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Kim Toomer MOT OTR/L, occupational therapist at Child and Family Development, reviewed a fascinating and perhaps surprising article about how people with autism learn best. Many experts and providers approach learning by repeating information over and over again, either verbally or physically. According to the author Shilo Rea of Carnegie Mellon University, a new study published in Nature Neuroscience shows that training individuals with ASD to acquire new information by repeating the information actually harms their ability to apply that learned knowledge to other situations. This finding, by an international research team, challenges the popular educational approaches designed for ASD individuals that focus on repetition and drills.
Instead, the study highlights the importance of using a variety of materials, tools, situations, and strategies when working with individuals with autism so that they may learn to generalize what they learn across different tasks.
In occupational therapy sessions, I am always trying to provoke adaptive responses from the sensory system. For example, when we are working on motor planning with a child who may appear clumsy, we may build obstacle courses utilizing different equipment each time over a number of sessions. Each time they complete a different course, the child’s vestibular, proprioceptive, and vision systems have to work together in a different way to be successful.
This study appears to support this type of varied, adaptive learning strategy for people with autism.
Read full article here. | https://www.childandfamilydevelopment.com/blog/occupational-therapist-kim-toomer-reviews-article-about-autism-learning/ |
[ Teaching | Learning | References ]
Learning is skill acquisition and increased fluency. A teacher is anyone who affects the environment so that others learn. (By this definition you don't even have to be alive to be a teacher!) These notes describe some building blocks for effective teaching. They do not deliberately target teaching children with autism but you will certainly see that focus.
The foundations of effective teaching are not all explicitly behavioral, or only for disabled people. They apply equally well to teaching any person with any degree of ability or disability. These principles should be mastered thoroughly by anyone who is going to teach your child.
- Establish attention
- Give instructions - define the task and provide resources to complete that task
- Complete the task
- Provide reinforcement
Curriculum planning (what is taught when) requires an understanding of learning. Actually, all aspects of teaching depend on understanding how learning works.
I cannot pay attention to two conversations at once. I have tried too many times - it seems like something I should be able to learn, but I never will. You cannot talk to me and watch TV at the same time. Attention is a prerequisite for learning.
The teacher assesses the level of his student's attention before presenting any task or information. Observe:
If attention is inadequate:
Instructions can get better but they are never ever clear enough (Bush v. Gore, anyone?). Considerations:
Program for success. The task must be selected so the learner has at least an 80% chance of completing it successfully.
Strategies to maintain or increase the success rate (percentage or frequency):
Whether simple "discrete trial" style immediate reinforcement, pleasure at having created something novel, or long-term payback like a college degree, the learner must get something from completing the task.
There has been a lot of research on reinforcement, measuring the effects of reinforcement type, schedules, saturation, and other variables. One constant challenge is to find novel rewards.
Learning is a poorly understand biological process. We can measure it, we can "image" the brain to see what areas are active, but we know next to nothing about the biochemical changes that take place while (and after) someone listens to a lecture, reads a book, or practices the piano.
Some important considerations:
- Ability - the potential for skill acquisition
- Learning style - different roads to learning
- Repetition - repetition - repetition
- Timing - task interspersal and skill maintenance
Don't put your toddler in calculus class. Actually, don't put any typically developing toddler in any class. The potential for learning must be there or the student will fail. On the other hand, if the potential is extremely high, teaching may be unnecessary.
There is a lot of research on "how people learn," and a proliferation of "teaching methodologies," each claiming to be more successful than the others. The claims and measures are usually based on average results from a large group. Within any group, though, there is not a single average learner.
The educational program that best develops any individual's potential is the one that best accesses his particular learning style. That's why IEPs have student profiles.
The analogy to muscle development is apt. Practice is essential to learning many - most - skills (I need to find more time to play the piano!). Once a skill is developed, it needs to be maintained or it may be lost. After a certain point, more practice does not help, and may even be counterproductive (overtraining).
Teaching, practice, and testing all change the brain. Whether it's the growth of new cells, connections between cells, or the chemical contents of those cells, the right chemicals need time to be made and transported. Those processes take time. Some are practically instantaneous, others require minutes or hours, still others days or weeks.
After a certain amount of practice the measurable skill level may continue to increase with time. Eventually it will probably decrease. Given an hour available to learn a task, it may be more efficient to spend half an hour over two days than the same hour every other day. (This is a made-up example, I may have it backwards! The point is that timing matters.)
Task interspersal (mixing up a set of exercises) is one way to efficiently teach and maintain a set of skills in a given amount of time. | https://rsaffran.tripod.com/teaching.html |
About this CourseConduct UX Research and Test Early Concepts is the fourth course in a certificate program that will equip you with the skills you need to apply to entry-level jobs in user experience (UX) design. In this course, you will learn how to plan and conduct a usability study to gather feedback about designs. Then, you will modify your low-fidelity designs based on insights from your research. Current UX designers and researchers at Google will serve as your instructors, and you will complete hands-on activities that simulate real-world UX design scenarios. Learners who complete the seven courses in this certificate program should be equipped to apply for entry-level jobs as UX designers.
To be successful in this course, you should complete the previous three courses in the certificate program. Or, you need to have an ability to conduct user research to inform the creation of empathy maps, personas, user stories, user journey maps, problem statements, and value propositions; as well as an ability to create wireframes and low-fidelity prototypes on paper and in Figma. | https://kutambua.com/courses/conduct-ux-research-and-test-early-concepts/ |
This unit provides the learner with the methods and techniques to assess the development of their own skills to support the achievement of strategic direction.
This unit is designed to enable learners to take responsibility for their learning and development needs to gain the personal and professional skills needed to support the strategic direction of an organisation. Learners can achieve this through analysing their current skills and preparing and implementing a personal development plan.
This unit highlights the importance of seeking feedback from others to improve performance by continuously reviewing learning needs. The development of appropriate personal and professional skills will allow learners to cope with demanding responsibilities and career progression.
Learners will conduct a skills audit to evaluate the strategic skills they need to meet current and future leadership requirements and then use it to identify their preferred learning style. This will also inform the structure of a personal development plan.
Evidence for this unit needs to be generated continuously throughout the qualification, enabling learners to take ownership of their development needs. Learners will need to demonstrate that they have a regularly updated and realistic personal development plan that fits with their preferred learning style.
This unit will also enable learners to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of their learning against the achievement of strategic goals and their chosen career path. | https://northeastcollege.ie/course/SubjectTemplate?id=150 |
The Senior Application Developer leads important projects and possesses
capabilities to make breakthroughs in design, development, testing,
debugging and implementing software application or specialised utility
programmes in support of end user's needs. He/She plans and coordinates
regular updates and recommends improvements to existing applications. He/She
identifies and resolve issues which have organisation-wide and long-term
impact. He/She provides guidance and technical support to testing and
quality assurance teams.
Identify Requirements
Determine the appropriate approach for new assignments
Formulate specifications and definition of delivery platforms for applications
Liaise with stakeholders to understand business needs and user requirements
Perform the requirements analysis
Develop Applications
Develop the applications concept, interface design, and architecture
Perform development of program logic for new applications
Propose new tools and techniques in applications development
Support proof-of-concept to showcase the technical feasibility of the application
Implements Applications
Manages implementation of applications in projects
Conduct system integration and User Acceptance Testing
Integrate applications with back-end services
Prepare test plans
Owns functional area of development.
Breaks large requests down into sub-tasks, gives higher-level status updates.
Optimise Applications
Analyse applications performance based on user feedback and system reports
Create user and technical documentation
Evaluate recommendations to improve applications performance
Maintain Applications
Anticipate internal and/or external business challenges and/or regulatory issues
Collaborate with external stakeholders and vendors to resolve problems
Oversee the maintenance of technical documentation of applications' technical architecture, code changes, issue resolutions and procedures
Provide high-level maintenance and update of an existing applications to improve functionality and process flow
Provide solutions to overcome complex problems using the latest technologies
Please note that your response to this advertisement and communications with us pursuant to this advertisement will constitute informed consent to the collection, use and/or disclosure of personal data by ManpowerGroup Singapore for the purpose of carrying out its business, in compliance with the relevant provisions of the Personal Data Protection Act 2012. | https://jobs.institutedata.com/job/26383/senior-application-consultant-net/ |
This indicator refers to the application of data on current or intended user needs or feedback to develop, improve, or implement KM products and services. This indicator can apply to both new and existing products and services. Its purpose is to assess whether evidence on user needs and preferences is influencing the direction of activities.
Self-report of types of updates and changes made to KM products and services as a result of information from current or intended users about their knowledge needs or views of these products and services
Feedback forms or surveys among current or intended users
Semiannually
A continual feedback loop is intended to increase access to and use of knowledge outputs by making them more responsive to the needs of the intended users. For example, a website may contain a feedback form for users to comment on the navigation, design elements, number of clicks to reach a resource, usefulness of content, or the way in which knowledge is synthesized. This information can then be used to inform the design and function of the site. For example, users may comment that certain important resources in a website are hidden and require too many clicks to find. The website manager can consider highlighting these resources on the home page and/or create an easier navigation path.
Feedback can provided about an entire program or its parts, such as the delivery of eLearning, the ability to access online resources in remote locations, or the relevance of materials. This indicator reflects whether the needs and wishes expressed by stakeholders are guiding a program’s KM activities. User demand should drive KM and knowledge exchange activities (World Bank, 2011). However, individuals do not always know what the gaps they have in their knowledge. In other words, they do not always know what they do not know. To circumvent this problem, it can be helpful to start with questions about implementation challenges. Answers to questions such as “What would you like to do that you are unable to do?” or “What would you like this product to do that it does not do?” will provide insight into knowledge gaps and challenges that users face. By then, asking users what knowledge would help them solve the problems they have identified, organizations can see what gaps exist and work to develop knowledge exchange solutions to address users’ specific needs. | https://indicators.globalhealthknowledge.org/indicators/4/whether-user-knowledge-needsfeedback-was-used-inform-design-and-implementation-products |
As the demands for well thought-out programs, courses and offerings continues to grow so does the need for exceptional educational leaders and educators. We are excited that you are considering being a part of an already great team of instructors at McMaster University Continuing Education. Whether you are considering being an instructor for the first time or if you are a seasoned instructor, we welcome you. Here are some things you need to know.
If you are considering teaching online with Continuing Education:
If you are considering teaching in-class with Continuing Education:
1. Communication skills
Effectively articulates in a way that ensures that the message has been received and understood for online communications. Posts clear messages in straightforward, standard language. Establishes and models desired methods and rules of communication rules for student-student and student-instructor communications. Also includes maintaining communications with students on a regular basis and ability to give others constructive feedback.
2. Rapport Building skills
Able to make connections with others, establish and maintain relationships based on trust, respect, empathy and appropriate sensitivity. Establishes a social presence online in activities using a variety of strategies and tools (i.e. discussion board, email, text chats, social media, announcements, etc). Utilizes intuition and diplomacy in encounters with others, including students/participants, program staff, other instructors and community members.
3. Collaborative
Works cooperatively with others towards common goals. Contributes to resolving conflicts and problems together. Fosters the development of a learning community within the online course.
4. Facilitation skills
Engages others in the process of learning together. Incorporates learning activities that encourage active learning, interaction, participation and collaboration in the online environment. Provides opportunities for online discussion, debate and engagement with learning materials. Moderates discussions, contributes to advanced content knowledge and insights, weaving together discussion threads. Contributes outside resources and encourages learners to share experiences and information. Demonstrates a genuine interest in the learners, and able to present ideas and pose questions in an interesting manner.
5. Technical aptitude
Familiar with technology including computers, presentation software, presentation equipment, online resources, electronic tools, educational technologies such as Learning Management Systems (LMS) and collaboration tools. Develops technical literacy required for online learning environments.
6. Skilled in enabling people to learn
Distills down complex concepts in a way that can be easily understood by the learner. Recognizes the different ways in which different people learn, and adapts to those learning styles. Takes care to understand the needs of each individual learner. Designs instruction aligned with course objectives/outcomes. Adjusts delivery and facilitation to ensure that each learner is receiving a quality learning experience.
7. Organizational skills
Manages one’s time such that deadlines are met. Recognizes changing priorities and adjusts activities/plans in order to achieve objectives. Maintains program materials and student/learner data. Manages online student activities and has a clear ability to make effective, educational uses of course management tools.
8. Objectivity (in grading)
Assess performance and behavior based on factual information, without being influenced by personal preferences. Provides learners with clear grading criteria, grading policy and submission processes.
9. Cognitive skills
Assesses and understands complex concepts and information. Applies problem solving and decision making methods, and analyses data and issues.
10. Research skills (evidence based)
Surveys the environment to gather information, organizes and clarifies the information. Uses multiple sources including online resources, books, studies and other sources of expertise.
11. Learner orientation
Identifies and pursues learning opportunities in order to continuously improve and grow. Receives and acts on feedback from others, and is open to new ideas and new ways of doing things.
12. Service orientation
Focused on the needs of others and strives to respond to those needs.
13. Self-motivation
Remains motivated and focused on the task, with a passion for helping people learn, and a passion for the field of study. Authentic interest in continuing education in a university setting. Remains current with best practices for online learning.
14. Professionalism/Ethics
Is a role-model in the field of study in terms of personal presentation and professional conduct. Maintains appropriate confidentiality and boundaries, and demonstrates awareness and respect for policies and organizational values. | https://libguides.mcmaster.ca/cceinstructorhandbook/teaching |
The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is a global humanitarian organization with a mission to work with people in poverty and distress to create just and positive change. ADRA Somalia belongs to the world wide network, comprised of more than 130 supporting and implementing country offices. ADRA Somalia is seeking to recruit 2 Project Officers (WASH) to be based in Puntland and Somaliland respectively.
Duties & Responsibilities:
- Conduct regular visits to project sites to monitor the implementation of activities, gather feedback from beneficiaries and submit detailed report about the activities and findings
- Assist plan activities with the community to reduce WASH related risks.
- Support Program Manager in the supervision of construction and rehabilitation works.
- Collect and record data routine activities and share it with the Program Manager.
- Assist to identify needs and opportunities by conducting training needs assessments.
- Collect data on project indicators and maintain an updated database on project progress
- Assist in tracking project performance at community level and report, monitor and follow up on project activities.
- Planning and mobilizing for triggering.
- Introduction and rapport building.
- Triggering the community.
- Managing the trigger moment.
- Action planning by community.
- Support the program team to record and analyze monitoring data for reporting and timely communicate the results of analysis to inform programme decision making
- Conduct surveys and analyze data on a quarterly basis and make recommendations to improve the project based on the findings
- Support the Project Manager to prepare periodic project reports based on accurate and evidence-based data/information
- Support the Monitoring and Evaluation team in the tracking of outcome of activities evidenced by accurate data to enhance quality of reporting
- Identify and document human interest stories and case studies based on the successes of implemented projects
- Providing support, guidance and community mobilisation through regular meeting/trainings/workshops/ and exchange visit in order that they move forward to develop their own responses to various project needs without dependence on external resources
Knowledge
- Degree in Water Engineering, Water Technology or Civil Engineer.
- Diploma holders with over 5 years experience will also be considered.
- Experience in borehole rehabilitation and constructions.
- Experience in community participatory approaches.
- Strong data collection and collation skills, processing, analysis and report writing.
- Good computer skills in word processing, spreadsheets and database software programs.
- Experience working with civil society groups and government authorities.
- Good negotiating skills.
How to apply:
- If you meet the above requirements, please send your application letter and Curriculum Vitae to [email protected] not later than 20th March 2020. When applying kindly indicate the region where you interested to work. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
- Please apply using a cover letter and up-to-date CV as a single document. Applicants to provide current, preferred location and expected salary. | https://sea.so/job/project-officers-wash-2-positions-puntland-and-somaliland/ |
Description:
Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) is interlinked with the post literacy and continuing education (PLCE) programs so that the Project Implementation and Management Unit (PIMU) can take appropriate decision at any time analyzing all the data that it receives. In order to ensure effectiveness, monitoring, evaluation and reporting formats have to be simple, easy, and user friendly. The mechanism needs to be uninterrupted to ensure availability of quantitative and qualitative data to monitor the Project activities. M&E activities will be carried out at three levels: (i) INGOs will carry out internal monitoring, (ii) Monitoring Partner Agency (MOPA) will be engaged to support the implementing non-government organizations (INGOs) in monitoring activities and preparing external monitoring and evaluation reports, and (iii) PLCE-Management Information System (MIS) will process data and help the PIMU to prepare M&E reports and reviews. Hence, to make the project successful, MOPA will need to have an active role in project monitoring of INGOs. One MOPA will be engaged in each division of the country.
Objectives of the MOPA’s Assignment:
The main objectives of the MOPA are to (i) monitor the qualitative aspects of the implementation of the project activities, (ii) prepare consolidated analytical report based on the internal monitoring reports of the INGOs, (iii) serve as external process monitor to evaluate the performance of the INGOs for providing feedback to PIMU and BNFE, (iv) provide MIS related support to INGOs, and (v) prepare half yearly monitoring and evaluation report including lessons learned and recommendation.
Services :
The following are the major dimensions of the program monitoring activities identified for the MOPA, but not limited to:
- Primarily responsible for making available all the required information as and when asked by the competent authority at different level of the line ministry, the Bureau of Non-Formal Education (BNFE) and PIMU and ADB responsible for the project implementation;
- Assist the INGOs in monitoring learners and their opinion and keep up-to-date information in a simple and effective way;
- Assist the INGOs to conduct timely deliberation on progress of the learners on acquiring different skills as well as economic development; monthly, yearly, mid-term and final;
- Conduct investigation sampling research on qualitative aspect of the program along with effect of the Project on the beneficiaries;
- Assist the INGOs maintaining and updating comprehensive list of selected learners and prepare their choice of interest for skill training;
- Assist the INGOs in preparing a job/trade/directory based upon the opportunities and potentials existing in the locality in consultation with INGOs. It will cover agricultural and non-agricultural sectors and use best available knowledge and skills to create new job market in the local level;
- Consolidate the continuing education center (CEC) activities information of the district based on the information provided by the INGO and present it to PIMU;
- Assist in INGOs record keeping of administrative, financial, monitoring operations as per BNFE instructions and make them available for auditing by the Assistant Director of concerned district BNFE officer of a as assigned by the project authority;
- Ensure that issues of gender and equity are adequately considered in all elements of PLCEHD program;
- Assist the INGOs in compiling the CEOs course types and neo-literates interests/request and options for further discussion and decisions and assist in ensuring facilities for implementations of the discussion and decisions and assist in ensuring facilities for implementation of the decisions;
- Find innovative and more fruitful ways of reporting to provide the primary stakeholders with a transparent picture of the program in operation but also can serve as a literacy tool to support and extend literacy skills;
- Closely communicate with the Consultants who would conduct M&E training and workshop on training plan, curricula and material;
- Collect the feedback on the M&E system, tolls, training plan materials, and revise, if necessary;
- Objectively monitor the MIS and provide a quality picture of skills learning at the community level and of program implementation;
Assist the PIMU to develop monitoring formats for project implementation and financial activities of the project, pre-and post assessment tests of literacy, numeracy and life skills for post-literacy, survey report formats to assess the quality of PLCE training courses and learners feedback. | https://adi-foundation.com/monitoring-and-evaluation-and-providing-mis-related-support-of-post-literacy-and-continuing-education-for-human-development-project-2-plcehd-2-specialist-service-provider-as-monitoring-partner-age/ |
- Work with Business & IT teams to gather, understand and define requirements and break down Demands into EPICS and User Stories, where needed.
- Design and build end-to-end CI/CD data pipelines to get the relevant data and for the deliverables
- Reviewing design, code and other deliverables created by your team to guarantee high-quality results
- Define acceptance criteria, manage & perform testing of own pipelines to ensure expected quality
- Own the status of Change requirements throughout the lifecycle & adapt changes to the existing scripts, codes and pipelines.
- Own PoCs and deliver the results in reasonable time
- Ensuring appropriate use of MB IT project management tools, governance, processes, policies and methodologies
- Share required data for regular status meetings with all stakeholders, keeping the stakeholders needs and requirements continuously in view
- Bring value adds by contributing to continuous improvement and innovation, encourage best practices, challenge current practices, provide feedback to colleagues
- Presents user stories in demand concept meetings together with respective stakeholders
- Align with architects if and as needed
- Detect dependencies to other systems/demands
- Conduct regular status meetings with all stakeholders, keeping the stakeholders needs and requirements continuously in view
- Create / Propose Demand Management baselines as and when required.
- Total 8-10 Years of Experience with minimum 4 years of experience in data engineering & analytics.
- Bachelors Degree in computer science or equivalent
- Expertise in Azure and Azure Data Factory, Storage accounts and Notebooks
- Good experience with DWH, ETL/ELT process, hands-on expertise ETL tools, relational DB or MPP
- Expertise in Python, structured query language, PL/SQL, query tuning and performance tuning
- Good knowledge in DevOps, CI/CD including deploying a range of data engineering pipelines into production, and testing techniques
- Expertise in Big Data technologies such as Apache Spark, Hadoop ecosystem, Apache Kafka, NoSQL databases, etc.
- Good knowledge of data architecture patterns (Data lakehouse, delta lake, streaming, Lambda/Kappa architecture)
- Agile development experience
- Experienced in Powershell scripting for orchestration
Other Details
- DepartmentGeneral / Other SoftwareSales / BD
- Industry IT IT - Software
- EducationGraduation
Key Skills
Recruiter Details
- Mercede
- Bangalore
- hidden_email
- hidden_mobile
Company Details
Mercedes-Benz R&D India was founded in 1996 as a captive unit to support Daimler Research and Product Development. Mercedes-Benz R&D India is headquartered in Bangalore where 90% of its work¬force is located and operates one satellite office out of Pune. The R&D stream of the company focuses on design & development, simulation, automotive electrical & electronics and value engineering. The IT stream has specialties such as SAP operations, IT infrastructure, IT Engineering - Application development, customization, maintenance, testing and information security services. In Pune, where the office is located at the MBIL production facility, MBRDI specializes in Interiors development, EVS and EMO taking advantage of the proximity of local suppliers. | https://www.shine.com/jobs/data-engineer-sales-permanent/mercede/12283113 |
Learning is a critical component of any workplace. When employees are supported with ongoing learning benefits that enhance their skills and knowledge this leads to greater productivity and future innovation.
Perhaps this is why more than half of all US organizations are spending upwards of $1,000 or more per learner each year, based on research from Brandon Hall Group. Technical training tops the list of learning needs, follows by leadership development and compliance education. However, it can be difficult to get employees actively engaged in and participating in their learning benefits.
Why Employees May Not Be Motivated to Learn at Work
Sometimes, personal ideas, negative past experiences, and other factors can get in the way of effective employee learning programs. NST Insights shares the nine common barriers to employee participation in training, which must be overcome in order to get them to engage in learning benefits. These barriers include:
1. Over-independence
Some employees do not want to be forced to participate in learning. They’d rather learn naturally and join in when they are ready to. Respecting employees and honoring their independence can help avoid this issue.
2. Negative Perceptions
Employees may have had a negative experience in the past with an instructor or some other form of learning. They may not bereave they are learning capable. They may just hate memorizing facts and taking tests.
3. Distractions
There are many adults who find it difficult to stay focused on learning efforts, and even more who have trouble finding time in between work tasks and other personal demands. Learning needs to be very flexible.
4. Resistance to Change
Change is not always something that all employees embrace. In fact, many resist anything that’s new. This can come from past experiences that went poor, or just the way a person is built. Adults can become comfortable and avoid making changes.
5. Selective Filters
Human beings generally only pay attention to things that they find stimulating. The may filter other things out. If the learning material is boring or irrelevant to their career, they are less likely to participate.
6. Unclear Motivation
If an employee cannot answer the “why” behind the learning, they are less likely to be interested in it. After all, it takes effort to participate. Training is best presented as a way to solve a problem or satisfy the needs of learners. This is information that needs to be clear from the start and easy to apply to the work experience.
7. Participatory Fear
Adults may experience anxiety over being involved in a social situation of learning with others. They may fear being judged or not being as smart as their peers. This barrier is a very real problem that instructors need to be mindful of.
8. Established Preferences
Each learner has their own style and preference for learning, which is what comes natural to them. They may resist other types of learning because they know this. For example, they may prefer visual earning as opposed to audio lessons.
9. Fear of Failure
Nearly all people worry about failing at some time in their lives, but the fear becomes more real when faced with performing at work—in front of their peers. They may have testing anxiety as well, making it difficult for them to focus on learning instead of the assessment phase.
Strategies for Getting Employees to Take Advantage of Their Learning Benefits
Fortunately it is possible to overcome the above and other barriers to learning in the workplace, in order to get employees to participate in their learning benefits. The following tips come from Christopher Pappas, the founder of eLearning Industry. In most cases, the subject matter of the corporate learning doesn’t matter as much as the way that companies present learning to employees. It should be a regular part of the corporate culture, and not the exception.
Focus on the Benefits of the Learning for Employees
When employees can see the real value and benefit to them as a result of participating in the learning effort, they are more apt to get excited about it. The learning should introduce the on-the-job application of the material so that employees understand how it will improve their career and effectiveness. Continue to emphasize this throughout the lessons to keep employees motivated and interested.
Make It Easy for Learners to See How Far They’ve Come in the Learning Process
Learning modules can seem long and arduous, unless there is a way to show progress for each learner. One way is by providing a completion timeline that shows learners what they have competed and what is left to complete. Another method is by rewarding completion badges to learners as they move through units. This can make them feel more motivated to learn more and earn recognition for their efforts.
Develop a Foundation of Learning as Part of Your Corporate Culture
Employees who understand that learning is an expectation and part of the overall success of your company who have a better time accepting it. Learning should be a positive, community building effort that brings talents and people together. Make this a benefit that all employees participate in, not an option that they can choose later on. Market learning across the entire organization by highlighting the achievements of employees who are pursuing their learning goals and career dreams.
Make Learning Interactive and Introduce Variety
One of the chief complaints about learning is that it can become dull over time. This happens when learning and design teams neglect to mix things up using a variety of media and lesson layout. It’s important to include many types of learning content that honors the unique earning style of each person. For visual learners, written content, images, video and live whiteboards work well. For audio learners, listening to the lesson plans combined with handouts are a great way to break things up. Tactile learners do best when they can practice hands-on lessons.
Try Incentivizing the Learning Process
As mentioned earlier, learners are most willing to complete learning by seeing progress. Adding an element of reward can also help them to achieve more in less time. Use regular incentives, like milestone and salary bonuses, peer recognition, graduation celebrations, and more to keep your employees learning. Gamification can also produce better results as learners earn immediate satisfaction for completing lessons and jumping through levels.
Develop a Community Learning Experience
All learning can be enhanced by introducing a social element to learning campaigns. Many companies set up an exclusive network of learners via a “secret” social networking group, where learners can collaborate and talk about their learning efforts. Others have in-person groups that help learners prepare for assessments, work on group projects, and more. Make this a fun effort with corporate swag that includes learning branded t-shirts, mugs, pens, and more. Introduce new students to the group and assign mentors from this social peer group.
Gather Feedback and Improve Learning Benefits
Make it a regular practice to ask for feedback from employees on what steps can be taken to improve the learning benefits your company offers. Find out what other companies are offering their employees too. This can be as simple as bringing in experts for lunch and learns, hosting conferences or sending employees to industry events, and finding out what employee want to learn the most. If they are college bound, work on creating a learning path that will help them earn credits towards their degree program.
Offer tuition assistance to your most motivated employees in exchange for their loyalty to the company.
Treat your employees with respect as the capable adults and learners they are. Use the above methods to encourage them to make the most of their learning benefits at work. | https://www.thebalancecareers.com/getting-employees-to-participate-in-learning-benefits-4155337 |
Buman VA IPA Buman VA IPA Scope of Work The assignment will assist the Phoenix VA Health Care System in the conduct of the VA Polytrauma/Blast-Related Injuries (PT/BRI) QUERI-funded research project to adapt the full-featured VA CBTI Coach application for low and moderate intensity interventions for use in a primary care stepped care approach. This project addresses the PT/BRI QUERI priority goal #2: to improve patients ability to manage their persistent TBI/polytrauma-related symptoms (i.e. insomnia) by evaluating and implementing technologies that support Veteran self-management of symptoms. At the end of the assignment, Dr. Buman will work with Dr. Epstein to develop the design components of the adapted smartphone application for use in a future study. Dr. Burnam will collaborate with Dr. Dana Epstein to conduct a series of small and carefully-designed feedback opportunities with Primary Care Mental Health and PACT-Post-Deployment clinicians and OEF/OIF/OND Veterans to generate feedback regarding the adaptation of the VA CBTI Coach smartphone application and its use in a stepped care approach in primary care. Based on the feedback, paper prototypes of the adapted application will be developed and shared with Veterans and key stakeholders. The process will be repeated rapidly with continuously refined paper prototypes until we have an adaptation that fits the stakeholders preferences and needs. The results will be shared with Veterans and key stakeholders for final feedback and approval.
|Status||Finished|
|Effective start/end date||6/3/13 → 9/30/13|
Funding
- VA: Phoenix Health Care System: $11,500.00
Fingerprint
Explore the research topics touched on by this project. These labels are generated based on the underlying awards/grants. Together they form a unique fingerprint. | https://asu.pure.elsevier.com/en/projects/buman-va-ipa-10 |
Posted on May 5, 2017 at 1:28 pm.
This fall Anesthesiology and Otolaryngology programs across Canada will start transitioning to Competency by Design (CBD) – a new competency based approach for measuring and tracking resident performance. The CBD transition means changes in assessment workflows to frequent, formative assessments. The CBD transition also means changes to performance review by linking assessment data to entrustable professional activities (EPAs), competencies, and milestones.
We are very close to releasing our new evaluation workflow tools geared toward programs using one45 for formative and work-place based assessments. The upcoming update gives you the option to release the results of formative assessments available to learners immediately after the forms are submitted, even if you are using those assessments as part of a head evaluation scenario, where an assessment is fed into an end-of-clerkship or end-of-rotation assessment filled out by a program director.
For example, if you have a daily assessment or mini-cex form that your faculty use to assess learners on a daily or weekly basis, you probably want the learners to see the results of those formative assessments right away. You may also want those assessments to feed into an end of clerkship or end of rotation assessment filled out by a program director. The new workflow options give you the flexibility to release feedback right away, and incorporate it into summative assessments later.
More updates are coming before the start of the next academic year. We will be releasing new tools that will allow you to link questions on your forms to entrustable professional activities, competencies, and milestones; and new reporting options that will allow you to measure learner performance against those activities, competencies, and milestones longitudinally regardless of the form or rotation the data came from.
And also check out this Quick Reference Sheet for preparing your Program for CBD.
Jason is one45's Senior Product Manager. Having provided technical support for a number of web-based projects at the University of British Columbia, Faculty of Medicine early in his career, he has a hands-on understanding of the unique needs of medical school users. Jason has been involved in one45's user interface design since 2002 and he is an invited expert in the Medbiquitous Competencies Working Group. | https://www.one45.com/blog/new-competency-workplace-based-assessment-tools-help-prepare-new-academic-year/ |
Feedback received over the last few years has focussed on two key areas for improvement in the service we offer to researchers using our collections – longer opening hours and improving the quality of our collections catalogues online. Recently we have undertaken some additional user consultation into preferences for opening hours to sit alongside the regular PSQG survey results of our entire reading room service, discussions at the Collections Study day in 2014 and individual feedback sent directly to us. Taking all of these factors into consideration we have decided at this time to focus our resources on improving our collections online by enhancing the data, creating new, high quality digital images and overhauling the whole online catalogue. Work is already underway on this and will be ready for early 2016.
At the same time the clear results of recent specific user consultation into our opening hours, albeit from a small number of respondents, was that we should aim to open for more hours each week. To achieve this fully would require significant investment over a number of years to increase and then maintain such a service. At this time we are not in a position to be able to do this but have begun to promote more widely the extended access to the reading room for travelling researchers and taken on additional staffing during the days we are open to improve the service we offer.
We will continue to monitor user feedback as we move forward to ensure we respond to the needs of all of our users, whether they are based in Stratford or elsewhere and whether they visit us in person or engage with our collections online.
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is a charity that receives no regular public funding and we rely on our tourism business for most of our income. In order to develop and expand our services and undertake projects we rely on the support of generous donors and funders. If you would like to support our work, and specifically the improvements in our collections management and catalogues, please consider joining the Friends of the SBT, supporting one of our many appeals, becoming a volunteer, making a donation or leaving a legacy.
For more information please visit our fundraising Campaigns page. | https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/explore-shakespeare/blogs/reading-room-consultation/ |
industries.
A
good understanding of population structure is essential for both the
conservation of species and the management of human activities that may affect
those species. Many marine mammal
species in the North Atlantic comprise a single population, the spatial scale
of which is not conducive to the management of human activities. These
populations therefore need to be subdivided for conservation and management
purposes. The determination of population structure is based upon the integration of both genetic and
ecological information. This evidence then needs integrating with the spatial
and temporal scales of the human activities which influence them. Integrating these different lines of evidence
is a major challenge.
There has been a considerable volume of data collected globally
concerning the main anthropogenic threats to marine mammals. Key current
anthropogenic threats are considered to be hunting and whaling, fisheries
interactions including mortality from accidental capture or entanglement
(bycatch) and deliberate killing, vessel strikes,
noise disturbance and other forms of habitat degradation or loss (e.g.
pollution and coastal development), depletion of food resources through
competition with fisheries, and anthropogenically mediated climate change. The
working group reviews evidence and evaluates potential impacts and/or considers
potential appropriate mitigation. Recent work has focused on bycatch (with ties
to the Working Group on Bycatch of protected species, WGBYC) and the
development of the marine renewable industry. | http://prep.ices.dk/community/groups/Pages/WGMME.aspx |
Bird species composition and diversity in habitats with different disturbance histories at Kilombero Wetland, Tanzania
Ntongani, W. A.
;
Andrew, S. M.
URI:
https://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/123456789/2622
Date:
2013-11
Abstract:
Wetland natural grasslands are important habi- tats for avian populations throughout the world. Unfortunately the increase of human population and rise in demand for settlements and agricul- tural land have degraded these habitats in many tropical wetlands. To effectively restore these natural grasslands and conserve avifaunal bio- diversity, understanding of the relationships be- tween habitat conditions and bird community structure are central. We used a combination of information from nearby villagers and field sur- veys to establish two important grassland habi- tats with low and high disturbance histories, and related the habitats to bird community structure. We surveyed a total of 119 sites in the two habi- tats to examine variation in the abundance, rich- ness, diversity and composition of birds at Kilo- mbero Wetland Tanzania. In total, 3049 indivi- duals, 126 species, 88 genera and 45 families were recorded from Kilombero grasslands. Our results show that grasslands with low human disturbance had more number of bird species, genera, families and diversity (both Shannon- Wiener and Simpson) than the most disturbed grasslands at p < 0.05. However, the abundance and Shannon evenness of birds were not dif- ferent (p > 0.05) between low and highly dis- turbed grassland habitats suggesting that other factors including variety of foraging sites are important. This study confirms that the wetland grasslands of Kilombero are important for con- servation of birds including rare and endemic species. It is recommended that anthropogenic disturbances should be minimized including control of fire, regulation of agricultural activities and population of cattle within the wetland sys- tem to restore and conserve biodiversity.
Description:
Open Journal of Ecology, 2013; 3: 482-488
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Fracking creates noise at levels high enough to harm the health of people living nearby, according to the first peer-reviewed study to analyze the potential public health impacts of ambient noise related to fracking.
West Virginia University occupational and environmental health professor Michael McCawley participated in a study that found people living near fracking sites may experience "sleep disturbance, cardiovascular disease and other conditions that are negatively impacted by stress".
Fracking cuases noise pollution that could be harmful to your health.
The study, conducted by the nonprofit science and policy research institute PSE Healthy Energy and West Virginia University, found that noise from fracking may contribute to adverse health outcomes.
A new study suggests merely hearing the noise associated with natural gas fracking operations can jeopardize human health. | http://psehealthyenergy.org/events/show_list/id/54/start/10 |
One problem that has vexed biogeographers and others interested in the distribution of different species is the difficulties that many species have in adapting when their habitats are changed by human activity or other forces. A related problem is the difficulty in monitoring the number and distribution of these species. One such species is Henslow's sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii), a grassland-nesting bird that is found in the central U.S. and nearby parts of Canada. This doctoral dissertation research project will take a multifaceted view of Henslow's sparrow distributional biology, focusing on improving understanding about how populations respond to broad-scale habitat changes and of the extent to which human activities affect the amount and distribution of its breeding habitat, particularly in Midwestern grasslands. Henslow's sparrows currently have a distribution that is patchy and local; although the limits of the species' range are perhaps well-known, existing surveys are largely confined to roads. Current information therefore may neither represent all available habitat, such as grasslands in airfields, military bases, and reclaimed surface mines, nor does it accurately estimate population trends. No detailed map of suitable habitat for the full breeding distribution currently is available. The doctoral student will use ecological niche models to produce a detailed distributional understanding by identifying key environmental variables and characterizing the amount of suitable breeding habitat and its spatiotemporal dynamics within a patch-matrix framework while taking into account landscape heterogeneity and habitat patch characteristics produced by year-to-year disturbance dynamics. Once these models have been validated through independent field surveys, year-to-year variation of the extent and arrangement of suitable patches will be analyzed. This analysis will provide insight and explanation for the broad-scale nomadic behavior documented in earlier studies of the breed. These models also will be used to evaluate how well current survey techniques function to sample Henslow's sparrow breeding habitat. The student will evaluate these models by summarizing the amount of suitable grasslands in patches immediately surrounding routes identified by the North American Breeding Bird Survey and by comparing it to the broader distribution of this habitat (produced by the niche models) and the proportion of habitat types within the landscape matrix (using land-cover maps).
Henslow's sparrows have very specific nesting habitat requirements that make them relatively good indicators of healthy tallgrass prairie ecosystems. Like many other obligate grassland species, they have suffered severe habitat loss as a result of fragmentation and conversion of grasslands, a loss estimated to have exceeded 99 percent across North America. Unlike a few other species that adapted easily to these changes, Henslow's sparrows have not responded well across their breeding range, and they have exhibited significant population declines over the last century. Recent studies have shown that this species does not return consistently to patches of habitat from year to year, which makes management of their habitat more difficult. This project will make significant contributions to the assessment of Henslow's sparrow populations and trends. The project also will provide a test of the capability of current survey techniques to effectively survey rare species and spatially limited habitat types. The project also will facilitate evaluation of recommendations for habitat management that more effectively accommodate the nomadic behavior as well as the amount, distribution, arrangement, or disturbance dynamics of this habitat at landscape scales. The results of this project therefore will potentially affect how species like Henslow's sparrows are managed and will prompt reevaluation of population trend estimates or habitat availability for other, similar species. As a Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement award, this award also will provide support to enable a promising student to establish a strong independent research career.
Loss of native prairies in North America has been monumental and the result of 200 years of agriculture and human expansion westward. Populations of species that use these grasslands have been impacted severely such that many species, once abundant, are now of conservation concern. Henslow’s Sparrows were once common but now have populations in steep decline. This obligate grassland species breeds in vegetation characterized by relatively infrequent fire and grazing disturbance typical of native grassland communities, and as such they are relatively good indicators of healthy prairie ecosystems. Much of their native habitat has been converted or fragmented, and is no longer available for breeding birds, and what is available may not be stable between years (i.e., grasslands are grazed or burned thus changing vegetation growth and structure). This project aimed to examine whether Henslow’s Sparrows respond to these seemingly unpredictable environments. We found that Henslow’s Sparrows exhibit nomadic behaviors, moving rather unpredictably across broad areas and between years, possibly in response to fluctuations in habitat suitability. What is more, when we examined these fluctuations, we found that suitability of potential habitat varied greatly between consecutive years and that these areas were clustered over broad regions. However, the degree of fluctuation of suitability was not consistent from year to year (i.e., some years experienced more change than others). Our findings suggest that Henslow’s Sparrows may move across the landscape between years in response to rapid changes in vegetation structure brought on by human-induced (e.g., grazing or fire) or natural (e.g., drought) processes, but that these movements may be dictated by magnitude of environmental change. The results of this study are important to understand the dynamics of North American grasslands and how fluctuations in these ecological systems impact Henslow’s Sparrows as well as other, co-distributed species (e.g., Greater Prairie Chicken, Bobolink, Grasshopper Sparrow). Our findings illuminate the potential effects of the current strategies of grassland and rangeland management on obligate grassland birds particularly across very broad regions. | http://grantome.com/grant/NSF/BCS-1131644 |
It takes no observational feat to notice that people enjoy birds. As human developments dominate the landscape and evict so many of our wild neighbors, we spend a disproportionate amount of our energies coaxing the birds, specifically, back. Why else the feeders and birdhouses and baths so common to neighborhood backyards? Perhaps the exact reasoning for our admiration is best explored by poets or philosophers, but our feathered friends seem to be pleasant reminders of our connection to the natural world.
Those species that graciously remain in our cities and towns are being forced to make some behavioral changes. To circumvent the din of honking horns, plane engines, and other deafening hallmarks of modern living, birds are changing how they vocalize. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, given what other things we’ve done to throw a wrench in avian existence.
Already, the abundance and distribution of bird species is heavily influenced by humans. This is clear in the effects that habitat loss has on avian biodiversity, with 85% of threatened bird species at risk due to habitat conversion for human activity. (see “Habitat conversion and global avian biodiversity loss”) It is also easily observable in major cities, where those species that cope well with anthropogenic disturbance predominate – think pigeons, sparrows, and starlings. Others may become extinct or extirpated (extinct within a particular region) if they fail to quickly adapt, such as in India, where urbanization is preventing some birds from nest-building. Global climate change can shift delicate ecological balances, restructuring community fauna and upping the risk of extinction. In California, for instance, a variety of bird species may be displaced as a consequence. (source)
Noise pollution may not seem like a big deal when compared to land clearing or climate change, but birds rely heavily on singing to communicate. Birdsong is used to attract mates, defend territory from rivals, and even warn for predators. This means that a bird’s ability to be heard plays a direct role in its reproductive interactions and survival. Birdsong is particularly noticeable in the early hours of the morning, a phenomenon known as the “dawn chorus.” Scientists aren’t precisely sure why birds select this time of day for their vocal exertions, but it may have something to do with the quiet, calm surroundings – sound travels well when there’s little wind and excess racket.
It’s the excess racket part that humans are contributing to, prompting some species to sing at different times and in different ways. In Mexico, researchers found that house finches raised the pitch of their lowest song notes in response to road noise, and also held them for longer. A study published in Current Biology examined song changes in the great tit across ten European cities – including Paris, London, and Amsterdam – finding that in each location the birds omitted the low-frequency portion of their call. (source) For the great tit, this makes plenty of adaptive sense, since most urban noise is low-frequency. Why expend the energy to belt out your alto if no one else can hear it?
A green-headed tanager checks itself out in the side-view mirror of one of noise pollution’s culprits. Photo by Joanne Williams / Rex Features.
Another species has opted to sing at times when it is least likely to be interrupted by the sounds of human transportation. European robins studied in Sheffield, England, were found to sing at night in those areas where daytime noise levels were significantly higher than those at night – a behavioral change previously attributed to light pollution. German nightingales, by contrast, are content to engage in the bird equivalent of screaming. To cope with the urban cacophony, they’ve started singing at a piercing 95 decibels. The intensity is like standing a few feet away from a running chainsaw, and the sound is enough to damage human ears if sustained.
The little Nightingale packs quite a sonic punch. Photo from the BBC.
However helpful such biological tricks may be for some birds, the nearer one gets to a densely populated town or city, the less diverse the avian community becomes. Not all species have the vocal machinery to work around the commotion. House sparrows, which have a significant low-frequency component to their songs, have suffered population declines of two thirds in Great Britain over the past few decades. (source) A university of Colorado at Boulder study found that mourning doves and black-headed grosbeaks in New Mexico avoid nesting near sites where natural gas is being extracted, as they cannot tolerate the noisy compressors. Only 21 different species resided in the noisy sites, compared to 32 in the quiet ones. And although the scrub jay, a songbird predator, was likewise driven away by the compressors’ noise, its absence could have radiating effects on the local ecosystem. Scrub jays are responsible for the dispersal of pine nuts in Southwest woodlands, and so their absence could reduce abundances of pinyon pine and alter ecological relationships.
Many of us have grown accustomed to the hustle and bustle of the 21st Century, but the birds may have a lesson to teach us about the value of peace and quiet: just how frighteningly little of it remains.
According to Gordon Hempton, an audio ecologist, fewer than five minutes go by before the average patch of wilderness is interrupted by the sounds of human interference. Hempton defines natural silence as “the complete absence of all audible mechanical vibrations, leaving only the sounds of nature at her most natural.”
After years of recording the natural environment in places all around the globe, Gordon estimates that fewer than a dozen truly silent places are left. It is not just the birds that are vulnerable, either. The breeding success of some Australian frog species is being impacted by Melbourne traffic noise, and ocean noise pollution caused by boat engines and undersea drilling are interfering with habitat selection in young corals. Who knows what variety of species may be affected? Noise might seem an unlikely player on the ecological stage, but further study is definitely warranted on impacts of the anthropogenic racket. | https://insteading.com/blog/noise-pollution-alters-bird-behavior/ |
Canada Lakes Loon Survey
The Common Loon is a welcomed sight on Deer Lake each year, bringing joy to residents, cottagers, and boaters. For many of us, the Loon's ethereal call embodies the very spirit of our Canadian summer. The Canadian Lakes Loon Survey data suggests that Common Loon reproduction has declined over the last 30 years. Their population has being negatively impacted by pollution, human disturbance, habitat loss, and other threats. We can help.
In collaboration with Bird Studies Ontario to help determine the health of the loon population on Deer Lake, we are taking part in the Canadian Lakes Loon Lake Survey, and we can all participate!
Canadian Lakes Loon Survey participants have worked since 1981 to track Common Loon reproductive success by monitoring chick hatch and survival. Participants dedicate at least three dates, visiting their lake once in June (to see if loon pairs are on territory), once in July (to see if chicks hatch) and once in August (to see if chicks survive long enough to fledge).
Participants also work as stewards within their communities sharing knowledge of better boating, fishing and shoreline practices, not only protecting and supporting loons but the many other aquatic species that share our waterways.
Families, lake property owners, fishermen and boaters can all help monitor the health of our lake. By participating in the Canadian Lakes Loon Survey we can take our recreational activities to another level - active participation in science towards conservation.
We've created an editable Google Map where we can keep track of loon sightings with geographic markers on Deer Lake. In particular we are looking for adult pairs in June, hatchlings in July, and fledglings in August.
It's easy. Click here or on the map, a new window opens. On the Map, create a "marker" and enter a description of any observations (number of loons, time of day, location, etc.). Please email us at if you have any questions and thank you for your help! | https://www.friendsofdeerlake.com/loon-survey |
Water bird populations are an indicator of the general health of the ecosystems where they live. Water birds are generally at the top of the food chain, so if they are plentiful and healthy, then the marshes and shorelines where they live, as well as the species on which they feed, must also be healthy. They are also good indicators of pollution, because their reproductive systems are sensitive to contamination in their environment. This makes them a “plural indicator species,” meaning that they tell us about their own well-being, that of the other species on which they feed, and the health of the ecosystems on which they depend.
