NewzIntel.com

Category: Science

  • MIL-OSI Europe: From White Supremacy to the Global South: Radical Right Is Not a National Phenomena

    Source: Universities – Science Po in English

    How does the radical right discourse fit with the growing anti-imperialism & anti-western sentiment in Africa?

    This is also a really interesting and important question. To many, the very idea that the radical Right has an appeal or alliances in Africa and other parts of the Global South is counter-intuitive. This perspective risks badly underestimating the influence and reach of the radical Right. In The World of the Right, we explain this at length in the final chapter. The key themes are nativism or ethno-nationalism, anti-universalism, and recognition.

    While the radical Right is often associated with white supremacy – and there is no doubt that many of its followers can be classified as such – it is nevertheless critical to recognise that the ideology of the contemporary radical Right is profoundly anti-universalist. Briefly put, they argue that liberalism has destroyed the distinctiveness of cultures and that this is the great failure, or tragedy, of liberalism, including its drive to spread human rights and impose democracy or regime change around the word.

    For the contemporary radical Right, cultures or civilisations are incommensurably different, but none have a claim to universal or global superiority. In this sense, they are nativist or ethno-nationalist, arguing that all cultures have a right to their difference (providing, of course, that difference is elsewhere). It is this anti-universalism and anti-imperialism that allow the radical Right to make common cause with many individuals, activists, groups, and governments in Africa and other parts of the Global South that also feel dominated or oppressed by the demands of global liberalism.

    So we see, for example, African cultural nativists making common cause with their analogical global allies – a good example is the relationship between the radical pan-Africanist Kemi Seba, the éminence grise of the French Nouvelle Droite Alain de Benoit, and the Russian radical Right ideologue Alexander Dugin. In the book we explore this through the concept of “recognition” and show how transversal alliances join together very diverse forces from the radical Right, religious organisations, African politicians, and activists around the notion of the “natural family” in opposition to the promotion of liberal rights such as abortion and LGBTQ+.

    There is much, much more to be said about this topic, but it is important to recognise that the anti-universalism and ethno-nationalism of the radical Right allows for and facilitate often surprising alliances with anti-imperialist activists and agendas in the global South.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Rosneft presented innovative digital developments in the oil and gas industry

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Rosneft – Rosneft – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    From October 1 to 4, the Rosneft Research Institute in Ufa held a unique oil and gas conference, “Digital Technologies in Hydrocarbon Production: Modern Challenges.” This year, more than 700 participants from 54 Russian cities registered for the large-scale event.

    On the first day, the conference venue featured an alley of Rosneft’s science-intensive software. Participants were given a unique opportunity to get acquainted with the functionality of 17 software packages designed to support exploration, design, and development of oil and gas fields.

    12 conference sections were devoted to current issues of geological exploration and oil production using digital products. Industry experts discussed modern technologies of artificial intelligence, extraction of reserves in complex geological conditions, as well as trends in professional training of personnel. Participants demonstrated the latest achievements in seismic exploration, robotics, 3D printing.

    The conference announced the release of new software “RN-Alpha” for joint modeling of field development, underground and surface infrastructure. With the help of this software, it will be possible to implement a seamless format for data transfer from field developers to designers. To date, 24 software modules and 9 calculation services have been created and tested. More than 200 conceptual design projects have been digitized and loaded into the software database. A distinctive feature of “RN-Alpha” is the prompt calculation of hundreds of options. This helps to make engineering and management decisions quickly and efficiently.

    The conference also included a series of tournaments using digital simulators created by specialists from a scientific institute in Ufa. Participants solved tasks related to the work of a chief geologist at an oil-producing enterprise and a geonavigator.

    Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft October 4, 2024

    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.rosneft.ru/press/nevs/item/220881/

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: InnoCarnival 2024 to run from October 26 to November 3 (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    InnoCarnival 2024 to run from October 26 to November 3 (with photos)
    InnoCarnival 2024 to run from October 26 to November 3 (with photos)
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         Organised by the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC), the InnoCarnival 2024 (IC 2024) will be held from October 26 to November 3 at the Hong Kong Science Park with the theme of “Let’s Sail with Innovation and Technology”. The event is receiving support from over 75 programme partners, including local universities, research and development centres, government departments and other organisations. Through an array of interesting activities, it aims to promote innovation and technology (I&T) culture. IC 2024 is also one of the Special 75 events and Highlight Events of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.           Speaking at the media preview for IC 2024 today (October 4), the Commissioner for Innovation and Technology, Mr Ivan Lee, said that the Commission has been committed to driving the I&T development of Hong Kong and raising the awareness of I&T culture in the community. He believed that the Carnival was an annual flagship event which could foster popularity of science culture, nurture the young generation’s interest in I&T, and attract more I&T talent in the long run.            The media preview exhibited the research and development (R&D) projects of several participating teams. Project team representatives presented their inspirational ideas, R&D processes, features and functions, and project applications. These projects include the “Flexible Exoskeleton for Load Transportation”, developed by the Chinese University of Hong Kong which provides personalised assistance to the wearer when moving heavy objects to reduce back strain and muscle activity, minimising the risk of lower back pain while maximising comfort and safety; as well as the “Dye Removal from Denim Textile Wastewater by a Combinative Adsorption and Regeneration System” developed by the Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel (HKRITA), which is an environmental-friendly and cost-effective indigo dye treatment method using alumina-based adsorbents as efficient dye-adsorbent materials to remove indigo dye from textile wastewater.           In addition, representatives of Carmel Divine Grace Foundation Secondary School, introduced their anti-phone scam invention for seniors, “ElderDefender”. Equipped with speech recognition technology, the device would make use of artificial intelligence and big data technology to scan phone message to reduce phone scams by issuing a visual alert. This invention earned awards in the Hong Kong Student Science Competition organised by the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, as well as the Second City I&T Grand Challenge organised by the ITC together with the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation.           Exhibition booths will be set up at the Hong Kong Science Park to showcase local I&T achievements, some of them with interactive games. Moreover, a diverse line-up of about 150 workshops and webinars across various subjects including artificial intelligence and energy conservation will be available during the carnival.            Prototypes of some of the winning I&T solutions of the Second City I&T Grand Challenge will also be displayed for trial in the IC 2024. To promote an I&T culture and enhance the application of I&T in the community, the second City I&T Grand Challenge was launched in March this year under the theme of “Hong Kong’s Got I&T”. It invited submissions from different sectors of the community to develop I&T solutions focusing on two subjects, namely “I&T for Nature (Yama)” (improving the operation and management of country parks and campsites, and enhancing hikers’ experiences in nature) and “I&T for Community (Community Wellness)” (enhancing support for carers). After rounds of assessment and pitching, over 50 awards under the four categories, which were the Primary School Group, the Secondary School Group, the University/Tertiary Institute Group and the Open Group, were presented at the Grand Pitch in August this year.           All IC 2024 activities are free of charge. Some of the activities require preregistration. Details are available at the thematic webpage (innocarnival.hk). Members of the public are most welcome to join.

     
    Ends/Friday, October 4, 2024Issued at HKT 17:35

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Nikita Blagoy: “Exchange education is a colossal development and skills”

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    Nikita Blagoy, a postgraduate student at the Institute of Industrial Management, Economics and Trade, and an assistant at the Higher School of Engineering and Economics, received a scholarship from the President of the Russian Federation for students and postgraduates studying abroad. In early September, Nikita went to China. Before leaving, he told us about his academic path at the Polytechnic University, and how his ideas about life and science changed. And after a while, he contacted us to share his first impressions of his internship at the Dalian University of Technology.

    Interview with a graduate student Read in our traditional section “Person”.

    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://www.spbstu.ru/media/nevs/polytech-media/nikita-blagoy-exchange-training-is-colossal-development-and-skills/

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: 13 Polytechnicians Among the World’s Most Cited Scientists

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    Elsevier has published updated lists of the most cited scientists in the world over the past year and throughout my entire scientific career.

    Stanford University (USA) annually collects and analyzes information from the international scientometric database Scopus about the most authoritative scientists. When compiling the ratings, both qualitative and quantitative citation metrics are taken into account. The obtained information is posted on the Elsevier website. According to the company, the scientists presented in the lists make up 2% of the most influential scientific specialists. Among them are 13 SPbPU scientists.

    Nine of the university’s researchers were included in both rankings at once: the most cited authors at the end of 2023 and for their entire research career. The greatest successes were achieved by:

    Nikolay Vatin is the director of the Scientific and Technological Complex “Digital Engineering in Civil Engineering”, chief researcher at the Laboratory of Protected and Modular Structures, Professor at the Higher School of Advanced Digital Technologies NIS “Digital Engineering”, Doctor of Technical Sciences;
    Vladimir Mostepanenko is the chief researcher at the Scientific Laboratory “Micro- and Nanoelectronic Systems on a Chip” at the NIS “Digital Engineering”, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences;
    Vadim Davydov is a leading engineer at the Center for New Materials of the Research and Modeling of Materials Research Center of the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Transport, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences;
    Galina Klimchitskaya is the chief researcher at the Scientific Laboratory “Micro- and Nanoelectronic Systems on a Crystal” at the NIS “Digital Engineering”, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences;
    Anatoly Popovich – Director of the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Transport, Professor of the Research Center “Structural and Functional Materials” of the Institute of Mechanical Engineering and Technology, Chief Researcher of the Laboratory “Synthesis of New Materials and Structures” of the Advanced Engineering School “Digital Engineering”, Doctor of Technical Sciences;
    Lev Utkin is a professor at the Higher School of Artificial Intelligence Technologies at the Institute of Computer Science and Cybersecurity; Leading Researcher at the Research Laboratory “Supercomputer Technologies and Machine Learning” NIS “Digital Engineering”, Doctor of Technical Sciences;
    Anton-Jiri Krivtsov – Director of the Higher School of Theoretical Mechanics and Mathematical Physics of the Institute of Physics and Mechanics, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences;
    Mikhail Shur is a leading researcher at the Laboratory of Computational Hydro-Aeroacoustics and Turbulence at the Scientific and Technical Complex “Mathematical Modeling and Intelligent Control Systems” of the NIS “Digital Engineering”, Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences.
    Andrey Travin is a senior researcher at the laboratory “Computational hydroaeroacoustics and turbulence” of the Scientific and Technical Complex “Mathematical modeling and intelligent control systems” of the NIS “Digital Engineering”, Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences.

    In addition, two Polytechnic University researchers are included in the list of the most cited researchers for the past year. The 2023 ranking includes Mikhail Strelets, head of the Computational Hydroaeroacoustics and Turbulence Laboratory at the Mathematical Modeling and Intelligent Control Systems Scientific and Technical Complex at the Digital Engineering Institute, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, and Sergey Barykin, professor at the Higher School of Service and Trade at the Institute of Industrial Management, Economics and Trade, Doctor of Economic Sciences.

    Also, two SPbPU scientists are included in the annual list of the most cited authors by indicators for the entire career path. These are Sergey Shevkunov, a leading researcher at the Center for Technological Projects, Doctor of Technical Sciences, and Sergey Roshchupkin, a professor at the Higher School of Fundamental Physical Research of the Physics and Mechanics Institute, Doctor of Technical Sciences.

    We are proud that Polytechnics have entered the ranking of the most cited scientists in the world. This is a clear confirmation of the high level of scientific research conducted at our university and the significance of contributions to global science. Being included in such rankings is not only a sign of recognition of individual merits, but also the result of the hard work of the entire scientific team, which strives for innovation and high research standards. I am sure that many discoveries and achievements await us ahead, which will inspire students and young scientists to new achievements, – commented Vice-Rector for Research Yuri Fomin.

    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.

    https://vvv.spbstu.ru/media/nevs/achivments/13-polytechnicians-among-the-most-cited-scientists-in-the-world/

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: From September 30 to October 4, 2024, a series of popular science events for mathematics teachers of basic schools of the Russian Academy of Sciences took place in Novosibirsk

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    Over the course of a week, unique popular science events for mathematics teachers of the RAS basic schools (hereinafter referred to as the School) were held in Novosibirsk at the S.L. Sobolev Institute of Mathematics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Novosibirsk State University. The project was launched in 2022 and is aimed at popularizing science, discussing significant discoveries, exchanging experiences among specialists, developing a scientific worldview among young people and adolescents, increasing the prestige of science, and expanding the scientific horizons of schoolchildren.

    This year, 29 teachers from 14 regions of Russia took part in the School: Arkhangelsk, Voronezh, Irkutsk, Kemerovo, Moscow, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Rostov, Sverdlovsk, Chelyabinsk regions, as well as from Krasnoyarsk, Perm, Primorsky Krai and the Udmurt Republic.

    Summing up the results of the school, Deputy Governor of the Novosibirsk Region Irina Manuilova noted:

    — Such schools that unite professionals from different regions are extremely useful, so I would like to see as many of them as possible in different parts of Russia. Their goals are in line with the strategy of the Decade of Science and Technology in the Russian Federation, announced by the President of the Russian Federation, as well as the new national projects “Youth and Children” and “Personnel”. I would like to note that recently our region hosted a satellite event of the Technoprom forum, the Big Mathematical Workshop, where student and school teams are involved in solving specific mathematical problems. It is very important that the policy of forming specialized classes and taking a serious attitude towards mathematical education is gaining momentum today. People who come to such training programs are people, thinking people, who are passionate about the cause. Therefore, your thoughts and your experience are extremely important in order to make the right decisions at the level of the Government of the country. I am sure that you have received a good professional background and will continue to work with each other and cooperate. I think that mathematics will take the place it rightfully deserves in school education.

    Dean Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics, NSU Igor Marchuk spoke in more detail about the training of mathematicians at the university and noted that NSU offers the main profiles of mathematical education.

    — The faculty has created a whole space for applicants, they can choose any of the profiles — someone wants to be a researcher, someone wants to do engineering, and someone — programming. At the same time, there is a principle of openness, when, having passed certain exams, a student can transfer to another profile during their studies.

    On the basis of the S.L. Sobolev Institute of Mathematics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences and NSU, a Mathematical center in Akademgorodok, which supports many events, including events with schoolchildren. For example, this is the winter school of the young mathematician “Lobachevsky”, the Workshop of Creative Mathematics. Also, active cooperation with the educational center “Sirius” is now beginning.

    The School program included practical classes and master classes, where issues of organizing research activities for schoolchildren, solving Olympiad problems in mathematics, and conducting in-class and extracurricular activities for students were discussed. This year, in addition to the traditional participant, Gymnasium No. 6 “Gornostay”, one of the Basic Schools of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the School was also joined by SUNC NSUTherefore, the sessions were held in both educational centers.

    The participants of the School visited the leading institutes of the country and educational institutions located in the Novosibirsk Akademgorodok: Sobolev Institute of Mathematics SB RAS, Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics SB RAS, Lavrentyev Institute of Hydrodynamics SB RAS, Sobolev Institute of Geology and Mineralogy SB RAS, SUNC NSU, Educational Center – Gymnasium No. 6 “Gornostay”.

    Popular science lectures were given by leading scientists, including Pavel Vladimirovich Logachev, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Director of the G.I. Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Andrey Mikhailovich Raigorodsky, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Professor of Mathematics, Director of the Phystech School of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science of MIPT; Alexey Vladimirovich Savvateev, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Professor of MIPT, Leading Researcher of the Laboratory of Mathematical Economics of the Department of Theoretical Economics and Mathematical Research of the Central Economics and Mathematical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Also, teachers and associate professors of the NSU Specialized Scientific Center and the Gornostay Educational Center took part in the event as experts.

    For reference: a series of events for mathematics teachers of the RAS basic schools is being held in the Novosibirsk Akademgorodok as part of the implementation of the RAS Basic Schools project, in which 108 general education organizations from 32 regions of the Russian Federation are participating.

    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.nsu.ru/n/media/nevs/education/from-September-30-to-October-4-2024-a series-of-popular-scientific-events took place in-Novosibirsk-

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: “I dream that all universities in Russia would have the same conditions for scientists as HSE”

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    Anastasia Sherubneva studies spatial economics and is writing a dissertation on the crises of 2020 and 2022. In an interview with the Young Scientists of HSE project, she spoke about the influence of agglomeration effects on enterprises, the Novosibirsk Akademgorodok, and a meeting with Nobel laureate Paul Krugman in Portugal.

    How I got started in science

    Since childhood, I liked creativity. I always came up with something new, tried to find non-standard solutions to problems. In the 10th grade, I took a six-month course in economics, and I liked that real processes are described by clear mathematical models.

    After school, I entered NSU to major in business informatics, where they study, on the one hand, economics, and on the other, programming. My favorite course in the first year of study was microeconomics. Our seminars on it were taught by Elizaveta Andreyevna Gaivoronskaya. She was then about the same age as I am now, and was passionate about science. She explained things in an interesting way, and I inherited her desire to do economic research.

    From my first year, I started thinking about how I could apply what we were taught in lectures and seminars, what I would do after graduating. I started planning a scientific career.

    NSU is located in Akademgorodok, where several dozen research institutes are located. In my third year, I was invited to work in the Department of Territorial Systems of the Institute of Economics and Industrial Engineering of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. I began to study regional economics under the supervision of Evgeniya Anatolyevna Kolomak. At the same time, my programming skills helped me work with real data. The institute had a great team, the seniors always supported the juniors. There was a Council of Young Scientists, we came up with activities, organized conferences, and could just go for a walk together.

    After working there for two years, I entered the Higher School of Economics and got into a single track “master’s degree – postgraduate study”. My academic supervisor was Olga Anatolyevna DemidovaShe works in spatial econometrics, and our research interests coincided.

    When I was in my second year of master’s degree, Olga Anatolyevna created the Scientific and Educational Laboratory of Spatial-Econometric Modeling of Socioeconomic Processes in Russia. I ended up in this laboratory. Now I am a postgraduate student, working under the supervision of Olga Anatolyevna on my PhD dissertation. Here, too, a wonderful scientific team has formed, and I am very glad that I went into science.

    What I am researching

    My area of research is spatial economics. Globally, this section of economics studies how the economic position of an entity depends on its geographical location.

    In my dissertation, I study the impact of macroeconomic shocks on the performance of Russian enterprises using the 2020 and 2022 crises as examples. I examine whether the impact of these shocks differed across enterprises located in different locations, both in different regions and within one, for example, in the capital and on the periphery.

