Education (Colleges & Universities)
Here's a look at documents from public, private and community colleges in the U.S.
Featured Stories
University of the Witwatersrand: Breaking the Heart's Barrier to Solve Drug-resistant TB
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, Nov. 28 -- The University of the Witwatersrand issued the following news:
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Breaking the heart's barrier to solve drug-resistant TB
African scientists develop nanoscale drug delivery system to treat pericarditis, a drug-resistant and lethal tuberculosis (TB).
The scientists' system can breach the heart's protective membrane, a barrier that standard antibiotics cannot penetrate to be therapeutic.
This breakthrough from the Wits Advanced Drug Delivery Platform (WADDP) comes at a critical moment: As more infections become resistant to multiple antibiotics, antimicrobial
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JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, Nov. 28 -- The University of the Witwatersrand issued the following news:
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Breaking the heart's barrier to solve drug-resistant TB
African scientists develop nanoscale drug delivery system to treat pericarditis, a drug-resistant and lethal tuberculosis (TB).
The scientists' system can breach the heart's protective membrane, a barrier that standard antibiotics cannot penetrate to be therapeutic.
This breakthrough from the Wits Advanced Drug Delivery Platform (WADDP) comes at a critical moment: As more infections become resistant to multiple antibiotics, antimicrobialresistance (AMR) is increasing rapidly.
WADDP's strategy is to build precision nanoscale drug-delivery systems that enable existing medicines to reach the correct tissues, stay there longer, act more potently, and avoid toxicity.
TB pericarditis has one of the highest mortality rates of all TB forms because antibiotics cannot reach the site of infection.
"By engineering a nanosystem that crosses the pericardium and delivers bedaquiline [a first-line treatment for drug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant TB] directly to infected immune cells, we are opening a pathway to treat a condition that has long been considered almost untreatable," says Professor Yahya Choonara, WADDP's Director.
Bedaquiline is oily and usually hard to deliver to protected sites like the heart. Getting it through this otherwise impenetrable membrane is a significant step forward. It means doctors could one day deliver the drug directly into the pericardial space, achieving much higher local concentrations, fewer side effects, and potentially far fewer doses.
AMR kills more people every year than HIV/AIDS and malaria combined. Nearly five million deaths were linked to drug-resistant infections in 2019, and the World Bank's global economic modelling suggests the world could face a financial loss equivalent to repeating the 2008 global financial crisis annually by 2050 if no action is taken.
TB is now one of the world's top contributors to AMR-related mortality, and traditional approaches relying solely on new antibiotics cannot keep pace with the rate of bacterial adaptation.
Targeted drug delivery enables extending the lifespan of existing drugs, restoring the potency of those compromised by resistance, and reaching sites that conventional therapeutics cannot.
Instead of relying on ever-stronger antibiotics, which take a decade or more to develop, WADDP designed a tiny 100-200 nm nanoparticle made from two natural polymers, COS and mannan. COS helps the particle slip through the tight cell layers of the pericardium, while mannan guides it directly to macrophages. Macrophages are immune cells where tuberculosis bacteria hide and multiply.
Inside this particle, bedaquiline is safely packaged and released slowly once it enters the cell, allowing the drug to act exactly where it is needed and for much longer.
In laboratory studies using both porcine and human pericardium, the nanoparticle worked the same way across tissue types. "This is an important sign that it could translate to real clinical use. The particles moved bedaquiline steadily across the membrane without damaging or weakening the tissue," says Choonara.
This breakthrough for heart-related TB is part of a bigger wave of TB nanomedicine coming out of WADDP. The team has also been developing polydopamine (PDA) nanoparticles. These are a novel type of tiny carriers designed to solve problems that ordinary TB drugs can't. One of the challenges has been getting medicine into the hard, scar-like structures, known as granulomas, where TB bacteria hide.
These particles can also carry multiple types of payloads simultaneously, including imaging agents and immune-boosting molecules. This means they could one day help doctors both see and treat TB more precisely, while reducing toxicity and improving how well patients can stick to treatment.
