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Category: Science

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: MAST Upgrade – helping answer the big questions in fusion physics

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    UKAEA and worldwide team tackle fusion physics’ major challenges as MAST Upgrade begins its fourth round of experiments.

    Wide angle of MAST Upgrade machine

    A worldwide team is spearheading a series of ambitious experiments using the UK’s compact tokamak, Mega Amp Spherical Tokamak (MAST) Upgrade, starting today at UKAEA’s Culham Campus.  

    Over the next 100 days, the UK’s national fusion energy laboratory will work with more than 100 scientists from 37 institutions worldwide on MAST Upgrade’s fourth round of experiments.  

    The scientists aim to conduct over 50 experiments, the largest number ever run by MAST Upgrade in an experimental campaign, to generate up to 1,600 plasma pulses. A “pulse” refers to the duration a plasma is confined within a fusion energy machine’s inner vessel.  

    To create fusion, fusion fuel and a confined environment with high temperatures and pressures are needed. 

    The research findings from MAST Upgrade are essential for advancing global knowledge of plasma physics.  

    MAST Upgrade is a compact fusion machine designed in the shape of a cored apple, in contrast to other ring-shaped tokamaks. It tests plasma science theories with deuterium fuel – an isotope of hydrogen – using real-world experiments.  

    This will be MAST Upgrade’s fourth scientific campaign and will focus on these two areas: 

    1. Maximising the core plasma pressure to determine effects on the plasma’s properties. 

    2. Understanding the methods to control the plasma’s exhaust. 

    MAST Upgrade has played a key role in providing the foundation for the design of the UK’s prototype fusion energy powerplant, Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP), to be sited at West Burton in Nottinghamshire. 

    The experiments will see MAST Upgrade operate at higher temperatures (35 million degrees Celsius from 15 million degrees Celsius), creating conditions closer to those expected in future machines, such as STEP.  

    James Harrison, MAST Upgrade Science Leader at UKAEA, said: “A diverse team of researchers from across the world will be contributing to this effort. This will be the most exciting scientific campaign MAST Upgrade has undertaken to date, with a clear focus on understanding how to confine and stabilise high-performance fusion plasmas while ensuring effective power exhaust.” 

    MAST Upgrade is renowned by the fusion industry for addressing one of fusion’s major challenges: plasma exhaust, the intense heat that escapes from the plasma.  

    Dr Fulvio Militello, Director of Plasma Science and Fusion Operations, added: “Previous results have demonstrated the effectiveness of MAST Upgrade’s innovative Super-X divertor, showing a 10-fold reduction exhaust temperature without impacting the hot core plasma. This campaign aims to build on these impressive results and will explore whether more compact and cost-effective divertors can achieve similar reductions in exhaust temperature.” 

    MAST Upgrade received significant enhancements to its operating system this year, including the addition of a cryoplant – a facility that produces and distributes the cooling power required for the magnets, thermal shields, and cryopumps to reduce the pressure inside the machine’s inner vessel, and raise the plasma’s temperature. The £5 million enhancements were funded by UKAEA and the Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council.  

    Equipped with world-class diagnostics, MAST Upgrade can conduct a wide range of measurements supporting an extensive research programme aimed at delivering sustainable fusion energy. 

    “By utilising our world-leading facilities and expertise at UKAEA, we aim to lead the charge in fusion research. MAST Upgrade’s fourth round of experiments will accelerate our scientific progress by deepening the understanding and optimisation of future tokamak designs and fusion powerplants, bringing us one step further to commercial fusion energy,” Dr Militello, concluded.  

    UKAEA will be publishing regular updates from MAST Upgrade’s scientific campaign across its digital channels.

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    Published 15 October 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: NIH and FDA leaders call for innovation in development of smoking cessation treatments

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 2

    Media Advisory

    Tuesday, October 15, 2024

    Commentary emphasizes that engagement across stakeholders is critical to accelerate smoking cessation and reduce smoking-related disease and death.

    If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. To learn how to get support for mental health, drug or alcohol conditions, visit FindSupport.gov. If you are ready to locate a treatment facility or provider, you can go directly to FindTreatment.gov or call 800-662-HELP (4357).

    What

    In a new commentary in the Annals of Internal Medicine, leaders at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) highlight recommendations and opportunities to promote innovation in research and development of smoking cessation therapies, for which there is an urgent need. The authors provide an update on regulatory pathways for smoking cessation treatment, as well as an overview of innovative therapeutic targets, research gaps, and opportunities. They emphasize that active engagement across clinicians, academia, industry, public health, patient advocacy groups, and other stakeholders is critical.

    Cigarette smoking kills nearly 500,000 Americans each year, and over 28 million adults currently smoke in the United States. Though most adults who smoke report that they want to quit, only 31% of those interested in quitting receive counseling and/or medications, and less than 8% effectively quit each year.

    The commentary authors highlight recommendations to address these gaps, including from FDA’s 2023 nicotine replacement therapies guidance. To spark greater innovation in the development of smoking cessation products, the authors highlight the importance of considering meaningful study endpoints in addition to abstinence in smoking cessation trials. For instance, clinically meaningful reductions in smoking, especially if such reductions increase the probability of eventual cessation.

    The authors also emphasize the urgent need for greater research on e-cigarettes, including on long-term health outcomes and rigorous toxicology studies. In addition, they discuss ongoing initiatives at NIH and FDA that aim to facilitate innovative research on smoking cessation, including among groups that have been historically underrepresented in research trials.

    The commentary is publishing in advance of an FDA and NIH Joint Public Meeting on advancing smoking cessation priorities, which is being held on Monday, Oct. 21, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EDT. Registration for the meeting is available here.

    Article

    H Warraich, et al. Opportunities for Innovation in Smoking Cessation Therapies: A Perspective from the NIH and FDA. Annals of Internal Medicine. DOI: 10.7326/ANNALS-24-02318 (2024).

    Who

    • Wilson Compton, M.D., deputy director, NIH’s National Institute on Drug Abuse
    • Brian King, Ph.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products

    About the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA): NIDA is a component of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIDA supports most of the world’s research on the health aspects of drug use and addiction. The Institute carries out a large variety of programs to inform policy, improve practice, and advance addiction science. For more information about NIDA and its programs, visit http://www.nida.nih.gov.
     

    About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov.

    NIH…Turning Discovery Into Health®

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Revealing the Hidden Universe with Full-shell X-ray Optics at NASA MSFC

    Source: NASA

    The study of X-ray emission from astronomical objects reveals secrets about the Universe at the largest and smallest spatial scales. Celestial X-rays are produced by black holes consuming nearby stars, emitted by the million-degree gas that traces the structure between galaxies, and can be used to predict whether stars may be able to host planets hospitable to life. X-ray observations have shown that most of the visible matter in the universe exists as hot gas between galaxies and have conclusively demonstrated that the presence of “dark matter” is needed to explain galaxy cluster dynamics, that dark matter dominates the mass of galaxy clusters, and that it governs the expansion of the cosmos.

    X-ray observations also enable us to probe mysteries of the Universe on the smallest scales. X-ray observations of compact objects such as white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes allow us to use the Universe as a physics laboratory to study conditions that are orders of magnitude more extreme in terms of density, pressure, temperature, and magnetic field strength than anything that can be produced on Earth. In this astrophysical laboratory, researchers expect to reveal new physics at the subatomic scale by conducting investigations such as probing the neutron star equation of state and testing quantum electrodynamics with observations of neutron star atmospheres. At NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, a team of scientists and engineers is building, testing, and flying innovative optics that bring the Universe’s X-ray mysteries into sharper focus.

    A composite X-ray/Optical/Infrared image of the Crab Pulsar. The X-ray image from the Chandra X-ray Observatory (blue and white), reveals exquisite details in the central ring structures and gas flowing out of the polar jets. Optical light from the Hubble Space Telescope (purple) shows foreground and background stars as pinpoints of light. Infrared light from the Spitzer Space Telescope (pink) traces cooler gas in the nebula. Finally, magnetic field direction derived from X-ray polarization observed by the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer is shown as orange lines.
    Magnetic field lines: NASA/Bucciantini et al; X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Optical: NASA/STScI; Infrared: NASA-JPL-Caltech

    Unlike optical telescopes that create images by reflecting or refracting light at near-90-degree angles (normal incidence), focusing X-ray optics must be designed to reflect light at very small angles (grazing incidence). At normal incidence, X-rays are either absorbed by the surface of a mirror or penetrate it entirely. However, at grazing angles of incidence, X-rays reflect very efficiently due to an effect called total external reflection.  In grazing incidence, X-rays reflect off the surface of a mirror like rocks skipping on the surface of a pond.

    A classic design for astronomical grazing incidence optics is the Wolter-I prescription, which consists of two reflecting surfaces, a parabola and hyperbola (see figure below). This optical prescription is revolved around the optical axis to produce a full-shell mirror (i.e., the mirror spans the full circumference) that resembles a gently tapered cone. To increase the light collecting area, multiple mirror shells with incrementally larger diameters and a common focus are fabricated and nested concentrically to comprise a mirror module assembly (MMA).

    Focusing optics are critical to studying the X-ray universe because, in contrast to other optical systems like collimators or coded masks, they produce high signal-to-noise images with low background noise. Two key metrics that characterize the performance of X-ray optics are angular resolution, which is the ability of an optical system to discriminate between closely spaced objects, and effective area, which is the light collecting area of the telescope, typically quoted in units of cm2. Angular resolution is typically measured as the half-power diameter (HPD) of a focused spot in units of arcseconds.  The HPD encircles half of the incident photons in a focused spot and measures the sharpness of the final image; a smaller number is better. 

    Schematic of a full-shell Wolter-I X-ray optic mirror module assembly with five concentrically nested mirror shells. Parallel rays of light enter from the left, reflect twice off the reflective inside surface of the shell (first off the parabolic segment and then off the hyperbolic segment), and converge at the focal plane.

    NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) has been building and flying lightweight, full-shell, focusing X-ray optics for over three decades, always meeting or exceeding angular resolution and effective area requirements. MSFC utilizes an electroformed nickel replication (ENR) technique to make these thin full-shell X-ray optics from nickel alloy.

    X-ray optics development at MSFC began in the early 1990s with the fabrication of optics to support NASA’s Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility (AXAF-S) and then continued via the Constellation-X technology development programs. In 2001, MSFC launched a balloon payload that included two modules each with three mirrors, which produced the first focused hard X-ray (>10 keV) images of an astrophysical source by imaging Cygnus X-1, GRS 1915, and the Crab Nebula.  This initial effort resulted in several follow-up missions over the next 12 years, and became known as the High Energy Replicated Optics (HERO) balloon program.

    In 2012, the first of four sounding rocket flights of the Focusing Optics X-ray Solar Imager (FOXSI) flew with MSFC optics onboard, producing the first focused images of the Sun at energies greater than 5 keV. In 2019 the Astronomical Roentgen Telescope X-ray Concentrator (ART-XC) instrument on the Spectr-Roentgen-Gamma Mission launched with seven MSFC-fabricated X-ray MMAs, each containing 28 mirror shells. ART-XC is currently mapping the sky in the 4-30 keV hard X-ray energy range, studying exotic objects like neutron stars in our own galaxy as well as active galactic nuclei, which are spread across the visible universe. In 2021, the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE), flew and is now performing extraordinary science with an MSFC-led team using three, 24-shell MMAs that were fabricated and calibrated in-house.

    Most recently, in 2024, the fourth FOXSI sounding rocket campaign launched with a high-resolution MSFC MMA. The optics achieved 9.5 arcsecond HPD angular resolution during pre-flight test with an expected 7 arcsecond HPD in gravity-free flight, making this the highest angular resolution flight observation made with a nickel-replicated X-ray optic. Currently MSFC is fabricating an MMA for the Rocket Experiment Demonstration of a Soft X-ray (REDSoX) polarimeter, a sounding rocket mission that will fly a novel soft X-ray polarimeter instrument to observe active galactic nuclei. The REDSoX MMA optic will be 444 mm in diameter, which will make it the largest MMA ever produced by MSFC and the second largest replicated nickel X-ray optic in the world.

    Scientists Wayne Baumgartner (left, crouched) and Nick Thomas (left, standing) calibrate an IXPE MMA in the MSFC 100 m Beamline. Scientist Stephen Bongiorno (right) applies epoxy to an IXPE shell during MMA assembly.

    The ultimate performance of an X-ray optic is determined by errors in the shape, position, and roughness of the optical surface. To push the performance of X-ray optics toward even higher angular resolution and achieve more ambitious science goals, MSFC is currently engaged in a fundamental research and development effort to improve all aspects of full-shell optics fabrication.

    Given that these optics are made with the Electroformed Nickel Replication technique, the fabrication process begins with creation of a replication master, called the mandrel, which is a negative of the desired optical surface. First, the mandrel is figured and polished to specification, then a thin layer of nickel alloy is electroformed onto the mandrel surface. Next, the nickel alloy layer is removed to produce a replicated optical shell, and finally the thin shell is attached to a stiff holding structure for use.

    Each step in this process imparts some degree of error into the final replicated shell. Research and development efforts at MSFC are currently concentrating on reducing distortion induced during the electroforming metal deposition and release steps. Electroforming-induced distortion is caused by material stress built into the electroformed material as it deposits onto the mandrel. Decreasing release-induced distortion is a matter of reducing adhesion strength between the shell and mandrel, increasing strength of the shell material to prevent yielding, and reducing point defects in the release layer.

    Additionally, verifying the performance of these advanced optics requires world-class test facilities. The basic premise of testing an optic designed for X-ray astrophysics is to place a small, bright X-ray source far away from the optic. If the angular size of the source, as viewed from the optic, is smaller than the angular resolution of the optic, the source is effectively simulating X-ray starlight. Due to the absorption of X-rays by air, the entire test facility light path must be placed inside a vacuum chamber.

    At MSFC, a group of scientists and engineers operate the Marshall 100-meter X-ray beamline, a world-class end-to-end test facility for flight and laboratory X-ray optics, instruments, and telescopes. As per the name, it consists of a 100-meter-long vacuum tube with an 8-meter-long, 3-meter-diameter instrument chamber and a variety of X-ray sources ranging from 0.25 – 114 keV. Across the street sits the X-Ray and Cryogenic Facility (XRCF), a 527-meter-long beamline with an 18-meter-long, 6-meter-diameter instrument chamber. These facilities are available for the scientific community to use and highlight the comprehensive optics development and test capability that Marshall is known for.

    Within the X-ray astrophysics community there exist a variety of angular resolution and effective area needs for focusing optics. Given its storied history in X-ray optics, MSFC is uniquely poised to fulfill requirements for large or small, medium- or high-angular-resolution X-ray optics. To help guide technology development, the astrophysics community convenes once per decade to produce a decadal survey. The need for high-angular-resolution and high-throughput X-ray optics is strongly endorsed by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine report, Pathways to Discovery in Astronomy and Astrophysics for the 2020s.In pursuit of this goal, MSFC is continuing to advance the state of the art in full-shell optics. This work will enable the extraordinary mysteries of the X-ray universe to be revealed.

    Project Leads

    Dr. Jessica Gaskin and Dr. Stephen Bongiorno, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC)

    Sponsoring Organizations

    The NASA Astrophysics Division supports this work primarily through the Internal Scientist Funding Model Direct Work Package and competed solicitations. This work is also supported by the Heliophysics Division through competed solicitations, as well as by directed work from other government entities.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Ghana’s informal settlements are not all the same – social networks make a difference in community development

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Seth Asare Okyere, PhD, Visiting lecturer, University of Pittsburg and Adjunct Associate Professor, Osaka University, University of Pittsburgh

    Informal settlements in Africa are diverse. Across regions and even in the same city, socioeconomic and physical conditions vary. One thing is common though: upgrading them is a challenge.

    Among the challenges are issues of including people, having enough funding and sustaining improvements. That’s why attention is shifting to community driven development. This concept refers to local interventions that are started or led by community groups with support from the local government, private or civil society organisations.

    Community driven development has gained support from international agencies such as the World Bank. The World Bank Group is estimated to have invested about US$30 billion in projects like this across 94 countries.

    These initiatives are considered more affordable, efficient and durable. Communities often contribute local resources and labour, and residents can learn skills from service providers which enable them to manage projects in the long term. When residents work together it can also strengthen bonds and build social capital. Social capital generally refers to the ties, bonds, relationships and trust found in a community. It is an important resource in informal settlements.

    We are a group of urban and development planners who examined the role of social capital in community driven development in urban Ghana.

    We conducted our study in the Abese Quarter (La township) and Old Tulaku communities, in the Greater Accra metropolitan area. These are both informal settlements but have different social characters.

    Our findings highlight the need for local governments to tailor development to the social context of informal settlements. Development planning institutions should use the networks already present in communities, as well as providing external help and resources.

    The research

    Our analysis was based on questionnaire responses from 300 residents of informal settlements in Greater Accra. Abese Quarter is what we call an indigenous settlement. It it composed of residents from the local Ga ethnic group with similar cultural practices. Old Tulaku is a migrant settlement. It includes a mix of residents originally from other regions in Ghana who moved to Accra in search of economic opportunities.

