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Expert Spotlight: Cities Ranked for Climate Resiliency

USA Today Homefront interviewed Jase Bernhardt, associate professor and director of Sustainability Studies in the Department of Geology, Environment and Sustainability, for its feature on the top-ranking cities for climate resiliency. Dr. Bernhardt was asked to explain initiatives or incentives that can be implemented by cities to address vulnerabilities to climate change. He said, “Cities in the U.S. should be most concerned with investing in solutions to the unique challenges they face in a changing climate. Such initiatives might include green roofs to reduce the urban heat island effect and planting more trees to absorb excess water and limit flooding.” Covering our changing climate and how we're adapting ? We're here to help. Jase Bernhardt is an associate professor in the Department of the Geology, Environment and Sustainability at Hofstra University and also director of the department's MA Sustainability program. He's also an expert on hurricane preparedness. Jase is available to speak with media about these topics - simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.

Jase Bernhardt
1 min. read

Arguments against the singularity - and what we should worry about instead

In a new paper, “Against the singularity hypothesis,” published in Philosophical Studies, David Thorstad, assistant professor of philosophy, examines how leading defenses of the singularity hypothesis fail to overcome the case for skepticism and provides policy implications of this discussion. Thorstad offers five reasons that arguments that computer intelligence will surpass that of humans are not substantive enough to provide reasonable cause for worry. He can discuss these findings, as well as the rationale to focus on more immediate tech and AI-related causes for concern, including misinformation, deepfakes, election interference and additional irresponsible use.

