Education (Colleges & Universities)
Here's a look at documents from public, private and community colleges in the U.S.
Featured Stories
Virginia Tech: Ancient Millipedes Still Had Secrets to Tell
BLACKSBURG, Virginia, June 13 (TNSjou) -- Virginia Tech issued the following news:
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Ancient millipedes still had secrets to tell
Researchers completed the first evolutionary history of Earth's first land animals, pushing their origins tens of millions of years deeper into the past.
By Marya Barlow and James Mason
Long before vertebrates walked on land, millipedes had the place to themselves.
Hundreds of millions of years before dinosaurs arrived, these early decomposers were helping establish Earth's terrestrial ecosystems. But despite their ancient history, scientists still hadn't
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BLACKSBURG, Virginia, June 13 (TNSjou) -- Virginia Tech issued the following news:
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Ancient millipedes still had secrets to tell
Researchers completed the first evolutionary history of Earth's first land animals, pushing their origins tens of millions of years deeper into the past.
By Marya Barlow and James Mason
Long before vertebrates walked on land, millipedes had the place to themselves.
Hundreds of millions of years before dinosaurs arrived, these early decomposers were helping establish Earth's terrestrial ecosystems. But despite their ancient history, scientists still hadn'tfully unraveled their evolutionary story.
Now, a Virginia Tech-led team of international scientists has solved one of the last major mysteries in millipede evolution, revealing new clues about a group of animals that helped pave the way for life on land.
The findings, published in Current Biology, complete the first evolutionary history of all living millipede orders. By combining genomic data from living species with morphological evidence from fossils, researchers traced the group's origins to nearly 460 million years ago -- suggesting millipedes may have been present long before the oldest known millipede fossils.
"Millipedes beat vertebrates onto land by more than 80 million years," said Paul Marek, the study's lead investigator and associate professor in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences' Department of Entomology. "They really set the stage for later life on land, including humans and vertebrates."
Reconstructing the missing pieces
For more than a century, scientists knew that two rare groups of millipedes -- Siphoniulida and Siphonocryptida -- existed, but without fresh specimens for DNA analysis, they couldn't confirm where they belonged in the millipede family tree.
One of the groups includes millipedes barely a centimeter long that spend their entire lives underground. The other survives in just a few known locations.
"These last two were kind of like our white whales," Marek said.
Researchers traveled to Los Tuxtlas, Mexico, and Spain's Canary Islands to collect Siphoniulus neotropicus and Hirudicryptus canariensis, two millipedes whose DNA had never been included in an evolutionary analysis.
"It took 10 people over a week just to find this one tiny 10-millimeter adult," said Luisa "Fernanda" Vasquez-Valverde M.S. '21, Ph.D. '24, the paper's first author and an assistant in Marek's lab. "Finding them in the field was hard because we were just seeing this little white nematode. We didn't know for sure it was a millipede until we looked under the microscope."
By sequencing DNA from the two groups, comparing hundreds of genes across 82 millipede species, and combining those results with evidence from 29 fossils, researchers were able to determine where the groups fit in millipede history and when their lineages emerged. The effort generated terabytes of genetic data and relied on Virginia Tech's Advanced Research Computing resources to reconstruct relationships stretching back hundreds of millions of years.
One group, Siphonocryptida, turned out not to be a distinct order after all, but part of an existing lineage. The other, Siphoniulida, was finally placed among its closest relatives on the millipede evolution timeline.
Colonizing an alien Earth
The analysis revealed that millipedes may have originated nearly 460 million years ago -- roughly 35 million years before the oldest known millipede fossils and much earlier than previously believed.
"The biggest surprise was just how ancient some of these lineages turned out to be," Marek said.
Back then, life on Earth looked dramatically different. Marek said millipedes helped pioneer life on land by breaking down organic material and recycling nutrients in some of the planet's first ecosystems.
"There were no vertebrates, no trees, no leaves, no flowering plants, no plants with seeds," Marek said. "Millipedes were feeding on decaying mosses, decomposed slime, and primordial gunk on the surface of the Earth."
