How U.S. News Calculated the Best Global Universities Subject Rankings

Find out how U.S. News determined the top universities in the world by field of study.

By Robert Morse and Alexis Krivian

Oct. 23, 2017, at 9:00 p.m.

In addition to rankings of the world's top 1,250 universities overall and by region and country, the fourth annual U.S. News Best Global Universities rankings include an examination of the leaders in key academic subject areas. U.S. News used a separate methodology to publish the top global universities in 22 subject areas. The subject rankings are powered by Clarivate Analytics InCites. Clarivate provided the data and metrics used in the rankings, and the bibliometric data were based on the Web of Science.

These subject-specific rankings – which are not of academic majors, departments or specific schools at universities, such as business or medical schools – are based on academic research performance in those subjects. U.S. News has used various bibliometric measures, including publications and citations, as well as indicators for global and regional reputation in each specific subject.

In many cases, an institution that had a strong focus on a certain subject was ranked in that subject but was excluded from the overall Best Global Universities rankings encompassing the top 1,250 universities worldwide. In total, 125 universities were included in the subject rankings but not in the overall top 1,250 ranked universities. Five countries – Peru, Ghana, Indonesia, Malawi and Vietnam – were represented in the subject rankings but not among the 74 countries in the overall rankings.

Ranking Indicators

The bibliometric indicators are based on data from the Web of Science for the five-year period from 2011-2015. The Web of Science is a web-based research platform that covers more than 18,000 of the most influential and authoritative scholarly journals worldwide in the sciences, social sciences, and arts and humanities. The 22 subject fields used in the analysis came from subject schema in Clarivate Analytics InCites, which uses the content and citation indicators from the Web of Science. Publications are limited to those published between 2011 and 2015. However, the citations to those papers come from all publications, including the most recent data available. For the 2018 rankings, this cutoff date was May 30, 2017. It is necessary to use a slightly older window of publication to allow for citations to accumulate and provide statistically relevant results.
The first step in producing the subject rankings was to create the total universe of schools that could be ranked in each field. Depending on the subject, the number of universities ranked ranged from a low of 206 for immunology to a high of 1,011 in chemistry – see the Total number of universities ranked column in the table below. The size of the ranking pool in each of the 22 subject areas – except in two cases, microbiology and space science – was determined by the number of universities that had a published paper count of 250 or more in the 2011-2015 time period in the subject area; see the Number of universities with >250 papers in 2011-2015 column in the table below. In microbiology and space science, the paper threshold was 150 and 200 papers, respectively, for the 2011-2015 time period.

U.S. News studied how many papers each university had published in each of the 22 subject areas and determined that the rankings could be extended in some areas, since many universities had published far more than 500 papers in the 2011-2015 period.

For the 2018 rankings, U.S. News worked with Clarivate Analytics' bibliometric experts to increase the number of ranked universities in four fields. The number of ranked universities published in chemistry, clinical medicine, engineering and physics increased from 400 to 600. The number of ranked schools published in the other 18 fields remained the same as last year. This meant that 6,800 universities were ranked in 22 subjects in the 2018 rankings, which is a 13.3 percent increase from the 6,000 ranked last year. Many universities appear in more than one subject ranking. For example, 14 universities appear in all 22 subject rankings, 19 appear in 21 subject rankings and 18 appear in 20 subject rankings.

For the 2018 edition, four fields each list 600 ranked universities, four each list 400 schools and 14 fields each list 200 institutions.

The table below shows the number of universities that published more than 250 papers and those that published more than 500 papers in each subject area from 2011 to 2015; the total number of universities ranked in each subject; and the number of schools U.S. News published rankings for in each subject area.  Space science
Number of universities with >250 papers in 2011-2015: 212
Number of universities with >500 papers in 2011-2015: 99
Total number of universities ranked: 213
Number of ranked universities published by U.S. News: 200
The next step was to calculate the 22 separate subject rankings using the ranking factors U.S. News selected. U.S. News changed the methodology used in all 22 of the 2018 Best Global Universities subject rankings by adding ranking factors that are also used in the overall rankings. In all 22 subject rankings, U.S. News added the percentage of a school's total papers in that subject that had international co-authors.
With the exception of arts and humanities, for all fields U.S. News added two new ranking factors that measure scientific excellence – the total number of highly cited papers in the top 1 percent of their respective subject fields and the percent of a university's total papers in that subject that are among the top 1 percent of most cited papers in that subject – each with a 5-percent weight. This means that all 22 subject rankings now use 11 ranking factors. As a result of the additional rankings indicators, the weights used in the 2018 Best Global Universities subject rankings for some of the ranking indicators were changed from the prior edition.

