Featured Stories
New partnership between UMN Morris Food Access Initiative and North Country Food Bank
MORRIS, Minnesota, Nov. 3 -- University of Minnesota Morris campus issued the following news:
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New partnership between UMN Morris Food Access Initiative and North Country Food Bank
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At noon on Wednesday, Oct. 7, a semi-truck backed into the loading dock of the Dining Hall on the University of Minnesota Morris campus to deliver two pallets of food and hygiene products. The delivery included 1,898 pounds of food and hygiene products that will be provided to UMN Morris students at no cost to them through the UMN Morris Food Access Initiative's campus food shelves. Similar deliveries will
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MORRIS, Minnesota, Nov. 3 -- University of Minnesota Morris campus issued the following news:
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New partnership between UMN Morris Food Access Initiative and North Country Food Bank
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At noon on Wednesday, Oct. 7, a semi-truck backed into the loading dock of the Dining Hall on the University of Minnesota Morris campus to deliver two pallets of food and hygiene products. The delivery included 1,898 pounds of food and hygiene products that will be provided to UMN Morris students at no cost to them through the UMN Morris Food Access Initiative's campus food shelves. Similar deliveries willcontinue arriving on the first Wednesday of each month for the foreseeable future.
The UMN Morris Food Access Initiative, as part of the University of Minnesota-wide partnership with Second Harvest Heartland, has signed an agreement with North Country Food Bank. The new agreement establishes the UMN Morris Food Access Initiative as one of North Country Food Bank's partner agencies. As a partner agency, UMN Morris now has the capacity to purchase food and hygiene products through North Country Food Bank at a substantially lower cost than was previously possible.
The new agreement is particularly timely as students face increasing costs and growing challenges related to the meeting of basic needs. A 2024 survey of college student health conducted by Boynton Health indicated approximately 28% of UMN Morris students report being concerned that they will not be able to afford to purchase enough food. The survey also indicated that during the spring of 2024, more than 20% of UMN Morris students experienced at least one instance during which they ran out of food and did not have the financial means to purchase more.
Responses of UMN Morris students interviewed by Wilder Research in the spring of 2026 suggest that the Boynton Health survey may not fully capture the importance and impact of the campus food shelves for UMN Morris students. Those responses suggest that more than half of UMN Morris students use the UMN Morris Food Access food shelves at least once a month and that there are a number of factors, in addition to financial constraints, that limit food access. For example, student responses suggest that class schedules and co-curricular activities often result in students using campus food shelves in instances when they cannot get to the Dining Hall during meal times or before it closes in the evening.
In addition to helping reduce student food insecurity, the campus food shelves also strengthen UMN Morris students' sense of belonging and their perception of campus as a welcoming place. Focus group participants as well as responses to post-Morris Food Access Initiative event and UMN Morris campus food shelf user satisfaction surveys consistently indicate that the campus food shelves as well as the sorts of foods and products offered to students through those shelves result in UMN Morris perceiving that UMN Morris recognizes their needs and cares about their general wellbeing in addition to their academic success.
Community members can support the UMN Morris Food Access Initiative's campus food shelves at z.umn.edu/supportmfai. Gifts help the initiative purchase food and hygiene products for students, with the new North Country Food Bank partnership allowing those funds to go even further.