    And while many researchers conduct interregional comparisons, few study spatial differences at the intraregional level. This is the main novelty of my research.

    I am currently finishing my research on the 2020 crisis and will be working on the 2022 crisis in graduate school.

    What business data do I use?

    I work with micro data, and I have the ability to build models at the enterprise level. I am currently using data from the SPARK database: financial statements of enterprises, their geographic location, individual characteristics.

    What I wanted to know

    I asked the question this way: how did the influence of various factors, in particular geographic location, on the efficiency of enterprises change during the crises of 2020 and 2022?

    Existing studies have shown that the differentiation of the COVID-19 crisis was mainly not regional, but sectoral. The sectors that suffered were those related to offline interaction: tourism, transport, hotels, and catering. This primarily concerned the regions where they are more represented. Another important factor was the state of medicine. In poor regions, quarantine measures were stricter because the medical system could not cope, and the economy began to decline. And regions where digitalization is developed, everyone has smartphones, experience using deliveries, good healthcare, survived the crisis easier.

    However, within a region, the effects of crises can also vary, and this is precisely the aspect I am exploring.

    My conclusions

    I studied how the financial performance of enterprises depends on similar performance of neighboring enterprises. Let’s say there is an enterprise, its neighbor has gone bad, the company closes or goes into the red. What happens to it? It is assumed that nearby enterprises interact with each other. I came to the conclusion that before the 2020 crisis, the financial condition of the enterprise had a positive impact on neighboring ones and during the crisis too, but this impact became weaker. The explanation here is obvious: offline interaction decreased during the pandemic, and this was confirmed by microdata using mathematical methods.

    Another interesting result describes the influence of agglomeration effects on the performance of enterprises depending on their location – in the city center, where there are many other enterprises and a high population density, or on the outskirts, where there is nothing.

    In general, agglomeration effects are beneficial for enterprises in Russia. But if we approach large agglomerations such as Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, the influence of agglomeration effects becomes negative. This is true both during and outside of a crisis. Big city effects (traffic jams, inflated prices, etc.) hinder the work of enterprises. These results indicate that large Russian agglomerations are heavily overloaded.

    What I am proud of

    In July, I published my independent article in the American journal Regional Science Policy

    I recently attended a conference of the European Regional Science Association in Portugal and gave a talk there. I mentioned that I used the HSE supercomputer in my research. And the discussant in my section said that it was great that I was able to use the supercomputer for such purposes and get new results.

    What is the HSE supercomputer?

    A supercomputer is a system of clusters between which computational processes can be distributed. It has a huge operational memory, which is measured in terabytes, and if calculations are parallelized between cores, it is possible to make cumbersome calculations.

    Using the HSE supercomputer allowed me to work with data from enterprises all over Russia, my sample included 300 thousand enterprises. I used a geographically weighted regression model, and for this you need to calculate pairwise distances between all enterprises, which requires enormous computing power.

    What I dream about

    I want to conduct a study on how enterprises in different industries influence each other geographically. For example, if a cinema and a cafe are located nearby, then most likely they will influence each other positively. But if it is a chemical plant and an eco-farm, it is clear that the mutual influence will be negative. This study requires certain data that is not yet available.

    For me, science is a way to learn something globally new and share it with others, to understand how this result relates to the results of other studies.

    I dream that all universities and research institutes in Russia would have the same comfortable conditions for scientists as HSE. If we talk about young scientists, there is a single track “Master’s degree – postgraduate study” with a large stipend. Postgraduate students are not forced, as happens in other organizations, to look for part-time jobs and can focus on writing a dissertation. HSE offers bonuses for publications, and there is an additional incentive to publish in high-level journals. Here, scientists receive a decent salary and are motivated to work for the benefit of science.

    If I hadn’t become a scientist

    I would become a human rights activist because justice has always been the highest value for me. Even at school I was interested in law, in any unclear situation I read the laws and in the 11th grade I became a prize winner of the regional stage of the All-Russian School Olympiad.

    Which scientist would I like to meet?

    If we talk about living scientists, it is Paul Krugman, the 2008 Nobel laureate in economics. He also studies regional economics, we are in the same field. I like his concept of new economic geography – it is a pool of theoretical models that explains the emergence of agglomerations from an economic point of view. This year at the congress in Portugal I met him, I even have a photo with Paul.

    If we talk about those who are no longer alive, it would be Marie Sklodowska-Curie. A great scientist, the first woman to win the Nobel Prize, the first person to have two Nobel Prizes, and the only one to have these prizes in different sciences.

    I admire her for being so enthusiastic about her work, for overcoming obstacles all her life for the sake of science. The University of Warsaw in her native Poland did not accept women at the time, so she went to study in Paris. She was not accepted as a teacher or in a laboratory simply because she was a woman. Her colleagues did not recognize her achievements, even when she received her first Nobel Prize. At the same time, she worked with radioactive substances that were dangerous to health, and was one of the inventors of the X-ray machine, which saved many lives. I would like to ask her where she found the strength for this daily struggle.

    I often think about her now, when they are trying to return women to the kitchen again and deputies are talking about how women do not need an education, but rather need to give birth to five children.

    What my typical day looks like

    Basically, different combinations of work tasks. A significant part of my work consists of doing calculations, programming, writing articles, texts. In addition, I recently became a teacher, conducting seminars in English on the course “Mathematics for Economists” in my own master’s program, which I completed this year.

    Do I get burnout?

    I have not encountered burnout yet. My total scientific and pedagogical experience is about four years. And it is probably too early to talk about burnout, especially since I love my job. It is clear that there are more productive days, less productive days, but I try not to allow burnout. I arrange rest days when I do not think about work, walk in the fresh air, listen to music, read books, watch movies. I also like to ride a bike and swim.

    What am I interested in besides science?

    I like making memes. It helps me cope with life stress, because turning something into a joke is a kind of psychotherapy. The Institute of Economics has a group of the Council of Young Scientists on VKontakte. When I was a 4th-year undergraduate, I became one of the admins of this group, ran a section and published memes about our work and the institute.

    Now I have a Telegram channel “Nastya Sherubneva in …”, but I have become less likely to make memes. It is more dedicated to trips to conferences. I started it when I went to the European Regional Science Association (ERSA) conference in Spain a year ago. It was my first trip abroad, not counting Belarus, I was happy and wanted to document every second. At first, the channel was planned only for friends, but I thought that someone else might be interested, so I made it open access. Every time I go to a new place, I rename it.

    What was the last thing I read and watched?

    From books – “1984” by George Orwell. And from films – “Don’t Worry, Darling” by Olivia Wilde. A married couple lives in a small closed town, they have an ideal life, they are rich, they love each other. But at some point the wife notices that something is wrong, people are disappearing, and as a result she finds out that their whole life is a simulation. She got there thanks to her husband, who himself wanted to get rid of unbearable experiences and save her. The film raises the question of whether such a simulation is a way out, whether it is possible to pretend that everything is wonderful, to invent an imaginary world. And even more so to be a victim of someone else’s decision. I believe that a person should decide for himself, I am against lies and restrictions for the good.

    Advice to young scientists

    Start writing your own articles as early as possible. You don’t need to become a teaching assistant or do technical work, because later it will be hard to start writing articles, working with texts, and creating literature reviews. You also need to try to decide on a scientific direction as early as possible, to understand what undeveloped problems exist in this area. A good scientific supervisor who is interested in the student and sees the trajectory of his development can help you do this.

    Favorite place in Moscow

    Museum-Reserve “Tsaritsyno”. This place has a great history, but I also like it because it is a park-estate. Akademgorodok, where I used to live, is in the forest, and in Moscow I miss forest walks. But in Tsaritsyno it is green and you can walk.

    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/jung-scientists/sherubneva

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Biz2Credit to Host “Small Business, Inflation, and the Economy in 2024” Online Town Hall on Tuesday, Oct. 8, with U.S. Representatives Nick LaLota (R-NY) and Sylvia Garcia (D-TX)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, Oct. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Biz2Credit will host U.S. Representatives Nick LaLota (R, NY-01) and Sylvia Garcia (D, TX-29) to discuss the state of the small business economy in 2024 and the actions that Congress is taking to support business owners. The virtual forum will take place on Tuesday, October 8, at 2:00 p.m. (EDT) and will explore topics including:

    • Challenges for small business owners in 2024 and looking into 2025.
    • Initiatives the Federal government is considering next that may provide further economic support to American small businesses.
    • How a President Harris or President Trump will address small business issues.
    • Preparing for what’s coming next with Biz2Credit’s review of business financing options as 2024 closes and amid the recent interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve.
    • Biz2Credit’s research and insights on primary data from small business owners.

    This online forum will give business owners a chance to hear from Rep. LaLota, a member of the House Committee on Small Business, and Rep. Garcia, who has helped provide crucial aid to Texas small businesses. They will discuss the small business environment in their districts, provide insights on how the Federal government and private industry are collaborating to help entrepreneurs, and respond to questions from constituents and business owners. To register for this event, click here.

    “We are thrilled to have Rep. LaLota and Rep. Garcia join our online Town Hall and discuss their positions on small business, the current economic environments in their home districts, and how Washington can best support entrepreneurial growth,” said Rohit Arora, CEO of Biz2Credit and one of the nation’s leading experts in small business finance.

    U.S. Representative Nick LaLota (R, NY-01) was sworn into office in January 2023. Inspired by his family’s history of service, he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and reached the rank of Lieutenant. Later, he earned his MBA at Hofstra University’s Zarb School of Business and his J.D. from Hofstra’s Maurice A. Deane School of Law. As a member of the Amityville Board of Trustees, he focused on reducing taxes and improving services. Today, in Congress, he advocates for lower taxes, energy independence, and the protection of constitutional freedoms. As a member of the House Committee on Small Business, he serves as chair of the Subcommittee on Contracting and Infrastructure and is a member of the Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax, and Capital Access.

    “I’m excited to join the Biz2Credit Small Business Town Hall to tackle the challenges and opportunities our small businesses face,” said Rep. LaLota. “As a proud member of the House Small Business Committee, I know just how crucial these businesses are to our economy. I’ll keep pushing for policies that strengthen small businesses as the backbone of America!”

    U.S. Representative Sylvia R. Garcia (D, TX-29) was sworn into Congress in January 2019 and thereby became the first Latina to represent Texas in her district. She graduated from Texas Woman’s University with a degree in social work and political science, and later graduated from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University. Rep. Garcia has served as a social worker and a legal aid lawyer and later as Presiding Judge of the Houston Municipal System, Houston City Controller, and Harris County Commissioner. After serving in the Texas State Senate, she was elected to represent Texas’s 29th Congressional District 29 and became the first Hispanic member of the Houston Congressional Delegation and one of the first two Latinas to represent Texas in the Congress. She has long been an advocate for working families and economic development.

    “Small businesses are the backbone of our communities and the start of so many American Dreams. Women and minority entrepreneurs, especially in the Latino community, have been driving our recovery with strength and resilience,” said Rep. Garcia, who serves as the Vice Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee. “It’s our job in Congress to ensure they have the tools and resources to keep thriving. I’m excited to join Rep. LaLota and Biz2Credit to talk about how we can make that happen.”

    About Biz2Credit
    Founded in 2007, Biz2Credit has helped thousands of companies access more than $10 billion in small business financing. The company is expanding its industry-leading Biz2X® technology in custom digital platform solutions for banks and other financial institutions, investors, and service providers. Visit http://www.biz2credit.com, Instagram, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter).

    Media Contact: John Mooney, (908) 720-6057, john@overthemoonpr.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Beneficient Appoints Patrick J. Donegan to Board of Directors

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DALLAS, Oct. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Beneficient (NASDAQ: BENF) (“Ben” or the “Company”), a technology-enabled financial services holding company, today announced the appointment of Patrick J. Donegan as an independent member of the Company’s Board of Directors as of September 30, 2024. In addition to being an independent director, he was appointed to serve on the Audit, Products and Related Party Transactions, Credit and Enterprise Risk committees of the Board.

    Mr. Donegan brings almost thirty years of compliance, legal, banking and capital markets experience to Ben, having held various senior compliance positions, including as Chief Compliance Officer, for bank holding companies and broker dealers and as Assistant General Counsel for a securities company. Over the course of his career, Mr. Donegan has attained eleven FINRA licenses and two certifications from the American Bankers Association, including the Certified Regulatory Compliance Mangers designation, and currently holds a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist certification.

    “Our Board worked to identify a new, independent director who would bring unique skills and senior experience to support Ben’s commitment to operate using industry best practices,” said Beneficient’s CEO and Chairman Brad Heppner. “I am pleased to welcome Patrick to Ben’s Board. Patrick’s extensive legal and regulatory compliance experience – specifically within the FinTech industry – will provide valuable leadership and governance insights to the Board.”

    Mr. Donegan received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from St. John’s University and a J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law. Mr. Donegan currently serves as a Senior Adviser at Premier Consulting Partners, Inc., a consulting firm focused on operational risk evaluation and compliance, and previously served as the Global Chief Compliance Officer of OKX Group from August 2023 to January 2024. From 2015 to 2023, Mr. Donegan held various leadership positions at Signature Bank, including Chief Compliance Officer, Senior Vice President and Sanctions Compliance Officer. Mr. Donegan’s professional career has also included positions with a number of prominent investment banks, including Cantor Fitzgerald, RBC, Guggenheim, BNP Paribas and Nat West, and compliance roles at Mitsubishi UFJ and Hudson City Bancorp. Through his legal experience and compliance officer roles, Mr. Donegan has developed expertise in identifying risks and establishing policies and procedure to effectively manage those risks. Mr. Donegan’s understanding of banking and capital markets rules and the related regulatory processes will benefit the Company’s efforts to maintain industry best practices across the organization.

    About Beneficient

    Beneficient (Nasdaq: BENF) – Ben, for short – is on a mission to democratize the global alternative asset investment market by providing traditionally underserved investors − mid-to-high net worth individuals, small-to-midsized institutions and General Partners seeking exit options, anchor commitments and valued-added services for their funds − with solutions that could help them unlock the value in their alternative assets. Ben’s AltQuote™ tool provides customers with a range of potential exit options within minutes, while customers can log on to the AltAccess® portal to explore opportunities and receive proposals in a secure online environment.

    Its subsidiary, Beneficient Fiduciary Financial, L.L.C., received its charter under the State of Kansas’ Technology-Enabled Fiduciary Financial Institution (TEFFI) Act and is subject to regulatory oversight by the Office of the State Bank Commissioner.

    For more information, visit http://www.trustben.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

    Investors

    investors@beneficient.com

    Contacts

    Matt Kreps: 214-597-8200, mkreps@darrowir.com
    Michael Wetherington: 214-284-1199, mwetherington@darrowir.com
    Investor Relations: investors@beneficient.com

    Disclaimer and Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain of the statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements can be generally identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would,” and, in each case, their negative or other various or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements reflect our views with respect to future events as of the date of this document and are based on our management’s current expectations, estimates, forecasts, projections, assumptions, beliefs and information. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that these expectations will prove to have been correct. All such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of our control, and could cause future events or results to be materially different from those stated or implied in this document. It is not possible to predict or identify all such risks. These risks include, but are not limited to, the risk factors that are described under the section titled “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in this document and in our SEC filings. We expressly disclaim any obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Global LAG 3 Antibody FDA Approval Clinical Trials LAG 3 Inhibitors Market Future Growth Opportunity Insight

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Delhi, Oct. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Global LAG-3 Inhibitors Market, Drug Sales, & Clinical Trials Insight 2029 Report Highlights:

    • Global LAG-3 Inhibitors Market Opportunity: > USD 3 Billion By 2029
    • Global & Regional Market Analysis
    • Commercially Approved LAG-3 Inhibitors: 1
    • Dosing, Pricing & Sales Insight On Approved LAG-3 Inhibitor
    • Insight On All LAG-3 Inhibitors In Trials: > 40
    • Global LAG3 Inhibitors clinical Trials Insight By Company, Country, Indication & Phase
    • Competitive Landscape: Insight on 15 Key Companies

    Download Report:
    https://www.kuickresearch.com/report-lag-3-inhibitors-inhibitor–lag-3-inhibitor-drugs
    landscape
    In recent years, cancer research has undergone significant transformation, marked by the introduction of numerous innovative therapies. With the emergence of advanced PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4 immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as Keytruda and Tecentriq, there is a growing necessity to explore additional therapeutic options. This pursuit has led to the discovery of various immune checkpoint receptors, including LAG-3, TIGIT, and VISTA. Among these, LAG-3 stands out for its potential to revolutionize treatment approaches for cancer and other diseases.

    The exploration of LAG-3 has catalyzed the development of new therapies, culminating in the approval of Opdualag, the world’s first LAG-3 therapy, by Bristol Myers Squibb in March 2022. This therapy is specifically indicated for patients aged 12 years and older with unresectable or metastatic melanoma, marking a significant milestone in cancer treatment.

    The approval of Opdualag by the FDA, alongside endorsements from regulatory bodies such as the UK’s MHRA, Australia’s TGA, Singapore’s Health Sciences Authority, and Brazil’s Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária, represents a major breakthrough in cancer immunotherapy. As research progresses, it is expected that additional LAG-3 inhibitors will be launched for cancer treatment in the near future.

    From a commercial standpoint, the global market for LAG-3 inhibitor therapy presents a wealth of opportunities for pharmaceutical and biotech companies. LAG-3 inhibitors can be leveraged for various conditions, including solid tumors, hematological malignancies, autoimmune disorders, and inflammatory diseases. Ongoing clinical trials indicate that LAG-3 inhibitors are primarily being evaluated in combination therapies, where they are tested in conjunction with other immune checkpoint inhibitors or chemotherapy.

    In addition to these combination, studies suggest that LAG-3 inhibitors could be effective when used alongside other therapeutic interventions, such as therapeutic vaccines, oncolytic virus immunotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapies, nanotechnology, and alkaloid therapeutics. This potential for diverse applications could significantly enhance the market viability and clinical relevance of LAG-3 inhibitors across multiple disease contexts.