    We observed community water and sanitation projects planned and carried out by local residents.

    In doing so, we considered the role of two types of social capital: bonding and bridging.

    Bonding social capital deals with the personal relationships between individuals based on shared identity. It’s about family, close companionship, culture and ethnicity. Bridging social capital refers to the connection between people and external groups.

    In the indigenous settlement, bonding social capital had a positive influence on community driven development. Bridging social capital showed a negative relationship with it. For example, the public toilet in the community was in a deplorable state. This seemed to be explained by an inability to build wider connections outside the community to get the support needed. We reason that socially homogeneous communities tend to generate inward-looking networks that limit access to resources from beyond the group. Overemphasis on social ties can impede long-term community development.

    In the migrant informal settlement, our research revealed the opposite. Without shared identities (like ethnicity, language and social norms), migrant residents drew on shared challenges and goals. They organised and built connections to get support from businesses and donors for community projects.

    Our research reinforces the argument that the relationship between social capital and community-driven development of informal settlements is not straightforward. The social character of the settlement, be it indigenous or migrant, produces different outcomes.

    Bonding and bridging social capital

    Informal settlements are often neglected by local government and planning authorities. In such poor conditions, social connections influence the local capacity to carry out improvement projects.

    Typically, high levels of bonding social capital are seen to promote collective action in communities that share similar social and cultural norms and practices. However, the long term benefits of such projects may require building partnerships with external support organisations and service providers.

    Bridging social capital goes beyond shared identities. It fosters connection between people and external organisations.

    Generally, community-driven development success is greatest when both forms of social capital are high and used together. For instance, in the Ubungo Darajani informal settlement in Kinondoni Municipality in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, landholders relied on both to secure land for community development.

    What next?

    Local government and community-based organisations should harness the different forms of social capital for development.

    Policymakers can learn from the creative and innovative ways that informal communities solve problems. This could help improve informal settlements equitably and sustainably.

    Beatrice Eyram Afi Ziorklui, a registered valuer and auditor at the Performance and Special Audit Department of the Ghana Audit Service, was part of the research team and contributed to this article.

    Louis Kusi Frimpong receives funding from Social Science Research Council (SSRC) through the African Peacebuilding Network (APN) Individual Research Fellowship Program.

    Matthew Abunyewah receives funding from the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) and Northern Western Australia and Northern Territory Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub (Northern Hubb)

    Stephen Leonard Mensah receives funding from the Works, Inc. Memphis, Tennessee, USA for his PhD studies.

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

    – ref. Ghana’s informal settlements are not all the same – social networks make a difference in community development – https://theconversation.com/ghanas-informal-settlements-are-not-all-the-same-social-networks-make-a-difference-in-community-development-239133

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Strengthening dialogue and action to address the needs of Ukrainian Roma impacted by war focus of ODIHR event

    Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

    Headline: Strengthening dialogue and action to address the needs of Ukrainian Roma impacted by war focus of ODIHR event

    Mykhailo Bilyavskyi, a Lawyer and Roma mediator from the Roma Women’s Fund “Chiricli,” speaks at an event related to Ukrainian Roma impacted by the war in Ukraine, organized by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) during the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference. (OSCE/Piotr Dziubak) Photo details

    Greater efforts are required to address inequalities and the needs of Ukrainian Roma impacted by the war in Ukraine, agreed participants at an event organized this week by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) during the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference.
    “The human rights challenges experienced by Ukrainian Roma remain a matter of importance for ODIHR,” said Tea Jaliashvili, ODIHR Director’s Alternate/First Deputy Director. “We continue to make significant efforts to support both states and civil society in assisting Roma communities from Ukraine.”
    ODIHR is continuing its work to provide a platform for discussion between the Ukrainian government, Roma civil society, and the international community, on the challenges facing the Roma community since 24 February 2022.
    “The war has brought so much harm to the civilian population, including Roma, who were already suffering from unequal treatment and hardship. The Ukrainian Government continues to implement tailored policies to protect the rights of Roma despite the difficult circumstances,” emphasised Ihor Lossovskyi, Deputy Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Affairs and Freedom of Conscience.
    Participants in the event, which was organised under the auspices of ODIHR’s Advancing the Human Dimension of Security in Ukraine project, emphasised that forcibly displaced Roma often face prejudice and discrimination, while women suffer particularly from intersectional discrimination and exploitation. To address these concerns, Roma civil society, the international community and the Ukrainian authorities need to join efforts to ensure that the rights of Roma are respected without discrimination and with dignity.
    “Promoting and protecting Roma rights is not only an act of justice for Roma, but an indicator of equality in society overall,” said Janush Panchenko, a Roma human rights advocate from Ukraine. “The war has worsened already existing inequalities and forced Roma into profound exclusion. It is a collective duty to prevent further marginalisation.”
    ODIHR provides a forum for dialogue between OSCE states and civil society to ensure the protection of Roma communities at risk. The Office has continued to provide a platform for discussion between the Ukrainian government, Roma civil society, and the international community on challenges facing Roma since the war began, and ODIHR has also carried out human rights monitoring of displaced Roma, including women, in Ukraine as well as neighbouring countries.
    The Office’s mandate to improve the situation of Roma and Sinti also includes promoting dialogue between OSCE states and civil society to ensure the protection of Roma communities, in line with the 2003 Action Plan on Improving the Situation of Roma and Sinti within the OSCE Area. In December 2023, ODIHR published its five-yearly report on progress made by OSCE states towards Roma inclusion and the many challenges that remain.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Cardinal Marengo: mission is a mystery

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Photo: Arlindo Guterres

    by Cardinal Giorgio Marengo IMCRome (Agenzia Fides) – We are pleased to publish the Prolusion made today by Cardinal Giorgio Marengo, Consolata missionary and Apostolic Prefect of Ulaanbaatar, on the occasion of the opening day of the academic year at the Pontifical Urbaniana University. The speech, entitled “Missionary Church and the missionary nature of the Church: a perspective from Asia”, focused on the mystery of grace and gratitude that feed every authentic missionary dynamism. Cardinal Marengo’s conference was preceded by an introductory speech by Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization (Section for First Evangelization and the New Particular Churches) and Grand Chancellor of the Urbaniana University. After the speech by Sister Lourdes Fabiola Martinez Sandate, who spoke on behalf of the university’s students, Professor Vincenzo Buonomo, Pontifical Delegate and Grand Rector of the Pontifical Urbaniana University, gave an outlook on the study and research perspectives for the new academic year.Dear Grand Chancellor,Most Reverend Eminences and Excellencies,Dear Pontifical Delegate and Grand Rector,Academic Authorities,Esteemed Professors and Dear Students,It is with great joy that I take the floor today for the first time after having attended this university myself as a student for a long time. I feel very honored to be here at the opening of this new academic year, which will once again bring teachers, researchers, students and administrative staff to this hill every day to give their best in the service of the Church.The mission as a sighOn May 26 last year, Father Stephan Kim Seong-hyeon, a Korean priest from Daejeon with whom I had been doing missionary work in Mongolia, suddenly died. It was a great loss for everyone. Like me, he had also studied at this university and I remember him talking about his studies at Urbaniana University. As a priest preparing to return to his homeland to begin his ministry in the diocese, he wondered what benefit he would get from studying at this university. He received the answer from a missionary who had lived for years in Muslim-majority countries and in areas with Arab culture. When asked about the theories of the moment, this missionary had not given a theoretical answer but let out a long sigh: “Ah, the mission!” A mixture of joy and melancholy, perhaps even frustration; the missionary’s eyes shone, pointing to something moving and sacred that had now completely marked his life. This sigh deeply touched Father Stephan Kim and opened his eyes to the mystery of mission as a horizon that embraces life, including that of the diocesan priest. It was this sigh that led him to interpret his entire ministry in a missionary sense. And then he received the gift of being able to go to Mongolia.A biblical icon: the meeting at Emmaus“Ah, the mission!” This sigh makes us reflect even today. Let us look, for example, at the episode in which the sad disciples leave Jerusalem “on the first day of the week”. We are in chapter 24 of the Gospel of Luke. “Are you the only visitor?” (cf. Lk 24:18), as if to say: “Do you not know?” It is an outburst of disappointment and anger. “But we had hoped…” (cf. Lk 24:21). Sometimes we too are seized by a sigh of disappointment; things are not as we would have liked them to be and we walk with our eyes downcast, unable to recognize the mysterious wanderer who is with us. We need him to shake us up with his strong words: “You are foolish and slow of heart” (Lk 24:25). It quickly becomes clear that this is not a sterile rebuke, but an invitation to make a leap in quality, in depth. “Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures” (Lk 24:27). Indeed, the object of research, teaching and study is not the opinion of this or that thinker, but “everything that is written about him”, on the Lord and Saviour who, by revealing the face of the Father, changed the destiny of humanity and sparked the dynamism of mission. Little by little, the disciples’ hearts open to the point of an unprecedented sigh: ” “Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?” (Lk 24:32).It is the Eucharist and the Word that convert our hearts. The academic work carried out in this prestigious university should always be accompanied by worship and the meditated study in a spirit of prayer, and not parallel to the spiritual life, almost as if they were threads held together with difficulty. This is where the proclamation comes from, not from anything else: “Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread” (Lk 24:35). Until Jesus himself, “while they were still speaking about this” (Lk 24:36), came among them and announced to them the fullness that awaits the whole of history: “Peace be with you” (Lk 24:36). The mission aims precisely to make this encounter possible in a concrete way; indeed, where the disciples gather to bear witness to Christ, he enters into their midst in a new, unprecedented way, drawing everyone into his love. It is He, the Risen One, who reveals to us the profound meaning of Sacred Scripture and expressly sends us out into the world: “You are witnesses of these things” (Lk 24:48). And we can only be so in the power of his Spirit: “And behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you” (Lk 24:49).A vocation that is still valid: the Mission “ad gentes”If this dynamism aimed at proclaiming the overwhelming newness of the Gospel applies to every baptized person as a missionary disciple – as the Holy Father often reminds us – we must remember that there is also a specific dimension of missionary activity that we call first evangelization or mission “ad gentes”. This refers to the gift of grace to proclaim the Gospel in contexts where it is not yet known and where there are simply no others who can bear witness to it. It is true that every action of the Church is permeated by mission because it represents its goal and its horizon; but it is one thing to put it into practice in situations where the possibility of an explicit encounter with Christ is offered in a variety of forms, made possible by communities of faith already formed and endowed with a variety of charisms and ministries; it is something else – or at least something special – to dedicate oneself to the witness of the Gospel where there are no other ecclesial subjects, because the community is not yet constituted and structured. It is undoubtedly true that the mobility of people today creates situations in which other people are very close and one no longer has to cross the seas to meet them. In many parts of the world there is already a local part of the Church and it is the task of the particular Church in that territory to face the challenges posed by increasingly multicultural and interreligious societies. In the regions more marked by phenomena such as secularization and the decline of priestly vocations, we will probably have to act differently than in the past, but the fact remains that the Church is already present in these areas. We often overlook the fact that instead there are entire regions of our planet where the Church is not yet established or is in the initial phase of its local rooting.In Mongolia, for example, the visible Church has only existed for 32 years and is made up of a small flock of about 1,500 local believers accompanied by a group of missionaries, only one of whom is a local priest. The complete translation of the Bible into the local language is still in progress; some liturgical texts still need to be approved by the Vatican. In Catholic communities, a path of initiation into the faith is offered that lasts about two years and requires a lot of commitment from the catechists and catechumens, since they are choosing a faith that is in some way at odds with the society in which they live, which traditionally has other points of reference. Everything is new and has a revolutionary impact that requires depth, firmness in doctrine and quality of witness.Living and working in such situations is what is commonly called mission “ad gentes”, which continues to have its own specific value because it is a specific vocation. Most of these situations, where the proclamation of the Gospel and the life connected to it are still in their infancy, are in Asia, a continent where about 61% of the world’s population live, but less than 13.1% of them identify with Christianity. A series of historical failures? Procedural errors? It is difficult to say. Especially since the criterion cannot be success or failure as the world understands it. The reference point remains the words of Jesus on the Kingdom of God and its appearance in the world, characterized by an obvious disproportion: little in much, leaven in the mass, fertile marginality. In any case, it is important to remember that this specific type of missionary service exists, even within a fully missionary Church.A specific formationThe mission “ad gentes” therefore requires a specific formation. 397 years ago, shortly after the foundation of the Congregation “De Propaganda Fide”, the “Collegio Urbano” was founded, the first nucleus of this prestigious academic institution. Can one “learn” the mission? Yes, just as the disciples of Emmaus had to listen to the Risen One who “explained to them what is written about him in the Scriptures”. It is above all a matter of continually exploring the mystery of Christ and the Church, his Bride, from every possible angle. The mission needs philosophy, but also the social sciences, linguistics, canon law and, above all, theology. Zeal alone may not be enough. Blessed Giuseppe Allamano, founder of the Consolata Missionaries, who will be canonized in St. Peter’s Square in a few days, used to say: “Holiness alone is not enough for a missionary, science is also needed, depending on our goal. Piety can form a good hermit, but only science combined with piety can form a good missionary.” And he continued: “The need for science also derives from tradition. Popes, Councils, and Fathers of the Church have always and everywhere declared the need for science for priests. On this point, the Church has always insisted, with explicit instructions to the superiors of seminaries, not to admit to ordination those who do not have the necessary knowledge. This explains why in some religious orders only the most learned are sent on missions.” And he concluded: “Believe me: you will do much or little good, or even evil, depending on whether you have studied or not. A missionary without knowledge is a lamp that has gone out”.We study not only because “it is our duty”, because we have been sent by our superiors, or even to nurture career ambitions: in the Church there is no career; it would be mean indeed if such a unique academic institution were considered a breeding ground for mere “employees” of diocesan structures that do not stand out for zeal and scholarship specifically oriented towards mission. We study out of love for Christ, the Church and the people to whom we are sent as missionaries. It is precisely this particular kind of mission that requires adequate preparation. It is a matter of respect for the mystery of the Incarnation of the Word, which resonates in the Church sent by Him, not as a megaphone of an ideological message, but as the mystical Body and People of God, at home in all cultures and fertilizing them with the Gospel. It is a matter of taking the encounter between the Gospel and cultures seriously.Rufina Chamyngerel, also a former student of this university and now head of the Pastoral Office of the Apostolic Prefecture of Ulaanbaatar, said it in a disarming way. On the occasion of the prayer vigil in St. Peter’s for the Extraordinary Missionary Month 2019 proclaimed by Pope Francis, she recalled that when the Church decided in 1992 to resume its mission in Mongolia – interrupted by 70 years of strict pro-Soviet rule – it did not send packages of books, but physical people who would fit in and give a living, physical witness to the Gospel. Yes, the encounter with Christ can take place in the most diverse ways, mostly unknown to us; but it usually requires human mediation, concrete people who embody the words of Jesus and invite us to the banquet of the Kingdom of God. Saint Paul VI reminded us of this in his Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi, and it is worth quoting his words again today: “People can be saved by the mercy of God in other ways, even if we do not preach the Gospel to them; but how can we save ourselves if we fail to preach it out of negligence, fear, shame – what Saint Paul calls ‘ashamed of the Gospel’ – or because of false ideas?” This school of discipleship and mission opens up ever new paths of learning, because by tiptoeing into homes in every latitude, we discover fascinating worlds to love and to get to know in depth.Thanks to passionate study, serious scientific research and investigation, even four centuries after the founding of our University, we are able to express the infinite depths of Christ’s message and to decipher cultural languages that allow us to reach the hearts of peoples and peoples.How many sighs have been uttered here! Distance from home and a language that one does not yet master can make one sigh; but even a trace of research that seems to get lost among the pages read in the library or historical truths that are difficult to accept can become sighs. But everything becomes a desire, because in the awareness of lack, one opens oneself more to God and to one’s neighbour.From sighing to whisperingFinally, the sigh becomes a whisper. Finally, allow me to repeat the expression of Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil, which I do not want to withhold from you, to briefly describe the mission: whispering the Gospel into the heart of cultures. The mission is a mystery that makes us sigh with true love above all for Him, the Risen One, who unites us to Himself in order to make Himself present to others. Christ and his Gospel are the heart and the only content of the missionary impulse that animates the Church, today as it has always been. “Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel,” Saint Paul reminds us (1 Cor 9:16). The world needs this good news and has a right to receive it. In a time of general distrust of grand narratives, of post-colonial historical revisionism, of fear of any thought that is not weak (because it is seen as potentially offensive and threatening), the Church continues to proclaim the Gospel, faithful to the mandate she received from her Lord, which is written in large letters on the outside of the main building of this university: Euntes docete. More than just a message, it is a word of salvation and fullness, embodied in life and addressed to the heart, that is, to the deepest fibers of man and of the culture in which he lives and understands himself. It is the evangelization of the heart that requires a commitment to deciphering, studying and deepening the wonderful interweaving of culture, religious tradition, language, literature, art, music, but also territories, symbols and trends. When one finds oneself in this relationship of deep knowledge, appreciation and friendship, one will spontaneously pass on, whispering delicately and discreetly what is most dear to one’s heart.Whispering also speaks of a prayerful attitude, a contemplative dimension, as in the very ancient religious traditions that arose in Asia, where the register of the meditated, repeated word, recited in chorus predominates. And of silence. Pope Francis recalled this last year in Mongolia, addressing the small local Church: “Yes, He is the good news intended for all peoples, the proclamation that the Church must always bring, making it concrete in life and ‘whispering’ it in the hearts of individuals and cultures.” The language of God is often a slow whisper that takes its time; this is how he speaks. This experience of the love of God in Christ is pure light that transfigures the face and in turn makes it shine. Brothers and sisters, the Christian life is born from the contemplation of this face, it is a matter of love, of the daily encounter with the Lord in the word and in the bread of life, in the face of the other and in the needy in whom Jesus is present”. May this new academic year at the Urbaniana University bring us all closer to this face and make us ever more radiant and shining, reflecting it around us. (Agenzia Fides, 15/10/2024)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Statement from Governor Hochul on Federal CHIPS Grant

    Source: US State of New York

    “The rebirth of Upstate New York’s manufacturing industry continues today, as the Biden-Harris Administration announces a major $750 million CHIPS grant for Wolfspeed. New Yorkers are incredibly grateful to the Biden-Harris Administration, Secretary Raimondo, Leader Schumer and the entire New York Congressional Delegation for championing the CHIPS and Science Act – a law that is helping companies create good-paying jobs and expand economic opportunity across New York.

