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Next Mission to Space Station Launches Dozens of Student Experiments

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18th mission of Student Spaceflight Experiment Program introduces more than 14,000 students to science in space

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla., Oct. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — When SpaceX’s 31st Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) mission to the International Space Station (ISS) for NASA takes flight, students across the U.S. and Canada will watch their experiments launch to space with it. The mission includes 39 student-led projects from 38 communities as part of the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program (SSEP). SSEP is an ISS National Laboratory® educational partner program aiming to equip the next generation of scientists and engineers by integrating the scientific research process into the classroom. 

“The whole idea of education is to prepare our students for the real world,” said Jeff Goldstein, center director of the National Center for Earth and Space Science Education (NCESSE), which runs SSEP. Goldstein explained that for educators to be successful in fostering a robust future workforce in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), students need hands-on experience performing tasks from those careers. “A very effective way to do that is to bring professional experiences into the classroom and ask our students to be scientists and engineers right now.”

Participating communities—each with 100 or more students for elementary and secondary programs and at least 30 for college-level programs—engage in a formal microgravity science curriculum and then break into smaller teams to create research proposals. Student experiments are designed to be carried out using Mixstix, flexible tubes with three clamped compartments to keep substances separate until they are ready to be mixed in space. For this mission, SSEP received nearly 1,900 proposals, and a review board selected the top experiment from each community to launch into space.

Below are a few examples of student-led projects on this mission:

Mesa, AZ: The Growth and Mutation of Staphylococcus (epidermidis) Biofilm in Microgravity
Grades 4, 5, 9, and 12, Zaharis Elementary School, Red Mountain Ranch Elementary School, and Red Mountain High School of the Mesa Public School District
Students will study Staphylococcus epidermidis, a common type of infectious bacteria, in space. They will compare the growth of bacterial biofilms, clusters of bacteria that grow together on a surface, in microgravity and on Earth. Results could shed light on how to better protect astronauts from infectious bacteria in space. 

Lamont, CA: Effects of Microgravity on Spinacia oleracea (spinach)
Grade 8, Mountain View Middle School of the Lamont School District
This experiment will compare the germination of Spinacia oleracea (spinach) seeds in microgravity and on Earth. The nutritional value of spinach could benefit astronauts during space missions, and this project aims to identify differences in germination and nutritional content in microgravity.

Pickerington, OH: Effects of Microgravity on Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier
Grade 12, Pickerington High School North of the Pickerington Local School District
This team will study how well Liquid I.V., a powdered drink mix containing sodium, potassium, glucose, and micronutrients, hydrates in space. The project will compare hydration levels in plant cells in microgravity and on Earth. Liquid I.V. could help keep astronauts better hydrated during spaceflight, where there is a limited amount of water.

Grantsburg, WI: Will Microgravity Have an Effect on the Growth and Development of Brine Shrimp?
Grade 9, iForward Public Online Charter School of the Grantsburg School District
The project will observe the growth and development of brine shrimp—a food source for several fish species and an environmental monitoring tool—in space. The team hypothesizes that brine shrimp, which cope well with changing environmental conditions, will grow bigger in microgravity.

Sandy, UT: Nematodes to the Rescue! Space Worms as an Integral Component of Space Agriculture
Grade 10, Hillcrest High School of the Canyons School District
Students will examine how well two types of nematodes infect an insect host in microgravity. Entomopathogenic nematodes are parasites that kill their insect hosts using symbiotic bacteria in their gut. These eco-friendly worms are used widely in agricultural pest control and may be a practical solution to control insect pests when growing crops in space.

Several participants have shared how SSEP led them to consider STEM careers, get into their college of choice, and even earn scholarships. Elizabeth Miller, a ninth grader in Mesa’s community, said the process has transformed her education. “It has greatly strengthened my research, writing, presentation, teamwork, and leadership skills,” said Miller.

In Grantsburg, Wisconsin, ninth grader Victor Morris said, “Participating in the program gives us a feel of what being an actual scientist is like. Sending brine shrimp to space makes having a career as a space engineer seem a lot closer and a lot more realistic.”

