Technology

NASA Invites Media, Public to Attend Deep Space Food Challenge Finale

Published

5 months ago

August 2, 2024

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — NASA invites the media and public to explore the nexus of space and food innovation at the agency’s Deep Space Food Challenge symposium and winners’ announcement at the Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center in Columbus, Ohio, on Friday, Aug. 16.

In 2019, NASA and the CSA (Canadian Space Agency) started the Deep Space Food Challenge, a multi-year international effort to develop sustainable food systems for long-duration habitation in space including the Moon and Mars. Since Phase 1 of the challenge opened in 2021, more than 300 teams from 32 countries have developed innovative food system designs. On Aug. 16, NASA will announce the final Phase 3 winners and recognize the shared global effort.

NASA will award up to $1.5 million during the awards ceremony, totaling the prize purse for this three-year competition at $3 million. International teams also will be recognized for their achievements.

“Advanced food systems also benefit life on Earth,” said Kim Krome-Sieja, acting program manager of NASA Centennial Challenges at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. “Solutions from this challenge could enable new avenues for food production around the world, especially in extreme environments, resource-scarce regions, and in locations where disasters disrupt critical infrastructure.”

Media also may request attendance for activities on Thursday, Aug. 15, including private tours, networking, knowledge sharing, and culinary experiences. Interested media need to RSVP by 3 p.m. EDT Monday, Aug. 12, to Lane Figueroa at lane.e.figueroa@nasa.gov.

The Methuselah Foundation, NASA’s partner in the Deep Space Food Challenge, is hosting the event in coordination with the Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences and NASA Centennial Challenges.

“Our Phase 2 winners’ event in Brooklyn, New York, was an incredible display of innovation, partnership, and collaboration across NASA, industry, and academia,” said Angela Herblet, challenge manager of the Deep Space Food Challenge and program analyst of NASA Centennial Challenges at NASA Marshall. “I’m looking forward to celebrating these brilliant Phase 3 finalists and underscoring the giant leaps they’ve made toward creating sustainable, regenerative food production systems.”

The event will feature a meet and greet with the Phase 3 finalists, symposium panels, and live demonstrations of the finalists’ food production technologies. Attendees also will have the opportunity to meet the crew of Ohio State students called “Simunauts,” who managed operations of the technologies during the eight-week demonstration and testing period.

“The Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing team is excited to welcome media, stakeholders, and the public to our event in Columbus,” said Amy Kaminski, program executive for NASA’s Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. “These finalists have worked diligently for three years to develop their diverse, innovative food systems, and I’m excited to see how their technologies may impact NASA’s future deep space missions.”

The awards ceremony also will livestream on Marshall Space Flight Center’s YouTube channel and NASA Prize’s Facebook page.

As a NASA Centennial Challenge, the Deep Space Food Challenge is a coordinated effort between NASA and CSA for the benefit of all. Subject matter experts at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida support the competition. NASA’s Centennial Challenges are part of the Prizes, Challenges, and Crowdsourcing program within NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate and managed at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The Methuselah Foundation, in partnership with NASA, oversees the competitors.

For more information about the symposium, see the symposium website. To learn more about the Deep Space Food Challenge, visit:

nasa.gov/spacefoodchallenge

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SOURCE NASA

Technology

Acer Debuts on Dow Jones Sustainability World Index 2024

Published

39 minutes ago

December 24, 2024

Representing Top 10% of the largest 2,500 Companies in S&P BMI on long-term economic, environmental and social criteria

TAIPEI, Dec. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Acer Inc. (TWSE: 2353) announced its debut on the Dow Jones Sustainability (DJSI) World Index 2024, which comprises of the global sustainability leaders identified by S&P Global’s Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA). The DJSI World Index represents the top 10% of the largest 2,500 companies in the S&P Global Broad Market Index (BMI) based on long-term economic, environmental and social criteria.

At the same time, Acer was listed on DSJI’s Emerging Markets Index for the 11th consecutive year in 2024, ranking among the top companies in the THQ (Computers & Peripherals and Office Electronics) industry and scoring in the 100th percentile with full marks across various components: Transparency & Reporting, Materiality, and Customer Relationship Management.

