Experts Matter. Find Yours.
Connect for media, speaking, professional opportunities & more.
SME innovation through the lens of ancient myths - public lecture
Professor Nicholas Theodorakopoulos will explore the transformation in the perception of SMEs since the 1970s He will explain the significance of theory-driven design and delivery of interventions for building the capacity of SMEs to innovate The lecture will take place on Thursday 18 January 2024 at Aston Business School from 1800 hrs. Aston University entrepreneurship expert, Professor Nicholas Theodorakopoulos, will be giving his inaugural lecture at Aston Business School on Thursday 18 January 2024. In his talk SME Innovation, Theory-Driven Intervention, and Ancient Myths Professor Theodorakopoulos will explore the transformation in the perception of SMEs, from being viewed as an anachronism in the 1970s to becoming the driving engine of innovation and a prominent feature of public policy worldwide. Professor Theodorakopoulos will explore the significance of theory-driven design and delivery of interventions for building the capacity of SMEs to innovate and will explain that these are not just academic pursuits, but essential tools for developing replicable and impactful intervention programmes on a national and international scale. He will also present a compelling example of a successful intervention that he has run with colleagues for almost a decade in the West Midlands region. Professor Theodorakopoulos said: “The paradigm shift in SME perception necessitates a robust approach to fostering effective SME development ecosystems, not least through Research and Innovation policies. “A critical component of this policy domain lies in strengthening collaboration and knowledge exchange between universities and SMEs, often achieved through targeted interventions. “I look forward to drawing upon an ancient myth as a metaphor for the significance of knowing not just ‘what works’, but also ‘how it works’, in university-SME interventions.” The lecture is open to the public and free to attend in person or online. The in person event will be followed by a drinks reception. To book your place, click here.
Aston University invests £18 million to support doctoral research
Funding to recruit and nurture tomorrow’s researchers Investment will support University’s vision to be a leading university of science, technology and enterprise Investment in research at the interfaces of science, health and technology. Aston University is announcing investment of £18 million in doctoral research funding to recruit and nurture the research leaders of tomorrow. The investment supports the University’s vision to be a leading university of science, technology and enterprise. It will fund research at the interfaces of science, health, technology and enterprise, socio-economic transformations driven by digitalisation, and pressing economic, social and other challenges addressed by researchers in Aston University’s colleges and research institutes. Successful candidates will be recruited for the studentships on the basis of excellence and provided with the support they need to excel as doctoral researchers. They will drive forward their own research projects and make significant contributions to existing innovative research projects and teams. A range of support will be available, including full studentships covering the cost of UK fees and student stipend paid at rates equivalent to UKRI-funded studentships, as well as a fund for research expenses. Professor Phil Mizen, Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor Researcher Development at Aston University, said: “This investment represents the University’s strategic commitment to supporting inclusive, entrepreneurial and translational research with a clear transformational impact so that the people, businesses and communities it serves can thrive economically, socially and culturally. “I am delighted that, through these studentships, we are able to provide more opportunities for doctoral researchers to gain essential skills and to foster excellence in research and innovation.”
