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Month: December 2023

The silent storm: The climate crisis’ impact on student mental health

Posted on by Laura Lightfinch

‘Climate anxiety’ has gained increasing traction in the media, but the relationship between climate change and mental health is a relatively new study, especially in higher education. According to a new report from Student Minds, the UK’s student mental health charity, the impact of the climate crisis on students’ mental health and wellbeing is significant.

The October 2023 report reveals that from the sample of students surveyed, 71 percent are quite or very concerned about climate change, while 90 percent say it impacts their mental health and wellbeing in the preceding four weeks.

This is unsurprising, given the urgency to find solutions across every discipline to mitigate the impacts of climate change on both the environment and humanity.

Jade Mayum studies environmental science at the University of California, Berkeley, which is ranked second in the QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2024. Alongside her studies, Mayum works for the university’s Student Environmental Resource Centre on the Nature Education and Wellbeing Together programme.

When asked if she feels the pressure to shape the world and have an impact on the climate crisis, Mayum says: “Definitely. In class, I learn about many problems facing the world and the further threat we face if more action isn’t taken and it can feel overwhelming. I often wonder how I can fix it all.”

There is collective anxiety among her peers to figure out how to make an impact while trying to succeed in their modules and assignments, according to Mayum. “None of us want to leave and have wasted the opportunity we had at university, so there is a definite pressure to solve every problem we can. It’s impossible, really.”

A strong desire to make a difference

In the Student Minds report, students widely expressed a desire to make a positive contribution to tackling climate change but often felt like they didn’t know where to start.

“We can no longer ignore that climate change is happening and we can’t ignore the impacts it’s having on mental health either,” says Jenny Smith, policy manager for Student Minds and author of the report. “It’s understandable and very normal to have an emotional reaction to what is ultimately an existential threat to humanity.

“The earlier we deal with it, the better, but it’s about how we do that safely in an emotional and psychological sense. How do we make students feel encouraged and hopeful about the positive impact they can have? How do we provide them with skills and tactics to be able to make a difference as well as supporting them to cope with the negative feelings associated with climate change?”

Data from the QS International Student Survey 2023, which captures the motivations and expectations of 116,000 students across 194 countries, illustrates that prospective students are increasingly looking at universities’ sustainability and social justice efforts in their decision-making.

Now that students are looking to universities for sustainable leadership, the question is how universities are helping students hold onto their ambitions and feel inspired while the climate crisis continues to have a negative impact on their mental health.

Beyond education, students need direction in how to make change

Matthew Lawson is the Senior SRS Learning, Teaching and Reporting Manager in the Department for Social Responsibility and Sustainability (SRS) at the University of Edinburgh, which was ranked 15th in the QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2024.

Lawson is responsible for embedding sustainability and social justice into the academic curriculum and student experience, which includes all undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

“We understand that every student will be impacted by climate change and the wider environmental crises we face,” Lawson says. “We also know there is a need for stronger professional development that not only helps students to understand the issues facing our world but helps them to see where they can take action.”

For Lawson, the key to supporting students in managing their studies and mental health is developing resilience. “Students and graduates have the power to shape global politics as they take their skills into their respective fields and into leadership positions, even influencing policy,” he says.

“We must inspire students and give them hope in a rapidly changing world with various challenges. From giving students the opportunity to talk about how the climate crisis is impacting their feelings to giving them opportunities to fail forward and develop competencies that might not always work out, but in the safe space of a university.”

The power of student-led organisations

At Uppsala University in Sweden, ranked 11th place in the QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2024, the Centre for Environment and Development Studies enables students to request courses on topics in the field of environment, development and sustainability that transcend what is available in the curriculum.

It is an interdisciplinary student-initiated hub for education which director, Mikael Höök, says is increasingly popular. “There has been a definite increase in students wanting to learn about topics like climate psychology, food production and climate change leadership,” he says.

“The centre has created a strong atmosphere for fostering and creating longer-term engagement in the climate crisis and environmental issues. We have students who take one of our courses and come back to work as a course coordinator with us. We’ve had students work with us at the centre before graduating to work in a sustainability division within the government or in industry.

“It’s important to actively support students in making change and student-driven education is a strong chord in providing that support – enabling students to decide what is important, work with others across various disciplines and engage in tangible change with local communities,” says Höök.

