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Scandals, Health Scares and Sloppy Mistakes - Are the Royals in Turmoil? | Media Advisory
The British Royal Family finds itself at the center of an unprecedented media storm, grappling with a series of scandals, health scares, and public gaffes. This media alert invites journalists to delve into the causes and consequences of the recent tumult within the monarchy, examining its impact on public perception, the institution's future, and the broader implications for society's relationship with celebrity and authority. Key areas of focus include: Timeline of Recent Royal Controversies: A detailed look at the events causing widespread media attention. Public Perception and Royal Image: How these incidents have affected the public's view of the monarchy. The Role of the Media in Shaping Narratives: Analysis of media coverage and its impact on the situation. Mental Health and the Public Eye: The toll of public scrutiny on the Royals and lessons for broader society. The Future of the Monarchy: Speculations on potential changes within the institution and its place in modern Britain. Comparison with Historical Royal Scandals: Contextualizing current events within the long history of royal controversies. For journalists seeking research or insights for their coverage on this topic, here is a select list of experts. Carolyn Harris Historian, Author, Royal Commentator, Instructor, University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies Derek Arnold Senior Instructor, Communication | College of Liberal Arts and Sciences · Villanova University Ruth McClelland-Nugent, PhD Chair History, Anthropology & Philosophy · Augusta University To search our full list of experts visit www.expertfile.com Photo by Kutan Ural
MEDIA RELEASE: Voting for the 12th Annual CAA Worst Roads campaign is now open
Tired of swerving around potholes? Are you worried about your safety as a cyclist or pedestrian? Voting is now open for the annual CAA Worst Roads campaign, and CAA Manitoba is giving citizens the opportunity to voice their concerns about the bad roads in their communities. “Our research shows that 83 per cent of Manitobans vent their concerns about the state of roads either to their spouses, friends, co-workers or mechanics while very few (only three per cent) express their frustrations with local government officials and decision-makers,” says Ewald Friesen, manager government relations CAA Manitoba. “As we kick off another year of the CAA Worst Roads campaign, we are calling on all Manitobans to vote for their Worst Roads today and join the community of drivers, cyclists, transit riders and pedestrians committed to improving our roads and keeping our elected representatives accountable.” Those surveyed say they spent $962 on average to repair their vehicle. A survey conducted by CAA Manitoba found that 54 per cent of members in the province have experienced vehicle damage because of poor roads, with 70 per cent paying out of pocket to repair, only 16 per cent filing a claim with MPI and 14 per cent forgoing repairs altogether. “Either because of affordability or availability, many people are holding on to their cars a little longer these days; the last thing they should worry about is expensive repair bills on the already stretched family budget. While inflation rates have cooled, many of us are dealing with higher cost of living, making the investment in roads and supporting infrastructure more important than ever,” adds Friesen. The damage to a vehicle caused by a pothole can range from $500, with some fixes topping $2,000, depending on the make and model of the car. Those surveyed say they spent $962 on average to repair their vehicle. “We know that the campaign works and that decision-makers are listening. Since its inception in 2012, we have seen roads placed on the top ten list and come off with upgrades and repairs. The CAA Worst Roads campaign has been a vital platform for road users across Manitoba to nominate and vote for roads they believe are in urgent need of repair.” Read about CAA Manitoba’s Worst Roads Success Stories Manitobans can vote on issues ranging from congestion, potholes, poor road signs and the timing of traffic lights to pedestrian and cycling safety. Nominations for the Worst Roads campaign can be submitted online at www.caaworstroads.com from March 19 until April 12. Once the nominations are collected, CAA Manitoba will compile a list of the province's top 10 worst roads, which will be announced to the public. CAA conducted an online survey with 1,205 CAA Manitoba Members between January 10 to 19, 2024. Based on the sample size and the confidence level (95 per cent), the margin of error for this study was +/-3 per cent
