Global Aerospace & Life Sciences Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC) Market to Surpass $59.3 Billion by 2027 – ResearchAndMarkets.com -…

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "Aerospace & Life Sciences Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC) - Global Market Outlook (2019-2027)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Global Aerospace & Life Sciences Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC) market accounted for $33.79 billion in 2019 and is expected to reach $59.37 billion by 2027 growing at a CAGR of 7.3% during the forecast period.

Some of the factors propelling the growth of the market are increasing demand for high-quality medical devices in life sciences applications across developing countries, growing consumption of goods in emerging countries and rising product safety and quality concerns across the globe. However, different standards and regulations across geographies are hampering the growth of the market.

Based on the sourcing type, the in-house segment is anticipated to hold considerable market share during the forecast period as it is helpful to maintain higher visibility and a higher degree of control over processes and improves the delivery performance.

By geography, Asia-Pacific is going to have a lucrative growth during the forecast period due to the strong support from the government to promote the development of aviation industry, increasing initiatives to maintain innovative research and increase professional networks and the increasing number of small and medium enterprises (SME) in the aerospace industry.

Some of the key players profiled in the Aerospace & Life Sciences Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC) Market include Medistri SA, Applus+ Group, SGS, Mistras, Envigo, Inc., Intertek Group PLC, Gateway Analytical LLC., Eurofins Scientific, Element Materials Technology, DNV GL Group, Bureau Veritas Group and Avomeen Analytical Services.

What the report offers:

Key Topics Covered

1 Executive Summary

2 Preface

3 Market Trend Analysis

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Drivers

3.3 Restraints

3.4 Opportunities

3.5 Threats

3.6 Application Analysis

3.7 Emerging Markets

3.8 Impact of COVID-19

4 Porters Five Force Analysis

5 Global Aerospace & Life Sciences Testing, Inspection, And Certification (TIC) Market, By Service Type

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Testing Services

5.3 Inspection Services

5.4 Certification Services

5.5 Other Services

5.5.1 Technical Assistance & Training Services

5.5.2 Quality-Safety-Health-&-Environment Services

5.5.3 Project Management Services

5.5.4 Consulting Services

5.5.5 Auditing Services

5.5.6 Asset Integrity Management Services

6 Global Aerospace & Life Sciences Testing, Inspection, And Certification (TIC) Market, By Sourcing Type

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Outsourced

6.3 In-house

7 Global Aerospace & Life Sciences Testing, Inspection, And Certification (TIC) Market, By Application

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Aerospace

7.2.1 Aviation Management Services

7.2.2 Aerospace Manufacturing Services

7.3 Medical & Life Sciences

7.3.1 Medical Devices

7.3.2 Laboratory Services

7.3.3 Health, Beauty & Wellness

7.3.4 Clinical Services

7.3.5 Biopharmaceutical & Pharmaceutical Services

8 Global Aerospace & Life Sciences Testing, Inspection, And Certification (TIC) Market, By Geography

8.1 Introduction

8.2 North America

8.3 Europe

8.4 Asia-Pacific

8.5 South America

8.6 Middle East & Africa

9 Key Developments

9.1 Agreements, Partnerships, Collaborations and Joint Ventures

9.2 Acquisitions & Mergers

9.3 New Product Launch

9.4 Expansions

9.5 Other Key Strategies

10 Company Profiling

10.1 Medistri SA

10.2 Applus+ Group

10.3 SGS

10.4 Mistras

10.5 Envigo, Inc.

10.6 Intertek Group PLC

10.7 Gateway Analytical LLC

10.8 Eurofins Scientific

10.9 Element Materials Technology

10.10 DNV GL Group

10.11 Bureau Veritas Group

10.12 Avomeen Analytical Services

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/iyfzau

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Global Aerospace & Life Sciences Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC) Market to Surpass $59.3 Billion by 2027 - ResearchAndMarkets.com -...

Additive Flight Solutions gains AS9100D certification for its 3D printed aerospace parts – 3D Printing Industry

Additive Flight Solutions (AFS), a joint venture between 3D printer manufacturer Stratasys and Singaporian aircraft specialist SIA Engineering Company (SIAEC), has received AS9100D Certification.

Combining Stratasys additive manufacturing knowledge with SIAECs expertise in spare parts, AFS has gained international accreditation for its 3D printed aerospace parts. The certification is a standardized quality management and assurance system governing the aviation, space and defense industry sectors. Gaining AS9100D validation testifies that AFS provides products and services that are able to meet customer needs, while complying with all applicable regulatory and statutory requirements.

From individual part weight reduction to a more comfortable layout and design, the future of aircraft interiors is set to take off in innovative ways, said Stefan Roeding, DGM at Additive Flight Solutions. This certification validates our commitment to drive the development of aerospace applications and deliver reliable and precisely engineered solutions. It gives us immense pride in attaining this globally recognized mark of excellence.

Apart from being a competitive advantage, achieving the AS9100D is a significant milestone for AFS and our parent companies.

Stratasys 3D printing in the aerospace industry

Having been founded in 1989, Stratasys 3D printing technology is well-established in the industry, and its systems have been utilized in applications ranging from producing spare rail parts to medical models. A number of companies have also adopted Stratasys machines in order to streamline their aerospace operations, reducing the size and weight of components as well as the associated lead times.

UK-based global engineering firm GKN Aerospace for instance, leveraged a Stratasys F900 3D printer to reduce its production times and develop new tooling applications. Similarly, aerospace specialist IDEC and prototyping service provider Wehl & Partner have used a Stratasys 3D printer to cut the cost and material waste involved with composite molding.

Stratasys has also collaborated with aerospace industry partners, in order to develop new applications of its systems. Working with metal additive 3D printing company VELO3D for example, Stratasys has utilized its F370 and Fortus 450mc machines to support the development of Boom Supersonics demonstrator XB-1 aircraft. Under a seven year contract extension, the companies aim to accelerate the adoption of 3D printing for flight hardware by utilizing Stratasys Aircraft Interiors Solution (AIS) package.

More recently, the company has continued to explore the applications of its technology within aviation by supporting BAE Systems Factory of the Future initiative. Having installed a fourth F900 3D printer, BAE Systems will reportedly be running the machines around the clock to drive efficiency in its production. In its current collaboration with SIAEC, Stratasys is now seeking to advance the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) applications of its 3D printers.

AS9100D Certification

SIAEC provides extensive MRO services to more than 80 international airlines carriers, making it an ideal partner for Stratasys in the joint AFS venture. AFS was set up to provide design, engineering, certification support and part production for SIAECs well-established network of partners and customers. In addition to component production services, the company also offers rapid prototyping and manufacturing aids to its aerospace clients.

Utilizing the expertise of its parent companies, the business has now gained AS9100D certification from the global aerospace supply chain regulator International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG). Leveraging the newly-gained accreditation, the company aims to accelerate the adoption of 3D printed parts in the commercial and military aviation industries, in addition to other industrial applications.

Acting as SIAECs approved 3D printing center, AFS supplies industry grade parts and services used in interior airplane cabins to local and global manufacturers. The 3D printed components are mainly used as replacements within the interior cabin environment. For instance, AFS has recently developed and produced a number of sanitizer holders for a local Singaporian airline.

Following validation by the IAQG, manufacturers will be able to partner with AFS in full confidence that its parts have met stringent requirements across a range of industry applications. Moving forwards, the company will continue to use Stratasys 3D printing technology to reduce the weight of its components, and design more comfortable layouts for its aerospace customers.

You can now nominate for the 2020 3D Printing Industry Awards. Cast your vote to help decide this years winners.

To stay up to date with the latest 3D printing news, dont forget to subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter or follow us on Twitter or liking our page on Facebook.

Looking for a job in the additive manufacturing industry? Visit 3D Printing Jobs for a selection of roles in the industry.

Featured image shows a 3D printed spare part produced by AFS for one of its aerospace clients. Photo via AFS.

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Additive Flight Solutions gains AS9100D certification for its 3D printed aerospace parts - 3D Printing Industry

Someone wrote ‘Black Lives Matter’ in the Black Rock Desert. It’s 4 miles wide. – Reno Gazette Journal

The planned mural in Manhattan provoked the ire of President Trump, who slammed the mural on Twitter as a "symbol of hate." USA TODAY

"Black Lives Matter" has been painted on streets throughout the United States, but it's now written in the surface of the Black Rock Desert.

Bureau of Land Management officials say aperson or group used a vehicle toimprint the message into the crust of the desert playa last month.

"Someone drove with a GPS and drove several times to makehuge, huge letters," said Heather O' Hanlon, spokeswoman for the BLM. "They drove several times so that it stayed imprinted."

To the naked eye, it might appear to be a mess of tire tracks, but a hobby pilot last month documented a bird's eye view of the message.

"Pure awe," said Nick Howard, of Petaluma, who was flying back from a trip to Idaho when he decided to fly over the Black Rock Desert for the first time. "How did it get there? It was done so perfectly. It was really impressive how accurate and crisp it was. I tried to figure out how and who, but there still arent any answers.You would think that if someone made the effort to make it theyd want some kind of credit."

Tire tracks can be seen in mid-July 2020 on the Black Rock Desert as part of a message that currently is inscribed in the playa crust, reading "Black Lives Matter."(Photo: Courtesy of Esteban Valle)

The message appears to be written in perfect Helvetica font about six miles out from the 12-mile entrance to the Black Rock Desert playa.

It does not appear to be placed on site of the Burning Man event, though it's nearby, according to GPS data.

"Obviously somebody made a statement, and it wasnt us," said O' Hanlon."Its unfortunate it happened on the playa, but mother nature will heal itself. It's going to be a matter of wind storms and rain storms."

Douglas County sheriff to library:Support Black Lives Matter? Don't bother calling 911

While BLM officials could not confirm the size of the text, a local Burner and member of the Washoe County Sheriff's Office search and rescue team said he drove the entirety of the message and the circle that encompasses it.

The message is four miles wide and the circle is 13 miles in circumference, according to Esteban Valle, who is also a third-year medical student and a volunteer medic at Burning Man.

"Pretty much everyone thought it was photoshopped, but then someoneposted a video from the air, and still I was skeptical," said Valle, who first saw rumor of the message on Reddit. "I was kind of bored honestly, so I decided to get my friends and drive out there and I expected not to see anything. The freakingthing was real. We actually drove the whole thing."

A pilot, Nick Howard, discovered the message "Black Lives Matter" written into the surface of the Black Rock Desert playa on July 10, 2020.(Photo: Courtesy of Nick Howard)

All together, there is 25 miles of text, Valle found after driving the whole message. Each stroke of each letter is about 50 feet wide, he added.

"Its so big that it can actually be seen on my search andrescue teams weekly updated satellite imagery feed," said Valle.

Some critics on social media have expressed frustration, calling thetire tracksvandalism of the Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area.

Gerlach local and environmental advocate Laura Blaylock said she was concerned about the integrity of the playa and also the population of fairy shrimp that lay eggs on the playa and live on the playa. She believes that the people that created the message should be fined and put in community service.

She also fears it could set a precedent for inscribing other messages on the playa surface. Blaylock said it contradicts the Leave No Trace principles practiced by recreationalists on the Black Rock Desert playa.

While Burners especially practice Leave No Trace as one of their 10 principles, Valle felt like the message reflected the priorities of Burners today and considers the massive engraving artful.

Read More: The story behind the Black Lives Matter mural at Reno City Hall

Hecompared itto theNazca Lines, or large geoglyphs made in the soil of the Nazca Desert in southern Peru.

"I think it's fantastic. Just going out there and seeing the incredible amount of effort. The fact that someone did it, and without credit, and then strangers found it... It's fantastic," said Valle, who's attended Burning Man for five years.

Satellite imagery shows the location of a "Black Lives Matter" message that was etched into the surface of the Black Rock Desert playa in July 2020 using tire tracks.(Photo: Courtesy of Esteban Valle)

Burning Man as an organization has been repeatedly criticized for its homogenous makeup, but Valle said that Burners were largely on board with the Black Lives Matter movement as far as he could tell. Burning Manwas canceled this year due to concerns over the novel coronavirus.

The organization said it not know who was responsible for Black Lives Matter signage.

