Basic Coding & Data Science Institute at Georgetown University

This one-week pre-college summer technology program introduces students to such topics as creating a basic web page, data analytics, and the various ways to present data—all tools that can be helpful as citizens in the 21st century. To supplement the class lectures and hands-on activities, students also visit a well-known D. C. -based tech firm.

How Long: One week

Specific Subjects: Computer Programming, Coding, Digital Design

Boeing High School Scholars Program at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

We are sure that any tech-minded student would jump at the opportunity to spend part of their summer working with Boeing at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, so it shouldn’t be too surprising that the Boeing High School Scholars Program is one of the most selective pre-college summer technology programs around.

How Long: Varies

Specific Subjects: Aerospace Engineering

Clark Scholar Program at Texas Tech

Open to high school juniors and seniors, the program allows students an opportunity for hands-on practical research with leading researchers and members of the Texas Tech faculty(全体教员). This unique opportunity, which also includes weekly seminars and fields trips, pays students a $750 tax-free allowance, and provides room and board.

How Long: Seven weeks

Specific Subjects: Computer Science, Electronic Media, Energy, Engineering, Mathematics and Statistics, and more

Columbia University Summer Immersion

Students can choose from a variety of subject areas in which to spend their three weeks, while also participating in extracurricular activities, and exploring New York City. Students leave the program with evaluation letters from their instructors, as well as a statement of completion from Columbia.

How Long: Three weeks

Specific Subjects: Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, and more

Wendy Bennett was appointed the executive director of AgSafe four years ago. Initially, she was unsure she had the skills and abilities needed to do the job. “There was nothing short of terror,” she said. “I certainly didn't have the educational background for it, although I have a good education.”

Despite seeking the help of a formal mentor (导师)，Wendy still felt she could improve—this is when she decided she wanted to pursue further education. She saw UFred's Executive MBA program run by the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering (CSSE), of which she is a member. Wendy said that along with the coursework, learning from her peers and classmates and using their examples helped make her organization stronger and better. With her EMBA from UFred, Wendy believes she can now perform her job with confidence, and that it' s also benefited the people she works with.

“I really believe that I have an opportunity to help my organization to grow and to be really successful in the future,” she said. Wendy’s classroom experience gave her the confidence to communicate effectively to every level of her organization. She also sees a difference in how she deals with not only staff, but also in how she interacts with board members. She said the ability to be convincing and speak properly with regards to governance and how a board of directors can function excellently is something she previously wasn't as skilled in.

“I can work with my board of directors to do a better job with strategic planning to move our organization into the future,” she said. While Wendy admits the EMBA program is a lot of work, it's satisfying at the end of the day.

“Nothing worth having comes easily. I think anybody who wants to take their career to the next level, they need to have the broad range of the education that this EMBA provides,” she added.

A new technology allowing children with disabilities to engage in conversations more easily has been launched today. The “How was school today?” software system was developed by the Universities of Dundee and Aberdeen as well as disability charity Capability Scotland.

Rolf Black, from the University of Dundee 's School of Computing, said in a statement. For a child with severe movement disabilities and limited or no speech, holding a conversation is often very difficult and limited to short one-to-two-word answers. To tell a longer story, a communication tool is often needed to form sentences but this can be very time consuming, putting a lot of pressure on holding and controlling the conversation. " This technology simplifies the task. It starts with a sensor attached to a child' s wheelchair which in turn tracks where they have been and what they have done during their day. Swipe cards (磁卡) enable аdultѕ, ѕuсh аѕ саrеrѕ оr tеасhеrѕ, tо lоg whеn thеу hаvе іntеrасtеd wіth thе сhіld and a recorder is built in allowing people to add in more details about what the child has done. Once all the information is collected, natural language generation (NLG) is used to create simple sentences to describe the activities a child has taken part in, letting them have a discussion about their day unlike they have previously been able to.

The scheme(方案) was piloted at Corseford School near Glasgow by two of the pupils. Sue Williams, head teacher at the school, said, “In the week we used the system we found it very useful to pupils, teachers, therapists( 治疗师 ) and parents alike. It allows children to take control of the conversation without having to rely on help from us. " The project was funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (ЕРSRC).

A statement from the University of Aberdeen said that plans were in place to develop the design of the software further and more pilots will be taking place in the future.

The campaign to protect 30 percent of the world’s oceans by 2030, supported by more than 70 nations, is known mostly for soaring ambition and scant achievement so far. In fact, just 7 percent of the seas are protected and only 2.7 percent are highly protected. “It is very optimistic to think we’ll reach ‘30 by 30’,” says Patricia Majluf, a Peruvian fisheries scientist who has worked to create a deep-sea protected area off Peru in the face of strong resistance from the fishing industry. Peru has protected less than half a percent of its offshore waters.

Setting aside nearly a third of the oceans, the fishers say, is an idea developing nations in South America and elsewhere can ill afford. And the gap between sea-protection and fishing interests has grown wider as fishing stocks decline and the appetite for seafood grows along with the global population.

However, research published today in Nature aims to dramatically change that narrative. The study suggests that protecting 30 percent of the oceans not only could restore biodiversity to ocean habitats, but it could also increase the annual global catch by eight million tons—about 10 percent of the catch today. And, as a bonus, it would provide a “cheap, natural solution” to climate change by reducing the amount of seafloor carbon emitted into the seas by fishing trawlers(拖网渔船).

“The only way to get more food from the ocean is to protect more,” says lead author, Enric Sala, a marine ecologist and explorer-in-residence at the National Geographic Society, which in part underwrote the study. “The catch has been declining since the mid-1990s and this would provide a benefit forever.”