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Mission Critical Partners Guides Carnegie Mellon’s Radio System Upgrade

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Firm assesses analog conventional system used by the university’s police department in project’s first phase to determine performance issues concerning coverage and interoperability.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa., June 13, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Mission Critical Partners (MCP) announced completion of the first phase of a project to modernize the land mobile radio system used by the Carnegie Mellon University police department.

The land mobile radio arguably is the most important tool that emergency-responders use. We’re grateful for the opportunity to help the university upgrade this vital system.

The department had been using a conventional analog land mobile radio (LMR) system operating on the ultra-high frequency (UHF) band to communicate with field personnel in patrol cars, on bikes and motorcycles, and on foot. System users were experiencing performance issues at the edge of the system’s coverage footprint and in campus structures such as classroom buildings and dormitories.

Interoperability issues also persisted because the city of Pittsburgh police department and Allegheny County sheriff’s office had migrated to a Project 25-compliant digital LMR system. Those agencies regularly respond jointly with the university’s police department to on-campus incidents.

Starting in summer 2023, MCP subject-matter experts (SME) conducted an overall assessment of the system and performed coverage testing. They also assessed the consoles used in the department’s 911 center and the distributed antenna systems (DAS) and bidirectional amplifiers (BDA) that are in place in numerous campus structures to improve in-building coverage.

In doing so, they leveraged the firm’s proprietary Model for Advancing Public Safety® (MAPS®) methodology, which leverages the collective expertise of the firm’s 200-plus SMEs, industry standards and best practices, and accreditation programs. After the assessments, the SMEs made numerous recommendations based on the findings and then provided guidance pertaining to multiple improvements that the department is pursuing.

Aaron Lauth, university police chief, praised the thoroughness and quality of the assessment report. “I was able to use that report to acquire the capital-improvement funding that we needed to modernize the radio system,” he said.

The department is replacing its legacy LMR system with a P25-compliant digital simulcast system with encryption. MCP is guiding the migration by providing system design, procurement, and implementation support. Moving to a P25 system ensures native interoperability with city of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County emergency-response agencies. Another benefit is that the new system will provide stronger and clearer voice communications to the edge of the coverage footprint while extending it.

The project’s next phase is expected to address the issues that exist with the university’s in-building coverage infrastructure.

“The land mobile radio arguably is the most important tool that emergency-responders use,” said Darrin Reilly, MCP’s president and chief executive officer. “Such devices, whether in their vehicles or carried on their person, enable emergency responders to do their jobs more effectively and safely. We’re grateful for the opportunity to help the university upgrade this vital system.”

About Mission Critical Partners (MCP)

Mission Critical Partners (MCP) is a leading provider of data integration, consulting, network, and cybersecurity solutions specializing in transforming mission-critical communications networks into integrated ecosystems that improve outcomes in the public safety, justice, healthcare, transportation, and utility markets. Our comprehensive experience and vendor-agnostic approach helps us develop modernized solutions for our clients to maximize value and create optimal efficiency while mitigating risk. Additional information and career opportunities are available at www.MissionCriticalPartners.com.

Media Contact

Alex Oltmanns, Mission Critical Partners, 1 412-321-0879, aoltmanns@pipitone.com, missioncriticalpartners.com

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BforeAI Secures Series B Funding to Preempt Malicious Attacks Through PreCrime™ AI

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Funded by Titanium Ventures, investment will accelerate growth into new markets

NEW YORK, Jan. 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — BforeAI, the world’s fastest and most accurate predictive attack intelligence and digital risk protection solution, announced today the company has closed an oversubscribed $10 million Series B round of funding led by Titanium Ventures. This investment round brings the company’s total funding to over $30 million and will accelerate market expansion in the utilities, pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors as the company continues to enhance its PreCrime™ platform, expand sales resources, and strengthen partnerships.

“This investment round will enable us to continue our important work to predict and stop new types of attacks before businesses and their customers are harmed,” said Luigi Lenguito, CEO and Founder at BforeAI. “We did not need the additional funding as we closed Series A with SYN Ventures less than 6 months ago. We wanted to work with Titanium Ventures to accelerate our growth into new industry sectors where we have already seen recent success and further increase the scalability of our predictions.”