The completed family tree also helped reveal when one of millipedes' most important adaptations first emerged.
"They made the first chemical weapons," Marek said. "They're little chemical factories."
The study traces those chemical defenses to about 260 million years ago, providing the clearest picture yet of when millipedes first developed them.
Unheralded heroes of the ecosystem
Today, millipedes remain among nature's most important detritivores, breaking down decaying plant material and returning nutrients to ecosystems.
"It's really kind of puzzling that they have such an important function in the ecosystem, and yet they're so poorly known," Marek said.
For all that scientists have learned, millipedes still hold many new discoveries. Scientists have described more than 14,000 millipede species worldwide, but experts estimate there could be tens of thousands still undiscovered. Marek and his students have helped identify new millipedes in locations ranging from Virginia Tech's Blacksburg campus to the city of Los Angeles.
For a new generation of millipede researchers like Vasquez-Valverde, that's part of what makes the animals so compelling.
"There is all this potential for discovery," she said. "It keeps me wondering what else we're going to find."
The research, funded by the National Science Foundation, also included scientists from the Field Museum of Natural History, Hampden-Sydney College, Universidad de La Laguna, Virginia Tech's School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, the Australian National Insect Collection, West Virginia University, and Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Hidalgo.
Original study: DOI.10.1016/j.cub.2026.05.035
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Original text here: https://news.vt.edu/articles/2026/06/cals-millipede-evolutionary-tree.html
University of the District of Columbia: Summer Session - Beyond the Classroom With Hossain Azam
WASHINGTON, June 13 -- The University of the District of Columbia issued the following Q&A on June 12, 2026, involving Hossain Azam, associate professor of environmental engineering:
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Summer Session: Beyond the Classroom with Hossain Azam
Priscilla Lalisse-Jespersen
Summer Session: Beyond the Classroom is a summer series highlighting the many ways University of the District of Columbia faculty continue advancing the university's mission beyond the academic year. Through research, professional development, community engagement and preparation for the year ahead, faculty remain actively
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WASHINGTON, June 13 -- The University of the District of Columbia issued the following Q&A on June 12, 2026, involving Hossain Azam, associate professor of environmental engineering:
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Summer Session: Beyond the Classroom with Hossain Azam
Priscilla Lalisse-Jespersen
Summer Session: Beyond the Classroom is a summer series highlighting the many ways University of the District of Columbia faculty continue advancing the university's mission beyond the academic year. Through research, professional development, community engagement and preparation for the year ahead, faculty remain activelyconnected to their disciplines, students and communities.
For the second installment of the series, we spoke with Hossain Azam, associate professor of environmental engineering, about mentoring the next generation of environmental engineers, advancing research on emerging contaminants and preparing innovative learning experiences for UDC students.
PLJ: What does summer typically look like for you once the academic year ends?
HA: My typical summer varies from year to year. It is mainly focused on advising student research, preparing for upcoming fall and spring courses, and supporting summer programming for high school students.
PLJ: Are there any projects, research, professional development opportunities or community initiatives you are focusing on this summer?
HA: This summer, I am focusing on several ongoing funded projects supported by organizations including the USDA, DC Water and the DC Water Resources Research Institute. I will be advising two PhD students and four master's students as they make significant progress in their research.
I am also working to complete several journal manuscripts currently in development. In addition, I will be redesigning at least one future course to incorporate an entrepreneurial mindset into the curriculum. Having recently completed several seed grants, I plan to build on those findings by developing competitive federal grant proposals for submission during the upcoming academic year. I will also be preparing grant proposals for fall 2026.
PLJ: What trends or changes in your field are you paying the closest attention to right now?
HA: I am particularly interested in environmental engineering research within the framework of the water-energy-food-climate nexus. The relationships among renewable energy, agriculture and food systems, water resources, wastewater and waste management are of great interest.
I am also closely following developments related to PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), which have emerged as a major environmental concern. PFAS research has become an important focus within the field, and it is an area I continue to explore in my own work.
PLJ: How does the work you do during the summer help shape the student experience at UDC during the academic year?
