With amassive,nationwide effort the United States could reach net-zero emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050 using existing technology and at costs aligned with historical spending on energy,according to astudy led by Princeton University researchers.The new“Net-Zero America”research outlines five distinct technological pathways for the United States to decarbonize its entire economy.The research is the first study to quantify and map with this degree of specificity,the infrastructure that needs to be built and the investment required to run the country without emitting more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than are removed from it each year.It’s also the first to pinpoint how jobs and health will be affected in each state at ahighly granular level,sometimes down to the county.The study’s five scenarios describe at ahighly detailed,state-by-state level the scale and pace of technology and capital mobilization needed across the country,and highlight the implications for land use,incumbent energy industries,employment,and health.Initial results were released December 15,in recognition of the urgency to cut greenhouse gas emissions and the need for immediate federal,state,and local policy making efforts.Journal publications will follow in early 2021. 查看详细>>

The high volume of applications submitted to arecent Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education initiative underscores the serious impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on research at the University of Wisconsin–Madison last spring.The OVCRGE received 110 applications for the Pandemic-Affected Research Continuation Initiative and will support 70.Funded projects come from across campus and represent each of the four research divisions.Last spring,some researchers were faced with spending down their existing funds while the pandemic limited certain on-site research activities.This included face-to-face human subjects research,research travel and most research activities conducted in-person in university research facilities.The PARCI supports projects that are now facing ashortage of funds to complete those activities,and is helping to replace critical and time-sensitive research supplies and resources lost due to pandemic-related restrictions.The awards vary,up to$50,000.“We heard many stories about how research progress and funding were impacted by the closure of labs,field work suspension and limitations to other research activities,”says Steve Ackerman,vice chancellor for research and graduate education.“We knew there was aneed for this initiative,even as research activity has successfully restarted on campus.”For example,chemistry professor Tina Wang’s research efforts,delayed by the pandemic and resulting campus closures,are being supported by PARCI funding.Her lab is working to develop and use new methods for research in chemical biology,exploring the interplay between protein folding and function,and development of robust sensors and gene circuits.Dysfunctional protein folding is ahallmark of anumber of diseases,most notably neurodegenerative disorders.Michael Cahill,professor of comparative biosciences,received funding to support his work with animal models and to continue funding agraduate student.Cahill’s research focuses on understanding how gene-based alterations identified in schizophrenia,major depressive disorder and autism spectrum disorders influence neuronal morphology and function.PARCI is also supporting Dan Vimont,professor of atmospheric and oceanic sciences and co-director of the Nelson Institute Center for Climatic Research—along with others at the center—to help them more fully resume research into climate variability and climate change,interactions between weather and climate,and global and regional impacts of climate change.“While this initiative will help CCR maintain our pursuit of the Wisconsin Idea through world-class research and outreach on the causes and impacts of climate change,it does more,”Vimont says.“In addition to recognizing the importance of our colleagues for what they do,it also recognizes the importance of who they are:parents,spouses and family members who are also world-class scientists.As we face what we expect will be achallenging time for the university and for research funding,this is welcome help to our center and to our scientists.“Due to COVID-19,the OVCRGE also has extended end dates on other OVCRGE research-related funding affected by the pandemic and considered reallocations from existing budget line items.COVID-19 also has had an impact personally on researchers,including faculty members,postdocs,technicians and graduate students.It has affected their educational progress,their career development and their work-life balance.For graduate students and early-career scientists,the disruptions have made it increasingly challenging for them to complete necessary research and to advance their careers.In response,the Graduate School also recently sponsored aprogram to support PhD and MFA students facing pandemic graduation delays.The Dissertation Completion Emergency Fellowships program provides one-semester fellowships for students whose graduation has been unavoidably delayed by pandemic-related restrictions who cannot be supported through normal program appointments or endowment funds in Spring 2021 but who now expect to graduate by August 2021.Thirty-nine fellowships are being funded through the DCEF program. 查看详细>>