The new percentage of a school's total papers in that subject that had international co-authors is weighted 5 percent for all the subject rankings, except arts and humanities, where it was weighted 2.5 percent. The existing international collaboration ranking indicator's weight was also reduced from 10 percent to 5 percent for all the subject rankings, except arts and humanities, where its weight was reduced from 5 percent to 2.5 percent.

With the addition of the two new indicators – total number of highly cited papers in the top 1 percent of their respective fields and the percent of a university's total papers that are among the top 1 percent of most cited papers in their respective fields – U.S. News reduced the weights of two other indicators.

For all the subject fields except arts and humanities, the weight of the number of publications that are among the 10 percent most cited is now 12.5 percent in the soft sciences, down from 17.5 percent, and 10 percent in the hard sciences subject rankings, reduced from 15 percent. The percentage of total publications that are among the 10 percent most cited indicator is also now weighted 5 percent, down from 10 percent, in both the soft and hard sciences subject rankings for all fields except the arts and humanities. Each indicator used in the subject rankings was based on bibliometric and global and regional reputation data compiled for that specific subject. For example, for the Best Global Universities for Clinical Medicine ranking, each of the 11 ranking factors used in the calculations was based on data and values for clinical medicine.

The subject rankings methodology differs in a number of ways from the one U.S. News used to produce the overall Best Global Universities rankings of the top 1,250 schools.

First, U.S. News tailored the subject ranking methodology to the different publication characteristics of the soft sciences compared with the hard sciences. As listed below, the soft sciences are computer science, economics and business, engineering, mathematics, and social sciences and public health. The hard sciences are the remaining 16 subject areas, excluding arts and humanities. Arts and humanities:

Arts and humanities
Soft sciences:

Computer science
Economics and business
Engineering
Mathematics
Social sciences and public health
Hard sciences:

Agricultural sciences
Biology and biochemistry
Chemistry
Clinical medicine
Environment/ecology
Geosciences
Immunology
Materials science
Microbiology
Molecular biology and genetics
Neuroscience and behavior
Pharmacology and toxicology
Physics
Plant and animal science
Psychiatry/psychology
Space science
U.S. News has developed a distinct ranking methodology for arts and humanities.

The arts and humanities methodology takes into account key characteristics of that field, in which publications play a significantly smaller role. That means that for the arts and humanities ranking, the number of publications or other indicators that relate to publications and citations were weighted far less than they were in the other subject areas.

This also means that the conferences and books indicators were used and heavily weighted but weren't used in the other subject rankings, and that both global research reputation and regional research reputation were weighted more heavily than in the other subject rankings. The use of citation analysis within the hard sciences is well established. However, in the soft sciences, the relationship between citations and performance is less clear. There are a number of reasons for this.

First, unlike the hard sciences, journal articles are often not the main method of communication of research, and citation rates to the articles may be low. Second, in the social sciences and economics and business, when a scholar cites another work, it is frequently a point of debate or discussion.

This is in contrast with the hard sciences, where the reason for citing another work is usually one of utility or influence. In the case of mathematics, although a journal article is the main method of communication, citations tend to take a longer time to accumulate than other fields and the overall citation rate to mathematics papers tends to be quite low.

These reasons do not negate the use of citation analysis for research evaluation, but they decrease confidence in the robustness of the results. Therefore, U.S. News lowered the weights assigned to these citation indicators in the soft sciences to reflect the lower confidence.

The table below lists the weights and factors used to compute the 22 subject rankings, with related indicators grouped together. For a detailed explanation of each ranking factor, please read "How U.S. News Calculated the Best Global Universities Rankings."  Space science: Journals focused on studying the universe make up the space science category. From astronomy and astrophysics to celestial bodies and space exploration, publications within this category deal with the study of everything in outer space.                                          How the Subject Scores and Numerical Rankings Were Calculated
To arrive at a school's rank in each of the 22 subjects, the subject scores were calculated using a combination of the weights and z-scores for each of the ranking indicators used in each subject ranking. In statistics, a z-score is a standardized score that indicates how many standard deviations a data point is from the mean of that variable. This transformation of the data is essential when combining diverse information into a single ranking because it allows for fair comparisons between the different types of data.
Some of the indicators were highly skewed, so the logarithmic transformation of the original values were used. These indicators were:
Publications.
Total citations.
Books.
Conferences.
Number of publications that are among the 10 percent most cited.
Number of highly cited papers that are among the top 1 percent most cited in their respective fields.
International collaboration.
Global research reputation.
Regional research reputation.
The logarithmic transformation rescaled the data and allowed for a more normalized and uniform spread across each of the indicators. After the indicators were normalized, the z-scores for each indicator were calculated in order to standardize the different types of data to a common scale.   To reach a school's subject score, the calculated z-scores for each of the ranking indicators were weighted using the weights described earlier. U.S. News determined the weights based on our judgment of the relative importance of the ranking factors and in consultation with Clarivate Analytics' bibliometric experts.

