1) The World Health Organization released a report stating that the Fukushima nuclear disaster will cause minimal increased risk of cancer. It estimated increased lifetime risks of certain cancers based on radiation exposure levels in different locations.
2) Mandatory U.S. budget cuts of $85 billion took effect, reducing funding for science agencies. Agencies are calculating how to save 5% through reducing grants, administrative costs, and ongoing programs.
3) The Swiss government approved spending to create a protected field site for experiments with genetically modified crops in order to reduce security costs from potential vandalism.
Researchers were able to detect a fast radio burst (FRB) for the first time by accessing archival data from the Parkes Radio Telescope. FRBs were first discovered in 2007 by astronomers analyzing archival Parkes data. Emily Petroff and her team were the first to detect an FRB live, lasting only a millisecond. Opening up research data aids new discoveries and boosts the economy, according to a 2014 report estimating that data sharing is worth up to $5.5 billion annually to Australia. The report shows investing in data infrastructure and policies encouraging sharing can significantly increase value to Australian innovation, research, and the economy.
This document summarizes a workshop discussing the need to improve fire safety in the U.S. through innovative research. Key points discussed include:
- The U.S. continues to lead in fire deaths and losses despite efforts since the 1970s.
- Federal funding of university fire research has declined 85% since the 1970s, limiting research scope and breadth.
- Workshop participants identified knowledge gaps in areas like fire behavior, materials, systems, tools, structures, and human behavior that could be addressed through increased research funding and coordination.
Intro of data analysis in healthcare for triple aimYaxing Liu
Have you ever heard of Triple Aim in healthcare? The slide briefly introduces how to turn millions of healthcare data into useful insights and predictions for Triple Aim. What aspects do we usually use data for analysis? Reports for enrollment and ED visits demonstrate the aspects you can dig into. What is the structure for claims? How to use quality measures? It also has emergency department (ED) visits as the example to show how to use the codes in claims to dig out ED visits. Lastly, it explains common diagnosis and procedure coding in healthcare, including ICD, CPT, and HCPCS.
EnergyFiles is a virtual library of energy-related scientific and technical information created by the US Department of Energy. It provides access to various collections including journal articles, technical reports, electronic preprints, and bibliographic databases containing over 2 million records. The Energy Citations Database within EnergyFiles contains citations and abstracts of literature from fields related to the work of the Department of Energy. Users can search individual databases or search across multiple collections simultaneously through the EnergyFiles portal.
The state of Maryland has established an endowment program to promote entrepreneurial science at colleges and universities in the state. Washington College received $1 million from the state and $1 million in private donations to create a new position of chief of entrepreneurial science. This position will focus on developing cheaper buoy technologies to monitor conditions in the Chester River and Chesapeake Bay. The buoy systems can track conditions for 1/10 the cost of traditional methods. The program is also funding new positions in cybersecurity at Morgan State University, human virology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and other fields. The goal is to spur new scientific discoveries that can lead to commercial products and company creation.
Open government resources and government funded open mandatesgsinclai0129
This document summarizes resources for open government data and federally funded research. It discusses:
1) How the U.S. government produces and disseminates research through reports, publications, and databases. This has shifted from print to online formats over time.
2) Examples of government data and research that is not openly accessible, such as some court and congressional documents.
3) Recent open data policies and requirements for publicly sharing the results of federally funded research through sites like Data.gov and agency public access plans.
The USGS conducts wildfire science to help build safer communities. It identifies wildfire risks and reduces hazards by studying historical fire patterns, monitoring current fires, and assessing post-fire impacts. USGS tools like FPI, GeoMAC and LANDFIRE provide data and maps to support land managers, emergency responders, and scientists.
This document provides details about a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine report on improving characterization of anthropogenic methane emissions in the United States. It includes information about accessing the full PDF report, contributors to the report, the committee that authored the report, and organizations that supported the study. The report examines approaches to measuring, monitoring and developing inventories of methane emissions with the goal of improving accuracy and verifiability of U.S. methane emissions inventories.
Researchers were able to detect a fast radio burst (FRB) for the first time by accessing archival data from the Parkes Radio Telescope. FRBs were first discovered in 2007 by astronomers analyzing archival Parkes data. Emily Petroff and her team were the first to detect an FRB live, lasting only a millisecond. Opening up research data aids new discoveries and boosts the economy, according to a 2014 report estimating that data sharing is worth up to $5.5 billion annually to Australia. The report shows investing in data infrastructure and policies encouraging sharing can significantly increase value to Australian innovation, research, and the economy.
This document summarizes a workshop discussing the need to improve fire safety in the U.S. through innovative research. Key points discussed include:
- The U.S. continues to lead in fire deaths and losses despite efforts since the 1970s.
- Federal funding of university fire research has declined 85% since the 1970s, limiting research scope and breadth.
