Professor Zhu Feida The global personal data economy is growing faster than anyone could have imagined. The current business model for data is broken – for individual users and businesses alike. On one hand, users don not have enough control over their own data, such as what data is collected and how the data is used. That challenges their privacy. Users are also not fairly rewarded for their data. On the other hand, while most businesses see the value of customer data, the data they have is fragmented and incomplete. That results in blurry customer profiles, inaccurate insights and poor recommendations. Furthermore, it is difficult for businesses to connect with their customers in a personalised way and track the effectiveness of the connection. In this podcast, Associate Professor Zhu Feida from SMU School of Information Systems shares his research on a next-generation, blockchain-based platform named Symphony. The platform seeks to empower a personal data economy by democratising and personalising data intelligence, with privacy by design.

Dr Tania Nagpaul Youth at-risk typically refers to those who may be seriously anti-social, homeless, who may have dropped out of school, taken to substance abuse or engaged in illegal activities. The factors that place these young people at risk in the first place, such as poverty, family dysfunction and disturbed neighbourhoods, are often not factored into the equation. Dr Tania Nagpaul and Ms Chen Jinwen from the Lien Centre for Social Innovation at SMU have published a study which used the Self-determination Theory offered by Deci and Ryan in a past research as a lens to better understand the needs of youth-at-risk and their fulfilment from the vantage points of both social service professionals and youth themselves. In this podcast, Dr Tania Nagpaul discusses the key findings of this research and how it generates a nuanced understanding of the needs of youth in Singapore. Additional Info Self-determination theory as a framework for understanding needs of youth at-risk: Perspectives of social service professionals and the youth themselves - by Tania Nagpaul, Jinwen Chen

Cross-border linkages among national stock markets have been strengthening over time, aided by free capital flows and the advancement in information technology. The use of electronic trading, which reduces cost and increases the speed of international financial transactions, has helped to advance this trend. Additionally, the deregulation of equity markets and liberalisation of financial accounts in emerging economies increase their connectedness with world markets. In this podcast, Professor of Economics and Statistics Chow Hwee Kwan from the SMU School of Economics, discusses the key findings of her research on the growing financial linkages in the region, and how it enhances the understanding of the interactions among national stock markets.

Assistant Professor Richard Crowley from SMU’s School of Accountancy examines financial accounting using both archival and analytical methods for his research. Much of his archival work deals with large sets of unstructured data using high-powered computing algorithms to address accounting issues that are otherwise infeasible to approach. He has recently written two research articles on using a machine learning technique to assess the content of companies’ disclosures. In this podcast, he discusses how fraud and misreporting can be detected by studying a company’s financial statement using a machine learning technique, and shares how companies disclose financial information on Twitter, and how feedback from investors and others can influence this.

Assistant Professor of Humanities Orlando Woods from SMU’s School of Social Sciences has a keen research interest in areas including religion, cities and urban landscapes, digital technologies, space, and social and cultural geography. He has published a research paper on the role of Christianity in migrant integration in Singapore, and has received a grant from the Singapore Ministry of Education to conduct further research on this subject. Titled ‘New Religious Pluralism in Singapore: Migration, Integration and Difference”, the study seeks to better understand new types of socio-cultural diversity in Singapore. In this podcast, Assistant Professor Woods discusses the role of whether religion enables or dis-enables migrant integration into Singapore.

Assistant Prof Yeo Su Lin – Death is a part of life. However, people often feel awkward and ill at ease when faced with the opportunity for communication at the end of life. While talking about death and dying may not be comfortable for some, research has shown that having these conversations within families and communities, and with our healthcare provider can help prepare us emotionally for our deaths and that of others, and better ensure that we will receive the care and treatment that we prefer at the end of life. Yeo Su Lin is an Assistant Professor of Corporate Communication at SMU’s Lee Kong Chian School of Business. Her research focuses on corporate reputation, crisis management and health communication. In this podcast, she discusses a recent nationwide study which was conducted to better understand end-of-life communication and sentiments towards palliative care in Singapore.

