Experts Matter. Find Yours.
Connect for media, speaking, professional opportunities & more.
Aston University AI expertise helps estimate daily transmission rates of infections such as Covid
Model used antibody data collected at blood donation centres Data obtained allowed academics to estimate the proportion of people who were going undiagnosed Current epidemiological models tend not to be as effective at estimating hidden variables such as daily infection rates. Aston University researchers have helped develop a mathematical model which can estimate daily transmission rates of infections such as Covid by testing for antibodies in blood collected at blood donation centres. Current epidemiological models that are usually used tend not to be as effective at adjusting quickly to changes in infection levels. Working with researchers at the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais in Brazil they conducted a large longitudinal study applying a compartmental model, which is a general modelling technique often applied to the mathematical modelling of infectious diseases, to results obtained from Brazilian blood donor centres. The testing was done by Fundacao Hemominas, one of the largest blood services in Brazil, which covers an area similar to that of continental France. They used the reported number of SARS-CoV-2 cases along with serology results (diagnostic methods used to identify antibodies and antigens in patients’ samples) from blood donors as inputs and delivered estimates of hidden variables, such as daily values of transmission rates and cumulative incidence rate of reported and unreported cases. The model discussed in the paper SARS-CoV-2 IgG Seroprevalence among Blood Donors as a Monitor of the COVID-19 Epidemic, Brazil gave the experts the ability to have a more refined view of the infection rates and relative rate of immunity compared to official measurements. The testing started at the beginning of the pandemic and involved 7,837 blood donors in seven cities in Minas Gerais, Brazil during March–December 2020. At that point testing wasn’t widely available and there was a high proportion of undetected asymptomatic or light symptomatic cases. The data obtained allowed the experts to estimate the proportion of people who were going undiagnosed. Dr Felipe Campelo, senior lecturer in computer science at Aston University, said: “Public communication about the COVID-19 epidemic was based on officially reported cases in the community, which strongly underestimates the actual spread of the disease in the absence of widespread testing. “This difference underscores the convenience of using a model-based approach such as the one we proposed, because it enables the use of measured data for estimating variables such as the total number of infected persons. “Our model delivers daily estimates of relevant variables that usually stay hidden, including the transmission rate and the cumulative number of reported and unreported cases of infection.” In Brazil in July 2020 there was a sharp increase in the number of people tested as new infrastructure became available, which allowed the experts to further validate their methodology by observing how officially recorded data became closer to the model predictions once testing became more widespread, including for asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic people. They applied the model to antibodies found in blood given by donors and used it to estimate the proportion of undiagnosed cases, and to analyse changes in the infection rate, that is, how many people each case infected on average. Previously this has been viewed as a fixed value or a fixed value over a long duration of time, but the dynamics of the spread of Covid change much faster than that. This aspect was very important in early days of the pandemic and could also be applied to similar diseases. Looking forward, the experts aim to improve the accuracy of the model by introducing changes to account for vaccination effects, waning immunity and the potential emergence of new variants. The paper SARS-CoV-2 IgG Seroprevalence among Blood Donors as a Monitor of the COVID-19 Epidemic, Brazil has been published in Volume 28, Number 4—April 2022 of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Birmingham City Council Cabinet Member Cllr Majid Mahmood met with sustainability experts from across Aston University Cllr Mahmood is responsible for the city’s sustainable waste strategy Knowledge exchange projects between the city council and Aston University were discussed. Birmingham City Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment visited Aston University on 30 November to meet with academics working on sustainability challenges. Cllr Majid Mahmood is responsible for developing a financially and environmentally sustainable waste strategy for the city and engaging in citywide and national policy development to tackle the causes and consequences of climate change, among other accountabilities. Cllr Mahmood’s visit included seeing the chemical engineering and applied chemistry labs run by Dr Jiawei Wang and Dr Matthew Derry who are investigating methods for generating energy from waste and creating new, more sustainable materials. He also met with Professor Patricia Thornley, director of the Energy Bioproducts Research Institute (EBRI) along with other colleagues including Dr Katie Chong, who showcased EBRI’s world-leading research into bioenergy and bioproducts and heard from Dr Luciano Batista on the work he is leading at the Centre for Circular Economy and Advanced Sustainability which provides practical answers to tackle world-critical sustainability challenges. During the visit, Cllr Mahmood was able to share some of the challenges and opportunities facing Birmingham City Council, particularly around sustainability, the environment and waste management. He discussed with academics how Aston University’s research could feed into Birmingham City Council’s future waste and energy management plans and how the lived experience of the city should shape the direction of research. A number of knowledge exchange opportunities were also discussed, including using the city council’s experience to develop undergraduate student projects and academics being invited to visit Birmingham’s waste management depots. Cllr Majid Mahmood said: “It has been brilliant to visit Aston University today and to learn about the innovative ways that different academics are tackling the sustainability challenges facing the world. “As the largest metropolitan local authority in the UK, Birmingham is uniquely placed to develop sector leading waste and energy management processes. Working closely with universities like Aston University will help us to achieve this. “I look forward to developing our working relationship and combining our practical experience and research excellence to drive innovation in the sector.”