    “Two years ago, I was proud to cut the ribbon on Wolfspeed’s first-of-its-kind, 200 mm silicon carbide fabrication facility at Marcy Nanocenterwhich is already creating good manufacturing jobs, attracting top-notch talent and bringing opportunity to Upstate NY. Wolfspeed was able to expand in Oneida County thanks to years of research and development in the Empire State. Even before shovels were in the ground at Marcy Nanocenter, Wolfspeed had been working at Albany’s Nanotech Complex with NY CREATES to perfect the 200mm silicon carbide manufacturing process. Now, the technology produced in Marcy powers electric vehicles, the 5G revolution and industrial products to help meet our nation-leading sustainability goals. With Wolfspeed as an anchor and investments by my administration in shovel readiness through the FAST NY program, we will bring even more innovative and cutting edge companies to the Mohawk Valley.

    “With federal investments and New York’s own Green CHIPS Act, we’re making the Empire State a global leader in advanced manufacturing. We’re charting a new path forward to seize the future and prepare for the next century of economic growth.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Eclipse Megamovie Coding Competition

    Source: NASA

    Making the most of a solar eclipse demands attention to detail. Do you have what it takes? NASA’s Eclipse Megamovie project launched a new coding competition, and they need your help to organize images from the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse. This is your chance to make a lasting contribution to solar science!

    The Eclipse Megamovie project asked volunteers to take photos of the total solar eclipse that took place on April 8, 2024 to discover the secret lives of solar jets and plumes. Many jets and plumes seem to disappear or change from the time they are formed on the Sun to when they move out into the solar wind. Thanks to the efforts of over 145 citizen scientists, more than 1 terabyte of photographs were collected and are now being analyzed. These images will help scientists track disappearing jets and plumes, shedding light on how these solar events impact space weather and our understanding of the Sun’s outer atmosphere.

    One of the standout volunteers in the Eclipse Megamovie project is Hy Tran, a citizen scientist who earned praise from the science team for his detailed feedback and mentorship of fellow volunteers. “We love working with volunteers like Hy,” said Eclipse Megamovie scientist Hannah Hellman. “They bring passion, experience, and technological knowledge to our projects.”

    Superstar volunteer Hy Tran helps mentor other eclipse chasers. You can join the Eclipse Megamovie project now  by taking part in a coding competition!

    Tran’s day job is in metrology—the science of measurement (not to be confused with meteorology!). “In my professional life,” said Tran, “I support a measurement standards and calibration program, so we live by having good procedures!” He also volunteers in technical societies, focusing on standards development, engineering, and technology education. Outside of work, Hy mentors and serves as a local leader in science/technology/engineering/mathematics (STEM) outreach.  He loves woodturning and dabbles in amateur astrophotography and underwater photography. The technical challenges of participating in eclipse science projects so far have hit his sweet spot.

    Although it will be a while until the next eclipse, the Eclipse Megamovie team still needs your help. Join volunteers like Hy and participate in their coding competition! Your mission is to create the most accurate sorting machine that categorizes a solar eclipse photograph into a specific solar eclipse phase. Not only will your code help organize the massive amounts of data collected, but you’ll also have the chance to win some prizes.

    Prizes for the Competition

    First Place: Image-stabilized binoculars with solar filters, a feature on the Eclipse Megamovie website, an Eclipse Megamovie Team Patch, a NASA calendar, an Eclipse Megamovie sticker, and a First Prize Certificate.
    Second and Third Place: A feature on the Eclipse Megamovie website, an Eclipse Megamovie Team Patch, a NASA calendar, an Eclipse Megamovie sticker, and a certificate.

    Think you’ve got the skills to tackle this challenge? Visit the Eclipse Megamovie project website to sign up today!

      For more information, visit the Eclipse Megamovie page at Kaggle: http://kaggle.com/competitions/eclipse-megamovie.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Innovative Essex health projects get cash boost

    Source: Anglia Ruskin University

    Published: 15 October 2024 at 14:30

    Funding from Anglia Ruskin University is helping small firms’ cutting-edge initiatives

    Virtual reality therapy for people suffering from mental health disorders, using AI to manage demand on NHS services, and technology that listens to a child’s cough to assist early diagnoses are among the Essex innovations that have received thousands of pounds of funding from Arise Innovation Hubs – part of Anglia Ruskin University (ARU).

    The ABOVE (Arise Beyond Open Innovation for Value and Entrepreneurship) innovation support grants are aimed at assisting small and medium-sized enterprises in Essex working on healthcare solutions through medical technology. Not-for-profit, charitable organisations, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and start-ups are all eligible for support.

    The following eight businesses have been awarded grants of up to £5,000:

    • Aerial Icon Limited, which is pioneering the production of ultra-high-quality aerial 360 videos to deliver innovative virtual reality (VR) therapeutic health interventions for mental health disorders such as anxiety, fear of heights, and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). The initiative has also received funding from Innovate UK.

    • Elixir AI is working on a project to determine if listening to a child’s cough at the time of GP referral can lead to early diagnosis, and received funding to enhance their software for a larger study with Colchester and Ipswich Hospitals.

    • Japeto, a software agency in Harlow, used their grant to build a dedicated computer rig capable of running Large Language Models (LLMs) at sufficient speed. This project, named ‘The Blue Fairy,’ aims to establish the viability of different LLMs in healthcare chatbot applications.

    • C-Prio Ltd, focusing on automation and AI to meet the growing demand on NHS histopathology services, used its ABOVE grant in the clinical validation phase of their AI models, specifically for acquiring real digital images of colorectal biopsies, enabling rigorous testing and refinement.

    • Tech Balance Limited received grant funding to support the development of a wellbeing app using behavioural science to guide UK university students towards better wellbeing.

    • Guardpack Ltd, a manufacturer of sachets and wipes, used its funding to help develop more environmentally friendly options for its customers.

    • eScent is developing a wearable, context-driven scent intervention to address increasing levels of anxiety and stress. The funding will be used to secure the company’s intellectual property in the USA and commission a design.

    • Southend-based Surgical Holdings will use its grant to complete ecodesign work, leading to patent protection of new products which are sold worldwide.

    The funding for the ABOVE programme has been provided by Essex County Council as part of its 10-year sector strategy to grow life science, digitech, advanced manufacturing and engineering sectors, leading to more opportunities, jobs and growth across Essex.

    Arise Innovation Hubs are also working closely with partners Medilink Midlands, a specialist provider of support to the life science sector, to help SMEs overcome barriers to growth.

    Dr Beverley Vaughan, Director of Arise Innovation Hubs, said:

    “We were delighted to receive so many applications for the first round of ABOVE funding from healthcare innovators across the county.

    “The enterprises that have been supported by these grants are working on projects that have potential to make a real difference to people’s lives.

    “The ABOVE funding has been a vital cog in the development of some of these projects, assisting these small firms with job creation, testing and product design.”

    Melanie Davidson, CEO at Medilink Midlands, added:

    “Developing the partnership with Arise Innovation Hubs, our innovation focused business support programmes have gone from strength to strength, and the ABOVE funding grants allow the eight awarded innovators to further develop and grow their health care solutions within the medtech sector.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Appointments to the Judicial Compensation and Benefits Commission

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    The Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the appointments of Graham Flack, Douglas Hodson, and Anne Giardini, to the Judicial Compensation and Benefits Commission.

    October 15, 2024 – Ottawa – Department of Justice Canada

    The Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced the appointments of Graham Flack, Douglas Hodson, and Anne Giardini, to the Judicial Compensation and Benefits Commission.

    The Judicial Compensation and Benefits Commission, also known as the Quadrennial Commission, is established under the Judges Act (the Act) to examine the adequacy of the salaries and benefits of the federally appointed judiciary. Additional information on the Judicial Compensation and Benefits Commission is available at quadcom.gc.ca.

    Biographies

    Graham Flack of Ottawa is appointed as the member nominated by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada. Mr. Flack received degrees in political science and economics from Dalhousie and Oxford University where he was a Rhodes Scholar. He is a former law clerk of the Supreme Court of Canada and graduated with an LL.B. from Dalhousie University and an LL.M. from Harvard University. Mr. Flack began his career in the Privy Council Office and worked on the Quebec referendum campaign, the Quebec Secession Reference and Clarity Act. Following 9/11 he became Director of Operations and led work on the Canada-US Smart Borders Declaration, as well as Canada’s first National Security Policy. He held senior executive roles at Natural Resources Canada and the Department of Finance where he was Assistant Deputy Minister, International Trade and Finance and worked on the G7 and G20 response to the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. From 2010-2013, he was Associate Deputy Minister then-Acting Deputy Minister at Public Safety Canada. From 2013-14, he was Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet at the Privy Council Office. From 2014-18, he was Deputy Minister of Canadian Heritage. From 2018-2022, he was Deputy Minister of Employment and Social Development Canada. From 2022-2024, he was Secretary of the Treasury Board. Mr. Flack is the founding chair of the Deputy Minister Committee on Innovation and Deputy Minister Champion for the Federal Youth Network and for Dalhousie University.

    Douglas Hodson, K.C., of Saskatoon is appointed as the member nominated by the judiciary. Mr. Hodson attended the University of Saskatchewan and earned a B.Comm. (with honours) in 1981 and a LL.B. (with distinction) in 1984. He was admitted to the Saskatchewan bar in 1985. Mr. Hodson is a partner at MLT Aikins LLP in Saskatoon since 1984. He focuses on commercial litigation and has significant experience in complex arbitrations, transportation law, and shareholder disputes. He has argued significant cases before all levels of court in Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario and before the Federal Courts and the Supreme Court of Canada. He was appointed King’s Counsel in 2007. Mr. Hodson is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America. He is one of the most distinguished community leaders in Saskatoon. His volunteer portfolio is diverse and extensive, and includes active involvement with a number of professional, business and social organizations. His significant contributions to his profession and community have been recognized on numerous occasions.

    Anne Giardini, K.C., of Toronto is appointed Chair following her nomination by the other two members of the Judicial Compensation and Benefits Commission. Ms. Giardini is a Canadian business executive, journalist, lawyer, and writer. She earned a B.A. from Simon Fraser University and a LL.B. from the University of British Columbia. She also holds an LL.M. from Cambridge University. She was admitted to practise in Ontario, British Columbia, and Washington State. From 1985 to 2020, Ms. Giardini clerked at the Court of Appeal for British Columbia, articled at Bull Housser & Tupper (now Norton Rose), practised at Mawhinney & Kellough (now Dentons) in Vancouver, before moving to Italy to work for a US law firm. In 1994, she joined Weyerhaeuser Company Limited, Canadian subsidiary of Weyerhaeuser Company, an international forest products company with a head office in Washington. She was Canadian vice-president and general counsel from 2006 to 2008 and president from 2008 to 2015. Since 2015, she is a sole corporate director. She was appointed King’s Counsel in 2009. Ms. Giardini is an active volunteer and has served as Chair of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, Vancouver International Writers Festival, UniverCity at SFU, and Simon Fraser University as deputy chair. She is also a supporter of Plan Canada and volunteer for Vancouver YWCA’s Women of Distinction Awards and Young Women in Business. She served as the 11th chancellor of Simon Fraser University from 2014 to 2020. She has been on the boards of Hydro One, mining companies, the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Inc. and other companies. Ms. Giardini was awarded a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in January 2013 for her fundraising efforts for Plan Canada’s Because I’m a Girl campaign. She was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2016 and was appointed an Officer of British Columbia in 2018.

    Chantalle Aubertin
    Deputy Director, Communications
    Office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General
    613-992-6568
    Chantalle.Aubertin@justice.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senate Study Committee on Artificial Intelligence to Hold Sixth Meeting

    Source: US State of Georgia

    ATLANTA (October 15, 2024) — On Wednesday, October 23rd,2024, at 10:00 a.m., the Senate Study Committee on Artificial Intelligence, chaired by Sen. John Albers (R–Roswell), will hold its sixth hearing, in conjunction with the House Technology and Infrastructure Innovation Subcommittee on AI.

    EVENT DETAILS:                      

    • Date: Wednesday, October 23rd, 2024
    • Time: 10:00 a.m.
    • Location: UGA Iron Horse Plant Sciences Farm, Watkinsville, GA 30677
    • This event is open to the public and will be live-streamed on the Georgia General Assembly website here.

    ABOUT THE MEETING:         

    The committee is tasked with promoting responsible innovation, competition, and collaboration in public and private sectors will allow Georgia to be a leader in ensuring that such technology will advance in a way that enforces the existing consumer protection laws and principles for its citizens while enacting any additional appropriate safeguards against, fraud, unintended bias, discrimination, infringements on privacy, and other potential harms from AI.

    MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES:

    We kindly request that members of the media confirm their attendance in advance by contacting Jantz Womack at senatepressinquiries@senate.ga.gov. 

    # # # #

    Sen. John Albers serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Safety. He represents the 56th Senate District, which includes portions of Cherokee, Cobb, and North Fulton counties. He may be reached at his office at 404.463.8055 or by email at john.albers@senate.ga.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: “Our system allows us to prevent data center failures”

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –

    Photo: hackathon “Digital Breakthrough” / VKontakte

    First year student of the Master’s program “Product approach and data analytics in HR management» Konstantin Balcat and his team of like-minded people have developed a system for predicting hard drive failures based on machine learning. With this project, they are among the best at the Digital Breakthrough hackathon for the second year in a row. Vyshka.Glavnoe talked to Konstantin about developing innovations and studying at the university.

    About the project

    — The system we propose allows companies providing cloud services and using their own hard drives to promptly manage stocks and equipment in data centers, as well as effectively plan purchases and optimize the warehouse. At the same time, the possibility of warranty service for purchased batches of equipment is preserved. All this is especially important for large cloud providers.

    The idea for this solution arose from a case and problem proposed by the company “Sila”, which our project helps within the framework of the hackathon “Digital Breakthrough”. Based on historical data on the use and failure of disks, we can predict the moment of failure of a new disk in the future. At the same time, our system takes into account the features of each specific batch of equipment. This allows for more competent management of resources and prevention of failures in the operation of data centers.

    About the team

    — Our team won the regional hackathon “Digital Breakthrough” in Omsk last year with this project. In 2024, in the same hackathon, but at the federal level, we again entered the top, taking 4th place. We are currently negotiating with the company “Sila” about further development and implementation of our solution in the industry.

    The team also includes Daniil Galimov, Alexander Serov, Alexander Kharlamov and Artem Tarasov. We met two years ago at the educational forums “I am a professional” in IT and specialized programs at Sirius. Since then, we have taken part in dozens of competitions, in some of which we won or took prizes. Now, under the grant “Code-AI” of the Foundation for Assistance to Innovations, we are developing a system for identifying marine mammals using aerial photographs. All participants work as IT specialists in Russian bigtech companies: Daniil Galimov and Alexander Kharlamov are specialists in backend and Python, Alexander Serov and I are machine learning engineers and project managers.

    About HSE and studies

    – This year I entered the Higher School of Economics Faculty of Computer Science. My program, “Product Approach and Data Analytics in HR Management,” is being implemented jointly with Alfa-Bank. Having a technical education, I considered it important to delve into the field of management and people management. At the same time, I did not want to stray too far from the technical side and artificial intelligence engineering. It was in the FCN program that I saw such an opportunity. Now I am developing a solution for analyzing interpersonal communications using large language models. It was important for me to have the opportunity to discuss, collaborate with Alfa-Bank, and receive feedback on my project during classes.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    http://vvv.hse.ru/nevs/edu/974825227.html

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Transparency International celebrates International Council member Daron Acemoglu on Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences

    Source: Transparency International

    Transparency International extends its heartfelt congratulations to Daron Acemoglu, a distinguished member of our International Council, along with his co-laureates Simon Johnson and James A. Robinson, on being awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences. They have demonstrated the importance of societal institutions for a country’s prosperity with research that shows why societies with poor rule of law and exploitative institutions fail to generate growth or positive change.