"If bedaquiline can be delivered intrapericardially in sustained, low-frequency doses, this could become a blueprint for treating other hard-to-reach infections, from lymphatic TB to central nervous system involvement," says Choonara.
What makes WADDP's work globally significant is its focus on diseases and anatomical challenges that disproportionately affect low- and middle-income countries. TB pericarditis, for example, has a high burden in southern Africa due to HIV co-infection and late diagnosis. Conventional regimens fail not because the drugs lack potency, but because they cannot arrive at the relevant tissues at therapeutic concentrations. Localised, controlled drug delivery systems address this gap directly.
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Original text here: https://www.wits.ac.za/news/latest-news/research-news/2025/2025-11/breaking-the-hearts-barrier-to-solve-drug-resistant-tb.html
University of Queensland: Australia Needs Doctors - So Why are Hundreds of Qualified International Physicians Unable to Work?
BRISBANE, Australia, Nov. 28 -- The University of Queensland issued the following news:
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Australia needs doctors - so why are hundreds of qualified international physicians unable to work?
By Mehwish Nisar, mehwish.nisar@uq.edu.au
Australia is facing a critical doctor shortage. By 2026, we'll need an additional 13,000 doctors to meet demand, yet hundreds of qualified international physicians already living here but cannot practice due to bureaucratic barriers. This isn't a minor administrative issue - it's a healthcare emergency unfolding in slow motion.
International Medical Graduates
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BRISBANE, Australia, Nov. 28 -- The University of Queensland issued the following news:
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Australia needs doctors - so why are hundreds of qualified international physicians unable to work?
By Mehwish Nisar, mehwish.nisar@uq.edu.au
Australia is facing a critical doctor shortage. By 2026, we'll need an additional 13,000 doctors to meet demand, yet hundreds of qualified international physicians already living here but cannot practice due to bureaucratic barriers. This isn't a minor administrative issue - it's a healthcare emergency unfolding in slow motion.
International Medical Graduates(IMGs) aren't supplementary to Australia's healthcare system; they're essential. They comprise 32 per cent of our medical workforce and over half of all rural doctors. Without them, many regional communities would have no medical care at all.
Despite their importance, these doctors face a frustrating maze of repetitive assessments, unclear registration pathways, and huge costs. The process is so demoralising that many qualified physicians end up in casual jobs just to survive while waiting for approval, sometimes for years.
UQ's Dr Mehwish Nisar has examined the barriers preventing international doctors practicing in Australia.
In 2012, the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health and Ageing released the Lost in the Labyrinth report, identifying these problems and offering 45 recommendations for reform. While some improvements have emerged - particularly in workplace assessments and training programs - they remain scattered and inconsistent. A doctor in big city might access some support, while another in rural Queensland faces isolation and discrimination.
The COVID-19 pandemic starkly revealed our dependence on international doctors to keep hospitals running. Yet even as we rely on them, we continue to treat them as temporary solutions rather than valued colleagues.
Fixing Australia's international medical graduate (IMG) bottleneck isn't about more reports -- it's about putting proven solutions into action. My research with fellow University of Queensland experts points to six clear steps that would make an immediate difference.
1. A unified national approach
We need stronger national coordination. Right now, each state operates different registration systems, creating confusion and delays. A unified approach would get skilled doctors working faster where they're needed most.
2. Practical workplace assessments
Let doctors demonstrate their abilities in real clinical settings through expanded workplace-based assessments. Instead of endless paperwork, they can prove their competence while actually helping patients--far more practical than theoretical exams alone.
These proposals do not involve lowering clinical standards or allowing unsupervised practice before exams are completed. All clinical exposure would occur under supervision, ensuring patient safety remains paramount.
3. Earn while learn
Create paid transition programs where international doctors earn while learning Australian medical practices. These structured positions provide essential income stability while giving our hospitals extra support during their training period. There needs to be investment in targeted language and communication training, while including international doctors in decision-making. Specialised workshops that focus on clinical terminology, patient communication, and cultural nuances would help doctors navigate Australia's healthcare environment more confidently.
