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Tulane University Secures $6 Million NSF Grant to Boost Gulf South Innovation

Tulane University Secures $6 Million NSF Grant to Boost Gulf South Innovation

Tulane University has been awarded a four-year, $6 million grant from the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Accelerating Research Translation (ART) program. This grant, one of only nine nationwide, will fund the SMART (Success Model to Advance Research Translation) Tulane initiative. The program aims to transition faculty and student discoveries from the laboratory into new technologies, licensed products, startup companies, and high-wage careers within the Gulf South region. According to Tulane President Michael A. Fitts, the NSF's support will establish the necessary systems, training, and culture to connect existing research talent and infrastructure, ensuring discoveries reach the marketplace, create jobs, and strengthen the regional economy. The initiative will be led by Kimberly Gramm, David and Marion Mussafer Chief Innovation and Entrepreneurship Officer at the Tulane Innovation Institute, with co-investigators Donald Gaver and Ibrahim Demir.

The Commercial Appeal

See which Memphis colleges ranked in Tennessee's top 20

See which Memphis colleges ranked in Tennessee's top 20

Three Memphis schools made a list of best in Tennessee and the TVA helped open a new STEM center in Orange Mound.

Asheville Citizen-Times

What does NC’s new community college funding model mean for schools, students and employers?

What does NC’s new community college funding model mean for schools, students and employers?

Propel NC, the North Carolina Community College System’s new labor-market-driven funding model, means more money for programs that train workers for high-demand, high-wage jobs.

Congressman Morelle Commends University of Rochester's NSF OPAL Project Advancement

Congressman Morelle Commends University of Rochester's NSF OPAL Project Advancement

Congressman Joe Morelle has praised the University of Rochester for a significant milestone in the NSF OPAL project, which has advanced to a construction-ready design phase. The project, led by the University of Rochester, received initial funding from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) to support this final design phase, with potential funding reaching up to $13.7 million. This funding is a crucial step towards the construction of a proposed two-beam, high-peak-power facility at the university, which is anticipated to become the world's most powerful laser system. The NSF OPAL project aims to provide a unique research environment, enabling the Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) to lead in cutting-edge research and technology. It will focus on advancing high-shot-rate laser systems, integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning into facility operations, and training the next generation of laser scientists and engineers. The project is a multi-institutional effort involving the Univers...

Harvard's 'Making Caring Common' Project Addresses Youth Purpose Crisis and College Admissions

Harvard's 'Making Caring Common' Project Addresses Youth Purpose Crisis and College Admissions

Harvard's 'Making Caring Common' (MCC) project has released its fourth 'Turning the Tide' report, highlighting a significant crisis in meaning and purpose among young people in the U.S. The report, co-authored by Dr. Rick Weissbourd and Trisha Ross Anderson, reveals that 34% of teens and 51% of young adults aged 19-25 report having little to no meaning or purpose in their lives. This initiative, which began a decade ago, aims to reshape college admissions to prioritize ethical character, reduce excessive achievement pressure, and promote access and equity. MCC works with parents and educators, offering free resources to foster caring and compassion in children. The project emphasizes that colleges are interested in applicants' ethical character beyond just academic achievements, a message that has been reinforced through changes in essay questions and recommendation forms in some institutions.

NSF Renews $37.5 Million Grant for Duke University-Led Quantum Research Institute

NSF Renews $37.5 Million Grant for Duke University-Led Quantum Research Institute

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has renewed its funding for the NSF Quantum Leap Challenge Institute for Robust Quantum Simulation (NSF RQS), an initiative co-led by Duke University, the University of Maryland, and Princeton University. The new five-year award is expected to total $37.5 million, marking a significant new phase in quantum simulation research. This institute, based at the Duke Quantum Center, focuses on advancing quantum simulation, which is considered a promising application of quantum computing. These specialized simulators are designed to model complex quantum systems that are beyond the capabilities of conventional computers. The renewed award will expand the institute’s scientific and educational programs and strengthen collaborations among universities, federal laboratories, and industry partners. Harvard University will also join the existing collaboration, which includes Yale University and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

The Knoxville News-Sentinel

How Tennessee's winning era became a fundraising force bigger than sports | Exclusive

How Tennessee's winning era became a fundraising force bigger than sports | Exclusive

Winning brings trophies and sellout crowds. At the University of Tennessee, it's also helping drive a historic run of fundraising success.

Wall Street sounds alarm on nuclear stock with 40% downside

Wall Street sounds alarm on nuclear stock with 40% downside

A key analyst has slashed its price target for the stock.

Representative Zoe Lofgren Criticizes NSF Leadership Over Alleged Funding Redirection

Representative Zoe Lofgren Criticizes NSF Leadership Over Alleged Funding Redirection

Representative Zoe Lofgren, a California Democrat, has publicly condemned recent changes announced by National Science Foundation (NSF) Acting Director Brian Stone. Lofgren asserts that these changes would divert funding from programs previously approved by Congress towards priorities set by the White House. She claims that the NSF is implementing new guidance from the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) without proper congressional input or authorization. Lofgren stated that she does not believe NSF or OSTP officials possess the authority to enact such significant alterations to funding allocations without legislative oversight. She has indicated her intention to pursue oversight of these changes in the coming months. In terms of her financial activities, Lofgren disclosed $99.9K in fundraising during Q2 2026, with 56.5% originating from individual donors. Her spending for the same period amounted to $81.2K, leaving her with $643.3K in cash on hand. Quiver Quantitative estimates her net worth a...

Nashville Tennessean

Generative AI is blurring the line honor codes depend on | Opinion

Generative AI is blurring the line honor codes depend on | Opinion

Generative AI blurs the line between help and cheating, putting the future of academic honor codes at risk.

MIT's Common Ground Program Launches New AI Education Initiative to Integrate AI Concepts with Real-World Applications

MIT's Common Ground Program Launches New AI Education Initiative to Integrate AI Concepts with Real-World Applications

MIT's Common Ground program, led by Professor Asu Ozdaglar, has introduced a new initiative aimed at transforming AI education. This program moves beyond theoretical instruction to emphasize the practical application of AI concepts within specific disciplines and real-world scenarios. The core philosophy is to provide context, enabling instructors and students to connect AI principles to various fields and problems. According to MIT News reporter Amanda Diehl, citing Saurabh Amin, faculty director of the AI Educators Pilot, a significant challenge has been the lack of context and the scarcity of instructors capable of bridging AI concepts with diverse ways of thinking. The program seeks to empower students to become critical thinkers about AI, rather than just users of the technology, by integrating AI savvy with particular fields and bringing cutting-edge computer science and AI together with methods from other disciplines.

The Columbus Dispatch

Mandated civic centers needed because Ohio colleges wouldn't reform themselves, senator says

Mandated civic centers needed because Ohio colleges wouldn't reform themselves, senator says

Sen. Jerry Cirino defended Ohio's state-mandated civic centers, saying universities failed to reform "leftist" policies on their own.