Massachusetts Newswire » Terry Windall

WEST: Advancing Women in Science and Technology hosted a Career Mentoring event for 80 Girl Scouts

Terry Windall — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:03:42 +0000

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. /Massachusetts Newswire/ — WEST: Advancing Women in Science and Technology hosted a Career Mentoring event for 80 Girl Scouts that ranged from grades 4 to 12. WEST taps into its community of women scientist, engineers and technologist as career mentors to hold events for young girls as well as early and mid career women.

On Friday, May 11, 2012, WEST held a Career Mentoring event for 80 Girl Scouts from Eastern Massachusetts made possible by the Mathworks who sponsored the event, and by Microsoft who provided WEST with the venue.

In all, there were 12 WEST career mentors for the Girl Scouts; the future leaders of science, engineering and technology. The career mentors included: dental hygienist, systems architect, molecular biologist, video game inventor, electrical engineer, environmental engineer, chemical engineer, post-doctor in biology, serial entrepreneur and a pharmacist.

Having women role models representing different career paths for the young girls show them that it is possible for women to work in science, engineering and technical fields. The Girls Scouts were inspired by this event and realized that professions are not limited to any gender, or in general, any person.

One Girl Scout said, "I didn't know there were so many different things you could do when you are older and to never give up."

Another young girl proclaimed, "No matter what, there is something out there for everyone."

The Career Mentoring Event was also rewarding for the career mentors as well.

One mentor was moved by girls' aspirations to become professionals in Science and Technology. She said, "It is exciting to see many young women who want to go into Science and Technology, you have all inspired me."

While another mentor was impressed with the young ladies' enthusiasm with activities inside and outside the classroom, she said, "I was really impressed with how articulate these ladies were in describing what they were passionate about inside and outside of the classroom. I want to encourage them to do things inside and outside the classroom."

Ilene Fischer, WEST's Executive Director said "WEST has a membership of 500-plus women in science, engineering and technology, they are great role models and career mentors for these young girls. This is WEST's way of giving back and of developing the future leaders in Science and Technology."

The event was successful, an unforgettable, life changing event for the girls, their parents and the mentors. By the end of the evening, the Girl Scouts, parents, and career mentors were moved and inspired by the new possibilities they had in front of them.

More information: http://www.westorg.org or ifischer@westorg,org.

About WEST:

WEST: Advancing Women in Science and Technology is a 501(c)3 Massachusetts based non-profit. WEST's mission is to promote, advance, and develop women in Science, Engineering, and Technology as leaders, advocates, C-level executives and thought leaders that make a profound difference in the communities they serve.

WEST is a community and a forum, for early, mid-career, executive and entrepreneurial women. Through participation our members become inspirational leaders and role models for their teams, organizations and businesses.

Remspec Corporation has Completed the Technology Transfer and an Upgrade of the mid-IR Optical Fiber Manufacturing Process

Terry Windall — Thu, 17 May 2012 16:46:51 +0000

STURBRIDGE, Mass. /Massachusetts Newswire/ — Remspec Corporation is pleased to announce that it has completed the technology transfer and an upgrade of the mid-IR optical fiber manufacturing process originally developed by Amorphous Materials Inc. of Garland, Texas. This means that in addition to meeting its own needs for high grade mid-IR (2 m to 11 m) fiber Remspec can now supply high quality low-cost fiber to meet the general needs of the optical device community.

The unique technology used in this process allows the production of high numerical aperture fiber in high volume at less than half the cost of competing technologies. The capacity of Remspec's facility for 500/600 m core/clad fiber is over 20 km per year with other sizes available to volume purchasers. This fiber, while not suitable for high power laser applications is, with its high numerical aperture (0.6), well suited for spectroscopy, pyrometry and other low power applications. Unclad fiber is also available and is suitable for distributed chemical sensors.

This development makes Remspec the only fully integrated producer of mid-IR fiber-optic spectroscopy systems. "Being in full control of the manufacturing process from drawing fiber to manufacturing the final system will enable industry leading quality and consistency in our products," according to the company's president.

As part of the transfer process Remspec has invested in equipment improvements that have led to better yields and product consistency.

