A look at German universities in the 20th century shows that extremism can find space not only in politics and society, but also in science. The turn of the Karlsruhe computer science pioneer Karl Steinbuch to right-wing extremism is an example of this. The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) has distanced itself from Steinbuch’s political stance and renamed the information technology center named after him the “Scientific Computing Center”. Against this background, the KIT is organizing a conference on July 17, 2024 on the question “What does ‘never again’ mean here?”.

The public is invited to the evening program of the conference. Register  here

“Science is based on openness, tolerance, and diversity. Living and defending these values, as well as the liberal order and fundamental rights, is part of a responsible scientific culture,” says Professor Kora Kristof, Vice President for Digitalization and Sustainability at KIT. “That is why it is important and part of KIT’s culture to look at our own history, to research it scientifically, and to actively engage with it.”

Conference on the prevention of political extremism

The KIT Archive, which is also organizing the conference, is dealing with the historical manifestations of extremism at KIT. The focus is on topics such as current manifestations of extremism in Germany, individual radicalization processes, and fields of action for professional prevention.

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/7b4eec32-263d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/7138ac40-263d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/0975704b-263d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/8bb5b855-263d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/b9af485e-263d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/49fb3f79-263d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/a8be1d82-263d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/d2d77f8f-263d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/00270f99-263d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/8410f4a1-263d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

“With this event, we want to send the message that KIT is critical of extremism and rejects it,” said Dr. Klaus Nippert, head of the KIT archive and organizer of the event. “Extremism is directed against the free order of our country and against basic rights. It is important to review and further develop our own understanding of institutional responsibility as a scientific organization towards extremism and to gather suggestions for institutional prevention.”

On January 1, 2024, KIT renamed its information technology center “Scientific Computing Center.” Previously, it had been called “Steinbuch Center for Computing” since 2008.

https://www.kit.edu/kit/pi_2023_092_kit-benennt-informationstechnologie-zentrum-um.php

What does ‘Never again’ mean here?
Questions and answers on KIT’s approach to political extremism
Conference on the occasion of the renaming of the Scientific Computing Center at KIT

Public evening program

Participation only after registration

19:00-19:15 Welcome
Professor Oliver Kraft, representing the President of KIT

19:15-20:00 Keynote: The political debate on extremism in Baden-Württemberg. Review, current situation and perspectives
Rüdiger Soldt, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

20:00-21:30 Panel discussion: Political and religious extremism – a topic for scientific organizations?
Mathieu Coquelin, Department of Extremism Distancing Stuttgart
Dr. Rolf Frankenberger, Institute for Right-Wing Extremism Research at the University of Tübingen
Dr. Désirée Schauz, Institute for Technology Futures, Department of History at KIT
Rüdiger Soldt, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
Dr. Felix Steinbrenner, State Office for Political Education Baden-Württemberg

Cement-bound building materials, especially concrete, are indispensable today – but their production causes considerable CO2 _emissions . By adding an additional coating to the surface, their durability and thus sustainability can be further improved. Research is being carried out on this worldwide – the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is considered a center of excellence. In a review article for the Royal Society of Chemistry, experts from KIT have now summarized the current state of research.

Overview of the performance of different methods

“We are comparing the performance of different surface coatings,” says Professor Frank Dehn from the KIT Institute of Concrete Structures and Building Materials Technology, one of the authors of the article. “They all have their advantages and disadvantages. Organic coatings such as epoxy resins are flexible and adaptable, but can decompose under environmental influences. Inorganic coatings such as silicate coatings are chemically resistant and durable, but less flexible and aesthetically limited.” Nanomaterials, i.e. extremely small particles with exceptional properties, could also be used, explains Dehn: “Graphene or nano-silica increase the mechanical strength of concrete and improve its resistance to environmental influences, sometimes even with self-healing properties.” Challenges, however, include uniform distribution, scalability for large-scale applications, and environmental concerns about the release of nanomaterials.

