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COVID-19 continues to be good for the planet — for now
Scott E. Rupp Waste Management & EnvironmentalWith the coronavirus raging, there's little that's not connected to the topic. The environment continues to be a bright spot among the bad news. It's a topic we've covered here before, but social distancing and the near-shutdown of the world's economy are having overwhelmingly positive impacts on the health of the planet. Manufacturing and most pollution-producing industries have ground to a halt due to the spread of the virus. Paul Monks, professor of air pollution at the University of Leicester, called it the "largest-scale experiment ever" regarding the reduction of industrial emissions.
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‘Corona change’ is an economic force with environmental consequences
Michelle R. Matisons Waste Management & EnvironmentalClimate change issues are intimately tied to the coronavirus pandemic, but how? The recent announcement that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has suspended regulations requires reflection on the pandemic’s climate change politics. There are countless speculations as to the virus’ origins, and all are anthropogenic. This means human practices disrupt ecological balance, resulting in huge social impacts, like pandemics. Plain and simple, right?
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A healthier environment is an unintended consequence of the coronavirus
Scott E. Rupp Waste Management & EnvironmentalOne significant positive from the COVID-19 pandemic? As economies are crashing, industries shuttered, and people mandated to shelter in place, the beneficiary of this is the natural environment. The coronavirus is cutting global emissions faster than any previous climate legislation or negotiations. In fact, according to numbers researched by Lauri Myllyvirta at the University of Helsinki's Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, this is all because of the pandemic.
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An employer’s guide to COVID-19: Top 5 strategies for keeping your…
Candice Gottlieb-Clark Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementBusiness owners and leaders, there is no doubt that these are challenging times. COVID-19 has required you to change business practices overnight. Teams that normally buzz with momentum are now separated, and you must hope are still able to work effectively to get things done. Technology that was once optional for getting things done is now essential, whether your employees feel ready or not. While fear and stagnancy may be unavoidable in the first few days of change, this process is not going to be a short one.
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Boeing freezes hiring as stocks plunge
Michelle R. Matisons ManufacturingBoeing stocks have reportedly dropped to a 46-year low, as airline travel restrictions and new reports of company malfeasance further limit buyer confidence and challenge the company’s ability to withstand vulnerable market forces. Boeing shares dropped 18% on March 11 — the largest single-day percentage drop in decades. Canceled orders are much to blame here, as the company reported February’s overall net order number was down 28 planes.
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Project-based math classrooms can better engage students by addressing…
Brian Stack EducationIt is a struggle to help my own 14-year-old with his math homework. He struggles to maintain good grades in math, but it isn't because he can't do the work. For my son, he just isn't passionate enough about it to have the intrinsic motivation to engage in it. Reaching mastery with the concept of slope only came about when I took the time to phrase it in the context of an aviation problem that he had to solve involving landing a plane at the nearby airport where he takes flying lessons.
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Survey: US workers want pay increases, salary transparency
Terri Williams Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementWorkers want a fulfilling job, but let’s be clear: compensation is a key factor in attracting and retaining workers. Randstad's 2020 U.S. Compensation Insights survey reveals the importance of both compensation and transparency regarding pay. According to the survey, 74% percent of millennials expect a pay raise every year in order to stay at their companies, versus 62% of baby boomers and 66% overall. Additionally, 40% of employees say they've only ever received a raise if they've asked for one, but this number is higher among younger employees.
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Interior Department’s proposed rule modernization values oil and…
Michelle R. Matisons Natural ResourcesThe highly politicized release of recent polar bear studies reveal at least part of Ursus maritimus' survival depends on Trump-era Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) rule modernization, which now considers "economic impacts" while denying climate change impacts. A seismic study of potential drilling land in Area 1002 was called off last winter because the required Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was deemed incomplete. Less than one year later, the Bureau of Land Management has released a more thorough, pro-drilling EIS.
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Are flying cars and electric airplanes the next frontiers for transportation?
Dave G. Houser Transportation Technology & AutomotiveThe world’s auto and aviation industries and an ever-evolving list of innovative startups are increasingly entering a race to revolutionize air travel as we know it today. Flying cars and electric airplanes are the primary objectives of a host of major corporations and deep-pocketed investors. Boeing, Airbus, United Technologies, Textron, Uber, Google, GM, Ford, Porsche, Toyota and Hyundai are among the industry giants with a horse in the race — and winners will "future-proof" themselves as they develop tomorrow’s modes of transportation.
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Is a liberal arts education still worth pursuing?
Patrick Gleeson EducationA couple of generations ago, a liberal arts education was highly respected and easily led to a lot of desirable employment. But the world has changed. Many now believe a liberal arts education has become culturally irrelevant, putting its degree holders at a decided disadvantage in the employment market. Are they right?
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