About Remspec:

Remspec, with manufacturing located in Charlton, Massachusetts, was founded in 1993 to pioneer and develop the market for fiber-optic probes and chemical sensors that operate in the mid infrared or fingerprint region of the optical spectrum. Since then, Remspec has been the leader in development and manufacture of cables, spectroscopic probes, and integrated systems using mid-IR optical fiber. Products such as ReactionView for real-time reaction monitoring, SpotView for trace surface analysis and cleaning validation, ArtView™ for non-destructive analysis of paintings and museum objects, and TissueView™ for in-vivo evaluation of skin and other tissue, are all technology leaders in their fields.

Information about the fiber products may be found at http://www.ir-fiber.com .

Product and pricing inquiries can be directed to sales@ir-fiber.com.

Information about spectroscopy products may be found at http://www.remspec.com .

Product and pricing inquiries can be directed to sales@remspec.com.

New Book ‘The Gospel of Ashes’ Weaves War Crimes, Cult Religion, Domestic Terrorism into Major Threat to U.S.

Terry Windall — Wed, 16 May 2012 07:58:51 +0000

MARSHFIELD, Mass. /Massachusetts Newswire/ — Writers Glen Publications announces the release of "The Gospel of Ashes" (ISBN: 978-0982589229), a thriller, by author Lloyd R. Prentice.

Plot: While searching for Phan's missing daughter, Boston residents Mei Li Phan and Landry Carmichael stumble into a massive conspiracy. Their search threatens powerful forces seeking radical change. So now – they must die. The conspiracy: nuke a major American city.

Phan and Carmichael framed as terrorists. Hunted by authorities. Killers hard on their heels. Where can they go? Who can they trust? But past is prologue. Mei Li Phan is not what she seems; Carmichael no stranger to violence. They must each relive painful history to muster the strength, courage, and cunning to survive – and more, to save the lives of millions.

According to the Council of Foreign Relations "…roughly two-thirds of terrorism in the United States was conducted by non-Islamic American extremists from 1980-2001; and from 2002-2005, it went up to 95 percent."

Says military theorist John Robb, "Strategic attacks are possible with a network of less than 70 people."

Author Lloyd R. Prentice says, "I'm a close follower of current events. The politics of war crimes, cult religion, and domestic terrorism fascinate and, frankly, terrify me. The Gospel of Ashes asks 'what if?'"

Scheduled for June 2012 release by Writers Glen Publications, "The Gospel of Ashes," ISBN 978-0-9825892-2-9, is distributed through Ingram Book Company and can be purchased through Amazon and other major on line booksellers, from independent bookstores by request, or direct from the publisher at: sales@writersglen.com.

Website and media resources: http://thegospelofashes.com .

Review copies available to qualified reviewers and booksellers.

Previous fiction by Lloyd R. Prentice includes "Freein' Pancho," a novel, and "Aya Takeo," a graphic novel for web and print, illustrated by internationally recognized manga artist Sonia Leong.

Author Prentice has a graduate degree in public affairs communication from Stanford University; studied creative writing at San Francisco State College (now San Francisco State University).

Prentice lives in Marshfield, Massachusetts, with his wife, medical writer Laurie Beckelman.

Patrick-Murray Administration Creates Ports of Massachusetts Compact for Seaport Development

Terry Windall — Tue, 01 May 2012 20:44:57 +0000

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. /Massachusetts Neswswire/ — On Monday, Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray announced the formation of the Ports of Massachusetts Compact, an agreement designed to boost economic development and capitalize on resources in the Commonwealth’s seaports.

The compact was signed by the mayors of Boston, New Bedford, Fall River, Gloucester and Salem; in addition to the Massachusetts Secretaries of Transportation, Energy and Environmental Affairs, Housing and Economic Development, Massport; and the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Transportation. Lieutenant Governor Murray will serve as chair.

“With approximately 2,800 miles of coastline, there are valuable opportunities for increased transportation and economic development in the state’s seaport communities,” said Lieutenant Governor Murray, who also chairs the Seaport Advisory Council. “The creation of the Ports of Massachusetts Compact ensures we are strategically planning development opportunities and sharing knowledge across agencies and municipalities to help benefit the entire Commonwealth.”

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Planning Division will lead research and planning efforts for the compact and will identify ways to maximize funding to improve infrastructure.

“Coordinating efforts of the fishing, energy, shipping and transportation industries that operate in our ports is healthy for business and job growth, as well as the environment,” said MassDOT Secretary Richard Davey.

