SSBR Presentation to JISC Institutional Innovation Working GroupGeorge Roberts
This document discusses the agenda and work plans for the JISC Institutional Innovation Working Group meeting on January 14, 2011. It outlines the presentation of synthesis reports from the Supporting Student Retention and Success Benchmarking Research (SSBR) project, a review of exemplar portfolios from Phase 2, and the development of a database and data visualization tools. It also addresses how outputs from the SSBR project and Institutional Innovation program will be communicated by JISC and disseminated to the higher education sector in April 2011 and beyond.
Presented by A. Larbi, M. Bekunda, I. Hoeschle-Zeledon, K. Bekele, G. Fischer, P. Thorne, K. Mekonnen, C. Azzarri and J. Groot at the Africa RISING Humidtropics Systems Research Marketplace, Ibadan, Nigeria, 15-17 November 2016
Sustainable intensification tradeoff and synergiesafrica-rising
This document discusses sustainable intensification in African agriculture. It notes that increasing production sustainably involves complex tradeoffs across social, economic, environmental, and other domains. The document proposes a framework for assessing these tradeoffs using indicators at different scales. Key tradeoffs mentioned include balancing short-term production against long-term sustainability, and reconciling competing needs around issues like land and resource use between different groups. The framework is intended to help identify tradeoffs, evaluate technologies, and monitor community impacts over time to support more sustainable agricultural intensification in Africa.
Mean water balance dynamics and smallholder management options for improved a...africa-rising
Poster prepared by F. Kizito, E. Salifu, W. Agyare and Cofie, O for the Africa RISING West Africa Review and Planning Meeting, Accra, 1-2 February 2017
Integrated landscape management: Africa RISING R4D experiences in the Ethiopi...africa-rising
Presented by Lulseged Tamene, Tesfaye Yaekob, James Ellison, Kindu Mekonnen, Kifle Woldearegay, Zenebe Adimassu, Temesgen Alene, Workneh Dubale, Mohammed Ibrahim, Biyensa Gurmessa, Girma Kassie and Peter Thorne at the Workshop and Exhibition on Promoting Productivity and Market Access Technologies and Approaches to Improve Farm Income and Livelihoods in Ethiopia: Lessons from Action Research Projects, ILRI, Addis Ababa, 8-9 December 2016
SSBR Presentation to JISC Institutional Innovation Working GroupGeorge Roberts
This document discusses the agenda and work plans for the JISC Institutional Innovation Working Group meeting on January 14, 2011. It outlines the presentation of synthesis reports from the Supporting Student Retention and Success Benchmarking Research (SSBR) project, a review of exemplar portfolios from Phase 2, and the development of a database and data visualization tools. It also addresses how outputs from the SSBR project and Institutional Innovation program will be communicated by JISC and disseminated to the higher education sector in April 2011 and beyond.
Presented by A. Larbi, M. Bekunda, I. Hoeschle-Zeledon, K. Bekele, G. Fischer, P. Thorne, K. Mekonnen, C. Azzarri and J. Groot at the Africa RISING Humidtropics Systems Research Marketplace, Ibadan, Nigeria, 15-17 November 2016
Sustainable intensification tradeoff and synergiesafrica-rising
This document discusses sustainable intensification in African agriculture. It notes that increasing production sustainably involves complex tradeoffs across social, economic, environmental, and other domains. The document proposes a framework for assessing these tradeoffs using indicators at different scales. Key tradeoffs mentioned include balancing short-term production against long-term sustainability, and reconciling competing needs around issues like land and resource use between different groups. The framework is intended to help identify tradeoffs, evaluate technologies, and monitor community impacts over time to support more sustainable agricultural intensification in Africa.
Mean water balance dynamics and smallholder management options for improved a...africa-rising
Poster prepared by F. Kizito, E. Salifu, W. Agyare and Cofie, O for the Africa RISING West Africa Review and Planning Meeting, Accra, 1-2 February 2017
Integrated landscape management: Africa RISING R4D experiences in the Ethiopi...africa-rising
Presented by Lulseged Tamene, Tesfaye Yaekob, James Ellison, Kindu Mekonnen, Kifle Woldearegay, Zenebe Adimassu, Temesgen Alene, Workneh Dubale, Mohammed Ibrahim, Biyensa Gurmessa, Girma Kassie and Peter Thorne at the Workshop and Exhibition on Promoting Productivity and Market Access Technologies and Approaches to Improve Farm Income and Livelihoods in Ethiopia: Lessons from Action Research Projects, ILRI, Addis Ababa, 8-9 December 2016
Crop varieties research and implications on closing yield gaps and diversifyi...africa-rising
Presented by Kalpana Sharma, Frédéric Baudron, Yetsedaw Aynewa, Seid Ahmed Kemal, Asheber Kifle, Meresiet Hailu and Shawkat Begum at the Workshop and Exhibition on Promoting Productivity and Market Access Technologies and Approaches to Improve Farm Income and Livelihoods in Ethiopia: Lessons from Action Research Projects, ILRI, Addis Ababa, 8-9 December 2016
Sustainable intensification indicator framework for Africa RISINGafrica-rising
Presented by Philip Grabowski (Michigan State University), Mark Musumba (Columbia University), Cheryl Palm (University of Florida) and Sieg Snapp (Michigan State University) at the Africa RISING East and Southern Africa Phase II Planning Meeting, Lilongwe, Malawi, 5-8 October 2016
Water availability for dry season irrigation in the Anayariwatershed in Ghanaafrica-rising
1) Farmers in the Anayari watershed region of Ghana could increase their resilience to climate change by expanding irrigation from the current 1,057 hectares to the full potential of 4,600 hectares.