Doctors may eventually earn good incomes once fully registered, but without passing their exams - and without supervised clinical exposure to prepare for them - international medical graduates cannot access those opportunities. Offering targeted support or government-backed loans simply ensures that financial hardship does not prevent qualified doctors from progressing.
4. Fix the visa and registration maze
Streamline the visa and registration maze. The current process takes years and costs thousands, creating enormous stress. Simplifying these administrative hurdles benefits everyone--doctors get certainty, patients get care faster.
5. Mental health support
Provide robust mental health support. Years of uncertainty take a serious psychological toll. Counselling services, peer support networks, and clear guidance throughout the accreditation journey are essential for wellbeing. Expert navigators who understand both the bureaucratic requirements and emotional challenges could help guide IMGs through the complex accreditation maze.
6. Listen to international doctors
Finally, include international doctors in decision-making. They understand the system's flaws better than anyone. Their voices must shape policy reforms, ensuring solutions actually work in practice. With proper investment in these areas, we can transform wasted talent into healthcare solutions.
Behind every statistic is a skilled professional unable to use their training - and patients who could have benefited from their care. Every qualified doctor who gives up and leaves represents one less clinician for struggling emergency departments, understaffed rural clinics, and overwhelmed aged-care facilities. This isn't about being nice to international doctors - it's about building a healthcare system that serves all Australians effectively.
The solutions aren't mysterious or unaffordable. They require coordination and genuine commitment to treating international doctors as partners.
When we leave skilled doctors waiting in the wings, everyone loses. Patients wait longer for care. Rural communities go without doctors. Hospital staff face burnout from understaffing.
And talented professionals feel their expertise is unwanted.
Australia can transform this labyrinth into a welcoming pathway. The question isn't whether we can afford to fix this system - it's whether we can afford not to.
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About the author
Dr Mehwish Nisar is a medical doctor, researcher, and academic whose work bridges clinical practice, public health research, and higher education.
Her latest research, co-authored with University of Queensland researchers, is published in Australian Health Review.
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Original text here: https://news.uq.edu.au/2025-11-australia-needs-doctors-so-why-are-hundreds-qualified-international-physicians-unable-work
University of Otago: Prestigious Medal for Science Communicator
DUNEDIN, New Zealand, Nov. 28 -- The University of Otago issued the following news release:
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Prestigious medal for science communicator
A renowned palaeontologist from the University of Otago - Otakou Whakaihu Waka has been recognised for his ability to take science from the laboratory to the public.
Associate Professor Nic Rawlence has been awarded the New Zealand Association of Scientists' Cranwell Medal for excellence in communicating science to the general public in any area of science or technology.
"I feel humbled and on cloud nine at the same time," he says.
"I would not be able
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DUNEDIN, New Zealand, Nov. 28 -- The University of Otago issued the following news release:
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Prestigious medal for science communicator
A renowned palaeontologist from the University of Otago - Otakou Whakaihu Waka has been recognised for his ability to take science from the laboratory to the public.
Associate Professor Nic Rawlence has been awarded the New Zealand Association of Scientists' Cranwell Medal for excellence in communicating science to the general public in any area of science or technology.
"I feel humbled and on cloud nine at the same time," he says.
"I would not be ableto do the level of science communication I do without a very supportive family and lab group. This award is as much for them as it is for me."
Associate Professor Rawlence is the Director of the Otago Palaeogenetics Laboratory, where he uses ancient DNA and palaeontology to reconstruct prehistoric Aotearoa New Zealand, and investigates how it has changed and how this information can be used for evidence-based kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and conservation management of taonga species.
He is a regular writer for The Conversation and one of the leading scientists internationally to speak against de-extinction.
He has given hundreds of interviews to national and international media about his lab's research and topical science issues, appeared in several international documentaries, and given numerous free public lectures.