BLM & Police: Reno-area police respond to Black Lives Matter calls for reform. Here's what they said

"It seemed like it was doneby Burners.It seems almost natural. Burning Manis a place where people express themselves radically, it's a place to build community, and this isa great way to express solidarity with the Black community and those who are mourning the death of George Floyd," said Valle.

Jenny Kane covers arts and culture in Northern Nevada, as well as the dynamic relationship between the state and the growing Burning Man community.She also covers the state's burgeoning cannabis industry (Check out her podcast, the Potcast, on iTunes.)Support her work in Reno by subscribing to RGJ.com right here.

Read or Share this story: https://www.rgj.com/story/life/arts/burning-man/2020/08/05/black-lives-matter-imprinted-black-rock-desert-reno/5540022002/

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Someone wrote 'Black Lives Matter' in the Black Rock Desert. It's 4 miles wide. - Reno Gazette Journal

Family travels the country to spread a message of love and honor Black Lives Matter – KGW.com

The biracial couple's story went viral when they appeared at a Los Angeles protest in the wedding clothes. Now they are traveling the country, spreading positivity.

PORTLAND, Oregon A recently-married couple from Los Angeles traded their honeymoon for a cross county tour. They are calling it the "Road of Love" tour. And they just made stops in Portland and Vancouver.

It began out of a spontaneous thing that happened at the end of May, when Lara Sanders and Samuel Mekonnen ended up in their wedding clothes at a Black Lives Matter demonstration in LA.

"We accidentally drove into the protest and he said, babe you want to change the world? and I said yes," said Sanders.

And so they shared the love in Los Angeles. And now with 13-year-old son Luka helping document the trip, they're sharing the love everywhere.

"It wasn't planned or anything, but it kind of changed our life, because now we get to be on the road and we're currently on the 'Road of Love' tour and Portland/Vancouver is one of our stops," said Mekonnen.

So far the family has visited 25 cities in only three weeks, and theyve traveled 5,950 miles.

And they are meeting Black leaders in stops along the way. They met the immigrant Black mayor of Helena, Montana, and many others. In Portland they met a young entrepreneur in the design field, and in Vancouver they met a life coach and motivational speaker.

Along the way, Sanders, Mekonnen and Luka have seen that America has its troubles, but also lots of good, flourishing humanity. They are hoping others will share their positive message as well.

"Start in your family, start in your community, to say that we are all the same no matter what color, there are good people and bad people everywhere no violence please, and use your words, you have a voice," said Sanders.

"It's spreading positivity to the people and I think it's important to spread that spread the love, and love conquers all, and it penetrates through walls," said Mekonnen.

The family will be traveling south out of Portland on Thursday. They plan to eventually make a documentary and then a feature film about their experience.

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Family travels the country to spread a message of love and honor Black Lives Matter - KGW.com

Black Lives Matter takes center ice in a historic moment for the NHL – People’s World

Minnesota Wild's Matt Dumba takes a knee during the national anthem flanked by Edmonton Oilers' Darnell Nurse, right, and Chicago Blackhawks' Malcolm Subban before an NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff game in Edmonton, Alberta, Saturday, Aug. 1, 2020. | Jason Franson / The Canadian Press via AP

In times of desperation, you find the oddest couplings and strangest bedfellows. For Eric Trump, doing anything to support his failure-of-a-president father, it would be the National Hockey League, and unfortunately for the young Trump, it didnt turn out as expected.

But Ill get back to that later.

As we all know, COVID-19 curtailed professional sports for what seemed to be an eternity. Now as summer slowly turns to fall and we catch that occasional chill in the morning air, we can rest peacefully knowing hockey is back.

The official 2020 NHL post-season got underway Saturday, Aug. 1, and it wasnt the gameplay on center ice that captivated fans. It was Minnesota Wild defenseman Matt Dumbas heartfelt, gut-wrenching speech against racial injustice.

With the microphone gripped tightly in his hand, Dumba walked down the red carpet, stood inside a circle at center ice, sporting a black sweatshirt emblazoned withthe Hockey Diversity Alliance, an independent organization founded this year by Black players to fight against inequality and racism in the sport.

Thanking all the fans at home and appreciating all the people making a positive difference in the world right now, Dumba quickly transitioned, and said:

During this pandemic, something unexpected but long overdue occurred. The world woke up to the existence of systematic racism and how deeply rooted it is in our society. For those unaffected by systematic racism or who are unaware, Im sure some of you believe that this topic has garnered too much attention these last couple of months. But let me assure you that it has not. Racism is a man-made creation. All it does is deteriorate from our collective prosperity. Racism is everywhere, and we need to fight against it.

On behalf of the NHL and the Hockey Diversity Alliance, we vow and promise to stand up for justice and fight for what is right. I know first-hand, as a minority playing the great game of hockey, the unexplainable and difficult challenges that come with it. The Hockey Diversity Alliance and the NHL want kids to feel safe, comfortable, and free-minded every time they enter the arena.

Dumba closed his statement by mentioning the Black Lives Matter movement and Breonna Taylor, a woman who was killed in her home by police in Louisville, Ky., on March 13.

He added: I hope this inspires a new generation of hockey players and hockey fans. Because Black Lives Matter. Breonna Taylors life matters. Hockey is a great game. But it could be a whole lot greater. And it starts with all of us.

And then, as the national anthem, blared from the arena speakers, Dumba took a kneethe first knee-taking in professional hockey. He was flanked by support from Chicago Blackhawks Malcolm Subban and Edmonton Oilers Darnell Nurse.

Oh, and this is where Eric Trump comes into play. Only a few days before the official opener, Trump tweeted his support for NHL players standing during the national anthemthinking in hockey the Trump regime had an ally They didnt.

Former NHL player Akim Aliu put itsimply: Yo, real talk @erictrump, youre the last guy the NHL and the hockey world want support from. Its not real patriotism if youre using it to divide us.

And if you scroll down far enough through the comments, you can see hockey fans from everywhere posing pics of them taking a knee, a form of at-home demonstrating.

Following last Saturdays historic moment, players from the Vegas Golden Knights and Dallas Stars all knelt on the ice before their Monday, Aug. 3 game in Edmonton, Alberta, in support of Black Likes Matter.

Dallas forward Tyler Sequin and Jason Dickinson knelt alongside Vegas forward Ryan Reaves and goaltender Robin Lehnerduring the American and Canadian national anthems.

Again and again, as this nation reflects upon systemic racism and police brutality, past and present, we can only hope that these overtures by the major leagues will lead to real change. There is certainly plenty of room for improvement in hockey.

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Black Lives Matter takes center ice in a historic moment for the NHL - People's World

Technologys Role In Driving Progress In Black Lives Matter – Forbes

Street signs for the recently renamed Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington, DC, near the White ... [+] House.

The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement has gained momentum and an increased cognizance in our collective consciousness due to recent events, most notably the death of George Floyd on May 25 in Minneapolis. That momentum has led to protests in the United States and abroad. As we collectively reflect on these issues, I have found that conversations with Black colleagues and friends often yield some of the most poignant insights.

I reached out to four Black executives to understand how they have processed recent events and how we might turn so many corrosive events into definitive progress. The four executives are Ted Colbert, once the Chief Information Officer of Boeing, and now the President and Chief Executive Officer of Boeing Global Services; Kimberly Johnson, the Chief Operating Officer of Fannie Mae; Daphne Jones, a former CIO at GE and Hospira and now a board member at multiple publicly traded companies; and Adam Stanley, the Global CIO and Chief Digital Officer of Cushman & Wakefield. Each of these executives has found success in their respective career, but I was less familiar with the circumstances of the paths each took to their august perches in their corporations.

Daphne Jones, Kimberly Johnson, Ted Colbert, and Adam Stanley (clockwise from top left)

Our conversations broadly took the following shape:

Reflections on the Death of George Floyd

I began my conversation with each with some general reflections on the passing of George Floyd as the catalyst for the protests in many cities around the world since. Colbert noted that Floyds death is a tragedy, and has been a cause for reflection on everything from the impact on his children to Corporate America.

Johnson echoed similar sentiments, adding that the ongoing pandemic is also playing a role. We are experiencing a social justice movement at the same time that we're trying to weather a global pandemic that's having very disparate outcomes on our communities of color, she said. I think that's been a real eye opener. People are just beginning to realize these things are all connected and related.

Jones mentioned that the fact that many people are at home and not traveling has created more time for some to process what is going on. Others who perhaps were no longer employed due to layoffs may also have had more time to internalize the moment. This scenario allowed people to hear what BLM was all about. When Ahmaud [Arbery], Breonna [Taylor], and all the similar stories came up, people started connecting the dots, said Jones. Without COVID, we wouldnt see people in the streets because they would all have had to go to work the next day.

Colbert noted that, Black folks have been screaming about this for decades. It's unfortunate that a man having someone have their knee on his neck for eight and a half minutes has now opened up the ears and eyes of corporate institutions to realize that, indeed something is fundamentally wrong with the way that that Black people have been treated over many, many years. He suggested that if that is the what catalyzes change, then perhaps some good can come from this, though he understandably rued the fact that it required lives be lost to do so.

Stanley said that the phraseology of Black Lives Matter is important for all people to internalize. The truth is that since the writing of the Constitution, we have not really given everyone the right to matter, he said. Women, people of color, Native Americans, have never really had the same rights in work and life. And George Floyd is but one of the issues facing Black men in America that do not impact others.

Black Representation in IT

As each leader currently or in the past has had IT report up to them, I asked for their thoughts on the paucity of Black representatives in technology divisions of major companies. My interlocutors noted that the problem is equally one of a lack of role models and sub-optimal mentoring. Colbert mentioned that stereotypes of tech-centric kids in popular culture rarely includes Black children. In not seeing someone who looks like you in a role, it can easily seem out of reach. As a teenager on a Commodore 64 in my bedroom with the first generation of hip-hop music playing in the background, that was me. But you would never ever see that in written format anywhere.

Stanley noted that including children in conversations about technology needs to start as early as pre-school. Part of the problem is that IT professionals love to talk tech in ways that are frankly intimidating, he said. For me, I have the unique benefit of not really being very technical. So, I can only talk in terms of problem solving and solution development.

Despite a lack of mentors generally, Jones credits two among others for helping her rise. She noted Roscoe Adams, a Black man running an IBM office in Peoria, Illinois. He taught her a lot about business, how to collaborate with others, the say/do ratio, and that I should never say when I get around to it. Set goals and stick to them or renegotiate. She also credits her mother for setting a high standard for her. Due to early education efforts, Jones was able to skip first grade, and eventually two years of college, earning bachelors and masters degrees in four years. She was my biggest fan and toughest critic, said Jones. I learned tough love and how not to accept the status quo.

Stanley noted a number of people who influenced the jobs he has held, from the first partners at Deloitte who decided to take a chance on him to the senior banking executive that eventually hired him, and a headhunter who helped place him in new positions. What has been critical to my success is the transition of all of these people from finder to boss to mentor to sponsor to friend and advisor, said Stanley. This is missing for many men of color in particular.

For Colbert, it was Marvin Adams, the former CIO of Ford. He pushed Colberts ambition by asking him, When do you want to become a CIO? Colbert had not been thinking about it, but the idea stuck. Marvin is an example, said Colbert. And there were many before him that planted a seed in my mind about the possibilities that I hadn't even imagined for myself.

Making Progress in the Workplace

I asked each about the advice that they would offer others on how to combat racism in the workplace and in society. Jones noted that it is important to openly acknowledge that racism exists and that unfair and dangerous things happen to Black people every day. She recommends engaging ones family, ones friends and ones company in conversations about these issues. She emphasized the need to go from being racist or not racist to being anti-racist.

Stanley suggested that meetings you take at the office could be used to draw conclusions about progress or a lack thereof. Look at the table around you in every meeting and assess who is there, he said. Do they all look and sound the same as you? If so, do something about that. Question whether the meeting would be better off with someone from a different background that might add a new perspective or style.

Johnson suggested a formula from Frances Frei of Harvard Business School, who preaches logic, authenticity and empathy as key drivers of trust. In her own interpretation of Freis framework, Johnson noted, If you're trying to create a culture of trust in a company, you have to start with logic, and logic is all about understanding facts and data and history, right? We hear a lot around Black history these days, but Black history is American history.