2) Groundwater irrigation efficiencies need to be improved from the current 28-54% to over 70% to ensure long-term sustainability of groundwater resources.
3) Expanding irrigation to the full potential is estimated to reduce streamflow into a major dam by only 0.01%, which is considered insignificant.
Decision support tools for farm-level fertilizer recommendation in Ethiopiaafrica-rising
This document summarizes research on developing decision support tools for farm-level fertilizer recommendations in Ethiopia. The research identified three types of crop responses to fertilizer based on 500 farmer fields: 1) foot slopes had very good crops that responded well to fertilizer, 2) midslopes had crops that did well and responded significantly to fertilizer, and 3) hillslopes generally had very bad crops regardless of high fertilizer application. The research aims to validate these models in other cropping systems and develop farmer-friendly recommendation tools through collaboration between researchers and the Ethiopian government.
Introducing the sustainable intensification assessment frameworkafrica-rising
Presented by Mark Musumba, Philip Grabowski, Cheryl Palm and Sieglinde Snapp at the Africa RISING West Africa Review and Planning Meeting, Accra, 1-2 February 2017
Africa RISING scaling opportunities and partners—Ghanaafrica-rising
Presented by Naaminong Karbo (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Ghana) at the Africa RISING West Africa Review and Planning Meeting, Accra, 1-2 February 2017
Partnerships for sustainable intensification research in Africaafrica-rising
Presented by Mateete Bekunda, Asamoah Larbi, Irmgard Hoeschle-Zeledon (IITA) and Kindu Mekonnen (ILRI) at the ASA, CSSA, and SSSA Annual Meeting, Phoenix, USA, 7 November 2016
Africa RISING seeks partnership with development institutions for scaling of ...africa-rising
Presented by Mateete Bekunda, Haroon Sseguya and Irmgard Hoeschle-Zeledon at the Africa RISING–CRS (Catholic Relief Services) Tanzania Meeting, Dar es Salaam, 6 March 2017
Scaling models and approaches: Experience from the Africa RISING-NAFAKA Proje...africa-rising
This document summarizes the objectives and approaches of the Africa RISING-NAFAKA Project in Tanzania. The project aims to: 1) identify and promote improved, resilient varieties of staple crops; 2) disseminate best agronomic practices; 3) protect land and water resources; 4) introduce post-harvest technologies; and 5) build community capacities. It utilizes demonstration models, lead farmers, rural agro-dealers, field days and training to disseminate technologies for rice, maize, vegetables and post-harvest handling. The project partners with government institutions, NGOs, private sector and donors to leverage resources and deepen engagement with beneficiaries and local governments.
Reaching farmers with weed management technologies: Scaling approaches that workafrica-rising
The document discusses the Cassava Weed Management Project which aims to scale weed management technologies to farmers through various approaches. It seeks to reach 125,000 farmers through on-farm demonstrations conducted by extension agents and spray service providers. The project trains spray service providers who can each reach 50 farmers per season, allowing the project to potentially impact 50,000 farmers. It works with various partners and utilizes strategies such as social media, farmer field days, and partnerships with local governments to disseminate best practices for managing weeds, a major constraint to cassava productivity.
This document proposes the PROIntensAfrica project, which aims to develop a long-term research partnership between Europe and Africa to promote sustainable agricultural intensification. It would do so by building a scientific agenda, mapping existing research, establishing governance structures, and creating communication strategies. The project is organized into work packages to coordinate the partnership, identify effective agricultural pathways, build on current initiatives, establish rules for participation, engage policymakers, and ensure impact. The overall goal is to improve food security in Africa through sustainable intensification of agro-food systems.