Johns Hopkins University has created anew system for students,prospective students,parents,and others to submit requests for assistance with course registration,financial aid,and student accounts,an important first step as the university moves toward ashared student services organization.The new case management system—developed by University Information Systems as part of the Student Services Excellence Initiative—will make it easier for users to get the support they need quickly and easily.Rather than calling or emailing various offices or departments to ask questions or resolve issues,students can submit arequest.The system will significantly reduce the number of times astudent is referred to another office or staff member to receive support.It will also give staff amore comprehensive view of the needs of students and others requesting help,showing prior requests,the status of requests,and previous communications with the student."Along with my colleagues who lead registration,student accounts,and financial aid,I‘m excited about the launch of this new tool,"said Tanya Johnson,the university‘s inaugural director of Student Enrollment Customer Services."The tool offers digital record-keeping,centralized data management,and real-time updates for students and staff.The Hopkins community will appreciate how the system increases transparency and offers efficient resolution of case management through effective collaboration."Historically,information collected on student help requests has been difficult to track and nearly impossible to report on—information is stored in different locations that are not accessible across departments.The new system will promote the collection and safeguarding of important student data.The first wave of the rollout begins today,for students in the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences and Whiting School of Engineering,including Advanced Academic Programs and Engineering for Professionals.Degree-and certificate-seeking learners at all degree levels may use the tool,but those in non-credit programs should continue to work directly with their program contacts,as the tool does not currently support non-credit programs.AAP‘s summer programs are also not included.Current and prospective students,parents,and alumni can submit requests and inquiries by visiting the online case form.It can also be accessed on the Homewood University Registrar,Student Financial Services,and Student Accounts websites.The system will roll out across the university throughout the coming year.Details on exact launch dates will be shared at alater date;to stay informed,readers can subscribe to the SSEI newsletter. 查看详细>>

The products and services we use in our daily lives have to abide by safety and security standards,from car airbags to construction materials.But no such broad,internationally agreed-upon standards exist for artificial intelligence.And yet,AI tools and technologies are steadily being integrated into all aspects of our lives.AI’s potential benefits to humanity,such as improving health-care delivery or tackling climate change,are immense.But potential harms caused by AI tools–from algorithmic bias and labour displacement to risks associated with autonomous vehicles and weapons–risk leading to alack of trust in AI technologies.To tackle these problems,a new partnership between AI Global,a nonprofit organization focused on advancing responsible and ethical adoption of artificial intelligence,and the Schwartz Reisman Institute for Technology and Society(SRI)at the University of Toronto will create aglobally recognized certification mark for the responsible and trusted use of AI systems.In collaboration with the World Economic Forum’s Shaping the Future of Technology Governance:Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning platform,the partnership will convene industry actors,policy-makers,civil society representatives and academics to build auniversally recognized framework that validates AI tools and technologies as responsible,trustworthy,ethical and fair. 查看详细>>

In 2019,GHL piloted asecond course,“History Dialogues”(HD),which builds upon the work of“A History of the World.”It provides learners with training in additional historical research methods.Learners have embarked on independent research projects that they then shared with their global colleagues,creating new knowledge and narratives that connect local stories to global themes.Now,GHL has received a$2.4 million multi-year grant from the Open Society University Network(OSUN)to expand its reach to international students at 21 institutions and NGOs worldwide.Housed in the Princeton Institute of International and Regional Studies(PIIRS),GHL uses technology,pedagogical practices and training in oral history methods to educate students about the history of globalization and prepare them to become knowledge producers for awider world.GHL was established by Jeremy Adelman,the Henry Charles Lea Professor of History. 查看详细>>