The Compact’s initial action items will include fishing regulations, coastal shipping trends and recommending a plan for seaport coordination. Other Compact goals will include moving people and goods safely, securely and more efficiently through the five ports while providing intermodal connectivity for those doing business and visiting the Commonwealth.

“The historic seaports of Massachusetts are a vital tool for local communities to help support economic development and create local jobs,” said Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Greg Bialecki. “The ‘Ports of Massachusetts’ Compact will support the many vital industries that use these seaports to operate and help boost economic development in these regions.”

“We look forward to working more closely with our fishing communities to better protect and manage the development of our ports,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rick Sullivan.

“As our roads and highways continue to grow more and more congested, we must look to expand our usage of our waterways for both transit and commercial purposes,” said Senator Thomas M. McGee. “This compact will help us fully explore sound environmental and economic policies for our ports, waterfronts and waterways. I am looking forward to continuing our commitment to our ports and exploring ways to maximize the impact they have on the Massachusetts economy.”

Ports of Massachusetts Compact Members:

SEAPORT ADVISORY COUNCIL
Lt. Governor Timothy P. Murray, Chair

MASSACHUSETTS JOINT COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Senator Thomas M. McGee, Senate Chair
Representative William M. Straus, House Chair

MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Richard A. Davey, Secretary & CEO

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
Richard K. Sullivan, Jr., Secretary

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Gregory Bialecki, Secretary

MASSACHUSETTS PORT AUTHORITY
David S. Mackey, Interim CEO

CITY OF BOSTON
Thomas M. Menino, Mayor

CITY OF NEW BEDFORD
Jonathan F. Mitchell, Mayor

CITY OF FALL RIVER
William A. Flanagan, Mayor

CITY OF GLOUCESTER
Carolyn A. Kirk, Mayor

CITY OF SALEM
Kimberley Driscoll, Mayor.

Mass. Lieutenant Governor Murray Tours Army Base Camp Integration Lab at Fort Devens

Terry Windall — Tue, 01 May 2012 20:40:51 +0000

FORT DEVENS, Mass. /Massachusetts Newswire/ — Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray today toured the U.S. Army’s new Base Camp Systems Integration Laboratory (SIL) at Fort Devens as part of his tour of military bases across the Commonwealth to build grassroots support to protect the missions, jobs and economic investments associated with the bases. Lieutenant Governor Murray was joined on the tour by U.S. Congresswoman Niki Tsongas, local, state and federal officials as well as leadership from the Massachusetts National Guard.

The U.S. Army opened the Program Manager Force Sustainment Systems, a base camp integration lab, at Fort Devens last year. Later this week, the base camp will welcome a military training unit. Service members training at Fort Devens will stay in the SIL, providing benefits for researchers from Natick Soldier Systems Center and active military servicemen and women.

“Through proactive planning, Massachusetts has and will continue to position the state to protect our military bases,” said Lieutenant Governor Murray. “Fort Devens is the training area of choice for the region with opportunities to build on existing synergies such as the research development at the Natick Soldier Systems Center. By touring Fort Devens and all of the state’s bases, the Task Force is able to gather more information to help promote the work of the missions and operations that protect our Commonwealth and national security. Our Administration will work tirelessly with our congressional delegation and partners across the state to promote Fort Devens’ training facilities, and continue our focus to keep Massachusetts’ military bases open and their missions intact.”

Following the tour, Lieutenant Governor Murray chaired a meeting of the Military Asset and Security Strategy Task Force, which included a roundtable discussion at MassDevelopment. Today’s visit and roundtable discussion is the Lieutenant Governor’s sixth visit to the state’s military bases. In addition to Fort Devens, Lieutenant Governor Murray has toured Barnes Air National Guard Base in Westfield, Hanscom Air Force Base, Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee, the Massachusetts Military Reservation on Cape Cod and Natick Soldier Systems Center in Natick.

“Having spent time serving at Fort Devens at various points in my 32 year Army National Guard career, I can personally say it is a small installation that delivers a huge punch,” said U.S. Senator Scott Brown. “For over eighty years, active, Guard and reserve service members from all branches of the military have leveraged the post’s world-class training areas and facilities in order to prepare for missions around the globe. Fort Devens, and the men and women assigned there, have proven time and again that they are a unique, and indispensable national security asset.”