MEDIA RELEASE: Provincial oversight of the towing industry now in effect in Ontario
The Towing and Storage Safety and Enforcement Act, 2021 (TSSEA) came into effect in Ontario yesterday, giving consumers more certainty when it comes to towing services across the province. Towing services were previously licenced at the municipal level, creating a confusing patchwork of rules and fees for consumers. Provincial oversight will help to ensure that the motoring public has a reliable, growing and reputable tow industry for years to come. “CAA has been working for over a decade with stakeholders and government officials to achieve provincial regulation of the towing industry,” said Teresa Di Felice, assistant vice president, CAA South Central Ontario. “These changes will make a big difference for drivers, providing more confidence and certainty regardless of when or where they require support.” CAA Members can still receive the same services they have come to know and trust. CAA towing services operate in compliance with the new rules in Ontario. “Public awareness of the rules that are now in place is going to be a critical element of successfully protecting drivers moving forward,” continued Di Felice. “CAA will be doing our part to help educate drivers across the province.” Some of the consumer protection requirements that will now be required for all towing services include: Every tow truck operator and vehicle storage operator (company owner) must have a Certificate to offer services in the province of Ontario. Every tow truck must clearly display their name and TSSEA certificate number on the truck. You have the right to see a copy of the certificate. You have the right to decide who can tow your vehicle and to what location unless otherwise directed by police. Tow truck drivers must obtain consent BEFORE they tow your vehicle. Without signed consent (permission to tow form), the tow operator cannot charge for towing services. Towing consent is not required for membership or roadside assistance-type services. You must be provided with an invoice BEFORE requesting payment and a receipt upon payment. This is not required for membership or roadside assistance-type services. Rates cannot exceed the maximum rates published by the Ministry of Transportation. Referrals to a business, facility or person can only be given if requested. Tow truck drivers and operators MUST disclose any benefit they receive for providing referrals to a person, business or facility. Multiple payment methods must be accepted (cash, cheque, credit card, debit). Towed vehicles must be transported via the most direct route. The tow operator or tow truck driver must notify the vehicle owner if taken to a different location from the one the vehicle owner specified. Customers must be allowed to retrieve personal property from towed vehicles at no charge. Storage operators must allow authorized persons access to retrieve personal items from vehicles during business hours or prearranged times. Tow operators must ensure every driver employed complies with TSSEA regulations, the Highway Traffic Act, and its regulations. Implementation of regulations will continue to roll out in the months ahead, and it is expected that the final phase of regulations will be implemented starting in July 2024.
Casting Light on the Dark Universe, Euclid's Mission Shows Promise
On December 7, 1968, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) successfully launched the first functional space telescope into orbit. In the 55 years since, dozens of these crafts have embarked on missions of discovery, advancing and transforming our understanding of the cosmos. Among the latest is Euclid, a wide-angle space telescope developed by the European Space Agency (ESA). Equipped to chart portions of the universe that are not directly observable and currently shrouded in mystery, Euclid is working to generate a three-dimensional map unlike any other, surveying billions of galaxies out to 10 billion light-years. This past month, the first images from its journey were released. Joey Neilsen, PhD, is a world-renowned astrophysicist, a frequent collaborator with NASA and an assistant professor in Villanova University’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. From his perspective, Euclid’s early returns evidence its voyage’s incredible potential. “In Euclid’s first image of the Perseus cluster, the sheer number of galaxies is really astonishing,” said Dr. Neilsen. “We talk a lot about how the universe is mostly empty space—and it is!—but it’s also enormous, and it’s really stunning that there’s room for so many galaxies in just a small patch of sky. There are 1,000 galaxies here huddled together in this cluster and over 100,000 in the background. “I also note some pale purple patches in the image of NGC 6822. These are planetary nebulae, the layers of gas and dust blasted off by stars at the ends of their lives. It’s amazing to be able to see these so clearly in images that show the entire galaxy and its environment at the same time.” According to Dr. Neilsen, Euclid’s remarkable visuals are the product of a calculated tradeoff. The ESA craft sacrifices the fine resolution of images taken by other observatories, like NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, to capture cosmic phenomena in greater breadth. By collecting these visuals, Euclid aims to spark breakthroughs on subjects as of yet understudied—breakthroughs that could benefit Dr. Neilsen’s field of research. “Euclid’s mission is to understand the evolution of the dark components of the universe: the invisible dark matter whose gravity holds large structures like galaxies and galaxy clusters together and the dark energy responsible for the accelerating expansion of the universe,” he explained. “Much of my research focuses on a different aspect of the dark universe (black holes), but there is a puzzle that might connect: observations of very distant galaxies show there were very massive black holes very early on. How did these behemoths grow so big so fast? If would be neat if Euclid helped us to better understand the early universe in a way that informed our understanding of the growth of black holes.” In tracking and investigating the dark entities that compose and mold the cosmos, Euclid could very well offer insights into the history and development of over 95% of all energy and matter—and perhaps into the very fabric of existence itself. It is reasonable to wonder whether, when its mission is complete in six years’ time, the telescope could provide us with answers to questions that have gone unaddressed for six billion years. “For me, the best-case scenario would be that Euclid would show clear evidence of something that’s hard to explain with our current models,” said Dr. Neilsen. “For example, right now, we have ‘Hubble tension,’ a discrepancy between measurements of the expansion of the universe from when it was young and from the current era… The moments when things don’t add up are the ones where we learn the most about how the universe works. So, I’ll keep my fingers crossed for a surprise and for more to learn over the next six billion years.”