Associate Professor Rawlence understands his role as a scientist involves more than just his research in the laboratory and field.
"I want to show the public the wonders of science and take them on a journey using all forms of science communication," he says.
"My lab's research attracts lots of media attention, which is a fantastic way to mentor and support my postgraduate students and early career researchers on their own science communication journeys."
In a world of misinformation, it is important to "fight the good fight" and talk about critical issues facing Aotearoa, he says.
"As a science communicator at a university, our critic and conscience role is vitally important given many New Zealand scientists at Crown Research Institutes and museums can't speak out publicly.
"I also like being able to inspire the next generation of science communicators and being able to give back to the community through popular science articles and workshops aimed at kids, to writing modules for high school science and biology students, and professional development of teachers, including working with my old high school Nayland College in Nelson."
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) Distinguished Professor Greg Cook highlights that the ability to communicate complex scientific ideas with clarity is an exceptionally rare and valuable talent--one that Associate Professor Rawlence exemplifies at the highest level.
"His contributions continue to elevate our institution, and we are immensely proud to see his outstanding work recognised with the prestigious Cranwell Medal."
The Medal, formerly known as the Science Communicator Medal, honours the late Dr Lucy Cranwell, an internationally renowned botanist and palynologist who instilled a love of botany in children.
Associate Professor Rawlence has also just been elected a lifetime fellow of Genomics for Aotearoa New Zealand in recognition of his science communication efforts.
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Original text here: https://www.otago.ac.nz/news/newsroom/prestigious-medal-for-science-communicator
University of Birmingham: Highly Efficient Material Turns Motion Into Power - Without Toxic Lead
BIRMINGHAM, England, Nov. 28 (TNSjou) -- The University of Birmingham issued the following news:
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New highly efficient material turns motion into power - without toxic lead
New material opens possibilities for a wide range of innovative devices such as sensors, wearable electronics, and self-powered devices.
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Scientists have developed a new material that converts motion into electricity (piezoelectricity) with greater efficiency and without using toxic lead - paving the way for a new generation of devices that we use in everyday life.
Publishing their discovery in Journal of the American
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BIRMINGHAM, England, Nov. 28 (TNSjou) -- The University of Birmingham issued the following news:
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New highly efficient material turns motion into power - without toxic lead
New material opens possibilities for a wide range of innovative devices such as sensors, wearable electronics, and self-powered devices.
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Scientists have developed a new material that converts motion into electricity (piezoelectricity) with greater efficiency and without using toxic lead - paving the way for a new generation of devices that we use in everyday life.
Publishing their discovery in Journal of the AmericanChemical Society, researchers from the University of Birmingham, University of Oxford, and University of Bristol describe a material that is both durable and sensitive to movement - opening possibilities for a wide range of innovative devices such as sensors, wearable electronics, and self-powered devices.
Based on bismuth iodide, an inorganic salt with low toxicity, the new soft, hybrid material rivals the performance of traditional lead-based ceramics but with lower toxicity and easier processing. It contains no lead compared to existing high-performance alternatives such as PZT (lead zirconate titanate), which is 60% lead, and can be produced at room temperature rather than 1000 C.
Dr Dominik Kubicki, from the University of Birmingham, said: "With performance comparable to commercial piezoelectrics but made from non-toxic bismuth, this discovery is a new pathway toward environmentally responsible technologies that can power sensors, medical implants, and flexible electronics of the future."
Piezoelectric materials generate electric charge when pressed or bent and can also deform when an electric field is applied. They are essential to technologies ranging from precision actuators - used in products like camera autofocus and inkjet printer pumps - to energy-harvesting sensors built into wearable technology like fitness trackers, smart clothing, and car airbag systems.
Understanding material behaviour
Researchers at the University of Birmingham used single-crystal X-ray diffraction and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to understand the material's behaviour. They found that the way that organic and inorganic parts stick together through halogen bonding can be used to change when and how the material changes its structure, as well as improving piezoelectric performance. This understanding could also be useful for enhancing piezoelectric performance in other materials that combine organic and inorganic elements.
