Experts Matter. Find Yours.
Connect for media, speaking, professional opportunities & more.
Masoud Davari, an associate professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Georgia Southern University, has been awarded the 2024 IEEE Region 3 Outstanding Engineer Award, making him the first faculty member in the university’s 55-year history to receive this honor. Davari was recognized for his contributions to reinforcement-learning optimal controls for power-electronic converters, his work on integrating power-electronic systems with cyber-attack considerations in modern power grids, and for his leadership in hardware-in-the-loop testing and standards development, including service on the IEEE P2004 standards working group. In addition to the award, Davari was inducted into the IEEE-Eta Kappa Nu (HKN) honor society. His research program at Georgia Southern has earned significant support, including more than $1.17 million in National Science Foundation funding, a 2024 Gulfstream Aerospace Research Fellowship, inclusion in the Stanford/Elsevier Top 2% Scientists list, and selection as a finalist for the 2024 Curtis W. McGraw Research Award. You can find out more about Davari's research by visiting his Georgia Southern Scholars profile below: To arrange an interview or to learn more about this award - Looking to know more about Georgia — simply contact Georgia Southern's Director of Communications Jennifer Wise at jwise@georgiasouthern.edu to arrange an interview today.
Life-changing study abroad experiences help students find themselves, UF research shows
Studying abroad is about more than just enrichment for college students; it’s often about personal transformation, UF researchers have found. Every year, UF sends nearly 2,600 students overseas to become immersed in diverse cultures, gain international perspectives, and create social bonds with fellow Gators – experiences so profound that UF researchers recently published a study about their long-term impact in Leisure Sciences. And this week, the UF International Center is hosting a Study Abroad Fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29 on the Reitz North Lawn to generate even more interest in these life-changing programs. “You’ve got to look at travel as not a frivolous thing because it’s part of your life story,” said Heather Gibson, Ph.D., a professor in the UF College of Health & Human Performance’s Department of Tourism, Hospitality & Event Management, who co-authored the study. “The impact isn’t just for the semester when they return; it’s now shown to be over 20 years or more. Very few studies focus on this formative phase of adult development, and these emerging adults are very malleable to be shaped. They’re searching for different sources of identity and different directions.” Conducting this research with Gibson was Hongping (HP) Zhang, Ph.D., a UF graduate of 2020 and clinical assistant professor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s Department of Retail, Hospitality, and Tourism Management. Zhang said that, in 2019, tourism literature began focusing on memory theories, but research primarily looked at memorable tourism experiences and how to better attract tourists. Zhang wanted to dive deeper into how travel memories affect a person’s development and identity. This retrospective longitudinal study examined 115 alumni who traveled as part of the College of Health & Human Performance’s South Pacific program, or the Florida Down Under Program, from 2007 to 2019. The program, led by Gibson, brings students to Australia for four weeks, New Zealand for four weeks, and/or Fiji for 10 days to study sustainability, with trips including a snorkeling expedition to the Great Barrier Reef and to Mungalla Station (a land occupied by the Nywaigi Aboriginal Land Corporation). These students’ memories of studying abroad proved to be positive and an “important building block to enhance the existing feeling of self,” Zhang said. For example, one study participant shared that reflecting on her experience in Australia was a conversation starter that sparked an initial social connection with her now husband, who had also traveled to Australia on a separate trip. Other students said the program impacted their travel behaviors such as spending money, as well as their eco-conscious behaviors like using coral-reef-friendly sunscreen. Overall, Gibson believes that experiential learning like studying abroad plays a significant role in helping students find themselves at pivotal times in their lives. In fact, research from the Consortium for Analysis of Student Success through International Education shows that students who participate in study abroad programs may earn higher grades, be more likely to graduate, and be better positioned for the global workforce. “Getting students out of the classroom and pushing them out of their comfort zone is where they learn,” Gibson said. “We need to think about the undergraduate experience as more than earning credits for a degree. Study abroad provides students with friends, experience, and direction, and that’s very crucial, especially at a large university. Study abroad allows students to find their tribe.”