“One of the common threads that we hear from teachers is that this was the most difficult and most rewarding STEM program they’ve ever done,” added Goldstein. “Through SSEP, we see that students change their view of what science and STEM actually are, and many students say, ‘Yes, I want to consider this as a career.'”

To download a high-resolution image for this release, click here.

About the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory:
The International Space Station (ISS) is a one-of-a-kind laboratory that enables research and technology development not possible on Earth. As a public service enterprise, the ISS National Laboratory® allows researchers to leverage this multiuser facility to improve quality of life on Earth, mature space-based business models, advance science literacy in the future workforce, and expand a sustainable and scalable market in low Earth orbit. Through this orbiting national laboratory, research resources on the ISS are available to support non-NASA science, technology, and education initiatives from U.S. government agencies, academic institutions, and the private sector. The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space™ (CASIS™) manages the ISS National Lab, under Cooperative Agreement with NASA, facilitating access to its permanent microgravity research environment, a powerful vantage point in low Earth orbit, and the extreme and varied conditions of space. To learn more about the ISS National Lab, visit our website.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, CASIS accepts corporate and individual donations to help advance science in space for the benefit of humanity. For more information, visit our donations page.

Media Contact:

Patrick O’Neill 

904-806-0035 

PONeill@ISSNationalLab.org 

 

International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory

Managed by the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, Inc. (CASIS)

6905 N. Wickham Rd., Suite 500, Melbourne, FL 32940 • 321.253.5101 • www.ISSNationalLab.org

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SOURCE International Space Station National Lab

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Chobani Taps Industry Veteran Jai Kibe as Chief Marketing Officer

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NEW YORK and NEW BERLIN, N.Y., Oct. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Chobani, LLC announces the appointment of Jai Kibe as Chief Marketing Officer, effective November 4, 2024, reporting to President and COO, Kevin Burns. Kibe will lead the marketing and creative teams for the Chobani and La Colombe brands. 

In this role he will focus on expanding growth-segments, driving marketing innovations, developing next generation analytics and consumer insights capabilities, enhancing digital first consumer and customer engagement, and creating dynamic activations and partnerships. 

“Jai is known for inspiring creativity, energizing brands, and bringing a disciplined, metrics-based approach to strategy,” said Burns. “His leadership will be instrumental in driving the next phase of our growth as we work to expand awareness beyond today’s core consumer segments. I’m excited to partner with Jai to create deeper and more meaningful consumer connections to unleash the potential of the Chobani and La Colombe brands.” 

A veteran marketing professional with over 23-years of experience working across numerous global companies, Kibe has held senior marketing roles at Gartner, SC Johnson, The Coca-Cola Company, among others. Kibe has transformed both iconic as well as challenger brands, delivering sustained profitable growth and strengthening brand equity. 

“I am thrilled to be joining Chobani at an exciting moment in time, where we can blend art, science and instinct,” said Kibe. “As a brand that combines purpose with innovation, Chobani has consistently set the standard for great taste, consumer health and wellness while driving positive social impact. I look forward to working with this incredibly talented team to continue shaping the future of the food and beverage industry, while staying true to Chobani’s mission of making good food available to more people while positively impacting our communities and planet.”  

Kibe earned his MBA in Marketing from Pepperdine University and is currently further enhancing his expertise in digital programming and automation through ongoing education at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. 

About Chobani 
Chobani is a food maker with a mission of making high-quality and nutritious food accessible to more people, while elevating our communities and making the world a healthier place. In short: making good food for all. In support of this mission, Chobani is a purpose-driven, people-first, food-and-wellness-focused company, and has been since its founding in 2005 by Hamdi Ulukaya, an immigrant to the U.S. The Company manufactures yogurt, oat milk, and creamers – Chobani yogurt is America’s No.1 yogurt brand, made with natural ingredients without artificial preservatives. Following the 2023 acquisition of La Colombe, a leading coffee roaster with a shared commitment to quality, craftmanship and impact, the Company began selling cold-pressed espresso and lattes on tap at 32 cafes, as well as Ready to Drink (RTD) coffee beverages at retail. 