“BforeAI offers a unique solution in a crowded cybersecurity market, being able to predict, disrupt and stop a cybersecurity event before it happens, putting the customer ahead of the attacker and out of their reactive response mode,” said Marcus Bartram, General Partner at Titanium Ventures. “Titanium thinks that this capability is important and relevant to customers globally and are excited to be working with the BforeAI team to build a large and impactful company.”

BforeAI’s mission is to proactively safeguard data, IT/OT networks, digital assets, customers, employees, and brand reputation. Enabling organizations to effectively preempt risks in advance of an attack, the PreCrime platform is powered by behavioral predictive intelligence, monitors 98% of the Internet to stay ahead of cyber threats by 18 days on average, and has a false positive rate of a mere 0.05%.

Over the past year, BforeAI grew substantially and achieved key milestones, including launching the PreCrime Guarantee and its breach protection pledge in partnership with the leading global cyber insurance provider. The PreCrime Guarantee reimburses customers up to ten times the value of their service contract if impacted by a cyberattack due to a failure by BforeAI’s predictive solution. Most recently, BforeAI was recognized in the 2024 Gartner® Cool Vendors™ for Artificial Intelligence in Banking and Investment Services1. The report serves as a guide to help chief information security officers (CISO), chief information officers (CIO), and chief data officers (CDO) in financial services and cyber fraud fusion centers identify solution partners for quick detection of risks and preemptive action before a fraud attempt even happens.

“BforeAI has quickly proven itself as the leader in predictive security solutions,” said Maria Gotsch, President and CEO, Partnership Fund for New York City. “We were excited to support BforeAI’s relocation of its headquarters to New York following their participation in our FinTech Innovation Lab. By expanding their focus to utilities with this funding round, BforeAI has the potential to play a key role in protecting critical infrastructure in the city and beyond.”

Existing investors SYN Ventures, Karista, and Addendum Capital, recognizing the company’s strong growth trajectory, participated in this round to maintain their ownership stakes.

Stamina Law in New York City, by Jade Ruscev, provided legal counsel to the company for the financing round.

Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

About BforeAI
BforeAI is a pioneer in Predictive Attack Intelligence and Digital Risk Protection Services (DRPS). Our PreCrime platform uses behavioral AI to predict and automatically preempt malicious campaigns, resulting in the fastest, most accurate solution to stop attacks weeks before they happen. To learn more, visit bfore.ai.

About Titanium Ventures
Titanium Ventures Accelerates the Extraordinary – the venture capital firm fuels the growth of standout disruptors. In its first twelve years, 104 investments have generated 44 liquidity events including Auth0, BigCommerce, Box, Cloopen, CrowdStrike, DocuSign, GitLab, Nasuni, OpenGov and Snap. To date, Titanium Ventures’ Revenue Acceleration Platform has driven >USD$660M in revenue for its portfolio companies, extending their reach across the U.S., Australia, Asia, and the UK. In 2022, the firm announced the close of its third fund, bringing Funds Under Management to USD$1 B. To see Titanium Ventures’ full portfolio and learn more, visit www.ti.vc.

1 Gartner, Cool Vendors for Artificial Intelligence in Banking and Investment Services by Jasleen Kaur Sindhu, Uri Lerner, Pete Redshaw, 6 November 2024.

Media Contact:
Andy Tzortzinis
Director of Brand and Product Marketing
BforeAI
media@bfore.ai

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LEGO® Education Announces Hands-on Learning Solution for K-8 Science

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Hands-on learning helps build confidence, yet only half of students have access to these experiences in science class, according to a new LEGO® Education report. LEGO® Education Science aims to change that.

BILLUND, Denmark, Jan. 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Today, LEGO® Education announced its new learning solution, LEGO® Education Science, to help educators bring hands-on science learning to more students. Designed to boost engagement, LEGO Education Science features 120+ engaging, standards-aligned science lessons and ready-to-use class presentations that bring science to life for teachers and students (K-8 or ages 5-11+).

Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/lego/9312551-en-lego-education-science-hands-on-learning 

Critical thinking skills and an understanding of science concepts and practices are increasingly needed for the future. Yet, the State of Classroom Engagement Report: Science Edition, a survey commissioned by LEGO Education, found that 45 percent of students who listed science as one of their “least favorite” subjects described it as “too hard”, and 37 percent felt they were “bad at it.” Notably, 58 percent of these students were girls, highlighting the ongoing STEM gap.

These findings underscore the need to reimagine science class to be more inclusive for students and teachers. In addition to understanding scientific concepts, science learning also plays a crucial role in developing skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, and creativity. Every student deserves to succeed in science, and, together with educators, LEGO Education wants to make that a reality.

“Science teaches us to ask curious questions to understand the world around us,” said Victor Saeijs, President of LEGO Education. “If students think they’re not good at the subject or avoid it, we risk losing an entire generation of innovators and problem-solvers. We share your commitment as educators to excite and engage students with high-quality science education.”

With LEGO Education Science, teachers have everything they need to instantly engage students in scientific phenomena and spark student creativity and problem-solving through hands-on learning. Lessons are aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), state, and national standards to easily integrate into existing curriculum. Students will learn about biomimicry (NGSS-LS1-1), ways the impact of natural events can be reduced (NGSS-4-ESS3-2), changes in kinetic energy (NGSS-MS-PS3-5), and much more.

Each lesson starts with a big question to spark curiosity and invite inquiry, while also connecting scientific principles to the real world for deeper comprehension. Students will explore multiple paths to a solution, ask key questions, and work with their peers. Kits are designed for use by up to four students together, with each student taking an active role in the lesson. This supports different learning abilities and develops collaboration and communication skills.

“It was inspiring to see my students’ enthusiasm and creativity flourish,” said Jill Snodgrass, a fourth-grade math and science teacher at Kernan Trail Elementary (Fla.) who tested the new solution with her class. “The tactile nature of working with LEGO bricks helps solidify their understanding by connecting abstract concepts to tangible outcomes. They were so excited to see their finished build for the lesson, especially when the rattlesnake used its shaking tail to ward off predators. Their collaboration and joy were truly a highlight of the day.”

Hands-on learning makes learning more accessible for all students, yet only 55 percent of students globally get these experiences in science class, according to the report. LEGO Education Science unlocks ‘aha’ moments for students, empowers teachers, and engages the whole classroom with hands-on, collaborative lessons. Over 3,000 students in over 100 classrooms tested the new learning solution throughout its development.

“One of the most powerful things we can do as educators is to instill a lifelong love of learning in our students,” said Andrew Sliwinski, Head of Product Experience at LEGO Education. “LEGO Education Science supports educators across the world to bring science standards to life in a new way with ready-made lessons and high quality, reusable LEGO bricks and hardware. I can’t wait to see these learning experiences in the hands of students.”

LEGO Education Science will begin shipping in August 2025. To learn more and sign up for updates, visit: www.LEGOEducation.com/science.

About LEGO Education Science

Includes 120+ lessons, teacher materials, and carefully selected LEGO bricks and hardware to enable hands-on learningProvides getting started materials, lessons, standards mapping, facilitation notes, and ready-to-teach class presentations through the online Teacher PortalFlexibility for teachers to select lessons based on grade bands (approximately 40 lessons per kit) or in the way that best supports their curriculum needsDesigned for use by up to four students per kit for increased collaboration and engagementAvailable in three kits by grade band. In the U.S., it is recommended to purchase classroom bundles, but if purchased separately, the cost per kit is included below. In other markets, please contact your LEGO Education authorized reseller for complete pricing and availability.LEGO Education Science Kit K-2 ($329)277 LEGO bricks1 double motorUSB charging cableBuilding instructionsLEGO Education Science Kit 3-5 ($399)335 LEGO bricks1 double motor1 controller2 connection cardsUSB charging cableBuilding instructionsLEGO Education Science Kit 6-8 ($499)424 LEGO bricks1 single motor1 double motor1 controller1 color sensor3 connection cardsUSB charging cableBuilding instructions

About the State of Classroom Engagement Report: Science Edition 
A global survey conducted by LEGO Education of over 6,000 K-8 teachers, parents, students, and U.S. education administrators. Markets included Australia, Germany, South Korea, the UK, and the U.S. Total sample size: 6,650, including 2,400 teachers, 2,000 parents, 2,000 students (aged 5-14), and 250 U.S. education administrators. Fieldwork was completed May 15, 2024-June 15, 2024.