She noted that authenticity is the most difficult to achieve because talking about race relations is uncomfortable, but she stressed, If we're going to make any progress on this front, we're going to have to be a little bit uncomfortable. The first two factors aid the third, empathy. On this topic, she offered a note of optimism. That's the thing that I've seen change more than anything else in the last three months. I think it's gone a really long way in sort of bringing the national dialogue on race relations up a level.

Technologys Role in Driving Positive Change

Regarding the role that technology can play, Stanley offered that better screening tools can help alleviate unconscious bias in the hiring process. Studies continue to show that Jason Smith gets more interviews than Latasha Smith, regardless of background, he said. That has to change. The more we can do the first, second and third rounds of the selection process using intelligence, the more we can remove some of the bias.

Jones echoed Stanleys sentiment of leveraging technology to remove bias from hiring. She also said that the use of data analytics could help identify wage inequities across companies, as well as reveal trends in hiring, tenure and firing data for Black people relative to those of other races.

Johnson mentioned that technology has been a key ingredient in awakening people to both the current and ongoing set of issues in our country. Technology can broaden horizons, generate power for convening, she said. I think access to technologies are really important concepts that we all need to pay attention to in terms of equality. But I love the idea that technology can amplify new ideas and quickly generate scale and acceptance.

Making Progress

Lastly, I asked each executive if they have found any silver linings to the current situation. Stanley is encouraged by the quantity and quality of dialogue around race relations and issues. We have a long way to go but smart people are engaging at levels never before seen, he said. The hope is that after the politicians and CEOs stop pandering and posing for photos with Black people, these smart people continue to talk.

Jones believes humanity is shining through during these trying times. Theres an awakening going on, and we need to gently feed it so it doesnt run away, she said. She noted that she has seen positive changes at the multiple companies whose boards she serves on. Whereas in the past companies might have champions for diversity within the company, she sees further evidence that CEOs are not passing the responsibility to others. CEOs and their boards are owning it, not delegating it our outsourcing it, she said.

Johnson is encouraged that peoples mindsets are changing from one of seeing racism as a character flaw in individuals to something ingrained in a system based on historical norms. The concept of anti-racism is gaining traction, she said. And I think that is really encouraging because the more people who embrace that mindset, the more hope I have that we can live up to our American ideals.

What is perhaps most encouraging of all is the role leaders like these four extraordinary executives can play in highlighting the paths that they walked. Colbert refers to the path he took as a unicorn situation. He hopes that it will become more common in the future, and he is doing all he can to make that so. Hopefully that changes and it doesn't take one being a unicorn to be a Black person and make it to the C-suite of a Fortune 100 company in the future.

Peter Highis President ofMetis Strategy, abusiness and IT advisory firm. His has written two bestselling books, moderates theTechnovationpodcast series, and speaks at conferences around the world. Follow himon Twitter@PeterAHigh.

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Technologys Role In Driving Progress In Black Lives Matter - Forbes

Listen to the young voices of the Black Lives Matter movement – The Guardian

Your necessary airing of the views of young black Britons (Young, British and Black, 29 July) raises vital questions. What is important is what can be done to make their lives better. I have two adopted African-Caribbean children and have regularly discussed their experiences with them and I have found that authorities are supportive if problems are drawn to their attention.

My son was bullied by older children on his way home from primary school. When we took this up with the head, action was so effective that it stopped instantly. At secondary school a teacher used a racist insult and, instead of discussing it with us, my son wrote to the county education authorities, who contacted the school and the teacher was disciplined (he was later sacked for hitting a pupil).

Later, my sons only problems have been in London, where he was stopped too many times by the police. He has experienced no obvious racism at work, where he has been successful (but its not possible to tell if there has been any underlying prejudice).

It is clear that there are some overtly racist people in the police and elsewhere in authority, but the more universal problem is unconscious bias. Workplace training is essential and, importantly, should include tests to demonstrate to individuals how their underlying attitudes affect their responses to black people.Name and address supplied

The most disturbing aspect of the interviews with young black people is the reported amount of racism in schools. It is understandable, if wrong, that so many white children first learn racial prejudice from their parents. But it is unacceptable that so many teachers are allowing this to persist in their schools. Education is precisely the forum in which the elimination of racism should start. This issue should be fully covered in teacher training. Headteachers should make anti-racism part of their schools ethics. Teachers who do not comply should be removed.Robin WendtChester

The young voices in your special report are dignified, defiant and moving. The bullying experienced from a very young age shames white culture at every level. Jimmy McGoverns TV film Anthony is a tragic exposure of what racism can lead to. We all need to see it.John AirsLiverpool

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Listen to the young voices of the Black Lives Matter movement - The Guardian

Experience prepared Julie Rousseau to lead USCs Black Lives Matter Action Team – OCRegister

When a group of USC athletes announced the formation of the United Black Student-Athletes Association in June and called for systemic changes within the athletic department, Julie Rousseau, an adjunct professor at the university, thought to herself, Good for them.

Rousseau had taught several of the student-athletes involved in her identity development of the contemporary female class. She knew the task ahead of them was a challenging one, but she admired their determination.

Little did she know, shed soon be tasked with finding the best ways to implement the UBSAAs action items.

On Tuesday, Rousseau was named the chair of the new Black Lives Matter Action Team at USC. She recognizes it as a daunting task, but the work is kindred in spirit to what Rousseau has dedicated much of her life to learning about.

Im just humbled, truly humbled, by this opportunity, Rousseau said, but also very eager to do something that hopefully has lasting impact.

Rousseau herself was a student-athlete, spending two years on the womens basketball team at UC Irvine. She had come from a family that always encouraged her in sports, whether it was playing basketball against her older brothers or being the only girl on an all-boys baseball team.

I had not encountered any discrimination until I got to college, Rousseau said, noting she was one of two Black women on the team. Being at a predominantly white institution where you just feel like you dont want to be seen. Your voice is diminished because you know youre one of a few. Its imperceptible.

After school, Rousseau gravitated to coaching. She was part of the Sparks inaugural coaching staff before serving as an assistant at Stanford. Then, she spent nine seasons at the head coach for the Pepperdine womens team.

This coaching experience helped inspire her dissertation for her doctorate degree in human systems engineering at Arizona State.

The premise of the dissertation was to study the stresses that face coaches and how those differ along racial and gender lines. All coaches, naturally, felt some form of stress. White men felt the pressure to be the face of the program. White women felt pressure to be a mother when they got home from work.

Black coaches dealt with both of those stressors, but also ones that were unique to their positions: If I dont do my job well, will I get another opportunity? If I dont do my job well, will that be held against future Black coaches? And how do I prepare my student-athletes, especially Black student-athletes, for the challenges of the world?

Youre knowing that youre one of a few that have an opportunity, Rousseau explained. Im bringing in not just me but my entire race.

These experiences will guide Rousseau as she tries to bring change to USC. Student-athletes and coaches form part an advisory committee that will help her team know if it is on the right track to implementing the changes that athletic director Mike Bohn has tasked her with identifying.

The action team will use the recommendations of the UBSAA as their starting point, recommendations that include creating a more diverse workforce within the USC athletic department

Were really trying to listen and learn, make the assessment, Rousseau said. What my experience was, was being one of a few and silenced. And I think this speaks to the power of a united voice.

And the thing that I am hearing more and more through the conversations that Im having, she continued, is weve been wanting to do something like this for a long time. For me that says, Oh my God, what a responsibility. I dont walk into this lightly at all. But Im not alone.

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Experience prepared Julie Rousseau to lead USCs Black Lives Matter Action Team - OCRegister

From The Experts: Will The Pandemic Make Us Care More About Our Planet? – Forbes

With travel having been on pause for the past few months, tastemakers and expert leaders have had some time to reflect and think about the future of the travel industry. But, with many companies simply fighting to survive, will the progress made in sustainable travel before the pandemic hit be lost? Here, for Forbes, I talk to two experts to find out how they define the future of travel.

Greg Miller gets to grips with nature in West Virginia.

Greg Miller, the executive director of CREST (Center for Responsible Travel), says he is hoping that the travel industry sees this as a chance to reboot tourism to a more sustainable and responsible model, combatting issues like over-tourism.

Do you think that the pandemic will have a positive effect on the planet?

The pandemic will have little impact on the planet directly, with the exception of the temporary lapse in human-induced pollution, land and marine habitat alteration, and reduced global greenhouse gas emissions. The massive, negative impacts of the pandemic are directed at, and felt by, human populations. If there is a positive affect from the pandemic, it is on our collective human perception of our impacts and what we can and must do as a society to respond, adapt, and be resilient. Those lessons, while very uneven, should help humanity address the bigger crisis of climate change.

Green travel: Vinales, Cuba

Will we eventually return to how we were travelling before frequently and carelessly or is this a dawn of a new age?

Clearly, there will be a slow emergence of travel, with a focus on safe, closer-to-home alternatives. The Center for Responsible Travel (CREST) wants to see significant, enduring change toward quality over quantity tourism, with an individual and societal commitment to responsible travel practices. The economic impacts of Covid-19 have made consumers more aware of how their spending choices impact local communities, and we hope to see that awareness reflected in their travel practices.

CREST is part of a coalition of six global nonprofit organizations that have come together to form the Future of Tourism Coalition with a mission to place destination communities at the center of tourisms recovery. Were calling on destinations, companies, and other tourism stakeholders to sign on to our13 Guiding Principles, which set a bold new vision for tourisms future.

How do countries, which rely heavily on tourism, combat over-tourism, especially when they will be trying to claw back business ?

CREST seeks a paradigm shift in post-pandemic tourism recovery, with a deliberate and strategic commitment from countries to a quality over quantity approach to tourism development. It is the quality of visitation, not the quantity of visitors that countries and destinations need to seek and measure. Tourism development needs to measure what matters for a sustainable future.

Tapping into local cultures is important for the future of sustainable travel.

How do you feel about the future of travel?

I firmly believe that tourism done right, through a responsible travel lens and with a commitment to an equitable and sustainable future, can be a force for good to rebuild a better world. Responsible travel is an essential element to biodiversity conservation, the stewardship of natural and cultural sites and peoples, and the foundation for experience-based economies in much of the world. The future of a robust, healthy human society is inextricably linked to a future of travel built around ourGuiding Principles.

Jessica Hall Upchurch is the vice-chair and sustainability strategist at Virtuoso, the global luxury travel network made up on over 20,000 advisors in more than 50 countries. She predicts that the pandemic will lead to a tipping point where there will be a heightened level of awareness to make sustainability not just good practice, but good business as well.

How will the pandemic affect the future of travel?

Right now, its hard to fully know what to expect in the future, though its safe to say life wont look the same and neither will the travel experience. There are many unknowns and consumer confidence is unsteady because rules and restrictions dont only vary by country, they can vary by county and state. The one thing that does feel certain is that people will travel again; the pent-up demand is there. Our travel advisors tell us the mood started to change about three weeks ago, when the panicked calls of cancellations and postponements shifted to clients calling with enquiries about when and where to travel next. And savvy travelers learned that when youre in the midst of a global crisis, you want a travel advisor on your side.

The andBeyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge is rooted in conservation.

Virtuoso recently polled clients to gage their appetite for travel in the future. Roughly one-third said they would be interested in traveling within the next three months, either on a multi-day road trip or a domestic destination a short flight away. International travel will have a longer recovery period, with another 30 per cent of respondents saying it would be six to 12 months before they look to travel overseas.

There are steps beyond having a Covid-19 vaccine that will make people more willing to travel sooner than later, and that includes relaxed cancellation policies. The industry is coming together to try and restore confidence, and organizations, like the World Travel and Tourism Council, are working towards creating a seamless traveler experience.

Will people be moreaware of theenvironment and good practice or will they just want to have a holidayagain at any cost?

There has never been an event, at least in my lifetime, that has so universally affected every inhabitant of this planet. This crisis has touched the lives of everyone in some way, and many have felt it more acutely than others. With every tragedy, though, comes the opportunity to learn from it and we will see that in the travel community as well as many others.

The notion of were all in this together not only pertains to the virus, it also shows how we are all interconnected regardless of geography, culture, language, age and economic standing. We now have a better understanding of how one action, big or small, can impact someone half a world away, and it will change what we want from travel and how we experience it going forward.Therewill be an even greater focus on mindful travel, creating what were calling the conscious comeback.