The beaches, bays, and marshes of the Jersey shore are a strong part of our identity. They are an important economic asset, bringing in tourists from across the country. The ecosystems shelter migratory birds that attract birdwatchers from all over the world in spring and fall. The aquatic ecosystems that provide habitat to those birds also filter pollution and sediments from the water. The health of these areas and the species that inhabit them are part of the heritage of New Jersey itself.
New Jersey’s nesting colonies of water birds have declined over the last twentyfive years. The black bar in Figure 31.1 shows the total population of nesting water birds since the 1970s. While there has been some fluctuation, it has generally declined since its peak in 1978. Some individual species are doing better, particularly great egrets, but most species have declined.
Water birds and humans are in conflict over the same habitat. Human activity diminishes the very features that drew us to the shore in the first place. Human construction of buildings and roads, use of boats that endanger marshes and other vegetation, and pollution of wetlands and bays with chemicals and sediment disturb the birds’ ecosystems. Specific factors contributing to the endangerment of New Jersey birds include loss of nesting habitat to development and erosion, disturbance of nesting activities by beach-goers and their pets, municipal beach maintenance practices that can alter habitat conditions and disturb nesting activities, and excessively high levels of predation exacerbated by human disturbance.
The human threat to water birds is not new. Herons and egrets were once almost wiped out by the millinery trade, when their feathers were prized to decorate hats. They began their comeback when laws were put in place to protect them from hunting and trapping.(1) The National Estuary Program (NEP) was established in 1987 to identify, restore, and protect estuaries and coastal wetlands throughout the United States. NEP targets a broad range of wetland issues, engaging local communities in the protection process.(2) However, the data suggest that these efforts have not been sufficient to protect our water bird populations.
Our data on waterbird populations are updated only erratically, as seen in figure 31.1. Regular updates of these data would give us a better understanding of what is actually happening, and make it easier to know whether trends result from policy reform, land use change, or simply natural variation. A better scientific understanding of the needs of these species would also enable us to identify ways in which human settlements can co-exist with rather than threatening them. | https://njssi.net/gi/nature/ind31.php |
Galápagos birds – including seabirds – are facing considerable threats from human-induced activities like climate change, pollution and resource use. A new study shows that unless current conservation measures are increased, their future conservation is precarious.
“The study aimed to create and implement effective conservation efforts that would enhance and recover threatened bird populations in the Galápagos Islands,” said Dr. Juan José Alava, senior author of the study and Research Associate (Honorary) of NF-UBC Nereus Program at the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries.
A joint effort between diverse institutions and scientists, the study analyzed conservation efforts on Galápagos birds by assessing the environmental threats and anthropogenic impacts affecting them. Of the 20 endangered bird species studied, seven of them are seabirds and aquatic birds, including the Galápagos penguin, the Flightless Cormorant and the Galápagos Albatross. Currently, five out of seven of these bird species studied were found to have declining population trends.
Many Galápagos species, like the Galápagos penguin and Flightless Cormorant, are endemic. This means that they are found only in the Galápagos and nowhere else in the world – and that once they are lost, they are lost forever. Losing bird species can not only affect the health of Galápagos ecosystems, but also negatively impact people and local eco-tourism activities reliant on wildlife.
Losing bird species can not only affect the health of Galápagos ecosystems, but also negatively impact people and local eco-tourism activities reliant on wildlife.
One major threat to seabirds highlighted in the study is climate change.
“Climate change will likely increase the frequency and intensity of El Niño events and hot waves, coupled with changes like higher sea surface temperature, sea level rise and a reduction in upwelling in waters of the Galápagos archipelago. As a result, many seabird species, mainly the endangered ones, will be facing population declines and protracted extinction in the future,” Alava explained. “Prey like fish, food webs, and marine-coastal habitats – all things that the birds heavily rely on – will also be severely affected.”
Given the seriousness of such threats, the researchers predicted the birds’ population trends in ten years’ time based on two conservation scenarios to see how they would fare in the future. The first, known as status quo or “business as usual”, assumes current conservation efforts will either continue as planned or deteriorate over the next ten years. The second, Avian Diversity Vision, assumes much higher conservation goals will be achieved.
To support the birds, the researchers argued that management must be much more aggressive like what is proposed under the Avian Diversity Vision scenario, especially for threats that can be reduced or eliminated. This will help bird populations, many of which are currently declining, to achieve stable or increased populations in the future.
The researchers proposed that conservationists adopt the 50/500 rule for Galápagos birds, which suggests short-term and long-term minimum population sizes of 50 and 500, respectively, so that species can exist in the future with viable population sizes. Breeding programs and restoring areas destroyed by natural disasters are also crucial to species conservation. Specific actions to protect seabirds included better fisheries management and the switch from longline fisheries – which hurt the survival of some Galápagos Albatross populations – to less harmful fishing methods.
“A particular man-made threat to assess and research further in the future is the impact of industrial fisheries on the seabirds’ feeding grounds and their prey,” said Alava. This is important as illegal industrial fishing often occurs on the Galápagos high seas and around Galápagos waters.
“In order to ensure the long-term survival of bird species inhabiting the marine waters and coastal habitats of this unique UNESCO World Heritage site, we need precautionary conservation efforts and adaptive management actions,” said Alava.
The researchers and institutions involved in the study are Juan José Alava from the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries and the Fundación Ecuatoriana para el Estudio de Mamíferos Marinos, Gustavo Jiménez-Uzcátegui from the Charles Darwin Research Station, David Wiedenfeld from the American Bird Conservancy, Carlos A. Valle from Universidad San Francisco de Quito and the Galápagos Science Centre, Paolo Piedrahita from the Faculty of Rife Science, and Laia J. Muñoz-Abril from the Galápagos Science Center and Facultad De Ciencias De La Educación E Idiomas.
The article “Threats and Vision for the Conservation of Galápagos Birds” was published in the journal The Open Ornithology Journal. | https://oceans.ubc.ca/2019/03/15/conservation-galapagos-seabirds/ |
Noise pollution is an intense and unpleasant sound which has awful and bad effect on human health, as well as the environment. It is a specific type of pollution which has extremely negative effects not only on human and animal ears, but also their brains.
Noise pollution increased numerous folds in the mid of twenty century due to the growth of factories, industries, machinery and so on. But one of the major roots of escalating of this type of pollution is carelessness and ignorance of humans. No other animals, except humans, have caused noise pollution in the ecosystem!
In this context, I would like to stimulate the thoughts of all stakeholders towards noise pollution in Gilgit city, which has been intensifying for the last few decades. While my focus is on Gilgit city, other towns and cities in Gilgit-Baltistan, and rest of Pakistan, are also faced with this issue.
Gilgit, situated in the Karakoam mountains, is a beautiful city, popular for its gigantic mountains, and the Hanisara river, which flows at the foot of the city. The city’s historic significance as a seat of governance, trade and commerce is also well known and documented. Gilgit city was, a few decades ago, a big village, with some markets and a lot of agricultural and barren land. Today, Gilgit city has become a concrete jungle, with the agricultural land gradually vanishing. There are no major factories in the city, yet. The traffic on the roads is, nevertheless, very high, reflective of the city’s increasing population density. The hustling and bustling city is so noisy that the residents can no more hear the sound of Hanisara, which has flowed through the land for thousands of years.
The first factor is carelessness of the drivers who would honk their horns aimlessly. They display sensitivity towards hospitals, educational institutions, and places of worship.
The second factor is young boys who would accelerate their bikes, and often also take the silencers out, to make the noise unbearably worse! Looking at such attitudes and approaches, I am always shocked, because they don’t show any respect to the comfort of the people around. Why is this attitude so prevalent? Is there something lacking in the way the youth are being raised at home and school, or college?
The third factor relates to vehicle-management and maintenance. The traffic police, very few in numbers, are unable to regulate the vehicles. There is no check and balance of the quality of the vehicles and their maintenance. Any car that is able to run on its wheels can be seen on the roads, even if they are polluting the environment, and risking the lives of the people. Questions thus arise that whether Traffic police officials have got proper training about traffic control? How should they be dealing with security of the citizenry? What may be reasons for lagging behind or neglecting to enforce the traffic rules and regulations? What may be the justifications for getting away themselves for not taking the fines and penalties when somebody breaches the traffic rules?
The fourth factor, and arguably the most significant, is the noise pollution caused by cars and small vehicles of all kinds which there’s no dearth, thanks to the easy availability of smuggled and stolen vehicles, popularly known as “Non-Custom-Paid or NCP” cars. These cars are cheaply available for a few hundred thousand rupees. Tractors, Suzukis (Public transport vehicles) and all cars of other sorts make so much noise that a crisis of sorts is emerging in the city. Following is a breakdown of the different factors adding to the noise pollution, other than the density of traffic:is flooding of NCP vehicles in Gilgit-Baltistan Region as they have increased the number of personal transports in a contrast to public transport. Hence it causes to enhance the noise pollution in Gilgit day by day. I feel so concerned that why the Government of Gilgit-Baltistan has given permission of NCB vehicles to such extent?
The fifth factor is rough and narrow road within Gilgit city and the adjacent areas. Because of such convincing reason, the mobilized traffic gets jammed leading to compel the drivers to press the horns each time. In such ways, the noise pollution could be expected more than 100%.
The sixth factor is pressure horn of vehicles. Several drivers use pressure horn instead of the normal horn which has an adverse effect on environment as well as on human minds and their health conditions. Related questions arise again that why they have keen interest of installing pressure horn? Do they have any kind of psychological issues? Do they feel and understand such misbehavior an honor for themselves? Why the officials of law enforcing agencies not take serious action against these elements?
The seventh and most noise transmitting, and irritating factor is use of loudspeakers everywhere that includes venues of the Market, political meetings, demonstrations and strikes, protests, other events such as Marriage ceremonies and places of worship.
Lastly, it is a pity to constantly and bitterly observe and experience the unbearable and explosive noise of the helicopters and airplanes due to putting in place of the helipads and airport within the residential areas in the tiny Gilgit city. Could they be shifted out of the populace towards peripheral areas? Why shouldn’t the local and national Governments heed towards such genuine considerations?
I feel so disappointed to notice and observe those who for the sake of their own interests bother the huge majority of the communities of the region. Buildings like unplanned residential areas and hostels have been constructed without any due consideration of the roads surrounding them to avoid noise pollution, particularly of the large vehicles such as buses, lories, trucks and tractors. Why do such people have no care of the whole society as we can realize that we live in a diverse society: for instance, some people would not like music, and others may have allergy from loudspeaker.
Why is there no care for patients who could be found, in one way or the other, in many houses and who get disturbed. Everywhere in our societies, students are found in each house who pursue their study and they are interrupted by constant hearing of loudspeakers. It’s a pity that for the sake of series of ceremonies, rites and rituals, such important segments of the societies are contravened time and again.
We need to understand that the noise pollution leads to emotional and behavioral stress. A person can be severely distressed by hearing of loud noise, such as beating of drums, horn of vehicles, helicopters, and sound of loudspeakers and so on. Noise can impair permanently the eardrum, and also cause diseases, like headache, blood pressure and heart failure. It also effects the sleeping pattern when it has been harmfully impacted individuals.
To explain further, it’s obvious in many instances that some time loud noise creates trouble in communicating to disturbed students and teacher in schools. Similarly, patients in hospitals to be evidenced getting trouble out of the noise pollution. It also creates social disturbance such as fighting among people. Scientific studies have shown that prolonged and regular exposure to excessive noise result to the physical and psychological health consequences on student or other reader’s health conditions. Noise pollution also impact on patient and patient remain in stress and hence he or she recovers late.
When somebody listens to music loudly, other person many not be able to bear it and the situations become nervous leading to fighting. The noise pollution also effects the social life of those persons who constantly listen to loud music or deliver his or her speech loudly. Consequently, the society does not give them respect.
Being a human (coupled with being a Muslim, if we do claim) we must care for everyone in our societies. It is our ethical, legal and religious obligation to control noise pollution. As it has been rightly said that change begins from oneself. let’s come and control noise pollution together in our society. It is controlled when every individual plays their sincere roles. Noise pollution in Gilgit can be controlled to a greater extend if the following points are kept in mind and materialized.
- All types of horn should be restricted in the areas like hospitals and schools. In case of violation, honest action should be taken against the individual.
- Government of Gilgit-Baltistan Region should legislate and enforce such a rule which bans use of loudspeakers in public place. if someone breaches the rule, serious punishment should be the violators.
- Action should be taken against the derivers of vehicles in bad conditions and he or she should be given warning to fix the issues pertaining to the tractors, cars, bikes, etc in the due date.
- If there is no any rule for the unfixed vehicles, the government should make legislations and enforce the new laws.
- The higher authorities of the police should allow the related personnel to manage the traffic rule and bring it in practical form.
- The road infrastructure should be in good condition and that should be widened and well carpeted. The traffic jump would thus get removed leading to direct control of noise pollution in Gilgit city.
Such type of noise pollution could be controlled if everyone realizes and fulfills his or her responsibilities. It requires every individual’s contributions if we start it from ourselves. The day would never be far away that Gilgit city will be free from all sorts of noise pollution and a model in the world.
The contributor is a student of BS – Chemistry, 6th Semester, at KIU, Gilgit. | https://pamirtimes.net/2019/06/12/the-disaster-of-noise-pollution-in-gilgit-city/ |
The insurgence or persistence of critical scenarios of damage and nuisance on populations is verified at local scale for the direct interaction among hazard factors from productive activities and receptors such as residential areas. This can be even worsened where local criticalities are overlapped to the diffuse pollution originated by the whole group of sources coexisting on a territory. The interference of the various emissions factors with communication, rest and performance can lead to physiological and psychological disorders, fatigue, anxiety and stress at the exposed. Furthermore, from the existing definitions, emerge that a hazard factor can impact not exclusively on the state of health of the individual, but also on the quality and usability of environments and territories. Often, even without exceeding the normative limits, an altered perception and a limitation or impediment in the use of a territory, compared to what expected in a period before the occurrence of the disturbing event, can be observed. A systemic approach for the assessment and management of disturbance and annoyance arising from the exposure to different hazard factors in work and life environments, still lacks. Aim of this paper is to analyze the disturbance and annoyance phenomenon related to noise, vibrations, airborne particulate, odors and their synergic effects, and to review the existing literature. The review indicates that annoyance can be observed even when the limit values are respected; the deep knowledge of plants and the specific skills developed in OS&H field can play a central role in the prevention of disturbance and annoyance effects. The analysis here carried out for noise, vibrations, airborne particulate and odors annoyances can be generalizable to other pollution factors as an applicable qualitative methodology.
|Titolo:||Annoyance and disturbance hazard factors related to work and life environments: a review|
|Autori:|
|Data di pubblicazione:||2016|
|Rivista:|
|Appare nelle tipologie:||1.1 Articolo in rivista|
File in questo prodotto: | https://iris.polito.it/handle/11583/2659618 |
The Arctic is undergoing a transformation. Melting pack ice is opening up new shipping routes and setting the stage for an uptick in human activities in the region. How can we minimize the impact on the belugas of western Hudson Bay, which gather to form the largest summer concentration of their species in the world? Researchers tracked nine belugas using satellite transmitters to visualize how their habitat overlaps with shipping routes.
According to the 2017 international report SWIPA – Snow, Water, Ice, and Permafrost in the Arctic, the Arctic Ocean will be largely ice-free in summer by 2030, if not even earlier. In Hudson Bay, the ice-free period has increased by an average of just over one day a year since the 1980s.
Thousands of belugas (approximately 50,000 according to the latest survey, conducted in 2015) spend the summer in western Hudson Bay, mainly in the estuaries of the Churchill, Nelson and Seal Rivers. This region has therefore been designated as an Ecologically and Biologically Significant Area (EBSA). Censuses suggest that the beluga population in western Hudson Bay is currently stable, but melting sea ice may affect this population by impacting the availability of prey and the intensity of shipping traffic. Studies have shown that belugas react to the presence of boats by altering their behaviour such as modifying their swimming trajectory or the sounds they emit. Noise pollution can reduce the amount of time animals spend feeding or how efficient they are in this vital activity, in addition to masking communication between individuals. Chronic exposure to anthropogenic sounds might even result in marine mammal populations abandoning certain habitats.
To identify and map the habitat used by belugas in this region, researchers from Washington State University and Fisheries and Oceans Canada attached satellite transmitters to nine belugas and tracked their movements between July and October 2015. They then took this map and superposed it on the map of shipping traffic for the same period.
The study demonstrates that the belugas in western Hudson Bay are at present exposed to relatively little shipping traffic, as the latter is still of low intensity. Such traffic is concentrated mainly along specific routes that converge on the ports of Churchill and Arviat. Areas where the risk of encounter between belugas and vessels is highest are currently around these two ports and along the corridor that connects them.
With the anticipated increase in marine traffic in the region, such areas of cohabitation between boats and belugas may soon become more intensely navigated. In the researchers’ view, “Targeted measures to reduce the risk of collision and behavioural disturbance in such areas should be put in place to minimize potential impacts on the population.” Multiple protective measures are possible: speed reductions for ships, voluntary suspension or prohibition of navigation in certain areas, rerouted shipping lanes, etc.
Simulation models have been developed in recent years to test the effects of various protection measures on the risks of ship strikes and disturbance to whales in the St. Lawrence. Could such models be used in the Arctic to gauge the impact of planned development projects and possible protection measures? | https://baleinesendirect.org/en/proteger-les-belugas-face-a-laugmentation-du-trafic-maritime-dans-larctique/ |
Physical chemistry is the study of macroscopic, atomic, subatomic, and particulate phenomena in chemical systems in terms of the principles, practices, and concepts of physics such as motion, energy, force, time, thermodynamics, quantum chemistry, statistical mechanics, analytical dynamics and chemical equilibrium.
Physical chemistry, in contrast to chemical physics, is predominantly (but not always) a macroscopic or supra-molecular science, as the majority of the principles on which it was founded relate to the bulk rather than the molecular/atomic structure alone (for example, chemical equilibrium and colloids).
Some of the relationships that physical chemistry strives to resolve include the effects of:
- Intermolecular forces that act upon the physical properties of materials (plasticity, tensile strength, surface tension in liquids).
- Reaction kinetics on the rate of a reaction.
- The identity of ions and the electrical conductivity of materials.
- Surface science and electrochemistry of cell membranes.
- Interaction of one body with another in terms of quantities of heat and work called thermodynamics.
- Transfer of heat between a chemical system and its surroundings during change of phase or chemical reaction taking place called thermo chemistry
- Study of colligative properties of number of species present in solution.
- Number of phases, number of components and degree of freedom (or variance) can be correlated with one another with help of phase rule.
- Reactions of electrochemical cells.
Key concepts
The key concepts of physical chemistry are the ways in which pure physics is applied to chemical problems.
One of the key concepts in classical chemistry is that all chemical compounds can be described as groups of atoms bonded together and chemical reactions can be described as the making and breaking of those bonds. Predicting the properties of chemical compounds from a description of atoms and how they bond is one of the major goals of physical chemistry. To describe the atoms and bonds precisely, it is necessary to know both where the nuclei of the atoms are, and how electrons are distributed around them.
Quantum chemistry, a subfield of physical chemistry especially concerned with the application of quantum mechanics to chemical problems, provides tools to determine how strong and what shape bonds are, how nuclei move, and how light can be absorbed or emitted by a chemical compound. Spectroscopy is the related sub-discipline of physical chemistry which is specifically concerned with the interaction of electromagnetic radiation with matter.
Another set of important questions in chemistry concerns what kind of reactions can happen spontaneously and which properties are possible for a given chemical mixture. This is studied in chemical thermodynamics, which sets limits on quantities like how far a reaction can proceed, or how much energy can be converted into work in an internal combustion engine, and which provides links between properties like the thermal expansion coefficient and rate of change of entropy with pressure for a gas or a liquid. It can frequently be used to assess whether a reactor or engine design is feasible, or to check the validity of experimental data. To a limited extent, quasi-equilibrium and non-equilibrium thermodynamics can describe irreversible changes. However, classical thermodynamics is mostly concerned with systems in equilibrium and reversible changes and not what actually does happen, or how fast, away from equilibrium.
Which reactions do occur and how fast is the subject of chemical kinetics, another branch of physical chemistry. A key idea in chemical kinetics is that for reactants to react and form products, most chemical species must go through transition states which are higher in energy than either the reactants or the products and serve as a barrier to reaction. In general, the higher the barrier, the slower the reaction. A second is that most chemical reactions occur as a sequence of elementary reactions, each with its own transition state. Key questions in kinetics include how the rate of reaction depends on temperature and on the concentrations of reactants and catalysts in the reaction mixture, as well as how catalysts and reaction conditions can be engineered to optimize the reaction rate. | https://www.edudag.com/product/scholar-notes-of-physical-chemistry-for-neet-exams/ |
The product of interaction between Al and TiO2 at elevated temperature has a wide range of applications in refractory, structural and electronics industries (refractory tiles, tank armor, fuel cells, and microelectronic devices). This research attempts to understand the extent of interaction between Al and TiO2 when the reactant surfaces are in contact at elevated temperature and normal atmospheric pressure. The interfacial region between the reactant compounds is examined using analytical techniques; and the formation of TiAl as the interfacial compound is described. The thermodynamics of the Al â Ti â O system is explained as it relates to the particular conditions for the Al â TiO2 reaction research. Thermodynamic principles have been used to demonstrate that the formation of TiAl is favored instead of other TixAly compounds for the set of conditions outlined in this thesis. A study of the mechanism of interactions in the interfacial region can help towards being able to determine the reaction kinetics that lead to the control of microstructure and thus an improvement in the material performance. An appropriate model that describes the formation of TiAl at the interface is described in this study. The formation of TiAl at the interface is a result of the reduction reaction between TiO2 and Al. The O released during the reduction of TiO2 has been investigated and demonstrated to partly remain dissolved in TiAl at the interfacial region. Some O reacts with Al as well to form crystalline Al2O3 in the interfacial layer. | https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/handle/10919/29733 |
Below is a sample breakdown of Thermodynamics chapter into a 5-day school week. Based on the pace of your course, you may need to adapt the lesson plan to fit your needs.
|Day||Topics||Key Terms and Concepts Covered|
|Monday||The Laws of Thermodynamics|
State Functions in Thermochemistry
|First and second laws of thermodynamics|
Examples of state functions, why state functions are important in chemistry
|Tuesday||Energy transfer in physical and chemical processes|
Bond energy
|Enthalpy, different ways energy can be transferred, use of thermochemical equations to calculate heat energy transferred in a reaction|
Significance of bond energy
|Wednesday|| Using Hess's Law to calculate the change in enthalpy of a reaction|
Measuring heat transfer and heat capacity
Predicting the entropy of physical and chemical changes
|Thermochemical equations, manipulating thermochemical equations, Hess's Law|
Calorimetry, calorimeter, calorie, joule, specific heat capacity, simple equation for heat calculations
Entropy, factors affecting the value of entropy, predicting and calculating entropy change
|Thursday|| Predicting the spontaneity of a reaction|
The relationship between enthalpy, free energy and entropy
Free energy and cell potential energy
|Free energy, spontaneity and temperature, free energy and spontaneity|
Gibbs free energy, spontaneous reactions, effect of temperature on spontaneity of a reaction
The relationship between free energy and potential energy
|Friday||Endothermic and exothermic reactions|
Catalysts and energy diagrams
|Law of conservation of energy, difference between endothermic and exothermic reactions|
Difference between a catalyst and uncatalyzed reactions
1. The Laws of Thermodynamics
Learn about the first and second laws of thermodynamics. Find out how energy is generated, how it converts from one form to another, and what happens to energy in a closed system.
2. State Functions in Thermochemistry
This lesson defines state functions and explains why state functions are so useful in thermochemistry and thermodynamics. You'll also see a few examples of common state functions.
3. Enthalpy: Energy Transfer in Physical and Chemical Processes
This video explores the relationship between chemistry and energy. We learn the general properties of energy and the concepts of temperature and heat. We will learn about energy flow and consider the enthalpy change during chemical reactions.
4. Bond Energy: Definition & Equation
Chemical reactions involve the breaking and forming of chemical bonds. In this video lesson, we will learn about bond energy and how we can use it to measure the overall energy change of a chemical reaction.
5. Using Hess's Law to Calculate the Change in Enthalpy of a Reaction
Want to make sure you don't blow yourself up during a chemical reaction? This lesson will help you avoid this by teaching you Hess's Law. This is one way to calculate the heat transferred, or enthalpy change, of a chemical reaction.
6. Calorimetry: Measuring Heat Transfer and Heat Capacity
This video lesson explains the technique of calorimetry used to measure heat transfer in chemical reactions. You will see how different materials have different specific heat capacities. You will learn how to carry out heat calculations using a simple equation.
7. Predicting the Entropy of Physical and Chemical Changes
Ever wonder why your bedroom always ends up a mess within hours of you tidying up? That is the magic of entropy. In this lesson, you'll learn why disorder is the natural state of matter and how we can predict entropy change in a physical or chemical reaction.
8. Free Energy: Predicting the Spontaneity of a Reaction
Ever heard the phrase 'pushing Jell-O uphill on a hot day'? This describes a hopeless task. In this lesson, we will predict hopeful and hopeless reactions. Or put scientifically, predicting spontaneous (hopeful) and non-spontaneous (hopeless) reactions.
9. The Relationship Between Enthalpy (H), Free Energy (G) and Entropy (S)
In this video lesson, we'll study free energy (G) and its relationship to enthalpy, entropy and temperature. You'll also learn why free energy (G) is the single most useful criterion for predicting the spontaneity and direction of a chemical reaction.
10. Electrochemistry: Free Energy and Cell Potential Energy
Our modern lives are totally dependent on electricity. In this lesson, we learn about electricity spontaneously produced by electrochemical cells or batteries. We make the link between the potential energy they produce and Gibbs free energy.
11. Endothermic and Exothermic Reactions
Explore a chemical reaction at the molecular level. Learn about exothermic and endothermic reactions, what they look like and what happens when they occur. Understand enthalpy and how you can use it to predict whether a reaction will be exothermic or endothermic.
12. Effect of Catalysts on Rates of Reaction
In this video lesson, we will learn how catalysts speed up chemical reactions. We'll also discuss how catalysts are used in industry and consider the catalysts in our own bodies. A short quiz will test your new knowledge.
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Not sure what college you want to attend yet? Study.com has thousands of articles about every imaginable degree, area of study and career path that can help you find the school that's right for you. | https://study.com/academy/topic/thermodynamics-ap-chemistry-lesson-plans.html |
2 edition of High temperature flames and their thermodynamics found in the catalog.
High temperature flames and their thermodynamics
Hemandra Kumar Sen
Published
1931 by Patna University in [Calcutta] .
Written in English
Edition Notes
|Statement||by H. K. Sen.|
|Series||Sukraj Ray readership lectures in natural science,, 1926-27|
|Classifications|
|LC Classifications||QD516 .S46|
|The Physical Object|
|Pagination||135 p.|
|Number of Pages||135|
|ID Numbers|
|Open Library||OL5330450M|
|LC Control Number||72183513|
The book is primarily concerned with the thermodynamics of internal Temperature Measurement and Recording Component Temperature Measurement Gas Temperature Measurement Combustion Photography and Flame Speed Detection
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Investigating communities and cultures
Heat and Thermodynamics Hardcover – January 1, out of 5 stars 13 ratings. See all 9 formats and editions Hide other formats and editions. Price New from Used from Hardcover "Please retry" $ $ $ Hardcover, January 1, $ $ $ Paperback "Please retry" $1, $ /5(13). out of 5 stars Using Heat and Power High temperature flames and their thermodynamics book in other countries.
Reviewed in the United States on Ma in your textbook make my students to try to discuss the thermodynamics concepts and their applications to industrial processes. This is something that I have never faced with during the past 20 years of my teaching/5(3).
Books shelved as thermodynamics: Thermodynamics by Enrico Fermi, The Laws of Thermodynamics: A Very Short Introduction by Peter Atkins, Thermodynamics: A. Chapter 1 discusses basic chemical thermodynamics and flame temperatures for combustion analysis.
High temperature flames and their thermodynamics book Heats of reaction, free energy, and equilibrium constants are introduced and then applied for the analysis of chemical equilibrium composition and adiabatic flame temperature of fuel−oxidizer mixtures.
A comprehensive review of the fundamentals aspects High temperature flames and their thermodynamics book combustion, covering fundamental thermodynamics and chemical kinetics through to practical burners.
It provides a detailed analysis of the basic ideas and design characteristics. Advanced Thermodynamics for Engineers, Second Edition introduces the basic concepts of thermodynamics and applies them to a wide range of technologies. Authors Desmond Winterbone and Ali Turan also include a detailed study of combustion to show how the chemical energy in a fuel is converted into thermal energy and emissions; analyze fuel cells.
You can write a book review and share your experiences. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books you've read. Whether you've loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them.
Several propane and high-temperature air flames, produced with the crossflow diffusion of gas into highly preheated combustion air (obtained by a. Thermodynamics is High temperature flames and their thermodynamics book branch of science concerned with heat and temperature and their relation to energy and work.
Being concentrated on a wide range of applications of thermodynamics, this book gathers a series of contributions by the finest scientists in the world, gathered in an orderly manner.
(For these values, the initial temperature of air, gas, and oxygen is 20 °C.) MAPP is a mixture of gases, chiefly methyl acetylene, and propadiene with other hydrocarbons. You'll get the most bang for your buck, relatively speaking, from acetylene in oxygen (°C) and either acetylene (°C), hydrogen (°C), or propane (°C) in the air.
Chemical Thermodynamics and Flame Temperatures: Introduction. Heats of Reaction and Formation. Free Energy and the Equilibrium Constants. Flame Temperature Calculations. Analysis. Practical Considerations. Problems. References. Chemical Kinetics: Introduction.
The Rates of Reactions and Their High temperature flames and their thermodynamics book Dependency. The Arrhenius Book Edition: 3. In our university, Professor suggests us to follow one of these books: entals of Engineering Thermodynamics -Moran, M.J & Saprio, H.N entals of Thermodynamics -Sonntag, R.E, High temperature flames and their thermodynamics book, C & Van Wylen 3.
Thermodynamics: An Engine. A comprehensive review of the fundamentals aspects of combustion, covering fundamental thermodynamics and chemical kinetics through to practical burners. It provides a detailed analysis of the basic ideas and design characteristics of burners for gaseous, liquid and solid fuels.
End of chapter review questions help the reader to evaluate their understanding of both Author: Vasudevan Raghavan. Book Description. The first two editions of Concise Chemical Thermodynamics proved to be a very popular introduction to a subject many undergraduate students perceive to be difficult due to the underlying mathematics.
With its concise explanations and clear examples, the text has for the past 40 years clarified for countless students one of the most complicated branches of science. The First Law of Thermodynamics Work and heat are two ways of transfering energy between a system and the environment, causing the system’s energy to change.
If the system as a whole is at rest, so that the bulk mechanical energy due to translational or File Size: 1MB. There are many thermodynamics texts on the market, yet most provide a presentation that is at a level too high for those new to the field.
This second edition of Thermodynamics. This book, now in its second edition, continues to provide a comprehensive introduction to the principles of chemical engineering thermodynamics and also introduces the student to the application of principles to various practical areas. The book emphasizes the role of the fundamental principles of thermodynamics in the derivation of significant relationships between the various thermodynamic Reviews: 1.
back. Course Contents. Fuels and their properties, Review of basic thermodynamics and gaseous mixtures, Combustion Thermodynamics; Stoichiometry, The First and Second Laws of Thermodynamics applied to combustion; Heat, temperature and composition products in equilibrium, Mass transfer basics, Fundamentals of combustion kinetics, Governing equations.
Purchase Advanced Thermodynamics for Engineers - 1st Edition. Print Book & E-Book. ISBNBook Edition: 1. the characteristic vibrational temperature, θV = hc /k (Table ). The value for H 2 is abnormally high because the atoms are so light and the vibrational frequency is correspondingly high.
In terms of the vibrational temperature,‘high temperature’ means T >> θV and, when this condition is satisfied, qV = T/θFile Size: 1MB. The thermodynamic temperature is • At very high temperatures, virtually all states are accessible, and q is correspondingly large.
• Calculate the proportion of I 2 molecules in their ground, first excited, and second excited vibrational states at 25 °C. The vibrational wavenumber isFile Size: 2MB. Flame temperature calculations 16 1. Analysis 16 2. Practical considerations 22 E. Sub- and super sonic combustion thermodynamics 3 2 1.
Comparisons 32 2. Stagnation pressure considerations 33 Problems 36 CHAPTER 2. CHEMICAL KINETICS 43 A. Introduction 43 B. Rates of reactions and their temperature dependence 43 1.
The book presents the high-temperature thermodynamic studies of the transuranium oxides and their solid solutions, obtained from the vapor pressure measurements at high temperatures on actinide oxide samples using a Knudsen cell coupled with a mass spectrometer.
The experimental work was complemented by thermodynamic evaluations and modelling. In developing insulation, the smaller the conductivity k and the larger the thickness d, thethe ratio d/k, called the R factor, is large for a good rate of conductive heat transfer is inversely proportional to R.R factors are most commonly quoted for household insulation, refrigerators, and the like.
Unfortunately, in the United States, R is still in non-metric. The constant-pressure adiabatic flame temperature of such substances in air is in a relatively narrow range around °C.
This is because, in terms of stoichiometry, the combustion of an organic compound with n carbons involves breaking roughly 2 n C–H bonds, n C–C bonds, and n O 2 bonds to form roughly n CO 2 molecules and n H 2 O molecules.
A science book defines thermodynamics this way: “Thermodynamics is the mathematical physics of gases” (p. ), which is unrecognizable. The book also teaches that the second law of thermodynamics “states that, in a closed system, entropy (S) is always steady or increasing” (no, that happens in an adiabatic closed system, not in.
Classroom Resources: Energy & Thermodynamics. direct their own laboratory experience as they safely investigate these testable questions through the use of multiple flame tests. Temperature, Kinetic Molecular Theory, Heat, Temperature | High School, Middle School Lab: Mega Marshmallows.
Lecture 13 Chapter 18 Temperature, Heat, and the First Law of Thermodynamics •Temperature and Thermal Equilibrium •Linear Expansion •Heat and Energy Transfer and Specific Heat •Thermal Conductivity •Work and the First Law of Thermodynamics – ΔE int = Q -W •Conduction, Convection and RadiationFile Size: 2MB.
Thermodynamics Henri J.F. Jansen Department of Physics Oregon State University Aug File Size: 1MB. • The second law of thermodynamics introduces the notion of entropy (S), a measure of system disorder (messiness) • U is the quantity of a system’s energy, S is the quality of a system’s energy.
• Another C.P. Snow expression: – not knowing the 2 nd law of thermodynamics is the cultural equivalent to never having read Shakespeare.
The Thermodynamic Temperature Scale; 6. 3 Representation of Thermodynamic Processes in coordinates; 6. 4 Brayton Cycle in -Coordinates.
Net work per unit mass flow in a Brayton cycle. Irreversibility, Entropy Changes, and ``Lost Work'' Entropy and Unavailable Energy (Lost Work by Another Name) Examples of Lost Work in.
The phrase “chemical reaction” conjures up images of explosions, bubbling gases, flames, and smoke. So many chemical reactions have visible results because energy is being transferred from one form to another—the realm of thermodynamics.
Search the world's most comprehensive index of full-text books. My library. Heat can be useful, but it can also be annoying. Understanding heat and the flow of heat allows us to build heat sinks that prevent our computers from overheating, build better engines, and prevent freeway overpasses from cracking.
Second Law of Thermodynamics and can be stated as follows: For combined system and surroundings, en-tropy never decreases. Actually, it always increases.
This is really what makes things happen. The fi rst law of thermodynamics, that energy is conserved, just ells us what can happen; it is the second law that makes things go. Thermodynamics DemystiďŹ ed Combustion Combustion Equations Enthalpy of Formation, Enthalpy of Combustion, and the First Law Adiabatic Flame Temperature Quiz No.
1 Quiz No. 2 Whether we're sitting by the pool or on a sandy beach in warm and sunny Spain, we complain about the heat, the high temperature. In pool-talk, heat and temperature may be the same thing, but in physics-talk, they're not.
We come in thinking we have a pretty good idea of what heat and temperature are and then—BAM!—we don't. Thermodynamics is a branch of physics that deals with heat and temperature, and their relation to energy, work, radiation, and properties of behavior of these quantities is governed by the four laws of thermodynamics which convey a quantitative description using measurable macroscopic physical quantities, but may be explained in terms of microscopic constituents by.
In this video I continue with my series of tutorial videos on Thermal Physics and Thermodynamics. It's pitched at undergraduate level and while it is mainly aimed at physics majors, it should be.
Get this from a library. Concise chemical thermodynamics. [A P H Peters; J R W Warn] -- This text provides an introduction to chemical thermodynamics. It presents the subject with practical chemical examples using little mathematics and includes discussions of.
Usually, we measure temperature in Celsius, Fahrenheit, Rankine, pdf (note that Kelvin measures temperature as well--but it also measures thermodynamic temperature) Thermodynamic temperature is such that zero temperature is absolute zero (unlike Celsius, where °C is absolute zero).
It is related to the energy (specifically the kinetic.The thermodynamics of uranium salts and their hydrates – Estimating thermodynamic properties for nuclear and other actinoid materials using the Thermodynamic Difference Rule (TDR).
The Journal of Chemical Thermodynamics, Cited by: Energy, entropy and exergy concepts come from thermodynamics and are ebook to all fields ebook science and engineering.
Therefore, this article intends to provide background for better understanding of these concepts and their differences among various classes of life support systems with a diverse coverage.
It also covers the basic principles, general definitions and Cited by: | https://geqakujocysinis.appligraphic-groupe.com/high-temperature-flames-and-their-thermodynamics-book-25942ej.php |
Balducci, Giulia (2015) Lightweight metal hydride – hydroxide systems for solid state hydrogen storage. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.
this work are based on reactions between light weight hydroxides and hydrides.
systems lays in the fact the thermodynamics of rehydrogenation are not favourable for onboard applications. Hence, the system must be considered as a ‘charged module’, where the regeneration is performed ex-situ. Dehydrogenation can be achieved through reaction with light metal hydrides such as LiH or MgH2.
amounts of the starting materials. Further, nanostructuring the reactants was investigated as a means to control the dehydrogenation reaction and enhance the kinetics and thermodynamics of the process. Nanostructured Mg(OH)2 and LiOH(·H2O) have been successfully obtained using both novel and conventional synthetic routes. Reduction of the particle size of both hydrides was effectively achieved by mechanically milling the bulk materials. As detailed throughout Chapters 3, 4 and 5, promising results were obtained when employing nanosized reactants. The onset temperatures of hydrogen release were decreased and the overall systems performances enhanced. Particularly interesting results were obtained for the LiOH – MgH2 system, which exhibit a dramatic decrease of the onset temperature of H2 release of nearly 100 K when working with milled and nanostructured materials with respect to bulk reagents.
pivotal in order to understand and enhance such systems further. | http://theses.gla.ac.uk/6534/ |
HS.PS.1.1: Use the periodic table as a model to predict the relative properties of elements based on the patterns of electrons in the outermost energy level of atoms.
HS.PS.1.2: Construct and revise an explanation for the outcome of a simple chemical reaction based on the outermost electron states of atoms, trends in the periodic table, knowledge of the patterns of chemical properties, and formation of compounds.
HS.PS.1.5: Apply scientific principles and evidence to provide an explanation about the effects of changing the temperature or concentration of the reacting particles on the rate at which a reaction occurs.
HS.PS.1.7: Use mathematical representations to support the claim that atoms, and therefore mass, are conserved during a chemical reaction.
HS.PS.2.1: Analyze data and use it to support the claim that Newton?s second law of motion describes the mathematical relationship among the net force on a macroscopic object, its mass, and its acceleration.
HS.PS.2.2: Use mathematical representations to support the claim that the total momentum of a system of objects is conserved when there is no net force on the system.
HS.PS.2.5: Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that an electric current can produce a magnetic field and that a changing magnetic field can produce an electric current.
HS.PS.3.1: Create a computational model to calculate the change in the energy of one component in a system when the change in energy of the other component(s) and energy flows in and out of the system are known.
HS.PS.3.2: Develop and use models to illustrate that energy at the macroscopic scale can be accounted for as either motions of particles or energy stored in fields.
HS.PS.3.3: Design, build, and refine a device that works within given constraints to convert one form of energy into another form of energy.
HS.PS.3.4: Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence that the transfer of thermal energy when two components of different temperature are combined within a closed system results in a more uniform energy distribution among the components in the system (second law of thermodynamics).
HS.PS.4.1: Use mathematical representations to support a claim regarding relationships among the frequency, wavelength, and speed of waves traveling in various media.
HS.PS.4.4: Evaluate the validity and reliability of claims in published materials of the effects that different frequencies of electromagnetic radiation have when absorbed by matter. | https://www.explorelearning.com/index.cfm?id=2422&method=cResource.dspStandardCorrelation&desktop=1 |
Eligibility:
B.E. / B.Tech. in Polymer tech., Rubber Tech./ Plastics Tech. / Chemical Engg. / Mechanical Engg. / I&P. / Textile. / Fiber technology or AMIE (Chemical Engineering)
Subjects / Topics from which questions are to be set
1. Fluid mechanics and statics: Types of fluids – shear stress and velocity gradient relation, Newtonian and non-newtonian fluids, laminar and turbulent flow . Flow in bouondary layers, Reynolds number, Bernoulli equations, Variation of pressure with height – hydrostatic equilibrium, Barometric equation, Measurement of fluid pressure – monometers
2.Chemical process calculations : Concept of mole, Mole fraction, Compositions of mixtures of solids, liquids and gases. Ideal gas law calculations, general material balance equation for steady state.
3.Chemical engineering thermodynamics: Basic concepts – System, Surrounding and processes, Closed and Open systems, State and Properties, Intensive and Extensive Properties, State and Path functions, General statement of first law of thermodynamics, First law for cyclic process, P-V-T behaviour of pure fluids, equations of state and ideal gas law, Processes involving ideal gas law; Constant volume, constant pressure, constant temperature,. Van-der Waals equation,
4. Heat and mass transferModes of heat transfer, unilayer and multiplayer condition, forced and natural convection, Introduction to molecular diffusion, in gases and liquids, theories of mass transfer, principles and types of distillations
5. Polymer science: Classification of polymers, Definition of polymerization, , Chain polymerization (free radical, ionic and co-ordination polymerizations), Step (condensation) polymerization, copolymerizationMethods of Polymerization (bulk, solution, Suspension, Emulsion,)
6.Polymerization kinetics: Definition of reaction rate, order, molecularity, different theories of reaction rate, activation energy, kinetic expressions for simple first order & second order chemical reactions, kinetics of linear step reaction polymerization, kinetics of addition polymerization initiated by free radical initiator: steady state assumption,
7. Processing Technology: Extrusion, Injection moulding, blow moulding Compression moulding. rotational moulding, thermoforming, Calendering. | https://www.successcds.net/examsyllabus/karnataka-pgcet-exam-syllabus-for-polymer-science-and-technology/10781 |
The purpose of calorimetry is to use an instrument known as a calorimeter to determine the enthalpy of a substance undergoing chemical change. In a calorimeter known as a bomb calorimeter, it is the enthalpy of combustion that is measured.
Product and Process Design Principles - Seider - Ebook download as PDF File .pdf), Text File .txt) or read book online. Chemistry Lab Report Aim: The combustion of organic compounds produces large quantities of energy. These compounds range from fuels are burnt in oxygen (air) i.e. they are oxidized. Nonetheless, is there any relationship between the The heat of combustion (standard enthalpy change of combustion) is the enthalpy change when . It is useful in comparing fuels where condensation of the combustion products is impractical, or heat at a temperature below °C ( °F) cannot be put to use. However, for true energy calculations in some specific cases, the higher heating value is .
Tea light candle with metal cup and wick Watch glass Be sure you and the students wear properly fitting goggles. Burners must not be used, since many reagents are flammable.
Methanol particularly poses a serious fire hazard, and its flame is almost invisible. Avoid flames or sparks. Methanol is also toxic by ingestion. Skin contact causes dermatitis. Work in a well-ventilated area.
The minimum quantity of alcohol needed for the experiment should be available to students. It is caustic and corrosive. In the event of skin or eye contact, rinse well with water.
Have contact area evaluated by qualified medical personnel. The waste layer in the investigation contains mostly glycerol, excess methanol, and potentially unreacted potassium hydroxide.
Time Required Two class periods, approximately 45—50 minutes each. The biodiesel reaction mixture must sit for at least 30 minutes or overnight.
Pre-Lab Discussion This investigation introduces the concept of heat of combustion of a fuel. It also highlights the difference between renewable and non-renewable fuel sources, in particular, biodiesel and diesel obtained from crude oil. A discussion of the basic organic structures presented in the investigation would be helpful.
Lab Tips Instead of shaking the bottle with the reaction mixture for 10 minutes, a magnetic stir bar apparatus could be used. These are sold by science supply companies and look like large plastic test tubes with 2-liter soda bottle screw-top lids.
The reaction mixture is transferred to a test tube after mixing so it is easier to see the two layers separated and to decant the top biodiesel layer.
Separatory funnels could be used instead if available. The time needed for the investigation can be shortened if a centrifuge is available; portions of the reaction mixture can be centrifuged to obtain the two separated layers rather than leaving them to separate overnight.
Chilled water should be used in the combustion portion of the investigation. Ice can be added to cool the water if needed. However, unmelted ice should be removed from the water before using it in the soft drink can.
Instructors may wish to use only a few mL graduated cylinders that would be reserved for this activity, as they will become coated with oil and may be difficult to clean thoroughly.
Student groups can share the cylinders. Integrating into the Curriculum This investigation would fit into units on chemical reactions, thermodynamics, combustion, and green chemistry.
It is useful in comparing fuels where condensation of the combustion products is impractical, or heat at a temperature below °C ( °F) cannot be put to use. However, for true energy calculations in some specific cases, the higher heating value is . Kinetic rate data for steam methane reforming (SMR) coupled with water gas shift (WGS) over an 18 wt. % NiO/α-Al 2 O 3 catalyst are presented in the temperature range of – °C at 1 bar. The experiments were performed in a plug flow reactor under the conditions of diffusion limitations and away from the equilibrium conditions. The collected data is used to calculate the heat of combustion of the biodiesel, which is compared to the theoretical heat of combustion of diesel fuel from crude oil. The concepts of renewable and nonrenewable fuels are also discussed.
Student Investigation Preparing to Investigate How did you get to school today? What fuel powered your method of transportation? If you walked or biked, the fuel might have been a bowl of breakfast cereal.If 5 g of glucose (C 6 H 12 O 6) with a molar heat of combustion of x 10 3 kJ/mol is burnt under a container holding g of water at 25 o C, and no heat is lost to the external environment, what is the rise in temperature of the water?.
Would these quantities be suitable to use if attempting to experimentally determine the molar heat of combustion .
Hydrogen is a chemical element with symbol H and atomic number 1. With a standard atomic weight of , hydrogen is the lightest element on the periodic torosgazete.com monatomic form (H) is the most abundant chemical substance in the Universe, constituting roughly 75% of all baryonic mass.
Non-remnant stars are mainly composed of hydrogen in the plasma state. Product contents High School Biology Active Transport Aerobic Respiration Air Pollution Alcohol Abuse Anaerobic Respiration Animal Adaptations Antibodies and Vaccinations Asexual Reproduction Behavior Blood and Blood Vessels Blood Transfusions Body Temperature Boy or Girl Carbon Cycle Cell Differentiation Cell Theory Cells to Organisms Classification Climate Change Controlling Movement.