    Several candidates for LAG-3 inhibitors have reached late-phase clinical trials, reflecting the rapid advancement in this field. Notable examples include Fianlimab, INCAGN02385, XmAb22841, HLX26, Relatlimab, RO7247669, AK129, and Sym022. This progress underscores the increasing momentum behind LAG-3 inhibitors and presents opportunities for pharmaceutical and biotech companies to contribute to this evolving landscape.

    Key industry players, including Bristol Myers Squibb, Symphogen A/S, Hoffmann-La Roche, Immutep, invoX Pharma, Incyte Corporation, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, and Merck, are instrumental in driving the development of LAG-3 inhibitors. Currently, the US market leads in terms of sales, research and development, and regulatory support for LAG-3 therapies. However, active research and development are also underway in countries like China and across Europe, indicating a global commitment to advancing LAG-3 inhibitors.

    According to KuicK Research, the market value for LAG-3 inhibitors was approximately US$ 625 million in 2023. This figure is expected to soar, with projections suggesting that the global LAG-3 market could surpass billions in sales within the next 2 to 5 years. The successful launch of Opdualag has already generated over half a billion dollars in revenue within two years of its approval. Furthermore, Bristol Myers Squibb anticipates estimated sales of US$ 4 billion for Opdualag by 2029.

    In summary, the development of LAG-3 inhibitors represents a promising frontier in cancer therapy. With a growing pipeline of candidates, expanding research efforts, and increasing commercial interest, the potential for LAG-3 therapies to transform cancer treatment is significant. As the field continues to evolve, it is poised to offer new hope for patients facing challenging diagnoses, underscoring the importance of ongoing innovation in immunotherapy.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Rosneft supports projects to study and preserve biodiversity

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Rosneft – Rosneft – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    On October 4, the whole world celebrates Animal Protection Day, which was established in 1931 with the aim of drawing attention to the problems of preserving the inhabitants of our planet.

    Rosneft pays special attention to environmental issues and biodiversity conservation. Environmental care is an integral part of the Company’s corporate culture and social responsibility. The protection and preservation of ecosystems and biodiversity is one of Rosneft’s main environmental goals until 2035.

    The Company is implementing the largest Arctic region study program since Soviet times. Over 50 expeditions have been conducted over 12 years, during which the country’s leading scientists have studied key species-bioindicators of Arctic ecosystem stability: polar bear, Atlantic walrus, wild reindeer and ivory gull. This has allowed them to collect a unique array of information about the Arctic animal world. The data obtained is used to create a series of ecological atlases by Rosneft and Innopraktika.

    In 2024, as part of the national project “Ecology”, the Company launched a new research program called “Tamura”. In the period up to 2027, it is planned to study reindeer, polar bear, valuable bird species, and fish in the mouth of the Yenisei River on the Taimyr Peninsula. In total, ten expeditions will be conducted over four years. This season, scientists have already carried out field work to study birds on the Brekhov Islands, as well as large islands of the Yenisei Gulf. The total length of the air routes of the bird study expedition conducted in the Krasnoyarsk Territory exceeded 4,000 km.

    In addition, with the support of Rosneft, a research expedition to study wild reindeer was organized within the Tamura program. The total length of the expedition’s boat routes to study wild reindeer exceeded 2,800 km, and the area of aerial observations was 360 thousand km2. Rosneft has been studying wild reindeer since 2014. During this time, large-scale ground and aerial surveys of animals were conducted in Evenkia and Taimyr. Using satellite tags installed on the reindeer, scientists tracked their full annual migration cycle for the first time, and also identified seasonal behavior patterns.

    The Company pays special attention to the study and conservation of the polar bear. Scientists from the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences, together with the Company’s specialists, conducted a full-scale census of the polar bear population distribution during the ice-free period on the northwestern coast of the Taimyr Peninsula and the islands of the Kara Sea as part of the Tamura program. The total length of the polar bear study expedition’s air routes exceeded 2,500 km, and the scientists encountered 50 Arctic predators in total. For the first time in Russian practice, ear radio tags were placed not only on females, but also on males.

    Rosneft, together with the non-governmental development institute Innopraktika and the Center for Full Genome Sequencing, are implementing a unique project to create a genomic database of living organisms in the Russian Arctic. This information is needed for long-term planning of the region’s sustainable development and the preservation of its fragile ecosystems. Among the priority projects is the assembly of the polar bear’s full genome.

    Since 2013, Rosneft has been the guardian of all polar bears living in Russian zoos. Currently, the Company patronizes 34 polar bears in 16 zoos in the country, providing them with care, feeding, veterinary support, and updating their enclosures. With the support of the Company, special toys have been developed to increase the physical activity of the animals. In addition, Rosneft is implementing a program to rescue and rehabilitate young polar bears left in the wild without the care of their mothers.

    Rosneft also supports programs to preserve the Amur tiger population – interacting with specially protected natural areas in the predator’s habitat, rehabilitation and reintroduction centers for animals. With the Company’s participation, equipment and transport for scientific purposes are purchased, and social infrastructure for scientists is being built.

    In 2024, scientists from the Siberian Federal University, with the support of Rosneft, analyzed the state of the wolf population in the Evenki District of the Krasnoyarsk Territory. The result of the research was a set of recommendations from specialists on improving the regulation of the number of predators to maintain the balance of ecosystems. In total, the researchers conducted 67 field trips to various areas and reserves of Yenisei Siberia. Specialists developed a method for calculating the number of predators, according to which the wolf population in Evenkia numbers 2,600 individuals.

    The study and protection of the whale and dolphin population is one of the areas of the Company’s environmental program. As part of environmental monitoring when supporting Rosneft projects, observations are made from ships of all mammals found in the vast expanses of the seas, including whales and dolphins. One of the main species that receives close attention is the gray whale of the Okhotsk Sea population. The program for monitoring the Okhotsk Sea population of gray whales on the northeastern shelf of Sakhalin Island has been conducted for 27 years. As part of the program, the population size is annually counted, animal behavior is observed, their food supply is studied, photo-identification studies and acoustic monitoring are carried out.

    In addition, in 2020, Rosneft, together with the P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, implemented a large-scale project to study and monitor Black Sea dolphins. Based on the results of 3 years of observations, modern up-to-date data were obtained on the number and preferred habitats of Black Sea dolphins, and the characteristics of their seasonal distribution. Recommendations were prepared for the study and conservation of Black Sea cetaceans.

    Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft October 4, 2024

    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.rosneft.ru/press/nevs/item/220882/

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Qylur Awarded SBIR Phase II Contract for a Tactical AI Spectrum Classifier Systems (TASCS)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Sunnyvale, CA, Oct. 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Qylur Intelligent Systems announces it has been selected by AFWERX for a Direct-to-Phase II contract in the amount of $1.25M focused on a new Tactical AI Spectrum Classifier Systems (TASCS) to address the most pressing challenges in the Department of the Air Force (DAF). The Air Force Research Laboratory and AFWERX have partnered to streamline the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) process by accelerating the small business experience through faster proposal to award timelines, changing the pool of potential applicants by expanding opportunities to small business and eliminating bureaucratic overhead by continually implementing process improvement changes in contract execution. The DAF began offering the Open Topic SBIR/STTR program in 2018 which expanded the range of innovations the DAF funded and now on September 17th, 2024, Qylur has started its journey to create and provide innovative capabilities that will strengthen the national defense of the United States of America.

    “Our mission has always been to leverage our unique AI experience and innovative AI-based intelligent machine solutions in the service of protecting life and our way of life” said Dr. Lisa Dolev, Founder and CEO of Qylur. “The spectrum environment is growing increasingly complex and more contested from both adversarial and unintentional sources. We are honored, through this SBIR contract, to be further extending our technology with new agile autonomous spectrum capabilities to help maintain spectrum superiority in support of Air Force mission imperatives.”

    The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Air Force, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.

    About Qylur Intelligent Systems

    Qylur Intelligent Systems is an AI the systems company with breakthrough technologies that redefine intelligent machine capabilities for both the commercial and defense sectors. At the heart of Qylur’s innovation is its pioneering Mission Autonomous AI, delivering transformative software and hardware solutions for next-generation intelligent systems. Its flagship offerings include the SNIM® AI platform and the Q Sentinel, the world’s first fully autonomous self-service security screening solution. With a portfolio of patented AI core technologies, and under the visionary leadership of Founder and CEO Dr. Lisa Dolev—an accomplished technology entrepreneur and inventor with over 35 years of expertise in security and defense—Qylur continues to shape the future of AI-driven intelligent machines, visit http://www.Qylur.com.

    About AFRL

    The Air Force Research Laboratory is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space and cyberspace force. With a workforce of more than 12,500 across nine technology areas and 40 other operations across the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development. For more information, visit afresearchlab.com.

    About AFWERX

    As the innovation arm of the DAF and a directorate within the Air Force Research Laboratory, AFWERX brings cutting-edge American ingenuity from small businesses and start-ups to address the most pressing challenges of the DAF. AFWERX employs approximately 370 military, civilian and contractor personnel at five hubs and sites executing an annual $1.4 billion budget. Since 2019, AFWERX has executed over 6,200 new contracts worth more than $4.7 billion to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and drive faster technology transition to operational capability. For more information, visit: http://www.afwerx.com.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Putin and Sobyanin opened an innovative practical platform in Rudnev

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    On the Day of Secondary Vocational Education, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin and Russian Minister of Education Sergei Kravtsov opened the Rudnevo practical training site for Moscow colleges.

    “We have started building a large area related to education. This is secondary vocational education. This building where we are is an intercollegiate center for training specialists on high-tech equipment. Next, a laboratory complex is being built. Next, a building for the Stankin University is being built, where there will be a student training center, their laboratories and production areas. Next, a building for the production of Rostec machine tools will be built. So this is a large machine-building complex that will be a center of competence for our country,” the Moscow Mayor said.

    The Rudnevo site is the first innovative educational space for practical training of qualified personnel taking into account the needs of the Moscow economy, which is the largest production and scientific-engineering center of Russia. More than 4.5 thousand enterprises operate here and over 750 thousand people work.

    Educational platform “Rudnevo”

    The college training platform was created taking into account the new concept of secondary vocational education (SVE) development. The capital’s industrial enterprises took part in the development of the project. Advanced training programs, workshops equipped with the most modern equipment, close cooperation with future employers ensure high quality training of sought-after specialists.

    The educational platform is located in the industrial park “Rudnevo”, which is part of the special economic zone “Technopolis Moscow”. College students will study on the same territory with industrial partners – future employers.

    “The site’s capacity allows for training more than three thousand people per year. Practical classes are conducted by the most competent and experienced master teachers and employees of partner employers. Students from 15 Moscow colleges will be the first to undergo practical training here. A Center for Professional Competencies has also been created on the site. Its tasks include updating educational programs and forecasting the emergence of new competencies,” he wrote in his

    telegram channel Sergei Sobyanin.

    Source: Sergei Sobyanin’s Telegram channel @mos_sobyanin

    The building with a total area of 9.1 thousand square meters houses a high-tech complex, which includes 21 workshops and laboratories. It is as close as possible to the conditions of real production. Here, students will be able to practice professional skills in production conditions in such areas and specialties as:

    — mechanical engineering (assembly mechanic, turner, milling machine operator, operator of CNC machines, general machine operator, welder (manual and partially mechanized welding – surfacing), adjuster of machines and equipment in mechanical processing, specialist in the quality control department);

    — electronics (installer of electronic equipment and devices, assembler of electronic equipment and devices, adjuster of electronic equipment and devices, SMD line operator);

    — automation of production (specialist in servicing mechatronic and robotic systems, fitter of control and measuring instruments and automation, specialist in additive technologies);

    — aviation industry, including unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) (aircraft electrical equipment fitter, aircraft equipment assembler, aircraft composite parts assembler, unmanned aircraft system operator up to 30 kilograms).

    Thanks to cooperation with residents of the Rudnevo Industrial Park, all conditions for training have been created on the site. Workshops and laboratories are equipped with equipment that is installed in production facilities, and the training programs take into account the needs of future employers.

    The training and production complex of the site includes three blocks.

    The industrial block consists of a section where CNC machines are installed, laboratories for metrology, standardization and certification, precision digital measurements, mechanical engineering design, as well as testing grounds for turning, milling machines, and metalworking and welding work.

    The UAS production site includes areas for programming, installation of aviation and electronic equipment, final assembly of UAS, modeling and manufacturing of molds, composite materials, unit and modular assembly, as well as laboratories for aerodynamics, aeromechanics and UAS data analysis.

    The multi-profile unit consists of metalworking and electrical installation workshops, laboratories for technical systems control, materials science and composite materials, pneumatic and hydraulic systems.

    The uniqueness of the workshops is that they allow for a full-fledged production process to be organized. At the UAS site, students will be able to manufacture drone bodies, solder electronic boards, program, assemble, pilot, and decipher flight data, and in the mechanical engineering zone, they will be able to do metalwork and evaluate the quality of finished products.

    Large industrial enterprises take part in the practical training of students. Among them are the Moscow machine-building plants Avangard and Skorost, the production complex Salut, the National Helicopter Manufacturing Center named after M.L. Mil and N.I. Kamov, the Moscow Design and Production Complex Universal named after A.I. Privalov, the companies Gaskar Group, Kronstadt, Aeromax, Nyukon Energy, CARS, Vemina Aviaprestige, Monolith, Aeropribor-Voskhod.

    Preparing students at the educational site “Rudnevo”

    The capacity of the Rudnevo educational site allows it to train more than three thousand students per year.

    In the 2024/2025 academic year, practical training will be provided to students from 15 secondary specialized educational institutions. These include Polytechnic College No. 8 named after I.F. Pavlov, Polytechnic College named after N.N. Godovikov, Moscow State Educational Complex, College of Communications No. 54 named after P.M. Vostrukhin, College of Automation and Information Technology No. 20, Educational Complex “Yugo-Zapad”, Moscow Industrial College, College of Architecture, Design and Reengineering No. 26, College of Hospitality Industry and Management No. 23, Police College, Moscow College of Business Technologies, College of Modern Technologies named after M.F. Panov, College of Entrepreneurship No. 11, First Moscow Educational Complex and Technological College No. 24.

    Depending on the specialty, students will be able to complete a single professional module in one of the courses or work on site for the entire period of study. In addition, they will have the opportunity to find employment at a partner enterprise. In this case, you can complete your studies according to an individual schedule.

    Practical classes will be conducted by competent and experienced master teachers, as well as representatives of partner employers. In total, 42 masters of industrial training from Moscow colleges and 40 current employees of industrial enterprises of the capital will be able to teach at the site.

    A center of professional competencies has been created on the basis of the site. Here they will be engaged in updating educational programs taking into account the prospective development of science and production technologies, forecasting the emergence of new competencies based on the transformation of production and including them in training programs, as well as methodological support for industrial training masters and improving their pedagogical and professional skills. Cooperation with the country’s leading engineering universities, such as the Moscow State Technological University (MSTU) “Stankin” and the Moscow State Technical University named after N.E. Bauman, will help solve these problems.

    In addition, an entrance control of students’ readiness to master programs at the Rudnevo educational platform is provided. For this purpose, the center of professional competencies will interact with partner colleges, providing them with methodological and consulting support.

    Each student has an individual work place on the site. The logistics of the classrooms are well thought out: for example, there are areas for project and group work. Modern public spaces will make extracurricular time comfortable.

    In the coworking space, students can work on projects, discuss ideas, and analyze situations they have considered in class. The assembly hall is designed for conferences and business events.

    The college has a 147-seat canteen where students on a budget are provided with free hot meals. On the third floor there is a cafe whose products are produced and sold by students of Moscow food colleges.

    In addition to the practical training platform for colleges, the Moscow Government, together with MSTU Stankin, is implementing a project within the framework of which the first competence center for the machine tool industry in the country is being created in Rudnev.

    The 19.5 thousand square meter building will house a tool and equipment testing center, an expert analysis center, a design bureau, pilot production, a reverse engineering center, and a numerical control center.

    The center will be able to train and practice about a thousand students per year. The site also organizes pilot and small-scale production of specialized products.

    On the industrial policy of the city of Moscow

    Modern Moscow is the largest industrial and scientific-engineering center of Russia. There are more than 4.5 thousand industrial enterprises in the capital, employing more than 750 thousand people.

    Every year, 150 new technology companies open in Moscow and dozens of investment projects are implemented, providing the city with additional jobs. By 2030, the number of industrial production facilities will increase to 5.5 thousand, and their employees – to 850 thousand. The total area of industrial infrastructure will grow from 14 million square meters to 21 million.

    The manufacturing industry is the driving force behind Moscow’s economic development.

    “I will say about industry that in general it is actively developing. Over the past five years, I reported, the manufacturing industry has doubled,” said Sergei Sobyanin.

    By the end of 2024, private and public investment will amount to 310 billion rubles. According to forecasts, by 2030 they will grow by 620 billion rubles – to 930 billion rubles.

    One of the effective measures to support the city is the localization of industrial enterprises in the special economic zone “Technopolis Moscow”. This is the center for the development of the capital’s advanced high-tech industry, which includes six sites with a total area of more than 280 hectares. More than 1.5 million square meters of industrial and public-business areas have been built here. The plan is to increase this figure to 3.8 million square meters by 2030.

    Today, there are more than 220 enterprises operating in Technopolis Moscow, 112 of which have resident status and receive tax preferences. Residents are exempt from paying property, land and transport taxes for 10 years, and the income tax rate for them is only two percent instead of 20.

    During the operation of the special economic zone, companies invested about 330 billion rubles in the development of their high-tech production facilities and created 22 thousand jobs. The volume of investments from the Moscow budget amounted to almost 135 billion rubles.

    Innovative developments of enterprises can be applied in various fields – from microelectronics to medicine and space. Among them are optical multiplexers, portable ultrasound machines, mobile ventilator complexes, multifunctional amphibious robots designed for reconnaissance and liquidation of consequences of accidents at various flooded objects, nuclear power plants and mines.

    Another tool for developing Moscow industry is clustering. By 2030, more than 13 inter-industry clusters will operate in Moscow – this is over seven million square meters of production space and 100 thousand jobs.

    Thus, one of the largest pharmaceutical clusters in the country, which includes 13 companies, is successfully operating at the Alabushevo site of the Technopolis Moscow special economic zone. A photonics and microelectronics cluster has also opened there, with 61 companies participating. Total investments in this site amounted to 137.9 billion rubles, of which 7.9 billion rubles were invested by the Moscow Government. Total investments will grow to 353 billion rubles by 2030.