With the emerging threats of climate change and human impact on the marine environment,marine ecosystems across the globe are changing rapidly,leading to the urgent need for the conservation and restoration of these key systems.To build asustainable marine environment,the University of Hong Kong(HKU)joins hands with the Institute of Oceanology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(IOCAS)to establish the Joint Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Sciences(JLMEES),fostering collaboration in the fields of marine and environmental sciences between Hong Kong and Mainland China.The two institutes signed the Memorandum of Understanding(MoU)on November 24,2020.This initiative aimed at establishing astrategic platform for interdisciplinary collaboration between IOCAS and HKU,through the Swire Institute of Marine Science(SWIMS)under the Faculty of Science,to facilitate innovative scientific research,promote academic exchange and develop personnel training in the marine science arena.The research directions of this joint laboratory involve,but are not limited to,(1)marine biodiversity and global change,(2)marine biogeochemistry and environmental change,(3)marine ecosystems and ecological disasters,and(4)marine resources and ecological restoration.Professor Fan WANG,Director of IOCAS,is delighted to see the strengthening collaboration between IOCAS and SWIMS.“This marks asubstantial step forward in the cooperation between IOCAS and HKU.The cooperation meets the country‘s urgent need for marine development and represents an opportunity for anew round of development.The two sides will carry out innovative and interdisciplinary cooperative research in marine ecology and environmental sciences to jointly serve Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area,”said Professor Wang.Dr CHEN Heng,Director of the Department of Educational,Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People‘s Government in the HKSAR(LOCPG),envisioned the collaboration would bring mutual benefits to the research developments of both institutes.“These two key marine research academic centres come from the north and the south.Collaboration between the two is acritical event in marine sciences,where we can achieve more together through cooperation and resource sharing.As President Xi Jinping always stresses,we need to show greater care about the ocean,understand more about it and make strategic plans for the use of it.The LOCPG is willing to assist and hope that the two parties can continue to work and succeed in the cooperation,”said Dr Chen.Professor Alfonso NGAN,Acting Vice-President and Pro-Chancellor(Research),Kingboard Professor in Materials Engineering and Chair Professor in Materials Science and Engineering at the Department of Mechanical Engineering of the Faculty of Engineering of HKU,believed that the collaboration could strengthen the leadership position of HKU in this area.“I am very pleased to witness this momentous occasion in establishing closer ties between HKU and CAS to spearhead advanced research in marine ecology and environmental sciences.This collaboration is both well-timed and meaningful.I am confident that this research partnership will drive anew wave of world-class developments in marine sciences and be further advanced with the interdisciplinary research culture in both institutions,raising the research collaboration to new heights,”said Professor Ngan.Professor Matthew EVANS,Dean of HKU Science,regarded the collaborative initiative as amilestone in the development of SWIMS.He said:“This is asignificant moment for marine ecology and environmental science in the Faculty.Only the strongest research areas get approval to launch ajoint laboratory with CAS.The Faculty has recognised for some time that the interdisciplinary work conducted by the Swire Institute of Marine Science is one of our research strengths.I am extremely pleased to see this recognised by the collaboration with the Institute of Oceanology in Qingdao.We are particularly proud as it has been ten years since the formation of the last joint laboratory between CAS and HKU.” 查看详细>>