Embracing nature and dark skies at andBeyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge.

How can businesses embrace sustainability as good business practice, not just a goodmoral one?

Companies that engage in sustainable tourism have been waiting for consumers to catch up, and this pandemic has led to a tipping point where the travelers heightened level of awareness makes sustainability not just good practice, but good business as well.

andBeyond, an organization rooted in conservation, has determined that a profitable company with a solid income and business plan creates a steadier stream of support for charitable causes and initiatives. Since CEO Joss Kent introduced this model, andBeyond now brings in more than $1 billion per year.

The three pillars of sustainability we promote within Virtuoso arecelebrating cultures,supporting local economies and protecting the planet. Wildlife conservation has long been associated with sustainability and honoring cultural heritage has as well. The economic impact has not been as closely associated with sustainability, yettravel and tourism is a significant driver in global GDP and its impact on local economies is equally, if not even more, significant. As local businesses were forced to close, we deepened our appreciation for the reliance we have upon them and gained a heightened sense of desire to support our local businesses and local economies throughout the world. A key part of the conscious comeback is feeding tourism dollars back into cities, towns and villages, all of which rely on that revenue to support their citizens.

andBeyond Bateleur Camp is found in Kenya's Masai Mara.

Travel companies not already supporting sustainability should take note. They have an opportunity to rethink how they want to do business in the long-term. While theres no doubt that just getting back to work is front of mind for everyone, looking ahead at how we protect the planet, its people and their cultures and economies, is a way to ensure tourism remains a viable industry for future generations.

While the safety protocols airlines, hotels, cruise lines and local attractions have in place will play a significant role in restoring consumer confidence, the focus needs to be on how this can be done without harsh chemicals. Travel entities are learning from each other and finding ways to sustainably sanitize, a practice that protects the health of staff, guests and the environment. One of the strengths of the Virtuoso network is the ability to share best practices amongst peers and apply them to improve products and services for the end traveler, and thats what were seeing happen.

At andBeyond Bateleur Camp guests can gain insight into local cultures as well as interacting ... [+] closely with wildlife.

Do you think this time of stillness we have experienced will have a positive effect on the future of travel?

Its been beautiful to see is how this pause has allowed some spots under strain to heal. Pollution has declined, urban waterways are cleaner, wildlife is reclaiming land that it was driven from decades ago. While its unrealistic to think it will stay this way, the realization of how were impacting the planet may now better inform our decisions as both citizens and travelers.

The appreciation for nature has never been greater, and travelers want to explore the beauty of national and state parks. Similarly, there is a strong desire to restore mental and spiritual wellbeing, and places that allow people to recharge and escape the realities theyve been facing will also be on the rise.

The return of tourism is crucial to ending poaching, reducing poverty and protecting some of the worlds most beloved sights. The stillness has had positive effects, but pausing for too long could potentially cause long-term damage.

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From The Experts: Will The Pandemic Make Us Care More About Our Planet? - Forbes

Mekong Virtual Summit must tackle realities – TTR Weekly

BANGKOK, 6 August 2020:Travel may have come to a standstill in Mekong Region countries, but itwont stop tourism stakeholders engaging in make-believe during a half-dayvirtual summit hosted by the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office 25 August.

The Virtual Destination Mekong Summit willbe organised by public-private partnership Destination Mekong, with thesponsorship of UNWTO affiliate member Chameleon Strategies, under the theme ofBalanced Tourism Recovery for a Better Future.

Registration is free. For the programme, and registration visithttps://www.destinationmekong.com/dms2020/

Pursuing the lofty notion that the travelindustry can manage a post-Covid-19 balanced recovery and create a betterfuture is a big ask. In reality, tourism stakeholders are fighting forsurvival. Any kind of recovery would be welcomed, and as for a better future,most tour operators are more concerned that as long as governments keep bordersshut to safeguard the health of the populace, they have no future.

It remains to be seen if the virtual summitcan reach conclusions and present recommendations that might steer thegovernments of the six Mekong Region countries to establish a consensus on healthpolicy and travel directives that will also throw a lifeline to the tourism andhospitality industries that are drowning fast in the global Covid-19 storm.

It will need to address the fact that theregions tour operators have not served any genuine tourists since mid-March.Their rice bowl has shattered, and experts predict that within the next threeto four months at least 50% of the Mekong Regions travel firms will closeshop. Big names will go.

As long as the 14-day quarantine ruleapplies in the Mekong Region tourism is dead in the water.

The introduction of expensive insurancecover and even cash deposits (Cambodia) is another deterrent at the bordergate.

Finally, travel bubbles are a mythicalstory for the travel media to spin and provide false hope to small enterprisesstripped of their cash flow.

Governments in the Mekong Region need to domore to financially support tour companies to reinvent themselves and possiblyfind ways to tap domestic markets no matter how small while they navigate apath to survival.

There is a need for more clarity, and travel rules should be streamlined and made less cumbersome. The entry procedures need to be better managed and identical in all Southeast Asian nations to build travel confidence. When Mekong Region countries erect obstacle courses to prevent their own citizens from returning home, then we can only assume it is even more difficult for foreigners to contemplate travel to the Mekong Region. That situation could continue until late 2021.

The first case of Covid-19 outside of Chinaoccurred in Thailand, 13 January 2020. Seven months later, Covid-19 fatigue issetting in across the region. The end game is not yet in sight. We fear secondand third waves and entire health systems in all Mekong Region countries arestressed to breaking point.

Medical experts warn Covid-19 is rumblingaround our region. Balance and better are not the watchwords. For thetravel and hospitality firms at ground zero how to survive and avert disasterare top of mind.

IATA predicts airlines will not see asubstantial recovery until 2024. By then, the entire travel landscape will havechanged dramatically. Summit attendees should grapple with the real issues theones that will mend the rice bowl fast for thousands of SMEs suffering thefinancial fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Destination Mekong Summit will be emceed by well-known academic JutamasWisangsing of Perfect Link Consulting, and Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office executive director, Jens Thraenhart.

It will have two short takeaway sessions,led by Horwath HTL Global Tourism Practice Leader SiniaTopalovi, calling infrom Croatia.

The opening keynote will be given by the author of the upcoming book Travel & Covid-19, Professor Dr Simon Hudson of South Carolina University in the USA, who will look at case studies from all over the world.

Reflections from past crisis and ideas will be discussed by WeearasakKowsurat, a Thai senator and former minister of tourism and Sports of Thailand and Htay Aung, former minister of hotels and tourism.

Steven Schipani from the Southeast AsiaDepartment of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will lead a session with thevice-chairman of the Vietnam Administration of Tourism (VNAT), Ha Van Sieu, and the director-general of theMinistry of Tourism of Cambodia, Rathasak Thong, about economic developmentmeasures as well as tourism recovery in the region.

Finally, the World Travel and Tourism Council CEO, Gloria Guevara, former UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, former minister of tourism and Sports of Thailand, KobkarnWattanavrangkul, and the Pacific Asia Travel Association CEO Mario Hardy will present recommendations and opinions.

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Mekong Virtual Summit must tackle realities - TTR Weekly

Watch Kesha Travel the World With a Cat-Person in Her Absurdist ‘Little Bit of Love’ Video – Billboard

Ever since the world stopped to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic, everyone has been dreaming of someday leaving self-isolation and getting to travel the world again. Lucky for fans, Kesha is giving us a look at what the world looks like for her.

On Tuesday (August 4), Kesha released her official music video for "Little Bit of Love" off of her latest albumHigh Road. The new visual, shot entirely in quarantine by Kesha and her boyfriend Brad using an iPhone and a green screen, sees Kesha dreaming about a whirlwind adventure with her cat, Mr. Peep$.

The clip opens with Kesha fighting off the quarantine blues by snuggling up for a nap with her cat. Quickly, the video transforms into a fantastical dreamscape where Mr. Peep$ (now played by Brad wearing a black bodysuit and a cat mask) and Kesha travel all throughout the globe, causing mayhem wherever they arrive.

Scenes show Kesha and her feline friend towering over Manhattan in Godzilla fashion, robbing a bank, sharing a gondola ride through Venice, and even riding gigantic chickens to escape a group of cats in suits chasing them through the desert all before Kesha wakes up in her bed to find Mr. Peep$ pawing at her.

Check out the hilarious new video for "Little Bit of Love" below:

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Watch Kesha Travel the World With a Cat-Person in Her Absurdist 'Little Bit of Love' Video - Billboard

7 epic places to kayak around the world – Lonely Planet Travel News

Theres nothing quite like skimming across the open ocean or braving the rapids in a kayak. Whether you opt for a peaceful excursion or a more thrilling endeavor, there are plenty of spots to choose from. From Alaska to Antarctica, these unreal locations will have you going home with bragging rights, no doubt.

Editor's note:Please check the latest travel restrictions before planning any trip and always follow government advice.

Kayaking off the coast ofLa Jollacan be amazing year-round, however, if you go from July through September, its extra special. Thats when leopard sharks show up in droves. Because of the nutrient-packed, shallow water and dense kelp forests, it makes a really great place for pregnant leopard sharks to cruise along. But, dont worry, they are typically no longer than 4 feet long and are harmless. Not only do you get to see them, but you will also experience four microhabitats throughout theLa Jolla Underwater Park.

Keep your eyes peeled for shovel nose guitar fish, dolphins, sea lions, lobsters and turtles. You can take an hour-long leopard-shark tour withEveryday Californiaor opt for a sea-cave tour. Hike Mt Soledad after for views of San Diego County.

Off the shores ofMakena Beach, on Mauis southern coastline, is a beautiful kayaking spot. Here, a series of underwater lava formations, created by submarine volcanoes, makes an ideal home for green sea turtles.Maui Kayak Adventurestakes guests out tothis area for a morning kayaking session and snorkel. Thanks to the clear, turquoise water, its easy to spot marine life like angelfish, moray eels, octopus, butterfly fish and moray eels. Keep an eye out for gorgeous red pencil sea urchins (they make for great photos), and stick around afterward for a beach cleanup. Keep your distance from turtles; these guys are endangered.

This is a bucket-list kayak adventure like no other. First things first: wiggle your way into a heavy-duty dry suit, thick gloves and booties to keep the body heat in. This will protect you from the 32F (0C)water. You are in the worlds coldest, driest, windiest locale, after all. Start paddling and soaking in your surreal surroundings. Penguins are easy to come by.

They hang out on the shoreline and hop from rock to rock, toboggan down the mountains, dive into the ocean and dart beneath your kayak. If youre lucky, youll also spot Weddell seals lounging on the snow banks. You may also see crabeater seals, orcas and humpback whales. Overhead, its easy to spot fast-flying petrels, Antarctic ternsand albatrosses with wingspans up to11 feet. The only noise is the sound of ice chunks, called bergey bits, clinking against each other, perhaps some avalanches and the click of your camera. So, how exactly do you get there?

Theres nothing quite likesitting silently in your kayak as bears frolic on the shore, just 50 feetaway. Here its not uncommon to come across sea otters, seals, sea stars, bald eagles, and pods of humpbacks. During whale season (AprNov), youll see several in every direction breaching and flippering. The Southeast panhandles famousInside Passageis home to moose, grizzlies and puffins, too.

VisitRock Springs Run State Reserve, about a 45-minute drive fromOrlando, to paddle your way upstream through super clear, 70F(21C) water. On a warm day, it istheplace to be. The only sounds around will be the rhythmic drumming of woodpeckers and the steady hum of cicadas. Make your way down the narrow canal toward a spot called Bonsai Bend where branches of hundred-year-old oak trees nearly dip into the water.Get Up and Go Kayakingtakes guests through this picturesque area in clear kayaks, which serve as a gigantic magnifying glass.

Certainly makes it easy to spot otters and fish and they glide by. And in the surrounding forest, you can sometimes see deer, herons and egrets. Its pretty rare, but every now and then a black bear may wander by. Check out Jacobs Island where you can climb a tree platform and plunge into the water below. As you paddle downstream back to the entryway, consider climbing the tree and taking your turn on the rope swing. Pro tip: hit the springs on a weekday morning. Its much less crowded then.