Chobani uses food as a force for good in the world – putting humanity first in everything it does. The company’s philanthropic efforts prioritize giving back to its communities and beyond: working to eradicate child hunger, supporting immigrants, refugees and underrepresented people, honoring veterans, and protecting the planet. Chobani manufactures its products in New York, Idaho, Michigan and Australia, and its products are available throughout North America and distributed in Australia and other select markets. 

For more information, please visit www.chobani.com or follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest and TikTok. 

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SOURCE Chobani, LLC

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The Middletown Home Successfully Enhances Pumpkin Fest 2024 with CATIE Mobile

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 Innovative Communication Solution from Status Solutions Boosts Event Safety and Efficiency

WESTERVILLE, Ohio, Oct. 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The Middletown Home, a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) continuing care community, hosted its largest annual fundraiser, Pumpkin Fest Weekend, on October 5-6, 2024. Now in its 10th year, the cherished community event attracted 20,000 attendees and showcased live music, local artisans, and autumn-inspired activities. This year’s event featured a groundbreaking enhancement—CATIE Mobile, a multi-award-winning communication app provided by Status Solutions, which significantly improved communication, safety, and event management for all involved.

As the Pumpkin Fest Weekend continued to grow, The Middletown Home recognized the need for an efficient communication solution to manage the increasing scale of the event. “Given the size of Pumpkin Fest, we needed a solution that would help us communicate effectively with everyone involved—from attendees to vendors and volunteers—to ensure a safe and smooth-running event,” said Fred Barrett, VP of Operations at The Middletown Home.

Thanks to being enrolled in Status Solutions’ Innovation Program, The Middletown Home could deploy CATIE Mobile at no additional cost, enhancing the event experience for all. CATIE Mobile provided real-time updates, safety alerts, and event information directly to attendees’ smartphones. The app also allowed administrators to coordinate seamlessly with volunteers, vendors, and first responders, ensuring a safe and successful event.

“We were thrilled to provide CATIE Mobile to The Middletown Home for Pumpkin Fest. It’s a perfect example of how our Innovation Program gives customers access to cutting-edge solutions that enhance communication and safety,” said Mike MacLeod, Founder and CEO of Status Solutions.

Results from Pumpkin Fest 2024 Include:

Enhanced Communication: Weather conditions on Saturday required the rescheduling of the fireworks show. CATIE Mobile enabled quick updates to attendees, vendors, and volunteers.Increased Safety: Two medical emergencies were swiftly addressed through the app’s alert system, allowing volunteers and staff to respond quickly and ensure the safety of attendees.Improved Event Management: Reminders about scheduled activities and updates to event maps and schedules were easily accessible through CATIE Mobile, streamlining the festival experience for attendees.

“We were incredibly grateful to have CATIE Mobile for Pumpkin Fest. The real-time updates and communication with artisans, vendors, and volunteers were key to the success of the event,” said Louis Vogel, CEO of The Middletown Home.

As a result of CATIE Mobile’s success at Pumpkin Fest, The Middletown Home is now exploring further opportunities to integrate the platform into daily operations.

For more information on CATIE Mobile at Pumpkin Fest, read the full case study here. For more information on Status Solutions’ Innovation Program or their school safety technology and funding platform, please visit Status Solutions website.

Contact:
Laura Hartman, Status Solutions
866-846-7272, x 456
385747@email4pr.com 

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SOURCE Status Solutions, LLC.

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Huawei’s David Wang: UBB Advanced Paves the Way to All Intelligence

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ISTANBUL, Nov. 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — At the 10th Ultra-Broadband Forum (UBBF 2024), David Wang, Huawei’s Executive Director of the Board and Chairman of the ICT Infrastructure Managing Board, delivered a keynote speech titled “UBB Advanced Paves the Way to All Intelligence”. When opening the event, he shared his latest insights into the AI industry and elaborated on Huawei’s All Intelligence strategy. He also proposed a new direction for the synergistic development of UBB and AI to help the industry reach the intelligent world faster – technological innovation and business incubation.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution has been progressing rapidly thanks to AI, with AI becoming a major driver of global economic growth. Widespread commercial use of AI is accelerating, and new applications for personal use, enterprise efficiency, and smart homes are disrupting multiple markets. It is also driving communications network upgrades, in terms of capacity, latency, and architecture.