Download the report here. Key findings include:

Only a third (37 percent) of parents and half (52 percent) of science teachers surveyed globally believe students are engaged in science.The majority of science teachers (73 percent) do not feel equipped to engage students in science, and 50 percent of U.S. administrators reported they don’t understand how to effectively use science-specific resources.Most science teachers and parents surveyed believe science education cultivates curiosity, critical thinking, and problem-solving, which are critical skills in the classroom and beyond.Students with access to hands-on learning experiences are 1.5 times more likely to be confident in learning science than those that don’t.Three out of four science teachers who incorporate hands-on learning agree it fosters higher test scores and grades.

About LEGO Education
At LEGO Education, we are committed to providing educators and students with the most engaging, joyful learning experiences the classroom has ever seen. Part of the LEGO Group, our future-focused team of educators and innovators has built K-8 learning experiences for 45 years based on the LEGO brick, our learning through play methodology, and standards-driven learning outcomes. Together, we can equip every student with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed and empower them to rebuild the world better than they found it.

LEGO and the LEGO logo are trademarks and/or copyrights of the LEGO Group. ©2025 The LEGO Group. All rights reserved.

Media Contact
Kelley Brescia
Kelley.brescia@LEGO.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/lego-education-announces-hands-on-learning-solution-for-k-8-science-302350164.html

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LEGO® Education Announces Hands-on Learning Solution for Kindergarten – Year 8 Science

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Hands-on learning helps build confidence, yet only half of students have access to these experiences in science lessons, according to a new LEGO® Education report. LEGO® Education Science aims to change that.

BILLUND, Denmark, Jan. 14, 2025 /CNW/ — Today, LEGO® Education announced its new learning solution, LEGO® Education Science, to help educators bring hands-on science learning to more students. Designed to boost engagement, LEGO Education Science features 120+ engaging, curriculum-aligned science lessons and ready-to-use class presentations that bring science to life for teachers and students (Kindergarten – Year 8 or ages 5-11+).

Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/lego/9312551-en-lego-education-science-hands-on-learning

Critical thinking skills and an understanding of science concepts and practices are increasingly needed for the future. Yet, the State of Classroom Engagement Report: Science Edition, a survey commissioned by LEGO Education, found that 45 percent of students who listed science as one of their “least favourite” subjects described it as “too hard”, and 37 percent felt they were “bad at it.” Notably, 58 percent of these students were girls, highlighting the ongoing STEM gap.

These findings underscore the need to reimagine science lessons to be more inclusive for students and teachers. In addition to understanding scientific concepts, science learning also plays a crucial role in developing skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration and creativity. Every student deserves to succeed in science, and, together with educators, LEGO Education wants to make that a reality.

“Science teaches us to ask curious questions to understand the world around us,” said Victor Saeijs, President of LEGO Education. “If students think they’re not good at the subject or avoid it, we risk losing an entire generation of innovators and problem-solvers. We share your commitment as educators to excite and engage students with high-quality science education.”

With LEGO Education Science, teachers have everything they need to instantly engage students in scientific phenomena and spark student creativity and problem-solving through hands-on learning. Lessons are aligned to Programme de science et technologie au primaire in Quebec and Science and Technology in Ontario to easily integrate into the classroom.

Each lesson starts with a big question to spark curiosity and invite enquiry, while also connecting scientific principles to the real world for deeper comprehension. Students will explore multiple paths to a solution, ask key questions and work with their peers. Kits are designed for use by up to four students together, with each student taking an active role in the lesson. This supports different learning abilities and develops collaboration and communication skills.