As the profile of businesses engaged in disputes is now more diverse than ever, there is a need for dispute resolution mechanisms that are culturally responsive as well as internationally robust. Mediation is one mechanism that offers a flexible and confidential forum for business to resolve their differences in an effective and efficient way. Interest in mediation to resolve cross-border disputes has increased dramatically in recent years due to increasing access to the Internet and the growing number of smaller enterprises doing business internationally. Nadja Alexander is Professor of Law at SMU School of Law. She also heads the Singapore International Dispute Resolution Academy as its Director, and a prominent mediator, educator, consultant and writer. In a recent study, Prof Alexander had identified some of the top trends impacting the nature and practice of international mediation. She discusses these key trends and developments in this podcast.

Building on research conducted in 2018 on the clear and positive link between high levels of psychological safety and a strong teamwork culture, Richard Smith, Professor of Strategic Management and Deputy Dean (Programmes) at the SMU Lee Kong Chian School of Business, has now dug deeper by focusing on diversity. How does closing the gender gap within organisations in Asian countries impact overall company performance? Are employees more productive, or less, with a sense of belonging to the workplace? In this podcast, Professor Smith discusses the key findings of his research conducted in collaboration with consultancy group Great Place to Work Institute Singapore. The rigorous study, one of the largest in Asia to highlight gender differences, surveyed over 400,000 employees from more than 800 organisations located across eight countries in the Asia Pacific.

Global warming and climate change have created an unprecedented global interest in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, especially in energy production. Biomass, or organic matter, which is a renewable energy source that can replace fossil fuels in energy production is gaining popularity. Consequently, commercialising agricultural residues as biomass is gaining momentum in many countries. In a pioneering study, Onur Boyabatli, Associate Professor of Operations Management and DBS Sustainability Fellow at SMU’s Lee Kong Chian School of Business, together with Assistant Professor of Operations Management Buket Avci, and PhD student Li Bin, studied the economic and environmental implications of biomass commercialisation in agricultural processing industries. In this podcast, Associate Professor Boyabatli shares his insights into this trending subject and the policy implications of their research findings.

Rapid urbanisation, coupled with the lack of coordination in the use of resources, such as taxis and security personnel, has negatively affected a wide array of quality-of-life metrics. These include waiting time in queues, response time for emergencies, and the number of traffic violations in cities. Using AI and Machine Learning methods, aggregation systems have been developed and adopted to improve the matching of resources and demand, thereby enhancing the efficiency of real-world transportation, emergency response and security systems. In this podcast, Associate Professor Pradeep Varakantham from the SMU School of Information Systems shares how AI can be used to improve transportation and security.

Data has emerged as the most important driver for modern economic development. New industries have arisen from the use of data with personal information as the core asset, while many traditional models of business are ‘disrupted’ or drastically transformed. Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) has also become an integral tool for the management and processing of data, including personal data, as it provides greater accuracy and capability. How should the use of A.I. in data management be regulated and should it be treated any differently under the data protection regime? What role can A.I. play in regulating the use of personal data and as a cybersecurity tool? Is creating a form of propertisation of personal data and ‘data ownership’ useful? These are just some of the lingering questions that regulators and organisations are currently grappling with. Central to the issue is how A.I. can best serve and safeguard humanity’s interests. Warren Chik is Associate Professor of Law at SMU School of Law, and concurrently Deputy Director at SMU’s Centre for AI and Data Governance. In this podcast, he shares his recent research into Artificial Intelligence and Data Protection in Singapore, which takes a deeper look into consumers’ trust, organisational security and government regulation.

As the climate crisis looms, how can we build a more sustainable future? While the establishment of the United Nation Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) provides a helpful compass to achieve sustainability, they tend to be viewed and applied in isolation from each other. This glosses over what sustainability really means for those most vulnerable to its impacts. In this podcast, SMU Associate Professor Michelle Lim demystifies the dense jargon of the UN SDGs, and argues how viewing them as a set of integrated and interconnected goals is essential to empower us to chart a meaningful path forward for the planet and people. [About the SMU CP Podcast Series] SMU City Perspectives brings together researchers from Singapore Management University (SMU) for insightful conversations exploring the pivotal trends in digital transformation, growth in Asia, and sustainable living. Get inspired and discover solutions that will help you drive more impact in your work and shape the future of cities.