In fact, according to the Student Minds report, 66 percent believe that universities should work with student leaders and student unions to run more student-led sustainability initiatives around the climate crisis.

Jacqueline Canchola-Martinez studies conservation and resource studies with geography at UC Berkeley, working alongside Mayum in the Student Environmental Resource Centre (SERC). Canchola-Martinez is from the Central Valley in California, where her community is already feeling the effects of environmental injustice.

Student-led groups have provided Canchola-Martinez with a community of people who care about the climate as much as she does. “Organisations like SERC and the Students of Color Environmental Collective that I’m part of make me feel supported,” she says. “I feel surrounded by people who understand environmental justice and have a mutual understanding of the urgency we face.”

“It helps me to see that it’s not all doom and gloom. There are people actively looking for solutions and it makes me feel like I’m a part of the solution.”

Do student health services have a role to play in supporting climate anxiety?
At Uppsala University, the student health service is prepared to support students with anxiety and depression that comes from a range of lived experiences, whether it’s climate change, financial anxiety or other anxieties.

The university recently offered a lecture by a climate psychologist who spoke on the impact of climate anxiety and how to deal with it. Ulrika Svalfors, Head of Student Health Services at Uppsala University, says: “Students do mention climate concerns in conversation with the health service, but climate anxiety doesn’t seem to make students lose their ability to mentalise.

“Instead, they seem to be able to transform their climate anxiety into action, something that does not happen to the same extent when it comes to other types of anxiety and worry.”

For Smith, policy manager at Student Minds, it’s also important that we don’t medicalise anxiety and depression caused by the climate crisis. “The fact that some students are finding it difficult is a normal reaction. It shouldn’t be something that is treated but that students are provided with the tools to manage their feelings around it.”

She adds: “Learning about climate change and environmental issues can be overwhelming, so we need to provide strong morale so that students can see hope and opportunities to engage in environmental efforts. We want them to go out into the world and have the capacity to contribute to our societal issues as professionals.

“Their voices matter and it’s important that their feelings and their needs are taken seriously.”

Read more articles like this from QS Insights Magazine, Issue 11.

Singapore Management University Expands Regional Presence with Overseas Centre in Bangkok

Posted on by corinnekang

Singapore Management University (SMU) is taking a significant step in its mission to foster knowledge-sharing and regional collaboration with the opening of its second Overseas Centre in Bangkok, Thailand. SMU Overseas Centre Bangkok (OCB) will serve to catalyse, facilitate and coordinate for SMU in Thailand by leveraging the university’s expertise and offerings, cultivating its local network and creating opportunities for new collaborations and partnerships between SMU and Thai institutions. It will also connect interested parties such as businesses, academia and potential students with the various programmes SMU has to offer.

This strategic move is part of SMU’s Vision 2025, through which it has committed to furthering growth in Asia by offering a deep understanding of Asia’s economy, polity and society that will contribute to the region’s social and economic development. It follows the successful launch of SMU’s first overseas centre in Jakarta in 2022. SMU plans to further strengthen its presence in the region with the opening of another overseas centre in Ho Chi Minh City next, advancing its “Growth in Asia” strategic priority.

“The selection of Thailand as the location for our second Overseas Centre is the result of both strategic intent and strong relationships with our Thai partners,” SMU President Professor Lily Kong said. “Thailand is a major economy in Southeast Asia and a rising player in shaping the future of Asia as a whole. We believe our presence in Thailand will allow us to contribute research and expertise in vital fields such as sustainability and digital transformation and our vision is aligned with Thailand’s aspirations for a sustainable and knowledge-driven future. SMU is committed to making a meaningful impact on local communities and economies in Asia through education, research, and innovation, and OCB is a testament to our dedication to knowledge-sharing and positive community impact in this dynamic region.”

To fulfil this role, SMU via OCB will collaborate with local partners in education and industry to bolster human capital development in Thailand and promote the exchange of knowledge and expertise. OCB will primarily focus on student exchanges, experiential learning, thought leadership events, executive development courses, post-graduate programmes and adult learning courses. These areas will facilitate knowledge exchange and collaboration between both countries, with OCB acting as SMU’s “embassy” in Thailand, promoting the university’s values, knowledge base, culture, and interests in the region.

OCB will be led by Centre Director Ms Celine Kuok. Residing in Thailand since 2017, Ms Kuok brings a wealth of experience and a robust network within the higher education sector. Her extensive background in developing leadership programmes and a strong business acumen place her in a good position for OCB to make a positive impact on the local community and the region at large.