Crop varieties research and implications on closing yield gaps and diversifyi...africa-rising
Presented by Kalpana Sharma, Frédéric Baudron, Yetsedaw Aynewa, Seid Ahmed Kemal, Asheber Kifle, Meresiet Hailu and Shawkat Begum at the Workshop and Exhibition on Promoting Productivity and Market Access Technologies and Approaches to Improve Farm Income and Livelihoods in Ethiopia: Lessons from Action Research Projects, ILRI, Addis Ababa, 8-9 December 2016
Sustainable intensification indicator framework for Africa RISINGafrica-rising
Presented by Philip Grabowski (Michigan State University), Mark Musumba (Columbia University), Cheryl Palm (University of Florida) and Sieg Snapp (Michigan State University) at the Africa RISING East and Southern Africa Phase II Planning Meeting, Lilongwe, Malawi, 5-8 October 2016
Water availability for dry season irrigation in the Anayariwatershed in Ghanaafrica-rising
1) Farmers in the Anayari watershed region of Ghana could increase their resilience to climate change by expanding irrigation from the current 1,057 hectares to the full potential of 4,600 hectares.
2) Groundwater irrigation efficiencies need to be improved from the current 28-54% to over 70% to ensure long-term sustainability of groundwater resources.
3) Expanding irrigation to the full potential is estimated to reduce streamflow into a major dam by only 0.01%, which is considered insignificant.
Decision support tools for farm-level fertilizer recommendation in Ethiopiaafrica-rising
This document summarizes research on developing decision support tools for farm-level fertilizer recommendations in Ethiopia. The research identified three types of crop responses to fertilizer based on 500 farmer fields: 1) foot slopes had very good crops that responded well to fertilizer, 2) midslopes had crops that did well and responded significantly to fertilizer, and 3) hillslopes generally had very bad crops regardless of high fertilizer application. The research aims to validate these models in other cropping systems and develop farmer-friendly recommendation tools through collaboration between researchers and the Ethiopian government.
Introducing the sustainable intensification assessment frameworkafrica-rising
Presented by Mark Musumba, Philip Grabowski, Cheryl Palm and Sieglinde Snapp at the Africa RISING West Africa Review and Planning Meeting, Accra, 1-2 February 2017
Africa RISING scaling opportunities and partners—Ghanaafrica-rising
Presented by Naaminong Karbo (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Ghana) at the Africa RISING West Africa Review and Planning Meeting, Accra, 1-2 February 2017
Partnerships for sustainable intensification research in Africaafrica-rising
Presented by Mateete Bekunda, Asamoah Larbi, Irmgard Hoeschle-Zeledon (IITA) and Kindu Mekonnen (ILRI) at the ASA, CSSA, and SSSA Annual Meeting, Phoenix, USA, 7 November 2016
Africa RISING seeks partnership with development institutions for scaling of ...africa-rising
Presented by Mateete Bekunda, Haroon Sseguya and Irmgard Hoeschle-Zeledon at the Africa RISING–CRS (Catholic Relief Services) Tanzania Meeting, Dar es Salaam, 6 March 2017
Scaling models and approaches: Experience from the Africa RISING-NAFAKA Proje...africa-rising
This document summarizes the objectives and approaches of the Africa RISING-NAFAKA Project in Tanzania. The project aims to: 1) identify and promote improved, resilient varieties of staple crops; 2) disseminate best agronomic practices; 3) protect land and water resources; 4) introduce post-harvest technologies; and 5) build community capacities. It utilizes demonstration models, lead farmers, rural agro-dealers, field days and training to disseminate technologies for rice, maize, vegetables and post-harvest handling. The project partners with government institutions, NGOs, private sector and donors to leverage resources and deepen engagement with beneficiaries and local governments.
Reaching farmers with weed management technologies: Scaling approaches that workafrica-rising
The document discusses the Cassava Weed Management Project which aims to scale weed management technologies to farmers through various approaches. It seeks to reach 125,000 farmers through on-farm demonstrations conducted by extension agents and spray service providers. The project trains spray service providers who can each reach 50 farmers per season, allowing the project to potentially impact 50,000 farmers. It works with various partners and utilizes strategies such as social media, farmer field days, and partnerships with local governments to disseminate best practices for managing weeds, a major constraint to cassava productivity.
This document proposes the PROIntensAfrica project, which aims to develop a long-term research partnership between Europe and Africa to promote sustainable agricultural intensification. It would do so by building a scientific agenda, mapping existing research, establishing governance structures, and creating communication strategies. The project is organized into work packages to coordinate the partnership, identify effective agricultural pathways, build on current initiatives, establish rules for participation, engage policymakers, and ensure impact. The overall goal is to improve food security in Africa through sustainable intensification of agro-food systems.