Because of climate change, cities have been grappling with stronger and more frequent storms as well, most recently being Typhoon Yagi in Vietnam and Hurricanes Helene and Milton in America. But many people remain apathetic to climate change. SMU Associate Professor Terry Van Gevelt explains the intricacies of climate change communication and what needs to be done to get urbanites facing climate change to become more aware. . [About the SMU CP Podcast Series] SMU City Perspectives brings together researchers from Singapore Management University (SMU) for insightful conversations exploring the pivotal trends in digital transformation, growth in Asia, and sustainable living. Get inspired and discover solutions that will help you drive more impact in your work and shape the future of cities.

11/15/2024 - 11:30 AM - Venue: Pueblo West Library

11/14/2024 - 6:30 PM - Venue: National Guard Armory

11/14/2024 - 6:00 PM - Venue: Rawlings Library

11/14/2024 - 12:00 PM - Venue: Assistance League of Pueblo

11/14/2024 - 10:00 AM - Venue: Assistance League building

11/13/2024 - 6:30 PM - Venue: Assistance League of Pueblo

11/13/2024 - 6:00 PM - Venue: Chaos Games and More

11/13/2024 - 2:00 PM - Venue: Pueblo County Courthouse

11/13/2024 - 11:30 AM - Venue: Pueblo West Library

11/13/2024 - 10:00 AM - Venue: Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum

11/13/2024 - 9:30 AM - Venue: Pueblo County Courthouse

TikTok catapulted in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic and has now come to dominate the social media landscape. With over 1 billion monthly active users, science communicators have the potential to capitalize on TikTok’s success and share their science with a broad, engaged audience.

The post Harnessing the power of TikTok for science communication appeared first on The Plainspoken Scientist.

The poles make the difference in the size of certain animals.  Here the colossal squid speaks about why it’s so, well, colossal!

The post #AntarcticLog: Something in the water appeared first on The Plainspoken Scientist.

“Many STEM professionals hold the misconception that engaging in science communication can hinder the progress of budding and established research careers. However, it is not necessary to choose between engaging in outreach and conducting research.

The post Science Communication: How it benefits a STEM research career appeared first on The Plainspoken Scientist.

Close your eyes and picture a river…go on, do it!

What did you see? Did you picture a clear, deep mountain stream? A raging river in a steep gorge? A creek with grassy banks and forest? Whatever you pictured, it probably included water.

The post What makes a river a river? appeared first on The Plainspoken Scientist.

The devastating 17 July 2023 debris flow at Quetame in Colombia, which killed at least 14 people including three children.

The 19 July 2023 landslide at Irshalwadi in Khalipur, in western India, which has killed at least 16 people.

An update on the 19 July 2023 Irshalwadi landslide in India and the 20 July 2023 debris flow at Ungar in Bhutan

Thanks to @Rock_Avalanches and @Planet, the location of the 20 July 2023 debris flow at Ungar in Lhuentse, Bhutan has now been identified.

As chair of the AGU Leadership Development and Governance Committee, I am pleased to announce the proposed slate of candidates for the 2024 AGU Elections.   In accordance with our bylaws, AGU elects new leaders every two years. This year’s slate showcases a diverse and exceptional group of leaders ready to guide AGU’s future and further our commitment to discovery and solutions in the Earth and space sciences.  The proposed slate …

The post Presenting the Proposed Slate for AGU’s 2024 Elections appeared first on AGU Blogosphere.

We are pleased to announce the approval of three updated position statements that will help shape the future of climate action, science communication and data sharing. AGU position statements—created, revised and approved by members with feedback and support from experts in related fields—are what enable AGU to take adaptive stances on significant policy issues ranging from climate change to national security. These statements, which are updated in a recurring four-year …

The post AGU Updates Critical Position Statements on Climate, Communications and Data appeared first on AGU Blogosphere.