In his speech, Wang noted, “Huawei has continued innovating by focusing on two areas: UBB for AI and AI for UBB. The innovation we are doing under UBB for AI is based on ultra-large bandwidth, deterministic low latency, and network architecture. The network capability improvements we’ve achieved support higher quality AI development which will help carriers achieve business growth. This innovation also focuses on AI for UBB. We are applying AI to networks to improve network experience, to speed up service provisioning, and to streamline network O&M. This helps carriers build highly autonomous networks.”

Last year, Huawei released its All Intelligence Strategy to, “show how to connect all things, model all applications, and compute all decisions.” Huawei offers leading digital and intelligent infrastructure that provides computing, storage, and transmission power for industry. Huawei is also using its Pangu Models to create advanced industry-specific models, with the aim of supporting a vast range of models and applications, and helping customers from different industries pursue intelligent transformation.

Within the telecom industry, Huawei offers leading AI solutions, which must be supported by transmission power. As critical infrastructure, UBB networks provide this kind of power to help other industries go digital and intelligent more easily. To this end, Huawei advocates two development paths for UBB networks: “UBB for AI” and “AI for UBB”.

UBB for AI: high-quality AI development

UBB 5.5G incorporates technological innovation at multiple network layers to support AI requirements.

For data center networks (DCNs), Huawei offers a Dragonfly+ Topology architecture and new DC-OXC technologies that help build large-scale computing centers.

For data center interconnect (DCI) networks, Huawei uses a number of innovative technologies like 800G IP + Optical networking, flexible IP service-flow level scheduling, and lossless transmission to realize more efficient use of computing power across data centers.

For data center access (DCA) networks, Huawei’s OXC Mesh networking is capable of greatly reducing network latency. Its Wi-Fi 7 and 50G PON technologies can provide the ubiquitous 10 gigabit access that is necessary for widespread AI adoption by end users. In addition, Huawei’s FTTR is already being used to create “intelligent hubs” and enable intelligent applications for many homes.

Huawei’s Xinghe security gateway and hybrid ASON also guarantee resilience over end-to-end networks for AI application connections.

These innovations significantly improve bandwidth, latency, availability, and large-scale networking capabilities and will help carriers differentiate themselves in the intelligent era.

AI for UBB: highly-autonomous networks

UBB networks are also becoming larger and handling more complex scenarios, driving carriers to seek new ways to improve O&M efficiency and network autonomy. A promising method being explored is embedding AI directly into networks.

Huawei has built an AI-enabled O&M architecture for UBB networks that uses digital twins and its own Telecom Foundation Model. This architecture enables the creation of intelligent role-oriented “copilots” and scenario-specific “agents” that automate onsite operations and remote maintenance and optimization, which is necessary for the evolution to level 4 autonomous driving networks (ADNs).

Multiple leading carriers have successfully improved their network O&M efficiency by working with Huawei to apply this architecture commercially.

For home broadband, ADNs can support network self-optimization to ensure user experiences, reducing the churn rate by 57%.

For transmission networks, network planning and service deployment efficiency is crucial. ADNs can support service self-planning and deployment based on service level agreements, rather than manual planning. This can cut service provisioning times from one month to one day.

For IP network maintenance, fault location has always been a challenge. ADNs can enable virtual employees to support troubleshooting, reducing network troubleshooting times by 50%.

At the end of his speech, Wang called for the entire UBB industry to actively embrace the intelligent era by pursuing innovation in UBB 5.5G network technologies for long-term competitiveness. He also advocated for industry-wide incubation of new intelligent services in addition to new network capabilities, saying that new partnerships and business opportunities in AI applications will drive intelligent service transformation and new business growth.

SOURCE Huawei

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