Big shift coming to the EV industry
Already a pioneer in the industry, the University of Delaware has once again played a key role in taking electric vehicles to the next level. Researchers there helped bring about new automotive standards that will drive lower-cost charging and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) integration and standardize Tesla’s connector so that future U.S.-made EVs will have this technology on it. The two newest standards for electric cars, both approved this month by standards committees of SAE International (formerly the Society of Automotive Engineers), should bring EV drivers great joy, according to Willett Kempton, professor at the University of Delaware’s Center for Transportation Electrification on UD’s Science, Technology and Advanced Research (STAR) Campus. Center director Rodney McGee was chairman of the two SAE committees, while postdoctoral researcher Garrett Ejzak, Kempton and administrative assistant Becky Cox played key roles in the engineering, research and policy work undergirding the new EV standards. “These developments mark a big shift for the EV industry,” said Kempton, who is affiliated with research centers in both the College of Earth, Ocean and Environment and the College of Engineering at UD. “Drivers will gain access to more charging stations and lower-cost charging. They will have new options for using their EV to help fight climate change and even make money when plugged in. These changes are likely to spur even greater adoption of EVs for clean, affordable transportation.” The so-called “V2G standard” (SAE J3068) provides the missing link for widespread use of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, which Kempton and his colleagues invented at UD more than two decades ago. “We’ve been doing V2G for 20 years here at the University of Delaware, wondering when the rest of the world would catch on,” Kempton said. “One key missing piece has been a complete standard for controlling and managing V2G, which now exists within SAE J3068.” V2G allows you to plug your EV into an electrical outlet and send power from the car battery back to your local energy utility, making a little income while helping the nation’s power grid. This is becoming increasingly more important as more renewable sources of energy come online. When the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing, EV owners can plug in and “perform important energy-balancing services,” according to Kempton. The savings from V2G can add up. “Our V2G demonstrations show an EV can earn between $100 a year and $1,500 a year. The wide variation is due to different markets and to regulations in different utilities. It also depends on the EV’s capabilities,” Kempton explained. Current EVs need a substantial update or retrofit to be able to do V2G, while new EVs equipped with the signaling technology are expected to be available by 2025. This standard also will make it possible to use your EV as backup power for your house. As extreme weather increases with climate change, that’s a good energy reserve to have when the lights go out. It takes one-and-a-half kilowatts to power the average house, Kempton said. Your electric car can produce 80 kilowatts of power, enough to run a whole house and more. “So, your EV can both help fight climate change and keep your house going when extreme storms happen,” Kempton said. With SAE J3400 now approved, the connector system Tesla developed for EV charging will now be standardized and can be included on future EVs of any brand. The first non-Tesla cars with this technology, also known as the North American Standard Connector, are expected to hit the market in 2025. “This will eliminate Tesla’s monopoly on their charging stations, making them available for use by any new EV,” Kempton said. According to Statista, the U.S. had more than 53,000 public EV charging stations and over 138,000 public charging outlets in May 2023. Visit Kempton's profile and click on the contact button to arrange an interview.
The internet has completely changed how we shop and now artificial intelligence (AI) is changing how we decide what to purchase. AI platforms have created tools to help people find the perfect gift for someone special. The technology helps brands to better learn about their customer and suggests products that fit to that customer. Goizueta Professor David Schweidel can walk you through the different platforms and how they can help shoppers find the perfect gift. Entering some key details about the gift recipient can uncover a whole new world of ideas for that hard to shop for person on the gift list. David A. Schweidel is Professor of Marketing at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School and an acclaimed author. He is available to speak with media regarding the latest advances in AI and how it is changing what we purchase. Simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.