1 min. read

Spotlighting Success: How ExpertFile Amplifies Organizational Expertise

Whether you are an industry leader looking to maintain your reputational advantage or smaller organization looking to enhance your reputation, a structured expertise marketing program should be a critical component of your marketing strategy. Traditional thought leadership programs that often focus on a few key executives are now being broadened by a more strategic approach that leverages the hidden expertise within your entire team. Global research conducted by Ogilvy in its recent report “The Global Rise of B2B Influencer Marketing” shows that many organizations are now setting up programs with their employees as Brand Ambassadors to demonstrate thought leadership in specific niches where they have skills and insights that appeal to their audiences. These employees have expertise that is often more relatable and authentic. Using social media platforms like LinkedIn, and networks such as ExpertFile, they can further amplify expert content to cut through the content marketing noise and drive more targeted engagement with media, sales prospects and other audiences. “Your employees are typically your most valuable resource. Identifying your employees that can be influencers themselves is a huge missed opportunity for one of the biggest ROI’s of all time.” James Baldwin Global B2B Influence Lead, Ogilvy To capitalize on this trend, many organizations are turning to more advanced solutions that deliver new digital publishing, distribution and workflow capabilities that extend the capabilities of their CMS (Content Marketing Systems). This also empowers clients and their agencies to achieve more efficiency and scale by better managing of employee content and audience interactions. The results include improved SEO PageRank and improved generative search results, increased site traffic and more qualified media inquiries and sales leads.   Here are a few examples: With the ExpertFile platform, Vanderbilt University has streamlined its media interactions and presented more comprehensive information on their faculty enabling journalists to discover the depth of research and expertise that Vanderbilt has to offer for their stories. This provides a valuable boost of inbound inquires that help Vanderbilt stay top of mind, going beyond outbound media pitches. View Expert Center About Vanderbilt University is a distinguished private research institution known for academic excellence and innovation. With a rich history spanning over a century, it cultivates leaders, conducts pioneering research, and contributes significantly to society. Seeking to enhance its reputation and broaden its influence, ChristianaCare completely revamped its approach to showcasing their medical experts. Their Media Expert Center powered by ExpertFile doubled national media coverage,, earning the esteemed IABC Silver and Gold Awards for this exceptional communications strategy. ChristianaCare later established a Speakers Bureau to expand its program with ExpertFile, saving hundreds of operational hours and surpassing engagement targets by 400%. This innovative approach reinforced ChristianaCare's brand visibility, reputation while demonstrating its commitment to community service. View Experts Center View Speakers Bureau About ChristianaCare is a leading healthcare institution committed to delivering exceptional patient care and advancing medical research. With a focus on innovation and compassion, they strive to empower healthier lives and transform healthcare experiences for individuals and families across the region. With a goal of driving market visibility and increasing media coverage, University of Delaware leveraged the ExpertFile platform to regularly published research and insights related to topical news events, while also making it easy for journalists to connect with their faculty as media sources. Within the first 90 days, the university garnered 80 inquiries, capturing the interest of prestigious media outlets such as CNN, NBC, Newsweek, AP, Bloomberg, among others. This activity was made possible with ExpertFile’s automation, distribution and workflow features and seamless no-code integration with the client website. It all added up to massive results with no need to add internal resources to the University of Delaware team. View Expert Center About The University of Delaware is a renowned institution committed to academic excellence, innovation and community engagement. With a rich history and dedication to student success, it strives to advance knowledge and foster global citizenship through transformative education and research. Amidst a competitive educational market in the US Northeast, the University of Connecticut (UCONN) chose ExpertFile to help it amplify its faculty expertise and boost inbound inquiries from media, conferences, researchers and student prospects. The result is a more intuitive way to discover expertise and research across the UCONN campus that helps drive valuable connections that are vital to building institutional reputation and communicating the UCONN mission. View Expert Center About Amidst a competitive educational market in the US Northeast, the University of Connecticut (UCONN) chose ExpertFile to help it amplify its faculty expertise and boost inbound inquiries from media, conferences, researchers and student prospects. The result is a more intuitive way to discover expertise and research across the UCONN campus that helps drive valuable connections that are vital to building institutional reputation and communicating the UCONN mission. The Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) has consistently been rated as one of the most valued brands in the country. It’s focus on thought leadership by sharing its unique expertise on topics including “Canada’s Worst Roads” and “Cannabis at the Wheel” have helped them educate their membership, boost media visibility and advocate for important policy changes with government. The ExpertFile platform provides a central content platform enabling CAA to cost-effectively publish news releases and publish stories and expert profiles to multiple regional websites, all from a intuitive, centralized dashboard. View Expert Center About The Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) advocates for motorists and offers essential services to members nationwide, ensuring safer and more convenient travel. With a trusted legacy, CAA remains committed to enhancing drivers' experiences across Canada. ExpertFile has streamlined the presentation and management of faculty directories with integration into over 20 sections of the Loyola Marymount University LMU website. With a robust collection of over 1,000 faculty profiles, this integration has not only provided a better way to present faculty directories but also delivered over 1 million expert views and generated thousands of media, academic collaboration and student prospect inquiries while enhancing engagement and accessibility to expertise across the university community. Faculty Directories About Loyola Marymount University (LMU) is a private university located in Los Angeles, California. Known for its rigorous academic programs, diverse community, and commitment to social justice. With a goal to attaining R1 research institution status, Villanova University aimed to boost the visibility of its faculty experts and showcase its commitment to academic excellence and knowledge advancement. It needed a way to better manage and leverage a lot of expert faculty research and information. With ExpertFile, the Villanova communications team now has a much easier way to publish and update faculty content that seamlessly integrates with the University website and also appears on the ExpertFile network searched by thousands of journalists looking for credible media sources. It all adds up to more market visibility and brand reputation with valuable audiences connecting with Villanova experts. View Expert Center About Villanova University, founded on Catholic principles, is a renowned research institution committed to academic excellence and ethical leadership. Grounded in its rich heritage, Villanova fosters a community of learning that embraces diversity and promotes the pursuit of truth and social justice. Carnegie Mellon University needed a better way to profile their expert faculty in the best possible way to meet the highest standards and researchers by launching a new Experts Center within 30 days. Their objective was to enhance both the appearance and functionality of underperforming faculty expert content areas, thereby better aligning them with the institution's prominence. Through use of the ExpertFile platform and collaboration with ExpertFile team, profiles were developed and integrated, meeting tight deadlines and resulting in a more polished and easily discoverable experience for those seeking expertise. Expert Center About Carnegie Mellon University is a prestigious institution celebrated for its pioneering research and interdisciplinary education. With a legacy of innovation, it remains at the forefront of shaping global education and technology. As a leading public research institution, the University of Florida aimed to enhance its capacity to connect experts with media opportunities. Faced with a challenging and proprietary content platform , the institution needed to provide a more user-friendly way for journalists to engage with faculty and research experts. Aligned