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/85921ea6-253d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/14b52cb9-253d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/311285c7-253d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/39993adc-253d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/91e844e7-253d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/10d74bf2-253d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/ccc875fd-253d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/8421790c-263d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/b215911b-263d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/a2bc622b-263d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

Coating with rare earths combines advantages

The authors see a particularly promising approach in incorporating rare earths into the concrete surface. This method can both increase the durability of concrete and combine other advantages of organic and inorganic coatings. “At KIT, for example, we are researching a europium coating that achieves water-repellent properties while at the same time keeping the environmental impact to a minimum,” says Dehn.

mhe, 03.07.2024

The massive contact restrictions in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic have also presented real-world laboratories with difficult situations. In the DuPa project launched in 2020, researchers from the Karlsruhe Transformation Center for Sustainability and Cultural Change (KAT), based at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), have turned this crisis into an opportunity. Within three years, they developed new formats that combine digital and personal participation options. In the long term, these increase the inclusivity of real-world laboratories by enabling the participation of people who cannot or do not want to participate on site.

Fear of infection, compulsory mask wearing, closures: Until 2022, the on-site exchange between science on the one hand and interested citizens on the other, which is typical for real-world laboratories, had largely come to a standstill. This is where the project “DuPa – Dual Mode Participation: Window of Opportunity for Inclusive Real-World Labs” came in: The aim of the researchers at KAT was to develop new, more inclusive participation formats.

“As elsewhere, Covid has escalated existing problems,” says sociologist Pia Laborgne from the KIT Institute for Technology Assessment and Systems Analysis (ITAS).
She led the now completed project, the results of which are now being disseminated. “Even before the pandemic, it was clear that we need to involve broader sections of the population in the face of a societal challenge such as the sustainability transformation.”  

More diversity in real-world laboratories

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/763f3bb0-223d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/376b5438-233d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/ecd97747-233d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/def8b752-233d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/b5bed05e-233d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/0919a07f-243d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/a7f2349d-243d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/588ce2fa-243d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/91d0b915-253d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/5de10f99-253d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

As a result, the researchers developed and tested a series of dual participation formats that make citizen participation more diverse and representative. For example, they used the mobile participation laboratory “MobiLab”, which was created at KIT in 2021, as a place for hybrid encounters – in the center of cities and via the Internet. On a tour of the marketplaces of the EUCOR region, the rolling tiny house proved to be a multifunctional platform for participatory research, citizen science, and science communication. 

The scientists tested another innovative approach in a map-based online survey on the topic of heat in the city. A so-called participatory mapping was used. This combines spatial data with the perceptions of local residents. The method, which is familiar from urban and regional planning, was further developed for real-world laboratories. 

A blog as a method exchange 

The DuPa project also explored the mix of analogue and digital in two exchange workshops conducted jointly with the Urban Europe Research Alliance. An online forum of the
real-world laboratory “Quartier Zukunft”, also run by KIT, in which citizens came together to discuss the topic of balcony power plants, as well as other real-world laboratory initiatives, such as the “Green Lung” project, provided practical illustrative material for this purpose. 

Another characteristic of the DuPa project was the emphasis on an exchange between national and European experts on hybrid forms of participation. For this purpose, the blog “Opportunity Window” was launched on the website of the national network Real-World Laboratories for Sustainability. With numerous contributions in the form of podcasts, videos, interviews and texts, the blog has developed into a platform for communicating new approaches to participation in transdisciplinary research. 
“Experience in the area of ​​digital participation is still limited, especially when it comes to hybrid formats,” explains project manager Laborgne. “For example, it can be difficult to create a sense of community and collaboration and to ensure that all participants have the opportunity to contribute their ideas and perspectives. Our conclusion: Only with well-thought-out combinations of both forms of encounter will we be able to involve noticeably more people.” The project was funded by the VW Foundation from 2020 to 2023. 

