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Heathrow’s future stalled as third runway is ruled unlawful
Matt Falcus Transportation Technology & AutomotivePlans to build a third runway at London's Heathrow Airport have stalled as the U.K.'s Court of Appeal ruled the government's decision to allow it to be built was unlawful. The decision has been seen as a victory for climate change activists and those living around the airport who faced compulsory land purchase and years of disruption followed by the misery of extra noise and air pollution. However, for Heathrow and the U.K.'s air travel industry, it is a major blow that will mean a complete rethink over future strategy.
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New Jersey community defends local school against Rutgers hospital plans
Michelle R. Matisons EducationWhile public education battles continue, there are case studies that are emblematic of community contradictions. Higher education, even publicly funded institutions, can exist in a world apart from the K-12 system. The recent conflict between Rutgers University, which is attempting to take over New Brunswick’s Lincoln Annex School, located in a predominantly Latino community, is an example of ongoing education battles that involve different arenas, testing academia’s pro-public education rhetoric.
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Breaking down barriers to make career and technical pathways accessible…
Sheilamary Koch EducationLivestreaming industry experts into classrooms is an efficient way for high school career and technical education students to get their questions answered directly by people in the field who've recently completed their education and training. While students from any school certainly benefit, learners from rural, inner city or marginalized communities where opportunities to connect live with industry experts are often severely limited may gain considerably more from such virtual outreach. In fact, Advance CTE, a national nonprofit representing state career and technical education (CTE) directors, recommends technology use to expand access and reach as one of five core strategies for states to expand high-quality CTE pathways in rural areas.
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New home sales soar while inventories plummet
Michael J. Berens Construction & Building MaterialsIf you can’t buy 'em, build 'em. With inventories of existing homes for sale at their lowest levels in years, would-be homebuyers are turning to the new home market in droves. New housing starts and permit requests have increased by double digits compared to a year ago, and sales of new homes in January were up substantially following three months of decline. Whether this is the beginning of trend or just a temporary bump remains to be seen.
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Reagan National bids goodbye to Gate 35X with new terminal
Matt Falcus Transportation Technology & AutomotiveRegular passengers who use Washington Reagan National Airport will be delighted to learn that a new terminal is being built. It will replace a crowded waiting area and awkward walk out to the aircraft. Gate 35X at the end of the commuter gate area in Reagan necessitates passengers waiting in a cramped downstairs space before walking out to a shuttle bus that takes them to their aircraft’s parking spot before boarding outside in the elements. Now, a new 14-gate terminal concourse building is to be built in place of Gate 35X, to the north of the current Terminal C.
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The brain on nature: The why behind biophilic design
Michael J. Berens Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesNatural environments and the presence of nature in built environments have been found to produce beneficial effects on occupants. Those findings have given rise to the growing use of biophilic design strategies, which seek to improve occupant health and well-being through the incorporation of nature views and natural elements into interior environments. Now, scientists are learning more about how and why we respond to natural stimuli in certain ways — research that can help designers to refine their application of biophilia to have greater impact.
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Minimalism: A shifting of our priorities or an empty, fashionable trend?
Victoria Fann Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesHave you caught the decluttering bug yet? From Marie Kondo to websites based on minimalism, from tiny homes to van life, from the rise of the sharing economy to co-working, it appears that this trend is here to stay. But why is the desire to scale down and purge suddenly so inviting? One possibility is that it’s a reactive pendulum swing away from decades of unbridled materialism.
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How will coronavirus affect the Chinese economy and international business?
Seth Sandronsky Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementChina is a major U.S. trading partner and the world's fastest growing economy. How will the outbreak of the coronavirus that began in Wuhan affect that nation's economy and international business generally? Much is uncertain. That's a problem, because businesses prefer certainty as an underlying condition of future market demand and supply. We turn to Doug Barry, a spokesperson with the U.S.-China Business Council. "The shutdown of supply chains is having a ripple effect around the world, with shortages in some raw materials, parts and finished goods popping up," Barry said by email.
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Firms are hiring again. Here’s how to compete.
Lloyd Princeton Interior Design, Furnishings & FixturesWith the news that the global and U.S. economies were showing signs of slowing down, A&D firms as a precaution dialed back their hiring plans in the latter part of 2019. In recent weeks, with reports of sustained solid job growth, resiliency in the stock market, and high levels of consumer spending, firms are feeling more optimistic about their prospects for 2020. Once again, hiring plans are back on the table. Recently, in my firm, we've experienced a surge in calls from firms wanting to initiate recruitment searches.
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Millions of high school students set for success: Celebrating Career and…
Sheilamary Koch Education"I learned the formula for success," says Ian Solano, reflecting on what he gained from his high school career and technical education (CTE) classes. Now a business and marketing junior at the University of Southern California, Ian articulately shares how the hands-on experience of completing real-world projects and presenting them to “clients” in high school taught him a process he’s applied to internships and his college coursework. Solano is part of the changing face of high school vocational education.
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