Cornell University

Minister Champagne announces four new members of the Canadian Statistics Advisory Council

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 15, 2024

The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, has announced the appointments of four new members of the Canadian Statistics Advisory Council for three-year terms.

Key Points: 
  • The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, has announced the appointments of four new members of the Canadian Statistics Advisory Council for three-year terms.
  • The independent advisory council has a mandate to advise the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry and the Chief Statistician of Canada on the overall quality of the national statistical system.
  • These new members join the existing council members: Dr. Howard Ramos (Chairperson), Annette Hester, David Chaundy, Jan Kestle, and Benoit Dostie, who was appointed on February 3, 2023.
  • – The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry
    "The Canadian Statistics Advisory Council has played an important role supporting Statistics Canada's modernization journey and in turn strengthening Canada's world-class statistical system.

High School Scholars from Underserved Communities Nationwide Recognized for High Achievement in College Courses Offered by Nation's Top Universities

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 15, 2024

NEW YORK, Feb. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Educational Equity Lab (Ed Equity Lab), an education justice nonprofit that works to bridge the gap between high school and college for students from historically marginalized, low-income communities, today announced over 750 inductees selected for its 2023-24 Honor Society nationwide - from Albuquerque, Baton Rouge, and Flint to Los Angeles, New York, and Miami.

Key Points: 
  • "We're grateful for the passionate commitment of our high school and university partners, who are expanding opportunities for these scholars to advance and demonstrate their vast talent. "
  • Scholars in this year's Honor Society will be recognized in a ceremony tonight, February 15, featuring university professors, high school teachers, district leaders, family, and members of the National Education Equity Lab board.
  • "Scholars from 16 of our high schools are among the top performing scholars in the nation in these college courses — propelling their skills, confidence, and college and career opportunities.
  • The following schools participating in the Ed Equity Lab all have students inducted into this semester's Honor Society:
    Glenview College Prep High School, Principal Ecton
    Aspire Vanguard College Preparatory Academy, Principal Saldana
    Birmingham Community Charter High School, Principal Bennett
    Diego Rivera Learning Complex Green Design STEAM Academy, Principal Chavez
    Huntington Park Senior High School, Principal Garibaldi
    Marquez High School of Social Justice, Principal Guzman
    San Pedro Senior High School, Principal Aubele
    Thirty-Second Street USC Performing Arts, Principal Kehrley
    Valley Academy of Arts & Sciences, Principal Hanock
    Woodrow Wilson Senior High School, Principal Verbera
    Hialeah Miami Lakes Senior High School, Principal Ramirez
    Miami Central Senior High School, Principal Sands
    Miami Coral Park Senior High School, Principal Weiner
    Miami Norland Senior High School, Principal Gaines-Miller
    North Miami Beach Senior High School, Principal Milliken
    South Dade Senior High School, Principal De Armas
    South Miami Senior High School, Principal Penton
    Southwest Miami Senior High School, Principal Bulnes
    William H. Turner Technical Arts Senior High School, Principal Feazier
    The SEED School of Miami, Principal Thomas
    Thornton Fractional North High School, Principal Rucinski
    Thornton Fractional South High School, Principal Gourley
    George Washington Carver High School, Principal Byrant
    KIPP Academy Lynn Collegiate High School, Principal Clarke
    Duplin Early College High School, Principal Smith

Tredway Appoints New Associate to Investments Team

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 13, 2024

NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Tredway , an affordable and mixed-income real estate developer that builds and preserves high-quality, high-opportunity housing, today announced that Justin Crell has joined its New York City-based team in the role of Investment Associate.

Key Points: 
  • NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Tredway , an affordable and mixed-income real estate developer that builds and preserves high-quality, high-opportunity housing, today announced that Justin Crell has joined its New York City-based team in the role of Investment Associate.
  • "Justin possesses a keen knowledge of the complexities of the affordable housing space and significant asset management expertise, which will enhance our growing team," said Will Blodgett, CEO & Founder of Tredway.
  • Justin primarily served as the firm's Asset Manager overseeing the day-to-day execution of a 700,000 square foot repositioning in Manhattan's Midtown South.
  • Justin started his career at Capital One, where he spent five years as an Agency Finance underwriter on the affordable housing team.

Molecular Assemblies Announces the Appointment of Two Industry Leaders to Its Commercial-Technology Advisory Board

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 13, 2024

"With the deep knowledge, wisdom, and experience commercializing transformative life science products, the CTAB enables Molecular Assemblies to identify emerging opportunities and trends in the life sciences industry that can be solved with our breakthrough nucleic acid-based products," said Larry Stambaugh, Board Chair of Molecular Assemblies.