Detecting Fraud Using Emerging Technology: Innovating Beyond Traditional Controls
Fraud and financial crime are evolving at a pace that challenges even the most established detection systems. From cyber-enabled schemes and complex financial misappropriations to subtle internal manipulations, traditional audit and compliance methods are often too slow or too narrow to keep up. In a world where billions of data points can hide a single irregularity, the investigative advantage now lies in speed, intelligence, and technological adaptability. J.S. Held’s Ken Feinstein recently authored an article exploring how artificial intelligence, machine learning, and advanced data analytics tools are transforming how organizations uncover and prevent fraud. In his piece, “Detecting Fraud Using Emerging Technology: Don’t Be Afraid to Innovate,” Feinstein illustrates how the integration of digital investigation techniques — from automation to predictive analytics — is reshaping the fraud-detection landscape, helping companies not just react to wrongdoing but anticipate and deter it. Ken Feinstein specializes in investigative data analytics and has over 25 years of experience. He provides data analytics solutions spanning multiple sectors, including retail and consumer products, life sciences, technology, financial services, and industrial products. His clients include law firms and Fortune 500 legal and compliance teams for whom he delivers large-scale, complex investigations, regulatory response matters, proactive anti‐fraud efforts, and compliance programs. View his profile here Why This Matters As fraudsters exploit digital tools and globalized networks, detection efforts must evolve in kind. Regulators expect faster, data-driven investigations, and boards demand real-time risk visibility. Those who innovate with AI-enabled detection and forensic analytics are better positioned to protect assets, reputation, and shareholder trust. Looking to know more? Connect with Ken Feinstein today by clicking on his icon below.
As sustainability moves from niche topic to boardroom central, companies face an increasingly complex global environment of regulatory divergence, disclosure demands and reputational risk. A recent article by J.S. Held's John Peiserich examines how multinational firms can respond effectively to the “crosscurrents” of ESG compliance, litigation exposure and evolving definitions of corporate responsibility. John Peiserich specializes in environmental risk and compliance. With over 30 years of experience, John provides consulting and expert services for heavy industry and law firms throughout the country with a focus on Oil & Gas, Energy, and Public Utilities, including serving as an expert witness in arbitration proceedings and in state and federal courts. View his profile here Key Insights: Sustainability now touches every major business function — environmental, social, and governance — and must be embedded in strategy rather than treated as an add-on. Regulatory landscapes are diverging: while the U.S. federal approach remains fragmented, individual states like California are moving ahead with mandatory climate and emissions-related corporate disclosures. In contrast, the European Union’s Green Deal and related frameworks promote a more unified regulatory model, creating operational tension for multinational corporations. Litigation and disclosure risk are increasing, with “greenwashing” (overstating sustainability achievements) and “greenhushing” (avoiding or under-reporting ESG performance) emerging as major board-level concerns. Effective risk management now requires scalable data systems, transparent communication, strong governance, and agility to adapt across multiple regulatory regimes. Why this matters: The widening divide between jurisdictions — and intensifying scrutiny of corporate sustainability claims — means ESG compliance can no longer be treated as a checkbox exercise. Organizations that fail to anticipate regulatory expectations or align ESG strategy with business goals risk legal exposure, reputational harm, and missed opportunities for value creation. Strategic Insights for Corporate Leadership on Sustainability Boards and executives must adjust their mindset, seeing sustainability not as a burden but as a catalyst for growth and differentiation. Proactive investment in research, development, and stakeholder engagement will help organizations seize new opportunities and maintain credibility in a fast-changing world. Documentation and transparency are vital defenses against legal challenges, while ongoing monitoring of policy and market trends ensures adaptability. Ultimately, the most successful companies will treat sustainability as an essential tenet of strategy—aligning profit, purpose, and governance to secure their position in the global marketplace. Navigating the crosscurrents of sustainability requires courage, judgment, and a commitment to continuous learning. By embracing these principles, corporations can build a future that is not only profitable but also just, resilient, and worthy of the trust placed in them by shareholders and society alike. Looking to know more or connect with John Peiserich about this important topic? Simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.