    Two years ago, the Moscow cluster of electric vehicle manufacturing began its work. It included 64 companies, most of which receive benefits from the city. In particular, they are exempt from paying property, land and transport taxes.

    One of the important projects is the construction of the first gigafactory in Russia for the production of batteries. The city has signed an offset contract for the supply of batteries for public electric transport. The total purchase amount will be 172 billion rubles over six years. The enterprise will produce 50 thousand batteries per year, which will cover about 40 percent of the needs of the Russian market. The opening of the production will create 900 new jobs. The total investment in the project is 52 billion rubles, of which 25 billion rubles were allocated by the Moscow Government, and 27 billion are private funds.

    On behalf of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, a new industrial park was opened in Rudnevo in 2023. Federal Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems. Today it unites 11 leading developers and manufacturers of unmanned aircraft systems. The enterprises have created more than 2.8 thousand jobs. Investments in the industrial park “Rudnevo” amounted to 97 billion rubles, of which 20 billion rubles are private funds, and 77 billion rubles were invested by the Government of Moscow. By 2030, a total of 490 billion rubles will be invested.

    Work is currently underway to form food and construction clusters in TiNAO.

    The food cluster will build over 800 thousand square meters of industrial space and create 11.4 thousand jobs. Private investments will reach almost 90 billion rubles.

    The opening of the construction cluster will create 30 thousand jobs. More than 1.6 million square meters of industrial real estate will be built within its boundaries. Private investments will amount to almost 145 billion rubles.

    In the capital it is being created shipyard for the production of electric ships. Its capacity will occupy 23 thousand square meters. Commissioning is scheduled for the first quarter of 2025. The enterprise will provide more than 500 new high-tech jobs. Investments from the Moscow Government amount to more than 4.6 billion rubles.

    In addition, two new large industrial clusters will appear in TiNAO – automobile manufacturing and eco-industrial. In total, almost 23 thousand highly qualified jobs will be created there.

    Sobyanin named innovative clusters that will be created in New Moscow

    A cluster of innovative technologies in the field of construction is being created on the basis of OOO “Innovative Technology Plant – Monarch”. Last year, the first stage was put into operation – this is an experimental plant with an area of 26.6 thousand square meters. The volume of investments amounted to 3.4 billion rubles. Today, 500 people work here.

    A glass cluster is also being built in TiNAO. 120 hectares will be allocated for it for facilities with a total area of 840 thousand square meters. 9.6 thousand jobs will appear here. Investments will exceed 105 billion rubles. The implementation of the project will allow to cover the need for special glass, including medical glass.

    The elevator construction industry is quite promising for investment. The departure of foreign companies from the domestic market opens up new opportunities for capital enterprises to occupy vacant niches. Thus, on the basis of the Karacharovsky Mechanical Plant, a cluster of elevator construction and vertical transport of Moscow is being formed, which will accelerate the development and localization of vertical transport production in Russia.

    The National Space Center is being built on the territory of the Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center. This is a large-scale project implemented jointly with Roscosmos. According to preliminary estimates, about 27 thousand jobs will be created on the site.

    Moscow has historically had a strong scientific base. Today, in the R sphere

    There are 735 higher education institutions (excluding branches) in Russia. At the same time, every fifth university is located in Moscow, which confirms the presence of significant human resources potential in the capital and the high level of training of students for work in high-tech enterprises.

    Today in Moscow, specialists in engineering and technical fields are trained at the Bauman Moscow State Technical University, the Stankin Moscow State Technological University, the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, the Lomonosov Moscow State University, the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI, the MISiS University of Science and Technology and other leading universities.

    In order to increase the number of qualified personnel annually graduating for the industrial sector, the Moscow Government is modernizing the system of secondary vocational education and implementing accelerated training of engineering personnel.

    Industrial Park “Rudnevo”

    “Rudnevo” is an industrial park within the SEZ “Technopolis Moscow”, built in the east of the city in record time to accommodate critically important production. This is an example of a modern high-tech industrial park, where it is convenient to work, study, create production and educational clusters.

    Construction work in Rudnev began at the end of 2020. During the construction of production buildings, domestic materials were used (for a number of items, import substitution was 100%) and modern technologies, which made it possible to reduce construction time by 35-50 percent, and the cost of work by 10-15 percent.

    Currently, 21 production buildings with a total area of 377 thousand square meters have been erected, including a pilot production facility and a design bureau. Additional production buildings are in the active stage of construction, as well as a social infrastructure building, which will house laboratories, office space, a training center and other social facilities for company employees.

    In the future, 21 thousand highly qualified jobs will be created at the enterprises in Rudnev, primarily for residents of the rapidly developing Moscow districts of Kosino-Ukhtomsky, Vykhino-Zhulebino and Nekrasovka, as well as the urban district of Lyubertsy in the Moscow region.

    Thanks to the SEZ regime, companies – residents of Rudnev receive significant tax benefits. In particular, they are exempt from property, transport and land taxes. The income tax rate for them is only two percent. Residents have a free customs zone regime and land lease benefits.

    In addition to the Federal Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems, the Rudnevo Industrial Park also houses a production building for the Almaz-Antey Air Defense Concern and an industrial complex for PJSC Yakovlev, which currently produces wing kits for the MS-21 medium-range aircraft.

    In addition, enterprises producing ATMs, electrical capacitors, absorbent linen, equipment for industrial waste sorting, and others have set up their production facilities in Rudnev.

    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.

    https://vvv.mos.ru/major/themes/11847050/

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn’s Dr. Andrew Arnold Awarded Highest Honor of The American Society for Bone and Mineral Research

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    The William F. Neuman Award, the oldest and most prestigious honor conferred by the ASBMR, recognizes Dr. Andrew Arnold for his outstanding and major scientific contributions in the area of bone and mineral research and for contributions to associates and trainees in teaching, research, and administration.

    Dr. Andrew Arnold accepting the highest honor of ASBMR from its President Laura Calvi, MD.

    Arnold accepted the Society’s highest honor during its late September ASBMR 2024 Annual Meeting in Toronto.

    Arnold is a pioneer in studying endocrine tumors and hyperparathyroidism. Arnold’s achievements include discovery of cyclin D1, the first known parathyroid oncogene and fundamental cell cycle regulator.

    The award is named for William F. Neuman, Ph.D., a world-renowned scientist in the field of mineral metabolism. Neuman’s seminal work on bone-seeking isotopes as part of the Manhattan Project was followed by major works in the chemistry of mineral and matrix, the function of bone cells, the metabolism of parathyroid hormone, and the concept of bone membrane.

    Arnold shared, “I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the ASBMR. Receiving the William F. Neuman Award is uniquely meaningful, coming from my academic home society and the organization most familiar with the contributions of our group.”

    Arnold currently serves UConn’s medical school as the Murray-Heilig Chair in Molecular Medicine, professor of Medicine and Genetics & Genome Sciences, and chief of the Division of Endocrinology & Metabolism. He is also director of the Center for Molecular Oncology, chief academic officer for the Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center, and also directs the Office of Physician-Scientist Career Development.

    He attended Brown University and Harvard Medical School, trained in internal medicine at University of Chicago followed by fellowships in molecular oncology at NIH and endocrinology at Massachusetts General Hospital. On the faculty of Harvard Medical School and MGH he led the Laboratory of Endocrine Oncology, then moved to UConn School of Medicine.

    In addition to the William F. Neuman Award, Arnold’s honors include the ASBMR’s Fuller Albright Award and Louis Avioli Founders Award, the Gerald Aurbach Award of the Endocrine Society, the International Medal of the Society for Endocrinology, and the Outstanding Investigator Award of the American Federation for Medical Research.

    “Space prevents me from individually acknowledging most of the wonderful friends, colleagues, collaborators who have profoundly impacted the achievements recognized here, been tremendously supportive, and have made working in our field so enjoyable,” said Arnold. “Certainly among them are Henry Kronenberg, Sundeep Khosla, John Eisman, John Bilezikian, John Potts, Fred Kaplan, Raj Thakker; plus, in memory, Stan Korsmeyer, Larry Raisz and Arthur Broadus. Hank Kronenberg’s role is outsized – my appreciation for his mentorship, scientific insights, and decades-long friendship knows no bounds – I cannot thank him enough. Past and present members of my laboratory group and collaborating investigators, especially Jessica Costa, absolutely share in this recognition, and special thanks and love to my family.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Translation: Minister Champagne to Participate in Conversation on Canada’s Leadership in Artificial Intelligence at Elevate Festival

    MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –

    Source: Government of Canada – in French 1

    Media Advisory

    October 2, 2024 – Toronto, Ontario

    The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, will join AmberMac Media President Amber Mac for a conversation during the Elevate Festival (English). Minister Champagne will discuss the government’s plans to strengthen Canada’s leadership, including a focus on artificial intelligence, which has the potential to transform industries, fuel economic growth and strengthen Canada’s global position in technology. Elevate Festival brings together leading innovators, industry leaders and members of the technology ecosystem to showcase Canada’s technology and innovation ecosystem on the international stage.

    Date: Thursday, October 3, 2024

    Time: 2:55 p.m. (Eastern Time)

    Location: Toronto, Ontario

    Media representatives are requested to register to confirm their attendance and obtain event location details:Rachael D’AmoreElevate Festival PR | Senior Director, Category Communicationsrd@categorycomms.com

    Contact persons

    Audrey MilettePress SecretaryOffice of the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industryaudrey.milette@ised-isde.gc.ca

    Media RelationsInnovation, Science and Economic Development Canadamedia@ised-isde.gc.ca

    Stay Connected

    For more information or to learn about the services offered by the Ministry, visit the websiteInnovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.

    Follow Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada on social media.X (Twitter): @ISDE_CA | Facebook: Canadian Innovation | Instagram: @innovationcdn | LinkedIn: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL Translation OSI

  • MIL-Evening Report: How can we improve public health communication for the next pandemic? Tackling distrust and misinformation is key

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shauna Hurley, PhD candidate, School of Public Health, Monash University

    Pexels/The Conversation

    There’s a common thread linking our experience of pandemics over the past 700 years. From the black death in the 14th century to COVID in the 21st, public health authorities have put emergency measures such as isolation and quarantine in place to stop infectious diseases spreading.

    As we know from COVID, these measures upend lives in an effort to save them. In both the recent and distant past they’ve also given rise to collective unrest, confusion and resistance.

    So after all this time, what do we know about the role public health communication plays in helping people understand and adhere to protective measures in a crisis? And more importantly, in an age of misinformation and distrust, how can we improve public health messaging for any future pandemics?

    Last year, we published a Cochrane review exploring the global evidence on public health communication during COVID and other infectious disease outbreaks including SARS, MERS, influenza and Ebola. Here’s a snapshot of what we found.



    Read more:
    Why are we seeing more pandemics? Our impact on the planet has a lot to do with it

    The importance of public trust

    A key theme emerging in analysis of the COVID pandemic globally is public trust – or lack thereof – in governments, public institutions and science.

    Mounting evidence suggests levels of trust in government were directly proportional to fewer COVID infections and higher vaccination rates across the world. It was a crucial factor in people’s willingness to follow public health directives, and is now a key focus for future pandemic preparedness.

    Here in Australia, public trust in governments and health authorities steadily eroded over time.

    Initial information from governments and health authorities about the unfolding COVID crisis, personal risk and mandated protective measures was generally clear and consistent across the country. The establishment of the National Cabinet in 2020 signalled a commitment from state, territory and federal governments to consensus-based policy and public health messaging.

    During this early phase of relative unity, Australians reported higher levels of belonging and trust in government.

    But as the pandemic wore on, public trust and confidence fell on the back of conflicting state-federal pandemic strategies, blame games and the confusing fragmentation of public health messaging. The divergence between lockdown policies and public health messaging adopted by Victoria and New South Wales is one example, but there are plenty of others.

    When state, territory and federal governments have conflicting policies on protective measures, people are easily confused, lose trust and become harder to engage with or persuade. Many tune out from partisan politics. Adherence to mandated public health measures falls.

    Our research found clarity and consistency of information were key features of effective public health communication throughout the COVID pandemic.

    We also found public health communication is most effective when authorities work in partnership with different target audiences. In Victoria, the case brought against the state government for the snap public housing tower lockdowns is a cautionary tale underscoring how essential considered, tailored and two-way communication is with diverse communities.



    Read more:
    What pathogen might spark the next pandemic? How scientists are preparing for ‘disease X’

    Countering misinformation

    Misinformation is not a new problem, but has been supercharged by the advent of social media.

    The much-touted “miracle” drug ivermectin typifies the extraordinary traction unproven treatments gained locally and globally. Ivermectin is an anti-parasitic drug, lacking evidence for viruses like COVID.

    Australia’s drug regulator was forced to ban ivermectin presciptions for anything other than its intended use after a sharp increase in people seeking the drug sparked national shortages. Hospitals also reported patients overdosing on ivermectin and cocktails of COVID “cures” promoted online.

    The Lancet Commission on lessons from the COVID pandemic has called for a coordinated international response to countering misinformation.

    As part of this, it has called for more accessible, accurate information and investment in scientific literacy to protect against misinformation, including that shared across social media platforms. The World Health Organization is developing resources and recommendations for health authorities to address this “infodemic”.

    National efforts to directly tackle misinformation are vital, in combination with concerted efforts to raise health literacy. The Australian Medical Association has called on the federal government to invest in long-term online advertising to counter health misinformation and boost health literacy.

    People of all ages need to be equipped to think critically about who and where their health information comes from. With the rise of AI, this is an increasingly urgent priority.

    Many people turned to unproven treatments for COVID.
    Alina Kruk/Shutterstock

    Looking ahead

    Australian health ministers recently reaffirmed their commitment to the new Australian Centre for Disease Control (CDC).

    From a science communications perspective, the Australian CDC could provide an independent voice of evidence and consensus-based information. This is exactly what’s needed during a pandemic. But full details about the CDC’s funding and remit have been the subject of some conjecture.

    Many of our key findings on effective public health communication during COVID are not new or surprising. They reinforce what we know works from previous disease outbreaks across different places and points in time: tailored, timely, clear, consistent and accurate information.

    The rapid rise, reach and influence of misinformation and distrust in public authorities bring a new level of complexity to this picture. Countering both must become a central focus of all public health crisis communication, now and in the future.

    This article is part of a series on the next pandemic.

    Rebecca Ryan receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council through funding to Australian Cochrane entities, and was previously commissioned by the World Health Organization to undertake a rapid evidence review on communication for COVID-19 prevention and control (2020).

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

    – ref. How can we improve public health communication for the next pandemic? Tackling distrust and misinformation is key – https://theconversation.com/how-can-we-improve-public-health-communication-for-the-next-pandemic-tackling-distrust-and-misinformation-is-key-226718

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Federal Award Empowers Semiconductor Supply Chain

    Source: US State of New York

    Governor Kathy Hochul today celebrated a federal award from the U.S. Department of the Treasury for the Semiconductor Growth Access Program (SGAP), a new State-run initiative that will help existing Upstate businesses pivot or expand into New York’s booming semiconductor supply chain ecosystem. The U.S. Department of the Treasury awarded New York State $9.45 million, with a match of $1.5 million from Empire State Development (ESD), to implement the program through the Treasury’s Small Business Opportunity Program (SBOP) under the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). SGAP will provide dedicated legal, financial, business planning and accounting technical assistance to targeted businesses to help them plan for growth and access capital to facilitate necessary upgrades and expansions. The program will cover the I-90 corridor from Western New York to the Capital Region and will be administered by ESD in partnership with Mohawk Valley Economic Development Growth Enterprises Corporation (EDGE), the Capital Region Center for Economic Growth (CEG), and the NY SMART-I Corridor Tech Hub. To date, SSBCI has been awarded to states on a formula basis, and this is the first time the federal government has made the process competitive.

    “New York has become a global leader in high-tech manufacturing – and we’re just getting started,” Governor Hochul said. “This $9.4 million investment from the State Small Business Credit Initiative will be critical as we work to connect underserved and very small businesses with the resources they need to succeed. Working with the Biden-Harris Administration, we’re creating even more jobs and opportunities for all New Yorkers.”

    U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo said, “The Biden-Harris Administration’s economic agenda is driving historic investments, creating new opportunities for small businesses to grow and hire. With this funding, New York will help entrepreneurs across the state access capital and scale their operations in these critical industries that are key to strengthening our supply chains and national security.”

    SGAP will deliver high-quality, tailored support to strengthen the regional semiconductor and microelectronics manufacturing supply chain, while empowering diverse New York businesses to access lucrative opportunities in upstate New York’s booming semiconductor ecosystem through technical assistance programs that provide legal, accounting, and financial services. The program builds on state, federal, local, and private sector programs and resources to build a more inclusive Upstate semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem.

    The program will bring together three key partners spanning New York’s I-90 corridor to deliver critical assistance to local small or disadvantaged businesses in underserved communities that can support successful implementation of CHIPS and Science Act investments – the NY SMART I-Corridor Tech Hub, Mohawk Valley EDGE and CEG. SGAP builds on the Supply Chain Activation Network (SCAN), a core component of the federally designated NY SMART I-Corridor Tech Hub aimed at supporting local firms to enter the rapidly expanding semiconductor and microelectronics market.

    With over $112 billion in new capital investments announced, New York State is leading the nation in new semiconductor investments. The main drivers of this growth, Micron in Central New York and GlobalFoundries in the Capital Region, will spend billions in operating expenses and have pledged to achieve significant supplier diversity goals. These investments represent a once-in-a-generation opportunity to lift up New Yorkers from communities that have historically been left out of economic growth. SGAP will empower Very Small Businesses (VSBs) and underserved businesses to seize this unique opportunity and grow or pivot into New York’s chip industry, ensuring a shared prosperity in Upstate New York.

