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Science teachers increasingly recognize the roles that culture and language have in learning, but they often lack the tools to fully explore and address those issues.

Thanks to a William & Mary professor, theres now an app for that.

Anne Charity Hudley, the Class of 1952 Associate Professor of English and Africana Studies at William & Mary, in partnership with Christine Mallinson has created a series of videos, podcasts and even an app to help teachers better understand and respond to cultural and language variations in STEM classrooms.

While science education has really come a long way in terms of inclusivity, theres a still big need to help educators think about language and discrimination in science contexts, said Charity Hudley.

Charity Hudley and Mallinson, an associate professor of language, literacy and culture at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, showcased their work Feb. 19 at the annual American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in Boston. The discussion was part of a session organized by Charity Hudley on Educator Linguistic Ideology about African-American English in STEM Contexts that also included presentations by Mary Bucholtz of the University of California, Santa Barbara, and Michel DeGraff of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The tools that Charity Hudley and Mallinson developed were borne of a National Science Foundation grant that Charity Hudley and Mallinson received in 2011 to explore the impact of cultural and social language patterns on learning and student assessment.

Working with student researchers from their respective institutions, Charity Hudley and Mallinson talked with 60 K-12 teachers in Maryland and Virginia to find out what they knew about language variation, particularly among African-American students.

Language variation includes such features as word choice, grammar, accent, and discourse style, which are developed in relation to ones cultural and social background. Variations from Standardized American English can lead people to make assumptions about ones intelligence and ability, which can significantly affect how teachers interact with students, said Charity Hudley.

Echoing Rosina Lippi-Green, one of her favorite writers and mentors, Charity Hudley asserted that language is the last frontier of discrimination.

You can discriminate against people based on language of all forms including written, spoken, people who use sign language. Language discrimination is a backdoor to general discrimination. For example, test bias is a major issue. I dont have to say, Oh, I dont really want African-American students in my graduate program. I can say, Well, their verbal scores on the GRE test werent that great.

We know theres a role between how someone does on a test and their own home language and their performance, so when we say we want to eliminate barriers to success in science, we have to look at all the little factors that are involved in that linguistic process.

Over a period of four years, Charity Hudley, Mallinson and their student researchers hosted long-form workshops and interviews with the teachers in their study.

One of the things they were saying was, Gosh, I wish I had known some of these issues about language and linguistic justice and different varieties of English, said Charity Hudley. Some people spoke the varieties but never had them validated or didnt understand quite the role of language in thinking about processing when youre doing a math problem or scientific problem.

The student researchers were true collaborators and contributors to the project, Charity Hudley said.

Our students were awesome all the way through, and the teachers loved having students participate because its like that bridge, right? They want their students to be William & Mary students, so the whole question is, How do we make that tangibly happen? she said.

In the midst of the NSF-funded research, Charity Hudley and Mallinson released a book, We Do Language: English Language Variation in the Secondary English Classroom, to help teachers begin to understand some of the issues around language variation. However, they wanted to go a step further and so created a variety of additional tools to be used by educators.

First came a series of podcasts with teachers who discussed how they had struggled with issues related to language variation and what solutions worked for them.

Next, the two professors worked with the Virginia Department of Education to create a series of videos, released in October 2015, about language variation and its connection educational inequality in Virginia schools. The topics include language and culture in the classroom, sharing the burden of communication with students and examples of how Virginia educators have embraced culturally and linguistically responsive teaching. Four videos also explore language and culture specifically in elementary and secondary arts and STEM classrooms. The series is available on the VDOE website.

In September 2016, Charity Hudley and Mallinson released the Valuable Voices app for iOS devices. It provides teachers with information about how to think about language variation and it also offers activities centered on some of the concepts. For instance, one activity aims to explore how dictionaries are put together by asking students to create their own. Another introduces students to the invention of language through William Shakespeare, asking them to think about modern-day equivalents.

Right now, [the app] is more focused on language literacy and culture, but in order to get those conversations going and show the scientific processes behind them, educators have been using them in different disciplines, said Charity Hudley.

Being able to share these tools and the research that went into their creation at the AAAS conference was especially significant because of the reach of the organization, said Charity Hudley.

At this specific conference, you have scientists from all different backgrounds who are interested in science broadly and particularly in terms of science education and inclusion, she said, and so its really important at this conference that when we are having conversations about persistence in science, getting people motivated and interested in science, and working with students, that the role of language in the learning process be a part of that conversation.

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Linguistics in the lab: the right chemistry for inclusivity - Williamsburg Yorktown Daily

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Top Gear's Matt LeBlanc has admitted that the chemistry between the presenters could "take a while" to reach the heights of their predecessors.

Following the departure of Chris Evans after just one series, LeBlanc will host the revamped BBC show with Chris Harris and Rory Reid.

However, reflecting on Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May's run on the show, the host said (via SNAP.PA): "What people forget is for the three guys that were on the show before us, it took them a while to build up a rapport.

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"This is now the first season for the three of us and it does take a little while.

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He added: "You take the three people, put them together in a room and say, 'It's in your interest to get along', and everyone is open to getting along but it takes a little while to speed up the shorthand.

"But what's great is we are now getting to a point where we are really starting to click. We are having so much fun together!"

LeBlanc and co are set to return to the show in a few weeks' time, and the BBC has already given us a trailer showing the three hosts' sitting uncomfortably through a car insurance interview.

While LeBlanc decided to stick with the show for two new series as he had "such a great time" filming the first series, it was not the case for Evans.

The Friends star previously told Digital Spy that he found out that Evans had quit through the news in the paper like everyone else.

He added of expectations for Top Gear: "I'm excited [for the new series] but the show seems to be surrounded by huge controversy, and I don't really know why. Maybe it's because of the history of the show but boy, being on that show is like being in a fishbowl. Everybody is after you.

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"Everybody is waiting for you to put a foot wrong and that's tough but, you know, I like cars. I know a little bit about cars. I can say some funny things about cars. Hopefully people will watch it."

Top Gear returns on Sunday, March 5 at 8pm on BBC Two.

Want up-to-the-minute entertainment news and features? Just hit 'Like' on our Digital Spy Facebook page and 'Follow' on our @digitalspy Twitter account and you're all set.

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Matt LeBlanc says Top Gear chemistry could "take a while" - Digital Spy

Malaysia recalled its ambassador to North Korea on Monday amid rising tensions over the death, while North Korea's ambassador arrived for a meeting at the Malaysian foreign ministry.