“Despite having undergone significant changes in the last two decades, Fort Devens continues to provide support to over 40,000 soldiers, cadets, and other personnel while training hundreds of Massachusetts Guardsmen and Reservists each year in specialized capabilities,” said U.S. Congresswoman Tsongas. “Additionally, Fort Devens is now working in partnership with Natick Solider Systems to make Army base camps more energy efficient and mobile, a development will provide greater security for our troops while saving money at the Department of Defense. I will continue to work with my colleagues in the Massachusetts delegation and the Military Asset and Security Strategy Task Force to highlight the importance of Fort Devens and our other military facilities in the Commonwealth.”

On February 27, 2012, Lieutenant Governor Murray signed an executive order establishing the Commonwealth’s Military Asset and Security Strategy Task Force. The Task Force, which is chaired by Lieutenant Governor Murray, engages state agencies to work directly with stakeholders to develop and implement actions that will support military bases across the Commonwealth. Today’s visit to Fort Devens is just one example of the work the Task Force is leading.

The executive order builds on the work Lieutenant Governor Murray has led over the last year, including a series of strategy meetings with Administration cabinet secretaries and private sector groups such as the Massachusetts Defense Technology Initiative to gather current data and perspectives about each military base so Massachusetts can better position, promote and protect assets for each base. The Task Force will work towards completing a comprehensive strategic plan in the coming months.

In addition to engaging local and regional support to help promote and protect the state’s military bases, the Task Force will develop, coordinate and implement actions in the areas of workforce training, infrastructure improvements, environmental and utility savings, housing and transportation to support the missions at military bases across the Commonwealth. Additionally, the Task Force will identify steps the state can take to remedy problem areas before preliminary recommendations from the federal government are adopted and missions are implemented. Lieutenant Governor Murray and members of the Task Force will advise the Governor, as well as other executive and legislative officials, regarding the ongoing efforts by the U.S. Department of Defense to close, realign, restructure, streamline, or in any way impact military bases in Massachusetts.

“Our military bases are part of the fabric of the Commonwealth and we’re looking for new ways to maintain and enhance these facilities with investments in areas such as energy efficiency or clean energy, which create local jobs and upgrade existing infrastructure,” said Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Richard K. Sullivan Jr.

In January, the U.S. Department of Defense announced a plan to reduce federal defense spending by approximately $500 billion over the next decade as a result of federal deficit reduction negotiations. The Department of Defense explained that cuts would be achieved in part by reducing total force numbers and relying on technological advances to build a more streamlined military. The Pentagon also requested that Congress authorize a Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) to recommend the closure or consolidation of select military bases across the country.

“The 495/MetroWest region is proud to host two defense installations with strong synergies – Natick Soldier Research Development & Engineering Center and Fort Devens,” said Paul Matthews, Executive Director of the 495 Partnership. “These installations are vitally important in bringing together Massachusetts’ employers and academia to develop state-of-the-art technologies to assist our fighting men and women, since Natick is the home to extensive product development, and Devens hosts a Base Camp Integration Lab that’s crucial to the testing of these technologies. The Lieutenant Governor’s leadership and the work of the state’s Military Asset and Security Strategy Task Force is pivotal in calling attention to this unheralded work, which not only benefits our soldiers abroad, but also provides direct economic impact right here in Massachusetts.”

“Based on Devens and housed in the former Fort Devens Officers Club, the Nashoba Valley Chamber recognizes the importance the military has in the Commonwealth,” said Melissa Fetterhoff, Executive Director of the Nashoba Valley Chamber of Commerce (NVCoC). “NVCoC appreciates the Lieutenant Governor’s efforts to bring businesses, government and the community together to increase awareness and protect the missions, jobs and economic investments associated with the bases of the Commonwealth.”

During today’s visit, Lieutenant Governor Murray also highlighted recent initiatives in support of the state’s veterans and defense industry. The Patrick-Murray Administration’s Fiscal Year 2013 budget proposal includes $11.25 million in increased funding for vital veterans’ services, including workforce training. The defense industry and its workforce is also a major part of Massachusetts’ economy with thousands of employees working at the state’s military bases and more than $14 billion in defense contracts awarded to Massachusetts firms in 2010.