- Workshop participants identified knowledge gaps in areas like fire behavior, materials, systems, tools, structures, and human behavior that could be addressed through increased research funding and coordination.
Intro of data analysis in healthcare for triple aimYaxing Liu
Have you ever heard of Triple Aim in healthcare? The slide briefly introduces how to turn millions of healthcare data into useful insights and predictions for Triple Aim. What aspects do we usually use data for analysis? Reports for enrollment and ED visits demonstrate the aspects you can dig into. What is the structure for claims? How to use quality measures? It also has emergency department (ED) visits as the example to show how to use the codes in claims to dig out ED visits. Lastly, it explains common diagnosis and procedure coding in healthcare, including ICD, CPT, and HCPCS.
EnergyFiles is a virtual library of energy-related scientific and technical information created by the US Department of Energy. It provides access to various collections including journal articles, technical reports, electronic preprints, and bibliographic databases containing over 2 million records. The Energy Citations Database within EnergyFiles contains citations and abstracts of literature from fields related to the work of the Department of Energy. Users can search individual databases or search across multiple collections simultaneously through the EnergyFiles portal.
The state of Maryland has established an endowment program to promote entrepreneurial science at colleges and universities in the state. Washington College received $1 million from the state and $1 million in private donations to create a new position of chief of entrepreneurial science. This position will focus on developing cheaper buoy technologies to monitor conditions in the Chester River and Chesapeake Bay. The buoy systems can track conditions for 1/10 the cost of traditional methods. The program is also funding new positions in cybersecurity at Morgan State University, human virology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and other fields. The goal is to spur new scientific discoveries that can lead to commercial products and company creation.
Open government resources and government funded open mandatesgsinclai0129
This document summarizes resources for open government data and federally funded research. It discusses:
1) How the U.S. government produces and disseminates research through reports, publications, and databases. This has shifted from print to online formats over time.
2) Examples of government data and research that is not openly accessible, such as some court and congressional documents.
3) Recent open data policies and requirements for publicly sharing the results of federally funded research through sites like Data.gov and agency public access plans.
The USGS conducts wildfire science to help build safer communities. It identifies wildfire risks and reduces hazards by studying historical fire patterns, monitoring current fires, and assessing post-fire impacts. USGS tools like FPI, GeoMAC and LANDFIRE provide data and maps to support land managers, emergency responders, and scientists.
This document provides details about a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine report on improving characterization of anthropogenic methane emissions in the United States. It includes information about accessing the full PDF report, contributors to the report, the committee that authored the report, and organizations that supported the study. The report examines approaches to measuring, monitoring and developing inventories of methane emissions with the goal of improving accuracy and verifiability of U.S. methane emissions inventories.
The document discusses a Japanese-American plaza in Portland, OR that was created to honor cultural diversity and remember the internment of Japanese families during WWII. It then lists various funding opportunities and events related to climate action, sustainability, and building a healthy future. Finally, it provides some sobering climate news including reports of potential impacts of melting Antarctic ice and findings from the latest IPCC report on the urgency of addressing climate change through emissions reductions.
The document discusses a Japanese-American plaza in Portland, OR that was created to honor cultural diversity and remember the internment of thousands of Japanese families during WWII. It then lists various funding opportunities and events related to climate action, sustainability, and building a healthy future. Finally, it provides some sobering climate news including reports of potential impacts of melting Antarctic ice and findings from the latest IPCC report on the urgency of addressing climate change through emissions reductions.
The document summarizes news from South America related to environment, science, technology, and health. It discusses experts calling for better monitoring and inclusion of water in development goals due to threats from human activities like dams and irrigation altering the global water system. It also reports on a conference in Germany bringing together water researchers to inform policy on water governance. Additionally, it notes a regional project cataloging humpback whales led by Chilean scientists and participation of local fishermen in ecotourism.
Federal funding for biomedical research has declined significantly in recent years due to budget constraints. This threatens scientific progress and the development of new treatments. Industry and universities must explore new collaborations to supplement decreased government funding. Innovative public-private partnerships and new funding models are needed to sustain world-class biomedical research and innovation in the US.
Bulletin of the Atomic Scientisits 2024-Doomsday-Clock-StatementJoão Soares
The document summarizes the 2024 Doomsday Clock statement from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. It finds that humanity faces an unprecedented level of danger from nuclear weapons, climate change, disruptive technologies, and other threats. The Doomsday Clock remains set at 90 seconds to midnight, the closest it has ever been to catastrophe. Key threats include an increased risk of nuclear war due to conflicts like Ukraine, an accelerating climate crisis, and dangers from emerging technologies like AI and biotechnology if left unchecked. Urgent global cooperation is needed to reduce threats and move the clock further from midnight.