The ministry said the North Korean ambassador Kang Chol was summoned for "an explanation on the accusations he made against the Government of Malaysia in his press conference on 17 February 2017".

North Korea said on Saturday that it would categorically reject Malaysia's autopsy report on the death of Mr Kim, and accused Malaysia of "colluding with outside forces", in a veiled reference to rival nation South Korea.

Malaysia's health minister said that Mr Kim's autopsy results could be released as early as Wednesday.

At least three of four North Korean men wanted in connection with the murder caught a flight from Jakarta to Dubai on the evening of the attack, an Indonesian immigration official told Reuters.

Suspects Ri Jae-nam, Hong Song-hac, and Ri Ji-hyon flew from Jakarta to Dubai on Emirates flight EK0359 at 10.20pm local time last on Monday, immigration office spokesman Agung Sampurno told Reuters by text message. The details of the fourth suspect were unclear.

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North Korean suspect in Kim Jong-nam murder 'had chemistry degree and arranged all logistics of attack' as CCTV of ... - Telegraph.co.uk

Transition metal-catalysed reactions have traditionally been confined to test tubes and round-bottom flasks but now researchers have performed the first gold-catalysed reaction in live mice. The team used the reaction to image the animals organs and hopes that similar reactions could eventually have applications such as targeted, in-body drug synthesis.

In vivo metal catalysis has so far been limited to cell cultures with the most advanced organism being zebrafish embryos. This is because the cellular environments inside living bodies present unique challenges for metal catalysts, which can be sensitive to air and water.

Katsunori Tanaka and colleagues from Japans Riken research institute solved these problems by tagging a gold catalyst, known for its water and air stability, onto one of two carrier proteins. When injected into living mice, the protein transports the catalyst to either the liver or intestine, where it triggers an amide bond formation between an added propargyl ester and amines that sit on the outside of cells.

Attaching a fluorescent label onto the propargyl ester allowed Tanakas team to image the animals livers with noninvasive infrared imaging. The researchers are now looking into other proteins that can carry catalysts to a larger number of target organs or even into tumour tissues, where metal-catalysed reactions could synthesise or activate drugs.

Link:
Protein-bound gold enables in-mouse catalysis - Chemistry World (subscription)

News, and even new rumors, out of ESPN has been almost nonexistent as the supposed breakup of ESPN Radios longtime morning drive program, Mike & Mike, nears its apparent end.

Sports Illustrated first reported the program might end, but no timetable has been specified since that initial report weeks ago.

Still, the report seems logical, and its probably just a matter of the all-sports network finding the right timing.

Maybe it will happen around the Final Four, or maybe it will be in the somewhat slower summer months when a replacement program makes its debut.

Whenever it happens, whats next for Mike Greenberg might be a New York City-based morning program that airs on ESPN, perhaps a rebranded SportsCenter in the way the network turned its late-night show into a vehicle for Scott Van Pelt and, more recently, its approach to the 6 p.m. SportsCenter featuring Jemele Hill and Michael Smith.

Whats next for Mike Golic might be another morning partner on radio or some combination of partners.

Greenberg, who recently earned a big contract from ESPN, has seemingly sparked any potential changes to the show.

The most recent was an ill-fated move to the Big Apple a couple of years ago. That was to include an additional host, with the show possibly emanating from Times Square. It never happened.

For more than a decade and half, Mike and Mike has been the flag bearer for ESPN. The odd-couple chemistry of the two hosts might be a bit contrived at times, but it works. Still, with demographics changing, ESPN has been trying to find ways to broaden the shows audience even while the hosts age a bit.

The show is rarely intentionally controversial and never mean spirited. For the most part, its good talk radio.

ESPN often uses Mike and Mike to test out talent, too. A good performance by guests in that safe environment can often lead to bigger opportunities.

Heres the thing, though: Mike and Mike might be better as a sum than in individual pieces.

Greenbergs anti-germ sensibilities and lack of athletic experience, despite his journalism chops, still need a personality to play against. He has that in spades with self-deprecating Golic, the former NFL veteran who invariably puts his college career at Notre Dame front and center as well.

Together, theyre fun and informative. Separately, they might be nearly as good.

No matter what happens, they will be missed if the breakup occurs. From a program some thought might not last more than a few months, Mike and Mike has grown and earned a spot in the sports media landscape. The hosts and the show have earned respect throughout the industry.

For example, when Rich Russo, the Penn State alum who directed the Super Bowl for Fox Sports a pretty heady job was told his name was mentioned on Mike and Mike before the big game he sounded genuinely thrilled.

Mike and Mike is not take-a-side talk just for kicks. Its not a schtick, and that might be the biggest reason it will be a loss if the show ends. Its heart is in the fact that its genuine a rare find in sports-talk related programming anymore.

Pirates plans

With spring training underway, Pirates fans can pencil in Feb. 26 for the seasons first radio broadcast a 1:05 p.m. start in Sarasota, Florida, against the Orioles.

The Pirates first televised spring training game will be March 6, a home game in Bradenton against the Yankees.

Sampsell comments on TV and radio for the Mirror. He can be reached at stevesampsell@gmail.com.

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'Mike and Mike' chemistry was real - Altoona Mirror

At one of the exhibits at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., youll find a bit of surprising space trivia. Of all the physical sciences, which include astronomy and physics, chemistry is the only type of study that humans havent yet conducted in space. Until now, the risk of performing chemical reactions in microgravity has simply been too great. (Just imagine an explosive chemical reaction expanding wildly without Earths gravitational forces providing any friction to help slow it down.)

But soon, thats all about to changechemistry will finally make its way to the final frontier thanks to researchers in a Boston University chemistry lab. A group led by Aaron Beeler, a BU College of Arts & Sciences associate professor of chemistry, is building a special module from scratch that will carry out chemical reactions inside a closed-loop system, enabling it to be safely operated by astronauts on the International Space Station. Members of Beelers lab are calling it a new platform for chemistry experiments, meaning that scientists can use it to conduct a broad range of different chemical reactions.

Carrying out useful chemical reactions in a microgravity environmentits never been done before, says Beeler. Are there going to be different behaviors? Will less gravity influence the reactions? These are the big-picture questions that well finally be able to answer.

Performing chemical reactions in space isnt just important for the fundamental sake of learning how the conditions and physical properties of space alter chemical behaviors. In fact, the idea of how to safely perform chemistry reactions in space has become somewhat of a hot topic for space scientists. (As anyone who saw Matt Damon in The Martian knows, having science experiments go awry in space would be catastrophic.)