Molar enthalpy of combustion of fuels or molar heat of combustion of fuels tutorial with experimental results and sample calculations suitable for chemistry students.
The cause of the trend is a puzzle. Physics demands that water expand as its temperature increases. But to keep the rate of rise constant, as observed, expansion of sea water evidently must be .
Play a game of Kahoot! here. Kahoot! is a free game-based learning platform that makes it fun to learn – any subject, in any language, on any device, for all ages! | https://xisyduguhej.torosgazete.com/molar-heat-calculations-and-comparing-fuels-50548xt.html |
Forces that hold different polar molecules together; the stronger the force, the more energy is needed to each a melting or boiling point.
London Dispersion Force
The weakest of the intermolecular forces; occurs when shared electrons become unbalanced.
Dipole-Dipole forces
Attraction that occurs between the negative end of one polar molecule and the positive end of another polar molecule
Hydrogen Bonding
Intermolecular forces; occurs when a hydrogen atom, bonded to another highly electronegative atom, bonds to another atom's electron pair.
Chemical reaction
A process in which one of more chemical substances are transformed into different chemical substances without hanging the nuclei of the atoms
Collision of molecules
The crashing between molecules that must occur for chemical reaction to take place
Bond energy
A measure of the strength of chemical bonds equal to the best required to break one mile of molecules into their individual atoms
kinetic energy
The energy of the object due to its motion
Reaction rates
The measure of the change in concentration of the reactants or if the pros halts per unit of Time affected by concentration, surface area, pressure, temperature, and the addition of catalysts
Catalyst
A substance that lowers the activation energy needed for a reaction and speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction without being used up in the reaction
chemical equilibrium
The state in a chemical reaction where the forward and reverse reaction proceed at the same rate do that there is no net change in the amounts of products and reactants
Reverse reaction
A chemical reaction symbolized by a chemical equation in which the products of a forward reaction have become the reactants, and the reactants of the forward reaction are now the products
Energy
The ability of a system to do work or produce heat
Chemical Process
A method of changing one or more chemical or chemical compound
Energy Conversion
Changing from one form of energy to another
Thermal energy
The internal energy present in a system usually in the form of heat
Heat of fusion
the amount of heat required to change one gram of solid to a liquid with no temperature change
Heat of vaporization
The amount of heat required to change one gram of a liquid to a gas with no change in temperature
Specific Heat
The quantity of heat required to raise the temperature of a substance by one degree Celsius measure in either calories or joules
Heating Curve
Graphical representation of phases of a substance as temperature changes over time
First Law of Thermodynamics
The total change in the thermal energy of a system in the sum of the work done on the system and the heat energy added to it
Second Law of thermodynamics
An isolated system tends to move towards a state of increased entropy
Entropy
A measure of the energy no longer available to do work in a closed thermodynamic system a measure of the system's disorder
Conservation of Energy
Energy is neither created nor destroyed in a ordinary chemical or physical process, also known as the first law of thermodynamics
Energy Transfer
The transfer of energy from one object or material to another object or material.
Heat flow
The transfer of heat from a high temperature area to a low temperature area.
Calorimeter
Device that determines the heat flow of a system
Heat
Energy transferred between objects because of temperature differences.
Energy
The ability of a system to do work of produce heat
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Verified questions
chemistry
Phosgene $$ (COCl_2) $$ was used as a poison gas in World War I. What product would be formed from the reaction of phosgene with each of the following reagents? a. one equivalent of methanol, b. excess methanol, c. excess propylamine, d. excess water
Verified answer
chemistry
Discuss the role of the Born-Oppenheimer approximation in the molecular-orbital calculation of a molecular potential energy curve or surface.
Verified answer
chemistry
How are models related to theories and hypotheses?
Verified answer
chemistry
A student isolated a monosaccharide and determined that it had a molecular weight of 150. Much to his surprise, he found that it was not optically active. What is the structure of the monosaccharide? | https://quizlet.com/317071344/chemistry-flash-cards/ |
Synthesis, characterization and functional properties of organic and inorganic biomaterials (polymers, metals/alloys, ceramics). Molecular and cellular interactions with biomaterials. Their biocompatibility, and stability in the body. Biological response to artificial implants. Drug-delivery systems and engineered tissues.
Key aspects of microbial physiology; exploring the versatility of microorganisms and their diverse metabolic activities and products; industrial microorganisms and the technology required for large-scale cultivation.
Examine the technologies, environmental impacts and economics of main energy sources of today and tomorrow including fossil fuels, nuclear power, biomass, geothermal energy, hydropower, wind energy, and solar energy. Comparison of different energy systems within the context of sustainability. Hydrogen economy and fuel cells.
Adsorption on surfaces, structural and dynamic considerations in adsorption, thermodynamics of adsorption, methods for catalyst characterization, pore structure and surface area, surface chemistry of catalysis, metals, highly dispersed catalysts, industrial examples with emphasis on energy production
Crude oil and biomass refining technologies. Fractionation, catalytic- and thermo- cracking, gasoline and diesel upgrading and other side processes in crude oil refining; gasification, pyrolysis, transesterification and condensation processes in biomass refining; economical and environmental factors in refining.
Recombinant DNA, enzymes and other biomolecules. Molecular genetics. Commercial use of microorganisms. Cellular reactors; bioseparation techniques. Transgenic systems. Gene therapy. Biotechnology applications in environmental, agricultural and pharmaceutical problems.
Drug design consists of identifying a target (DNA, RNA, proteins) that is known to cause a certain disease and selectively inhibiting or modifying its activity by binding a drug molecule to a specified location on that target. In this course, computational techniques for designing such a drug molecule will be taught. The topics to be covered are: Identification of the active part. Forces involved in drug-receptor interactions. Screening of drug libraries. Use of different software to determine binding energies. Identifying a lead molecule. Methods of refining a lead molecule for better suitability. Case studies: A survey of known drugs, success and failure stories.
Relationship between structure, function and dynamics in biomolecules. Overview of the biomolecular databases and application of computational methods to understand molecular details, interactions; networks. Principles of computational modeling and molecular dynamics of biological systems."
The principles of rocket propulsion system design and analysis. The fundamental aspects of physics and chemistry of rocket propulsion will be discussed. The concentration will be on the design and analysis of chemical propulsion systems including liquids, solids and hybrids. Non-chemical propulsion concepts such as electric and nuclear rockets will also be covered. Finally launch vehicle design and optimization issues including trajectory calculations will be discussed.
Modeling concepts and tools for chemical and biological systems. Steady state and transient modeling and simulation. MATLAB based case studies. Selected topics from the curriculum such as reaction stoichiometry, kinetics modeling, reactors, equation of state, phase equilibria, staged operations, fluxes, diffusion and convection, parameter estimation.
Intermolecular forces which govern self-organization of biological and synthetic nanostructures. Thermodynamic aspects of strong (covalent and coulomb interactions) and weak forces (dipolar, hydrogen bonding). Self-assembling systems: micelles, bilayers, and biological membranes. Computer simulations for ôhands-onö experience with nanostructures.
Advanced nanostructured materials used in energy conversion and production, membrane electrode assemblies for fuel cells, photovoltaic devices, nanoporous materials for acoustic and thermal insulation, energy storage devices such as lithium ion batteries.
The fundamentals of tissue engineering at the molecular and cellular level; techniques in tissue engineering; problems and solution in tissue engineering; transplantation of tissues in biomedicine using sophisticated equipments and materials; investigation of methods for the preparation of component of cell, effect of growth factors on tissues.
Principles of molecular modeling in chemical engineering applications; fundamentals for molecular simulation of adsorption and diffusion processes in nanoporous materials; molecular dynamics methods for gas transport in nanopores; Monte Carlo methods for equilibrium based gas separations; molecular modeling of zeolites and metal organic frameworks for gas storage.
A capstone design course where students apply engineering and science knowledge in a chemical and biological engineering design project. Development, design and management of a project in teams under realistic constraints and conditions. Emphasis on communication, teamwork and presentation skills.
Fluids classification; transport coefficients; momentum transfer and velocity profiles; energy and mass transfer for isothermal and multicomponent systems; mass transfer with chemical reaction; applications for chemical and biological systems.
Kinetics of homogeneous and heterogeneous chemical reactions; catalysts; design of chemical reactors; applications for chemical and biological systems.
Classical thermodynamics: enthalpy, entropy, free energies, equilibria; introduction to statistical thermodynamics to describe the properties of materials; kinetic processes; diffusion of mass, heat, energy; fundamentals of rate processes in materials, kinetics of transformations.
Principles of phase and chemical equilibria; computational methods for phase and chemical equilibria calculations; applications for chemical and biological systems.
Differences between small molecules and polymers; thermosets; thermoplastics. Relationships between molecular structure and properties. Major types of polymers. Supramolecular architectures, composites, copolymers.
The principles and computational methods to study the biological data generated by genome sequencing, gene expressions, protein profiles, and metabolic fluxes. Application of arithmetic, algebraic, graph, pattern matching, sorting and searching algorithms and statistical tools to genome analysis. Applications of Bioinformatics to metabolic engineering, drug design, and biotechnology.
Fundamentals of diffusion; primary mechanisms for mass transfer; mass transfer coupled with chemical reactions; membrane processes and controlled release phenomena.
Fundamentals of physicochemical and biological processes used for waste minimization, air pollution control, water pollution control, hazardous waste control; environmentally conscious design of chemical processes.
Key aspects of microbial physiology; exploring the versatility of microorganisms and their diverse metabolic activities and products; industrial microorganisms and the technology required for large-scale cultivation. | https://cb.ku.edu.tr/undergraduate/ug-courses/ug-general-elective/?pag=27&lessons=all&class=all&search= |
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Nepal is organizing ‘Earth Hour Nepal 2017’ to raise awareness about climate change in Bhaktapur Durbar Square on Saturday, March 25.
This isn’t the first time that WWF Nepal is organizing such a movement. Only last year, attendees lit about 4,000 candles to metaphorically symbolize shining a light on the issues of climate change.
According to the official Facebook event page, the program will kick off at 5:30 PM at Bhaktapur Durbar Square, one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. The event will feature a “Pedal to Power Lights” segment and performances by Circus Kathmandu, Shree Tara and a local cultural group.
The World Wildlife Fund launched Earth Hour in 2007 to encourage awareness on environmental issues. Through its ten-year run, WWF and Earth Hour teams worldwide have brought thousands of individuals together to help fund and support on-the-ground environmental and social initiatives that serve to advance their goal for a sustainable, climate-friendly future. As of 2016, over 530,000 individual actions have been powered by Earth Hour to help change climate change. As for Nepal, it has been actively participating in this initiative for past six years.
Summary:
Earth Hour Nepal 2017
Date: 25th March 2017
Time: 5:30 PM to 8 PM
Location: Bhaktapur Durbar Square
Spread the word! Together, we can unite to shine a light on climate action and #ChangeClimateChange!
Here’s a 27-second clip from Earth Hour Nepal 2017.
For more information, check out Earth Hour Nepal 2017’s official Facebook page. | https://nepalbuzz.com/news-events/earth-hour-nepal-2017/ |
Solar Nova Scotia is an affiliate member of the Solar Energy Society of Canada Inc. (SESCI), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to energy conservation and the use of renewable forms of energy.
Solid Waste Management / Recycling
Woodens River Watershed Environmental Organization
Canada
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society
A national organization working for the conservation and protection of natural areas.
National Water Research Network
World Wildlife Fund Canada
The Canadian member of the WWF family, works on endangered species, protected areas, toxicology, forests, international issues, and more. Includes a 'kids' section.
International
EcoNet
Support for ecological sustainability and environmental justice.
Environmental Organization WebDirectory
The world's largest environmental search engine.
International Institute for Sustainable Developement
(IISD)
The Earth Summit in Rio in 1992 spawned many processes. Most of the follow-up is here.
SeaWeb
Raising awareness of the living ocean
Weather Channel
World Conservation Union (IUCN)
A global player in conservation efforts, it 'lists' many international agreements like Ramsar and CITIES.
World Resource Institute
Monitors and reports on global resource usage, and promotes sustainable use and conservation.
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)
The international headquarters of WWF, working on species, forests, climate and other major issues. | https://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Environment/EnvCCN.html |
Oluwaseyi, a first-year law student at the University of Lagos, Nigeria, learned about Nigeria’s sustainable development goals three years ago.
“It has been two years since I made a personal decision to work towards achieving these goals, no matter how small it may seem,” Oluwaseyi says.
2017, Oluwaseyi was appointed the sustainable development goal six—clean water and sanitation—ambassador at The Nigerian Child Initiative, a nonprofit organization working to improve access to healthcare and mentorship for children in underserved communities. As ambassador, she revived her school’s environmental club, worked with classmates to recycle more than 10,000 plastic bottles in three months, spoke to 3,000 girls on the importance of sanitation and received the Social Impact award and a $100 grant, which led her to start U-Recycle Initiative Nigeria.
“I have always viewed poor waste management, which leads to land and water pollution as a very prevalent problem in Nigeria,” Oluwaseyi says. “However, people are yet to be properly educated about recycling.”
“One recycling issue we face is that in a majority of other states and rural areas there is little or no activity going on to promote recycling education and sustainable practices,” she continues. “The people in rural areas are still oblivious to the solution to this major problem. A vast majority are ignorant to the need to work together solve issues like climate change and poor waste management. More work needs to be done to promote proper awareness in these rural areas and communities.”
U-Recycle Initiative Nigeria is a team of more than 40 young people who are passionate about promoting sustainable recycling in Nigeria. Oluwaseyi and her team are involved in organizing workshops, supporting environmental clubs, building “U-Recycle Hubs” for segregating waste, organizing seasonal competitions, awareness walks, beach cleanups and more
“Since August 2018, we have been supported by various local and international organizations,” Oluwaseyi says.
Most recently, the initiative has been working with Global Recycling Foundation to host Nigeria’s first Global Recycling Day event. Nigeria is joining countries across the world today to celebrate Global Recycling Day, a Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) initiative that encourages action and change.
“I reached out to Global Recycling Foundation based in London who gave me positive feedback and have been really supportive,” Oluwaseyi says. “We laid out our plans and reached out to various environmental organizations for support as we set to host Nigeria’s first major Global Recycling Day event.”
Today, U-Recycle Initiative and Global Recycling Foundation in conjunction with Greenfingers Wildlife Initiative, Wildlife of Africa Conservation Initiative and Lagos Lagoon Waterkeepers are hosting a recycling “funfair” in Lagos featuring an upcycle fashion show, recycle games, expert talks, a recycle art exhibition and more.
“We are expecting 200 guests, including 10 schools, more than 20 environmental organizations and other enthusiastic youth all to celebrate the important role recycling plays in protecting our environment,” Oluwaseyi says.
After the Global Recycling Day event, Oluwaseyi says there is more work to be done.
“A lot of work needs to be done to promote recycling and sustainable practices in Nigeria,” she says. “U-Recycle is ready to synergize and put in our best to promote recycling and environmental consciousness in Nigeria and beyond.”
Source: | http://www.urecycleinitiative.org/2020/04/15/7-year-old-starts-u-recycle-initiative-to-promote-recycling-in-nigeria-recycling-today/ |
New Delhi: The lights are being switched off around the world at 8:30 pm on Saturday evening, to mark the 10th annual Earth Hour, and to draw attention to climate change.
Prominent buildings and monuments in India including the India Gate and Rashtrapati Bhavan turned dark for the occasion.
Even Kolkata marked the Earth hour on Saturday.Several hotels, office buildings and the Indian Museum participated in the eighth edition of the global initiative as they switched off the lights between 8.30-9.30 pm.
“From Indian Museum to Tata Centre, from Taj Bengal to other five star hotels and restaurants, the symbolic switch off was effected to create public awareness about the campaign,” WWF Kolkata Director Saswati Sen said.
The initiative began in Australia in 2007 as a grass roots gesture by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Australia against man-made carbon dioxide emissions linked to a warming planet.
In 2017, it will involve the switching off of electric lights for an hour in 7,000 cities across 172 countries, at 8:30 pm local time, with the aim of highlighting the need to act on climate change, and saving a few megawatts of power in the process.
Among the famous buildings and structures taking part in Australia are Sydney’s Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, Luna Park, Town Hall, and Sydney Tower Eye.
Internationally the list includes some of the world’s best known sky-scrapers and historic buildings including the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, London’s Big Ben and Houses of Parliament, the Colosseum in Rome, Istanbul’s Blue Mosque, the Eiffel Tower, Moscow’s Kremlin and Red Square and the Pyramids of Egypt.
WWF says Earth Hour can take credit for various environmental initiatives, like the 2013 declaration of a 3.4 million hectare marine park in the waters off Argentina, the planting of a forest in Uganda and a ban on soft plastics in the Galapagos Island. | https://english.kolkata24x7.com/world-observes-earth-hour-saturday-evening.html/ |
The World Wildlife Fund, also called the World Wildlife Fund for Nature, with its familiar panda logo, is renowned for its wide-ranging conservation efforts. The Switzerland-based organization is generally known simply by its initials, WWF. Its mission statement signals the scope of its commitment:
“To stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by:
- conserving the world’s biological diversity
- ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable
- promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.”
Ever since it was founded in 1961, WWF has included both conservationists and businessmen, knowing that to be successful in its mission it would need public support, well-managed action, and solid scientific data. WWF also recognizes that effective efforts involve cooperation between non-governmental agencies, local governments, and local populations. From the outset, WWF has worked closely with the World Conservation Union (IUCN), and these days, it maintains a diverse range of partnerships, from talking to Baka Pygmy tribes in Central African rainforests to face-to-face discussions with world leaders and representatives of the United Nations, World Bank, and European Commission.
Over its 45 years of existence WWF has raised many millions of dollars, funding thousands of conservation initiatives around the globe. These include efforts focused on individual species, freshwater, forests, and marine issues as well as climate change. Equally important are its efforts to provide a safe and sustainable habitat for the world’s peoples, both urban and rural, including clean water, clean air, healthful food, and rewarding recreation areas.
Today WWF is active in more than 100 countries and has millions of supporters. Its more than 90 offices are focused on national and regional action. In addition to specific local issues, WWF is addressing such global issues as climate change, sustainable development, safe agricultural practices, and responsible international trade.
Images: Mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) at Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaire); Giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) at Wolong Nature Reserve, Sichuan province, China.–© WWF-Canon/Martin Harvey; © WWF-Canon/Bernard de Wetter. WWF logo: ® WWF Registered Trademark. Panda Symbol © 1986 WWF.
To Learn More
WWF’s global Web site, www.panda.org, contains a wealth of information that reports on its activities, details issues, and provides many avenues through which people worldwide can support its efforts and reap the benefits of a healthier planet and a brighter future.
How Can I Help?
Books We Like
Nature’s Strongholds: The World’s Great Wildlife Reserves
Laura Riley and William Riley (2005)
Wildlife reserves are the final bastions for the protection of the world’s wildlife. This enthralling book lists some 600 reserves worldwide. It is both a practical guide for the adventurous ecotourist and engrossing entertainment for the armchair traveler, enriched by more than 150 photographs and 75 maps.
Written by longtime nature and conservation writers, Nature’s Strongholds is divided into regions and subdivided by countries, including Antarctica and offshore islands. Some of these reserves are familiar and some less well known. A perusal of the table of contents alone is exciting, a catalog of the natural wonders of every corner of the earth. The authors provide a history of each reserve and its ecological significance as as well rainfall and temperature information and tips on the best time of year to visit it. They also provide general tips for travelers, and a lengthy bibliography points to reader to further sources. | https://www.britannica.com/explore/savingearth/wwf-the-global-conservation-organization |
Vietnam acts to protect the nature
Hanoi (VNA) – A slew of activities will be carried out across the nation in response to the World Water Day (March 22), World Meteorological Day (March 23), and Earth Hour 2021 campaign (March 26).
World Water Day, held on 22 March every year since 1993, focuses on the importance of freshwater.
World Water Day honors water and raises awareness of the 2.2 billion people living without access to safe water. It is about taking action to tackle the global water crisis. A core focus of World Water Day is to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6: Water and sanitation for all by 2030.
Theme of this year’s World Water Day is about what water means to people, it's true value and how people can better protect this vital resource. The value of water is about much more than its price – water has enormous and complex value for our households, culture, health, education, economics and the integrity of our natural environment. If these values are overlooked, people could risk mismanaging this finite, irreplaceable resource.
World Meteorological Day takes place every year on 23 March and commemorates the day the Convention establishing the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) came into force, 23 March 1950.
The World Meteorological Day theme - The ocean, our climate and weather – celebrates WMO’s focus in connecting the ocean, climate and weather within the Earth System. It also marks the starting year of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030). The Decade galvanizes efforts to gather ocean science – through innovative and transformative ideas - as the basis of information to support sustainable development. WMO, as the United Nations agency specialized for climate, weather and water, strives to support the understanding of the inextricable link between ocean, climate and weather.
Meanwhile, the Earth Hour 2021 campaign, initiated by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) with the theme “Speak up for nature”, will take place in Vietnam on March 27 evening to raise public awareness of the relationship between human activities in the natural world and the causes of epidemics and pandemics, especially COVID-19.
Jointly organised by the WWF, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE), and the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the event also aims to encourage initiatives on community building and promoting sustainable economic development and integration with nature, protecting biodiversity, and effectively responding to climate change.
The campaign in Vietnam this year will focus on communications activities via social networks.
MoNRE has called for action by each individual and organisation to reduce the burden on the environment by rejecting, minimising, reusing, and recycling waste, especially plastic waste and disposable plastic products; using environment-friendly public transport; investing in energy-saving equipment; and turning off or unplugging not-in-use devices and encouraging the use of renewable energy.
To contribute to Earth Hour in 2021, MoNRE proposed agencies, organisations, and individuals across Vietnam “turn off lights and unnecessary electrical equipment” from 8.30pm to 9.30pm on March 27.
Starting as a symbolic “lights out” event in Sydney in 2007, Earth Hour has grown to become one of the world’s largest grassroots movements for the sake of the environment. It has inspired and empowered individuals, communities, businesses, and organisations in 190 countries and territories to take action on climate change and environmental loss.
Earth Hour was first organised by WWF in Vietnam in 2009. Since 2012, the campaign has been held annually to bring people together to reduce the impact of climate change and protect the environment.
Most recently, the MoNRE has sent a document to ministries, agencies and localities to implement practical activities in response to the three important events.
They should strengthen communication works to highlight the values of water, ocean, climate as well as the significance of natural disaster prevention and control.
The ministry also suggested building of works and facilities in the field of water resource, biodiversity preservation and environmental protection so as to better serve socio-economic development, and improve livelihoods for locals, particularly those in mountainous and island areas./. | https://en.vietnamplus.vn/vietnam-acts-to-protect-the-nature/207637.vnp |
About 30% of La Chât parents work at NGOs, committed to making the world a better place – very much aligned with Ecolint’s values of recognising the importance of global issues and of encouraging international values.
To celebrate Green Week, En Bref interviews some of the parents whose jobs focus on protecting our environment.
Olgalu Navarro – The Gallifrey Foundation and Goumbook:
What is the objective of your organisation?
Gallifrey is a Marine Conservation Foundation focusing on Plastic Pollution, Deep Sea Mining, Arctic Preservation and Social Enterprise Education. I work with them on the Plastic-free Campus Programme – an interactive open-source tool to guide schools around the world towards becoming more sustainable and plastic-free. Goumbook is an organization aimed at raising awareness of Sustainability and Green Living in the UAE. There, I work on the Drop it Youth Campaign to raise awareness among students of plastic pollution, encouraging them to take action locally on this global issue.
What is the one key thing that La Chât families can do to help protect our environment?
As nature is hosting us, we need to take responsibility for it, and be critical of our behaviour, re-thinking our priorities. For instance as consumers we can and should make better choices – looking for non-packaged food, refusing single-use plastic, buying local products to support better agriculture, and drinking tap water to refuse plastic bottles, may seem like small actions, but, multiplied by millions, they become powerful. We have big room for improvement and huge potential to turn things around.
Are you hopeful for the future of our planet?
Absolutely, yes. We just need to constantly remind ourselves that the future is not far away, and that our daily actions leave a print – good or bad, it’s our choice.
Scott Poynton – Earthworm Foundation:
Anna Weatherly – World Wildlife Fund:
What is the objective of your organisation?
Creating a world where people and nature thrive, in harmony – but we’ll only get there if we all, individuals, businesses and governments, are more careful with our one and only home.
WWF has teams of experts working in over 100 countries to protect our forests, rivers, ocean, climate, food and wildlife. But this isn’t a job for one organization. WWF harnesses the collective power of supporters around the world, communities, companies and governments to create real solutions for people and the planet. Together, we bridge cutting edge conservation science and traditional knowledge. We help bright ideas from one community take root in another, half a world away. Together, we weather setbacks and persevere. We are champions for coral reefs, rainforests, ice caps and free-flowing rivers. For species who cannot speak up for themselves.
Try to make informed choices about what you buy and what resources you use. Do a quick inventory of your shopping and see where you could make more sustainable choices – simple things like eliminating single-use plastics, buying less packaged food, creating less waste.
And use your voice – collectively we can make an impact and influence businesses and governments to do the right thing for our planet. Sign petitions, donate money or time to those organisations fighting for our planet, march for the climate, lobby those who have the power to change things for good.
Yes, but we all have to act now. We have a limited window of opportunity to address the negative impact we’ve made on our planet. Climate change and biodiversity loss are happening at an alarming rate – we may be the last generation that can reverse the trend.
Victor van Vuuren – International Labour Organisation:
What is the objective of your organisation?
The ILO is devoted to promoting social justice and internationally recognized human and labour rights. One of the areas the ILO works in is the impact on the environment by the world of work. In particular Green jobs are central to sustainable development and respond to the global challenges of environmental protection, economic development and social inclusion. By engaging governments, workers and employers as active agents of change, the ILO promotes the greening of enterprises, workplace practices and the labour market as a whole. These efforts create decent employment opportunities, enhance resource efficiency and build low-carbon sustainable societies.
What is the one thing that La Chât families can do to help protect our environment?
As parents we can all ensure that our workplaces are geared to playing a positive role in protecting the environment and as students each pupil should make it one of their goals to understand the current environmental challenges and to find ways in which they can already add value no matter how small that impact my seem.
Are you hopeful for the future of our planet?
Having interacted with the youth of today I am assured that we have a positive future ahead. The current global social and environmental challenges will soon be managed by energised strong leaders emanating from today’s youth. They are the future.
Featured image by Pixabay. | https://lachatenbref.com/2019/04/12/parent-spotlight-parents-protecting-the-environment/ |
A number of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) or non-governmental agencies have been playing their important roles in spreading Environmental Awareness across the globe and in developing policies for the protection of environment and sustainable development. What is a non-governmental Organisation? Well, here is a definition –
“A Non-governmental organization (NGO) is a legally constituted organization created by private persons or organizations with no participation or representation of any government”. (In the cases in which NGOs are funded totally or partially by governments, the NGO maintains its non-governmental status insofar as it excludes government representatives from membership in the organization).
Many of the National and International non-governmental organisations have been involved actively in the protection and preservation of nature and its resources on different levels, and still, many of these are extending different types of support to others who to others who work hard and contribute to sustainable development. Some of these National and International Organisations are being introduced here.
• Roles of National Non-Government Agencies / Organisations in Sustainable Development
The Government of India has allowed a large number of non- government organisations (NGOs) to join hands with different government departments working in different fields of sustainable development or, to-do on their own for the general protection of environment and its resources and for ensuring sustainable development.
In the International Spirit of conventions and summits, the government of India has encouraged a large number of non- government organisations to take part in the venture of spreading Environmental Awareness through its National Environmental Awareness Campaign. Likewise, it has also encouraged various non- government Organisations to work on their own for the Sustainable Development and Equitable Distribution of Resources.
Here is one example of participation of NGOs in the National Programme. The National Environmental Awareness Campaign (NEAC) was launched by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India during the year 1985-86. It is one of the major projects of the Ministry of Environment and Forests to involve public participation in conservation and management of the environment. The main objective of the programme is to create awareness among the public and make environmental protection a people’s movement, so that each and every citizen of this country should be involved in the protection of the environment and sustainable development.
During the programme, it is essential for NGOs to highlight Local Environmental Problems so as to find long lasting solutions for them. To begin with only 150 NGOs participated throughout the country during 1985-86. Today more than 4000 NGOs, from all over the country participate in the NEAC programme.
The theme for the NEAC is decided by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India every year. For example, the theme of the EAC for the year 2007-08 was “Biodiversity Conservation”. Some other NGO –based Programmes include: Training of Kota, Kurumba, Paniya and Irula Tribes in Their Traditional Art Forms; Survey and Documentation of Arts & Crafts of The Kota, Kurumba, Irula and Paniya Tribes of The Nilgiris; Each One Teach One; Revival of Folk Art Forms in Schools; Clean Chennai – Green Chennai; Research in Indian History and Culture etc.
Many non- governmental Organisations have been emerging as pressure groups with their own philosophies of environment and development. Many of these are on move against many different government projects as they think them to be against the carrying capacities of the environments of concerned areas. We have already talked about CHIPKO and Narmada Bachao Andolan. We are not at all concerned with going through a vast description of NGOs of India, which is estimated to have up to one to two million NGOs. We cannot just ignore the activities being done or the contributions being made by any one of these organisations of India.
• Roles of International Non-government Agencies / Organisations in Sustainable Development
There are innumerable NGOs on international level. Most of these are doing commendable jobs in their concerned fields. However, some of these organisations whose names often figure in news reports are being introduced here. It does not mean at all, that other organisations not described here, are less important in any way.
1. ICSU or International Council of Scientific Unions
It is a non-governmental Organisation representing global membership. It has 113 national Scientific Bodies and 29 International Scientific Unions as members. Founded in 1931 at Vacquerie in Paris, France; it is one of the oldest non-governmental global networks. Though a science-based NGO, it has expanded its activities in many different areas of environment, some of which are mentioned below-
(i). Data and Information – pertaining to intellectual property, Priority Area Assessment (PAA) on data and information;
(ii). Environmental Portfolios, reviews, hazards;
(iii). Sustainable Development – sustainable development, energy, Urban Health and Wellbeing;
(iv). Capacity Building – helping in the creation of international and regional networks of scientists with similar interests and maintaining close working relationships with a number of intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations, especially the United Nations Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the Third World Academy of Science (TWAS).
Now ICSU is launching an initiative to create regional offices in Africa, the Arab Region, Asia, and Latin America; and the Caribbean in order to strengthen science in the developing world.
The ICSU has following core objectives –
– Planning and coordinating interdisciplinary works on major issues of Science and Society;
– Promoting equitable access to scientific data and information, advocating freedom in the conduct of science, facilitating science education and capacity building;
– Acting as a focus for the exchange of ideas, communication of scientific information and development of scientific standards;
– Supporting more than 600 scientific conferences, congresses and symposia per year across the globe;
– Production of a wide range of newsletters, handbooks, Journals and Proceedings;
– Working as Organizing Partner in the World Summit on Sustainable Development in December 2002 in Johannesburg.
2. IUCN or the International Union for Conservation of Nature
IUCN is the acronym used by the World Conservation Union. It was once known as International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. It is the oldest and largest NGO of the world working for the environment. It brings together 83 states, 108 government agencies, 766 NGOs, 81 International Organisations, and about 10,000 experts and scientists from different countries around the world. With its Headquarters in the Lake Geneva Area in Gland, Switzerland; this Organisation was founded in the year 1948, and it is still dedicated to the conservation of Nature.
The IUCN has following major functions –
(i). It helps the world in finding out pragmatic solutions to most pressing challenges in the fields of environment and development;
(ii). It supports scientific researches, manages field projects, and brings governmental and non-governmental organisations, agencies of UN, companies and local communities together to develop and implement policies, laws and best practices;
(iii). It develops and supports cutting edge conservation science, particularly in species, ecosystems, biodiversity, and their impacts on the livelihood of human race;
(iv). It runs thousands of field projects around the globe for the management of the natural environment in much better ways;
(v). It helps implement laws, policies and the best practices by mobilizing organisations, providing resources, training people, and monitoring results;
(vi). It conducts proper and extensive surveys of flora and fauna of different regions of the world, decides their status and publishes Data- Lists. Its Red-Data List is considered to be the most authentic document which declares actual status of species in a particular environment.
3. WWF or the World-Wide Fund for Nature
This International Organisation was initially known as the World Wildlife Fund, and was founded on 11 September, 1961 in Merges, Switzerland as a Charitable Trust. In the deed of trust, its objectives are stated as –
“Conservation of world fauna, flora, forests, landscape, water, soils, and other natural resources by the acquisition and management of land, research and investigation, education at all levels, information and publicity, coordination of efforts, cooperation with other interested parties and all other appropriate means.”
Later on, WWF started setting up offices and launching operations around the world. Its initial focus was the protection of endangered species. But gradually it expanded the area of its activities and included a number of other fields also. Two of these fields are- Sustainable Use of Natural Resources; and Reduction of Pollution and Wasteful Consumption.
WWF changed its name to World Wide Fund for Nature in 1986 and thus retained the initial of WWF, even after changing the name. However, it still continues to operate under the original name in the United States and Canada. In Asia, its efforts are especially intensive in some countries like- Indonesia, Bhutan, Philippines, Thailand, Papua, and Nepal. TRAFFIC or the Trade Record Analysis of Flora and Fauna in Commerce, is a large and influential section of WWF which monitors trade in wildlife and wildlife products. It has been successful in halting the transaction in the body parts of bear; skins and hides of endangered animals and horns of rhino. TRAFFIC is credited for shutting down smuggling operations involving Parrots, Spotted Cats, Sea Turtles, and tropical timber in Latin America. Now it has also associated itself with the preservation of Coral Reefs of the world oceans.
4. Greenpeace International
This is an independent Global Campaigning Organisation founded in 1971, at Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The Greenpeace acts to change attitudes and behaviours, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote in the world. This organization has 2.8 million supporters’ worldwide, and national as well as regional offices in 41 countries.
Besides the above, there are many other International NGOs working for keeping up the harmony of nature and for sustainable development. The names of some other important NGOs are- the Water Network, the Earth Action Network, the Earth Justice, the Earth’s Rights International, the Friends of the Earth International, the Greenpeace International, the Natural Resource Defence Council, the National Wildlife Federation, G8, the World Watch Institute, International Council on Social Welfare, the International Council for Women, the International Save the Children Alliance, and the Society for International Development etc. | https://www.theecotrends.com/international-initiative-for-environment/ |
Why Monuments in 188 Countries Went Dark for a Full Hour This Weekend
More countries participated this year than ever before.
For the 11th year in a row, landmarks and monuments across the globe turned off their lights on Saturday for “Earth Hour,” making a bold statement about the urgent need to protect the environment.
Landmarks around the world go dark for this year's #EarthHour@[email protected]/vhCL0PWeT5— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) March 26, 2018
This year, the annual event organized by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) saw record participation, with nearly 18,000 landmarks and monuments in 188 countries and territories switching off their lights, according to the WWF.
The first “Earth Hour” was held in 2007 and was a symbolic lights-out event that took place in Sydney, Australia. But the initiative spread worldwide in the years that followed.
Read More: 13 Pictures of Strength and Unrest From Around the World This Week
Lights out! UNHQ in NYC went dark for Saturday's #EarthHour.— United Nations (@UN) March 25, 2018
Here's how you can take climate action all year round: https://t.co/ZA3k0bd75T#GlobalGoalspic.twitter.com/Xmphh80v2p
“Once again, the people have spoken through Earth Hour,” Marco Lambertini, director general of WWF International, said in a statement. “The record participation in this year’s Earth Hour, from skylines to timelines, is a powerful reminder that people want to connect to Earth. People are demanding commitment now on halting climate change and the loss of nature. The stakes are high and we need urgent action to protect the health of the planet for a safe future for us and all life on Earth."
Στις 24/3 η Ακρόπολη βυθίστηκε στο σκοτάδι συμμετέχοντας, μαζί με άλλα εμβληματικά κτίρια παγκοσμίως, στην «Ώρα της Γης» με στόχο την ευαισθητοποίηση για την κλιματική αλλαγή. #cnngreece #connect2earth #earthhour #changeclimatechange #Acropolis #earthhour2018 #Parthenon #Athens #wu_Greece #nightscape 📷: Eurokinissi / George Kontarinis
A record 400 UK landmarks have switched off for #EarthHourUK this year! All joining thousands of others this #EarthHour across the 🌏, from Sydney’s Opera House to the Great Pyramids. pic.twitter.com/hIPiAyzMCC— WWF UK (@wwf_uk) March 24, 2018
While Earth Hour is meant to inspire people to take action to address a variety of issues plaguing the environment, this year the WWF chose to highlight the loss of wildlife and biodiversity around the world.
According to a report from the WWF, the planet is set to lose two-thirds of its wildlife populations by 2020. Just last week, the last male northern white rhinoceros died in Kenya.
"The science is clear: the loss of nature is a global crisis,” said Lamberti. “Together as a global community we can turn things around. People must mobilize and join governments and companies toward stronger action on biodiversity and nature — the time to act is now,"
Happy #EarthHour to Egypt!! 🌍 Many of its archaeological sites have just switched off including the Pyramids, Saladin Citadel and Cairo Tower. pic.twitter.com/4F3QDwpiZM— WWF Scotland (@WWFScotland) March 24, 2018
Take Action: Stand Up for the Arctic
Global Citizen campaigns on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, including climate action and protecting the environment. You can join by taking action here. | https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/world-monuments-go-dark-earth-hour-2018/ |
William Anderegg is an assistant professor at the University of Utah’s School of Biological Sciences. His research centers around the intersection of ecosystems and climate change. Anderegg strives to understand the future of Earth’s forests in a changing climate by studying how drought and climate change affect forest ecosystems, including tree physiology, species interactions, carbon cycling, and biosphere-atmosphere feedbacks. In 2018, he was awarded an Early Career Fellowship from the Ecological Society of America, and a prestigious Packard Fellowship for Science and Engineering from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation for his research on the effects of climate change and drought on forests. Previously, he was an associate research scholar and a postdoctoral fellow at Princeton University. Anderegg holds a bachelor’s and a doctorate in biology from Stanford University.
Resources for the Future
Dr. Ann M. Bartuska is a senior advisor at Resources for the Future. There, she focuses on natural resources and forestry, particularly considering natural climate solutions through forests and agricultural lands. She will be involved in outreach supporting the valuation of information obtained through satellite imagery. Past leadership positions include serving as the US Department of Agriculture’s chief scientist and deputy under secretary for research, education, and economics, and as the US Forest Service’s deputy chief for research and development. She has served in several leadership positions including an appointment to a member of the National Science Foundation advisory board, executive director of The Nature Conservancy’s invasive species initiative, and president of the Ecological Society of America. Bartuska received a BS in biology from Wilkes College, an MS in botany and ecology from Ohio University, and a PhD in biogeochemistry and ecosystem ecology from West Virginia University.
World Agroforestry Centre
Dr. Susan Chomba is based at the World Agroforestry Centre in Nairobi, where she currently leads one of its mega-projects, Regreening Africa. Its primary objective is to reverse land degradation by scaling up proven, cost-effective technologies across eight African countries. With over 15 years of experience, Chomba works on climate change policies, land tenure, equity, vulnerability, and gender. She is passionate about applying research to inform development, and works towards bridging the gap between the two. Chomba believes that research is critical for transforming the lives and livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Africa, and development interventions informed by research are most effective. She holds a BSc In forestry from Moi University, Kenya, a double MSc in agricultural development and agroforestry from the Universities of Copenhagen and Bangor (UK), respectively, and a PhD in forest governance from the University of Copenhagen.
Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment
Dr. Christopher Field is the Perry L. McCarty Director of the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, and Melvin and Joan Lane Professor for Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies at Stanford University. He is deeply involved in efforts to advance understanding of global ecology and climate change. Previously, he was on staff at the Carnegie Institution for Science, founding director of the Carnegie’s department of global ecology, and cochair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Working Group II, His recognitions include election to the US National Academy of Sciences, the Max Planck Research Award, and the Roger Revelle Medal. A member of Harvard University board of overseers, California Academy of Sciences’ board of trustees, and the WWF-US Board of Directors, Field is a fellow at several institutions. He holds a bachelor’s and a doctorate in biology from Harvard College and Stanford, respectively.
United Nations Development Programme
Eva Gurria is the Coordinator for Nature Based Solutions at UNDP’s Global Programme on Nature for Development. She is a development professional with 10+ years of experience managing global projects and advocacy campaigns, and coordinating multi-stakeholder teams and networks in the fields of natural resource management, climate change and sustainable development. Eva was the Nature-Based Solutions Lead, for the Climate Action Summit, at the Executive Office of the UN Secretary-General. Before joining the SG’s office, Eva worked as policy advisor with UNDP. She worked with the Environmental Governance Programme responding to challenges faced by developing countries implementing environmental, gender and human rights dimensions of public administration work in the mining sector. She was also organization lead for the Equator Initiative bringing together the UN, governments, civil society, businesses and grassroots organizations to recognize and advance local sustainable development solutions from indigenous peoples and local communities. Eva holds an MA of Liberal Arts in Sustainability and Environmental Management from Harvard University and an MA in Public Administration and Strategic Public Policy from the American University of Paris.
University of California, Santa Cruz
Karen Holl is a professor of environmental studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where she has served as chair of the Environmental Studies Department. Her research focuses on understanding how local and landscape scale processes affect ecosystem recovery from human disturbance and using this information to restore damaged ecosystems. Her current research focuses on rain forests in Latin America and chaparral, grassland, and riparian systems in California. She oversees a tropical forest restoration study in Costa Rica and has worked with students and collaborators in Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, and Panama. She advises land management and conservation organizations in California and internationally on ecological restoration. Author of Primer of Ecological Restoration, Holl was an Aldo Leopold Leadership Fellow, a Fellow of the California Academy of Sciences, and cowinner of the Theodore Sperry Award of the Society for Ecological Restoration.
International Union for Conservation of Nature
Stewart Maginnis is the global director for the Nature-based Solutions (NBS) group at International Union for Conservation of Nature, an international organization of states, government agencies, NGOs and indigenous peoples’ organizations. He and his team have developed and promoted NBS as a framework for harnessing ecosystem management as a solution to socio-economic challenges. They have been supporting the application of NBS to climate change, food and water security, and disaster risk reduction, and recently finalized a process to develop a global NBS standard. Maginnis has worked in sustainable development and biodiversity conservation for 35 years, 15 of which were based Tanzania, Sudan, Ghana, and Costa Rica. He led development and promotion of forest landscape restoration, to which over 60 countries committed 180 million hectares under the Bonn Challenge. Maginnis was educated at Oxford University and Queen’s University Belfast.
World Wildlife Fund
Shaun Martin is acting goal lead for climate and energy and senior director for climate change adaptation and resilience at World Wildlife Fund. He helps influence policy and practice by bringing climate change and resilience dimensions into the fields of conservation and sustainable development. Martin has designed and delivered climate change resilience training to over 1,500 people across the globe, including WWF staff and partners in government, civil society, academia, United Nations agencies, and multilateral banks. He has served on several board and groups, including for the Convention on Biological Diversity, contributed to the nature background report for the Global Commission on Adaptation, and coauthored Enhancing National Climate Plans Through Nature-Based Solutions and Enhancing Nationally Determined Contributions Through Protected Areas. Martin holds a bachelor’s in chemistry and a master’s in international economic and social development from the University of Pittsburgh.
CORDIO East Africa
David Obura is a founding director of CORDIO East Africa, an organization supporting sustainability of coral reef and marine systems in the Western Indian Ocean. His primary research is on coral reef resilience, particularly regarding climate change, and the biogeography of the Indian Ocean, and he has recently expanded to sustainability science using coral reefs as a model. At the boundary between science and action, Obura works to integrate conservation and development through inclusive blue economy principles and links provided by global sustainability goals and targets. He works from the local scale—fostering innovative action to promote sustainability—through regional scale alignment and integration, to the global scale, bringing knowledge and local-regional practices into decision-making. He serves on the Earth Commission, contributing to describing a safe, just corridor into the future for both people and planet.
WWF-International
Dr. Vanessa Pérez-Cirera is an environmental economist dedicated to international climate policy and economics. First serving as deputy policy director at the Mexican Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, she came to World Wildlife Fund in 2002, where she held senior management positions in Mexico and internationally for the Global Network, covering climate policy, energy, and business engagement. She then returned to academia, heading the Research Program on Sustainable Development for Universidad Iberoamericana. Currently, she serves as global deputy of WWF´s Global Climate & Energy practice, where she focuses on how to transform the energy and food systems hand in hand with business and governments. Pérez-Cirera has a bachelor’s in economics from Universidad Iberoamericana, a master’s in development policy, and a doctorate in environmental policy, both from the University of York.
WWF-International
Fran Raymond Price joined World Wildlife Fund in June, after 18 years at The Nature Conservancy, where she helped guide their adoption and promotion of responsible forest management and certification. Her work has focused on creating and fostering market-based incentives to protect forest ecosystems. She has helped bring forest carbon finance to smaller forest owners in the United States, most recently by assisting the development and launch of the Family Forest Carbon Program. Previously, she directed the Forest Monitoring Project, and helped coordinate philanthropic investments in forests and renewable energy at the Rockefeller Brothers Fund. She began her forestry career as a Peace Corps volunteer and served on several boards, including for the Forest Stewardship Council. Price holds a bachelor’s in history and government from Cornell University and a master's in forestry from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.
University of New Orleans
Dr. Denise Reed has studied coastal issues worldwide for over 35 years, and is an expert in coastal marsh sustainability and the role of human activities in modifying coastal systems. She has conducted field research in coastal marshes on the Gulf Coast and in the Mid-Atlantic, California, and the Pacific Northwest. She served as Distinguished Research Professor at the University of New Orleans and spent five years as chief scientist at The Water Institute of the Gulf. Reed has served on numerous boards and panels addressing the effects of human alterations on coastal environments and the role of science in guiding restoration. She has been a member of the USACE Environmental Advisory Board and serves on NOAA’s Science Advisory Board. Reed received her BS in geography from Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, and her MA and PhD from University of Cambridge.
World Wildlife Fund
Carter Roberts is president and CEO of World Wildlife Fund in the United States. He leads WWF in creating initiatives that combine science, market signals, and the wisdom of communities to protect the natural resources upon which all life depends. Under his leadership, WWF has built strategies to scale up the production of sustainable food and renewable energy; double the population of tigers; shut down ivory markets; and protect ecosystems including the Amazon, the Himalayas, and the Okavango Delta. Roberts serves on the boards of the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy at Duke University and the Grantham Institute for Climate Change at Imperial College and the London School of Economics. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA from Princeton University.
Global Environmental Facility
Carlos Manuel Rodríguez was elected CEO and chairperson of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) by its governing body in June 2020. The former three-term Costa Rican environment and energy minister pioneered development of the payment for ecosystem services initiatives and strategies for forest restoration, ocean conservation, and decarbonization. An internationally recognized expert on environmental policy, negotiations, and conservation financing, Rodríguez was vice president for global policy at Conservation International for 12 years, working in 30 tropical countries in Central and South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. He previously worked as director of Costa Rica’s National Parks Service, and is founder and a board member of many environmental NGOs and tropical research institutes. Since the 1992 UN Sustainable Development Summit, he has participated in all of its multilateral environmental negotiations, including those for the GEF and the Green Climate Fund.