HA: Summer is a time for preparation and reflection. The effort devoted to course development helps ensure that students receive current and relevant information in the classroom.
The research progress made by students under my supervision during the summer also helps advance their thesis work and provides strong direction for continued success during the academic year.
PLJ: What is one thing you are especially looking forward to in the upcoming academic year?
HA: Students are the key to our success. I am looking forward to engaging students through redesigned courses and securing new grants that support innovative research opportunities.
PLJ: What is something people might be surprised to learn about how you spend your summers?
HA: Apart from ongoing research, course preparation and proposal development, I am planning to spend time with my newborn baby girl, Tahireen, over the summer. I am also planning to have a get-together with my current and former students who live in the area at the end of the summer.
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Original text here: https://www.udc.edu/news/2026/06/summer-session-beyond-the-classroom-with-hossain-azam
University of Michigan: Nursing Job Turnover Has Nearly Doubled Since Pandemic
ANN ARBOR, Michigan, June 13 (TNSjou) -- The University of Michigan issued the following news:
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Nursing job turnover has nearly doubled since pandemic
U-M study finds states with high COVID-19 caseloads did not see significant shifts in where nurses worked, suggesting other factors drove job changes
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The COVID-19 pandemic did not push nurses out of hospitals or other care settings as feared, but nurses left their primary jobs at nearly double the rate from 2018 to 2022, a new University of Michigan study found.
The study, which appeared in Medical Care, also found that the size of the
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ANN ARBOR, Michigan, June 13 (TNSjou) -- The University of Michigan issued the following news:
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Nursing job turnover has nearly doubled since pandemic
U-M study finds states with high COVID-19 caseloads did not see significant shifts in where nurses worked, suggesting other factors drove job changes
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The COVID-19 pandemic did not push nurses out of hospitals or other care settings as feared, but nurses left their primary jobs at nearly double the rate from 2018 to 2022, a new University of Michigan study found.
The study, which appeared in Medical Care, also found that the size of thenursing workforce grew from 3.27 million to 3.57 million during the same period.
Researchers examined whether nurses in states with higher COVID-19 hospital caseloads were more likely to shift away from inpatient hospitals, long-term care, outpatient care or nonclinical roles, said Charlotte Ahr, U-M nursing Ph.D. candidate and the study's lead researcher.
The findings highlight the impact of COVID-19 on job changes within the nursing profession, and gives policymakers and healthcare experts insights into underlying reasons why nurses left their primary jobs, Ahr said.
"Because we found the changes in nurse employment weren't driven by whether states had high COVID caseloads, we explored the reasons that nurses left their jobs," Ahr said. "Always rising to the top were stressful work environments, burnout and inadequate staffing."
Other takeaways:
* About 13% of registered nurses reported that they left their primary nursing position in 2018, compared with 24% in 2022.
* Registered nurse full-time equivalents increased in outpatient settings, rising from 32.7% in 2018 to 34.9% in 2022.
* Registered nurse FTEs declined in inpatient settings, long-term care and nonclinical settings.
* Across care settings, the most common reasons for leaving were a stressful work environment, burnout, insufficient staffing and lack of good management. These concerns were even more common in 2022 than in 2018, especially among nurses working in inpatient and long-term care settings.
The findings complicate the notion that the pandemic collapsed the nursing workforce, but it reinforces the idea that poor working conditions predated the pandemic and suggests that poor working conditions that predated COVID-19 continued to drive nurses to change jobs after the pandemic began.
Ahr emphasized that job turnover is not the same as leaving nursing entirely. In this study, turnover means nurses left their primary job. They may have moved to another nursing job, changed care settings, reduced their hours, become travel nurses, retired or left nursing temporarily.
One unexpected finding was that long-term care nurse employment declined slightly less in states with higher COVID-19 caseloads. Researchers said this could reflect policy responses, recruitment efforts or local labor-market dynamics rather than a direct positive effect of the pandemic.
The analysis included 99,507 registered nurse respondents from the 2018 and 2022 National Sample Survey of Registered Nurses, the largest long-standing source of data on the U.S. nursing workforce.