“Some states export raw materials, other states export finished goods,” said Representative Cory Atkins. “Here in Massachusetts, we export brainpower. Our military bases and defense contractors provide thousands of knowledge-intensive, high-paying jobs, and so we need to do everything we can to keep those jobs here.”

“Fort Devens is a vital part of our local and state economy,” said Representative Jennifer Benson. “Maintaining this military base helps our entire region thrive and I thank the Lieutenant Governor for his work in protecting and promoting Fort Devens.”

“Massachusetts has a strong history of supporting our military and our military bases,” said Representative James Vallee. “As a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army National Guard I have had the opportunity to train at Fort Devens and value the facilities it has. These facilities sharpen the skills of our soldiers/airmen and marines and prepare them for deployments overseas. It is imperative we do all we are able to retain all the military bases here in Massachusetts. Governor Patrick and Lieutenant Governor Murray are strong proponents for the bases and the military remaining here in Massachusetts.”

Since 2007, Lieutenant Governor Murray has led the Governor’s Advisory Council on Veterans’ Services and today’s tour builds on the Administration’s commitment to the Massachusetts veterans’ community, our regional economies and the state’s defense industry. To learn more about the Patrick-Murray Administration’s commitment to Massachusetts veterans, visit: www.mass.gov/veterans. To learn about the work of the Military Asset and Security Strategy Task Force visit: http://www.mass.gov/governor/administration/ltgov/lgcommittee/military/.

Mass. Governor Patrick Launches ‘Plant Something’ Initiative – Celebrates May as Flower and Nursery Month

Terry Windall — Tue, 01 May 2012 20:38:12 +0000

BOSTON, Mass. /Massachusetts Newswire/ — Governor Deval Patrick, Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Richard K. Sullivan and Department of Agricultural Resources (DAR) Commissioner Greg Watson today joined students, school officials and members of the state’s horticulture industry at the Mather Elementary School in Dorchester to launch the “Plant Something” campaign to spotlight local flower and nursery growers and encourage residents to shop at local garden centers.

Governor Patrick also announced May as Flower and Nursery Month, highlighting the state’s strong agricultural sector.

“It gives me great pleasure to recognize a $2 billion industry that helps to beautify Massachusetts and kick-off a program that will help enhance the outdoor learning experience for students here at the Mather School,” said Governor Patrick. “I encourage everyone to go out and ‘Plant Something.’”

The Mather Elementary School participates in the Boston Schoolyard Initiative (BSI), a program that revitalizes Boston’s schoolyards, transforming asphalt lots into dynamic centers for recreation, learning and community life. Members from the Massachusetts Flower Growers Association (MFGA) and the Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association (MNLA) generously donated the greenery for the school yard.

“This is a great way to spotlight beautification projects at schools throughout the Commonwealth,” said Secretary Sullivan. “To have our children involved and planting flowers and trees only adds to their interactive hands on education.”

The “Plant Something” initiative is being highlighted with the collaboration between DAR, MFGA and MNLA. Slogans will be featured across the state at independent garden centers, delivery trucks and at the MBTA’s commuter rail stations and trains during the month of May.

“With spring here and Mother’s Day approaching, now is the perfect time to select flowers, hanging baskets, flowering shrubs or trees at one of the independent garden centers across the state,” said DAR Commissioner Greg Watson.

The greenhouse and nursery industry is the top contributor to Massachusetts agriculture, valued at $177 million in 2008 or 31 percent of the total cash receipts in the state, according to the New England Agricultural Statistics Service.

MFGA President Cindy Bertrand, of The Farmer’s Daughter at Hillcrest Farm in Auburn, notes that Association members offer consumers a tremendous selection of quality flowers and plants.

“We want to make gardening easy, fun and successful for our customers,” she said. “We can give them individualized attention and knowledgeable advice on choosing what will work best for them so their gardens will burst with dazzling color. And with Mother’s Day coming up on Sunday, May 13, what could be a better gift in honor of those special mothers in our families than a beautiful, locally grown hanging basket or colorful planter.”

“We always have new plants and products but also focus on tried and true items that have a track record of being reliable for Massachusetts gardeners,” said Jim Connolly, Massachusetts-Certified Horticulturalist, MNLA president and owner of Northeast Nurseries in Peabody.

DAR’s MassGrown & Fresher Google Interactive Map features a list of over 125 local garden centers across the Commonwealth, allowing consumers to easily find ALL of their locally grown needs in one convenient one-stop-shopping spot.

