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Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute: How to Make Sustainability Science and Artificial Intelligence Work Together
PANAMA CITY, Panama, Oct. 30 (TNSjou) -- The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute issued the following news:
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Book publication
How to make sustainability science and artificial intelligence work together
October 28, 2026
By Vanessa Crooks
A new comprehensive volume shares how AI can be used as a tool to advance sustainability goals, while also considering the environmental impact of this technology.
Artificial intelligence (AI) pops up in every aspect of human activity and has fundamentally changed how we process information and make decisions. Its capacity for analyzing large amounts
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PANAMA CITY, Panama, Oct. 30 (TNSjou) -- The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute issued the following news:
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Book publication
How to make sustainability science and artificial intelligence work together
October 28, 2026
By Vanessa Crooks
A new comprehensive volume shares how AI can be used as a tool to advance sustainability goals, while also considering the environmental impact of this technology.
Artificial intelligence (AI) pops up in every aspect of human activity and has fundamentally changed how we process information and make decisions. Its capacity for analyzing large amountsof data and identifying complex patterns may help solve the most difficult social and environmental issues.
But AI's environmental footprint remains a public concern and a dilemma for how to ethically and sustainably harness this technology.
An edited volume, titled "Sustainability and Artificial Intelligence -- Reshaping Tomorrow: Perspectives on AI's Role in Fostering Sustainable Development", brings together international scholars from environmental science, technology, policy, and ethics, to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and sustainability.
Edited by Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) fellow Annika Bush, the book offers a concrete framework for researchers, policymakers and industry leaders for how to optimize the use of AI for sustainability, while ensuring the responsible development of AI.
"AI offers innovative tools and approaches to tackle complex global challenges, but also raises critical questions about energy consumption, algorithmic bias, and equitable access to technology, all of which are fundamental to achieving sustainable development goals," states Bush, a postdoctoral researcher funded by the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) PRIME Fellowship, and hosted by the STRI's Adrienne Arsht Community-Based Resilience Solutions Initiative and the University of Bremen / Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Research.
"This book is among the first comprehensive volumes to systematically examine AI's dual role as both a tool for and a challenge to sustainable development," adds Bush.
Book contributors delve into global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and sustainable development, and how AI can offer potential solutions, while addressing the paradox of using computationally intensive technologies to solve environmental problems. They also offer frameworks for AI governance approaches, and pathways toward sustainable artificial intelligence.
While the concept of sustainability once focused on environmental conservation, it evolved into a comprehensive framework, based on scientific research and policy development, that considers the interconnection of social and ecological issues, such as inequality, climate change, economic viability, and more.
With the rise of AI, new challenges arise, but also new opportunities that require science-backed approaches to guide efforts.
Bush points out that another goal is ensuring that communities most affected by climate change and environmental degradation can participate in developing and deploying relevant AI solutions, to enhance the effectiveness and equity of these technologies.
"We invite researchers, practitioners, policymakers, students, and concerned global citizens to engage with the ideas presented here and contribute to the ongoing development of approaches that utilize AI for sustainability," she says. "By combining technical innovation with ethical reflection, scientific rigor with social awareness, and global perspective with local knowledge, we can work collectively toward technological solutions that genuinely advance human flourishing within planetary boundaries."
Published on October 12, 2026, by Springer Nature Link, in Cham, Switzerland, this book is part of Springer's Sustainable Development Goals Series.
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About the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Headquartered in Panama City, Panama, STRI is a unit of the Smithsonian Institution. Our mission is to understand tropical biodiversity and its importance to human welfare, to train students to conduct research in the tropics and to promote conservation by increasing public awareness of the beauty and importance of tropical ecosystems. Watch our video, and visit our website, Facebook, X and Instagram for updates.
Reference: Sustainability and Artificial Intelligence -- Reshaping Tomorrow: Perspectives on AI's Role in Fostering Sustainable Development, ISBN 978-3-032-13395-3, 2026, Editon 1, X, 285 p. 42 illus., 36 illus. in color. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-13396-0
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Original text here: https://stri.si.edu/story/book-publication
Smithsonian STARS Begins Arizona Rollout With Yuma County
CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, Oct. 30 -- The Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics issued the following news release:
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Smithsonian STARS Begins Arizona Rollout with Yuma County
10.29.26
This October, five rural schools across Yuma County partnered with Smithsonian STARS (Scientists Taking Astronomy to Rural Schools) to bring hands-on astronomy learning into their classrooms, marking the first phase of the program's statewide Arizona rollout.