The last American Chemical Society meeting was [earlier this year], and NASA held an entire session around the topic of chemistry in space, says Beeler, who is also a core faculty member in the BU Center for Molecular Discovery.

He says a big reason for that is because the ability to safely produce compounds on demand (like lifesaving drugs, for example) in space could play a critical role in enabling humans to someday sustain long-term spaceflight to a planet like Mars, which experts estimate could take around nine months to get to.

Thinking about long-term space travel, if you could perform chemical reactions that were activated by light, then you could carry less reagents in your cargo.

To bring their chemistry platform to space, Beelers lab is collaborating with Space Tango, a company that currently supplies the ISS with experimental modules used by scientists in orbit. The Beeler labs new module will house technology known as continuous flow chemistry, a method that uses limited amounts of materials, called reagents, to rapidly produce small-scale reactions. Continuous flow chemistry has already been used on Earth for decades, mainly in the chemical industry but more recently in the pharmaceutical industry, as well. Taking the approach to space could potentially open up a whole new economic sector where products are synthesized in orbit, 250 miles above Earth.

Were excited to work with leading experts from [Beelers lab] to expand flow chemistry capabilities on the ISS, said Space Tango CEO Twyman Clements, according to a recent Space Tango press release. We envision that the automated, modular systems we are developing for flow chemistry will be a pivotal step toward further establishing new commercial opportunities in low-Earth orbit that benefit life on Earth and address a variety of additional on-orbit applications.

Beeler says his team is setting up the platform for an initial test run of three different kinds of chemical reactions. The first one will be a photochemical reaction, which Beeler says is an area of special expertise for his lab and could be an especially advantageous method for space travelers.

Thinking about long-term space travel, if you could perform chemical reactions that were activated by light, then you could carry less reagents in your cargo, Beeler says.

The group is also planning to test a thermal reaction, which Beeler says will show just how high temperatures will be able to get inside the modules isolated, closed-loop environment. Were not sure what the safe operating temperature of reactions will be in space, but were doing preliminary experiments before launch to make sure we can isolate the heat.

Finally, the group is planning to test out a peptide-coupling reaction in space, a type of reaction used by chemists and biologists to create and modify proteins and other building blocks of life.

Beeler says they are working fast to get the system ready in time for summer 2020, when the module is scheduled to be delivered to the ISS aboard a SpaceX Dragon rocket.

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Out-of-This-World Chemistry | The Brink - BU Today

The MSPCA and Acton police are offering a $1,000 reward for information after a 12-week-old puppy was found discarded in the woods, suffering from chemical burns that authorities believe were intentionally inflicted.

A good Samaritan was out walking her dog in the Acton woods on Nov. 15 when she found a puppy cowering on the side of the trail unable to walk and covered in open wounds but still wagging her tail.

The woman alerted authorities and drove the puppy to the MSPCA Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston, where veterinarians have been working to save the life of the young fido, now called Ramona, ever since.

We occasionally will see cases of neglect to potentially something that borders on cruelty, Anna Rafferty-Arnold, associate director at the MSPCAs Boston adoption center, told the Herald. But to see a dog come in with such severe wounds that are so suspicious of something that would be intentional is rare.

Ramona arrived with chemical burns covering more than 40 percent of her body wounds so severe she must undergo a weekly debridement procedure to remove the dead tissue and give the skin underneath a chance to heal.

She also had bite wounds on her back and a broken left front elbow, which may have to be amputated because it started to heal improperly, said shelter veterinarian Rebecca Fellman.

Ramona will remain at the MSPCA for the next four months as she undergoes treatment, and will be under a state-mandated four-month quarantine for the bite wounds. Afterward, staff hope to put her up for adoption.

She still looks in rough shape and she still is in a sad condition, but she does look a lot better, Rafferty-Arnold said. While she is still uncomfortable she has a great spirit. She still has a wagging tail and shes giving kisses and is just a really sweet deal, and were excited for her to go up for adoption.

Acton police have opened an animal cruelty investigation, and are offering a $1,000 reward in conjunction with the MSPCA for information that leads to a conviction. Anyone with information is asked to call 978-929-7711.

The MSPCA estimates caring for Ramona will cost upward of $4,000, and are seeking donations to help.

Link:
MSPCA, Acton police offer reward after puppy found with chemical burns - Boston Herald

Courtesy of Christopher Nomura

Nomura and his team have worked for years to develop a safer way to deliver chemotherapy.

Christopher Nomura, the vice president of research at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, is making strides to eliminate chemotherapys harsh side effects.

Most chemotherapeutic drugs induce nausea and hair loss because they attack a persons cells indiscriminately, killing healthy cells as well as cancerous ones. Up until recently, there has never been a delivery system capable of targeting specific types of cancer cells.

That problem is the basis of Nomura and SUNY-ESF postdoctoral fellow Ata Pintos work. They found that by feeding certain fatty acids to a strand of E. coli, the bacteria would produce polymer molecules with azide groups linking to specific cell receptors. When strapped with chemotherapy drugs, these molecules effectively trick cancerous cells into ingesting the medication, destroying them from the inside, rather than systemically as they pass through the body.

Only cancer cells are killed in this new process, not healthy ones.

If we could more specifically target a cancer cell, our hope is that we could reduce some of the dosages (of chemotherapy drugs) and still have the killing efficacy of the drug if its delivered more specifically to its target, Nomura said.

The hope of Nomuras lab is that the precision of this newfound technique what the team refers to as a Trojan horse maneuver will ease the discomfort of cancer treatment. The SUNY Technology Accelerator Fund with a grant helped finance the research for this new Trojan horse method.

Nomura said their new approach first involves modifying the drug-carrying particles to a size small enough to be ingested through leaks in the tumors blood vessels, but large enough to withstand being flushed away by the kidneys.

In this case, Nomuras lab engineered nanoparticles that are about 70 nanometers in diameter. The nanoparticles are then imbedded with azide groups that allow them to target cancer cell receptors. Thats where click chemistry comes into play.

This process, which was developed by Pinto, who is part of Nomuras team, places azide groups onto the ends of fatty acids that are then fed to the E. coli and ultimately replicated in the resulting polymers.

The idea is that the polymer is so flexible in what we can do to it that were given an example of how simple the process of producing these Trojan horses has become with our process, Pinto said.

Once an azide group is present in the polymer, it can be modified to target specific cancer cells. Pinto said click chemistry is innovative and markedly more efficient than techniques used elsewhere.