Scott Edmunds from GigaScience on 'Publishing in the Open Data Era", at the "Open, Crowdsource and Blockchain Science!" hangout at Hackerspace.sg, 23rd March 2015
Abdelrahim, s. (2017). using citizen based observations to plan..Melissa Maxter
As a global challenge with profound implications at the local level, climate change provides new opportunities for individual engagement. Communities around the world have their own unique experiences with the effects of climate change, as well as drastically different climate adaptation needs. This gives individuals an unprecedented role to play in sharing information and guiding policymaking through citizen-based observation. In “Using Citizen-Based Observations to Plan for Climate Change,” Sarah Abdelrahim looks at the work of a variety of citizen-based observation networks, also known as citizens’ observatories. She recommends greater cooperation and support from government agencies and decision-makers for these networks as a key aspect of any and all climate change adaptation strategies.
This text was originally published by the Atlantic Council.
This document provides an agenda and summaries of recent developments in aging research and clinical trials presented by Bill Faloon:
1. Recent findings from studies on stem cells, drugs like rapamycin and metformin, and combination therapies that have significantly extended lifespan in animals and reduced biomarkers of aging and disease.
2. Large grants and donations totaling over $100 million to fund dog aging studies, trials on long-lived families, and stem cell research indicating increased support and optimism in the field.
3. Reviews of studies published in late 2019 showing that intermittent fasting regimens can improve health, reduce disease, and potentially extend lifespan in humans and animals through effects on cellular pathways and metabolism.
Fact-Based Regulation for Environmental Protection in Shale Gas DevelopmentMarcellus Drilling News
Study released in Feb 2012 by the Energy Institute at the University of Texas which looks at the science of hydraulic fracturing and a potential link between fracking and groundwater contamination. The study's conclusion: there is no link. Fracking itself does not contaminate groundwater. There are legitimate concerns about drilling, but those issues exist in conventional drilling--they are not specific to fracking.
Geologic Map of EuropaHow Will Climate ChangeA ect the .docxhanneloremccaffery
Geologic Map of Europa
How Will Climate Change
A� ect the United States?
Tracking River Flows
from Space
VOL. 99 • NO. 1 • JAN 2018
BRIDGING BETWEEN
DATA AND
SCIENCE
honors.agu.org
2018
HONORS
Recognize a colleague, mentor, peer or student
for their achievements and contributions
to the Earth and space sciences.
Nominations Open 15 January
• Union Medals • Union Fellowship • Union Prizes
• Union Awards • Sections Awards and Lectures
Earth & Space Science News Contents
Earth & Space Science News Eos.org // 1
JANUARY 2018
VOLUME 99, ISSUE 1
Giovanni: The Bridge Between
Data and Science
A Web- based tool provides a way to access, visualize, and explore many of NASA’s
Earth science data sets.
COVER
24
12 To Understand Future Solar Activity, One Has
to Know the Past
Short-term funding strategies present
serious problems for programs like solar
activity studies, where observations and
analysis span decades or longer.
OPINION
How Will Climate Change
Affect the United States
in Decades to Come?
A new U.S. government report shows
that climate is changing and that human
activities will lead to many more changes.
These changes will affect sea levels,
hurricane frequency, wildfires, and more.
FEATURE
18
Tracking River Flows
from Space
Satellite observations, combined
with algorithms borrowed from river
engineering, could fill large gaps in our
knowledge of global river flows where field
data are lacking.
PROJECT UPDATE
32
January 2018
Contents
Editor in Chief
Barbara T. Richman: AGU, Washington, D. C., USA; eos_ [email protected]
Christina M. S. Cohen
California Institute
of Technology, Pasadena,
Calif., USA;
[email protected] .caltech.edu
José D. Fuentes
Department of Meteorology,
Pennsylvania State
University, University
Park, Pa., USA;
[email protected]
Wendy S. Gordon
Ecologia Consulting,
Austin, Texas, USA;
[email protected]
.com
David Halpern
Jet Propulsion Laboratory,
Pasadena, Calif., USA;
[email protected]
.com
Carol A. Stein
Department of Earth and
Environmental Sciences,
University of Illinois at
Chicago, Chicago, Ill.,
USA; [email protected]
Editors
Editorial Advisory Board
Mark G. Flanner, Atmospheric Sciences
Nicola J. Fox, Space Physics
and Aeronomy
Peter Fox, Earth and Space Science
Informatics
Steve Frolking, Biogeosciences
Edward J. Garnero, Study of the
Earth’s Deep Interior
Michael N. Gooseff, Hydrology
Brian C. Gunter, Geodesy
Kristine C. Harper, History of Geophysics
Sarah M. Hörst, Planetary Sciences
Susan E. Hough, Natural Hazards
Emily R. Johnson, Volcanology,
Geochemistry, and Petrology
Keith D. Koper, Seismology
Robert E. Kopp, Geomagnetism
and Paleomagnetism
John W. Lane, Near-Surface Geophysics
Jian Lin, Tectonophysics
Figen Mekik, Paleoceanography
and Paleoclimatology
Jerry L. Miller, Ocean Sciences
Thomas H. Painter, Cryosphere Sciences
Philip J. Rasch, Global Environmental
Change
Eric M. Riggs, Education
Adrian Tuck, No ...
