Latest news with #Sciences
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Michel Danino: Mughal period saw violence, Britain not recognised suffering inflicted on colonies
In an interview with The Hindu, Michel Danino, Professor at IIT Gandhinagar (Archaeological Sciences) and Head of Curricular Area Group for Social Science textbooks, which works in collaboration with National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) sheds light on the process of designing new textbooks for Class 6, 7 and 8, comments on controversy around Mughals being portrayed as 'brutal,' and addresses the issue of India's 'wealth drain,' during the colonial era. Mr. Danino says, 'Several surveys have pointed to the fact that social science at one hand and mathematics and another for different reasons, obviously have been among the most disliked disciplines.' He adds, 'We wanted to try to break that jinx… so we have been juggling with the syllabus quite a lot. And we are fairly satisfied that we have managed to reduce the information load without sacrificing the essentials of what we would like students to remember.' On the point of highlighting 'brutality,' of the Mughals, Mr. Danino said that the textbooks speak of 'brutality,' and 'tolerance.' 'It is a fact that this is a period which sees a lot of violence. We have been very moderate because if you look at the entire literature, I am talking about primary sources now, especially Muslim texts, whether it is Baburnama or Akbarnama there is absolutely no doubt that these conquests were very violent.' 'Especially in the initial stages, by the way, this violence was not limited to India. If you see how the Turkic, Mughal, the Afghan powers, warred against each other, in the Indian subcontinent as well as in Central Asia, sometimes in Persia, sometimes in other places beyond. The same violence is a kind of recurring motive. So what we are saying is simply that this has to be acknowledged as a fact of history.' On the disclaimer inserted before the History section in the textbook titled 'A note on history's darker periods,' Mr. Danino said, 'It was more of a preparatory note for the student who suddenly would be exposed to unpleasant events of the past.' Mr. Danino further said while commenting on 'drain of wealth,' from India during colonial era rule said, 'I feel that Britain has not recognised sufficiently the tremendous amount of suffering that it inflicted, not only in India in in most of its colonies. I will not discuss the question of reparation, which is a separate question, but at least an honest admission of guilt.'
Techday NZ
25-06-2025
- Business
- Techday NZ
AI drives digital transformation as life sciences face labour gaps
Life sciences manufacturers are increasing their adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and other advanced technologies to address workforce shortages, quality requirements, regulatory complexity and operational risks. According to the 'State of Smart Manufacturing Report: Life Sciences Edition', commissioned by Rockwell Automation, nearly all firms surveyed are using or assessing smart manufacturing technologies, with AI frequently positioned at the centre of their transformation efforts. Technology uptake The global study, based on responses from 143 senior leaders drawn from manufacturers in 15 countries, shows 95% of life sciences manufacturers are engaging with or evaluating smart technology. AI deployment is most commonly cited for improving product quality (53% of respondents), streamlining operations (50%), and strengthening cybersecurity (48%). Alongside AI, automation is also helping manufacturers to adapt to the ongoing challenges in finding skilled workers. Nearly half are turning to AI (48%) and automation (46%) to supplement their workforce needs. "Life sciences manufacturers are entering a new phase of digital maturity, driven by increasing regulatory complexity and mounting pressure to improve time-to-market without sacrificing quality," said Matt Weaver, Vice President, Global Industry – Life Sciences, Rockwell Automation. "This year's report makes it clear that AI is becoming indispensable to modern life sciences manufacturing—not just to optimise efficiency, but to strengthen product quality, secure critical infrastructure, and upskill the workforce. There's a clear shift toward long-term thinking as leaders double down on digital investments that make operations more connected, adaptive, and resilient." Labour challenges continue The report identifies hiring as a key barrier to growth, with 26% of leaders stating that the shortage of skilled workers is the primary obstacle they face in the coming year. To manage these gaps, companies are leveraging AI and automated systems to take on both skilled and repetitive tasks, ensuring continuity and efficiency in production. Emerging technologies are also gaining attention. Among the surveyed leaders, 36% indicated plans to invest in generative or causal AI, while 35% are exploring digital twins and simulation tools as avenues for future investment and expansion. Long-term priorities The survey highlights that life sciences organisations are prioritising investments that promise long-term operational resilience rather than short-term advantages. Growth (66%), expanding capacity (62%), and protecting operations (50%) emerged as primary areas where firms are focusing their digital transformations. Although the sector generally collects significant amounts of operational data, only 46% of respondents described their organisations as effective at utilising this data for decision-making. The report notes that the growing adoption of digital tools needs to be matched with improved abilities to translate data into actionable insights to drive efficiency and responsiveness. "With our extensive industry expertise and wide-ranging suite of automation and information solutions, Rockwell is uniquely positioned to support life sciences organisations across the globe," Weaver added. "No matter where a company is on their path to digital transformation and smart manufacturing, we can meet them where they are to help them achieve sustainable growth." Survey methodology The findings outlined in the report are drawn from 143 managers and executives in Life Science manufacturing, including original equipment manufacturers, system integrators, and engineering procurement companies. The life sciences study forms part of Rockwell Automation's broader research initiative that surveyed 1,560 decision-makers from various industries, conducted with Sapio Research and Rockwell Automation.