Always on Alert for Balance Loss with “The Balance Assessment Device,” An Outstanding Innovation by Chula Researcher

Posted on by Chulalongkorn University

Chula Engineering lecturer’s innovation “The Balance Assessment Device”—gold medal winner at ITEX 2023, Malaysia, and recipient of World Invention Intellectual Property Associations’ (WIIPA) Special Award (Gold Medal)—checks body balance and balance loss for behavior changes and fall prevention to promote fall risk awareness and knowledge.

Standing in public buses, Chatchanee Pakavatsoontorn, an adjunct lecturer in the International School of Engineering (ISE), Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, has found herself losing her balance occasionally.

“Is this balance loss normal? How can I solve this to have a better balance?”  Chatchanee’s search for the answer to this question has led to her innovation, “The Balance Assessment Device,” which enables everyone to assess their balance simply by stepping onto the device. With support from the Chula Spin-off Club, this innovation has won the gold medal at the 34th International Invention, Innovation & Technology Exhibition (ITEX 2023) in addition to the World Invention Intellectual Property Associations’ (WIIPA) Special Award (Gold Medal) at the same event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

“This innovation originated from the fact that I found myself frequently losing balance on public buses. Researching to find a solution, I found that a personal balance assessment device didn’t exist. This has led to this innovation which would help us train our body or adjust our behavior.”

Chatchanee aims this for such medical purposes as screening, preliminary health assessment, balance analysis for physical therapy, and exercise planning. Besides, this device can be used for personality training for certain professions.

Poor balance and ataxia: Invisible illness

Ataxia is a balance symptom found in every physical movement. An unbalanced walking causes instability and can lead to a deadly fall.

Poor balance is due to many causes, including heredity, disease, injury, lifestyle, and physical condition, especially for muscles, joints, the sensory nervous system, signal transmission, and the brain system.

“Our ears affect our balance, and irregularity in one ear can make us lose our balance while moving. Our lifestyles, especially for those in the professions that require muscular strength, also affect our balance,” Chatchanee cites a few possible causes for poor balance.

“With the naked eye, poor balance can be roughly detected. Usually, we’re only aware of our poor balance when we stagger and fall. A device that analyzes our balance can then alert us so that we can adjust our behavior and prevent any fall.”

Multiple balance analyses by a single device

A Deep Tech innovation, the Balance Assessment Device is compact, lightweight, and portable, with only two main components, namely a standing platform and a USB cord connecting it to a computer, tablet, or mobile phone for display of analysis results.

“Apart from basic data such as weight and Body Mass Index (BMI), this device can also measure our balance area and distance. With such data, we can figure out if the way we lose our balance while, for example, standing on public transport like a bus, train, boat, standing, or walking in daily life is considered normal in comparison with others of the same sex and age group. Then, we can analyze whether we need to adjust our behavior accordingly,” explains Chatchanee.

This device is user-friendly. One can simply connect the USB cord to a tablet, a mobile phone, or a computer and then step onto the platform like step procedures that of a weight scale. The balance analysis result will then be displayed in real-time with Microsoft Excel.

Anyone can assess their balance

The Balance Assessment Device is not only for elderly people but also anyone older than four (or 10 kilograms and more), including athletes, exercise people, and those who want to develop their personality. All can benefit from this innovation differently according to their age groups and needs.

Athletes and Active People 

The Balance Assessment Device can be used to analyze an individual’s balance in sports clubs or fitness centers for health enthusiasts, those who dance or do aerobics to strengthen their legs, people who work with machinery like factory workers, people who work in high places like construction workers, as well as to assess child development. Experts can then suggest training routine and behavior change accordingly.

It’s similar to step procedures on weight scales already found in fitness centers, but it can check your balance without the need to attach sensors in the body or wear a special suit.”

Personality enhancement for certain professions such as flight attendants, masters of ceremonies (MCs), newscasters, and actors.

Balance assessment for medical purposes

Having put the Balance Assessment Device into practice, Chatchanee notes, “We’ve tested in three hospitals, and the doctors have positive responses, especially for physicians and pediatricians who would like to have it for patient screening as it can assess balance, and balance area, in real-time using any device with Microsoft Excel capability without the need to install any additional software. It can help lighten the medical personnel’s load and be easily accessed by patients who live farther away from the hospitals.”