The participating schools are Dateland Elementary School in Dateland, Mohawk Valley School in Roll, Antelope Union High School and Wellton Elementary
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CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, Oct. 30 -- The Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics issued the following news release:
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Smithsonian STARS Begins Arizona Rollout with Yuma County
10.29.26
This October, five rural schools across Yuma County partnered with Smithsonian STARS (Scientists Taking Astronomy to Rural Schools) to bring hands-on astronomy learning into their classrooms, marking the first phase of the program's statewide Arizona rollout.
The participating schools are Dateland Elementary School in Dateland, Mohawk Valley School in Roll, Antelope Union High School and Wellton ElementarySchool in Wellton, and JD Price Elementary School at Yuma Proving Ground.
Through STARS, the participating schools received a Celestron NexStar 6SE telescope, standards-aligned K-12 lessons and educator training to help bring astronomy instruction into their classrooms. During visits to the schools from October 13-16, the STARS team worked alongside educators to familiarize them with the telescopes and conduct hands-on astronomy activities with students. Following the visits, STARS will continue to support participating educators as they incorporate the program's lessons and telescope activities into their classrooms.
Across the five schools, approximately 300 students and seven educators took part in activities during the visits. As educators begin using the telescopes, lessons and other resources at their schools, nearly 700 students will have opportunities to participate in astronomy learning.
"I'm so excited and happy for this opportunity," said Brenda Findley, a third through fifth grade teacher at JD Price Elementary school. "When the telescope came to the classroom, we were able to put it together. The students couldn't wait to use it."
For students in Yuma County, the program offers an opportunity to connect classroom science with the night sky around them by exploring objects such as the Moon, planets, stars, galaxies and nebulae using real astronomical equipment.
"Astronomy has a remarkable ability to spark curiosity and inspire students to explore broader STEM learning," said Dr. Emma Marcucci, Executive Director of Smithsonian STARS. "Rural Arizona's clear, dark skies are a tremendous natural resource. With the right support, these skies can turn into classrooms for discovery. Our goal is to empower educators to create meaningful, hands-on science experiences rooted in the remarkable skies that students can see from their own communities."
Beyond the school visits, members of the STARS team also participated in an evening star party hosted by the Yuma Astronomy Club. The event drew around 75 attendees, which included students, educators, and members of the local community. Attendees had the opportunity to explore the night sky and observe the Moon and other celestial objects through a STARS telescope.
Arizona: The First Chapter
Arizona is the first state in the country where Smithsonian STARS has launched. Following a pilot with schools in Southeast Arizona in spring 2026, the program began the first phase of its statewide Arizona rollout with Yuma County. STARS is expected to expand to additional counties across Arizona in the coming months.
Following its work in Arizona, Smithsonian STARS plans to launch operations in Delaware and Rhode Island later this school year, with additional states to follow as the program grows. Its long-term goal is to reach rural schools in every state across the country.
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Original text here: https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/news/smithsonian-stars-begins-arizona-rollout-yuma-county
SBA Offers Relief to South Dakota Businesses, Nonprofits, Residents Affected by Adverse Weather
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- The Small Business Administration Office of Disaster Assistance issued the following news release:
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SBA Offers Relief to South Dakota Businesses, Nonprofits, Residents Affected by Adverse Weather
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WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Small Business Administration announced the availability of low-interest federal disaster loans to South Dakota businesses, nonprofits, and residents affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding occurring June 28 - July 3. The SBA issued a disaster declaration in response to an Oct. 26 request from Governor Larry Rhoden.
The
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- The Small Business Administration Office of Disaster Assistance issued the following news release:
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SBA Offers Relief to South Dakota Businesses, Nonprofits, Residents Affected by Adverse Weather
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WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Small Business Administration announced the availability of low-interest federal disaster loans to South Dakota businesses, nonprofits, and residents affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding occurring June 28 - July 3. The SBA issued a disaster declaration in response to an Oct. 26 request from Governor Larry Rhoden.
Thedeclaration covers Hyde County.
Businesses and nonprofits are eligible to apply for physical disaster loans and may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.
Applicants may also be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damage, as verified by SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements include strengthening structures to protect against storm damage, upgrading to wind rated garage doors, and installing a safe room or storm shelter to help protect property and occupants from future damage.
"Through a rural declaration, SBA provides financial assistance to help rural communities recover," said Chris Stallings, Associate Administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery at SBA. "We offer disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses and private nonprofits affected by the disaster."
The SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loan program is available to eligible small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, and private nonprofit organizations -- including faith-based organizations -- impacted by financial losses directly related to this disaster. The SBA is unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for aquaculture enterprises.