Acer’s commitment to making a positive impact on environmental sustainability includes joining the RE100 initiative, setting the goals to source 100% renewable electricity by 2035 and to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. In 2023 the Acer Group sourced 48% renewable electricity worldwide, with 100% renewable electricity sourced in multiple countries. Acer’s efforts have been recognized in growing capacity by global sustainability accolades and indices throughout 2024:

Listed among TIME’s World’s Most Sustainable Companies.Listed in the MSCI ESG Leaders Indexes for the 11th consecutive year, garnering the best rating of “AAA”[1] that represents the top 15% in the category of technology hardware, storage and peripherals industry.Awarded Platinum medal for EcoVadis’ Sustainability Ratings for the third straight year, the highest tier of recognition representing the top 1% of rated companies[2] evaluated on sustainability across global supply chains based on four key themes: environment, labor and human rights, ethics, and sustainable procurement.A constituent of the FTSE4Good Emerging Index for the ninth consecutive year.In the subcategory FTSE4Good TIP Taiwan ESG Index[3] supported by the Taiwan Stock Exchange, which integrates ESG management practices and financial performances of companies, for the seventh year.

Acer continues to research and design climate-conscious solutions that serve both humanity and the planet, providing greener choices for a brighter future. Its eco-conscious offering includes computers and display products built with recycled materials and energy-efficient solutions, lifestyle products such e-bikes and e-scooters, energy storage solutions, along with award-winning packaging designs to contribute to the industry.

[1] MSCI ESG AAA Rating as of November 26, 2021, updated on December 10, 2024

[2] Ecovadis rating, August 2024

[3] First Taiwan domestic benchmark developed using FTSE ESG Ratings and data model, developed in partnership with Taiwan Stock Exchange’s (TWSE) wholly-owned subsidiary, Taiwan Index Plus Corp. (TIP)

About Acer

Founded in 1976, Acer is one of the world’s top ICT companies with a presence in more than 160 countries. As Acer evolves with the industry and changing lifestyles, it is focused on enabling a world where hardware, software and services will fuse with one another, creating ecosystems and opening up new possibilities for consumers and businesses alike. Acer’s 7,700 employees are dedicated to the research, design, marketing, sale, and support of products and solutions that break barriers between people and technology. Please visit www.acer.com for more information.

© 2024 Acer Inc. All rights reserved. Acer and the Acer logo are registered trademarks of Acer Inc. Other trademarks, registered trademarks, and/or service marks, indicated or otherwise, are the property of their respective owners. All offers subject to change without notice or obligation and may not be available through all sales channels. Prices listed are manufacturer suggested retail prices and may vary by location. Applicable sales tax extra.

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SOURCE Acer

Technology

LG ACHIEVES 13TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR IN DOW JONES SUSTAINABILITY WORLD INDEX

Published

39 minutes ago

December 24, 2024

Only South Korean Company Recognized in Leisure Equipment & Products and Consumer Electronics Category for 13 Years

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., Dec. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — LG Electronics (LG) has once again secured its position in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World) for the thirteenth consecutive year. The DJSI World ranks the top 10 percent of the largest 2,500 global companies based on their economic, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices, serving as a critical benchmark for investors assessing corporate sustainability.

Notably, LG earned the highest overall score in the Leisure Equipment & Products and Consumer Electronics industry category. Furthermore, it remains the only South Korean company to be included in this category for 13 years running.

Additionally, LG has been included in the DJSI Asia Pacific (top 20 percent of the 600 largest companies in the Asia-Pacific region) and DJSI Korea (top 30 percent of the 200 largest companies in Korea) for 15 and 16 consecutive years, respectively.

LG received high evaluations across various ESG areas, including environmental policy and management, human rights management, human resource management, customer relations, supply chain management and product responsibility management.

Under the ESG management vision of Better Life for All, LG is carrying out various activities with the strategy of 3C for the planet (Carbon neutrality, Circularity, and Clean technology) and 3D for people (Decent workplace, Diversity & inclusion, and Design for all).

To achieve its 3C goals for the planet, LG has set ambitious targets, including reaching carbon neutrality in its product manufacturing process by 2030 and transitioning to 100 percent renewable energy by 2050.

Specifically, LG plans to reduce direct greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 1) and indirect greenhouse gas emissions (Scope 2) in the product production stage by 54.6 percent compared to 2017 levels. This will be accomplished through process improvements, the introduction of energy-saving technologies and the use of renewable energy. Notably, LG was the first company in the home appliance industry to obtain UN carbon credits in 2015.

In addition, LG is focused on reducing the unit greenhouse gas emissions of its seven major product groups (TVs, refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, home and system air conditioners, and monitors) by 20 percent compared to 2020 levels during the product use stage (Scope 3). This commitment involves various activities aimed at improving the energy efficiency of individual products, thereby reducing overall carbon emissions.

As a member of the UN Global Compact and the Responsible Business Alliance, LG complies with international human rights and labor standards and is enhancing its human rights management processes to respond to strengthening global ESG-related legislation.