Dr Benjamin Gallant, from the University of Birmingham, who led the NMR study, said: "As an early career researcher, it's exciting to participate in research with the power to transform our society - almost every device we use in our daily lives contains piezoelectrics."
The research was jointly supervised by Professor Henry Snaith (Oxford), Dr Harry Sansom (Bristol), and Dr Dominik Kubicki (Birmingham), bringing together expertise in new materials, crystal design, and atomic-level structure characterisation.
The global piezoelectric materials market is worth over $35 billion and continues to grow rapidly - driven by demand in automotive, healthcare, robotics, and consumer electronics, where devices that convert motion into electricity or precise movement are essential.
Lead author Dr Esther Hung, from the University of Oxford's Department of Physics who led the research, said: "By fine-tuning the interactions between the organic and inorganic components, we were able to create a delicate structural instability that breaks symmetry in just the right way.
"This interplay between order and disorder is what gives the material its exceptional piezoelectric response. It's a different approach to piezoelectricity than in traditional materials such as lead zirconate titanate (PZT), and that's what's led to these big improvements."
The University of Birmingham is home to one of the most dynamic and best-equipped Chemistry departments in the UK. In 2024, the University opened the Molecular Sciences building - world-leading research laboratories are housed alongside purpose-built study spaces for undergraduate and postgraduate students providing state-of-the-art facilities for Birmingham's Chemistry community.
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Original text here: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2025/new-highly-efficient-material-turns-motion-into-power-without-toxic-lead
Queensland University of Technology: Project to Investigate Students' Wellbeing Self-management
BRISBANE, Australia, Nov. 28 -- The Queensland University of Technology issued the following news:
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Project to investigate students' wellbeing self-managment
QUT researchers have received an ARC Linkage grant of $357,386 for the project Investigating unconventional spaces for student wellbeing self-management.
Professor Jenna Gillett-Swan, from QUT's School of Education, who leads the project said the aim was to address the urgent problem of student wellbeing in Australian schools.
"Schools are struggling to support children and young people's mental health and wellbeing with resulting
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BRISBANE, Australia, Nov. 28 -- The Queensland University of Technology issued the following news:
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Project to investigate students' wellbeing self-managment
QUT researchers have received an ARC Linkage grant of $357,386 for the project Investigating unconventional spaces for student wellbeing self-management.
Professor Jenna Gillett-Swan, from QUT's School of Education, who leads the project said the aim was to address the urgent problem of student wellbeing in Australian schools.
"Schools are struggling to support children and young people's mental health and wellbeing with resultinglong-term costs to Australian society," Professor Gillett-Swan said.
"Our research team of academics and partner investigators bring multidisciplinary expertise to investigate with students how and where they already self-manage their wellbeing at school, with a focus on unconventional spaces, such as toilets, stairwells, locker areas and the back of buildings.
"This study will create new concepts, practices and methods to capitalise on the ways that students are already self-managing their wellbeing through an investigation of unconventional wellbeing spaces.
"For example, as well as their functional uses for supporting hygiene and sanitation needs, many students use the toilets/bathrooms as one of the few quiet and private places in a school where they can be by themselves, reset, and feel equipped to deal with the demands of the school day.
"However, they are also places where bullying, exclusion, and vaping/smoking can occur, which makes them tricky spaces to manage.
"As they are one of the only places where students can have privacy at school, these and other similar spaces like behind buildings or other nooks around the school can be highly coveted when it comes to wellbeing self-management."
Professor Gillett-Swan said that while some schools had purpose-built wellbeing hubs, students have said the places they sought out for their wellbeing at school were not necessarily the spaces where adults expected them to be.
"Teachers who understand why students may choose unconventional spaces will be better able to support students' wellbeing self-management efforts at school, and school designers can design for wellbeing in such spaces.