Agriculture is in a time of daunting challenge: The world’s population is growing and climate change is impacting every area of the food supply chain.

Researchers from across the country who are working to address that challenge met at UC Merced this week. They are part of the Internet of Things for Ag, a National Science Foundation-funded research center uniting the University of Pennsylvania, UC Merced, Purdue University and the University of Florida.

The internet of things is a swiftly evolving “smart” network of devices, sensors and other objects that communicate and share data. Research in this domain is inherently multidisciplinary; this is reflected by the broad range of expertise by researchers and students associated with the center.

Projects in precision agriculture to address the challenges of food, energy and water security were highlighted during the annual retreat, which brought together faculty, students and postdoctoral researchers for four days on campus.

They toured a local farm and Dos Rios Reserve, California’s newest state park, located on a restored floodplain just outside of Modesto. Panel discussions centered on water, pest management and stakeholder engagement. Poster sessions highlighted some of the projects.

Keynote speaker Shely Aronov talked about the process of turning cutting-edge science into a successful business. Aronov is co-founder of InnerPlant, a company backed by John Deere. InnerPlant creates crops that communicate through optical signals when they need water or are sick, so that only the crops that need it are treated.

“The biggest problem with pesticides is we don’t apply them at the right time,” Aronov said, noting that 30 percent of ag chemicals are wasted each year. “We can grow twice as much food with less chemicals.”

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/c626978a-213d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/c0e0fe92-213d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/5d9ceec8-213d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/8840a409-223d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/4028b246-223d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/e488255d-223d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/6ed93f77-223d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/f8c1e890-223d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/4207f29e-223d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/37fa23aa-223d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

But finding solutions to the problems posed by ag isn’t by itself enough. The technology has to be cost-efficient and practical to use or it won’t be adopted.

“The best tech doesn’t win; the best strategy does,” Aronov said. “How do we make it super easy for farmers? Friction kills any technology.”

A panel of researchers discussed the possible precision tools to fight pests, including a global detection system that would use sensors to identify infestations early.

During the water discussion, researchers were joined by state officials to discuss the challenges of ensuring enough water is available through years of drought.

The last couple of years, California has been lucky in that regard, said Carolyn Cook, environmental program manager for the state Department of Food and Agriculture. With two wet years, reservoirs are filled to 118 percent of their normal capacity for this time of year.

“But we are always concerned about water usage in California,” Cook said. “Groundwater basins are overdrafting.”

The state offers incentive programs to farmers to encourage water efficiency and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Measures such as converting from flood or sprinkler irrigation to micro irrigation and converting from gas to electric pumping are helping, she said.

Ricardo Ortega, general manager at Grasslands Water District, pointed out that California has lost 95 percent of its wetlands, making the remaining 5 percent vitally important.

“Our challenges are great,” Ortega said. “There are always opportunities for more data, more efficiencies.”

And it’s not just limited to California, UC Merced associate civil and environmental engineering Professor Erin Hestir noted.

“Seventy percent of agriculture around the world is done in places that are water stressed,” she said.

When the city of Fresno and the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District wanted specifics about the impacts of truck traffic on the health of some of the city’s most vulnerable residents, officials turned to UC Merced’s Community Labor Center (CLC) and public health Professor Sandie Ha.

Ha has extensive experience in conducting population-based studies on environmental impacts of health. She and a team of researchers crafted an assessment of environmental health for the greater Fresno community. The study, published in April, is the basis for a proposal to change trucking routes through town.

The state has identified a community in south Fresno as being disproportionately impacted by air pollution due to the presence of industrial activities of businesses and other pollution sources, Ha said.

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/a92de44c-203d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/d77dfa58-203d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/8f246a6f-203d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/bd4fc7b0-203d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/fdffc6fe-203d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/b0630629-213d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/21f03737-213d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/fa075a49-213d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/7976245b-213d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/c7a2ad6f-213d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

“Living closer to highways, major roads, truck routes, and other pollution sources is known to be related to higher air pollution exposures (and other types of pollution such as noise and light), which have well-established health effects,” she said.