Co-authors include: Claudia Gates, Christopher Friese, Milisa Manojlovich and Matthew Davis of the U-M School of Nursing, and Thuy Nguyen of the U-M School of Public Health.
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Study: The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Registered Nurse Employment Across Settings (DOI:10.1097/MLR.0000000000002294)
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Original text here: https://news.umich.edu/nursing-job-turnover-has-nearly-doubled-since-pandemic/
University of Michigan: Dismantling of U.S. Global Aid is a Cascading Crisis
ANN ARBOR, Michigan, June 13 (TNSjou) -- The University of Michigan issued the following Q&A on June 12, 2026, involving HaEun Lee, researcher in the School of Nursing:
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The dismantling of US global aid is a cascading crisis
The 2025 executive order dismantling U.S. Agency for International Development programs canceled 90% of the agency's contracts and grants, destabilizing health systems globally.
The sudden reduction in funding from the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and Canada has destabilized health systems across sub-Saharan Africa in ways that could reach the U.S. Uganda,
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ANN ARBOR, Michigan, June 13 (TNSjou) -- The University of Michigan issued the following Q&A on June 12, 2026, involving HaEun Lee, researcher in the School of Nursing:
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The dismantling of US global aid is a cascading crisis
The 2025 executive order dismantling U.S. Agency for International Development programs canceled 90% of the agency's contracts and grants, destabilizing health systems globally.
The sudden reduction in funding from the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and Canada has destabilized health systems across sub-Saharan Africa in ways that could reach the U.S. Uganda,which has nearly 2 million refugees-the largest refugee population in Africa-is facing an acute crisis as a result, according to a new study published in JAMA.
HaEun Lee, a researcher at the University of Michigan School of Nursing, led a qualitative study involving 26 health care practitioners in Uganda's Nakivale Refugee Settlement to document the frontline consequences of the funding cuts. She discusses how the withdrawal of U.S. health infrastructure impacts the United States and the world.
Given the interconnectedness of our world, how do the outbreaks you have documented--like measles in Nakivale--risk becoming wider global health security threats?
If the COVID-19 pandemic taught us anything, it's how interconnected we are and that diseases don't respect borders. The U.S. has a long history of prioritizing HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and other communicable diseases. While that reflects the overall value and longstanding reputation of U.S. goodwill, it also rests on the scientific self-interest of protecting Americans.
Interrupted treatment is how new drug-resistant strains emerge, and once a strain develops, it can travel anywhere. Collapsing immunization coverage erodes the herd immunity that protects us all. By withdrawing funds and resources so abruptly, the U.S. forfeited the ability to monitor disease activity closely at its sources. Surveillance and the quick exchange of information with the global community is key to preventing the next pandemic.
We also have to remember that innovation and knowledge exchange is bidirectional. The Global North learns so much from countries like Uganda, which has repeatedly contained Ebola outbreaks and generated frontline knowledge that now informs global protocols. Dealing with these crises as a global community is how we learn to handle whichever country goes through it next.
From a global health perspective, how does the abrupt withdrawal of these established institutions and expertise create a vacuum that leads to this kind of "profound transformation"?
It depends on how you define those institutions and expertise, because it was really several things operating at once. USAID was a massive part of it, but so was the sheer scale of the funding itself. The U.S. was historically one of the largest donors to humanitarian and global health efforts. But what we're really losing is institutional knowledge and the unique ability to quickly tap into local expertise.
Over six decades of working across dozens of countries, USAID accumulated hard-won expertise about what to do, who to involve and how to do it effectively. It is that collaboration with local experts that made everything possible.
How is this affecting the long-term viability of the healthcare workforce as a whole?
Healthcare workers are remarkably resilient, but I am afraid that resilience is being taken for granted. The providers my team interviewed describe deep burnout and a profound sense of helplessness. In clinical literature, we call this moral injury--the lasting psychological, behavioral and spiritual damage caused by witnessing or failing to prevent suffering despite having the knowledge and skills to help. It is the particular anguish of having the training to act, yet lacking the resources to do what you know should be done.