    Their findings resonate strongly with Transparency International’s mission to fight corruption and strengthen institutions worldwide. Transparency, accountability and inclusive institutions are essential to fostering economic equity and sustainable development – principles at the heart of both Acemoglu’s research and our global work.

    Transparency International remains committed to advocating for institutional reforms that align with the laureates’ research on the transformative power of good governance.

    Maíra Martini, Head of Policy & Advocacy (Interim), Transparency International, said:

    “We are immensely proud to have Daron Acemoglu as a member of our International Council. The research conducted by Acemoglu, Johnson and Robinson not only deepens our understanding of economic development but also reinforces the significance of our collective work in promoting transparency and combating corruption.”

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Minister MacAulay announces research funding for an innovative, sustainable poultry sector

    Source: Government of Canada News

    News release

    Today, the Honorable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, toured the University of Guelph’s research facilities to meet with researchers and learn about their innovative work in support of a sustainable poultry sector.

    October 15, 2024 – Guelph, Ontario – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

    Today, the Honorable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, toured the University of Guelph’s research facilities to meet with researchers and learn about their innovative work in support of a sustainable poultry sector. As part of his visit, Minister MacAulay highlighted that the Government of Canada is delivering an investment of $5,155,608 to the Canadian Poultry Research Council (CPRC) through the AgriScience Program – Clusters Component, an initiative under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

    This funding will allow the CPRC to partner on research that will ensure poultry welfare at all levels of the production chain, meeting the consumer demand for healthy and safe poultry products, and decreasing the environmental impacts of poultry farms—including ambient air quality, emissions, and the effect on humans and birds in the surrounding area.

    Some examples of Cluster activities include upcycling Canadian fruit waste to develop novel feed ingredients, managing environmental conditions to reduce the risk of avian influenza, researching alternatives to antimicrobials, and optimizing feed to reduce particulate matter emissions.

    Research funding in the poultry sector is crucial for the continued development of sustainable practices and improved animal welfare.

    Quotes

    “Investments in research are vitally important to the future of our agricultural sector. By making sure our hardworking poultry farmers are using best practices and adopting innovative solutions, we’re not only strengthening our economy, we’re building a resilient industry that meets the needs of consumers, while protecting our environment for generations to come.”

    – The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

    “This new injection of funding from AAFC will ensure continued innovation and excellence in research that benefits the entire Canadian poultry supply chain. Research will focus on three main areas – environment and climate change, economic growth, and sector resilience – looking for ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, find innovative approaches to disease management, and improve the overall strength of the poultry sector.”

    – Caroline Wilson, Executive Director of the Canadian Poultry Research Council

    Quick facts

    • The Canadian poultry industry contributed about $5.5 billion in farm cash receipts in 2021, with over 2,800 chicken producers, 1,200 egg producers, 513 turkey producers, and 232 hatching egg producers across the country.

    • The CPRC leads the industry in its national research endeavours and seeks to address national poultry and egg research priorities, driven by the National Research Strategy for Canada’s Poultry Sector.

    • The CPRC has delivered the 3 previous poultry clusters and is made up of five members: the Canadian Hatching Egg Producers, the Egg Farmers of Canada, the Turkey Farmers of Canada, the Chicken Farmers of Canada, and the Canadian Poultry and Egg Processors.

    • The Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) is a $3.5-billion, 5-year agreement (2023 to 2028), between the federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen the competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency of the agriculture, agri‐food and agri‐based products sector.

    • The AgriScience Program, under the Sustainable CAP, aims to accelerate innovation by providing funding and support for pre-commercial science activities and research that benefits the agriculture and agri-food sector, and Canadians.

    • The AgriScience Program – Clusters Component supports projects intended to mobilize industry, government and academia through partnerships, and address priority national themes and horizontal issues.

    Associated links

    Contacts

    For media:

    Annie Cullinan
    Director of Communications
    Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
    annie.cullinan@agr.gc.ca

    Media Relations
    Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
    Ottawa, Ontario
    613-773-7972
    1-866-345-7972
    aafc.mediarelations-relationsmedias.aac@agr.gc.ca
    Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
    Web: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Snippet of Euclid Mission’s Cosmic Atlas Released by ESA

    Source: NASA

    With contributions from NASA, the mission will map a third of the sky in order to study a cosmic mystery called dark energy.
    ESA (the European Space Agency) has released a new, 208-gigapixel mosaic of images taken by Euclid, a mission with NASA contributions that launched in 2023 to study why the universe is expanding at an accelerating rate. Astronomers use the term “dark energy” in reference to the unknown cause of this accelerated expansion.
    The new images were released at the International Astronautical Congress in Milan on Oct. 15.
    The mosaic contains 260 observations in visible and infrared light made between March 25 and April 8 of this year. In just two weeks, Euclid covered 132 square degrees of the southern sky — more than 500 times the area of the sky covered by a full Moon.
    The mosaic accounts for 1% of the wide survey Euclid will conduct over six years. During this survey, the telescope observes the shapes, distances, and motions of billions of galaxies out to a distance of more than 10 billion light-years. By doing this, it will create the largest 3D cosmic map ever made.

    [embedded content]
    Dive into a snippet of the great cosmic atlas being produced by the ESA Euclid mission. This video zooms in on a 208-gigapixel mosaic containing about 14 million galaxies and covering a portion of the southern sky more than 500 times the area of the full Moon as seen from Earth. Credit: ESA/Euclid/Euclid Consortium/NASA, CEA Paris-Saclay, image processing by J.-C. Cuillandre, E. Bertin, G. Anselmi; ESA/Gaia/DPAC; ESA/Planck Collaboration

    This first piece of the map already contains around 100 million stars and galaxies. Some 14 million of these galaxies could be used by Euclid to study the hidden influence of dark energy on the universe.
    “We have already seen beautiful, high-resolution images of individual objects and groups of objects from Euclid. This new image finally gives us a taste of the enormity of the area of sky Euclid will cover, which will enable us to take detailed measurements of billions of galaxies,” said Jason Rhodes, an observational cosmologist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California who is the U.S. science lead for Euclid and principal investigator for NASA’s Euclid dark energy science team.
    Galaxies Galore
    Even though this patch of space shows only 1% of Euclid’s total survey area, the spacecraft’s sensitive cameras captured an incredible number of objects in great detail. Enlarging the image by a factor of 600 reveals the intricate structure of a spiral galaxy in galaxy cluster Abell 3381, 470 million light-years away.

    “What really strikes me about these new images is the tremendous range in physical scale,” said JPL’s Mike Seiffert, project scientist for the NASA contribution to Euclid. “The images capture detail from clusters of stars near an individual galaxy to some of the largest structures in the universe. We are beginning to see the first hints of what the full Euclid data will look like when it reaches the completion of the prime survey.”
    Visble as well are clouds of gas and dust located between the stars in our own galaxy. Sometimes called “galactic cirrus” because they look like cirrus clouds at Earth, these clouds can be observed by Euclid’s visible-light camera because they reflect visible light from the Milky Way.
    The mosaic released today is taste of what’s to come from Euclid. The mission plans to release 53 square degrees of the Euclid survey, including a preview of the Euclid Deep Field areas, in March 2025 and to release its first year of cosmology data in 2026.
    NASA’s forthcoming Nancy Grace Roman mission will also study dark energy — in ways that are complementary to Euclid. Mission planners will use Euclid’s findings to inform Roman’s dark energy work. Scheduled to launch by May 2027, Roman will study a smaller section of sky than Euclid but will provide higher-resolution images of millions of galaxies and peer deeper into the universe’s past, providing complementary information. In addition, Roman will survey nearby galaxies, find and investigate planets throughout our galaxy, study objects on the outskirts of our solar system, and more.
    More About Euclid
    Euclid is a European mission, built and operated by ESA, with contributions from NASA. The Euclid Consortium — consisting of more than 2,000 scientists from 300 institutes in 15 European countries, the United States, Canada, and Japan — is responsible for providing the scientific instruments and scientific data analysis. ESA selected Thales Alenia Space as prime contractor for the construction of the satellite and its service module, with Airbus Defence and Space chosen to develop the payload module, including the telescope. Euclid is a medium-class mission in ESA’s Cosmic Vision Programme.
    Three NASA-supported science teams contribute to the Euclid mission. In addition to designing and fabricating the sensor-chip electronics for Euclid’s Near Infrared Spectrometer and Photometer (NISP) instrument, JPL led the procurement and delivery of the NISP detectors as well. Those detectors, along with the sensor chip electronics, were tested at NASA’s Detector Characterization Lab at Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. The Euclid NASA Science Center at IPAC (ENSCI), at Caltech in Pasadena, California, will archive the science data and support U.S.-based science investigations. JPL is a division of Caltech.
    For more information about Euclid go to:
    https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/euclid/main/index.html
    For more information about Roman, go to:
    https://roman.gsfc.nasa.gov
    News Media Contacts
    Calla CofieldJet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.626-808-2469calla.e.cofield@jpl.nasa.gov
    ESA Media Relationsmedia@esa.int
    2024-141

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Administrator to Visit, Engage Officials in Romania, Bulgaria

    Source: NASA

    Continuing his efforts to deepen international collaboration and promote the peaceful use of space, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson will travel to Romania and Bulgaria, beginning Thursday, Oct. 17. Both countries have signed the Artemis Accords, a set of commonsense principles to commit to the peaceful exploration of space.
    Nelson will meet with key government and space officials in each country, including Marcel Ciolacu, Romania’s prime minister, and Rumen Radev, president of Bulgaria.
    In Romania, Nelson will engage with Bogdan-Gruia Ivan, minister of research, innovation and digitization, and Daniel Crunțeanu, general director of the Romanian Space Agency (ROSA). He also will visit Romanian science and technology institutions to learn about the country’s science facilities.
    In Bulgaria, Nelson will meet with Dr. Rosen Karadimov, minister of innovation and growth, and visit the country’s only satellite builder, which is producing satellites for organizations globally.
    During his travels to both countries, Nelson will discuss the importance of international partnerships and collaboration in space, including the transatlantic relationships to NASA. Nelson also will meet with students to highlight the benefits science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education and their roles as members of the Artemis Generation.
    For more information about NASA’s international partnerships, visit:
    https://www.nasa.gov/oiir
    -end-
    Meira BernsteinHeadquarters, Washington202-615-1747meira.b.bernstein@nasa.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Villers-Cotterêts Declaration (7 Oct. 2024)

    Source: Republic of France in English
    The Republic of France has issued the following statement:

    1. We, the Heads of State and Government of countries which have a shared relationship with the French language, meeting on 4 and 5 October 2024 for the 19th Francophonie Summit in the French Republic;

    2. Welcome the opening of this Summit at the Cité Internationale de la Langue Française, where in 1539 the Ordinance of Villers-Cotterêts was signed, for the first time making French the official language of France;

    3. Reiterate our commitment to the French language, a language of teaching and communication, development, transmission and sharing, of creation and opportunities, a language of negotiation in international forums, for our populations, particularly young people, in accordance with the Declaration on the French Language in the Linguistic Diversity of Francophonie, adopted at the 18th Summit in Djerba;

    4. Aware of the multi-faceted crises affecting the Francophone space, including armed conflict, situations of occupation and settlement, as well as terrorist acts, support the International Organisation of la Francophonie in its role as a key forum for dialogue, which is essential to strengthen the shared values of humanity, i.e. peace, sustainable development, democracy, the rule of law and human rights, pursuant to the Charter of the Francophonie, the Bamako Declaration (2000) and the Saint-Boniface Declaration (2006) and in compliance with the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Charter of the United Nations, international law and the United Nations Security Council resolutions;

    5. Condemn violations of international law and international humanitarian law;

    6. Remain committed to addressing the challenges of climate change, working to protect the environment, and supporting the work of the OIF through the 2023-2030 Francophonie Strategic Framework in order to encourage Francophone synergies and consultations prior to multilateral events on these issues, and highlight that the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) must urgently enter into force and call for swift progress in negotiating the International Treaty against Plastic Pollution with a view to the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC 2025); remain committed to the challenge of climate finance and recall that no State or government should have to choose between fighting poverty and preserving the planet; and in that regard, welcome the organization by France of the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact in Paris in 2023;

    7. We therefore recall that climate financing is the cornerstone in the global effort to fight climate change and highlight, in that regard, the importance of the Loss and Damage Fund established at COP27 in Sharm-el-Sheikh, recognizing its role in addressing the negative impact of climate change; Welcome the support provided by the OIF through the training of climate negotiators, in achieving this objective;

    8. Recall our commitment to the role of civil society and non-governmental organizations, and support an active Conference of International Non-Governmental Organisations for the benefit of populations and Francophone institutions.

    9. Renew our commitment to promoting gender equality, in accordance with the Francophonie Strategy for the Promotion of Gender Equality, the Rights and the Empowerment of Women and Girls, adopted at the 17th Francophonie Summit in Yerevan;

    10. Believe that the future of our young people is a priority which requires us to continually work with them to foster peace and sustainable development in our societies, in line with the Francophonie values of solidarity, tolerance, justice and inclusiveness;

    11. Reiterate that the promotion of the diversity of languages and cultures, as well as the diversity of expression and creation of cultural and educational content within the framework of a pluralistic, knowledge-based society are Francophonie’s most precious assets;

    12. Urge all OIF countries as well as institutions and agencies of the Charter of the Francophonie to promote the spirit of solidarity and respect shown both at the 2023 Francophone Games in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Olympic and Paralympic Games in France in the summer of 2024, with a view to upcoming international sporting events, particularly the Francophone Games, to be hosted by Armenia in 2027;

    13. Building on the legacy of Francophonie institutions, including the 36th session of the Francophonie Ministerial Conference (FMC) in Monaco and the 18th Francophonie Summit in Djerba, having highlighted the importance of innovation in promoting science and the digital economy in order to reduce the digital divide, ensure high-quality education and better access to employment;

    Have decided to make the theme of the 19th Summit: “Create, innovate and do business in French”

    I. The French language, serving an education, training and employability continuum

    Considering that the French language remains the bedrock of our Organisation, while respecting linguistic diversity and promoting multilingualism;

    14. Reiterate our commitment to the teaching of French, and teaching in French, and welcome the key role of educators and school communities. Commit to working alongside the OIF to develop linguistic training and teaching, in order to significantly increase the number of trained educators to ensure high-quality education for all; to this end, encourage sharing of expertise and best practices among training institution networks, the implementation of shared programmes and mechanisms, including greater online resources for educators and educational officials in the Francophone space;

    15. Support the adaptation of academic, professional and technical Francophone training, including through work-based learning, apprenticeships and mentoring in French, in order to promote a spirit of creation, innovation and entrepreneurship for young people, in line with the necessary skills to make them employable and boost the economic development of OIF member countries;

    16. Highlight the importance of facilitating exchanges among young Francophones in training, volunteers, academics, researchers and entrepreneurs, particularly within the framework of cross-cutting mobility projects in the Francophone space; encourage, to that end, multi-stakeholder cooperation involving OIF member countries and Charter of the Francophonie institutions and agencies, with economic and civil society stakeholders;

    17. To better tackle pandemics, call for greater French-language training in the area of healthcare through digital tools and in this regard, welcome national and multilateral efforts, particularly within the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, which this year will open its continuous training centre, the WHO Academy in Lyon, and the cooperation agreement signed between the OIF and WHO in 2021;

    18. Encourage Charter of the Francophonie institutions and agencies to strengthen their work for cultural diversity, in line with the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, adopted by UNESCO in 2005, thus enabling greater visibility among the huge diversity of French-language productions;

    19. Recall that Francophone cultural and linguistic diversity is very important within the digital space, and encourage Francophonie to actively continue its contribution to global digital governance, in accordance with the 2022-2026 Strategy for Digital Francophonie, particularly the process linked to the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in Geneva, the Global Digital Compact in New York and the 2025 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit in Paris.