The document summarizes the key findings of a report published in The Lancet medical journal on the health impacts of climate change on children worldwide. The report found that failing to limit global temperature rise to under 2 degrees Celsius as outlined in the Paris Agreement would lead to increased health problems for children from infectious diseases, air pollution, heat, and malnutrition. Children are especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change due to their developing bodies and lungs. Without action to reduce emissions, air pollution and wildfires will increase, worsening health problems. The report aims to highlight the huge costs of climate change on children's health and well-being in an effort to spur stronger climate action.
The document summarizes the UK's response to the COVID-19 pandemic from January to April 2020. It notes that while the UK had been planning for a flu pandemic for over a decade, COVID-19 turned out to be unlike flu. UK scientists initially agreed the risk was low based on WHO statements, but underestimated issues like supply chain logistics and the need for mass testing and lockdowns. The strategy focused on protecting the NHS but not using outside resources. Overall, the UK government and scientists could have done better but were also sticking closely to their long-prepared plans, which inhibited agility as the pandemic evolved in unexpected ways. Nobody expected a virus so deadly to the elderly.
Sherri Rose wrote a fascinating article about statistician’s role in big data. One thing I really liked was this line: “This may require implementing commonly used methods, developing a new method, or integrating techniques from other fields to answer our problem.” I really like the idea that integrating and applying standard methods in new and creative ways can be viewed as a statistical contribution.
The article discusses Saudi Arabia's plans to invest $100 billion in renewable energy sources such as solar and nuclear power. As the world's largest oil exporter, Saudi Arabia is concerned about its declining oil reserves and increasing domestic energy demands. It wants to diversify its energy supply and reduce reliance on oil, while still exporting oil. The investment would be one of the largest ever in renewable energy and marks a strategic shift for an oil-dependent country. However, Saudi Arabia still has a long way to go to significantly decrease its domestic oil consumption.
Government leaders in India and Brazil have failed to adequately respond to the COVID-19 pandemic by not following scientific advice, resulting in many avoidable deaths. In India, leaders ignored warnings from scientists and became complacent when cases declined in early 2021, allowing large gatherings. They have also not provided full access to COVID-19 health data, hampering scientists' ability to analyze the situation and advise the government. This lack of action and transparency has undermined efforts to control the pandemic and reduce its human toll.
Please enjoy the latest issue of our weekly Newsletter. Disfruten la última edición de nuestro Boletin semanal. Desfrute da mais recente edição da nossa Newsletter semanal.
The nations of the world have agreed to the first global treaty to ban mercury emissions. Key aspects of the treaty include phasing out mercury in industrial processes and products, banning primary mercury mining, limiting emissions from power plants, and controlling exports and imports of mercury. The treaty also establishes funding to help developing countries phase out mercury in artisanal gold mining, which is a major source of emissions in parts of Latin America, Africa and Asia. While not banning mercury in vaccines, the treaty aims to significantly reduce global mercury use by 2020 if fully implemented.
The Rockefeller Foundation–Lancet Commission on Planetary Health: Safeguardin...The Rockefeller Foundation
The document summarizes the key findings of The Rockefeller Foundation–Lancet Commission on planetary health. It finds that:
1) While human health has greatly improved, this has come at the cost of degrading natural systems that support human civilization. Continued environmental damage threatens future health gains.
2) Challenges include conceptual failures to value nature, knowledge failures around environmental drivers of disease, and governance failures to recognize threats in a timely manner.
3) Solutions require new policies that balance social progress, sustainability, and economic growth, supported by improved governance and transdisciplinary research.
The document discusses a Japanese-American plaza in Portland, OR that was created to honor cultural diversity and remember the internment of Japanese families during WWII. It then lists various funding opportunities and events related to climate action, sustainability, and building a healthy future. Finally, it provides some sobering climate news including reports of potential impacts of melting Antarctic ice and findings from the latest IPCC report on the urgency of addressing climate change through emissions reductions.
The document discusses a Japanese-American plaza in Portland, OR that was created to honor cultural diversity and remember the internment of thousands of Japanese families during WWII. It then lists various funding opportunities and events related to climate action, sustainability, and building a healthy future. Finally, it provides some sobering climate news including reports of potential impacts of melting Antarctic ice and findings from the latest IPCC report on the urgency of addressing climate change through emissions reductions.
The document summarizes news from South America related to environment, science, technology, and health. It discusses experts calling for better monitoring and inclusion of water in development goals due to threats from human activities like dams and irrigation altering the global water system. It also reports on a conference in Germany bringing together water researchers to inform policy on water governance. Additionally, it notes a regional project cataloging humpback whales led by Chilean scientists and participation of local fishermen in ecotourism.
