Science Education & Policy

PARIS, May 6 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Transport Forum has launched its second online debate on "The Transport Sector and Climate Change" in preparation for its upcoming Forum, to be held in Leipzig on 28-30 May. "The transport sector is responsible for a significant and growing share of greenhouse gas emissions and most indications are that transport activity and emissions will double or more in the next 30 years", said Jack Short, Secretary General of the International Transport Forum in Paris on Monday, at the launch of their second online debate. "On the other hand", explained…

SOUTHAMPTON, England, May 6 /PRNewswire/ -- - Leading Asthma Expert Calls for Action On the occasion of World Asthma Day on 6 May, leading asthma expert Professor Stephen Holgate from the University of Southampton (UK) says: "I am delighted that the theme of this year's World Asthma Day 'You Can Control Your Asthma' sends out such a positive message. Indeed, with personalised disease management asthma can be controlled in the great majority of asthma patients." Professor Holgate explains: "Asthma is a complex multi-factorial condition and as such specific patient profiles need to be taken…

More and more U.S. college students are smoking tobacco using hookahs, a kind of water pipe, and it’s becoming a growing public health issue, according to a new study led by a Virginia Commonwealth University researcher. In a hookah, tobacco is heated by charcoal, and the resulting smoke is passed through a water-filled chamber, cooling the smoke before it reaches the smoker. Some waterpipe users perceive this method of smoking tobacco as less harmful and addictive than cigarette smoking. Principal investigator Thomas Eissenberg, Ph.D., associate professor in the VCU Department of Psychology…

A new revision of clinical guidelines to help doctors manage patients with depression has challenged the rationale behind the UK government’s policy of rolling out of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for milder depression. According to a comprehensive review of treatments for depression, there is a lack of evidence for CBT being more helpful than other forms of psychological support in mild depression or for its efficacy in severe depression. There is also good evidence for antidepressants being effective in depression, with benefit increasing the more severe the depression. This is…

PHILADELPHIA and LONDON, May 5 /PRNewswire/ -- - Participants Were Part of Conference Focusing On Increasing Importance of Research Evaluation in the New University Ranking Systems The Scientific business of Thomson Reuters and King's College London today announced the results of a survey of representatives from 75 U.K. universities and research institutes examining key concerns about research evaluation in the new Research Excellence Framework (REF). The respondents' top concern about research evaluation in the REF -- identified by 28 percent of respondents -- is "getting accurate and…

DUBLIN, Ireland, May 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Allergy Standards Ltd ("ASL"), the internationally recognized independent evaluator of consumer products, today announced that is has certified SmartSilk(TM) duvets, pillow covers and mattress protectors as asthma & allergy friendly(TM). SmartSilk(TM) is the first silk textile company deemed asthma & allergy friendly(TM) by ASL in partnership with the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). "We are pleased to add these select SmartSilk(TM) items to the expanding portfolio of asthma & allergy friendly(TM) certified products," said…

I was asked by the Institute for the Future to highlight a dozen "Signals" that may point to new trends in science as part of the X2 Project: Today, science is entering another period of accelerated change, thanks to the growth of the Internet and dawn of pervasive computing; the explosive growth of new sciences like genetic engineering, nanotechnology, biotechnology, and simulation; the rise of new scientific powers in the developing world, the revival of amateur scientists, and the growth of citizen science movements in the United States and Europe; the growth of new institutions supporting…

If you use one of America’s top internet service providers, you may share server space with an organization that enables worldwide terrorism, says a new study by Tel Aviv University. The findings were presented in Berlin to a closed audience of high-ranking representatives from NATO in February 2008. Enlisted by NATO officials to study the web activity of terrorist organizations, researchers found that some of the world’s most dangerous organizations are operating on American turf. Hezbollah, the Islamic Jihad, and al-Qaeda all have websites hosted by popular American Internet service…

"No Child Left Behind" is controversial because it pointed out something everyone knows but the people being blamed didn't actually like hearing - education in the US was not all that great at the lower levels. No Child Left Behind doesn't work as well as we want and never will, as long as the people being blamed are the ones it's supposed to motivate into doing better. At the university level, where America does quite well, it's a different system. Rather than being forced to go or declared truant, students have to apply for admission and, once in, they have to maintain standards. If…

PLEASANTON, California, May 1 /PRNewswire/ -- - IdeaSpigit(TM) Recognized for Breakthrough Innovations in Social Networking Analysis for Enterprise Spigit, the leader in social productivity software for the enterprise, today announced that IdeaSpigit(TM) was selected as the winner in the software category for the 2008 Best of Interop Awards presented yesterday by InformationWeek. Spigit's IdeaSpigit(TM) applies advanced algorithms to enterprise social networking to automate idea graduation and ranking, determine user reputation and offer incentives and rewards to encourage user contributions…