"This is a unique project as it investigates students' experiences of managing their own wellbeing, by which we mean activities, practices and environments students use to proactively manage their wellbeing needs.
"This may be through things such as social connection, physical activity, or quiet spaces to rest and reset."
"Ensuring spaces are fit for student wellbeing needs as well as their functional purposes will contribute to supporting student wellbeing as well as minimising costs associated with repurposing spaces."
"Drawing on student voice and experience will expand our understanding of how students can better self-manage their wellbeing at school".
The research team comprises chief investigators Professor Gillett-Swan, Associate Professor Nick Kelly, from QUT's School of Design (Interaction Design); Dr Kirsty Volz, from QUT's School of Architecture and Built Environment; Dr Kathryn Kelly, from QUT's School of Creative Arts (Drama); Professor Kristin Laurens, from QUT's School of Psychology and Counselling; and Professor Jillian Willis, from QUT's School of Education; partner investigators are Gary Adsett from Queensland Independent Schools Block Grant Authority and Mitchell Sprague from Australian Council for Student Voice.
Partner organisations are Essity Australasia; Autism Queensland; Wavell State High School; M3Architecture; Queensland Independent Schools Block Grant Authority, and the Australian Council for Student Voice.
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Original text here: https://www.qut.edu.au/news?id=202733
Newcastle University Project Wins Prestigious Chemical Engineering Award
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, England, Nov. 28 -- Newcastle University issued the following news:
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University project wins prestigious chemical engineering award
A Newcastle University project exploring low-carbon fuel economy has won a Research Project Award at the 2025 IChemE Global Awards.
The Engineering chemical reactor technologies for a low-carbon energy future project is led by Professor Ian Metcalfe and includes Dr Yongliang Yan, Matteo Fella and Dr Wenting Hu.
Funded by the Royal Academy of Engineering, the project's goal is to develop transformational chemical reactor technologies capable
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NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, England, Nov. 28 -- Newcastle University issued the following news:
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University project wins prestigious chemical engineering award
A Newcastle University project exploring low-carbon fuel economy has won a Research Project Award at the 2025 IChemE Global Awards.
The Engineering chemical reactor technologies for a low-carbon energy future project is led by Professor Ian Metcalfe and includes Dr Yongliang Yan, Matteo Fella and Dr Wenting Hu.
Funded by the Royal Academy of Engineering, the project's goal is to develop transformational chemical reactor technologies capableof delivering efficient, scalable chemical conversions essential for a low-carbon fuel economy, with a particular emphasis on clean hydrogen production and e-fuels synthesis.
It is part of the Royal Academy of Engineering's Chair in Emerging Technologies programme and reflects five years of pioneering innovation in chemical engineering at Newcastle University.
Chemical conversions underpin many processes required for industrial decarbonisation. However, traditional reaction engineering has advanced only incrementally in recent decades. This project challenges that status quo by harnessing novel approaches in cyclic reactor operation--also known as chemical looping--to overcome long-standing limitations associated with reaction equilibria.
A major milestone of the project is the design, construction, and successful operation of a 5 kWth hydrogen production pilot plant at Newcastle University. The system employs a single looping reactor to perform the water-gas shift (WGS) reaction with performance unconstrained by equilibrium limits, enabling the direct production of high-purity hydrogen without the need for downstream separation of hydrogen and carbon dioxide.
Professor Ian Metcalfe, Chair in Emerging Technologies and Professor of Chemical Engineering School of Engineering, said: "This award is very satisfying recognition of the work performed by a great team who have worked very hard on the underpinning science and application of the concept at demonstration scale."
Dr Yongliang Yan, Research Associate, at Newcastle University's School of Engineering, added: "We are absolutely delighted to receive the IChemE Research Project Award. This recognition confirms the significance of our work and motivates us to push even further. For me personally, this award reflects the strength of our collaboration, the creativity of the team, and our commitment to delivering impactful solutions for clean hydrogen and sustainable fuels. We look forward to engaging with industry and investors to translate this research into real-world practice."