Expert Perspective: Augusta University professor gives annual economic outlook for the region
For the 16th year, Augusta University’s Cree-Walker Chair and Professor of Economics in the Hull College of Business Simon Medcalfe, PhD, has given his analysis of the Augusta area economy. The biggest thing on the minds of many remains the possibility of a recession and the overall inflation nationwide. Medcalfe thinks it probably won’t look a lot different in 2024 as it did in 2023. If anything, there may be less of a chance of a recession. “I think the chances of recession have probably slipped a little. I think there’s less chance of a recession,” said Medcalfe. “Inflation is certainly still a concern. It’s running at 3.2%, which sounds kind of low, but because of the amount of inflation, we’ve had prices about 20% higher than two years ago, and it’s still a concern and still eating into people’s wages.” He indicated, looking at Google Trends and what people are searching, inflation is still a pretty high concern. As for the Augusta region, Medcalfe pointed out that Columbia County continues to see a population increase and will likely have the largest population in the area by the end of the decade on current trends. As you would expect, as the population grows, so too does the number of businesses. Looking at the different sectors of employment in the region, he said things haven’t really changed. The only sectors that have seen more than a 2% change in the share of total employment over the last 20 years are education and health services. Medcalfe also pointed out that the manufacturing industry has seen a sizable increase since 2014. He said it was the same time the Starbucks manufacturing facility arrived in South Augusta but didn’t say that was the exact reason for the increase, just a point of reference for the manufacturing industry increased ever since. “Manufacturing has showed a large increase over the last ten years or so, past post-COVID as well. So now manufacturing employment in the local area is at the highest it’s been since I’ve been here,” Medcafe said. Some research that Hull College is undertaking is the intersection of health care and business. He said it’s important to the economy in our region since Richmond, McDuffie and Burke counties all rank towards the bottom of county health rankings in Georgia. “One of the things we are looking at here in the business school and in the new School of Public Health is what are the factors that influence the population’s health but aren’t clinical? There’s a lot of things that impact people’s health. There’s socio-economic status, there’s the environment they live in, there’s education, there’s health behavior and all this kind of stuff. “About 25% of the research out of Hull College is now looking at health maps because it’s important. Not just the health of the population, but it then impacts the economy because we have a labor shortage and how much of that labor shortage is actually because some people can’t work,” said Medcalfe. Looking to know more? We can help. Simon Medcalfe, PhD, is a highly regarded economics expert in the Hull College of Business at Augusta University. Medcalfe is an expert that can talk on the national economy, as well as Georgia. He is available to speak with media – simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.
In a recent survey conducted by CAA South Central Ontario (CAA SCO), alarming trends indicate a significant rise in cannabis-impaired driving, particularly involving edibles. Key findings from the 2023 survey revealed that 38 per cent of cannabis-impaired drivers in Ontario consumed edibles before driving—a 12 per cent increase from the previous year and more than double the rate in 2019. “The data shows us that while drivers primarily engage in cannabis-impaired driving after smoking a joint, the prevalence of driving under the influence of edibles is on the upswing, and that poses a greater risk to road safety,” says Michael Stewart, community relations consultant at CAA SCO. “Edibles are harder to detect and can take up to two hours for the effects to kick in.” According to the survey, 7 per cent (approximately 750,000 Ontario drivers) admit to driving after consuming some form of cannabis in the past three months. The survey also found that almost three-quarters (70 per cent) of the cannabis-impaired drivers admitted to getting behind the wheel within 3 hours of consumption, and nearly half (45 per cent) have felt high while driving. “Despite the misconception that cannabis may not impair driving ability, it affects coordination, reaction time, attention, judgment, and decision-making. We want to emphasize our commitment to public education, urging motorists to stay informed about the risks and penalties of impaired driving,” says Stewart. The consequences of impaired driving are evident, with 6 per cent of Ontario drivers admitting having ever been charged— an increase from the previous year. Collisions caused by impaired driving also rose to 6 per cent in 2023, compared to 4 per cent in the preceding year. During this holiday season, CAA reminds drivers to make alternate arrangements, such as utilizing rideshare services, to ensure a safe journey home. “While edibles may be legal, CAA emphasizes that they are incompatible with responsible driving,” adds Stewart. Dig Insights conducted an online survey on behalf of CAA SCO between June 22 to July 5, 2023, of 1,518 Ontario drivers aged 19-75 who had access to a vehicle. Based on the sample size and the confidence level (95 per cent), the margin of error for this study was +/- 2 per cent.