The process done by other labs is lengthier, Pinto said. Its much more prevalent in the literature because, generally speaking, this work has been done by engineers and not biosynthetic chemists like us.

Nomura and Pinto started their own company last year called Alba Solutions because Nomura said the team was excited that their work could be used as a commercial product.

The lab at ESF has a partnership with Juntao Luo at SUNY-Upstate Medical University to catalyze the polymers for different types of cancers.

We want to test whether (the teams) nanoparticle by itself is toxic or not. That is kind of a safety issue, Lou said.

Luo added that he wants to test the drug loading of the nanoparticle to see whether it is effective with acute cells compared to other types of cancer treatment drugs that are already being sold on the market.

Nomura said he hopes that the polymer delivery system will reopen the doors for highly effective chemotherapy drugs that were too toxic for traditional cancer targeting methods, but may be well utilized with a directed delivery system.

Published on February 19, 2017 at 7:01 pm

Contact Mary: mdcatalf@syr.edu

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Chemistry research lab at SUNY-ESF works to lessen the harsh side effects of chemotherapy - The Daily Orange

Building chemistry with his new teammates remains the primary goal for Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers during organized team activities, which continue into the second phase this week.

I think at this point, when youre adding new guys to the mix, its about chemistry, Rodgers said last week. Thats the on the field chemistry. Its reading body language when theyre running routes, its getting on the same page with the verbiage when you have new players. And starting to figure out how guys like to run routes, where they like the ball in certain situations, how they use their body. Its about timing, and getting that chemistry with the new skill players.

The Packers have added a number of new pieces to the offense this offseason, including veteran tight ends Martellus Bennett and Lance Kendricks. Green Bay also drafted two young receivers (DeAngelo Yancey, Malachi Dupre) and rebuilt the running back position.

Building a rapport and understanding each new individuals wants and needs is necessary for keeping a high-octane offense running smoothly. The connection between Rodgers and Bennett the versatile tight end and teams replacement for playoff hero Jared Cook is especially important for ensuring the Packers hit the ground running to start 2017.

The two have already been working overtime to establish the on-field relationship.

Im always talking to him on the field, too, trying to see what he wants, Bennett said, according to Jason Wilde of the Wisconsin State Journal. (Ill say), Hey, how did that look? or hell give me the thumbs up. Or if Im in another group, I always look back at him, Hey, is that what you want? Is there something different you want on this? Always trying to figure out, just trying to have those conversations on and off the field, trying to get know each other as players, and as people.

Kendricks,who spent his first six years with the Rams, is also using OTAs to find his footing in a new environment.

New organization, new offense, new verbiage, new schemes and stuff, Kendricks said. Its going to take a little bit of time, I just gotta take it day-by-day. But Ill catch on.

The new tight ends still have ample opportunity to get on the same page with Rodgers and comfortable within the offense, especially considering the Packers emphasis on the passing game during OTAs.

Chemistry is really important, Rodgers said. Its about learning those guys, and their body movements, and what routes they feel good about and what routes they struggle with. Well have plenty of time, in these OTAs, a lot of individual time. Were not doing a lot of run plays, by design. It gives us a lot of time to work on the passing gameIm confident well be ready to go once the season starts.

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Aaron Rodgers: OTAs are for building on-field chemistry - Packers Wire

Although Steven Liu is relatively new to the study of chemistry, the Monta Vista High School graduate is now the proud owner of the chemical AU.

Steven and his teammates earned gold medals from the 49th International Chemistry Olympiad. The recent Monta Vista High School graduate in Cupertino was one of four members of the U.S. team to compete in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand.

Stevens teammates hailed from Lexington, Massachusetts; Carmel, Indiana; and Hinsdale, Illinois. The U.S. team tied with Taiwan as the top-performing countries.

The team competed July 6-15 against 293 students from 75 countries. The competition consisted of exams and lab work, with time set aside for athletics and sightseeing over those 10 days.

The International Chemistry Olympiad was founded in 1968 in Poland, and the first U.S. team competed at the event in 1984, winning a silver and two bronze medals.

Steven said he first became interested in chemistry in eighth grade after watching chemistry experiments on Youtube, but didnt start to really become serious about the subject until his junior year at Monta Vista. The year prior, he served as an alternate on the American Olympiad team, but this year his hard work earned him a lead spot.

My preparation started with reading a general chemistry book, followed by an introductory organic chemistry book. After reading these books, I practiced with some national Olympiad level problems, and found myself in the U.S. top 20 list, he said in an email to this newspaper.

Steven attended the Olympiad training camp at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia, where he was chosen from 20 finalists for the U.S. team.

I read through two more organic chemistry books, followed by an analytical chemistry book, two inorganic books and two physical chemistry books, he said. Then I just practiced with old international-level problems.

Steven said he was drawn to chemistry because of the overlap in fields such as organic and physical chemistry.

The way that small molecular building blocks can combine to create lifesaving drugs is beautiful, he said.

He added that the intensive and repetitive studying required for the competition started to drain some of the passion hes had for the subject.

For now, he is happy with his teams accomplishments and glad to have had the experience no matter what the future holds. He will be attendingMassachusetts Institute of Technology.

Im still debating on what to major in. Im leaning toward a double major in chemistry and biology, but I may consider majoring in electrical engineering and computer science, he said.

See more here:
Monta Vista grad wins gold at International Chemistry Olympiad - The Mercury News

Total US government spending on research would decline by nearly 17% under the final 2018 budget proposed by President Trump yesterday, according to a preliminary analysis by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

If the White House budget plan were to become law, it would devastate Americas science and technology enterprise, said Rush Holt, the AAAS chief executive, during a teleconference with reporters. This severe and unjustifiably rapid cut comes at a time when our funding for science research is already far below what would be optimal we are nowhere close as a nation to investing what we should be investing in research and development, added Holt, a former congressman and physicist.

The Obama administration fell just short on its goal of increasing federal spending on R&D to more than 3% of GDP.

One aspect of Trumps budget that greatly concerns the AAAS, and other science organisations, is a 22% cut proposed for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). During the teleconference, Research!America president Mary Woolley cited estimates that these cuts to the NIH alone in 2018 would mean the loss of nearly 90,000 jobs and $15 billion (12 billion) in economic activity, as well as 2000 fewer research grants.