Federal funding for biomedical research has declined significantly in recent years due to budget constraints. This threatens scientific progress and the development of new treatments. Industry and universities must explore new collaborations to supplement decreased government funding. Innovative public-private partnerships and new funding models are needed to sustain world-class biomedical research and innovation in the US.
Bulletin of the Atomic Scientisits 2024-Doomsday-Clock-StatementJoão Soares
The document summarizes the 2024 Doomsday Clock statement from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. It finds that humanity faces an unprecedented level of danger from nuclear weapons, climate change, disruptive technologies, and other threats. The Doomsday Clock remains set at 90 seconds to midnight, the closest it has ever been to catastrophe. Key threats include an increased risk of nuclear war due to conflicts like Ukraine, an accelerating climate crisis, and dangers from emerging technologies like AI and biotechnology if left unchecked. Urgent global cooperation is needed to reduce threats and move the clock further from midnight.
Scott Edmunds from GigaScience on 'Publishing in the Open Data Era", at the "Open, Crowdsource and Blockchain Science!" hangout at Hackerspace.sg, 23rd March 2015
Abdelrahim, s. (2017). using citizen based observations to plan..Melissa Maxter
As a global challenge with profound implications at the local level, climate change provides new opportunities for individual engagement. Communities around the world have their own unique experiences with the effects of climate change, as well as drastically different climate adaptation needs. This gives individuals an unprecedented role to play in sharing information and guiding policymaking through citizen-based observation. In “Using Citizen-Based Observations to Plan for Climate Change,” Sarah Abdelrahim looks at the work of a variety of citizen-based observation networks, also known as citizens’ observatories. She recommends greater cooperation and support from government agencies and decision-makers for these networks as a key aspect of any and all climate change adaptation strategies.
This text was originally published by the Atlantic Council.
This document provides an agenda and summaries of recent developments in aging research and clinical trials presented by Bill Faloon:
1. Recent findings from studies on stem cells, drugs like rapamycin and metformin, and combination therapies that have significantly extended lifespan in animals and reduced biomarkers of aging and disease.
2. Large grants and donations totaling over $100 million to fund dog aging studies, trials on long-lived families, and stem cell research indicating increased support and optimism in the field.
3. Reviews of studies published in late 2019 showing that intermittent fasting regimens can improve health, reduce disease, and potentially extend lifespan in humans and animals through effects on cellular pathways and metabolism.
Fact-Based Regulation for Environmental Protection in Shale Gas DevelopmentMarcellus Drilling News
Study released in Feb 2012 by the Energy Institute at the University of Texas which looks at the science of hydraulic fracturing and a potential link between fracking and groundwater contamination. The study's conclusion: there is no link. Fracking itself does not contaminate groundwater. There are legitimate concerns about drilling, but those issues exist in conventional drilling--they are not specific to fracking.
Geologic Map of EuropaHow Will Climate ChangeA ect the .docxhanneloremccaffery
Geologic Map of Europa
How Will Climate Change
A� ect the United States?
Tracking River Flows
from Space
VOL. 99 • NO. 1 • JAN 2018
BRIDGING BETWEEN
DATA AND
SCIENCE
honors.agu.org
2018
HONORS
Recognize a colleague, mentor, peer or student
for their achievements and contributions
to the Earth and space sciences.
Nominations Open 15 January
• Union Medals • Union Fellowship • Union Prizes
• Union Awards • Sections Awards and Lectures
Earth & Space Science News Contents
Earth & Space Science News Eos.org // 1
JANUARY 2018
VOLUME 99, ISSUE 1
Giovanni: The Bridge Between
Data and Science
A Web- based tool provides a way to access, visualize, and explore many of NASA’s
Earth science data sets.
COVER
24
12 To Understand Future Solar Activity, One Has
to Know the Past
Short-term funding strategies present
serious problems for programs like solar
activity studies, where observations and
analysis span decades or longer.
OPINION
How Will Climate Change
Affect the United States
in Decades to Come?
A new U.S. government report shows
that climate is changing and that human
activities will lead to many more changes.
These changes will affect sea levels,
hurricane frequency, wildfires, and more.
FEATURE
18
Tracking River Flows
from Space
Satellite observations, combined
with algorithms borrowed from river
engineering, could fill large gaps in our
knowledge of global river flows where field
data are lacking.