    Governor Hochul’s Commitment to Growing New York’s Semiconductor Industry
    Governor Hochul has maintained a strong commitment to building a modern economy in New York State by growing a dynamic and innovative semiconductor industry. In 2022, the Governor signed New York’s historic Green CHIPS legislation to make New York a hub for semiconductor manufacturing, creating 21st century jobs and kick-starting economic growth while maintaining important environmental protections. As part of the FY24 Enacted Budget, Governor Hochul secured a $45 million investment to create the Governor’s Office of Semiconductor Expansion, Management, and Integration (GO-SEMI), which leads statewide efforts to develop the chipmaking sector. In December 2023, Governor Hochul announced a $10 billion public-private partnership – including $9 billion in private investment from IBM, Micron, Applied Materials, Tokyo Electron and other semiconductor leaders – to bring the future of advanced semiconductor research to New York’s Capital region by creating the nation’s first and only industry accessible, High NA EUV Lithography Center at the Albany NanoTech Complex. All of these efforts are positioning New York as an innovation leader ready to support one of three National Semiconductor Technology Center facilities that will be established under the U.S. CHIPS & Science Act.

    New York is home to a robust semiconductor industry which supports more than 150 semiconductor and supply chain companies that employ over 34,000 New Yorkers. Thanks to Governor Hochul’s efforts, the industry is continuing to grow with major investments from semiconductor businesses and supply chain companies like Micron, GlobalFoundries, AMD, Edwards Vacuum, MenloMicro and TTM Technologies to expand their presence in New York. In fact, in the last two years, chip companies have announced over $112 billion in planned capital investments in New York – more than any other state – and one in four U.S. made chips will be produced within 350 miles of Upstate New York. No other region in the country will account for a greater share of domestic production.

    Semiconductors are vital to the nation’s economic strength, serving as the brains of modern electronics, and enabling technologies critical to U.S. economic growth, national security, and global competitiveness. The industry directly employs over 300,000 people in the U.S. and supports more than 1.8 million additional domestic jobs. Semiconductors are a top five U.S. export, and the industry is the number one contributor to labor productivity, supporting improvements to the effectiveness and efficiency of virtually every economic sector – from farming to manufacturing.

    Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “Under Governor Hochul, New York is leading the nation in new semiconductor industry investment, and now, with additional federal support, we are poised to further scale up the state’s broader billion-dollar advanced manufacturing ecosystem. US Treasury’s award enables ESD to expand the economic opportunities created by Upstate’s booming semiconductor sector to small businesses in underserved communities through our innovative Semiconductor Growth Access Program, which offers critical capital access and technical assistance so entrepreneurs can focus on the important work growing their businesses and creating jobs.”

    Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said, “This major $9.4 million in federal funding will help provide critical technical assistance to small businesses across Upstate NY who want to grow in the semiconductor industry but can’t do it alone. This is how we maximize the benefit of companies like Micron, GlobalFoundries, and Wolfspeed’s expansions in Upstate NY, helping existing businesses grow and adapt to lead in the next frontier of technology. This will help boost efforts along the I-90 Tech Hub I secured and help Upstate NY build a robust supply chain from Buffalo to Utica to Albany that further positions Upstate NY as a global center for chip manufacturing. I fought to secure historic funding for the State Small Business Credit Initiative in the American Rescue Plan and urged Secretary Yellen to prioritize funding for supply chain development, including in the semiconductor industry, because I know that support for small businesses is critical to our efforts to bringing manufacturing back home to America. Today’s federal investment further supercharges Upstate NY’s growing semiconductor superhighway!”

    Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, “This federal award will be transformative for small and underserved businesses across New York. It will strengthen our economy and cement New York’s reputation as a global leader in semiconductor manufacturing and innovation. I’m proud to have fought to pass the American Rescue Plan that provided the funds to make this grant possible, and I’ll continue working for federal investments that support small businesses, create good jobs, and develop our workforce.”

    State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, “This federal award reflects New York’s leading role in the growing national semiconductor industry. This $9.45 investment will be a boost to New York’s local small businesses as it will help entrepreneurs in underserved communities access opportunities to grow within the semiconductor supply chain. This award is recognition of our robust efforts to ensure that the Empire State remains at the forefront of technological innovation. I want to thank Governor Kathy Hochul for her leadership in fostering entrepreneurship and technological advancement across the State.”

    Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said, “This award helps to secure New York’s position as the domestic epicenter of semiconductor manufacturing. But as we build New York’s future, we must ensure that the impact of this investment spreads across all our communities. By expanding manufacturing and technical program access to small businesses, we’re ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to benefit from the continued growth of the industry.”

    About State Small Business Credit Initiative

    More than $500 million in federal funding has been allocated to support the resurgence of small businesses across New York State through the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI), a program through the American Rescue Plan Act. Managed by the U.S. Department of Treasury, SSBCI provides funds to support programs for small businesses, including underserved businesses and very small businesses (VSB), to recover from the economic effects of COVID-19 and allow them the opportunity to succeed in the post-pandemic economy. With this funding, Empire State Development (ESD) has developed a suite of capital access and equity programs to help New York State small businesses grow and succeed. Learn about the SSBCI programs that Empire State Development has established.

    About Empire State Development

    Empire State Development is New York’s chief economic development agency, and promotes business growth, job creation, and greater economic opportunity throughout the state. With offices in each of the state’s 10 regions, ESD oversees the Regional Economic Development Councils, supports broadband equity through the ConnectALL office, and is growing the workforce of tomorrow through the Office of Strategic Workforce Development. The agency engages with emerging and next generation industries like clean energy and semiconductor manufacturing looking to grow in New York State, operates a network of assistance centers to help small businesses grow and succeed, and promotes the state’s world class tourism destinations through I LOVE NY. For more information, please visit esd.ny.gov, and connect with ESD on LinkedIn, Facebook and X.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Over 1,000 Acres Returned to Onondaga Nation

    Source: US State of New York

    Governor Kathy Hochul, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams, Onondaga Nation Tadodaho Sidney Hill and New York State Attorney General Letitia James today announced the finalized return of more than 1,000 acres of ancestral homelands in Central New York’s Tully Valley to the Onondaga Nation. The completed title transfer of open space to an Indigenous Nation is one of the largest of its kind by any state and fulfills a critical part of the Onondaga Lake Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration Program settlement with parties including Honeywell International Inc.

    “Onondaga Creek’s headwaters hold profound significance for the Onondaga Nation, and I am thrilled New York State and the U.S. Department of the Interior succeeded in taking an innovative path to address damages from legacy contamination and return a beautiful ecological resource to the Nation’s stewardship,” Governor Hochul said. “Establishing this preserve is a remarkable collaboration to restore access to ancestral lands and waters and serves as a historic milestone in New York State’s ongoing recognition of the cultural and environmental heritage of Indigenous Peoples.”

    U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams said, “Today, we recognize the Onondaga Nation as the rightful caretakers of their homelands. We look forward to continuing our government-to-government relationship with the Nation as they work to heal and preserve these lands and waters for future generations.”

    Onondaga Tadodaho Sid Hill said, “The headwaters of Onondaga Creek in the Tully Valley are part of the system of waterways leading into Onondaga Lake that have sustained our Nation for millennia, and we are grateful that the Department of the Interior and New York State have worked with us to return to our stewardship the first 1,000 acres of the 2.5 million acres of treaty-guaranteed land taken from us over the centuries. This is a small but important step for us, and for the Indigenous land back movement across the United States.”

    New York Attorney General Letitia James said, “Today is a historic day for New York and for the Onondaga Nation. For too long, Indigenous communities have been forced from their ancestral homelands, and I am proud that we can begin to right some of those wrongs by returning this resource-rich land to its rightful caretakers. Thank you to Governor Hochul, the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and DEC for their partnership in shepherding the return of this land to the Onondaga Nation.”

    The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), serving as the Natural Resource Trustee agencies for the settlement, signed a resolution in 2022 related to the Onondaga Lake Superfund site. The resolution directed Honeywell to transfer the title to more than 1,000 acres of open space in Central New York’s Tully Valley to the Onondaga Nation to restore and steward the property.

    The Onondaga Nation has accepted and holds fee title to a 758.1-acre South Forest Nature Preserve and a 264.9-acre North Forest Nature Preserve in the Tully Valley that include the headwaters of Onondaga Creek, more than 45 acres of wetland and floodplains, and approximately 980 acres of forest and successional fields. The cold waters of Onondaga Creek support a small population of brook trout, a population that may be fully restored with proper stewardship. The wetlands, floodplains, forests, and fields are home to wildlife such as great blue heron, songbirds, waterfowl, hawks, bald eagles, frogs, bats, and other mammals including white-tailed deer.

    The Nation will protect, restore, heal, and caretake the property in accordance with Indigenous Knowledge; Onondaga cultural, spiritual, and educational practices; and science.

    State Department of Environmental Conservation Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar said, “The degradation of the Onondaga Nation’s lands and waters by a legacy of industrial contamination can never be fully repaired, but today’s historic announcement celebrates a key milestone in the journey to reconnect culturally, spiritually, and ecologically significant lands to the healing, caretaking, and permanent stewardship of Onondaga People. Guided by Governor Hochul’s leadership, DEC worked closely with the Onondaga Nation, the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Office of Attorney General James, and thanks these partners and the many other stakeholders who sought to return these Tully Valley parcels to the Onondaga Nation.”

    The funding and implementation of Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration (NRDAR) projects by the Trustees is a result of the legal settlement with Honeywell following past releases of mercury and other hazardous substances to Onondaga Lake, its tributaries, and uplands that include Indigenous homelands that are deeply sacred to the Onondaga Nation. As part of the Onondaga Lake NRDAR process, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and DEC assessed contaminant-related injuries to natural resources such as waterfowl and turtles and quantified the lost use of natural resources to the public, such as fishing. The agencies then solicited restoration project ideas from a wide variety of stakeholders and the Onondaga Nation to identify the types and scale of restoration needed to compensate for those natural resource injuries, as well as projects that could help address cultural losses to the Nation and its citizens.

    Copies of the Restoration Plan for Onondaga Lake can be found on the USFWS website. For more information about the cleanup of Onondaga Lake, visit here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Research of Postdoctoral Fellows Celebrated at UConn Health

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    The 8th Annual Postdoc Research Day (PDRD) took place on September 19 at the Academic Rotunda, where researchers from UConn Health and The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine came together to share their research. This half-day event featured oral and poster presentations by the postdocs, as well as a keynote address.

    PDRD is an annual event to celebrate postdoc research. The event attracted 70 attendees, including faculty, staff, graduate students, and postdocs.

    “PDRD is an opportunity for the UConn Health and Jackson Lab communities to come together and learn about all the great research our postdocs are doing, while giving the postdocs a highly visible platform to introduce themselves to everyone,” said UConn Health Director of Postdoctoral Affairs Dr. Chris Heinen.

    The afternoon event began with a warm welcome from Dr. Heinen who highlighted the significant role of postdocs in building a strong and collaborative research community.

    Following this, nineteen postdocs presented research talks as part of the annual Speak4Science competition, each with four minutes and one slide to describe the significance of their research question. Three awards were given to the best research presentations: Drs. Anirudhya Lahiri, Moriah Turcotte, and Lisa Wren.

    Keynote Speaker Dr. Brian Coombes. (Photo provided by Sama Abdulmalik)

    “It’s exciting to hear about each other’s research,” shared Sama Abdulmalik, a member of the UConn Health and Jackson Laboratory PostDoctoral Association (UJPDA).

    Dr. Brian Coombes, a distinguished professor and chair in the Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences at McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, served as the event’s keynote speaker and was introduced by by UJPDA member Patience Shumba. Coombes’ research focuses on enteric bacteria associated with acute and chronic human diseases, including Crohn’s disease.

    The final event of the day was a reception that combined poster presentations and networking opportunities. Researchers showcased their latest findings, sparking informative discussions and conversations.

    Postdoc Research Day Organizing Committee. From the left, top:
    Drs. Alexander Calderon, Ying Tang, Anvar Sariev, Sama Abdulmalik, Patience Shumba, Chrysoula Argyrou & Chris Heinen (not shown: Zeynep Altunay).

    Special thanks to the PDRD’s organizing committee, Director of Postdoctoral Affairs, Chris Heinen, Sama Abdulmalik (UCH), Zeynep Altunay (UCH), Chrysoula Argyrou (UCH), Alexander Calderon (JAX), Anvar Sariev (UCH), Patience Shumba (UCH), Ying Tang (UCH), as well as Stephanie Holden (UCH) and Jane Tran Sills (UCH) and Sarah Wojiski (JAX), Dawn Traficante (JAX) and Rowena Grainger (JAX), who developed a successful event.

    Thanks to everyone who participated in making this research day a great success.

    Speak4Science Short Talk Awards included:

    • Anirudhya Lahiri, Department of Neuroscience, UConn Health
      Psychosine alters astrocyte secretome
    • Moriah Turcotte, Calhoun Cardiology Center, UConn Health
      β-adrenergic receptors in heart disease
    • Lisa Wren, The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine
      Base editing in dilated cardiomyopathy
    Keynote Speaker, Dr. Brian Coombes and Director of Postdoctoral Affairs, Dr. Chris Heinen.(Photo provided by Sama Abdulmalik)

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: “Unique success story of a government initiative in the history of independent India…. Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi’s “Swachhata” call from Red Fort turned into a mass campaign”, says Minister Dr Jitendra Singh

    Source: Government of India (2)

    “Unique success story of a government initiative in the history of independent India…. Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi’s “Swachhata” call from Red Fort turned into a mass campaign”, says Minister Dr Jitendra Singh

    Dr. Jitendra Singh Launches Special Campaign 4.0, Pledges to Institutionalize Cleanliness on Gandhi Jayanti

    Over 355.5 Lakh Sq. Ft of Office Space Freed in Previous Campaigns; Rs. 1162.49 Crore Earned from E-Waste and scrap Disposal

    Minister Acknowledges Prime Minister’s Leadership in Making Swachhata a Behavioural Revolution

    Leads Shramdaan and Plantation Drives, Honors SafaiMitras for Their Crucial Role in Cleanliness Movement

    Posted On: 02 OCT 2024 6:16PM by PIB Delhi

    “It is a unique success story of a government initiative in the history of independent India…. Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi’s “Swachhata” call from Red Fort turned into a mass campaign, which motivated a spontaneous voluntary effort to maintain cleanliness and brought about a behavioural revolution among people across the country”.

    This was stated here today by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh while launching, on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, Special Campaign 4.0 under the Government of India’s “Swachhata Hi Sewa” programme, reiterating the Government’s deep commitment to cleanliness, public hygiene, and service.

    Leading two events at the national capital here, one at Nehru Park, organised by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), and another at Prithvi Bhawan hosted by the Ministry of Earth Sciences ,  Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasised the Government’s efforts to institutionalise cleanliness and reduce administrative pendency.

    Dr. Jitendra Singh hailed the success of the previous campaigns and shared the remarkable achievements of the previous three campaigns, which have led to significant gains which include Rs. 1162.49 crore generated through the disposal of e-waste and scrap,  355.6 lakh sq. ft. of office space cleared for productive use, 96.1 lakh files closed or weeded out, 4.05 lakh cleanliness sites identified and cleaned etc.     

    Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh participating in Swachh Bharat Diwas programme at New Delhi on Wednesday.

    The Minister thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for addressing the foundational issue of cleanliness through the Swachhata campaign. He emphasised that the Prime Minister’s vision has transformed Swachhata from a government-led initiative into a behavioural revolution. “The Swachhata campaign has become ingrained in the psyche of the people,” Dr. Jitendra Singh remarked, noting how rarely a government campaign becomes a mass movement that changes public attitudes. “Today, cleanliness is not just a government directive, but a core value embraced by citizens.”

    Dr. Jitendra Singh further stated that the ongoing Special Campaign 4.0 aims to institutionalise these behavioural changes across government offices, with a focus on reducing administrative pendency and optimising public service.

    Human-Centric Highlights of the Day include 1) Swachh Anjali: Dr. Jitendra Singh, along with senior officials, paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi by offering ‘Swachh aanjali,’ reaffirming the Government’s commitment to Gandhi’s vision of a clean India. “Today’s tribute to the Father of the Nation is a reminder of the legacy we are carrying forward through these cleanliness drives,” 2) Plantation Drive – Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam: At both Nehru Park and Prithvi Bhawan, Dr. Jitendra Singh planted saplings as part of the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam initiative, symbolising the Government’s focus on environmental sustainability. “Each sapling planted today stands for a future rooted in sustainability,” he shared.

    Dr. Jitendra Singh also honoured “Safai Mitras” by distributing safety kits and sweets, acknowledging their crucial role in the campaign’s success. “Our SafaiMitrasare at the heart of this campaign. Their dedication is an example of true public service,” Dr. Singh noted.

    Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh participating in Swachh Bharat Diwas programme at New Delhi on Wednesday.

    In addition, the Minister led the “Shramdaan” activities at Nehru Park and Prithvi Bhawan, joined by officials from DARPG and the Ministry of Earth Sciences. Their hands-on participation reinforced the message of civic responsibility and the importance of collective action in keeping public spaces clean.

    Dr. Jitendra Singh commended the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) for achieving remarkable success in the earlier campaigns, leading to the freeing up of over 355 lakh sq. ft. of office space and generating revenue from scrap disposal. He also lauded the Ministry of Earth Sciences for its efforts in cleaning 96 beaches across the country, an initiative that reflects the Government’s commitment to keeping not only office spaces but also public spaces clean.

    In his closing remarks, Dr. JitendraSingh reiterated how the Swachhata Campaign had empowered women in its early stages by constructing over 4 lakh toilets, and how the movement has now grown to tackle issues like wealth generation from waste. “Special Campaign 4.0 is about turning waste into wealth, and making cleanliness a permanent feature of public life,” he added.Shri V. Srinivas, Secretary, DARPG, and Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, along with senior officials from both ministries, actively participated in the events.

    ***

    NKR/AG

    (Release ID: 2061166) Visitor Counter : 26

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: ‘Swachhata Hi Sewa’ Campaign from 17th September to 1st October 2024 in Department of Science and Technology (DST)

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 02 OCT 2024 7:01PM by PIB Delhi

    Department of Science and Technology conducted the ‘Swachhata Hi Sewa’ Campaign in the different buildings of Department and across all its Autonomous Bodies and subordinate offices of DST spread across various parts of the country.

    Under ‘Swachhata Hi Sewa’ Campaign, Secretary, DST administered Swachhata pledge to all the officials of DST to create awareness and commitment for a clean and garbage free India. All the 26 Autonomous Bodies and subordinate offices under Ministry of Science and Technology participated in the campaign and celebrated it as a festival of cleanliness.