#Expert Q&A: NJIT’s David Bader on AI, Data Science, Quantum Computing
Artificial intelligence, data science and the emerging field of quantum computing are among the hottest research topics in computing today. David Bader, a distinguished professor at New Jersey Institute of Technology’s Ying Wu College of Computing and the director of the university’s Institute for Data Science, offers his take on each. The Computer History Museum has recognized you for developing a Linux supercomputer using commodity hardware. Was that a life-shaping lesson? It was a venture into the unknown, leveraging the emerging potential of Linux and commodity hardware to build something that was both accessible and powerful. This experience taught me the importance of embracing risk and the value of resilience. There were technical hurdles, skepticism from peers and the daunting task of venturing beyond established norms. Also, the Linux supercomputer project was not just about the technology. It was about building a community around an idea. How do user-friendly AI systems like ChatGPT impact your work? It enriches the palette of methodologies and technologies at our disposal, enabling us to tackle more ambitious projects with greater efficiency and creativity. By integrating these AI systems into our research and educational programs, we're not just enhancing our ability to process and analyze data. We're also empowering students and researchers with the means to innovate and explore new horizons in data science without being hindered by the technical complexities that once acted as barriers. Some information workers fear that AI will make their careers obsolete. But tech progress can’t be stopped, so how should people adapt? By embracing these technologies, learning to work alongside them and leveraging their capabilities to enhance our own skill sets and productivity. Also, it's important to focus on the uniquely human skills that AI cannot replicate, such as creativity, emotional intelligence and critical thinking. By honing these abilities, workers can ensure they remain irreplaceable components of the workforce, capable of tasks that require a human touch — from complex decision-making to empathetic interactions with customers or clients. What should non-programmers learn about AI? It’s important to be aware of how AI decisions are made, the potential biases in AI systems and the ethical considerations of AI use. Additionally, developing data literacy is crucial, as it enables individuals to evaluate AI outputs and understand the importance of data quality and biases. A basic grasp of AI and machine learning concepts — even without programming skills — can demystify AI technologies and reveal their potential applications. Staying informed about AI advancements across various sectors can also inspire innovative ideas and foster interdisciplinary collaborations. There’s a sci-fi plot where computers get so smart that people lose control. The new class of user-friendly AI is making people excited but also nervous. Should we be afraid? While it’s natural to harbor concerns about the rapid progression of AI, allowing fear to dominate the discourse would be a disservice to the potential benefits these technologies can offer. Instead, this moment calls for proactive engagement with AI and an investment in understanding its inner workings, limitations and the ethical dilemmas it presents. By advocating for responsible AI development, emphasizing education and promoting transparency, we can foster an environment where AI serves as a tool for societal advancement. This approach ensures that we remain at the helm of AI's trajectory, steering it toward outcomes that uplift humanity rather than scenarios that fuel dystopian fears. What other emerging technologies excite you in their potential to transform computing? Quantum computing. This technology, with its potential to solve complex problems exponentially faster than classical computers, could revolutionize fields ranging from cryptography to drug discovery, climate modeling and beyond. Quantum computing's promise to tackle challenges currently beyond our reach, due to its fundamentally different approach to processing information, represents a leap forward in our computational capabilities. Its convergence with AI could lead to unprecedented advancements, making this era an incredibly thrilling time to be at the forefront of computing and data science. Looking to know more? We can help. David Bader is available to discuss AI, quantum computing and data science with media. Simply click on his icon to arrange an interview.