The document summarizes proceedings from a monitoring and evaluation learning forum for IFAD projects in Nigeria. Participants shared challenges and experiences. Key outcomes included developing a framework to monitor annual workplans and budgets, and defining options for sustainable capacity building, including recommendations for harmonized country-level M&E support.
Existing and evolving platform for farmers participatory action research with...Sri Lmb
This document discusses participatory action research (PAR) being implemented as part of an existing project called SRI-LMB in 4 Southeast Asian countries. PAR involves iterative cycles of planning, action and reflection with farmers. In the first cycle, implementation of PAR varied by country and yielded some lessons. Changes are planned for the second cycle to make PAR more needs-based, improve experimental designs, and encourage local adaptation of practices. Continued evolution of PAR through stakeholder review and involvement of additional partners is needed to fully institutionalize gains and ensure economic sustainability for farmers.
Facilitating partnerships and institutional engagements for effective impleme...ILRI
Presented by Denis Mujibi (Institute of People Innovation and Change in Organizations - Eastern Africa (PICO-EA) ), at the Second ACGG Program Management Team Meeting, Arusha, 27-28 January 2016
1. The document describes a learning initiative taking place from October 8-14, 2017 in Kenya focused on linking smallholder farmers to commercialization practices through farmers' organizations in the Kenyan dairy sector.
2. A total of 20 participants from different world regions will be selected to participate in activities including visits to successful dairy farmers' organizations, panels with experts, and developing innovation plans to apply lessons back home.
3. The goal is to strengthen participants' expertise on how farmers' organizations can help smallholders commercialize, through exploring best practices in governance, business models, and promoting institutional dialogue.
Empirical-based Analytical Insights on the Position, Challenges and Potentia...African Virtual University
Empirical-based Analytical Insights on the Position, Challenges and Potential for Promoting OERin ODeL Institutions in Africa
Prof. C.K. Muganda and Dr. A.S. Samzugi
Open University of Tanzania
and Brenda Mallinson, OER Africa / Saide
AfrIPEN report of planning workshop 20-21 June 2016Stefanus Snyman
This document summarizes the proceedings of a planning workshop held in June 2016 to establish the African Interprofessional Education Network (AfrIPEN). Key outcomes of the workshop include:
1. Setting priorities and forming work groups to address the development of AfrIPEN's organizational capacity, conducting an IPE resource survey across institutions, compiling stories of IPE in sub-Saharan Africa, developing IPE policies and guidelines, creating an online platform for sharing resources, developing an IPE facilitator course, establishing a collaborative research framework, and contributing to a journal edition on IPE in the region.
2. Analyzing the current status, breakthroughs, facilitators and barriers to IPE across sub-Saharan
In this presentation Tim Kelly from the World Bank provides a general
overview about the project and the debate so far in the eTransform Africa project.
Session 6: Guidelines for rapporteurs and conveners FAO
Guidelines for rapporteurs and conveners - Session 6: Making research and science reach farmers and end users, Land and Water Days in Near East & North Africa, 15-18 December 2013, Amman, Jordan
The newsletter provides information on upcoming Earth observation related events in Africa and activities of the BRAGMA project. The BRAGMA project is coordinating a GMES and Africa validation workshop in October in South Africa to finalize an action plan. It is also participating in the AfricaGIS conference in Ethiopia to promote GMES and Africa, including organizing a panel discussion. Additionally, the newsletter announces the launch of the AfriGEOSS initiative and updates on various working groups and resources provided by the BRAGMA project website.
The document summarizes the progress made by the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) in implementing resolutions from its 5th General Assembly in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. It discusses actions taken to address resolutions on investing in agricultural innovation, knowledge centers and networks, and resilience of African agricultural trade. It also outlines FARA's journey over time, a joint external review, and plans to develop a Science Agenda for Agriculture in Africa to guide future work.
Photo report on the Africa RISING Program Learning Eventafrica-rising
The Africa RISING Program held its annual learning event in Malawi from February 5-8, 2019. Over 60 participants from six African countries attended to share experiences implementing the Sustainable Intensification Assessment Framework, systems research, and program terminology. This year's event included field visits to project sites, allowing participants to learn practically in addition to theoretical discussions. Key discussions focused on defining systems research and mainstreaming the assessment framework across Africa RISING projects.
The document discusses the role of global and regional adaptation networks like the Global Adaptation Network (GAN) and Asia Pacific Adaptation Network (APAN) in supporting countries' adaptation plans and policies. GAN seeks to build climate resilience through knowledge sharing, and operates at both global and regional levels through networks like APAN. APAN aims to equip actors in the Asia Pacific region with adaptation knowledge and has over 17 partners and 4,000 participants in its events. The document outlines GAN and APAN's activities and lessons learned about effective knowledge management and delivery to benefit countries.