Beyond slashing the NIH, the White House also seeks an 11% reduction in funding for the National Science Foundation (NSF), a 17% decrease for the Department of Energys (DOE) Office of Science and a 70% cut for the DOEs energy efficiency and renewable energy research programmes. The Trump proposal would also institute a 44% decrease in funding for the Environmental Protection Agencys (EPA) science and technology programmes.

Tom Frieden, a former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and acting administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, publicly criticised the White House for proposing a 17% cut to the CDCs budget. Frieden tweeted that such a cut would bring the agency to its lowest level in more than 20 years. He went on to call the administrations budget an assault on science.

Although Trumps proposal would shrink the EPAs overall budget by 30% from current levels, the agency said increased resources will be provided to support its new responsibilities under the recently reformed Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to ensure that new and existing chemicals are evaluated in a timely manner. The EPA added that it will work aggressively to complete additional chemical risk assessments from the TSCA list of existing chemicals and meet its requirement to review all current pesticide registrations by 2022.

Among the most controversial aspects of the White Houses budget plan is its call to abolish the Chemical Safety Board (CSB), which carries out independent investigations of industrial chemical accidents, and eliminate the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (Arpa-E), which funds R&D for advanced energy technologies.

Norm Augustine, a former chief executive of Lockheed Martin best known for chairing the influential National Academy of Sciences committee whose 2005 report called for a 10% annual increase in government funding of basic research for seven years, is also sharply critical of Trumps budget. Augustine doesnt agree with the administrations proposal to do away with Arpa-E, although he says he can understand that one might incorrectly believe that industry will pick up the slack for that agency. However, Augustine argues that such a justification does not work when trying to shut down the CSB. That belief certainly cant apply to the safety board, he tells Chemistry World.

Back in March, when Trump had initially floated the idea in his blueprint budget to dissolve the $11 million CSB that has run for almost two decades, there was significant opposition.

Ultimately, it is Congress and not the White House that will determine science agency funding in 2018. In fact, earlier this month Congress reversed course on significant and immediate cuts slated for agencies like the NIH and NSF under Trumps budget reduction plan for 2017. The House and Senate rejected the presidents strategy and instead produced an omnibus spending package that increased federal R&D by 5%.

Congress has made it clear already this year, really in numerous ways, that they do not buy into this really harsh and abrupt approach to science funding, said Holt. They have not yet used the phrase dead on arrival, but it is pretty clear to me that they simply dont buy this philosophy and they understand the importance of investment.

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Trump budget decried as 'devastating' and an 'assault on science' - Chemistry World (subscription)

NBCSports.com

Julius Thomas needs time to develop chemistry with Ryan Tannehill NBCSports.com Julius Thomas needs time to develop chemistry with Ryan Tannehill. Posted by Mike Florio on May 24, 2017, 3:58 PM EDT. AP. As tight end Julius Thomas gets ensconced with his third NFL team and, in turn, his third starting quarterback, he knows that ... and more »

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Julius Thomas needs time to develop chemistry with Ryan Tannehill - NBCSports.com

Patrick Jensen happily teachers high school chemistry after a 20 year career in business.

Patrick Jensen happily teachers high school chemistry after a 20 year career in business.

Patrick Jensen, 41, took a 50 percent pay cut to teachchemistry and web development in the Fresno Unified School District.

After working for 20 years as a fiscal analyst, mutual fund accountant and school district business chief, he decided a great career isnt always about money.

In my old job, I felt like I was pushing a lot of paperwork around but not making much of a difference. He said. I wanted to do something more directly connected to kids, have more of an impact on my community.

Last year, Jensen quit his job and enrolled in a teacher intern credential program at Fresno State. After taking an intense summer course, he started at Patino High School, a newly-opened, business-themed school in Fresno. Weekends and nights he takes teacher preparation classes, and works closely with colleagues and mentor teachers.

He had never volunteered in a classroom, and his mastery of chemistry dated from his years as an undergraduate. But overall, his first months in the classroom went very smoothly, thanks to colleagues support. He has no regrets.

The toughest part, he said, was getting used to teenagers. Until he started teaching, most of his experience with kids was from raising his own. Understanding teenagers and keeping them engaged was a little more challenging than he expected.

If youre not used to teenagers, its hard to know how much freedom to give them, where to draw the line, when are you being too strict, he said. You can have a great career and be an expert in something, but you might not know how to teach. You have to have the humility and openness to ask for help.

He encourages other mid-career professionals in science and math to consider teaching if theyre looking for a change, have the support of their families and dont mind a few years of sacrifice in exchange for long-term job stability, summers off and the rewards of educating young people.

When youre teaching, you see these moments of growth with the kids, when they suddenly grasp a concept they previously didnt understand . Those moments make it all worth it, he said. And if it turns out you dont like teaching, you can always go back to that boring office job. Those jobs will always be there.

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A Fresno staffer finds his way from business to high school chemistry teacher - EdSource

There is no substitute for good chemistry.

Teams need just the right level of cohesion to make a big playoff run, and in the sport of hockey, successful defensive pairings need to gel in order to lock-down against the talented forwards, who are more and more explosive the deeper a team makes it into the tournament.

For the Masco girls, the two go hand-in-hand.

The Chieftains have pulled off an impressive postseason streak, winning three games en route to Mondays Division 1 state semifinal against Woburn, and one of the ingredients at the top of the list of coach Ryan Sugars formula for success is the effort and execution of his blue liners.

Our defense has a lot of great chemistry, said senior Rachael Duval, who is paired up with senior captain Madi Brooke as Mascos top tandem.Weve gotten to learn how our partners play and where the pucks are going. A huge part of defense is knowing your partner really well.

So how well do Duval and Brooke know each other?

Considering the two girls have been playing hockey together since the age of eight, there arent many things that can happen on the ice that the duo isnt prepared to handle together. It was a pass across the point from Duval to Brooke that led to one of the goals against AP, and in the shootout against Beverly, Sugar called on Brooke to take one of the five attempts and the senior lit the lamp.

The two Masconomet schoolmates were named Northeast Hockey League All-Stars with all-league honors going to Duval.

Weve literally grown up playing hockey together, Brooke said of playing with Duval. I know Rachael so well. I know everything about her game and she knows everything about me. We know each other and where were going to be.

Along with the great chemistry, preparation has been vital in terms of knowing the tendencies of opposing teams and their top forwards. Whether its who has the most dangerous shot, or where a certain forward is likely to carry the puck, Duval, Brooke and the rest of the girls on the back end know their opponents inside and out.