PROJECT UPDATE
32
January 2018
Contents
Editor in Chief
Barbara T. Richman: AGU, Washington, D. C., USA; eos_ [email protected]
Christina M. S. Cohen
California Institute
of Technology, Pasadena,
Calif., USA;
[email protected] .caltech.edu
José D. Fuentes
Department of Meteorology,
Pennsylvania State
University, University
Park, Pa., USA;
[email protected]
Wendy S. Gordon
Ecologia Consulting,
Austin, Texas, USA;
[email protected]
.com
David Halpern
Jet Propulsion Laboratory,
Pasadena, Calif., USA;
[email protected]
.com
Carol A. Stein
Department of Earth and
Environmental Sciences,
University of Illinois at
Chicago, Chicago, Ill.,
USA; [email protected]
Editors
Editorial Advisory Board
Mark G. Flanner, Atmospheric Sciences
Nicola J. Fox, Space Physics
and Aeronomy
Peter Fox, Earth and Space Science
Informatics
Steve Frolking, Biogeosciences
Edward J. Garnero, Study of the
Earth’s Deep Interior
Michael N. Gooseff, Hydrology
Brian C. Gunter, Geodesy
Kristine C. Harper, History of Geophysics
Sarah M. Hörst, Planetary Sciences
Susan E. Hough, Natural Hazards
Emily R. Johnson, Volcanology,
Geochemistry, and Petrology
Keith D. Koper, Seismology
Robert E. Kopp, Geomagnetism
and Paleomagnetism
John W. Lane, Near-Surface Geophysics
Jian Lin, Tectonophysics
Figen Mekik, Paleoceanography
and Paleoclimatology
Jerry L. Miller, Ocean Sciences
Thomas H. Painter, Cryosphere Sciences
Philip J. Rasch, Global Environmental
Change
Eric M. Riggs, Education
Adrian Tuck, No ...
The document summarizes the key findings of a report published in The Lancet medical journal on the health impacts of climate change on children worldwide. The report found that failing to limit global temperature rise to under 2 degrees Celsius as outlined in the Paris Agreement would lead to increased health problems for children from infectious diseases, air pollution, heat, and malnutrition. Children are especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change due to their developing bodies and lungs. Without action to reduce emissions, air pollution and wildfires will increase, worsening health problems. The report aims to highlight the huge costs of climate change on children's health and well-being in an effort to spur stronger climate action.
The document summarizes the UK's response to the COVID-19 pandemic from January to April 2020. It notes that while the UK had been planning for a flu pandemic for over a decade, COVID-19 turned out to be unlike flu. UK scientists initially agreed the risk was low based on WHO statements, but underestimated issues like supply chain logistics and the need for mass testing and lockdowns. The strategy focused on protecting the NHS but not using outside resources. Overall, the UK government and scientists could have done better but were also sticking closely to their long-prepared plans, which inhibited agility as the pandemic evolved in unexpected ways. Nobody expected a virus so deadly to the elderly.
Sherri Rose wrote a fascinating article about statistician’s role in big data. One thing I really liked was this line: “This may require implementing commonly used methods, developing a new method, or integrating techniques from other fields to answer our problem.” I really like the idea that integrating and applying standard methods in new and creative ways can be viewed as a statistical contribution.
The article discusses Saudi Arabia's plans to invest $100 billion in renewable energy sources such as solar and nuclear power. As the world's largest oil exporter, Saudi Arabia is concerned about its declining oil reserves and increasing domestic energy demands. It wants to diversify its energy supply and reduce reliance on oil, while still exporting oil. The investment would be one of the largest ever in renewable energy and marks a strategic shift for an oil-dependent country. However, Saudi Arabia still has a long way to go to significantly decrease its domestic oil consumption.
Government leaders in India and Brazil have failed to adequately respond to the COVID-19 pandemic by not following scientific advice, resulting in many avoidable deaths. In India, leaders ignored warnings from scientists and became complacent when cases declined in early 2021, allowing large gatherings. They have also not provided full access to COVID-19 health data, hampering scientists' ability to analyze the situation and advise the government. This lack of action and transparency has undermined efforts to control the pandemic and reduce its human toll.
Please enjoy the latest issue of our weekly Newsletter. Disfruten la última edición de nuestro Boletin semanal. Desfrute da mais recente edição da nossa Newsletter semanal.
The nations of the world have agreed to the first global treaty to ban mercury emissions. Key aspects of the treaty include phasing out mercury in industrial processes and products, banning primary mercury mining, limiting emissions from power plants, and controlling exports and imports of mercury. The treaty also establishes funding to help developing countries phase out mercury in artisanal gold mining, which is a major source of emissions in parts of Latin America, Africa and Asia. While not banning mercury in vaccines, the treaty aims to significantly reduce global mercury use by 2020 if fully implemented.
The Rockefeller Foundation–Lancet Commission on Planetary Health: Safeguardin...The Rockefeller Foundation
The document summarizes the key findings of The Rockefeller Foundation–Lancet Commission on planetary health. It finds that:
1) While human health has greatly improved, this has come at the cost of degrading natural systems that support human civilization. Continued environmental damage threatens future health gains.
2) Challenges include conceptual failures to value nature, knowledge failures around environmental drivers of disease, and governance failures to recognize threats in a timely manner.
3) Solutions require new policies that balance social progress, sustainability, and economic growth, supported by improved governance and transdisciplinary research.
