also expand – would primarily be driven by air travel as fans and players fly among event cities that are thousands of miles apart.
A lot of money is at stake, but so is the climate
Sports are big business, and adding more matches to events like the World Cup and NCAA tournaments will likely lead to larger media rights contracts and greater gate receipts from more fans attending the events, boosting revenues. These are powerful financial incentives.
In the NCAA’s case, there is another reason to consider a larger tournament: The House v. NCAA settlement opened the door for college athletic departments to share revenue with athletes, which will significantly increase costs for many college programs. More teams would mean more television revenue and, crucially, more revenue to be distributed to member NCAA institutions and their athletic conferences.
When climate promises become greenwashing
The inherent conflict between maximizing profit through growth and minimizing environmental footprint presents a dilemma for sports.
Several sport organizations have promised to reduce their impact on the climate, including signing up for initiatives like the United Nations Sports for Climate Action Framework.
However, as sports tournaments and exhibition games expand, it can become increasingly hard for sports organizations to meet their climate commitments. In some cases, groups making sustainability commitments have been accused of greenwashing, suggesting the goals are more about public relations than making genuine, measurable changes.
For example, FIFA’s early claims that it would hold a “fully carbon-neutral” World Cup in Qatar in 2022 were challenged by a group of European countries that accused soccer’s world governing body of underestimating emissions. The Swiss Fairness Commission, which monitors fairness in advertising, considered the complaints and determined that FIFA’s claims could not be substantiated.
Alessandro Bastoni, of Inter Milan and Italy’s national team, prepares to board a flight from Milan to Rome with his team. Mattia Ozbot-Inter/Inter via Getty Images
Aviation is often the biggest driver of emissions. A study that colleagues and I conducted on the NCAA men’s basketball tournament found about 80% of its emissions were connected to travel. And that was after the NCAA began using the pod system, which is designed to keep teams closer to home for the first and second rounds.
These solutions are frankly not practical, in my view, nor do they align with other positive developments. The growing popularity of women’s sports shows the challenge in limiting sports events – more games expands participation but adds to the industry’s overall footprint.
Further compounding the challenges of reducing environmental impact is the amount of fan travel, which is outside the direct control of the sports organization or event organizers.
Many fans will follow their teams long distances, especially for mega-events like the World Cup or the NCAA tournament. During the men’s World Cup in Russia in 2018, more than 840,000 fans traveled from other countries. The top countries by number of fans, after Russia, were China, the U.S., Mexico and Argentina.
There is an argument that distributed sporting events like March Madness or the World Cup can be better in some ways for local environments because they don’t overwhelm a single city. However, merely spreading the impact does not necessarily reduce it, particularly when considering the effects on climate change.
How fans can cut their environmental footprint
Sport organizations and event planners can take steps to be more sustainable and also encourage more sustainable choices among fans. Fans can reduce their environmental impact in a variety of ways. For example:
Avoid taking airplanes for shorter distances, such as between FIFA venues in Philadelphia, New York and Boston, and carpool or take Amtrak instead. Planes can be more efficient for long distances, but air travel is still a major contributing factor to emissions.
While in a host city, use mass transit or rent electric vehicles or bicycles for local travel.
Consider sustainable accommodations, such as short-term rentals that might have a smaller environmental footprint than a hotel. Or stay at a certified green hotel that makes an effort to be more efficient in its use of water and energy.
Engage in sustainable pregame and postgame activities, such as choosing local, sustainable food options, and minimize waste.
You can also pay to offset carbon emissions for attending different sporting events, much like concertgoers do when they attend musical festivals. While critics question offsets’ true environmental benefit, they do represent people’s growing awareness of their environmental footprint.
Through all these options, it’s clear that sports face a significant challenge in addressing their environmental impacts and encouraging fans to be more sustainable, while simultaneously trying to meet ambitious business and environmental targets.
In my view, a sustainable path forward will require strategic, yet genuine, commitment by the sports industry and its fans, and a willingness to prioritize long-term planetary health alongside economic gains – balancing the sport and sustainability.