DAR’s mission is to ensure the long-term viability of local agriculture in Massachusetts. Through its four divisions – Agricultural Development, Animal Health, Crop and Pest Services, and Technical Assistance – the DAR strives to support, regulate and enhance the Commonwealth’s agricultural community, working to promote economically and environmentally sound food safety and animal health measures, and fulfill agriculture’s role in energy conservation and production. For more information, visit DAR’s website at www.mass.gov/agr, and/or follow at twitter.com/mdarcommish.

World Mind Network, along with Harvard, Oxford Students are Building a New Network for Planetary Change

Terry Windall — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 09:59:15 +0000

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. /Massachusetts Newswire/ — Students from Harvard and Oxford, in cooperation with the World Mind Network, Peer to Peer Media Group, and the Creative Commons Initiative, are building a new social network dedicated to using advanced Web and Smart Phone tools to achieve goals in social change, academic research, environmental improvement, education, cultural preservation, and worldwide online discussion of important issues.

According to World Mind Network Co-Director Sarah Mendel, many of the students were attendees at events sponsored by HSMBB (The Harvard Society for Mind, Brain, and Behavior). Other participants include Dr. Javier Ogembo of the Harvard Medical School and Irina Higgins of the Oxford Foundation for Theoretical Neuroscience and Artificial Intelligence.

Texting, tweeting, Facebooking, microblogging, online video and cell phone apps are not new to students. What is new is the efficient use of all their capabilities in combination to reach important aims in a few hours which the traditional brick-and-mortar academic world would take months or years to accomplish.

The key is the creation of protocols which serve as formulae for easily setting up Internet based projects which achieve well-defined goals, are infinitely replicable, grow by themselves through social networks, and enable each student to carve out a Web niche which serves as the Internet's focal point for the student's chosen issue. In practice, this means that each student is experimenting with making their work more public, and yet more personal, at the same time.

Says WMN advisor Wolfram Ruisdael "The Cloud of knowledge, creativity, innovation, and even wisdom represented by the Internet is now incomprehensibly vast. Its power to solve both traditional and new human problems is almost infinite, but until now Humanity has not really demanded the efficient use of it to refine theories instantly, generate new ideas, build communities, and get innovative thinking from where it originates to where it is needed. Students, because of their familiarity with these technologies, are the natural creators of the new change-making networks."

Other student participants have come from Duke, Caltech, Rutgers, the Ecole Polytechnique in France, Beijing and Tsinghua Universities in China, the University of Delhi, the Federal University of Parana in Brazil, and the University of Witwatersrand.

Crucial to many of the new protocols are programs like Apple's Siri artificial intelligence app for the iPhone 4s, Facebook's Timeline, Google+, Pinterest, and msnNOW.

A typical protocol is this one for Disaster Relief, which the network used during the 20ll Fukushima earthquake and tsunami in Japan, as well as more recent floods in Thailand and the Philippines:

1. Create a landing page on Google sites with RSS feeds of latest news, including links to on-site organizations which need help;
2. Use search engines to find and rank current Twitter trackers for affected area;
3. Do the same for Facebook post monitors;
4. Do the same for SMS (texting) monitors;
5. Collate trackers on a Bing map so that rescuers can be connected with victims in real time;
6. publicize site with online press releases.

Similar protocols exist for cloud-based research projects, cultural preservation programs, Fair Trade social enterprises, crowd-sourced experiments, worldwide philosophical discussions, knowledge matrices, artistic collaborations, and environmental improvement projects. Each can be created in a few hours, and further streamlining is an ongoing process.

Among other programs, students have participated in projects which

- Aid Stanford physicists in predicting sunspot cycles;

- Created the world's largest collection of pre-1900 archival French audio recordings and preserved them with iTunes and Windows Media files;

- Explore the new PS3 video game 'Journey' as an art therapy tool

- Advised legislators in Nepal who are re-framing the national constitution;

- Built the world's largest online crowd-sourced environmental investigation which discovered several causes for a sudden fish die-off in Taal Lake in the Philippines, and suggested treatments which were successfully implemented.

For more information go to http://Facebook.com/HarvardWorldMindNetwork – or http://networkingprojects.org – or write to worldmindnetwork@gmail.com.