Besides, this innovation is for autistic and Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) people as well as concussion patients, as the results from their balance analyses can be applied in the planning rehabilitation process.

“Autistic and ADHD people have balance problems, and so we need to help them regain their balance and redevelop their attention.”

Apart from The Balance Assessment Device, Chatchanee has developed other devices for balance, such as her walking stick innovation “Smart Devices for People: Self Balancing Stick” and “Semisitting Vehicle”.

“Most elderly people don’t like using the walking stick: they believe it would weaken them. The walking stick considerably helps those with balance problems, and that’s why we’ve developed the Smart Flow walking stick innovation and Semisitting Vehicle innovation for them.” Moreover, we have developed semi-sitting vehicles to serve the aging society as an alternative mode of transportation and logistics in narrow spaces.

Good balance, good health

As for the future, Chatchanee plans to further develop the device so that it can also analyze data for the visual system, central nervous system (CNS), sensory nervous system, auditory system, and other systems that either connect to or affect balance.

“This innovation is a simple tool that can assist the doctor in assessing fall risks among elderly people, encouraging behavioral changes, promoting fall prevention, and raising fall risk awareness and knowledge. Anyone can use it to check their balance and status. It can help lighten the medical personnel’s load and create public well-being.”

If you’re interested in the Balance Assessment Device, please get in touch with us at [email protected], Facebook Page: Design Up, LINE Official Account: Design Up (https://lin.ee/UsxvGgv).

Survival of the Fittest? New Study Shows How Cancer Cells Use Cell Competition to Evade Body’s Defenses

Posted on by Tokyo University of Science

Cell competition, a defense system orchestrated by epithelial cells to suppress cancer formation, is altered in epithelial cells with sequential mutations. Activated Ras mutant epithelial cells, which would normally be eliminated into the lumen, instead infiltrate into the tissue to form invasive tumors. The underlying mechanisms were found to be increased MMP21 expression, via activation of NF-κB signaling. Analysis using human samples suggests that the NF-κB-MMP21 pathway contributes to early colorectal cancer progression.

Living cells compete with each other and try to adapt to the local environment. Cells that are unable to do so are eliminated eventually. This cellular competition is crucial as the surrounding normal epithelial cells use it to identify and eliminate mutant cancer cells. Studies have reported that when activating mutants of “Ras” proteins are expressed in mammalian epithelial cells, they are pushed toward the lumen, excreted along with other bodily waste, and eliminated by competition. Epithelial cells containing Ras mutants have been reported to be removed in this manner in several organs, including the small intestine, stomach, pancreas, and lungs. This suggests that cell competition is an innate defense system orchestrated by epithelial cells to prevent the accumulation of incidentally produced cancerous cells and thereby suppress cancer formation.

In general, mutations in multiple genes accumulate in a stepwise manner when normal cells become cancerous. However, it is not known how cell competition is affected by this process.

For instance, human colorectal cancer develops when the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene becomes dysfunctional and activates “Wnt signaling,” followed by the activation of Ras signaling.

In a recent study, a team of researchers from Japan, led by Associate Professor Shunsuke Kon of the Department of Cancer Biology, Institute of Biomedical Research and Innovation, Tokyo University of Science (TUS), examined the effects of the accumulation of stepwise gene mutations on cell competition and investigated the role of cell competition in the actual cancer formation process. Their study was published in Nature Communications on November 3, 2023 with Mr. Kazuki Nakai, a third year PhD student at the Graduate School of Life Sciences in TUS, as the lead author.

The study results showed that when Wnt signals were activated in epithelial cells, cell competition function was altered. Activated Ras mutant epithelial cells, which would normally be eliminated into the lumen, instead infiltrated diffusely into the tissue to form highly invasive cancerous tumors.

As senior author Dr. Kon explains, “We discovered that in epithelial tissues where Wnt and Ras signals, which commonly occur in human colorectal cancer, are activated in stages, the function of cell competition is altered. It was revealed that the production of cancer cells that diffusely infiltrate into the interstitium is promoted.”

Further, the research team identified an increased expression of matrix metalloproteinase 21 (MMP21) as one of the mechanisms underlying the production of diffusely invasive cancer cells in early colorectal cancer due to abnormal cell competition. This, in turn, was shown to be directly caused by activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signals via the innate immune system. Blocking NF-κB signaling restored the luminal elimination of Ras mutant epithelial cells. These findings raise some intriguing questions, such as “How do transformed cells sense the cellular content that leads to the NF-B-MMP21 pathway?” and “How do surrounding cells recognize transformed cells and prepare them for cellular extrusion?” These questions will almost certainly need to be addressed in the future.