Aston University’s approach to a global challenge Across industries, companies face mounting pressure to cut carbon, improve resource efficiency, and contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Yet many firms still struggle to move from vision statements to measurable action. At Aston Business School, Dr Breno Nunes, reader in sustainable operations management, is developing practical frameworks that help organisations embed sustainability at their core. His concept of 'sustainability fitness' captures how firms can build the capabilities they need to adapt, compete, and thrive in the transition to a net zero economy. “Many organisations want to be sustainable but struggle to operationalise what that means. My work is about bridging that gap — helping businesses translate strategies into practice.” — Dr Breno Nunes The sustainability fitness concept involves both meeting human needs and respecting environmental limits. While it can also be applied at the societal and individual level, Dr Nunes focuses on organisations, where capability building delivers the fastest, measurable change. Corporate sustainability fitness examines how a firm is able to survive and meet its own needs, while aligning itself to wider essential needs of society and operating within limits imposed by its surrounding natural environment. From research to real-world action Dr Nunes’ research examines how organisations design, implement, and monitor sustainability strategies across operations, supply chains, facilities, and product development. He is the main author of the book Sustainable Operations Management: Key practices and cases, which applies the issues of sustainability to all strategic decisions of operations. His work is already making a tangible difference, including international partnerships in Brazil, Canada, and the US, bringing cross-cultural insights into organisational transformation, as well as for various companies and organisations. In an Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with automotive supplier Metal Assemblies, Dr Nunes and Professor Alexeis Garcia Perez, professor of digital business and society at Aston University, are working to calculate and report the carbon cost of metal components used in car production, tackling one of the industry’s biggest sustainability challenges. The digitalisation of processes will allow Metal Assemblies to meet customers' requirements and position itself as a trusted and transparent supplier of low-carbon components. In another KTP with Brockhouse Group, a forging manufacturer in the West Midlands, Dr Nunes worked with Aston colleague Dr Muhammad Imran, reader in mechanical, biomedical and design engineering. Together they developed a sustainable manufacturing strategy centred on carbon reduction and process improvement. The work involved the development of an energy dashboard, allowing analysis of data on gas and electricity consumption. The project also included analysis of alternatives for energy recovery systems, and development of routines and procedures to improve the manufacturing process. As a result, Brockhouse group is more competitive to supply in non-captive markets. Dr Nunes has also been involved with a collaboration with Birmingham Botanical Gardens to integrate sustainability into policy and practice, expanding the use of business sustainability theories to nonprofit sectors. Sustainability can be embedded across different areas of organisations while seeking financial stability. As an environmental education charity, it is important to for Birmingham Botanical Gardens to 'practise what it preaches'. It was recently awarded almost £20m from various grants (including Heritage Lottery) in a capital project, thanks to having sustainability at the core of renovation plans. These projects highlight Aston University’s role in bridging academia, industry, and policy — ensuring research findings reach the boardroom as well as the factory floor. Key insights from the research Dr Nunes’ studies highlight several critical factors for turning sustainability from intention into measurable results: • Organisational capabilities are central to embedding sustainability. These include empowering sustainability “champions” (institutional entrepreneurs), supportive structures, superior technologies, and the ability to learn and balance economic, environmental, and social performance. • The tensions in implementing sustainability vary not just by function (supply chains, governance, innovation) but also by an organisation’s maturity level. • Start with the low-hanging fruit: tools like self-assessments, capability diagnostics, and learning games allow firms to act at lower cost before committing to full environmental impact assessments or formal reporting. • Collaboration between academia, industry, and policymakers accelerates real-world impact. Why this matters The stakes are high. Businesses worldwide are expected to reduce carbon emissions, demonstrate social responsibility, and remain competitive in a rapidly changing global economy. Aston University’s research shows that strengthening sustainability capabilities not only improves environmental outcomes but also boosts resilience and cost savings. In pilot projects, teams working with Dr Nunes have