Aston University to help power Indonesia with affordable energy made from rice straw
Project to convert unwanted rice straw into cheap energy on a commercial scale Most rice straw in Indonesia is burned causing pollution and health problems Project will almost double affordable energy captured from waste. Scientists at the Energy and Bioproducts Institute at Aston University are to start a project to convert Indonesia’s unwanted rice straw into low-cost energy on a commercial scale. Each year the country produces 100 million tonnes of the rice waste, of which 60% is burned in open fields, causing air pollution and has even been linked to lung cancer. The amount burned is equivalent to approximately 85 Terawatts of electricity, which is enough to power Indonesia’s households 10 times over. A consortium which includes Aston University aims to develop processes to capture more affordable energy from rice straw than ever before - and demonstrate that it can be done on a commercial scale. Part of the process involves a biomass conversion technology called pyrolysis. This involves heating organic waste materials to high temperatures of around 500 °C to break them down, producing vapour and solid products. Some of the vapour may be condensed into a liquid product called pyrolysis oil or pyrolysis bio-oil. Both the pyrolysis vapour and liquid bio-oil can be converted to electricity. Current methods convert just 35% of the thermal energy of rice straw to affordable electricity. However, a newly patented combustion engine designed by consortium member, UK-based Carnot Limited, could see that doubled to 70%. Energy extracted this way could help low and middle-income countries create their own locally generated energy, contribute to net zero by 2050, create new jobs and improve the health of locals. The project will help develop a business model which could support companies and local authorities to produce local, cheap energy in Indonesia, and other countries with biomass capacity. Three academic experts from different disciplines at Aston University are involved in this initial project, which focuses on Indonesia’s Lombok Island. Dr Jude Onwudili, Dr Muhammad Imran and Dr Mirjam Roeder are based at Aston University’s Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute (EBRI). Dr Jude Onwudili who is leading the team said: “This project has huge potential - commercialisation of this combined technology will have significant economic benefits for the people of Indonesia through direct and indirect job creation, including the feedstock supply chain and electricity distribution and sales. “About one million Indonesian homes lack access to energy and Indonesia's 6,000 inhabited islands make sustainable infrastructure development challenging in areas such as Lombok Island. “The new techniques being explored could reduce environmental pollution, contribute to net zero and most importantly, provide access to affordable energy from sustainable local agricultural waste. “Aston University is a global leader in bioenergy and energy systems, and I am delighted we received funding to explore this area.” Over a power plant’s life, the project team have calculated that biomass produces cheaper electricity (approx. $4.3$/kWh) compared to solar (approx. $6.6/kWh), geothermal (approx. $6.9/kWh), coal (approx.$7.1/kWh), wind (approx. $8/kWh) and subsidised gas (approx.$8.4ckWh). The project will start in April 2023 with a total of £1.5 million funding for the four partners from Innovate UK. Alongside Carnot Limited, the Aston University scientists will be working with two other UK-based businesses to deliver the project, PyroGenesys and Straw Innovations. PyroGenesys specialises in PyroChemy technology which will convert 70% of the rice straw into vapour or bio-oil for electricity production, with the remainder converted into nutrient-rich biochar, which can be sold back for use as fertiliser on the rice farms. Straw Innovations will contribute their rice straw harvesting and collection expertise, with their many years of similar operations in Asia.