“It was inspiring to see my students’ enthusiasm and creativity flourish,” said Jill Snodgrass, a fourth-grade maths and science teacher at Kernan Trail Elementary in Florida, U.S., who tested the new solution with her class. “The tactile nature of working with LEGO bricks helps solidify their understanding by connecting abstract concepts to tangible outcomes. They were so excited to see their finished build for the lesson, especially when the rattlesnake used its shaking tail to ward off predators. Their collaboration and joy were truly a highlight of the day.”

Hands-on learning makes learning more accessible for all students, yet only 55 percent of students globally get these experiences in science lessons, according to the report. LEGO Education Science unlocks exciting discoveries for students, empowers teachers, and engages the whole classroom with hands-on, collaborative lessons. Over 3,000 students in over 100 classrooms tested the new learning solution throughout its development.

“One of the most powerful things we can do as educators is to instill a lifelong love of learning in our students,” said Andrew Sliwinski, Head of Product Experience at LEGO Education. “LEGO Education Science supports educators across the world to bring the science curriculum to life in a new way with ready-made lessons and high quality, reusable LEGO bricks and hardware. I can’t wait to see these learning experiences in the hands of students.”

LEGO Education Science will begin shipping in August 2025. To learn more visit: LEGOeducation.com/science.

About LEGO Education Science

Includes 120+ lessons, teacher materials and carefully selected LEGO bricks and hardware to enable hands-on learning.Provides getting started materials, lessons, curriculum mapping, facilitation notes and ready-to-teach class presentations through the online Teacher Portal.Flexibility for teachers to select lessons based on year groups (approximately 40 lessons per kit) or in the way that best supports their curriculum needs.Designed for use by up to four students per kit for increased collaboration and engagement.Available in three kits by year group. Please contact your LEGO Education authorised reseller for complete pricing and availability.LEGO Education Science Kit Kindergarten – Year 2277 LEGO bricks1 double motorUSB charging cableBuilding instructionsLEGO Education Science Kit Year 3-6335 LEGO bricks1 double motor1 controller2 connection cardsUSB charging cableBuilding instructionsLEGO Education Science Kit Year 7-8424 LEGO bricks1 single motor1 double motor1 controller1 color sensor3 connection cardsUSB charging cableBuilding instructions

About the State of Classroom Engagement Report: Science Edition 
A global survey conducted by LEGO Education of over 6,000 Kindergarten – Year 8 teachers, parents, students, and U.S. education administrators. Markets included Australia, Germany, South Korea, the UK and the U.S. Total sample size: 6,650, including 2,400 teachers, 2,000 parents, 2,000 students (aged 5-14), and 250 U.S. education administrators. Fieldwork was completed May 15, 2024-June 15, 2024.

 Download the report here. Key findings include:

Only a third (37 percent) of parents and half (52 percent) of science teachers surveyed globally believe students are engaged in science.The majority of science teachers (73 percent) do not feel equipped to engage students in science.Most science teachers and parents surveyed believe science education cultivates curiosity, critical thinking and problem-solving, which are critical skills in the classroom and beyond.Students with access to hands-on learning experiences are 1.5 times more likely to be confident in learning science than those that don’t.Three out of four science teachers who incorporate hands-on learning agree it fosters higher test scores and grades.

About LEGO Education
At LEGO Education, we are committed to providing educators and students with the most engaging, joyful learning experiences the classroom has ever seen. Part of the LEGO Group, our future-focused team of educators and innovators has built Kindergarten – Year 8 learning experiences for 45 years based on the LEGO brick, our learning through play methodology and curriculum-driven learning outcomes. Together, we can equip every student with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed and empower them to rebuild the world better than they found it.

LEGO and the LEGO logo are trademarks and/or copyrights of the LEGO Group. ©2025 The LEGO Group. All rights reserved.

Media Contact
Kelley Brescia
Kelley.brescia@LEGO.com

 

 

SOURCE LEGO Education

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