achieved up to 30% reductions in both cost and carbon emissions — proof that sustainability can drive operational performance as well as compliance. Looking ahead: expanding the Sustainable Growth Hub The next phase of Dr Nunes’ work centres on Aston’s Sustainable Growth Hub, which is being developed as a reference point for SMEs seeking sustainability solutions. In 2025, the Hub will: • Launch its first industry club cohort and expand its team. • Roll out new self-assessment tools to size sustainability needs and decarbonisation goals. • Introduce new learning formats and follow-up courses to Aston’s Green Advantage programme, alongside sessions to play a new corporate sustainability game. • Host events to bring together businesses, policymakers, and the wider sustainability management community. • Attract new research grants and publish results to share knowledge across both academic and practitioner circles. These initiatives aim to equip organisations not only to meet today’s challenges, but to anticipate tomorrow’s. Get involved Follow Dr Nunes via his profile below, and soon through the Sustainability Fitness website. Businesses can also attend Aston Business School events to explore workshops, tools, and courses first-hand. About Dr Breno Nunes Dr Breno Nunes is reader in sustainable operations management at Aston Business School and president of the International Association for Management of Technology (IAMOT). He serves as associate editor of the IEEE Engineering Management Review and has published widely on sustainability strategy execution and innovation. Aston University’s work in sustainable operations — shaped by researchers like Dr Nunes — is helping organisations worldwide move from ambition to action, building the 'sustainability fitness' needed for a net zero future.
Motor vehicle crashes remain one of the leading causes of death among teenagers. For the youngest drivers, getting behind the wheel marks freedom but also comes with measurable risk. At the University of California, Irvine, Dr. Federico Vaca, professor and executive vice chair of emergency medicine, is determined to change that trajectory. “Driving licensure among our youngest drivers remains a major life milestone, and it allows for newfound freedom and opportunity for not only youth but their parents as well. At the same time, learning to drive and licensure come at a time when youth are rapidly moving through life with new transitions in school, with friends, and likely exposure to alcohol and drugs,” he says. “Our priority … is to examine the complexities of young driver behavior and to thoroughly understand crash injury risk and crash prevention among this special group of drivers.” Vaca’s work is at the intersection of health, transportation science and policy. A fellow of the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine and a researcher at UC Irvine’s Institute of Transportation Studies, he previously served as a medical fellow at the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in Washington, D.C. His long-standing goal is to prevent the injuries he has seen and treated in emergency departments and trauma centers through rigorous research, using the findings to inform and advance evidence-based programs and policies that save lives on the road. Innovating safety science UC Irvine is home to a new hub for understanding and preventing crash injuries among young drivers, the Brain, Body & Behavior Driving Simulation Lab, founded by Vaca and his interdisciplinary team. At the heart of the B3DrivSim Lab is a high-fidelity, half-cab driving simulator capable of replicating real-world conditions with precision. It uses advanced software to design customized driving scenarios – from complex roadway environments to the inclusion of such human elements as distraction and fatigue – all while capturing real-time video and driving behavior as well as vehicle control metrics. This integration of medicine, behavioral science and engineering enables researchers to measure how developmental and socioecological factors shape driver decisions in unique and consequential ways. The B3DrivSim Lab also represents a growing mentorship ecosystem at UC Irvine. In mid-June, the facility welcomed Siwei Hu, a postdoctoral scholar who earned a Ph.D. in civil and environmental engineering, with a focus on transportation studies, at UC Irvine. Hu works closely with Vaca to combine engineering and modeling analytics with behavioral and crash risk insights. The half-cab driving simulator uses advanced software to replicate real-world conditions and design customized driving scenarios – from complex roadway environments to the inclusion of such human elements as distraction and fatigue – all while capturing real-time video and driving behavior as well as vehicle control metrics. Steve Zylius / UC Irvine From the lab to policy Beyond simulation, Vaca’s latest National Institutes of Health-funded study, separate from his lab’s work, takes this philosophy to the national level. His project, “Modeling a National Graduated-BAC Policy for 21- to 24-Year-Old Drivers,” explores whether lowering the legal blood alcohol limit for young adults could reduce alcohol-related crashes and deaths. “When you turn 21, at that very moment, the application