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Category: Universities

  • MIL-OSI Global: How can Jupiter have no surface? A dive into a planet so big, it could swallow 1,000 Earths

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Benjamin Roulston, Assistant Professor of Physics, Clarkson University

    A photo of Jupiter taken by NASA’s Juno spacecraft in September 2023. NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS, image processing by Tanya Oleksuik

    Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskidsus@theconversation.com.

    Why does Jupiter look like it has a surface – even though it doesn’t have one? – Sejal, age 7, Bangalore, India

    The planet Jupiter has no solid ground – no surface, like the grass or dirt you tread here on Earth. There’s nothing to walk on, and no place to land a spaceship.

    But how can that be? If Jupiter doesn’t have a surface, what does it have? How can it hold together?

    Even as a professor of physics who studies all kinds of unusual phenomena, I realize the concept of a world without a surface is difficult to fathom. Yet much about Jupiter remains a mystery, even as NASA’s robotic probe Juno begins its ninth year orbiting this strange planet.

    Jupiter’s mass is two-and-a-half times that of all the other planets in the solar system combined.

    First, some facts

    Jupiter, the fifth planet from the Sun, is between Mars and Saturn. It’s the largest planet in the solar system, big enough for more than 1,000 Earths to fit inside, with room to spare.

    While the four inner planets of the solar system – Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars – are all made of solid, rocky material, Jupiter is a gas giant with a composition similar to the Sun; it’s a roiling, stormy, wildly turbulent ball of gas. Some places on Jupiter have winds of more than 400 mph (about 640 kilometers per hour), about three times faster than a Category 5 hurricane on Earth.

    A photo of the southern hemisphere of Jupiter, taken by NASA’s Juno spacecraft in 2017.
    NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Gerald Eichstadt/Sean Doran

    Searching for solid ground

    Start from the top of Earth’s atmosphere, go down about 60 miles (roughly 100 kilometers), and the air pressure continuously increases. Ultimately you hit Earth’s surface, either land or water.

    Compare that with Jupiter: Start near the top of its mostly hydrogen and helium atmosphere, and like on Earth, the pressure increases the deeper you go. But on Jupiter, the pressure is immense.

    As the layers of gas above you push down more and more, it’s like being at the bottom of the ocean – but instead of water, you’re surrounded by gas. The pressure becomes so intense that the human body would implode; you would be squashed.

    Go down 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers), and the hot, dense gas begins to behave strangely. Eventually, the gas turns into a form of liquid hydrogen, creating what can be thought of as the largest ocean in the solar system, albeit an ocean without water.

    Go down another 20,000 miles (about 32,000 kilometers), and the hydrogen becomes more like flowing liquid metal, a material so exotic that only recently, and with great difficulty, have scientists reproduced it in the laboratory. The atoms in this liquid metallic hydrogen are squeezed so tightly that its electrons are free to roam.

    Keep in mind that these layer transitions are gradual, not abrupt; the transition from normal hydrogen gas to liquid hydrogen and then to metallic hydrogen happens slowly and smoothly. At no point is there a sharp boundary, solid material or surface.

    An illustration of Jupiter’s interior layers. One bar is approximately equal to the air pressure at sea level on Earth.
    NASA/JPL-Caltech

    Scary to the core

    Ultimately, you’d reach the core of Jupiter. This is the central region of Jupiter’s interior, and not to be confused with a surface.

    Scientists are still debating the exact nature of the core’s material. The most favored model: It’s not solid, like rock, but more like a hot, dense and possibly metallic mixture of liquid and solid.

    The pressure at Jupiter’s core is so immense that it would be like 100 million Earth atmospheres pressing down on you – or two Empire State buildings on top of each square inch of your body.

    But pressure wouldn’t be your only problem. A spacecraft trying to reach Jupiter’s core would be melted by the extreme heat – 35,000 degrees Fahrenheit (20,000 degrees Celsius). That’s three times hotter than the surface of the Sun.

    An image taken of Jupiter by Voyager 1. Note the Great Red Spot, a storm large enough to hold three Earths.
    NASA/JPL

    Jupiter helps Earth

    Jupiter is a weird and forbidding place. But if Jupiter weren’t around, it’s possible human beings might not exist.

    That’s because Jupiter acts as a shield for the inner planets of the solar system, including Earth. With its massive gravitational pull, Jupiter has altered the orbit of asteroids and comets for billions of years.

    Without Jupiter’s intervention, some of that space debris could have crashed into Earth; if one had been a cataclysmic collision, it could have caused an extinction-level event. Just look at what happened to the dinosaurs.

    Maybe Jupiter gave an assist to our existence, but the planet itself is extraordinarily inhospitable to life – at least, life as we know it.

    The same is not the case with a Jupiter moon, Europa, perhaps our best chance to find life elsewhere in the solar system.

    NASA’s Europa Clipper, a robotic probe launching in October 2024, is scheduled to do about 50 fly-bys over that moon to study its enormous underground ocean.

    Could something be living in Europa’s water? Scientists won’t know for a while. Because of Jupiter’s distance from Earth, the probe won’t arrive until April 2030.

    Hello, curious kids! Do you have a question you’d like an expert to answer? Ask an adult to send your question to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com. Please tell us your name, age and the city where you live.

    And since curiosity has no age limit – adults, let us know what you’re wondering, too. We won’t be able to answer every question, but we will do our best.

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

    – ref. How can Jupiter have no surface? A dive into a planet so big, it could swallow 1,000 Earths – https://theconversation.com/how-can-jupiter-have-no-surface-a-dive-into-a-planet-so-big-it-could-swallow-1-000-earths-231901

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    January 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Namibia’s game-changing 2024 elections: Swapo might face defeat for the first time since independence in 1990

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Henning Melber, Extraordinary Professor, Department of Political Sciences, University of Pretoria

    The former liberation movement South West Africa People’s Organisation (Swapo) has been in firm political control of Namibia since independence in 1990.

    Support for the party in the national assembly and presidential elections reached a high point in November 2014. The 2019 elections marked a turning point, however: Swapo lost its two-thirds-majority in parliament. President Hage Geingob was re-elected with the worst result yet – 56% – from 87% in 2014. This reflected disappointment over the unfulfilled promises he had made. Votes shifted to his Swapo comrade Panduleni Itula. After being expelled from the party in 2020, Itula founded the Independent Patriots for Change.

    Itula, contesting as an “independent candidate” without party nomination, managed to snatch 30% of the votes from Geingob. Swapo’s downward trend was confirmed by a dramatic decline in support in the 2020 regional and local elections.

    Despite these shifting grounds, democracy stood the test of time. The smooth transition following the death of Geingob in February 2024 was a sign of political stability. Previous vice-president Nangolo Mbumba became interim president.

    But Swapo faces a new quality of opposition.

    I have followed and analysed policy in Namibia since independence. In my view, the national assembly and presidential elections of 27 November 2024 signify a new political scenario. For the first time a clear victory for Swapo seems less certain.

    Swapo

    The Swapo election manifesto pays tribute to Geingob. But it doesn’t mention his Harambee Prosperity Plan. Nor does it feature his metaphor of the “Namibian house”, in which nobody is left behind.

    This signifies an abrupt closing of a chapter. Mbumba declared himself a caretaker, not interested in the position for a long term. He therefore does not feature prominently in the election manifesto.

    As decided by the party congress in December 2023 the Swapo presidential candidate is Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, also known as “NNN”. Born in 1952, she was a Swapo Youth League activist from her school days and joined Swapo in exile in the mid-1970s. As a liberation struggle veteran she became part of the party leadership and has been a cabinet member since independence.

    Nandi-Ndaitwah would be the first female Namibian head of state if elected. But she faces strong competition from Itula.

    Namibia’s president is directly elected by a 50% + 1 vote from the electorate. There are several presidential candidates nominated by parties with notable followings. This raises the possibility of no candidate achieving an absolute majority in the first round, for the first time. There would then be a second-round presidential election between the two candidates with most votes.

    While not yet in parliament, Itula’s party, Independent Patriots for Change, made inroads in the 2020 regional and local government elections. In 2019, the Popular Democratic Movement won 16 out of the 96 parliamentary seats, becoming the official opposition. The newcomer Landless People’s Movement won four seats, making it the third strongest party.

    Despite all these recent gradual shifts, hopes for visible transformation were largely unfulfilled. Namibian politics remained business as usual. As Rui Tyitende, a political scientist at the University of Namibia, recently wrote:

    Namibia’s opposition parties are marred by political promiscuity, factionalism, internal conflicts and a perennial struggle for power … Even though Swapo is dysfunctional, the opposition needs to earn the right to govern.

    The manifestos

    This year’s election campaigns started much earlier than usual, testifying to new dynamics. While often lacking substance beyond personalised insults, electioneering remained peaceful. Notably, since independence, Namibia has not recorded a single politically motivated killing.

    Despite early campaigning, party manifestos were released only from mid-September. These kept the media watching out for often dubious promises. Swapo wants to allocate about N$85.7 billion (U$4.9 billion) over five years for mass employment. It does not explain where the funds will come from. But it projects this will create 256,538 jobs.

    The other parties’ manifestos make similarly unrealistic promises. The Independent Patriots for Change and the Popular Democratic Movement promise drastic reduction of poverty, unemployment and informal settlements.

    The Landless People’s Movement claims to be Marxist, but includes a commitment to promoting a free market economy, and investment by multinationals. It also wants to send the first Namibian satellite into space.

    Arguably, election manifestos have no serious impact on voting behaviour. For example, among the older generation, political party loyalties remain influenced to some extent by the liberation struggle history, and regional and ethnic identities.

    In contrast, Namibians who were born after independence make up more than half of the country’s three million people, with an average age of 21 years. Many of the younger electorate live in urban areas, and have become an increasingly decisive factor. For them, the anti-colonial struggle and ethnicity provide little influence. This might be a factor in voting behaviour.

    It seems that Swapo continues to attract the biggest crowds at rallies. However, it remains a matter of speculation if this signals huge electoral support, or is due to the entertainment by popular artists. Entertainment has always played a role in Namibian elections.

    Free T-shirts, food and drinks are also incentives for people attending rallies, many of whom are not yet of voting age. While facing financial constraints, Swapo still has the most funds and donors. Another advantage is that it has a functioning operational structure throughout the country, with a regional and local presence of activists.

    Something new or more of the same?

    Swapo has comparative advantages but there is growing frustration among voters. Its dominance since independence has resulted in a form of democratic authoritarianism or authoritarian democracy. But voter support has still declined.

    Similarly authoritarian leadership in the opposition parties and factional in-fighting provide no hope of alternative policies or political culture. Their political coalitions ended in disarray. This might come to Swapo’s rescue.

    An unlikely but possible scenario would be an elected president coming from outside Swapo, while Swapo dominates the national assembly. The head of state has far-reaching executive powers. But he or she would then have to work with ministers and deputy ministers drawn from a parliament dominated by Swapo.

    Such a constellation would complicate governance. It risks making a non-Swapo president a lame duck. It would be the biggest test for Namibia’s constitutional democracy and rule of law since independence.

    As South Africa’s case shows, a former liberation movement can still have a future despite losing its outright majority.

    Swapo could get beyond the nostalgic liberation struggle mindset and reinvent itself as a modern political party. This could – as happened in South Africa – pave the way to enter coalition politics in the best interest of the people.

    – Namibia’s game-changing 2024 elections: Swapo might face defeat for the first time since independence in 1990
    – https://theconversation.com/namibias-game-changing-2024-elections-swapo-might-face-defeat-for-the-first-time-since-independence-in-1990-241723

    MIL OSI Africa –

    January 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: Namibia’s game-changing 2024 elections: Swapo might face defeat for the first time since independence in 1990

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Henning Melber, Extraordinary Professor, Department of Political Sciences, University of Pretoria

    The former liberation movement South West Africa People’s Organisation (Swapo) has been in firm political control of Namibia since independence in 1990.

    Support for the party in the national assembly and presidential elections reached a high point in November 2014. The 2019 elections marked a turning point, however: Swapo lost its two-thirds-majority in parliament. President Hage Geingob was re-elected with the worst result yet – 56% – from 87% in 2014. This reflected disappointment over the unfulfilled promises he had made. Votes shifted to his Swapo comrade Panduleni Itula. After being expelled from the party in 2020, Itula founded the Independent Patriots for Change.

    Itula, contesting as an “independent candidate” without party nomination, managed to snatch 30% of the votes from Geingob. Swapo’s downward trend was confirmed by a dramatic decline in support in the 2020 regional and local elections.

    Despite these shifting grounds, democracy stood the test of time. The smooth transition following the death of Geingob in February 2024 was a sign of political stability. Previous vice-president Nangolo Mbumba became interim president.

    But Swapo faces a new quality of opposition.

    I have followed and analysed policy in Namibia since independence. In my view, the national assembly and presidential elections of 27 November 2024 signify a new political scenario. For the first time a clear victory for Swapo seems less certain.

    Swapo

    The Swapo election manifesto pays tribute to Geingob. But it doesn’t mention his Harambee Prosperity Plan. Nor does it feature his metaphor of the “Namibian house”, in which nobody is left behind.

    This signifies an abrupt closing of a chapter. Mbumba declared himself a caretaker, not interested in the position for a long term. He therefore does not feature prominently in the election manifesto.

    As decided by the party congress in December 2023 the Swapo presidential candidate is Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, also known as “NNN”. Born in 1952, she was a Swapo Youth League activist from her school days and joined Swapo in exile in the mid-1970s. As a liberation struggle veteran she became part of the party leadership and has been a cabinet member since independence.

    Nandi-Ndaitwah would be the first female Namibian head of state if elected. But she faces strong competition from Itula.

    Namibia’s president is directly elected by a 50% + 1 vote from the electorate. There are several presidential candidates nominated by parties with notable followings. This raises the possibility of no candidate achieving an absolute majority in the first round, for the first time. There would then be a second-round presidential election between the two candidates with most votes.

    While not yet in parliament, Itula’s party, Independent Patriots for Change, made inroads in the 2020 regional and local government elections. In 2019, the Popular Democratic Movement won 16 out of the 96 parliamentary seats, becoming the official opposition. The newcomer Landless People’s Movement won four seats, making it the third strongest party.

    Despite all these recent gradual shifts, hopes for visible transformation were largely unfulfilled. Namibian politics remained business as usual. As Rui Tyitende, a political scientist at the University of Namibia, recently wrote:

    Namibia’s opposition parties are marred by political promiscuity, factionalism, internal conflicts and a perennial struggle for power … Even though Swapo is dysfunctional, the opposition needs to earn the right to govern.

    The manifestos

    This year’s election campaigns started much earlier than usual, testifying to new dynamics. While often lacking substance beyond personalised insults, electioneering remained peaceful. Notably, since independence, Namibia has not recorded a single politically motivated killing.

    Despite early campaigning, party manifestos were released only from mid-September. These kept the media watching out for often dubious promises. Swapo wants to allocate about N$85.7 billion (U$4.9 billion) over five years for mass employment. It does not explain where the funds will come from. But it projects this will create 256,538 jobs.

    The other parties’ manifestos make similarly unrealistic promises. The Independent Patriots for Change and
    the Popular Democratic Movement promise drastic reduction of poverty, unemployment and informal settlements.

    The Landless People’s Movement claims to be Marxist, but includes a commitment to promoting a free market economy, and investment by multinationals. It also wants to send the first Namibian satellite into space.

    Arguably, election manifestos have no serious impact on voting behaviour. For example, among the older generation, political party loyalties remain influenced to some extent by the liberation struggle history, and regional and ethnic identities.

    In contrast, Namibians who were born after independence make up more than half of the country’s three million people, with an average age of 21 years. Many of the younger electorate live in urban areas, and have become an increasingly decisive factor. For them, the anti-colonial struggle and ethnicity provide little influence. This might be a factor in voting behaviour.

    It seems that Swapo continues to attract the biggest crowds at rallies. However, it remains a matter of speculation if this signals huge electoral support, or is due to the entertainment by popular artists. Entertainment has always played a role in Namibian elections.

    Free T-shirts, food and drinks are also incentives for people attending rallies, many of whom are not yet of voting age. While facing financial constraints, Swapo still has the most funds and donors. Another advantage is that it has a functioning operational structure throughout the country, with a regional and local presence of activists.

    Something new or more of the same?

    Swapo has comparative advantages but there is growing frustration among voters. Its dominance since independence has resulted in a form of democratic authoritarianism or authoritarian democracy. But voter support has still declined.

    Similarly authoritarian leadership in the opposition parties and factional in-fighting provide no hope of alternative policies or political culture. Their political coalitions ended in disarray. This might come to Swapo’s rescue.