    Various activities were planned by the Department of Science and Technology which included Painting Competition for students of classes 6th to 10th from various parts of the country on the theme ‘Clean India of my Dream’.

    Activities relating to vermicomposting of the organic waste generated in Departmental Canteen, office campus of DST, Autonomous Institutions and Survey of India offices all over India to regulate landfills and reduce pollution, fostering the creation of wealth from waste.

    Preventive Health Checkup for sanitation workers of DST was conducted during the period. Safety gears and cleanliness tools were distributed to the sanitation workers of DST. Four (4) Lecture cum Awareness Sessions on “Cleanliness & its impact on health” were conducted in Government and private Schools and Biodegradable items were distributed in Govt. Schools spread in the vicinity of Technology Bhawan. Shramdaan activity was organized during which officers/scientists of DST were engaged in cleaning the surrounding areas of Technology Bhawan.

    Cleaning, repair of equipments, beautification of the campus and disposal of waste was done in Vigyan Sadan and the premises of DST. Auction of the unserviceable items of Vigyan Sadan and weeding out of old papers lying in the reception block of Technology Bhawan was done. Extensive cleaning of the Departmental Canteen and area behind the Old S&T Block was carried out. A total of 15 trucks loaded with horticulture and other waste materials were removed from the site.

    Provision for natural lighting was made in the dark areas of Technology Bhawan. Plantation drive was conducted under the initiative ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ in Technology Bhawan and nearby schools. Multiple Yoga Sessions were also organized for the DST officials in which participation of the women employees was seen in large numbers. Also, sanitary napkin vending machine along with incinerator machine was installed in fourteen female washrooms in Technology Bhawan to ensure a clean and female friendly workplace.

    Various areas were identified for being cleaned up during the campaign period for optimization of space Management and enhancement of workplace experience in premises of DST and its autonomous organisations. Further, Joint Secretary (Admn.), DST, Smt. A Dhanalakshmi inspected the identified cleanliness sites in the office premises and directed the senior officers to put their best efforts to achieve the target during the campaign period.

    Awareness about the campaign was spread through different social media platforms like X (Formerly known as Twitter), Instagram and Facebook. The campaign was conducted in full swing to achieve the targets set by the Department of Science and Technology for the specified period.

    Autonomous Institutions (AIs) and Subordinate Offices under the Department located various part of the country also actively participated in ‘Swachhata Hi Sewa’ 2024 Campaign and  conducted various activities such as Pledge taking ceremony, Poetry writing competition, quiz competition on cleanliness and hygiene, Awareness Campaign with Villagers (Gram Shabha), Plantation Drive under the initiative ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’, Waste management workshop for school children, lectures for spreading awareness on Swachhata, Preventive Health Checkup camp for Safai Mitra etc.

    ***

    NKR/AG

    (Release ID: 2061198) Visitor Counter : 27

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Waccamaw Siouan Indian Tribe to be Featured on N.C. Highway Historical Marker

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Waccamaw Siouan Indian Tribe to be Featured on N.C. Highway Historical Marker

    Waccamaw Siouan Indian Tribe to be Featured on N.C. Highway Historical Marker
    jejohnson6

    An American Indian tribe that settled in southeastern North Carolina soon will be recognized with a North Carolina Highway Historical Marker.

    The marker commemorating the Waccamaw Siouan Tribe will be dedicated during a ceremony Oct. 12 at 10 a.m., at the Waccamaw Siouan tribal grounds (7239 Old Lake Rd, Bolton, N.C.).

    The “People of the Falling Star,” currently known as the Waccamaw Siouan Indian Tribe, were first documented in 1701 by John Lawson as he visited the tribal areas located on the lower Neuse River not far from the Tuscarora Tribe. Lawson recorded 143 words from the Siouan Language which is a similar dialect of the southwestern neighboring Catawba Tribe, which resides in present-day South Carolina. The words are documented in Lawson’s book, “A Vocabulary of Woccon,” which can be found in the State Archives of North Carolina.

    After the Indian Wars in North Carolina known as the Tuscarora (1711-1713) and Yamassee (1715) Wars, the Waccamaw Siouans (Woccon) retreated southeast to the current day Green Swamp in Columbus County, while others were adopted by the Catawba Tribe with their similar language dialects. The Waccamaw Siouan remained in obscurity until the late-1700s.

    Tribal history speaks of the formation of Lake Waccamaw. The lore says a huge meteor crashed into the earth’s surface, creating a large crater and forming the lake. While there is no known translation of the word “Waccamaw,” a study of the Catawba language provides clues to its origin. A game played by the Catawba Indian children is spelled Wap Ka’ Hare, which translated is “ball knock.” Listening to an Indian say this word sounds like “Wah-um-wah.” Historians say it is reasonable to conclude that “Waccamaw,” is the English translation of part of the phrase that told of the ball of fire that “knocked” into the earth and created Lake Waccamaw.

    The Waccamaw Siouan received North Carolina state recognition in 1971 and hold membership with the North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs. The tribe was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) organization in 1977. On the third week of October, an annual powwow is held on the tribal grounds. The major communities of tribal members are St. James, east of Lake Waccamaw, and Buckhead and Council, north of Bolton, N.C.

    For a more complete history of the Waccamaw Siouan Tribe visit https://waccamaw-siouan.org

    For more information about the historical marker, please visit https://www.dncr.nc.gov/blog/2023/12/12/waccamaw-siouan-indian-tribe-d-123, or call (919) 814-6625.

    The marker is one of nine markers being dedicated in 2024 that highlight American Indian culture and history in North Carolina. Historical markers were approved for the Coharie, Haliwa-Saponi, Lumbee, Meherrin, Occaneechi Band of the Saponi, Sappony, and Waccamaw Siouan tribes. In addition, historical markers were approved for the site of the East Carolina Indian School and the Buie Mound site. The N.C. American Indian Heritage Commission staff worked closely with N.C. tribes to complete applications to be considered for the historical marker program.

    The Highway Historical Marker Program is a collaboration between the N.C. departments of Natural and Cultural Resources and Transportation.

    About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
    The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.
    The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.
    Oct 2, 2024

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: State Parks Closures Through October, All Programming Canceled Across the State

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: State Parks Closures Through October, All Programming Canceled Across the State

    State Parks Closures Through October, All Programming Canceled Across the State
    jejohnson6

    All North Carolina state parks west of Interstate 77 are closed through at least Oct. 31, the Division of Parks and Recreation announced. These parks include Chimney Rock, Crowders Mountain, Elk Knob, Gorges, Grandfather Mountain, Lake James, Lake Norman, Mount Mitchell, New River, South Mountains, and Stone Mountains state parks, as well as Mount Jefferson State Natural Area and Rendezvous Mountain.

    In addition, all events and programs at all state parks have been canceled through Oct. 31, with the exception of Dismal Day, Oct. 12, at Dismal Swamp State Park; Fear at the Fort, Oct. 18-19 and 25-26, at Fort Macon State Park; and a Schools in Parks training, Oct. 26, at Carolina Beach State Park.

    The division is assisting with the statewide emergency and rescue efforts in western North Carolina, in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. About 30 staff have been deployed on law enforcement assignments requested through the North Carolina Emergency Operations Center. Scaling back operations across the state will allow staff to continue to assist with critical deployments. In addition, the closure of western parks can help limit travel in the area while roads and other infrastructure are repaired and replaced.

    “The devastation brought by Helene in many communities across western North Carolina has been profound,” said State Parks Director Brian Strong. “The entire division wants to provide whatever assistance we can to our neighbors and to these areas that were hit hardest. We want to prioritize our resources, both staff and equipment, towards immediate and lifesaving needs.”

    State park rangers are sworn law enforcement officers, and many park field staff — rangers and maintenance technicians — are certified as emergency medical responders, are trained to operate chainsaws and large equipment, and possess a commercial driver’s license. Once the vital needs of post-storm recovery efforts have been met, staff will focus on recreational facilities at parks, including trails, visitor centers, and campsites. Staff will assess conditions, clear downed trees, and address any remaining safety hazards before reopening to the public.

    “In the last few days alone, we have seen the entire state come together to support each other during this difficult time,” Strong said. “We know our parks are beloved by North Carolinians, but we also know our visitors are eager to help those who are grieving and those who have lost so much because of this storm.”

    All reservations for campsites and other facilities such as picnic shelters at western state parks through Oct. 31 have been canceled and refunded in full.

    About North Carolina State Parks
    North Carolina State Parks manages more than 262,000 acres of iconic landscape within North Carolina’s state parks, state recreation areas and state natural areas. It administers the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund, including its local grants program, as well as a state trails program, North Carolina Natural and Scenic Rivers and more, all with a mission dedicated to conservation, recreation and education. The state parks system welcomes more than 19 million visitors annually.
    About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
    The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.
    The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.
    Oct 2, 2024

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCHUMER ANNOUNCES $9.4 MILLION TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES GROW & TAP INTO THE BOOMING SEMICONDUCTOR SUPPLY CHAIN ACROSS UPSTATE NY

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer

    Funding Will Help Grow NY’s Semiconductor Supply Chain By Providing Technical Assistance To Small Businesses Growing In The Semiconductor Industry Across Upstate NY Supporting Ongoing Work With The Buffalo-Rochester-Syracuse Tech Hub, Mohawk Valley Edge, The Capital Region CEG & Empire State Development

    Schumer: Fed $$$ Will Supercharge Upstate NY’s Growing Semiconductor Superhighway!

    U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today announced New York State has been awarded $9.4 million, with $1.5 million in matching funds from Empire State Development (ESD), to help small businesses across Upstate NY tap into and grow in the semiconductor and microelectronics industries. Schumer said this new program will help maximize the local impact of the billions in investment we are seeing across Upstate NY from companies like Micron, GlobalFoundries, and Wolfspeed thanks to his CHIPS & Science Law by breaking down barriers to help small businesses enter and expand into the semiconductor supply chain.  

    “Small businesses across Upstate NY want to enter the booming semiconductor industry, but they can’t do it alone. This major $9.4 million in federal funding will help provide critical technical assistance to boost effort to make it happen. This is how we maximize the benefit of companies like Micron, GlobalFoundries, and Wolfspeed’s expansions in Upstate NY, helping existing businesses grow and adapt to lead in the next frontier of technology. This will help boost efforts along the I-90 Tech Hub I secured and help Upstate NY build a robust supply chain from Buffalo to Utica to Albany that further positions the region as a global center for chip manufacturing,” said Senator Schumer. “I fought to secure historic funding for the State Small Business Credit Initiative in the American Rescue Plan and urged Secretary Yellen to prioritize funding for supply chain development, including in the semiconductor industry, because I know that support for small businesses is critical to our efforts to bringing manufacturing back home to America. Today’s federal investment further supercharges Upstate NY’s growing semiconductor superhighway!”

    With this funding, New York will implement the Semiconductor Growth Access Program (SGAP). The program will provide technical assistance – including legal, financial, and accounting services – to existing small businesses to grow in or pivot to the semiconductor and microelectronic supply chain. This will help those businesses upgrade and expand their equipment, building a chip manufacturing cluster across Upstate New York. Additionally, SGAP will create a shared regional purchasing roundtable of large manufacturers and tier 1 suppliers, designed to provide regular access to purchasing opportunities for participating businesses.

    The SGAP program will work alongside the Supply Chain Activation Network (SCAN), a project of the Buffalo-Rochester-Syracuse NY SMART-I Corridor Tech Hub, which Schumer fought to secure and has already delivered $40 million of federal funding to support. It will also support critical semiconductor supply chain growth with partners at the Mohawk Valley Economic Development Growth Enterprises Corporation (EDGE), and the Capital Region Center for Economic Growth (CEG).

    “New York has become a global leader in high-tech manufacturing – and we’re just getting started,” Governor Hochul said. “This $9.4 million investment from the State Small Business Credit Initiative will be critical as we work to connect underserved and very small businesses with the resources they need to succeed. Working with the Biden-Harris Administration, we’re creating even more jobs and opportunities for all New Yorkers.”

    Schumer previously led 15 senators in urging U.S. Department of Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to use State and Small Business Credit Initiative funding to bring manufacturing back to the United States to strengthen domestic supply chains, including in the semiconductor industry. The American Rescue Plan Act reauthorized and expanded SSBCI, which provides nearly $10 billion to support small businesses and empower them to access the capital needed to invest in job-creating opportunities. Schumer supported state and local capital and technical assistance initiatives for small businesses to rebuild the economy coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    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 with the support of an over $6 billion preliminary CHIPS agreement. 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, with support of a $1.5 billion preliminary CHIPS agreement. Wolfspeed has opened the first, largest, and only 200mm silicon carbide fabrication facility in the world in the Mohawk Valley, with plans to further expand their operations. 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, and following Schumer’s advocacy, Edwards Vacuum has announced a $300+ million investment to build a dry pump manufacturing facility, creating 600 good-paying jobs to support the growing chip industry in Western New York.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Limestone and iron reveal puzzling extreme rain in Western Australia 100,000 years ago

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Milo Barham, Associate Professor, Earth and Planetary Sciences, Curtin University

    Limestone pinnacles of the Nambung National Park karst. Matej Lipar

    Almost one-sixth of Earth’s land surface is covered in otherworldly landscapes with a name that may also be unfamiliar: karst. These landscapes are like natural sculpture parks, with dramatic terrain dotted with caves and towers of bedrock slowly sculpted by water over thousands of years.

    Karst landscapes are beautiful and ecologically important. They also represent a record of Earth’s past temperature and moisture levels.

    However, it can be quite challenging to figure out exactly when karst landscapes formed. In our new work published today in Science Advances, we show a new way to find the age of these enigmatic landscapes, which will help us understand our planet’s past in more detail.

    Flowstones, stalactites and caverns within Jenolan Caves, NSW, Australia.
    Matej Lipar

    The challenge

    Karst is defined by the removal of material. The rock towers and caves we see today are what is left after water dissolved the rest during wet periods of the past.

    This is what makes their age hard to determine. How do you date the disappearance of something?

    Traditionally, scientists have loosely bracketed the age of a karst surface by dating the material above and beneath. However, this approach blurs our understanding of ancient climate events and how ecosystems responded.

    Geological clocks

    In our study, we found a way to measure the age of pebble-sized iron nodules that formed at the same time as a karst landscape.

    This method has the technical name of (U/Th)-He geochronology. In it, we measure how much helium is produced by the natural radioactive decay of tiny amounts of the elements uranium and thorium in the iron nodules. By comparing the amounts of uranium, thorium and helium in a sample, we can very accurately calculate the age of the nodules.

    How iron nodules can reveal their age.
    Milo Barham

    We dated microscopic fragments of iron-rich nodules from the iconic Pinnacles Desert in Nambung National Park, Western Australia.

    This world-famous site is renowned for its otherworldly karst landscape of acres of limestone pillars towering metres above a sandy desert plain. The Pinnacles form part of the most extensive belt of wind-blown carbonate rock in the world, stretching more than 1,000km along coastal southwestern WA.

    The Western Australia ThermoChronology Hub (WATCH) ultra-high vacuum gas extraction line for measurements of radiogenic helium.
    Martin Danišik

    We examined multiple microscopic shards of iron nodules that were removed from the surface of limestone pinnacles. These nodules formed in the soil that lay on top of the limestone during the period of intense weathering that created the karst. As a result, they serve as time capsules of the environmental conditions that shaped the area.

    A scanning electron microscope image of iron-rich cement (lighter grey in centre) binding darker grey, rounded quartz sand grains within an analysed nodule.
    Aleš Šoster

    The big wet

    We consistently found an age of around 100,000 years for the growth of the iron nodules. This date is supported by known ages from the rocks above and beneath the karst surface, proving the reliability of our new approach.

    At the same time as chemical reactions caused growth of the iron-rich nodules within the ancient soil, limestone bedrock was rapidly and extensively dissolved to leave only remnant limestone pinnacles seen today.

    From examining the entire rock sequence in the area, we think this period of intensive weathering was the wettest time in this part of WA over at least the past half a million years.

    We don’t know what drove this increased rainfall. It may have been changes to atmospheric circulation patterns, or the greater influence of the ancient Leeuwin Current that runs along the shore.

    Such a humid interval is in dramatic contrast to the recent droughts and increasingly dry climate of the region today.

    Implications for our past

    Iron-rich nodules are not unique to the Nambung Pinnacles. They have recently been used to track dramatic past environmental change elsewhere in Australia.

    Dating these iron nodules will help to better document the dramatic fluctuations in Earth’s climate over the past three million years as ice sheets have grown and shrunk.

    Understanding the timing and environmental context of karst formation throughout this time offers profound insights into past climate conditions, environments and the landscapes in which ancient creatures lived.

    Dark iron-rich nodules attached to the side of the base of a limestone pinnacle in the Nambung National Park.
    Matej Lipar

    Climate changes and resulting environmental shifts have been crucial in shaping ecosystems. In particular, they have had a profound influence on our ancient hominin and human ancestors.

    By linking karst formation to specific climatic intervals, we can better understand how these environmental changes may have affected early human populations.

    Looking forward

    The more we know about the conditions that led to the formation of past landscapes and the flora and fauna that inhabited them, the better we can appreciate the evolutionary pressures that shaped the ecosystems we see today. This in turn offers valuable information for preparing for future changes.

    As human-driven climate change accelerates, learning about past climate variability and biosphere responses equips us with knowledge to anticipate and mitigate future impacts.

    The ability to date karst features with greater precision may seem like a small thing – but it will help us understand how today’s landscapes and ecosystems might respond to ongoing and future climate changes.

    Milo Barham has previously received research funding from the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia.

    Andrej Šmuc, John Allan Webb, Kenneth McNamara, Martin Danisik, and Matej Lipar do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Limestone and iron reveal puzzling extreme rain in Western Australia 100,000 years ago – https://theconversation.com/limestone-and-iron-reveal-puzzling-extreme-rain-in-western-australia-100-000-years-ago-238801

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: More consumption, more demand for resources, more waste: why urban mining’s time has come

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Odei Erdiaw-Kwasie, Lecturer in Sustainability| Business and Accounting Discipline, Charles Darwin University

    Lynda Disher/Shutterstock

    Pollution and waste, climate change and biodiversity loss are creating a triple planetary crisis. In response, UN Environment Programme executive director Inger Andersen has called for waste to be redefined as a valuable resource instead of a problem. That’s what urban mining does.