with its mission of fostering academic collaboration and knowledge dissemination, University of Florida communications and digital team completely transformed its online presence using the ExpertFile platform. By prioritizing discovery, accessibility and user experience, their team has elevated the visibility and impact of their faculty research and expertise. View Expert Center About The University of Florida, a Top 10 public research institution in the US, fosters excellence in research, education, and service within a diverse community of scholars. Through collaboration and interdisciplinary initiatives, UF empowers students to drive positive change. Aston University in the UK aimed to elevate its online presence and showcase its faculty expertise effectively across various communities. Seeking to enhance SEO, generate valuable inquiries, humanize research and ultimately improve reputation and ranking, they turned to ExpertFile. Aston University now has a more intuitive, efficient way to profile its faculty and research and increase the awareness of its research with a more diverse global audience through ExpertFile. View Research Experts About Aston University is a prestigious institution renowned for its dedication to innovation and academic excellence. With a rich history of shaping future leaders and conducting cutting-edge research, Aston University continues to inspire and empower students to thrive in a globalized world To build more market visibility and engagement with its target audience, Western Carolina University (WCU) needed a more intuitive way to present its expertise. ExpertFile enabled them to quickly deploy a searchable directory of faculty experts and then focus on creating shareable expert content on their website and on the broader ExpertFile network to boost visibility. To further boost engagement, WCU has published regular posts complete with faculty interviews and vertical video clips for social media. These programs have helped raise the profile of WCU. boosted internal and external engagement and has been very well received by faculty. . View Expert Center About Western Carolina University (WCU) is dedicated to delivering outstanding higher education, fostering innovation, and inspiring students to realize their full potential through academic excellence and community engagement. In California's competitive academic environment, UC Irvine needed to boost the visibility of its strong expert faculty while leverage the resources of a small communications team. ExpertFile’s user-friendly platform including customizable workflows and automated tools for adding expert content to their website made showcasing experts easy. Being able to create detailed media-rich profiles and quickly share expert insights allowed UC Irvine to stand out among larger rivals and increase their media coverage. All without straining their resources. View Expert Center About UC Irvine is a leading public research institution known for its top-ranked academic programs and cutting-edge research initiatives. With a focus on innovation and diversity, UC Irvine is committed to advancing knowledge and addressing society's most pressing challenges. Multiple integrations across research and newsroom sections have significantly streamlined the presentation and management of expert content at Goizueta Business School at Emory University. A more efficient system with delegated permissions has increased internal collaboration, and custom training resources for faculty and staff boost engagement on the platform. The ExpertFile team also provides a range of services such as content updates to save Goizueta valuable time while ensuring its website remains current and engaging, for students, faculty, and visitors alike. View Expert Center About Emory University's Goizueta Business School is a prestigious institution renowned for its innovative curriculum and exceptional faculty. With a focus on experiential learning and global perspective, Goizueta prepares students to become transformative business. Showcasing the expertise at Southern Utah University has been a key strategy for its marketing team. While not having the advantage of being in a major media market, SUU understood they needed to be more innovative in developing thought leadership and positioning their expertise to build their brand. The ExpertFile platform with its advanced content features allows the SUU team to present a more engaging view of their faculty and their research. It’s helped them boost search rank and garner national media attention, plus it has also helped them engage student prospects. View Expert Center About Southern Utah University fosters student success and personal development through diverse academic programs and resources. Emphasizing innovation, inclusivity, and community engagement, SUU creates a dynamic learning environment for student achievement and societal contributions. As a top ranked institution, The Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Engineering wanted to make its faculty research and insights stand out. Just designing a standard faculty directory didn’t meet the mark. ExpertFile enabled VCU to optimize its content resulting in a major improvement in SEO PageRank and website engagement. This improved experience has also boosted inbound inquiries for media sources, academic collaborations and student prospects looking for information on the VCU’s programs. View Expert Center About Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is a premier urban, public research university committed to advancing knowledge and improving the human experience. With a diverse community of students, faculty, and staff, VCU fosters innovation, creativity and collaboration. As a recognized R1 research university, the communications team at Michigan State had the goal to better convey the strength of its faculty research in an effort to boost regional and national media coverage. With the ExpertFile platform their team was able to design a custom implementation fully integrated into the MSU website and streamline the content management and updates to hundreds of faculty profiles - all managed from an intuitive centralized dashboard that saves time for the MSU team. View Expert Center About Michigan State University, a leading public research institution, top in graduate school rankings, is dedicated to advancing knowledge and transforming lives through its commitment to excellence in education, research, and outreach. As a relatively new institution, Augusta University, the fourth largest university in the state of Georgia had a goal stand out by showcasing the expertise of its faculty and the medical staff within Augusta Healthcare - one of the state’s largest integrated health systems. The communications team at Augusta leveraged the ExpertFile platform, publishing more comprehensive expert profiles. Plus they released regular expert updates that demonstrated the relevance of their experts on topical news stories. The result was a huge boost in SEO PageRank plus regional and national media coverage. All without the need to add resources to their communications team. View Expert Center About Augusta University, a leading academic institution, combines excellence in education, research, and healthcare. With an integrated health system, it fosters innovation, advances knowledge, and improves the well-being of communities locally and globally. As an R1 institution based in New Orleans, Tulane University has many specialized programs led by their world-class researchers and faculty. The Tulane marketing team wanted to better showcase this faculty expertise to drive media coverage while designing a system that worked best for their faculty. Leveraging the ExpertFile Platform, they created a searchable online hub showcasing participating faculty experts offering more engaging faculty profiles complete with multimedia features and a more intuitive way for journalists to connect to Tulane media sources. View Expert Center About Tulane University, a renowned institution in New Orleans, fosters innovative research, academic excellence, and community engagement. With a rich history of interdisciplinary collaboration, it prepares students to lead and serve in a complex global society. Are you looking to join the many organizations that are leveraging their employee subject-matter experts as part of a thought leadership and content marketing program? Then consider how you will manage and scale this effort with solutions designed specifically for expertise marketing. ExpertFile has advanced content creation and management tools, customizable workflows, powerful search capabilities, AI features, and flexible integration options, all connected to a broad network of media and speaking opportunities. By streamlining the management and promotion of online expert profiles, we ensure each organization connects with their key audiences like journalists, potential clients, event organizers and many others. Tailored for various industries, ExpertFile addresses each client's unique needs, driving meaningful engagement and visibility for the organization. The spotlights above are just a small sample of how ExpertFile works with leading organizations every day to enhance expertise and broaden their market reach. Explore industry-specific benefits to learn how ExpertFile can help your organization enhance its market presence and thought leadership. Want to learn more? Visit expertfile.com/getstarted.