The Green Climate Fund
Jennifer Rubis is the indigenous peoples specialist for the Green Climate Fund (GCF). She joined GCF in 2019, after serving 10 years with UNESCO, where she coordinated the Climate Frontlines forum and was program specialist for the Local and Indigenous Knowledge Systems program. Her specialty areas include indigenous knowledge and climate change with a focus on adaptation and impacts, indigenous-led initiatives in community forestry and natural resource management, using technologies to assist marginalized people in developing countries, community tourism, indigenous and land rights issues, and traditional knowledge documentation. Since 2000, she has worked, from community to international levels, towards inclusion of indigenous knowledge in environmental policy and decision-making. A Dayak from Malaysian Borneo, Rubis comes from a line of shamans and priestesses and from one of the few Jagoi families that actively honor, through practice, their hill rice cultivation traditions.
University of Oxford
Nathalie Seddon is a professor of biodiversity at the University of Oxford and director of the Nature-based Solutions Initiative, an interdisciplinary program of research, policy advice, and education aimed at increasing understanding of the effectiveness of nature-based solutions to global challenges. She developed broad research interests in the origins and maintenance of biodiversity and its relationship with global change. Seddon is senior associate of the International Institute for Environment and Development, and advises governments, United Nations agencies, NGOs, and businesses on nature-based solutions. She trained as an evolutionary ecologist at Cambridge University.
World Wildlife Fund
Nik Sekhran is the chief conservation officer at World Wildlife Fund in the United States, overseeing work on wildlife protection, forest conservation, oceans and water resources management, food production and markets, and climate change. Prior to his appointment, he served as director for sustainable development at the United Nations Development Programme, where he provided program and policy support to countries to advance ecologically, economically, and socially sustainable development. Over 26 years, he has worked on the ground on conservation and development in over 45 countries. His specific focus has been the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, ecosystem management, and conservation-compatible development. He has worked extensively to build the capacity in affected countries to address poaching by strengthening law enforcement and management of systems of protected areas, as well as through operationalizing effective community-based conservation.
World Wildlife Fund
Dr. Rebecca Shaw is chief scientist of WWF. Shaw works with experts and partners around the world to identify emerging challenges to our mission and advance the scientific inquiry to deliver solutions to those challenges. Shaw came to WWF from the Environmental Defense Fund, where she was responsible for developing and implementing the vision and strategy of the Ecosystems program. She has been published widely in leading peer-reviewed scientific journals such as Science and Nature, and is the recipient of numerous awards for her work. She is a lead author on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fifth Assessment Report, which focuses on impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability. Shaw holds an MA in environmental policy and a PhD in energy and resources from the University of California, Berkeley.
California Department of Water Resources
Steve Rothert is chief of the division of multiple benefit initiatives at the California Department of Water Resources. Previously, he coordinated the Hydropower Reform Coalition through a Switzer Leadership Grant to American Rivers. He lived in Botswana for four years, working for International Rivers Network on river and dam issues, during which he helped stop a dam on the Okavango River. He also served with the Peace Corps in Sierra Leone as a fisheries volunteer. Rothert received a BA in geography/ecology from the University of California, Los Angeles and an MS from the University of California, Berkeley with a focus on river ecology and management.
Deltares
Dr. Bregje van Wesenbeeck is an expert advisor on nature-based flood risk mitigation and on integrated ecosystem analyses. With a multidisciplinary background encompassing knowledge of ecosystems and physical processes, she can unravel complex systems behavior leading to coastal erosion or ecosystem deterioration. She coordinates Deltares’s marketing and research activities for eco-engineering, and implements such innovative approaches for the Dutch government. She has been working on projects in which ecosystem services are used to meet water management goals and is focusing on restoring mangrove mud coastlines. Van Wesenbeeck is well acquainted with possible solutions in muddy environments, from engineered measures, such as breakwaters and seawalls, to ecosystem-based solutions, such as mangrove planting or other restoration techniques. She shares her knowledge by teaching courses and giving lectures, both in the Netherlands and abroad, and has a growing peer-reviewed publications list. | https://www.worldwildlife.org/pages/2020-fuller-speakers |
Today is Earth Hour Day, which is being celebrated throughout the world. Every year on the last Saturday in March, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) hosts this event. Its goal is to raise public awareness about ecology and global climate change. As a result, the program’s commencement date has been set for March 26, 2022.
What is Earth Hour?
Earth Hour is a worldwide event that takes place every year, its impact on people lasts for a long time. People throughout the world turn off their electricity consumption for an hour on this day. It’s called Earth Hour for this reason. This programme is one of the few global grassroots initiatives in which millions of people take part. This year’s Earth Hour will begin at 8:30 p.m IST on March 26, 2022.
History of Earth Hour
Since 2007, Earth Hour has been held every year. Every year, millions of individuals from several nations participate in this global event. On this day, the lights in many historical buildings around the world are turned off. Switching off the electricity reduces your carbon impact and saves your money.
Significance of this Day
The major goal of Earth Hour is to reduce the world’s vast energy consumption and to focus on climate change and sustainable development in order to safeguard the environment. The official website for Earth Hour Day states that the event will bring together millions of people, businesses, and leaders from all around the world to raise awareness about the destruction of nature and the need to address climate change as soon as possible. Earth Hour will bring people from all around the world together to speak out about the destruction of nature.
Read more of our Trending News Articles.
Hi there! I’m Akash. I was born and raised in Bengaluru, India. I am a freelance content writer and a blogger. I am currently a student studying at a prestigious law school in India. I am an avid reader and writer. | https://factsminister.com/earth-hour-history-and-significance/ |
To mark Earth Hour and draw attention to climate change, the Empire State Building and the United Nations Headquarters in New York joined other iconic buildings and monuments around the world plunging into darkness for sixty minutes.
The Eiffel Tower, the Kremlin, the Acropolis in Athens and Sydney’s Opera House also dimmed their lights as millions of people from some 170 countries and territories were expected to take part in Earth Hour, the annual bid to highlight global warming caused by the burning of coal, oil and gas to drive cars and power plants.
The event, which originated in Sydney, has grown to become a worldwide environmental campaign, celebrated across all continents.
The World Wild Fund for Nature (WWF) conservation group, which organizes the event, said great strides had been made in highlighting the dire state of the planet.
“We started Earth Hour in 2007 to show leaders that climate change was an issue people cared about,” coordinator Siddarth Das said.
“For that symbolic moment to turn into the global movement it is today, is really humbling and speaks volumes about the powerful role of people in issues that affect their lives.”
“I agree with the concept, 100 percent,” said student Ed Gellert, 24, in Sydney.
“I think people probably avoid the fact that climate change is happening, so it’s good to see the city grouping together to support Earth Hour.”
From Australia, it moved westward through Asia, with many of the skyscrapers ringing Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbor going dark in solidarity, while at Myanmar’s most sacred pagoda, the Shwedagon, 10,000 oil lamps were lit to shine a light on climate action.
The lights of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France’s best-known symbol, were switched off for five minutes at 1930 GMT and the Burj Khalifa tower in Dubai, the world’s tallest building, went dark for an hour.
London’s Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and London Eye giant wheel followed suit, among 270 British landmarks that switched off.
Berlin’s famed Brandenburg Gate and its City Hall also plunged into darkness as some 300 other German cities took part in the event.
In Singapore, around 200 organizations, including buildings along the city-state’s iconic skyline, went black to mark the occasion. Organizers said around 35,000 people watched performances and participated in a “carbon-neutral run” that saw some runners in panda and tiger costumes to raise awareness of wildlife protection.
And in Japan, Tokyo’s famed Sony Building in Ginza extinguished its bright lights to honor the occasion.
Homes and businesses were also asked to join, and individuals could commit to the cause on Facebook.
WWF said teams around the world would use Earth Hour this year to highlight climate issues most relevant to individual countries.
In South Africa, the focus was on renewable energy, while in China, WWF said it was working with businesses to encourage a shift toward more sustainable lifestyles.
Visible proof
Last year, scientists recorded the Earth’s hottest temperatures in modern times for the third year in a row.
Nations agreed in Paris in 2015 to limit average global warming to two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) over pre-industrial temperatures.
That is the level at which many scientists say humankind can still avoid worst-case climate outcomes in terms of rising sea levels, worsening droughts and floods, and increasingly violent superstorms.
“Climate change is visible proof that our actions can have a ripple effect beyond physical borders,” Das said.
“It is up to each of us to ensure the impact we create helps instead to improve the lives of those around us and elsewhere, at present and in the future.”
Earth Hour does not collect global statistics about the energy conserved during the 60-minute blackout, chiefly a symbolic event. | https://sachtimes.com/en/world/iconic-buildings-and-monuments-around-the-world-switch-off-lights-for-60-minutes-to-mark-earth-hour/ |
World Wildlife Fund (WWF), one of the world's leading conservation organization, seeks a graduate-level International Climate Business Intern for the fall semester.
Addressing the challenge of climate change and creating a low-carbon, climate-resilient future for people and wildlife is a global priority for WWF. Rapidly accelerating the deployment of clean, renewable energy is a crucial aspect of our ambitious climate and energy strategy.
Under the supervision of the Director, International Corporate Climate Partnerships, the intern will support WWF's work to transform energy markets through corporate engagement.
The ICCP program focuses on creating and scaling high-impact corporate engagement initiatives to accelerate a low-carbon transition. The program works closely with companies, WWF offices in priority markets, and other stakeholders to promote climate action beyond the United States. The program's current priorities are to help scale demand for, and access to, renewable energy by corporations in Mexico, India and China.
Responsibilities include:
Our free job seeker tools include alerts for new jobs, saving your favorites, optimized job matching, and more! Just enter your email below. | https://jobs.aapd.com/jobs/in-20008-intl-climate-business-intern-washington-dc-20037-115823116-d |
PALO ALTO, Calif., March 2, 2007–HP today issued its annual Global Citizenship Report (GCR) outlining the company´s progress, as well as challenges, for fiscal year 2006. It outlines our revised global citizenship priority areas, which include energy efficiency of products and operations, supply chain social and environmental responsibility, and product reuse and recycling.
*A climate change initiative with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to strengthen action on climate change through education and outreach, provide funding and technology to advance climate change science, and reduce carbon dioxide emissions related to energy use.
*Two capability building projects for suppliers: the Focused Improvement Supplier Initiative (FISI) in China and the Central Europe Supplier Responsibility (CESR) Project.
*Progress towards HP´s goal of recycling 1 billion pounds of computer hardware and print cartridges by the end of 2007, by recycling 165 million pounds and bringing the company´s cumulative total to 920 million pounds.
HP focuses on simplifying technology experiences for all of its customers–from individual consumers to the largest businesses. With a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure, HP is among the world´s largest IT companies, with revenue totaling $94.1 billion for the four fiscal quarters ended Jan. 31, 2007. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at www.hp.com. | https://www.eschoolnews.com/2007/03/06/hp-reports-social-and-environmental-progress-and-goals-in-fiscal-year-2006/ |
Our climate is changing at such an accelerated pace, we're struggling to keep up. Global temperatures are increasing at an alarming rate, and 1 in 6 species of wildlife are now at risk of extinction due to habitat destruction.
Now in its tenth year, this weekend's World Wildlife Foundation's Earth Hour is hoping to raise awareness of these issues on a global scale.
The ethos at the heart of the movement is simple – in order to combat a problem that affects everyone, action needs to be taken by everyone. By turning off your lights for one hour at 8:30pm GMT on Saturday March 25 2017, you will be taking part in demonstrating the need for commitment to the future of our climate. With Earth Hour 2017, the WWF aims to encourage people to actively pursue a more sustainable lifestyle and by turning off your lights, you'll be directly reducing your carbon footprint and energy consumption. On a grand scale, this has a significant effect.
Earth Hour is one of the largest grassroots movements ever created for environmental action. Since its creation in 2007 in Sydney, Australia, it has spread to 178 countries and territories, with millions of people taking part. The reach of the event is so far that last year it was even celebrated on board the International Space Station.
The United Kingdom got involved for the first time in 2008, the same year the country set targets to reduce its emissions. This year, the UK government has yet to announce its Emissions Reduction Plan, which is due to be released around Earth Hour, but it is hoped that a show of public support will encourage the government to take the issue of climate change seriously.
A consensus published in April 2016 in the journal Environmental Research Letters, found that 97 per cent of active climate scientists agree humans are directly responsible for climate change. This overwhelming agreement is shared by the National Academies of Science from over 80 countries.
Climate change drastically affects the workings of life on Earth. Poverty, wildlife extinction and healthcare are made more difficult to manage in a polluted, warming environment and such climatological effects include prolonged heat waves, rising sea levels and other extreme weather events.
While heatwaves in the UK may be considered a welcome break from winter rain, a rise in temperatures across the British Isles has drastic consequences for the country’s health services. In July 2016, the daily death rate at the beginning of the month was close to 1,200. During the heatwave of July 19, it reached a peak of 1,650, exceeding average deaths rates during the same period over the past five years.
Currently, the Met Office speculates that 2017 is set to have a slight period of cooling due to a La Niña event – a period of extensive cooling of the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. However, global temperatures will continue to increase overall once this period passes.
While the UK's commitment to climate change is ambitious - with the Paris Agreement and COP 22 taking steps towards a sustainable future - evidence suggests these commitments may not be reflected in UK climate policy.
A report by the Committee on Climate Change found that, following the Paris Agreement: "Current policy in the UK is not enough to deliver the existing carbon budgets that Parliament has set. The Committee’s assessment in our 2016 Progress Report was that current policies would, at best, deliver around half of the emissions reductions required to 2030, with no current policies to address the other half."
While Earth Hour's main focus is on public action against climate change, some argue that the ethos is avoiding the main contributors to climate change. While an hour of reduced energy consumption would reduce the carbon footprint produced by the public, changes to individual behaviour aren't substantial enough to tackle climate change - especially not for an hour only.
The largest polluters are those of big industries - from fossil fuel producers to the fashion industry. The climate change issue is one that needs support from both big industry and the public; a commitment that would take longer than an hour. This is why the WWF looks to encourage governments to take legally-binding action to stop climate change through public support during Earth Hour.
While landmarks such as Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament will go dark during this time, the big difference will be made by homes and small towns across the country pledging to not only turn off their lights but to demonstrate their commitment to action against climate change throughout the year.
To get involved in Earth Day, turn off your lights for one hour at 8:30 pm on March 25, 2017, or sign up through the WWF website. You can also show your support by signing up to this thunderclap, in order to raise awareness about the role that Smart Meters can play in reducing gas and electricity consumption. | https://www.wired.co.uk/article/earth-hour-2017-get-involved-uk |
NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD. is actively participating in sustainability initiatives.
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The United Nations Global Compact (UNGC)
The UN Global Compact was proposed by the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in 1999 to address a variety of issues such as global warming, environmental problems, and social inequality that have been ongoing on a global scale. It is an initiative formally launched at UN headquarters in July 2000 and is a voluntary corporate principle of action.
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Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The SDGs consist of 17 goals and 169 targets for achieving a sustainable society by 2030, adopted at the United Nations Summit in 2015. They aim to solve global problems and challenges such as poverty, inequality and climate change, and to "leave no one behind".
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Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs)
WEPs are principles for businesses to work voluntarily on promoting the advancement of women. They provide a holistic framework for companies to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment in the workplace, marketplace and community and drive positive outcomes for society and business. The UN Global Compact and UN Women collaborated to develop and established WEPs in 2010 through multi-stakeholder international consultations.
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Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)
The TCFD is a task force established by the Financial Stability Board (FSB), an international organization of central banks and financial regulators from major countries, to provide a framework for disclosing information on climate change. In June 2017, the TCFD released a report recommending disclosure of information about risks and opportunities related to climate change. Governments, financial institutions, and companies around the world have endorsed the TCFD's recommendations.
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CDP
CDP is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) launched in 2000 to collect, analyze, and evaluate information on the environmental activities of the world's leading companies and share these results with institutional investors. We answered questions on climate change and water security.
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Science Based Targets initiative（SBTi）
The Science Based Targets initiative is a collaboration between CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)." If a company's long-term greenhouse gas reduction target meets the level required to achieve the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting global temperature increase to less than 2 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels, the company's target will be certified as a “Science-based target (SBT).”
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Declaration of Partnership Building
The Declaration of Partnership Building was established by the Committee for the Promotion of Partnership Building for the Future, whose members include the Chairman of Keidanren（Federation of Economic Organizations）, the Chairman of JCCI(Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry), the Chairman of JTUC(Japanese Trade Union Confederation) and related ministers (Cabinet Office, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism). | https://ngkntk.disclosure.site/en/themes/189/ |
The HSBC Climate Partnership (HCP) is a five-year partnership between HSBC, The Climate Group, Earthwatch Institute, WWF, and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) to inspire action on climate change.
Build HSBC employees’ capability and commitment to sustainable business practice.
The project also focused on rejuvenating key rivers and wetlands, and managed, protected, and restored 2.2 million hectares of land. Research and new initiatives included being able to conduct research and publish reports, convene public and private meetings, and help establish initiatives like Forward Chicago and The Mumbai Energy Alliance.
HSBC is one of the world's largest banking and financial services organisations. With more than 6,200 offices in both established and emerging markets, they aim to be where the growth is, connecting customers to opportunities, enabling businesses to thrive and economies to prosper, and, ultimately, helping people to fulfil their ambitions.
They serve around 52 million customers through their four Global Businesses: Retail Banking and Wealth Management, Commercial Banking, Global Banking and Markets, and Global Private Banking. Their network covers 74 countries and territories in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, the Middle East, Africa, North America and Latin America.
Listed on the London, Hong Kong, New York, Paris and Bermuda stock exchanges, shares in HSBC Holdings plc are held by about 216,000 in 129 countries and territories.
The Climate Group is an independent, not-for-profit organization working for a Clean Revolution: a low carbon future that is smarter, better and more prosperous for all.
The Clean Revolution is a worldwide, three-year campaign to make change happen on a global scale – in print, in the press, online and through high-profile events and roundtable discussions. They work with corporate and government partners to develop climate finance mechanisms, business models which promote innovation, and supportive policy frameworks. They've convened leaders, shared hard evidence of successful low carbon growth, and piloted practical solutions which can be replicated worldwide.
The Climate Group was founded in 2004 and has operations in Australia, China, Europe, India and North America.
What began in 1923 as small field station on Barro Colorado Island, in the Panama Canal Zone, has developed into one of the leading research institutions of the world. STRI’s facilities provide a unique opportunity for long-term ecological studies in the tropics, and are used extensively by some 900 visiting scientists from academic and research institutions in the United States and around the world every year. The work of the resident scientists have allowed us to better understand tropical habitats and has trained hundreds of tropical biologists.
STRI aims to offer research facilities that allow staff scientists, fellows, and visiting scientists to achieve their research objectives. The 38 staff scientists reside in the tropics and are encouraged to pursue their own research priorities without geographic limitations. The continuity of their long-term programs enables in-depth investigations that attract an elite group of fellows and visitors. Active support for fellows and visitors leverages resources further and attracts more than 900 scientists to STRI each year.
Although STRI is based in Panama, research is conducted throughout the tropics. STRI's Center for Tropical Forest Science uses large, fully enumerated forest plots to monitor tree demography in 14 countries located in Africa, Asia and the Americas. More than 3,000,000 individual trees representing 6,000 species are being studied. STRI's Biological Diversity of Forest Fragments project created experimental forest fragments of 0.01, 0.1, and 1.0 km 2 to study the consequences of landscape transformation on forest integrity in the central Amazon region. STRI marine scientists are conducting a global survey of levels of genetic isolation in coral reef organisms.
Earthwatch is an international environmental charity. We bring individuals from all walks of life together with world-class scientists to work for the good of the planet. The Earthwatch community continues to grow rapidly, with participation from members of the general public we call "citizen scientists," to corporate employees, to educators and students. All bring their knowledge, passion, and experience to support our work, improve scientific understanding, and inspire change at across all touch-points in their lives.
Earthwatch engages people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment. They work from several offices, located in the United States, United Kingdom, India, Hong Kong, Japan, Australia, and Brazil. We work with the general public, scientists, communities, educators, students, and corporate fellows. Their projects take place in more than forty countries around the globe.
Together with leading scientists, they create impactful field research experiences that facilitate and disseminate world-class scientific research. They measure their success through outcomes such as peer-reviewed publications produced by their researchers and their outreach events that engage wider audiences with their work.
They provide transformational learning experiences that promote environmentally sustainable action. They work with educators to help them bring their experiences back to the classroom to foster new generations of environmental leaders.
They work with businesses and nonprofit organizations. They enable them to implement sustainable policies, processes, and practices that promote environmental responsibility both in and out of the office. They work to sustain wildlife populations and to improve the quality and quantity of habitats and ecosystems. They work to preserve their cultural heritage and improve livelihoods worldwide. They make a tangible and significant contribution to conventions, agendas, management plans, development plans, and government policies. They do this regionally, nationally, and internationally.
Earthwatch supports scientific research on wildlife and ecosystems, ocean health, climate change, and archaeology and culture.
WWF is one of the world's largest conservation organizations. WWF came into existence on 29 April 1961, when a small group of passionate and committed individuals signed a declaration that came to be known as the Morges Manifesto.
Since its founding, WWF has invested nearly US$10 billion in more than 13,000 conservation projects in over 150 countries.
WWF runs about 1,300 projects at any one time. In carrying out its work, WWF cooperates with many partners, including UN organizations, IUCN, and development agencies such as USAID and the World Bank. WWF also works with business & industry partners.
promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.
The first, is to ensure that the earth's web of life - biodiversity - stays healthy and vibrant for generations to come. WWF strategically focuses on conserving critical places and critical species that are particularly important for the conservation of the earth's rich biodiversity.
The second, is to reduce the negative impacts of human activity - humanity's ecological footprint. WWF is working to ensure that the natural resources required for life -land, water, air - are managed sustainably and equitably. | https://www.devex.com/impact/partnerships/hsbc-climate-partnership-521 |
Study of the exploration and colonization of North America by Spain, France, and Britain. Emphasis will be placed on interactions with Native Americans, the development of unique societies and political institutions, and a comparison of the establishment of the independent nations of Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Examines the era of the American Revolution from 1750 through 1820. Special emphasis on the imperial politics and protests, the military, diplomatic, and political history of the war, and the political, economic, and foreign policy crises caused by the break from the British Empire.
This course will survey the major aspects of Plains Indian culture and history from the earliest archaeological evidence to the present day. Special emphasis will be given to traditional Plains Indian cultures and the interaction between Plains Indians and the U.S. culture and government in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Study of the US from the Jacksonian era through the Civil War to the emergence of a modern state.
This course covers the expansion of American borders, trade, and leadership from the colonial period to the British Empire, through the western and Pacific frontiers, and into the age of globalization following World War II. The course examines the causes of expansion, and the development of American society as influenced by its experience of broad-ranging expansion.
This course will examine key issues in American social and cultural history from the Jazz Age through the Great Depression and New Deal Era, to US involvement in World War II. Through texts, oral history, art, literature, and popular culture, the course will explore the effects of Depression and War on ordinary Americans.
Study of the causes and effects of the Cold War in American domestic and foreign affairs. Emphasis will be placed on social, cultural, economic, and political movements within the United States, as well as America's role in world events after World War II.
This course traces the history and development of American movements for social justice in the twentieth century. Examining race, gender, and class-based social inequalities, the course highlights individuals and organizations that have worked to correct social injustice throughout the past century. The course emphasizes cultural forms of protest (literature and art) in addition to social and political reform.
This course explores African American history from Reconstruction through the present. Highlighting important African American intellectuals and other leaders, the course explores the changing nature of race in America as well as the history of Civil Rights.
This course is designed to meet the American military history requirement for Army ROTC commissioning but is open to anyone interested in military history. Special attention will be given to battle analysis and the lessons learned from battle, the evolution of American warfare 1775 to present, the professionalization of the American military, and the place of the military in American history.
Using primary texts(including martyrdom accounts, inquisition records, and biographies of medieval men and women) and works by leading medievalists, this course examines the relationship between religion and culture by studying changing notions of sanctity and heresy in the medieval West.
A broad study of the history of Medieval Europe, from St. Augustine to the Hundred Years' War, with special emphasis on politics and culture.
This course will examine European history from 1500 to 1688. This period runs from the Reformation to the birth of the modern state system. Special emphasis on intellectual, artistic, and cultural developments as well as the theological and military transformations in European life during this time.
Course covers the history of Europe between England's Glorious Revolution in 1688 and the French Revolution of 1789. Special focus on the personalities and ideas of the Enlightenment and their influence on European governments and politics.
Study of the major personalities, institutions, and movements which shaped the modernization of Europe in the century after 1815, as the region changed under the impact of economic and political revolutions.
A broad study of the European continent from 1900 to the revolutions of 1989 and their aftermath, emphasizing the political, social, and cultural significance of the century's major events.
Study of the varying political forms of German life over the past two centuries with emphasis on the war and the Nazi dictatorship.
Study of the major political, social, economic, and cultural forces since the Revolution of 1789 with emphasis on the intellectual ideas and governmental issues shaping modern France.
Study of Japan since approx 1800. Emphasis on the political, social, intellectual, and cultural developments of Japan from the last decades of the Tokugawa Shogunate through the country's economic dominance and stagnation in the late 20th century.
This course will focus on the historic social, economic, and political development and diplomatic relations of the United States and the nations of the Pacific Rim from roughly 1500 to the present. Major emphasis will be given to the geopolitical struggles over time between the United States and the Spanish and British empires, Japan, China, and Russia.
The name Cuba evokes a broad range of images and emotions. This class will examine Cuban history from the 19th century to the present including slavery, independence, US intervention, the Cuban Revolution, Castro, exiles, and the "Special Period" utilizing a variety of sources to trace the trajectory of Modern Cuban history.
This course will trace the principal economic, social, cultural, and political transformations in Mexico from pre-contact to present. The class will explore the trajectory of modern Mexican history including conquest, resistance, independence, US intervention, the revolution, tourism, immigration, and the "Drug Wars."
This course will examine the exploitation of natural resources in modern global society, from the beginnings of the Industrial Revolution to the modern day. Special emphasis is placed on the intersection of technology, culture, and the environment in modern life.
This course will examine the role disease, medicine, and culture have played in human history from ancient times to the 20th century. Areas of particular focus will include major epidemics, the rise of germ theory, and the intersection between economic development and human health.
Course examines the emergence of modern urbanization in various parts of the world from approximately 1800 to the present emphasizing similarities and differences in urban development across countries and cultures. Course addresses the built environment of cities as well as the political, social, and economic forces that have shaped urbanization and their effects.
Study of World War II from immediate causes to Cold War conclusions with a balanced treatment of military, political and social (Homefront) events and issues.
Study of Europe from 1600 to approximately 1815 with emphasis on absolutism in France, constitutionalism in England, the emergence of Prussia and Russia, the Enlightenment, and the French Revolution. (Salzburg only.)
Study of special topics in British history.
At its height, the British Empire controlled a quarter of the world and a fifth of the world's population while dominating most of the major waterways. From the victory over Napoleon at Waterloo to the return of Hong Kong to China in 1997 we will study the means of acquisition, cultural diversity, and the lasting impact of British institutions and the English language around the world.
From William of Orange and James II at the Battle of the Boyne to Wellington and Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo, The British and French engaged in a global rivalry that determined the fates of North America and India, while giving the British worldwide naval supremacy.
This course will focus on the emergence and development of modern Irish and Irish-American cultural identities: What does it mean to be Irish? This course will mix lectures, group discussions, and research (by groups and individuals) to examine the military, political, economic, social, religious, and intellectual developments that have shaped the contrasting versions of Irish identity.
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People across the Arab World insist on calling their uprisings ‘revolutions’. But history teaches us that revolutions have been disappointing and labels do not count much.
Photo: Jonathan Rashad
Since the spring of last year, people of Tunisia, Egypt and Libya have been very proud to call their success in changing the ruling political systems ‘revolutions’. Even still now, while countries like Syria and Yemen are trembling in the face of a sweeping change wave, many debate whether we can declare their case a revolution or not. The label ‘revolution’ seems to have a ‘romantic symbolism’, but wrongly so.
Obviously, there is a lot of politics involved in the label debate. If Syria’s uprising were to be acknowledged as a revolution, this would mean a point of no return in some degree. The hope is to declare it a revolution and this inevitably makes the necessity of change manifest – because we are here talking about a big thing happening, a revolution!
While we are keen on having revolutions, these, historically, did not bring genuine or immediate change people hoped for. Abrupt political change does not mean a lot, and the examples are plenty.
The French Revolution is maybe the most idealized of all others. It started with a boom, the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, and the political system changed overnight. The Declaration of the Rights of Man (Declaration Des Droits De L’Homme) is the only immediate game-changer.
A period of revenge against the clergy and monarchs began and culminated in the so-called of the Reign of Terror by Robespierre from 1793 till 1794. Around 40.000 were executed, a huge number for a population which was then comparable with the size of Syria today. The majority of those executed were from lower classes. What happened later is well-known. Napoleon Bonaparte would rule France from 1799 till 1814 and the dictatorship of the King was replaced by a dictatorship of the Emperor.
This story from the 18th century is very illustrative for the unholiness of revolutions. The turn of the French Revolution has been criticized by many conservative philosophers like the German Friedrich Schiller or the Irish Edmund Burke in his Reflections on the Revolution in France. The latter talked of “perverse effects” of the French case. Revolutions often “devour their children” as the French statesman Georges Danton once said as he was laid to the guillotine for execution.
The history of the Russian revolution can be told in a similar way. The civil disorder that followed and the rise of Stalin’s dictatorship is another reminder that one sudden eruption of emotions and hope is not that meaningful. When, in a post-revolutionary stage, dictatorships of men are replaced by dictatorships of bureaucracies while the same ruling elite and the same inequality remain, revolutions are betrayed, as the famous Russian Revolutionary Leon Trotsky later concluded while in exile.
In reality, the overthrow of political systems through grass-root revolutions punctuates the political aspect of a long process of social change, a ‘real revolution’, if you like.
When the ruling political system cannot anymore absorb the underlying changes in society, it can be replaced in an unpredicted moment. The long-run result of this change will depend on many things and does not have to correspond to the spirit of that revolutionary moment.
Revolutions can be neither started nor stopped at discretion, as Napoleon once said. This is indeed true as revolutions often develop their own dynamics. While many can predict a revolution by looking at the basic changes a society is going through, revolutions can be delayed or preempted by adapting the political system or accelerated by holding on to power or resorting to repression.
When a revolutionary eruption takes place, revolutionaries start to search for persons and values to idealize in order to build the ‘holy symbols’ of the revolution. This leads to the inevitable post-revolutionary conflicts and the black and white politics of revolutions. When dust settles, a large part of the old discredited bureaucracy will still be needed to rebuild the country. People starts to realize that the key for change is not merely political.
Once social conflicts reach a boiling point, the basic changes in the technological, social and economic spheres are hijacked by a dominant political interpretation of problems in the course of a revolution. The result of this is the manifestation of a firmly held belief that, in post-revolutionary times, for all societal problems to be solved, we only need a radical change of the political system.
But actually, it does not now matter that much ‘who’ will rule Egypt or Tunisia for example. The revolutions highlighted the irreversibility of political change in these countries. Even if Mubarak or Bin Ali had managed to stay in power, they would be for sure moved to change their ways of governing.
In comparison to colonial revolutions such as the American Revolution, social revolutions like the French and Russian Revolutions resulted from inner societal conflicts, according to 20th century sociologist Pitirim Sorokin. While such social revolutions are still held dear by many and glorified in textbooks, the promises of social revolutions can remain far-fetched for the immediate reality.
What was really revolutionary in the Middle East, both on the immediate and long-run term, was the discovery of the cultivation of food-crops and animals around 10.000 years BC, the so-called Neolithic Revolution. Similarly, the Industrial Revolution that took place in the Western part of the World was a genuine example of revolutionary change.
In our times, the real revolution is technological. The information age, where the availability and access to free information is easier than any time before, forces political systems to open up. Consequently, the easy access to information has changed Arab societies in many aspects and now led to the current ‘political change’.
Arab people started lately to compare themselves with other countries and decided to overthrow their political systems in search for more participation. It is not because they suddenly believed in democratic ideologies, but because they reached an informed conclusion that democracy can better deliver for them economically and socially.
Nowadays still, many Arab people struggling to change their political systems – Syria or Bahrain – regard a full-fledged revolution with a complete turnout of the political system as the ultimate prize. Yet, after each revolution, the revolutionary spree tricks people into thinking that they arrived at the final stage of their political aspiration. And they then start to aggrandize their achievement.
Post-revolutionary Arab countries prove that it does not take long until we start to realize some basic facts about revoultions. Social revolutions are difficult and often dissappointing, and change does not hinge on a particular moment of emotional eruption. Seeking the recognition as a revolution might serve political aims on the short-run, but, certainly, there is no reason to glorify this labeling and then be disappointed from believing in our own deception. | http://mohammad.arabspree.net/do-we-really-need-a-revolution |
Course Times + Location:
We 9:30 AM – 1:20 PM
HCC 1425, Vancouver
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Instructor:Jason Stearns
[email protected]
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Prerequisites:45 units.
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
Specific details of courses to be offered will be published prior to enrollment each term.
COURSE DETAILS:
Over the past thirty years, the African continent has undergone a dramatic political and economic transformation. Dozens of countries became nominal democracies, and their economies were liberalized, even as Africa became increasingly integrated into the international economic system. Despite these developments, however, the broad swath of the population has relatively little influence over the narrow elites that have ruled since independence, and the privatization of the state has further entrenched existing inequalities. This course will examine how citizens across the continent have reacted to these changes through social movements and other forms of political contestation. We will study the ideology, social networks, and strategies of these movements, which range from non-violent student protests to NGO activism and armed mobilization.
We begin the semester with trying to conceptualize social movements. What are they, how do they differ from political parties, NGOs, armed insurgencies, and revolutions? Can these social movements serve to remedy what Claude Ake has termed “the democracy of alienation?” This first session will introduce the central questions of the course, drawing on theories of democracy and the state. The remainder of the first part of the course then tries to place social movements within their social and historical context. Beginning with the 1960s, when most of the Africa achieved independence, we trace political and economic developments on the continent.
During the second part of the course we step back and engage with some of the main theories of social movements, discussing their forces that give rise to them, as well as their internal dynamics and the impact that transformations of the digital age have had on mobilization.
Returning to the Africa, we will spend the remainder of the course engaging with contemporary social movements on the continent, discussing their origins, the large diversity––they range from peasant uprisings to student protests and armed insurrections––and the impact they have had. We look at three cross-cutting themes: the importance of gender and sexuality, religion, and ethnicity, and ask whether the utopias that motivated the movements of the 1960s have been replaced by concrete ideas of what an ideal future for the continent could look like. We end by asking what the world can learn from these movements and vice versa while discussing trends in international solidarity with the continent.
COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:
Students will finish the course with the following knowledge and skills:
• A broad understanding of major political and social trends in African politics since the 1960s
• A basic familiarity with major paradigms, concepts, and theories in the social scientific study of social movements.
• The ability to critically evaluate competing theories of and methodological approaches to popular mobilization
Grading
- Class Participation 15%
- Reading Responses (4 x 5%) 20%
- Group Presentation 25%
- Final Essay 40%
NOTES:
Students will be required to submit their written assignments to Turnitin.com in order to receive credit for the assignments and for the course.
The School for International Studies strictly enforces the University's policies regarding plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty. Information about these policies can be found at: http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/teaching.html.
Materials
REQUIRED READING:
Most of the readings are available online via the SFU library, either as chapters or as journal articles, or free online. Those that are not available at the library will be shared via email or our Canvas website. I have also assigned some films, all of which are available for viewing free online.
Registrar Notes:
SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English. | http://www.sfu.ca/outlines.html?2019/fall/is/319/d500 |
The Experiments of Rojava and Northern Kurdistan (Turkey) for launching the social revolution left no doubt it has to start from building the local groups
Zaher Baher from Haringey Solidarity Group and Kurdistan Anarchist Forum.
Jan 2015
The history of movements and human struggles wanting to launch a social revolution, rather than just a political revolution are scarce, and social revolutions have happened in very few countries. In spite of these facts those revolutions, or attempted revolutions, are still shining examples for us all. They remind us that either a revolution must be social or it does not exist as a revolution. In other words, it must be inclusive and must apply to all aspects of a human being’s life including their culture, education, economics, ecological & environment, health and care as well as the political. This means we must have a social, as well as a political, revolution while at the same time taking the revolution out of the hands of the politicians, political parties and elites and putting it in the hands of ordinary people. In a few words, starting it from the bottom of society and not the top, from the demands of ordinary people who have been for a long long time marginalised, deprived and exploited. This is the only way we will achieve and maintain major changes.
In the last century the people’s history, in general, has been a very dark history, although in a few countries for a short time there has been some positives. But, generally, it has been a history of slaughter, big and small wars, starvation, unemployment, poverty and displacement of millions of people. Furthermore it has been the history of exploitation, child labor, and an increase in nationalism, racism, fanatical religion and much more. The main causes of this have been capitalism, free markets and globalization who have tricked us under the guises of prosperity, improving humanity, equality and social justice.
And the situation is the same whether a country has a so called democracy, dictatorship, coup d’état or Monarchy. These things have been very effective tools and instruments that remained in the hands of very rich people, aristocrats, the bankers, elites and the big corporations to serve and maintain the system for their benefit.
There is no doubt that politician and political parties have their own agenda and they use these agendas to climb to power. To gain this power they will not hesitate to do whatever they feel needs doing especially in the Middle East, Far East, central Asia, some of the African and Latin America’s countries, Russia, Spain and Portugal.
History has shown that all the political parties (from left to right, conservative to liberal, communist to authoritarian socialist, from religion to nationalist) have very similar economic and political interests and have very little differences between them. In attempting to reach that final goal which is overall power, they are all happy to exploit and deceive the working class. At the same time although politics play a big part amongst the working class, poor and ordinary people they don’t see that they have a common interest. Therefore the working class is divided and don’t struggle together for their common interests. In other words they don’t manage to break the circle of their marginalization; they stay un-united and remain slaves to both bosses and land owners.
Through the present system all political parties aim to divide and separating working/ordinary people by creating feuds between them. This could be by wars, high levels of unemployment, starvation, homelessness, displacement to religious divides, racism or nationalism. All these negative attempts work well to maintain the present system and amazingly the people still trust the politicians and put them back in power. Of course, there are other powers supporting them. I call these powers the “Dark Forces” and mean things like, the media, banks, big corporations, churches and mosques. (I have written a long article in Kurdish on 14/11/12 about them and their roles in society).
There are now many people who have reached the conclusion that they have no trust or confident in any of the political parties but are also confused and have no confident in themselves and along with having their own personal difficulties, just sit back and do nothing to change things. There are also people in society who believe that changing the government is the only political change we can make, rather than looking at changing the whole system. These changes are nothing more than small and non essential changes – its major changes like changing the whole system that we need. Wrongly many people seem to doubt that these major changes, and the social revolution, can be achieved through the local groups structure.
I do not want to talk about the local groups and their role here in detail as I have mentioned these in both my reports about Rojava and Northern Kurdistan- http://libcom.org/news/experiment-west-kurdistan-syrian-kurdistan-has-proved-people-can-make-changes-zaher-baher-2, http://www.anarkismo.net/article/27623- and also I wrote a very long article in Kurdish on 16/01/2012 under the title of “Why building the local groups are necessary?” I want to draw the reader’s attention to the experiment of Rojava and Northern Kurdistan and the influential role local groups played in launching the social revolution, and limited the role of the political parties. This was by forming and developing radical local groups, committees and communes.
Although the two examples below are similar in term of their aims, the structures of their local groups and having a couple of similar parties behind them, they have emerged in two different lands, with different political climates. Hopefully we can all see one, if not both, of these experiments as having a beneficial impact.
The first one is the experiment of Rojava. After the Syrian government’s army was forced to withdraw, The Movement of the Democracy Society (The Teve-Dem) emerged by building a variety of different local groups which then led to “The House of People”. Although this experiment is facing threats from a number of places it is still progressing, improving, developing and achieving more and more. Therefore, it has been very attractive to, and receives much needed support and solidarity from, many of the left, socialists, anarchists and libertarians from around the world.
The second experiment is that of Northern Kurdistan in Turkey. As I said above, Rojava is almost free of Assad’s forces and the people there regardless of their ethnicity, race, religion or nationality were free to do what they wanted. There, people launched the social revolution from the bottom of society, which in some ways was not a difficult task. Obviously there are many obstacles and barriers as they face the threat of a return of Assad’s Regime, a terrorist war against them, civil war, and a potential war between the different Kurdish political parties. There are also economic and educational sanctions and other problems as well. But, the experiment in northern Kurdistan is different.
In northern Kurdistan the Turkish government is still there and continues to use terror against political and community activists, trade unionists, and their families. After visiting there at the beginning of November 2014, I wrote a report (dated 14/11/2014) stating that the people there no longer wanted to be suppressed/oppressed by the government; do not want to be humiliated; do not want to be deprived of their natural rights; and do not want to be eliminated. So while there is a fascist power there which tries to subdue the people to its wishes, there is also unbelievable resistance. A resistance which is using new tactics of struggles and developing new strategies in an attempt to defeat the government and force it to accept the people’s demands and wishes. The people in Northern Kurdistan have become a major force who are managing to resist, defy and reject the system. It has become a new power outside the established power – a people’s power against the government’s power. This is the power of the people and this power, day by day, develops and going forward is getting stronger. This is a social movement that is the start of a revolution from the bottom of society, which will reduce the power of the state and eventually will replace it.
What’s happening in Northern Kurdistan is down to the essential and tireless work carried out by the local groups. We can see its beauty, and the influence of these struggles weakens the power of the state and government. These groups reduce the power of the elites and return decision making and responsibilities to the hands of local communities. We can all benefit from these struggles and experiences and the tactics used. The fact that local communities on both sides of the border achieved these remarkable social revolutions should be an inspiration to all communities throughout the world.
Using the knowledge and experiences from both experiments either of these examples can be applied to any country in the world. People can establish their own democratic power and administration in the absence of the central government as is the case in Rojava, or they can set up their own local community base even though a centralized power structure is in place, as has happened in northern Kurdistan.
I acknowledge that in both experiments political parties are still involved, be it the PKK or the PYD, and they still carry some influence over the people and the movements. There is also no doubt that inside these political parties there are those who support the social revolution. Politicians in both parties know very well every crucial step in the development and progress of the Movement of the Democracy Society (Tev-Dem) reduces the influence of their power. We all know that whenever social movements are strong, the power of political parties is weaker and the opposite is also correct.
The social movements in both regions (Syrian Kurdistan and Turkish Kurdistan) neither now, nor in the future, will be tamed, controlled nor completely defeated easily. At the moment a new culture has been adopted. A new experiment from being a toddler to walking and stepping forward is a fact. A new generation lives in harmony and freedom, accustomed to achieving victories. A women’s movement is also playing a major role throughout the local groups, different committees and communes. These women are tough, educated, brave and very confident and a major force which is contributing to building a new society by changing themselves, but by changing society as whole as well. In addition there is also the huge support and solidarity they are receiving from around the world.
So there is an existing culture, a new generation and a collective women’s rebellious voice that defies and fights back against the reactionary culture, political ideology and Stalinist discipline. While these are in place they challenge the present political movement and fight the authoritarian power, like a non-people’s power, non-democratic administration. While these are the grounds, the movement goes forward rather than backward. This movement, even though political parties are trying to control or tame it, and even though there are unexpected internal & external events and intervening, all will be temporary and not permanent.
I do not hide my concerns. I am not totally optimistic about the future direction of Rojava. But I am extremely optimistic and confident about what I said in the a few lines above about the mood, feeling and courage of the people. However, to achieve a complete victory a couple of essential bits supports are important.
First, there needs to be emerging the same or similar movements to The Movement of the Democracy Society in other areas of the region or at least in neighboring countries. Second the people of Rojava need solidarity, help and expertise with their economy, educational and financial systems. They need human forces, healthcare and all the daily necessities from socialist, anarchists and the libertarian around the world.
I believe there is still a strong resistance movement and a resentment of the system in both regions and neither will surrender the gains they have made. Furthermore people are now aware they are living under brutal systems with a vast majority of them deprived of their basic rights. I am hopeful that this raising of consciousness can be increased and this will push people to further stand up for their rights and fight back against the present system – to change it to a better world. A world of socialism / anarchism.
This consciousness raising is the keys to opening the gate which could take us to that society (Socialism/Anarchism) where we achieve all our demands. I am very optimistic and hopeful that this can happen. | https://anarkistan.com/2015/02/03/the-experiments-of-rojava-and-northern-kurdistan-turkey-for-launching-the-social-revolution-left-no-doubt-it-has-to-start-from-building-the-local-groups/ |
Two of the articles focus specifically on Egypt; all reference Egypt and Tunisia.
In the first article, entitled “Arab Uprisings: Geopolitics, Strategies and Adjustment,” Dina Matar, a former Middle East news correspondent who is now senior lecturer in Arab media and International Political Communication at the Centre for Film and Media Studies at SOAS interviews her co-editor of The Middle East Journal of Culture and Communication, Gilbert Achcar, who is Professor of Development Studies and International Relations at SOAS and the author of the widely read The Clash of Barbarisms (2006, Paradigm Press).
Achcar describes the role of “Washington’s return to playing the Islamic card: the good Muslims versus bad Muslims discourse.”
The good Muslims, or the new good Muslims, or the good again Muslims, are groups like the Muslim Brotherhood, with whom the United States had a close collaboration in the time of (former Egyptian president) Gamal Abdel Nasser. There are now attempts at renewing this kind of collaboration, as these groups have the advantage in Washington’s eyes of having a real popular influence, unlike Washington’s traditional friends of the past decades.
And he points out that Al-Jazeera’s close ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, and the Brotherhood’s economic ties to Qatar, serve as agents for this process.
“The Arab Revolts, Islam and Postmodernity” by Arshin Adib-Moghaddam, Reader in Comparative Politics and International Relations at SOAS, contextualizes the revolts within what he sees as a new stage in Islam. By contrast, most media accounts are structured by what he calls the “clash regime.” rooted in an Islamophobic discourse that constructs Islam as the ultimate “other” to the “West.” Here’s the abstract:
The article deals with the political and cultural context of the Arab revolts and the representation of Muslim politics in the `west’. It evaluates the changes that the current events have already brought about and how Islam as politics and imaginary has entered a new phase and trajectory that is very different from Islamist concepts in the Qutbian tradition. What we are experiencing, it is argued, is the emergence of a `post-modern’ Islam that is diffuse, decentred and almost post-ideological in its political syntax..
In an article entitled “Gendering the Arab Spring,” Nadje Al-Ali, Professor of Gender Studies at the Centre for Gender Studies at SOAS, and a founding member of Act Together: Women’s Action for Iraq. (www.acttogether.org), examines the extent to which women play central roles in both revolutionary and counterrevolutionary efforts in Egypt and elsewhere in the so-called “Arab Spring.”