of several alcohol-related prevention laws changes in the blink of an eye,” Vaca says. “Before that, the minimum legal drinking age and zero-tolerance laws are in place to protect young drivers from alcohol-impaired driving. Effectively, the second you turn 21, those prevention policies don’t apply, and you’re suddenly allowed to have a much higher blood alcohol concentration in your body that’s intimately tied to serious and fatal crash risk. It’s a very dangerous disconnect.” The study will use national crash data, behavioral surveys and system dynamics modeling to examine how a “graduated BAC policy” might bridge that gap, giving young adult drivers a safer transition into full legal responsibility and saving many more lives. Bridging science, education and prevention Earlier this year, Vaca and his B3DrivSim team joined prevention program educators, policymakers, engineers and law enforcement professionals in Anaheim at a Ford Driving Skills for Life event, part of a Ford Philanthropy-sponsored national effort teaching teens hands-on safe driving techniques – from hazard recognition to impaired-driving awareness. Speaking to more than 130 high school students and their parents from local and distant communities, Vaca emphasized the connection among driving, independence, opportunity and responsibility. That message aligns with his broader initiative, Youth Thriving in Life Transitions with Transportation, which introduces high school students to traffic safety and transportation science and their role in promoting health, education and employment in early adulthood. By linking research and real-world experience, the project empowers youth to see mobility as a foundation for opportunity with safety as its cornerstone. With overall young driver crash fatalities rising 25 percent nationally over the last decade and a 46 percent increase in fatal crashes where a young driver had a BAC of ≥ .01/dL, Vaca’s work represents a crucial step toward reversing that trend. Through a combination of clinical insight and prevention, transportation and data science underscored by community collaboration, he and his team are redefining how researchers and policymakers think about youth driver safety.
MCG scientists investigate arthritis drug’s impact on Alzheimer’s disease
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, and one in nine of those people is 65 or older. Although that number is expected to grow, researchers at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University are making progress on studies that could turn into life-saving treatments. Qin Wang, MD, PhD, professor in the Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine at MCG and Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar in neuropharmacology, recently published a study titled “The PKCι‑β‑arrestin2 axis disrupts SORLA retrograde trafficking, driving its degradation and amyloid pathology in Alzheimer’s disease,” in Molecular Degeneration, a leading journal in neurodegeneration. In the study, Wang and her team explored how certain proteins and enzymes interact in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. Key players include the SORL1 gene, the PKCι enzyme and proteins SORLA, β‑arrestin2 and amyloid. SORL1 encodes SORLA, which helps regulate amyloid. Amyloid can form plaque in the brain, contributing to Alzheimer’s. People with the disease often have lower SORLA levels, which amplifies plaque production. “The goal is to increase SORLA levels in patients with AD. If we can boost it up, that would be great,” Wang said. “But if you want to know how to boost it up, you have to know how it is degraded, so that’s what our work is about – we’re trying to understand how its stability is regulated.” Wang’s research team found that PKCι can add a phosphate group to SORLA, which helps SORLA interact with β‑arrestin2. The PKCι‑β‑arrestin2 axis leads to SORLA degradation, reducing its levels and allowing amyloid plaques to grow unchecked, thereby worsening the disease condition. They discovered this by using biochemical methods and a mass spectrometer managed by Wenbo Zhi, PhD, at the Proteomics and Mass Spectrometry core lab at AU. “We conducted biochemical studies and found that SORLA can be phosphorylated. We identified the phosphorylation site and the interacting enzymes,” Wang explained. “Using the mass spectrometer with PKCι, we saw increased phosphorylation of SORLA at certain sites. Preventing that could stop SORLA degradation.” That’s where a rheumatoid arthritis drug called auranofin comes into play. “While it is an arthritis drug, it can also inhibit the PKCι enzyme,” Wang explained. The team conducted tests using Alzheimer’s mouse models and human iPS cells developed into neurons. For the mouse models, they treated the mice with auranofin for eight weeks, resulting in decreased amyloid levels, reduced neuroinflammation and improved cognitive function. Similar results were seen in human cells with increased SORLA levels and decreased amyloid levels. “A good thing about this is, because this is an FDA-approved drug, it’s ready to be tested in Alzheimer’s patients,” Wang said. “People often worry about drug safety because of long-term use in chronic diseases like Alzheimer’s, but, in this case, existing safety