Robert Carter
11 min. read

A Look back at Northern Ireland: 50th Anniversary of the Sunningdale Agreement Collapse

The collapse of the Sunningdale Agreement is a pivotal moment in the history of Northern Ireland, highlighting the complexities and challenges of achieving peace and political stability in a deeply divided society. This event matters to the public as it underscores the ongoing struggle for reconciliation and the importance of political dialogue in resolving conflicts. The collapse of the agreement provides numerous compelling story angles for journalists to explore, appealing to a broad audience: The historical context and key factors leading to the Sunningdale Agreement Analysis of the political and social dynamics that led to the collapse of the agreement Personal narratives and testimonies from individuals affected by the events surrounding the agreement The impact of the Sunningdale Agreement collapse on subsequent peace processes in Northern Ireland Comparative analysis of the Sunningdale Agreement with the Good Friday Agreement Reflections on the lessons learned from the Sunningdale Agreement and their relevance to contemporary peace efforts globally As we reflect on the collapse of the Sunningdale Agreement, journalists have an opportunity to delve into these multifaceted narratives, shedding light on the complexities of peacemaking and the enduring quest for stability in Northern Ireland. Connect with an Expert about the History of Northern Ireland: Michael Curran, PhD The Diana and Thomas Klein '84 Assistant Professor of Economics | Villanova School of Business · Villanova University Dr Dannielle Green Senior Lecturer in Ecology · Anglia Ruskin University Timothy Shanahan, Ph.D. Professor of Philosophy · Loyola Marymount University Alan Barr Rector · Church of Ireland Rector, Author and Local historian living in Northren Ireland To search our full list of experts visit www.expertfile.com Photo Credit: The Irish News