Indonesian Manpower Regulation on Severance Pay for Retiring Private Sector E...AHRP Law Firm
Law Number 13 of 2003 on Manpower has been partially revoked and amended several times, with the latest amendment made through Law Number 6 of 2023. Attention is drawn to a specific part of the Manpower Law concerning severance pay. This aspect is undoubtedly one of the most crucial parts regulated by the Manpower Law. It is essential for both employers and employees to abide by the law, fulfill their obligations, and retain their rights regarding this matter.
Capital Punishment by Saif Javed (LLM)ppt.pptxOmGod1
This PowerPoint presentation, titled "Capital Punishment in India: Constitutionality and Rarest of Rare Principle," is a comprehensive exploration of the death penalty within the Indian criminal justice system. Authored by Saif Javed, an LL.M student specializing in Criminal Law and Criminology at Kazi Nazrul University, the presentation delves into the constitutional aspects and ethical debates surrounding capital punishment. It examines key legal provisions, significant case laws, and the specific categories of offenders excluded from the death penalty. The presentation also discusses recent recommendations by the Law Commission of India regarding the gradual abolishment of capital punishment, except for terrorism-related offenses. This detailed analysis aims to foster informed discussions on the future of the death penalty in India.
1. 8 MARCH 2013 VOL 339 SCIENCE www.sciencemag.org1130
NEWS OF THE WEEK
CREDITS(TOPTOBOTTOM):ROLANDFISCHER/WIKIMEDIACOMMONS;THEYOMIURISHIMBUNVIAAPIMAGES
mates used were based on preliminary data;
actual measurements have shown the dose
levels to be lower. http://scim.ag/WHOcan
Washington, D.C. 2
A Budget Race Without
A Finish Line
The sequester has begun. But when and
where will it end?
U.S. government agencies are still trying
to figure out how to apply the $85 billion in
mandatory budget cuts that went into effect
on 1 March.And Congress could soften
the blow later this month when it takes up
emergency legislation to extend a temporary
spending measure for the remaining
7 months of the current fiscal year.
The sequester, part of a 10-year, $1.2 tril-
lion deficit reduction package agreed to in
August 2011, wasn’t supposed to happen
because its across-the-board mechanism was
thought to be too onerous. But now that never
is here, domestic science agencies are calcu-
lating how to save 5% through some combi-
nation of reducing the number of new grants,
shrinking existing grants, lowering admin-
istrative costs, and downsizing ongoing pro-
grams. See some scientists’reactions to the
“sciquester” on page 1133, and stay tuned.
Zurich, Switzerland 3
Secure Test Site for GM Crops
The Swiss government will create a per-
manently protected area on federal land
for experiments with genetically modified
(GM) crops, which is intended to reduce the
risk of vandalized fields as well as security
costs. In a paper published on 28 Febru-
ary in Trends in Biotechnology, scientists
from theAgroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon
research station and the University of Zurich
detailed the plan, which was approved by the
Swiss Parliament and officially announced
on 7 February. The Swiss Federal Council
approved spending 600,000 annually from
2014 to 2017 to create a protected field site
of approximately 3 hectares at the Recken-
holz research station, 10 kilometers north
of Zurich. Researchers will initially use it to
test GM wheat with resistance to powdery
mildew, a fungal disease.
In 2008, masked activists threatened
researchers at another experimental site
near Reckenholz and destroyed about one-
third of the plants there. In 2009, research-
ers used grant funds to install surveillance
cameras, build a double fence with barbed
wire and motion sensors, and hire secu-
rity guards. The study estimates that Swiss
researchers running recent GM trials spent
78% of their research funds on security.
http://scim.ag/SwissGM
New Delhi 4
A Flat Science Budget for 2013
Indian scientists face belt-tightening: On
28 February, the government sent to Parlia-
ment for approval a $12 billion budget for
science and technology in 2013, ending sev-
eral years of substantial increases for S&T.
The flat budget, which reflects the govern-
ment’s desire to reduce an almost $85 billion
deficit, will equate to spending reductions
with inflation running at about 5%.
Among the few highlights in the budget
proposal is a new, $50 million fund for proj-
ects aiming to lift people out of poverty. The
National Innovation Council will manage the
new fund; the kinds of projects it will sup-
Okuma, Japan 1
WHO: Fukushima Caused
Minimal Cancer Risk
The World Health Organization (WHO) on
28 February released a report saying that the
Fukushima nuclear disaster will cause no
observable increases in cancer rates among
residents of other countries and a very mini-
mal increased risk of cancer among residents
in the vicinity of the power plant. Workers
who battled problems at the plant do face
higher risks for some cancers.The WHO
team estimated the increased lifetime risk of
leukemia, thyroid cancer, and female breast
cancer based on earlier estimates of radia-
tion exposure in different locations around
the power plant, which experienced multiple
meltdowns and explosions in the aftermath of
the 11 March 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
Greenpeace condemned the report, stating
that it “shamelessly downplays the impact of
early radioactive releases from the Fuku-
shima disaster on people inside the 20 km
evacuation zone who were not able to leave
the area quickly.” But Kazuo Sakai, a radia-
tion biologist at Japan’s National Institute of
Radiological Sciences, believes that the risks
are overestimated, noting that the dose esti-
3
6
12
5
AROUND THE WORLD
Join us on Thursday, 14 March, at 3 p.m. EDT
for a live chat with experts on how arts
education affects the brain.
http://scim.ag/science-live
4
Inspectors at a Fukushima
reactor building in May 2012.
