Archives: Monthly Archives: October 2022

Ending racism is key to better science: a message from Nature’s guest editors

The following text is from Nature.

This special issue is our ‘message in a bottle’ from the troubled ship of science. We urge readers to find it. Open it. Act on its contents.

Every Nature reader will know that rigorous, authoritative and, frankly, honest science is research that studies, builds on but also acknowledges what came before. However, for too long, science’s textbooks, along with the author and reference lists in research papers, have neglected to include Black, Indigenous and other historically marginalized peoples. That is why it is so important for science curricula, research and academic spaces to go through decolonization processes. These are not political or ideological acts, but part of science itself — an example of science’s self-correcting mechanism in the pursuit of truth.

Science must at the same time become open to bringing in new voices and new points of view, and to working genuinely collaboratively with scientists from Black, Indigenous and historically marginalized communities. There has to be space for more than one story, one explanation, one perspective. If this point can be fully appreciated, it will further open the aperture of the scientific imagination and set the world on course to finally eradicating the ways in which racism so devalues human lives.

Read more here.

Fall 2022 Clean Energy Workshop — Register Now!

October 18, 2022

UConn School of Engineering is proud to announce the Clean Energy Workshop on October 24th, 2022 in Hartford, Connecticut. This workshop is aimed at exploring research and collaboration among state and federal government organizations, academia, and industry to create new clean and sustainable sources of power and methods for delivery, reliability and security. The workshop will feature different visions, insights on policy and implementation plans and associated socio-technical challenges to decarbonize the energy sector and combat climate change.

We’re excited to see you at the Energy Conference in less than a week!

If you haven’t already, claim your registration now at the lower rate by October 17, 2022 at 5:00 pm.

Deadline to register is October 20, 2022 at 5:00 pm.

Registration fees include parking, continental breakfast, all breaks, lunch, and a reception.

General: $150; after 10/17/22: $175

UConn Faculty: $100; after 10/17/22: $125

UConn Students: $50; after 10/17/22: $75

The deadline to lock in the lower rate is October 17, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. The preferred way for payment internally is by KFS number. For any questions, please contact University Events and Conference Services at conferences@uconn.edu or 860.486.1038.

For more information on the workshop and to registerplease click here

2022 Petit Family Foundation Women in Science Leadership Award: Dr. Marisa Chrysochoou

October 10, 2022

On Saturday, October 1st, the Connecticut Science Center held its annual gala to celebrate the STEM heroes and innovators in the Connecticut community. We are very proud to congratulate one of our faculty members, CEE Department Head Dr. Marisa Chrysochoou, on being recognized as "Petit Family Foundation Women in Science Leadership Award Honoree."

The Petit Family Foundation Women in Science Leadership Award Individual Honoree recognizes a woman working in STEM who is a leader in her field, and who makes a significant effort to support other women and encourages girls’ interest in STEM. The honoree is selected by the Connecticut Science Center’s Women in Science steering committee.

DOT, UConn study of pedestrian safety in CT focuses on crossing signals at intersections

October 10, 2022

In an effort to reduce the number of pedestrians hit by cars, a new research project conducted by the state Department of Transportation and the University of Connecticut is studying the type of crossing signals at some intersections.

In the study, side street crossing signals were switched to concurrent signals, which allow pedestrians to cross the main road while drivers traveling in the same direction have a green light. Side street greens mean pedestrians can cross a major road while cars on that street have a red light, but cars on a smaller side street have a green light.

UConn Transportation and Urban Engineering Professor John N. Ivan leads the project with the goal of determining whether concurrent signals are safer than exclusive signaling, which halts traffic from all directions to allow pedestrians to cross.

The study's observation period began in July and is expected to conclude at the end of October. Ivan said he hopes to prepare a draft of the study report in about March and complete a final report by June.

You can read the full article on CTInsider.