CIKM Presentation at the AFAAS Review Workshop Addis-Ababa 15 oct 2014 AFAAS
1. The document summarizes the Communication, Information and Knowledge Management (CIKM) component of the African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS).
2. It outlines the CIKM results so far, including organizing symposia, an agricultural extension week, establishing a website and social media accounts, and developing frameworks and guides.
3. It then describes the current CIKM tools - which include the AFAAS website, virtual platform, visibility plan, and social media accounts - and challenges faced by the CIKM component, such as low capacity to use web tools, poor internet connectivity, and multilingual issues.
Similar to Highlights from the 2014 Africa RISING Program-wide Learning Event (20)
Africa RISING project implementation and contribution in Ethiopia. Presented at Africa RISING close-out event.
24-25 January 2023
ILRI campus- Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
The document summarizes a field visit by Africa RISING CGIAR partners to sites in Ethiopia where they are implementing their new SI-MFS initiative. It describes some innovative farmers in the Lemo and Doyogena districts who have adopted integrated crop-livestock-NRM practices promoted by Africa RISING, including using protein-rich legume fodder trees, energy-rich grasses, and soil and water conservation practices. It also highlights the challenges of water shortage and disease, and the potential for the new SI-MFS initiative to build on the success stories and learning from Africa RISING farmers.
This document summarizes planned and ongoing agricultural research activities and studies in the Ethiopian highlands for 2022. It discusses field activities related to livestock feed and forage development as well as crop varietal selection. It also outlines planned, ongoing, and completed studies on topics like gender and scaling assessments. The document notes legacy products to be developed and capacity building efforts. It describes plans to broadcast livestock innovations through local radio and concludes with noting the planned closure of the Africa Research project in Ethiopia in early 2023.
Haimanot Seifu provided a communications update on the Africa RISING program in the Ethiopian Highlands. Key activities before the program ends this year include producing extension manuals, policy briefs, a special journal issue, and a photo book. Surveys are also ongoing regarding gender, monitoring impacts, spillover effects, and scaling. Africa RISING is partnering with AICCRA on workshops, surveys, training modules, and broadcasting feed and forage technologies on local radio stations. A new initiative called SI-MFS involving mixed farming systems in 6 countries was also launched in May to run initially for 3 years from 2022-2024. Support is needed from CKM for legacy products, facilitating
Technique de compostage des tiges de cotonnier au Mali-Sudafrica-rising
Poster prepared by Moumini Guindo, Bouba Traoré, Birhanu Zemadim Birhanu, and Alou Coulibaly for the 13th Symposium of the Malian Society of Applied Sciences (MSAS), 01 July – 05 August 2022.
Flux des nutriments (N, P, K) des resources organiques dans les exploitations...africa-rising
Poster prepared by Moumini Guindo, Bouba Traoré, Birhanu Zemadim Birhanu, and Alou Coulibaly for the 13th Symposium of the Malian Society of Applied Sciences (MSAS), 01 July 1 – 05 August 2022.
The Africa RISING project in Ethiopia's highlands had the goals of improving food security, gender equality, nutrition, income, and capacity building through sustainable intensification research from 2012-2022. It worked in four regions, implementing tested interventions like improved crops, fertilizers, and mechanization. Over 360,000 households directly benefited from validated technologies in phase two, while over 30,000 people participated in training. The project supported graduate students, published research, and faced challenges like COVID-19 and funding issues before planning its exit strategies.
Eliciting willingness to pay for quality maize and beans: Evidence from exper...africa-rising
Poster prepared by Julius Manda, Adane Tufa, Christopher Mutungi, Arega Alene, Victor Manyong and Tahirou Abdoulaye for the IITA Social Science Group Virtual Meeting, 7 December 2021.
The woman has no right to sell livestock: The role of gender norms in Norther...africa-rising
Presented by Kipo Jimah and Gundula Fischer (IITA) at the virtual conference on Cultivating Equality: Advancing Gender Research in Agriculture and Food Systems, 12-15 October 2021
This document summarizes two assessments conducted by Africa RISING on sustainable intensification and return on investment from 2011-2020. It finds that:
1) The total value of direct benefits to farmers was $74.6 million, while the total project cost was $15.9 million, resulting in a return on investment of 469%.
2) An assessment of progress towards sustainable intensification analyzed households by total production per hectare and compared indicators across five domains. It found that more intensified households showed improved scores in agricultural production, economics, environment, human welfare, and social indicators.