    An unlikely but possible scenario would be an elected president coming from outside Swapo, while Swapo dominates the national assembly. The head of state has far-reaching executive powers. But he or she would then have to work with ministers and deputy ministers drawn from a parliament dominated by Swapo.

    Such a constellation would complicate governance. It risks making a non-Swapo president a lame duck. It would be the biggest test for Namibia’s constitutional democracy and rule of law since independence.

    As South Africa’s case shows, a former liberation movement can still have a future despite losing its outright majority.

    Swapo could get beyond the nostalgic liberation struggle mindset and reinvent itself as a modern political party. This could – as happened in South Africa – pave the way to enter coalition politics in the best interest of the people.

    Henning Melber is a member of Swapo since 1974.

    – ref. Namibia’s game-changing 2024 elections: Swapo might face defeat for the first time since independence in 1990 – https://theconversation.com/namibias-game-changing-2024-elections-swapo-might-face-defeat-for-the-first-time-since-independence-in-1990-241723

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    January 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Professors Creating Computing Models to Increase Public Trust During Elections

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    UConn Engineering professors are aiding a national effort to maintain secure election infrastructure, ensuring fair elections for all United States voters.

    School of Computing professors Benjamin Fuller, Laurent Michel, Ghada Almashaqbeh,  and Alexander Russell partnered with the University of Nebraska at Omaha to launch the Secure, Holistic Infrastructure for Election Logistics and Data (SHIELD) project in October. The SHIELD project is supported by the National Counterterrorism Innovation, Technology, and Education (NCITE) Center, a United States Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence.

    The election system in the United States is historically complex, with local and state offices given decentralization and autonomy. The system offers oversight and independence to local and state offices. This decentralization yields increased cybersecurity resilience. However, the lack of sharing can result in duplication of efforts or a waste of limited resources.

    This project will develop tools and processes that solidify the decentralized electoral systems in the United States to increase the trust of stakeholders in election outcomes. The research team will design a non-prescriptive formal process for election officials to reason holistically about the security of elections.

    SHIELD has two main goals, including reporting on optimizing the standard for auditing election reporting, analyzing elections and their components, and specifying procedures for desired security; and organizing an Omaha forum on election security.

    Fuller visited the University of Nebraska at Omaha early in October to attend an event hosted by NCITE, which brought Jen Easterly, director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and five Midwestern secretaries of state to discuss the challenges of the 2024 election and priorities for keeping it secure.

    “By partnering with the University of Nebraska at Omaha, we can elevate our impact and continue to provide thoughtful models for election audits and secure systems,” Fuller says. “Boosting the public’s trust in the electoral process should be considered a key offering from a public institution like UConn.”

    The four UConn researchers have experience in applied cryptography, cryptography, computer systems security, privacy, information theory, modeling and programming languages, combinatorial optimization, constraint programming, electronic voting security, and statistical election auditing.

    This project is one of many UConn is leading related to election standards and national security.

    “Our faculty in the School of Computing are recognized authorities in their respective domains, and they are profoundly dedicated to strengthening the integrity of electoral processes,” says School of Computing Director Sanguthevar Rajasekaran. “Their pioneering research on voting security and election standards plays a crucial role in fortifying the resilience and reliability of our democratic systems. I take great pride in working with such distinguished scholars committed to advancing this essential field of study.”

    Read more about the SHIELD project online.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Nursing Faculty Receive Funding for Health Equity Across the Lifespan Research

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Nurse researchers from the School of Nursing will investigate on health equity with the receipt of seven grant awards totaling over $1.2 million from July to October, 2024. 

    “At UConn Nursing, our research focus is on health equity across the lifespan. Multi–contextual factors influence health beginning early in life and accumulate over time contributing to health inequities. To achieve health equity, research eliminating health disparities among diverse populations is a nursing research priority, especially as these populations grow in number and proportion,” says Dean Dickson.

    Zuri, the trauma-informed sexual health app   

    Dr. Christina Ross’ research focuses on understanding how youth-serving professionals can address adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs, promote their positive development by using their internal and external assets, and significantly lower the rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancies. Dr. Ross’ interest involves health promotion and risk reduction among vulnerable adolescents locally and globally, SRH, and health disparities.  

    During her time at the University of Virginia, Dr. Ross knew that her niche was in sexual health but wanted to find her focus. She says that we know how to prevent sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies, but there is still a disproportionate gap in sexual health education and an elevated risk amongst Black adolescent females. Furthermore, that gap widens when examining young women and girls in foster care.  

    “Most girls go to biological parents for support like dating, understanding their bodies, and contraceptive use, but in the foster care system, these girls don’t know who to turn to,” says Dr. Ross. “Some rely on partners or social media or peers. A lot of these girls also struggled with mental health, abuse, and neglect. I took this information and decided to work on intervention.”  

    At first, Dr. Ross worked with the Department of Social Services to study these inequities, but there was limited support. Then, when Dr. Ross came to Connecticut, she continued her work and teamed with the Department of Fine Arts at UConn. Together with Joel Salisbury and Ting Zhou, they are currently developing a digital app called Zuri, initially funded by the STEAM Innovation Grant through UConn.  

    Most recently, Dr. Ross (principal Investigator and fellow) was awarded $500,000 over a 3-year period from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation in support of the Betty Irene Moore Fellowship Program for Nurse Leaders and Innovators.  

    The goal of this project, Assessing the Feasibility of Zuri App to Promote Sexual Health, is to develop and study this culturally sensitive, trauma-informed mobile health application. This app promotes safe sex, communication with partners about sexual needs, and contraceptive use negotiation skills among Black female adolescents and young women and girls in foster care.  

    Zuri is a sexual self-efficacy app, something that is totally different than what already exists. There is a profound need for an app like this that is culturally sensitive. – Dr. Ross

    In this app, the user can create an avatar that looks like you – skin tone, hair, clothes – that acts as a “digital big sister”. There are games, video content, and different learning modules around pregnancy, STIs, and hygiene. The end goal is that users can communicate about their needs to caregivers, partners, and providers which will empower them to make informed decisions about their own bodies when it comes to sexual health. While still in discussion, the aim for this app is to be free for all users, therefore increasing availability to evidence-based resources that build self-efficacy and remove barriers to health care access. 

    While in development, Dr. Ross and her team are collecting preliminary data from potential users from ages 18 to 23 to design a prototype. The target demographic for this app is Black adolescent females ages 13 to 18 in foster care and out of foster care, but this focus group of caregivers and young adults allows retroactive research into what they have experienced.  

    During this phase, data helps users make better choices. Feedback from other institutions like the National Institute of Health (NIH) may allow the team to apply for consent waivers as they enter the next phase of the study. In addition, this grant provides professional development opportunities that will assist Dr. Ross in exploring these health inequities further.  

    There will be a randomized control trial after launch, which is estimated for spring of 2025. Dr. Ross and her team are working with the DXG Design Group and the UConn Accelerate Program, which helps student and faculty innovators to become actualized. 

    Dr. Ross’s team includes Dr. Sherry Pagoto, professor in the Department of Allied Health Sciences and director of the Center for Health and Social Media (mentor), Dr. Elizabeth Aparicio, associate professor of Behavioral and Community Health at the University of Maryland and Ting Zhou, assistant professor, School of Fine Arts Digital Media and Design (collaborator). The app’s development is spearheaded by Joel Salisbury, adjunct instructor in web/interactive media design at the UConn Center for mHealth and Social Media. 

    Early testing of a support intervention for Black breast cancer survivors    

    Dr. Maurade Gormley’s new K23 Training Career Development Award funded by the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Nursing Research and totaling almost $500,000 is centered on developing and conducting early testing of a peer-led support intervention for Black breast cancer survivors experiencing distress in the survivorship period.   

    Building upon her clinical experience as a pediatric oncology nurse, Dr. Gormley’s research aims to optimize the psychosocial health and well-being of cancer survivors as they face the unique challenges of a cancer diagnosis and experience health disparities.  

    Survivorship begins at the time of diagnosis, but after treatment ends, many people experience psychosocial challenges and may feel ‘lost in translation’ as they work to establish a ‘new normal’. – Dr. Gormley

    “Therefore,” Gormley continues, “our goal is to optimize well-being during this survivorship phase, which often involves less frequent support and structure from the healthcare system.”  

    Dr. Gormley points out that Black breast cancer survivors have a 41% higher mortality rate than white women and experience worse psychosocial outcomes, such as greater distress and lower health-related quality of life. Psychosocial support interventions can reduce distress among breast cancer survivors.  

    However, these interventions are often not culturally sensitive to Black breast cancer survivors who are not only underrepresented in breast cancer research, but also report inadequate supportive care and the need for greater emotional and informational support from other Black breast cancer survivors.  

    Therefore, Dr. Gormley aims to design an intervention that will be delivered by peers who share similar backgrounds and experiences in hopes that peers will foster the strongest connections and support. The intervention will be co-designed with other Black breast cancer survivors to identify the preferred content, format, and delivery of the intervention. Once the intervention is finalized, it will be tested in a randomized controlled trial. 

    Dr. Gormley’s team for this award is comprised of Dr. Nancy Redeker, senior associate dean for research and professor at UConn School of Nursing (primary mentor); Dr. Adana Llanos, associate professor of epidemiology at Columbia University (co-primary mentor); Dr. Crystal Park, professor at the Department of Psychological Sciences at UConn (co-mentor); Dr. Keith Bellizzi, professor of gerontology in the Department of HDFS at UConn (co-mentor); Dr. Stephen Walsh, associate professor and biostatistician at UConn School of Nursing (collaborator); and Dr. Andrew Salner, medical director of the Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute (consultant).   

    Other Funding Awarded to the School of Nursing 

    NRSA F31 Fellowship Grant examines effects of disadvantaged and equitable neighborhoods on sleep in young children

    Pre-doctoral student Hannah Scheibner received a National Research Services Award (NRSA) F31 Fellowship grant from the National Institute of Health. Her project aims to inform future community and family-level interventions and policy to reduce health inequities related to structural racism. 

    Scheibner’s mentorship team is led by Dr. Nancy Redeker, senior associate dean for research and professor at UConn School of Nursing (sponsor); and includes Dr. Eileen Condon, assistant professor at UConn School of Nursing (co-sponsor); Dr. Chuanrong Zhang, professor at Department of Geography at UConn (co-sponsor); and Dr. Sangchoon Jeon, senior research scientist at Yale University (collaborator/statistician). 

    Dr. Gee Su Yang awarded not just one, but two recent grants

    The first grant explores the impact of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICIs) on cognitive function in older cancer survivors. 

    The primary objective of this longitudinal pilot study is to examine changes in cognitive function, as well as genetic and neurodegenerative factors that best predict cognitive changes among older adults with cancer on ICIs compared to cancer survivors not treated with ICIs. This is a $60,000 one-year project funded by the Office of the Vice President (OVPR) for the clinical Research and Seed Program (CRISP) Award. 

    Assistant professor Dr. Gee Su Yang is the principal investigator collaborating with Dr. Upendre Hegde (co-principal investigator), professor of medicine, UConn Health Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center Division of Hematology and Oncology; Dr. Breno Satler Diniz (co-principal investigator), associate professor of psychiatry, UConn Health UConn Center on Aging; and Dr. Nancy Redeker (co-principal investigator), senior associate dean for research and professor at UConn School of Nursing. 

    Dr. Gee Su Yang (principal investigator) was also awarded $48,000 for her pilot research: Aromatase Inhibitor-Associated Musculoskeletal Symptoms and Gut Microbiome Patterns in Black and White Breast Cancer Survivors. As part of the 2024-2025 Breast Cancer Project with the CT Breast Health Initiative, the purpose of this study will examine the influence of racial differences on gut microbiome patterns and lifestyle, including diet, physical activity, and stress, that may predispose breast cancer survivors receiving aromatase inhibitors to musculoskeletal pain.  

    “Connecticut is one of the U.S. states with the highest incidence rate of new breast cancer,” says Dr. Yang. “I recently attended a CT Breast Health Initiative event that recognized survivors, volunteers, donors, and health care providers for their dedication to raising breast cancer awareness and seeing how much effort they put into promoting screening, prevention, and improving survivorship in our community was inspiring. I appreciate their contributions and the opportunity to support their efforts through research.” 

    InCHIP grants awarded to Drs. Ruth Lucas and Eileen Carter

    Dr. Ruth Lucas (principal investigator) received a two-year $10,000 faculty seed grant to revise and expand the Breastfeeding Self-Management (BSM) intervention modules to better meet the needs of women most impacted by breastfeeding inequities. The project title is WIC Partnership to Revise and Expand Pain Self-Management Intervention with Breastfeeding Women. Dr. Lucas is working with Dr. Shayna Cunningham (co-investigator), assistant professor of Public Health Sciences at UConn Medical Center. 

    InCHIP also awarded a two-year $10,000 Community-Engaged Health Research Seed Grant to Dr. Eileen Carter (principal investigator) and her team to determine the acceptability of penicillin allergy testing in school-based health centers as perceived by parents and primary care providers in school-based health centers. Dr. Carter is supported by Dr. Kelsey Kaman, assistant professor of Pediatrics Division of Pulmonology, Allergy, and Sleep Medicine at Yale School of Medicine. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Stansbury Fights to Bring More Healthcare Providers to Indian Country

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01)

    ALBUQUERQUE — U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (NM-01) introduced the IHS Provider Expansion Act, which establishes an Office of Graduate Medical Education Programs within the Indian Health Service (IHS). This legislation would expand the existing IHS Residency Program, building from the Shiprock-University of New Mexico (SUNM) Family Medicine Residency which is the first in the nation. 

    “Access to healthcare should not be determined by history or geography,” said Rep. Melanie Stansbury (NM-01). “The IHS Provider Expansion Act is a vital step towards ensuring that Native and Indigenous communities can access healthcare and grow the number of medical professionals serving Native communities. By investing in medical education within the Indian Health Service, we can help expand healthcare and bridge the gap in healthcare disparities that have persisted for far too long.”

    In New Mexico, which is home to 23 Tribal Nations and a population that is nearly 12% Native, access to healthcare services is a pressing issue. Currently, IHS provides services in 37 states to about 2.2 million out of 3.7 million Indigenous people in the country. 

    This bill is projected to directly impact millions of people across the country served by the IHS to improve access to healthcare and medical professionals who understand the unique health challenges faced by Tribal communities. 

    By expanding access through IHS, this bill will also help to address the significant deficit of rural primary healthcare providers across the country. Recent data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services shows rural areas across the country face a significant deficit in primary care providers, with more than 80 million Americans living in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).  

     By expanding graduate medical education opportunities through IHS, we can expect an increase in the number of physicians willing to practice in these underserved regions. 

     Key Provisions of the Legislation: 

    • Establishment of the Office: The Secretary of Health makes permanent the Office of Graduate Medical Education Programs to oversee residency and fellowship initiatives within the IHS. 
    • Creating a Pipeline: The Office will facilitate opportunities for future healthcare professionals, paraprofessionals, and other health-related workers to engage in residency and fellowship programs. 
    • Oversight of Residency Programs: The Office will oversee existing residency and fellowship programs at IHS facilities and support the creation of additional programs aimed at recruiting and retaining healthcare professionals. 
    • Coordination with Academic Institutions: The Office will work in collaboration with academic institutions to strengthen educational ties and enhance training opportunities. 
    • Interagency Working Group: An interagency working group, involving various federal agencies, will assist in the implementation and sustainability of the Office, ensuring ongoing support and resources. 

    Read the bill here. 

    View the press conference here.   

    Other statements of support: 

    “Investing in healthcare for Indian Country means supporting the professionals who provide it. This legislation will help address critical clinical shortages by creating a pipeline of well-trained, culturally competent providers for our tribal communities. We know long-standing vacancies have a negative effect on patient access, quality of care, and employee morale,” said Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03). “By establishing an Office of Graduate Medical Education through IHS, we are taking steps to bridge the gap in care and make sure Native communities have the medical support they deserve.” 

    “With Tribal communities in Arizona and across the country facing a critical shortage of health care professionals, it’s vital that we pass theIHS Provider Expansion Act,”said Congressman Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ). “This legislation will address health care worker recruitment and retention challenges at IHS facilities and establish a much-needed pipeline of health care professionals. I’m proud to support fully funding IHS and providing the resources, personnel, and training required to serve Indian Country’s health care needs.”