2 min. read

Aston University optometrists take up global industry association roles

Professor Nicola Logan has been named a global myopia management ambassador by the World Council of Optometry Dr Debarun Dutta is the new academic chair of the British Contact Lens Association Aston University School of Optometry is ranked in the top 10 for research in the Complete University Guide 2024 Professor Nicola Logan and Dr Debarun Dutta from Aston University’s School of Optometry have both been appointed to major roles within optometry industry associations. The School of Optometry is regularly ranked highly by both leading national ranking publications and in annual student-led surveys. This includes a top 10 ranking for research and a top five ranking for graduate prospects in the Complete University Guide 2024, and first in the UK for student/staff ratio in health professions (optometry) in the Guardian University Guide 2024. Professor Logan, professor of optometry and physiological optics and deputy head of the School, has been named a global myopia management ambassador by the World Council of Optometry (WCO). She is one of four new ambassadors named by the WCO in collaboration with CooperVision, a leading myopia management company. WCO and CooperVision have developed a myopia management online tool which reflects WCO’s global standard of myopia care. In March 2024, Professor Logan presented her inaugural lecture at Aston University on her research into the nature of myopia, the growing evidence base on strategies to control eye growth in children and translation of these findings to clinical practice. She said about her appointment as an ambassador: “I am thrilled to be appointed as the global myopia management ambassador for the World Council of Optometry. This role provides me with a valuable platform to advance the recognition of myopia as a significant public health concern and to facilitate the translation of research into effective, evidence-based clinical practice strategies for children with myopia.” Dr Dutta, a lecturer in optometry, has been appointed the new academic chair of the British Contact Lens Association (BCLA). He will lead the BCLA’s academic output, including offering guidance and advice to the BCLA council about scientific and academic elements of contact lenses. Dr Dutta will initially work alongside current academic chair, Professor James Wolffsohn, Aston University’s head of optometry, who is currently on sabbatical from the University, before taking over when Professor Wolffsohn steps down in 2025. Dr Dutta said: “I am hugely excited at the prospect of delivering academic provision of the British Contact Lens Association, with a specific focus on a highly prestigious conference programme as we grow our reputation as a global leader in contact lens and anterior eye education. This is a rare opportunity to work alongside our association members, fellows, trustees, global ambassadors and volunteers inspiring a new era for the BCLA, and to support our growth and development ambitions through delivery of educational activities within the contact lens and anterior eye specialism.”

Dr Nicola Logan
2 min. read

MEDIA RELEASE: 18th Street in Brandon Named CAA's Worst Road in Manitoba

Potholes and Crumbling Pavement Along 18th Street in Brandon, Manitoba. (Submitted: March 27, 2024) The nominations have been tallied, and the 2024 CAA Worst Road is 18th Street in Brandon. 18th Street's issues with potholes and severe alligator cracking in the pavement have led to this dubious distinction. The road first appeared on the top 10 list in 2022 and has steadily climbed its way to the top. The second and third place spots are also taken by repeat offenders on the top 10 list are Leila Avenue in Winnipeg and Provincial Road 307 in Whiteshell. According to the voter insights, Leila Avenue's unavoidable potholes have damaged many vehicles, costing local drivers thousands of dollars in repairs. Voters also expressed concern over Provincial Road 307 regarding poor pedestrian infrastructure and road maintenance. "The 2024 CAA Worst Roads campaign provides a valuable snapshot of the roads that the public perceives as pain points," says Ewald Friesen, manager of government and community relations for CAA Manitoba, "For 13 years, this campaign has served as a powerful advocacy tool, initiating dialogue with decision-makers and driving positive change for safer roads across the province." CAA's most recent survey data shows that while 78 per cent of Manitobans do not appreciate road maintenance efforts, however, 88 per cent are willing to put up with the inconvenience of construction if that means they get a good road at the end of the repairs. The campaign received 486 road nominations from thousands of local voters across 71 municipalities. "Manitobans' frustration about the state of our roads is clear," says Friesen. “We know they voice their concerns to neighbours, friends, or mechanics; this campaign helps bring awareness to decision-makers, providing valuable insights on our preferences for how to prioritize road repair and maintenance." Half of the roads on the top 10 list have debuted this year. These include Highway 26, Pandora Avenue, Richmond Avenue, Grant Avenue, and Munroe Avenue, which are tied for ninth place. Manitoba's Top 10 Worst Roads for 2024 1. 18th Street, Brandon 2. Leila Avenue, Winnipeg 3. Provincial Road 307, Whiteshell 4. Kenaston Boulevard, Winnipeg 5. Provincial Highway 26, Saint François Xavier 6. Empress Street, Winnipeg 7. Pandora Avenue, Winnipeg 8. Saskatchewan Avenue, Winnipeg 9. Grant Avenue and Munroe Avenue, Winnipeg 10. Inkster Boulevard, Winnipeg and Richmond Avenue, Brandon "Municipalities are responsible for thousands of kilometres of roads across the province. Roads, sidewalks, and bike paths are only some of the things that municipal governments fund with limited revenue sources," adds Friesen. "It's important for communities to share their view on what and where investments should be made. CAA Worst Roads is a forum to do that." For more information and historical results, please visit: https://www.caamanitoba.com/advocacy/government-relations/worst-roads