IOL News
23-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Select Committee on Education condemns infrastructure failures after Eastern Cape School tragedy, pledges accountability
Makhi Feni urges accountability in school infrastructure after a tragic minibus accident, vowing oversight and support for affected families while addressing national failures in safety and disaster preparedness. Chairperson of the Select Committee on Education, Sciences, and Creative Industries, Makhi Feni, has addressed a range of urgent national issues affecting the basic education sector. Speaking at the Social Services Cluster Briefing on Monday, he highlighted challenges ranging from infrastructure damage caused by recent floods to the implementation of progressive education legislation, including the BELA Act and the Early Childhood Development Amendment Act. Feni expressed his deepest condolences following a tragic incident where 13 schoolchildren died after a minibus fell into a river while crossing a bridge in the Eastern Cape. He described it as a national tragedy that reflects broader infrastructure and safety failures. "We lost the future. As the committee, we are with the families. We are feeling what they are feeling," Feni said. He emphasised the committee's commitment to investigating the incident and supporting the affected families. He confirmed that oversight visits and a full disaster management report would be pursued to investigate possible negligence or poor workmanship in infrastructure projects. Feni stressed the importance of accountability in infrastructure spending, especially after floods have severely damaged school properties across the country. "We do not want to find ourselves rebuilding because someone ticked a box without providing quality." Moreover, Feni said the committee would work with the Auditor General to monitor the use of public funds and submit quarterly broadcast reports to ensure transparency.
Chicago Tribune
17-06-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Naperville D203 to spend $7 million on renovations to Kennedy Junior High
A $7 million renovation project at Kennedy Junior High School is to begin next summer under a plan approved Monday by the Naperville District 203 School Board. The project would eliminate four outdoor pod classrooms used for more than 25 years and convert an underutilized, inaccessible interior courtyard into classrooms for Project Lead the Way courses, said Lisa Xagas, the district's assistant superintendent for strategy and engagement. The space should be ready for use by winter/early spring 2027. Family and Consumer Sciences classes also will be renovated for use starting in the 2026-27 school year. The outdoor pods will be decommissioned and removed by the end of 2026-27 school year, according to district documents. Renovation work will increase the classroom capacity at Kennedy Junior High School, 2929 Green Trails Drive, Lisle, which is one of the highest enrolled junior high schools in the district. The school is projected to house more than 900 students annually for the next three years, Xagas said. It also provides students with more technology, space and opportunities to discover their passions through problem-solving learning, she said. 'What we do is give students experiences that set them up for success when they leave us,' she said. In the Family and Consumer Sciences, students learn topics such as culinary and nutrition studies and hospitality and food service industry work. By 8th grade, they become entrepreneurs and have to create, pitch and market a product. Students have created everything from candles to T-shirts to robots and used 3-D printers or sewing skills as part of their 'Shark Tank'-style entrepreneurship course, Xagas said Project Lead the Way courses include such STEM topics as computer programming and robotics. District officials said the renovations, which also have been done at other junior high schools, help prepare students for college and careers by exposing them to the new technology. In 8th grade, students create a flexible four-year plan for high school to help guide them. 'They start to think even in 8th grade, what is a pathway or an interest that I have for four years of high school,' Xagas said. 'If we give them more exposure to that in middle school, they are more prepared.' The middle school courses also help students better decide which topics they like or don't like, she said. Final renovation design work will be completed this summer, and the project is expected to go to bid in the fall, district documents said. At the Monday meeting, the school board also approved its 2025-26 budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1. Revenue in the new fiscal year is expected to be about $355.6 million, a 3.29% increase over the 2024-25 budget, said Michael Frances, the district's chief financial officer. Expenditures are projected to be $379.5 million, with about $22.2 million spent on one-time capital improvement projects to be funded with money accrued in savings over several years. The projects include an addition to Ranch View Elementary School in Naperville and improvements at Naperville North High School and Connections Transition Services. The budget calls for a new literacy curriculum for all students at a cost of $3.2 million spread out over three years, replacing curriculum that had been implemented in 2024. The update supports foundational reading skills, vocabulary development, advanced comprehension and writing instruction, Xagas said last month. Start-up costs for a girls' flag football program at Naperville Central and Naperville North high schools are also covered in the spending plan. The Illinois High School Association debuted girls flag football in fall 2024. Additionally, funds are also being allocated for a new support staff mentoring program and a staff leadership academy. Newly elected board members Marc Willensky and Holly Blastic said Monday they appreciated that district administrators took the time to explain the budget process to them. The first-time board members were elected in April and sworn in last month. Other board members thanked the administration for its work in preparing the budget. 'You can tell when somebody really understands something because they can explain it to you in 15 different ways,' board President Charles Cush said. '… It's good to know that we are in really great hands.'
Business Standard
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Govt announces policy reforms to enhance Ease of Innovation and Ease of Doing Research
Union Minister of State for Science and Technology; Earth Sciences, Jitendra Singh on Sunday announced a set of policy reforms to enhance the "Ease of Innovation" and "Ease of Doing Research", providing long-awaited relief to innovators, researchers scholars, scientists and institutions across the country. Jitendra Singh unveiled decisions that will enable academic and research institutions to bypass some of the most cited hurdles in their day-to-day functioning-particularly around procurement delays and financial ceilings. The announcement follows extensive consultations led by the Principal Scientific Adviser's office, drawing insights from 13 IITs and multiple research bodies across of the most consequential decisions announced is the delegation of procurement powers to institutional heads. Directors of scientific organisations and Vice Chancellors of universities will now be empowered to carry out non-GeM (Government e-Marketplace) purchases for specialized research equipment and materials-a departure from the existing rules which mandated GeM procurement even when suitable items were unavailable.