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Original text here: https://morris.umn.edu/news-events/news/new-partnership-between-umn-morris-food-access-initiative-and-north-country-food-bank (TNSmrp)
University of Portsmouth: Scientists Estimate Drownings Cost the UK Almost 1 Billion Pounds a Year
PORTSMOUTH, England, Nov. 2 -- The University of Portsmouth issued the following news:
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Scientists estimate drownings cost the UK almost 1 billion pounds a year
New research shows water-related deaths cost more than 15,500 years of life and around pound sterling933 million every year, with experts warning hotter summers could push the toll even higher
* At least 659 people died in water in the UK in 2023, losing a combined 15,557 years of life
* The researchers estimate the economic cost of those lost years at pound sterling933 million
* Earlier research by the same team found the
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PORTSMOUTH, England, Nov. 2 -- The University of Portsmouth issued the following news:
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Scientists estimate drownings cost the UK almost 1 billion pounds a year
New research shows water-related deaths cost more than 15,500 years of life and around pound sterling933 million every year, with experts warning hotter summers could push the toll even higher
* At least 659 people died in water in the UK in 2023, losing a combined 15,557 years of life
* The researchers estimate the economic cost of those lost years at pound sterling933 million
* Earlier research by the same team found therisk of accidental drowning rises by 7.2 per cent for every 1 C above 15 C
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Drownings are taking a huge toll on the UK, not just on grieving families but on the country's finances, a new study has found.
Scientists from the University of Portsmouth have partnered with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and the National Water Safety Forum to calculate the economic cost of lives lost.
Using records from the Water Incident Database (WAID), which logs every water-related death in the UK, the team worked out how many years of life each person would have been expected to live had they not died.
They then multiplied each lost years by pound sterling60,000, the value HM Treasury gives one year of life when weighing up public spending. In 2023, at least 659 people died in water across the UK, and because so many of those that drown are young, together they lost 15,557 years of life.
The research, published in Public Health in Practice, estimates that this loss costs the UK economy around pound sterling933 million.
Drownings often affect young people
Broken down by nation, accidental deaths cost at least 5,464 years of life in England, 1,087 in Wales, 1,076 in Scotland and 127 in Northern Ireland.
"The numbers are so high because tragically drowning often affects young people, and particularly 20 to 29-year-old men," explained Professor Mike Tipton, from the University of Portsmouth's Extreme Environments Research Group and chair of the National Water Safety Forum and Water Safety England. "Each death of a teenager or young adult takes away decades of life."
The authors say the true cost is likely to be even higher. The study does not count rescue and hospital costs, or people who survive but are left with lifelong disabilities.
To reduce this burden, the researchers call for senior political leadership, better data to help target prevention, water safety education in schools, and a well-resourced National Water Safety Forum.
Carlene McAvoy, Head of Policy at RoSPA and co-author of the study, said: "Every drowning death is a devastating tragedy that leaves a lasting impact on families, friends and communities. This research highlights that the consequences are also felt more widely across society, with an estimated economic cost of almost pound sterling1 billion in a single year.
"By investing in evidence-based drowning prevention and strengthening leadership across the UK, there is a strong opportunity to save lives while reducing a significant and avoidable social and economic burden."
Hotter summers mean more deaths
The findings come after the UK's hottest summer on record. The Met Office says summer 2026 had an average temperature of 16.5 C, the warmest since its records began in 1884.
Earlier research by the same team found that accidental drownings rise by 7.2 per cent for every 1 C the air temperature goes above 15 C, and by 22% for every degree when alcohol is involved. The new study's authors say the UK needs weather alerts linked to drowning risk.
The full toll of this summer is not yet known. Those figures will come from the Water Incident Database, whose funding runs out in January 2027.
Professor Tipton said: "We know that when temperatures climb, more people get into the water and more people drown, and summers like the one we have just had will become more common. If the Water Incident Database loses its funding, we won't even be able to count how many lives are lost, let alone plan to protect people next year, as a consequence this public health disaster will be set to continue."
Two changes that would save lives
The study comes as scientists at the University of Portsmouth and members of the National Water Safety Forum and Water Safety England push the UK Government for at least two changes:
* A single UK Minister for Water Safety. Currently there is no minister with responsibility for water safety and drowning prevention. A single point of contact would help integrate and co-ordinate drowning prevention interventions promoted by the National Water Safety Forum and its members. Scotland's Drowning Prevention Strategy has helped cut accidental drowning deaths by 10% since 2019.
* Long-term funding for the Water Incident Database (WAID). WAID is run by the National Water Safety Forum and records how, where and when people drown. Its funding runs out in January 2027. Without it, the evidence used to target safety campaigns, lifeguards and warning signs will be lost.
Last week (20 October), Portsmouth scientists took this message to the Houses of Parliament. They were among a small number of organisations chosen to exhibit at The Physiological Society's 150th anniversary showcase.
Their display showed MPs how 40 years of Portsmouth research into "cold shock" became life-saving advice. Cold shock is the uncontrollable gasping that happens when you fall into cold water. It makes the first minutes on immersion in cold water the most dangerous period and occurs long before hypothermia can develop.
That research led to the advice to float on your back for the minute or two it takes the cold shock response to disappear, and you get your breathing back under control. It now underpins the RNLI's award-winning Float to Live campaign and the NWSF's Find Your Float campaign. Countries including Australia, Ireland and New Zealand have adopted similar advice.
There are signs of progress. A new UK Drowning Prevention Strategy launched in July 2026, and water safety became part of statutory relationships, sex and health education guidance in schools from September 2026. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged to keep working with the NWSF on the strategy, after receiving a letter from bereaved families.
Professor Tipton added: "Science can tell us why people drown and what helps them survive. But research alone won't bring the numbers down. We need a minister who is accountable for drowning prevention, and we need the Water Incident Database funded beyond January 2027. Without those data, we would be trying to prevent deaths blind."
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Original text here: https://www.port.ac.uk/news-events-and-blogs/news/scientists-estimate-drownings-cost-the-uk-almost-ps1-billion-a-year
Strengthening CDU's commitment to South Australia through flexible education and connection
DARWIN, Australia, Nov. 2 -- Charles Darwin University posted the following news:
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Strengthening CDU's commitment to South Australia through flexible education and connection
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Charles Darwin University (CDU) has officially opened a new learning centre in Adelaide.
The CDU Adelaide Learning Centre builds on CDU's longstanding provision of online education in South Australia, including 12 years of physical presence in Adelaide, and the enduring connections between South Australia and the Northern Territory.
The Centre, located at Light Square in the Adelaide CBD, will offer academic support,
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DARWIN, Australia, Nov. 2 -- Charles Darwin University posted the following news:
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Strengthening CDU's commitment to South Australia through flexible education and connection
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Charles Darwin University (CDU) has officially opened a new learning centre in Adelaide.
The CDU Adelaide Learning Centre builds on CDU's longstanding provision of online education in South Australia, including 12 years of physical presence in Adelaide, and the enduring connections between South Australia and the Northern Territory.
The Centre, located at Light Square in the Adelaide CBD, will offer academic support,study spaces and student facilities, collaborative workspaces and more.
Currently, CDU supports more than 1200 students from South Australia.
Almost six in 10 of CDU's Adelaide students come from backgrounds underrepresented in higher education, underscoring the importance of flexible study and local support in opening pathways to university.
CDU Associate Vice-Chancellor Adelaide Professor Lisa Papatraianou was excited to bring CDU Adelaide 2.0 to the University's current and growing cohort.
"South Australia has spoken and shown that quality education is important no matter where you live, and CDU offers the flexibility and supports that are desirable to our current and future students," Professor Papatraianou said.
"Being able to offer more support, meet our students face-to-face and grow our student community in Adelaide and across South Australia is exciting and I feel privileged to be a part of this major milestone."
CDU Interim Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Fiona Coulson said the CDU Adelaide Learning Centre reflected the University's commitment to supporting staff and helping students to succeed no matter where they're learning from.
"The CDU Adelaide Learning Centre will strengthen our commitment to South Australia and partnerships with schools, health and human services, legal firms, employers and regional communities," Professor Coulson said.
"This expansion will also support professional placements and employment pathways, while building on the contribution of CDU graduates in South Australia."
The Centre was officially opened by the South Australian Minister for State Development the Honourable Chris Picton MP, along with CDU delegates, staff, community and industry representatives, on October 30, 2026.
In the lead up to Summer Semester, students studying at CDU in South Australia will have the opportunity to explore the Centre, meet the staff, and take part in interactive orientation sessions showcasing the spaces, services and support available to them.
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Original text here: https://www.cdu.edu.au/news/strengthening-cdu-commitment-south-australia-through-flexible-education-connection
Radboud University launches Safe@RU: the advice and reporting centre for inappropriate behaviour and integrity
NIJMEGEN, The Netherlands, Nov. 2 -- Radboud University posted the following news:
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Radboud University launches Safe@RU: the advice and reporting centre for inappropriate behaviour and integrity
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Everyone experiences situations from time to time where someone else's behaviour bothers them. It is good to speak to each other about this, so that the behaviour changes. But sometimes it is difficult to raise the issue, or you may first want to discuss in confidence with someone how to go about it and whether it is a good idea. In that case, please contact Safe@RU. When you get in touch, you'll
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NIJMEGEN, The Netherlands, Nov. 2 -- Radboud University posted the following news:
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Radboud University launches Safe@RU: the advice and reporting centre for inappropriate behaviour and integrity
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Everyone experiences situations from time to time where someone else's behaviour bothers them. It is good to speak to each other about this, so that the behaviour changes. But sometimes it is difficult to raise the issue, or you may first want to discuss in confidence with someone how to go about it and whether it is a good idea. In that case, please contact Safe@RU. When you get in touch, you'llhave a conversation with a confidential advisor, who will work with you to explore the situation and what next steps might be possible for you. Whether you then take any further action is entirely up to you; you're in control of that.
Often, this initial conversation with a confidential advisor is enough to help you move forward. If you choose to take one of the possible next steps, the confidential adviser can provide you with further support. For example, they can help you prepare for and conduct a discussion with a colleague, fellow student, line manager or study adviser, or assist you in making a report to the integrity officer.
"With Safe@RU, we are taking an important step towards strengthening our social safety," says Jose Sanders, Vice-Chancellor. "We want every student and staff member to feel heard, seen and, where necessary, supported. An accessible and independent advice and reporting service helps people to share their concerns in good time and work together to create a safe and respectful community of academics, students and professionals."
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Original text here: https://www.ru.nl/en/about-us/news/radboud-university-launches-saferu-the-advice-and-reporting-centre-for-inappropriate-behaviour-and-integrity (TNSmrp)
HMEI to Open Environmental Exhibition by Artist Maya Lin
PRINCETON, New Jersey, Nov. 2 -- The High Meadows Environmental Institute at Princeton University posted the following news:
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HMEI to Open Environmental Exhibition by Artist Maya Lin
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This month, High Meadows Environmental Institute will open the inaugural exhibition in our new Environmental Gallery in Briger Hall with an installation of artist Maya Lin's What Is Missing?
Lin's memorial to the planet uses immersive, science-based artworks to raise awareness about the present sixth mass extinction, emphasizing that, through conservation and habitat restoration, we can both reduce carbon
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PRINCETON, New Jersey, Nov. 2 -- The High Meadows Environmental Institute at Princeton University posted the following news:
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HMEI to Open Environmental Exhibition by Artist Maya Lin
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This month, High Meadows Environmental Institute will open the inaugural exhibition in our new Environmental Gallery in Briger Hall with an installation of artist Maya Lin's What Is Missing?
Lin's memorial to the planet uses immersive, science-based artworks to raise awareness about the present sixth mass extinction, emphasizing that, through conservation and habitat restoration, we can both reduce carbonemissions and protect biodiversity. The exhibition examines abundance, loss, extinction, recovery and how resilient the natural world can be - if we choose to protect it.
Lin interprets nature through science and culture, creating works that have had a profound impact on how we relate to the natural world. From her first work, the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial, she has gone on to a highly acclaimed career in art and architecture, while remaining committed to 'memory works' that focus on critical issues of our time. Lin calls What Is Missing? the fifth and final of her memorials, one that examines biodiversity loss and climate change, but also hope and action.