The results of this research show that cancer cells with accumulated, sequential genetic mutations, alter the function of cell competition and use it to enhance their own invasive ability. Instead of being eliminated to the lumen, they infiltrate into the tissue, producing high-grade cancer cells. While the research team did note that the cancer histopathology of the mice used in this study resembled diffuse-type cancer in humans, future research is needed to determine whether the NF-κB-MMP21 pathway is relevant to other cancers. For instance, investigating scirrhous gastric cancer, a typical diffuse-type cancer, would be particularly interesting.

Overall, these findings demonstrate that Wnt activation disrupts cell competition, and confers invasive properties on transformed cells to escape primary epithelial sites. Understanding how the molecular landscape is re-modeled to change the fate of cancer cells with high mutational burdens could be used for therapeutic purposes. This could be of interest to researchers focused on Wnt signaling or cancer research, such as those at the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT and Cancer Research UK, who are working towards common goals.

Dr. Kon concludes by saying, “This study further brings forth the prospect that cell competition constrains the order of appearance of mutations during tumor development, highlighting a link between cell competition and carcinogenesis. We hope that this will pave the way for the development of new cancer treatments from the standpoint of cell competition and infiltration for the benefit of our society.”

Thammasat students win Thailand Championship in writing program to control a ‘NASA robot’

Posted on by Thammasat University

“Galactic4”, a team of 4 second-year students in Computer Engineering, Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology (SIIT), Thammasat University won the first prize in the Astrobee Robot Programming Competition of the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) operating on the International Space Station (ISS) to perform the assigned mission under the “The 4th Kibo Robot Programming Challenge” project.

The project is a collaboration between the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and partner agencies in organizing a competition to search for “Thailand Youth Representative Team” to participate in the international championship round at the Tsukuba Space Center, Japan.

For the competition under “The 4th Kibo Robot Programming Challenge” project, there were a total of 182 teams participating. The contestants had to write a robot controller program using JAVA to control the Astrobee robot. In which the “Galactic4” team from SIIT Thammasat, consisting of Natthawin Yamprasert, Dechatorn Dasri, Kasidit Sanrak and Chiwanon Chulikorn, was able to successfully win the championship and received a prize worth 20,000 Thai baht with a certificate and will represent the Thailand youth team to participate in the international championship round with teams from Kibo-ABC member countries such as USA, Japan, Singapore, Australia, etc.

Natthawin Yamprasert, second-year computer engineering student, SIIT, as the leader of the Galactic4 team revealed that the challenge of the competition is a computer programming mission in a simulation system to control the Astrobee astronaut assistant robot to solve the simulated chemical leak incident inside the space station which is written using an essential language like JAVA that is taught in SIIT during the first year.

Natthawin said that for such a competition, he heard the news about the recruitment from his parents. Therefore, he joined a group with his second year classmates at SIIT, Thammasat University to try adopting and applying what he learned in real life by starting from roughly planning the workflow and using the free time during the semester break to split work. Each person will start with writing their own program and later being put together for testing in the simulation system until the results are obtained, then continue to be improved and developed.

“In fact, our work was completed and operational within the first two weeks of the competition and although the result was quite good we thought that it could still be better, so we continued to make improvements until the final stage of submitting the work, ”Natthawin stated.

Natthawin said that the Galactic4 team intends to move forward as robustly as possible as a representative of Thailand. From now on it is necessary to manage the training schedule along with studying and adapting to the new rules which, of course, may have to be more tiring. However, it is a positive encouragement that I believe will be a good opportunity to open up new experiences.

Natthawin also said that in terms of programming with JAVA, even though he had studied and had basic knowledge of this subject in the beginning but received more skill enhancement from attending classes in the Faculty. Another key factor is unity in working together as a team. Within the fence of SIIT is an opportunity that allows me to get to know a group of teammates that all share similar learning habits and that each person has different skills and hidden abilities awaiting to be brought out for real use exactly like with this competition.

“This achievement would not be successful with just one of us but the talent and energy of each and every member. At the same time, we do not underestimate ourselves, the game and the rules. If we stop after the first time we finish and think it’s completely fine. But when we think we can do better and we want to be ahead of others, we then keep doing and continue to develop further until the best version is achieved,” Nattawin said.