The article discusses the gendered implications of recent political developments in the region. It argues that women and gender are key to both revolutionary and counter-revolutionary processes and developments and not marginal to them. It explores the significance of women’s involvement, the historical context of women’s political participation and marginalization in political transition. Theoretically, developments in the region point to the centrality of women and gender when it comes to constructing and controlling communities, be they ethnic, religious or political; the significance of the state in reproducing, maintaining and challenging prevailing gender regimes, ideologies, discourses and relations; the instrumentalization of women’s bodies and sexualities in regulating and controlling citizens and members of communities; the prevalence of gender-based violence; the historically and cross-culturally predominant construction of women as second-class citizens; the relationship between militarization and a militarized masculinity that privileges authoritarianism, social hierarchies and tries to marginalize and control not only women but also non-normative men.
Mohammed Bamyeh, Professor of Sociology at the University of Pittsburgh, and the editor of the International Sociology Review of Books (ISRB), offers an article entitled “Anarchist Philosophy, Civic Traditions and the Culture of Arab Revolutions” Here’s the abstract:
An exploration of the most common theories and methods used in the ongoing Arab uprisings suggests that their roots lie in ordinary and familiar civic ethics, rather than in any conscious ideological project preceding the revolutions. This article explores the hypothesis that the revolutions have been facilitated most by long-standing traditions of self-organization that are usually ignored in scholarship of social movements as well as by organized social movements themselves. Both, after all, tend to see political mobilization as a result of either clear structures such as organizations or leaders, or as a function of explicit ideological commitments. Arguing against this way of seeing social movements and especially revolutionary processes, this paper explores the history of certain Arab civic traditions and popular propositions that possess what might be called anarchist features. These already familiar traditions and propositions came to the fore in the Arab revolutions. The article focuses on three of these broadly familiar anarchist styles of thinking and organizing that were central to the Arab revolutions: 1) the notion of the simplicity of truth; 2) the dialogic nature of the revolutionary process itself; and 3) the leaderless conception “the people.“ All three features are argued to have emerged out of a merger between long-standing civic ethics and a more recent historical memory of previous revolutionary experiences.
Filmmaker, photographer and film studies scholar Haim Bresheeth, of the University of East London, contributes “The Arab Spring: A View from Israel.” Here’s the abstract:
The Arab Spring is one of the most complex and surprising political developments of the new century, especially after a decade of anti-Muslim and anti-Arab western propaganda. While is too early to properly evaluate the process and its various national apparitions, it is important to see it in a historical context. This article places the Arab Spring firmly within the history of pan Arabism, and the threat it posed to the west and Israel in its earlier, Nasserist phase. The work of Amin, Marfleet and others, is used to frame the current developments, and present the limited view offered from an Israeli perspective, where any democratisation of the Arab world is seen as a threat. This is so despite the obvious influence the Arab Spring had on protest in Israel in Summer 1011, a protest which has now seemingly spent itself; it is fascinating to note that the only protest movement in the Middle East not involving violent clashes with the regime it criticised, is also the one which has not achieved any of its aims.
An Iranian perspective on the revolutions is offered by Gholam Khiabany, who teaches in the School of Media, Film and Music at the University of Sussex. In an article entitled “Arab Revolutions and the Iranian Uprising: Similarities and Differences,” the author of Iranian Media: The Paradox of Modernity (Routledge, 2010), and co-author of Blogistan, with Annabelle Sreberny (I.B.Tauris, 2010), looks for answers to a question posed by many Iranians: how come the tactics of mass protest worked in Tunisia and Egypt but not in Iran?
A year and a half after the Iranian uprising in 2009, the unprecedented popular uprisings in several Arab countries at the beginning of 2011 provided some of the most evocative moments when power met its opposite, in decisive and surprising ways. In a matter of weeks, some of the most powerful hereditary/republican regimes in the region, such as Tunisia’s and Egypt’s, crumbled under relentless pressure and opposition from highly mediated “street politics“ that shook the foundations of authoritarian and repressive rule, undermining hegemonic structures and configurations of power within nation sates and between nations. Technology, as in the case of Iranian uprising, emerged as one of the main explanations on offer to make sense of this new wave of revolts against tyranny. The revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt in particular, inevitably drew some comparisons with the Iranian uprising of 2009. The most significant question for many Iranians was how come that the two revolts in Iran and Tunisia which immediately and rather simplistically labelled as `Twitter revolution’ had a totally different outcome? Many in Iran started raising such searching questions: “Chera Tunis Toonest v ma natoonestim?“ (Why Tunisia could and we couldn’t) or “toonestan az Tunis miad“! (Capability comes from Tunis). So how can we compare Arab Revolutions with that of situation in Iran? What the different outcomes tell us about the similarities and the differences, and what lessons can be learnt? This paper takes a broader comparative frame, beyond technology, to explore the issue of power and revolutions and to examine the similarities as well as the differences between Iran and the Arab World.
My favorite piece is an article entitled “The Revolutionary Body Politic: Preliminary Thoughts on a Neglected Medium in the Arab Uprisings” by Marwan M. Kraidy, Professor of Global Communication at the Annenberg School for Communication and the Edward Said Chair in American Studies at the American University of Beirut (and author of Reality Television and Arab Politics).
Beginning with the Alaiaa El-Mahdy scandal (she posted nude photos of herself to a social media site, and these were taken as emblematic of the moral and political chaos engendered by the revolution, he unpacks the roles played by bodies, and especially female bodies, in the ongoing social drama of the revolution in Egypt. Here’s the abstract:
When Aliaa al-Mahdy, a 20-year old student in communication at the American University in Cairo, posted nude photographs of herself on a blog she called “A Rebel’s Diary,“ she unleashed one of the most heated polemics to come out of the Egyptian revolution that began on January 25, 2011 and deposed Hosni Mubarak less than one month later. This essay, written in the days after the scandal broke in November 2011, raises preliminary questions about what responses to Aliaa’s defiant act might reveal about revolutionary politics. In the essay I argue that the polemic surrounding Aliaa can be understood in the contexts of other incidents of the Arab uprisings, beginning with Bouazizi’s self-immolation, that invite us to consider, explore and theorize the human body as a vital medium in the Arab uprisings.
A short, ambitious article by Dina Matar entitled seeks to historicize accounts of media use while simultaneously deconstructing historical accountsrooted in the modernization narrative. The article is entitled “Contextualising the Media and the Uprisings: A Return to History.” Here’s the abstract:
The 2011 Arab uprisings have called into question the assumptions and questions that have defined much of the scholarship on the media of and about the Arab world and its various publics. Much of this scholarship remains largely shaped by the `political’ agendas of the dominant analytical paradigms prominent in the 1970s, including the modernisation paradigm. Furthermore, many studies consider mediated cultures as being of the `here’ and the `now’ rather than a product of ongoing historical processes and conjunctures. This short intervention calls for rethinking the broad assumptions about the role of media in the ongoing protests. While not ignoring the role of media, it suggests broadening our conceptual and research agendas to incorporate a historical perspective that would also seriously consider the material and immaterial `geneaologies’—particular histories of nation-states, religion(s), capitalist class formations, national, regional and international politics as well as cultural and discursive formations.
Equally ambitious is “On Historicism, the Aporia of Time and the Arab Revolutions,” an article (he calls it an “intervention” by Tarik Sabry, senior lecturer in media and communication theory at the University of Westminster and co-founder and co-editor of the Middle East Journal of Culture and Communication that characterizes the revolutions as fights for modernity in postmodern times.”
The most interesting part of his article is his critique of scholarly responses, which he places in four categories:
- mute: academics so overwhelmed by events they never saw coming, and by the realization that the paradigms on which they built careers are outmoded, that they have nothing to say.
- stammering: academics overwhelmed by complexities and uncertainties, trying to find a new theoretical language with which to theorize and describe events.
- chronometric: academics who focus on unfolding events as a way to avoid having to contextualize and theorize causes and outocmes.
- subaltern: descriptions and theorizations that stay close to the voices and bodily practices of the peoples actually carrying out, and suffering the consequences of, the revolutions.
Here’s his abstract:
The proposed intervention is borne out of intellectual frustration and dissatisfaction with facile and largely descriptive chronometric analyses of the `Arab Spring’, that have failed to articulate the revolutions beyond their chaotic, unfolding eventfulness. Focusing on and grappling with key themes such as history, historicism, modernity, post-modernity, technology, art and poetics, this intervention describes key responses to the Arab revolutions and asks what it means to fight for modernity in post-modern times?
Finally, there is an article called “It’s Still About the Power of Place” by Helga Tawil-Souri, Assistant Professor in Media, Culture and Communication at New York University. Tawil-Souri argues, using descriptions of Egypt, that in spite of the uses of social media (and other media) in the revolutions, space, place and bodily practices remain crucial to political action. She writes:
Against the claim that the uprisings in Egypt were driven by social media, this article argues that territorial place continues to be a fundamentally important aspect of political change—even within the realm of media. Two key arguments are made: first, that territoriality and place are integral to media networks and infrastructures themselves; and second, that media studies needs to give greater importance to such a geography. The author argues that while the uprisings displayed a shifting spatiality, it is nonetheless one that is rooted in real places and embodied practices.
These articles are heavy on theory but often fall into the trap one of my mentors, Dr. Phyllis Chock, always warned me about: never theorize without data. Half of them take place in an abstract real where it is meaningful to speak about “the Arab Spring” rather than specific activities taking place in particular fields through particular embodied agents. They are, to use Sabry’s term, “stammering” efforts at finding languages to describe the revolutions (no disparity there–this whole blog could be subtitled “stammerings on the Egyptian revolution…”)
Nonetheless, all of them are thought-provoking and a couple (Kraidy’s and Sabry’s) are a(n intellectual) pleasure to read.
References:
Adib-Moghhaddam, Arshin. 2012. The Arab Revolts, Islam and Postmodernity. Middle East Journal of Culture and Communication 5(1): 15-25.
Al-Ali, Nadje. 2012. Gendering the Arab Spring. Middle East Journal of Culture and Communication 5(1): 26-31.
Bamyeh, Mohammed A. 2012. Anarchist Philosophy, Civic Traditions and the Culture of Arab Revolutions. Middle East Journal of Culture and Communication 5(1): 32-41.
Bresheeth, Haim. 2012. The Arab Spring: A View from Israel. Middle East Journal of Culture and Communication 5(1): 42-57.
Khiabany, Gholam. 2012. Arab Revolutions and the Iranian Uprising: Similarities and Differences. Middle East Journal of Culture and Communication 5(1): 58-65.
Kraidy, Marwan M. 2012. The Revolutionary Body Politic: Preliminary Thoughts on a Neglected Medium in the Arab Uprisings. Middle East Journal of Culture and Communication 5(1): 66-74.
Matar, Dina. 2012. Contextualising the Media and the Uprisings: A Return to History. Middle East Journal of Culture and Communication 5(1): 75-79.
Matar, Dina and Gilbert Achcar. 2012. Arab Uprisings: Geopolitics, Strategies and Adjustment. Middle East Journal of Culture and Communication 5(1): 7-14.
Sabry, Tarik. 2012. On Historicism, the Aporia of Time and the Arab Revolutions. Middle East Journal of Culture and Communication 5(1): 80-85.
Tawil-Souri, Helga. 2012. It’s Still About the Power of Place. Middle East Journal of Culture and Communication 5(1): 86-95. | https://connectedincairo.com/2012/10/25/theorizing-the-revolution-stammering-articles-from-soas-and-fellow-travelers/ |
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- Alternatives : the United States confronts the world
- Arab elites : negotiating the politics of change
- Architects of political change : constitutional quandaries and social choice theory
- Azeri women in transition : women in Soviet and post-Soviet Azerbaijan
- British politics in the global age : can social democracy survive?
- Cadres and kin : making a socialist village in West China, 1921-1991
- Campaign reform : insights and evidence
- Capitalism, politics, and railroads in Jacksonian New England
- China since Tiananmen : the politics of transition
- China's communist revolutions : fifty years of the People's Republic of China
- China's trapped transition : the limits of developmental autocracy
- Closing the books : transitional justice in historical perspective
- Cuba today and tomorrow : reinventing socialism
- Democratic challenges, democratic choices : the erosion of political support in advanced industrial democracies
- Democratization and social settlements : the politics of change in contemporary Portugal
- Democratizing the hegemonic state : political transformation in the age of identity
- Divide and pacify : strategic social policies and political protests in post-communist democracies
- England on edge : crisis and revolution, 1640-1642
- Expansion and fragmentation : internationalization, political change, and the transformation of the nation state
- Fame, money, and power : the rise of Peisistratos and "democratic" tyranny at Athens
- Foreign policy in a transformed world
- Gorbachev's gamble : Soviet foreign policy and the end of the Cold War
- Governing modern societies
- History making and present day politics : the meaning of collective memory in South Africa
- Iran in crisis? : nuclear ambitions and the American response
- Liberalism's crooked circle : letters to Adam Michnik
- Media and sovereignty : the global information revolution and its challenge to state power
- Ordinary people, extraordinary lives : political and economic change in a Tōhoku village
- Party system change : approaches and interpretations
- Political change in China : comparisons with Taiwan
- Political culture and political change in communist states
- Political development ; : essays in heuristic theory
- Political modernization in Japan and Turkey
- Political opportunities, social movements and democratization
- Political parties and electoral change : party responses to electoral markets
- Politics and sociolinguistic reflexes : Palestinian border villages
- Psychotherapy and politics
- Public entrepreneurs : agents for change in American government
- Re-stating social and political change
- Red capitalists in China : the party, private entrepreneurs, and prospects for political change
- Remapping global politics : history's revenge and future shock
- Reversing relations with former adversaries : U.S. foreign policy after the cold war
- Russia's road to deeper democracy
- Shaping history : narratives of political change
- Sing the beloved country : the struggle for the new South Africa
- Social analysis
- Social and political change in revolutionary China : the Taihang Base area in the War of Resistance to Japan, 1937-1945
- Social change and political transformation
- State in society : studying how states and societies transform and constitute one another
- Taming the sovereigns : institutional change in international politics
- The Indian renaissance : India's rise after a thousand years of decline
- The Second Arab awakening : and the battle for pluralism
- The cultural pattern in American politics : the first century
- The greening of America : [how the youth revolution is trying to make America livable]
- The impact of values
- The nationalization of American politics
- The opening of the Apartheid mind : options for the new South Africa
- The politics of anti-Westernism in Asia : visions of world order in pan-Islamic and pan-Asian thought
- The post-colonial society : the Algerian struggle for economic, social, and political change, 1965-1990
- The spoils of freedom : psychoanalysis and feminism after the fall of socialism
- The state against society : political crises and their aftermath in East Central Europe
- Transforming Latin America : the international and domestic origins of change
- Transitional justice from below : grassroots activism and the struggle for change
- Turkey--facing a new millennium : coping with intertwined conflicts
- U.S.-Japan relations in a changing world
- Understanding Third World politics : theories of political change and development
- Utopistics, or, Historical choices of the twenty-first century
- Varieties of transition : the East European and East German experience
- Waves of democracy : social movements and political change
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De, Cedric, Manali Desai & Cihan Tugal. 2009. "Political Articulation: Parties and the Constitution of Cleavages in the United States, India, and Turkeys." Sociological Theory. 27:3 193-219.
Political parties do not merely reflect social divisions, they actively construct them. While this point has been alluded to in the literature, surprisingly little attempt has been made to systematically elaborate the relationship between parties and the social, which tend to be treated as separate domains contained by the disciplinary division of labor between political science and sociology. This article demonstrates the constructive role of parties in forging critical social blocs in three separate cases, India, Turkey, and the United States, offering a critique of the dominant approach to party politics that tends to underplay the autonomous role of parties in explaining the preferences, social cleavages, or epochal socioeconomic transformations of a given community. Our thesis, drawing on the work of Gramsci, Althusser, and Laclau, is that parties perform crucial articulating functions in the creation and reproduction of social cleavages. Our comparative analysis of the Republican and Democratic parties in the United States, Islamic and secularist parties in Turkey, and the Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress parties in India will demonstrate how ``political articulation'' has naturalized class, ethnic, religious, and racial formations as a basis of social division and hegemony. Our conclusion is that the process of articulation must be brought to the center of political sociology, simultaneously encompassing the study of social movements and structural change, which have constituted the orienting poles of the discipline.
Armstrong, Elizabeth & Mary Bernstein. 2008. "Culture, Power, and Institutions: a Multi-institutional Politics Approach to Social Movements." Sociological Theory. 26:1 74-99.
Link
We argue that critiques of political process theory are beginning to coalesce into a new approach to social movements-a ``multi-institutional politics'' approach. While the political process model assumes that domination is organized by and around one source of power, the alternative perspective views domination as organized around multiple sources of power, each of which is simultaneously material and symbolic. We examine the conceptions of social movements, politics, actors, goals, and strategies supported by each model, demonstrating that the view of society and power underlying the political process model is too narrow to encompass the diversity of contemporary change efforts. Through empirical examples, we demonstrate that the alternative approach provides powerful analytical tools for the analysis of a wide variety of contemporary change efforts.
Garcelon, Marc. 2006. "Trajectories of Institutional Disintegration in Late-soviet Russia and Contemporary Iraq." Sociological Theory. 24:3 255-283.
Link
How might revolutions and other processes of institutional disintegration inform political processes preceding them ? By mapping paths of agency through processes of institutional disintegration, the trajectory improvisation model of institutional breakdown overcomes ``action-structure'' binaries by framing political revolutions as possible outcomes of such disintegrative processes. The trajectory improvisation approach expands the trajectory adjustment model of social change developed by Gil Eyal, Ivan Szelenyi, and Eleanor Townsley. An overview of political revolution in Soviet Russia between 1989 and 1991 illustrates trajectory improvisation. The recent American invasion and occupation of Iraq shows alternative routes to institutional disintegration, indicating the independence of models of institutional breakdown from those of social movements. These cases illustrate both the diversity of situations the trajectory improvisation model speaks to, and the limitation of models of trajectory adjustment, improvisation, social movements, and invasions, illustrating why such models at best enable what are called ``explanatory narratives'' of actual historical processes.
Fine, GA & B Harrington. 2004. "Tiny Publics: Small Groups and Civil Society." Sociological Theory. 22:3 341-356.
Link
It has been conventional to conceptualize civic life through one of two core images: the citizen as lone individualist or the citizen as joiner. Drawing on analyses of the historical development of the public sphere, we propose an alternative analytical framework for civic engagement based on small-group interaction. By embracing this micro-level approach, we contribute to the debate on civil society in three ways. By emphasizing local interaction contexts-the microfoundations of civil society-we treat small groups as a cause, context, and consequence of civic engagement. First, through framing and motivating, groups encourage individuals to participate in public discourse and civic projects. Second, they provide the place and support for that involvement. Third, civic engagement feeds back into the creation of additional groups. A small-groups perspective suggests how civil society can thrive even if formal and institutional associations decline. Instead of indicating a decline in civil society, a proliferation of small groups represents a healthy development in democratic societies, creating cross-cutting networks of affiliation.
Platt, GM & RH Williams. 2002. "Ideological Language and Social Movement Mobilization: a Sociolinguistic Analysis of Segregationists' Ideologies." Sociological Theory. 20:3 328-359.
Link
The current ``cultural turn `` in the study of social movements has produced a number of concepts formulating the cultural-symbolic dimension of collective actions. This proliferation, however, has resulted in some confusion about which cultural-symbolic concept is best applied to understanding cultural processes involved in social movements. We articulate a new definition of ideology that makes it an empirically useful concept to the study of social-movement mobilization. It is also formulated as autonomous of concepts such as culture and hegemony and of other cultural-symbolic concepts presently used in the movement literature to explain participant mobilization. We demonstrate the usefulness of our ideology concept by analyzing letters written to Martin Luther King, Jr. from segregationists opposed to the integration of American society. The analysis indicates that the letter writers particularized segregationist culture, creating ideologies that fit their structural, cultural, and immediate circumstances, and that the ideologies they constructed thereby acted to mobilize their countermovement participation. The particularizing resulted in four differentiated ideological versions of segregationist culture. The empirically acquired variety of ideological versions is inconsistent with the role attributed to cultural-symbolic concepts in the social-movement literature and requires theoretical clarification. We conclude with a discussion of the theoretical implications,for social-movement theory of the variety of segregationist ideologies.
Li, JL. 2002. "State Fragmentation: Toward a Theoretical Understanding of the Territorial Power of the State." Sociological Theory. 20:2 139-156.
Link
In existing theories of revolution, the state is narrowly defined as an administrative entity, and state breakdown simply refers to the disintegration of a given political regime. But this narrow definition cannot deal with this question: Why, in a revolutionary situation, do some states become fragmented and others remain unified? I would therefore argue for the broadening of the concept of state breakdown to include the territorial power of the state and to treat the latter as a key analytical dimension in the study of state fragmentation. The dynamics of territorial state power involve the control of critical territories and valuable resources associated with the spatial position of a given state in the interstate system. A strong territorial state is able to maintain its organizational coerciveness and territorial integrity, whereas a weak territorial state is vulnerable to fragmentation. The overall state crisis derives from the accumulated effects of geopolitical strain by which territorial fragmentation unfolds.
Wood, RL. 1999. "Religious Culture and Political Action." Sociological Theory. 17:3 307-332.
Link
Recent work by political sociologists and social movement theorists extend our understanding of how religious institutions contribute to expanding democracy, but nearly all analyze religious institutions as institutions; few focus directly on what religion qua religion might contribute. This article strives to illuminate the impact of religious culture per se, extending recent work on religion and democratic life by a small group of social movement scholars trained also in the sociology of religion. In examining religion's democratic impact, an explicitly cultural analysis inspired by the new approach to political culture developed by historical sociologists and cultural analysts of democracy is used to show the power of this approach and to provide a fuller theoretical account of how cultural dynamics shape political outcomes. The article examines religious institutions as generators of religious culture, presents a theoretical model of how religious cultural elements are incorporated into social movements and so shape their internal political cultures, and discusses how this in turn shapes their impact in the public realm. This model is then applied to a key site of democratic struggle: four efforts to promote social justice among low-income urban residents of the United States, including the most widespread such effort-faith-based community organizing.
Emirbayer, M. 1996. "Useful Durkheim." Sociological Theory. 14:2 109-130.
Link
From the mid-1960s through much of the 1980s, Durkheim's contributions to historical-comparative sociology were decidedly marginalized; the title of one of Charles Tilly's essays, ``Useless Durkheim,'' conveys this prevailing sensibility with perfect clarity. Here, ky contrast, I draw upon writings from Durkheim's later ``religious'' period to show how Durkheim has special relevance today for debates in the historical-comparative field. I examine how his substantive writings shed light on current discussions regarding civil society; how his analytical insights help to show how action within civil society as well as other historical contexts is channelled by cultural, social-structural, and social-psychological configurations (plus transformative human agency); and how his ontological commitment to a ``relational social realisin'' contributes to ongoing attempts to rethink the foundations of historical-comparative investigation. | http://danhirschman.com/clusters/ST/refs/mccarthy_j_1977_am_j_sociol.html |
For many years, political Islam has imposed itself on researchers and those interested in the political field in the Arab and Islamic world. However, the new challenge facing them all is that the Islamic movements have developed their discourse and adapted it with the help of technical and digital developments, liberated this discourse and opened the doors for it to reach the local and global public opinion.
And if the social and political transformations that took place in the Greater Middle East during the 21st century had brought Islamic currents back to the fore, then this coincided with the technological boom that the world experienced due to the dense and intense spread of the Internet in general and social media networks in particular. The internet gave the political Islam discourse an unprecedented momentum and flow that made its owners reach societies and segments that they have long been prevented from accessing and addressing, facilitating the processes of promoting the discourse of the Islamic movements and coordinating field operations to achieve their ultimate goal: the seizure of power.
In this study, we start from this ground to shed light on the interaction of Islamic currents of all stripes and references with the digital revolution and their use of social media platforms to promote their political discourse and direct public opinion in the virtual and real world.
The digital revolution coincided with the widespread use of the term “soft power”, before the term “Cyber Power” branched out from it, which, according to Joseph Nye, means “the ability to obtain desired results through the use of information sources related to cyberspace, that is, the ability to use the cyberspace tools to create advantages and influence events related to other real-world environments”.(1)
Since politics is a space for practicing social action and a strive to achieve what’s possible and to be developed, the Islamic political actor, when trying to download its societal and political vision, did not hesitate to exploit the opportunities and capabilities that the technological revolution provided to it in the field of communication, the globalization of information, and the speed of its flow. Therefore, and sometimes perfectly, it took the initiative to employ social media networks and use them optimally in order to achieve better positioning and win many points in its struggle for power.
Thus began a kind of change in the rules of the game, and the balance of power began to tend relatively to the Islamic movements after they managed to neutralize the means of control, subjugation, and punishment, pulling the rug out from under the security services, and transferring the battle to virtual worlds, in which victory does not depend on possessing weapons, tanks, and impregnable prisons, but on mastering information management and the art of communication. And for the first time in human history, power in the era of social networks has become in the hands of those who master information management and improve marketing of images, audio, and video recordings.
The transition from a society that consumes information to a society that produces it, has created profound changes in the terms and rules of the struggle for power, which is now dependent on what is going on in the virtual world more than it is related to what is happening in the real world. Power has come to be measured by the extent of efficiency in obtaining information, exploiting it, and redistributing it according to the interests, and trends of the political conflict.
The transformation of information into a force with a great influence in shaping public opinion and determining the destinies of countries became evident during the Arab Spring revolutions, which would not have reached their level without the social networks, playing a pivotal role in confronting the existing authorities. In the same way that bloggers and activists have found means of action, participation and influence in drawing public policies and distributing power in the context of political conflict, blogs, websites, and social networks have formed a new communication environment, a vast space for political action, a space free from censorship and conditions for adherence to the political approach of the regimes.
Addressing the role of the virtual world in changing the conditions of political action and practice, enhancing the dynamism of change requires awareness of the importance of shifting from the concept of the information to the concept of the virtual society. A shift that coincides with the rapid transition during the last decade of the 20th century from the concept of civil society to the concept of information society, which was the focus of social and cultural theorizing for a while. This leads to the necessity of reconsidering the concept of society from a sociological perspective, “based on the change that has occurred in the communication media, foremost among which is the Internet, digital satellite television, and smart and advanced mobile phones”.(2)
Social networks and the acceleration of the revolution
Contrary to the idea that the fear of authoritarian regimes leads to a decline in participation rates in political activities, the fear factor has led, unintentionally, to accelerate the wheel of revolution and change. Fear of arrest and torture may be the reason behind the demonstrators’ insistence on escalation and continuing to demonstrate in order to attain their demands, especially after the faces and names of many of them became known to the authorities, and they are no longer virtual persons as they used to be in the beginnings of the spread of the Internet in the Arab world.
Thus, these demonstrators reached the point of no return: Either to achieve the desired change or to die trying.
Here, it can be said that the new media have provided the demonstrators with new channels of communication not available before, and thus enabled them to practice patterns of political activity more appropriate to the political composition of the milieu in which they interact.
This transformation has made virtualization a groundwork for political action, around which political practices array and evolve according to its means and techniques. “The political scene in the whole world is closely related to the environment (medium) and multimedia communication”, so that “the digital space has become a networked communication space, and it is, like all networks, a fabric within which the contemporary human experience is woven in its various social, economic and political dimensions. A fabric through which identities with different patterns reflect the struggle over the technologies that characterized the information age as the basis of every new political practice that goes beyond the mechanisms and means of traditional political action. (3)
Political Islam and the “Bet on the kids of Facebook”!
Despite the victimhood discourse raised by political Islam movements when discussing their relationship with the media, these movements certainly occupied large areas in the media, in terms of covering their news and following their steps, and even granting them certain media outlets that allowed them, over the years of their inception and spread, to promote their intellectual discourse and political approach of various and multiple ramifications. However, the above-mentioned victimhood discourse soon collapsed and lost its justification for its existence with the flurry of social networks that enabled political Islam movements to emerge in a new stereotype. (4)
What is striking here is that the movements of political Islam dealt with great skill and professionalism on social media networks compared to the rest of the actors and political parties, who missed the train of change in the field of communication that social networks introduced. Political Islam outclassed the others by adopting a method that succeeded smoothly in blending the content it carried with the new technical and artistic capabilities that the new communication media made available to it. The result was that political Islam took the lead in political discourse and preceded other parties by many steps. The regime and the opposition alike did not pay attention, until late, to the danger and importance of social media, and perhaps the phrase “kids of Facebook” the former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak used to describe the revolutionaries on Tahrir Square is the best evidence of the Arab regimes’ disdain for social networks compared to political Islam, which saw in it a golden opportunity to contest the discourse of its opponents, regardless of their preferences and expectations.
In parallel to the above, the performance of political Islam movements has developed, it did not hesitate to exploit these communication windows to attract new segments of supporters and followers and work to attract the new generation of users and pioneers of social networks in order to convince them of their intellectual and political proposals.
Political Islam apprehended the situation early and realized that modern communication networks have a greater impact on the current generation that suffers from marginalization and exclusion from the official discourse. They were betting on this to create a generation that was controllable and docile.
This opportunism, which the political Islam movements dealt with the “Kids of Facebook” was manifested in their exploitation of the weak cognitive and cultural level of users and activists of social networks, in order to create a state of tension among them in the hope of provoking and mobilizing them against the regime and the rest of the opponents alike. In that, it adopted a magic mixture based on the combination of the speed of the information flow, emotion, and enthusiasm of those communicating with the political Islam movements, as well as the presence of a pre-readiness for them to receive and accept the religious discourse.
The leaders and theorists of political Islam have also benefited from the emergence of a new generation of Islamists and sympathizers of Islamic movements, who are distinguished by being more revolting and more nervous, and at the same time possessing less knowledgeable, culturally and religiously. This segment was the most protesting against traditional religious institutions and universities for their association with the state and not separating themselves from the official discourse.
Since the first day of the spread, it was no secret that the modern communication networks are dangerous to the social and political fabric at the global level as a result of the polarization cases that caused their creation, and their transformation into platforms for marketing values that contradict societal values such as tolerance, love, acceptance of others, and pluralism, replacing them with a speech that incites hatred and violence. As well as their contribution to the spread of deviant cultures, not to mention their facilitation of the abetment of sectarian and tribal strife and incitement to insulting religions.
Amid all this chaos caused by the uncontrolled flow of information and news through social networks, it was not surprising that the extremist groups embarked on this tidal wave to spread their ideas and beliefs, which intentionally or unintentionally contributed to the production and reproduction of narrow and deadly identities. (5)
On the Arab level, it was evident from the beginning that political Islam had mastered the game well, and entered the world of social networks vigorously and in an organized manner. Over time, it gained experience and expertise to turn into an elaborate organization that moves collectively and according to carefully studied and tight steps.
Thus, it was the birth of what became known later in the literature of politics and communication as “Cyber Brigades”.
Nobody knows precisely the number and strength of this digital army. Nonetheless, and from the first day of its founding, its theorists set an indispensable goal for it, which is to achieve the ideological project of Islamic movements by penetrating the digital space and imposing control over it, and taking advantage of the opportunity to “fill the vacant place” provided by the laxity of the opponents of these movements and their lack of adequate attention and care to the digital space in general and social networks in particular.
Whether it is the propagandist, political or jihadist actor, most Islamic movements have interacted well with the opportunities and capabilities that the digital revolution has opened up to them, to the point where the term “Cyber army” or “Cyber Brigades” has become closely associated with the Islamic organizations and movements, which is a natural and logical result given the large and intense presence of the Islamic actor on social media, even though the matter “is still a media discussion, and has not yet entered the field of academic research.”
On the practical and field level, the importance of the cyber brigades is evident in the moments of the general buzz that the Sheikh or the Emir of the movement announces among his followers and invites them to promote a loyalist discourse or to confront a discourse or opposition movement, whether in the virtual or real world.
Perhaps the electoral context remains the most prominent example of the full employment of cyber brigades, to achieve goals and objectives for which they were created, to the point where differences dissolve and conflicts between competing Islamic movements and references are postponed until after the achievement of the supreme goal: The Egyptian experience provides a clear example when the Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafists forgot their differences and left them aside to support the Islamic project, which at the time saw the ballot boxes as a Trojan horse that would fulfill their dream of reaching power that had long haunted them.
This was demonstrated by the great role played by cyber brigades to control minds and persuade the “couch party”, the counterbalance, to participate in the aforementioned elections and vote for the Islamic current candidate.
Another example that can be invoked here is that of the cyber brigades of the Moroccan Islamists, represented by the Justice and Development Party. This party has demonstrated a high level of skill in controlling social media and was among the first to employ it to promote its political and electoral rhetoric. For this purpose, it employed the experiences that its members accumulated in its propagandistic tributary represented by the Movement of Unity and Reform, whose members were directly or indirectly involved in the cyber brigades of the party along with the rest of the members and sympathizers from other tributaries such as civil society associations, unions, and others. They demonstrated terrific communication capabilities before and during the digital campaigns, in which the Justice and Development participated. A role unanimously agreed by many observers on its decisive importance in the party’s achievement of major victories in the legislative and collective affairs during the last decade.
When these cyber brigades are subjected to a cross-sectional autopsy, it appears that they do not include only the members known to be overtly affiliated with the movement or its union, student, and other arms. Rather, it consists of a homogeneous mixture sometimes of members distributed in public or private spaces, present in several fields such as media, associations, research, educational, and those involved consciously or unconsciously, intentionally or unintentionally in these brigades that appear from the outside as a gelatinous body. A body whose population is known only to a small group of leaders of the movement who carry a “remote control” device that controls the rhythm and movements of the brigades.
Political Islam connects classic media to social networks
On the tenth anniversary of the Arab Spring revolutions, the relationship of classic media with social networks, during the outbreak of events and the subsequent developments, is still clouded by a lot of ambiguity and confusion. And if political Islam was the biggest beneficiary of the situation, its weapon in that was the social media networks that played the decisive role in promoting the discourse of political Islam, which at its moment seemed more attractive and polarizing to activists in the virtual world due to the anger and hope embedded in its message for change.
Political Islam would not have succeeded in its plans and endeavors had it not been for the hidden support it received from the support and support it received from the classic media represented by Al-Jazeera, which, from the beginning, did not bother to conceal its support for the conservative movement in general, and political Islam in particular. This helped this current to become a wild card compared to the rest of the progressive and civil currents, whose members, in turn, raised their smartphones in the face of police rifles and tear gas grenades.
Al-Jazeera has played a pivotal role in fanning the fires that broke out in several Arab countries during the Arab Spring revolutions that have become “autumn”, and it was not hidden from experts, and even to the general public and followers, how did the Qatari channel’s newscasts and programs feed on the videos that were published by the movement’s activists on communication networks Social, and how it transformed itself into a “revolutionary” platform that contributed effectively and decisively to toppling the regimes of Ben Ali, Mubarak, and Gaddafi, and set fires in Yemen and Syria.
Someone might say that Al-Jazeera, and classic media in general, has the right to deal with social media networks as sources of news imposed by the modern technological revolution, but the editorial line of the Qatari channel soon deprived it of this privilege and brought it into the dock, and the reason is its Suspicious relations with political Islam in general, and the Brotherhood movement Muslims in particular. And that is since the moment when the channel bared its fangs at the outbreak of the Spring Movement and became a major platform for the Islamic revolutionaries, imprinting a religious character on the events in Egypt, Libya, Yemen, and Syria, which is mainly evident through its coverage of what was called “Fridays of anger.”
The series of demonstrations that were shaking Egypt at the time every Friday had a strong impact on public opinion and the masses who were fascinated by weekly demonstrations bearing the names of Friday of Anger, Friday of Departure, Friday of Cleanliness. These are the events/demonstrations that heralded the Islamists ’control of the rhythm and ceiling of the Egyptian revolution.
This will appear in particular after the Egyptian authorities cut off internet service with the protests reaching their climax, and the entry of the Al-Jazeera channel as a media platform for the revolution and the revolutionaries and its means in this regard are dozens of video and audio recordings, that were exclusively accessed by their “proxies” in the squares and streets of the revolution. But what happened is that the Qatari channel, in coordination with the political Islam movements, succeeded in transforming social media networks into an unprecedented weapon in the hands of political Islam movements that exploited it to the greatest extent, in order to achieve progress on its political opponents for the first time in the history of its bitter struggle with them.
In general, whether it is related to Islamic movements or others, what can be said here is that the new media of communication have provided the demonstrators with new channels of communication that were not available before, and thus enabled them to practice patterns of political activity more appropriate to the political composition of the milieu in which they interact.
Conclusion
In sum, the relationship of political Islam movements with the media has shifted from just covering its news and following it up to becoming windows for promoting ideological and political discourse for all types of movements thanks to social networks that have given them vast spaces and capabilities to appear in a new stereotype.
This strong and striking presence in virtual worlds and social networks could enable political Islam movements to occupy leadership positions during the revolutions that swept some Arab countries since the first months of 2010. The activities of the aforementioned movements on social networks during the events of the Arab Spring were more professional and dexterous, which enabled them to present their messages to their audience and the general public in a manner that indicated a good control at dealing with the opportunities presented by networks.
As a result, it can be said that political Islam movements have succeeded, thanks to social networks, in attracting a new segment of supporters, and a new generation that believes in their intellectual and political theses, and spreads their ideas on their behalf among social media followers, which is then known as Cyber Brigades.
Brigades essentially, to confront the attacks of opponents and critics of the Islamic movements’ theses, undertook sometimes by persuasion and by defamation at other times, as they did not hesitate to oppose them and call them the most terrible accusations and distort their images among the public.
On the other hand, the ruling regimes in the Arab countries did not realize until late the danger and importance of controlling the religious discourse and political Islam over social media networks. For instance, the Egyptian government tried to rectify the situation through the official religious establishment, represented by Dar Al Ifta, which tried to issue fatwas to show the danger of media tampering in Social media sites, and to provide a sober discourse. However, the inability of these institutions to possess the elements of attractiveness that match the current Islamist pages made their impact dim when confronting the dangers of the religious discourse of political Islam movements on social media.
This dramatic development in the conflict between Arab regimes and Islamic movements of all sects finds justification in the fact that the effectiveness of political practice has become linked, today and more than ever before, to the power of electronic media, which has tightened its grip on the political field and has become its preferred space, and the rules of conflict are now controlled by images, sounds, or symbolic manipulation, without which there is no chance of winning or exercising judgment.
As social networks tightened their grip on the political scene, a relative distinction was noticed for the new generation in the Islamic movements in contrast to the apparent default of their opponents, including old political actors and traditional institutions that failed to adapt to the “information revolution”, which gave these movements virtual progress in the race for the power. Soon, a level of reality was gained, as it was the case when the Muslim Brotherhood came to power in Egypt and the Moroccan Justice and Development Party won in two consecutive government terms.
References
(1) Montaser Hamadeh, an article on the interaction of Islamic movements with social networking sites. Researchers of the Moroccan Journal of Social and Human Sciences. Issue: 1.
(2) An article by sociologist Abd al-Razzaq Abalal. The Virtual and transformations of political action. Researchers of the Moroccan Journal of Social and Human Sciences.
(3) The same previous source. Issue: 1.
(4) The Dangers of Political Islam on Social Media, an article by Mahmoud Shaban Bayoumi, published on the website of Al-Mesbar Center for Studies and Research.
(5) The same previous source. | https://mena-studies.org/social-media-platforms-a-trojan-horse-for-political-islam/ |
Since 2011, the Arab Reform Initiative has held as one of its key objectives the training and support of a new generation of scholars in order to mobilize the Arab research capacity and provide a platform for youth voices to effectively participate in ongoing debates about the region's challenges.
As part of this broader objective, ARI has been running over the last six years its Arab Research Support Programme (ARSP), a re-granting and mentoring programme which acts as an incubator for policy research.
The programme has provided funding, methodological training, and mentoring to over 100 emerging scholars, targeting MA and PhD students specialized in five areas:
Each participant benefited from research finance, a week-long training session on analytical tools and policy-writing skills, and regular back-and-forth exchanges with a senior mentor with the objective of producing one high-quality, original research paper.
As the programme comes to its official close, ARI is pleased to present the final round of ARSP publications. These papers represent a diverse body of work, covering countries across the region and examining different political and social processes, institutional and collective actors, and specific challenges faced in the attempted transition process.
Eight papers are spotlighted for their outstanding contribution:
• “Educated but Unemployed: The Challenge Facing Egypt’s Youth” by Adel Abelghafar [English];
• “Religiosity and Economics of Religious Groups in the Urban Sphere: The Effectiveness of Salafist Work in Casablanca” by Agadid Zakaria [Arabic];
• “The Role of Tunisian Elites in the Transition Process” by Bilel Kchouk [French];
• “Political Reform and the Management of the Religious Field in Algeria” by Elhadi Bououchma [Arabic];
• “Iraq’s Federal System and Democratic Transition” by Mujahid Yahya [Arabic];
• “The Nexus of Political Parties and the Security of Political Life in Egypt” by Iman Ragab [Arabic];
• “Public Order and Community Policing in Beirut” by Leila Seurat [French];
• “Social Mobilization of Women Domestic Workers in Egypt” by Ranime Asheltawy [Arabic].
All the papers are available to download in the version that was finalized by the mentor and the participant and have not been subjected to any editing by ARI.
Dina El Khawaga, ARI Programme Director, leads this project assisted by Nafissa El Souri, ARI Programme and Research Assistant.
Project sponsor: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Open Society Foundation
Project Publications
The Arab Revolutions Seven Years On: The State of Social Movements in Egypt and Syria
Social movements in Egypt and Syria played a central role in sparking the 2011 revolutions. Yet, despite their profound influence, they have since been sidelined. How was social movement influenced by a restricted political sphere in Egypt and by the militarization of the revolution in Syria?
Nadine Abdalla
Arab Revolutions and Political Participation: New Patterns, Divergent Trajectories, and Different Negotiation Abilities
Arab revolutions have created new opportunities for political and social participation, and for the negotiation of rights. The revolutions themselves became factors in political and social development and engines for greater social change, even if such change was later curtailed.
Nadine Abdalla
Institutional Reform in the Arab World: Problems, Challenges, and Prospects
Despite challenges, Arab revolutions have opened the door for reform in the security sector or the discussion of the problematic areas in this reform process. They have also triggered a genuine interest in institutional reform of other sectors.
Nadine Abdalla
Institutional Reform of State Agencies in the Arab Region
Course mentor: Amr Adly
Rabia Belhejla
Agadid Zakaria
Islam Abdelmajid
Adel Abdel Ghafar
Social Movements and Demands, and Contentious Politics in the Arab Region
Course mentor: Dina el-Khawaga and Choukri Hmed
Shimaa Hatab
Ranime Al Sheltawy
Oussama AbouBakr
Marie Kortam
Karim Mallak
Fouad Halbouni
Faisal Mahboub
Bilal Abdallah
Ahmed Amin
Mahmoud Salah
Amir Khalil
Atef Said
Pages
ARSP 2.1 workshop – 18-23 March 2015
ARSP 2.1 workshop – 18-23 March 2015
As part of the Arab Research Support Programme, ARI organized a week-long training workshop in Beirut from March 18 to March 23, 2015.
Workshop in Policy Brief Writing
Workshop in Policy Brief Writing
On 16-17 March 2015, ARI held a two-day training workshop on policy brief writing skills in Beirut for 16 young researchers and civil society activists. | https://archives.arab-reform.net/en/node/786 |
Hopelessness, helplessness, and fear are emotions that predispose to passivity and despair. In the face of pandemic exhaustion, bitter political polarization, and the alarming daily news of the collapse of the biosphere, it is small wonder that so many people feel not only deeply pessimistic about the future but are frankly depressed. But what if, as Sikh civil rights leader Valerie Kaur asked in her November 2016 prayer for America, “What if this is not the darkness of the tomb, but the darkness of the womb?”
This post is about a new documentary series, “Changing of the Gods” that give us good reasons to feel hopeful and reminds us that this is a threshold moment, that humanity is going through an initiatory process. It would not be an initiation if we knew in advance what the outcome would be. It is both a passage of grave danger and enormous opportunity. We could choose to continue on our current trajectory or radically course correct. We stand on the verge of a paradigmatic shift in consciousness that has the potential to create a whole new way of living on Earth. Each of us is being called to get involved in our own way and to fully offer ourselves to this endeavor.
Astrology has grown exponentially in popularity today, and like yoga, frequently has in the process been commodified, trivialized, and divorced from its Sacred roots. Most people are only aware of personal astrology, which when done skillfully, has the capacity to offer profound insight into many aspects of an individual, including but not limited to, the body, mind, emotions and spirit, love and work, education. children, creativity, friendship and community, gifts as well as vulnerabilities.
Less familiar is astrology’s capacity to place world events into a larger framework related to celestial cycles, to describe the Zeitgeist, its potential to forecast the type of cosmic archetypal weather we are likely to experience collectively, socio-culturally, and politically. This type of astrology is called mundane astrology, and it has an enormous amount to offer in terms of helping us make sense of our world that is changing at a bewildering, disorienting, and ever-accelerating rate.
We have been preparing for these times all of our lives. We were born for this. Humanity stands at a crossroads. Life as we knew it has disappeared and a new world is in the process of being born. I wrote about some of the astrological correlates of this shift in a post entitled “Transformational Times: The Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn on the Winter Solstice 2020”.
On February 22, 2022, a 10 part astrology documentary series directed by two inspired filmmakers, Kenny Ausubel and Louie Schwartzberg entitled “Changing of the Gods” will be released. Each 30-45 minute episode will be available daily at no cost and subsequently can be purchased. You can register for the free series on the website. Kenny Ausubel’s and Louie Schwarzberg’s most recent previous collaboration was the heart-opening documentary Fantastic Fungi.
Ausubel and his wife Nina Simons are the founders of Bioneers, a visionary organization whose mission resonates with me: ”As the state of the world has plunged from urgency to emergency, we can move from breakdown to breakthrough. We can shift our course to re-imagine how to live on Earth in ways that honor the web of life, each other, and future generations. There’s as much cause for hope as for horror….As Bioneers has shown since 1990, the solutions are largely present, or we know what directions to head in…. Human creativity focused on problem-solving is eclipsing the mythology of despair.”
The “Changing of the Gods” maps the correlation between the alignments of the planets Pluto and Uranus and historical, socio-cultural events, political movements, and revolutions of all sorts on Earth. It is based upon the work of the brilliant cultural historian, archetypal astrologer, and author Richard Tarnas, PhD and his 2006 book Cosmos and Psyche.
This series looks at the historical alignments between these planets and then compares them with the most recent square that occurred between 2007-2020. It explores the evidence that alignments between Pluto and Uranus correlate with historical cycles of revolutions that have transformed the world.
Episode 1: World Transits: As Above as Below
Episode 2: Technological Revolutions
Episode 3: Political Revolutions: Part 1 Cycles of Revolution
Episode 4: Political Revolutions: Part 2 Plutocracy
Episode 5: Women’s Rights Movements
Episode 6: Civil Rights and Black Liberation Movements
Episode 7: Social Justice and Othering
Episode 8: Liberating the Instincts: Sex Drugs and Rock and Roll
Episode 9: Scientific Paradigm Shifts
Episode 10: A Conscious Cosmos: Energy, Matter, and Meaning
The “Changing of the Gods” will help you understand where we find ourselves today, put it into historical context and make sense of what we are witnessing and experiencing in these chaotic and confusing times. The documentary conveys an inspiring message, that the alignments of Pluto and Uranus correspond with sudden large-scale shifts in human consciousness, and as such, are providing a cosmic tailwind of support for us to envision and co-create the world that we wish to dream into being. At this critical time, each of us is invited to participate and make the unique soulful contribution that is ours alone to offer. Each of us needs to own our power as change-makers.