In the ESG evaluation and rating announcement results published by the Korea Corporate Governance Service this year, LG received an overall A grade for four consecutive years. LG also received an A grade for five consecutive years in the ESG evaluation conducted by the global ESG evaluation agency Morgan Stanley Capital International, gaining recognition for its ESG management performance from credible domestic and international institutions.

About LG Electronics USA
LG Electronics USA, Inc., based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., is the North American subsidiary of LG Electronics, Inc., a $68 billion global innovator in technology and manufacturing. In the United States, LG sells a wide range of innovative home appliances, home entertainment products, commercial displays, air conditioning systems, and vehicle components. LG is an 11-time ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year. The company’s commitment to environmental sustainability and its “Life’s Good” marketing theme encompass how LG is dedicated to people’s happiness by exceeding expectations today and tomorrow. For more information, visit www.LG.com.

Media Contacts:

LG Electronics USA

JL Lavina
jl.lavina@lge.com
www.LG.com

Jennifer Tayebi
Jennifer.tayebi@lg-one.com
LGHAUS@lg-one.com

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SOURCE LG Electronics USA

Technology

CAS and PetroChina Shanghai Advanced Materials Research Institute announce a collaboration to accelerate new materials discovery and innovation

Published

39 minutes ago

December 24, 2024

SHANGHAI and COLUMBUS, Ohio, Dec. 23, 2024 /CNW/ — CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society specializing in scientific knowledge management, and PetroChina Shanghai Advanced Materials Research Institute Co., Ltd, a subsidiary of the world’s third largest oil company, China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), are collaborating for use of the CAS SciFinder Discovery Platform™ to accelerate research and discovery of new chemical materials.

PetroChina Shanghai Advanced Materials Research Institute Co., Ltd. was founded in 2021 to address key technological challenges in advanced chemical materials and drive a transformation of CNPC from a traditional refinery and petrochemical product provider to a more advanced and sustainable material provider. Its research focus includes high-performance engineering materials, high-performance polyolefin and elastomers, special catalysts, advanced membranes, fibers and composites, etc.

CAS, the creator of the world’s most comprehensive and authoritative curated scientific information resource, the CAS Content Collection™, which covers over 150 years of discoveries, provides content and knowledge management solutions and services that accelerate innovation. The CAS SciFinder Discovery Platform, an authoritative scientific technology solution, will enable the institute research scientists to discover more relevant information faster, identify and optimize synthetic routes through a full retrosynthetic analysis of known and undisclosed substances, and locate, compare, and understand scientific methods via the CAS Content Collection.

“We’re excited that PetroChina Shanghai Advanced Materials Research Institute will harness the CAS SciFinder Discovery Platform to accelerate their research and discovery initiatives. Combining the capabilities of this industry-leading CAS solution with the Research Institute’s expertise in material research will result in breakthroughs that bring advanced sustainable materials to the marketplace,” said Manuel Guzman, President of CAS.

PetroChina Shanghai Advanced Materials Research Institute, as a newly established innovation hub, aims to grow into a world-leading, multi-capabilities research institute that drives cutting-edge innovations, pilots industrial-scale technologies, provides technical services, and facilitates academic and value chain collaborations.

“We are very pleased to cooperate with CAS, who will be a strong partner in bringing their sophisticated scientific information solutions to facilitate and speed up our approach to advanced sciences and technologies in novel materials. We are looking forward to exploring more innovative ideas through our engagement with CAS,” said Xudong Huang, Vice President of PetroChina Shanghai Advanced Materials Research Institute.

About CAS

CAS connects the world’s scientific knowledge to accelerate breakthroughs that improve lives. We empower global innovators to efficiently navigate today’s complex data landscape and make confident decisions in each phase of the innovation journey. As a specialist in scientific knowledge management, our team builds the largest authoritative collection of human-curated scientific data in the world and provides essential information solutions, services, and expertise. Scientists, patent professionals, and business leaders across industries rely on CAS to help them uncover opportunities, mitigate risks, and unlock shared knowledge so they can get from inspiration to innovation faster. CAS is a division of the American Chemical Society. Connect with us at cas.org.

About PetroChina Shanghai Advanced Materials Research Institute

PetroChina Shanghai Advanced Materials Research Institute, located in the Lingang Shanghai, was established in December 2021. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) with innovation functions in fundamental research, product development, industrial-scale piloting, technical service and academic collaborations. The research areas cover a broad spectrum of novel chemical materials for the markets of electronics, medical, transportation and new energy.

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SOURCE CAS