Klub Jantung Remaja (KJR) North Sumatra: Providing Solutions to Adolescent Heart Health Issues

Posted on by Eunola Publisher

Adolescence is a critical stage in life. Teenagers usually explore new experiences during this stage and confront the difficulty of participating in rigorous activities without constraints. This is a test phase for everything that will help them in the future, including their career and health.

However, health difficulties are frequently an impediment for teenagers. Many people believe that life at this stage is a time of great freedom. They ignore one critical issue: health concerns. Improving lifestyles is an excellent strategy to alleviate teenagers’ existing problems. This is because adolescence is a valuable time for adolescents in good bodily and psychological health.

The Klub Jantung Remaja (KJR) was founded to promote the awareness of Indonesian youth about healthy living, notably heart and vascular disorders, through various educational and counseling programs. KJR is a branch of the Indonesian Heart Foundation that focuses on healthy living for teenagers.

Nurhasanah, or Hasanah, is the active coordinator of North Sumatra’s Klub Jantung Remaja (KJR). Nurhasanah, also known as Hasanah, has been involved in a variety of activities since she was in high school. She was hired as the Coordinator of KJR North Sumatra after graduating from North Sumatra University (USU).

“The Healthy Heart Exercise is a regular program at KJR North Sumatra.” This exercise is open to the public and occurs four times a week on open fields, such as Ahmad Yani Park on Tuesdays, Telkom on Thursdays and Saturdays, and PTPN 4 on Sundays, beginning at 7:00 a.m. KJR is active in one of the programs of the Indonesian Heart Foundation (YJI). So, every time the Healthy Heart Exercise is held, anybody exercising nearby, whether teenagers or adults, can participate,” Hasanah stated in an interview.

Aside from healthy exercise, KJR also offers educational lectures to its members every month. “Young people still in high school or college are welcome to join KJR.” You will receive many knowledge and perks, such as educational lectures. “As a result, each member will be equipped with knowledge on how to care for the heart, good foods to consume, symptoms of heart disease and how to handle them, and other heart-related education,” Hasanah explained. Finally, Hasanah voiced her hope: “Never overlook heart health.” You will feel the impact on your body in the future if you start with a little more like joining a health community.

WUACD Summit 2023 discusses SDGs, collaborations and next year programs

Posted on by Universitas Airlangga News

In supporting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), universities contribute to preparing community development programs. Institutions play a role in fostering broad cooperation in line with SDGs point 17, “Partnership for the goals”.

It aligns with the mission of Universitas Airlangga’s World University Association for Community Development (WUACD). The WUACD is a platform for integrated collaboration among universities worldwide. The platform aims to discuss strategic partnerships among member universities to foster international cooperation related to the three pillars (tri dharma) in higher education, exchange data, and evaluate the implementation of SDGs at UNAIR and universities worldwide.

This year, UNAIR hosted the WUACD Summit 2023 at the El Hotel Banyuwangi on Tuesday, November 21, 2023. The event hosted delegations from 26 institutions worldwide. This year, the theme revolves around SDG point 14 Life Below Water, collaborating with the East Java Provincial Government. Preserving the aquatic environment is key to building a better ecological environment.

University collaboration

Vice-Rector for Research, Innovation, and Community Development, Prof. Dr. Ni Nyoman Tri Puspaningsih MSi, hopes that the association will allow members to collaborate on community development programs and community service across various countries. She believed that it would have a bigger impact.

“This consortium can serve as a platform to strengthen collaboration among universities worldwide,” she said.

She hoped that the discussion would generate awareness and concern for community development programs in Indonesia and around the world. “Thank you so much to all members for your dedication and contributions. May we continue to make a real impact,” she said.

She believed that the goals and commitments from all parties would bring about positive impacts in sustainable community development.

Discussing WUACD programs in 2024

Dr. Niko Azhari Hidayat, Sp.BTKV(K) stated that some SDG programs for 2024 were also discussed. The programs vary in the fields of economics, education, community development, and health. The programs will be handled by the new coordinators of WUACD, Dr. Rahmat Yuliawan SE MM AWP CHRM and Prof Ira Nurmala SKM MPH PhD from Universitas Airlangga, and Associate Prof Dr. Mohd Roslan Rosnon from Universiti Putra Malaysia.