Get to know the localmarine life as you explore designated areas ofGalpagos National Park. Keep a lookout for rays and sea turtles swimming along, marine iguanas lounging on the rocks and blue-footed boobies flying overhead. Just be sure to bring your snorkel mask and fins; theres a lot to explore. Youre bound to see penguins darting to and fro, and its quite possible youll come face-to-furry face with the supercharged sea lions as they burst into a gentle swirl of back flips, leaving a trail of bubbles in their wake.

Gore Creek, which runs through Vail Village, is known for its fun rapids. Check in withAlpine Quest Sportsto rent a kayak and be prepared for some serious fun.

Even in the summertime, the water is chilly, so you may want to rent a dry suit. And if you arent up for kayaking, theres always stand-up paddle boarding, rafting or SUPsquatching (a giant paddleboard that typically carries eight to 10 people).

Kayaking among ruins on the Turquoise Coast

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7 epic places to kayak around the world - Lonely Planet Travel News

Africas fast-growing tourism industry could lose up to $120 billion and millions of jobs – Yahoo Finance

When the Covid-19 pandemic changed the world earlier this year many African countries were quick to react. Borders were closed and protocols from past or existing epidemics (TB, HIV, Ebola) were rolled out. Of the many industries hit by lockdowns, tourisman industry that indirectly employs 24.6 million people across the continent (6.8% of total employment)was hit particularly hard.

In July, Safaribookings.com surveyed 306 safari operators and found that over 90% had seen a 75% or more decrease in both booking requests and actual bookings due to the coronavirus outbreak. The World Travel and Tourism Councils (WTTC) best case scenario is $53 billion hit to GDP across the continent; its worst case scenario is a $120 billion loss in GDP contribution.

Tourism is one of the largest industries worldwide and provides 7% of Africas GDP, says Dr. Annika Surmeier, an economic geographer working at the University of Manchester and the University of Cape Town. National lockdowns and travel bans to reduce the spread of Covid-19 had devastating effects on the tourism industry and hundreds of thousands of people, often women or people from poor communities, have lost their jobs.

The Radisson Hotel Group has close to 100 hotels in Africa. Tim Cordon, senior VP for the Middle East and Africa, says they have tried to save jobs where possible: We really have focused on perhaps reducing hours, temporary layoffs or cutting costs in other parts of our business rather than taking very difficult decisions with our teams.

Cordon estimates it will take a period of 24 months in terms of recovery before were likely to reach our performance levels of last year.

The pandemic hit as Africas tourism industry became the second fastest growing in the world. International visitors were showing more interest in tourism beyond safarisGhana welcomed around a million visitors in 2019, up from 803,000 in 2009, as its Year of the Return campaign generated a lot of positive coverage. Airbnb were rapidly expanding in Africa and in 2018 held the first Airbnb Africa Travel Summit in the Cape Town township of Langa. Ethiopian Airlines had been offering new routes to develop pan-African travel and helped make Addis Ababa, a key tourist gateway for all of Africa.

Some of that optimism hasnt gone away: earlier in July, Radisson announced six new hotels in South Africa, Mali, Nigeria, Ghana and Ethiopia. But the industry is mostly in a waiting pattern as its beholden not just to pandemic restrictions being made by each African country, but also in the countries where visitors usually come from such as the United States, the UK and more recently China.

South Africa, which has the second largest tourism industry in Africa, relies on the tourism industry to indirectly contribute up to 9.1% of South Africas total employment1.5 million peopleand 7% of its GDP.

But the strict Level 5 lockdown in Africas most advanced economy, introduced in late March, has not prevented it from having by far the most confirmed Covid-19 cases of any African country. And the challenges the country is facing with Covid-19 could mean the tourism industry will have to wait till 2021 before its borders are fully reopened. Provincial borders are currently open for business travel, but not leisure tourism.

Tourists are seen at a Safari watching a herd of buffaloes at a game reserve adjacent to Kruger National Park in South Africa, April 11, 2019

Minister of Tourism Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubanes July budget speech made for daunting listening: a potential 75% decline in revenue for 2020; 438,000 tourism jobs at risk; $2.8 billion lost in three months.

South African accommodation providers have been on a rollercoaster over the past two months.

In June, president Ramaphosa said properties could reopen for intra-provincial leisure tourismbut, the day after issuing communications to the same effect three weeks later, the government announced there had been a mistake and in fact, overnight stays for leisure purposes were still prohibited.

Story continues

One lodge owner, who wishes to remain anonymous, reported that having been closed for four months with no government support, shed welcomed guests who still wanted to stay. Many other propertiesfaced with a choice between breaking the rules and closing up shop did the same.

At the end of July, the government responded to pressure and announced that accommodation for intra-provincial leisure tourism could officially reopen.

Kenya has the continents sixth largest tourism industry, accounting for 8.2% of the countrys economy and 8.5% total employment in 2019. The sector has lost $750 million so far this year; revenue is expected to drop by at least 60% by the end of 2020.

Like South Africa, it also relies on international tourismbut has a more developed domestic tourism market, which has acted as a buffer when past events affected overseas arrivals (the Westgate terrorist attack, for example). Domestic spending in Kenya accounted for 66% of tourism revenue last year, which is a hopeful figure in the current climate.

With far fewer identified Covid cases than South Africa, Kenya is preparing to reopen its borders to certain countries in August. It relaunched domestic tourism earlier in July, with Covid protocols including social distancing of 1.5 meters, use of protective equipment and recent Covid-free certificates for core staff.

Photographs from the gate at the Maasai Maraat this time of year usually packed with tourists from all over the world gathered to see the famous wildebeest migration river crossings show cars full of domestic tourists queuing for entry for the first time in four months.

Morocco, the continents fourth largest tourism sector, sees around 11 million international annual arrivals. Last year tourism contributed 12% of the countrys GDP.

Having locked down four months ago, Morocco reopened its borders in July, but only for citizens and foreign residents. With major cities now closed off to contain coronavirus outbreaks, domestic tourism has taken a blow. Local tourism experts suggest they could lose 10.5 million tourists over 2020.

When the pandemic hit, Egypt was just emerging from a slump in international tourism. Last year, the industry contributed $29.5 billion to GDP, making it the largest tourism market in Africa. Ironically, the pandemic took hold in Egypt back in March via European tourists.

Tourists gather at the Great Pyramids of Giza, on the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt Mar. 8, just ahead of the lockdown

After a shutdown in March, domestic tourism operations resumed under certain conditions in May: hotels, for example, could only work on a 25% occupancy rate, relaxed to 50% in June.

International tourism resumed in July, but with the second highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Africa (though new cases are declining), 14-day quarantine-on-return requirements from major source markets such as the UK will be problematic.

Cordon points out that making guests feel safe, with robust health protocols, will be a major part of the tourism recovery phase but hes optimistic.

The travel industry has rebounded from numerous past crises, and we strongly believe we will bounce back this time too, Cordon says, but with fresh and innovative perspectives.

Surmeier also believes this indefinite pause may present an opportunity to build back better.

When actors along tourism value chains collaborate, she says, they can create more resilient, sustainable and inclusive tourism industries in Africa and beyond.

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A private island resort in the Maldives has been named the world’s best luxury hotel. Look inside the retreat, where guests sleep in villas that cost…

Baros Maldives, a private retreat in the Indian Ocean, has been ranked the world's best luxury hotel in Tripadvisor's 2020 Travelers' Choice Awards and it's not hard to see why.

Guests can choose from 75 villas, each of which comes with a private deck, an in-villa bar, a pillow menu, and an outdoor rain shower. Many have their own private pools. There are multiple fine dining options to indulge in, as well as boat and sea excursions. Baros was also named the world's most romantic resort by World Travel Awards for the past seven years in a row.

After closing in April due to the coronavirus pandemic, the resort reopens on October 1st with a special nightly rate of $502 for a Deluxe Villa.

Baros has ramped up its safety and hygiene measures. The resort will be operating at limited occupancy and will keep all villas vacant for 48 hours in between guests. In addition to wearing face masks and gloves, all staff will take daily temperature checks and undergo daily contact tracing. All spa treatments will take place in a private villa. A complete rundown of the resort's safety measures can be seen here.

The Maldives has long been a high-end resort destination. Kudadoo, a solar-powered, adults-only resort in the Maldives, was named the world's best new luxury resort in 2019.

Here's a look at Baros Maldives, the best luxury hotel in the world, according to Tripadvisor.

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A private island resort in the Maldives has been named the world's best luxury hotel. Look inside the retreat, where guests sleep in villas that cost...

Is This As Bad As It Will Get For Dufry And Lagardere? – Forbes

Back in the air: Lagardre Travel Retail is the key retail operator at Orly Airport. The gateway has ... [+] been welcoming passengers again for just over a month.

Sales collapses at two of the biggest players in the global duty-free and travel retail business have topped 50% in the first half of the year, intensifying the scramble to stem losses.

Today, Dufrywhose best known retail fascias include Hudson and World Duty Freeannounced a fall in turnover of almost 61% to Swiss francs 1.59 billion ($1.73 billion) due to the scarcity of traveling shoppersmainly in airports, but also in rail stations and other travel environments such as cruise lines.

This has pushed the Swiss retailer to a ballooning operating loss of Swiss francs CHF933 million in the first half of 2020, versus a profit of Swiss francs 123 million in the same period last year. The variation in dollars is an eye-watering $1.15 billion. Dufrys stock fell as much as 7.6% this morning on the news before making a full recovery.

The sales fall is closer to Dufrys worst-case scenario planning of a 70% decline for the full-year 2020 than the best case of a 40% slide. While passenger flows have been gradually returning since mid-June, sales in July remained poor, down by 82% (compared to July 2019), albeit an improvement on Aprils 94% plunge.

CEO of Dufry Group, Julin Daz noted that while conditions are tough for the travel retail industry, more than 1,000 of its shops were back in operation in July. By the end of August, the company expects to have around 1,200 units openabout half of its total estatebut representing 70% of sales capacity.

Dufry has also initiated cost-cutting measures with the aim of generating fixed cost savings of around Swiss francs 1 billion this year. Of this, almost one third will be in minimum annual guarantee reliefs from airport landlords. One of Dufrys biggest negotiations in this area is expected to be with airport operator Aena in Spain.

A simplified management structure will be in place from September. Daz said: By taking out one organizational level, the teams covering our global functions and countries will increase efficiency and get closer to the market and our customers.

The new organization replaces a fairly well-defined geographical management structure with one that may not be quite as clear to somein fact only North America remains an intact entity at the most senior executive level. So how that closeness to market plays out remains to be seen. From a bureaucracy viewpoint the changes should at least increase Dufrys agility and decision-making.

Hard knocks: Dufry's top region of Europe saw the biggest percentage fall in sales.

The duty-free market leader has not mentioned any specific retail initiatives to overcome the Covid-19 crisis but it has committed to increasing its small Asian footprint which is just 15% of turnover currently. Instead the company has slowed down its store refurbishment program to cut capital expenditure, but continued with projects which are likely to lead to sales opportunities.

Shops in London, U.K., Athens and Thessaloniki in Greece, Macau in Greater China, Guayaquil in Ecuador, and U.S. airport locations of Los Angeles and New York were all renewed. They cover 68,350 square feet or 1.4% of the overall retail space operated by Dufry.

In the first two months of the year the company also opened some new stores in airport locations in Helsinki, Finland; Perth, Australia; Indianapolis; Calgary, Canada; and Florianpolis, Brazil. These locations cover 0.6% of Dufrys overall retail space. The company hopes these refurbishments and new openings will engage shopper interest and drive footfall.

Dufrys French rival Lagardre Travel Retail did better in the first half with like-for-like revenue down 55% to 947 million ($1.1 billion) but its parent company, Lagardere, also saw its share price tumble on the news before recovering on Friday and today.

Lagardre Travel Retail posted an operating loss of 209 million in the first half, after recording a profit of 46 million in the same period in 2019. The variation of 255 million ($300 million) though significant is dwarfed by Dufrys whopping $1.15 billion (see above).

Distinctive: The Buy Paris Collection fascia is a fashion-focused offering from Lagardre Travel ... [+] Retail.

Like Dufry, Lagardre Travel Retail, has gradually restarted operations on what it calls a bespoke basis since April, in step with the reopening of railway stations and airports. A sales trough in April of minus 91%, is expected to reduce to around minus 65% once July numbers are in.