First ever computer reconstruction of a virus, including its complete native genome Will open way for investigating biological processes which can’t currently be fully examined because the genome is missing Could lead the way to research into an alternative to antibiotics. An Aston University researcher has created the first ever computer reconstruction of a virus, including its complete native genome. Although other researchers have created similar reconstructions, this is the first to replicate the exact chemical and 3D structure of a ‘live’ virus. The breakthrough could lead the way to research into an alternative to antibiotics, reducing the threat of anti-bacterial resistance. The research Reconstruction and validation of entire virus model with complete genome from mixed resolution cryo-EM density by Dr Dmitry Nerukh, from the Department of Mathematics in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences at Aston University is published in the journal Faraday Discussions. The research was conducted using existing data of virus structures measured via cryo-Electron Microscopy (cryo-EM), and computational modelling which took almost three years despite using supercomputers in the UK and Japan. The breakthrough will open the way for biologists to investigate biological processes which can’t currently be fully examined because the genome is missing in the virus model. This includes finding out how a bacteriophage, which is a type of virus that infects bacteria, kills a specific disease-causing bacterium. At the moment it is not known how this happens, but this new method of creating more accurate models will open up further research into using bacteriophage to kill specific life-threatening bacteria. This could lead to more targeted treatment of illnesses which are currently treated by antibiotics, and therefore help to tackle the increasing threat to humans of antibiotic resistance. Dr Nerukh said: “Up till now no one else had been able to build a native genome model of an entire virus at such detailed (atomistic) level. “The ability to study the genome within a virus more clearly is incredibly important. Without the genome it has been impossible to know exactly how a bacteriophage infects a bacterium. “This development will now allow help virologists answer questions which previously they couldn’t answer. “This could lead to targeted treatments to kill bacteria which are dangerous to humans, and to reduce the global problem of antibiotic-resistant bacteria which are over time becoming more and more serious.” The team’s approach to the modelling has many other potential applications. One of these is creating computational reconstructions to assist cryo-Electron Microscopy – a technique used to examine life-forms cooled to an extreme temperature.
Aston University bioenergy researchers to improve measurement of industrial carbon dioxide
Researchers at Aston University are to take the UK a step nearer to net zero emissions by developing a better system of measuring industrial carbon dioxide. The government is giving the University £100,000 to improve measurement of CO2 streams from sites such as at power plants and factories. The Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute (EBRI) at Aston University is to develop a comprehensive guide based on industry and academic expertise. Industrial decarbonisation will play a major role in achieving the UK’s 2050 ambitious net zero emissions target, however current measurement guidelines need to be improved. The six-month project will be a collaboration between EBRI researchers and the company Progressive Energy and the Energy Institute. Progressive Energy will work alongside potential end-users and the Energy Institute will help to ensure the final guidelines are clear. The work is being led by Dr Paula Blanco Sanchez, who has more than 15 years of experience in bioenergy. She said: “This funding will help Aston University to address a major gap in the decarbonisation pathway. It will contribute to the UK’s net zero target and is another example of how the University is using its expertise to tackle real world problems. “Our experts in EBRI will provide research, industrial experience and knowledge in areas such as gas measurement, metric and analytics, life cycle and techno-economic assessments, and thermal conversion processes.” The funding has been awarded by the Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Centre (IDRIC) to achieve the net zero ambition set out in the UK Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy (2021). Bryony Livesey, challenge director, Industrial Decarbonisation Challenge, UKRI, said: “The announcement of this funding continues to build upon IDRIC’s whole system approach to decarbonising industry, enabling the UK to remain at the forefront of a global low-carbon future. These successful Wave 2 projects will build evidence on a range of areas from economics and emissions to skilled jobs and wider net zero policy, supporting UK’s green growth and net zero ambitions.” It’s hoped the Aston University project will lead to future collaborations and funding to support UK industry to decarbonise their businesses. In May, June and September the EBRI plant will be opening its doors to professionals who want to enhance their careers with a short hands-on course in Practical Process Engineering. For more information visit https://www.aston.ac.uk/study/courses/practical-process-engineering
Aston University to celebrate 100 years of pharmacy education and research