According to the study, south Fresno residents live an average of 843 feet from a heavily traveled truck route, compared with 1,267 feet for other Fresno residents, and are exposed to twice the amount of diesel fumes.

Researchers hypothesized that health risk would be higher in south Fresno, but the magnitude of the differences was a surprise.

“The differences we observed in terms of adverse pregnancy outcomes and asthma are larger than I thought, necessitating prompt actions to reduce the gap,” Ha said. “We also observed seasonal differences in how air pollution may impact health.”

The report stated that south Fresno’s proximity to truck routes is linked to a 44% increase in infant mortality risk for Fresno mothers and an 11% jump in preterm births. For babies living within 1,000 feet of a freeway, the risk of dying before their first birthday rises 23%. Researchers also found increased incidences of cardiovascular diseases among these residents. In a story about the report, nonprofit news organization Fresnoland called the findings “staggering”.

And the health impacts could be escalating.

Sociology Professor Edward Flores, faculty director of the CLC, said it’s vital that governments use the report’s findings to make decisions about how and where businesses can expand and the nature and location of truck routes that serve them.

“The development that’s under way is still not complete,” he said. “There’s risk that if the expansion that’s being proposed were to occur without mitigating the hazards of trucks driving through residential neighborhoods, people’s health would get worse.”

The UC Merced report was used to develop a proposal to reroute truck traffic away from neighborhoods. The report is set to be presented to the Fresno City Council in July.

“This study highlights why reinforcing and expanding policies to further reduce emissions are important strategies to reduce climate change’s impacts on pregnancy health and why continuing climate change funds for south Fresno and similar communities is critical,” Ha said. “We would like to see truck routes being redirected away from residential areas and sensitive receptors such as schools, daycares, and hospitals. Where rerouting is not possible, efforts should be made to regulate truck activities to reduce pollution and other related risks. “

The report recommends the city implement zero-emission commercial trucks to reduce additional emissions into an already burdened area. The California Air Resources Board’s requirement that large companies convert to zero-emission trucks by 2042 is an important step to reduce the impact of air pollution. Immigrant and small-fleet operators who face financial and language barriers to access state financial support will also need to be included in the transition, the report recommends.

The study also advances one of the main goals of the university.

“UC Merced was founded with the mission of placing a world-class public research institution in the central San Joaquin Valley region,” Flores said. 

This is part of a series of profiles of new UC Merced Bobcats enrolled for the fall 2024 semester.

San Joaquin Valley native Anmol Kaur is well on her way to making a splash in the worlds of science and medicine. The Bakersfield resident, coming to UC Merced as a first-year student, parlayed strong experiences in high school into a slot in the second SJV PRIME+ medical education cohort.

Kaur is poised to follow a path taken by her parents, who both have careers in medicine.

Where I come from: I grew up in Bakersfield and graduated from Stockdale High School.

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/af499e86-1f3d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/ac8e5397-1f3d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/f3d9f0ad-1f3d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/4ddc5eb4-1f3d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/ba1bfaf5-1f3d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/6c99d204-203d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/f380fe13-203d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/598a9e1f-203d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/0115bc26-203d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/ebd5373a-203d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

What I’ve done: I maintained a 4.5 GPA in high school and was accepted into the Project Lead the Way biomedical science program. I experienced hands-on activities like analyzing DNA, dissecting organs and conducting a pig autopsy. I co-founded W.I.S.E. (Women in STEM Education), a nonprofit dedicated to inspiring and educating young girls about STEM careers. We supported our community by organizing online seminars, holding robotics and microscopy analysis workshops for middle schoolers, and awarding scholarships to high schoolers.