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CREDITS(TOPTOBOTTOM):COURTESYOFINDIANAUNIVERSITY;MASSACHUSETTSINSTITUTEOFTECHNOLOGY
NEWSMAKERS
Beautiful Cells
The winners are in—and they’re colorful. On 27 February, GE Healthcare Life Sci-
ences announced the winners of its 2012 Cell Imaging Competition, chosen by pub-
lic vote with more than 15,000 votes cast. Cell biologist and cancer researcher Jane
Stout of Indiana University (IU), Bloomington, took the award in the High- and Super-
Resolution Microscopy category for this image of metaphase epithelial cells (micro-
tubules are in red, kinetochores in green, and DNA in blue). Research scientist
Anushree Balachandran of Genea Limited, based in Sydney, Australia, won the High-
Content Analysis category, while cell biologist Markus Posch of the University of
Dundee in the United Kingdom was the regional winner in Microscopy.
Stout’s image was taken with the university’s DeltaVision OMX imaging system—
nicknamed the “OMG” microscope by IU researchers. The image will also light up New
York City’s Times Square this April when it appears on the famed electronic billboard
known as the big screen.
port have not been revealed. But the fund’s
size will surely limit its impact, says physi-
cist and Indian National ScienceAcademy
President Krishan Lal. “While the intent is
correct, for a country of 1.2 billion people,
this is only a drop in the ocean.”
Meanwhile, major planned initiatives
will go ahead, including India’s maiden mis-
sion to Mars and the launch of the country’s
first military satellite. Grants to individual
researchers are likely to bear the brunt of
cuts necessary to offset big science spend-
ing. Parliament must pass the budget before
the start of the next fiscal year on 1April.
http://scim.ag/Indbud
Lower Saxony, Germany 5
Genetic Engineering School
Project Cut Off
One of the largest states in Germany is clos-
ing school laboratories as part of a strat-
egy to “keep Lower Saxony free of genetic
engineering.” The new regional government
of Social Democrats and Greens announced
that it would end support of the Hannover-
GEN initiative, a project that installed and
equipped four school laboratories in the
state, allowing pupils to perform experi-
ments in genetic engineering such as iso-
lating DNA from tomatoes. The project,
which started in 2008, was seen as a suc-
cess by the previous government, which
planned to expand it to 100 schools.
However, Greenpeace and other NGOs
claimed that the learning materials gave a
biased view of the debate about genetic engi-
neering. The new government adopted that
view and resolved in its coalition agreement
to end the project. Hans-Jörg Jacobsen, a
plant geneticist at the University of Han-
nover and one of the initiators of the project,
said that termination was a mistake because
the project “allowed pupils to make up their
own minds based on knowledge.” Students
in the program have also protested the deci-
sion, and the project’s coordinators and the
schools’principals have started an online
petition requesting that the state’s prime min-
ister visit a lab before deciding its future.
United Kingdom 6
Ranking Countries’ Health
The United Kingdom hasn’t kept up with its
European neighbors in health over the past
2 decades. In a paper published online by
The Lancet on 4 March, Christopher Murray
of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evalu-
ation (IHME) at the University of Wash-
ington, Seattle, and more than a dozen U.K.
public health experts report that although life
expectancy increased by 4.2 years between
1990 and 2010, disability due to being over-
weight or obese has increased dramatically.
The overall health numbers place the
United Kingdom below average when
compared with the original 15 members
of the European Union, Australia, Canada,
Norway, and the United States. The Lancet
paper comes at the same time that IHME
published online analyses for 187 countries
of its vast collection of data on disease
burden and mortality due to 291 diseases
(Science, 14 December 2012, p. 1414).
Public health experts—and the general
public—can sift through the findings at
www.healthmetricsandevaluation.org.
Moniz Tapped for DOE,
McCarthy for EPA
This week President
Barack Obama tapped an
academic scientist with a
long Washington resume
to lead the Department
of Energy (DOE) and a
data-hungry policy wonk
who’s already in town to
run the Environmental
ProtectionAgency (EPA).
Physicist Ernest Moniz, head of a high-
profile energy think tank at the Massa-
chusetts Institute of Technology, served as
DOE’s undersecretary and a senior White
House science aide under President >>
Moniz
NEWS
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