That relatively strong rebound has been helped by Lagardre Travel Retails exposure to China, the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, and to Asia-Pacific in general. Resilience in Mainland China, led to a revenue fall of just 0.7% year-on-year in the second quarter, on the back of 2019 openings, strong online and social media sales, and a resumption of domestic travel. Asia-Pacific revenue overall was down by 52% in the first half.

This was better than other regions. First-half business in France slipped by almost 60%not helped by strikes in early 2020; EMEA (excluding France) retreated by 53%; and North America contracted by 53.2%. In a statement the company said: Short-term uncertainties as to when air travel will resume do not call into question (our) strong business model or leadership.

The regional results compare well against rival Dufry even though the way the two companies split their regions is not exactly identical. Dufrys most important division of Europe and Africa was off by 66%, while the second biggest region of North America was down by 58%. Central and South America was least affected, contracting 56%.

Last week, Lagardre Travel Retail also launched a new catering concept called Pick & Go available across its various store formats including duty free. In the Covid-19 era, the aim is to give travelers safe and easy access to a range of pre-packaged food products, including a menu for kidswhile driving desperately-needed incremental revenue.

The range is an alternative to airline catering which many carriers and train operators have stopped due to the pandemic.

The Pick & Go concept gives travelers a quick alternative to on-board food which has been ... [+] temporarily stopped due to Covid-19.

Mlanie Guilldou, Lagardre Travel Retail foodservice executive vice president, commented: Pick & Go responds to the needs of customers who want a safe and affordable alternative to on-board catering, and of landlords who want to maximize the time passengers spend in airports and stations.

The roll-out started in France on July 28, with at least 15 countries earmarked for the concept between now and October.

For both Dufry and Lagardre Travel Retail the second quarter will hopefully have seen the worst sales declines now out of the way. Although secondary Covid-19 spikes are being seen in the U.S. and new lockdowns are appearing around the world, travel has restarted in a small way.

While not impossible, whole country lockdowns as seen from March through May, seem unlikely as governments opt for localized actions instead so that they can simultaneously attempt to invigorate their fragile economies. Travel quarantines will instead be a key determiner of vacation planning this summerand duty-free spending in turn.

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Is This As Bad As It Will Get For Dufry And Lagardere? - Forbes

Data Hunting in Subzero Temperatures: The Arctic as a New Frontier in Beijing’s Push for Digital Connectivity – The Arctic Institute

World travel and communications recorded on Twitter. Data from the Twitter streaming API through September 1, 2011. Photo: Eric Fischer

Chinas activities and presence in the Arctic have been the subject of rigorous and detailed analysis ranging from scientific cooperation and exploration to climate change, energy security, and infrastructure.1)Kopra, S. (2020). China and its Arctic Trajectories: The Arctic Institutes China Series 2020. Available from http://www.thearcticinstitute.org/china-arctic-trajectories-the-arctic-institute-china-series-2020/ However, less attention has been paid to the very subtle and critical link between its Arctic strategy, or Polar Silk Road Strategy (PSR), and its much grander Digital Silk Road strategy (DSR). In an important, and yet understudied sense, Chinas PSR seems to constitute a complementary, and thus important, part of its DSR.

Although Chinas spending on digital infrastructure still lags behind its investment in energy and other hard infrastructure projects along its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) its spending on digital infrastructure represents the only growing segment of its overall BRI project. In fact, the Economist reports that not only has its investment in digital infrastructure not stopped, but it has gained pace and urgency in the aftermath of the COVID 19 outbreak.2)The Economist. (2020). The Digital Side of the Belt and Road Initiative Is Growing. Available from http://www.economist.com/special-report/2020/02/06/the-digital-side-of-the-belt-and-road-initiative-is-growing Whats more, the scope of its investment in and spending on digital infrastructure has widened, moving above and beyond the initial focus on fiber-optic cables to include cloud computing, smart cities, and big data projects.

Given the commonly acknowledged multi-dimensionality of Chinas Arctic policy as well as the increasing strategic prevalence of DSR, the time is ripe to investigate Chinas intent and/or motivation in developing and implementing its PSR strategy by, as a first step, highlighting the link between the Arctic and Chinas strategic objective of establishing a healthy and impactful presence in global digital infrastructure.

One of the key reasons for the introduction of the DSR was the Chinese governments realisation that the smooth functioning of its various infrastructural projects within the framework of its BRI requires the harmonisation and standardisation of data and digital applications. As such, in implementing its DSR, China is not only building cellular wireless infrastructure but it is also constructing submarine and terrestrial optic cables as well as data centres to the point that it now has a stake in 11% of existing cables and 24% of planned cables as either owner or supplier.3)Wheeler, A. (2020). Chinas Digital Silk Road (DSR): the new frontier in the Digital Arms Race? Available from http://www.silkroadbriefing.com/news/2020/02/19/chinas-digital-silk-road-dsr-new-frontier-digital-arms-race/ It is also promoting the wider adaptation of its domestically produced technologies and cyber norms and standards, which could potentially boost its efforts at setting the legal framework for global internet governance at the United Nations (UN).

Increased access to data and the availability of advanced digital infrastructure both at home and abroad is also of paramount importance if Beijing is to be able to reap the economic benefits of intelligent connectivity. In contrast to connectivity, which can be understood as a mix of ICT infrastructure, intelligent connectivity has an added AI component built into it whereby AI plays a dual role: it both synchronises and optimises how different ICT infrastructures function together. It also assists with faster and arguably better decision making by human agents in charge of those ICT infrastructures.4)Huawei. (2019). Powering Intelligent Connectivity with Global Collaboration: Mapping your transformation into a digital economy with GCI 2019. Available from http://www.huawei.com/minisite/gci/assets/files/gci_2019_whitepaper_en.pdf?v=20191217v2

Chinas BRI as a whole could be considered as an express track for its tech giants to establish a healthy and firm presence in the global digital infrastructure, and it is no exaggeration to claim that the DSR is the heart of the BRI as a whole. This is because access to, and control over, data is, and will increasingly become an important source of power5)Blanchette, J and Hillman, J. E. (2020). Chinas Digital Silk Road after the Coronavirus. Available form http://www.csis.org/analysis/chinas-digital-silk-road-after-coronavirus What is less explored in these discussions is the potent fact that a significant part of the global digital infrastructure is deep under oceans; that is, the bulk of global data is transferred via undersea cables simply because transmission via cables is both cheaper and faster.6)CCDCOE. (2019). Strategic Importance of, and Dependence on, Undersea Cables. Available from ccdcoe.org/uploads/2019/11/Undersea-cables-Final-NOV-2019.pdf And herein lies an advantage that is unique to the Arctic Ocean. While all sea cables are at risk of intentional interference by a limited number of technologically capable states, such as Russia and the USA, cables laid in the Arctic Ocean are less vulnerable to damage from threats related to earthquake, tsunamis, anchors, and fisheries.7)Buchanan, E. (2018). Sea Cables in a Thawing Arctic. Available from http://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/sea-cables-thawing-arctic.

On the other hand, cold climate and availability of land are the two commonly cited factors behind claims on the suitability of the Arctic regions for the establishment of data centres.8)Raspotnik, A and Steinicke, S. (2017). The Arctics Economic Future is Digital. Available from http://www.thearcticinstitute.org/arctic-economic-future-digital/ However, for these regions to be able to attract data centres they first need to address the current lack of sufficient telecommunication and data infrastructure which are prerequisite for the establishment of such centres. As such, there is an urgent need for the establishment of both more cross-border connection and direct subsea cables connecting the Arctic regions to Asia and America.9)Middleton, A and Ronning, B. (2020). Data Centers as Critical Infrastructure in the Arctic. Available from http://www.highnorthnews.com/en/data-centers-critical-infrastructure-arctic

Enter the Arctic Connect Project. Spearheaded by the Finnish government, majority owned by the European data communications company Cinia, and driven by Beijings BRI, Arctic Connect is in essence a revival of ROTACS (Russian Optical Trans-Arctic Cable System), which seeks to bridge the digital gap between Europe, Russia, and Asia. This is why Helsinki calls the project a win-win-win for the Eurasian region. One of the key objectives of the project is to encourage operators of data centres to relocate to the Arctic regions of Scandinavia, especially since Chinas leadership expects the project to reduce network communication delays by around 40 percent. Such a reduction, in turn, would have significant economic advantages both for manufacturers that need fast and high-capacity connections, as well as tech or internet giants like the Google and Amazon.10)Pfeiffer, T and Khrennikov, I. (2019). Melting Arctic Means New, and Faster, Subsea Cables Available from gcaptain.com/melting-arctic-means-new-and-faster-subsea-cables/

What is more, not only will the proposed Arctic cables be 1,500-2,000 km shorter than existing links from Europe to Eastern Asia, but their existence will also increase intercontinental data transfers by around 100 milliseconds and could prove more reliable than cables which go through the Indian Ocean and strategically volatile chockepoints such as the Suez Canal and Strait of Malacca.11)Pfeiffer, T and Khrennikov, I. (2019). Melting Arctic Means New, and Faster, Subsea Cables Available from http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-09-12/global-warming-gives-traders-and-google-an-arctic-speed-lane Once in place, therefore, the system can address some of the current digital shortcomings in the region, and in doing so, attract more data centre players to the North

All in all, the fact that the two initiatives are closely intertwined ought not to be surprising. After all, the Arctic is home to both a vast amount of untapped resources, as well as some of the most cyber-advanced nations in the world. According to the latest Network Readiness Index, for example, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Canada, and USA are amongst the most connected and cyber resilient countries globally.12)Dutta, S, Lanvin, B, Bratt, M, and Rossini, C. (2019). Section I The 2019 Network Readiness Index in Dutta, S, Lanvin, B. (2019) The Network Readiness Index 2019: Towards a Future-Ready Society. Available from networkreadinessindex.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/The-Network-Readiness-Index-2019-New-version-March-2020-2.pdf The case of Scandinavian nations is of particular interest in this context since they seem capable of satisfying Beijings demand for acquiring technological know-how in a number of sectors, including renewable energy, cybersecurity, space technology, and Arctic shipping.13)Sverdrup-Thygeson, B and Hellstrom, J. (2018). Quintet out of Tune? Chinas Bilateral Relations with the Nordic States in Sverdrup-Thygeson, B., Lindgren, W. Y., and Lanteigne, M. (2018) China and Nordic diplomacy. London; New York: Routledge. pp.1-10.

Currently, Chinese companies like Huawei and ZTE are involved in numerous overseas ICT projects ranging from the development of 5G networks, smart cities, data centres, and undersea and terrestrial telecommunications cables in spite of mounting US pressure to curb their ability for doing so. The problem in the Arctic is that Americas allies do not have the same threat perception as Washington. From Washingtons perspective, Chinas growing Arctic role is largely a military threat. However, some of the Nordic members of the Arctic Council see enormous commercial benefits in Chinas Arctic presence in spite of their rising concerns with regard to potential security (not military) risks of increased Chinese activities in the region. This is clearly evident in the case of the Arctic Connect project.

How these interests develop and whether or not they will be able to cement and maintain commercial partnerships in spite of their political and strategic differences is difficult to say. Nonetheless, it is reasonable to state that a more comprehensive understanding of Beijings Arctic strategy requires one to analyse its PSR within the context of its DSR, which itself should be seen as an extension of Chinas resource diplomacy in search of securing access to this centurys fuel: data.

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Data Hunting in Subzero Temperatures: The Arctic as a New Frontier in Beijing's Push for Digital Connectivity - The Arctic Institute

In a pickle, Seth Rogen tells Haaretz what he really thinks about Israel and white supremacist Trump – Haaretz

Its impossible to resist describing Seth Rogens current woes as anything other than a pickle.

His problem, after all, surrounds the publicity for his new film An American Pickle, which premieres on HBO Max this Thursday specifically, his appearance on the Marc Maron WTF Podcast, where he delighted progressive circles, infuriated pro-Israel circles and generally set Jewish Twitter on fire.

LISTEN: Seth Rogens post-Zionist pickle meets Bibis protest pandemic

The two comedians joked about touchy subjects, but what really fanned the flames was Rogens musings about Zionism and the ill-conceived notion of putting all the Jews together in a blender. There was also his assertion that he had been fed a huge amount of lies about Israel while he was growing up in Vancouver, attending the Talmud Torah day school until he was Bar Mitzvah age, and spending his summers at Habonim Dror Labor Zionist sleepaway camps staffed with Israeli counselors, who, he joked with Maron, were psychopaths.