    “Tribal communities across the country face unacceptable barriers to accessing quality health care—a crisis that is exacerbated by chronic understaffing at the Indian Health Service. As Ranking Member of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee that oversees IHS, I’ve heard firsthand how provider shortages lead to delayed care for patients and expensive travel contracts,” said Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine). “By establishing an Office of Graduate Medical Education at IHS that focuses on a dedicated pipeline to recruit and train talented physicians in tribal health systems, this legislation will help build a robust, sustainable workforce tailored to the unique needs of Native communities. I’m proud to be an original cosponsor. Together, we can tear down barriers to quality, culturally-competent care in tribal health systems from Maine to New Mexico and beyond.”

     “The University of New Mexico Health Sciences is very supportive of this legislation that seeks to increase the number of physicians who work caring for Native American populations by supporting residency and fellowship training in Indian Health Service facilities,” said Dan Waldman, MD Vice Chair of Education Department of Family & Community Medicine University of New Mexico.  “The proposed Office of Graduate Medical Education within the Indian Health Service would provide much-needed federal programmatic infrastructure and help create partnerships with academic institutions such as UNM.  Where physicians train has an important impact on where they choose to work after they complete their training, and it can also impact their cultural knowledge of the populations they will ultimately work with.  UNM also recognizes the potential value of expanding “grow your own” professional pipelines, including new opportunities for our local Indigenous medical residents and fellows to remain closer to home.  Attracting, educating, and retaining New Mexico’s health professional talent remains a top priority for UNM Health Sciences educational administration.”

    “First Nations Community HealthSource supports Representative Stansbury’s Indian Health Service (IHS) Provider Expansion Act,” said First Nations Community HealthSource CEO Linda Stone. “First Nations Community HealthSource is New Mexico’s Urban Indian Health Center in Albuquerque. Its mission is to provide a comprehensive healthcare delivery system that addresses the physical, social, emotional, and spiritual needs of urban Indigenous people and other underserved populations in Albuquerque and the surrounding areas. First Nations Community HealthSource faces significant shortages of healthcare professionals, a national and state-wide challenge. The IHS Provider Expansion Act will help alleviate these shortages and improve access to essential healthcare services in American Indian communities.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Brics Summit: Which countries recently joined the bloc? Which want to and why? – FirstPost (India)

    Source: United States Institute of Peace

    Brics is expanding.

    The grouping which originally began with Brazil, Russia, India, China – was coined in 2001 by then Goldman Sachs chief economist Jim O’Neill – expanded to include South Africa in 2010.

    The bloc was founded as an informal club in 2009 to provide a platform for its members to challenge a world order dominated by the United States and its Western allies.

    Its creation was initiated by Russia.

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    The group is not a formal multilateral organisation like the United Nations, World Bank or the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

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    The heads of state and government of the member nations convene annually with each nation taking up a one-year rotating chairmanship of the group.

    It now represents around 3.5 billion people – 45 per cent of the world’s population.

    Its combined economies are valued at over $28.5 trillion – nearly a third of the global economy.

    But which countries have recently joined? Which want to join now and why? And what does the expansion mean for the West?

    With Prime Minister Narendra Modi attending the 16th Brics Summit in Kazan, let’s take a closer look at how Brics is expanding.

    Which countries joined recently?

    Brics in 2023 invited six countries – Argentina, Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – to become new members of the bloc.

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    The formal invitation was made during a summit in August in Johannesburg.

    While all BRICS members had publicly expressed support for growing the bloc, there were divisions among the leaders over how much and how quickly.

    Members at the time said the move would help reshuffle a world order they view as outdated.

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    In January, five of these nations – Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – said they were joining the BRICS bloc.

    Argentina declined the invitation to join.

    As per Al Jazeera, this came after President Javier Milei took office.

    Milei has vowed to increase ties with the West.

    However, Saudi Arabia later said it is not yet joining the group and that the matter is being considered by its leadership.

    Ultimately, Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, and UAE joined the bloc.

    Which want to join now and why?

    Dozens of countries have voiced interest in joining the grouping.

    Algeria, Bolivia, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Turkiye, Comoros, Gabon, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia have all expressed interest in joining the forum.

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    Turkiye, a Nato member, formally requested to join BRICS in September.

    As p_er Bloomberg,_ Turkiye is looking to become part of the bloc as it eyes increasing its global influence.

    President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s administration is looking further than its time-tested allies in the West, people familiar with the development told the outlet.

    Erdogan’s government believes the centre of geopolitics is moving away from the developed economies.

    Turkiye is also eyeing improving its economic relationship with Russia and China.

    Turkiye under President Tayyip Erdogan is looking to join Brics. Reuters

    This is a departure for the NATO member nation which has historically been suspicious of Moscow and been a US ally.

    Turkiye is also thought to be upset over the lack of forward movement in its decades-long attempt to join the European Union.

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    According to Al Jazeera, Thailand said it was interested in joining the grouping during the BRICS Dialogue with Developing Countries held in Russia in June.

    Malaysia too expressed interest in becoming a member ahead of a visit from Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

    The bloc “can help Malaysia’s digital economy grow faster by allowing it to integrate with countries that have strong digital markets and also take advantage of best practices from other members,” Rahul Mishra, associate professor at the Center for Indo-Pacific Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, told DW.

    “Thailand would also be able to draw investments in important industries including services, manufacturing, and agriculture,” Mishra added.

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    Bolivia’s President Luis Arce has expressed interest in BRICS membership.

    His government has said it is determined to curb dependence on the US dollar for foreign trade, instead turning to the Chinese yuan, in line with BRICS leaders’ stated aim to reduce dependence on the US currency.

    Algeria last July it has applied for BRICS membership and to become a shareholder in the New Development Bank, the so-called BRICS Bank.

    The North African nation is rich in oil and gas resources and is seeking to diversify its economy and strengthen partnership with China and other countries.

    The countries hope the bloc can level the global playing field. Most nations view BRICS as an alternative to global bodies viewed as dominated by the traditional Western powers and hope membership will unlock benefits including development finance, and increased trade and investment.

    Dissatisfaction with the global order among developing nations was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic when life-saving vaccines were hoarded by the rich countries.

    “That so many countries are willing to go to Russia, deemed a pariah state not so long ago for having violated international law by invading Ukraine, confirms a trend followed by an increasing number of countries in the world: They don’t want to have to choose between partners,” Tara Varma, a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institute, told Al Jazeera.

    Adam Gallagher, writing for USIP.org, noting the size of the bloc, said there are clear economic benefits to joining the grouping.

    “Intra-BRICS trade is one area that the group has found its footing,” Gallagher said. He noted how the June 2024 BRICS foreign minister’s meeting encouraged “enhanced use of local currencies in trade and financial transactions” by Brics members.

    Gallagher said that countries like Malaysia, who want to join the grouping, are looking to form alliances across the globe and preserve their strategic autonomy.

    “For these countries, it’s not about taking sides. Some countries also believe BRICS membership will give them a greater voice and representation in international politics. It’s not all about anti-Western ideology,” Gallagher wrote.

    James Chin, a professor of Asian Studies at the University of Tasmania told DW “both Thailand and Malaysia are seen as middle powers.”

    “It’s better for them to join groups like BRICS so that they will have a larger voice in the international arena. But the major benefit will be trade,” Chin added.

    What does the expansion mean for the West?

    Experts say that these growing number of nations who want to join Brics shows that they want their financial independence – and that the established world order may be vulnerable.

    “In the aftermath of the war in Gaza, Russia and China have more effectively harnessed this anti-Western sentiment, capitalising on frustrations over Western double standards as well as the use of sanctions and economic coercion by the West,” Asli Aydintasbas, a Turkish foreign policy expert, was quoted as telling the Brookings Institute as per Al Jazeera.

    “It doesn’t mean that middle powers want to trade US dominance for Chinese, but it means they are open to aligning with Russia and China for a more fragmented and autonomous world.”

    As per Al Jazeera, Brics members and their associates clearly want to decrease their reliance on the US dollar and Europe’s Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) network.

    Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim walks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Anwar’s ceremonial reception at India’s Presidential Palace Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, India, August 20, 2024. REUTERS

    This comes after Russia was cut-off from the system in the aftermath of the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

    “China now has an alternative to the SWIFT payment system, though limited in use, and countries like Turkiye and Brazil increasingly restructure their dollar reserves into gold,” Aydintasbas added. “Currency swaps for energy deals are also a popular idea – all suggesting a desire for greater financial independence from the West.”

    As per CFR.org, Western nations until now have talked down the bloc as a threat.

    White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has said Brics isn’t a geopolitical rival, while Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has downplayed the de-dollarisation strategy of Russia and China.

    But some argue that the West needs to do some serious introspection.

    “The accusation that the West is arrogant toward the needs of the Global South is serious. It cannot be answered by offering ‘value-based partnerships’ and a ‘rules-based’ multilateralism when the interest of the BRICS is focused on changing those rules in global finance, trade, and other standard-setting procedures,” Günther Maihold, senior fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, was quoted as saying by CFR.org.

    “Ignoring BRICS as a major policy force—something the U.S. has been prone to do in the past—is no longer an option,” Tufts University scholars wrote in 2023.

    It remains to be seen how the US-led West will react.

    With inputs from agencies

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Cooper Proclaims Employ a Veteran Week

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Governor Cooper Proclaims Employ a Veteran Week

    Governor Cooper Proclaims Employ a Veteran Week
    mseets
    Mon, 11/04/2024 – 10:24

    North Carolina will celebrate “Employ A Veteran Week,” Nov. 11-15, and a variety of events before and during that week will help connect veterans to jobs and other services, Governor Roy Cooper announced today.

    “Veterans strengthen our communities and enrich our businesses as citizens, skilled workers and leaders,” said Governor Cooper. “We owe veterans and their families a deep debt of gratitude for their service, and, as America’s most military and veteran-friendly state, North Carolina honors them by helping them get good jobs in growing industries.”

    “It’s our privilege to serve our Veterans, the more than 20,000 military service members who transition from active duty in North Carolina each year, and their families, through our NCWorks Career Centers and other state programs,” said N.C. Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders. “The talent found within our military community brings a strong work ethic, leadership experience, adaptability, integrity, and specialized training to our workforce—attributes every business needs to be successful—and part of what makes North Carolina such an attractive state for innovative companies.”

    “Veterans bring invaluable skills and experiences to our communities and demonstrated resilience, leadership, and dedication during their service. The N.C. Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (NC DMVA) expresses our profound gratitude for their sacrifices,” said NC DMVA Secretary Grier Martin. “A successful transition to civilian life is important for a veteran and also harnesses their talents to benefit our economy.”

    Local events focused on helping veterans find employment and access other services include:

    • Tuesday, Nov. 5 (9 a.m. – 4 p.m.) – The NCWorks Career Center – Union County will hold a Veterans Appreciation Event at 1125 Skyway Drive, Monroe, NC. Off-Base Transition Training (OBTT) workshops will be offered to veterans and their spouses at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and noon. A hiring event with at least two employers will take place from 1-4 p.m., with the first hour reserved for veterans. Lunch will be provided to the first 20 veterans to attend the workshops or the hiring event. To register, call 704-283-7541.
    • Tuesday, Nov. 5 (11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.) – The NCWorks Career Center -Iredell/Statesville will hold a Veterans Lunch and Learn session at 133 Island Ford Road, Statesville, NC. Attendees will learn about VA benefits, Iredell County Veteran Services and other resources.
    • Wednesday, Nov. 6 (8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.) – The NCWorks Career Center -Iredell/Statesville will offer Off-Base Transition Training (OBTT) workshops to veterans at 133 Island Ford Road, Statesville, NC. The general public is also welcome. Workshops include “Marketing Yourself & Other Job Search Tactics,” “Interview Skills,” “Networking & Professional Introductions,” and “Job Fair Strategies & On the Spot Interviews.”
    • Wednesday, Nov. 6 (9 a.m. – noon) – The NCWorks Career Center – Lincoln will present a Veterans Job & Resource Fair at Gaston College – Lincoln Campus, Room LC 139, 511 South Aspen Street, Lincolnton, NC.
    • Wednesday, Nov. 6 (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.) – The NCWorks Career Center – Onslow will present a Veterans Career Fair at the American Legion building, 146 Broadhurst Road, Jacksonville, NC. The event is open only to veterans and their dependents from 10 to 11 a.m.
    • Wednesday, Nov. 6 (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.) – The NCWorks Career Center – Cumberland County will hold a Veterans Hiring Event at 490 N. McPherson Church Road, Fayetteville, NC.
    • Wednesday, Nov. 6 (2 – 4 p.m.) – The NCWorks Career Center – Catawba and partners will present the annual Veterans, Students & Civilians Job Fair, with approximately 25 employers, at Appalachian State University’s new Hickory campus, 800 17th St. NW, Hickory, NC.
    • Thursday, Nov. 7 (9 a.m. – 1 p.m.) – The NCWorks Career Center -Iredell/Statesville will hold a Veterans Job and Resource Fair at 133 Island Ford Road, Statesville, NC. The general public is also welcome.
    • Thursday, Nov. 7 (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.) – The NCWorks Career Center – Hoke County will hold a Veterans Job Fair at 304 Birch Street, Raeford, NC, with at least four employers, plus Dress for Success. The general public is also welcome.
    • Thursday, Nov. 7 (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.) – The NCWorks Career Center – Cumberland County will hold a Veterans Hiring Event at 490 N. McPherson Church Road, Fayetteville, NC.
    • Thursday, Nov. 7 (10 a.m. – 3 p.m.) – The NCWorks Career Center – Pitt County will hold a Veterans Job Fair at 3101 Bismarck St., Greenville, NC. The first hour is reserved for veterans; members of the general public are welcome at 11 a.m. 
    • Thursday, Nov. 7 (2-4 p.m.) – The NCWorks Career Center – Rowan will hold the “Veterans Day Expo” at 1904 S. Main St., Salisbury, NC. This event will include Off-Base Transition Training (OBTT) workshops with a focus on Networking & Professional Introductions at Job Fairs, Job Fair Strategies, and On-the-Spot Interviews, and Federal Hiring, as well as an Expo with community organizations presenting information on their services, and employers seeking to fill positions.
    • Thursday, Nov. 7 (10 a.m. – 1 p.m.) – The NCWorks Career Center – Craven will conduct the 4th Annual Veterans Day Job Fair at the National Guard Armory, 301 Glenburnie Drive, New Bern, NC. The job fair is also open to the general public.
    • Thursday, Nov. 7 (9 a.m. – 1 p.m.) – The 2024 Foothills Veterans Winter Stand Down will take place at the J.E. Broyhill Civic Center, 1909 Hickory Blvd., Lenoir, NC. The event provides access to medical services, food, clothing, employment services and more.
    • Thursday, Nov. 7 (2:30 – 6 p.m.) – The NCWorks Career Center – Rockingham County will host a Veteran Job Fair. The event is also open to the public. At least five employers will participate, as will partnering organizations that offer resources to veterans.
    • Friday, Nov. 8 (9 a.m. – 1 p.m.) – Partners including the NCWorks Career Center – Craven will present the 9th Annual Craven County Veterans Stand-down at the National Guard Armory, 301 Glenburnie Drive, New Bern, NC.
    • Friday, Nov. 8 (10 a.m. – noon) – The NCWorks Career Center – Richmond County will hold an “Honoring Veterans” event to educate veterans and their dependents on services and benefits to which they are entitled, at 115 W. Franklin St., Rockingham, NC.
    • Tuesday, Nov. 12 (9 a.m. – noon) – The NCWorks Career Center – Haywood invites all Veterans to a “Thank A Vet” event, featuring breakfast as well as information on local veterans’ resources, at 1170 North Main Street, Waynesville, NC.
    • Wednesday, Nov. 13 (9 a.m. – 2 p.m.) – The NCWorks Career Center – Charlotte (Mecklenburg) will host a Veterans Hiring Event at 8601 McAlpine Park Drive, Suite 110, Charlotte, NC. Mock interviews and reviewing of resumes will be offered from 9 – 10 a.m. The hiring event will be open to veterans only from 10 – 11 a.m., and open to the public thereafter.
    • Wednesday, Nov. 13 (9 a.m. – 12 p.m.) – The NCWorks Career Center -Halifax/Northampton County will hold a Veterans Career Fair at 1560 Julian R. Allsbrook Hwy., Roanoke Rapids, NC.
    • Wednesday, Nov. 13 (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.) – The NCWorks Career Centers – Pasquotank & Chowan Counties will hold a Veterans Day Job Fair & Resource Expo at the American Legion, 1317 W. Queen St., Edenton, NC. This event is open to Veterans and the general public.
    • Wednesday, Nov. 13 (10 a.m. – 3 p.m.) – The NCWorks Career Center – Cumberland and other partners will present a Women Veterans Career & Resource Fair at Soldier Support Building, 2843 Normandy Drive, Fort Liberty, NC.
    • Wednesday, Nov. 13 (10 a.m. – 3 p.m.) – NCWorks will present a Yancey County Veterans Stand Down event at Burnsville Town Center, 6 S. Main St., Burnsville, NC.
    • Wednesday, Nov. 13 (1 – 4 p.m.) – The NCWorks Career Center – Randolph County and partners will hold a Veteran-Centered Hiring Event at the National Guard Armory, 1430 South Fayetteville Street, Asheboro, NC. The first hour (1-2 p.m.) is reserved for Veterans only.
    • Wednesday, Nov. 13 (1 – 4 p.m.) – The NCWorks Career Center – Wilkes County will present a “Veterans and Job Seekers Job/Resource Fair” at 1320 West D Street, Suite #2, North Wilkesboro, NC.
    • Wednesday, Nov. 13 (3 – 7 p.m.) – NC4ME presents a “Beers & Careers” networking event for Veterans, Transitioning Service Members, Guard/Reserve Members and Military Spouses in the Camp Lejeune area, at Angry Ginger Irish Pub, 1202 Gum Branch Road, Jacksonville, NC. Register at Eventbrite.
    • Thursday, Nov. 14 (9 a.m. – noon) – NCWorks Veterans Services invites all Veterans to a “Thank A Vet” event, featuring breakfast as well as information on local veterans’ resources, at the Steve Youngdeer American Legion Post located at 1526 Acquoni Road, Cherokee, NC.
    • Thursday, Nov. 14 (9 a.m. – 2 p.m.) – NCWorks will present a Macon County Veterans Stand Down event at the Robert C. Carpenter Community Building, 1288 Georgia Road, Franklin, NC.
    • Thursday, Nov. 14 (11 a.m. – 2 p.m.) – The NCWorks Career Center – Greensboro (Guilford) will hold “Hire a Vet Day” at 2301 W. Meadowview Road, Greensboro, NC.
    • Friday, Nov. 15 (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.) – Partners including NCWorks will present the Rocky Mount Veteran Resource Fair, at Word Tabernacle Church, 821 Word Plaza, Rocky Mount, NC.
    • Monday, Nov. 18 (2 – 4 p.m.) – The NCWorks Career Center – Cabarrus will hold a “Veterans Day Expo” at 845 Church Street North, Suite 201, Concord, NC. This event will include resources for veterans and employers onsite.