    We commonly think of mining as drilling or digging into the earth to extract precious resources. Urban mining recovers these materials from waste. It can come from buildings, infrastructure and obsolete products.

    An urban mine, then, is the stock of precious metals or materials in the waste cities produce. In particular, electronic waste, or e‑waste, has higher concentrations of precious metals than many mined ores. Yet the UN Global E‑waste Monitor estimates US$62 billion worth of recoverable resources was discarded as e‑waste in 2022.

    Urban mining can recover these “hidden” resources in cities around the world. It offers sustainable solutions to the problems of resource scarcity and waste management. And it happens in the very cities that are centres of overconsumption and hotspots for the greenhouse gas emissions driving climate change.

    What sort of waste can be mined?

    Materials such as concrete, pipes, bricks, roofing materials, reinforcements and e‑waste can be recovered for reuse. Urban waste can be “mined” for metals such as gold, steel, copper, zinc, aluminium, cobalt and lithium, as well as glass and plastic. Mechanical or chemical treatments are used to retrieve these metals and materials.

    Simply disposing of this waste has high financial and environmental costs. In Australia, about 10% of waste is hazardous. Landfill costs are soaring as cities run out of space to discard their waste.

    The extent of this fast-growing problem is driving the growth of urban mining around the world. We are then salvaging materials whose supply is finite, while reducing the impacts of waste disposal.

    Many plastics can be recycled and turned into new products.
    MAD.vertise/Shutterstock

    What’s happening globally?

    In Europe, the focus is largely on construction and demolition waste. Europe produces 450 million to 500 million tonnes of this waste each year – more than a third of all the region’s waste. Through its urban mining strategy, the European Commission aims to increase the recovery of non-hazardous construction and demolition waste to at least 70% across member countries by 2030.

    In Asia, urban mining has focused on e‑waste. However, the region recovers only about 12% of its e‑waste stock. Rates of e‑waste recycling vary greatly: 20% for East Asia, 1% for South Asia, and virtually zero for South-East Asia. China, Japan and South Korea are leading the way in Asia.

    Australia is on the right track. Our recovery rate for construction and demolition materials climbed to 80% by 2022 — the highest among all types of waste streams. However, we recover only about a third of the value of materials in our e-waste.

    Africa has also recognised the growing value of urban mining resources. Regional initiatives include the Nairobi Declaration on e‑waste, the Durban Declaration on e‑Waste Management in Africa and the Abuja Platform on e‑Waste.

    Urban mining solves many problems

    The OECD forecasts that global materials demand will almost double from 89 billion tonnes in 2019 to 167 billion tonnes in 2060. The United Nations’ Global Waste Management Outlook 2024 shows the amount of waste and costs of managing it are soaring too. It’s estimated the world will have 82 million tonnes of e‑waste to deal with by 2030.

    These trends mean urban mining is becoming ever more relevant and important.

    Urban mining also helps cut greenhouse gas emissions. Unlocking resources near where they are needed reduces transport costs and emissions. Urban mining also provides resource independence and creates employment.

    In addition, increasing recovery and recycling rates reduce the pressure on finite natural resources.

    Urban mining underpins circular economy alternatives such as the “deposit and return” schemes that give people financial incentives to return e‑waste and containers for recycling in cities such as Singapore, Sydney, Darwin and San Francisco. By 2030, San Francisco aims to halve disposal to landfill or incineration and cut solid waste generation by 15%.

    What more needs to be done?

    Governments have a role to play by adopting and enforcing policies, laws and regulations that encourage recycling through urban mining instead of sending waste to landfill. European Union laws, for example, mandate increased recycling targets for municipal waste overall and for packaging waste, including 80% for ferrous metals and 60% for aluminium.

    In Australia, 2019 legislation prohibits landfills from accepting anything with a plug, battery or cord. Anything with a plug is designated as e-waste.

    Product design is an important consideration. A designer must balance a product’s efficiency with making it easy to recycle. Products with greater efficiency and easy-to-recycle parts are more likely to use less energy, lead to less waste and hence less natural resource extraction.

    Our urban mining research documents a more sustainable approach to product design. Increasing product stewardship initiatives are expected to encourage better product design and standards that promote reuse and recycling, producer responsibility and changes in consumer behaviour.

    Good information about the available resources is essential too. The Urban Mine Platform, ProSUM and Waste and Resource Recovery Data Hub collect data on e‑waste, end-of-life vehicles, batteries and building and mining waste. These centralised databases allow easy access to data on the sources, stocks, flows and treatment of waste.

    Traditional mining is not the only method for extracting raw materials for the green transition. Waste is set to be increasingly recycled, reducing demand for virgin materials. A truly circular economy can become a reality if governments develop and apply an urban mining agenda.

    Michael Odei Erdiaw-Kwasie receives funding from the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR).

    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)

    Patrick Brandful Cobbinah receives funding from Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. He is a member of Planning Institute of Australia.

    – ref. More consumption, more demand for resources, more waste: why urban mining’s time has come – https://theconversation.com/more-consumption-more-demand-for-resources-more-waste-why-urban-minings-time-has-come-232484

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: N.M. Delegation Welcomes $21 Million to Tackle Crime, Keep Communities Safe

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Senator for New Mexico Ben Ray Luján

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) are welcoming $20,706,897 from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to help New Mexico’s law enforcement solve crimes, support survivor services, improve violence prevention, and keep communities safe. 

    The grants will be distributed through the DOJ’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) and the Office of Justice Programs (OJP). 

    “I’m proud to announce over $20 million to better equip New Mexico’s law enforcement with the tools and resources needed to keep our communities safe. This significant investment will help tackle crime, hold dangerous criminals accountable, and deliver justice and support for survivors,” said Heinrich. “A safer New Mexico depends on solving crimes and supporting survivors, and I will continue to fight for the resources we need for both.” 

    “This nearly $21 million in federal funding will deliver critical resources to help law enforcement solve crimes, support victims of violent crime, and boost violence prevention across New Mexico,” said Luján. “I’m proud to welcome this federal funding and I will keep fighting for federal resources to keep New Mexico communities safe.” 

    “1 in 4 women have been beaten by an intimate partner in their lifetime. This funding from the Department of Justice focuses on providing more services to the survivors of domestic violence  survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking,” said Leger Fernández. “To effectively investigate and prosecute these crimes, the grants also increase the resources going to law enforcement.  I’m pleased that the funding benefits communities across my district, from the Pueblos to Santa Fe to Hobbs to our state agencies. Together we keep New Mexico safe.” 

    “This almost $21 million investment into our communities is crucial in making New Mexico a safer place for everyone,” said Stansbury. “Victims of crimes deserve justice, and law enforcement needs the tools to give victims that justice. This funding is pivotal in achieving that goal.” 

    “I’m proud to welcome over $20 million for law enforcement organizations across our state and Tribal communities. This funding will support law enforcement’s ability to reduce crime, make our neighborhoods safer and ensure justice for victims,” said Vasquez. “Our law enforcement officers and community organizations are working tirelessly, and this investment will help them continue to protect and serve New Mexicans. I’m committed to fighting for more federal resources to keep us safe.” 

    Recipient  City  Project Title  Grant  Award Amount 
    Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women  Albuquerque  OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Grants to Tribal Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalitions Invitation to Apply  OVW  $414,147 
    County of Bernalillo  Albuquerque  Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office CAST Unit Expansion Project  OJP  $376,078 
    Enlace Comunitario  Albuquerque  OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Grants to Enhance Culturally Specific Services for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking Program  OJP  $450,000 
    New Mexico Asian Family Center  Albuquerque  OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Grants to Enhance Culturally Specific Services for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking Program  OJP  $475,000 
    New Mexico Asian Family Center  Albuquerque  OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Legal Assistance for Victims  OVW  $600,000 
    New Mexico Immigrant Law Center  Albuquerque  OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Legal Assistance for Victims  OVW  $750,000 
    City of Albuquerque  Albuquerque  BJA FY24 Formula DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR)  OJP  $490,190 
    La Casa  Las Cruces  OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Rural Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program  OVW  $500,000 
    Mescalero Apache Tribe  Mescalero  SMART FY 2024 Support for Adam Walsh Act Implementation Grant Program  OJP  $288,368 
    New Mexico Department of Public Safety  Santa Fe  New Mexico FY24 NCHIP     $2,224,200 
    New Mexico Department of Public Safety  Santa Fe  BJA FY24 Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program Formula Solicitation  OJP  $1,633,050 
    NM Department of Public Safety  Santa Fe  BJS FY24 National Criminal History Improvement Program  OJP  $2,224,200 
    Santa Fe Dreamers Project  Santa Fe  OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Legal Assistance for Victims  OVW  $750,000 
    New Mexico Department of Public Safety  Santa Fe  BJA FY24 Project Safe Neighborhoods Formula Grant Program  OJP  $167,378 
    New Mexico Department of Public Safety  Santa Fe  BJA FY24 Formula DNA Capacity Enhancement for Backlog Reduction (CEBR)  OJP  $300,437 
    New Mexico Department of Public Safety  Santa Fe  BJA FY24 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program- Formula  OJP  $294,696 
    Pueblo of Acoma  Pueblo of Acoma  FY 2024 CTAS Purpose Area 6 Award: Pueblo of Acoma  OJP  $450,000 
    Pueblo of Acoma  Pueblo of Acoma  FY24 U.S. Department of Justice Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation  OJP  $450,000 
    Pueblo of Acoma  Pueblo of Acoma  OVC FY24 Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside Formula Program – Invited to Apply  OJP  $254,413 
    Pueblo of Acoma  Pueblo of Acoma  FY24 U.S. Department of Justice Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation  OJP  $900,000 
    Pueblo of Isleta  Isleta  FY24 U.S. Department of Justice Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation  OJP  $900,000 
    Pueblo of Isleta  Isleta  BJA FY24 Rural and Small Department Violent Crime Reduction Program  OJP  $300,000 
    Pueblo of Jemez  Jemez Pueblo  FY24 U.S. Department of Justice Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation  OJP  $900,000 
    Pueblo of San Felipe  Algodones  OVC FY24 Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside Formula Program – Invited to Apply  OJP  $229,973 
    Pueblo of Taos  Taos  OVC FY24 Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside Formula Program – Invited to Apply  OJP  $229,973 
    Pueblo of Zuni  Zuni  Empowering Tribal Resilience: Enhancing Zuni Tribal Justice Systems (Tribal Youth Programs)  OJP  $76,000 
    Pueblo of Zuni  Zuni  FY24 U.S. Department of Justice Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation  OJP  $76,000 
    Pueblo of Zuni  Zuni  FY24 U.S. Department of Justice Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation  OJP  $394,498 
    Pueblo of Zuni  Zuni  OVC FY24 Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside Formula Program – Invited to Apply  OJP  $282,632 
    Pueblo of Zuni  Zuni  FY24 U.S. Department of Justice Coordinated Tribal Assistance Solicitation  OJP  $885,691 
    Santo Domingo Pueblo  Santo Domingo  OVC FY24 Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside Formula Program – Invited to Apply  OJP  $229,973 
    Sexual Assault Services of Northwest New Mexico  Farmington  OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Rural Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program  OVW  $700,000 
    Sexual Assault Services of Northwest New Mexico  Farmington  OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Tribal Sexual Assault Services Program  OVW  $610,000 
    Sheris House of Hope  Hobbs  OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Transitional Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking Program  OVW  $400,000 
    Valencia Shelter Services  Los Lunas  OVW Fiscal Year 2024 Rural Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking Program  OVW  $500,000 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: The Marshall Star for October 2, 2024

    Source: NASA

    By Serena Whitfield
    “Safety Woven Throughout the Fabric of Marshall” was the theme for Safety Day at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center on Sept. 26.
    Kickoff activities were held in Building 4316 and other sites around the center.
    “It is crucial to ensure that each of us weaves safety into everything we do, not only at work, but in our daily lives,” Marshall Director Joseph Pelfrey said.

    NASA started the Safety Day tradition following the space shuttle Columbia accident in 2003. Centers across the agency dedicate a day each year for team members to pause and reflect on keeping the work environment safe. 
    This year’s Safety Day began with a breakfast for employees, which was sponsored by Jacobs and Bastion Technologies. After breakfast, Bill Hill, director of the Safety and Mission Assurance Directorate at Marshall, welcomed center team members before introducing Pelfrey.
    “Over the past year, Marshall’s leadership and workforce have highlighted that transparency is an essential cultural attribute of our workforce and center,” Pelfrey said. “It is also important to our core value of safety. Transparency fosters an environment where employees feel comfortable in reporting potential risks or safety concerns without fear of retribution. This openness ensures that issues are addressed early. It builds trust and accountability within our workforce, center, NASA, and external stakeholders.”

    Guest speaker Marceleus Venable, a purpose coach, trainer, and author, followed Pelfrey’s remarks, telling team members to be safe by taking care of their physical and mental health. He encouraged them to take the time to pat themselves on the back for all their hard work and to appreciate their fellow workers at Marshall.
    NASA astronaut Mark T. Vande Hei was the keynote speaker, encouraging employees to be team players in NASA’s safety mission.
    “We need a lot of talented team players to meet the challenges that we have for future space flights,” said Vande Hei, who was selected as a NASA astronaut in 2009 and most recently served as a flight engineer on the International Space Station as part of Expedition 65 and 66. “Always try to do your best, but make sure that other people around you are doing their best as well and help them do that rather than you standing out as always being the best.”

    Micah Embry, the Safety Day 2024 chairperson, presented Vande Hei with a certificate for his participation. 
    Also during the event, Hill awarded the Golden Eagle Award to Peter Wreschinsky, a Jacobs Space Exploration Group employee. The award is part of the Mission Success is in Our Hands safety initiative, a collaboration between Marshall and Jacobs.
    More than 400 civil servants and contractors participated in Safety Day, with organizational and vender booths providing information to employees across a variety of safety topics, including Emergency Management Services, fire protection, storm shelters, and more.
    “As Marshall continues to be a leader at NASA and across the aerospace industry, … we must always be looking forward to improve our procedures and anticipate potential hazards,” Pelfrey said. “Safety is directly tied to our mission success. Without safety, we cannot achieve the goals we set for ourselves in space exploration, research, and innovation.”
    Whitfield is an intern supporting the Marshall Office of Communications.
    › Back to Top

    The featured business unit for the month of September at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center was Lander Systems. Marshall leads the development of the systems needed to safely land humans on the Moon and, eventually Mars. This includes the Human Landing System Program (HLS), which manages the development of commercial lunar landing systems that will transport astronauts to and from the surface of the Moon as part of the agency’s Artemis campaign.
    For Artemis III and Artemis IV, NASA has selected SpaceX’s Starship HLS, while Blue Origin’s Blue Moon lander will be used for Artemis V. Having two distinct lunar lander designs, with different approaches to how they meet NASA’s mission needs, provides more robustness while ensuring a regular cadence of Moon landings.
    NASA works closely with its industry partners to mature the landers, exercising insight and offering collaboration to ensure astronaut safety and mission success. Through Artemis, NASA aims to land the first woman, first person of color, and first international partner astronaut on the lunar surface while advancing key science and discovery for the benefit of all.
    Learn more about HLS and meet some of the NASA Marshall teammates below who are working on the lunar landers:

    Amy Buck has been working with Artemis systems since she first came to Marshall 10 years ago. Previously part of the cryogenic insulation team for the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket, Buck is now the materials discipline lead for HLS. In her role, she has the chance to work on nearly every piece of hardware for the two landers as she and her team work with each of the HLS providers to ensure compliance with NASA’s requirements.
    “The NASA HLS materials team is vital in supporting the design, testing, and manufacturing of the landers,” Buck said. “Landing on the Moon is central to the larger Artemis mission, and I’m super excited to be part of the Artemis Generation.”
    Buck is most excited to see the first woman land on the Moon under Artemis and says she hopes it will inspire young girls – the next generation of engineers and scientists – to go into science and engineering.

    Mission success is all in the details for Sean Underwood, the thermal discipline lead for HLS. The Georgia native works with a team responsible for ensuring that the lunar landers can operate in the Moon’s harsh environment.
    “There are unique thermal challenges associated with the Artemis III, IV, and V missions,” Underwood said. “Our primary objective is to manage thermal energy and heating rates, ensuring that HLS components and systems remain within thermal limits across all mission environments.”
    Underwood joined Marshall in 2020 and sees his role with Artemis as one that will shape the future of space exploration – and Marshall. “Marshall Space Flight Center has been at the forefront of monumental space projects since its inception,” he said. “Through Artemis, we are ensuring that the legacy of past missions continues to inspire and drive us forward.”
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    By Rick Smith
    As any home or business owner in the Southern United States knows, maintaining energy costs while trying to keep cool in the sweltering summer months is no simple challenge.
    But one “cool” new infrastructure upgrade at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center will reduce the center’s utility costs by approximately $250,000 a year, shrinking Marshall’s environmental footprint and streamlining long-term infrastructure maintenance costs.