A big part of the strategy, according to both Sugar and Duval, is keeping the middle of the ice clean and clearing rebounds away from the crease area after freshman netminder and Newburyport student Molly Elmore makes the initial save; which is something shes done time and again during the playoffs.

Executing the game plan comes down to smarts and effort, and with seniors like Duval and Brooke, there is nothing the girls wont do to get the job done.

Especially for us seniors who have never made it this far, knowing every game could be our last 45 minutes on the ice is definitely a big motivation for us, said Brooke. All the underclassmen feel it too ... To be able to be underdogs and beat all these teams no one thought we could beat as an 18 seed is bringing us all together.

As for the other D pairing Sugar has been rolling with, Triton sophomores Riane Vatcher and Anna Behringer as well as Triton freshman Gianna Conte have been mixed and matched, and whatever grouping Sugar goes with, its been working.

The team allowed just one goal against Quincy before beating No. 2 Beverly and then holding defending state champion Austin Prep to just a goal in Tuesdays 3-1 triumph.

Rachael and Madi are probably the most dominant defensive pair in our league. Theyre both big players who can skate, move the puck and shoot, said Sugar. Riane plays on the second pair rotating in Anna and Gianna. Riane has a ton of speed and Anna and Gianna are two, solid defensemen. Those three right there are our future for the next year or two as well.

Nobody in the locker room is thinking beyond Monday evening in Woburn.

Well, that isnt entirely true. Playing in the TD Garden, which is where the state final will take place, is too alluring a prospect not to pop into the Chieftains minds.

Ivebeen talking about this with my dad for three days. Making it to a final in the Garden would be a dream come true. Every time I talk about it my cheeks get swollen and I start smiling, said Duval. It would be historical for us as a team to make it to the Garden and prove seeds are truly just numbers. And Masco girls hockey is something to talk about. I think it would be enormous for us as a program.

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Defensive chemistry key to Masco girls' impressive run in tournament this year - The Daily News of Newburyport

STARK'S GREATEST TEAMS: Polar Bears earned first team state title in school history, peaking with dominant performances in Columbus

JACKSON TWP. What a strange brew it was, this blue-collar team from the white-collar town.

There was the easy-going center, the pit-bull point guard and the mohawk-wearing forward.

The young coach, a self-described pessimistic Italian, tried to find his teams summer magic during the cold winter months of late 2009 and early 2010. Just when he had almost given up, it appeared again, leaving the opposition dazed and Ohio basketballs biggest stage shrouded in a purple haze.

The story of the 2009-10 Jackson High School boys basketball team was one of timing, unique chemistry and history made. The Polar Bears went 25-2 and won the schools first team state championship in any sport.

Seven years later, the main characters (now in their mid-20s) still revel in the memories.

I get goose bumps, center Mark Henniger said.

You get chills thinking about the moment, point guard Brad DuPont said.

Blissful, forward Josh Egner described. Its still almost like a dream.

Dreams of Columbus didnt necessarily occupy much of their thoughts entering that season.

This wasnt an all-star team of transfers and move-ins. Jackson isnt an open-enrollment school. The Polar Bears were homegrown. They were Jackson kids.

Outside of Canton city, Stark County hadnt produced a boys basketball state title since 1939.

And, really, how can a team expect to win a state title when it cant even beat its local rival? The year before, Jackson went 17-5, with three of the losses coming at the hands of Hoover, which won the Federal League and the district.

Mike Fuline, then 34, was in his fifth of six years as Jacksons head coach in 2009-10. The Polar Bears, with the senior nucleus of Henniger, Egner and DuPont, had steadily progressed through his tenure. But labeling Jackson a state title contender seemed like a stretch.

We never thought about winning a state championship because we hadnt even won the Federal League, said Fuline, now the University of Mount Union mens basketball coach. As good as that team was, we hadnt won anything.

So the Polar Bears started winning things.

The league. The brutal Canton Division I district tournament. They beat Hoover three times to exorcise some demons.

Before they knew it, they were in Columbus.

If the moment was too big for them, they didnt show it.

The morning of the state semifinal game, Fuline walked by the indoor pool at the team hotel.

Six of our guys are in there playing chicken, Fuline said. Henniger has C.J. (Julian) on his shoulders. Theyre fist fighting. You know how youre not supposed to swim the day of a game? Well, its a full-out brawl in there. I looked in and just kept walking. They were the weirdest dudes I ever met.

Julian, who was the teams defensive specialist and main agitator, put it this way: We were just a wacky team. Wed do some of the dumbest things in the locker room.

But when the lights came on, we competed.

Henniger and Julian would yawn during pregame intros, then give maximum effort once the ball was tipped.

For years, opposing fans have taunted Jackson athletes as, basically, soft rich kids who wear purple. But these Polar Bears were not entitled, and they certainly werent soft. Egner snarled when he dunked. DuPont played with an angry intensity that intimidated opponents.

Fuline believes the character of his players started with their parents.

Nothing was ever given to them at home, he said. There was accountability at home and there was a toughness about them that I can only hope that my son, growing up in Jackson, will have.

The 6-foot-6 Egner, who averaged 13.2 points and 7.9 rebounds, brought a big-play flair to Jackson with his dunks, blocks and mohawk before playing two years in college at Akron.

The 6-foot DuPont, who was built like a running back, was Jacksons engine and vocal leader. He averaged 9.7 points, 2.7 steals and a county-best 6.8 assists before going on to play at Wheeling Jesuit and Walsh University.

And then there was the 6-8 Henniger, the calm in the storm. With a steady game and a steady personality, Henniger averaged 20.9 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.7 blocked shots while shooting 62.3 percent from the floor. He was the Canton Repository Stark County Player of the Year and a first-team All-Ohioan. His 1,552 career points rank seventh in county history and second in Jackson history.

He was so good you took him for granted, Fuline said of Henniger, who went on to play collegiately at Kent State and professionally one season in Malta.

The rest of Jacksons starting lineup was Julian and the lone junior, Michael Shull, who provided floor spacing by averaging 9.9 points and shooting 40.5 percent from the 3-point line.

Senior David Devine was another good defender off the bench, while senior Nathan Kanam and juniors James Feller and Tyler Graening also provided minutes.

I think sometimes people saw 13 long, skinny white kids coming out and thought, These Jackson kids, well get out and outrun them, Egner said. About a quarter and a half in, they'd realize they made a huge mistake.

Jackson outscored the opposition 69.5 to 51.2 on average that season.

The Polar Bears provided a glimpse of their potential in June 2009. Their summer schedule, which took them from Wheeling, W.Va. to Ann Arbor, Mich., produced a 36-2 record against tough competition.