    The Department of Commerce, working in close partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor, has 50 NCWorks Veterans Services professionals (all of whom are veterans themselves). Their primary mission is to help veterans find good jobs and training opportunities. These professionals are located across the state at local NCWorks Career Centers, which serve veterans and other jobseekers, while also helping employers meet their talent needs. In many parts of the state, they also play a key role as partners in Veterans Treatment Courts. The department also partners with North Carolina For Military Employment (NC4ME) on special hiring events.

    Contact information for each career center can be found at www.NCWorks.gov. In addition, veterans and employers can access services through the NCWorks Veterans Portal at veterans.ncworks.gov.

    Since 2022, the Commerce department has added a new resource for veterans, in the form of a national partnership with the Hilton Honors Military Program. Through this partnership, when veterans, transitioning service-members and qualified military spouses need to travel related to their search for work (for example, to go to an in-person job interview or to required training), they may be eligible for free accommodations at a Hilton property. To participate, veterans should contact or visit their local NCWorks Career Center and ask to speak with a veterans representative.

    Read the “Employ a Veteran Week” proclamation here.

    ###

    NCWorks Veterans Services are supported by the Jobs for Veterans State Grant from the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) of the U.S. Department of Labor as part of an award to North Carolina totaling $5,703,016, with 0% financed from non-governmental sources.

    Nov 4, 2024

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: University of Wyoming Student’s Research to Protect Camp Guernsey Bat Population

    Source: US State of Wyoming

    A conservation study focusing on Townsend’s big-eared bat at Camp Guernsey could soon lead to groundbreaking management practices to protect the species across Wyoming.

    Bat’s Balcony, located within the camp, is one of the few known maternity colonies for Townsend’s big-eared bat in Wyoming, making it an important site for understanding and safeguarding this bat population.

    Julia Yearout, an M.S. student at the University of Wyoming, initiated this research to address the alarming population declines affecting Townsend’s big-eared bats, said Amanda Thimmayya, natural resource program manager for the Wyoming Military Department. The research aims to identify specific stressors impacting this species, with results poised to provide insights for state and regional management practices.

    “Bat populations have seen dramatic declines in the past two decades due to factors like disease, habitat loss, climate change and wind energy development,” Yearout said. “There’s so much we still don’t understand about the basic behaviors of many bat species, and it’s vital to fill these gaps to manage populations effectively.”

    Yearout’s research has already brought important discoveries, especially for Camp Guernsey, where Bat’s Balcony serves as a maternity roost site.

    “Her work involves carefully monitoring the site with exit counts, interior winter surveys, DNA sampling and tracking with radio transmitters,” Thimmayya said. “To gather a broader understanding of foraging behavior, Yearout and her team also conduct habitat captures in high-use areas around Camp Guernsey.”

    The research is expected to benefit Camp Guernsey by informing site-specific management practices that support this species’ preservation. Long-term monitoring will continue through a variety of high-tech methods, including game cameras, acoustic detectors and climate sensors to record weather conditions and understand how they influence bat activity.

    Yearout’s findings at Bat’s Balcony are already turning up valuable insights.

    “One of the most interesting things has been seeing how young bats struggle to fly as well as adults, resulting in some amusing game camera footage as they interact with the roost gate,” Yearout said. “It’s also clear that Guernsey and Hartville are essential habitats for Townsend’s big-eared bats because of the high-quality habitat and availability of roost sites in caves and mines.”

    Julia Yearout, an M.S. student in Dr. Bernard’s lab at the University of Wyoming, gives a presentation about bats at Camp Guernsey, Wyoming, to the elementary students at Guernsey Sunrise School, Oct. 11, 2024. She Julia Yearout initiated the research to address the alarming population declines affecting Townsend’s big-eared bats. The research aims to identify specific stressors impacting this species, with results poised to provide insights for state and regional management practices. (U.S. Wyoming Army National Guard photo by Amanda Thimmayya)

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ribbon cutting for Spirit Trail set for Nov. 7

    Source: US State of Missouri

    JEFFERSON CITY, MO, NOV. 4, 2024 – Join the team at Knob Noster State Park for a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday, Nov. 7, at 2 p.m. for the new section of the Spirit Trail. The finished trail will now connect Warrensburg and Whiteman Air Force Base to Knob Noster State Park.

    In 1995, the citizens of Warrensburg and Whiteman shared an interest in connecting the two communities. Phase 1 of the trail was completed in the late 1990s but did not fully connect the two locations.

    By 2012, the Johnson County Trail Coalition, now known as the Spirit Trail Coalition, organized to continue a county-wide pedestrian and bicycle trail system. Through cooperative efforts of the Johnson County Commission, local municipal governments, Missouri State Parks, University of Central Missouri, Pioneer Trails Regional Planning Commission, state legislators, Missouri Department of Transportation and Whiteman AirForce Base, a four-phase plan was developed with a completion timeline of up to 10 years.

    Through multiple funding sources, construction on the trail began in August 2017, with a ribbon cutting for the completed eastern section of the Spirit Trail held Oct. 16, 2018. Now complete, the trail connects Warrensburg through Knob Noster State Park to the city of Knob Noster and Whiteman Air Force Base.

    “We are excited to see this come to fruition,” said David Kelly, director of Missouri State Parks. “This will provide the citizens of Warrensburg and residents and visitors to Whiteman a great opportunity to experience nature. The trail is designed for the enjoyment of hikers and bicyclists both.”

    Knob Noster State Park is located at 817 SE 10 in Knob Noster.

    For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cardin, Van Hollen, Mfume Announce $5 Million to Boost Morgan State University’s Research Capabilities

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maryland Ben Cardin

    WASHINGTON– U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressman Kweisi Mfume (all D-Md.) today announced $5 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Education for Morgan State University (MSU) to strengthen its research capacity to better serve its students, faculty, the Baltimore community, and the nation.

    Morgan State, a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in Baltimore City, is currently classified as a “high research activity status” (R2) university by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education; this funding will support the University’s efforts to achieve the Carnegie classification of “very high research activity status,” (R1), by 2030. An R1 classification would provide more opportunities for MSU students and faculty to conduct even more transformative and impactful research. Among the 146 R1-designated colleges and universities in the U.S., none are HBCUs.

    “Morgan State has become a central part of our engine of economic growth despite decades of underfunding. The university is leading research that strengthens key industries like technology and health care and prepares students to compete in a global economy,” said Senator Cardin. “This funding will support new and existing programs that will help Morgan State reach new heights and reinforces our commitment to investing in Maryland’s HBCUs.”

    “Morgan State not only provides a quality education to thousands of students, it also serves as a hub for cutting-edge innovation. With this $5 million in federal funding – along with support from the HBCU RISE Program – we are furthering Morgan State’s goal of becoming one of the first HBCUs to achieve R1 status while diversifying the pipeline of leaders working to solve our most pressing challenges,” said Senator Van Hollen, who introduced legislation and then worked to pass the language to create the HBCU RISE program as a provision of the FY23 national defense bill in order to spur greater research investment in R2 HBCUs such as Morgan State to help them achieve R1 status while strengthening our national defense research.

    “This announcement for Baltimore’s Morgan State University will further enhance the research capabilities of one of our country’s leading Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). The funding will bolster Morgan in its efforts to attain the prestigious R1 research status – a needed designation to induce additional federal and state investment and empower the school’s student body, faculty, and researchers,” said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. “I will always work in the Congress to uplift our nation’s HBCUs that represent a beacon for Black excellence and promise,” he concluded.

    “This generous $5 million federal investment is a crucial accelerator on Morgan’s journey to becoming a nationally recognized very high research (R1) university. It represents a significant step forward for our students, faculty, and community, enabling new opportunities for transformative research that addresses real-world challenges,” said David K. Wilson, president of Morgan State University. “Morgan is one of the nation’s fastest-rising universities, and our elected leaders have been instrumental in that ascension. We are deeply grateful to Senator Van Hollen, Senator Cardin, and Congressman Mfume for their steadfast support in empowering Morgan as a national leader in inclusive innovation and knowledge creation.”

    The grant was awarded through the HBCU, Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU), and Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) Research and Development Infrastructure Grant Program, which the lawmakers funded at $50 million in fiscal year 2024. With this $5 million investment, MSU will boost its research expenditures in science, engineering, and other fields, recruit new full-time postdoctoral researchers, and increase its research and development capacity. The funds will also help enhance faculty professional development, prepare students for research and teaching assistant roles, and attract doctoral students to new programs and increase doctoral conferrals in STEM and social sciences fields.

    MSU will prioritize efforts to increase diversity among faculty, students, and research topics, ensuring equitable access to research opportunities. Further, the University will actively collaborate with industry, government agencies, and other research institutions to expand research opportunities, leverage resources, and advance solutions to real-world challenges.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Higher education reform to back opportunity and protect students

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Tuition fees to rise in line with inflation, helping put universities on a secure footing alongside inflation-linked lift to maintenance loans.

    The government has today (4 November 2024) unveiled a significant package of measures to support students and stabilise the university sector.  

    Students facing cost of living pressures will be supported with an inflation-linked increase to maintenance loans, alongside new steps to boost access for disadvantaged learners.    

    The increase in cash-in-hand support of 3.1% will provide as much as £414 extra per year, to help students from the lowest income families.   

    Higher education providers’ financial sustainability will also be bolstered, after seven years of no increases to domestic tuition fee caps – meaning fees have not kept pace with inflation.   

    These changes will take effect at the start of the 2025 to 2026 academic year, with maximum fees rising by 3.1% to £9,535. After leaving study, student loan borrowers will not see their monthly student loan repayments increase as a result of these changes.   

    If a borrower’s income is below the repayment threshold, they aren’t required to make any repayments. And after 40 years any outstanding loan debt, including interest accrued, will be written off.   

    Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said:   

    This government’s mission is to break down barriers to opportunity, which is why we are doing more to support students struggling with the cost of living despite the fiscal challenges our country faces.

    The situation we have inherited means this government must take the tough decisions needed to put universities on a firmer financial footing so they can deliver more opportunity for students and growth for our economy.

    Universities must deliver better value for money for students and taxpayers: that is why this investment must come with a major package of reforms so they can drive growth around the country and serve the communities they are rooted in.

    In exchange for this additional investment students are being asked to make, the government is calling on universities to significantly step up work to boost access for disadvantaged students and break down barriers to opportunity.   

    Providers will be expected to play a stronger role in expanding access and improving outcomes for disadvantaged students, and the department for Education will announce a package of reforms in the coming months.  

    Recent data shows that the gap between disadvantaged students and their peers in progression to university by age 19 is the highest on record, and the Education Secretary has called on universities to do more to address this.    

    Graduates earn an average of £100,000 more over their lifetime than non-graduates, underlining the continued value of a university degree to employers and learners alike. But these statistics have shown that that too often background and personal circumstances are barriers to people getting on in life.   

    The increase in fees will mean providers can start to address systemic problems, with 40% forecasted to be in budget deficits, and help ease pressure on their finances. It also means providers can continue to deliver high quality education that boosts the life chances of those who choose this path, as well as protecting their status as engines of economic growth.   

    The move follows the Education Secretary’s immediate action this summer to refocus the Office for Students’ role, and ensure it more closely monitors financial sustainability to safeguard the future of higher education.    

    The Education Secretary has also announced today that maximum tuition fees for classroom-based foundation years courses will be reduced to £5,760 from the start of the 2025 to 2026 academic year. This will ensure that courses are delivered more efficiently and at lower costs to students.

    The announcement follows last week’s update to plans for the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE), a transformation of the student finance system which will expand access to high-quality, flexible education and training for adults throughout their working lives.  

    After careful consideration the LLE will now launch in academic year 2026 to 2027, to ensure it meets the government’s ambitions to fill skill gaps and kickstart economic growth.   

    This will enable plans to be refined, help collaboration with Skills England to support the government’s industrial strategy, and give education providers the necessary time to prepare for this new system.

    Further information on fees

    The latest Q1 2026 RPIX forecast of 3.1% gives the following uplifts to fees and maintenance loans for 2025 to 2026.

    Type Fees 2024 to 2025 Fees for 2025 to 2026 Uplift
    Full-time £9,250 £9,535 £285   
    Part-time £6,935 £7,145 £210   
    Accelerated £11,100 £11,440 £340   

    Note: Figures rounded down to the nearest £5 – figures are higher amounts.

    Student Maintenance loans 2024 to 2025 Maintenance loans 2025 to 2026 Uplift
    Home  £8,610 £8,877 £267   
    London £13,348 £13,762 £414   
    Elsewhere £10,227 £10,544 £317   
    Overseas £11,713 £12,076 £363

    Note: Figures for full-time students not eligible for benefits and part-time students (100% FTE). Figures rounded to nearest £1.   

    DfE media enquiries

    Central newsdesk – for journalists 020 7783 8300

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    Updates to this page

    Published 4 November 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    January 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to a study on the association of screen time before 2 years of age and risk of autism at 12 years of age

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    November 4, 2024

    A study published in JAMA Pediatrics looks at the association between screen time and autism diagnosis in children.

    Prof Chris Ferguson, Professor of Psychology, Stetson University, said:

    “The problem with this study is both straightforward and common.  They report an effect size for screens and autism that is little different from zero.  However, because the sample size is large, this becomes “statistically significant”.  This is common for methodological noise in big sample studies.  This should not be interpreted as evidence supporting the hypothesis. If this study was taken as suggesting that screen time is linked with autism, the public could be misinformed or misled.  Put simply, there is no actual evidence here for a link between screen time and autism.

    “Also, the authors claim previous research suggests an association between screen time and autism – this worries me as in my view the evidence base as a whole does not suggest this.”

    Dr James L. Findon, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, King’s College London, said:

    “While this study found an association between screentime before 2 years of age and being diagnosed with autism before 12, it does not suggest a causality. This is consistent with our understanding of the development of autism which is predominantly genetic. What the results show us is that autistic children are more likely to have higher screentime than their neurotypical peers. Screentime often gets bad press, but for many autistic children screentime can be beneficial. This might be because screentime helps them regulate their emotions and calms them during periods of sensory overload.”

    Dr Rachel Moseley, Principal Academic in Psychology, Bournemouth University, said:

    “While the authors have done a good job of controlling for variables which might explain the association, the study can in no way tell us anything about causation – that screentime causes a later autism diagnosis. The authors are actually appropriately tentative in their conclusions, where they highlight, rather, that behaviour related to screentime might instead be a useful indicator of differences in social-emotional development. Autism is a complex, heritable and brain-based difference which, categorically, cannot be caused by spending more or less time on screens.