Oprah Hosts Primetime Special About Weight Loss Drugs on ABC | Media Advisory
Oprah Winfrey, a revered media mogul and advocate for health and wellness, is set to host a groundbreaking primetime special on ABC, focusing on the burgeoning field of weight loss drugs. The new special follows Winfrey’s exit from the board of weightwatchers, where she served for nearly a decade after acquiring a 10% stake in the company. This special promises to shed light on the science behind popular weight loss medications Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegogy. As obesity rates continue to climb globally, the discussion around weight loss solutions becomes increasingly pertinent, touching on public health, self-image, and the pharmaceutical industry's role in shaping health standards. Key topics of interest include: Science and Effectiveness of Weight Loss Drugs: Exploring how these medications work and their success rates. Personal Stories of Transformation: Individuals' journeys with weight loss drugs, including challenges and triumphs. Ethical and Societal Implications: The debate over body image, health standards, and drug dependency. Regulatory Perspective and Safety: How these drugs are approved and monitored for public use. Impact on the Healthcare System: The potential effects on healthcare costs and accessibility. Cautions and Concerns: Are there serious side-effects and what are the risks related to taking these drugs? Future of Obesity Treatment: Innovations and next steps in treating obesity with pharmaceuticals. For journalists seeking research or insights for their coverage on this topic, here is a select list of experts. Rebecca Puhl, Ph.D. Professor of Human Development and Family Studies · University of Connecticut Professor Paul Gately Carnegie Professor of Exercise and Obesity and Co-Director of the Applied Centre for Obesity Research · Leeds Beckett University Rebecca Pearl Assistant Professor · University of Florida Jan D. Hirsch Founding Dean, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences · UC Irvine Amy Gorin, Ph.D. Professor, Department of Psychological Sciences · University of Connecticut James Lenhard, Jr., M.D., FACE, FACEP Medical Director · ChristianaCare To search our full list of experts visit www.expertfile.com. Photo by Total Shape
Empowering Black and Latinx Boys in Their Postsecondary Journeys: The Role of School Communities
In a new study published in the American Educational Research Journal, Roderick L. Carey, assistant professor in the University of Delaware's College of Education and Human Development, offers a rich, ethnographic case study on how Black and Latinx boys imagine their postsecondary futures. With attention to the students’ first-person narratives about their school experiences and personal aspirations, Carey shows how their high school—a Mid-Atlantic college preparatory school in the United States—ultimately fails to understand and support their college, career and personal aspirations for life after graduation. “College is just one facet of a broader interconnected life that adolescents need support in imagining,” said Carey, who teaches and conducts research within CEHD’s Department of Human Development and Family Sciences. “Postsecondary future selves is a concept that folds together three pieces of that broader life—college, career and life condition, or ‘the 3Cs.’ By focusing on one, and ignoring the other two, educators miss the mark.” Carey is available to talk about this new study as well as the possible solutions to this issue. Her has been recently featured in Technical.ly and WHYY, an NPR affiliate. He can be contacted via his profile.
The U.S. House today passed a federal bill to ban TikTok and it now moves to the Senate. President Biden said he would sign a potential bill that bans the social media platform. Goizueta Business School Professor David Schweidel has done extensive research on the impact of social media. He says: The security and privacy issues around TikTok are only one part of the equation. User safety is another concern that all social media companies are now facing. He notes that the algorithms prioritize engagement, which could be showing people content that is harmful to them (mentally and/or physically). Background: TikTok is owned by ByteDance, a private Chinese company that claims all information gathered through the app is secure. Lawmakers do not agree and have plans to remove TikTok from the U.S. by September 30th unless ByteDance sells TikTok. The proposed bill would also put into place allowance for the executive branch to prohibit access to an app owned by a foreign adversary that could impact national security. Expert Source: David A. Schweidel, Professor of Marketing, Goizueta Business School at Emory University Bio - https://goizueta.emory.edu/faculty/profiles/david-schweidel To connect with David to arrange an interview - simply click his icon now.
What exactly is edge computing and how does it relate to self-driving cars? A University of Delaware expert has been diving deep into the subject through the university's Connected and Autonomous Research Laboratory (CAR Lab). Weisong Shi is a professor and chair of the Department of Computer and Information Sciences at UD, where he leads the CAR Lab. Edge computing is how scientists move computations closer to the user. Self-driving cars have to gather and process big batches of data to work, and in a short amount of time. The time spent sending data to a physically distant server and then back again may cause delay that could impact real-time decisions. Shi's research with edge computing is working to alleviate that issue without turning every car into a supercomputer that consumes a lot of computing power and energy. Shi and his team are building a world-class live research and education infrastructure on the STAR Campus at the University of Delaware. He can be reached by clicking his profile.