They watch the people they serve deteriorate in front of them. One of the most painful examples is being forced to turn away malnourished children due to limited supplies, only to have those same children return weeks later even sicker. These providers grieve not being able to offer their best to refugees who have already endured so much, even as they try to deliver the tender, loving care they spoke about.
When you lay off half the staff, leave the rest to absorb impossible workloads, and ask them to carry the moral weight of watching preventable suffering, you erode the conditions that sustain a workforce. Resilience is not an infinite resource.
What makes all of this difficult to sit with, as a nurse myself, is that a provider's resilience can mask the damage. From a distance, the system looks like it is coping because dedicated people are holding it together through sheer will, and that lets decision-makers assume things are fine. You can make these large-scale decisions without ever having to witness the consequences, but the providers cannot. They are the ones left standing in front of the suffering. Bearing witness to human suffering is part of our calling, but that does not mean our commitment should be treated as a resource to be spent without limit.
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Original text here: https://news.umich.edu/the-dismantling-of-us-global-aid-is-a-cascading-crisis/
UTulsa joins notable universities in signing Statement of Shared Practice on AI & Archives
TULSA, Oklahoma, June 13 -- The University of Tulsa posted the following news:
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UTulsa joins notable universities in signing Statement of Shared Practice on AI & Archives
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The University of Tulsa Libraries have signed a national Statement of Shared Practice on AI & Archives, a community-developed framework that establishes shared professional standards for responding to artificial intelligence training requests involving archival and special collections materials.
Developed through collaboration among research libraries and coordinated by the University of Virginia Library, the Statement
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TULSA, Oklahoma, June 13 -- The University of Tulsa posted the following news:
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UTulsa joins notable universities in signing Statement of Shared Practice on AI & Archives
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The University of Tulsa Libraries have signed a national Statement of Shared Practice on AI & Archives, a community-developed framework that establishes shared professional standards for responding to artificial intelligence training requests involving archival and special collections materials.
Developed through collaboration among research libraries and coordinated by the University of Virginia Library, the Statementof Shared Practice reflects a growing recognition that cultural heritage institutions must engage AI thoughtfully, ethically and collectively. As stewards of rare, unique and often irreplaceable materials, libraries have a responsibility to ensure that emerging technologies do not compromise provenance, obscure attribution or diminish our ability to steward collections in accordance with donor intent and community trust.
Current AI training practices present particular challenges for archives and special collections. When materials are absorbed into AI systems without clear mechanisms for attribution or control, the essential relationship between source and knowledge can be severed. This not only risks eroding scholarly integrity but also limits institutional oversight of how materials are reused, interpreted or redistributed in AI-generated outputs.
"As AI technologies rapidly reshape the research landscape, we recognize that no single institution can, or should, navigate these challenges alone," said Jill Krefft, R.M. and Ida McFarlin Dean of Libraries. "Participating in this initiative reflects our commitment to working collaboratively at the national level to develop thoughtful, ethical approaches to AI use. This collective effort ensures that we move forward not in isolation, but with shared purpose and accountability to the communities we serve."
By endorsing this shared framework, UTulsa Libraries affirm their commitment to:
* Safeguarding the provenance, context and integrity of archival materials
* Exercising careful, consistent review of AI training requests
* Maintaining institutional control over collections and their use
* Supporting transparency and collaboration across the cultural heritage community
* Engaging AI in ways that advance research and access without compromising ethical responsibilities
As AI technologies continue to evolve, the question is not whether libraries will engage with them, but how. Participation in the Statement of Shared Practice enables UTulsa Libraries to contribute to a collective approach that balances innovation with stewardship, ensuring that the materials entrusted to university care remain accessible, attributable and responsibly managed. The University of Tulsa joins Duke, Rice, Northwestern, WashU and other notable universities in signing this important statement.
