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- Photos: School trust land inside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area
- Mining exploration reopens question of school trust lands
- Happy feet: Tips for healthier running
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- Antibiotic Overuse May Increase Superbug Evolution Rate
- Adventures of Apollo Astronauts Now Tracked in 3-D
- Better Fish Forensics Will Flag Illegal Catches
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- Doubt and other products: The National Toxicology Program’s Report on Carcinogens, bad for whose business?
Peer Review on Science Blogs
Recent Posts
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Join us for Technology and the Design of Personalized Learning: A Genius for Education
The third event is coming up. In the series we have already discussed science and technology standards, and the design of schools. Now we are focusing on how technology can enhance the learning experience. Not only is technology becoming ever more present in our lives, with technological skills increasing in value, but technology also offers an opportunity to further personalize learning. Technology tools can help a student catch-up or challenge the gifted, it can also enable a teacher to give one on one attention, tailor lessons to student learning styles etc.
So at this event on June 20th we will hear about some successful teachers and administrators that have implemented technology to innovate their teaching. Want to join us? Click here for more details on the event or just click here and register now.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Emerging Risks of Synthetic Biology
Synthetic biology is a combination of engineering principles, computer technology (IT) and biological elements to create or re-engineer a product that has biological components and systems that do not exist in nature. Professor Kuzma discussed regulation and risk governance of synthetic biology in Washington D.C. at the George Washington University Environmental Law Program. The event looked at the emerging field of synthetic biology research and commercialization and the implications for energy, health, and environmental policy.
Watch her talk at the conference here.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Congratulations STEP Students
We have graduates. They have unique science, policy skill-sets that would be great for your organization. The STEPs are in gold. 
Thursday, May 3, 2012
First Year MS-STEP Student Published in the Star Tribune
Virgina Dale, first year MS-STEP, was published in the Star Tribune last week. It is a great read about healthcare mandates and an excellent use of policy analysis skills.
Title and opening teaser (follow this link for the full article):
"Making a mandate more palatable: Offer options. If a healthful lifestyle is as effective as high-tech medicine -- which it may be -- shouldn't that be on the health-plan menu?
Last month, as the U.S. Supreme Court held oral arguments over the so-called individual mandate in President Obama's federal health care reform law, the justices looked for a logical basis to determine whether and when Congress has a proper constitutional power to make people buy things.
Using a much-discussed metaphor, Justice Antonin Scalia sounded relieved when he felt that he could distinguish the law's mandate to buy health insurance from a hypothetical mandate to buy, say, broccoli.
But in fact that's just the problem with the individual mandate. It does not require the purchase of broccoli -- which might actually improve people's health. But it does require the purchase of many highly technical medical interventions that do nothing useful."
Wednesday, Apr 25, 2012
Linda Birnbaum: NIEHS and Emerging Environmental Health Concerns
Ever wonder how we are going to address (through policy and research) the chemical soap that we interact with every day? The answer has changed over time, as we have developed a more complex understanding of chemical interaction and the effects of low-dose exposures (some chemicals have worse effects at lower doses). To talk on these issues we have invited Linda Birnbaum to give a public address at the Humphrey School. Here are the details:
Thursday, May 3, 2012, 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM, reception to follow
Humphrey School, Cowles Auditorium
There is no cost to attend but registration is required
Linda Birnbaum
Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) of the
National Institutes of Health (NIH), and National Toxicology Program Division
Dr. Birnbaum will discuss efforts to reduce the burden of human illness and disability through NIEHS investigations into how the environment influences the development and progression of human disease. As an expert researcher on the health effects of environmental pollutants and the cause and effects relationships of pollutant concentrations, she will address contaminants of emerging concerns and low-dose responses. She will also discuss the holistic approach she has taken as director of NIEHS to address large challenges, such as complex mixtures of toxic chemicals.
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