    Do the findings of this study address the reverse directionality of the association wherein autistic children may be more likely to spend time on screens rather than screentime leading to autism?

    “No – the findings of this study cannot tell us anything about the direction of the relationship between being autistic and time spent on screens. Given my comment above, it is more likely that children who are already autistic but not yet diagnosed, and their parents, might be finding particular benefits of screen-time. Note that autism is quite rarely diagnosed before 2 years of age, but autistic children ARE still autistic and developing differently before that point. It might well be that within this different developmental trajectory, they find it easier to engage with screens, or find benefits from doing so. To warn parents away from screentime could actually be counterproductive, in this case – and there is certainly nothing which warrants scaring people that “screentime causing autism”. The authors come to a responsible and measured conclusion, which I hope will not be lost in the reporting.”

    ‘Screen Time Before 2 Years of Age and Risk of Autism at 12 Years of Age’ by Lin et al., 2024 was published in JAMA Pediatrics at 18:00 UK time on Monday 4th of November.

    DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2024.4432

    Declared interests

    Prof Chris Ferguson No conflicts to declare

    Dr James L. Findon No conflicts to declare

    Dr Rachel Moseley No conflicts to declare

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    January 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fellows Blog: Meet Science to Action Fellow Emily Nastase!

    Source: US Geological Survey

    Breadcrumb

    1. News

    Fellows Blog: Meet Science to Action Fellow Emily Nastase!

    Emily shares her experience research on Henslow’s sparrow accounting for the future effects of climate change and to develop risk assessment tools to assist managers in the region with meeting their conservation objectives using prescribed fire.

    This blog was written by Dr. Emily Nastase who defended her dissertation in August 2024 at North Carolina State University. Emily was a 2023 Science to Action Fellow working with Dr. Adam Terando (Southeast CASC) and Dr. Jaime Collazo (NCSU).

    A little about Emily…

    Emily Nastase conducting field work in eastern North Carolina. Credit: Brittany Salmons.

    It was birding that sparked my interest in studying ecology. It took me by surprise—I had never been interested in birds, or even nature, until I took a study abroad course to Panama in the final year of my undergraduate program. On that fateful trip, we trudged through coastal swamps trying to catch and band songbirds… and I’ve been hooked ever since! Ten years later, here I am pursuing a career in ecology, and I couldn’t be happier. 

    In the fall of 2020, I was excited to start my graduate program at North Carolina State University, where I’d study a population of Henslow’s Sparrows (Centronyx henslowii) in eastern North Carolina. The Henslow’s Sparrow is a grassland specialist species in need of conservation due to long term population declines throughout its range. In North Carolina, the species is found at just two sites during the breeding season. 

    These sites are managed as grasslands, which is what makes them appealing to Henslow’s. But without adequate habitat management, the Henslow’s and other grassland species would be lost from the landscape. Variable and extreme future climate conditions pose threats to these habitats and may prove limiting to habitat management, thus requiring decision makers to consider how their conservation objectives will be affected by climate change in the future.

    Henslow’s Sparrow perched on a dead stem. Credit: Diane Nastase. 

    What was my S2A Fellowship about?

    For my Science to Action Fellowship, I proposed a project to expand upon my dissertation research and view Henslow’s Sparrow conservation through a climate lens. My goals were to contextualize how habitat management in eastern North Carolina may be impacted when accounting for the future effects of climate change and to develop risk assessment tools to assist managers in the region meet their conservation objectives using prescribed fire. The outcome of my fellowship was actionable science to help conservation managers meet their habitat goals in a future characterized by changing climate conditions.

    I was paired with Dr. Adam Terando, Southeast CASC Research Ecologist, as my USGS mentor for the fellowship. Together with my academic mentor, Dr. Jaime Collazo, we developed models to quantify how prescribed burn opportunities in eastern North Carolina may change later in the century based on future climate projections and we simulated management scenarios to illustrate how the Henslow’s Sparrow population may respond to various habitat management decisions.

    How was my experience as a Fellow?

    Emily and her mentors, Adam Terando and Jaime Collazo, on a field excursion. Credit: Adam Terando. 

    My experience as a 2023 Science to Action Fellow was a positive one—I accomplished the goals of my proposed project, provided actionable information to assist in the conservation of a vulnerable songbird species, and developed new skills in the process. My favorite part of the past year was learning from my mentors and coding models to test our hypotheses. Learning how to incorporate climate data into analyses will undoubtedly be useful in my career! The greatest challenge during my time as a Fellow was when I hosted a stakeholder workshop for prescribed fire users in the region—the event went well, but coordinating an in-person participatory workshop is a lot of work! I admit that conducting this fellowship during my final year as a graduate student was stressful at times due to the added workload, but I am proud of what I accomplished and grateful for the experience. 

    My advice for current and future S2A Fellows? 

    To all future S2A Fellows: embrace the fellowship and the amazing research you’re doing. Know that your work will have a positive impact on the community or system you’re working in. It’s a unique experience as a graduate student to conduct actionable science, manage an independent research project, and gain working experience with stakeholders and professionals in the field. Overall, the Science to Action Fellowship was a wonderful opportunity and worth the time!

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Mfume, Cardin, Van Hollen Announce $5 Million to Boost Morgan State University’s Research Capabilities

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Kweisi Mfume (MD-07)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Congressman Kweisi Mfume, Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (all D-Md.) announced $5 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Education for Morgan State University (MSU) to strengthen its research capacity to better serve its students, faculty, the Baltimore community, and the nation.

    Morgan State, a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) in Baltimore City, is currently classified as a “high research activity status” (R2) university by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education; this funding will support the University’s efforts to achieve the Carnegie classification of “very high research activity status,” (R1), by 2030. An R1 classification would provide more opportunities for MSU students and faculty to conduct even more transformative and impactful research. Among the 146 R1-designated colleges and universities in the U.S., none are HBCUs.

    “This announcement for Baltimore’s Morgan State University will further enhance the research capabilities of one of our country’s leading Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). The funding will bolster Morgan in its efforts to attain the prestigious R1 research status – a needed designation to induce additional federal and state investment and empower the school’s student body, faculty, and researchers,” said Congressman Kweisi Mfume. “I will always work in the Congress to uplift our nation’s HBCUs that represent a beacon for Black excellence and promise,” he concluded. 

    “Morgan State not only provides a quality education to thousands of students, it also serves as a hub for cutting-edge innovation. With this $5 million in federal funding – along with support from the HBCU RISE Program – we are furthering Morgan State’s goal of becoming one of the first HBCUs to achieve R1 status while diversifying the pipeline of leaders working to solve our most pressing challenges,” said Senator Van Hollen, who introduced legislation and then worked to pass the language to create the HBCU RISE program as a provision of the FY23 national defense bill in order to spur greater research investment in R2 HBCUs such as Morgan State to help them achieve R1 status while strengthening our national defense research.

    “Morgan State has become a central part of our engine of economic growth despite decades of underfunding. The university is leading research that strengthens key industries like technology and health care and prepares students to compete in a global economy,” said Senator Cardin. “This funding will support new and existing programs that will help Morgan State reach new heights and reinforces our commitment to investing in Maryland’s HBCUs.”

    “This generous $5 million federal investment is a crucial accelerator on Morgan’s journey to becoming a nationally recognized very high research (R1) university. It represents a significant step forward for our students, faculty, and community, enabling new opportunities for transformative research that addresses real-world challenges,” said David K. Wilson, president of Morgan State University. “Morgan is one of the nation’s fastest-rising universities, and our elected leaders have been instrumental in that ascension. We are deeply grateful to Senator Van Hollen, Senator Cardin, and Congressman Mfume for their steadfast support in empowering Morgan as a national leader in inclusive innovation and knowledge creation.”

    The grant was awarded through the HBCU, Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU), and Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) Research and Development Infrastructure Grant Program, which the lawmakers funded at $50 million in fiscal year 2024. With this $5 million investment, MSU will boost its research expenditures in science, engineering, and other fields, recruit new full-time postdoctoral researchers, and increase its research and development capacity. The funds will also help enhance faculty professional development, prepare students for research and teaching assistant roles, and attract doctoral students to new programs and increase doctoral conferrals in STEM and social sciences fields.

    MSU will prioritize efforts to increase diversity among faculty, students, and research topics, ensuring equitable access to research opportunities. Further, the University will actively collaborate with industry, government agencies, and other research institutions to expand research opportunities, leverage resources, and advance solutions to real-world challenges.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Video: A look back at August 2024 at the Biden-Harris White House

    Source: United States of America – The White House (video statements)

    00:00 – 00:08 A look back at August 2024 in the Biden-Harris White House
    00:09 – 4:12 President Biden greets families of those released in a prisoner swap with Russia
    4:13 – 4:23 President Biden and Vice President Harris wait with families of released prisoners at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland
    4:25 – 5:32 President Biden and Vice President Harris Greet Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, and Alsu Kurmasheva at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland
    5:33-7:05 President Biden calls to congratulate American swimmer Katie Ledecky on her Olympic wins
    7:05 – 7:21 Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff visits Team USA athletes at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris
    7:22 – 8:31 President Biden welcomes the Texas Rangers to the White House to celebrate their 2023 World Series championship season
    8:40 – 8:58 President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden pose for a photo with the 2024 White House summer intern class
    9:03 – 9:58 President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden receive a briefing on lab technology for cancer research at Tulane University in New Orleans
    10:00 – 10:44 President Biden delivers remarks at the Creator Economy Conference
    10:44 – 12:57 President Biden and Vice President Harris announce the Administration’s efforts to lower prescription drug costs for Americans in Largo, Maryland
    12:58 – 13:36 President Biden greets journalist Vladimir Kara-Murza and his family.
    13:39 – 14:38 President Biden, joined by members of Congress and Civil Rights leaders signs the Springfield Race Riot National Monument Designation

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCDQwm3ehHc

    MIL OSI Video –

    January 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Historian Manisha Sinha Awarded Southern Historical Association Honor

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Manisha Sinha, professor of history and James L. and Shirley A. Draper Chair in American History at the University of Connecticut, has been awarded the 2024 John W. Blassingame Award for her significant contributions to the field of African American history.  

    The honor is awarded to an individual every three years by the Southern Historical Association. The prize recognizes and celebrates Sinha’s distinguished scholarship in African American history and dedicated mentorship of African American students.  Sinha’s graduate students nominated her for the award.

    Sinha’s award was announced during the 90th annual meeting of the Southern Historical Association, which was held from October 24-27, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri.  Associate Professor of History Deirdre Cooper Owens accepted the award on Sinha’s behalf.

    The Southern Historical Association promotes an “investigative rather than memorial approach” to Southern history. The Association promotes interest and research in Southern history, collects and preserves Southern historical records, encourages historical societies in the South, and promotes the teaching and study of Southern history.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 26, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: Memes, photojournalism and television debates: 3 images that defined the 2024 US election

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kylie Message, Professor of Public Humanities and Director of the ANU Humanities Research Centre, Australian National University

    Visual images often last in historical and popular memory. This is especially the case in presidential campaigns in the United States, which offer a vast mix of spectacle, surprise and drama.

    An historian of political visual culture can no more predict which images are likely to last the test of time than we can know who will win. But we can explain why some historical images from presidential campaigns resonate.

    This election season has produced the most media savvy and diverse campaign imagery of all time. Cable news, social media and artificial intelligence have created a whole new universe of image-based narratives.

    In this rich visual landscape, here are three images likely to last the test of time.

    1. Trump’s ‘fight!’ photo

    The uncontroversial front-runner for defining image has to be Evan Vucci’s photograph of Donald Trump being led off the stage in Pennsylvania after surviving an assassination attempt in July.

    Many people, including Trump, were quick to elevate the photograph to the iconic status of Joe Rosenthal’s photograph of troops raising the flag on Iwo Jima during the second world war.

    Both are photographed from below and feature the national flag above Americans working against adversity to reach a common goal. Both fit squarely into the tradition of wartime photojournalism.

    Both photographs enjoyed instantaneous popularity: Trump’s image went viral and the Iwo Jima image was featured on a US postage stamp before the war’s end.

    But their greatest similarity resides in the cultural symbolism of the images.

    Both accurately represent an historical moment; a specific point in time. But the point in time has been actively selected to fit a narrative. The narratives projected are deeply held mythologised symbols of aspirational patriotism.



    Read more:
    Elevation, colour – and the American flag. Here’s what makes Evan Vucci’s Trump photograph so powerful

    Visual literacy prompts us to think about which images were discounted in the selection of these historically powerful two. Historical legacies and the national mythologies that fuel these lean toward images of success over pictures of wartime death and suffering.

    This image of Trump fits all the criteria we would typically and probably unconsciously apply when assessing if an image is likely to have long-term significance.

    The baseline characteristic of iconic images is a general bipartisan understanding of what an image “says”. Regardless of whether you agree with the message being conveyed, you understand its social context, why the image is provocative, dramatic or funny (or not), as well as its historical references.

    However, contemporary images are not always so straightforward to read – and in a post-truth AI world, it is harder than ever to decipher the visual culture of politics.

    2. Brat summer and coconut memes

    Kamala Harris’s youth and vision for the future headlined her campaign’s creation of “Kamala HQ”. The strategy adopted the bright green branding and font of Charli XCX’s smash album Brat after the pop star posted on X: “kamala IS brat”.

    Social media has been a critical tool in introducing Harris to voters, especially those of voting age for the first time in 2024. The campaign’s use of social media represented young people as engaged and respected decision makers.



    Read more:
    ‘Kamala IS brat’: how the power of pop music has influenced 60 years of US elections

    Voters have had more than a century to become accustomed to photojournalism. In contrast, a lot of social media representation has arisen from community activism over the past few years. Reporting from women’s marches this past weekend showed links to the visual culture of the protests that followed Trump’s 2016 election.

    Arguably, the most historically significant of this “youth vote” image category are the internet memes of coconuts and coconut trees.

    In a 2023 speech, Harris quoted her mother:

    You think you just fell out of a coconut tree? You exist in the context of all in which you live and what came before you.

    This moment went viral during the 2024 election, and it was not long before people started signalling their support for Harris by adding a coconut emoji to their profile or comments.

    The popularity of the coconut meme by Harris supporters indicates a rejection of the derogatory use of the term “coconut” against people of colour “acting white”.

    The production and reception of memes by younger voters demonstrates a media literacy and sophistication that also requires continuous fact-checking.

    This point was made in Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Harris, which urged her followers to do their own “reliability” checking of information in their feeds after Trump and other conservative figures shared AI-generated images of Swift and her fans allegedly supporting Trump.

    3. The televised debate handshake

    A key image from the debate between Harris and Trump came in the first few minutes, when Harris crossed the stage to offer her hand. It was the first debate handshake in eight years.

    This was a bold action given Trump’s prowling movement on the 2016 debate stage against Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton, and his well documented predilection for firm handshakes.

    The handshake is representative of the campaign, which has been called “a referendum on gender”. It evoked the image of strong and confident leadership – a central theme as Harris spoke passionately about reproductive rights and abortion.

    Televised presidential debates are one of the most keenly watched and analysed moments of the presidential election season. Image is everything.

    Their importance is perhaps best indicated by Justin Sullivan’s photograph of President Joe Biden, mouth agape and looking frail beneath the word “presidential” during the June debate this year.

    While they rarely lead to an outcome as extreme as a candidate exiting the race, as ended up happening with Biden, the images and soundbites they generate can resonate for decades.

    During the first ever nationally televised presidential debate in 1960, Republican candidate Richard Nixon was said to be unwell and refused to wear makeup. Compared to his opponent, Democratic nominee John F. Kennedy, he sweated profusely on stage, creating an image that was disastrous to his eventually unsuccessful campaign.

    Between the staged and “gotcha” moments of every presidential campaign, debates provide a unique – and, in 2024, a singular – window into how the candidates relate to each other as humans across an ever-widening ideological divide.

    Kylie Message has received funding from the Australian Research Council.

    – ref. Memes, photojournalism and television debates: 3 images that defined the 2024 US election – https://theconversation.com/memes-photojournalism-and-television-debates-3-images-that-defined-the-2024-us-election-242689

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    January 26, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: What happens if you have a HELP debt and kids? The missed opportunity in Labor’s plan to fix student loans

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Warburton, Honorary Senior Fellow, Centre for the Study of Higher Education, The University of Melbourne

    Rogut/Pexels , CC BY

    The Albanese government has announced several significant changes to student loans to start in mid-2025.