Aston Pharmacy School to celebrate 100 year anniversary during 2023 The history of teaching pharmacy at Aston University dates back to the 1890s In 2016 the Pharmacy School was awarded a Regius Professorship by HM Queen Elizabeth II. Aston University is gearing up to celebrate 100 years of pharmacy education and research this year. In 1923 the Birmingham Municipal Technical School started to offer full time pharmacy courses to applicants from the general public. The roots of pharmacy education at Aston University date back to the 1890s and more significantly to 1919 when it first started teaching the subject as part of the Chemistry department at the Birmingham Municipal Technical School - as part of a funded package of training and education for returning servicemen after the First World War. In 1923 the pharmacy training provision expanded, taking on six specialist pharmacy staff within the pharmacy section of the Department of Chemistry. That year the Technical School began to offer full time pharmacy courses open to applications from the general public. In 1926 Harry Berry was appointed as head of a separate Department of Pharmacy - following an inspection by the University of London and a positive report. This distinct identity was further cemented a year later in 1927, when Neville Chamberlain, who was the then Minister for Health, opened the new teaching facilities in the School of Pharmacy in the Birmingham Central Technical College. Since then, the University has graduated thousands of pharmacy students with more than 2700 graduates in the last 20 years. Aston University’s Pharmacy School is now recognised as one of the outstanding pharmacy schools in the UK and has been at the forefront of scientific advances over the last 100 years. Its researchers developed the $2 billion blockbuster drug Temozolomide, the leading treatment for brain tumours and it created the UK's first Masters programme for hospital pharmacists. In 2016, Aston Pharmacy School was awarded a Regius Professorship by HM Queen Elizabeth II to mark her 90th birthday. It was the first time a pharmacy school had been given the award, a rare and prestigious honour bestowed by the Sovereign to recognise exceptionally high-quality research. The first holder of the title of Regius Professor of Pharmacy at Aston University was Keith Wilson, a pharmacy academic who helped to shape current and future pharmacy education both within the UK and internationally. Dr Joe Bush, head of Aston Pharmacy School, at Aston University said: "100 years of pharmacy education is a major milestone. We are immensely proud of all our achievements, from producing exceptional graduates who make a significant contribution to the professional workforce in a variety of near-patient settings, to our research discoveries and developments which have positively impacted patient healthcare and the high quality of this research having been recognised via the award of the first ever Regius Chair for Pharmacy. “It is an honour to be a part of Aston Pharmacy School, whose humble beginnings have grown to produce world class research and exceptional graduates. I look forward to celebrating with the rest of the school over the course of the year.” Celebrations of the centenary anniversary will include a celebratory lunch for staff, former staff, students and alumni to recognise the significant contributions that the school has made in research discoveries and teaching. The school will host an exhibition about the last 100 years of pharmacy at Aston University, with a range of historical artefacts on display in the entrance to the University’s main building and there will be a social media campaign to highlight key facts about the last 100 years of pharmacy at Aston University. Did you study pharmacy at Aston University? We would love to hear from you with any stories, memories from your student days. And we would love to hear about where your pharmacy career has taken you. Please get in touch with our alumni team here.
Georgia Southern University’s Staff Council Professional Development Committee, in coordination with the Office of Military and Veteran Services, will offer Green Zone Training to faculty and staff on the Statesboro and the Armstrong campuses in February. “This training will highlight our military-connected student population, military culture and experiences, and help participants recognize obstacles these students face in higher education,” said Georgia Southern Director of Military and Veteran Services George Fredrick, Ed.D. “In addition to the Georgia Southern Military Resource Center, Green Zone Training will assist in identifying other campus resources that are available for students, staff and faculty.” Georgia Southern currently has more than 3,500 military-affiliated students across its three campuses in Statesboro, Savannah and Hinesville. Jodi Middleton Kennedy, director of the Office of Leadership and Community Engagement, benefitted from last year’s session. “Green Zone Training is an amazing opportunity for staff to learn not only how we can support military-connected students, but also some of the unique obstacles they face as students navigating their educational journeys,” she stated. “It is clear that George Fredrick and his team in Military and Veteran Services are passionate about their roles, and it was amazing to be able to connect with a panel of students and hear about their personal experiences as Georgia Southern students.” University Academic Success Coach Lydia Hinkle also thought it was advantageous to participate in Green Zone Training for multiple reasons. “It is important to be aware of the different types of students we serve and what their needs are so that we can better assist them as staff members,” said Hinkle. “As staff members, we should want to do these kinds of training opportunities so that we can support these students as best as we can. Not only does it increase your value as an employee to be able to understand your students better, but it increases our appeal as a university if we, as a whole, are known to be extremely knowledgeable and supportive of this student population. “I did learn a lot about what our students from this population need and would like to see happen, and brought some information back to my department on how we can better assist these students.” During the Green Zone Training in Savannah, recipients of three Military Spouse Scholarships totaling $10,000 will also be recognized. Green Zone Training will take place on the Statesboro Campus on Thursday, Feb. 2, in the Williams Center and on the Armstrong Campus in Savannah on Feb. 9 in the Ogeechee Theatre. Both events take place from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. For more information about Green Zone Training or to arrange an interview with Georgia Southern's Director of Military and Veteran Services George Fredrick - simply reach out to Georgia Southern Director of Communications Jennifer Wise at jwise@georgiasouthern.edu to arrange an interview today.