The commitments will be realized in several programs, such as the summer program, international conference, Airlangga Grant and Matching Fund on Community Development, and WUACD International Community Development. “They will submit activity proposals. We will also map out which universities will implement these programs,” he said.

He hoped that UNAIR would continuously be an initiator to generate, direct, and lead the university members to achieve SDGs. “We would like to show the world that UNAIR excels in community development and brings positive impacts at the global scale,” he said.

During the agenda, the signing of memorandums of understanding with new members was also held. Among them are Griffith University, Allama Iqbal Open University, and the University of The Punjab.

Focusing collaborative endeavors on prosthetics, rehabilitation

Posted on by Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute

The Ukrainian Peace Council and the Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute (KPI) are expanding their horizons and starting to cooperate in a prosthetics and rehabilitation project with Northwell Health, the U.S. largest healthcare provider within New York state. The meeting, which took place at KPI on the initiative of Volodymyr Yurchenko, head of the Ukrainian Peace Council’s youth wing, was also attended by representatives from several NGOs that constantly support Ukraine.

Mykhailo Zgurovsky, Head of the Ukrainian Peace Council and KPI Rector, thanked the guests for their invaluable assistance extended to Ukraine, which is estimated at dozens of ambulances for our army and millions of dollars.

Briefly highlighting KPI’s achievements over its 125-year history, he pointed out that the University, the Ukrainian Peace Council, and the Environmental Safety Council also provide comprehensive assistance to the Ukrainian army.

During the meeting, special attention was paid to the Center for Prosthetics and Rehabilitation, which is being established at KPI. Vitaliy Pasichnyk, KPI Vice-Rector for Science, presented the concept of this project, which is carried out in cooperation with several partners, including KPI, the Sikorsky Challenge Innovation Holding, Kolo Charitable Foundation, Bez Obmenzhen (No Limits) Center, and the U+ Center. The project’s mission is to improve the quality of life of people affected by war and other events that led to amputations.

Vitaliy Pasichnyk outlined five main tasks: first, scaling up the range of cutting-edge prosthetic technologies to meet the needs of more people; second, creating a new Ukrainian product in the field of biotechnology that will be competitive on the global market; third, physical and psychological rehabilitation of persons injured in the war; fourth, developing and adopting best practices and standards of training prosthetists and rehabilitators; fifth, creating and developing a system of acquiring new professions and skills for people with disabilities.

The presentation was followed by a discussion about potential areas of cooperation. Todd Goldstein, who is in charge of 3D design and innovation at Northwell Health, promised to share his experience of using digital technologies and crafting new, biocompatible materials for prostheses. In addition, he proposed to involve research teams from Northwell Health’s partner universities in cooperation with the Ukrainian Center for Prosthetics and Rehabilitation.

Eric Cioe-Pena, Vice President of the Center for Global Health at Northwell Health, emphasized their organization’s principle of cooperation and partnership. He commended the well-thought-out concept of the Ukrainian center, especially in terms of the partnership between science and industry. Mr. Cioe-Pena assured that Northwell Health would share its experience of making prostheses. The participants in the meeting concurred that exchanging ideas and information on a professional level would benefit everyone. In particular, Mykhailo Zgurovsky proposed sending detailed information on the solutions and approaches applied at the Center for Prosthetics and Rehabilitation to the American colleagues, who, in turn, would provide their vision and proposals for further cooperation.

The meeting participants also agreed to cooperate in future humanitarian projects initiated by the Ukrainian Peace Council and the Environmental Safety Council.

KATRU wins more than USD 8.5 million in research funding, highest ever won by Kazakhstan university

Posted on by Muhammad Sheraz

Kazakh Agrotechnical Research University (KATRU) has won 4000,000,000 billion tenge (USD 8,695,652) in research funding from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which is the largest amount of funding a Kazakhstani university has won for research.
The state funding will be provided to KATRU, also known as Seifullin University, to implement a scientific and technical program: “Development of new technologies of organic production and processing of agricultural products”.
Under the plan, within the next three years, new technologies of organic production and processing of agricultural products will be developed that will be based on the principles of “green economy” and regional technological parks and engineering centers of the agro-industrial complex.