    These include wiping 20% off debts, increasing the income threshold for compulsory repayments, and changing the amounts people have to repay.

    As well as encouraging Australians to study, the changes aim to provide cost-of-living relief – or, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Monday:

    putting more dollars in the pockets of people who feel, justifiably, that they’re getting the rough end of the pineapple.

    The changes are certainly an improvement. Unfortunately, they are not as good as they should be – particularly if you have a HELP debt and a family to support.

    What is the point of HELP?

    My analysis of the most recently released tax statistics indicates more than 70% of those required to make a HELP repayment in 2021–22 earned between A$60,000 and A$120,000. Only 20% earned more than $120,000 and less than 10% earned less than $60,000.

    The HECS (now HELP) system was conceived in the 1980s as a way to generate revenue to help the government pay for an expansion of university places.

    It doesn’t matter if people do not repay all of their loans. The primary purpose is to have students who have benefited, and can afford to contribute to the cost of their education, give something back.

    While fairness has always been a key plank of HECS/HELP, there are some major problems with the system. And the changes announced over the weekend continue to ignore them.

    The HECS/HELP system was designed so students would only repay loans if they had the capacity to do so.
    Enrico Della Pietra/ Shutterstock

    What about families?

    Student loan arrangements have never taken account of other government payments and obligations such as social security, taxation rates, taxation rebates and Medicare levies.

    As I have shown in this analysis, for some family types, HELP repayments combine to produce ridiculous effective tax rates.

    Imagine the following scenarios for someone with a HELP debt, earning between $60,000 and $100,000 and who had a pay increase in this income range.

    In 2022-23, if you were single with no kids, the average effective tax rate on the extra earnings was 51%.

    If you were single with two kids aged four and seven, the average effective tax rate on the extra earnings was 77%. If those children were ten and 13, it was 73%.

    The situation is similar in a couple family with two children where only one parent is able to work. The working parent has little incentive to increase their earned income and this won’t change much under the new proposals.

    The reason people in these situations keep so little of their extra earnings is because as family incomes increase, they lose family tax benefits, they pay more tax and their Medicare levy increases.

    There is not enough attention paid to how all these arrangements interact and how they affect people overall.

    We need to know many families are paying HELP

    The government’s plan to increase the HELP repayment threshold to those with an annual income of $67,000 is a welcome improvement. The system was never intended to take money off people with virtually no capacity to pay.

    The government’s plan to simplify the repayment arrangements is also a positive step. The current system has 18 different repayment rates applied to total income, which means people are repeatedly going backwards when they earn extra money. The new plan to only calculate repayments on dollars over the threshold (the marginal rate approach) stops this from happening.

    But the system continues to disregard how people with HELP debts can be in different family circumstances.

    In my work on HELP, I often get asked how many HELP debtors have dependent children. The answer is I do not know and neither does the government.

    None of the data which the government releases provides any information on family circumstances, despite the fact around $4.6 billion was collected from 1.2 million individuals in 2021-22 (the most recent year we have for this data).

    This is vital information to make good policy and fair decisions but we do not have it.

    Could these problems be fixed?

    We could reduce many of the worst impacts here with a single marginal rate for calculating HELP repayments and thresholds which varied depending on the number of children and partner’s income.

    The repayment rate and thresholds could be adjusted to deliver an acceptable repayment level for individuals and sufficient revenue for government to support university funding.

    There is no point in pretending the current system is one in which people have an insignificant level of debt that is repaid quickly after university.

    Typical students today are finishing their degrees owing around $60,000 and many have debts much larger than this. They will continue to make repayments well into their thirties when they have families.

    It is time we had a system that truly recognised this.

    Mark Warburton is a member of the Australian Labor Party and occasional provider of consultancy services to groups such as Universities Australia and the Australian Technology Network.

    – ref. What happens if you have a HELP debt and kids? The missed opportunity in Labor’s plan to fix student loans – https://theconversation.com/what-happens-if-you-have-a-help-debt-and-kids-the-missed-opportunity-in-labors-plan-to-fix-student-loans-242758

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    January 26, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: Bird flu has been detected in a pig in the US. Why does that matter?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By C Raina MacIntyre, Professor of Global Biosecurity, NHMRC L3 Research Fellow, Head, Biosecurity Program, Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney

    David MG/Shutterstock

    The United States Department of Agriculture last week reported that a pig on a backyard farm in Oregon was infected with bird flu.

    As the bird flu situation has evolved, we’ve heard about the A/H5N1 strain of the virus infecting a range of animals, including a variety of birds, wild animals and dairy cattle.

    Fortunately, we haven’t seen any sustained spread between humans at this stage. But the detection of the virus in a pig marks a worrying development in the trajectory of this virus.

    How did we get here?

    The most concerning type of bird flu currently circulating is clade 2.3.4.4b of A/H5N1, a strain of influenza A.

    Since 2020, A/H5N1 2.3.4.4b has spread to a vast range of birds, wild animals and farm animals that have never been infected with bird flu before.

    While Europe is a hotspot for A/H5N1, attention is currently focused on the US. Dairy cattle were infected for the first time in 2024, with more than 400 herds affected across at least 14 US states.

    Bird flu has enormous impacts on farming and commercial food production, because infected poultry flocks have to be culled, and infected cows can result in contaminated diary products. That said, pasteurisation should make milk safe to drink.

    While farmers have suffered major losses due to H5N1 bird flu, it also has the potential to mutate to cause a human pandemic.

    Birds and humans have different types of receptors in their respiratory tract that flu viruses attach to, like a lock (receptors) and key (virus). The attachment of the virus allows it to invade a cell and the body and cause illness. Avian flu viruses are adapted to birds, and spread easily among birds, but not in humans.

    So far, human cases have mainly occurred in people who have been in close contact with infected farm animals or birds. In the US, most have been farm workers.

    The concern is that the virus will mutate and adapt to humans. One of the key steps for this to happen would be a shift in the virus’ affinity from the bird receptors to those found in the human respiratory tract. In other words, if the virus’ “key” mutated to better fit with the human “lock”.

    A recent study of a sample of A/H5N1 2.3.4.4b from an infected human had worrying findings, identifying mutations in the virus with the potential to increase transmission between human hosts.

    Why are pigs a problem?

    A human pandemic strain of influenza can arise in several ways. One involves close contact between humans and animals infected with their own specific flu viruses, creating opportunities for genetic mixing between avian and human viruses.

    Pigs are the ideal genetic mixing vessel to generate a human pandemic influenza strain, because they have receptors in their respiratory tracts which both avian and human flu viruses can bind to.

    This means pigs can be infected with a bird flu virus and a human flu virus at the same time. These viruses can exchange genetic material to mutate and become easily transmissible in humans.


    The Conversation, CC BY-SA

    Interestingly, in the past pigs were less susceptible to A/H5N1 viruses. However, the virus has recently mutated to infect pigs more readily.

    In the recent case in Oregon, A/H5N1 was detected in a pig on a non-commercial farm after an outbreak occurred among the poultry housed on the same farm. This strain of A/H5N1 was from wild birds, not the one that is widespread in US dairy cows.

    The infection of a pig is a warning. If the virus enters commercial piggeries, it would create a far greater level of risk of a pandemic, especially as the US goes into winter, when human seasonal flu starts to rise.

    How can we mitigate the risk?

    Surveillance is key to early detection of a possible pandemic. This includes comprehensive testing and reporting of infections in birds and animals, alongside financial compensation and support measures for farmers to encourage timely reporting.

    Strengthening global influenza surveillance is crucial, as unusual spikes in pneumonia and severe respiratory illnesses could signal a human pandemic. Our EPIWATCH system looks for early warnings of such activity, which can speed up vaccine development.

    If a cluster of human cases occurs, and influenza A is detected, further testing (called subtyping) is essential to ascertain whether it’s a seasonal strain, an avian strain from a spillover event, or a novel pandemic strain.

    Early identification can prevent a pandemic. Any delay in identifying an emerging pandemic strain enables the virus to spread widely across international borders.

    Australia’s first human case of A/H5N1 occurred in a child who acquired the infection while travelling in India, and was hospitalised with illness in March 2024. At the time, testing revealed Influenza A (which could be seasonal flu or avian flu), but subtyping to identify A/H5N1 was delayed.

    This kind of delay can be costly if a human-transmissible A/H5N1 arises and is assumed to be seasonal flu because the test is positive for influenza A. Only about 5% of tests positive for influenza A are subtyped further in Australia and most countries.

    In light of the current situation, there should be a low threshold for subtyping influenza A strains in humans. Rapid tests which can distinguish between seasonal and H5 influenza A are emerging, and should form part of governments’ pandemic preparedness.

    A higher risk than ever before

    The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that the current risk posed by H5N1 to the general public remains low.

    But with H5N1 now able to infect pigs, and showing worrying mutations for human adaptation, the level of risk has increased. Given the virus is so widespread in animals and birds, the statistical probability of a pandemic arising is higher than ever before.

    The good news is, we are better prepared for an influenza pandemic than other pandemics, because vaccines can be made in the same way as seasonal flu vaccines. As soon as the genome of a pandemic influenza virus is known, the vaccines can be updated to match it.

    Partially matched vaccines are already available, and some countries such as Finland are vaccinating high-risk farm workers.

    C Raina MacIntyre receives funding from NHMRC (L3 Investigator grant and Centre for Research Excellence) and MRFF (Aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2 experimentally and in an intensive care setting) currently. She currently receives funding from Sanofi for research on influenza and pertussis. She is the director of EPIWATCH®️, which is a UNSW, Kirby Institute initiative. She has been an invited speaker at the 2024 Options for The Control of Influenza at four symposia organised by Moderna, Pfizer, Sanofi and Seqirus respectively.

    Haley Stone receives funding from The Balvi Filantropic Fund. Haley Stone would like to acknowledge the support through a University International Postgraduate Award from the University of New South Wales.

    – ref. Bird flu has been detected in a pig in the US. Why does that matter? – https://theconversation.com/bird-flu-has-been-detected-in-a-pig-in-the-us-why-does-that-matter-242688

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    January 26, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: Yes, burning gas is bad for the climate. But keeping it in Australia’s energy mix is sensible

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Roger Dargaville, Director Monash Energy Institute, Monash University

    Shutterstock

    Both major parties in Australia see a significant role for gas as the world shifts to clean energy in a bid to avert dangerous climate change.

    The Albanese government says new sources of gas are needed to meet demand during the energy transition. And the Coalition, if elected, would expand gas use as it prepares for nuclear power.

    Of course, some people argue that the grave threat of climate change means we should not burn any gas. Others say the strong growth in renewable energy generation and storage means Australia won’t need gas into the future.

    So who is right? As I explain below, renewable energy is a huge part of the solution but doesn’t solve every problem. So keeping some gas-fired generators in the electricity mix, and using them only when necessary, is a sensible compromise.

    Getting to grips with gas

    There are almost 40 large natural gas-fired generators in Australia, and they are an important part of the National Electricity Market.

    According to Open Electricity — a platform for tracking Australia’s electricity transition – the gas facilities generate around 4% of the electricity we consume and comprise about 17% of overall generation capacity.

    The data also shows gas plants in Australia run at just 9% of their overall capacity, meaning they are idle much of the time. Some gas plants get used quite a lot, others only rarely. But when the plants are called on – during times of peak electricity use – their services are vital.

    Overnight, our demand for electricity dips. But when we wake in the morning and start toasting bread and boiling kettles and the like, electricity demand picks up.

    Demand eases off in the middle of the day as the sun rises high in the sky and Australia’s booming rooftop solar reaches its peak electricity output. But when the sun sets and rooftop solar is no longer producing, electricity use peaks. This early-evening demand creates a big challenge to the system.

    That’s why we need technologies that can produce electricity at any time of day or night – and do it quickly. That’s where gas-fired generation – and other “dispatchable” forms of electricity – come in.

    How do gas fired generators work?

    Gas generators come in two main types.

    An “open cycle generator”, also known as a Brayton cycle turbine, is essentially a jet engine. It combusts gas in a chamber to create enormous pressure that spins large fans. This drives a shaft that spins in the generator to produce electricity.

    This technology is relatively cheap to build and can start up very quickly – but it’s also quite inefficient to operate. It uses a lot of expensive fuel, and creates a lot of waste heat.

    The second type is known as a “combined cycle generator”. It also uses a Brayton cycle gas turbine. But it captures exhaust heat from the turbine and uses it to create steam, which in turn powers a second turbine (known as a Rankine cycle). This significantly increases the amount of electricity produced for the same amount of gas burned.

    So while this technology is relatively efficient, it’s also more expensive to build and takes longer to ramp up and down.

    Other types of gas generators exist, but they’re a relatively small part of Australia’s fleet.

    A video explaining how gas turbines work.

    Gas is not the only option

    Gas plants are not the only facilities capable of firming up Australia’s electricity grid as the share of renewables increases.

    Hydro power can also quickly ramp up to meet the evening peak. However the potential for building new conventional hydro in Australia is very limited due to the lack of large river systems and the significant environmental impact on rivers and surrounding areas.

    Coal-fired generators have potential to ramp up production, but are generally not designed to do this every evening. Plus, Australia’s fleet of old coal plants is on a fast path to retirement.

    To maintain the delicate balance of supply and demand, more will be required of gas and hydro, to produce electricity, and batteries and pumped hydro, to store it.

    Pumped hydro works by using excess renewable energy to pump water up a hill. When electricity demand is high, the water is released and passes through a turbine, producing power.

    The potential for pumped hydro energy storage in Australia is large, and some projects are likely to be economically viable. But the projects can face challenges, as demonstrated by delays and cost blowouts facing Snowy 2.0 in New South Wales.

    Large-scale lithium-ion batteries are relatively easy to install. Many projects have been built or are in the pipeline. But batteries are not great for long-duration energy storage.

    All this means gas-fired power generation is likely to have a future in Australia in coming decades.

    The downsides of gas

    Methane is the main component of natural gas. It’s also a potent contributor to global warming.

    During natural gas production and transport, gas leaks inevitably occur. This is a problem for climate change.

    So too is the carbon dioxide produced when the gas is burned to produce electricity.

    To tackle climate change, we must dramatically reduce the amount of gas we use in our electricity system. Gas use should also be eliminated for heating and cooking in our homes and, where possible, in industry.

    So where does that leave us?

    Unfortunately, no perfect solution exists to Australia’s electricity supply-demand conundrum.

    The most likely, most economic and most environmentally acceptable approach is to use a “portfolio” of technologies: lots of batteries and pumped hydro but also some gas.

    Because to keep the system stable and reliable, we need some capacity that will mostly sit idle, getting used on only a few occasions. For that reason, the technologies should be relatively cheap to build and able to run for extended periods when wind and solar generation are abnormally low.

    Gas-fired power – especially open cycle generators – meets that requirement. Pumped hydro and batteries do not.

    The gas plants we keep in the grid will not often be used, and so will produce relatively low amounts of carbon dioxide.

    Nuanced questions remain. What will it cost to keep a gas network operating to serve a fleet of gas generators that run only for a few days a year? Gas pipelines have to be kept pressurised, and the cost of running a gas extraction network for small demand may also be uneconomical.

    Non-fossil options such as biogas, hydrogen or synthetically produced methane are possible longer term options. But they are also expensive. And new technologies – such as flow batteries, thermal energy storage and cryogenic energy storage – are on the horizon.

    So, keeping some gas-fired generators on standby, and using them sparingly as needed, is a reasonable approach. It allows us to reduce emissions as much as possible, and keep our electricity system secure and affordable.

    Roger Dargaville receives funding from the Woodside-Monash Energy Partnership, RACE for 2030 CRC, and he consults for industry and government bodies.

    – ref. Yes, burning gas is bad for the climate. But keeping it in Australia’s energy mix is sensible – https://theconversation.com/yes-burning-gas-is-bad-for-the-climate-but-keeping-it-in-australias-energy-mix-is-sensible-241689

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    January 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Economics: How energy companies are using AI to capture and store carbon, even underground

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: How energy companies are using AI to capture and store carbon, even underground

    During a time of both rapid transformation and intense scrutiny, today’s energy industry leaders are increasingly turning to advanced solutions in AI and data management to drive sustainability and efficiency as the global community works to combat climate change. This is a time-sensitive effort, as increased energy demand and the continued role of fossil fuels mean emissions could keep rising through 2035.1 As energy leaders look to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the carbon capture and storage (CCS) industry has become a key component in the approach. Industrial carbon management (ICM) encompasses a range of technologies designed to capture, transport, and store carbon dioxide (CO2) underground to prevent it from entering the atmosphere. Microsoft is actively collaborating with energy companies on industrial carbon management solutions. One example of this collaboration is Northern Lights, a partnership between the Norwegian government and energy companies Equinor, Shell, and TotalEnergies, which is now fully operational. This groundbreaking initiative was established to accelerate decarbonization and address emissions as we all work towards a more sustainable future.  