Key Points: 
  • "With the deep knowledge, wisdom, and experience commercializing transformative life science products, the CTAB enables Molecular Assemblies to identify emerging opportunities and trends in the life sciences industry that can be solved with our breakthrough nucleic acid-based products," said Larry Stambaugh, Board Chair of Molecular Assemblies.
  • "Molecular Assemblies is helping accelerate the life science industry by removing one of the largest bottlenecks in R&D – the availability of long, pure, accurate oligonucleotides," said Todd C. Peterson, Ph.D., CTAB Chair and MAI Board Director.
  • He is currently Founder and Principal at GenApex Bio, a life sciences Board service and advisory practice.
  • His extensive experience includes leadership roles at Sigma-Aldrich and Genome Systems, where he made significant contributions to the genomics field.

Silver Creek Pharmaceuticals Appoints Mark Corrigan, M.D. As President

Retrieved on: 
Monday, February 12, 2024

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Silver Creek Pharmaceuticals, a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the selective targeting of naturally-occurring growth factors to promote cell survival and growth, has appointed Mark Corrigan, MD, as President.

Key Points: 
  • Dr. Corrigan brings over three decades of life sciences leadership experience to Silver Creek.
  • SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Silver Creek Pharmaceuticals, a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the selective targeting of naturally-occurring growth factors to promote cell survival and growth, has appointed Mark Corrigan, MD, as President.
  • "We are pleased to welcome Dr. Corrigan to lead Silver Creek through its next phase of growth," said Tim Throsby, Silver Creek's Chairman of the Board.
  • "The elegance and innovation behind Silver Creek's Smart Growth Factor™ platform is very compelling, and the pre-clinical data around scp776 is equally impressive.

Four Goulston & Storrs Attorneys Recognized as Lawdragon Green 500: 2024 Leaders in Environmental Law

Retrieved on: 
Monday, February 12, 2024

BOSTON , Feb. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Goulston & Storrs, an Am Law 200 firm, is pleased to announce that directors Kate Heller , Jonathan Pearlson , William Seuch , and of counsel Ned Abelson have been named to the Lawdragon Green 500: 2024 Leaders in Environmental Law, which recognizes the top attorneys in the practice who "help businesses navigate environmental regulations to successfully develop projects."

Key Points: 
  • BOSTON , Feb. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Goulston & Storrs, an Am Law 200 firm, is pleased to announce that directors Kate Heller , Jonathan Pearlson , William Seuch , and of counsel Ned Abelson have been named to the Lawdragon Green 500: 2024 Leaders in Environmental Law, which recognizes the top attorneys in the practice who "help businesses navigate environmental regulations to successfully develop projects."
  • This is the second consecutive year that all four attorneys have been selected as leaders in environmental law.
  • Her unique legal and engineering expertise makes her among the top environmental attorneys in the country.
  • Ned Abelson is a nationally recognized environmental attorney who is known for his expertise in Brownfields redevelopment, transactional work, and environmental insurance.

PetWise Names Mac Tillman Chief Executive Officer

Retrieved on: 
Monday, February 12, 2024

NOVATO, Calif., Feb. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- PetWise, Inc. ("PetWise" or the "Company"), a leading provider of solution-based pet products, today announced that E. McDowell "Mac" Tillman has been named Chief Executive Officer ("CEO"), effective February 5, 2024. As part of this appointment, Kevin Fick, who has served as CEO of PetWise since 2012, has been elevated to a new role with the Company's Board of Directors, where he will continue to work with Tillman and the Company.

Key Points: 
  • Kevin Fick, who helped turn the Company into an industry leader as CEO over the past 12 years, transitioning to a new role on the Board of Directors
    NOVATO, Calif., Feb. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- PetWise, Inc. ("PetWise" or the "Company"), a leading provider of solution-based pet products, today announced that E. McDowell "Mac" Tillman has been named Chief Executive Officer ("CEO"), effective February 5, 2024.
  • Mac Tillman brings to PetWise more than 25 years of enterprise-level experience leading high-performing teams and driving brand growth in the consumer product goods and pet care industries.
  • "PetWise has a 30-year legacy of nurturing the special bond between pets and their families," said Tillman.
  • "We're thrilled to welcome Mac as the new CEO of PetWise," said Ryan McCarthy, Partner at A&M Capital Partners.

Accelus Strengthens Leadership with New Board Appointments

Retrieved on: 
Monday, February 12, 2024

This strategic enhancement to the board is aligned with Accelus’s mission to deliver innovative spinal solutions that elevate the surgical experience and improve patient outcomes.

Key Points: 
  • This strategic enhancement to the board is aligned with Accelus’s mission to deliver innovative spinal solutions that elevate the surgical experience and improve patient outcomes.
  • His journey with Accelus includes key roles as President and Chief Commercial Officer, showcasing his leadership and strategic vision.
  • Bernie Haffey, the founder of Haffey & Co., brings to the board a proven track record in executive management and leadership.
  • “I am delighted by the addition of Kevin McGann and Bernie Haffey to the Accelus Board of Directors," said Alex Lukianov, Chairman of the Board for Accelus.