为深入贯彻落实党的十九届五中全会精神和省委十二届八次全会精神，围绕齐齐哈尔“十四五”规划设计，瞄准精密超精密产业发展方向，推动装备制造产业提档升级，齐齐哈尔精密超精密产业发展规划启动仪式及新闻发布会于11月28日在齐齐哈尔举行。黑龙江省人大常委会副主任、齐齐哈尔市委书记孙珅，我校党委书记熊四皓出席会议并讲话。孙珅在讲话中表示，2018年9月习近平总书记在齐齐哈尔考察时指出，“装备制造业是国之重器，是实体经济的重要组成部分”“要继续练好‘内功’，继续改革创新，确保永立不败之地、永远掌握主动权。”近年来，齐齐哈尔认真贯彻习近平总书记重要讲话和重要指示精神，以经济建设为中心，持续推进以装备制造等为代表的重点产业建设，加快构建现代产业体系。打造精密超精密产业基地，既是推动齐齐哈尔装备制造业高质量发展的需要，也是积极融入新发展格局、为我国装备制造业供应链和产业链优化升级贡献力量。要积极打造立足东北、面向全国乃至世界的精密超精密产业集群，攻克一批制造业“卡脖子”关键技术，切实承担起维护国家产业安全的时代重任。孙珅强调，党的十九届五中全会指出，“坚持创新在我国现代化建设全局中的核心地位，把科技自立自强作为国家发展的战略支撑”。以科技创新自立自强助力构建新发展格局，装备制造业责无旁贷。齐齐哈尔与哈工大等高校和科研院所建立了紧密的合作关系，致力于共同打造中国精密超精密产业高地。齐齐哈尔将为企业和科研院所创新发展搭建好平台，做好服务保障和要素支撑，推动更多成果落地转化，为我国建设装备制造强国作出齐齐哈尔贡献。熊四皓在讲话中表示，习近平总书记在致哈工大建校100周年的贺信中高度评价哈工大“打造了一大批国之重器，培养了一大批杰出人才”。“一大批国之重器”就包括哈工大与齐齐哈尔共同打造的一批标志性成果。回顾历史，齐齐哈尔始终以服务国家战略为使命，新中国成立之初就是国家重要的工业基地，也是我国工业体系的重要支撑。哈工大始终以服务国家需求为己任，坚持扎根龙江，为国家工业化事业和航天国防事业贡献了自己的力量。长期以来，市校双方紧密合作取得了丰硕成果。熊四皓指出，刚刚闭幕的省委十二届八次全会，吹响了奋力开启社会主义现代化新龙江建设新征程的号角。哈工大和齐齐哈尔在我国装备制造领域都发挥着重要作用，在推动龙江现代产业体系建设、创新驱动发展等方面取得新突破义不容辞，在推动龙江振兴发展不断迈上新台阶、打开新局面上责无旁贷。双方携手大力发展精密超精密制造产业，正是贯彻落实习近平总书记重要讲话精神、中央和省委有关精神的重要举措。期待校地双方在精密超精密产业发展领域开展更深层次的交流合作，助力齐齐哈尔成为全国最大的精密超精密产业基地，共同打造更多国之重器，培育更多杰出人才，为龙江全面振兴、全方位振兴贡献更大的力量。齐齐哈尔市科协主席、我校仪器科学与工程学院教授谭久彬院士在会上阐述了我国装备制造业发展现状和发展精密超精密产业的重要意义，介绍了精密超精密检测中心、国家高端超精密装备制造产业计量测试中心情况。副校长徐殿国在会上介绍了我校与齐齐哈尔的校地合作成果。自2015年我校与齐齐哈尔签署战略合作协议以来，校地双方在科研攻关、成果转化、人才培养等多个领域合作层次显著提升，合作范围显著扩大。截至目前，双方开展各类科研合作项目152项，涉及铁路、高端装备制造、环境治理、食品加工等多个重点领域。学校高度重视与齐齐哈尔行业领军企业的交流互动，不断深化与中国一重、中车齐车、齐二机床等大型企业的全面战略合作，为“老字号”企业的新产品、新工艺研发注入新活力。今年8月31日，我校与齐齐哈尔签署《精密超精密制造产业合作协议》和《国家高端超精密装备制造产业计量测试中心合作协议》，在精密制造、新材料、超精密测量、环保处理等相关领域建立战略合作伙伴关系，开展校地深度合作，共同打造国内首个精密超精密制造产业集群。双方发挥各自资源优势，以“头雁”工作站为牵引，加速人才和科研核心力量的注入，打造了技术研发、集成创新、技术转移与服务等全方位支撑的校地协同发展创新模式。目前我校已有6个“头雁”团队在齐齐哈尔建立了头雁工作站。依托“头雁”资源，武高辉教授团队通过成果转化成立的齐齐哈尔翔科新材料有限公司已发展成为金属基复合材料制备、精密机械加工一体化的国家级高新技术企业。同时双方建立了人员互派挂职交流机制，为齐齐哈尔高端制造平台和东北精密智能制造产业研究院建设作出了重要贡献。熊四皓一行还到中国一重集团有限公司、齐齐哈尔高新技术产业开发区、齐重数控装备股份有限公司等进行了调研。工信部、科技部，中国遥感应用协会、中国重型机械工业协会，黑龙江省发改委、工信厅、科技厅，黑龙江机械工程学会，齐齐哈尔、我校和相关高校领导、专家学者，部分精密超精密制造企业（项目）代表等共计百余人参加会议。 查看详细>>