Brian P. McCullough does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
NEW YORK, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Resolute Holdings Management, Inc. (“Resolute Holdings”) (Nasdaq: RHLD), an operating management company responsible for providing management services to CompoSecure Holdings, L.L.C. (“CompoSecure Holdings”), a wholly owned subsidiary of CompoSecure, Inc. (“CompoSecure”) (Nasdaq: CMPO), today announced the appointment of two new members to its Board of Directors (“Board”). Wayne M. Hewett and Timothy O. Mahoney have been appointed to join Resolute Holdings as independent directors.
“We are excited to welcome Wayne and Tim to our Board of Directors. Their extensive financial, operating, and leadership capabilities will be a great asset in our efforts to drive long-term value creation for Resolute Holdings and our shareholders,” said David Cote, Executive Chairman of Resolute Holdings’ Board.
Mr. Wayne Hewett is a seasoned executive leader who currently serves as a Director on the boards of Home Depot (since 2014), Wells Fargo & Company (since 2019), and United Parcel Services, Inc. (since 2020). Since 2018, he has also served as a senior advisor to Permira, a global private equity firm. Since 2019, he has served as Chairman of Cambrex Corporation, a contract developer and manufacturer of active pharmaceutical ingredients; and since 2023, he has served as Chairman of Quotient Sciences, a drug development and manufacturing accelerator. In 2023, he joined the board of managers of ASP Resins Holdings LP, a private company that produces adhesives and performance materials. From 2015 to 2017, Mr. Hewett served as Chief Executive Officer of Klöckner Pentaplast Group, a packaging supplier. Mr. Hewett has previously held several other executive roles, spending over 20 years with General Electric Company (“GE”), including leadership roles in various GE business units and membership on GE’s Corporate Executive Council. Mr. Hewett earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University.
Mr. Timothy Mahoney is a highly experienced aerospace and defense executive who brings a breadth of operating capabilities from his leadership roles at major industrial companies. He served in several executive roles at Honeywell International, Inc. (“Honeywell”), including Senior Vice President of Digital Transformation from 2019 to 2022, Chief Executive Officer of Honeywell Aerospace from 2009 to 2019, and multiple Vice President roles across Honeywell Aerospace from 2003 to 2009. Prior to Honeywell, Mr. Mahoney spent 18 years at Sikorsky Aircraft, where he held a series of increasingly significant leadership roles. Mr. Mahoney earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of South Florida and graduated from the Program for Management Development at Harvard Business School.
“Wayne and Tim bring significant experience and capabilities to our Board, and I look forward to working with them as we continue to scale the platform,” said Tom Knott, Chief Executive Officer of Resolute Holdings.
About Resolute Holdings Management, Inc.
Resolute Holdings (Nasdaq: RHLD) is an alternative asset management platform led by David Cote and Tom Knott that provides operating management services including the oversight of capital allocation strategy, operational practices, and M&A sourcing and execution at CompoSecure Holdings and other managed businesses in the future. Resolute Holdings brings a differentiated approach to long-term value creation through the systematic deployment of the Resolute Operating System, which will create value at both the underlying managed businesses and at Resolute Holdings. For additional information on Resolute Holdings, please refer to Resolute Holdings’ filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or please visit www.resoluteholdings.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of management. Although Resolute Holdings believes that its plans, intentions, and expectations reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, Resolute Holdings cannot assure you that it will achieve or realize these plans, intentions, or expectations. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Generally, statements that are not historical facts, including statements concerning Resolute Holdings’ expectations regarding personnel, future platform acquisitions, limited profitability for the year ending December 31, 2025, revenues from management fees, the deployment of the Resolute Operating System, market opportunities, possible or assumed future actions, business strategies, events, or results of operations, and other matters, are forward-looking statements. In some instances, these statements may be preceded by, followed by or include the words “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “projects,” “forecasts,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “plans,” “scheduled,” “anticipates” or “intends” or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. You should not put undue reliance on these statements which speak only as of the date hereof. You should understand that the following important factors, among others, could affect Resolute Holdings’ future results and could cause those results or other outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied in Resolute Holdings’ forward-looking statements: the timing and amount of the management fees payable to Resolute Holdings, including unexpected fluctuations therein, unexpected changes in costs, risks associated with the implementation of the Resolute Operating System, unexpected market and macroeconomic developments, demand for Resolute Holdings’ services, the ability of Resolute Holdings to grow and manage growth profitably, compete within its industry and attract and retain its key employees; the possibility that Resolute Holdings may be adversely impacted by other global economic, business, competitive and/or other factors, including but not limited to inflationary pressures, volatile interest rates, variable tariff policies or intensified disruptions in the global financial markets; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Resolute Holdings or others; future exchange and interest rates; and other risks and uncertainties, including those under “Risk Factors” in filings that have been made or will be made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Resolute Holdings undertakes no obligations to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
NEW YORK, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Resolute Holdings Management, Inc. (“Resolute Holdings”) (Nasdaq: RHLD), an operating management company responsible for providing management services to CompoSecure Holdings, L.L.C. (“CompoSecure Holdings”), a wholly owned subsidiary of CompoSecure, Inc. (“CompoSecure”) (Nasdaq: CMPO), today announced the appointment of two new members to its Board of Directors (“Board”). Wayne M. Hewett and Timothy O. Mahoney have been appointed to join Resolute Holdings as independent directors.
“We are excited to welcome Wayne and Tim to our Board of Directors. Their extensive financial, operating, and leadership capabilities will be a great asset in our efforts to drive long-term value creation for Resolute Holdings and our shareholders,” said David Cote, Executive Chairman of Resolute Holdings’ Board.
Mr. Wayne Hewett is a seasoned executive leader who currently serves as a Director on the boards of Home Depot (since 2014), Wells Fargo & Company (since 2019), and United Parcel Services, Inc. (since 2020). Since 2018, he has also served as a senior advisor to Permira, a global private equity firm. Since 2019, he has served as Chairman of Cambrex Corporation, a contract developer and manufacturer of active pharmaceutical ingredients; and since 2023, he has served as Chairman of Quotient Sciences, a drug development and manufacturing accelerator. In 2023, he joined the board of managers of ASP Resins Holdings LP, a private company that produces adhesives and performance materials. From 2015 to 2017, Mr. Hewett served as Chief Executive Officer of Klöckner Pentaplast Group, a packaging supplier. Mr. Hewett has previously held several other executive roles, spending over 20 years with General Electric Company (“GE”), including leadership roles in various GE business units and membership on GE’s Corporate Executive Council. Mr. Hewett earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University.
Mr. Timothy Mahoney is a highly experienced aerospace and defense executive who brings a breadth of operating capabilities from his leadership roles at major industrial companies. He served in several executive roles at Honeywell International, Inc. (“Honeywell”), including Senior Vice President of Digital Transformation from 2019 to 2022, Chief Executive Officer of Honeywell Aerospace from 2009 to 2019, and multiple Vice President roles across Honeywell Aerospace from 2003 to 2009. Prior to Honeywell, Mr. Mahoney spent 18 years at Sikorsky Aircraft, where he held a series of increasingly significant leadership roles. Mr. Mahoney earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of South Florida and graduated from the Program for Management Development at Harvard Business School.
“Wayne and Tim bring significant experience and capabilities to our Board, and I look forward to working with them as we continue to scale the platform,” said Tom Knott, Chief Executive Officer of Resolute Holdings.
About Resolute Holdings Management, Inc.
