Four University of California, Irvine researchers – working in fields as diverse as computational chemistry, statistical methods, particle physics and inorganic chemistry – have been named fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the world’s largest general scientific society. “Congratulations to the four UC Irvine researchers named fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science,” said Pramod Khargonekar, vice chancellor for research. “These scholars are responsible for groundbreaking research that has helped UC Irvine earn a stellar reputation a ..read more

A University of Texas at Dallas researcher and his international colleagues have developed an algorithm that might one day provide early medical alerts about the onset of asthma attacks or other respiratory problems. Dr. Dohyeong Kim The algorithm, described in a study published online Nov. 20 in the journal PLOS ONE, monitors a patient’s breathing in real time and analyzes the frequency of wheezes. The researchers hope to incorporate their work into a wearable device. “An automatic alarm could be sent to the patient — or the parents of children — for immediate attention,” said Dr ..read more

The University has entered into a Power Purchasing Agreement (PPA) with global energy leader Iberdrola, enabling it to purchase electricity from a renewable source, and by 2028 all electricity purchased will be 100 per cent emissions-free. The agreement paves the way for La Trobe to eliminate its single largest source of emissions. La Trobe’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Theo Farrell, said the agreement was part of the University’s ongoing commitment to being a sustainable leader, and is funded by its Sustainable Finance Program. “This commitment will significantly contribute to our 2029 ..read more

Six projects across Australia will share in $5 million from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Targeted Call for Research funding round, aimed at identifying how telehealth can be used most effectively and appropriately. Della Forster, Professor of Midwifery and Maternity Services Research with the Judith Lumley Centre and the Royal Women’s Hospital, received $999,585 for her team’s research into maternal and infant care. Professor Forster’s research looks at whether a combination of telehealth and face-to-face visits for antenatal care results in improved pati ..read more

The Modern Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence Centre (PEC, or the Centre) has moved to Oxford University after being awarded extension funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC). The Modern Slavery PEC was created in 2019 by the investment of public funding to enhance understanding of modern slavery and transform the effectiveness of laws and policies designed to address it. The Centre has built a reputation of funding and producing high quality research, evidence and analysis laser-focused on policy impact. Having funded over 50 research projects, the ..read more

A University of Queensland founded startup that builds exhibition design software for art galleries, museums and theatres has been acquired by Swiss company Culture Software Group. Ortelia Curator is a software used by creative professionals worldwide to create 2D and 3D interactive exhibition spaces, originating from research led by Emeritus Professor Joanne Tompkins from UQ’s School of Communication and Arts. “We wanted to develop a tool that could help curators and designers rapidly test and communicate exhibition design concepts with stakeholders,” Emeritus Professor T ..read more

The University of Queensland is leading a collaborative project to assist Australian agricultural organisations refine and improve their trade strategies toward China. A team led by UQ’s Associate Professor Scott Waldron, will partner with the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) and the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) to conduct seminars for Australian and Chinese organisations in the beef, dairy and feed sectors. Dr Waldron said the project would enable organisations to build new links with China and explore areas of common interest. “Prior to 2019, China accounted for o ..read more

The University of Maryland will seek the state’s approval to replace the campus’ aging power, boiler and chiller plants and key portions of the thermal distribution system as part of a long-term plan to pursue sustainable, fossil fuel-free energy alternatives. A $390 million investment in campus infrastructure, the NextGen Energy Program stands to significantly improve energy service on campus and result in immediate environmental impact, including cutting carbon emissions by 23% and reducing water consumption by 50% a year. “A carbon-neutral campus is a significant step, but now it’s time to ..read more

Terps will build an outdoor play area in a Baltimore neighborhood, create an online hub for opioid peer recovery specialists in training, and create public art, among dozens of projects awarded $460,000 from the University of Maryland’s new Do Good Campus Fund. The 27 grantees—who include faculty, staff and student groups—all plan to expand or scale up efforts happening across University of Maryland, aimed at reimagining learning and serving humanity both inside and outside the classroom. Senior Vice President and Provost Jennifer King Rice, the Do Good Campus Strategic Leadership Council an ..read more

A University of Maryland researcher who helped influence guidelines on masking and other measures nationwide to limit the spread of COVID-19 joined fellow experts on Thursday in publishing a new report designed to standardize how the medical and scientific fields communicate about transmission of respiratory viruses. Released by the World Health Organization, the report aims to combat the misinformation that spread rapidly during the pandemic and sometimes cost people their health—or lives. “The report corrects a number of misconceptions and misunderstandings that were major proble ..read more