    20. Recognize the urgent need to take action in the digital environment and urge Charter of the Francophonie institutions and agencies to implement solutions for accessibility, linguistic diversity and the discoverability of French-language cultural, educational and scientific content and French-language training of generative artificial intelligence; welcome the scale of digitized collections of Francophone documentation centres and new cooperation opportunities created by the Cité Internationale de la Langue Française in Villers-Cotterêts in these areas;

    21. Call for high-level dialogue and advocacy to continue in the area of culture, particularly with regard to protecting and promoting the diversity of cultural and linguistic expressions;

    22. Reiterate our commitment to the multilateral media outlet, TV5, and commit to promote and distribute it; in this regard, we will take every appropriate measure, using all distribution methods, to ensure our populations have the widest possible access to TV5’s channels and the TV5MondePlus digital platform, which showcase the cultural diversity of the Francophone space;

    23. Recalling UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, welcome the fact that advances in artificial intelligence can contribute to the fields of translation and interpreting, including within international bodies; and call for these technological developments to fully respect the essential role of French-speaking translators and interpreters;

    24. Highlight the determination of OIF member countries to maintain a reliable, free and safe information space, in accordance with the resolution on good governance adopted at the 44th Ministerial Conference of La Francophonie (CMF) in Yaoundé; declare our full support for the Information and Democracy Partnership and the need to promote media and information education; in this regard, we welcome the 1st High-Level Forum of members of the Network of French-speaking media regulatory authorities (REFRAM) and the major digital space platforms, the adoption of the Abidjan Declaration of 24 April 2024 aimed at strengthening dialogue between regulators and major online platforms in Africa and the Francophone space, as well as the signing of the voluntary commitment protocol, and in this regard, welcome the Villers-Cotterêts Call for an honest, trustworthy digital space in the Francophone world, launched at the opening of this 19th Francophonie Summit;

    II. Create, innovate and do business in the Francophone space

    Considering that success in Francophonie can only be achieved once the French language has been acquired;

    25. Highlight the essential role of compliance with the fundamental freedoms of creation, innovation and enterprise, in accordance with the Bamako Declaration;

    26. Together call on all Charter of the Francophonie institutions and agencies to encourage freedom of creation, in all the diversity of artistic expression, invite them to develop their work for cultural and creative industries, particularly through the development and improvement of vocational training in these sectors, which offer a wide range of employment opportunities;

    27. Recall that the future of artists and creators from all cultural sectors requires working in compliance with copyright and neighbouring rights, and we are committed to strengthening these legal and administrative mechanisms for the regular collection and payment of royalties, and to support the international distribution of works, including within the digital space;

    28. Welcome the work of the OIF for Francophone authors and express our commitment to the Francophonie literary awards, including the Prix des cinq continents, as well as the programmes to support broadcasting productions through the Images de la Francophonie and the Francophonie TV5Mondeplus Funds;

    29. Invite Charter of the Francophonie institutions and agencies in collaboration with civil society, to discuss the importance of Francophonie in sport, highlighting the social and economic opportunities it offers for young Francophones, as well as its positive impact on health and well-being;

    30. Welcome the meaningful results of the Francophonie economic and trade missions, as part of the Economic Strategy for La Francophonie 2020-2025, and reiterate our support for the involvement of women and young entrepreneurs in these missions; support partnerships with Francophone economic networks to back companies as they develop internationally;

    31. Encourage initiatives to promote Francophone entrepreneurship, particularly in sectors linked to climate change and sustainable tourism, and call for enhanced relations between companies and academic, vocational and technical training institutions, as well as Francophone standardization and intellectual property networks;

    32. Also encourage concerted Francophone efforts to facilitate access for OIF member countries and local authorities to climate and biodiversity finance, in support of innovation and entrepreneurship;

    33. Place special emphasis on actions to promote the empowerment of women and urge all OIF member countries to support the strengthening of the La Francophonie Avec Elles Fund, with regard to its importance for direct beneficiaries and positive impacts for local communities;

    34. Aware of the economic and cultural cooperation opportunities opened up by the French language, we are committed to promoting mobility via Francophonie programmes and movement within our space for nationals of our countries, entrepreneurs, artists and graduates who, for professional purposes, are required to travel regularly, in compliance with national visa legislation and regulations;

    35. Take note, in this regard, that the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie (APF), in its declaration on citizen mobility in the Francophone space, recommends implementing measures to consolidate Francophonie as a more integrated space and to make better use of its social and economic potential;

    36. In the interests of all these commitments, encourage the institutions and agencies of the Charter of the Francophonie to continue diversifying their sources of finance, in addition to voluntary contributions from OIF member countries, in order to strengthen the implementation of their programmes, including through public-private partnerships and development banks.

    Source: Website of the Presidency of the Republic

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump’s musical interlude is a twist on the long tradition of candidates enlisting musicians’ support, from Al Jolson to Springsteen to Swift

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Matt Harris, Associate Professor of Political Science, Park University

    Donald Trump dances to the song “Y.M.C.A.” with South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, during a town hall event in Pennsylvania on Oct. 14, 2024. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images

    Donald Trump made liberal use of music in what’s being called a “surreal” or “bizarre” town hall meeting on Oct. 14, 2024, in Oaks, Pennsylvania. After two attendees at the event had medical problems, Trump declared he would stop answering audience questions, and music would be played instead.

    Then, as the Washington Post reported, “For 39 minutes, Trump swayed, bopped — sometimes stopping to speak — as he turned the event into almost a living-room listening session of his favorite songs from his self-curated rally playlist.”

    The music included “YMCA” by the Village People and Sinead O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares 2 U.”

    The use of music in campaigns is a long tradition, although this may be the first time a playlist has substituted for talking points. While Trump is bopping at campaign events, both Democrats and Republicans anticipate what looks to be another coin flip election that could come down to a few hundred thousand votes in a handful of states. Every voter matters – no matter how you reach them. With that in mind, Democrats are communicating not just on matters of policy, but matters of pop culture.

    Specifically, Democrats are embracing football and Taylor Swift. The Harris-Walz campaign trotted out endorsements from 15 Pro Football Hall of Famers and sells Swiftie-style friendship bracelets on its campaign website, among other overtures. Swift herself has endorsed Kamala Harris.

    The Harris-Walz campaign is definitely stressing Walz’s football coach background.
    Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

    Tim Walz cited his experience as a football coach and mentioned Swift in the vice presidential debate.

    Democratic challenger and former NFLer Colin Allred, who is running to unseat GOP Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, has put out ads in which he appears moments from taking to the gridiron.

    But how much does pop culture campaigning, if you will, matter? Does trying to link a campaign to a sport, or a culture, or a style of music actually influence elections? Looking to five different election campaigns in the past can give a sense of the effects, or lack thereof, of such campaigning.

    An ad for Texas Democrat Rep. Colin Allred, a former NFL player, stresses his football past in his bid to unseat GOP Sen. Ted Cruz.

    Reagan and Springsteen

    Any discussion of the embrace of pop culture by candidates should probably start with Ronald Reagan’s Bruce Springsteen era.

    Reagan, attempting to reach beyond his base, viewed 1984 as a vibes-based election and cited Springsteen as an exemplar of the hope his campaign wished to inspire. Springsteen rejected a request from Reagan’s camp to use his often-misunderstood “Born in the U.S.A.” on the campaign trail. The song’s lyrics describe a down-on-his-luck Vietnam War veteran, but if you don’t listen carefully to the lyrics, the song can sound like a celebration of veterans and being American.

    While Reagan went on to win 49 states in that year’s election, perhaps the biggest long-term impact of his courtship of Springsteen fans was to turn Springsteen from a relatively apolitical performer to a staunch supporter of the Democratic Party.

    In this way, Springsteen’s transformation mirrors that of Taylor Swift, with Marsha Blackburn, the Tennessee Republican senator, serving as her Reagan – the person who pushed the performer into the political arena after years on the sidelines.

    Springsteen and Kerry

    Springsteen’s foray into politics eventually led him to back Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry in 2004 with a series of concerts called the “Vote for Change” tour.

    Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry greets the crowd with musician Bruce Springsteen while campaigning in Columbus, Ohio, on Oct. 28, 2004.
    AP Photo/Laura Rauch

    Kerry, meanwhile, undertook his own efforts at cultural turf claiming. His attempts to demonstrate his bona fides as a sports-loving everyman went awry at times, when he flubbed the name of “Lambeau Field,” home of Wisconsin’s Green Bay Packers, and referred to a nonexistent Boston Red Sox player, “Manny Ortez.” The ill-fated sports references arguably didn’t hurt his campaign – he won Wisconsin and Massachusetts – but he was ridiculed for a photo-op hunting trip late in the campaign and went on to lose rural Midwestern voters decisively – as well as the election.

    Kerry’s dabbling with hunting imagery was perhaps an attempt to dull President George W. Bush’s advantage in perceived strength of leadership, which was in part burnished by his adoption of a cowboy persona.

    Harding, Jolson and the Cubs

    While Reagan’s attempt to woo 1980s rock fans is one of the best-known attempts to campaign on a mantra of popular culture, it was far from the first.

    Sen. Warren Harding’s 1920 front porch campaign for president was given a jolt of enthusiasm by a visit from singer and actor Al Jolson. Harding was also visited in his hometown, Marion, Ohio, by other actors and celebrities and the Chicago Cubs.

    Harding’s strategy probably better serves as a template for things to come than a decisive move in the 1920 election: His victory with over 60% of the popular vote suggests no celebrity could have saved Democrat James Cox.

    Bill Clinton and MTV

    As the Harris-Walz campaign tries to draw votes from Swift’s young fans, parallels can be drawn to Democratic Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton’s attempts to embrace youth culture in the 1992 presidential election. Among other appearances, Clinton took questions from young voters on MTV and played saxophone on “The Arsenio Hall Show.”

    While the direct effect of Clinton’s forays into youth culture is difficult to measure, he did surge among young voters relative to Democrat Michael Dukakis’ 1988 presidential campaign.

    In his 1992 campaign, Bill Clinton went on MTV to answer young people’s questions, which included ‘If you had it to do over again, would you inhale?’

    Ford and football

    Any discussion of politicians embracing football culture would be incomplete without a discussion of the American president best at playing football, Gerald Ford, the vice president who became the nation’s 38th president in 1974, when Richard Nixon resigned during the Watergate scandal.

    Ford played center on two national championship teams at the University of Michigan. While not using his football player background to the same level as former football coach Walz did at the Democratic National Convention, Ford did make use of his football credentials on the stump during the 1976 presidential campaign and was joined on the campaign trail by Alabama football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant.

    But the votes of football fans were apparently not enough to keep Ford in the White House for long. He lost the 1976 election to Democrat Jimmy Carter.

    Potentially fruitful pickups

    Will the Harris-Walz strategy of recruiting voters through pop culture be successful? Swift’s fans are largely young, suburban women, and NFL fans are strewn across the political spectrum. There are potentially fruitful pickups in both camps. The candidates certainly think it matters: Walz said he “took football back” from Republicans, a claim disputed by Trump.

    Stressing pop culture credentials can also provide attention to a campaign, regardless of persuasion. Clinton’s pop culture appearances generated coverage beyond the appearances themselves and were cost-effective for a campaign short on funds.

    This type of pop culture campaigning generates coverage, then, even if voters aren’t moved by thinking a candidate shares their love of football or pop music.

    This story has been updated to include the Trump town hall in Oaks, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 14.

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

    – ref. Trump’s musical interlude is a twist on the long tradition of candidates enlisting musicians’ support, from Al Jolson to Springsteen to Swift – https://theconversation.com/trumps-musical-interlude-is-a-twist-on-the-long-tradition-of-candidates-enlisting-musicians-support-from-al-jolson-to-springsteen-to-swift-239381

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Students Harness Power of New Kestrel Supercomputer for Cutting-Edge Energy Research and Innovation

    Source: US National Renewable Energy Laboratory

    Surendra Sunkari, a high-performance computing (HPC) engineer at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, examines Kestrel. Photo by Joe DelNero, NREL

    Students pursuing careers in energy research had a unique opportunity this year to use Kestrel—the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s (EERE’s) third-generation supercomputer hosted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

    This summer, NREL completed the full buildout of Kestrel, reaching 44 petaflops of computing power focused on renewable energy and energy efficiency research. Students from across the country were invited by EERE to apply for access to this powerful tool to advance their research and to expand EERE’s computational efforts for the energy transition. Last fall, over 25 students from 15 universities across the United States applied to use Kestrel for the 2024 spring and summer semesters.

    Students like Yifan Hu at Iowa State University used Kestrel to study the effect of solar wind and other space weather phenomena on solar energy infrastructure. Using the supercomputer’s advanced central processing unit nodes, his team tested new scalable algorithms to provide robust and accurate methods to model solar wind using a numerical method called the relativistic Vlasov-Maxwell system, with the goal of understanding the effects of solar wind on the stability and efficiency of solar power plants to improve power grid reliability and resilience. Access to Kestrel enabled Hu to receive computing results within a week, which led to the submission of two journal articles currently under review.

    Rajat Goel, a chemical engineering student at the University of California, Davis used Kestrel’s high-performance graphics processing units to simulate uranium and its defects, an extremely complex problem that requires significant computational power. Goel researched developing future protective coatings for nuclear reactors to prevent uranium hydride formation, as it is highly toxic and incredibly flammable. Using Kestrel, he significantly reduced the time needed for these simulations. Nuclear energy plays a role as a noncarbon energy source by generating carbon-free power. Ensuring its safe and reliable production is an important factor toward achieving the Department of Energy’s 2050 net-zero greenhouse gas emissions target.

    Hu and Goel’s research projects highlight Kestrel’s ability to address large-scale challenges, particularly in enhancing energy resiliency. Meanwhile, across the country, students used the supercomputer for different yet equally impactful energy research.

    Stanford University student Mark Benjamin used Kestrel’s advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning capabilities in his manufacturing research project to apply AI models, including convolutional neural networks to model drag and convolutional autoencoders to represent realistic car shapes. The project goal was to set new standards for vehicle design and optimization, aiming to improve fuel efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.

    Students from the University of Minnesota, led by Suryanarayan Ramachandran, used computational fluid dynamics codes on Kestrel to design novel engines that use hydrogen for combustion. This project leveraged an Exascale Computing Project code called AMRex Combustion PeleC to perform first-of-its-kind high-fidelity three-dimensional simulations of explosive hydrogen reactions, called oblique detonation waves, to investigate how hydrogen combustion can be used for future hypersonic propulsion systems, advancing fuel technologies research to reduce fossil fuels.

    Tackling complex energy challenges requires powerful computational resources along with support to ensure the productive use of these resources. Students received help getting their accounts set up and running their workflows on Kestrel from the User Operations staff in the Computational Science Center at NREL. Providing students with access to Kestrel not only advances current research but also shapes the future of clean energy technologies by equipping students with advanced skills to lead in the field of energy innovation and research.  

    Students interested in using Kestrel for their energy research should keep an eye out for future opportunities at nrel.gov/news.

    Read blog posts about the installation of NREL’s Kestrel high-performance computing system.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Moldova votes on whether to join EU as Russia intensifies vast disinformation campaign

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

    Moldova is emerging as a major strategic battleground in a fierce competition between Russia and the west. A Kremlin-backed disinformation campaign has intensified over the last few months, in the run-up to Moldova’s presidential elections.

    One of the key reasons for this is that a referendum on EU membership has been scheduled for the same day, October 20.

    The challenges for this small country, wedged between Ukraine and Romania, are complex. Russia continues to foment instability through its persistent disinformation initiatives, instigation of anti-government protests, and acts of sabotage and vandalism.

    Add to this credible allegations of vote buying, and efforts to call into question the legitimacy of a pro-European election and referendum result, and the situation in Moldova appears highly combustible.

    Moldova gained its independence in 1991 after the fall of the Soviet Union. A brief civil war between the government and separatists in the eastern Transnistria region, supported by remnants of the Soviet army stationed there, ended with the de-facto division of the country.



    Read more:
    Moldova: Russia continues its mischief-making in breakaway Transnistria

    Attempts to settle this conflict have made little progress over the past three decades. And living with an unresolved conflict within its borders has held Moldova back in its development, and contributed to economic problems.

    Voting on EU membership

    Moldova’s incumbent, staunchly pro-western president, Maia Sandu, has tied the EU referendum to her re-election campaign. The referendum could be the country’s best chance to finally break free from its Soviet past.

    If recent polls are accurate, a clear majority of the electorate is likely to vote “yes” on whether they support joining the EU, which would be the first step in a lengthy process.

    Moldova’s president speaks to the European parliament in 2022.

    For many Moldovans, EU membership is associated with better economic development in one of Europe’s poorest countries. The October 10 visit of Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, suggested that the EU could help.

    Von der Leyen did not merely offer political support for Sandu, she also brought with her a financial support package worth €1.8 billion (£1.5 billion) over the next three years to boost economic growth.

    But this vision that the EU can help Moldova’s economy is fiercely contested by Russia and its proxies in Moldova. They exploit the anxiety among a significant number of Moldovans that a vote to join the EU is one that will force the country towards higher inflation, more immigration, politicised anti-corruption measures, mandatory English-language proficiency, and the sale of Moldovan land to foreigners.


    Shutterstock

    Persistent domestic issues such as the economy have been skilfully targeted in a vast Kremlin-backed influencing campaign.

    For a long time, Moldova has suffered from a lack of social, political, institutional and territorial cohesion. The country has significant social divisions between different ethnic and linguistic groups, as well as urban-rural and rich-poor divides.

    Politically, the party system remains highly fractured and increasingly polarised, and lacking common ground over what Moldovan national identity stands for.

    Moldova’s challenges

    Moldova’s territorial disputes also remain challenging. This is most obvious in the pro-Russian Transnistria region and in Gagauzia, but also in ethnically and culturally distinct regions such as Balti and Taraclia.

    These regions will require careful management to prevent a major political and economic crisis in the aftermath of October 20 and beyond. Some of the reforms in the country as part of the integration process, such as EU regulations on competition, subsidies and market access, will have a short-term cost for Moldova. Moldovans who oppose the country’s westward orientation are likely to exploit this in anti-EU narratives.