Heart attacks, cancer, dementia, premature deaths: 4 essential reads on the health effects driving EPA’s new fine particle air pollution standard

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 8, 2024

These minute particles can penetrate deeply into the body and have been linked to many serious illnesses.

Key Points: 
  • These minute particles can penetrate deeply into the body and have been linked to many serious illnesses.
  • The new rule sets an annual limit of 9 micrograms per cubic meter of air, down from the previous level of 12 micrograms.
  • Under the Clean Air Act, the EPA is required to set air pollution standards at levels that protect public health.

1. An alarming array of health effects

  • Subsequent research has linked fine particulates to a much broader range of health effects.
  • They termed fine particle pollution an urgent global health threat.
  • “Developed countries have made progress in reducing particulate air pollution in recent decades, but much remains to be done to further reduce this hazard,” they observed.

2. Aging the brain

  • Medical researchers are looking closely at air pollution as a possible accelerator of brain aging.
  • “When we compared the brain scans of older women from locations with high levels of PM2.5 to those with low levels, we found dementia risk increased by 24% over the five years,” Chen wrote.
  • More alarmingly, “(T)hese Alzheimer’s-like brain changes were present in older women with no memory problems,” Chen noted.

3. Disadvantaged communities have dirtier air

  • As researchers in environmental justice have shown, facilities such as factories and refineries often are concentrated in low-income neighborhoods and communities of color.
  • This means that these areas are exposed to higher pollution levels and face heavier related health burdens.
  • Regulations put in place under the Clean Air Act have greatly reduced levels of harmful air pollutants across the U.S. over the past 50 years.
  • “In 1981 PM2.5 concentrations in the most polluted 10% of census tracts averaged 34 micrograms per cubic meter,” the authors reported.

4. Fine particle pollution hurts wildlife too

  • Like the proverbial canaries in coal mines, wild animals can show effects of exposure to pollution that offer broader warnings.
  • Cornell University conservation biologist Wendy M. Erb was studying wild orangutans in Indonesian Borneo when that island suffered large-scale wildfires.
  • “Using passive acoustic monitoring to study vocally active indicator species, like orangutans, could unlock critical insights into wildfire smoke’s effects on wildlife populations worldwide,” she observed.

AI in the developing world: how ‘tiny machine learning’ can have a big impact

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, February 8, 2024

The landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) applications has traditionally been dominated by the use of resource-intensive servers centralised in industrialised nations.

Key Points: 
  • The landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) applications has traditionally been dominated by the use of resource-intensive servers centralised in industrialised nations.
  • However, recent years have witnessed the emergence of small, energy-efficient devices for AI applications, a concept known as tiny machine learning (TinyML).

Small size, big impact

  • This is possible because TinyML doesn’t require a laptop computer or even a mobile phone.
  • In fact, given that there are already 250 billion microcontrollers deployed globally, devices that support TinyML are already available at scale.

How does it work?

  • Like classical machine learning, TinyML involves data collection – often from Internet of Things (IoT) devices – and cloud-based training.
  • Let’s consider an outdoor object-detection application – for example, counting the number of cars on a street to see how heavy the traffic there is.
  • In the classical ML process, images have to be gathered using a webcam and sent to a cloud server where the training takes place.


Affordability: the technology’s low cost makes these devices accessible to a wide range of users including educational institutions and students in the developing world.
Sustainability: the modest energy consumption produces a low carbon footprint, reducing impact on the environment.
Flexibility and scalability: it enables the development of applications that address the needs of local communities rather than global agendas.
Internet independent: Because everything is embedded, TinyML devices can operate without online connectivity. This is particularly beneficial for the third of the world that still does not have Internet access.
TinyML applications already power personalised sensors for athletics and provide localisation where GPS isn’t available. They’re also employed by startups such as Useful Sensors, which offers privacy-conserving conversational agents, QR code scanners, and person-detection hardware. Only through the use of TinyML could these smart devices run on the low-cost, low-power microcontrollers.

Developing in the Global South

  • It already includes more than 40 countries spanning the Global South from Columbia to Ethiopia to Malaysia.
  • Its aim is to develop a community of educators, researchers and practitioners focused on both improving access to TinyML education, and developing innovative solutions to address the unique challenges faced by developing countries.
  • Initial efforts included distributing TinyML hardware kits to selected universities with budgetary challenges.
  • We also organised global and regional (Africa, Latin America, and Asia) workshops and training sessions.
  • These collaborations have led to multiple peer-reviewed papers on TinyML applications.
  • They’re also used by Cornell University’s “Elephant Listening Project” as well monitoring water quality in aquaculture to help make it more sustainable, a project supported by EU’s Horizon 2020 programme.

Looking forward

  • It offers a sustainable path toward democratising AI technology, fostering local innovation, and addressing regional challenges.
  • The growth of TinyML devices and applications is not without potential challenges and risks, however.
  • There’s also the risk of embedded biases in critical ML models – because they operate standalone, there’s no option for updates.


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