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Original text here: https://utulsa.edu/news/utulsa-joins-notable-universities-in-signing-statement-of-shared-practice-on-ai-archives/
Solihull College & University Centre: Former College Chair of Governors to Receive OBE
SOLIHULL, England, June 13 -- Solihull College and University Centre issued the following news:
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Former College Chair of Governors to receive OBE
Solihull College & University Centre is proud to announce that former Chair of Governors, Barbara Hughes, has been awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in recognition of her outstanding services to Further Education.
Barbara has made an exceptional and sustained contribution to the Further Education (FE) sector over a distinguished 40-year career, demonstrating the highest standards of public service, leadership and innovation.
Her
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SOLIHULL, England, June 13 -- Solihull College and University Centre issued the following news:
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Former College Chair of Governors to receive OBE
Solihull College & University Centre is proud to announce that former Chair of Governors, Barbara Hughes, has been awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in recognition of her outstanding services to Further Education.
Barbara has made an exceptional and sustained contribution to the Further Education (FE) sector over a distinguished 40-year career, demonstrating the highest standards of public service, leadership and innovation.
Hercareer has spanned several influential roles, including Her Majesty's Inspector for Ofsted, the Adult Learning Inspectorate and the Training Standards Council. She led more than 200 inspections, driving improvement and championing best practice across the sector. She also played a pivotal role in Ministry of Defence inspections, helping to safeguard quality and duty of care across Armed Forces recruit training. Her work culminated in the landmark 'Safer Training' report, presented to the Parliamentary Defence Select Committee. In addition, Barbara contributed to international inspection reform, working in Yemen at the request of the British Council.
Barbara delivered transformational impact throughout her time as College Chair of Governors between 2017 to 2025. She led the successful merger with Stratford-upon-Avon College in 2018, safeguarding provision for more than 1,000 students and strengthening skills delivery across the region. Under her leadership, student numbers grew significantly, alongside improvements in learner progression and employment outcomes.
Barbara has also played a central role in securing major regional investment in skills. The College secured leadership of the West Midlands & Warwickshire Local Skills Improvement Fund (LSIF), bringing together 23 providers to deliver new technical qualifications aligned with employer needs and to upskill thousands of learners in key areas such as digital, engineering and green technologies. This work is forecast to make a significant contribution to regional productivity.
In addition, Barbara spearheaded the successful bid for the College to lead the Greater Birmingham & Solihull Institute of Technology (GBSIoT), supporting advanced manufacturing and engineering and strengthening links with employers across the region.
Barbara's leadership has been defined by inclusivity, resilience and strategic vision. She has guided the College through periods of challenge and change, ensuring stability and continuity, and is widely respected for her ability to inspire students, staff, governors and partners alike.
Her contributions have also been recognised through a recent Fellowship from the Chartered Institution for Further Education, further underlining her impact on the sector.
College Principal, Dr Rebecca Gater, commented: "Barbara's dedication to Further Education is truly remarkable, and this honour is richly deserved. Her leadership has helped shape not only our college, but the further education and skills landscape across the West Midlands and beyond. She has made a lasting difference to the lives of thousands of learners, and we are incredibly proud to see her recognised with an OBE."
Barbara Hughes OBE commented: "I am truly humbled and honoured to receive an OBE. It has been a privilege to work in Further Education and to support an organisation that is so committed to transforming lives through learning. I have been very lucky in my long career in education and skills to have had tremendous women role models and constant support from family and friends. My time at Solihull College & University Centre was the pinnacle of my career working with excellent staff, governors and great students for which I will always be grateful."
Barbara's award reflects her significant contribution to national priorities, including skills development, lifelong learning and regional economic growth, and cements her legacy as one of the sector's most influential leaders.