    So far, Russian destabilisation operations don’t seem to have eroded most Moldovans’ European aspirations. But the mix of blunt disinformation and skilfully capitalising on the cost of living crisis, which has hit Moldova hard as a result of the war against Ukraine, has given Russia and its allies tools to entrench, and in some cases deepen, divisions here.

    The world is watching the US election campaign unfolding. Sign up to join us at a special Conversation event on October 17. Expert panellists will discuss with the audience the upcoming election and its possible fallout.

    Much of the pro-European campaigning has been framed as anti-Russian. But one of the cleverer moves by the pro-Russian movement is to suggest that Moldovans can be both a friend to Moscow and Brussels, and don’t have to choose.

    If a Sandu government is building a pro-European alliance, she will want to grow support from the Russian-speaking part of the population. This will be essential to both counter Russian destabilisation efforts and to build a broader coalition.

    As countries that have joined the EU – from the Baltic to the Balkans – have demonstrated over the past two decades, the EU accession process can help reshape political and economic institutions, and can ultimately help create a more optimistic vision of the future.

    Crucially, this is not something that Russia’s narrative of fear can credibly offer to the majority of Moldovans.

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

    – ref. Moldova votes on whether to join EU as Russia intensifies vast disinformation campaign – https://theconversation.com/moldova-votes-on-whether-to-join-eu-as-russia-intensifies-vast-disinformation-campaign-240657

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Songwriters have long revealed the ugly side of ‘love’ – from John Lennon to Mariah Carey

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Glenn Fosbraey, Associate Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Winchester

    For as long as pop music has existed, there have been love songs. And as long as there have been love songs, songwriters have been wrestling with what love means to them. We have been told that love is the best, that it can mend our souls, and keep us alive. But we have also been warned that love is a battlefield upon which we will be torn apart, and eventually killed.

    Sitting somewhere between these mixed messages is what I will call the “ugly love songs” category. These are songs that focus on concepts like control, jealousy and emotional blackmail, all presented (to paraphrase U2) in the name of love. It’s unlikely you’ll ever see ugly love songs popping up as a genre search option on Spotify, but here’s what you might find if it did.

    First, songs with themes of control and possession. In 2020, a group of psychology researchers used the phrase “you belong to me” in the title of a piece of research which focused on male control, dominance and manipulation of women. Yet these words have been sung in over 600 songs, by artists as diverse as Boyz II Men and Slipknot and used as a song title for the likes of Brian Adams, Steve Perry, Elvis Costello, Dean Martin, Suede and Sam Cooke.

    Similarly possessive phrases are also commonplace in lyrics such as “never gonna let you go” (Led Zeppelin, Kiss and Jay Sean) “won’t let you leave” (Nas, Trey Songz and Air Supply) and “won’t let you go” (Daniel Bedingfield, Three Dog Night and Elvis Presley).

    The phrase “you’re mine” (or variations thereof) has also been frequently used, showing up in hundreds of songs. And then there are artists that make possessions of themselves, like Little Mix and Selena Gomez singing “I’m yours” on Secret Love Song and Come and Get It respectively, and Destiny’s Child on Cater 2 U with the vomit-inducing lyrics: “What you wanna eat, boo? Let me feed you / Let me run your bathwater / Baby, I’m yours, I wanna cater to you, boy.” Shudder.

    Cater 2 U by Destiny’s Child.

    Songs about jealousy

    A complex emotion which contains varying levels of anger, sadness, irrationality, fear and resentment, jealousy has found its way into several ugly love songs over the years. The most famous example came courtesy of John Lennon with Jealous Guy (1971), which saw him rework the lyrics of White Album-era Beatles demo Child of Nature into a display of chronic insecurity.

    Lines like “I was feeling insecure / You might not love me anymore” make listeners sympathise with him. But perhaps less so “I began to lose control/ I’m sorry that I made you cry”, which show how hurtful and damaging the emotion can be to the other person in the relationship.

    No One Else by Weezer.

    Elsewhere, alt-rock band Weezer’s song No One Else is described by its songwriter Rivers Cuomo as being “about the jealous-obsessive asshole in me freaking out on my girlfriend” and contains the lyrics “I want a girl who will laugh for no one else / When I’m away, she puts her makeup on the shelf / When I’m away, she never leaves the house.”

    Then there’s The Police’s infamously creepy Every Breath You Take which sees our heartsick narrator begging for his former lover’s embrace (“I keep crying, baby, baby please”) before really overstepping the mark and, now in full-on stalker mode, informing them that he’ll be watching their every move, breath and step. And not just occasionally, either, but every single day.

    Emotional blackmail

    Emotional blackmail is the act of using a person’s feelings of kindness, sympathy, or duty in order to persuade them to do something or feel something, and it has cropped up in a number of songs over the years.

    Without You, originally by the group Badfinger, and later covered by both Harry Nilsson and Mariah Carey, suggests that “it’s only fair” to let their departing lover know what they “should know” – which is that they’ll be unable to go on living if they follow through on their desire to leave the relationship.

    If You Buy This Record Your Life Will Be Better by The Tamperer feat. Maya.

    LeAnn Rimes goes down a similar route with her 1997 hit How Do I Live?, where she tells her “baby” that they are “everything good” in her life, and that (I guess logically) their exit would leave her unable to survive.

    To end on a lighter note, a year later, with tongue firmly in cheek, The Tamperer (featuring Maya) took the manipulation angle to the extreme by singing over and over that “if you buy this record your life will be better, your life will be better, your life will be better”. Note: I didn’t buy it, so can’t comment, but maybe if I had, I’d be writing this from my private beach in the Maldives.


    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

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

    – ref. Songwriters have long revealed the ugly side of ‘love’ – from John Lennon to Mariah Carey – https://theconversation.com/songwriters-have-long-revealed-the-ugly-side-of-love-from-john-lennon-to-mariah-carey-240501

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why might people believe in human-made hurricanes? Two conspiracy theory psychologists explain

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Iwan Dinnick, Research Fellow, Psychology, University of Nottingham

    Hurricane Milton slammed into the west coast of Florida on October 9, becoming the second powerful hurricane to hit the state in just two weeks.

    While most people turned to meteorologists for explanations, a vocal minority remained sceptical, proposing that the hurricanes were engineered, that Florida’s weather was being manipulated, or even that it was targeted at Republican voters.

    These ideas aren’t new. As psychologists, we research the roots of conspiracy theories, and have found they often emerge in the wake of natural disasters. Investigating these theories is especially crucial as extreme weather events are projected to become more severe and frequent.

    Conspiracy theories explain important events by attributing them to the secret actions of a small, powerful group. Yet, if we take a step back from this psychological definition, something striking becomes apparent.

    If conspiracy theories explain events as the actions of a small group, then conspiracy theories should only apply to events where such a group’s influence is plausible.

    For example, faking the moon landing would have required Nasa to create an elaborate set, costumes, actors, and maintain secrecy. While unlikely, it is conceivable because humans can design sets, make costumes, and act. However, climate-based conspiracy theories don’t fit this mould as easily.

    Unlike movie sets or staged events, humans don’t control the climate in the same direct way. While we can seed individual clouds to encourage rain, for instance, a whole hurricane is simply far too big and too powerful for human technology to have any impact. This makes climate conspiracy theories seem less plausible, as the climate is beyond the direct manipulation that other conspiracy theories depend on.

    Why people turn to weather conspiracies

    People have a fundamental need to feel safe and secure in their environment. If climate change is real, it poses an existential threat, leading some to reject it in favour of conspiracy theories that preserve their sense of safety.

    Additionally, individuals desire a sense of control and agency over their environment. When faced with the uncontrollable nature of climate change, people often embrace conspiracy theories to regain that sense of control. Notably, recent psychological research has shifted focus from macro-level conspiracy beliefs, like climate change, to micro-level beliefs concerning local natural disasters.

    The first psychological study of this kind looked at a major tornado outbreak in the US midwest in 2019. Researchers found that people more affected by the outbreak were more likely to believe the tornadoes were controlled by the government. Importantly, this belief was explained by the fact that those affected by the tornadoes felt like they had no control over their own life.

    Tornado aftermath in Dayton, Ohio, May 2019. Tornadoes killed 42 in the US that year.
    CiEll / shutterstock

    Building on these initial findings, another study asked participants to imagine living in a fictional country called Nebuloria. Half were told that natural disasters might occur soon, prompting them to take precautions for their safety, while the others were told that such disasters were rare and that there was no need to worry.

    Participants were then asked about various conspiracy beliefs, such as whether the contrails left by planes Nebuloria were “evidence of weather manipulation”. Results showed those in the high-risk scenario were more likely to endorse conspiracy beliefs.

    Notably, what explained this increase in conspiracy beliefs was the fact that high-risk participants felt a sense of existential threat. This suggests that when people feel vulnerable due to environmental risks, they turn to conspiracies to regain control, even if the threats are beyond their reach.

    A self-perpetuating cycle

    It might seem intuitive that if you don’t believe in something, you won’t act as though it were true. Thus, if you don’t believe that climate change is true you are not going to act as if it is. Indeed, a large and growing amount of psychological research bares this out.

    The more that people ascribe to climate-related conspiracy beliefs the less likely they are to believe in the scientific consensus of human-made climate change, the less likely they are to have any pro-environmental concern, and the less likely they are to trust in the scientists that produce the evidence.

    These beliefs do not remain abstract. The more that people believe in climate conspiracy theories, the less likely they are to take action to mitigate climate change. Research has shown that merely exposing people to climate change conspiracies is sufficient to decrease their desire to sign a petition to support pro-environmental policies.

    This has serious implications. First, if people don’t believe in climate change, they won’t take action, accelerating its progression. Second, the more that climate change accelerates, the more frequent natural disasters become. As we’ve seen, an increase in natural disasters leads to a rise in conspiracy beliefs, creating a harmful and self-perpetuating cycle.

    Research shows that natural disasters can fuel conspiratorial thinking about unrelated events, which harms democratic engagement, public health and social cohesion. In short, climate-based conspiracy theories can have wide-ranging negative effects beyond climate-related matters.

    What can be done?

    There are reasons to be hopeful that certain interventions that foster analytical thinking or a critical mindset can reduce conspiracy beliefs. For example, exposing people to scientific reasoning that challenged the assumptions behind COVID-19 conspiracies significantly reduced their belief in those conspiracy theories. Also, a better use of resources and skills to cope with natural disasters can reduce conspiracy theories.

    If we don’t act on climate change, the rise in natural disasters will likely lead to more conspiracy theories. The stakes are high, but with thoughtful interventions, we can break this harmful cycle.


    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get our award-winning weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 35,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Iwan Dinnick is employed as a Research Fellow at the University of Nottingham through a Leverhulme funded Research Project.

    Daniel Jolley has received funding from the Leverhulme Trust, the British Academy, and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

    – ref. Why might people believe in human-made hurricanes? Two conspiracy theory psychologists explain – https://theconversation.com/why-might-people-believe-in-human-made-hurricanes-two-conspiracy-theory-psychologists-explain-241098

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Universities all want higher fees and funding – but the government may prefer a more targeted approach

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Chris Millward, Professor of Practice in Education Policy, University of Birmingham

    Chay_Tee/Shutterstock

    Like most of the UK, universities were surprised by the timing of July’s general election. They had no time to influence the incoming Labour government’s policy commitments.

    Labour’s manifesto acknowledged the financial problems suffered by England’s universities, which are caused by a real-terms decline in the maximum fee they are allowed to charge UK undergraduates. But it did not explain how they would be resolved.

    However, universities have used the summer to sharpen their case. This is detailed in a new report, which is timed to influence the new government’s first budget at the end of October. It calls for a rise in tuition fees, increased research funding and grants for students from poorer backgrounds.

    Many of the report’s authors have served as senior ministers and public officials. They have direct experience of the difficult choices made in government.

    But the report has been put together by Universities UK, which represents all types of universities. So it seeks more funding for all university activities, and does not help the government make choices between potential investments. The government could, for example, increase student numbers and research funding throughout higher education or concentrate on particular subjects and places.

    This is quite different to the new government’s approach. It wants to provide confidence in university finances. Then set priorities for investment and identify how to address them.

    The higher education regulator, the Office for Students, has a new chair – senior public servant Sir David Behan – and a new remit. The regulator will switch resources previously devoted to culture wars issues, such as campus debate, towards closer engagement with universities on their financial health.

    In parallel, the government is establishing a new agency called Skills England to set priorities throughout tertiary education. This embraces learning in universities, further education colleges and private training providers, both in the classroom and the workplace. These priorities will be part of a broader industrial strategy, which will be finalised early next year.

    In its green paper on the industrial strategy, the government highlights the importance of place. By supporting the clustering of industries in specific locations, it wants not only to stimulate economic growth but also to create education and job opportunities in those places. Different regions have strengths in life sciences, advanced manufacturing, digital industries and clean energy, and different types of cultural industries.

    This strategy will require alignment of the diverse influences shaping tertiary education. That includes the choices made by students about what and where to study, employers about the use of a growth and skills levy, and local mayors who already fund adult learning and have been promised more powers. The strategy will also include visas for graduate and other migrant workers, which will become increasingly tied to the government’s priorities.

    Suggestions and requests

    Some aspects of Universities UK’s report are consistent with this approach. It advocates closer collaboration between universities, colleges and employers in local areas, and joined up funding and regulation to encourage this.

    It sets an ambition for 70% of all young people to take part in tertiary education. This contrasts with the last Labour government’s target for 50% in higher education alone.

    The report also shows how universities and government could share evidence to set joint objectives. That could enable a more common understanding of the costs and benefits of international students, and the impact of universities in their local areas.

    Crucially, the Universities UK report asks the government for more money. The most substantial changes involve raising UK undergraduate fees alongside inflation, reintroducing government maintenance grants for the poorest students, and increasing funding for research.

    This injection of funds would be accompanied by a transformation scheme to improve efficiency. But the report does not identify whether that should lead universities and subjects in some places to grow, while others reconfigure and consolidate.

    Universities have successfully argued for higher fees on three occasions during the 21st century to date. In 2004, 2010 and 2016, Labour, the coalition and then Conservative governments agreed to raise the maximum fee for UK undergraduates to £3,000, £9,000 and £9,250 respectively.

    These changes were backed by income-contingent student loans and supplemented by increasing research funding. On each occasion, governments were persuaded about the benefits of a financially sustainable, globally competitive and expanding university sector. These changes allowed all universities to increase their income and grow.

    However, there is now sharper recognition that increasing the supply of graduates and research can yield unequal opportunities and growth.

    Analysis of student migration patterns shows the inequalities arising from unfocused growth, including an increasing concentration of highly skilled jobs in particular areas, such as London.

    Labour’s manifesto stated that “the country remains too centralised, with the economic potential of too many regions and communities ignored”. So the government may prefer not to invest more in higher education unless it is focused on specific activities and places.

    Since July, universities have enjoyed a more engaged and supportive government. The minister responsible for research has announced that the war on universities is over. And his counterpart in education is welcoming international students to the UK. Any increase to fees and funding will, though, incur political and financial costs. That will require ministers to set priorities and make choices.

    Chris Millward is employed by the University of Birmingham, which is directly affected by the issues addressed in this article. He is also a Trustee of the Academy of Social Sciences and the Society for Research into Higher Education, and a member of MEDR, which is the Commission for Tertiary Education and Research in Wales.

    – ref. Universities all want higher fees and funding – but the government may prefer a more targeted approach – https://theconversation.com/universities-all-want-higher-fees-and-funding-but-the-government-may-prefer-a-more-targeted-approach-240142

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Decline of X is an opportunity to do social media differently – but combining ‘safe’ and ‘profitable’ will still be a challenge

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Andy Tattersall, Information Specialist, University of Sheffield

    BongkarnGraphic / Shutterstock

    It’s now almost two years since Elon Musk concluded his takeover of Twitter (now called X) on 27 October 2022. Since then, the platform has become an increasingly polarised and divisive space.

    Musk promised to deal with some of the issues which had already frustrated users, particularly bots, abuse and misinformation. In 2023, he said there was less misinformation on the platform because of his efforts to tackle the bots. But others disagree, claiming that misinformation is still rife there.

    A potential reaction to this may be apparent in recent data highlighted by the Financial Times, which showed the number of UK users of the platform had fallen by one-third, while US users had dropped by one-fifth. The the data used to reach these conclusions may be open to question, as it is hard to find out user numbers directly from X.

    The figures also come out against the background of a disagreement over whether X’s traffic is waning or not. But there has been a notable trend in academia for individuals and some organisations to leave for alternative platforms such as Bluesky and Threads, or to quit social media altogether.

    Elon Musk has claimed that X is hitting record highs in user-seconds, a measure of how long users are spending on the site. But advertising revenue is reported to have dropped sharply amid Musk’s controversial changes, such as his “free speech” approach on the platform. If so, it will be reflected in the platform’s financial performance which has been dire. The platform currently has no clear pathway to profitability.