    It’s called a thermal energy storage tank – 60 feet high, 60 feet in diameter, each unit capable of holding approximately 1.125 million gallons of chilled water – and it represents another milestone for facilities engineers in Marshall’s Office of Center Operations, whose tactics have already reduced center-wide energy expenditure by a dizzying 58.3% since fiscal year 2003.
    Thermal energy storage is not a new process; it’s been used for decades to maximize efficiency in temperature control, particularly among industrial facilities and large public venues from hospitals to indoor stadiums. At Marshall, the chilled water serves a critical purpose center-wide, circulating from a central plant via a network of underground pipes to help keep laboratories and other buildings temperate throughout the summer heat.
    “The average team member might not realize it’s chilled water, not just air, that keeps our labs, offices, and test facilities cool,” said Marshall facilities engineer Angela Bell, who helped oversee the installation of the second tank. “Our tanks operate at night, when utility prices drop and there is less overall demand on the regional energy grid, then send the chillwater out during the day.”
    Marshall’s first tank was built and put into operation in 2008-2009. The second officially goes into service in October, joining its counterpart in creating chilled water overnight. Together, the tanks – situated adjacent to Building 4473 on the corner of Morris and Titan roads – provide an annual energy savings of roughly half a million dollars.
    Marshall facilities engineer Connor McLean, who succeeded Bell as project manager for the new tank, noted that each thermal energy storage tank handles approximately 106,000 kilo-BTUs worth of cooling activity per day – or roughly 1,750 times as much cooling capacity as a central air system in a traditional family home.
    Even with that considerable output, Marshall’s original tank had been hard-pressed to keep up with demand across the entire center over the past decade and a half, as climate change steadily pushed temperatures to sustained extremes.
    “This is a huge stride in critical system redundancy,” McLean said. “Having the second tank enables us to run both concurrently or give one of them some necessary downtime without loss of center-wide functionality. That added capability makes Marshall more resilient and bolsters our confidence in our ability to handle unforeseen challenges.”
    The electricity that powers the storage tanks is a mix – hydroelectric, fossil fuels, nuclear, and an increasing amount of renewable energy sources – provided by the Tennessee Valley Authority via the U.S. Army, from whom NASA leases property on Redstone Arsenal. 
    “The tanks will be tremendous cost-savers for the next 40-50 years,” Bell said. “They allow us to use energy much more efficiently, based on past energy consumption levels – and that allows Marshall to do other things with those dollars.”
    Over the past 20 years, Marshall has reinvested energy savings and facilities cost underruns back into center operations, often to fund new, cost-saving overhauls: upgrading facility HVAC systems or replacing obsolete lighting with more efficient LEDs.
    “If we didn’t reduce consumption, our projected utility costs would be around $30 million per year,” said Rhonda Truitt, Marshall’s energy and water manager. “Thanks to efficient strategizing, encouraged and championed by Marshall and NASA leadership, we typically operate in the range of just $16-18 million per year.”
    Such strategies have enabled Marshall to effectively keep its infrastructure budget flat since the early 2010s – reducing overall energy consumption and replacing outdated facilities with more cost-conscious, environmentally friendly modern buildings, a program known among facilities engineers as “repair by replacement.”
    The U.S. Army at Redstone doesn’t employ a central chiller plant of its own, but the Marshall facilities team works “very closely” with their counterparts on the military side.
    “We have a great working relationship,” Truitt said. “The real advantage of our system is that by reducing our peak energy demand, it reduces it for all of Redstone – which benefits the rest of the Arsenal and the lower Tennessee Valley.”
    The new tank goes into operation just in time for the start of National Energy Awareness Month in October – and Truitt and her team encourage the Marshall workforce to continue to practice sensible energy conservation tactics even as sweat-inducing temperatures subside.
    “Turn off lights and computer monitors wherever possible, don’t leave doors or windows propped open, and be mindful of all the small things that can add up over time,” Truitt said. “Our goal is always to help team members do their jobs in the most efficient way possible, to accomplish Marshall’s objectives and conserve our energy budget without impeding the mission.”
    Thanks to the center’s new thermal energy storage tank, that should be no sweat.
    Smith, an Aeyon employee, supports the Marshall Office of Communications.
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    Rae Ann Meyer, front right, deputy director of NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, is joined by members of the NASA Advisory Council and NASA Headquarters staff Oct. 1 at Marshall. The group toured various areas across the center during their visit Sept. 30-Oct. 2. Council members are appointed by the NASA administrator to provide advice and make recommendations on programs, policies, and other matters pertaining to the agency’s mission. (NASA/Charles Beason)
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    NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center continued the tradition of honoring engineers for their exceptional efforts on Commercial Crew Program (CCP) missions to the International Space Station on Sept. 4, with a plaque hanging for Expedition 70 at the Huntsville Operations Support Center (HOSC). Holding their plaques are, from left, Shelby Bates, Ali Reilly, Chris Buckley, Mandy Clayton, Elease Smith, Sara Dennis, Stephanie Stoll, John Griffin, Kylie Keeton, and Blake Parker. Team members are nominated from Marshall, Johnson Space Center, and Kennedy Space Center to hang the plaque of the mission they supported. Expedition 70 – which ended April 5 – researched heart health, cancer treatments, space manufacturing techniques, and more during their long-duration stay in Earth orbit. The HOSC provides engineering and mission operations support for the space station, the CCP, and Artemis missions, as well as science and technology demonstration missions. The Payload Operations Integration Center within HOSC operates, plans, and coordinates the science experiments onboard the space station 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. (NASA/Charles Beason)

    Buckley, left, signs an Expedition 70 plaque as Dennis looks on. (NASA/Charles Beason)

    Dennis hangs the Expedition 70 plaque inside the Huntsville Operations Support Center. (NASA/Charles Beason)
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    NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov arrived at the International Space Station on Sept. 29 as the SpaceX Dragon Freedom docked to the orbiting complex at 4:30 p.m. CDT, joining Expedition 72 for a five-month science research mission aboard the orbiting laboratory.

    The two crew members of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission launched at 12:17 p.m. CDT Sept. 28 for a science expedition aboard the International Space Station. This is the first human spaceflight mission launched from Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, and the agency’s ninth commercial crew rotation mission to the space station.
    The duo joined the space station’s Expedition 72 crew of NASA astronauts Michael Barratt, Matthew Dominick, Jeanette Epps, Don Pettit, Butch Wilmore, and Suni Williams, as well as Roscosmos cosmonauts Alexander Grebenkin, Alexey Ovchinin, and Ivan Vagner. The number of crew aboard the space station increased to 11 for a short time until Crew-8 members Barratt, Dominick, Epps, and Grebenkin depart the space station early this month.
    The crewmates will conduct more than 200 scientific investigations, including blood clotting studies, moisture effects on plants grown in space, and vision changes in astronauts during their mission. Following their stay aboard the space station, Hague and Gorbunov will be joined by Williams and Wilmore to return to Earth in February 2025.
    With this mission, NASA continues to maximize the use of the orbiting laboratory, where people have lived and worked continuously for more than 23 years, testing technologies, performing science, and developing the skills needed to operate future commercial destinations in low Earth orbit and explore farther from Earth. Research conducted at the space station benefits people on Earth and paves the way for future long-duration missions to the Moon under NASA’s Artemis campaign, and beyond.
    Learn more about NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission and the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. Follow the space station blog for updates on station activities.
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    A costumed gorilla pacer leads a group of runners during “Racin’ the Station” duathlon, a run/bike/run event where the participants “raced” the International Space Station. The event was Sept. 28 at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, which is on Redstone Arsenal. “Racin’ the Station” is an annual event where participants try to complete the course faster than it takes the space station to complete one Earth orbit, which is every 91 minutes, 12 seconds. Organizers track the starting location of the space station at the race start, and a costumed pacer keeps up with the station time on the course as a visual marker for participants to stay ahead of.  Before the race, organizers drew a to-scale SLS (Space Launch System) Block 1 rocket in chalk onto the Activities Building parking lot near the race transition area. The opening ceremonies featured a video of the Artemis 1 launch, with the race starting with the launch of a model rocket. “The rain was a first for race day since we started this event in 2012,” said Kent Criswell, race organizer for Marshall. “But we still had a safe race with 106 individuals and 13 relay teams finishing.” The event is organized by the Team Rocket Triathlon Club in Huntsville and by the Marshall Association, a professional employee service organization at the Marshall Center whose members include civil service employees, retirees and contractors. Proceeds from the registration fee for the event go to the Marshall Association scholarship fund. Race results can be found here. (NASA/Charles Beason)

    Participants take off in the bike portion of the “Racin’ the Station” duathlon. (NASA/Charles Beason)
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    By Savannah Bullard 
    A new NASA competition, the LunaRecycle Challenge, is open and offering $3 million in prizes for innovations in recycling material waste on deep space missions. 
    As NASA continues efforts toward long-duration human space travel, including building a sustained human presence on the Moon through its Artemis missions, the agency needs novel solutions for processing inorganic waste streams like food packaging, discarded clothing, and science experiment materials. While previous efforts focused on the reduction of trash mass and volume, this challenge will prioritize technologies for recycling waste into usable products needed for off-planet science and exploration activities.  

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    NASA’s LunaRecycle Challenge will incentivize the design and development of energy-efficient, low-mass, and low-impact recycling solutions that address physical waste streams and improve the sustainability of longer-duration lunar missions. Through the power of open innovation, which draws on the public’s ingenuity and creativity to find solutions, NASA can restructure the agency’s approach to waste management, support the future of space travel, and revolutionize waste treatments on Earth, leading to greater sustainability on our home planet and beyond. 
    “Operating sustainably is an important consideration for NASA as we make discoveries and conduct research both away from home and on Earth,” said Amy Kaminski, program executive for NASA’s Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing program. “With this challenge, we are seeking the public’s innovative approaches to waste management on the Moon and aim to take lessons learned back to Earth for the benefit of all.” 
    NASA’s LunaRecycle Challenge will offer two competition tracks: a Prototype Build track and a Digital Twin track. The Prototype Build Track focuses on designing and developing hardware components and systems for recycling one or more solid waste streams on the lunar surface. The Digital Twin Track focuses on designing a virtual replica of a complete system for recycling solid waste streams on the lunar surface and manufacturing end products. Offering a Digital Twin track further lowers the barrier of entry for global solvers to participate in NASA Centennial Challenges and contribute to agency missions and initiatives.  
    Teams will have the opportunity to compete in either or both competition tracks, each of which will carry its own share of the prize purse. 
    The LunaRecycle Challenge also will address some of the aerospace community’s top technical challenges. In July, NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate released a ranked list of 187 technology areas requiring further development to meet future exploration, science, and other mission needs. The results integrated inputs from NASA mission directorates and centers, industry organizations, government agencies, academia, and other interested individuals to help guide NASA’s space technology development and investments. This list and subsequent updates will help inform future Centennial Challenges.  
    The three technological needs that LunaRecycle will address include logistics tracking, clothing, and trash management for habitation; in-space and on-surface manufacturing of parts and products; and in-space and on-surface manufacturing from recycled and reused materials. 
    “I am pleased that NASA’s LunaRecycle Challenge will contribute to solutions pertaining to technological needs within advanced manufacturing and habitats,” said Kim Krome, acting program manager for agency’s Centennial Challenges, and challenge manager of LunaRecycle. “We are very excited to see what solutions our global competitors generate, and we are eager for this challenge to serve as a positive catalyst for bringing the agency, and humanity, closer to exploring worlds beyond our own.” 
    NASA has contracted The University of Alabama to be the allied partner for the duration of the challenge. The university, based in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, will coordinate with former Centennial Challenge winner AI Spacefactory to facilitate the challenge and manage its competitors.  
    To register as a participant in NASA’s LunaRecycle Challenge, visit: lunarecyclechallenge.ua.edu. 
    NASA’s LunaRecycle Challenge is led by the agency’s Kennedy Space Center with support from Marshall Space Flight Center. The competition is a NASA’s Centennial Challenge, based at Marshall. Centennial Challenges are part of NASA’s Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing program within the agency’s Space Technology Mission Directorate.  
    Bullard, a Manufacturing Technical Solutions Inc. employee, supports the Marshall Office of Communications.
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    Technicians completed loading propellants in the agency’s Europa Clipper spacecraft Sept. 22, inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.

    Housed in the largest spacecraft NASA has ever built for a planetary mission, Europa Clipper’s propulsion module is an aluminum cylinder 10 feet long and 5 feet wide, and it holds the spacecraft’s array of 24 engines and 6067.6 pounds of propellant in two propulsion tanks, as well as the spacecraft’s helium pressurant tanks. The fuel and oxidizer held by the tanks will flow to the 24 engines, creating a controlled chemical reaction to produce thrust in space during its journey to determine whether there are places below the surface of Jupiter’s icy moon, Europa, that could support life.
    After launch, the spacecraft plans to fly by Mars in February 2025, then back by Earth in December 2026, using the gravity of each planet to increase its momentum. With help of these “gravity assists,” Europa Clipper will achieve the velocity needed to reach Jupiter in April 2030.
    NASA is targeting launch Oct. 10 aboard a Space X Falcon Heavy rocket from NASA Kennedy’s historic Launch Complex 39A.
    Managed by Caltech in Pasadena, California, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory leads the development of the Europa Clipper mission in partnership with the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. The main spacecraft body was designed by APL in collaboration with NASA JPL and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. The Planetary Missions Program Office at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center executes program management of the Europa Clipper mission. NASA’s Launch Services Program, based at Kennedy, manages the launch service for the Europa Clipper spacecraft.
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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: New NASA eClips VALUE Bundles for Learners with Varied Needs

    Source: NASA

    2 min read

    The NASA Science Activation program’s NASA eClips project, led by the National Institute of Aerospace (NIA), aims to increase Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics (STEM) literacy and inspire the next generation of engineers and scientists by providing effective web-based, standards-aligned, in-school and out-of-school learning and teaching resources through the lens of NASA.

    In Summer 2024, NASA eClips developed six new Varied & Accessible Learning Resources for Universal Engagement (VALUE) Bundles. These VALUE Bundles are a thematic and curated set of NASA eClips and partner resources, organized in a user-friendly dashboard, providing a thematic, cohesive, and engaging set of materials to meet learners’ varied needs for their:

    Engagement – The WHY of Learning;
    Representation – The WHAT of Learning; and
    Action & Expression – The HOW of Learning.

    These new NASA eClips VALUE Bundles empower learners to explore topics of their choice through multiple modalities and focus on six science themes:

    Earth’s Moon
    Explore Planets
    Forces of Flight
    Magnets
    Planets
    Plants

    Educators and learners of all ages are invited to explore these brand new VALUE bundles: https://nasaeclips.arc.nasa.gov/resources/valuebundle. Learn more about NASA eClips and access its varied resources developed for use by K-12 teachers and informal educators at https://nasaeclips.arc.nasa.gov.

    NASA eClips is supported by NASA under cooperative agreement award number NNX16AB91A and is part of NASA’s Science Activation Portfolio. Learn more about how Science Activation connects NASA science experts, real content, and experiences with community leaders to do science in ways that activate minds and promote deeper understanding of our world and beyond: https://science.nasa.gov/learn

    New VALUE Bundles were developed for learners of varied needs on six science themes.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Joker: Folie à Deux as ‘ruin porn’ – how the new sequel plays with duplication and disintegration

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anna-Sophie Jürgens, Senior Lecturer in Science Communication (Pop Culture Studies), Australian National University

    Warner

    Like two-headed playing cards, Joker stories are about dual identity, doubles and duplicity.

    Throughout DC comics and films, the Joker turns others into facsimiles of himself, grinning widely. He shares his state of mind through infectious laughter and mass “clownification”, creating copies as he goes.

    Film sequel Joker: Folie à Deux, directed by Todd Phillips and released in cinemas today, participates in this rich tradition. It also challenges it by introducing a Joker haunted by his own lost futures – the glam clown, homicidal entertainer and irresistible lover he could have become.

    What can we learn from the Joker character about our cultural fascination with duplication and disintegration?

    Madness by imitation

    Doubling, split consciousness and double meanings have been ingredients in Joker stories since the character’s creation in the 1940s.

    He offers different origin stories himself in the 2008 movie blockbuster The Dark Knight (with Heath Ledger as the Joker). He is presented as many in the recent comic series Three Jokers. The Joker shuffles his own “selves like a croupier deals cards” in the 2007 Batman comic The Clown at Midnight.

    Within the DC clowniverse, the Joker turns others into Joker copies and clowns, usually through the use of biological or chemical weapons or poisons, virology, hypnotism or sheer charisma. Joker copies include Joker fans and followers in clown costumes and masks, as in the 2019 film starring Joaquin Phoenix. In comics he is described as having an influence that

    […] affects people, on an almost subconscious, primal level. For most people – regular people – he inspires fear. For the less stable people – he simply inspires.

    For more than 80 years, his laughter has spread like a virus and caused mass-clownification countless times.

    ‘The whole world smiles with you.’ The new Joker sequel plays with dual identity and shadow selves.

    Multiplying his potency

    Joker stories tend to revolve around three scenarios of imitation, doubling and multiplication: several people acting as one (that is, the Joker), one person acting as many (as in Batman: R.I.P. when Batman tries to understand the Joker by experiencing his state of mind like a second consciousness), and a number of personalities nestled within the Joker wreaking havoc. All of these scenarios are powerful reminders clown laughter and humour need not be funny.

    The Joker character was inspired by famous films from the 1920s and ’30s, including Robert Wiene’s The Cabinet of Dr Caligari (1920), F.W. Murnau’s Nosferatu (1922), Fritz Lang’s Metropolis (1926), Roland West’s The Bat (1926) and Paul Leni’s The Man Who Laughs (1928). Many of these works feature hapless or unhappy (comic) performers, who all struggle with identity.

    The cultural mould to which the Joker belongs is linked with the more than century-old fascination with doppelgangers, male nervousness, violent and involuntary laughter and the loss of agency and sense of the self.

    The Joker has long played with ideas of duality.
    IMDB/Warner

    Haunting through absence

    The new sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux, draws on all these very Joker traditions. Arthur Fleck and his Joker (Phoenix again) struggles with his split identities.

    Set two years after the events of the previous film, Fleck is a patient at Arkham State Hospital, where he meets the dual character Lee Quinzel/Harley Quinn (played by Lady Gaga). She wants him to lean into his Joker self.

    Although she is neither the clown nor a scientist as she’s portrayed in other stories, she also wants to be a Joker version. Arthur himself wants to be the Joker, but for reasons both external and internal he ends up not really becoming the Joker we recognise from the first film.

    The sequel is ultimately a trick played on the audience. “There is no Joker,” Arthur confirms at the end, just Arthur. Folie à Deux is about a broken dream’s loveliness.

    The Joker is a collective dream that fails to come true. He appears in the form of fantasies. He is the past, but at the same time present and absent. This is how the concept of hauntology has been defined – a split between realities. The film glamorises and exploits disillusion as we watch the Joker and his future possibilities disintegrate.

    In this way, Joker: Folie à Deux is a clown version of ruin porn, inviting us to enjoy the “decay” of a character. It gives us glimpses of a post-double version of the Joker, a non-Joker, left in pieces.

    Joker: Folie à Deux is in cinemas now.

    Anna-Sophie Jürgens 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. Joker: Folie à Deux as ‘ruin porn’ – how the new sequel plays with duplication and disintegration – https://theconversation.com/joker-folie-a-deux-as-ruin-porn-how-the-new-sequel-plays-with-duplication-and-disintegration-240311

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –