Tags
Results for: Global Impact
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Could these bees help reduce plastic waste? , videoJonathan Coote, assistant professor in the department of sustainable biomaterials, is working to design the next generation biodegradable plastics. His lab has partnered with ecologists at the University of Tennessee to study so called “cellophane bees”, which produce a biodegradable polyethylene-like plastic for their nests.
Date: May 19, 2026 - -
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Wiping away hidden dangers at residential birdfeeders , articleThe beauty and pleasure of birds visiting a residential birdfeeder can belie a hidden danger, as feeders can also spread pathogens among the birds.
Date: May 18, 2026 - -
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Sandponics offers more affordable path for farming in water‑scarce regions , articleResearchers are working on improvements to sustainable agriculture that could reduce environmental damage, lower production costs, and expand food growing opportunities in water-limited regions. The system they’re using, referred to as sandponics, reimagines aquaponics by replacing expensive synthetic substrates with one of the world’s most abundant natural materials.
Date: May 17, 2026 - -
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An infusion of nature: Biomimicry and medical devices , videoLiving with diabetes is never easy. Kirubaharan (Kiru) Natarajan, a first-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Tech, wants to change that. When Kiru’s uncle stopped taking his diabetes medication because it was inconvenient, bulky, and embarrassing, it was heartbreaking to watch his health slow him down. Kiru knew it was time to use his engineering skills to help. Growing up, Kiru learned about the idea of biomimicry—or design inspired by nature—from the countless National Geographic documentaries he watched with his grandfather. Now, alongside Associate Professor Anne Staples, whose lab focuses on biomimicry, he’s taking a cue from insects to develop a self-powered microfluidic device for diabetics that makes insulin infusion as simple as breathing. Driven by Kiru’s love for nature and human-centered design, the device has the potential to provide life-changing impact on a global scale. Want to learn more? Visit: https://www.stapleslab.org/
Date: May 15, 2026 - -
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Mining for talent: Carter Machinery supports training a next-generation workforce , articleThrough support from the heavy equipment company, engineering students will be well equipped to lead the mining workforce into the future.
Date: May 15, 2026 - -
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Surveying imperiled salamanders , videoFor their senior capstone project, students in conservation biology are studying a species of endemic salamanders located on Mill Mountain in Roanoke, Virginia.
Date: May 13, 2026 - -
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University ranks fifth among large schools for Peace Corps volunteers , articleAlumni are advancing global communities while carrying the university’s spirit of civic engagement forward.
Date: May 13, 2026 - -
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‘Curious Conversations’ podcast: Laura Hamm talks about cycling safety , articleHamm talked about cycling safety, including the infrastructure and the behaviors of both bike riders and vehicle operators. She explained ongoing research projects aimed to better understand both areas.
Date: May 04, 2026 - -
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Blocking two proteins reverses lung scarring in preclinical study , articleResearchers identified a new therapeutic strategy for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, that could move beyond delaying the disease to reversing lung scarring.
Date: Apr 30, 2026 - -
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Gamifying Sustainable Systems Science , videoVirginia Tech students play a modified version of Monopoly to learn about the circular economy. The Sustainable Systems Science major prepares students to integrate sustainability principles with engineering, business, and environmental science to create data-driven solutions for industries, governments, and research institutions.
Date: Apr 30, 2026 - -
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Researchers work to create the ultimate driver’s test for automated vehicles , articleThe study demonstrates how a relatively small number of test cases could be used to measure automated vehicle performance for a wide variety of traffic conditions. The framework strategically samples from a large database of human driving behavior to identify scenarios that are representative of real-world driving, reflecting both everyday situations and rare, safety-critical events.
Date: Apr 29, 2026 - -
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Class of 2026: Emily Gaskill finds public health services research to be a rewarding pursuit , articleEmily Gaskill's research focuses on harm reduction, substance use disorders, and how integrated care models and drug policy reform can expand access to treatment.
Date: Apr 28, 2026 - -
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Gluing streambanks could help restore healthy rivers , articleSenior Keegan O'Hara is supported by research funding from the Global Change Center as he develops a “recipe” to encourage soil microorganisms to create substances that act like glue, quickly strengthening reconstructed streambanks until vegetation can grow.
Date: Apr 27, 2026 - -
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‘Curious Conversations’ podcast: Rory Maguire talks about fertilizer in light of the Iran war , articleMaguire explains the connection, including the nutrients in most fertilizers, how they are being impacted by the conflict, and what that could mean for the growing season.
Date: Apr 27, 2026 - -
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Scientists offer new explanation for the rise in heart disease risk after menopause , articleResearchers say the increased risk of cardiovascular disease after menopause may stem not only from declining hormone levels, but also from how those changes influence gene activity.
Date: Apr 27, 2026 - -
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Alliance to Advance Climate-Smart Agriculture receives extension, expands enrollment , articleThe initiative is funded through 2027 and is expanding enrollment in Arkansas and Virginia. The alliance now includes more than 1,800 farms and 475,000 acres and provides financial incentives and technical support to help producers improve soil health, strengthen water retention, and reduce environmental impacts.
Date: Apr 23, 2026 - -
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Putting the Ut Prosim in DesignUP , videoDesignUP, which stands for Design Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), is a one-day design-a-thon with an accompanying semester-long course in which design professionals are paired with teams of students, and together they develop graphics for local nonprofits and university programs.
Date: Apr 21, 2026 - -
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Elif and Alp Tural help students see that meaningful design begins with understanding people , articleStudents in the School of Design learn to move beyond designing for users to collaborating with them, emphasizing people-first approaches that prioritize partnership and empathy.
Date: Apr 19, 2026 - -
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Systems neuroscientist takes a new approach to uncover neural drivers of mental illness , articleA professor with the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Michael Halassa is exploring intricate connections in the brain at the new Virginia Tech Patient Research Center at VTC, where he will conduct patient-based research in a clinical setting.
Date: Apr 15, 2026 - -
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Helmet Lab devises novel framework for baseball concussions by studying catchers , articleBy suggesting that some concussions are a result of vibration rather than acceleration, Virginia Tech researchers believe they’ve uncovered a missing link that could lead to a revolution in helmet design, a finding they’ll present April 30 at Tech on Tap in Alexandria.
Date: Apr 14, 2026 -
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