Here is a fascinating recent interview with Kenny Ausubel on the Astrology Podcast where he discusses the origin story, structure, philosophy and political lens of the documentary, and much more. | https://www.judytsafrirmd.com/changing-of-the-gods-challenges-the-mythology-of-despair/ |
Free online reading
To what extent are Marx’s ideas still relevant for today’s political theory and praxis?
Abstract
This paper will argue that Marx’s ideas are, in fact, still relevant today; however, not in the sense that there is place for an actual application of communism but rather that Marx’s propositions about justice and equality should find application in improving the existing society. To determine the value of Marxism as a political theory political science in the twenty first century one needs firstly to establish what Marxism really consists of and then ask further why it apparently has failed. This paper will attempt to tie specific modern applications in the sense of Marxism to a general theoretical framework in which the relevance of Marx’s ideas shall be explained. Furthermore, this paper will argue that the Marxian social theory constitutes an important factor in resolving today’s problems; although some aspects appear to be outdated. Finally, this paper will conclude that although Communism has failed in real life application it still provides important principles and thoughts vital for every political and social system.
Introduction
Marxism is commonly understood as an economic and social system based upon the theories of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. It serves as a critique of the development of capitalism and could be summed up as a theory that analyses the effect of capitalism on labour by introducing a fair distribution of factors for production and proposing class struggle as a central element in the analysis of social change in Western societies (AllAboutPhilosophy 2010, p. 1). The actual application of Marxism did not last for long in world history and it is claimed by many that with the collapse of the Soviet Union, the era of Marxism ended and the theory is now obsolete (Kellner 1995, p. 13). Of course, with Cuba, North Korea and to some extent also China, there still exist examples of communist nations. However, it seems questionable whether Marx would actually consider these communist states, because they are either not really communistic, as for example China, or they lack basic human rights. To acknowledge now that Marxism is dead, appears, however, somewhat premature and seems to neglect the potential power and significance of the theories and ideas brought forward by Marxism, which have, after all, shaped 20th century world history significantly. The generation affected by this era is still alive today and especially those who have suffered or benefited have most likely strong opinions on this subject that seem unlikely to have vanished with the collapse of the USSR. Therefore there seems to be reason to believe that Marxism as a social, political and economic theory can have a future although communism itself has only a past.
The end of Marxism?
The collapse of the USSR in 1990 meant for the first time that communism was an issue that does not need to be discussed further, since it had obviously failed. However, one might question whether it is possible that such a theory that impacted history for quite some time just disappears without lasting memories. The fact that the era of communism came to an end in Eastern Europe was not much of a surprise, since the system was oppressive, inefficient and essentially totalitarian (Marga, 1995). These obvious flaws in the system were not necessarily due to Marx’s or later Stalin’s theories. This is not only true, because Marx remained often very general in his explanations and projections, but the fall of the USSR showed also that the practical possibilities of Marx’s thought were not at all fully exhausted and that there is still a possibility for a humanitarian socialistic system. It can be argued that, although capitalism has proven to be the dominant system over the last 30 years, it has in no way resolved but rather displaced the fundamental problems and tensions of our society. In some respect capitalism has succeeded in producing and distributing ever greater amounts of wealth to a considerably large percentage of the people followed by an incredible technological development. However, the vast majority of people, especially those who live outside the industrial zones, are worse off than at the rise of capitalism. The best example for this is the level of unemployment. Full employment was one of the declared goals of communism and although there have always been some discrepancies, the level of employment was much higher than it is today. Without wanting to defend the regime of the former German Democratic Republic (GDR), it is obvious that the differences between the very rich and the very poor have increased over time and are certainly far more excessive than this had be the case under a communistic regime. It seems doubtful that today’s levels of inequality can be justified. Capitalism, as we know it today, appears to require an alternative theory. In Alex Callinicos words, one needs to ask: “Is that really the best that humankind can do?” (Callinicos, 1991).
The ideas expressed by Marx might offer one alternative that is indeed more considerate to human rights. Levin introduces four categories where Marxism can contribute to a maybe fairer and more just society:
1.) Marx’s theory on different classes within the society can provide valuable suggestions on how these classes can interrelate to form a whole and therefore demonstrate society’s functionality as one single unit.
2.) The theory can help us consider the present in a long term perspective through Marx’s historical sense, as well as understand the inherent dynamic of a society as a whole and not only their functionality as separate units.
3.) Marxism can provide a theory of a society in accordance with the highest human ideals to a very high extent.
4.) Marxism can serve as a mode of analysis examining the relationship between ownership, power and social change and thus illuminate a wider variety of social transformation than whatever is currently dominant (Levin, 2000).
Levin points to some important concepts, such as the idea of society as a functioning body of several separate units. He argues that Marxism helps to understand the dynamic of a society in its entity; this means with all its different classes and members, because Marx looks at the development from an historical perspective and can therefore identify the movements and preferences of that society. Furthermore he points out in his fourth argument that Marxism helps us examine different relationships in society from different perspectives without being restrained by current points of view. Considering these ideas it needs to be mentioned that Marx and Engels as the founder of Marxism were aware that socialism is not something that can be introduced easily, but rather class struggle and revolutions formed a vital part of their theory.
- Quote paper
- Georg Müller (Author), 2012, The relevance of Marx's ideas for today's political theory and praxis, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/231598
Comments
- No comments yet. | https://www.grin.com/document/231598 |
I suggested in my earlier posts that the history of nationalism offers good examples of how political and cultural movements often share similar ideas on both sides of the Atlantic. The general argument in my book thus emphasizes overlapping nationalist themes that have shaped modern societies in Europe and America alike; and I develop an “Atlantic approach” to nationalism that challenges a long-popular theme in America’s own national identity—the belief in American Exceptionalism.
The idea that American culture and politics are fundamentally different from the history of other nations is itself an exemplary theme of nationalist thought. It is of course true that each nation’s history differs in specific ways from other national histories, and yet the essential themes of American Exceptionalism go beyond “difference” to a broader assertion of national superiority: America’s difference from other nations also makes it better than all other nations.
My historical comparison of the overlapping themes in American and European nationalism stresses that such claims for “exceptionalism” are typical of the ideas that have shaped national cultures across every historical era and region of the modern world. As I note in the book, “all nations and nationalisms are similar in that they claim to be different from others.”
Placed within this wider pattern of beliefs in national uniqueness, American “Exceptionalism” becomes another historical example of how similar nationalist ideas defined collective identities throughout the Atlantic world. Influential nationalists in France, Germany, Britain, Poland, and elsewhere have long claimed (like American nationalists) an “exceptional” and “universal” significance for their national cultures.
The Fears, Hopes, and Endurance of Nationalism in our Global Age
The history of nationalism thus requires ongoing analysis and critical debate because nationalist assumptions continue to shape political parties and public policies as well as the identity of almost every modern person. Individuals always carry a collective national identity, even when they strongly affirm their own selfhood or personal independence.
Like other powerful ideas, nationalism can push people toward diverse real-world actions. It often contributes to repression and violence when it encourages fears of other nations, races, and religions as well as anxieties about immigrants, multicultural diversity, and moral decline within changing societies. In many times and places nationalists have mobilized collective and personal fears to justify wars or social injustices. It should also be stressed, however, that nationalism often fosters new hopes for human rights, economic progress, democratic institutions, and cultural freedom. In many times and places nationalists have encouraged altruism and social justice to achieve their vision of a better national future.
This complex interaction of fears and hopes makes nationalism an inescapable component of modern political cultures and a still-powerful force in our globalizing era. Nobody can truly understand or transform politics, economics, education, or family life without a careful analysis of nationalism’s pervasive influence in modern history. Nationalism thus remains the most influential “ism” among all of the political and cultural movements that have flourished in the modern world.
My book, Nationalism in Europe and America, provides a concise account of nationalism’s historical development, but it also seeks to provoke historically informed discussions of nationalist dangers and values in contemporary societies. Such discussions are important, even essential, because nationalism still matters everywhere in our global age.
Lloyd Kramer is professor of history at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is author of Nationalism in Europe and America: Politics, Cultures, and Identities since 1775 and Lafayette in Two Worlds: Public Cultures and Personal Identities in an Age of Revolutions. You can listen to the podcast of Kramer’s August 2, 2011, radio interview with D.G. Martin on WCHL. | https://uncpressblog.com/2011/09/01/lloyd-kramer-why-the-history-of-nationalism-matters-in-a-global-age-part-3/?shared=email&msg=fail |
BioSciences has outstanding research expertise in diverse areas, including animal behavior, biochemistry, biophysics and structural biology, cancer biology, cell and developmental biology, computational biology, conservation biology, ecology, evolution, genetics, microbiology, neurobiology, plant biology, signal transduction, and synthetic and systems biology. Collaborative activity among research groups creates a lively and productive research environment and provides comprehensive training opportunities throughout modern biological sciences.
Our research in ecology and evolutionary biology bridges multiple levels of biological organization, ranging from genes to ecosystems, to address key processes that underlie patterns of life on earth. The research foci of our faculty includes gene and genome evolution, speciation, life-history evolution, animal behavior, population and community ecology, conservation biology, and climate change. We study these questions in a diverse range of ecosystems spanning deserts, tropical rain forest, to marine and freshwater habitats in North, Central and South America, Europe, Africa, and China. Our research is characterized by a strong conceptual and quantitative focus which combines field and laboratory experiments with sophisticated statistical and mathematical models and cutting edge technologies such as stable isoptope analysis, environmental DNA, and high throughput whole genome sequencing.
Our research in biochemistry and cell biology addresses key questions using a wide range of systems using a variety of approaches and techniques. The central theme that brings our diverse interests together is our fundamental interest in biochemical mechanisms of molecular and cellular function. We investigate the structure and function of individual proteins and nucleic acids, the assembly of cellular membranes and organelles, and the development of tissues and organisms, as well as the molecular mechanisms underlying interactions among cells and between organisms and their environment. Our research methodologies cover a broad spectrum of techniques and experimental approaches, employ state-of-the-art instrumentation for imaging and protein structure analysis, and utilize the advantages of a variety of model genetic organisms including yeast, nematodes, plants, fruit flies, and zebrafish.
Our research in synthetic and systems biology addresses one of the most pressing biological questions in the post-genomic era: how can we understand the vast networks of interacting parts that translate genotypes into phenotypes? Synthetic and systems biologists bring together diverse fields including biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, computational modeling, and engineering to elucidate the fundamental principles governing gene regulatory networks. Our synthetic biologists use a “bottom-up” approach by creating simplified, de novo gene networks to understand the processes by which regulation occur, whereas our systems biologists bring a “top-down” approach to large-scale native networks to discover the emergent properties and effects of the underlying layers of regulation. We have researchers from both disciplines working together to improve understanding of cellular regulatory processes. | https://biosciences.rice.edu/research |
An essential component to the analysis of ecosystem services is to characterize and define the major habitats within the area of interest. Aerial photography and/or satellite imagery coupled with geographic information systems (GIS) are frequently used to identify and quantify habitats in open terrestrial ecosystems. However, it is more difficult to successfully apply this methodology to deeper, <20 m, underwater environments. Light detection and ranging (LIDAR), a relatively new remote sensing technology that provides detailed bathymetry, can be used when adequate imagery is not available. This study uses LIDAR as the basis to characterize various benthic habitats in a coral reef ecosystem in order to quantify the habitats for a Habitat Equivalency Analysis (HEA) related to planned dredging activities to expand the Port Everglades entrance channel, Broward County, FL. As part of a regional mapping effort, marine benthic habitats were characterized for Broward County, FL. A mosaic of interpolated, sunshaded, laser bathymetry data served as the foundation upon which acoustic ground discrimination, limited subbottom profiling and aerial photography, and groundtruthing data were added in a GIS to aid in interpretation of benthic habitats. Expert-driven visual interpretation outlined geomorphological features in the LIDAR data at a scale of 1:6000 with a minimum mapping unit of 1 acre. The map of Broward County yielded a high overall accuracy of 89.6%. To quantify the potential dredging impacts, the habitat layer was clipped in GIS to the boundaries of anticipated direct and indirect impacts of the proposed project. Then the area of each clipped polygon was totaled for each habitat by impact type. HEA and Florida’s Uniform Mitigation Assessment Method (UMAM) were performed using these areas. This work would not have been possible using satellite imagery or aerial photography alone and illustrates the capability of relatively new remote sensing technologies to aid in the definition and quantification of habitats for ecosystem service analyses.
NSUWorks Citation
Walker, Brian K.; Dodge, Richard E.; and Gilliam, David S., "LIDAR-Derived Benthic Habitat Maps Enable the Quantification of Potential Dredging Impacts to Coral Reef Ecosystems" (2008). Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Proceedings, Presentations, Speeches, Lectures. 285. | https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_facpresentations/285/ |
Monitoring marine biodiversity and ocean health usually involves teams of scientists that collect samples of seawater while traveling around on board a research vessel. This is a time-consuming and costly activity that can really only survey small areas and involves considerable laboratory work once back on shore to identify all the organisms present in each sample.
In a groundbreaking new step, researchers from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) have now used autonomous underwater robots to sample DNA from marine environments. They combined two novel autonomous platforms, both developed by MBARI, in order to sample and analyse environmental DNA (eDNA) in ocean locations.
The long-range autonomous underwater vehicle (LRAUV) is a nimble, streamlined robot that can travel to remote areas of the ocean and remain submerged for long periods of time. The Environmental Sample Processor (ESP) is a robotic “laboratory-in-a-can” that filters seawater and extracts the eDNA for future analysis. By equipping an LRAUV with ESP technology, researchers can expand the scale of ocean monitoring enormously over time and space.
“We know that eDNA is an incredibly powerful tool for studying ocean communities, but we’ve been limited by what we can accomplish using crewed research vessels. Now, autonomous technology is helping us make better use of our time and resources to study new parts of the ocean,” said study lead author Kobun Truelove, a biological oceanographer at MBARI.
Organisms that inhabit marine environments, from the smallest plankton to the largest whales, form communities that are connected by food webs. The biodiversity of these organisms is a measure of ocean health and it is important that scientists know which organisms are present in which localities. Autonomous tools like the LRAUV and ESP enable MBARI researchers to maintain a persistent presence in the ocean and monitor changes in sensitive ecosystems in ways that were not possible previously.
“Organisms move as conditions change in our oceans and Great Lakes, affecting the people and economies that rely on those species. We need cheaper and more nimble approaches to monitor biodiversity on a large scale. This study provides the synergistic development of eDNA and uncrewed technologies we need, in direct response to priorities laid out in the NOAA ‘Omics Strategic Plan,” explained study co-author and NOAA scientist Kelly Goodwin.
In the current research, MBARI collaborated with researchers at the NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory and the University of Washington to complete three expeditions in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The teams carried out sample collection via MBARI’s fleet of LRAUVs as well as conducting traditional, ship based sampling using MBARI’s three research vessels and the NOAA Fisheries ship Reuben Lasker. The purpose of this multi-pronged approach was to find out whether the two different sampling procedures produced comparable results in terms of the marine organisms present in the different water samples.
The ship-based researchers lowered bottles to a specific depth to collect and preserve water samples, while LRAUVs equipped with ESP technology autonomously sampled and preserved eDNA at similar locations and depths. The eDNA samples were returned to the lab for in-depth sequencing.
Environmental DNA allows scientists to detect the presence of aquatic species from the tiny bits of genetic material they leave behind. This DNA soup offers clues about biodiversity changes in sensitive areas, the presence of rare or endangered species, and the spread of invasive species – all of which is critical to understanding, promoting, and maintaining a healthy ocean.
In this study, researchers analyzed eDNA samples with a technique known as metabarcoding. This method looks for short sections of DNA, known as gene markers, which are shared by related organisms. In this way the researchers can get an idea of the groups of organisms that are present in the water at each location. This technique enables eDNA data to be interpreted as a measure of biodiversity.
The researchers analyzed four different types of gene markers, each representing a slightly different level of the food web. Together, the results yielded a more holistic picture of community composition. The samples collected from research ships and autonomous vehicles revealed similar patterns of biodiversity, which supports the future use of autonomous vehicles for marine sampling and monitoring.
LRAUVs are able to travel for weeks at a time and for hundreds of kilometers underwater. They allow more frequent sampling in areas of interest than do traditional research vessels. Autonomous robots will allow researchers to study previously unsurveyed regions of the ocean and fill in gaps in knowledge about global ocean health. Ship-based research will continue to play an important role in oceanographic studies, but adding new autonomous technology to the toolkit will expand capacity for research, monitoring, and resource management. Ultimately, MBARI researchers envision deploying a fleet of LRAUVs equipped with ESP technology.
Truelove noted that the findings from the study mark an exciting step forward for monitoring marine ecosystems. “This work is all about increasing the scale of eDNA research. Instead of looking at an individual species, we can start to more broadly characterize biological community structure in the ocean,” he said.
“Good data are the bedrock of sustainable ocean management,” said Francisco Chavez, MBARI Senior Scientist and a co-author of the study. “Regular environmental DNA monitoring tells us who is there and what is changing over time. When it comes to understanding the impacts of climate change – one of the biggest threats to ocean health – this information is essential.”
The research is published today in the journal Environmental DNA. | https://www.earth.com/news/autonomous-vehicles-will-help-monitor-ocean-health/ |
Marine ecosystem monitoring requires observations of its attributes at different spatial and temporal scales that traditional sampling methods (e.g., RGB imaging, sediment cores) struggle to efficiently provide. Proximal optical sensing methods can fill this observational gap by providing observations of, and tracking changes in, the functional features of marine ecosystems non-invasively. Underwater hyperspectral imaging (UHI) employed in proximity to the seafloor has shown a further potential to monitor pigmentation in benthic and sympagic phototrophic organisms at small spatial scales (mm–cm) and for the identification of minerals and taxa through their finely resolved spectral signatures. Despite the increasing number of studies applying UHI, a review of its applications, capabilities, and challenges for seafloor ecosystem research is overdue. In this review, we first detail how the limited band availability inherent to standard underwater cameras has led to a data analysis “bottleneck” in seafloor ecosystem research, in part due to the widespread implementation of underwater imaging platforms (e.g., remotely operated vehicles, time-lapse stations, towed cameras) that can acquire large image datasets. We discuss how hyperspectral technology brings unique opportunities to address the known limitations of RGB cameras for surveying marine environments. The review concludes by comparing how different studies harness the capacities of hyperspectral imaging, the types of methods required to validate observations, and the current challenges for accurate and replicable UHI research. | https://eprints.utas.edu.au/37858/ |
Job Title:
Biologists, Botanists, Zoologists and Related Professionals
Job Description:
Biologists, botanists, zoologists and related professionals study living organisms and their interactions with each other and with the environment, and apply this knowledge to solve human health and environmental problems. They work in diverse fields such as biology, botany, zoology, plant taxonomy and marine biology.
Tasks:
Tasks include:
- undertaking research in laboratories and in the field to increase scientific knowledge of living organisms; to discover new information; to test hypotheses
- designing and conducting experiments and tests
- gathering human, animal, insect and plant specimens and data, and studying their origin, development, chemical and physical form, structure, composition, and life and reproductive processes
- examining living organisms using a variety of specialised equipment, instruments, technologies and techniques such as electron microscopes, telemetry, global positioning systems, biotechnology, satellite imaging, genetic engineering, digital imaging analysis, polymerase chain reaction and computer modelling
- identifying, classifying, recording and monitoring living organisms and maintaining databases
- writing scientific papers and reports detailing research and any new findings which are then made available to the scientific community in scientific journals or at conferences for scrutiny and further debate
Additional Notes:
This unit group includes
Biologist
Botanist
Marine biologist
Microbiologist
Zoologist
This unit group excludes
Ecologist (2133)
Bacteriologist (2134)
Geneticist (2134)
Specific Occupations:
21311
Biologist (general)
21312
Botanist
21313
Zoologist
21319
Other biologists, botanists, zoologists and related professionals
International Careers(ISCO):
Similar O*NET Careers (USA) :
- Animal Scientists
- Food Scientists and Technologists
- Soil and Plant Scientists
- Biochemists and Biophysicists
- Microbiologists
- Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists
- Biological Scientists, All Other
- Bioinformatics Scientists
- Molecular and Cellular Biologists
- Geneticists
- Epidemiologists
- Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
- Life Scientists, All Other
Source Of Info: | https://www.tucareers.com/singcareers/2131 |
AIMS has welcomed 60 international delegates including marine biologists, ecologists, oceanographers, geologists, geophysicists, fisheries scientists and data analysts to the 76th Multibeam Sonar Training course at Townsville headquarters.
Lead scientist for Acoustic Imaging Nicole Bergersen and Emeritus Professor Dave Wells and his team of international experts from the University of New Brunswick and University of New Hampshire came to AIMS for a week of intensive study on all aspects of swath mapping technology.
“Swath mapping and ocean acoustic technology compliments and expands the excellent research already being conducted by AIMS scientists,” Ms Bergersen said.
“Better understanding of regional geology and geography through acoustic techniques is essential for marine ecological studies and change recognition.
She said attendees would use what they have learned to contribute to offshore engineering, charting the seafloor, continental shelf boundary delimitation, healthier harbour dredging, studying marine life habitats, planning underwater infrastructure and many other fields of ocean related research.
AIMS Data Manager Mark Case said the training provided a key link to AIMS research efforts.
In 2017, Acoustic Imaging partnered with AIMS to upgrade the multibeam capabilities of the Western Australian-based Research Vessel Solander.
“The RV Solander is equipped with the latest in multibeam technology,” he said.
A multibeam echosounder is a tool that uses sonar to produce a three dimensional map of the sea floor. It is used for a range of applications from assessing depth through to constructing habitat maps and spatial models.
Multibeam is able to map deeper coral reef systems on shoals which are beyond diving depth and not visible using satellite imagery of aerial photography. AIMS uses the technology aboard the RV Solander to discover and document coral reefs shoals, primarily on the North West Shelf of Australia.
Multibeam technology allows scientist to produce three dimensional shapes and structures such as Echuca Shoal, on Australia’s North West Shelf (left). When combined with imagery collected from the same area, it allows scientists to construct habitat models and maps (right). | https://www.aims.gov.au/docs/media/latest-news/-/asset_publisher/EnA5gMcJvXjd/content/multibeam-technology-helping-australian-scientists-understand-the-seafloor |
ABSTRACT: Nematodes form an important and dominant component of many benthic marine ecosystems, but are frequently neglected by marine ecologists because of the time-consuming nature of their identification. Molecular techniques provide powerful tools for the rapid assessment of biodiversity, although few attempts have been made to apply these to marine meiofauna. We evaluated the success of 2 primer sets in amplifying nematode 18S rRNA from DNA templates extracted directly from marine and estuarine sediments. PCR products were separated using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), and some of the intense DGGE bands were excised, cloned and sequenced to confirm their nematode origin. Initially, other eukaryotic 18S rRNA regions co-amplified with those from nematodes, possibly as a result of the high relative abundance and biomass of other organisms in the studied sediments. These problems were overcome by designing and evaluating consensus primers that selectively amplified nematode ribosomal regions from environmental DNA. Approximately 10 to 12 taxa from each site were detected in the denaturing gel in this study. Tentative affiliations of some the DGGE bands re-amplified using nematode-specific primers were determined by comparing with known marine nematode 18S rRNA sequences in a phylogenetic tree. Our study demonstrates for the first time that PCR combined with DGGE can be used to explore the community composition of many meiofaunal groups, such as nematodes, from DNA extracted directly from environmental samples. | https://www.int-res.com/abstracts/ame/v44/n1/p97-103/ |
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it
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METHODS AND TECHNIQUES OF UNDERWATER ECOLOGY MOD 1
Stampa
Enrollment year
2018/2019
Academic year
2019/2020
Regulations
DM270
Academic discipline
BIO/07 (ECOLOGY)
Department
DEPARTMENT OF EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Course
NATURAL SCIENCES
Curriculum
PERCORSO COMUNE
Year of study
2°
Period
(02/03/2020 - 12/06/2020)
ECTS
3
Lesson hours
28 lesson hours
Language
Italian
Activity type
WRITTEN TEST
Teacher
FERRARIO JASMINE
- 3 ECTS
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of Ecology and Zoology is required, in particular on the following topics: main factors that regulate the abundance and distribution of organisms in aquatic environments; main marine taxonomic groups.
Learning outcomes
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING:
The course aims to explain the different sampling techniques used to understand ecological phenomena in marine environments and their application for the conservation of the seas and oceans (Goal 14 of the UN AGENDA 2030 for Sustainable Development).
APPLIED KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING:
One of the aims of the course is to train students in developing a sampling design, recognizing the most common species of benthic macroinvertebrates and fish, applying different sampling techniques in the field, as well as learning the use of a software for the analysis of images for the evaluation of the covering of benthic populations.
In addition, this course aims to make students more aware about the UN AGENDA 2030 for Sustainable Development goals, with particular regard to Goal 14: " Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development".
AUTONOMY OF JUDGMENT:
The autonomy of judgment will be developed through laboratory and field activities, learning the organization of a sampling from the beginning to the end, evaluating the critical issues and finally analyzing the data collected.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS:
During the course, attention will be paid to the student's ability to communicate a case study in the ecological field, starting from the aim of the work up to the discussion of the results.
ABILITY TO LEARN:
Given the practical purpose of this course, students will manage to operate directly in the water, learning the most efficient sampling techniques for a specific case study.
Course contents
The course is composed by theoretical lectures, laboratory activities and one final field survey at the sea, in co-presence to the Module 2.
The theoretical lectures, which will illustrate the main underwater sampling methods, will address the following topics:
-Introduction to marine ecology: benthos, plankton and necton; marine habitats and zonation in the Mediterranean Sea; main adaptations of marine organisms in rocky and soft bottoms
-Identification of marine invertebrates
- Elaboration of an experimental design and analysis of hypotheses in ecology
-Benthos underwater sampling techniques
- Underwater sampling techniques of marine phanerogams
-Visual census of fish fauna
-Underwater sampling techniques in geology
-Presentation of the objectives of the UN AGENDA 2030 with particular reference to Goal 14; Volunteering and citizen science.
The laboratory activities will allow the students to learn how to recognize target species, in order to facilitate that sampling in the field. Furthermore, laboratories will be also dedicated to data analysis: assessment of the percentage coverage of benthic sessile species and statistical analysis on marine community’s data.
During the field work it will be possible to try different sampling techniques in snorkeling.
Teaching methods
Theoretical lectures (hours/year): 16
Laboratory activities (hours/year): 12
Attendance at the theoretical lectures is strongly recommended, while for the laboratory activity is mandatory.
Reccomended or required readings
The material will be provided on the KIRO platform: presentations (in pdf), chapters of books, scientific papers and other material.
Suggested books for consultation:
-"Biologia Marina" - Castro & Huber, Mcgraw-Hill Editore
-"Manuale di metodologie di campionamento e studio del benthos marino" - Gambi & Dappiano 2003, Biologia Marina Mediterranea 10(1): 638 pp.
-"L'immersione scientifica - Tecniche di indagine subacquea" - Colantoni, La Mandragora Editrice, 144 pp.
Assessment methods
The exam is composed by a written test, composed by both open-ended questions and multiple choice. | http://www-4.unipv.it/offertaformativa/portale/corso.php?lingua=2&idAttivitaFormativa=295988&modulo=1&anno= |
By Thomas Roy Crompton
The presence of concentrations of natural elements and cations in seawater is an issue of accelerating hindrance to the water undefined, environmentalists and most people alike. It poses a risk of attainable well-being dangers for people, fish and crustacea. until eventually relatively lately, the research of seawater used to be restricted to a few significant parts comparable to chloride and alkalinity. inadequate realization used to be given to the research of sediments.
Analysis of Oceanic Waters and Sediments attracts consciousness to the equipment to be had for analysing sediments in seawater. It covers classical equipment in addition to the main complex and lately brought actual innovations. It additionally discusses the sensitivities and boundaries of the methods.
The ebook is constructed from significant parts. the 1st is a evaluation of the prevalence of natural compounds and cations in addition to examples of pollutants via those ingredients within the ocean. the second one is worried with decision of the concentrations of natural compounds and metals, together with an in-depth exam of the main delicate analytical tools which are to be had and important for detecting them as a result of their low concentrations within the ocean.
A unique exploration of the mostly missed sector of oceanic sediment research, this ebook is of excessive curiosity for all execs within the water undefined, from river administration to fish industries, sewage effluent therapy and disposal, land drainage and water provide. Its scope additionally applies to agriculturalists, chemists, biologists, toxicologists, public medical examiners and public analysts.
Read Online or Download Analysis of Oceanic Waters and Sediments PDF
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Despite being surrounded by some of Europe's oldest cities, such as Stockholm and Copenhagen, the Baltic Sea doesn't get too much global attention. That's a shame, because the Baltic has provided fish for millions of people since the days of the Roman Empire. Unfortunately, the sea is increasingly sick as a result of decades of pollution and overfishing.
A comprehensive expedition this summer set out to change that. Oceana spent two months documenting marine life in the waters of all nine countries bordering the Baltic Sea -- the first time any environmental non-governmental organization has done so.
Covering more than 7,000 nautical miles, the team completed over 130 dives using an underwater robot capable of diving to more than 300 feet, gathered hundreds of videos and photos, which will help make the case for new protections for the brackish sea. The expedition team will now use the data, photographs and videos to support the implementation of proposals to expand the Baltic's marine protected areas and new measures to protect the existing MPAs.
Last summer, the BBC reported on satellite imagery that revealed a vast algal bloom spreading in the sea, covering 146,000 square miles and posing a risk to marine life. These toxic blooms have occurred every summer for decades, and are mainly caused by fertilizer runoff that leads to eutrophication.
As a result, the crew of divers had a unique set of challenges. The excess of organic material limits visibility in the Baltic to almost zero in many places. Plus, the icy chill of the water -- it was near freezing in some places -- meant that underwater cameras had to be put on automatic settings since the divers' fingers were too numb to operate the buttons.
Despite the long hours and frigid conditions, the crew successfully collected sediment samples and oxygen levels in a process that will help determine the most threatened parts of the sea.
In the oxygen-depleted areas, the expedition team saw little wildlife. But the good news is that especially near some marine protected areas, they saw healthy ecosystems with an array of marine life, such as seals, sea kelp, starfish, mussels and sea snails.
Oceana's expedition showed that the Baltic Sea is under a lot of stress, but there are still healthy areas left. The same can be said for all of the world's oceans, where overfishing, pollution and climate change are wreaking havoc on marine life and ecosystems. We must actively protect the marine places that are still thriving, and do more to help the damaged areas recover -- in the Baltic and around the world. | https://www.huffpost.com/entry/baltic-sea-expedition-sho_b_933334 |
Studying the sea and its inhabitants crosses many disciplines and has yielded discoveries that have improved human health. Among the scientists who are conducting ocean-related research are some of PLNU’s own.
To explore the unexplored, to probe the depths of the sea, and to find the yet undiscovered — these are the calls answered by Walter Cho, Ph.D. Cho is a deep-sea biologist, and his work takes him to places never before seen by human eyes. He is there to discover, quantify, and characterize what he finds. But not only has Cho found life at the bottom of the sea, he has found that God is there, too. Cho says being in the ocean reminds him of Psalm 139.
“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” — Psalm 139:7-10
“The first time I went down in a submarine, it was a three-[person] scientific submersible called Alvin,” Cho said. “We went down 1,500 meters to study a hydrothermal vent community. The experience was overwhelming.”
Cho saw the beauty and intricacy of God’s creation, and that continues to affect him even as his deep-sea experience has increased.
“My own spirituality has been impacted by the vastness of the ocean,” he said.
Biodiversity and biogeography are the main focuses of Cho’s research. Because many areas of the deep ocean haven’t been well studied, Cho is among the first scientists to uncover which species live in specific areas and why they live there.
“Using genetic data, we can look at the relationship between different species and populations. We can understand their distribution and what influences them — it may be currents, something in their life history, reproductive behavior, or interactions with other organisms.”
“No matter how seemingly small and insignificant I may be, what’s more overwhelming is that God has called me, that He has a relationship with me, and that He has created this amazing environment of biodiversity.”
Cho also uses imagery and video to identify organisms for community-level analysis. The imagery is often gathered from submarines, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). Because these vehicles can cover a wide area, they are an important data source.
Cho has had an active research program at PLNU since 2012, and he especially enjoys involving students in undergraduate research. In fact, his own interest in marine biology was fueled by research he did as an undergraduate student at Harvard.
“Undergrads can learn so much and do so much here,” he said of PLNU.
In November and December of 2017, Cho went on a research cruise to the Mata Volcanoes in the Kingdom of Tonga. The Mata Volcanoes are a series of underwater volcanoes, which were first filmed erupting underwater in 2009. Cho joined a science team that returned there in 2017 to try to understand the connection between the geologic events in the area, the chemistry of the location’s seawater, and the biodiversity there. Their mission included experts in biology (Cho), chemistry (scientists from the NOAA), and geology (scientists from the University of Hawaii, the NOAA, and GNS Science). Their goal was to have a well-integrated team that would study all aspects of the communities forming and changing around the volcanoes. “Oceanography is very interdisciplinary,” Cho said.
“One goal is to convey awe of God’s creation and the love He has for us to create such an intricate world.”
While they were there, they discovered new hydrothermal vent communities. Now, they are analyzing the data.
“I’m studying two species, shrimp and gastropods — basically big, hairy snails,” Cho said.
PLNU students are helping with the data analysis. Students worked on a subset of the samples collected, sequencing the samples’ DNA and analyzing data in the lab. Cho knows not all of his students will go on to become marine biologists, but he still exposes even the students in his general education classes to the intertidal zone near PLNU.
Hannah Lee (19) was one of the students impacted by learning from Cho. Like Cho, she ended up finding a passion for ocean science while she was an undergrad. Lee had grown up visiting Monterey Bay Aquarium and had always had an interest in the ocean. But it was in college, when she had the opportunity to participate in summer research with Cho that she found a passion for marine biology. Lee completed two years of molecular marine biology research with Cho, studying two different pencil urchins found off the coast of Panama. She also took all of his marine science courses and was a teaching assistant for oceanography. Lee was grateful to be at a university that was both Christian and committed to science — and especially science with an environmental focus.
“It was life changing for me and how I view science,” Lee said. “It was a total God thing [for me to be at PLNU] with things falling into place at the right time.”
Now, Lee is in a biology master’s degree program at Humboldt State where she is studying organisms called bryozoans. Working with Sean Craig, Ph.D., and collaborating with a research lab in Norway, which will handle the genetic sequencing of their samples, Lee is helping understand the bryozoans in the rocky intertidal zones of the Pacific Northwest. When she finishes her program, she hopes to continue research but also wants to help bridge the communication gaps between the general public, scientists, and policy makers when it comes to understanding the ocean.
Because marine science is so interdisciplinary, biology and environmental science are not the only entry points to ocean research.
Taylor Steele (17) is a Ph.D. student in chemistry at UCSD and works in a marine natural products lab at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Marine natural products chemistry connects molecules to genes and genes to molecules — all from organisms in the ocean. “I was a biology-chemistry major at PLNU,” Steele said. “When I was looking at grad schools, I reached out to Brad [Moore, Ph.D.], my P.I. [primary investigator] and found a love for the work he does.”
Steel’s project is focused on algal genomics with the hope of gaining a better understanding of the rich biochemistry of seaweeds. According to a proposal from the Moore lab, information gained from these seaweeds will further inform and enable their use as a source of materials for biocatalysts, biofuels, bio-based chemical feedstocks, and other products.
“Looking at the unique aspects of every system inspires me to keep working and keep discovering new things,” she said. “The work that I do in marine natural products has so many diverse applications.”
Steele hopes to work for a biotechnology company in San Diego after she completes her doctorate. She says she learned “many of the fundamental biochemistry techniques I use now” when she did undergraduate research at PLNU with Ariane Jansma, Ph.D.
Steele, who minored in computational science, also completed an honors project at PLNU, working primarily with Ryan Botts, Ph.D., from the Department of Mathematical, Information, and Computer Sciences, and David E. Cummings, Ph.D., from the Department of Biology.
“I was able to dip my toes into Nanopore sequencing, which I am doing in my lab today,” she said. “It was one of the reasons my PI was interested in having me join the lab.”
Like Steele, Kelsey Alexander (15) is a doctoral student at UCSD, and she, too, works in a lab at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Alexander is pursuing her Ph.D. in chemistry and biochemistry and is part of the Gerwick lab. Her P.I. is Bill Gerwick, Ph.D. One of the main focuses of her lab’s research is cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, found in the ocean. The cyanobacteria she is interested in are photosynthetic cellular organisms that typically live near the shore and can be collected by scuba diving.
“Cyanobacteria have been found to produce secondary metabolites,” Alexander explained. “Secondary metabolites are not required to function, but they have important roles. I am trying to work on the discovery and isolation of these secondary metabolites for their potential treatment of cancer and diseases.”
She is currently analyzing a culture of cyanobacteria that holds potential for developing treatments for lung cancer. Alexander and her team begin by collecting samples from the ocean. They utilize different chemicals to further separate and extract the bioactive compounds from the cyanobacteria.
After she finishes her doctorate and post-doctorate, Alexander would like to pursue a career as a chemistry professor. In fact, she is already serving as an adjunct chemistry instructor at her alma mater.
“I’ve always loved math and science,” Alexander said. “And I’ve always had a heart for teaching. I realized I wanted to be a college professor while I was a student in Dr. [April] Maskiewicz [Cordero’s] lab. One thing that is unique about Point Loma is that professors will continue to reach out to their former students long after graduation. Point Loma really helped shape me into the person I am today.”
Related Story: Jeff Hester uses his craft of filmmaking to connect people with our planet’s incredible ocean ecosystems.
One of the faculty members who has kept in touch with Alexander is Katherine Maloney, Ph.D., professor of chemistry. Maloney works on natural products isolation, and she is currently in the process of publishing work she began a decade ago at Harvey Mudd College related to soft corals.
“Nature is a source for many of the medicines that we have,” Maloney said, explaining one of the reasons she enjoys natural products chemistry. “There are drugs in the clinic, and many more in preclinical or clinical trials that came from ocean creatures, including marine bacteria, algae, corals, sponges, and snails.”
In her graduate program at Cornell University, Maloney had focused her study on fungi and plants. Her postdoctoral work at Scripps involved marine bacteria, but she had originally intended to study fungi when she accepted a teaching position at Harvey Mudd. However, she connected with a marine biologist, Catherine McFadden. McFadden studied soft corals and had recently uncovered through genetic analysis that a soft coral called Sarcophyton glaucum, which was previously thought to be a single species, was actually seven different species.
Maloney explained that this discovery is important because some of the natural products that were isolated from S. glaucum have potential medical applications.
“Since the soft corals look the same, the old method of morphology was to dissolve the organic matter,” Maloney explained. “What’s left when you do that are microscopic fragments of calcium carbonate called sclerites. Taxonomists would look at the characteristics of the sclerites to classify and identify species. The new method involves using DNA sequencing.”
Maloney ended up partnering with McFadden to further study how the cryptic species identity correlates with the chemistry produced. They wrote a grant, which was funded, and collected 300 soft coral samples in Palau during a weeklong scuba diving research expedition. McFadden’s lab did the DNA sequencing, and Maloney and her students worked on capturing the corals’ chemistry systematically.
Part of what has allowed them to do this work and to make these new discoveries is the availability of new scientific tools for genetic analysis and coding. PLNU associate professor of mathematics, Ryan Botts, Ph.D., has been working closely with Maloney on the analysis. Maloney’s sister, an economics graduate student at the University of California, Irvine, has been helping as well.
“It’s very interdisciplinary work,” Maloney said, echoing Cho. “Scientific research is moving in that direction, and ocean research is especially interdisciplinary. It has to be because the ocean is so complex.”
Their current work is especially exciting because one particular moleculefrom the soft coral may have tumor inhibition properties.
The insights gained from work done by researchers like Cho, Lee, Steele, Alexander, and Maloney may hold the key to curing diseases, improving human health, and better understanding and protecting the oceans.
“This study could allow that research to restart,” Maloney said. “It could also set the example to lead people to go revisit other stories like this.”
As researchers and analysts from various disciplines work together, our understanding of the ocean and its inhabitants grows in meaningful ways.
Related story: The ocean is in danger and alum Vipe Desai has committed himself towards leading the conversation on ocean conservation. | https://viewpoint.pointloma.edu/studying-the-sea/ |
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The course is intended to provide undergraduate students with an introduction to aquatic invertebrates with an emphasis on taxa with economic and cultural significance in the region. The class will expose students to the dramatic diversity of invertebrates and examine various mechanisms organisms employ to adapt to environmental conditions. Most of the content will focus on the morphology, life history and physiology of arthropods and molluscs.
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FISH441 – Integrative Environmental Physiology
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Habitat Mapping
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Biosecurity Surveys
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Seabed Mapping
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Charles Darwin and Alfred Wallace independently formulated the theory of evolution by natural selection, which was described in detail in Darwin's book On the Origin of Species, which was published in 1859. In it, Darwin proposed that the features of all living things, including humans, were shaped by natural processes of descent with accumulated modification leading to divergence over long periods of time. The theory of evolution in its current form affects almost all areas of biology. Separately, Gregor Mendel formulated in the principles of inheritance in 1866, which became the basis of modern genetics.
In 1953, James D. Watson and Francis Crick described the basic structure of DNA, the genetic material for expressing life in all its forms, building on the work of Maurice Wilkins and Rosalind Franklin, suggested that the structure of DNA was a double helix.
Ian Wilmut led a research group that in 1996 first cloned a mammal from an adult somatic cell, a Finnish Dorset lamb named Dolly.
An undergraduate degree in biology typically requires coursework in molecular and cellular biology, development, ecology, genetics, microbiology, anatomy, physiology, botany, and zoology. Additional requirements may include physics, chemistry (general, organic, and biochemistry), calculus, and statistics.
Students who aspire to a research-oriented career usually pursue a graduate degree such as a master’s or a doctorate (e.g., PhD) whereby they would receive training from a research head based on an apprenticeship model that has been in existence since the 1800s. Students in these graduate programs often receive specialized training in a particular subdiscipline of biology.
Biologists who work in basic research formulate theories and devise experiments to advance human knowledge on life including topics such as evolution, biochemistry, molecular biology, neuroscience and cell biology.
Biologists typically conduct laboratory experiments involving animals, plants, microorganisms or biomolecules. However, a small part of biological research also occurs outside the laboratory and may involve natural observation rather than experimentation. For example, a botanist may investigate the plant species present in a particular environment, while an ecologist might study how a forest area recovers after a fire.
Biologists who work in applied research use instead the accomplishments gained by basic research to further knowledge in particular fields or applications. For example, this applied research may be used to develop new pharmaceutical drugs, treatments and medical diagnostic tests. Biological scientists conducting applied research and product development in private industry may be required to describe their research plans or results to non-scientists who are in a position to veto or approve their ideas. These scientists must consider the business effects of their work.
Swift advances in knowledge of genetics and organic molecules spurred growth in the field of biotechnology, transforming the industries in which biological scientists work. Biological scientists can now manipulate the genetic material of animals and plants, attempting to make organisms (including humans) more productive or resistant to disease. Basic and applied research on biotechnological processes, such as recombining DNA, has led to the production of important substances, including human insulin and growth hormone. Many other substances not previously available in large quantities are now produced by biotechnological means. Some of these substances are useful in treating diseases.
Those working on various genome (chromosomes with their associated genes) projects isolate genes and determine their function. This work continues to lead to the discovery of genes associated with specific diseases and inherited health risks, such as sickle cell anemia. Advances in biotechnology have created research opportunities in almost all areas of biology, with commercial applications in areas such as medicine, agriculture, and environmental remediation.
Most biological scientists specialize in the study of a certain type of organism or in a specific activity, although recent advances have blurred some traditional classifications.
Biologists typically work regular hours but longer hours are not uncommon. Researchers may be required to work odd hours in laboratories or other locations (especially while in the field), depending on the nature of their research.
Many biologists depend on grant money to fund their research. They may be under pressure to meet deadlines and to conform to rigid grant-writing specifications when preparing proposals to seek new or extended funding.
Marine biologists encounter a variety of working conditions. Some work in laboratories; others work on research ships, and those who work underwater must practice safe diving while working around sharp coral reefs and hazardous marine life. Although some marine biologists obtain their specimens from the sea, many still spend a good deal of their time in laboratories and offices, conducting tests, running experiments, recording results, and compiling data.
Biologists are not usually exposed to unsafe or unhealthy conditions. Those who work with dangerous organisms or toxic substances in the laboratory must follow strict safety procedures to avoid contamination. Many biological scientists, such as botanists, ecologists, and zoologists, conduct field studies that involve strenuous physical activity and primitive living conditions. Biological scientists in the field may work in warm or cold climates, in all kinds of weather. | https://everything.explained.today/Biologist/ |
Mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) are coral communities that exist in the twilight zone (about 30 to 150 metres) on tropical reefs. Modern exploration tools, such as remote operated vehicles (ROVs), autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and deep technical diving equipment, can now be used to explore the marine life in these depths.
Team from MCEs in the Coral Sea expedition, Cairns Australia. Image courtesy of Ed Roberts.
From 23 to 28 October 2010, a team of scientists from James Cook University, University of Queensland, the University of Sydney, Museum of Tropical Queensland and Reef HQ explored potential MCEs on three large atolls in the Coral Sea, Australia. These were the Flora and Holmes Reefs near Cairns. We used a Seabotix ROV and stereo cameras to record the marine life on the steep reef walls to depths of 150 metres.
As a keen diver and marine geologist, I helped collect the ship's track navigation data so that we could locate precisely where the ROV and underwater cameras had been. We also collected coral cores from massive coral colonies which can then be used for trace chemistry analysis of the ocean climate during their growth. | https://www.deepreef.org/biography/robs-blog/83-mce.html |
The National Cancer Institute’s Molecular Analysis for Therapy Choice (NCI-MATCH) trial, the largest precision medicine trial of its kind, has achieved a milestone with the release of results from several treatment arms, or sub-studies, of the trial. The new results offer findings of interest for future cancer research that could ultimately play a role in bringing targeted treatments to patients with certain gene abnormalities, regardless of their cancer type.
“NCI-MATCH represents the first attempt to systematically leverage next-generation sequencing to explore so many therapies in parallel,” said ECOG-ACRIN study chair Keith T. Flaherty, M.D., a medical oncologist at Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center in Boston. “By focusing our investigational effort on new biomarker-guided therapies in understudied cancer types, we have accelerated the opportunity to find signals of efficacy.”
Findings from three arms were released at this year’s American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago, adding to findings from one arm released in November 2017. The study was co-developed by NCI, part of the National Institutes of Health, and the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group, part of the NCI-sponsored National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN). ECOG-ACRIN and NCI are co- leading the trial.
NCI-MATCH, a phase 2 clinical trial, seeks to determine whether targeted therapies for people whose tumors have certain gene mutations will be effective regardless of their cancer type. Researchers use a DNA sequencing test to identify gene mutations in patients’ tumors. The test looks for mutations in 143 genes associated with cancer that can be targeted by one of the drugs being studied in the trial. The trial launched in August 2015 and has nearly 40 treatment arms, each of which aims to enroll at least 35 patients whose tumors have a specific genetic change. As the first findings are released at ASCO, many other arms are still enrolling patients and several additional arms are in development for possible opening later in 2018.
“The outcomes data being released today from this groundbreaking precision medicine trial are an exciting step for NCI-MATCH,” said Lyndsay Harris, M.D., of NCI’s Cancer Diagnosis Program and NCI study chair. “These findings represent a large collection of data in populations of patients who may not have been studied in conventional clinical trials, and they will have important implications for future precision medicine trials.”
Highlights from the findings from the three arms announced at ASCO include:
Arm I studied the drug taselisib in 65 patients with mutations in the PIK3CA gene. There were no objective responses to the drug, meaning the tumors did not shrink substantially. However, 24 percent of the patients had progression-free survival–or prolonged stable disease–of greater than six months. This prolonged stable disease was seen even in patients with aggressive cancer types, including lung cancer and cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct) cancer. The observation of prolonged disease control in these cancer types suggests the drug warrants further research.
In Arm Q, the drug ado-trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) was studied in patients with HER2- overexpressing tumors, excluding breast and gastric/gastroesophageal junction cancers. Partial responses (at least 30 percent shrinkage of the tumor) were seen in three of the 37 patients, each of whom had a rare cancer: mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the parotid gland, squamous cell cancer of the parotid gland, and extramammary Paget disease of the scrotum. In addition, 46 percent of the patients had stable disease, including patients with ovarian, uterine, and colorectal cancers. The researchers concluded that the findings warrant further study, particularly in certain rare cancers.
Arm W tested the drug AZD4547 in 50 patients with mutations in the FGFR pathway. Ten percent of patients had a partial response. Among four patients who had a partial response, whose tumors all had different sites of origin, two had point mutations in the FGFR2/3 gene and the other two had FGFR3 gene fusions, in which part of the FGFR gene is joined to part of another gene. This suggests that these mutations may be particularly sensitive to the drug, warranting further studies in tumors harboring these fusions.
Many of the patients in these three arms had been treated with more than three lines of therapy before entering the trial (Arm I: 37 percent, Arm Q: 33 percent, Arm W: 50 percent), so the results are particularly encouraging. It suggests that future studies in populations with earlier-stage disease could potentially see more responses.
Results of additional treatment arms that have completed accrual will be released on a rolling basis as their data mature. The trial is ongoing and enrolling patients at more than 1,100 cancer centers and community hospitals in every state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. All trial sites are either members of the research groups in the NCTN that focus on adult cancers–the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology, ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group, NRG Oncology, and SWOG–or are members of the NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP). Genentech, a member of the Roche group, provided the study drugs for Arms I and Q, and AstraZeneca provided the drug for Arm W. | https://journalforclinicalstudies.com/nci-match-precision-medicine-clinical-trial-releases-new-findings/ |
Precision medicine is helping identify new, individualized therapies for many different types of cancer, especially for patients whose tumors do not respond to standard therapy. There are many new discoveries on the horizon that offer new therapies for those who have exhausted all other options in cancer care.
This year’s Individualizing Medicine Conference: Advancing Care through Genomics will feature two speakers highlighting key new areas of precision oncology research and practice.
Michael Berger, Ph.D., a geneticist at Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK), will discuss his team’s development of MSK-Integrated Mutation Profiling of Actionable Cancer Targets (MSK-IMPACT), a genetic test that looks across more than 400 genes associated with both rare and common cancers. Physicians can use test results to select individualized treatments based on the unique genetic makeup of a patient’s cancer, rather than where the cancer originated. Next, Yi Lin, M.D., Ph.D., a hematologist at Mayo Clinic’s campus in Rochester, Minnesota, will discuss chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CAR T-cell therapy), a new immunotherapy that re-engineers a patient’s own immune cells to create an individualized therapy to treat their cancer.
Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine is hosting the Individualizing Medicine Conference on Sept. 12-13, in Rochester, Minnesota. The conference brings together experts from Mayo Clinic and around the world to discuss how the latest discoveries in precision medicine can be applied to improve patient care.
Here’s a closer look at Dr. Berger’s and Dr. Lin’s research, and how it is impacting patient care.
Providing a broader perspective – genetic test screens for rare and common cancers
With expertise in cancer genetics, computational biology and DNA sequencing technology, Dr. Berger led the development of MSK-IMPACT, a genetic test used to screen tumors to detect genetic mutations and other genetic changes in 468 genes associated with both rare and common cancers.
As Dr. Berger explains, the test offers a more comprehensive view of a patient’s tumor than smaller gene panel tests.
“In the past, genomic testing of tumors has been routine practice only for patients with certain types of cancer. MSK-IMPACT is much more inclusive and can be used on any solid tumor regardless of its origin. The test provides a multitude of genetic and molecular information, helping physicians predict patient outcomes and select individualized treatment options targeted at a patient’s unique tumor characteristics, rather than based only on where the tumor originated,” says Dr. Berger, associate director, Marie-Josée and Henry R. Kravis Center for Molecular Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering.
In a study of more than 10,000 patients who had their tumors sequenced with MSK-IMPACT, Dr. Berger and his team found that nearly 37 percent had at least one genetic mutation for which there was a drug available either through a clinical trial or as an approved standard therapy. Genomic sequencing also helped identify patients who would not benefit from certain therapies, sparing patients unnecessary treatment and side effects. Testing also helped identify patients who may benefit from immunotherapy.
To date, more than 20,000 MSK patients with advanced cancer have had their tumors screened with MSK-IMPACT, creating the largest gene panel database. This robust research resource is available to the broader scientific community and is helping advance research in precision oncology therapies.
Harnessing the immune system to deliver precise treatments
According to Dr. Lin, CAR T-cell therapy is one of the most promising new areas of cancer treatment.
“This is a very exciting, individualized approach to treating cancer. Each dose is an individualized treatment made by genetically changing the patient’s own T-cells to strengthen those cells’ ability to kill the patient’s own cancer,” says Dr. Lin.
As chair of the Cellular Therapeutics Cross-Disciplinary Group in the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Dr. Lin has helped lead Mayo Clinic’s participation as one of 16 cancer centers selected to treat adults with B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma whose cancer has recurred with CAR T-cell therapy. Mayo participated in the landmark trial that led to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for this treatment, culminating decades of research to bring this technology forward.
CAR T-cell therapy is also approved to treat children and young adults with B-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL).
"CAR T-cell therapy is completely different from the other off-the-shelf drugs that are currently available to treat ALL, the most common type of cancer in children. The response rate of this treatment seen to date is impressive, compared to other available therapies," says Dr. Lin
Dr. Lin emphasizes that it is important for patients to receive CAR T-cell therapy at a medical center such as Mayo Clinic, where specialists from many different areas can help manage the treatment and immediately address any side effects to ensure a successful outcome.
“Our team is working on innovative ways to improve the effectiveness of CAR T-cell therapy and also manage treatment side effects, which vary because each patient has a unique immune response. With support from the Center for Individualized Medicine, we’re exploring biomarkers that may help predict which patients will benefit from CAR T-cell therapy and which patients may experience more serious side effects so we can adjust our medical care to address those needs,” says Dr. Lin.
In her conference presentation, Dr. Lin will also highlight several multicenter clinical research trials underway testing CAR T-cell therapy to treat multiple myeloma and other types of lymphoma. | https://individualizedmedicineblog.mayoclinic.org/2018/05/22/the-latest-advances-in-cancer-care-from-genomics-to-immunotherapy/ |
Update 3-1-17: A video of this event has now been released. Watch it below.
This year’s Precision Medicine World Conference in Mountain View, California, was well-attended by many members of Cancer Commons, who shared in the scientific discoveries that will lead the way to more personalized, accurate, and effective cancer care. Precision medicine is a rapidly evolving field with many breakthroughs in science, technology, and diagnosis that is transforming the way cancer care is practiced at the bedside.
A special session was co-chaired by Cancer Commons board member Larry Marton and Lincoln Nadauld, director of the personalized oncology program at Intermountain Healthcare in Utah. The session also featured Cancer Commons medical director Kevin Knopf, Mountain View oncologist Edmund Tai, and Tim Collins, who is corporate vice president of operations and research at Scripps Health in San Diego.
Session participants engaged in a lively back-and-forth discussion about issues of paramount importance to patients, with a focus on how to accelerate the time it takes for precision oncology discoveries made in the lab and selected institutions to reach the bedside for patients who are battling cancer in the trenches. Discussion included the diffusion of information and how practicing oncologists can learn difficult concepts in precision oncology more effectively. Participants also discussed economic incentives and barriers to delivering state-of-the-art cancer care in a community-based setting—where 80% of patients are treated, and how precision medicine is practiced in academic settings.
The dialogue was informative and spirited, and it illustrated many roadblocks that we are actively working on solving at Cancer Commons. Along these lines, we are forming an Industry Alliance to allow companies interested in precision cancer care to discuss ways to achieve progress more rapidly and solve the problems that our patients are interested in solving.
Read more about the session and its participants: How To Engage Community Oncologists in Precision Medicine
Watch the video:
D2 10:30 T1 Lincoln Nadauld, Intermountain Healthcare; Tim Collins, Scripps Health; Edmund Tai, PAMF;Kevin Knopf, Cancer Commons from PMWC Intl on Vimeo. | https://cancercommons.org/cancer-commons-participates-in-lively-discussion-of-precision-medicine-at-pmwc-2017/ |
Cancer is one of the leading killers of children, but Jonathan J. Shuster and the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) are determined to change that statistic. Shuster is an expert in statistical methodology for the design and analysis of clinical trials, particularly in the area of childhood cancer studies.
“The studies that Dr. Shuster designed have made significant progress in the treatment of many forms of childhood cancers,” says Ronald H. Randles, former chair of the UF statistics department. Shuster’s efforts in cancer research have led to spectacular results – including a high cure rate with some types of leukemia. In 1996, he discovered a significant pharmacological interaction between two common anti-cancer medications. This finding had a major impact on leukemia and lymphoma treatment for both children and adults.
Shuster has published the results of his research in The New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Leukemia, Statistics in Medicine and other major medical and statistics/biostatistics journals. His book, Practical Handbook of Sample Sizes for Clinical Trials, is widely used in medical research. Shuster was named a fellow of the American Statistical Association for his work on successful treatments of childhood cancers and his scholarship in clinical trial statistical methodology.
As director of the COG Research Data Center, Shuster is responsible for the data from all COG clinical trials and biological studies of cancer patients from more 250 hospitals and medical centers in the United States, Canada, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Australia. In the United States, more than 90 percent of children diagnosed with cancer prior to age 15 receive treatment from COG institutions. Shuster’s program receives more than $2 million per year from the National Institutes of Health. | http://ufrfprofessors.feed.research.ufl.edu/ufrf_professors/shuster-jonathan-j/ |
CORALVILLE, IA / ACCESSWIRE / June 30, 2021 / Viewpoint Molecular Targeting, Inc. ("Viewpoint" or the "Company"), a radiopharmaceutical company developing precision lead-212-based α-particle oncology therapeutics and complementary diagnostic imaging agents, today announced the appointment of Ewa Matczak MD to the company as Chief Medical Officer.
Dr. Matczak is a medical oncologist/hematologist who spent the first 10 years of her career in basic science research, clinical research and teaching. Her post-medical training included fellowships and research positions at the National Cancer Institute, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center and Harvard Medical School. She then transitioned to industry and has over 20 years of experience in early and late-stage drug development, particularly in solid tumors and hematology/oncology. Dr. Matczak has held clinical development roles at multiple leading global pharmaceutical companies including, Bayer, Novartis, Eisai and Pfizer.
"We are incredibly pleased to welcome Dr. Matczak as our Chief Medical Officer. She has an impressive track record in early and late-stage drug development with extensive experience working for multiple global pharmaceutical companies. We look forward to leveraging her expertise as we advance our novel theranostics for the treatment and diagnosis of oncology indications with significant unmet need," commented Frances Johnson MD, CEO of Viewpoint.
Dr. Matczak most recently served as VP, Clinical Sciences at Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, where she was responsible for leading development with focus on immune-oncology and building the oncology team. Prior to that, she served as the Associate VP, Oncology at Hengrui Therapeutics where she played a key role in development, oversight and establishment of the company's Oncology program. For nearly a decade she held roles at Pfizer, including Director and Senior Director of Global Medical Affairs as U.S. Sutent Lead and RCC Lead; and Bosutinib Global Clinical Lead in Clinical Development. During her time at Pfizer, she provided leadership in commercial and drug development strategies, clinical trial design, Investigator-initiated research strategies and implementation. Additionally, Dr. Matczak served as Senior Director /International Program Team Leader at Eisai Pharmaceuticals for two targeted therapy agents in early development; Medical Director/Clinical Investigations Leader in the Research & Development Oncology Business Unit, Novartis Pharmaceutical Corporation; and Associate Medical Director/Medical Expert for Clinical Pharmacology at Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceutical. Prior to industry she spent over a decade in basic science research, clinical research and teaching at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, the US NIH National Cancer Institute, and Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Matczak added, "The Viewpoint platform technology is among the most innovative and potentially disruptive technologies in alpha-particle therapeutics that I have seen to-date. I am excited to be joining the Company at such a pivotal moment as we enter human clinical studies and gain momentum across multiple fronts. I look forward to further working alongside the team to propel the Company's potentially transformative new class of cancer therapeutics and complementary diagnostic imaging agents forward to provide solutions to cancer patients where there remains significant unmet need."
Dr. Matczak received her Medical Degree from SUNY Downstate, NY. She completed her internal medicine internship, and residency and oncology/hematology fellowship at Columbia Presbyterian under Dr. Karen Antman in New York and she completed her HIV Oncology training and research at Harvard Institute of Medicine/Beth Israel Deaconess with Jerome Groopman where she remained on faculty until she joined the Clinical Trial Evaluation Program (CTEP) at the National Cancer Institute (NCI). She was a National Institute of Health (NIH) Intramural Research Awardee in Dr. Bob Gallo's Lab. Dr. Matczak organized and led multi-disciplinary translational research clinics in Kaposi's Sarcoma and HPV. She was a NIH investigator, and an AIDS Malignancy Consortium and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group member.
About Viewpoint
Viewpoint Molecular Targeting is a radiopharmaceutical company developing precision oncology therapeutics and complementary diagnostic imaging agents. The Company's proprietary technology utilizes lead-212 to deliver powerful alpha radiation specifically to cancer cells via specialized targeting peptides. Viewpoint is also developing complementary imaging diagnostics that incorporate the same targeting peptides which provide the opportunity to personalize treatment and optimize patient outcomes. This "theranostic" approach enables the ability to see the specific tumor and then treat it to potentially improve efficacy and minimize toxicity associated with many other types of cancer treatments.
The Company's melanoma (VMT01) and neuroendocrine tumor (VMT-𝛼-NET) programs are entering Phase 1 imaging studies, to be followed by Phase 1/2a therapy trials for the treatment of metastatic melanoma and neuroendocrine tumors at two leading academic institutions. The Company has also developed a proprietary lead-212 generator to secure isotope supply for clinical trial and commercial operations. For more information, please visit the Company's website viewpointmt.com.
Investor Inquiries:
Jenene Thomas
Chief Executive Officer
JTC Team, LLC
T: 833.475.8247
SOURCE: Viewpoint Molecular Targeting, Inc.
View source version on accesswire.com: | https://www.biospace.com/article/releases/viewpoint-molecular-targeting-r-appoints-ewa-matczak-md-as-chief-medical-officer/ |
Precision medicine incorporates multiple genetic, tumor-, and patient-specific factors to stratify patients into groups to help guide treatment decision-making. More widespread use of this approach has led to improved patient outcomes. However, these improvements have not been realized in real-world outcomes when patient race or ethnicity is included in further analysis. One possible reason is the underrepresentation of minority groups among clinical trial enrollees. Racial and ethnic differences occur in cancer types, and the lack of clinical trial diversity has resulted in the development of interventions that can have lower efficacy or higher toxicity in different populations.1 One example is the cancer chemotherapy drug 5-fluorouracil, which has higher toxicity rates in non-white/European populations.1 When this chemotherapy agent was undergoing clinical trials, white/European participants were overrepresented in the studies and the more severe adverse side effects in minority groups were missed.1 The same problem is also present in precision medicine clinical trials. Discoveries made in precision medicine may not be applicable across the general population, particularly if there is not equal representation in a trial patient population.
Aldrighetti and colleagues conducted a cross-sectional study that analyzed race and ethnicity reporting in breast, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancer studies in the United States to determine if these patient populations were representative of the overall cancer patient population in the United States. Under- and overrepresentation was presented as a ratio. Overrepresentation was indicated by ratios >1, while ratios <1 indicated underrepresentation. Patient demographics were obtained from the ClinicalTrials.gov website and collaborated by comparison to primary journal articles, abstracts, and/or presentations. Cancer incidence by race and ethnicity was gathered from the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program database.
There were 93 studies evaluated with 5867 participants in these clinical trials. Non-Hispanic whites accounted for 82.3% of study participants, 10% of participants were black, and 4.1% of total participants were Asian. The ratio of Asian participants was 1.46, for non-Hispanic whites the ratio was 1.35, for black participants the ratio was 0.49, for American Indian and Alaska Native participants the ratio was 0.43, and for Hispanic study participants the ratio was 0.24. When individual cancer sites were analyzed, white participants were found to be overrepresented in all studies evaluated, and Hispanic and black participants were underrepresented in the studies.
There is a large underrepresentation of racial and ethnicity minority patients in breast, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancer precision medicine clinical trials.
Aldrighetti CM, Niemierko A, Van Allen E, et al. Racial and ethnic disparities among participants in precision oncology clinical studies. JAMA Netw Open. 2021;4:e2133205.
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Subscribe to recieve the free, monthly TON print publication and TON weekly e‑newsletter. | https://theoncologynurse.com/web-exclusives/19150-racial-and-ethnic-minorities-are-severely-underrepresented-in-cancer-clinical-trials |
Over 2.9 million men in the United States have been diagnosed or are living with prostate cancer. While the pandemic has prevented us from coming together in-person for our annual educational event, we are proud to offer a virtual #NYCProstateSummit. This four-part webinar series provides important information for prostate cancer patients and loved ones, as well as unparalleled access to the field’s foremost experts.
An outgrowth of the Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials Consortium (PCCTC), the NYC Prostate Cancer Summit launched in 2018 and the Annual NYC Prostate Cancer Summit is hosted by Weill Cornell Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University Irving Medical Center and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Register today!
Meet The
Hosts
David Nanus, MD
Dr. David Nanus is an internationally recognized leader in the treatment and care of patients with genitourinary (GU) cancers, including cancers of the prostate, kidney, bladder and testes. He is actively involved in clinical, translational and basic research in GU malignancies, serving as principle or co-investigator on a variety of clinical research trials that incorporate novel targeted therapies for his patients. Dr. Nanus is Director of the NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine Healthcare Services Cancer Program, a program unifying oncology and hematology clinical care and research at NewYork-Presbyterian’s regional hospitals. He previously served as Chief of the Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian.
Susan Slovin, MD, PhD
Dr. Susan Slovin is an Attending Physician in the Genitourinary Oncology Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and a Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College. She is a board-certified medical oncologist with expertise in the areas of prostate cancer immunology and clinical trial design. A noted immunologist, she leads an initiative that focuses on the development of novel immunologic approaches for the treatment of prostate cancer. This includes assuming leadership of the Prostate Immunotherapy Group, sponsored by the Prostate Cancer Foundation, whose challenge is to develop guidelines for development of immune therapy clinical trials in prostate cancer.
Sessions in this
Series
Part 1
Living with Prostate Cancer
Wednesday, January 27, 2021 · 7:00 PM EST
Join leading medical experts for a discussion on living with prostate cancer. This webinar will cover topics such as coping with canc...
View more
Part 2
Newly-Diagnosed: What Are My Treatment Options?
Tuesday, March 9, 2021 · 7:00 PM EST
Each year, approximately 180,000 men in the U.S. receive a prostate cancer diagnosis. Detecting the presence of prostate cancer in th...
View more
Part 3
Advanced Prostate Cancer Treatment Updates
Wednesday, May 12, 2021 · 7:00 PM EDT
Advances in therapeutics have led to improvements in both survival and quality of life for men with advanced or metastatic prostate c...
View more
Part 4
Genetic Links: Family History, Precision Medicine & More
Thursday, July 15, 2021 · 7:00 PM EDT
Precision medicine is changing the way physicians approach prostate cancer care, incorporating information about a patient’s inherite... | https://www.bigmarker.com/series/NYC-Prostate-Cancer-Virtual-Mini-Summit-Series/series_summit |
MCV Foundation’s Discovery Series: Breakthrough Science, Innovative Treatments and Compassionate Care at VCU Massey Cancer Center
Numerous hands – too many, some might say – went up when Michael Elliott, M.D., COO of VCU Health, asked the crowded room before him how many people knew a loved one or friend who had pancreatic cancer.
He acknowledged those raised hands solemnly, as pancreatic cancer survival rates rank among the lowest of all common cancer diagnoses.
But despite the bleakness that swirls around pancreatic cancer, there are hope shots from those who refuse to settle when it comes to fighting the disease. Joining Dr. Elliott on this night were three individuals whose collective expertise has VCU Health and Massey Cancer Center poised to lead that fight.
About 80 people gathered at the Country Club of Virginia in Richmond on Oct. 26, followed by more than 180 on Nov. 2 in Williamsburg, as part of the MCV Foundation’s ongoing Discovery Series. The series was established in fall of 2013 to connect Williamsburg-area residents with the cutting-edge research and medical care happening on the MCV Campus. In 2019, the Discovery Series expanded to include a Richmond component.
Insightful and engaging, the series offers lively panel discussions from doctors, researchers and health professionals from around campus who share their latest findings. The panel discussion is followed by a “strolling supper” in which the audience and panelists can further engage one on one and continue conversations while they dine.
The early popularity of Discovery Series led to the formation of the Discovery Society in 2015.
From an inaugural membership of 74, the society today boasts nearly 250 members who have collectively given more than $6 million. Equally as important are the opportunities it affords those who may not otherwise be aware of the medical breakthroughs and advancements occurring on the MCV Campus. Society members have become advocates and fundraisers – even clinical trial participants – thanks to these events that bring the news of medical advancements right to them This fall’s events were titled Massey Cancer Center: Breakthrough Science, Innovative Treatments and Compassionate Care.
The Richmond panelists included:
- Oxana Palesh, Ph.D., M.P.H., professor of psychology and co-leader of Massey Cancer Center’s Cancer Prevention and Control Program
- Said M. Sebti, Ph.D., associate director of Basic Research at Massey Cancer Center
- Jose G. Trevino II, M.D., FACS, associate professor and chair of the Division of Surgery Oncology and Surgeon-in-Chief at Massey Cancer Center.
Drs. Sebti and Trevino also spoke in Williamsburg. There, they were joined by Jennifer Myers, M.D., associate professor of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, Oncology & Palliative Care at Massey Cancer Center.
The panelists at both events talked about initiatives that replace decades-old standard care practices with tailored cancer treatment plans for patients, including identifying and treating upwards of 12 side effects commonly associated with cancer.
They discussed their efforts to collaborate across disciplines in a variety of ways, from creating cancer drugs that are less toxic and yet more effective, to treatment plans that involve everyone from biologists and medical oncologists to surgeons and pharmacologists.
They also talked about the importance of VCU Health’s efforts to diversify and expand clinical trials, moves that are putting the medical campus in the national spotlight.
**
An advocate for a multifaceted approach to treatment and care, Dr. Trevino told his Richmond audience that the fight against pancreatic cancer often begins not with a tumor, but a thought.
By the time cancer patients see him, he said, many have been told by their primary care physicians that they need to get their affairs in order because little can be done for them.
He prefers to offer them hope.
“I’m a surgeon – I cut cancer out of people, and I believe in biology, but there’s something about what happens here,” he said, pointing to his head, “that determines everything.
“Here at VCU Health, we don’t give up,” he said. “We fight and we don’t talk death, we talk about life.”
It’s an uphill battle, he acknowledged. A cursory online search of pancreatic cancer is typically associated with death. Even leading health organizations like the National Cancer Institute or the National Institutes of Health traditionally are hesitant to fund pancreatic cancer research because historically, outcomes for patients with pancreatic cancer were so bad.
Funding such research “just didn’t make any sense because everybody who had it died,” Dr. Trevino said. But he’s hoping to change those dynamics and one way he’s leading his team to do that is by working to make clinical trials representative of the communities he serves.
Most clinical trial participants, about 90%, are white, he said. Data, however, proves that Blacks, Latinos and other populations respond to therapies differently. Getting them into trials can be challenging, however, because many people in these communities either don’t believe clinical trials work or don’t trust them.
“If clinical trials aren’t diverse enough, we don’t have the ability to really know what’s going to work for certain populations,” he said.
“Biologically, we’re all different and depending on our ancestry, our genes may make us more prone to develop certain types of cancers, but also more susceptible to therapies,” Dr. Trevino said. “But it’s on the physicians to be able to explain the importance of clinical trials.”
A big part of diversification is removing outdated and prohibitive participation eligibility factors that have excluded people, usually minority populations, from clinical trials – namely that they have other diseases like HIV, hepatitis C, diabetes and hypertension.
“We’re pushing the message that those factors cannot be real anymore,” he said. “We need to bring the eligibility criteria down and diversify our clinical trials, and we will see incredible new therapeutics for certain patient populations that will help us all.”
**
Massey Cancer Center is awaiting word from the National Cancer Institute on whether it has achieved comprehensive status – a nationally-recognized elite designation given to cancer centers that specialize in four fundamental areas of cancer research, from the basic science of cancer cells to screening protocols, translation and finally, clinical trials.
Currently there are 53 comprehensive centers nationally. Massey would be the 54th – an appropriate nod to a cancer center that touts success in all four of those research areas, said Dr. Sebti, who’s been continuously grant funded by NCI since 1989, and among all funding sources, has been awarded a collective $60 million to support his work.
Dr. Sebti described his research as spanning labs to clinics – designing drugs in a lab and then testing them in clinical trials. In Richmond, he spoke about a few notable highlights.
One of those is the Molecules to Medicine initiative, which began a few years ago and involves a variety of researchers and doctors working collaboratively to create cancer-fighting antibodies and cell therapies that kill tumors but spare normal cells.
For example, Dr. Sebti shared research and emphasis on a specific protein called K-Ras, which is found normally in the body but morphs into aggressive cancer cells, in some cases for reasons still unknown to researchers. He said 90% of pancreatic cancer patients have this mutated K-Ras protein, though it’s also found in lung cancer and colon cancer.
“It happens to be a very challenging protein to work with and it’s not easy to make drugs to fight this,” Dr. Sebti said, explaining that this protein is being studied at every level, from atomic and molecular levels and beyond. “But here at VCU, we want to take on these challenges that others don’t.”
Dr. Sebti also discussed VCU’s charge toward precision medicine – a move that would change standard care from one-size-fits-all treatment practices to tailored plans designed specifically for an individual’s needs.
Two patients who present with the same tumors and symptoms may have completely different cells within those tumors, he said.
“If their tumors are different, then we should treat them with different drugs,” he said. “The one-size-fits-all approach is how we’ve been doing it for four decades, but our hope is that we get rid of standard care and move toward a precision medicine approach to care.”
**
A cancer diagnosis is life-changing, yet few understand that cancer’s impact extends well beyond a tumor.
Dr. Palesh is a renowned expert on psycho oncology and the treatment of side effects, particularly cancer-related insomnia, fatigue and neurocognitive impairment.
In Richmond, she explained that 80% of cancer survivors experience insomnia, for example. She also said 45-70% of cancer survivors experience neurocognitive impairment – something she said has been underrecognized within the cancer research realm for years.
Knowing these symptoms exist, however, can impact treatment, she said. Cancer researchers can work with others who study Alzheimer’s or traumatic brain injuries, for example, and apply those research areas back to cancer.
Dr. Palesh noted that side effects don’t go away just because patients are done with treatment, or their cancer goes into remission. She also echoed her fellow panelists by saying that this area of research benefits from a precision medicine approach, one that includes everything from physical therapy to behavioral psychological services.
“It’s not just an inconvenience or a quality-of-life issue – it affects the patient’s response to treatment and potentially survivorship,” Dr. Palesh said about cancer’s side effects.
“These symptoms are a big burden, but if we know about them earlier, we can start early to prevent or treat these symptoms so people who are going into the survivorship phase can live better and longer.”
**
In Williamsburg, Dr. Myers agreed with Drs. Trevino and Sebti that the pervasive atmosphere at Massey is a collaborative one.
One example of that she explained is her participation on a “tumor board” that meets weekly to talk about new patients and existing patients, or patients who may be coming to Massey seeking second opinions. She said that the board – everyone from radiation oncologists and researchers to nurse practitioners and other clinicians – discusses new findings from scans or surgeries and then applies those findings to treatment plans.
“When patients come in the first time, or they’re coming to get a second opinion, they’re really getting our entire group,” she said. “We all are reviewing it together.”
She acknowledged that with pancreatic cancer, finding it early enough to remove it with surgery is often the best form of treatment. But for those whose cancer may have metastasized, treatments such as chemotherapy – where the drugs move through the whole body – can target both the cancer cells that are visible on scans but also those microscopic ones that aren’t.
“We all know it only takes one cancer cell to be left in the body somewhere to show up at some point in the future,” she said. “What we don’t want is for patients to go through a very significant surgery and then end up with the disease not being cured.”
Chemotherapies prior to surgeries benefit patients who may not be able to tolerate chemotherapy after surgery. Additionally, in some cases, the pre-surgical treatments could be effective enough that they ward off the need for surgery, or, alternatively, help patients who were considered unfit for surgery to proceed with it.
Dr. Myers repeated the need for precision medicine, particularly for pancreatic cancer.
While treatments and research have come a long way, there’s more that needs to be done, she said. Her goal would be to have clinical trials and treatments available for any stage of pancreatic cancer.
“Every time I see a pancreatic cancer survivor, it just makes my day,” she said. “It’s the most amazing feeling because its such a difficult disease to treat and these patients are some of the most wonderful patients I’ve ever had.”
She added: “That’s what helps to drive me to continue to work to move this all forward.”
**
Discovery Series events are made possible, in large part, by the host committees.
In Williamsburg, that includes Julie Baxter and Paul Dresser, Louise and Bob Canfield, Ginny and Charles Crone, Jane Kaplan and Judi Forehand Starkey. In Richmond, that’s Tenley and Wyatt Beazley, Anne and Roger Boeve, Gail and Earl Johnson, Patricia and David Lyons, Becky Purdue and Judi and Jim Starkey.
To learn more about the Discovery Series and watch past panel discussions, click here.
To learn more about the Discovery Society, click here.
To view the full photo album, please visit our Facebook page here. | https://www.mcvfoundation.org/news/stories/mcv-foundations-discovery-series-breakthrough-science-innovative-treatments-and |
Mikhail Blagosklonny is a doctor and scientist who pursued research on cancer and aging. He was a former professor on the subject of oncology at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in New York.
Dr. Blagosklonny graduated from the First Pavlov State Medical university of St. Petersburg, having an M.D. in internal medicine and a PhD in experimental medicine and cardiology. He became the associate professor of medicine at New York Medical College in 2002. He eventually became a senior scientist at the Ordway Research Institute from 2002-2009. He remained a senior scientist in the said institute until he became a professor of oncology at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute.
Being deeply interested in the field of experimental medicine and cancer research, Dr. Blagosklonny’s interests included targeted cancer therapies and strategies to prevent damage in the normal body cells. He has also done research on understanding the biological systems involving aging and how to create anti-aging drugs.
At present, Dr. Mikhail Blagosklonny is the editor-in-chief of the following publications: Aging, Cell Cycle, and Oncotarget. He has participated in many print journals and research, and he is also the current associate editor of Cancer Biology and Therapy. He also contributed as a member of the editorial board in Cell Death and Differentiation.
Dr. Mikhail or “Misha” as called by his colleagues in Roswell Park Cancer Institute is greatly commended for his work. He has led the research and contributed in several journals and articles on medicinal research regarding chronic diseases such as cancer and diabetes. He also released journals on the topics of targeted treatments for cancer, and cell reactions to certain types of drugs.
Dr. Blagosklonny was also involved in a recent ground-breaking anti-aging research. He was able to reveal a substance called Rapamycin and its healing properties. Initially, it was discovered that Rapamycin helps patients by decreasing the chances of organ donor bodily rejections.
His further studies concluded that the drug is able to give out other benefits such as: treatment of cancer, Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC), and facial angiofibromas, increasing longevity, among many others. He is known for promoting the use of the said drug, and the knowledge he provided in the field of cancer and anti-aging research was greatly beneficial to the field.
In essence, Dr. Blagosklonny indicated that the correct amount of dosage of Rapamycin during the experiments improved the lifespan of the subjects. Also, he noted that the research concludes that it will possibly improve human’s ability to age slowly. With the combination of other anti-aging procedures such as bypass surgery, he believes that the drug will be very effective for patient wishing to have a longer, better life.
The medical field is advancing, increasing the number of health problems it continuously solves. The contributions of passionate doctors such as Dr. Mikhail Blagosklonny, along with his team are giant steps to the advancement of cancer research. Cancer and diseases related to aging are one of the most common health ailments of the modern-day society, and Dr. Blagosklonny’s work on this field of study will further improve the available treatment options. | http://ensembletap.com/category/cancer-research/ |
© 2021 MJH Life Sciences™ and OncLive - Clinical Oncology News, Cancer Expert Insights. All rights reserved.
October 1st 2021
The understanding of EGFR signaling in non–small cell lung cancer continues to evolve, helping to spark the development of novel therapies for new patient populations with uncommon alterations.
July 16th 2021
The lead novel candidate, the WEE1 inhibitor adavosertib, has been tested in more than 50 completed or ongoing clinical studies but has yet to proceed to a phase 3 trial despite showing promising safety and efficacy as monotherapy and in combination with a range of other cancer therapies.
July 8th 2021
During the past decade, a growing number of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors gained FDA approval to treat a wide range of cancer types. Their stimulatory counterparts also emerged as sought-after anticancer targets but have proved much more challenging to manipulate therapeutically.
June 23rd 2021
Three-quarters of all cases of lung adenocarcinoma, the most common type of non–small cell lung cancer, are defined by oncogenic driver events involving receptor tyrosine kinase–orchestrated cellular signaling pathways.
June 16th 2021
Among the pioneering targets for antibody therapy was CD20, the pursuit of which ultimately led to the first FDA-approved mAb for cancer therapy, rituximab, and defined a new era in the management of B-cell malignancies.
May 10th 2021
Frequently dysregulated in cancer cells, the PI3K pathway has long been a high-priority therapeutic target in oncology. However, initial efforts with pan–class I PI3K inhibitors were hampered by disappointing efficacy and substantial toxicity.
April 28th 2021
The curative potential of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for many hematologic malignancies is hindered by the frequent development of graft-vs-host disease, a potentially fatal complication resulting from a complex interaction between donor immune cells in the graft and the host’s immune system.
April 16th 2021
Although anticancer therapies that leverage T cells have commanded the most attention in the immuno-oncology era of the past decade, strategies based on natural killer cells have recently emerged as attractive approaches.
April 2nd 2021
Although endocrine therapies have revolutionized the treatment of breast cancers driven by the estrogen receptor, the development of resistance remains a major challenge that limits long-term remission with currently available drugs.
March 24th 2021
Although Ki-67 is a commonly used measure of cellular proliferation in breast cancer tissue, its utility as a biomarker for helping to guide therapy decisions has been clouded by technical and clinical questions.
February 18th 2021
The identification of oncogenic driver mutations in non–small cell lung cancer to inform targeted therapy selection is the bedrock of clinical practice in this disease, with current estimates suggesting that more than half of patients harbor an actionable mutation.
February 1st 2021
Over the past 2 decades, a growing number of targetable tumor-specific molecular alterations have been identified, ushering in the era of precision oncology. Now, alterations in the RET gene can be added to the list of druggable targets.
January 14th 2021
Despite decades of research and drug development, however, the therapeutic utility of targeting RAS is limited to ruling out treatment with certain drugs in patients without RAS mutations.
November 24th 2020
November 24, 2020 - Until now, the field of cell-based immunotherapy has been dominated by chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, with groundbreaking FDA approvals for 3 drugs across several types of hematologic malignancies. In solid tumors, however, CAR T-cell therapies have yet to gain ground.
November 17th 2020
The identification of chromosomal rearrangements that result in oncogenic gene fusions ushered in the era of molecularly targeted therapies in oncology.
October 8th 2020
Investigators are developing a new way to target a key oncogenic mechanism that may prove to be an effective anticancer strategy, particularly against hematologic malignancies.
September 15th 2020
TIGIT, an inhibitory immune checkpoint that plays a central role in limiting antitumor responses, is attracting robust interest in the research community as a novel target for combination therapies across a range of cancer types, particularly solid tumors.
September 3rd 2020
Precision medicine advancements are opening a new chapter in the development of anticancer therapies that target the HER2 pathway, resulting in 3 approvals for breast cancer in less than a year and raising hopes for attacking other cancer types.
August 21st 2020
Considerable efforts have focused on developing agonists of costimulatory receptors, including OX40. | https://www.onclive.com/authors/jane-de-lartigue-phd |
Patient stratification and selection is a crucial step for those developing and providing immunotherapy. However, the heterogeneity of tumours makes it difficult to develop accurate predictive biomarkers for cancer patient populations. Thankfully there
is a significant effort across academia and industry to do just this. Combining outputs from genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics, as well as looking into more discreet blood niches, such as circulating tumour cells and exosomes,
may indeed provide the answers we need. At Cambridge Healthtech Institute’s 2nd Annual Biomarkers for Immuno-Oncology conference we will address this and more.
Final Agenda
Day 1 | Day 2 | Download Brochure
WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH
PLENARY KEYNOTE SESSION
11:15 Organizer’s Remarks
Joel Hornby, BSc Hons, Conference Director, Cambridge Healthtech Institute
11:20 NEW: Chairperson’s Remarks
Reno Debets, PhD, Professor, Laboratory of Tumor Immunology, PI, Medical Oncology, Erasmus MC-Cancer Institute
11:30 Strategies to Improve Antitumor Efficacy of Genetically Engineered T Cells**
Stanley Riddell, MD, Scientific Director, Clinical Research, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center; Professor, University of Washington School
of Medicine
Immune cells can be readily genetically modified to express natural tumor targeting antigen receptors or synthetic chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) that activate immune cell signaling pathways to result in destruction of tumor cells expressing the relevant
target molecule. The presentation will discuss advances in our understanding of receptor signaling and the development of strategies that combine therapeutic agents to improve efficacy and safely extend the spectrum of cancers that can be treated
with cell therapies.
12:00 PD-1 Antibodies Are Transforming Cancer Treatment
Kandeepan Ganeshalingam, MD, Executive Director,Therapeutic Area Head Oncology, European Clinical Development
Global Clinical Development, MRL, Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD)
PD-1 antibodies have shown significant activity as monotherapy across multiple cancer types and lines of therapy. Precision medicine tools have been used to identify subjects most likely to respond to PD-1 antibody monotherapy, to provide insight to potential
resistance mechanisms, and to inform combination therapies. A number of these combinations have demonstrated significant activity in additional tumor types and lines of therapy.
12:30 Enjoy Lunch on Your Own
CLINICAL BIOMARKERS AND COMPANION DIAGNOSTICS
13:30 Chairperson’s Opening Remarks
To be Announced
Anguraj Sadanandam, PhD, Team Leader, Associate Professor, Molecular Pathology, Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), London
13:35 Mapping the Immune Landscape of High-Risk Chemotherapy Resistant Breast Cancers
Sheeba Irshad, MD, PhD, Senior Clinical Lecturer, Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London
Many patients with early breast cancers are treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). While those patients who achieve a pathological complete response (pCR) or minimal residual cancer burden (RCB)-I at surgery have an excellent long-term outcome,
the majority of patients with who have moderate (RCB-II) or extensive (RCB-III) residual disease suffer a much poorer outcome. An improved understanding of the biology and significance of the immune microenvironment (both within tumours and peripherally)
in chemotherapy-resistant breast cancers will inform the rational development of more effective therapy.
14:05 PD-L1 as a Companion Diagnostic for Tumors beyond Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: It’s the Same Thing, Only Different**
Kenneth Emancipator, MD, Executive Medical Director, Companion Diagnostics and Translational Medicine, Merck Sharp and Dohme (MSD)
The PD-L1 companion diagnostic had a huge impact on the clinical development of pembrolizumab, making it the first immunotherapy approved as a first-line agent for non-small cell lung cancer. However, this is just the beginning of the story, not the end.
Adapting the PD-L1 diagnostic to incorporate immune cell expression facilitated approval of pembrolizumab for several additional indications, and may shed light on the mechanism of action of checkpoint inhibitors
14:35 Detection and Characterization of Key Biomarkers in Immuno-OncologyRob Burgess, PhD, Sino Biological, Inc.
Founded in 2007, Sino Biological, Inc. is a global leader in the development and manufacturing of affordable, high-quality ISO9001-certified reagents, including, but not limited to, recombinant proteins, antibodies and cDNA clones—all in-house.
The company boasts the world’s largest selection of recombinant proteins at 6000+, and acts as a one-stop shop for researchers and pharmaceutical companies around the world. We help our customers to obtain the best reagents and services
to accelerate the pace of research and drug discovery to improve human health. An overview of the company’s product and CRO service portfolios as it pertains to the detection of biomarkers related to immune-oncology will be given.
14:50 Innovation in Biomarker Driven OncologyClare Sarvary Fourrier, Senior Vice President, Clinical Operations – Europe, Precision for Medicine, Oncology and Rare DiseaseBiomarkers have created astonishing new opportunities for oncology research – from patient stratification to choice of MOA – helping realise the full potential of precision medicine. Yet, Biomarker-driven studies also present
challenges.
Innovations in Biomarker Driven Oncology, presented by Clare Sarvary-Fourrier, Senior Vice President Precision for Medicine, Oncology and Rare Disease, offers much-needed insights into the evolving best practices around biomarker-driven
studies. Topics include: successful delivery of bio-marker driven studies; operationalising innovation; electronic data records and EDC connectivity.
15:05 Refreshment Break in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing
DIGITAL BIOMARKERS, AI, ML, AND DATA SCIENCE FOR IO
15:45 Attend Concurrent Track
Measuring Performance Status with Digital Tools: A Case Study in Metastatic Solid Tumors
Daniel R. Karlin, MD, MA, CEO, HealthMode, Inc.
Performance status is widely used to qualify patients for different treatment regimens or eligibility for clinical trials. The research-standard measures have low inter- and intraobserver agreement, low patient-clinician agreement, do not capture
low PO intake, lack subjectivity or an audit trail. Can a digital wearable and smart-phone passively and continuously collect activity data at sufficient coverage levels for analysis? We have run a feasibility study and there are some interesting
observations.
16:15 CO-PRESENTATION: Taking the Pain out of PD-L1 Scoring – Artificial Intelligence Supported IHC Quantification in Routine Diagnostics
Lukas Heukamp, MB, PhD, Director Molecular Pathology, Molecular Pathology, Institut für Hämatopathologie Hamburg
Felix Faber, CEO and Founder, MindPeak GmbH
Immunohistochemistry has become the core biomarker predicting response to novel Immuno-checkpoint Inhibitor therapies. Still, pathologist face a number of challenges in using PD-L1 IHC. Accurate quantification is cumbersome and requires extensive
training. In this talk, we present an AI method for IHC quantification including PD-L1 that supports pathologists in relevant scoring schemes. We have tested this method in a clinical setting with promising results for reproducibility, efficiency
and accuracy.
16:45 Novel Data Science Approaches for the Identification of Multivariate Biomarkers for Simultaneous Diagnosis of Multiple Cancer Diseases
Darius M. Dziuda, PhD, Professor, Mathematical Sciences, Central Connecticut State University
State-of-the-art data science methods are used in this project to search for characteristic gene expression patterns that are common for multiple cancer diseases. TCGA NGS data for several thousand patients, several tissues, and several tumor
types have been utilized. A parsimonious multivariate biomarker and – based on this biomarker – classifier of high sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of differentiating between the tumor and normal states have been identified.
17:15 Problem Solving Breakout Discussions (See complete list of Problem-Solving Breakout Discussion)
Why Digital Biomarkers?
Moderator: Daniel R. Karlin, MD, MA, CEO, HealthMode, Inc.
Immunotherapies Beyond Melanoma and Lung Cancers
Moderator: Sheeba Irshad, MD, PhD, Senior Clinical Lecturer, Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kings College London
18:15 Dinner Short Course Registration
18:45 Dinner Short Course
Recommended Short Course*
Dinner SC3: Engineering of Bispecific Antibodies and Multi-Specific Non-Antibody Scaffolds - LEARN MORE
Mathieu Cinier, PhD, Scientific Director, Affilogic
Mattias Levin, PhD, Senior Scientist, Antibody Engineering, Alligator Bioscience AB
THURSDAY 12 MARCH
8:00 Registration and Morning Coffee
PREDICTIVE MARKERS, BIOMARKERS OF RESPONSE AND PRECISION MEDICINE
8:30 Chairperson’s Remarks
Maggie Cheang, PhD, Team Leader, Genomic Analysis Clinical Trial, The Institute of Cancer Research
8:35 Anti-PD-1 Monotherapy versus Combined Anti-PD-1 and Anti-CTLA-4 Immunotherapy in Metastatic Melanoma: Who Will Benefit?**
Camelia Quek, PhD, Senior Scientist, Postdoctoral Scientist, Cancer Immunotherapy & Biomarkers, Melanoma Institute
Australia
Immune checkpoint inhibitors including anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA-4 have led to durable anti-tumour effects in patients with metastatic melanoma and other cancer types. However, approximately 60% of patients treated with immunotherapy fail to
achieve long-term durable response rates due either to failure to respond or to emergent drug resistance. A strong rationale for biomarker development that stratifies patients who might benefit from immune checkpoint inhibitors is urgently
needed.
8:55 Quantifying Response and Characterizing Resistance to Neoadjuvant Anti-PD1 in Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma (NSCLC)**
Tricia Cottrell, PhD, Assistant Professor, Pathology and Molecular Medicine,
Queens University
Neoadjuvant anti-PD-1 may improve outcomes for patients with resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and provides a critical window for examining pathologic features associated with response. Unique features of immune-mediated tumor
regression include immune activation, massive tumor cell death, and tissue repair. Multiplex immunofluorescence is a powerful new approach for characterizing the tumor immune microenvironment, both for biomarker and mechanistic discovery.
However, careful optimization and validation are warranted.
9:15 Proper Evidence Generation to Establish Clinical Values
Eugean Jiwanmall, MPH, MBA, Senior Research Analyst, Technology Evaluation & Medical Policy, INDEPENDENCE BLUE
CROSS
Understanding and developing per clinical needs are essential aspects during discovery of biologically & clinically relevant biomarkers. Getting these biomarkers to become part of routine clinical care is an exciting and fulfilling journey,
which should include a number of key pathways that must be anchored and supported by reliable evidence. Different phases from exploratory mechanisms to connecting biomarkers to therapeutic decisions require certain quantities and qualities
of evidence. States of evidence for biomarkers and therapies based upon them can evolve simultaneously or in sequence, but must cross certain thresholds to gain ubiquitous clinical usefulness. Having sufficient evidence for practical employment
of precision medicine’s tools and solutions is essential, and production of this evidence base is & will remain a necessity.