data for chronic use gives a good starting point for testing in Alzheimer’s patients. “I hope a drug company can pick that up for a trial with Alzheimer’s patients because we are trying to translate our bench work all the way to the bedside for treatment,” she continued. The study wraps up a five-year National Institute on Aging grant, a collaborative effort between Wang’s lab and the Kai Jiao, MD, PhD, lab in AU’s Center of Biotechnology and Genomic Medicine. Wang’s team is also working on other grant-funded Alzheimer’s-related projects and hopes to continue making advancements toward finding a cure for this debilitating disease. “All of our projects share the goal of finding a better treatment,” Wang said. “Related to this project in particular, we want to know how the SORLA protein works in different types of brain cells, given the brain’s complexity. Then we can determine how to specifically target that protein to develop more effective therapies.” Qin Wang, MD, PhD, researches the neuropharmacology and signaling mechanisms underlying neurological and psychiatric disorders. If you're interested in learning more about her work or booking an interview, simply click on her icon now to arrange a time to talk.
Multi-university AI research may revolutionize wildfire evacuation
As wildfires grow wilder, the University of Florida and two other universities are developing large language models to make evacuations safer and more efficient. Armed with a nearly $1.2 million National Science Foundation grant, UF, Johns Hopkins University and the University of Utah are creating these AI-based models to simulate human behavior during evacuations – information that will help emergency managers shape more effective evacuation plans. “Strengthening wildfire resilience requires accurate modeling and a deep understanding of collective human behavior during evacuations,” said UF project lead Xilei Zhao, Ph.D., an associate professor with the Engineering School of Sustainable Infrastructure and Environment. “There is a critical need for simulation models that can realistically capture how civilians, incident commanders and public safety officials make protective decisions during wildfires.” Xilei Zhao focuses on developing and applying data and computational science methods to tackle problems in transportation and resilience. View her profile here Existing simulation models face limitations, particularly with reliable predictions under various wildfire scenarios. New AI models can simulate how diverse groups of people behave and interact during the hurried scramble to seek safety. Zhao’s team is developing a convergent AI framework for wildfire evacuation simulations powered by psychological theory-informed large language models. The project will produce simulation methods to promote teaching, training and learning, and support wildfire resilience by allowing public safety officials to use open-access tools. “This research seeks to be a transformative step toward improving the behavioral realism, prediction accuracy and decision-support capability of wildfire evacuation simulation models,” Zhao said. Zhao partnered with John Hopkins professor Susu Xu, Ph.D., and University of Utah professors Thomas Cova, Ph.D., and Frank Drews, Ph.D. The preliminary results of the study were recently presented at the 63rd Annual Meeting of the Association for Computational Linguistics. “In that paper, we started to train the model on the survey data we collected to see how we can accurately predict people's evacuation decisions with LLMs,” Zhao said. Research objectives include extending the Protective Action Decision Model for civilians and public safety officials, developing psychological theory-informed large language model agents for protective modeling and generating a realistic synthetic population as input for the simulation platform. The team also plans to develop learning-based simulations and predict human behavior under scenarios such as fire spread, warning and infrastructure damage. This research comes at a critical time, as the number of wildfires has significantly increased globally. About 43% of the 200 most damaging fires occurred in the last decade leading up to 2023, according to a recent study in Science. The intensity, size and volume of wildfires are threatening more urban areas. “If you go into the urban area, many people do not have cars, or they need additional mobility support,” Zhao said. “For example, the LA fires impacted nursing homes with a lot of elderly people, many of whom are immobile or lack the ability to drive. That's a big problem. This would be very relevant to them.” The large language models will provide important context for evacuation planning as well as real-time decision making. “We envision this tool being used during planning,” Zhao said, “so emergency managers can test different kinds of scenarios to determine how to draw the evacuation zones, where to issue the orders first and how to design the communications messaging.” This is important research and critical as wildfires become more common across North America. If you're a reporter looking to connect and learn more - then let us help. Xilei Zhao is available to speak with media - simply click on her icon now to arrange an interview today.