    Microsoft for energy and resources

    Achieve more in the energy and resources industry with trusted data and AI solutions

    Transforming the global energy industry is not a small feat, nor one that happens without the collective work of dedicated partnerships and innovative technology. The standardized data model and secure data sharing in Microsoft Azure Data Manager for Energy along with operations data management powered by Azure AI and Microsoft Copilot can accelerate innovation across the end-to-end CCS value chain. Copilot and Azure Data Manager for Energy put data and AI to work, integrating industry datasets, applications, and other cloud services—managing intensive workloads at global scale, and quickly ingesting data for analytics and decision-making. These are high-impact capabilities that ultimately help energy companies accelerate their transition to more sustainable practices by reducing time, costs, and risks associated with their complex operational requirements.     

    Enhancing energy operations with modern data management  

    Data modernization is a critical component in advancing sustainability and CCS efforts within the energy sector. By leveraging Azure Data Manager for Energy, energy companies can efficiently manage and analyze vast amounts of data—enabling more accurate and comprehensive simulations of subsurface reservoirs. This capability is essential for identifying optimal CO2 storage locations and ensuring the safe and efficient injection and storage of carbon dioxide.  

    The platform’s robust, scalable, and secure data management solutions allow for real-time data integration and continuous model refinement, which are crucial for making informed decisions and mitigating risks. Additionally, Azure Data Manager for Energy’s high-performance computing capabilities enable rapid simulations, which significantly reduce the time required for planning studies and optimizing reservoir performance. These high-impact capabilities ultimately help energy companies accelerate their transition to more sustainable practices by reducing time, costs, and risks associated with their complex operational requirements. 

    Harnessing the power of AI with Copilot 

    Along with data modernization and robust data analytics, Azure Data Manager for Energy users will have the option to take advantage of Copilot to interact with well data. Azure Data Manager for Energy helps ingest and organize domain-specific data from across the enterprise data landscape to enhance data access, analysis, and application interoperability. Developed in alignment with OSDU® standards, Azure Data Manager for Energy helps get the right data organized within the right domain workflow while providing trustworthy data delivery that sets the stage for improved and timely analysis.  

    However, the enterprise data landscape for any analysis may extend beyond domain-specific data types and require reports with different file types, as well as images, data and records stored in other databases, spreadsheets, and shared folders. Further, the entire value chain extends into data from operations, supply chain, health, safety and environment (HSE), enterprise resource planning (ERP), legal and compliance, and even social media—some of which may be hosted on external platforms.  

    In these scenarios, generative AI capabilities can help users optimize data for enhanced insights—faster. One example of how to approach this is with Microsoft Fabric, an end-to-end analytics and data platform. Fabric can help integrate the data in Azure Data Manager for Energy with other adjacent data sources, ultimately preparing it for analysis and other interactions through AI and Copilot. This means users can potentially run traditional AI-powered workflows such as automated interpretation of data or event prediction through machine learning-driven algorithms. They can also leverage Copilot to chat with the data or implement intelligent search, domain-based intelligent assistants, or cross-domain intelligent advisors.  

    In doing so, end users—people in roles across geoscience or petrophysics—have an easier and faster way to interact with and query their data, both within and outside Azure Data Manager for Energy. Plus, data engineers and data scientists have a foundation from which to build similar solutions for their end users. The Copilot capabilities also mean simplified research processes and the generation of valuable data insights, enabling enterprise and business unit leaders, as well as data scientists and geophysicists, to make more informed decisions and take advantage of greater efficiencies in reservoir management.  

    Optimize carbon capture and storage and enhance reservoir management 

    Building on the capabilities of Copilot and Azure Data Manager for Energy, we can further optimize CCS to work towards a more sustainable future. Reservoir modeling is a critical aspect of modern energy management, playing a vital role in the underground storage of CO2. This multidisciplinary field involves the integration of geological, geophysical, thermal, and engineering data to create detailed models of subsurface reservoirs. Reservoir engineers create models that simulate the behavior of fluids within the reservoir to predict future performance and optimize injection and production strategies. With global energy demand projected to increase 47% by 2050,2 the need for sustainable energy solutions and CCS is paramount.  

    Microsoft is working with partners to provide the efficiency, predictive power, and speed of reservoir simulations and optimizations. Built on top of Azure Data Manager for Energy, customers can now leverage Azure’s robust enterprise capabilities in security, scalability, and reliability, while accessing its domain-specific solutions and maintaining full control over their data.   

    Traditionally, identifying optimal CO2 storage locations requires lengthy studies, sometimes spanning months or even years. The work Microsoft is doing with partners transforms this process by enabling scalable and efficient simulations. This will enable engineers to run numerous models in parallel, leveraging high-performance computing to quickly analyze vast datasets and identify the best storage locations. The ability to perform rapid simulations at scale significantly reduces the time required for planning studies.

    Explore more energy solutions and resources 

    At Microsoft, our dedication and commitment to accelerating the energy transition to carbon-free resources is matched only by the power of our partner ecosystem and the knowledge-sharing that makes it all possible. With Azure Data Manager for Energy, industry leaders can connect to an open ecosystem of interoperable applications from independent software vendors (ISVs) and the Microsoft ecosystem of productivity tools. By harnessing capabilities and features from across Microsoft and partner solutions, energy leaders can optimize value across their entire enterprise while working towards sustainability goals.  

    Ready to dive deeper? Check out additional resources to learn more. 

    Accelerate the energy transition today

    1McKinsey & Company, Global Energy Perspective 2024, September 2024.

    2S&P Global, Global energy demand to grow 47% by 2050, with oil still top source: US EIA, October 2021.

    Uwa Airhiavbere

    Chief Commercial Officer, Worldwide Energy and Resources Industry

    Uwa Airhiavbere is the Chief Commercial Officer of Microsoft’s Worldwide Energy & Resources Industry group, overseeing commercial strategy and growth initiatives. He previously had a successful career at General Electric in the Oil & Gas Division. Uwa holds an Executive MBA from Cornell University, an MA in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University, and a BA in Business Economics from Brown University.

    See more articles from this author

    Sverre Brandsberg Dahl

    General Manager, Energy, Microsoft Cloud for Industry

    Sverre is the General Manager for Microsoft Cloud for Industry, Energy team. Here he works with a range of engineering teams to bring the latest technological developments in Cloud Computing and AI to the energy industry. With a passion for technology and innovation, he is helping to position Microsoft with customers, partners, and governments as they accelerate their adoption of cloud technology, while giving equal focus to the transition to clean power and emissions management.

    See more articles from this author

    Neeraj Joshi

    Chief Technology Officer, Energy and Resources, Microsoft

    Neeraj Joshi serves as the Chief Technology Officer for WW Energy & Resources in IPS, where he leads in-depth technical collaborations to drive digital transformation within the Energy sector. With over two decades of experience at Microsoft, he is deeply passionate about data and is committed to assisting strategic customers in modernizing their solutions. Mr. Joshi holds an MBA from the University of Washington and an MS in Computer Engineering from UT Austin.

    See more articles from this author

    MIL OSI Economics –

    January 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: China Tightens Grip on Critical Minerals – China Digital Times

    Source: United States Institute of Peace

    China has extended its dominance at home and abroad over critical minerals that are essential to future high-tech and renewable-energy industries. Amid intensifying geopolitical competition, Western countries are increasing their efforts to claw back market share while countries in the Global South, where many of these minerals are mined, are attempting to capitalize on growing global demand. A recent article on the subject by The Economist stated that in 2023 Chinese companies invested roughly $16 billion in foreign mines, the highest figure in a decade, up from less than $5 billion the year before. This month, Chinese companies have announced plans to invest billions of dollars in mines in Afghanistan, Ghana, Zambia, and the Philippines. Keith Bradsher at The New York Times reported that over the past few weeks, the Chinese government has enacted measures to increase its grip over the mining and refining of rare minerals within China by making it harder for foreign companies to purchase them:

    As of Oct. 1, exporters must provide the authorities with detailed, step-by-step tracings of how shipments of rare earth metals are used in Western supply chains. That has given Beijing greater authority over which overseas companies receive scarce supplies.

    China is also taking greater corporate ownership over the mining and production of the metals. In a deal that has received almost no attention outside the country, the last two foreign-owned rare earth refineries in China are being acquired by one of the three state-owned companies that already run the other refineries in China.

    Beijing’s recent moves to take charge of the supply chain include other obscure chemical elements that are also needed by semiconductor manufacturers. On Sept. 15, China’s Ministry of Commerce restricted exports of antimony, a material used in semiconductors, military explosives and other weaponry. Last year, the ministry imposed export controls on two other chemical elements, gallium and germanium, also needed to make chips.

    National security officials have tightened the flow of information about rare earths. They have labeled rare earth mining and refining as state secrets. Last month, the Ministry of State Security announced that two managers in the rare earths industry had been sentenced to 11 years in prison for leaking information to foreigners. [Source]

    In September, a coalition of 14 Western countries and the European Commission formed the Minerals Security Partnership, a new financing network to support critical mineral projects and break China’s dominance over this sector. Despite initiatives like these, the U.S. has struggled to compete with China for critical minerals, for many reasons. One is that Chinese state-owned companies “have periodically flooded world markets with rare earths to drive down the price whenever Western producers try to ramp up production,” Bradsher wrote. Just this week, Chinese mining giant CMOC announced that it reached its full-year cobalt production target three months ahead of schedule. Eric Olander from the China-Global South Project argued that “CMOC’s strategy is unrelated to pricing conditions and more about keeping Western rivals on the sidelines [,…which] gives China an unrivaled advantage over its rivals in the U.S., Europe, and Asia that are moving aggressively to cut Chinese firms out of their supply chains — which, at least for cobalt, is not going to be possible for a very long time.” Eliot Chen at The Wire China wrote about how American policymakers are considering expanding the U.S. stockpile of critical minerals to compete with China, which has been “the master of the game” when it comes to leveraging its stockpiles:

    “China’s stockpile has a dual purpose: one is defensive and the other is economic, to support domestic industry when prices get too high for downstream industries like the electricity sector, and then conversely when prices are too low and domestic producers like copper smelters have difficulty remaining profitable,” says [Gregory Wischer, principal at Dei Gratia Minerals, a critical minerals consultancy]. 

    What, exactly, China stockpiles is not publicly known, and Chinese authorities are rarely transparent about when they buy up and sell down their stockpiles. But because of the country’s dominance over much of the critical mineral supply chain, even rumors of its intentions can produce wild swings in the price of metals. For example, while Chinese lithium producers account for less than 20 percent of mine production, China refines more than two-thirds of the metal. For other metals like graphite, which has vital defense applications, Chinese refiners control more than 90 percent of the market. 

    China’s outsized influence over the market, combined with its heavy investment in mining assets abroad, have helped it consolidate its control over global supply. An about-face by Chinese policymakers over electric vehicle subsidies in 2018, for example, resulted in a glut of lithium on the market. Chinese companies were then able to step in and acquire distressed lithium miners in Australia and Canada relatively cheaply. [Source]

    China’s monopoly over various critical-mineral supply chains in Africa has motivated the U.S. government to increase engagement in the region. A major component of this U.S. strategy is the $4 billion Lobito Corridor project, which seeks to connect the Port of Lobito in Angola to Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, thereby facilitating American and European access to cobalt and copper. But some local observers see selfish motives in this engagement. “This rivalry-driven approach narrows the scope for a partnership with Africa based on mutual benefit and long-term development. The continent, and the DRC in particular, should not be seen merely as a resource base to fuel external interests,” said Carlos Lopes, a professor at the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. He added, “Without a genuine commitment to local development, [the Lobito Corridor project] risks perpetuating Africa’s role as a supplier of raw materials rather than fostering economic transformation on the continent.” Analyzing China-Africa critical mineral cooperation in an article last month for the U.S. Institute of Peace, Cobus van Staden explored the potential for U.S.-China cooperation and described how African nations are looking to navigate both sets of relationships to their own benefit:

    The second factor complicating the narrative of direct competition [between the U.S. and China in the region] is the drive from African countries to locate more strategic mineral refining and related manufacturing in Africa. African critical mineral strategies, developed by continental bodies like the African Development Bank, emphasize local refining and value addition, an ambition now enjoying official Chinese support, as well as support from the U.S. through initiatives such as the Minerals Security Partnership among others. For example, the partners involved in the Lobito Corridor have similarly signed agreements with African countries to do more refining locally. These include EU agreements with Zambia and the DRC for mineral-driven value addition, and a trilateral agreement between Zambia, the DRC and the U.S. for domestic electric vehicle supply chain development.

    […] FOCAC 2024 put these complications [including whether Western nations can expand their refining capacities at home despite the potential for environmental and community pushback] in stark relief because it highlighted an increased sense of synergy and coordination around green energy and critical mineral value addition in the China-Africa relationship. A similar focus is developing between the continent and its Western partners. The question now is whether the continent will be able to wield both sets of relationships to its own benefit, even as great-power tensions over critical minerals heat up. [Source]

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Funding of 400 projects in the Western Balkans – E-002186/2024

    Source: European Parliament

    21.10.2024

    Question for written answer  E-002186/2024
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Malika Sorel (PfE)

    At the end of September, Commissioner Iliana Ivanova met ministers from the Western Balkans in Skopje[1] with a view to stepping up cooperation on education, research and innovation. She promised to support almost 400 research projects[2] under the European Research Area and the European Innovation Agenda.

    This promise comes after the Faculty of Islamic Sciences in Skopje – which is close to Erdoğan[3] – became part of the Erasmus+ Network in early 2024: a development the dean welcomed as an opportunity to make a name for his faculty in the field of Islamic thought. In addition, the Hamas-linked Islamic University of Gaziantep in Türkiye[4], which is also part of the Erasmus+ Network, has recently been mired in scandal. These facts show how little attention the Commission pays when choosing its partners.

    In the light of the above:

    • 1.How has the EUR 140 million pledged for the Digital Innovation Hubs been distributed?
    • 2.What are the 400 projects for which funding has been pledged?
    • 3.Has the Commission taken these scandals into account with a view to withdrawing its support for partners that openly flout EU values? If so, which ones?

    Submitted: 21.10.2024

    • [1] https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_24_4983
    • [2] https://agenceurope.eu/en/bulletin/article/13494/24
    • [3] https://www.lejdd.fr/international/union-europeenne-une-faculte-de-theologie-islamique-rejoint-erasmus-143539#:~:text=Avec%20l%27ind%C3%A9pendance%2C%20elle%20a,ses%20premiers%20%C3%A9tudiants%20en%201997
    • [4] https://www.lejdd.fr/societe/erasmus-lunion-europeenne-sous-le-feu-des-critiques-pour-avoir-integre-une-universite-pro-hamas-150023
    Last updated: 4 November 2024

    MIL OSI Europe News –

    January 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressional Report Finds UCLA Failed to Protect Jewish Students

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Michelle Steel (CA-48)

    Report finds that UCLA allowed the creation of a hostile environment for Jewish students, in violation of Civil Rights Act

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Michelle Steel released the following statement on the Education and Workforce Committee’s new report finding rampant antisemitism on America’s college campuses, including at UCLA. The full report can be found here.

    “Our findings are a stunning indictment of UCLA and other universities’ failure to protect the civil rights of Jewish students. As a member of the House Education and Workforce Committee responsible for this report, I have worked to hold UCLA’s leadership, as well as the leaders of other universities, accountable for their failure to stand up to pro-Hamas mobs and take antisemitism concerns seriously. The consequences of such inaction have been severe, as Jewish students faced harassment and campus safety was put at risk. All students on our campuses deserve a safe learning environment free of discrimination, and I will continue to press UCLA for answers.”

    The report issued the below findings related to UCLA’s actions, especially related to a violent outbreak stemming from demonstrations on April 30, 2024.