And so Rogen, 38, finds himself on the eve of releasing what he describes as probably the most Jewish movie that almost anyones ever made, having angered parts of his target audience.

It appears hes currently engaged in a damage-control operation to what he now sees as problematic humor on Marons podcast. Rogen received criticism for saying Jews should spread out around the world instead of putting all your Jews in one basket, which was taken by some as denying Israels raison dtre.

The Jewish Agency released a statement Mondayannouncing that its chairman, Isaac Herzog, held a Zoom conversation with Rogen in which he said the comedian apologized for any misunderstanding. This came in the wake of a letter by Herzog expressing his dismay over what Rogen had said on the podcast. Rogen denied that he apologized, adding that the Jewish Agency head did not represent the conversation accurately and violated a promise of privacy: I did not apologize for what I said. I offered clarity. And I think [Herzog] is misrepresenting our conversation.

According to Rogen, Herzog sent a letter to my mother somehow, on official letterhead very fancy letterhead. My mom implored me to call this guy and I did and told him I thought this was a private conversation and I hoped it was a private conversation. After all, I did it because he reached out to my mother asking to talk to me," he said. "At no point did I give him permission to publish any part of the conversation.

Sources close to Herzog insisted that his summary of the conversation was accurate, and that Rogen did indeed express an apology to Herzog. They added that there was no privacy violation: That Herzog asked Rogen what he could say about their conversation, and Rogen replied: Everything.

In a Zoom interview with Haaretz on Sunday, discussing everything from the podcast controversy to the new film, antisemitism and, yes, pickles, Rogen did not use the words apologize or Im sorry. He said repeatedly he was sensitive to those who had been offended when reading reports of his remarks.

Things I said were taken and chopped up, and the context literally removed from it, and if I read some of those things out of context I would also probably be upset about it, he says.

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Rogen describes himself as a proud Jew, and discussed speaking out against antisemitism, including when it happens on his home turf of Hollywood. He was equally outspoken about politics and the recent Black Lives Matter protests, saying that no part of me was questioning why people were as angry as they were.

The comedian has made a career out of playing Jewish stoners in boundary-pushing comedies such as Knocked Up, Pineapple Express, This is the End, The Interview and Long Shot, which makes An American Pickle something of a diversion. He admits to feeling nervous about the release of the film, which has a classic time travel premise: Herschel Greenbaum, a turn-of-the-century Jewish immigrant in Brooklyn, falls into a pickle barrel and is brined for a century, waking up and meeting his great-grandson Ben (Rogen plays both roles).

But the whimsical conceit and entertaining plot, poking fun at hipster affectations and irony alert Twitter wars, are interlaced with serious themes of grief and the embrace (and rejection) of religious heritage themes that Rogen, as a producer, was instrumental in emphasizing in the film.

Multiple scenes take place in a Jewish cemetery and involve the ritual of saying Kaddish (the Jewish prayer of mourning). Rogen says his films importance was hammered home to him as they began filming on location in Pittsburgh in October 2018, just two days after 11 worshippers were murdered in the citys Tree of Life synagogue by a white supremacist.

The interview, which has been edited for brevity, starts with discussion about An American Pickle, which Rogen has been working on for the past six or seven years. But it wasnt long before talk turned to the controversy surrounding the Maron podcast. I think both Marc and I were highly aware of how sensitive some of the subjects he and I were working on there, Rogen says. I actually listened back to it yesterday morning and, truly, I do [think] that the conversation we had is a very common conversation.

Its a common private conversation among Jews, but you dont hear Jewish celebrities saying it publicly.

When youre having a conversation about something so sensitive and nuanced, its not just what we said well its partially what we said but [its] also what we didnt say. When youre having even a humorous conversation about something so nuanced, leaving things out or omitting things can become just as bad as the things you do say.

So you dont regret things you said, you just think you didnt give them enough of a background?

I think that its a tricky conversation to have in jest. And thats something that perhaps I now look at and say, Oh, now that we joked about that, perhaps we could clarify some things so people dont run around thinking that I think Israel shouldnt exist anymore. And Im sensitive to Jewish people being hurt, as a Jewish person. And Im sensitive to Jewish people thinking Im not a proud Jewish person, which I am.

Truthfully, I think my pride in being Jewish and how deeply I identify as a Jewish person perhaps made me feel like I was able to say things without as much context as perhaps I should give them you know what Im saying? And I am sensitive to Jews thinking that I dont think Israel should not exist, and that there are a lot of Jewish people who are alive who wouldnt be without Israel. And my parents met in Israel; Ive been to Israel several times.

Can you tell us how your parents met on kibbutz?

My parents met on Kibbutz Beit Alfa [in northern Israel]. My dad is from New Jersey and my mom was from Vancouver, and they were two young hippies looking to get out of their cities and meet other people. My dad actually would have lived on the kibbutz forever, and still talks about it.

Imagine if they had you would have been Seth Rogen the Israeli.

My dad is a socialist and I was raised with a lot of very socialist ideals. And I think a part of him is deeply upset that he ever left the kibbutz. But hes probably very happy he did because he married my mom and started a life in Vancouver as a result.

Canadian Jews and American Jews can be a completely different breed.

I think theres a difference in general. And truthfully, I think that to some degree it speaks to why I understand people are not happy with some of the things I said. Antisemitism and bigotry in general is prevalent in Canada, but not to the degree that it is in America.

My wife [actress Lauren Miller] grew up inCentral Florida, where she faced terrible antisemitism on a regular basis. Im from Vancouver, British Columbia, one of the most progressive cities on the planet. And although I did face regular antisemitism, it wasnt to the degree that people who grew up in America especially in southern American cities faced. Theres not a lot of Jews on the west coast of Canada, either. I think its a different phenomenon: we [did] live in a west coast Canadian Jewish bubble. Even the Jews we know from Montreal and Toronto had a much different experience than I did.

Did you hate your Jewish day school, because it kind of sounds like you did.

I didnt hate my day school. Its an interesting thing to find that youre going to school to learn things that youll maybe one day decide you should unlearn. And I think religion in general not specific to Judaism is a very tricky thing with kids. I dont have kids; I see my friends with kids and I see their discomfort with how to introduce religion into their kids lives, especially when they themselves are not religious and are agnostic to a large degree. Its a very complicated thing. Like many aspects of my life, its conflicted in some ways.

Im not mad at my parents for sending me to Jewish school, by any means I still have very good friends I met there. Im sure if I went to public school, there would have been things I didnt like there either.

I listened to another podcast you did and it sounded like you felt oppressed and misunderstood in Jewish day school, and then liberated and free in high school. (Rogens high school antics were the inspiration for the 2007 breakout filmhe co-created, Superbad.)

It was not a diverse school at all. It was little white Jewish kids whose parents were all friends with each other and it was very enclosed. And then I got to public high school and I could dress however I wanted, there were kids from all different backgrounds, all races, from all different countries. My school was 65 to 70 percent people from Asian countries especially being from Vancouver, which is so heavily populated by people from Asian countries, it was a wonderful and eye-opening experience to get to become friends with the people and spend the whole day with the people that I lived among.

I lived in a completely East Indian neighborhood, so to be able to go to school with East Indian kids was really exciting to me, honestly, because I had grown up among them in my neighborhood, but in my school I was only around Jewish kids. But Im glad I know a lot about Judaism, and I did retain a lot of that.

And you met your writing partner, Evan Goldberg, in Bar Mitzvah class, right?

Yes, Tallis and Tefillin class.

See, if not for Judaism, where would you be?

I mean again, I could not identify more as a Jewish person. I talk about it almost constantly. I could talk about it less, but I dont.

But could you unpack where you said you were lied to you about Israel. Its a big conversation in this moment. People saying they were lied to and activists saying we need to change Israel education, and so you triggered people when you said that.

Id say personally, holistically, I was just not given a full picture of the situation. And I understand its a wildly complex picture to give a child, and perhaps thats why it was not given to me.

There was just an abandoned desert here and the Jews came and built a country? Thats what you were told?

Essentially, yeah. Thats what me and many people I know were told. And again, all I am attacking there is the education I was given about it. And I talked to my parents about it actually just yesterday and I was like, Do you feel that what we were given ... was a complete story? And they said No. Looking back, at the time, you were given a less complex view of the situation than maybe you could have been given.

And I think thats something that, as I look to Jewish people I know with kids, I think theyre taking it on themselves to try to paint a more complete picture of how complex a situation it is. So I understand how that is upsetting, and how Jewish people wish I was given a better education about it. And I understand how its uncomfortablefor some people to hear me say that I was not given that education.

Your remarks about not putting Jews in the same place its not uncommon.

Thats a joke Ive heard Israelis make, and I understand how ... when you take a comedic monologue and treat it as if its not based in humor, there are probably some very questionable thoughts in there.

Jews are supposed to have a sense of humor.

Well, I dont want to blame people; I dont want to put it on the people for misinterpreting what I said. Things I said were taken and chopped up and the context literally removed from it, and if I read some of those things out of context I would also probably be upset about it. I understand the sensitivity as far as things to joke about its a tough one.

Not a lot of humor in it. I heard you were shooting American Pickle when the Tree of Life shooting happened in Pittsburgh. What was that like?

We were supposed to start shooting on Monday, and the shooting happened on that Saturday if Im not mistaken and I was about a mile away from it when it happened. It was, in a sense, very scary, but in another sense I remember thinking: Im about to make the most Jewish movie Ive ever made, probably the most Jewish movie that almost anyones ever made, in the wake of the most violent antisemitic attack in the history of America, in the same city. And there was a sense that it suddenly became much more important to do it. And any fear I had about how Jewish a movie it was, I honestly thought that if there was ever a time to double down on this, now was that time.

Was that a thing during production thinking that maybe this is too Jewish for America? This isnt a mainstream thing, its too ethnic somehow?

One hundred percent it was a topic of conversation. From the studio, the producers, the overall sense of: This is a very Jewish film, and there arent a ton of Jews in America, and there are a lot of people who just plain dont like Jews in America.

So yes, it was definitely a topic of conversation. But honestly, this [Tree of Life] shooting made me think it was a more important message to be putting out there. A pro-Jewish story where the antagonists are Jews, a story that is unabashedly about Jews and Judaism part of me really thought that now is the exact time to do this and put this into the world.

Is it hard to think about antisemitism in Hollywood, where theres the perception that Jews are in charge and control, so they cant exactly feel victimized? There have been these incidents lately with Nick Cannon and Ice Cube. You called out Mel Gibson.

I personally havent found it incredibly hard to juggle. I try to call out antisemitism where I see it. I know for a fact that antisemitic people also do thrive in Hollywood so the notion that Jews control the careers of everyone in Hollywood is wildly inaccurate.Mel Gibson has made several movies over the last several years. He won an Academy Award for one of them, I think, in the wake of making horribly antisemitic comments. [Gibson received an Oscar nomination for Hacksaw Ridge in 2017.]

So to me, its not a reality I have a hard time grappling with: I know factually that Jews do not control every element of Hollywood. If they did, there would be a lot of people who are working who would not be. The notion of calling out antisemitism within Hollywood is easy to me, especially because its my home community Hollywood, not Jews.

You have a busy production company and one of the things youre creating is a lot of comic book properties for television Preacher, The Boys. Its kind of like carrying on a Jewish tradition.

Ever since I was a kid, I was a huge comic book fan. Stan Lee is Jewish and hes one of the architects of the comic universe as we know it. And I think the more you analyze the stories of comic books, the more you see these themes of people being othered, people being attacked for how they were born, their attributes. There are explicitly Jewish storylines in some of the comic books Magneto [in X-Men] is a Holocaust survivor andas a kid, reading that was very powerful and something that just really hooked me.

I think Jewish storytelling is a tradition, and I think the fact that Stan Lee and other Jewish creators were able to thrive in that field probably because they werent allowed to work in other ones is a large part of the reason that I love comic books and everyone loves comic books.

You said on the Maron podcast your wife wishes being Jewish meant more to you.

That is not a joke that I think is best serving my interests [laughs]. Again, my wife grew up in an environment [in Florida] where there were very few Jewish people. ... So I think to her, meeting other Jewish people was a very important thing. Although theres not a lot of other Jews in Vancouver, I knew pretty much all of them and so I had a lot of Jewish friends growing up.