Ewald Friesen
2 min. read

Aston University spin-out wins start-up prize at life sciences and medical technology industry awards show

MESOX, a spin-out from the pharmaceutics group at Aston Pharmacy School, develops drug carrier technology to improve medicine formulations The company won the Start-Up prize at the Medilink Midlands Awards 2024 The prize is awarded to a new company that shows a promising future. A spin-out company from Aston University’s pharmaceutics research group has won a medical technology and life sciences industry award. MESOX, which was founded by Aston University pharmaceutics lecturer Dr Ali Al-Khattawi, won the Medilink Midlands Start-Up Award, which is presented to a newly established company that shows a promising future. The Medilink Midlands Business Awards showcase the best collaborations between industry, academia and the NHS across the Midlands. This year’s ceremony was held at the Athena in Leicester on 9 May. The awards were established by Medilink Midlands, which provides specialist business support to boost the region’s economic output from the life sciences industry. Working alongside the Midlands Engine and other strategic alliances, it helps stimulate additional and value-added growth of the Midlands as a prosperous community for life sciences. With in-depth expertise in particle engineering for drug delivery and pharmaceutical spray drying, MESOX uses IP-protected carriers to improve the bioavailability and efficacy of pharmaceuticals, partnering with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to bring challenging therapeutics to market. In its citation, Medilink Midlands described MESOX as “transforming pharmaceutical formulation with its game-changing carrier technologies.” As a winner of a Medilink Midlands award, MESOX will now be entered into the UK National Awards, the ceremony of which takes place on 11 July 2024 in London. Dr Al-Khattawi said: “We are delighted to have won this prestigious award, which highlights the outstanding research and development work being done by the MESOX team and the immense potential of our company to transform the medicine formulation development landscape. Through collaboration with other pharmaceutical companies, clinicians, academic researchers, and by engaging directly with patients to understand their needs, we aim to innovate and advance drug delivery science into life-saving therapeutics. “At MESOX, our ambition is to be a global, research-based pharmaceutical company rooted in the Midlands, dedicated to developing life-saving therapeutics at speed and resource-efficiency. Our ultimate goal is to enable healthier lives for patients worldwide and ensure better global access to essential medicines.”

Ali Al-Khattawi
2 min. read

New podcast: Aston University research institute team discuss membrane separations and chocolate boxes

Aston Institute of Membrane Excellence’s Dr Matt Derry was joined by Dr Alan Goddard and France-based research partner Dr Mona Semsarilar They discussed the BIOMEM project, which received £3m from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Pathfinder programme BIOMEM will develop a bioinspired membrane to selectively extract compounds from water (like finding a favourite chocolate in a box) In the latest Aston Institute for Membrane Excellence (AIME) podcast, three researchers discuss the international BIOmimetic selective extraction MEMbranes (BIOMEM) project and how it will feed into AIME’s work. BIOMEM will develop a bioinspired membrane technology to selectively extract compounds from water, using 50-75% less energy than current state-of-the-art nanofiltration technologies. The membranes will work at low pressures and at low concentration of the target molecule. Podcast host Dr Matt Derry was joined by fellow AIME researcher Dr Alan Goddard and Dr Mona Semsarilar from the French National Centre for Scientific Research (Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS)). The BIOMEM project, which involves collaborators from across Europe, is being led by Dr Torsten Bak from Danish company Aquaporin, with Dr Goddard the research lead at Aston University. Dr Goddard explained: “You might want to work on a biotechnology process where you've made a high value chemical that you want to extract from a complex mix, and at the moment you might have to concentrate your solution up, and you might have to do six or seven filtration steps. We want a filter that does it in a single step using a biological transporter. “And if you can do that in a single step in a platform technology, you'll make all these brilliant biotech processes more commercialisable, reduce your reliance on petrochemicals, and to maybe oversell what we can do, save the planet.” Dr Derry likened it to a quick way to find your favourite chocolate in a box at Christmas. Rather than scrabbling through, taking out one type at a time until you find your favourite, the process can immediately separate it out with minimal effort. Aquaporin has developed a membrane that can selectively transport only water molecules to quickly purify water, which is already in use across the world, and even out of this world, for space missions. Dr Bak and the team will bring their membrane expertise to the project. The team at CNRS, led by polymer scientist Dr Semsarilar, is working on a number of projects for BIOMEM, including developing a type of crystalline material called trianglamine, which they can modify through chemical processes to be hydrophobic or hydrophilic to make things like water channels or adsorption sites, which can be embedded in polymer network for purification processes. Other researchers at AIME, including Dr Derry and Professor Paul Topham, will work on the ‘glue’ to stick the biological elements of the membranes to the non-biological polymer matrix. BIOMEM will also benefit from the input of partners across Europe including dsm-firmenich, University of Copenhagen and Tampere University. The podcast was recorded just after the project kick-off meeting with all the project partners, which was held at Aston University in May 2024. Listen to the full podcast on the Aston Originals YouTube page.