How LSU is Helping Keep Louisiana at the Center of the Nation’s Seafood Map
1. Strengthening the Seafood Workforce Through outreach programs like Louisiana Fisheries Forward, a partnership between Louisiana Sea Grant and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, LSU helps fishers and processors modernize their operations. These voluntary programs teach best practices in handling, traceability, and sustainability — directly improving product quality and market reputation. LSU’s extension agents also provide hands-on disaster recovery assistance after hurricanes and market disruptions, helping ensure Louisiana’s seafood workforce remains resilient and ready for the next season. 2. Building Seafood Resilience The total economic value for oysters in 2018 was more than $180 million. Resilience defines LSU’s seafood science. Researchers at the LSU AgCenter and Louisiana Sea Grant are leading selective breeding programs and developing genetic tools to combat disease, temperature changes, and salinity stress. With a powerful combination of hatchery capacity, genetics expertise, and industry collaboration, LSU is helping Louisiana’s seafood industry adapt faster and smarter — protecting both the food supply and the economic backbone of coastal communities. 3. Powering Economic Growth Every part of LSU’s seafood research and outreach ties directly to Louisiana’s economy. AgCenter economists analyze market data and advise state and federal partners on strategies to grow the seafood sector. Meanwhile, Sea Grant specialists help entrepreneurs develop value-added seafood products, from branded lines to ready-to-eat options, that increase profit margins and create new jobs in coastal towns. By helping Louisiana seafood businesses stay competitive, LSU keeps more of the industry’s economic benefits right here at home. 4. Supporting Communities Louisiana’s seafood industry faces constant challenges. LSU’s coastal extension agents and Sea Grant programs provide on-the-ground support to help communities recover and rebuild after disasters. Whether assisting with dock repairs, connecting fishers to relief programs, or helping restart operations, LSU’s commitment ensures that Louisiana’s coastal workforce can weather any storm. 5. Preparing the Next Generation LSU’s work extends from the lab to the dock — and into the classroom. New research and education programs are training future scientists, producers, and entrepreneurs to continue Louisiana’s seafood legacy. For new LSU students interested in the coast, Bayou Adventure, a trip created by the College of the Coast & Environment (CC&E), was designed specifically to educate incoming freshmen about some of the challenges and marvels of the Louisiana coastline. The trip stops at sites that showcase "not just the significance of these areas to the state and nation, but the important work that is being done to sustain and preserve them," said Clint Willson, dean of CC&E. Through workforce development, hands-on learning, and applied research, LSU is shaping the next wave of innovators who will protect Louisiana’s coast and ensure its seafood remains world-renowned. Looking Ahead As the seafood industry faces new challenges and opportunities, LSU’s mission remains clear: to protect Louisiana’s coast, empower its seafood workforce, and ensure the state remains synonymous with the best seafood in America.
Expert Spotlight: Advancing Child & Youth Behavioral Health with MBC
Children and youth today face increasingly complex mental health challenges, requiring care that is personalized, evidence-based, and responsive to evolving needs. Measurement-Based Care (MBC), also referred to as Measurement-Informed Care (MIC), is a proven framework that leverages client-reported data to guide treatment decisions, enhance engagement, and improve clinical outcomes. With CARF’s updated accreditation standards now requiring MBC in youth services, organizations globally are prioritizing its adoption. On September 30, Greenspace Health brought together a panel of experts including Theresa Lindberg, MSC, LPC, Managing Director for Child and Youth Services, CARF International, who shared real-world examples, lessons learned from successful implementations, and actionable strategies for embedding MBC in youth-serving organizations. The webinar was recorded and is available below for viewing. This is an important topic, and if you are interested in learning more - then let us help. Theresa Lindberg is Managing Director of Child and Youth Services at CARF International. If you are looking to connect with Theresa , view her profile below to arrange an interview today.