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Original text here: https://www.solihull.ac.uk/news/former-college-chair-of-governors-to-receive-obe/
Binghamton University Innovates Technique to Detect Plastic Landmines
BINGHAMTON, New York, June 13 -- Binghamton University issued the following news:
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Binghamton University innovates new technique to detect plastic landmines
Using consumer-grade technology, the method doesn't require an Internet connection - a plus for conflict zones
By Jennifer Micale
Today's anti-personnel landmines are small in size and often have a plastic casing that standard metal detectors are unable to register. Geophysical techniques such as ground-penetrating radar, magnetometry, and electromagnetic induction are significantly less effective with plastic mines than with those
... Show Full Article
BINGHAMTON, New York, June 13 -- Binghamton University issued the following news:
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Binghamton University innovates new technique to detect plastic landmines
Using consumer-grade technology, the method doesn't require an Internet connection - a plus for conflict zones
By Jennifer Micale
Today's anti-personnel landmines are small in size and often have a plastic casing that standard metal detectors are unable to register. Geophysical techniques such as ground-penetrating radar, magnetometry, and electromagnetic induction are significantly less effective with plastic mines than with thosecreated from metal.
Of particular concern are so-called scatterable landmines, designed to be deployed over wide areas. One widely used mine is the Soviet-era PFM-1. Designed to fall like maple seeds from the sky, the PFM-1 -- known as the butterfly mine, for its distinctive shape -- follows a brutal logic.
"It's harder to take care of a wounded soldier than a dead one. They're meant to hurt, not kill," explained Binghamton University Associate Professor of Earth Sciences Alex Nikulin. "They're specifically designed with that purpose in mind, and their entire construction is meant to evade detection."
A new technique uses machine-learning algorithms -- artificial intelligence (AI) -- to detect these plastic landmines over wide areas. Led by geology alumna Sharifa Karwandyar, MS '25, Associate Professor of Geography Thomas Pingel and Nikulin, "Deep Learning and Multiview-Based Detection of Scatterable PFM-1 Landmines: Performance, Out-of-Sample Evaluation, and Field Readiness" recently appeared in the journal Geomatics.
In active warzones such as Ukraine, scatterable landmines often lurk close to the surface; in post-conflict regions, however, they may become buried or concealed in the landscape over time, Karwandyar said. Since plastic landmines are typically the size of a cell phone, drones used in detection must fly low to the ground -- 10 or 20 meters -- so that the sensors can achieve maximum resolution.
"This is a first-pass analysis to determine whether a locality is potentially a suspected hazardous area," Karwandyar said. "That falls in line with the standardized process for landmine detection."
In the field
In her master's thesis, Karwandyar used a drone-mounted camera and software to stitch together low-resolution images. Those images were then run through You Only Look Once (YOLO), a machine learning algorithm that helped identify potential landmines.
The researchers trained YOLO's object detection algorithm using inert PFM-1 mines, as well as 3-D printed replicas. Then, they placed the mines in different parts of Binghamton University's Nature Preserve, building a dataset of what a PFM-1 mine would look like in various environments, angles, settings and lighting conditions, Karwandyar said.
"We trained two different YOLO models to understand how we can make something like this field-ready," she said. "One model was trained only on the PFM-1 landmines, and the other was used to identify the PFM-1 and additional random objects using a standard data set."
The second model resulted in lower performance values, which most likely reflect real-world results, she said. After all, cameras also pick up elements of the environment, such as leaves.
Much of the processing work occurs during the algorithm training phase, which lasts several hours to a day, depending on the number of images involved, Pingel said. In the field, deployment would require only a lightweight consumer-grade laptop, drone, and camera.
"Sharifa's work has emphasized processing data in either real time or near real time, so that you can tackle these things in the field," Pingel said. "There's no need to collect data and then bring it back somewhere to process and examine it."
That's a major plus: both active- and post-conflict nations typically have problems with Internet connectivity, whether through a lack of intact infrastructure or active GPS and signal-jamming, as seen in Ukraine. To be useful in the field, a system needs to operate without relying on a connection -- which this method does.
The field relies on individuals who have been trained in demining techniques, and on community members with an in-depth knowledge of the terrain. Object-detection models such as this one may streamline the search process, making it both easier and safer.
"With landmine detection and humanitarian work in general, a lot of times there's a disconnect between what folks work on in the lab and the realities of the field," Nikulin said. "By communication with the (non-governmental organizations), we're able to bridge that, and we know this will work in the context of the field."
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Original text here: https://www.binghamton.edu/news/story/6317/binghamton-university-innovates-new-technique-to-detect-plastic-landmines