Dr Matthew DerryDr Alan GoddardPaul Topham
3 min. read

Unlocking Expertise: The Need for Flexible Integration Options in Profiling Your Organization's Thought Leaders.

In the crowded landscape of "experts," establishing a leading Thought Leadership program that gets your team noticed requires showcasing your organization's expertise on your website in a flexible, customizable, and SEO-compliant manner. As the demand for dynamic content and seamless integration grows, having various options to display your expert content can significantly enhance your online presence. At ExpertFile, we believe that embracing flexibility allows you to cater to different needs, preferences, and technical setups, ensuring your expert content is accessible, engaging, and easily manageable. In this post, we will explore the benefits of flexible integration options when profiling your organization's expertise, focusing on three key solutions: Customizable Embeds, WordPress Plugins, and RESTful API. The Power of Choice: Why Flexibility Matters Flexibility in integration options empowers organizations to tailor their online presence according to their unique needs. Whether you are a small business with limited technical resources or a large enterprise with a complex marketing stack, having a range of integration choices allows you to adapt and optimize your expert content for maximum impact. Without predefined, easy-to-follow, and well-documented integration options, organizations can face expensive and time-consuming integrations and development. At best, this results in sub-par integrations that fail to leverage your experts' insights effectively. At worst, your Thought Leadership program is abandoned before it even starts. Flexible solutions not only simplify the integration process but also enhance the user experience, improve SEO performance, and enable seamless connectivity with existing tools. These options also provide the flexibility to move your expert content quickly and easily to a new CMS if you decide to make broader changes to your website. Let's delve into the specific benefits and features of Customizable Embeds, the WordPress Plugin, and the RESTful API. 1 | Customizable Embeds: Effortless Integration for Any CMS Customizable Embeds provide a seamless and efficient way to integrate expert profiles into your website, no matter what content management system (CMS) you use. With our intuitive embed builder technology, creating custom integrations is as simple as a few clicks, eliminating the need for extensive IT support. This solution is perfect for organizations looking for a quick and hassle-free method to showcase their expertise. Key benefits include: Ease of Use: Embeds created using an Embed Builder guides you through the process of creating custom embeds, making it accessible to users of all technical skill levels. Whether you're a marketing professional or a web developer, you can effortlessly integrate expert content into your website. Versatility: Customizable Embeds work seamlessly with any CMS, ensuring that your expert content is displayed consistently across different platforms. This flexibility allows you to maintain a cohesive online presence without the need for extensive reconfiguration. Quick Implementation: With no heavy lifting or IT support required, you can quickly integrate expert profiles into your website, saving time and resources. This speed and efficiency are particularly beneficial for organizations with limited technical capabilities. ExpertFile Feature: Embed Builder: The ExpertFile Embed Builder provides an intuitive interface for creating custom integrations, enabling users to test drive the embed options and see real-time results. This hands-on step-by-step approach ensures that your expert content is displayed exactly as desired, generating an optimal user experience. Ask us about getting access to the Embed Builder View live Embed Integrations (University of Delaware, & Aston University) 2 | WordPress Plugin: SEO-Friendly and Visually Appealing For organizations using WordPress, the a WordPress Plugin offers a seamless and SEO-friendly solution to integrate expert content into your website. A plugin can provide users with an easy way to add valuable expert content to any WordPress site, ensuring a beautiful and modern presentation and is an easy to understand concept given the wide variety of plug-ins available today. Key benefits include: SEO Enhancement: The WordPress Plugin is optimized for search engines, helping your expert profiles rank higher in search results. By leveraging SEO best practices, you can increase the visibility of your expert content and attract more organic traffic to your website. Customizable Design: The plugin offers customizable design options, allowing you to match the appearance of your expert profiles with the overall look and feel of your website. This consistency in design enhances the aesthetic appeal and professionalism of your site. User-Friendly Integration: With an easy-to-use interface, the WordPress Plugin simplifies the process of adding expert profiles to your website. This user-friendly approach ensures that even non-technical users can manage and update expert content with ease. ExpertFile Feature: WordPress Plugin: The ExpertFile WordPress Plugin provides a straightforward and efficient way to integrate expert profiles into any WordPress site. With customizable, modern design options, you can ensure that your expert content is a beautiful addition to your website, enhancing both aesthetics and functionality all packaged in a common understandable plug-in form. View ExpertFile in the WordPress Plugin Store View live WordPress Integrations (Florida Institute of Technology & NJIT) 3 | RESTful API: Ultimate Control and Customization For organizations seeking complete customization and control over their expert content, access to RESTful API is the ideal solution. This powerful tool enables you to integrate expert profiles into your existing marketing stack, allowing seamless connectivity with CRM systems, CMS platforms, and other tools. Key benefits include: Complete Customization: The RESTful API gives you full control over how and where your expert content is displayed, enabling you to create a tailored and unique presentation. This level of customization ensures that your expert profiles align perfectly with your brand and marketing strategy. Seamless Integration: By connecting with existing tools in your marketing stack, such as CRM or CMS platforms, the RESTful API streamlines the process of managing and displaying expert content. This seamless integration enhances efficiency and ensures that your expert profiles are always up-to-date. Scalability: The API is designed to handle large volumes of data, making it suitable for organizations of all sizes. Whether you have a few expert profiles or hundreds, the RESTful API can accommodate your needs, providing a scalable solution for displaying expert content. ExpertFile Feature: API: The ExpertFile RESTful API offers unparalleled flexibility and control, allowing you to integrate expert profiles into your existing marketing stack. By providing easy connectivity with tools such as your CRM or CMS, the API ensures that your expert content is displayed exactly as desired, enhancing both functionality and user experience. Developers: Access detailed documentation View live API Integration (Vanderbilt University) Conclusion: Embrace Flexibility & Future Proof Your Integration In conclusion, the ability to flexibly integrate expert content into your website is essential for showcasing your organization's expertise in a dynamic and engaging manner. Without predefined, easy-to-follow, and well-documented integration options, organizations can face expensive, time-consuming integrations and development that make integration less likely and result in sub-par presentations. By not leveraging your experts and their insights in the best way possible, you miss out on significant opportunities to enhance your online presence. Whether you opt for Customizable Embeds, a WordPress Plugin, or the RESTful API, each solution offers unique benefits that cater to different needs and technical setups. By embracing these flexible integration options, you can enhance your online presence, improve SEO performance, and ensure seamless connectivity with existing tools. To learn more about how ExpertFile can help you profile your organization's expertise with flexibility and ease, visit our website and explore the various integration solutions available. For more information on promoting your thought leadership through the power of "Expertise Marketing" download our free guide.