    X’s loss has naturally been a gain for its competitors. Despite a rather slow start due to its “invite only” model, Bluesky recently announced that it had topped 10 million users. This is still quite small compared to X’s 550 million users and Threads’ 200 million users.

    But there are questions with all platforms over how active users are and the proportion of bots versus human users. Threads also benefits by being connected to Instagram.

    The world’s richest man can afford to let X devalue from his purchase price of US$44 billion (£33.7 billion). Likewise, Meta can probably afford to prop up Threads. But Bluesky will have to find inventive ways to remain viable as a platform. So is it the right time for users to try something completely different on social media?

    Alternatives to X have to be mindful of striking the right balance between being a viable social media platform and not developing the same issues that have turned X toxic for many users.

    Elon Musk bought Twitter in 2022.
    Frederic Legrand – Comeo / Shutterstock

    The approach taken by Bluesky and Mastodon is to engage with their community more to deal with issues such as abuse and fake information. Moderating content is tricky, as it requires a lot of resources and support for those using the platform.

    But the contrast with Elon Musk’s approach to ownership is stark.

    The problem for Bluesky, and to a lesser extent Mastodon, is that once a platform gains traction it also attracts those with bad intent. Think of it as the one nice, cool bar in town that suddenly becomes popular. Once everyone hears about the bar, the troublemakers start to arrive.

    When that happens, the good people have to find a bar elsewhere. Once an alternative platform becomes a means to reach many millions, the people that drove users away from X may head there like moths to a light.

    Alternative approaches

    One possible solution is a subscription model for social media alongside paid advertisements. For growing platforms, such as Bluesky, sponsored posts and adverts will come as the user base grows in numbers.

    But as was evident with X, that is unlikely to be enough. X’s annual revenue peaked at US$5 billion (£3.8 billion) in 2021 and has been in decline ever since. This also takes into account how the platform has culled thousands of jobs in the past two years.

    The subscription model is not new to social media. X has its own paid-for blue checkmark and LinkedIn has a premium subscription. This alone still does not guarantee a profitable or functioning social media platform.

    Having a subscription-based social media platform is not exactly equitable either, as not everyone can afford to pay. The question is how much people would be willing to pay for a social media subscription that guarantees no adverts and bots, as well as proper moderation to remove abusive and fake information accounts.

    The trade off is that free users would have to deal with the inconvenience of adverts on their timelines. There could be other models floated where non-profit and student accounts are cheaper, but this again excludes other users. It also may not sit well with shareholders focused on profitability.

    As it stands, if all 10 million Bluesky users paid £5 a month to the platform, it would generate £60 million a year. That is not even close to X’s revenue of US$300 million (£230 million) back in 2012.

    Real change

    People moving to a new social media platform will want assurances that it won’t turn into another X. Organisations and individuals with large followings may also be reluctant to invest time in new platforms when they still get something out of the old. There are big, mainstream alternatives of course: Instagram, Facebook and TikTok, but Twitter offered something different.

    Real change could happen when the organisations leaving X due to how it has been run reaches a critical mass, though what that threshold represents is open to question. Those in the world of academia are cautious and at best hedging their bets, as I have found with my own search.

    Just as X increasingly fails to deal with misinformation, it is leaning further into the same headwind as right-wing platforms such as Truth Social. The newer platforms might find themselves a safer haven for now, but that is likely to change if lessons around ownership, funding and moderation are not learned.

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

    – ref. Decline of X is an opportunity to do social media differently – but combining ‘safe’ and ‘profitable’ will still be a challenge – https://theconversation.com/decline-of-x-is-an-opportunity-to-do-social-media-differently-but-combining-safe-and-profitable-will-still-be-a-challenge-241228

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Appointment of Director General for the East Africa Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery Office Dr. Kennedy K. Mbekeani

    Source: African Development Bank Group

    The African Development Bank Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Kennedy K. Mbekeani as Director General for the East Africa Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery Office, effective from 16th October 2024.

    Dr. Kennedy K. Mbekeani, a citizen of Malawi brings over 25 years of senior level experience in development finance, project management, policy advisory services, and knowledge generation across country and regional levels. Prior to this appointment, he served as Deputy Director General for the Bank’s Southern Africa Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery Office.

    He holds a Bachelor of Social Science (Economics and Statistics) degree from the University of Malawi, an MPhil in Monetary Economics from the University of Glasgow, and both an MA and PhD in International Economics from the University of California. He has authored numerous publications focusing on trade, regional integration, and infrastructure development in Africa.

    In his previous role as Deputy Director General for the Southern Africa Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery Office, Dr. Mbekeani led the Bank’s business development and delivery for sovereign, non-sovereign investments and provided advisory services to South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Eswatini, Namibia and Mauritius. His efforts contributed to the Bank’s reputation as a trusted partner for high impact development projects in the region. He also managed relationships with key government and private sector, positioning the Bank for success.

    Dr. Mbekeani joined the Bank in 2009 as Chief Trade and Regional Integration Officer. He has held various senior roles including Lead Regional Economist at the South African Resource Centre, Officer in Charge and Acting Regional Director of the Bank’s South African Resource Centre in South Africa, and Officer in Charge of the Bank’s Ghana Country Office. When he served Country Manager for Uganda, he successfully expanded the Bank’s portfolio to over $2 billion.

    Before joining the Bank, Dr. Mbekeani worked for the United Nations Development Programme as a Trade, Debt and Globalisation Advisor for East and Southern Africa. He also served as Senior Research Fellow at the Botswana Institute for Development Policy Analysis, and Senior Economist at the National Institute for Economic Policy in South Africa.

    Commenting his appointment, Dr. Mbekeani said: “I am grateful and feel honoured by the confidence President Adesina placed in me through this appointment, as Director General for the East Africa Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery Office. I look forward to working with the President, the Board of Directors, Senior Management, our teams and stakeholders to enhance the Bank’s operational efficiency, effectiveness and drive impactful developmental outcomes across the region”.

    Commenting the appointment, the President of the African Development Bank Group, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina said: “I am delighted to appoint Dr. Kennedy Mbekeani as Director General for the East Africa Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery Office. Kennedy brings extensive experience in managing operations, policy dialogue, coupled with astute diplomacy and well-tested ability to work effectively with countries and development partners. He had previously worked in East Africa as the Country Manager for Uganda, before being promoted to the position of Deputy Director General of the Southern Africa Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery Office. His knowledge of the Eastern Africa region and well-proven experience in delivering robust operations for the public and private sectors will strongly benefit the work and operations of the African Development Bank Group in East Africa and all countries in the region”.

    MIL OSI Economics –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCHUMER ANNOUNCES NEW $750 MILLION PRELIMINARY INVESTMENT FOR WOLFSPEED FROM HIS CHIPS & SCIENCE LAW; SENATOR SAYS NEW $$$ WILL HELP ACCELERATE ONGOING MOHAWK VALLEY EXPANSION & SUPPORT HUNDREDS OF…

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer

    Includes $750M Agreement For Funding From Schumer’s CHIPS Act & $750M Private Investment, Boosting Wolfspeed’s Ongoing Expansion In Upstate NY And Building A New North Carolina Facility Which Sends Wafers To Oneida County’s Marcy Nanocenter To Be Finished, Providing Long Term Work For Mohawk Valley

    Wolfspeed Says It Also Plans To Tap Up To Nearly $1 Billion From The CHIPS ITC That Schumer Created To Help Fund Completion Of Mohawk Valley Plant

    Schumer: My CHIPS & Science Law Is Bringing Wolfspeed To Front Of The Pack & Helping Mohawk Valley Lead America’s Semiconductor Renaissance

    U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer today announced Wolfspeed has reached a $750 million preliminary memorandum of terms (PMT) funding agreement under the CHIPS & Science Law he led in writing and passing into law, helping them unlock an additional $750 million in private investment. Wolfspeed also said it plans to tap nearly $1 billion from the CHIPS Investment Tax Credit that Schumer helped create to fund much of the state-of-the-art equipment being installed to complete the expansion their Silicon Carbide Fabrication Facility at Marcy Nanocenter in Oneida County.

    Wolfspeed said this massive collective investment will help accelerate their ongoing expansion in the Mohawk Valley and boosting good-paying jobs expected to be created at the Marcy facility. This CHIPS investment will also support Wolfspeed’s new North Carolina Siler City facility which is integral to the Mohawk Valley’s future as it will send wafers to be finished in NY, creating long term work and future growth opportunities for the Marcy operation.

    “Wolfspeed is leading the pack in bringing semiconductor manufacturing back to America. This major multibillion investment powered by my CHIPS & Science Law will accelerate the ongoing expansion in the Mohawk Valley, helping boost hundreds of good paying jobs and providing long term work for the Marcy fab to succeed well into the future,” said Senator Schumer. “From electric vehicles to artificial intelligence, so much critical technology relies on the silicon carbide chips that Wolfspeed will manufacture and perfect in the Mohawk Valley. Today’s massive investment will make America’s economy and our national security stronger as Wolfspeed helps us write the next chapter of America’s resurgence as the leader in the semiconductor industry, with the Mohawk Valley as the beating heart.”

    Schumer explained that Wolfspeed’s Mohawk Valley Fab is the largest and one of the only 200mm Silicon Carbide fabrication facilities in the world. Wolfspeed officially opened their new fab in 2022 and is actively expanding with approximately $790 million in additional capital planned investment in the Mohawk Valley which will help support new good paying manufacturing and construction jobs to the region. The proposed CHIPS investment would also support the construction of Wolfspeed’s silicon carbide wafer manufacturing facility in North Carolina. Nearly all of the wafers from Wolfspeed’s new facility in Siler City, NC are needed and sent to the Mohawk Valley Fab to be finished and this investment is essential to ramp up chip production in New York. The proposed CHIPS funding will support the Mohawk Valley fab to increase its production capacity by approximately 30%.

    To achieve this increase in capacity in the Mohawk Valley, Wolfspeed will purchase and install additional tools & equipment in the Mohawk Valley, such as photolithography tools, ion implanters, metal deposition tools, etch systems, automation equipment and more that will be support by the Investment Tax Credit from the CHIPS & Science Law.

    The proposed $750 million in CHIPS funding will also help catalyze private capital investment of at least $750 million to support the company’s expansion plans. This injection of private capital would not have occurred were it not for the CHIPS and Science Act. Wolfspeed is the world’s leading manufacturer of wafers and devices made from silicon carbide, a compound which has favorable chemical and material properties compared to traditional silicon, enabling Wolfspeed’s semiconductors to be highly energy-efficient and durable. The silicon carbide devices manufactured by Wolfspeed power electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrids, enabling extended driving range-per-charge, faster charging times, and lower overall systems costs, they also are vital for artificial intelligence and in military applications critical for national security.

    Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. said, “We thank Senator Schumer for securing $750 million in funding for Wolfspeed from his historic CHIPS & Science Law. This transformative investment will accelerate hundreds of good-paying jobs in Oneida County and further elevate our region as a leader in semiconductor production. As Wolfspeed enhances its capabilities, we look forward to the opportunities this brings for our workforce and our future in the Mohawk Valley.”

    Acting President of Mohawk Valley EDGE Shawna Papale said, “On behalf of Mohawk Valley EDGE, we commend the Department of Commerce for reaching a preliminary agreement with Wolfspeed to leverage more than $2.5 billion of investment including over $750 million in CHIPS Act grant funding. The growth of the Mohawk Valley Fab is hinged on the ability of Siler City to produce 200mm silicon carbide wafers to supply Wolfspeed’s Mohawk Valley Fab. Thanks to Senate Majority Leader Schumer, this CHIPs announcement accelerates hiring towards Wolfspeed’s job target of over 600 employees and increases production capacity at the Marcy Nanocenter. This was a true collaboration across local, county, State, and Federal officials along with the leadership of Wolfspeed to make the dream of recreating American made manufacturing a reality right here in Oneida County.”

    Last week, Schumer announced Edwards Vacuum reached a $18 million CHIPS PMT to build its new $300+ million dry pump manufacturing facility for the semiconductor industry, the first of its kind for America, in Western NY. Earlier this year, Schumer also announced that Micron, which plans to invest $100 billion over the next two decades – the largest private investment in New York’ s history – reached a $6.1 billion CHIPS PMT funding agreement. In addition, GlobalFoundries in the Capital Region also reached an agreement for $1.5 billion in direct grant funding under his CHIPS & Science Law to support a $12.5 billion public-private investment over the next ten plus years to expand and construct a second, new state-of-the-art computer chip factory in Malta, NY. 

    Schumer added, “The CHIPS & Science Law keeps helping grow the booming semiconductor industry in Upstate NY. We are seeing more targeted federal investment than ever before to bring back manufacturing, and awards like this show how the I-90 corridor from Buffalo to Syracuse to Utica to Albany truly is becoming America’s semiconductor superhighway.”

    Schumer has long worked to position the Mohawk Valley for semiconductor investment. In addition to his efforts on further recruiting chip suppliers to Marcy Nanocenter, Schumer secured $2 million in U.S. DOL funding for the Workforce Development Board of Herkimer, Madison and Oneida Counties and Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC) to boost technical training to support the expansion and attraction of the semiconductor industry. Schumer also secured $2 million for MVCC to create a new state-of-the-art semiconductor and advanced manufacturing training center.

    Schumer is also actively working with Mohawk Valley EDGE to help lure additional semiconductor and supply chain companies to Marcy Nanocenter which will get a further boost from Wolfspeed and Micron’s expansions in the region.

    Schumer said, “Marcy Nanocenter is one of the most shovel-ready sites in the whole country and with this investment helping to strengthen Wolfspeed and with Micron rapidly establishing itself in the broader region, I am going all out to land more companies to make the Mohawk Valley a central component of bringing semiconductor manufacturing back to America.”

    Thanks to Schumer’s CHIPS & Science Law, Upstate New York has seen a major revival in tech manufacturing. Micron has announced plans for a historic $100+ billion investment to build a cutting-edge memory fab in Central New York. GlobalFoundries plans to invest over $12 billion to expand and construct a second, new state-of-the-art computer chip factory in the Capital Region. TTM Technologies, a printed circuit board manufacturer, plans to invest up to $130 million to expand their facilities in Onondaga County, creating up to 400 good-paying jobs. Menlo Micro will invest $150 million to build their microchip switch manufacturing facility in Tompkins County, creating over 100 new good-paying jobs. In addition, Upstate New York is home to semiconductor supply chain companies like Corning Incorporated, which manufactures glass critical to the microchip industry at its Canton and Fairport, NY plants. Edwards Vacuum is also moving forward with a $300+ million investment to build a dry pump manufacturing facility in Western New York, creating 600 good-paying jobs to support the growing chip industry in Upstate New York and across the nation.

    The PMT outlines key terms for Wolfspeed’s CHIPS agreement. To finalize the federal CHIPS agreement, the Commerce Department will now begin a comprehensive due diligence process on the proposed project and other information contained in the application. After satisfactory completion of the due diligence phase, the Commerce Department will finalize the PMT.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCHUMER ANNOUNCES NEW $750 MILLION PRELIMINARY INVESTMENT FOR WOLFSPEED FROM HIS CHIPS & SCIENCE LAW; SENATOR SAYS NEW $$$ WILL HELP ACCELERATE ONGOING MOHAWK VALLEY EXPANSION & SUPPORT HUNDREDS OF…

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer

    Includes $750M Agreement For Funding From Schumer’s CHIPS Act & $750M Private Investment, Boosting Wolfspeed’s Ongoing Expansion In Upstate NY And Building A New North Carolina Facility Which Sends Wafers To Oneida County’s Marcy Nanocenter To Be Finished, Providing Long Term Work For Mohawk Valley

    Wolfspeed Says It Also Plans To Tap Up To Nearly $1 Billion From The CHIPS ITC That Schumer Created To Help Fund Completion Of Mohawk Valley Plant

    Schumer: My CHIPS & Science Law Is Bringing Wolfspeed To Front Of The Pack & Helping Mohawk Valley Lead America’s Semiconductor Renaissance

    U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer today announced Wolfspeed has reached a $750 million preliminary memorandum of terms (PMT) funding agreement under the CHIPS & Science Law he led in writing and passing into law, helping them unlock an additional $750 million in private investment. Wolfspeed also said it plans to tap nearly $1 billion from the CHIPS Investment Tax Credit that Schumer helped create to fund much of the state-of-the-art equipment being installed to complete the expansion their Silicon Carbide Fabrication Facility at Marcy Nanocenter in Oneida County.

    Wolfspeed said this massive collective investment will help accelerate their ongoing expansion in the Mohawk Valley and boosting good-paying jobs expected to be created at the Marcy facility. This CHIPS investment will also support Wolfspeed’s new North Carolina Siler City facility which is integral to the Mohawk Valley’s future as it will send wafers to be finished in NY, creating long term work and future growth opportunities for the Marcy operation.