Resolute Holdings (Nasdaq: RHLD) is an alternative asset management platform led by David Cote and Tom Knott that provides operating management services including the oversight of capital allocation strategy, operational practices, and M&A sourcing and execution at CompoSecure Holdings and other managed businesses in the future. Resolute Holdings brings a differentiated approach to long-term value creation through the systematic deployment of the Resolute Operating System, which will create value at both the underlying managed businesses and at Resolute Holdings. For additional information on Resolute Holdings, please refer to Resolute Holdings’ filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or please visit www.resoluteholdings.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of management. Although Resolute Holdings believes that its plans, intentions, and expectations reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, Resolute Holdings cannot assure you that it will achieve or realize these plans, intentions, or expectations. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Generally, statements that are not historical facts, including statements concerning Resolute Holdings’ expectations regarding personnel, future platform acquisitions, limited profitability for the year ending December 31, 2025, revenues from management fees, the deployment of the Resolute Operating System, market opportunities, possible or assumed future actions, business strategies, events, or results of operations, and other matters, are forward-looking statements. In some instances, these statements may be preceded by, followed by or include the words “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “projects,” “forecasts,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “plans,” “scheduled,” “anticipates” or “intends” or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. You should not put undue reliance on these statements which speak only as of the date hereof. You should understand that the following important factors, among others, could affect Resolute Holdings’ future results and could cause those results or other outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied in Resolute Holdings’ forward-looking statements: the timing and amount of the management fees payable to Resolute Holdings, including unexpected fluctuations therein, unexpected changes in costs, risks associated with the implementation of the Resolute Operating System, unexpected market and macroeconomic developments, demand for Resolute Holdings’ services, the ability of Resolute Holdings to grow and manage growth profitably, compete within its industry and attract and retain its key employees; the possibility that Resolute Holdings may be adversely impacted by other global economic, business, competitive and/or other factors, including but not limited to inflationary pressures, volatile interest rates, variable tariff policies or intensified disruptions in the global financial markets; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Resolute Holdings or others; future exchange and interest rates; and other risks and uncertainties, including those under “Risk Factors” in filings that have been made or will be made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Resolute Holdings undertakes no obligations to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
NEW YORK, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Resolute Holdings Management, Inc. (“Resolute Holdings”) (Nasdaq: RHLD), an operating management company responsible for providing management services to CompoSecure Holdings, L.L.C. (“CompoSecure Holdings”), a wholly owned subsidiary of CompoSecure, Inc. (“CompoSecure”) (Nasdaq: CMPO), today announced the appointment of two new members to its Board of Directors (“Board”). Wayne M. Hewett and Timothy O. Mahoney have been appointed to join Resolute Holdings as independent directors.
“We are excited to welcome Wayne and Tim to our Board of Directors. Their extensive financial, operating, and leadership capabilities will be a great asset in our efforts to drive long-term value creation for Resolute Holdings and our shareholders,” said David Cote, Executive Chairman of Resolute Holdings’ Board.
Mr. Wayne Hewett is a seasoned executive leader who currently serves as a Director on the boards of Home Depot (since 2014), Wells Fargo & Company (since 2019), and United Parcel Services, Inc. (since 2020). Since 2018, he has also served as a senior advisor to Permira, a global private equity firm. Since 2019, he has served as Chairman of Cambrex Corporation, a contract developer and manufacturer of active pharmaceutical ingredients; and since 2023, he has served as Chairman of Quotient Sciences, a drug development and manufacturing accelerator. In 2023, he joined the board of managers of ASP Resins Holdings LP, a private company that produces adhesives and performance materials. From 2015 to 2017, Mr. Hewett served as Chief Executive Officer of Klöckner Pentaplast Group, a packaging supplier. Mr. Hewett has previously held several other executive roles, spending over 20 years with General Electric Company (“GE”), including leadership roles in various GE business units and membership on GE’s Corporate Executive Council. Mr. Hewett earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University.
Mr. Timothy Mahoney is a highly experienced aerospace and defense executive who brings a breadth of operating capabilities from his leadership roles at major industrial companies. He served in several executive roles at Honeywell International, Inc. (“Honeywell”), including Senior Vice President of Digital Transformation from 2019 to 2022, Chief Executive Officer of Honeywell Aerospace from 2009 to 2019, and multiple Vice President roles across Honeywell Aerospace from 2003 to 2009. Prior to Honeywell, Mr. Mahoney spent 18 years at Sikorsky Aircraft, where he held a series of increasingly significant leadership roles. Mr. Mahoney earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of South Florida and graduated from the Program for Management Development at Harvard Business School.