Robert CarterDan Stanhope
5 min. read

Career advice: Expert provides tips for acing job interviews

Later this month, a whole new class of graduating seniors will hit the job market. University of Delaware career expert Jill Gugino Panté has advice for them and others seeking employment that can help boost confidence and chances for success when entering job interviews. Panté, director of the Lerner Career Services Center in UD's Lerner College of Business & Economics, provided the following tips: Hand write your answers to common interview questions. Research shows that people have a better chance of remembering information if it’s handwritten. So, rather than typing answers out on your computer, grab an “interview prep” notebook and start writing down your stories to have a better chance of remembering them when it comes time to interview. Practice saying your answers out loud. Written communication is very different from verbal communication. Once you have your answers written down, practice them out loud. This allows you to warm up your voice and get used to talking about yourself out loud. You can do this alone in a room or with a trusted friend who will give you honest feedback. Fan out notes around your screen. Now that most interviews have moved to a virtual format, take advantage of having some extra help. Put post it notes around your screen instead of in a notebook at your side so your eyes and attention stay toward the camera. Exercise beforehand. Of course, you don’t want to run a marathon right before your interview, but you can do some quick exercises to get your blood and endorphins pumping which can have a positive effect on the body and mind. I personally like to dance to an upbeat song that triggers happy memories. To set up an interview with Panté, visit her profile and click on the "contact button." This will send a message directly to her.

Jill Panté
2 min. read