World Mind Network, along with Harvard, Oxford Students are Building a New Network for Planetary Change

Terry Windall — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 09:59:15 +0000

Crucial to many of the new protocols are programs like Apple's Siri artificial intelligence app for the iPhone 4s, Facebook's Timeline, Google+, Pinterest, and msnNOW.

A typical protocol is this one for Disaster Relief, which the network used during the 20ll Fukushima earthquake and tsunami in Japan, as well as more recent floods in Thailand and the Philippines:

Among other programs, students have participated in projects which

- Aid Stanford physicists in predicting sunspot cycles;

- Created the world's largest collection of pre-1900 archival French audio recordings and preserved them with iTunes and Windows Media files;

- Explore the new PS3 video game 'Journey' as an art therapy tool

- Advised legislators in Nepal who are re-framing the national constitution;

For more information go to http://Facebook.com/HarvardWorldMindNetwork – or http://networkingprojects.org – or write to worldmindnetwork@gmail.com.

Protium Technologies Introduces New 20 MHz – 6 GHz Digitized Tuner and U.K. Distributor

Terry Windall — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 10:56:00 +0000

NORTHBOROUGH, Mass. /Massachusetts Newswire/ — Protium Technologies, Inc. has announced today that it is now shipping the P6020, a 20 MHz – 6 GHz digitized tuner, and that the company has signed an agreement with Marlborough Communications Limited (MCL) in Surrey, England, to serve as the distributor in the U.K.

The P6020 is a miniature brick that combines the objectives of small size, light weight, and low power consumption with the high performance possible with the latest RF and SDR techniques. The superior performance of the P6020 is particularly evident in high density, high level signal environments, especially when ultra-fast tuning is required. A continuous digital I&Q output stream is provided over a 1 GHz Ethernet port for bandwidths up to 20 MHz, with a "snapshot mode" of more than one second of storage at 40 MHz bandwidth. The user can program the RF section, AGC parameters, IF bandwidth filters, output modes and other settings via the 100/1000 Ethernet interface. Additionally, a USB port is provided for secure maintenance, firmware upgrades, and network configurations.

In the words of Rick Gawlik, president of Protium Technologies: "The design of the P6020 wideband digitized tuner is the result of extensive interactions with the user community, which provided key specifications for an economical solution. It is a robust unit well suited for tactical and strategic signal collection and monitoring applications that is also available in an international configuration as the P6020i."

Also today, Protium Technologies announced that MCL has become the U.K. distributor for the company's products, with particular emphasis on the wideband tuner product line. MCL is a leading-edge solutions provider that meets the signal intercept and processing application needs of military users, system designers, integrators, and the intelligence community.

As Nick DeSilvio, Vice President of Business Development at Protium Technologies indicated: "Marlboro Communications Limited's well known capabilities and resources will significantly augment Protium's global reach. We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial business relationship."

Mark Harbin, EW Product Manager at MCL, believes that the partnership of the two companies will enable the benefits of this ground breaking capability to be made available to U.K. customers. "With the combination of MCL's experience of tactical and strategic requirements, as well as its U.K. customer knowledge along with Protium's technical capabilities and past achievements we believe this produces a incredibly strong team to ensure customers get the best possible operation solution and the long term support and backup they would expect."

About Protium Technologies, Inc.:

Protium Technologies, Inc. (www.protiumtechnologies.com) is a developer and manufacturer of commercial and military digital RF and microwave telecommunications subsystems. The company has extensive experience in developing and manufacturing communications equipment operating in the frequency range of a few MHz to 60 GHz. Current activities are centered on developing and manufacturing a product line for U.S. Government signal collection and monitoring applications and a line of platforms for software-defined radios.

Protium Technologies, Inc., located in Northborough, MA, was founded in 2003 and is owned by the management team.

About Marlborough Communications Limited:

Marlborough Communications Limited (MCL) is a British Company with over 30 years specialist experience in the design, development, production, support and training of advanced electronic and electro-mechanical systems for the military, government and commercial markets.

MCL has fulfilled contracts for both U.K. and overseas customers, making it a leading supplier of Electronic Warfare Equipment Surveillance Systems; C4ISTAR Systems and Sensors; Micro and Nano Unmanned Aerial Systems; Soldier Worn Integrated Power Systems; SATCOM; Radio Communications; Frequency Management and Telecommunications and Surveillance.