“Wayne and Tim bring significant experience and capabilities to our Board, and I look forward to working with them as we continue to scale the platform,” said Tom Knott, Chief Executive Officer of Resolute Holdings.
About Resolute Holdings Management, Inc.
Resolute Holdings (Nasdaq: RHLD) is an alternative asset management platform led by David Cote and Tom Knott that provides operating management services including the oversight of capital allocation strategy, operational practices, and M&A sourcing and execution at CompoSecure Holdings and other managed businesses in the future. Resolute Holdings brings a differentiated approach to long-term value creation through the systematic deployment of the Resolute Operating System, which will create value at both the underlying managed businesses and at Resolute Holdings. For additional information on Resolute Holdings, please refer to Resolute Holdings’ filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or please visit www.resoluteholdings.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of management. Although Resolute Holdings believes that its plans, intentions, and expectations reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, Resolute Holdings cannot assure you that it will achieve or realize these plans, intentions, or expectations. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Generally, statements that are not historical facts, including statements concerning Resolute Holdings’ expectations regarding personnel, future platform acquisitions, limited profitability for the year ending December 31, 2025, revenues from management fees, the deployment of the Resolute Operating System, market opportunities, possible or assumed future actions, business strategies, events, or results of operations, and other matters, are forward-looking statements. In some instances, these statements may be preceded by, followed by or include the words “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “projects,” “forecasts,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “plans,” “scheduled,” “anticipates” or “intends” or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. You should not put undue reliance on these statements which speak only as of the date hereof. You should understand that the following important factors, among others, could affect Resolute Holdings’ future results and could cause those results or other outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied in Resolute Holdings’ forward-looking statements: the timing and amount of the management fees payable to Resolute Holdings, including unexpected fluctuations therein, unexpected changes in costs, risks associated with the implementation of the Resolute Operating System, unexpected market and macroeconomic developments, demand for Resolute Holdings’ services, the ability of Resolute Holdings to grow and manage growth profitably, compete within its industry and attract and retain its key employees; the possibility that Resolute Holdings may be adversely impacted by other global economic, business, competitive and/or other factors, including but not limited to inflationary pressures, volatile interest rates, variable tariff policies or intensified disruptions in the global financial markets; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Resolute Holdings or others; future exchange and interest rates; and other risks and uncertainties, including those under “Risk Factors” in filings that have been made or will be made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Resolute Holdings undertakes no obligations to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
NEW YORK, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Resolute Holdings Management, Inc. (“Resolute Holdings”) (Nasdaq: RHLD), an operating management company responsible for providing management services to CompoSecure Holdings, L.L.C. (“CompoSecure Holdings”), a wholly owned subsidiary of CompoSecure, Inc. (“CompoSecure”) (Nasdaq: CMPO), today announced the appointment of two new members to its Board of Directors (“Board”). Wayne M. Hewett and Timothy O. Mahoney have been appointed to join Resolute Holdings as independent directors.
“We are excited to welcome Wayne and Tim to our Board of Directors. Their extensive financial, operating, and leadership capabilities will be a great asset in our efforts to drive long-term value creation for Resolute Holdings and our shareholders,” said David Cote, Executive Chairman of Resolute Holdings’ Board.
Mr. Wayne Hewett is a seasoned executive leader who currently serves as a Director on the boards of Home Depot (since 2014), Wells Fargo & Company (since 2019), and United Parcel Services, Inc. (since 2020). Since 2018, he has also served as a senior advisor to Permira, a global private equity firm. Since 2019, he has served as Chairman of Cambrex Corporation, a contract developer and manufacturer of active pharmaceutical ingredients; and since 2023, he has served as Chairman of Quotient Sciences, a drug development and manufacturing accelerator. In 2023, he joined the board of managers of ASP Resins Holdings LP, a private company that produces adhesives and performance materials. From 2015 to 2017, Mr. Hewett served as Chief Executive Officer of Klöckner Pentaplast Group, a packaging supplier. Mr. Hewett has previously held several other executive roles, spending over 20 years with General Electric Company (“GE”), including leadership roles in various GE business units and membership on GE’s Corporate Executive Council. Mr. Hewett earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University.