10:05 Coffee Break in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing
10:15 Speed Networking in the Exhibit Hall
PREDICTIVE MARKERS, BIOMARKERS OF RESPONSE AND PRECISION MEDICINE (CONT.)
10:50 Immuno-Oncology, Circulating Biomarkers, Using Circulating Tumour Cells and Beyond**
Yong-Jie Lu, MD, PhD, Professor, Molecular Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London
Cancer detection and precision medicine requires frequent tests. However, the current gold standard cancer diagnosis, tissue biopsy, is very invasive and does not represent the overall molecular mark-up. ‘Liquid biopsy’, particularly
circulating biomarkers, has potential for a step-change in cancer diagnosis, treatment stratification and post-treatment surveillance. I will briefly summarise the current circulating biomarkers in immune-oncology and present our own research
data of circulating tumour cells and other circulating biomarkers.
11:20 Attend Concurrent Track
Clinical Proteomics Enters Clinical Trials: A Generic GCP-Compliant Workflow for the Routine Analysis of Patient-Derived FFPE Samples by Quantitative Mass Spectrometry
Axel Ducret, PhD, Senior Principal Scientist Pharmaceutical Sciences, Roche Pharma and Early Development (pRED), F. Hoffmann-La
Roche Ltd
Quantitative mass spectrometry is becoming a more routine technique for the analysis of human clinical samples. Along with gradual acceptance by the regulators, it provides a mean to test hypothesis in the most relevant framework, in clinical
human samples. In this presentation, I will show our latest test case studies and review our current experience in developing GCP-compliant protocols for the routine analysis of FFPE tissue samples at CROs.
11:50 Attend Concurrent Track
KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: Challenges in Assessing the Efficacy of Immune-Oncology Drugs
Christophe Le Tourneau, MD, PhD, Senior Medical Oncologist, Department of Drug Development and Innovation (D3i), Institut
Curie, Paris, France
Due to their unique mechanism of action, immuno-oncology drugs display patterns of responses that are specific and sometimes challenging to handle in clinical practice. I will review these different patterns of response that include durable
responses, pseudoprogression, hyperprogression and dissociated responses, and provide some guidelines on how to handle them in the clinic.
12:20 Networking Lunch in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing
ADDRESSING THE TUMOUR MICROENVIRONMENT
13:05 Chairperson’s Remarks
Graham Pockley, PhD, CEO, multimmune GmbH; Professor of Immunobiology, John van Geest Cancer Research Centre, Nottingham Trent University
13:10 Membrane Hsp70 – A Novel Target for Isolating Circulating Tumour Cells
Graham Pockley, PhD, CEO, Multimmune GmbH; Professor of Immunobiology, John van Geest Cancer Research Centre, Nottingham Trent University
We provide evidence that a monoclonal antibody (mAb) against a membrane-bound form of Hsp70 (mHsp70) – cmHsp70.1 – can be used to isolate viable circulating tumour cells (CTCs) from peripheral blood of tumour patients. As the expression
of mHsp70 remains stably upregulated on migratory, mesenchymal CTCs, metastases and cells that have been triggered to undergo EMT, we propose that approaches based on capturing cells that express mHsp70 are advantageous over those based
on EpCAM expression.
13:40 FEATURED PRESENTATION: Leveraging Novel TCR/Antigen Discovery Technologies for (Pre)Clinical Applications
Wouter Scheper, PhD, Senior Postdoc, Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Netherlands Cancer Institute
There is a growing interest in trying to understand the cellular states of tumor-infiltrating T cells, for example using scRNAseq and high-dimensional mass cytometry. However, these technologies so far do not inform on the actual tumor-specificity
of intratumoral T cells. We have developed functional T cell receptor profiling platforms that allow the unbiased assessment of T cell specificities, and aim to leverage these technologies for developing next-generation TCR gene therapies.
14:10 Exploring the Ubiquitin Landscape in Immuno-Oncology
Adan Pinto-Fernandez, PhD, Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford
The deubiquitylating enzyme USP18 is a major negative regulator of the innate immune response, in particular of the modulation of the Interferon (IFN) signalling. USP18 is the only human enzyme that processes the Interferon stimulated
gene 15, ISG15, a ubiquitin-like protein tightly regulated in the context of innate immunity, in vivo. In this study we explored potential new roles of USP18 and ISG15 in Immuno-Oncology. | https://www.immuno-oncologyeurope.com/biomarkers-immuno-oncology/ |
Our UHN programs and services are among the most advanced in the world. We have grouped our physicians, staff, services and resources into 10 medical programs to meet the needs of our patients and help us make the most of our resources.
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Toronto (Sept. 27, 2021) – Princess Margaret Cancer Centre researchers have made new findings which greatly improve detection of the human papillomavirus (HPV) in the bloodstream and could further hone precision treatment of the illness.
The team has made the discovery by sequencing circulating tumour DNA, which can lead to the detection of HPV in a person’s blood. Previous science in the field has proven the virus, which causes cancers in the throat, mouth, and genital areas, can be found in the bloodstream but tests have had limited sensitivity.
The new study provides "ultrasensitive" detection, which could pave the way toward greater use of precision medicine for patients with cancers affecting these vulnerable areas of the body.
In a cohort of patients with advanced cervix cancer, the new sequencing method detected 20-fold lower levels of HPV circulating tumour DNA, making it a promising new method to monitor the disease.
The results come from the laboratory of Princess Margaret Senior Scientist Dr. Scott Bratman and are published in
Clinical Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, on September 27. Drs. Eric Leung, Kathy Han and Jinfeung Zhao are co-first authors, and Princess Margaret Senior Scientists Drs. Lillian Siu and Trevor Pugh are co-authors of the study.
"Increasingly, as clinicians we’re focused on precision medicine and making sure we're not over-treating people while still curing them, that's a very difficult balance to strike," Dr. Bratman says.
One of the ways to do that is to use liquid biopsy approaches or blood-based biomarkers, one of which is circulating tumour DNA, in order to monitor how the treatment is progressing, he added.
"We’re really at the cusp of a revolution from a technology, clinical implementation and standard of care standpoint, where five to 10 years from now we will not be treating everybody with the same dose of radiation and chemotherapy, and then waiting months to see if the treatment was effective," he says. "I'm confident we will be giving much more tailored doses."
Dr. Bratman says that when physicians scale back on these intense treatments there is a risk that the cancer re-occurs. With more sensitive tests, re-occurrences can be detected quickly and patients can be returned to treatment.
"Patients who need more treatment will then be able to continue on, or different treatments can be added," Dr. Bratman says. "We can spare the vast majority of patients who will not need those interventions and provide them with a greater quality of life once they're cured of the cancer."
The work done by the PM team will make it possible for further study in the field, refining the approach using larger study groups, and eventually, practice-changing clinical trials.
This technique could also be used to detect and guide treatment for other viruses that cause cancer such as certain types of stomach cancer and lymphomas.
Dr. Bratman says this work is made possible by the collaborative atmosphere at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.
“It's particularly good here in terms of spanning those different domains, multi-disciplinary and translational research, and that was definitely a major factor in getting this study done,” Dr. Bratman says.
Data for the study was generated at the Princess Margaret Genomics Centre. Collaboration on the research extended beyond PM, including key contributions from radiation oncologist Dr. Eric Leung from Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.
Dr. Han, who serves as gynecologic radiation oncology site group leader at the Princess Margaret, says the research team first started enrolling patients with cervical cancer to this study in 2015.
"The promising results from this wonderful collaboration with Dr. Bratman will enable us to personalize patients’ treatment in the future," she says.
This work was supported by the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, the University of Toronto Department of Radiation Oncology Collaborative Seed Grant, the philanthropic support from Sean and Peta Boyd and from the Joe and Cara Finley Centre for Head & Neck Cancer Research, the Cancer Research Society Operating Grant, and Conquer Cancer Foundation of ASCO Career Development Award and the Gattuso-Slaight Personalized Cancer Medicine Fund. HPV DNA is continuing to be evaluated at the Princess Margaret under the auspice of the institutional liquid biopsy Program (LIBERATE) that is supported by the BMO Chair in Precision Cancer Genomics.
Drs. Jinfeung Zheng, Zhen Zhao, Kathy Han and Bratman are co-inventors on a patent application related to this work. Dr. Bratman is also inventor on patents related to cell-free DNA mutation and methylation analysis technologies that have been licensed to Roche Molecular Diagnostics and Adela, respectively. Dr. Bratman is a co-founder of, has ownership in, and serves in a leadership role at Adela, a company which was created and spun out of the University Health Network.
Princess Margaret Cancer Centre has achieved an international reputation as a global leader in the fight against cancer and delivering personalized cancer medicine. The Princess Margaret, one of the top five international cancer research centres, is a member of the University Health Network, which also includes Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute and the Michener Institute for Education at UHN. All are research hospitals affiliated with the University of Toronto. For more information:
www.theprincessmargaret.ca
Phone: 416 340 4636
Email: | https://www.uhn.ca/corporate/News/PressReleases/Pages/Princess_Margaret_Cancer_Centre_researchers_refine_test_to_achieve_ultrasensitive_detection_of_HPV_in_the_bloodstream.aspx |
At the start of a project, there’s generally a mix of excitement and anxiety by the team as they embark on a new challenge. Many of us who are involved in project work thrive off this adrenalin rush because we enjoy applying our skills to overcome a problem or realise an opportunity. However, as time progresses, adrenalin and novelty easily wain, resulting in ever-decreasing team morale. That morale, in turn, has a major impact on team member behaviours, productivity and overall motivation.
While the initial stages of a project focus on controlling a team’s energy and channelling it in the right direction, the latter stages commonly require greater levels of motivation to achieve project results. Successful improvement leaders recognise they often have the most influence over that motivation – and that’s why they invest effort in sustaining it.
At Minset, we’ve frequently seen team morale and motivation become central factors driving improvement…or the absence of them holding it back. It also shapes the likelihood that gains are sustained after that initial energy has backed off.
Here are some practical, important steps for improvement leaders in encouraging and maintaining team motivation:
- Highlight the value of the work – articulate the project or team vision in a way that highlights the value it brings to the end user or client. This helps to connect individual work with a broader context. As one example, we were supporting a leader in delivering an operations improvement project and, right at the start, they actually took their team into their (internal) clients’ world. It gave them a direct feel for what value looked like for the people they were there to serve. The team was able to draw on that broader perspective to stay motivated throughout the project.
- Make benefits personal – clearly communicate the benefits for those actually impacted. They are the ones who need to change their routines or behaviours, so a personal link can be critical. For example, workplace organisation means less frustration looking for lost tools and parts…or recording data in a new application (rather than your spreadsheet) means another skill on your CV…or involvement in a successful improvement project means new skills and experience for future roles.
- Set realistic goals – establish clear and specific performance goals for the team as a whole and for individual team members. When your people know what is expected of them, they can take far greater initiative in delivering prescribed actions and finding ways to add value beyond those set tasks.
- Supply feedback from the start – give team members honest and useable feedback on their performance. When it’s provided throughout a project, it affords more opportunities for individual improvement and realignment. Ensure the feedback is timely and addresses specific behaviours they can control and change. Some of the highest performing leaders we’ve worked with have had their own simple tracking systems to ensure they are being consistent in their feedback frequency. For higher performers on the team, those regular reviews have encouraged incremental personal improvement. In contrast, one account stands out where a team member initially struggled to get on board with their team’s improvement program. A period of sustained, regular feedback from their leader ended up being crucial to their turnaround and they became one of the program’s greatest advocates. Smaller points of feedback, delivered more frequently, ended up having the most significant cumulative benefit for those team members.
- Conduct regular reviews – meet with your team regularly – at least monthly, if not weekly – to develop and periodically review project objectives and confirm accountability for deliverables. Good communication between team members is crucial for good morale. Frequent and honest communication improves the flow of information sharing and underpins team trust.
- Praise small victories – ensure team members are recognised for good performance. Rewards and recognition should also occur more often than negative comments or criticism. They can be effective ways to clarify and communicate performance standards and show that performance is being monitored. If rewards are viewed as timely and performance based, then team members will likely be more motivated toward higher performance. In contrast, recognition that is unearned or seems arbitrary can actually work against healthy morale.
- Walk the walk – demonstrate your commitment to, and passion for, team goals and project success. The idea of ‘visible leadership’ has been touted for many years now and it will be an enduring principle of leadership. There’s something contagious about engaged leaders and you’ll likely find that team members will step up in their own commitment and passion as well.
- Give each team member a chance to shine – remember that a leader’s success depends on the success of their team. Providing opportunities for individual team members to be in the spotlight typically motivates them to keep contributing their best, and further builds their skills and capability along the way.
As a leader, the ability to motivate others is so important. Naturally, you cannot control their motivation, but you can control the way you conduct your projects to generate more energy and enthusiasm. More often than not, that will lead to greater motivation. Regularly undertaking these steps will foster stronger relationships and that sustained energy among your team. | https://minset.com/why-successful-improvement-leaders-invest-in-motivating-their-teams/ |
“Team Development” is the method in which the skills of each individual are enhanced by providing continuous feedback and make them ready for new challenges.
“Team Motivation” is the method in which the effort of each individual is measured and praise for their effort. It makes them motivated and more productive and efficient.
Course Objective
After going through Team Development and Motivation training participants will understand and learn about:
- Understanding the meaning of Team
- Learn about team Building process
- Understand how to identify team capabilities and scope of improvement
- Learn about Reporting Mechanism and Providing feedback to employees
Who Should Attend
- Human Resources
- Sales and Purchase Managers
- Operations Managers
- Project Managers
- Supervisors
Benefits of Attending
If team members having not sufficient skillset, then the team can not perform well and fail to achieve the project goal. For achieving project or organization goals, development and motivation of the team are needed.
Team Development and Motivation training workshop will offer the following benefits:
- Continuous feedback and support help to increase productivity and efficiency of the team and individual
- Defining the team goals and execute them as per planning is the very important part.
- The gap and hurdles within the team can be identified and removed
- Mutual trust and respect for one another and the team’s purpose
- A creative and flexible attitude to problem-solving with opportunities for everyone to express their ideas
TRAINING OUTLINE
1.Being a Team Leader
-Role of leadership
-Understanding differences between a leader and a manager
-Identifying a leader
-Vision, Defining a vision
-Analysing a situation
-Goal Setting
2.Team Development
-Understanding the Team Composition
-Communicating Within Team
-Communicate and support the vision
-Gaining support and empowering team members.
3.Understand the Team Hurdles
-Emotional Intelligence
-Transactional Analysis For Team Synergies
-Conflict Resolution Techniques
-Taking New Initiative – 7 Infrastructure Model for Successful New- Initiative
-Reporting Mechanism and Providing feedback to employees
4.Problem Solving With Team
-Team Engagement For Problem Solving
-Team Planning And Selecting The Right Team
-Work Allocation and Team Development by Understanding The Performance
-Maintaining Individual Respect
Training Deliverables
GROUP EXERCISE
PAIR EXERCISE
CASE STUDIES
INDIVIDUAL EXERCISE
PROJECT SELECTION
POWER POINT
VIDEO DEMO
RELEVANT TESTS
SITE VISITS
ROLE PLAYS
Feedback From Past Participants
“This workshop helped us to identify the Team building process.”
“This workshop helped us to find and eliminate team hurdles .”
“The trainer guidance has helped us for right team planning and work allocation .”
“This workshop helped us to learn technique for developing creative and flexible attitude within the team
Know Your Trainer
B-tech from NIT Rourkela and PGDM from IIM Calcutta has 18 yrs. of experience in various Sector.
Area of Expertise include Operational Excellence, Strategy Development and execution, production & Quality, Leadership & Skill Development
Have conducted more than 400+ Training sessions on various Strategic, Process Improvement, Technical and behavioral topics and have trained more than 8000+ Managers/freshers/Students from various organizations/Colleges. | https://www.tetrahedron.in/corporate-training-companies/behavioural-training/team-development-motivation/ |
Adopting a Feedback Culture: How to Motivate Employees to Share Their Feedback?
Employee feedback is like "the breakfast of champions." It means that good feedback can make the difference between being great and being average. Employees don't know how to improve if they don't get and receive good feedback. Giving and getting feedback at work isn't as easy as it looks. Giving feedback can be hard because people have fragile egos, don't communicate well, and don't give it at the right time. These problems can make it hard to give and get feedback that helps people grow. So, to solve the problems, you have to understand what keeps your employees from sharing feedback.
What Stops Employees From Giving Feedback?
- They don’t have time.
An employee's job is to make sure the right things get done on time and on budget. How will that happen if they have a huge workload and can't find time to give or receive feedback? So you have to make sure that feedback culture is in the DNA of your company and that every employee knows that from the beginning. So they won't see this process as an extra workload, but instead it will be a very important part of their job.
- They don’t know how and why.
Smart leaders understand that a healthy corporate culture and positive workplace relationships are built on open, honest internal communication from all employees. The higher up you go, the more likely it is that many of the day-to-day activities will escape your notice, and the only way to find out what's going on is to question your employees. As a result, you must emphasise the importance of a feedback culture in your organisation. Your employees may be inexperienced, or the company may not be hiring frequently enough for the importance of a feedback culture to be recognised. Many employees have never been trained on how to give constructive feedback.
Yes, training is beneficial, and there is a lack of belief that providing feedback is effective, and it is this lack of belief that drives the lack of incentive to learn the "how to."
- They are afraid to share the voice.
We all have a voice in our thoughts that may run out of control at times, whether we like to admit it or not, and this is one of those occasions. Employees may be afraid of how their bosses will react, especially if they are angry or stressed out. This stress causes them to be afraid of the answer they will get. However, feedback is always essential for continuous learning and development.
- They’re not sure about the action taking.
Employees frequently resist giving criticism for two reasons: fear and a lack of understanding. They may be afraid of jeopardising their current relationship with the company or of how the supervisors would react. People may also not know how to give feedback because they haven't been properly trained.
Committed employees who know the value of providing practical feedback to their team leaders – who are hindered when the person receiving it behaves out, shuts down, or fails to keep promises. These employees are capable of providing feedback, but will their ideas be translated into action? As a result, always let your employees know that you've heard and appreciate their concerns.Also, let them know your purpose for taking action. Employees shouldn’t be scared or hesitant about sharing their feedback.
How to Encourage Feedback and Break the Resistance?
- Start from the top.
When it comes to concerns with clients and coworkers, all employees should be assured that their managers have an open-door policy. If managers improve their feedback-receiving skills, employees become more open and less cautious about having difficult dialogues. As a result, you must start at the top and teach your management team how to give and receive constructive feedback. Make sure you adopt a strong feedback culture in your company, starting from the top.
- Communicate the importance of the feedback frequently.
One crucial aspect of fostering a feedback culture at work is having colleagues who are willing to give honest feedback. Employees must feel comfortable and confident that providing feedback will not result in negative consequences. Building trusting relationships and expressing the importance of feedback on a regular basis are the first steps. Your employees will be in many trenches that you may not see or experience, regardless of the size of your company. Their perspectives are crucial. If feedback and suggestions are encouraged as part of the company culture, employees will feel more engaged and a part of the company's evolution and growth.
- Transmit feedback culture through focus groups and company events.
Employee focus groups and corporate events are excellent ways to obtain input from employees. Setting up focus groups and company events can enhance employee motivation and engagement in and of itself. You may 'engage' employees by demonstrating that you value their input and take the time to listen to their thoughts and feelings. What does 'engagement' mean if it isn't involving people and allowing them to take part in interactions? This is the perfect time to establish a feedback culture and guarantee that input is valued throughout the organisation.
- Reward feedback.
Being open and forthcoming is frequently quite difficult for an employee. Create a culture where employees who provide more feedback are rewarded with small prizes. It relaxes people and gives a safe place for you all to ask questions, think about things, and share your views. Openness and participation are encouraged at all levels of the organization, and the whole group benefits from the knowledge and experience that everyone brings to the table.
- Show actions and changes.
You must show that feedback doesn’t only stay as words. Let people know when you make a choice or modification based on their input. Focus on the why rather than just articulating the decision or change. "What were we thinking when we did this?" "Because of your ideas."
It's a gift to receive feedback. You might not get another one if you don't use it and appreciate it properly. When you have a feedback culture, you respond to and act on feedback. Employees must recognise that providing feedback is worthwhile. Don't overlook the importance of following up on what you've done in response to feedback.
Power Your Team With Technology
Finally, make sure your team has access to feedback tools like Sorwe. Employees can capture notes from feedback sessions, conduct two-way feedback dialogues, ask for 360° feedback, give praise via recognition, and collect feedback via surveys with the help of a technology partner like Sorwe. This eliminates the administrative burden of feedback, allowing everyone to concentrate on improvement. | https://www.sorwe.com/en/blog/how-to-motivate-employees-to-share-feedback |
Training Practice Manager
To manage the delivery of the public and ‘inhouse’ training programmes to ensure consistent delivery, to a high standard providing appropriate support for the development of practitioners.
Role purpose:
To provide a responsive and adaptable approach to delivering client requirements for in-house certification programmes both in the UK and Europe (when requested by other offices). To manage directly the trainers in the training team, supporting, developing and growing their capabilities to ensure full coverage of the training functions and develop their skills in selling and project managing client engagements. To apply the insights and professional ethics guiding Occupational Psychology in the commission of this work. To work with the Head of PS, Europe to develop and maintain a cohort of internal trainers and external trainer associates to maximise flexibility and ensure we can meet training delivery demands with maximum efficiency. To plan and support the development of all trainers across PS and the wider business to achieve a high level of delivery in line with the training upskilling requirements specified by the Global QA team.
The purpose of the Training Practice Manager is to support the smooth operation of the wider Professional Services function. This will include, covering trainer sickness/absence, authorising associate bookings, handling customer feedback and complaints, escalating as appropriate (ensuring the voice of the customer is updated), observing and co-delivering trainers on a cycle to ensure consistency, quality and development is continuous, creatively supporting the resourcing for all PS offerings. Becoming upskilled in the certification and application programmes and then delivering 20% chargeability across training and consultancy offerings (including certification training in MBTI Step I, Step II and FIRO). To ensure that the trainers are able and motivated to take on projects when working directly with other functions such as product management, QA, Thought Leadership and Marketing.
How this role fits into the business:
In addition to managing the delivery of our training offerings, the Training Practice Manager will be based in our Oxford office to be able to work closely with the Trainers, Operations and Consultancy teams to ensure the smooth running of the Training Practice and support the smooth operation of the wider Professional Services function.
Key responsibilities:
1. Main Duties
- Provide effective line management to Trainers in the Training Team, foster their development across the full range of skills required of trainers and support extension into consultancy delivery across the UK PS function.
- Work with the Operations team to ensure that the training programmes are fully resourced, individual trainers provided with the opportunity for variety and balance where possible and development of the full range of PS skills.
- Plan and support the effective delivery of public and in-house training to meet quality, revenue and margin requirements for the UK training business.
Create and maintain a cohort of trainers across the UK business and with external associates to maximise revenue generation and margin across the year. Ensure effective communications, contracts compliance and quality.
- Work with the Head of PS, Europe to support both the provision of resource to deliver appropriate consultancy engagements and to develop the consultancy skills of the trainers across the full PS range of services when working on internal product development/TL/QA/Marketing projects or directly for external clients.
- To monitor and report on the key metrics for the training delivery for the UK business including targeted utilisation, meeting agreed resourcing SLAs, evaluation results for trainers and events, profitability margins and to work with the Director of PS Europe and Head of Operations UK and to minimise overheads and plan any changes to the schedule required in a timely manner.
- To personally deliver 20% chargeability on training and consultancy activities.
2. Line Management
- Effectively manage the training team, share and invite regular feedback from individuals, conduct performance reviews and development activities in line with company process, and grow short term skill gaps and develop longer-term capabilities in line with the business plan.
- Ensure direct reports are supported to meet their chargeable utilisation targets and development milestones in an appropriate manner.
- Make use of assessment centres and other recruitment activities, to select new trainers, to meet the business need.
- Foster a ‘can do’ attitude culture in the team (in line with our values and behaviours) and encourage trainers to stretch and grow in line with their motivation and capability.
- Encourage direct reports to work toward chartership as an Occupational Psychologist, encouraging and supporting progress and targeting completion within 3 years.
- To act as a ‘project manager’ lead on any non-standard training programmes for ‘inhouse clients, supporting the scoping, costing and management with resource from the PS team as appropriate. Supporting team and developing skills.
- In carrying out the above, facilitate high levels of performance and support the motivation and development of direct reports.
3. Operational Management
- Communicate regularly with the Trainers, Associate Trainers and Operations to ensure they are briefed and fully prepared for upcoming delivery engagements.
- Devise an annual resourcing plan in collaboration with the Head of Ops and Head of PS Europe.
- Ensure the training schedule is fully resourced for the coming 6-12 months to maximise utilisation and minimise wear and tear on the team.
- Work with others including the resource co-ordinator to continuously review fill rates, cancellations and ensure the business incurs minimum charges for maximum revenue and minimum costs whilst maintaining the client experience.
- Seek to optimise resource allocation by meeting Resource Co-ordinator and/or Head of PS, Europe weekly.
- Work closely with direct reports and other internal trainers to ensure that they are resourced onto work that is both interesting and motivating and supports their broader development, whilst balancing commercial demands.
- Develop trainers and support opportunities to work in consultancy.
- Proactively manage sales team expectations around resourcing constraints without creating additional challenge or difficulty.
- Support the trainers to prioritise client work business development and balance this with supporting practitioners and product development needs.
- To follow up any sales opportunities identified by the team during training delivery and ensure these are recorded on Salesforce and tasked to the relevant salesperson to pursue.
- Ensure the storage of all up to date files and course materials are managed appropriately, up to date and communicate any changes to the Operations Team, Trainers across the business and Associates.
- Ensure regular reporting of workshop participants who have not completed their qualification and ensure commercially viable action is taken to enable as many as possible of them to finish their qualification and become product purchasers.
- Support with creating and monitoring the annual budget and costs for training delivery in the UK.
- Review and sign-off expenses and travel in a timely fashion, in line with the company policies and budgets.
- Complete own monthly timesheet and ensure appropriate completion by trainers to provide accurate and high-quality utilisation data for the business by the monthly deadline.
- Review the evaluation data and trainee feedback for each programme and feedback on trainers to ensure that key quality standards are met.
- Manage the expectations of the trainers from around business (not just direct reports) to ensure compliance with policy and ensure consistency across the team.
- Undertake other projects and duties as prioritised by the business and agreed with Head of UK PS.
- Support across the business with trainers and consultants as required.
4. Plan and support effective delivery
- Work with the Head of Operations, Head of Sales and Head of PS, Europe to ensure that the public schedule is fully resourced by the end of Q3 for the coming financial year.
- Work with the Operations and Sales teams to ensure that inhouse requests are managed proactively, with clear engagement with the customer on the driver for the training and resourcing the best fitting trainer for this work given skills/course required and giving consideration to workloads, variety and motivations of the trainers as well as margin, costs and availability.
- Ensure any non-standard inhouse requests are escalated to the bid/no bid group for review and oversight and provide oversight and project management to ensure the smooth running of the work.
- Regularly review margins and escalate where margins are below the target level.
- Manage the associate trainers ensuring they remain well informed, engaged and available for flexible delivery in line with variations in demand. This includes communications, review conversations, updating of skills records and recruitment training of additional associates if required.
- Remain contactable by trainers, venues and clients to ensure that any reasonable out of hours emergencies (sickness, travel delays, weather issues) are flagged and proactively addressed to ensure issues are managed, client’s expectations are managed and our staff are safe and supported. If necessary, step in at the last minute to training delivery to cover sickness and absence.
5. Monitoring Quality and Performance
- Regularly review performance with trainers (inside and outside of the team), seek and provide feedback, review evaluation data and seek client feedback to help identify strengths and foster development.
- Monitor and respond to any negative client feedback, discretely exploring with the trainer and escalating if appropriate. Handle or escalate complaints that require attention, by calling the client, investigating the complaint and taking action, with appropriate consultation, to restore client confidence and satisfaction. Record and log complaints and actions taken.
- Review performance of the training function through a range of metrics identifying the performance of the function vs targets and expectations. These to include staff sickness, revenues, margins, cost avoidance activities, approach to avoiding the use of associates, feedback data on events and other success indicators as deemed appropriate.
- Provide regular reports to the Head of PS, Europe on progress and monthly reports of highlights for the PS reports.
- Seek to continuously improve processes, quality of data and quality of delivery in line with budget and PS plans.
Notes:
Out of hours work will be required from time to time. Travel is occasionally required to the hosting location facilities, country offices and for training.
Hours of work will be 37.5 per week, normally worked within the period 08:00 to 18:00 - start/finish times will be arranged on a rota basis and some flexibility will be required.
This job profile is current as at the date shown below. In consultation with the post-holder it is liable to variation by management to reflect or anticipate changes in or to the job. To view the full job description please click here. | https://eu.themyersbriggs.com/en/About/Current-vacancies/Training-Practice-Manager---Jan-2020 |
The research findings are unequivocal. Student learning and student retention are correlated strongly with student engagement. The more actively engaged students are with college faculty and staff, with other students, with the subject matter being learned the more likely they are to persist in their college studies and to achieve at higher levels. The correlation has been emphasized in a number of major studies and reports on the college experience.
In his research, Alexander Astin (1977, 1993) determined that the persistence or retention rate of students is greatly affected by the level and quality of their interactions with peers as well as faculty and staff. Tinto (1987) indicates that the factors in students dropping or “stopping” out include academic difficulty, adjustment problems, lack of clear academic and career goals, uncertainty, lack of commitment, poor integration with the college community, incongruence and isolation. Consequently, retention can be highly affected by enhancing student interaction with campus personnel. Rendon (1995) indicates in her study that two critical factors in students’ decisions to remain enrolled until the attainment of their goals are their successfully making the transition to college aided by initial and extended orientation and advisement programs and making positive connections with college personnel during their first term of enrollment. Noel (1985) stated: “It is the people who come face-to-face with students on a regular basis who provide the positive growth experiences for students that enable them to identify their goals and talents and learn how to put them to use. The caring attitude of college personnel is viewed as the most potent retention force on a campus.”
As students become more integrated into the academic and social fabric of the campus community, their levels of commitment, academic self-confidence and motivation increase. This in turn influences their levels of persistence and, consequently, opportunities for academic success.
Similarly, research findings indicate that job satisfaction strongly correlates with employee engagement in the workplace. The more actively engaged college staff are with students, co-workers and supervisors the more likely they are to attain a sense of responsibility, recognition, achievement, contribution and value which in turn, leads to an increase in job satisfaction.
Mumford (1976) argues that workers have “knowledge needs” (work that utilizes knowledge and skills), “psychological needs”, (such as recognition, responsibility, status and advancement), “task needs” (which include the need for meaningful work and some degree of autonomy, and “moral needs” (to be treated in the way that employers would themselves wish to be treated). Hertzberg (1959) presented a theory, which looks at ‘motivators’ and proposed that enduring states of motivation in employees lead to an increase of job satisfaction. Motivators include: responsibility, recognition, promotion, achievement and intrinsic aspects of the job. Intrinsic motivation involves the employee attributing job behaviours to outcomes which are derived from the job itself. An employee who is experiencing a state of intrinsic motivation tends to be committed to the job and self-fulfilled through it (Klubnik and Roschelle, 1996).
As college employees become more integrated into the fabric of the campus community, their levels of commitment, motivation and satisfaction increase.
The SUCCESS@Seneca program facilitates both student and staff success.
All students begin college with the goals of academic, career and personal success. Some students manage to navigate their educational journey very successfully. Many, however, do not. Some experience difficulties with the transition to college. Others lack motivation, self-discipline, academic skills and career direction. Perceived, insurmountable barriers including personal issues, disabilities, or financial problems lead to unsuccessful completion of their academic school year.
In addition to the traditional applicant many institutions are reaching out to new and diverse students. During the past decade, North American colleges and universities have made a concerted effort to create environments that reflect the diversity of the general population. The demand for a diverse and representative student body is based in part on beliefs regarding social justice (equal opportunity) and in part on a philosophy of education (educational value of a diverse student body). As the effort to attract and retain students of under-represented minorities has intensified, colleges and universities are implementing a variety of support programs. Unfortunately, the success of programs to enroll underrepresented student groups has in some cases been associated with a relatively high dropout rate for the newly recruited students. Colleges and universities are understandably interested in minimizing such dropouts and maintaining student diversity.
Colleges and Universities continue to grapple with high attrition rates. They have developed excellent resources including counseling and disability services, academic advisors, student services, learning centres, financial aid departments, and so on. Yet, the number of students who are unsuccessful, withdraw from college or just quietly fade away remain alarmingly high. An innovative and effective multi-dimensional approach that addresses student success and retention related activities may be the elusive piece of the success puzzle.
SUCCESS@Seneca has teamed up with the General Arts and Science programs at Seneca’s Newnham campus. The design of an integrated service delivery model addresses numerous student success and retention related activities by providing the essential connection between academics and college resources. The program focuses on the promotion and support of academic services, career development, personal needs, and the transition into college and beyond, working cooperatively to address the needs of the “whole” student.
This multi-faceted approach includes several components:
A user-friendly on-line portal, allows students to build on their academic ‘toolbox’ (strategies and study skills), explore career options and enhance their communication and relationship skills. SUCCESS@Seneca staff utilize this on-line portal to communicate with students on a regular basis. Students are reminded of upcoming critical dates, workshops, and social events. The portal is updated and revised on an ongoing basis. Student feedback positively reflects convenience, useful information and helpful resources at their fingertips.
An ‘Early Warning System’ allows the SUCCESS@Seneca team to identify and assist ‘at-risk’ students on a timely basis, offering interventions and resources that lead to student success.
Ongoing ‘Success @’ workshops and seminars, social activities and electronic communications (E-mail) promotes a sense of connection and support.
At the heart of the program is the College Coach component. A College Coach is a college employee who chooses to participate in the SUCCESS@Seneca program. The coach takes an active interest in the student’s college progress, has a willingness to assist students in exploring services that can improve their skills, and motivates them to successfully complete their college journey. The aim of the College Coach is to keep the students connected, on track, goal oriented and motivated. The coach can help students establish goals, anticipate and troubleshoot problems, encourage them to explore and connect with the appropriate college resources and people, and promote self sufficiency. The main responsibility of a College Coach is to stay connected with the student(s). The SUCCESS@Seneca staff provide training, ongoing support and on-line resources. The coach meets with a student every two weeks for up to twenty minutes and completes a brief tracking form following each session. Therefore, coaching one student would involve a maximum of forty minutes per month. The College Coach is not compensated however, they are recognized at a year end event.
Through surveys, questionnaires, transcripts and feedback sessions, each aspect and component of SUCCESS@seneca is tracked. Findings indicate that those students who participated in SUCCESS@seneca were overall, more successful and had higher grade point averages than those students who did not participate.
Surveyed students indicate a positive shift toward a pro-active and responsible learner approach an increase in motivation, self-discipline, problem-solving abilities, perseverance and positive attitude toward their studies. Student feedback reflected a smooth transition to college life, a strong sense of belonging and connection, an increase in self-confidence, a feeling of academic preparedness, and a positive and realistic sense of self.
Feedback obtained from the College Coaches has also been very positive and encouraging. Employees who participate in this aspect of the program feel a sense of value and connectedness. They believe that they are making a positive difference in the lives of students and are eager to encourage them toward success. Employees also feel more a part of the college community and feel a sense of pride. They have a better understanding and appreciation of the college student and the academic journey that lies before them. They are more aware of the issues and barriers that prevent student success as well as the college resources that provide assistance and support. Employees report that their work is more meaningful when they are directly involved with student success. Coaching college students instills a sense of responsibility, achievement, contribution and value.
The literature overwhelmingly points to benefits to the college, the coach, and the student. Coaching is useful and powerful in understanding and advancing organizational culture, providing access to informal and formal networks of communication, and offering professional stimulation to college employees (Luna and Cullen, 1995).
Coaching supports professional growth and renewal, which in turn empowers college employees as individuals and colleagues (Boice, 1992). Not only do students become empowered through the assistance of a coach, but coaches themselves also feel renewed through the sharing of power and the advocacy of collegiality (Luna and Cullen, 1995).
The SUCCESS@Seneca program addresses numerous success and retention related activities with the college community through a pro-active and collaborative approach. Post secondary institutions have a responsibility to its students and employees - a responsibility to provide an environment which embraces those initiatives that foster a sense of achievement, contribution, value and success.
SUCCESS@ Seneca is premised on the theory that students and staff function best in an atmosphere of mutual respect, acceptance and consideration. It is also based on the knowledge that students and staff need many opportunities to develop those skills that lead to a pro-active and responsible approach to life tasks. SUCCESS@Seneca empowers individuals to take charge of their destiny in an encouraging, supportive, learning environment. Through regular and consistent connections between student and staff, SUCCESS@Seneca facilitates positive change, growth and success.References
Astin, A.W. (1997). What Matters Most in College: Four Critical Years. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Astin, A.W. (1993). What Matters Most in College: Four Critical Years Revisited. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Hertzberg, F. (1959). The Motivation to Work. New York: John Wiley and Sons.
Klubnik, J.P. and Rochelle, M. (1996). Battling the Barriers to Success. Chicago: Irwin Professional Publishing.
Mumford, E. (1976). Work Design and Job Satisfaction. Manchester: Business School.
Noel, L., Levitz, R. and Salvri, D. (1985). Increasing Student Retention. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Rendon, L. (1995). Facilitating Retention and Transfer for First Generation Students in Community Colleges. Paper presented at the New Mexico Institute, Rural Community College, Espanolo, N.M.
Tinto, V. (1987). Increasing Student Retention. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Steve Fishman, M.A. is Program Leader in the Success@Seneca program at Seneca College and can be reached at 416-491-5050, ext. 6948 or [email protected]
Lisa Decandia, B.F.A. is Program Coordinator in the Success@Seneca program at Seneca College and can be reached at [email protected]
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The views expressed by the authors are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of The College Quarterly or of Seneca College. | http://collegequarterly.ca/2006-vol09-num02-spring/fishman_decandia.html |
OVERVIEW OF THE TRAINING:
Supervisors play a key role in any organization. They are responsible for creating a link between upper management and front-line employees, and have a dramatic impact on employee performance and behaviour.
In this 2 days program, participants will gain an understanding of their role as Supervisors (or potential supervisors) in the organization, acquire knowledge how to get work done through others, how to sustain and improve performance of team members; overcome challenges facing supervisors and, and have a desire to develop more effective supervisory skills and leadership competencies.
The program will use practical work-related tools, exercises, case-studies, role-plays to ensure application of learning takes place.
Participants will also be given tips and strategies on becoming highly effective supervisors.
OBJECTIVES:
- Define the scope, nature and responsibility of the supervision role and the challenges this role places on them.
- Effectively communicate verbally and non-verbally with others using the techniques learned.
- Energize and inspire their team for a better performance based on superior requirement and organization.
- Use different skills in supervisor in management skills using the six management tools.
- Effectively supervise their staff by applying key principles of leadership and styles in managing them achieve results.
- Apply their role as motivators in daily to daily supervising employees to perform beyond expectation.
- Practice professional techniques in providing positive discipline at work place.
- Learn the value of delegation and prioritizing so they can be more effective and efficient in their work.
COURSE OUTLINE:
Day 1:
- Being a Supervisor Today
- Supervisors Key Tasks and Roles
- Superiors expectation and performance
- Essential skills for Supervisors
- Myths about supervision
- Responsibilities and challenges
- Problems Supervisors encounter
- Competencies of the 21st Century Supervisor
- Exercises and case study: Application at workplace
- Supervision in Management Skills
- 6 Tools in Management tools
- Analysis to rank yourself the level
- Exercises – worksheets
- Supervisory Leadership
- Leadership & the Qualities required to lead people
- Different Leadership roles
Day 2:
- Communicating Effectively
- Barriers to effective communication
- Effectively-Developing effective listening skills
- Practical exercises
- Reading non-verbal messages
- Techniques in Providing feedback
- Effective Motivator at workplace
- Practical worksheet and template
- Different workable motivational theories
- Theory of Motivation
- Motivation and STAR Performer
- SMARTer Goal setting to achieve desire and make a different
- Empowering people through Effective Delegation
- Art of Effective Delegation
- Four “Rights” of Delegation
- When, Whom, How to delegate
- Orientation and positive discipline
- Use of progressive disciplinary practices
- Applying reinforcement strategies
About the Consultant:Dr. RAJEN SANGAMALAY
He holds DBA, MBA, Diploma in Mechanical Engineering, Diploma in Manufacturing Practice, Diploma in Training & Development, Diploma in Business Administration and Certificate in Supervisory Skills (ISM, UK). He is a Certified Instructor for several management and technical programs. He has more than 35years of experience in various positions in MNC Companies. He has gained solid practical and hands on experience. His areas of specialization includes: Train The Trainer, Supervisory Development, Leadership Development, Training Needs Analysis, Communication, Problem Solving, Management Skills, 5s, Lean Management, Safety etc. PSMB Certified Accredited Trainer No:7801
Training Methodology:
- Interactive lectures
- Individual activities
- Exercises: Individual and Group
- Presentations
- Discussion
- Feedback session
- Question and Answer
Target Group:
Supervisors, Junior Supervisors, Senior Technicians, Lead Operators, Team Leaders or who has people reporting to them.
What will be provided?
- Comprehensive manual with all the activities.
- “Certificate of Competency” upon completion of Level 2 evaluation.
CONTACT:
ProMicom Services (M) Sdn Bhd
PSMB Approved Training Provider ‘Class A’
No. 6. Jalan Jambu 5, Taman Harapan Baru, | http://www.promicom.com.my/effective-supervisory-skills/ |
Employee engagement worldwide is at a depressing level. Research company Gallup reports that 87% of workers around the globe are not engaged in work. If your employees fall into this camp, they will affect your bottom line, as companies whose employees are highly engaged will beat out competitors by 147% in earnings per share.
Leadership teams often think that their employees are engaged, without really understanding if this is the case. Here’s how to better grasp what’s going on the ground and make sure the team is completely engaged.
1. Not emotionally-connected
“Being emotionally attached to a larger goal creates loyalty and motivation, which in turn helps employees feel more committed and engaged”
There is often a large gap between management and employees. Management is very engaged and excited. They roll out new values or mission or purpose-and then they end up falling flat on the company.
The reason for this is most often that the employees were not part of the process. New values/ mission/purpose have not been created by employees, but rather by management, so they are not emotionally connected.
If the process includes input and feedback from employees, the chances of it being emotionally anchored in the organization will increase significantly, and the likelihood of it meaning something for everyone will increase as well.
2. Not sharing
Trust is built on transparency. If something works well in one part of the company, it’s great to let others know about it. That’s what we like to call collaborative or accelerated learning.
Also, leaders will also be motivated by hearing actual case studies about what is happening in other businesses, since it makes them concrete and opens their minds to realize that it is possible. Everyone wins when you can build a community of sharing. Ideas are exchanged with others. Innovation and imagination abound, and inspiration is spreading.
From the recruiting process forward, the organization should try to get acquainted with employees’ preferred working styles—even something as basic as having a more introverted personality can lead to an extreme aversion to meetings. Technology development and the choice of systems to work with should focus on efficiency. Roles should be clearly defined in such a way that employees know what they are responsible for and spend their time wisely on related tasks.
3. Don’t Promote the Company Mission
Another way to inform staff of the company’s mission is to incorporate it into related content sharing and internal communication. Through using a company news application like https://smarp.com/, the business can easily share useful examples of the mission in motion, whether it’s through an article highlighting the success of a similar company or a blog that covers your organization’s recent business success tale. Employees would be able to see the importance of the business in a concrete way.
Furthermore, aligning employees with the company mission improves strategy across all departments when it’s a driving force. Promoting the mission helps improve customer engagement because employees are better able to communicate the brand to customers, and it brings clarity to internal processes. Reinforcing the mission at company-wide gatherings and recognizing employees who exemplify it can improve employee engagement at your workplace.
Improve Engagement Through Your Own Research
While employee engagement is a universal challenge, your business is nuanced and faces unique needs to improve engagement. Use internal surveys to ask employees what they can do to improve their level of engagement. Train managers on how to communicate effectively with their teams and gather strong in-person feedback from staff. Ask regularly for ideas on how to improve internal processes and technology tools that your business uses.
As you begin to implement what your employees want in your company’s operations, they will see that you value their feedback and want to keep them happy at work. By simply listening and acting on feedback, employee engagement will naturally increase with respect for work relationships.
To Wrap Up
ASHAVI – We have a long history of conducting employee surveys for companies looking to gauge the satisfaction among employees on several workplace factors. If you find our recommendations are useful, contact us for more extensive consultancy for uplifting employee satisfaction. | https://ashavi.com/top-3-biggest-mistakes-in-employee-engagement/ |
According to different studies, we know that the effectiveness of any organization rests on Human Behavior. Therefore, we first have to understand that in every team, we have people with different ethnicities, backgrounds, capabilities, responsibilities, attitudes, and aspirations levels, so it is essential to focus on positive emotions, self-acceptance, and work for the common goal.
In this short article, I will share 8 tips to maintain employees’ motivation, effective teamwork, focus on personal strengths, and a future of achieving company goals
TIPS:
- Be grateful every day and motivate your team to be grateful too. This will make the workplace happier; it’s a perfect moment to recognize people’s daily efforts and remind how small things make a difference to be really connected to one another. Also, when employees feel grateful, they will enrich client relations.
2. Focus on building personal strengths instead of weaknesses.
Focusing on personal strengths will allow employees to be more confident, less stressed, self – aware, and productive. Therefore, it would be easier to reach goals, solve problems, and maintain employees engaged, motivated on daily routines, and significantly lower attrition rates.
- Maintain positive emotions that will boost the job performance of employees. Happiness and positive emotions in the workplace are contagious, which means one positive person or team can have a ripple effect that extends through the entire organization; therefore, it is important to avoid criticism or negative evaluation; focus on employee growth. Moreover, when a team it’s positive will look for a positive relationship with clients focusing on results.
4. Continuous improvement or training
We live in a continuously changing world, so it is vital to engage managers to train their employees; they will be motivated and feel grateful to learn and grow in different areas. Also, it is a perfect moment to share in team activities, especially nowadays, when things are being remote.
- Cultivate trust, empathy
Let your team make decisions, give their opinion, trust in their experience, and show empathy with respectful communication in any feedback, training, or problem. Go beyond the ‘hand over,’ pulling the knowledge out of the experienced worker to ensure the continuity of relationships.
- Show the big picture and have a structured plan with tangible/clear goals.
Let your employees know the company’s goals, and spend time to discuss with each team member the best option for growth. Focus on user data to support processes and manage performance. This helps to manage all components of an organization as a whole to meet expectations.
7. Embrace the teamwork mindset
Commit to the success, happiness, and positive relations of your team. Make group activities with the belief that your own success is tied to the advancement of the group goals. Pay attention to team dynamics and help people work through issues together. Consistently demonstrate through your actions that you value teamwork.
- Make your team feel identify with the organization culture
Embrace employees to identify with your culture, give them a balanced view of the good and bad things, pull them to trust in your services or products, and make them show that to your client for their satisfaction too.
It’s essential that organizations focus on positive relations, plan team activities, and measure performance on human-oriented. Managers need to communicate effectively, take action, and direct employees toward the company’s common purpose, maintain the continuous training of the group for improvement, client satisfaction, and company goals. | http://asapstaffingservices.com/blog/a-positive-workplace |
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