Economic Injury Disaster Loans are for working capital needs caused by the disaster and are available even if the small business or private nonprofit did not suffer any physical damage. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills which could not be paid due to the disaster.
Interest rates are as low as 4% for businesses, 3.625% for nonprofits, and 2.875% for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and payments are not due until 12 months from the date of the first loan disbursement. The SBA determines eligibility and sets loan amounts and terms based on each applicant's financial condition.
To apply online, visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA's National Support Network Center at (866) SBA-HELP or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
The deadline to return physical damage applications is Dec. 28. The deadline to return economic injury applications is July 29, 2027.
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Original text here: https://www.sba.gov/article/2026/10/30/sba-offers-relief-south-dakota-businesses-nonprofits-residents-affected-adverse-weather
Inter-American Development Bank: 'Understanding the Evolution of Agricultural Productivity in Colombia'
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 (TNSLrpt) -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following white paper on Oct. 30, 2026, entitled "Understanding the Evolution of Agricultural Productivity in Colombia."
Here are excerpts:
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Colombia has favorable agroecological conditions but continues to face low agricultural productivity. This paper examines total factor productivity (TFP) between 2015 and 2023 using stochastic frontier analysis on household- and municipal-level panel data. We decompose productivity growth and assess the effects of climate shocks, access to credit, rural public investment,
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 (TNSLrpt) -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following white paper on Oct. 30, 2026, entitled "Understanding the Evolution of Agricultural Productivity in Colombia."
Here are excerpts:
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Colombia has favorable agroecological conditions but continues to face low agricultural productivity. This paper examines total factor productivity (TFP) between 2015 and 2023 using stochastic frontier analysis on household- and municipal-level panel data. We decompose productivity growth and assess the effects of climate shocks, access to credit, rural public investment,and the peace agreement with FARC. Results show that output growth has been driven mainly by input expansion, with TFP increasing by less than 1% annually. Rural road infrastructure and low-interest credit are consistently linked to productivity gains, while input delivery and service programs show no measurable impact. Climate variability remains a major source of productivity fluctuations, highlighting sectoral vulnerability. The 2014 ceasefire with FARC produced heterogeneous effects: household-level productivity rose in previously affected areas, but municipal-level averages declined possibly due to land expansion into less productive zones. Findings underscore the need to shift from input-based support to connectivity, rural finance, and climate-resilient investments.
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View full text here: publications.iadb.org/en/understanding-evolution-agricultural-productivity-colombia
[Category: IADB]
Inter-American Development Bank: 'How Shocks Travel: The Cross-Border Impact of Natural Disasters in Firm Networks'
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 (TNSLrpt) -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following white paper on Oct. 30, 2026, entitled "How Shocks Travel: The Cross-Border Impact of Natural Disasters in Firm Networks."
Here are excerpts:
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Do the boundaries of the multinational firm shape how shocks propagate through global production networks? We link U.S. Bill of Lading microdata, geocoded natural disaster records, and cross-border ownership data to trace the transmission of exogenous supply disruptions from foreign suppliers to U.S. importers. Exploiting the quasi-random timing and location
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 (TNSLrpt) -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following white paper on Oct. 30, 2026, entitled "How Shocks Travel: The Cross-Border Impact of Natural Disasters in Firm Networks."
Here are excerpts:
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Do the boundaries of the multinational firm shape how shocks propagate through global production networks? We link U.S. Bill of Lading microdata, geocoded natural disaster records, and cross-border ownership data to trace the transmission of exogenous supply disruptions from foreign suppliers to U.S. importers. Exploiting the quasi-random timing and locationof natural disasters in a staggered event-study design, we document that disasters abroad generate sharp, persistent export declines at affected suppliers, shocks that propagate downstream, reducing the growth rate of U.S. importers total purchases by up to 25 percentage points. Transmission, however, is far from uniform: non-MNC buyers contract roughly twice as much as importers belonging to global corporations, and intra-firm relationships contract about a third less than arms-length ones. These patterns point to the internal networks of multinational firms as shock absorbers that attenuate and redirect supply-side disruptions, suggesting that firm boundaries are not merely organizational choices but also determinants of macroeconomic resilience.
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View full text here: publications.iadb.org/en/how-shocks-travel-cross-border-impact-natural-disasters-firm-networks
[Category: IADB]
Inter-American Development Bank: 'Does Generative AI Narrow Education-based Productivity Gaps? Evidence From a Randomized Experiment'
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 (TNSLrpt) -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following white paper on Oct. 30, 2026, entitled "Does Generative AI Narrow Education-based Productivity Gaps? Evidence from a Randomized Experiment."