The scale and scope of Hurricane Milton’s destructive path is overwhelming. Communities along Florida’s west and east coasts, as well as Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, are just beginning to assess the damage. This event comes on top of the widespread damage of Hurricane Helene and its mounting death toll across North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and South Carolina. In just the past few months we have also witnessed the effects of Typhoon …

The post Weathering Storms Around the World appeared first on AGU Blogosphere.

AGU24 is just around the corner and our Science Policy and Government Relations team has a jam-packed agenda for our members at this year’s meeting in Washington, DC. From science policy 101 to understanding how scientists can engage with congress after the election to exploring science policy careers, we are here to help you make the most of your meeting. Explore our day-by-day schedule below:  Monday, 9 December  What’s Next for …

The post Join AGU Science Policy at AGU24 in DC appeared first on AGU Blogosphere.

AGU24 is just around the corner and our Science Policy and Government Relations team has a jam-packed agenda for our members at this year’s meeting in Washington, DC. From science policy 101 to understanding how scientists can engage with congress after the election to exploring science policy careers, we are here to help you make the most of your meeting. Explore our day-by-day schedule below:    Monday through Thursday, daily: Free …

The post Join AGU Science Policy at AGU24 in Washington DC appeared first on AGU Blogosphere.

The United States presidential election presents new realities for the world and for our work in building a vibrant community for Earth and space sciences. And AGU is committed to meeting this moment. We stand ready. Ready to continue being a voice for sound science policy and funding priorities. Ready to provide wider pathways for inclusivity and opportunity. Ready to support and amplify discovery and solution science. And ready to …

The post Post U.S. Elections: What’s Next for Science? appeared first on AGU Blogosphere.

The secrets of Saturn's veiled interior are leaking out by way of the planet's spectacular rings, according to a line of research that has taken four decades to come to fruition. In the last few years, what was first considered a sort of wacky hypothesis – that scientists can use Saturn’s rings to learn about  its structure -- has turned into a singular window into Saturn's surprisingly fluid and leviathan depths.

The post Sounding Saturn’s depths with its seismic icy rings appeared first on GeoSpace.

Scientists are keen to explore beneath Europa’s thick blanket of ice, and they can do so indirectly by hunting for evidence of activity emanating from below. A new study published in the AGU journal Geophysical Research Letters, did exactly this.

The post New evidence of watery plumes on Jupiter’s moon Europa appeared first on GeoSpace.

New study shows multiple factors joined forces to devastate the Great Barrier Reef in 2016.

The post How climate killed corals appeared first on GeoSpace.

A new study in the Peruvian Amazon shows that the assumption that distance lowers risk from mercury contamination doesn’t hold up.

The post Gold mining with mercury poses health threats for miles downstream appeared first on GeoSpace.

On Tuesday, 9 July the full House Appropriations Committee marked up their Commerce-Justice-Science, Interior and Environment, and Energy and Water spending bills for fiscal year (FY) 2025. These bills collectively set the spending amounts for U.S. federal science agencies, including NASA, NOAA, NSF, USGS, EPA, the Department of Energy. Under the Fiscal Responsibility Act, Congress established spending caps for fiscal years 2024 and 2025. The Act allows only a 1% …

The post FY25 Appropriations overview part 1: House spending numbers mark weak support for science appeared first on The Bridge: Connecting Science and Policy.

In this Bridge post, continued from our FY25 Appropriations Overview Part 1 blog, we’ll cover the House’s Interior-Environment, Energy-Water, and Labor-Health and Human Services (HHS) spending bills for fiscal year (FY) 2025—detailing relevant funding levels and sharing committee report highlights that impact the Earth and space sciences.   House Interior-Environment Appropriations bill and accompanying report.   United States Geological Survey (USGS) FY2024 President’s Budget Request FY2025 AGU Request FY2025 House …

The post FY25 Appropriations overview part 2: House spending numbers mark weak support for science appeared first on The Bridge: Connecting Science and Policy.