Why are you excited about coming to UC Merced? As someone who grew up in the Central Valley, UC Merced’s quiet, peaceful location feels like a comfortable fit. My acceptance into the SJV PRIME+ BS/MD pathway was a major factor in my decision to attend the university.

Academic and personal goals: As a biological sciences major, I hope to continue expanding my experience and interest in the fields of science and medicine. With the support of those around me, I am committed to preparing for medical school. Beyond that, I plan to volunteer within my community, connect with new people, and make lasting memories.

My favorite food: All kinds of fruits.

Early bird or night owl? Night owl.

You can teleport anywhere in the world for a three-day weekend. Where do you go? I would love to explore Italy’s scenic towns.

Quotable: “After meeting members of the previous SJV PRIME+ cohort and seeing how close everyone became throughout the year, I am looking forward to gaining new experiences and developing similar relationships.”

UC Merced’s resident shark expert, Professor Sora Kim, will be featured on the prime-time, premiere-night episode of Discovery’s Shark Week discussing an enormous, legendary sea creature that takes on different forms in different cultures but has a basis in science.

At 9 p.m. EDT Sunday, audiences all over the world can watch Kim as she dives with great white sharks off the southern coast of New Zealand for the episode titled “Jaws vs Leviathan.”

Leviathan, a mythological sea monster, has been drawn in various forms throughout the ages, and referenced in such books as the Bible and “Moby Dick.” Most often, it is represented as a serpent or dragon, although some scientists and artists depicted leviathan as just an enormous whale.

In truth, livyatan, or leviathan as it has been dubbed, is a relative of the modern sperm whale, first identified through fossils found in southern Peru. It lived about 12 million to 13 million years ago and became extinct about 5 million years ago, meaning that at one point it existed with megalodon and might have competed for similar food.

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/c51dfd0d-1f3d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/b4de1b19-1f3d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/9b0ede23-1f3d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/25868432-1f3d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/654c4a3f-1f3d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/7049d44a-1f3d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/8ca86757-1f3d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/91b14862-1f3d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/92244e6f-1f3d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/8a2b067c-1f3d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

Leviathan was comparable in size to the 50-foot-plus megalodon and modern sperm whales, which can be up to 52 feet long with 4- to 8-inch teeth.

Leviathan was something like the modern-day orca, but much larger, with much larger teeth and more bite force, given its 3 meter-long head, Kim said.

Although she has been scuba diving and snorkeling and has seen sharks in the wild, this is the first time in her career she has cage-dived with them.

“It was beautiful and surreal,” she said. “I was struck by how curious and agile they are and how fast they can move. They would come in really fast and turn so quickly to swim past the cage. Sometimes you would see them at what seemed like a distance away and suddenly they would be there in front of you.”

She said she observed the animals’ spatial awareness not only of the cages and boat but of each other, and how they interacted and almost acknowledged each other, showing respect for the larger sharks.

On Kim’s first dive, she was accompanied by shark expert and conservationist Tristan Gutteridge, who is often featured in television shows that focus on sharks. She worked with him for Shark Week last year, too, and the time they spent together this year allowed them to talk more about science and potential scientific collaborations.

“I don’t know if this will make it into the episode, but it was really great to have an opportunity for a real scientific discussion with Dr. Gutteridge as well as Odette Howarth and Kina Scollay, two other shark experts featured on the show,” Kim said.

Hazmat Productions, the company that makes shows with a “Jaws vs.” theme each year, flew Kim to New Zealand’s Stewart Island over UC Merced’s spring break to film the episode, including the cage dives.

Stewart Island is the closest to Antarctica she has ever been, though many of the shark-tooth fossils she uses in her research come from the Antarctic region and she has a research project based there.

That was among the reasons she wanted to participate, Kim said. It was also important to her to be part of diversifying ocean science by representing women and those often underrepresented in sciences. Diversity is a theme that has carried over into the summer, as she leads a workshop this month in partnership with the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Minorities in Shark Science.