    “Wolfspeed is leading the pack in bringing semiconductor manufacturing back to America. This major multibillion investment powered by my CHIPS & Science Law will accelerate the ongoing expansion in the Mohawk Valley, helping boost hundreds of good paying jobs and providing long term work for the Marcy fab to succeed well into the future,” said Senator Schumer. “From electric vehicles to artificial intelligence, so much critical technology relies on the silicon carbide chips that Wolfspeed will manufacture and perfect in the Mohawk Valley. Today’s massive investment will make America’s economy and our national security stronger as Wolfspeed helps us write the next chapter of America’s resurgence as the leader in the semiconductor industry, with the Mohawk Valley as the beating heart.”

    Schumer explained that Wolfspeed’s Mohawk Valley Fab is the largest and one of the only 200mm Silicon Carbide fabrication facilities in the world. Wolfspeed officially opened their new fab in 2022 and is actively expanding with approximately $790 million in additional capital planned investment in the Mohawk Valley which will help support new good paying manufacturing and construction jobs to the region. The proposed CHIPS investment would also support the construction of Wolfspeed’s silicon carbide wafer manufacturing facility in North Carolina. Nearly all of the wafers from Wolfspeed’s new facility in Siler City, NC are needed and sent to the Mohawk Valley Fab to be finished and this investment is essential to ramp up chip production in New York. The proposed CHIPS funding will support the Mohawk Valley fab to increase its production capacity by approximately 30%.

    To achieve this increase in capacity in the Mohawk Valley, Wolfspeed will purchase and install additional tools & equipment in the Mohawk Valley, such as photolithography tools, ion implanters, metal deposition tools, etch systems, automation equipment and more that will be support by the Investment Tax Credit from the CHIPS & Science Law.

    The proposed $750 million in CHIPS funding will also help catalyze private capital investment of at least $750 million to support the company’s expansion plans. This injection of private capital would not have occurred were it not for the CHIPS and Science Act. Wolfspeed is the world’s leading manufacturer of wafers and devices made from silicon carbide, a compound which has favorable chemical and material properties compared to traditional silicon, enabling Wolfspeed’s semiconductors to be highly energy-efficient and durable. The silicon carbide devices manufactured by Wolfspeed power electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrids, enabling extended driving range-per-charge, faster charging times, and lower overall systems costs, they also are vital for artificial intelligence and in military applications critical for national security.

    Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. said, “We thank Senator Schumer for securing $750 million in funding for Wolfspeed from his historic CHIPS & Science Law. This transformative investment will accelerate hundreds of good-paying jobs in Oneida County and further elevate our region as a leader in semiconductor production. As Wolfspeed enhances its capabilities, we look forward to the opportunities this brings for our workforce and our future in the Mohawk Valley.”

    Acting President of Mohawk Valley EDGE Shawna Papale said, “On behalf of Mohawk Valley EDGE, we commend the Department of Commerce for reaching a preliminary agreement with Wolfspeed to leverage more than $2.5 billion of investment including over $750 million in CHIPS Act grant funding. The growth of the Mohawk Valley Fab is hinged on the ability of Siler City to produce 200mm silicon carbide wafers to supply Wolfspeed’s Mohawk Valley Fab. Thanks to Senate Majority Leader Schumer, this CHIPs announcement accelerates hiring towards Wolfspeed’s job target of over 600 employees and increases production capacity at the Marcy Nanocenter. This was a true collaboration across local, county, State, and Federal officials along with the leadership of Wolfspeed to make the dream of recreating American made manufacturing a reality right here in Oneida County.”

    Last week, Schumer announced Edwards Vacuum reached a $18 million CHIPS PMT to build its new $300+ million dry pump manufacturing facility for the semiconductor industry, the first of its kind for America, in Western NY. Earlier this year, Schumer also announced that Micron, which plans to invest $100 billion over the next two decades – the largest private investment in New York’ s history – reached a $6.1 billion CHIPS PMT funding agreement. In addition, GlobalFoundries in the Capital Region also reached an agreement for $1.5 billion in direct grant funding under his CHIPS & Science Law to support a $12.5 billion public-private investment over the next ten plus years to expand and construct a second, new state-of-the-art computer chip factory in Malta, NY. 

    Schumer added, “The CHIPS & Science Law keeps helping grow the booming semiconductor industry in Upstate NY. We are seeing more targeted federal investment than ever before to bring back manufacturing, and awards like this show how the I-90 corridor from Buffalo to Syracuse to Utica to Albany truly is becoming America’s semiconductor superhighway.”

    Schumer has long worked to position the Mohawk Valley for semiconductor investment. In addition to his efforts on further recruiting chip suppliers to Marcy Nanocenter, Schumer secured $2 million in U.S. DOL funding for the Workforce Development Board of Herkimer, Madison and Oneida Counties and Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC) to boost technical training to support the expansion and attraction of the semiconductor industry. Schumer also secured $2 million for MVCC to create a new state-of-the-art semiconductor and advanced manufacturing training center.

    Schumer is also actively working with Mohawk Valley EDGE to help lure additional semiconductor and supply chain companies to Marcy Nanocenter which will get a further boost from Wolfspeed and Micron’s expansions in the region.

    Schumer said, “Marcy Nanocenter is one of the most shovel-ready sites in the whole country and with this investment helping to strengthen Wolfspeed and with Micron rapidly establishing itself in the broader region, I am going all out to land more companies to make the Mohawk Valley a central component of bringing semiconductor manufacturing back to America.”

    Thanks to Schumer’s CHIPS & Science Law, Upstate New York has seen a major revival in tech manufacturing. Micron has announced plans for a historic $100+ billion investment to build a cutting-edge memory fab in Central New York. GlobalFoundries plans to invest over $12 billion to expand and construct a second, new state-of-the-art computer chip factory in the Capital Region. TTM Technologies, a printed circuit board manufacturer, plans to invest up to $130 million to expand their facilities in Onondaga County, creating up to 400 good-paying jobs. Menlo Micro will invest $150 million to build their microchip switch manufacturing facility in Tompkins County, creating over 100 new good-paying jobs. In addition, Upstate New York is home to semiconductor supply chain companies like Corning Incorporated, which manufactures glass critical to the microchip industry at its Canton and Fairport, NY plants. Edwards Vacuum is also moving forward with a $300+ million investment to build a dry pump manufacturing facility in Western New York, creating 600 good-paying jobs to support the growing chip industry in Upstate New York and across the nation.

    The PMT outlines key terms for Wolfspeed’s CHIPS agreement. To finalize the federal CHIPS agreement, the Commerce Department will now begin a comprehensive due diligence process on the proposed project and other information contained in the application. After satisfactory completion of the due diligence phase, the Commerce Department will finalize the PMT.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trying to lose weight? Here’s why your genetics could be just as important as your exercise regime

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Henry Chung, Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science, University of Essex

    The more genes associated with weight loss a participant had, the more they responded to exercise. Chalermpon Poungpeth/ Shutterstock

    Weight loss is a complicated process. There are so many factors involved including your diet, how much sleep you get each night and the kind of exercise you do. Our recent study shows that your specific genetic profile may also have a dominant effect on how well you lose weight through exercise. This might explain why two people who do an identical workout will see very different results.

    We identified 14 genes that appeared to significantly contribute to how much weight a person lost through running. This suggests that some of us have a natural talent when it comes to burning fat and losing weight through exercise.

    To conduct our study, we recruited 38 men and women born in the UK aged between 20 and 40. None of the participants regularly exercised at the start of the study. The group was randomly divided, with one half following a strict eight-week endurance programme that consisted of three weekly runs of 20-30 minutes.

    The other group acted as a control. They were instructed to refrain from exercise and continue their daily routines as normal over this study period, including diet and lifestyle habits.

    All participants conducted a running test to see how far they could run in 12 minutes, and were weighed before and after the study period. This was to gauge their initial fitness level and see how much they changed over the duration of the study. Body mass index (BMI) was also calculated.

    Additionally, a saliva sample was collected from each person with a DNA test kit at the end of the study to assess their unique genetic profile.

    It’s important to note that everyone who participated in the study had a similar body weight, BMI and aerobic fitness level at the start of the study. This is beneficial for multiple reasons. It meant everyone was at the same starting point, and some confounding variables were already controlled for such as fitness level. This ultimately improves accuracy in interpreting the results.

    Exercise genes

    Everyone in the exercise group managed to lose weight – around 2kg on average. The control group, on the other hand, put on a little bit of weight.

    While a 2kg weight loss may not sound like a lot, it’s significant considering the exercise regime only lasted eight weeks and participants made no changes to their diet.

    More significant, however, was the large variation in results among those that exercised – with an up to 10kg difference in weight loss between some of the participants. In fact, everyone within the exercise group improved at different rates.

    Since we controlled for factors such as the intensity, duration and frequency of the exercises and used participants who’d had a similar body weight and fitness level at the start of the study, this suggests that some people naturally benefited more than others from endurance training.

    When we looked at the genetic profiles of our participants, we found that differences in each person’s response to the exercise was strongly associated with their specific genetics.

    We showed there was a strong linear correlation between the amount of weight participants lost and 14 genes that have previously been shown to be associated with body weight, metabolism or psychological conditions that affect BMI. The greater number of these genes a participant had, the more weight they lost. Our results also revealed that around 63% of the variance in weight lost among participants were explained by the genes identified.

    For example, research has shown the PPARGC1A gene plays a role in metabolism and the use of fats for energy while exercising. Our study found that all participants who lost more than 1.5kg from exercise had this gene. Those who lost less than this did not have this gene.

    Genes are only one part of the equation, however.
    EvMedvedeva/ Shutterstock

    Our findings align with what previous studies have shown. But while previous papers have only looked at the link between individual genes and weight loss, ours is the first to show that 14 different genes appear to work in combination to affect whether a person loses weight from endurance exercise.

    Piece of the puzzle

    Our study also suggests that while some people possess genes that make it easier for them to get fit and lose weight, people with these favourable genetics can only flourish if they actually exercise. In fact, our control group also had a number of these listed genes, but without exercise these genes could not activate, and so the participants did not lose any weight.

    While our study provides compelling findings, it’s not without limitations. Since we only looked at endurance-based exercise, it will be important for future studies to investigate whether there are similar links between weight loss, genetics and combinations of different types of training (such as a mixture of endurance and strength sessions into a training plan).

    It’s also worth mentioning that exercise is only one piece of the puzzle when it comes to weight loss. So even if you have all 14 of these genes, you won’t lose any weight or get fit if you don’t exercise and maintain a healthy diet and sleep pattern.

    On the flip side, someone that only has a few of these favourable genes can still benefit if they exercise and are mindful of other aspects of their lifestyle.

    Henry Chung receives funding from Innovate UK, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). No funding from this organisations was received for the study described in this article.

    Chris McManus receives funding from Innovate UK, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). No funding from these organisations was received for the study described in this article.

    Sally Waterworth receives funding from receives funding from Innovate UK, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). No funding from these organisations was received for the study described in this article.

    – ref. Trying to lose weight? Here’s why your genetics could be just as important as your exercise regime – https://theconversation.com/trying-to-lose-weight-heres-why-your-genetics-could-be-just-as-important-as-your-exercise-regime-240506

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada announces funding to improve the sustainability and competitiveness of Canadian cereals

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    Cereal crops are a staple of Canada’s agricultural sector.

    October 15, 2024 – Winnipeg, Manitoba – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

    Cereal crops are a staple of Canada’s agricultural sector. Last year, we exported 29.8 million tonnes of wheat, barley and oats, valued at $13.8 billion, and demand continues to grow.

    To support the competitiveness and sustainability of Canadian cereals, today, Terry Duguid, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and Special Advisor for Water and Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South, on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced up to $7.3 million in funding to Cereals Canada through the AgriMarketing Program and the AgriScience Program – Projects Component, two initiatives under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

    Cereals Canada is receiving up to $6,660,817 through the AgriMarketing Program to increase market access, improve customer support, and expand exports through initiatives like technical exchanges, market research, and knowledge sharing among stakeholders.

    Through the AgriScience Program – Projects Component, Cereals Canada is also receiving up to $674,249. This funding will support research on how environmental conditions impact cereal crop quality during the growing season. It will also expand milling expertise, establish oat quality standards, and compare Canadian wheat with international competitors to strengthen Canada’s place in the global market.

    By sharing key insights on the performance, functionality, and marketability of Canadian cereals with customers, producers, and partners, these projects will drive market growth. At the same time, by investing in research to help farmers adapt to environmental challenges, they will further build on Canada’s reputation as a reliable supplier of high-quality, sustainable cereal grains.

    “We are grateful for the support from the Government of Canada for applied research and market access initiatives that will benefit Canadian wheat, durum, barley, and oat growers, and the value chain as a whole. This funding enables us to amplify our resources, maintain and grow markets, and foster industry relationships and advocacy, helping to ensure the long-term competitiveness and sustainability of Canada’s cereals industry.”

    – Dean Dias, CEO, Cereals Canada

    • In the last five years, Canada exported wheat to almost 100 countries with some of the largest buyers being in the United States, Indonesia, China and Japan.

    • According to Statistics Canada, 2023 wheat exports were nearly $12 billion, and 2023 oat exports were $725 million.

    • Cereals Canada is a longstanding recipient of departmental funding, having most recently received over $3 million in funding through the AgriMaketing Program under the previous Canadian Agricultural Partnership framework.

    • Cereals Canada is a national, not-for-profit organization representing the cereal grains sector, focused on enhancing the competitiveness of Canadian cereals both domestically and internationally.

    • The Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) is a $3.5-billion, 5-year agreement (2023 to 2028), between the federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen the competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency of the agriculture, agri‐food and agri‐based products sector.

    • The AgriMarketing Program, under the Sustainable CAP, supports national agricultural sectors to increase and diversify exports to international markets and seize domestic market opportunities.

    • The AgriScience Program, under the Sustainable CAP, aims to accelerate innovation by providing funding and support for pre-commercial science activities and research that benefits the agriculture and agri-food sector, and Canadians.

    Annie Cullinan
    Director of Communications
    Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
    annie.cullinan@agr.gc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    January 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: 2023 IAEA Annual Report Presented to the UN General Assembly

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

    The 2023 IAEA Annual Report contains highlights of a significant year for the Agency. (Image: A.Vargas).

    The 2023 IAEA Annual Report is now available to read online, in all the official UN languages. The 2023 report was submitted to the United Nations General Assembly  today by the IAEA’s Director General, Rafael Mariano Grossi.

    The 2023 IAEA Annual Report contains highlights of a significant year for the Agency. A new Atoms4Food initiative was launched by Mr Grossi, together with the Director General Qu Dongyu of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The initiative builds on the IAEA’s experience of helping countries to use nuclear techniques to help them tackle global hunger by enhancing food security and nutrition. 

    At the same time, the IAEA continued to implement its existing key initiatives. These include Rays of Hope: Cancer Care for All, aimed at closing the gap in cancer care in lower- and middle- income countries, its Zoonotic Disease Integrated Action initiative  (ZODIAC) tasked with preventing future pandemics and NUTEC Plastics, which fights global plastic pollution.

    “Every day on every continent, the IAEA assists nations in overcoming challenges like diseases, poverty, hunger, pollution and climate change,” said Mr Grossi in his written statement to the UN General Assembly. “In partnership with our 178 Member States, we are enabling communities to improve healthcare, agriculture and energy systems through the power of nuclear science and technology.”

    An important part of the IAEA’s work in 2023 was to ensure transparency around the discharge of ALPS treated water from Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station. In July, Mr Grossi presented to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan an Agency report that concluded the discharge approach and activities to be consistent with international safety standards.

    Another key priority was to support Ukraine’s nuclear safety and security. A total of 86 IAEA missions comprising 187 staff travelled to Ukraine in 2023. The IAEA also maintained a continuous presence at all five nuclear sites in Ukraine. In May, Mr Grossi presented to the UN Security Council the five principles for protecting nuclear safety and security at Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant.

    A significant milestone for the IAEA was at last year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, where leaders backed investment in nuclear as a low-carbon energy source for the first time. Further notable developments concerning nuclear energy included two interconnected mechanisms: the IAEA Platform on SMRs and their Applications and the IAEA’s Nuclear Harmonization and Standardization Initiative, launched together in 2023 to support its Member States with the safe and timely deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs). SMRs offer a viable option to  enhance energy security while helping to achieve global climate goals for many countries worldwide. 

    The IAEA’s unique laboratories at Seibersdorf achieved a milestone last year, fundraising was completed for the renewal of the Nuclear Application Laboratories (ReNuAL) initiative. In addition, the IAEA’s new Nuclear Security Training and Demonstration Centre opened, ready to assist Member States in tackling nuclear terrorism and crime.

    Mr Grossi also launched the World Fusion Energy Group in 2023, which will bringing together key stakeholders as this future technology continues its journey from experimentation to demonstration and deployment.

    In addition, the IAEA celebrated achievements in promoting gender equality in the nuclear sector. By the end of 2023, the IAEA Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme had 560 fellows, and the Lise Meitner Programme was also in place, offering early- and mid-career women in the nuclear sector new opportunities for career advancement. In 2023, gender balance was achieved in senior management at the IAEA.

    More information about the significant activities of the Agency during the past year is available here. The 2023 IAEA Annual Report can also be read in the UN official languages of Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish, as well as English. Mr Grossi’s full statement can be read here.

    MIL Security OSI –

    January 23, 2025
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