Mr. Timothy Mahoney is a highly experienced aerospace and defense executive who brings a breadth of operating capabilities from his leadership roles at major industrial companies. He served in several executive roles at Honeywell International, Inc. (“Honeywell”), including Senior Vice President of Digital Transformation from 2019 to 2022, Chief Executive Officer of Honeywell Aerospace from 2009 to 2019, and multiple Vice President roles across Honeywell Aerospace from 2003 to 2009. Prior to Honeywell, Mr. Mahoney spent 18 years at Sikorsky Aircraft, where he held a series of increasingly significant leadership roles. Mr. Mahoney earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of South Florida and graduated from the Program for Management Development at Harvard Business School.
“Wayne and Tim bring significant experience and capabilities to our Board, and I look forward to working with them as we continue to scale the platform,” said Tom Knott, Chief Executive Officer of Resolute Holdings.
About Resolute Holdings Management, Inc.
Resolute Holdings (Nasdaq: RHLD) is an alternative asset management platform led by David Cote and Tom Knott that provides operating management services including the oversight of capital allocation strategy, operational practices, and M&A sourcing and execution at CompoSecure Holdings and other managed businesses in the future. Resolute Holdings brings a differentiated approach to long-term value creation through the systematic deployment of the Resolute Operating System, which will create value at both the underlying managed businesses and at Resolute Holdings. For additional information on Resolute Holdings, please refer to Resolute Holdings’ filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or please visit www.resoluteholdings.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of management. Although Resolute Holdings believes that its plans, intentions, and expectations reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, Resolute Holdings cannot assure you that it will achieve or realize these plans, intentions, or expectations. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Generally, statements that are not historical facts, including statements concerning Resolute Holdings’ expectations regarding personnel, future platform acquisitions, limited profitability for the year ending December 31, 2025, revenues from management fees, the deployment of the Resolute Operating System, market opportunities, possible or assumed future actions, business strategies, events, or results of operations, and other matters, are forward-looking statements. In some instances, these statements may be preceded by, followed by or include the words “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “projects,” “forecasts,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “plans,” “scheduled,” “anticipates” or “intends” or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. You should not put undue reliance on these statements which speak only as of the date hereof. You should understand that the following important factors, among others, could affect Resolute Holdings’ future results and could cause those results or other outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied in Resolute Holdings’ forward-looking statements: the timing and amount of the management fees payable to Resolute Holdings, including unexpected fluctuations therein, unexpected changes in costs, risks associated with the implementation of the Resolute Operating System, unexpected market and macroeconomic developments, demand for Resolute Holdings’ services, the ability of Resolute Holdings to grow and manage growth profitably, compete within its industry and attract and retain its key employees; the possibility that Resolute Holdings may be adversely impacted by other global economic, business, competitive and/or other factors, including but not limited to inflationary pressures, volatile interest rates, variable tariff policies or intensified disruptions in the global financial markets; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Resolute Holdings or others; future exchange and interest rates; and other risks and uncertainties, including those under “Risk Factors” in filings that have been made or will be made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Resolute Holdings undertakes no obligations to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
NEW YORK, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Resolute Holdings Management, Inc. (“Resolute Holdings”) (Nasdaq: RHLD), an operating management company responsible for providing management services to CompoSecure Holdings, L.L.C. (“CompoSecure Holdings”), a wholly owned subsidiary of CompoSecure, Inc. (“CompoSecure”) (Nasdaq: CMPO), today announced the appointment of two new members to its Board of Directors (“Board”). Wayne M. Hewett and Timothy O. Mahoney have been appointed to join Resolute Holdings as independent directors.
“We are excited to welcome Wayne and Tim to our Board of Directors. Their extensive financial, operating, and leadership capabilities will be a great asset in our efforts to drive long-term value creation for Resolute Holdings and our shareholders,” said David Cote, Executive Chairman of Resolute Holdings’ Board.