In the regular season, Jackson also lost just twice against Mentor 70-67 in San Diego in December and against Huber Heights Wayne 62-53 in Columbus the day after a Jan. 22 overtime win against Hoover. Still, Fuline felt like something was missing. The Polar Bears werent playing at their highest level.

That summer, leading up to it, we were unbelievable, Fuline said. What you saw in Columbus (during the state tournament), thats what we were in the summer. So youre excited. Then the season starts and you dont see that for literally 20 games.

Jackson beat Hoover 63-44 in the Federal League tournament championship game, completing a 10-0 league run.

After walloping Massillon in a sectional final, the Polar Bears tournament run became very interesting.

They were down 12 points to 10th-seed Lake at the half in a district semifinal but rallied to win 56-49.

That set up Round 3 with Hoover, this time for the district title. Jackson led 55-52 with 10.5 seconds left.

I look at them and ask if they want to foul, Fuline said. And Egner yells, We aint fouling. Guard them!

That Egner did, blocking a 3-point attempt by Hoovers Cory Veldhuizen in the final seconds to basically seal Jacksons first district title in nine years.

The Polar Bears survived quite a scare against Akron East in the regional semifinal at Akrons Rhodes Arena. In a game with 15 lead changes, Jackson hung on for a 58-56 win only after East missed twice in the final seconds.

Another two-point game awaited in the regional final. Jackson earned a trip to state with a 52-50 win over Toledo St. Johns and a freshman by the name of Marc Loving, who would become a Parade All-American and four-year player at Ohio State.

The Polar Bears celebrated. But deep down, the specter of facing Columbus Northland loomed in the state semifinal. With future NBA players Jared Sullinger and Trey Burke, Northland the defending state champion was ranked No. 1 in the country and undefeated.

I remember Bygz (late Jackson basketball manager Mike Bessler) coming up to me, Fuline said. Were still on the floor (at Akron). He says, Mikey, Gahanna beat them.

Your mindset goes from happy to Lets go to work.

Word of Gahanna Lincolns shocking 71-45 upset of Northland in a regional final spread quickly through Jacksons team.

We kind of looked around and said, 'Were going to win states
,' Henniger said. That was really the first time we sat down and thought, Were going to do this.

Keep in mind, Gahanna was undefeated and featured three future Division I college guards Rob Brandenberg (VCU), Anthony Jackson (Stony Brook) and Stevie Taylor (Ohio).

But Jacksons confidence was at an all-time high.

And it proved valid when the Polar Bears beat Gahanna 62-50.

Egner had maybe his best game of the season, totaling 23 points, 11 rebounds and four blocked shots.His big night included an off-the-backboard alley-oop from DuPont in the third quarter that had Jackson fans going wild.

It was pretty awesome and something Ill always remember. Im sure Josh will, too, DuPont said. Those things, when they happen, are totally not planned. You just know who your teammates are and what they are capable of.

The state final was the next night and Jackson faced Cincinnati Moeller, which had beaten Mentor in overtime in the semifinal.

Before the final, Egner asked Fuline if the team could change into their uniforms at the hotel. So the Polar Bears wore their their game gear and carried their sneakers as they rolled up to Value City Arena in vans (I dont know why I made that decision to have vans instead of a bus to this day, Fuline said).

Meanwhile, Moeller was arriving at the same time, in a charter bus, with the players wearing suits and ties.

Egner says, Look at these (expletives),'" Fuline said. I laughed and thought, Were going to kill these dudes.

Fuline liked the matchup with Moeller, and his instinct was correct. With 12,920 fans in the stands, the Polar Bears dominated the Crusaders 57-34, highlighted by a 16-0 run to begin the third quarter.Henniger had 21 points and 12 rebounds. Shull scored 17 points, while DuPont added 11 points and five assists.

After winning their four previous tourney games by a combined 14 points, Jackson won its two state games by a combined 35. It was the biggest margin by a Division I state champion since McKinley crushed Toledo St. Johns and Trotwood-Madison by a combined 48 in 2006.

Finally, Fuline saw the boys of summer.

It was refreshing because I wanted everybody to see how good they were, he said.

Jackson finished the season 22nd in USA Todays national rankings.

It didnt make sense how the pieces fit together so perfectly. But years of spending just as much time with each other on the court as off forged a group that cared for each other and sacrificed for each other.

These Jackson kids just wanted to win something.

They ended up winning the ultimate prize.

What you saw on the court was real, DuPont said. These guys are my friends that I hang out with. It just makes you proud of what we did, what we did for our community.

Reach Josh at 330-580-8426or

josh.weir@cantonrep.com

On Twitter: @jweirREP

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Diverse personalities, unique chemistry helped 2009-10 Jackson boys basketball make history - Canton Repository

Sports Boys Player of the Year: Its all about team chemistry for Panthers standout

Thomas Wells | Buy at photos.djournal.com Amory senior striker Brendan Koehn scored 22 goals with seven assists as the Panthers went 20-2-1 and reached the state semifinals for a second year in a row.

By Melissa Meador

Monroe Journal

Amory forward Brendan Koehn didnt let starting the soccer season a few games late slow him down.

The senior, who was a kicker for the football team, still scored 22 goals and notched seven assists as he helped lead the Panthers to their second-straight North finals appearance.

Missing the first few games was awful. It killed me, but I knew I couldnt just leave football. That season came first, Koehn said. I played in a few tournaments during the football break, so I felt like I was still in my groove with soccer.

Koehns play this season led to him being named the Daily Journals Player of the Year.

Koehn attributes the Panthers success over the last few years to team chemistry, some of which was fostered while working as teammates on Amory youth teams.

We together growing up. Our freshmen year, when we lost 7 or 8 seniors, it was our time to step up, said Koehn, who scored 31 goals as a junior. Last year, we had the season of a lifetime, and we took everyone by surprise. I felt like this year was our year. We made it to North half again, but I think we came in with a sense of pride that we were already going through, and we didnt play our game.

He and teammates Aaron Pressley, Jake Kirkpatrick, Ryan Morgan and Austin Rowell will carry that chemistry to ICC, as all five signed with the Indians.

Excited for future

Its incredible, seeing where we started and where we are now. Next year could be unbelievable, Koehn said. Its not only us five, but its teammates that Ive had over the past few years, too. We all have chemistry in some form.

Koehn was recently named the MVP of the Mississippi Association of Coaches All-Star soccer game in Clinton after scoring a hat trick in the Norths win.