2020年11月25日，中俄人文合作委员会第二十一次会议以视频连线方式召开，国务院副总理孙春兰与俄罗斯副总理戈利科娃出席，共同签署会议纪要并见证了有关领域5个合作协议的签署。会上，北京大学校长郝平、莫斯科国立大学校长萨多夫尼奇代表两校签署中俄数学中心联合培养协议。孙春兰指出，经过20年实践，中俄人文交流机制正迈入更加成熟稳固也更有活力的重要阶段，人员往来更加密切，各领域合作取得丰硕成果，年度双向留学交流人员超过10.4万，成立了12个同类大学联盟、覆盖636所学校，联合实验室、研究中心建设有序推进，北京大学和莫斯科大学牵头成立“中俄数学中心”，成功互办文化节、电影节、旅游合作、青少年运动会、历史档案文献展等项目，为增进中俄人民友谊、推动文明交流互鉴作出了重要贡献。2020年6月，北京大学与莫斯科国立大学牵头成立了中俄数学中心，邀请来自中俄双方顶尖的高校及科研机构，形成数学研究的中俄两国国际联合研究集群。中俄数学中心紧紧围绕国家战略发展需求，积极承担面向国家发展重大需求的科研任务，以解决实际科技问题为导向开展应用数学研究。同时，中心还积极加强人才培养。根据中俄数学中心建设方案，两国高校努力探索创新人才培养方式：优化不同层次学生的培养结构；多方集成教育资源，制定跨学科人才培养方案，探索建立行业急需、能力突出的高层次复合型人才培养新机制。此次，北京大学和莫斯科国立大学签署联合培养协议，旨在进一步深化合作，拓展中俄两国在数学科学领域的交流，推动博士生、硕士生、高年级本科生的联合培养，汇集国际一流的数学领域专家学者，培养富有开拓进取精神和创新意识、具备国际视野和国际竞争力的数学顶尖人才。 查看详细>>

ne day earlier this year,a dozen or so Chicago Booth students logged in to their virtual classroom and presented their assigned homework.But they didn’t turn in the usual slide decks or Excel analyses.Instead,one by one,they shared their homemade instruments—whimsical improvisations that included aglass jar packed with pennies,a xylophone made from silverware and aset of wine glasses filled to play different pitches.The students were ready to shake,strum,jingle,drum and clap their way through the lesson,staring down their stage fright and prepared to get alittle musical in their quests to become better leaders.It was showtime in the Leadership Studio course,one of three new leadership courses the Booth School of Business introduced in the 2019-2020 school year,and one of the most unique classroom experiences at aleading business school.Writing anew tune Stephen Kohler,MBA’02,a leadership coach and lifelong amateur musician who led the session that day in Spring Quarter,describes Leadership Studio as anew kind of course,in which students dig deep through rehearsals and hands-on lessons to discover their own leadership skills. 查看详细>>

A new accelerator programme is inviting SMEs to collaborate with Greater Manchester’s research and innovation institutions to support the development of innovative health and care products.The Research and Innovation(R&I)Health Accelerator is open to companies looking to accelerate commercialisation of their product or service into the health and care system.By leveraging Greater Manchester’s specialist translational research capacity and world-class health science assets,the accelerator aims to support the introduction of new health and care innovations,establish effective partnerships and support the growth of the region’s life sciences sector.The project is led by Health Innovation Manchester(HInM),the organisation responsible for accelerating innovation in Greater Manchester’s health and care system,in partnership with The University of Manchester(UoM),Manchester City Council,Bionow and The University of Manchester Innovation Factory.It is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund(ERDF).As part of the R&I Health Accelerator,SMEs will be able to access expertise and support to help progress their products and services towards adoption and commercialisation in the health and care system.Support could include information about navigating the health and care system,developing value propositions,ethics®ulatory advice and access to university-wide expertise.There will also be opportunities to build lasting research collaborations between SMEs,researchers,Greater Manchester universities,NHS organisations and the broader health innovation community.These collaborations will be used to share knowledge,address the barriers to adoption and co-develop proposals for research and development projects. 查看详细>>