3) A focus on assessments at the woreda (district) level provided insights into differences between communities and guidance for
The document summarizes the results of a nutrition assessment study and lessons learned from it. The study aimed to identify how Africa RISING interventions contributed to household nutrition. It used a qualitative research approach with key informant interviews and focus group discussions in Ethiopia. The results showed that the interventions helped to produce and consume a more diverse and nutritious diet, generate income, and improve knowledge of food production and preparation. However, diet diversity remained low and certain nutrient-rich foods were still limited. Key lessons were that technical nutrition support needs frequent follow-ups, and engaging community leaders and husbands is important for influencing mothers' nutrition practices.
The document discusses plans for scaling assessment of Africa RISING interventions. It notes that Africa RISING's second phase focused on scaling approaches through recruiting scaling partners, training of trainers, multi-stakeholder meetings, and research backstopping. The assessment aims to document scaling practices, identify areas for increased support, and develop an exit strategy as the program period concludes. It will use ILRI's scaling framework over six months to provide a technical report and scientific paper.
This document summarizes a presentation on conducting on-farm trials at scale using crowdsourcing. It discusses the benefits and challenges of traditional on-farm trials, and proposes a solution using digital platforms and farmer participation. Farmers would receive random combinations of varieties to test on their own farms and provide rankings. Data would be collected and analyzed to provide feedback to farmers. The approach aims to increase representation while reducing costs compared to traditional on-farm trials. It outlines 10 steps for implementation, including defining varieties, designing projects, recruiting farmers, preparing packages, data collection, analysis and discussion.
Contribution of Africa RISING validated technologies, nutrition-education interventions to household nutrition and participatory nutrition-education need assessment with seasonal food availability in Amhara, Oromia and SNNP regions of Ethiopia
The technology uses reclaimed CO₂ as the dyeing medium in a closed loop process. When pressurized, CO₂ becomes supercritical (SC-CO₂). In this state CO₂ has a very high solvent power, allowing the dye to dissolve easily.
Immersive Learning That Works: Research Grounding and Paths ForwardLeonel Morgado
We will metaverse into the essence of immersive learning, into its three dimensions and conceptual models. This approach encompasses elements from teaching methodologies to social involvement, through organizational concerns and technologies. Challenging the perception of learning as knowledge transfer, we introduce a 'Uses, Practices & Strategies' model operationalized by the 'Immersive Learning Brain' and ‘Immersion Cube’ frameworks. This approach offers a comprehensive guide through the intricacies of immersive educational experiences and spotlighting research frontiers, along the immersion dimensions of system, narrative, and agency. Our discourse extends to stakeholders beyond the academic sphere, addressing the interests of technologists, instructional designers, and policymakers. We span various contexts, from formal education to organizational transformation to the new horizon of an AI-pervasive society. This keynote aims to unite the iLRN community in a collaborative journey towards a future where immersive learning research and practice coalesce, paving the way for innovative educational research and practice landscapes.
Describing and Interpreting an Immersive Learning Case with the Immersion Cub...Leonel Morgado
Current descriptions of immersive learning cases are often difficult or impossible to compare. This is due to a myriad of different options on what details to include, which aspects are relevant, and on the descriptive approaches employed. Also, these aspects often combine very specific details with more general guidelines or indicate intents and rationales without clarifying their implementation. In this paper we provide a method to describe immersive learning cases that is structured to enable comparisons, yet flexible enough to allow researchers and practitioners to decide which aspects to include. This method leverages a taxonomy that classifies educational aspects at three levels (uses, practices, and strategies) and then utilizes two frameworks, the Immersive Learning Brain and the Immersion Cube, to enable a structured description and interpretation of immersive learning cases. The method is then demonstrated on a published immersive learning case on training for wind turbine maintenance using virtual reality. Applying the method results in a structured artifact, the Immersive Learning Case Sheet, that tags the case with its proximal uses, practices, and strategies, and refines the free text case description to ensure that matching details are included. This contribution is thus a case description method in support of future comparative research of immersive learning cases. We then discuss how the resulting description and interpretation can be leveraged to change immersion learning cases, by enriching them (considering low-effort changes or additions) or innovating (exploring more challenging avenues of transformation). The method holds significant promise to support better-grounded research in immersive learning.
EWOCS-I: The catalog of X-ray sources in Westerlund 1 from the Extended Weste...Sérgio Sacani
Context. With a mass exceeding several 104 M⊙ and a rich and dense population of massive stars, supermassive young star clusters
represent the most massive star-forming environment that is dominated by the feedback from massive stars and gravitational interactions
among stars.
Aims. In this paper we present the Extended Westerlund 1 and 2 Open Clusters Survey (EWOCS) project, which aims to investigate
the influence of the starburst environment on the formation of stars and planets, and on the evolution of both low and high mass stars.