I was ecstatic, because I wanted to be one of those guys who went down there and performed, he said. It was a group of guys with unbelievable skill and talent down there. It was probably my most memorable moment of the high school season.

melissa.meador@journalinc.com

Twitter: @MelissaMeador14

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Boys Player of the Year: It's all about team chemistry for Panthers' standout - Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal

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Good chemistry is important for good fudge and good business for this mom and daughter operation in Bethany kfor.com For much of the past 4 years the alchemy of fudge has been her chief area of study, a huge departure from her past studies in law and teaching law at the university level. "I needed something that would give me some flexibility," says Annette. Okay, so ...

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Good chemistry is important for good fudge and good business for this mom and daughter operation in Bethany - kfor.com

After Cameron Warren flied out to right field in his first at-bat, Texas Tech center fielder and last years leading hitter Tanner Gardner gave him a bit of advice.

Cam struggled a little bit to begin the year and after (his first at-bat) I told him to just hit a ball up the middle and he came through, Gardner said.

Warren was 1 of 17 to start the season, but he along with the rest of the Red Raiders broke out in a big way Tuesday against No.4 Arizona, racking up 14 hits in a 13-1 win. Warren was 2 for 4 with three RBIs as the bottom of the Tech lineup drove in seven runs.

He has swing the bat (well) his whole life. He swung in the fall and we led him off opening day because we thought he could be in there everyday, Texas Tech coach Tim Tadlock said. It is good to see him get going and it will be better if we do get him going (long-term).

Warrens success was one of many Tuesday as four players had multi-hit games, including Hunter Hargrove, Michael Berglund, Warren and Gardner. Gardner, who went into last weekend hitting around .150, jump started the Tech offense. He was 2 for 3 with three runs, raising his batting average to .232 in the process.

We felt like he has been coming the last 10 days, Tadlock said He swung the bat well against Cal and then against New Mexico, too. Anytime someone is in the middle of your lineup it is good to get him going, but it wont always reflect it in the box score. His presence to separate balls and strikes is good and they have to play the corners in because he can push and drag (a bunt), which is awesome for a guy hitting in the middle of the order even if you dont ask them to do it a lot.

Berglund was 3 for 4 with two runs and two RBIs as the freshman catcher looked like he was beginning to figure things out at the plate and behind it.

I think I was relaxed and separated balls and strikes tonight and that is what our coaches preach, Berglund said. I think we all did that today. It took a little while in the fall to get to know people and now that the season is rolling we are creating a lot of chemistry. The older guys put a lot of confidence in us newer guys and that helps a lot.

That chemistry has led to three straight wins over top-10 teams for the Red Raiders (12-2), making it the first time since 2014 to accomplish the feat. Last weekend at the 2017 Shriners Hospitals for Children College Classic, Tech took down No. 8 Ole Miss on Saturday, 5-1, and No. 2 LSU on Sunday, 5-2.

There is a lot clicking right now and the guys in the locker room can feel it, Gardner said.

The No. 6 Red Raiders (12-2) open up a three-game weekend series against UTSA (7-5) on Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park. Saturdays tilt is set for 2 p.m., while Sundays finale is slated for 1 p.m.

I think we are going to continue to grow. Each day is an opportunity to learn something and get better, Tadlock said. I think we are just getting started.

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Good chemistry leading to hot bats for Texas Tech - LubbockOnline.com

KINGSTON, R.I., March 1, 2017Organophosphate esters is a mouthful to most, but for Carrie McDonough the cryptic words spell possible doom for ocean waters.

McDonough, a doctoral student at the University of Rhode Islands Graduate School of Oceanography, studies these flame retardants to find out whether they are polluting the ocean.

Her conclusion: yes.

McDonough recently won the C. Ellen Gonter Environmental Chemistry Award from the American Chemical Society, the highest honor given by the organizations Division of Environmental Chemistry.

The Cleveland native was honored for her paper, Dissolved organophosphate esters in the North Atlantic Ocean and Arctic Ocean.

Im very excited about the award, and I look forward to presenting the work at the groups annual meeting in the fall, says McDonough, who is scheduled to defend her dissertation March 23. Its been a very interesting project to be a part of, and Im very grateful to my advisor, Rainer Lohmann, for getting me involved with the work.

Many of the award recipients have gone on to become leaders in the field of environmental chemistry, and that could play out for McDonough. A graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, McDonough has been researching how chemicals pollute waterways since she came to the GSO to work with oceanographer Lohmann, an expert in marine pollutants.

She is studying two groups of compounds: synthetic fragrances, which are added to shampoo, soap, deodorant, detergent and cleaning supplies; and flame retardants, which are added to furniture, textiles, plastic toys and electronics to decrease flammability.

McDonoughs award-winning paper focused on organophosphate esters. Theyve been used more frequently over the past decade because scientists found that other kinds of flame retardants are toxic. Scientists speculated that the organophosphate esters wouldnt break down in the environment, meaning they couldnt travel to distant, fragile environments like the Arctic.

It was thought that organophosphate esters werent capable of long-range transport to Arctic regions after being released into the air and adhering to airborne particles that end up in the water. But recent studies have found them in Arctic air, so McDonough investigated if she could measure them in remote ocean waters.

Through collaboration with Environment Canada and the Alfred-Wegener Institute in Bremerhaven in Germany, sampling was done to measure organophosphate esters in deep North Atlantic water, as well as waters in the Canadian Arctic.

McDonough placed passive polyethylene samplers, or sheets of plastic, on deep moorings in the North Atlantic to find out whether the contaminants were in the ocean.

Her results are alarming: The pollutants are present at much greater concentrations than many other pollutants, including the previously banned flame retardants. This suggests that organophosphate esters might not be a good replacement after all.

More research needs to focus on studying what effects these pollutants might be having in remote regions, says McDonough, and how theyre ending up there in the first place.

Lohmann says hes not surprised McDonough won the award. Carrie is already a very accomplished, diligent and entrepreneurial student, he says. Im glad she got rewarded for her outstanding work, in this case the first measurements of novel flame retardants in waters of the Arctic Ocean.

McDonough is one of six students to win the international award, given annually to students at American and international universities who submit the highest quality research papers.

McDonough is also known for her successful blog, oceanbites, which offers plain-speaking articles about ocean sciences. Many of the contributors are students at GSO or GSO alumni.

Im happy, she says, to bring important science information to the world.

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URI student wins international environmental chemistry award - URI Today (press release)