Recent Berry graduate Morgan Frye is a four-time First Team All-SAA honoree after leading the Vikings softball team to an 18-0 record and a regional championship in her senior year. As an infielder, she led the conference in nearly every offensive category this year. She also won three-straight SAA Athlete of the Week awards in April of 2024. As her final college season comes to a close, her future is just beginning. This fall, she starts a new adventure at Ohio State University in law school, preparing to be an environmental lawyer.

When Morgan considered colleges, she had two things that were important to her — studying environmental science and playing softball. Berry College was committed to letting her pursue both, an attitude that she valued since other schools had encouraged her to choose. After a few months in environmental science classes, Morgan felt she wanted to make a difference as an environmental lawyer.

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/85f70584-1e3d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/830cb59c-1e3d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/484fa3aa-1e3d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/21161cb7-1e3d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/7fff1fc0-1e3d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/d452f6cb-1e3d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/87b023dc-1e3d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/c65cd5e8-1e3d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/30fb12f7-1e3d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/8a0ed002-1f3d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

“My academic advisor and professor, Dr. Zachary Taylor, encouraged me to pursue law and helped me academically pace myself as a student-athlete. He connected me with my Lifeworks job,” says Morgan.

Taylor and one of her legal studies professors introduced Morgan to Danny Price, the in-house counsel at Berry College. Price also played a college sport and understood what Morgan was juggling. In her new job, Morgan practiced writing legal memos and other documents that gave her valuable exposure. Danny Price also helped her network, getting her a visit to the Georgia Supreme Court and introductions with some of the justices. She’s also sat in on his mediations, arbitrations and other sessions, giving her a clear picture of the daily work of lawyers.

“My Lifeworks job made all the difference getting into law school and finding my path. Every week or two, Danny Price would meet with me to talk about his work, the work I’d done and what I could learn from it. He also wrote me recommendations, gave me insight into the application process and helped me compare different law schools. Unlike other lawyers, he serves in a variety of legal situations. He’s involved in and covers all the college’s legal needs, giving me a wide variety of experiences too.”

Morgan also, of course, valued the lessons she’s learned on the softball field. “I love the team aspect of this sport,” says Morgan. “It taught me how to communicate with different types of people. My teammates came from different backgrounds, and in D3 sports, the make-up of the team is always changing.”

Looking back on her Berry experience, Morgan says, “Softball has been a strong community and support system for me, but this is also something that Berry builds into every student’s first-year experience. If you’re a student-athlete, choose Berry for Berry. At the end of the day, your sport may play an important role in college, but school is what takes you the rest of the way.”

Caitlin Herring ’24 chose Berry College for its early research opportunities because she was eager to start making scientific discoveries. The only catch? She was unsure which branch of science to explore. Through her classes and laboratory work, and with a faculty mentor’s support, Caitlin found her direction — and national recognition. Plans for her next stop? Pursuing a graduate degree in computational chemistry, with sights set on a research career.

“I love the endless possibilities of chemistry,” Caitlin says. “I find it fascinating how molecules interact to make up our world.”

Joining the laboratory of Quentin Johnson, an assistant professor of biochemistry, after freshman year helped sharpen her focus. Johnson “has given me patience, kindness, and loads of advice,” Caitlin says. “I was extremely nervous about my lack of coding skills and biochemistry knowledge, but he taught me what I needed to know, explaining concepts until I understood.”

In Johnson’s lab, Caitlin modeled molecular activity on a computer in an effort to improve treatments for cystic fibrosis patients. While existing medications target the most common protein mutation triggering the disease, the specific locations where drug molecules bind to the problematic protein are unknown.