Clean hydrogen and e-fuel synthesis
The research provides a pathway towards more efficient, compact, and scalable systems for clean hydrogen and e-fuel synthesis. Its ability to eliminate equilibrium constraints makes it highly attractive for industries seeking cost-effective decarbonisation solutions.
Matteo Fella, Research Assistant, School of Engineering, said: "It's a real honour for our team to receive this award. It has taken a huge collective effort to develop this technology from early concept to demonstration scale, and I'm really pleased that the dedication and expertise of the whole team have been recognised. I'm incredibly proud of the progress we've made and excited about the opportunities ahead as we continue working towards scalable, low-carbon solutions for hydrogen and sustainable fuels."
Dr Wenting Hu, Lecturer at the School of Engineering, said: "We are delighted to receive this recognition from IChemE, and we hope to take the project further towards application in the near future."
With more than 100 finalists across 16 categories, the program featured an international line-up of winners and highly commended entries, including entries from the US, Germany, Denmark, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, and more.
The Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) advances chemical engineering's contribution for the benefit of society. We facilitate the development of chemical engineering professionals and provide connections to a powerful network of around 32,000 members in more than 100 countries.
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Original text here: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/press/articles/latest/2025/11/ichemeglobalawards/
London Business School: Cryptogeddon - User's Guide for Central Banks
LONDON, England, Nov. 28 -- London Business School issued the following news:
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Cryptogeddon: a user's guide for central banks
How might monetary authorities react if a digital asset crash destabilised the financial system?
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London Business School's Richard Portes sets the tone for Cryptogeddon (Central Banking, 26 November), warning that while a bitcoin crash would cause pain for leveraged punters, the real systemic threat sits with stablecoins and the fragile infrastructure around them. Native crypto assets, he argues, are too volatile and too marginal to topple traditional finance,
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LONDON, England, Nov. 28 -- London Business School issued the following news:
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Cryptogeddon: a user's guide for central banks
How might monetary authorities react if a digital asset crash destabilised the financial system?
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London Business School's Richard Portes sets the tone for Cryptogeddon (Central Banking, 26 November), warning that while a bitcoin crash would cause pain for leveraged punters, the real systemic threat sits with stablecoins and the fragile infrastructure around them. Native crypto assets, he argues, are too volatile and too marginal to topple traditional finance,unless hidden leverage is far larger than regulators realise.
The real danger lies in exchanges that can malfunction at scale, and in "stablecoins" backed by money-market funds and other assets that can rapidly unravel under stress. The article charts how Donald Trump's pro-crypto stance and regulatory rollbacks have turbocharged market integration just as flash crashes and de-peggings expose persistent vulnerabilities.
Past warnings from the IMF, FSB and New York Fed all converge on the same theme: crypto's growing entanglement with traditional finance, paired with patchy data and fragmented oversight, creates risks that are poorly understood and easy to underestimate. Experts diverge on how serious the threat is.
Michael Reddell plays down systemic risk for now, stressing that crypto remains peripheral to payments, household balance sheets and mainstream credit. But Germany's Ralf Fendel and Portes see unsettling echoes of pre-2008 complacency: opaque exposures, weakening guardrails and politically driven deregulation.Stablecoins dominate the "what-if" scenarios. With Tether and USDC holding Treasury portfolios the size of major sovereigns, a redemption run could force fire-sales into the already fragile Treasuries "plumbing", with spillovers hitting smaller crypto-facing banks first.
Central banks might not want to bail out crypto infrastructure, but history suggests they would have no choice if contagion hit core markets. The piece ends with a sober reality check: central banks have repeatedly intervened in markets they never expected to touch. If a crypto shock metastasised, the response would look less like rescuing coins and more like stabilising the institutions and markets around them. Portes's parting concern is simple: the risks are real, the data thin, and regulators are distracted.
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Original text here: https://www.london.edu/news/cryptogeddon-a-users-guide-for-central-banks