The primary targets of this project are Westerlund 1 and 2, the closest supermassive star clusters to the Sun.
Methods. The project is based primarily on recent observations conducted with the Chandra and JWST observatories. Specifically,
the Chandra survey of Westerlund 1 consists of 36 new ACIS-I observations, nearly co-pointed, for a total exposure time of 1 Msec.
Additionally, we included 8 archival Chandra/ACIS-S observations. This paper presents the resulting catalog of X-ray sources within
and around Westerlund 1. Sources were detected by combining various existing methods, and photon extraction and source validation
were carried out using the ACIS-Extract software.
Results. The EWOCS X-ray catalog comprises 5963 validated sources out of the 9420 initially provided to ACIS-Extract, reaching a
photon flux threshold of approximately 2 × 10−8 photons cm−2
s
−1
. The X-ray sources exhibit a highly concentrated spatial distribution,
with 1075 sources located within the central 1 arcmin. We have successfully detected X-ray emissions from 126 out of the 166 known
massive stars of the cluster, and we have collected over 71 000 photons from the magnetar CXO J164710.20-455217.
The use of Nauplii and metanauplii artemia in aquaculture (brine shrimp).pptxMAGOTI ERNEST
Although Artemia has been known to man for centuries, its use as a food for the culture of larval organisms apparently began only in the 1930s, when several investigators found that it made an excellent food for newly hatched fish larvae (Litvinenko et al., 2023). As aquaculture developed in the 1960s and ‘70s, the use of Artemia also became more widespread, due both to its convenience and to its nutritional value for larval organisms (Arenas-Pardo et al., 2024). The fact that Artemia dormant cysts can be stored for long periods in cans, and then used as an off-the-shelf food requiring only 24 h of incubation makes them the most convenient, least labor-intensive, live food available for aquaculture (Sorgeloos & Roubach, 2021). The nutritional value of Artemia, especially for marine organisms, is not constant, but varies both geographically and temporally. During the last decade, however, both the causes of Artemia nutritional variability and methods to improve poorquality Artemia have been identified (Loufi et al., 2024).
Brine shrimp (Artemia spp.) are used in marine aquaculture worldwide. Annually, more than 2,000 metric tons of dry cysts are used for cultivation of fish, crustacean, and shellfish larva. Brine shrimp are important to aquaculture because newly hatched brine shrimp nauplii (larvae) provide a food source for many fish fry (Mozanzadeh et al., 2021). Culture and harvesting of brine shrimp eggs represents another aspect of the aquaculture industry. Nauplii and metanauplii of Artemia, commonly known as brine shrimp, play a crucial role in aquaculture due to their nutritional value and suitability as live feed for many aquatic species, particularly in larval stages (Sorgeloos & Roubach, 2021).
Authoring a personal GPT for your research and practice: How we created the Q...Leonel Morgado
Thematic analysis in qualitative research is a time-consuming and systematic task, typically done using teams. Team members must ground their activities on common understandings of the major concepts underlying the thematic analysis, and define criteria for its development. However, conceptual misunderstandings, equivocations, and lack of adherence to criteria are challenges to the quality and speed of this process. Given the distributed and uncertain nature of this process, we wondered if the tasks in thematic analysis could be supported by readily available artificial intelligence chatbots. Our early efforts point to potential benefits: not just saving time in the coding process but better adherence to criteria and grounding, by increasing triangulation between humans and artificial intelligence. This tutorial will provide a description and demonstration of the process we followed, as two academic researchers, to develop a custom ChatGPT to assist with qualitative coding in the thematic data analysis process of immersive learning accounts in a survey of the academic literature: QUAL-E Immersive Learning Thematic Analysis Helper. In the hands-on time, participants will try out QUAL-E and develop their ideas for their own qualitative coding ChatGPT. Participants that have the paid ChatGPT Plus subscription can create a draft of their assistants. The organizers will provide course materials and slide deck that participants will be able to utilize to continue development of their custom GPT. The paid subscription to ChatGPT Plus is not required to participate in this workshop, just for trying out personal GPTs during it.
Or: Beyond linear.
Abstract: Equivariant neural networks are neural networks that incorporate symmetries. The nonlinear activation functions in these networks result in interesting nonlinear equivariant maps between simple representations, and motivate the key player of this talk: piecewise linear representation theory.
Disclaimer: No one is perfect, so please mind that there might be mistakes and typos.
dtubbenhauer@gmail.com
Corrected slides: dtubbenhauer.com/talks.html
ESA/ACT Science Coffee: Diego Blas - Gravitational wave detection with orbita...Advanced-Concepts-Team
Presentation in the Science Coffee of the Advanced Concepts Team of the European Space Agency on the 07.06.2024.