Georgia Southern University building ethical skills in military leaders
Georgia Southern University’s Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies recently partnered with key leaders of the U.S. Army‘s 188th Infantry Brigade from Fort Stewart for a Leadership and Professional Development session in Jenkins Hall Theater at the Armstrong Campus. Professor Leisa Schwab, a part-time member of the department and former military judge advocate, presented “Introduction to Moral Theory” to the unit’s officers and senior non-commissioned officers. The session focused on ethical leadership and communication techniques in the military. “Military leaders are people entrusted with authority in a really broad range of areas and they have difficult decisions to make,” Schwab said. “Whether in the heat of the moment or as an after-the- fact analysis, these ethical frameworks can be helpful for making sense of these decisions.” The members of the audience were introduced to three different ethical theories, which were then discussed in relation to difficult situations that leaders may encounter in the military. Schwab’s session focused on how an understanding of philosophical ethics could help leaders both make better decisions and communicate more effectively. The military is made up of countless personalities and backgrounds. Just like any other group, company or society, the leadership must find ways for everyone to work together effectively. “You may have two soldiers who have wildly different cultural backgrounds and they have deep disagreements about what is right or wrong in a certain situation,” Schwab said. “Being able to help them communicate effectively about that can help maintain that kind of functional sense of community. That’s so important.” Schwab said this was a fun opportunity to mix her love of teaching philosophy with her military background. Georgia Southern University’s Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies recently partnered with key leaders of the U.S. Army‘s 188th Infantry Brigade from Fort Stewart for a Leadership and Professional Development session in Jenkins Hall Theater at the Armstrong campus. Looking to know more - then let us help. Professor Leisa Schwab is available to speak to reporters about this important project. For more information or to arrange an interview - simply reach out to Georgia Southern Director of Communications Jennifer Wise at jwise@georgiasouthern.edu to arrange an interview today.
Approximately 30 University Police officers recognized for mental health training
Student mental health is a constant concern on a university campus. It is not uncommon for someone in distress to call 9-1-1. A police officer could be the first person to interact with a person who needs specialized attention. To help evaluate and properly handle such situations, every officer at Georgia Southern has completed Crisis Intervention Training (CIT), presented by the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in collaboration with the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, and the Georgia Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The training ensures that people with mental illnesses and other brain disorders will receive treatment in lieu of incarceration in most cases. On top of that training, the University System of Georgia offers two additional programs to law enforcement officers: QPR Suicide Prevention Training – QPR stands for Question, Persuade and Refer – the three simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. Just as people trained in CPR and the Heimlich maneuver help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade and refer someone to help. Adult Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Training – MHFA is a skills-based training course that teaches people how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorder. for police officers to help recognize and handle mental health issues and mental health disorders. So far, almost 30 police officers at Georgia Southern University have completed the three different training programs, earning each officer a Mental Health Initiative pin. “I am very proud of these officers, and appreciate them taking the time to better prepare for handling any situation they may encounter,” said Laura McCullough, chief of police at Georgia Southern. “The pins they now wear are a symbol of the care they invest in our community.” State and University officials lauded the officers’ achievements. “This law enforcement mental health certification program could not come at a better time for our university communities, given the state of mental health in our country and on our campuses,” said Jodi