Aston University to train the UK’s next generation of decarbonisation experts
Consortium led by the University is to receive almost £11 million to open doctoral training centre Will focus on use of biomass to replace fossil fuels and removal of CO2 “…part of the UK’s biggest-ever investment in engineering and physical sciences doctoral skills”. Aston University is to train the next generation of scientists tasked to remove greenhouse gases from the environment. A consortium led by the University is to receive almost £11 million to open a doctoral training centre which will focus on leading the UK towards net zero. The centre, based at Aston University, will bring together world-leading research expertise and facilities from the University of Nottingham, Queens University Belfast and the University of Warwick and more than 25 industrial partners. The funding has been announced by the UK science, innovation and technology secretary Michelle Donelan. The centre is to receive almost £8 million of government money while the remainder will be made up through match funding and support from industry and the four universities. The government has described it as part of the UK’s biggest-ever investment in engineering and physical sciences doctoral skills, totalling more than £1 billion. The Aston University centre will focus on the use of biomass to replace fossil fuels and removal (or capture) of CO2 from the atmosphere, with the potential to create new sources of fuels and chemicals. Integration of these two areas will lead to significant cost and energy savings. Called NET2Zero, the centre will train PhD students across the full range of engineered greenhouse gas removal techniques including direct air capture, CO2 utilisation (including chemical and material synthesis), biomass to energy with carbon capture and storage, and biochar. The students will work in the centre’s laboratories exploring the conversion of feedstock into alternative energy, improving conversion processes and measuring how the new technologies will impact the economy. Supported by a range of relevant industrial, academic and policy partners the centre will equip students to develop the broad range of skills essential for future leaders in decarbonisation. NET2Zero will be led by Professor Patricia Thornley, director of Aston University’s Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute (EBRI). She said: “I am delighted that this centre for doctoral training has been funded. The climate emergency is so stark that we can no longer rely on demand reduction and renewables to meet our decarbonisation targets. “If we are to have greenhouse gas removal options ready in time to be usefully deployed, we need to start now to expand our knowledge and explore the reality of how these can be deployed. This partnership of four leading UK universities with key industrial and policy partners will significantly augment the UK’s ability to deliver on its climate ambitions.” “We are absolutely delighted to be working with our partners to deliver this unique and exciting programme to train the technology leaders of the future. Our students will deliver research outcomes that are urgently needed and only made possible by combining the expertise and resources of all the centre’s academic and industry partners.” Science and technology secretary, Michelle Donelan, said: “As innovators across the world break new ground faster than ever, it is vital that government, business and academia invests in ambitious UK talent, giving them the tools to pioneer new discoveries that benefit all our lives while creating new jobs and growing the economy. “By targeting critical technologies including artificial intelligence and future telecoms, we are supporting world class universities across the UK to build the skills base we need to unleash the potential of future tech and maintain our country’s reputation as a hub of cutting-edge research and development.” Centres for doctoral training have a significant reputation in training future UK academics, industrialists and innovators who have gone on to develop the latest technologies. The University of Nottingham’s Dr Eleanor Binner said: “We are absolutely delighted to be working with our partners to deliver this unique and exciting programme to train the technology leaders of the future. Our students will deliver research outcomes that are urgently needed and only made possible by combining the expertise and resources of all the Centre’s academic and industry partners.” Her colleague Professor Hao Liu added: “We look forward to providing our best support to the NET2Zero CDT, including using our past and existing successful experience in leading other centres, to make this an exemplar.” Overall, there will be 65 new Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) centres for doctoral training which will support leading research in areas of national importance including the critical technologies AI, quantum technologies, semiconductors, telecoms and engineering biology. The funding is from a combination of £500 million from UK Research and Innovation and the Ministry of Defence, plus a further £590 million from universities and business partners. Notes to Editors EPSRC and BBSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Negative Emission Technologies for Net Zero (NET2ZERO) Led by: Professor Patricia Thornley, Aston University The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is the main funding body for engineering and physical sciences research in the UK. Our portfolio covers a vast range of fields from digital technologies to clean energy, manufacturing to mathematics, advanced materials to chemistry. EPSRC invests in world-leading research and skills, advancing knowledge and delivering a sustainable, resilient and prosperous UK. We support new ideas and transformative technologies which are the foundations of innovation, improving our economy, environment and society. Working in partnership and co-investing with industry, we deliver