Apr 27, 2023
2 min
Carnegie Mellon University has greatly reduced the use of plastic bags at checkout in its Bookstore, Tartan Ink and Dining Services' dining locations. The change comes ahead of a Pittsburgh-wide ban on single use plastics that will take effect in October 2023.
Pittsburgh originally planned to begin enforcing the ban in April 2023, but announced this month that it will delay until the fall. The university will move forward with plastic-free alternatives immediately. Deborah Steinberg, green practices and sustainability manager in Carnegie Mellon's Facilities Management and Campus Services, said there was no reason to wait.
"We are ready to go," Steinberg said. "We appreciate the city setting us on this path by putting forth this legislation and are happy to be jumping in a bit before it's required."
Steinberg noted that plastic bags may still be used to accommodate larger Bookstore purchases until the university can source an alternative.
Nitya Bhat, a sophomore studying computer science, said the change is a step in the right direction for CMU.
"Students tend to accumulate a bunch of plastic bags on campus and it is extremely difficult to find a vendor that will recycle them," Bhat said. "It's great that we are eliminating one of the major sources of plastic bags in this community."
Steinberg said this effort is just one of the campus green practices her department supports.
"We have several waste reduction efforts in place that are bringing us closer to zero waste on campus such as our composting programs, educational work and outreach. The plastic bag ban is another key step in reducing our waste," she said.
Neil M. Donahue, the Thomas Lord University Professor of Chemistry, professor of chemical engineering and engineering and public policy and director of Carnegie Mellon University’s Steinbrenner Institute for Environmental Education and Research said that it’s important for CMU to be a sustainability leader.
"It's part of our educational mission and values. The problems of sustainability, climate and environmental pollutants are first order existential problems in the world right now," Donahue said.
He noted that legislation like Pittsburgh's plastic bag ban has helped make huge environmental gains in the past.
"In the United States we have progressively reduced the amount of pollution that cars are permitted to emit by an enormous amount over the past 50 years — it is incredibly impressive. One of the things that drove that improvement was because it is the law — it was required that that improvement be made. We essentially pay a couple of hundred bucks more per car to have cleaner air," Donahue said.
1 min
Carnegie Mellon University’s artificial intelligence experts come from a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives, representing fields including computer science, sustainability, national security and entrepreneurship. Ahead of the AI Horizons Summit highlighting the city's commitment to responsible technology, CMU experts weighed in on why they see Pittsburgh as a hub for human-centered AI.
1 min
Earlier this month, alarm bells were ringing at the Justice Department after a Jordanian citizen was arrested for targeting and breaking into solar power facility farm in Florida. During that same time period, energy facilities in New Jersey and Idaho also came under attack. The attacks were politically motivated and have led national media outlets like USA Today to contact experts from Carnegie Mellon University to help explain the situation and break if all down. The Department of Homeland Security has issued warnings that domestic extremists have been developing "credible, specific plans" since at least 2020 and would continue to "encourage physical attacks against electrical infrastructure." Industry experts, federal officials, and others have warned in one report after another since at least 1990 that the power grid was at risk, said Granger Morgan, an engineering professor at Carnegie Mellon University. One challenge is that there's no single entity whose responsibilities span the entire system, Morgan said. And the risks are only increasing as the grid expands to include renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, he said. August 15, 2024 - USA TODAY Professor Granger's comments are startling as America's vulnerabilities to important infrastructure seem to be more exposed than ever. And if you're a journalist looking to cover this emerging topic - then let us help with your questions and stories. Morgan Granger is available to speak with media - simply click on his icon below to arrange an interview today. Photo Credit: Zbynek Burival
2 min
Is the bubble about to burst again on the country's economy? A recent article by Bloomberg News paints a picture of what lies ahead - and the predictions look bleak at best. The Congressional Budget Office warned in its latest projections that US federal government debt is on a path from 97% of GDP last year to 116% by 2034 — higher even than in World War II. The actual outlook is likely worse. From tax revenue to defense spending and interest rates, the CBO forecasts released earlier this year are underpinned by rosy assumptions. Plug in the market’s current view on interest rates, and the debt-to-GDP ratio rises to 123% in 2034. Then assume — as most in Washington do — that ex-President Donald Trump’s tax cuts mainly stay in place, and the burden gets even higher. With uncertainty about so many of the variables, Bloomberg Economics has run a million simulations to assess the fragility of the debt outlook. In 88% of the simulations, the results show the debt-to-GDP ratio is on an unsustainable path — defined as an increase over the next decade. April 01 - Bloomberg The economy is in the news every day - and if you're a journalist looking to know what the future may hold - then let us help with your coverage and questions. Professor Lee Branstetter is a research associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research and nonresident senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. He is available to speak with media about the economy - simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.
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1 min
Carnegie Mellon University’s artificial intelligence experts come from a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives, representing fields including computer science, sustainability, national security and entrepreneurship. Ahead of the AI Horizons Summit highlighting the city's commitment to responsible technology, CMU experts weighed in on why they see Pittsburgh as a hub for human-centered AI.
1 min
Earlier this month, alarm bells were ringing at the Justice Department after a Jordanian citizen was arrested for targeting and breaking into solar power facility farm in Florida. During that same time period, energy facilities in New Jersey and Idaho also came under attack. The attacks were politically motivated and have led national media outlets like USA Today to contact experts from Carnegie Mellon University to help explain the situation and break if all down. The Department of Homeland Security has issued warnings that domestic extremists have been developing "credible, specific plans" since at least 2020 and would continue to "encourage physical attacks against electrical infrastructure." Industry experts, federal officials, and others have warned in one report after another since at least 1990 that the power grid was at risk, said Granger Morgan, an engineering professor at Carnegie Mellon University. One challenge is that there's no single entity whose responsibilities span the entire system, Morgan said. And the risks are only increasing as the grid expands to include renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, he said. August 15, 2024 - USA TODAY Professor Granger's comments are startling as America's vulnerabilities to important infrastructure seem to be more exposed than ever. And if you're a journalist looking to cover this emerging topic - then let us help with your questions and stories. Morgan Granger is available to speak with media - simply click on his icon below to arrange an interview today. Photo Credit: Zbynek Burival
2 min
Is the bubble about to burst again on the country's economy? A recent article by Bloomberg News paints a picture of what lies ahead - and the predictions look bleak at best. The Congressional Budget Office warned in its latest projections that US federal government debt is on a path from 97% of GDP last year to 116% by 2034 — higher even than in World War II. The actual outlook is likely worse. From tax revenue to defense spending and interest rates, the CBO forecasts released earlier this year are underpinned by rosy assumptions. Plug in the market’s current view on interest rates, and the debt-to-GDP ratio rises to 123% in 2034. Then assume — as most in Washington do — that ex-President Donald Trump’s tax cuts mainly stay in place, and the burden gets even higher. With uncertainty about so many of the variables, Bloomberg Economics has run a million simulations to assess the fragility of the debt outlook. In 88% of the simulations, the results show the debt-to-GDP ratio is on an unsustainable path — defined as an increase over the next decade. April 01 - Bloomberg The economy is in the news every day - and if you're a journalist looking to know what the future may hold - then let us help with your coverage and questions. Professor Lee Branstetter is a research associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research and nonresident senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. He is available to speak with media about the economy - simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.