Caldwell, director of Georgia Southern’s Counseling Center. “Law enforcement personnel are increasingly the first responders to individuals experiencing mental health emergencies. It comes as no surprise to the staff of the Counseling Center that Georgia Southern’s University police department is leading the way in Georgia for law enforcement interest and willingness to become trained in recognizing and responding to individuals in mental health distress.” Caldwell spoke at a ceremony last month to present the pins and honor the officers. Also attending were Alexis Belvin, Georgia Southern’s SGA President and Chip Reese, Ed.D., former system project director for the University System of Georgia (USG) Mental Health Initiative. “The USG Mental Health Initiative was launched during COVID to allow us to focus more intentionally on the needs of our students,” Reese said. “We have expanded clinical counseling services and supported mental health and wellness resources and programming across the state. I’m particularly proud of the QPR and MHFA training and hope it will better equip the officers who are already on the first ones we call whenever someone needs help.” The following officers were awarded the Mental Health Initiative Pin: Tim Alderman, Josh Barker, Richard Bashlor, Charles Bowen, Ian Craig, Laurence Croy, Steven Cushner, Sam Derr, Christion Doyle, Bailey Dyches, Jonathan Finley, Danny Garrigus, Kenneth Glover, Clay Gracen, Sarah Grey, Lanier Griswold, Patrick Holloway, Tyrone McBride, Chris McBride, Erk McCurdy, BJ McKellar, Alex Morris, Todd Olsen, Kurt Purtee, Dexter Renfroe, Erick Riner, Lamar Stephens, and Crystal Thomas. Looking to know more - then let us help. Jodi Caldwell, director of Georgia Southern’s Counseling Center, is available to speak regarding this important topic - simply click on here icon here or simply reach out to Georgia Southern Director of Communications Jennifer Wise at jwise@georgiasouthern.edu to arrange an interview today.
Georgia Southern University’s College of Science and Mathematics has been awarded a six-year grant of $493,065 from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Inclusive Excellence 3 (IE3) initiative. Georgia Southern is among a select group of 104 schools that have received an HHMI IE3 grant to support diversity, equity and inclusion. “Science is about building, witnessing and collaborating with each other, which is why Georgia Southern is so proud to receive this grant,” said Georgia Southern Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Carl Reiber, Ph.D. “Our inclusive initiatives are breaking down the walls that have separated science from interested students.” The HHMI IE3 initiative challenges U.S. colleges and universities to increase student participation in sciences, focusing especially on populations who have been historically underrepresented in the field. The Georgia Southern IE3 leadership team includes: Karelle Aiken, Ph.D, (program director), Tricia Muldoon Brown, Ph.D., (co-director) Sara Gremillion, Ph.D., (co-director), Checo Colón-Gaud, Ph.D., Issac Taylor and Delana Schartner, Ph.D. “The IE3 initiative is tapping into the transformative power of collaboration; the ability of a critical mass to drive cultural change. As such, an ingenious mandate of this grant is that its 104 institutional awardees work on their goals in teams of Learning Community Clusters (LCC),” said Aiken. Georgia Southern’s IE3 LCC hub, LCC4, includes 13 other institutions from across the U.S., all of whom are seeking to answer a specific challenge: How can an institution evaluate effective inclusive teaching, and then use the evaluation in the rewards system including faculty promotion and tenure? The IE3 initiative has been rolled out in two phases. The most recent award marks the beginning of the second phase and so, the work of the Georgia Southern team and their LCC4 colleagues is ongoing. At Georgia Southern, over the next six years the IE3 initiative will support training for faculty and student-leaders centered on inclusive teaching strategies and the effective evaluation of those strategies; an annual COSM IE3 Spring Speaker Series (established in 2022); the continued development of a new faculty mentorship program piloted in 2022 by Inclusive Excellence Faculty Fellows; student- and faculty-led initiatives geared toward cultivating inclusive learning environments; and more. Looking to know more - then let us help. For more information or to arrange an interview with Carl Reiber or anyone from the Georgia Southern IE3 leadership team - simply reach out to Georgia Southern Director of Communications Jennifer Wise at jwise@georgiasouthern.edu to arrange an interview today.