Below is a statement from Eric Kmiec, Ph.D., founder and executive director, ChristinaCare Gene Editing Institute, regarding the expected approval by the Food and Drug Administration of exa-cel (Casgevy), the CRISPR-driven treatment for sickle cell disease and betta thalassemia. If you wish to interview Dr. Kmiec, please contact Mak Sisson, Makenzie.sisson@christinacare.org,302-623-5306 or Anna Chen, achen@burness.com, 215-262-7670. “As scientists, the fact that we have arrived at a potential curative treatment for sickle cell disease in a relatively brief period is a testament to the power of resolute researchers in this field who have never stopped. And the FDA’s expected approval comes with many firsts. For the first time we have what appears to be a safe and curative treatment for one of the most painful diseases that cuts life short. And it is remarkable that finally we are focusing on the Black population first, who are most affected by this disease. This priority is long, long overdue. The challenge, however, is the very people we want to help may not be able to get access to or afford the million-dollar treatment and the length of time it will take to be treated — weeks and weeks in the hospital. The numbers of people who can be treated are limited. We must work with the health care industry and pharmaceutical companies who will market produce and deliver the treatments to make sure that all people can get access. What can they do to make treatments more affordable and more available? What can they do to support continued research to assess the long-term effects this treatment may have? And how can we make this easier to deliver? As important as it is to have developed this new treatment, right now we must do our best to communicate well to the public what new findings like this mean. Take the time to explain it all. It cannot be oversold. We must make the communication about this first CRISPR-driven treatment as important as the science itself.” Eric B. Kmiec, Ph.D., is the founder and executive director of the Gene Editing Institute at ChristianaCare. He is also co-founder and chief scientific officer of CorriXR Therapeutics. Widely recognized for his pioneering work in the fields of molecular medicine and gene editing, Dr. Kmiec has developed CRISPR based genetic therapies for Sickle Cell Disease and Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. He is Editor-in-Chief of the journal, Gene and Genome Editing.
Is South Florida soon to be the next Las Vegas? Our expert can tell you if it's a good a bet or not?
There's a lot of buzz in Florida around gambling right now. Legal sports betting, live roulette and live craps might soon become a reality in the Sunshine State, adding to the economic bonanza and possible social consequences that comes with allowing these activities to expand. Expectations are high, and it's an idea getting a lot of coverage. In less than a month, in-person sports betting, craps and roulette will, presumably, begin at all South Florida casinos and elsewhere in the state, though that anticipated launch may hinge on a favorable ruling from the Florida Supreme Court. The launch is expected to drive tourists and businesses to South Florida and elsewhere in the state, create jobs, and bring in billions of dollars in revenue. Though investors and hotel owners might not want to push all their chips in just yet. There are serious legal issues that still need to be overcome as well as opposition from the Seminole Tribe and the anti-casino group No Casino. The idea though, has media contacting local experts like Florida Atlantic's Peter Ricci for perspective and insight. Peter Ricci, a Florida Atlantic University professor who specializes in hospitality and tourism industry trends, thinks that South Florida will see an uptick heading into the Super Bowl, but most of what he hears from local businesses and hospitality employees is uncertainty rather than excitement. “What I’ve heard is questions about ‘when is it starting?'” he said. ” … ‘Are they hiring for blackjack dealers? What does this mean? Will they expand the hotel?’ All these questions but nothing specifically pro or con about actual sports betting itself.” November 13 - Sun Sentinel Whether Florida can become the next Las Vegas is up to the courts, but if you are a reporter following this ongoing story - we're here to help. Peter Ricci is the Director of the Hospitality and Tourism Management program in Florida Atlantic University’s College of Business. He is a hospitality industry veteran with more than 20 years of managerial experience in segments including food service, lodging, incentive travel and destination marketing. Peter is available to speak with the media about tourism in Florida and the potential for gambling. Simply click on his icon to arrange an interview.