    • UCLA allowed the creation of a hostile environment for Jewish students, in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
    • UCLA leadership could have ended the antisemitic encampment within minutes of its formation but chose to “hold off” instead, failing to act before the encampment reached a critical mass.
    • UCLA was aware of the formation of antisemitic checkpoints but failed to remove them or protect Jewish students, in violation of the University’s Title VI obligations.
    • UCLA’s failure to enforce policy and the law led to the violent conditions of the April 30 protest and required hundreds of law enforcement officers to disband the encampment.
    • UCLA failed to issue any suspensions or probations against students for conduct related to antisemitic protests, disruptions, and harassment.       
    • Of the 96 students arrested at the encampment, 92 signed resolution agreements that let them off the hook without consequences.
    • No UCLA students were disciplined for blocking Jewish students from accessing public areas of UCLA’s campus.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Davis, Bacon, and Raskin Join National Child Advocates in Thanking the Social Security Administration and Children’s Bureau for Taking an Important Step to Protecting the Federal Benefits of Foster Youth

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Danny K Davis (7th District of Illinois)

    Washington, DC:  November 1, 2024 – Rep. Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), and Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) welcome the opportunity provided by the joint Request for Information (RFI) on the use and conservation of federal benefits for foster youth, as well as other ways federal agencies may play an appropriate role supporting broader Federal, State, and local efforts to improve the outcomes of foster youth who receive federal benefits, published today by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Children’s Bureau, an office of the Administration for Children & Families (ACF) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). 

    In December 2022, Representatives Davis, Bacon, and Raskin urged the Biden Administration to use its executive branch authority to limit the state practice of using the assets and benefits of foster youth to reimburse state costs of care until more comprehensive legislation is enacted. Although Congress will need to act to permanently stop this practice all together, SSA and HHS have statutory and regulatory authority to stop or at least limit this practice now. 

    In August 2023, the Biden Administration encouraged reform efforts and reminded states and tribal child welfare agencies of their responsibility to foster youth when serving as a Social Security Representative Payee for foster youth via a joint letter issued by SSA and ACF.  Further, SSA has taken multiple additional steps to educate its staff and child welfare agencies about the responsibilities of an agency Representative Payee, and ACF has hosted webinars focused on state and local efforts to conserve the federal benefits of foster youth.   

    Importantly, states can stop this practice without any action by the federal government, and many are working to do so.  Four states and jurisdictions (Arizona, Oregon, Massachusetts, and the District of Columbia) have enacted comprehensive reform, and an additional six states or jurisdictions (California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, New Mexico, and New York City) have adopted substantial reforms to protect some of the assets and benefits of orphaned and disabled foster youth.  Nine more (Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Washington) have adopted more limited reform ranging from legislation, executive order, resolution, agency policy, state trust, or litigation. Unfortunately, the majority of states still choose to bolster their own financial security rather than help the orphaned and disabled youth, often without the youth, their attorneys, or other caring adults knowing. 

    Today, SSA and the Children’s Bureau took a critical step to better protect foster youth.  The Request for Information from youth, families, and stakeholders on how the use and conservation of federal benefits could improve outcomes for foster youth will serve as the foundation for agency reform – giving the agencies important perspectives on what actions are possible and how to implement those actions to best improve child well-being.  

    “I thank Social Security Commissioner Martin O’Malley and Administration on Children, Youth and Families Commissioner Rebecca Jones Gaston for taking the important step of collecting information from youth, families, and stakeholders about how Federal, State, and local governments can use and conserve the federal benefits of foster youth to improve their well-being,” said Rep. Davis.  “I proudly lead legislation to protect the benefits and assets of foster youth by stopping states from taking the youths’ funds.  This new request for information serves as a foundation for future agency action.  I am proud to have partnered with Representatives Don Bacon (R-NE) and Jamie Raskin (D-MD) to urge executive branch action to help states stop this practice until more comprehensive legislation is enacted. My home state of Illinois is a national leader in this area, and I greatly appreciate the Biden-Harris Administration’s multiple steps to encourage states to protect foster youth.”

    “Foster youth should be able to keep their social security benefits and not be stolen from them by their state,” said Rep. Bacon. “In 2020, Nebraska received over $2.6 million in social security benefits from youth in care. That is their money and being a foster youth is hard enough without the expectation that they pay for the care they received when they were placed into the care of the state due to no fault of their own. The Executive Branch must take action to address this problem.” 

    “States have a duty to care for vulnerable foster children, yet many smash their piggy banks and seize their Social Security benefits to reimburse the costs of their care,” said Rep. Raskin. “I am grateful to Commissioner O’Malley, the Social Security Administration and Children’s Bureau for heeding our calls and taking a closer look to ensure federal benefits are best serving all children and young people in foster care. I have been working to solve this problem since my time in the Maryland State Senate, and today I’m proud to stand with Rep. Danny Davis and Rep. Don Bacon to applaud this further step by the Biden-Harris administration to protect foster kids across America.”

    “Foster youth deserve a fair chance to benefit from their benefits. Now that a majority of states have initiated or taken action to protect foster youth assets, this RFI paves the way for meaningful rules that will help beneficiaries in care thrive. We are grateful for the leadership of SSA and Commissioner O’Malley and look forward to collaborating with SSA and ACF on behalf of impacted youth.” Amy C. Harfeld, JD, National Policy Director, Children’s Advocacy Institute

    “Child welfare agencies have long been taking Social Security benefits from foster children who are disabled or have deceased parents, leaving the children penniless. I applaud the leadership of the Social Security Administration—and the efforts of Representatives Davis, Bacon, and Raskin—in this important step towards better protecting foster youth’s resources for their struggle against the odds as they leave foster care.” Daniel Hatcher, Professor of Law at the University of Baltimore and author of The Poverty Industry

    “Listen to courageous foster youth like Marissa Pike, Katrina White, Ian Marks, Justin Kasieta,  and Anthony Jackson. The Center for the Rights of Abused Children remains focused on stopping states from taking foster youth’s federal benefits and delivering comprehensive reform in a child-centric way. We appreciate federal policymakers engaging on this issue, and we encourage governors and state legislators to take action today.”  J. Kendall Seal, Vice President of Policy, Center for the Rights of Abused Children.

    A copy of the letter by Reps. Davis, Bacon, and Raskin is available here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI USA: PHOTOS: Capito Tours Berkshire Hathaway Site, Wraps Up Productive Week of Visits

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito

    JACKSON COUNTY, W.Va. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) traveled to Jackson County, W.Va. where she toured BHE Renewables’, a Berkshire Hathaway Energy business, first-of-its-kind solar energy microgrid-powered industrial site. The new plant, which will operate under the PCC subsidiary Titanium Metals Corporation, Inc. (TIMET), will employ approximately 200 people to manufacture titanium products for the aerospace and other industries, and is considered one of the largest development announcements in the state’s history. Senator Capito has been supportive of the project and last visited the site for the groundbreaking ceremony in March 2023.

    “BHE Renewables has the potential to transform and spark development in Jackson County. My staff and I have been involved in this process from the very beginning because we recognize the importance of smart economic growth to our state. I enjoyed the opportunity to see the progress firsthand today and learn more from the leaders about what’s ahead,” Senator Capito said.

    In addition to today’s visit, Senator Capito spent the rest of the week meeting with community leaders and professionals from a wide range of industries, as well as touring businesses and projects that are contributing to economic development across West Virginia.

    On Monday, Senator Capito delivered the keynote address at the Keystone Space Collaborative’s 2024 Conference in Pittsburgh, Pa. This event examines the impact of a thriving space industry on the regional Appalachian economy and job market. Learn more about the event here.

    On Tuesday, Senator Capito, who serves as Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS), delivered remarks at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new West Virginia University (WVU) Medicine Thomas Orthopedic Hospital. The orthopedic hospital offers inpatient and outpatient surgical units, physical therapy, occupational therapy, as well as six orthopedic, spine, and nerve physician offices. Senator Capito also visited the West Virginia Hospital Association’s (WVHA) LEAD (Learn, Excel, Achieve, Deploy) pilot program training for new health care managers. Learn more here.

    On Wednesday, Senator Capito participated in the West Virginia Energy Summit in Charleston, W.Va. where she met with leaders in the energy space, delivered remarks, and received the inaugural West Virginia Women in Energy “Woman of the Year” award. Next, Senator Capito spoke to members of the West Virginia Broadcasters Association about some of the issues that are important to the industry. Learn more about the visits here.

    In case you missed it, Senator Capito also joined Maria Bartiromo on Fox Business Network’s, “Mornings with Maria” on Tuesday to discuss border security, inflation, and more. You can watch Senator Capito’s interview here.

    Photos from this week’s events are below:

    U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) at the BHE Renewables solar energy microgrid-powered industrial site in Ravenswood, W.Va. on Friday, November 1, 2024.

    U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) attends the 2024 Keystone Space Conference in Pittsburgh, Pa. on Monday, October 28, 2024.

    U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) at the WVU Medicine Thomas Orthopedic Hospital ribbon cutting ceremony in Charleston, W.Va. on Tuesday, October 29, 2024.

    U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) at the WVHA LEAD pilot program training in Charleston, W.Va. on Tuesday, October 29, 2024.

    U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) accepts the first annual West Virginia Women in Energy “Woman of the Year” award and provides acceptance remarks at the 2024 Governor’s Energy Summit in Charleston, W.Va. on Wednesday, October 30, 2024.

    U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) participates in the Women in Energy Breakfast at the 2024 Governor’s Energy Summit in Charleston, W.Va. on Wednesday, October 30, 2024.

    MIL OSI USA News –

    January 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: Global scholars convene in Beijing to discuss role of innovation in human progress

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    A forum in Beijing has gathered global scholars and experts to discuss how to drive human advancement through innovation, as the world faces both opportunities and challenges posed by rapid scientific and technological progress.

    “The rapid development of science and technology, along with emerging ideas and technologies, has not only transformed industrial and social structures but also posed new challenges to the international order and human civilization,” said Gong Qihuang, president of Peking University, while addressing the opening ceremony of the 2024 Beijing Forum on Friday.

    Humanity needs more international scientific and technological cooperation than ever to solve common development problems, Gong added.

    Building on the overarching theme of “The Harmony of Civilizations and Prosperity for All” from its inaugural edition in 2004, this year’s forum is themed “The Era of Innovation and Advancement of Mankind.”

    Gong said that the ongoing event aims to drive development through innovation and create a platform for joint efforts in exploring the path to modernization for human society and the prosperity of global civilization.

    Emphasizing the vital role of innovation in tackling global challenges, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won said that no single country or organization can address these issues alone in today’s era of innovation.

    Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, former prime minister of Pakistan, called for efforts to bridge the digital divide to ensure inclusive economic growth and prioritize human development so that innovation can be fully leveraged. “We must ensure that innovation serves humanity’s greater good.”

    According to Qian Chengdan, a well-known historian at Peking University, innovation is not only technological advancements or the development of new tools but also systemic innovations, new human ideas, and transformative changes in the overall fabric of human life.

    The participants at the forum acknowledged China’s position as a global leader in innovation.

    Gerard Mourou, the 2018 Nobel Prize winner in physics, noted that China has witnessed incredible advancements in scientific and technological development over the past decades.

    Mourou, who assumed the role of a chair professor at Peking University this October, said he is highly impressed by the abilities of Chinese students, noting that they excel not only in their coursework but also in innovation.

    Hani K. Findakly, chairman of the International Oversight Committee of the State of Qatar Chair in Middle Eastern Studies, Peking University, lauded China as a leading innovator. He noted that the country will play a crucial role in addressing climate change and other global challenges.

    According to an innovation index report released by the World Intellectual Property Organization this year, China has ranked first in the number of the global top 100 sci-tech city clusters for two consecutive years.

    Looking back at history, China has made significant contributions to human development and is poised to play an increasingly vital role in driving innovation in the future, Qian said.

    This year’s forum garnered significant attention by drawing more than 500 experts and scholars from over 30 countries and regions, highlighting its status as a prominent global hub for academic and people-to-people exchanges.

    Co-sponsored by Peking University, the Beijing Municipal Education Commission and the Chey Institute for Advanced Studies, the annual forum has attracted more than 7,000 distinguished guests and scholars from over 80 countries and regions since 2004. 

    MIL OSI China News –

    January 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: 6th Friends of Paris Agreement High-level Dialogue held in Paris

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Participants pose for a group photo during the sixth Friends of the Paris Agreement High-Level Dialogue in Paris, France, on Oct. 28, 2024. The sixth Friends of the Paris Agreement High-Level Dialogue was held in Paris on Oct. 28-29. Organized by the European Climate Foundation and co-organized by the Institute of Climate Change and Sustainable Development of Tsinghua University, the dialogue has drawn over 20 high-level officials from signatory countries. (the European Climate Foundation/Handout via Xinhua)

    The sixth Friends of the Paris Agreement High-Level Dialogue was held in Paris on Oct. 28-29, where global leaders and stakeholders gathered to review both the significant progress and ongoing challenges faced by the international community in addressing climate-related crises since the Paris Agreement’s enactment.

    The dialogue was co-chaired by Xie Zhenhua, former China’s special envoy for climate change, and Laurence Tubiana, former France’s climate change ambassador and special representative for COP21.

    Organized by the European Climate Foundation and co-organized by the Institute of Climate Change and Sustainable Development of Tsinghua University, the dialogue has drawn over 20 high-level officials from signatory countries.

    Among the attendees are Laurent Fabius, president of the French Constitutional Council and former French prime minister, John Kerry, former U.S. Secretary of State, Teresa Ribera, European Commission’s first executive vice-president, Luiz Alberto Figueiredo Machado, former Brazilian minister of External Relations, Catherine McKenna, former Canadian minister of environment and climate change, Selwin Hart, special adviser to the UN Secretary-General and Assistant Secretary-General of the Climate Action Team, and Liu Zhenmin, China’s special envoy for climate change.

    As next year marks the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, participants reached a consensus on the need for all countries to embody the spirit of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) amid the current complex global challenges.

    They also emphasized a strong commitment to defending and upholding multilateralism, advancing the global process for climate action, and adhering to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.

    The attendees also agreed that countries must continue advancing climate actions under the framework of the Paris Agreement, adopt faster and larger-scale international cooperation to ensure the timely achievement of global climate goals, and accelerate the global transition toward green, low-carbon, and climate-resilient development.

    The participants also held in-depth discussions on various climate-related issues, such as the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), climate finance, energy transition, and technological innovation.

    They all agreed to further strengthen the role of the “Friends of the Paris Agreement,” supporting and advancing the success of this year’s UN Climate Change Conference in Baku (COP29) and laying the foundation for next year’s UN Climate Change Conference in Belem (COP30) in line with the goals and principles established by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement.

    The Friends of the Paris Agreement High-level Dialogue was initiated in 2019. It is hosted annually on a rotating basis by the European Climate Foundation and the Institute of Climate Change and Sustainable Development of Tsinghua University.

    The dialogue, gathering high-level representatives who have played key roles in the formulation and implementation of the Paris Agreement, serves as a platform for them to provide recommendations to the United Nations, the host countries of the Climate Conference and the secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, to promote the multilateral process. 

    MIL OSI China News –

    January 26, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Board appointments to foundations for relations with China and Japan

    Source: Australian Government – Minister of Foreign Affairs

    I am pleased to announce appointments to the boards of the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations and the Australia-Japan Foundation board.

    The Honourable Mark McGowan AC has been appointed to the Advisory Board of the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations.

    Mr McGowan brings a wealth of relevant experience having served as Premier of Western Australia. Prior to his election to the Parliament of Western Australia, Mr McGowan served as a legal officer in the Royal Australian Navy.

    The Advisory Board guides the Foundation in its efforts to promote and coordinate enhanced cooperation between Australia and China, in support of Australia’s national interests.

    The Foundation is focused on strengthening risk-informed engagement with China and reinforcing social cohesion by partnering with Chinese-Australian communities and showcasing their contributions.

    I am also pleased to announce a new appointment and two reappointments to the Australian-Japan Foundation board.

    Professor Shiro Armstrong, Director of the Australia-Japan Research Centre and Professor of the Crawford School of Public Policy at the Australian National University, will join the Australia-Japan Foundation Board in February 2025.

    Professor Caroline McMillen AO FAHMS and Ms Yuki Nakamura have been reappointed for a second three-year term from October 2024. Professor McMillen is the former Chief Scientist for South Australia and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Newcastle, with an extensive academic and scientific background. Ms Nakamura is the Executive Director of Nakamura Chocolates. She focuses on business in Japan and female entrepreneurship.

    I would like to thank Mr Adam Liaw, for his exceptional contribution to the Australia-Japan Foundation over the past six years, including as acting Chair in 2024. Mr Liaw will finish his second term on 1 February 2025.

    The Australian-Japan Foundation is Australia’s oldest cultural council and underpins our Special Strategic Partnership with Japan. It advances Australia’s foreign and trade policy interests with Japan by supporting partnerships in economic security, the arts, education, science, technology and sport.

    To find out more, see Australia-Japan Foundation and National Foundation for Australia-China Relations.

    MIL OSI News –

    January 26, 2025
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