against national and global priorities. The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) invests in world-class bioscience research and training on behalf of the UK public. Our aim is to further scientific knowledge, to promote economic growth, wealth and job creation and to improve quality of life in the UK and beyond. Funded by government, BBSRC invested £451 million in world-class bioscience in 2019-20. We support research and training in universities and strategically funded institutes. BBSRC research and the people we fund are helping society to meet major challenges, including food security, green energy and healthier, longer lives. Our investments underpin important UK economic sectors, such as farming, food, industrial biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. About Centres for Doctoral Training A CDT trains doctoral students with each centre focused on a specific theme or topic. Most CDTs will support five cohorts (a new cohort starting each academic year) with a cohort supporting an average of thirteen students. Fourteen of the centres will have four cohorts rather than five. EPSRC supports doctoral students through three training routes (Doctoral Training Partnerships, ICASE awards and CDTs), and in the last 30 years has supported over 50,000 doctoral students. About Aston University For over a century, Aston University’s enduring purpose has been to make our world a better place through education, research and innovation, by enabling our students to succeed in work and life, and by supporting our communities to thrive economically, socially and culturally. Aston University’s history has been intertwined with the history of Birmingham, a remarkable city that once was the heartland of the Industrial Revolution and the manufacturing powerhouse of the world. Born out of the First Industrial Revolution, Aston University has a proud and distinct heritage dating back to our formation as the School of Metallurgy in 1875, the first UK College of Technology in 1951, gaining university status by Royal Charter in 1966, and becoming The Guardian University of the Year in 2020. Building on our outstanding past, we are now defining our place and role in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (and beyond) within a rapidly changing world. For media inquiries in relation to this release, contact Nicola Jones, Press and Communications Manager, on (+44) 7825 342091 or email: n.jones6@aston.ac.uk
What Families Need to Know about How to Safely Store Firearms at Home
Guns have been identified as the leading cause of death for children in the United States, making ongoing discussions about firearm safety especially important. Kerri Raissian, an associate professor of public policy at the University of Connecticut, and Jennifer Necci Dineen, associate director of the ARMS Center for Gun Injury Prevention, recently co-authored an very important piece for The Conversation titled detailing what families need to know about safely storing firearms at home. There were 2,571 children age 1 to 17 who died in shootings in the U.S. in 2021, 68% more than the 1,531 that occurred in 2000. To help reduce the number of firearm-related deaths and injuries among children, Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona in January 2024 called upon school and district administrators to talk with parents and guardians about safe firearm storage practices. As experts on the safe storage of firearms – and as leaders of the University of Connecticut’s ARMS Center for Gun Injury Prevention – we often get questions about the best ways to keep guns out of the hands of children. We offer the following tips: 1: Safely store all of your firearms 2. Don’t assume you can hide your guns 3. Store ammunition separately 4. Learn to talk about firearm safety 5. Know the law 6. Invest in a quality safe and/or locking device The full piece is available here from The Conversation. Kerri Raissian is an associate professor in the School of Public Policy at the University of Connecticut, director of the University of Connecticut's UConn’s Center for Advancing Research, Methods, and Scholarship (ARMS) in Gun Violence Prevention, and co-director of the Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy (InCHIP) Gun Violence Prevention Research Interest Group. Her research focuses on child and family policy, with an emphasis on understanding how policies affect fertility, family formation, and family violence. She is available to speak to media about this important topic - simply click on her icon now to arrange an interview today.
March Madness underdogs: People are riskier in gambles, forecasts made later in a sequence
New research suggests that those who get hit with the annual case of March Madness are more likely to take a chance on lower seeds for matchups they happen to fill out within their brackets later on, rather than first. Jackie Silverman, assistant professor of marketing, co-authored a study in Management Science that found people are more risk seeking (more likely to predict a relatively improbable outcome) in their later forecasts and are thus more likely to make an incorrect prediction for them. For instance, individuals were more likely to bet that an “underdog” team will win in a sports tournament for predictions they made third, versus first, in a series of forecasts. There can be negative consequences for this "prediction order effect"; by choosing the less likely option in these later predictions, people face greater chances of being wrong, which can reduce earnings and happiness. These results are likely to extend beyond gambling to other cases where people must make multiple forecasts, including decisions made by investors (who must make several predictions of how stocks will perform) and managers (who must forecast potential employees' performance before making hiring decisions). To arrange an interview with Silverman, visit her profile and click on the contact button or send a message to our media relations team.