Here are excerpts:
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Does generative artificial intelligence (AI) reinforce or reduce productivity differences across workers? Existing evidence largely studies AI within firms and occupations, where organizational selection compresses educational heterogeneity, leaving unclear whether AI narrows productivity gaps across individuals with different levels of education.
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 (TNSLrpt) -- The Inter-American Development Bank issued the following white paper on Oct. 30, 2026, entitled "Does Generative AI Narrow Education-based Productivity Gaps? Evidence from a Randomized Experiment."
Here are excerpts:
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Does generative artificial intelligence (AI) reinforce or reduce productivity differences across workers? Existing evidence largely studies AI within firms and occupations, where organizational selection compresses educational heterogeneity, leaving unclear whether AI narrows productivity gaps across individuals with different levels of education.A related question is whether the productivity gains from AI reflect productive use of the tool or mere delegation, fading once AI is unavailable, and whether the answer differs across education groups. We address both questions using a randomized online experiment outside firms, in which 1,174 adults aged 2545 complete an incentivized, workplacestyle business problem-solving task with or without a generative-AI assistant, followed by a non-AI-assisted follow-up module. AI increases performance for all participants, with substantially larger gains for lower-education individuals. In the control group without AI, higher-education participants outperform lower-education participants by 0.548 standard deviations; with AI, this gap falls to 0.139 standard deviations, closing about three-quarters of the initial gap. Chat-log measures explain both why this gap narrows and why it does not disappear: lower-education participants successfully obtain substantial assistance from AI, while higher-education participants use the tool somewhat more effectively across several margins. The follow-up results showthat these gains are not purely driven by delegation; treated participants do not perform worse than controls once AI is removed, and lower-education participants retain part of their gain, although a sizable education gap re-emerges. Consistent with this interpretation, intensive use of the assistant produces strong task performance regardless of how much time and effort participants devote themselves, but follow-up performance is substantially higher only when intensive AI use is combined with sustained effort on the task. We interpret these findings as evidence that generative AI narrows effective productivity differences in task execution while underlying human-capital differences continue to shape unassisted performance and effective use of the tool.
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View full text here: publications.iadb.org/en/does-generative-ai-narrow-education-based-productivity-gaps-evidence-randomized-experiment
[Category: IADB]
Board of Governors to meet Nov. 10
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- The U.S. Postal Service posted the following news release:
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Board of Governors to meet Nov. 10
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WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors will meet Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026, in an open session at Postal Service headquarters, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, in Washington, DC. The public is welcome to attend the meeting, which begins at 10 a.m. ET in the Benjamin Franklin Room.
A public comment period will begin immediately following the adjournment of the open session. During this period, members of the public present at the meeting may comment on any item or
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 30 -- The U.S. Postal Service posted the following news release:
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Board of Governors to meet Nov. 10
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WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors will meet Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026, in an open session at Postal Service headquarters, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, in Washington, DC. The public is welcome to attend the meeting, which begins at 10 a.m. ET in the Benjamin Franklin Room.
A public comment period will begin immediately following the adjournment of the open session. During this period, members of the public present at the meeting may comment on any item orsubject listed on the agenda for the open session. Registration of speakers at the public comment period is required. Speakers must register online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/bog-11-10-2026. Each registered speaker will be allowed 2 minutes for comment. Registration to speak during the public comment period shall end on Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. ET.
Individuals who submit written comments in advance will have their comments read into the record. These submissions must relate to one or more items or subjects listed on the open session agenda. The Postal Service reserves the right to exclude written submissions that do not pertain to items listed on the agenda as required. Additionally, the Postal Service reserves the right to exclude submissions for inappropriate content or language. Written comments must be received by Friday, Nov. 6, 2026. Comments may be emailed or mailed to the Office of the Board of Governors:
Email: BOG-inquiries@usps.gov
Mail: Office of the Board of Governors
USPS Headquarters
475 L'Enfant Plaza SW
Washington, DC 20260-0004
Participation in the public comment period is governed by 39 C.F.R. 232.1(n).
The board's expected agenda is:
Public comments
Open session meetings of the USPS Board of Governors are available on live audio webcasts at https://about.usps.com/who/leadership/board-governors/#sessions. Three hours after the conclusion of the open session meeting, a recorded audio file will be available for listening. In compliance with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, the audio webcast will be open-captioned.
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Original text here: https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2026/1030-board-of-governors-to-meet-nov-10.htm