Speaker: Diego Blas (IFAE/ICREA)
Title: Gravitational wave detection with orbital motion of Moon and artificial
Abstract:
In this talk I will describe some recent ideas to find gravitational waves from supermassive black holes or of primordial origin by studying their secular effect on the orbital motion of the Moon or satellites that are laser ranged.
Current Ms word generated power point presentation covers major details about the micronuclei test. It's significance and assays to conduct it. It is used to detect the micronuclei formation inside the cells of nearly every multicellular organism. It's formation takes place during chromosomal sepration at metaphase.
When I was asked to give a companion lecture in support of ‘The Philosophy of Science’ (https://shorturl.at/4pUXz) I decided not to walk through the detail of the many methodologies in order of use. Instead, I chose to employ a long standing, and ongoing, scientific development as an exemplar. And so, I chose the ever evolving story of Thermodynamics as a scientific investigation at its best.
Conducted over a period of >200 years, Thermodynamics R&D, and application, benefitted from the highest levels of professionalism, collaboration, and technical thoroughness. New layers of application, methodology, and practice were made possible by the progressive advance of technology. In turn, this has seen measurement and modelling accuracy continually improved at a micro and macro level.
Perhaps most importantly, Thermodynamics rapidly became a primary tool in the advance of applied science/engineering/technology, spanning micro-tech, to aerospace and cosmology. I can think of no better a story to illustrate the breadth of scientific methodologies and applications at their best.
GBSN - Biochemistry (Unit 6) Chemistry of Proteins
Highlights from the 2014 Africa RISING Program-wide Learning Event
1. Highlights from the 2014 Africa RISING Program-wide
Learning Event
Jonathan Odhong, IITA
Africa RISING West Africa Project Annual Review and Planning
Meeting, Accra, Ghana, 24-25 March 2015
2. Participants at the Annual Africa RISING Program Learning Event, Arusha – 11 November, 2014
3. LEARNING EVENT OBJECTIVES 2014
1. Review and discuss how to update the
program framework in the light of
recent experiences
2. Focus on how Africa RISING teams have
been elaborating their typologies and
dealing with diversity so far, to draw
lessons across the program
3. Discuss and clarify innovation systems
theory and practice across Africa RISING
projects (with emphasis on innovation
& R4D platforms)
4. (light) Plan program-level events and
discuss how we can improve (social)
learning across Africa RISING
4. KEY RESOLUTIONS
On program framework…
Need to revise the program framework
document (esp. the hypotheses based on
the experience gained over the past 3 years,
this decision to be further discussed at the
PCT)
5. KEY RESOLUTIONS
On typologies…
1. Functional issues like the farmers
aspirations were neglected when coming
up with the typologies
2. There were 3 typologies
presented….world bank, Wageningen
and IFPRI. A team (Peter Thorne, Jens,
Per, Jeroen, Carlo, Katrien) was
suggested to review and agree on the
most appropriate typologies for the
Africa RISING context
6. KEY RESOLUTIONS
On Innovation/R4D Platforms….
1. A common framework needed across the sites for setting up the platforms
2. The process of the innovations platforms need to be documented
better…especially for West Africa
3. Innovation Platforms have to mobilize their resources
4. Share the experiences in setting up and maintaining platforms across the
regions through different program events (learning event, exchange visits etc.)
5. Clarify the role of IS/IPs in Africa RISING and link with existing systems...
6. Make use of existing structures e.g. Government and existing structures (think
of an exit strategy).
7. Be aware of the fact that the role of the platforms is likely to change overtime
8. Need to test effectiveness and efficiency of IPs as out-scaling and technology
adoption mechanisms (need to develop M&E tools for this). Develop a
sustainability plan for this
7. KEY RESOLUTIONS
on program-level events and learning across Africa RISING…
1. In future the learning event should be complemented by a field visit
2. A scientific symposium to be held sometime later in the year (sometime
around October/Nov)
8. “Africa Research in Sustainable Intensification for Next Generation”.
www.africa-rising.net
Editor's Notes
This was a prev. recommendation by the SAC
Skype call week of 6 April
TASKS:
1>To provide an overview of protocols, datasets and typologies used within the project. I have added a draft of a possible overview of that in the attachment.
>2. To make a clear statement on how we see the use of these protocols, datasets and typologies. The basis of the typology protocol we developed for Humidtropics (see link in Word doc) is that a typology is very dependent on the purpose and hypothesis. So there will be a diversity of typologies, dependent on the purpose. For instance, for targeting crop/legume integration we would need a different typology than for describing the diversity in livestock and feed resources.
West Africa group requested that the information/material on typologies should be shared with them