Mr. Wayne Hewett is a seasoned executive leader who currently serves as a Director on the boards of Home Depot (since 2014), Wells Fargo & Company (since 2019), and United Parcel Services, Inc. (since 2020). Since 2018, he has also served as a senior advisor to Permira, a global private equity firm. Since 2019, he has served as Chairman of Cambrex Corporation, a contract developer and manufacturer of active pharmaceutical ingredients; and since 2023, he has served as Chairman of Quotient Sciences, a drug development and manufacturing accelerator. In 2023, he joined the board of managers of ASP Resins Holdings LP, a private company that produces adhesives and performance materials. From 2015 to 2017, Mr. Hewett served as Chief Executive Officer of Klöckner Pentaplast Group, a packaging supplier. Mr. Hewett has previously held several other executive roles, spending over 20 years with General Electric Company (“GE”), including leadership roles in various GE business units and membership on GE’s Corporate Executive Council. Mr. Hewett earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University.
Mr. Timothy Mahoney is a highly experienced aerospace and defense executive who brings a breadth of operating capabilities from his leadership roles at major industrial companies. He served in several executive roles at Honeywell International, Inc. (“Honeywell”), including Senior Vice President of Digital Transformation from 2019 to 2022, Chief Executive Officer of Honeywell Aerospace from 2009 to 2019, and multiple Vice President roles across Honeywell Aerospace from 2003 to 2009. Prior to Honeywell, Mr. Mahoney spent 18 years at Sikorsky Aircraft, where he held a series of increasingly significant leadership roles. Mr. Mahoney earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of South Florida and graduated from the Program for Management Development at Harvard Business School.
“Wayne and Tim bring significant experience and capabilities to our Board, and I look forward to working with them as we continue to scale the platform,” said Tom Knott, Chief Executive Officer of Resolute Holdings.
About Resolute Holdings Management, Inc.
Resolute Holdings (Nasdaq: RHLD) is an alternative asset management platform led by David Cote and Tom Knott that provides operating management services including the oversight of capital allocation strategy, operational practices, and M&A sourcing and execution at CompoSecure Holdings and other managed businesses in the future. Resolute Holdings brings a differentiated approach to long-term value creation through the systematic deployment of the Resolute Operating System, which will create value at both the underlying managed businesses and at Resolute Holdings. For additional information on Resolute Holdings, please refer to Resolute Holdings’ filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or please visit www.resoluteholdings.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of management. Although Resolute Holdings believes that its plans, intentions, and expectations reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, Resolute Holdings cannot assure you that it will achieve or realize these plans, intentions, or expectations. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Generally, statements that are not historical facts, including statements concerning Resolute Holdings’ expectations regarding personnel, future platform acquisitions, limited profitability for the year ending December 31, 2025, revenues from management fees, the deployment of the Resolute Operating System, market opportunities, possible or assumed future actions, business strategies, events, or results of operations, and other matters, are forward-looking statements. In some instances, these statements may be preceded by, followed by or include the words “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “projects,” “forecasts,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “plans,” “scheduled,” “anticipates” or “intends” or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. You should not put undue reliance on these statements which speak only as of the date hereof. You should understand that the following important factors, among others, could affect Resolute Holdings’ future results and could cause those results or other outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied in Resolute Holdings’ forward-looking statements: the timing and amount of the management fees payable to Resolute Holdings, including unexpected fluctuations therein, unexpected changes in costs, risks associated with the implementation of the Resolute Operating System, unexpected market and macroeconomic developments, demand for Resolute Holdings’ services, the ability of Resolute Holdings to grow and manage growth profitably, compete within its industry and attract and retain its key employees; the possibility that Resolute Holdings may be adversely impacted by other global economic, business, competitive and/or other factors, including but not limited to inflationary pressures, volatile interest rates, variable tariff policies or intensified disruptions in the global financial markets; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Resolute Holdings or others; future exchange and interest rates; and other risks and uncertainties, including those under “Risk Factors” in filings that have been made or will be made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Resolute Holdings undertakes no obligations to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