The program objectives include:

The development of innovative technologies for feeding, keeping, breeding, and selection of agricultural animals based on the principles of organic production specific to local conditions, creating pilot-module production for widespread distribution in animal husbandry;
– development of innovative technologies in the cultivation, breeding, and selection of plant crops based on the principles of organic farming, creating experimental modular production for widespread distribution in crop production;
– development of innovative technologies for the processing of animal and vegetable raw materials based on the principles of organic agriculture by creating modular production of environmentally friendly products of various assortments;
– development of effective technologies for soil bioremediation and restoration of soil fertility during cleaning of contaminated agricultural areas;
– introducing innovative technologies into the educational and production process in the field of agriculture, creating regional technoparks and high-tech engineering centers in the agro-industrial complex;
– develop an informational and analytical database of innovations in the field of organic agriculture by creating a digital platform for agricultural organizations.

USU Research Collaboration on Supplement for Stunting Reduction

Posted on by Editorial Team

Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), in collaboration with Bina Nusantara University (Binus) and the Government of Serdang Bedagai (Sergai) Regency, North Sumatra, and PT Mega Medica Pharmaceuticals (MMP LLC), has conducted research on a supplement targeted to reduce stunting in the regency that has successfully reduced the stunting rate by up to 38%. The 6-month research collaboration, involving 20 community health centers, six sub-districts, and 243 villages in Serdang Bedagai Regency, demonstrated that the syrup containing a combination of snakehead fish, andrographis paniculata, and turmeric extracts from MMP LLC has proven effective in reducing stunting.

The Head of the Research Team, Prof. Bens Pardamean, B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D., stated in the research report on the prevalence of stunting in the regency that the study was conducted through an Integrated Database System. Sergai Regency is currently implementing a stunting intervention program involving distributing products from MMP LLC, providing supplementary food, and combining both. Bens Pardamean mentioned that the Stunting DB application facilitated the recording, storage, and access of data for analyzing the impact of the program or intervention on the growth and development of stunted toddlers.

This information was presented during the presentation of stunting research results at the Reflection on Stunting Innovation event with Bina Nusantara University. The event was attended by the Regent of Sergai, H. Darma Wijaya, several regional leaders, the Head of the National Population and Family Planning Agency, Dr. Hasto Wardoyo, Sp. OG (K), and other distinguished figures such as Prof. Dr. dr. Sarma Nursani Lumban Raja, Sp.OG (K) and Dr. rer dr. M. Ichwan, M.Sc, the Dean of Faculty of Medicine, USU, Prof. Dr. dr. Aldy Safruddin Rambe, Sp.S (K), Imam Bagus Sumantri, S.Farm, M.Si. Apt, the Dean of Faculty of Pharmacy, USU, Khairunnisa, S.Si., M.Pharm, Ph.D and the Director of MMP LLC, Sutristo.

Previously, the stunting rate in Serdang Bedagai reached 483 toddlers. After the validation process in two stages, involving removing redundant data, the final validation isolated 219 toddlers from 17 community health centers. After six months of research, the characteristics of the research participants showed improvements in height growth, weight gain, appetite, and a reduction in the frequency of fever or diarrhea experienced by the toddlers. Overall, Bens Pardamean stated that all three intervention programs had a significant impact, with the Channafit supplementation showing particularly positive results compared to the other two programs. This was evidenced by a significant increase in anthropometric measurements of 8.45 cm and 2.80 kg.

Dr. Hasto Wardoyo, Head of the National Population and Family Planning Agency, commended the stunting research involving academia, government, the community, and the industry. He believes that such programs can assist the central government in accelerating the reduction of stunting rates nationally.

Meanwhile, Sutristo from MMP LLC stated that the company focuses on developing products for the health of mothers and children sourced from natural ingredients in Indonesia, particularly from snakehead fish (channa striata). Preclinical trials of the combination of snakehead fish, turmeric, andrographis paniculata, and honey extracts in syrup form to prevent stunting were also conducted by the Faculty of Pharmacy at USU which came up with the ideal dosage according to body weight for the supplement. The developed products are available for pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children.

Snakehead fish (channa striata) is a local natural resource with nutritional potential, containing a complete set of essential amino acids closely resembling those needed by the body, thus aiding in the prevention of malnutrition. Meanwhile, turmeric, andrographis paniculata, and honey contain compounds that can increase appetite.
Based on the available data, the research team suggests that this combination of ingredients holds promise as an approach for use in stunting intervention cases, considering the abundance of the base ingredients, their low production cost, and the affordability of the resulting syrup.