My wifes personality is what it is because of her being Jewish and her upbringing. And for me to say I dont care about that is really a dismissive joke. I love every element of my wife and the fact shes Jewish is an element of her, and so by default I love it.

But do you love pickles? The movie is full of pickles, though your character doesnt eat them on screen.

I do like pickles. Yes, the character isnt eating the pickles. He does not get high on his supply. I actually did not eat even one pickle through the filming of the entire movie, though Im surrounded by the eating of a lot of pickles.

Pickles were big in another classic, very Jewish Hollywood film, Crossing Delancey.

It was a good profession it was a good Jewish business back then. And I think even today pickles have a Jewish association. You go to a deli, you get some pickles.

Do you know that pickles in Israel and pickles in America taste totally different?

I do! And I was shocked when I went to Israel and had a pickle for the first time. They have a much more subtle flavor they are much more cucumber-y in Israel.

Moving away from pickles, we used to sit here in Israel and say its an easy, soft life for Jews in America and its not that way anymore.

The president is [a] white supremacist, so things are not great here. And Republican politicians literally tweet blatantly antisemitic propaganda pretty regularly. Its a weird time in America.

An American Pickle is available to stream on HBO Max from Thursday August 6.

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In a pickle, Seth Rogen tells Haaretz what he really thinks about Israel and white supremacist Trump - Haaretz

Atos signs 5m supercomputing deal to support Oxford University-led AI research push – ComputerWeekly.com

Oxford University is expanding its artificial intelligence (AI)-focused supercomputing capabilities with the help of Atos, after signing a four-year, 5m contract with the French IT services company.

The deal will see Atos provide the university with access to a deep-learning supercomputer, based on Nvidias DGX SuperPOD architecture, which will be used by the UK academic community to accelerate research into AI, machine learning and molecular dynamics.

The setup, once deployed, will be the largest AI-focused supercomputer in the UK, it is claimed, with 500 Nvidia-based graphics processing units (GPUs).

The deployment is being funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), and will be the second supercomputer of its kind to be deployed under the universitys ongoing Joint Academic Data science Endeavour (JADE) project.

The first phase of the JADE project saw the university pool resources with a consortium of eight other universities, and the data science research-focused organisation, the Alan Turing Institute, to create a supercomputing facility.

The second phase of the project is being supported by an additional 14 universities, and is designed to build on the success of the first by tripling the amount of supercomputing capacity made available to these organisations.

The JADE facility has provided a nucleus around which a national consortium of AI researchers has formed, making it the de facto national compute facility for AI research, said a posting on the EPSRC website. By providing a much-needed shared resource to these communities, JADE has also delivered an outstanding level of world-leading science.

JADE2 will build upon these successes by providing increased computational capabilities to these communities and delivering a stronger, more robust service to address the lessons learned from the initial service.

Wes Armour, a professor at the university, said the success of the first phase of JADE had led to increased demand from UK researchers for access to supercomputing capabilities, which is why JADE2 is needed.

Building on the success of the JADE collaboration with Atos, and by significantly expanding the JADE consortiums computing capacity, the new deep learning supercomputer supplied by Atos will allow us to meet this demand and help many institutions to make some potentially ground-breaking discoveries, said Armour.

It will cement JADEs status as the de facto national computing facility for academic AI research.

Agns Boudot,senior vice-president and head of high-performance computing and quantumat Atos,said the system which will be hosted at a specialist facility in Daresbury, Warrington will support the UK in its bid to become a world leader in the field of AI and machine learning.

We are proud to be working with the University of Oxford on the delivery of JADE2, which will provide researchers and industry with more computing power to enable new scientific breakthroughs and innovation in machine learning and AI, said Boudot.

We believe this high-performance system, coupled with our expertise, will help the UK to address key AI and machine learning challenges, while supporting the UKs ambition to be a world leader in these areas.

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Atos signs 5m supercomputing deal to support Oxford University-led AI research push - ComputerWeekly.com

Atos partners with University of Oxford on largest AI supercomputer in the UK – Yahoo Finance

Paris and London, 4 August 2020 Atos, a global leader in digital transformation, has signed a four-year contract worth 5 million with the University of Oxford to deliver a new, state of the art, deep learning supercomputer built on the NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD architecture, which will enable UK academics and industry to drive forward scientific discoveries and innovation in machine learning and artificial intelligence, as part of the JADE2 project.

The largest AI-focused supercomputer in the UK with over 500 NVIDIA GPUs, this high-performance system is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC),and aims to build on the success of the current JADE1 (Joint Academic Data Science Endeavour)facility - a national resource providing advanced GPU computing facilities to world-leading AI and machine learning experts from a consortium of eight UK universities and the Alan Turing Institute.

The JADE2 supercomputer is built on NVIDIA DGX systems, and uses the DDN A3I storage solution. It will more than triple the capacity of the original JADE machine and provide increased computing capabilities to a wider consortium of over twenty universities and the Turing Institute, helping to meet the level of demand for AI-focused facilities created as a result of the success of the JADE resource.

Professor Wes Armour at the University of Oxfordsaid: The successful delivery of JADE has created more demand among UK researchers and industry for powerful computing facilities which can accommodate high end, data intensive AI workloads. Building on the success of the JADE collaboration with Atos, and by significantly expanding the JADE consortiums computing capacity, the new Deep Learning supercomputer supplied by Atos will allow us to meet this demand and help many institutions to make some potentially ground-breaking discoveries. It will cement JADEs status as the de facto national computing facility for academic AI research.

Alison Kennedy, Director, STFC Hartree Centre said: We are pleased that the delivery and hosting of this cutting-edge JADE-2 hardware and the resultant increase in capability will support the development and expansion of research computing skills across industry and academia. This aligns directly with the Hartree Centres mission and we are delighted to continue the collaboration with Atos and Oxford University which builds upon the previous success of JADE.

Agns Boudot, Senior Vice President, Head of HPC & Quantum at Atos,concluded:We are proud to be working with the University of Oxford on the delivery of JADE2, which will provide researchers and industry with more computing power to enable new scientific breakthroughs and innovation in machine learning and AI. We believe this high-performance system, coupled with our expertise, will help the UK to address key AI and machine learning challenges, while supporting the UKs ambition to be a world-leader in these areas.

The DGX SuperPOD system will comprise a cluster of 63 DGX nodes, having 504 NVIDIA A100 Tensor Core GPUs in total, interconnected with NVIDIA Mellanox InfiniBand networking, all being fed by DDNs AI400 storage, making it the largest such system in the UK.

The system is to be hosted at theSTFC Hartree Centrein Daresbury, near Warrington, UK.

1JADE - Joint Academic Data science Endeavour. This proposal, led by the University of Oxford, with support from the Alan Turing Institute (ATI), and 22 universities, is the national GPU system supporting multidisciplinary science with a focus on machine learning and molecular dynamics.

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About AtosAtos is a global leader in digital transformation with 110,000 employees in 73 countries and annual revenue of 12 billion. European number one in Cloud, Cybersecurity and High-Performance Computing, the Group provides end-to-end Orchestrated Hybrid Cloud, Big Data, Business Applications and Digital Workplace solutions. The Group is the Worldwide Information Technology Partner for the Olympic & Paralympic Games and operates under the brands Atos, Atos|Syntel, and Unify. Atos is a SE (Societas Europaea), listed on the CAC40 Paris stock index.

The purpose of Atos is to help design the future of the information space. Its expertise and services support the development of knowledge, education and research in a multicultural approach and contribute to the development of scientific and technological excellence. Across the world, the Group enables its customers and employees, and members of societies at large to live, work and develop sustainably, in a safe and secure information space.

Press contacts:

Global: Laura Fau |laura.fau@atos.net| +33 6 73 64 04 18 |@laurajanefau

UK: Helena Shadbolt helena.shadbolt@mhpc.com +44 (0)20 3128 8799, nick.collins@mhpc.com +44 (0)20 3128 8897

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Atos partners with University of Oxford on largest AI supercomputer in the UK - Yahoo Finance

How coronavirus antibody testing works – Livemint

Antibody tests look for the presence of antibodies, which are specific proteins made in response to infections. Antibodies are disease specific. For example, measles antibodies will protect you from getting measles if you are exposed to it again, but they won't protect you from getting mumps if you are exposed to mumps.

"Antibodies are important because they prevent infection and heal patients affected by diseases," said Victor Padilla-Sanchez, a researcher at The Catholic University of America in Washington D.C.

"If we have antibodies, we are immune to disease, as long as they are in your system, you are protected. If you don't have antibodies, then infection proceeds and the pandemic continues," added Sanchez.

This form of foreign-antibody-based protection is called passive immunity -- short-term immunity provided when a person is given antibodies to a disease rather than producing these antibodies through their own immune system.

"We're at the initial steps of this now, and this is where I'm hoping my work might help," Padilla-Sanchez said.

Padilla-Sanchez specializes in viruses. Specifically, he uses computer models to understand the structure of viruses on the molecular level and uses this information to try to figure out how the virus functions.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was the first new infectious disease identified in the 21st century. This respiratory illness originated in the Guangdong province of China in November 2002. The World Health Organization identified this new coronavirus (SARS-CoV) as the agent that caused the outbreak.

Now we're in the middle of yet another new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), which emerged in Wuhan, China in 2019. COVID-19, the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, has become a rapidly spreading pandemic that has reached most countries in the world. As of July 2020, COVID-19 has infected more than 15.5 million people worldwide with more than 630,000 deaths.

To date, there are not any vaccines or therapeutics to fight the illness.

Since both illnesses (SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2) share the same spike protein, the entry key that allows the virus into the human cells, Padilla-Sanchez's idea was to take the antibodies found in the first outbreak in 2002 -- 80R and m396 -- and reengineer them to fit the current COVID-19 virus.

A June 2020 study in the online journal, Research Ideas and Outcomes, describes efforts by Padilla-Sanchez to unravel this problem using computer simulation. He discovered that sequence differences prevent 80R and m396 from binding to COVID-19.

"Understanding why 80R and m396 did not bind to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein could pave the way to engineering new antibodies that are effective," Padilla-Sanchez said. "Mutated versions of the 80r and m396 antibodies can be produced and administered as a therapeutic to fight the disease and prevent infection."

His docking experiments showed that amino acid substitutions in 80R and m396 should increase binding interactions between the antibodies and SARS-CoV-2, providing new antibodies to neutralize the virus.

"Now, I need to prove it in the lab," he said.

For his research, Padilla-Sanchez relied on supercomputing resources allocated through the Extreme Science and Engineering Discovery Environment (XSEDE). XSEDE is a single virtual system funded by the National Science Foundation used by scientists to interactively share computing resources, data, and expertise.

The XSEDE-allocated Stampede2 and Bridges systems at the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) and Pittsburgh Supercomputer Center supported the docking experiments, macromolecular assemblies, and large-scale analysis and visualization.

"XSEDE resources were essential to this research," Padilla-Sanchez said.

He ran the docking experiments on Stampede2 using the Rosetta software suite, which includes algorithms for computational modeling and analysis of protein structures. The software virtually binds the proteins then provides a score for each binding experiment.

"If you find a good docking position, then you can recommend that this new, mutated antibody should go to production," said Sanchez.

TACC's Frontera supercomputer, the 8th most powerful supercomputer in the world and the fastest supercomputer on a university campus, also provided vital help to Padilla-Sanchez. He used the Chimera software on Frontera to generate extremely high-resolution visualizations. From there, he transferred the work to Bridges because of its large memory nodes.

"Frontera has great performance when importing a lot of big data. We're usually able to look at just protein interactions, but with Frontera and Bridges, we were able to study full infection processes in the computer," he said. Padilla-Sanchez's findings will be tested in a wet lab. Upon successful completion of that stage, his work can proceed to human trials.

Currently, various labs across the world are already testing vaccines.

"If we don't find a vaccine in the near term we still have passive immunity, which can prevent infection for several months as long as you have the antibodies," Padilla-Sanchez said. "Of course, a vaccine is the best outcome. However, passive immunity may be a fast track in providing relief for the pandemic," said Padilla-Sanchez.

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How coronavirus antibody testing works - Livemint