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/2bdd64fd-1d3d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/b2465f0e-1e3d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/216d241b-1e3d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/3ee36128-1e3d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/cae1ff32-1e3d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/0dfe463f-1e3d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/67bb654a-1e3d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/66f0e158-1e3d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/464ee265-1e3d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/4b993170-1e3d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

“Our research analyzes potential binding sites to discover the most probable site,” Caitlin says. “This information could lead to a modification of current drug designs. For example, if the binding pocket is an oval, and your drug [molecule] is a circle, the drug would work fine, but it would work more efficiently if you shaped the drug to be an oval.” Caitlin was listed as a researcher when the prestigious national journal Biochemistry reported the lab’s findings in 2023.

Caitlin also made a poster presentation at the American Chemical Society’s 2022 national meeting, where she connected with professionals as well as students and faculty from other universities. Participating in the conference boosted her confidence about explaining her research to scientists, she says. Caitlin also became a mentor herself, leading and training four other students in Johnson’s lab.

Rounding out her exploration of chemistry, she gained valuable experience working in the field’s manufacturing side through a summer internship with CJB Industries, located in her hometown of Valdosta, Georgia. There she shadowed chemists using specialized equipment to ensure quality control of insecticide and fungicide products. After a week, Caitlin tested those products herself under supervision.

She advises future students with an interest in science to keep an open mind. “It’s okay if the first thing you try isn’t for you,” she says, noting that Berry offers a wide variety of courses and opportunities to investigate. “The main thing you need for the sciences is a willingness to learn. That’s the only way to find what you like.”

A Berry College rising senior is one of 438 students nationwide who were recently named a 2024 Goldwater Scholar.

Hannah Blanton, of Norcross, was selected from a pool of over 5,000 students and the 1,353 nominated by their academic institutions. The Goldwater Scholarship, named after Senator Barry Goldwater, is the preeminent award for undergraduate students in science, mathematics and engineering. Each Goldwater Scholar annually receives financial aid for tuition, books, housing and other financial needs up to a $7,500 maximum.

Blanton is an honors student majoring in biology with the cellular and biomedical concentration and minoring in chemistry and One Health. In her time at Berry, she has presented research at two microbiology conferences and written two grants. She has worked with her research mentor, Associate Professor of Biology DeLacy Rhodes, since her freshman year as a research assistant, lab assistant and teaching assistant.

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/9cfd9f54-1b3d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/1071e88a-1b3d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/c23131a5-1b3d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/6ebecab4-1b3d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/2108e8c2-1b3d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/d02f03ca-1b3d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/0a79e6e5-1b3d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/3dfeeef0-1b3d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/e42559e5-1d3d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

https://sb-dev.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/forums/general-discussion/9607ccf0-1d3d-ef11-a297-00224806ca90

“Mentoring Hannah has been an enjoyable and rewarding experience,” Rhodes said. “She is the ideal research student: She is intelligent, hardworking, and shows a great deal of scientific curiosity. It has been amazing watching Hannah learn and grow as a scientist!”

Currently, Blanton is researching the bacterium called streptococcus equi subspecies equi that causes the strangles disease in horses. Specifically, she is studying how biofilms play a role in the ability of bacteria to set up and maintain an infection.

After she graduates, she plans to obtain her Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology and lead research at a federal agency.

“Antibiotic resistance is an urgent concern in the healthcare field that I plan to research in my future career,” Blanton says. “At the completion of my Ph.D., I hope to lead a diverse research team that will make significant contributions to the development of alternative treatment options against antibiotic resistant bacterial infections.”

As a Berry student, Blanton excels not only in the laboratory and classroom but also in extracurriculars. She helped co-found the Asian American-Pacific Islander Student Group, serving as its president her sophomore year, and currently serves in leadership for the student-led campus ministry, Common Worship. She was part of the Lambda Sigma Sophomore Honors Society and receives Berry’s LifeWorks Scholarship.

Blanton is the fourth Berry student to earn the Goldwater Scholarship since 2019. For more information about Berry’s biology major, please visit https://www.berry.edu/academics/majors/biology/.

                                                ###

Written by Public Relations Student Assistant Elizabeth Chandler

Office of Public Relations