"Nature is incredibly resilient," says Lin, "and it will come back if we give it a chance."
Co-sponsored by the Princeton Humanities Initiative, the exhibition What Is Missing? What If? will consist of three parts: life-sized video of endangered species in the Briger Hall atrium; posters, recently installed at the United Nations, that pose thought-provoking questions; and an interactive display and learning lab that will evolve over the year in collaboration with faculty, researchers, students and community members. The exhibition will engage people across campus and beyond through research, coursework, internships, and public outreach.
HMEI will launch the exhibition on Tuesday, September 22 with an opening event and artist talk. The program will begin at 4:30 p.m. in the Briger Hall Auditorium with Lin on stage and in conversation with David Wilcove, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, public affairs and HMEI, moderated by Rachael DeLue, professor of art history and Director of the Princeton Humanities Initiative - followed by an exhibition opening and reception. This event will be free and open to the public; we invite guests to register here.
What Is Missing? What If? is presented in partnership with the Princeton Humanities Initiative, with additional support from partners across campus, including the School of Architecture, the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, the School of Engineering and Applied Science and the Department of Geosciences.
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Original text here: https://environment.princeton.edu/news/hmei-to-open-environmental-exhibition-by-artist-maya-lin/
Flagler College-Commissioned Documentary "Preserving the Ponce" Earns a 2026 Suncoast Emmy(r) Award Nomination
ST. AUGUSTINE, Florida, Nov. 2 -- Flagler College posted the following news:
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Flagler College-Commissioned Documentary "Preserving the Ponce" Earns a 2026 Suncoast Emmy(r) Award Nomination
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Built in 1888 by industrialist Henry Flagler, the Ponce was a marvel of its time, boasting electricity installed by Thomas Edison, dazzling Tiffany-stained glass, and Spanish Renaissance architecture that helped establish St. Augustine as a premier destination of the Gilded Age. Today, the building stands as the architectural and cultural heart of Flagler College.
"Preserving the Ponce" traces the
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ST. AUGUSTINE, Florida, Nov. 2 -- Flagler College posted the following news:
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Flagler College-Commissioned Documentary "Preserving the Ponce" Earns a 2026 Suncoast Emmy(r) Award Nomination
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Built in 1888 by industrialist Henry Flagler, the Ponce was a marvel of its time, boasting electricity installed by Thomas Edison, dazzling Tiffany-stained glass, and Spanish Renaissance architecture that helped establish St. Augustine as a premier destination of the Gilded Age. Today, the building stands as the architectural and cultural heart of Flagler College.
"Preserving the Ponce" traces thelandmark's evolution from luxury hotel to National Historic Landmark and home to generations of Flagler students. Through archival materials, expert interviews, and immersive visual storytelling, the documentary explores the care, craftsmanship and vision behind preserving its legacy for future generations.
The Suncoast Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) presents the annual Suncoast Regional Emmy(r) Awards, recognizing excellence in television across Florida and parts of Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Puerto Rico. The 2026 awards ceremony will take place Dec. 5 in Hollywood, Florida.
The Emmy(r) nomination brings additional recognition to the collaborative effort behind the documentary and to the importance of preserving one of St. Augustine's most recognizable historic landmarks.
Watch "Preserving the Ponce" at www.flagler.edu/PreservingThePonce.
About Flagler College
Flagler College is a private liberal arts college located in historic St. Augustine, Florida. Known for its distinctive campus, close-knit community and commitment to student learning, the College offers an education shaped by its historic setting and opportunities for hands-on experiences.
About Kennetic Productions, Inc.
Kennetic Productions is a documentary production company focused on story-driven films that capture people, places and ideas. The company partners with brands, nonprofits, organizations and communities to create films that connect with audiences and advance meaningful storytelling. Learn more at kenneticproductions.com.
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Original text here: https://www.flagler.edu/news-events/news/flagler-college-commissioned-documentary-preserving-ponce-earns-2026-suncoast
Climate-vulnerable Africa faces significant gaps in early warning systems, leaving millions at risk from extreme weather
BRISTOL, England, Nov. 2 -- The University of Bristol posted the following news release:
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Climate-vulnerable Africa faces significant gaps in early warning systems, leaving millions at risk from extreme weather
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Climate-related events affected at least 13 million people across Africa in 2025. Over the last decade alone extreme weather has affected populations in Africa disproportionately. Tropical Cyclone Freddy (Feb 2023) caused widespread flooding and led to over 1,500 deaths, and in 2015/16 a drought in southern Africa led to widespread crop failure and food insecurity for 40 million
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BRISTOL, England, Nov. 2 -- The University of Bristol posted the following news release:
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Climate-vulnerable Africa faces significant gaps in early warning systems, leaving millions at risk from extreme weather
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Climate-related events affected at least 13 million people across Africa in 2025. Over the last decade alone extreme weather has affected populations in Africa disproportionately. Tropical Cyclone Freddy (Feb 2023) caused widespread flooding and led to over 1,500 deaths, and in 2015/16 a drought in southern Africa led to widespread crop failure and food insecurity for 40 millionpeople.
Despite advances in forecasting, millions of people remain at risk because warnings do not always reach them in time, are not trusted or do not provide the support needed to take protective action. Household surveys carried out in Madagascar, Malawi and Mozambique found that, although most people (90% in Madagascar, 80% in Malawi and 77% in Mozambique) received warnings about approaching tropical cyclones, fewer than half evacuated after receiving an alert.
In this new study, researchers from the University of Bristol's Cabot Institute for the Environment, working with academics from the UK, Europe and southern Africa, investigated why early warnings do not always reach people in time or prompt them to take protective action. They outline six priorities to strengthen early warning systems and help ensure warnings reach everyone.
Findings from this study show that many of the barriers to uptake, of these often life-saving warnings, were not receiving warnings in sufficient time, scepticism about their content, and involuntary immobility or limited resources to evacuate.
Lizzie Kendon, Professor of Climate Science at the University of Bristol's Cabot Institute for the Environment, and the study's lead author, said: "Africa is hugely vulnerable to the devastating impacts of severe weather events. Early warning systems require more than accurate forecasts. We must ensure that warnings reach everyone, communicate risks clearly and support people to take appropriate protective action. This includes being prepared for unprecedented events of the future. Achieving this requires collaboration between governments, scientists, emergency services, communication providers and local communities."
The research team outline six priority intervention actions to tackle issues around lack of trust in forecasts, involving the affected communities towards achieving local ownership of climate information and response actions. These are:
* Understanding risks of unprecedented events
* Stress-testing of Early Warning Systems (EWS)
* Equipping national hydrometeorological services
* Community participation toward resilience-building and vulnerability-focused EWS
* Integrating local and scientific knowledge into EWS
* Strengthening coordination across agencies
Professor Kendon added: "As the United Nations' Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative approaches its 2027 deadline, which aims to ensure everyone worldwide is protected by early warning systems for natural hazards, our recommendations support a shift, from the provision of warnings to enabling action, essential for EWS to save lives at scale.
"The reality is that climate change will bring unprecedented extremes, well outside the scope of the historical record, and likely out of the coping range of local and indigenous methods. Therefore, it is critical we understand these risks and, for anticipatory action, we need to think far ahead and not just rely on past experiences."
The study is funded by REPRESA supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in the UK and the International Development Research Council (IDRC) in Canada under the CLARE program.
Paper
'Opportunities for increasing resilience to changing severe weather in southern Africa: 'Early Action and Enhanced Adaptive Capacity for All' by Elizabeth J. Kendon et al. in Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society (BAMS).
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Original text here: https://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2026/november/climate-vulnerable-africa.html