The subject score was calculated by summing the school's weighted values for the ranking indicators in that subject. The minimum score from the total ranking universe for that subject was then subtracted from each of the scores to make zero the lowest possible score.

The scores were then rescaled by multiplying the ratio between the overall performance of each university in that subject and the highest-performing university by 100. This forced the scores to fall on a 0-100 scale, with the highest-performing school earning a subject score of 100.

Of the total number of universities ranked for each of the 22 subject areas, U.S. News then used their weighted subject score to numerically rank them in descending order for each subject area. Each school's subject score was rounded to one decimal place to increase variance between scores and to minimize the occurrence of ties. U.S. News then published either the top-ranked 200, 400 or 600 schools in each subject area.

In addition, in each of the 22 subject areas, the 11 ranking indicators used for each subject area's ranking  received a separate numerical rank – such as publications, total citations and global research reputation – based on their z-score for that indicator in that subject area. The highest-scoring university for each of the ranking indicators received a rank of 1, and the lowest-scoring university received a rank ranging from 206 in immunology to 1,011 in chemistry. Ties were allowed.


The one exception is the regional research reputation rank. The regional research reputation numerical rankings are calculated based on the schools within each of the six United Nations regions. Those six regions are Africa, Asia, Australia/New Zealand, Europe, Latin America and North America.

This means the regional reputation numerical ranking in any of the 22 subject area can have up to six No. 1 schools, or one for each region. This comparison enables users to determine which schools have the strongest regional research reputation among the schools in their region in that subject area.

The numerical ranks for each of the 11 ranking indicators are published on usnews.com for each school in each of the 22 subject areas. Some schools in the subject areas have ranking indicators with numerical ranks greater than the 200, 400 or 600 schools that are published in each subject.

Readers can use the numerical ranks published for each ranking indicator to determine the relative position of each school in that indicator, depending on the subject, with 1 being the highest. The numerical indicator ranks were not used to calculate the subject score.

Data Collection

The data and metrics used in the rankings were provided by Clarivate Analytics InCites. The bibliometric data were based on the Web of Science.

Tags: #globaluniversities,  #rankings, #education, #research, #academics, #globalization, #world, #internationalstudents, #studyabroad

Robert Morse is chief data strategist at U.S. News, where he develops the methodologies and surveys for annual education rankings, including Best Colleges and... full bio »
Alexis Krivian is a data analyst at U.S. News.  Searches : https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/articles/subject-rankings-methodology

Photo

On 17 December 1999, in its resolution 54/120 , the United Nations General Assembly endorsed the recommendation made by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth (Lisbon, 8-12 August 1998) that 12 August be declared International Youth Day.

Since the adoption of Security Council Resolution S/RES/2250 (2015) in 2015, there is growing recognition that as agents of change, young people’s inclusion in the peace and security agenda and in society more broadly, is key to building and sustaining peace. Another Security Council Resolution S/RES/2282 (2016) reaffirms the important role youth can play in deterring and resolving conflicts, and are key constituents in ensuring the success of both peacekeeping and peacebuilding efforts.

"Youth Building Peace"

International Youth Day 2017 is dedicated to celebrating young people’s contributions to conflict prevention and transformation as well as inclusion, social justice, and sustainable peace.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development committed to fostering peaceful and inclusive societies and affirmed that “ Sustainable development cannot be realized without peace and security ”. Goal 16 aims to ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels. The World Programme of Action for Youth , which provides a policy framework and practical guidelines to improve the situation of young people, also encourages “promoting the active involvement of youth in maintaining peace and security”.

http://www.un.org/en/events/youthday/

IDEA OF ASGARDIA YOUTH SUMMIT AYOS2018

We can discuss about ; The Asgardia Youth Summit  AYOS2018 is a platform for “ Youth and Education ” to  meet, learn, exchange ideas and do projects and business with to  Universty, Government, Private Sectors, NGO in  all the World

The Asgardia Youth Summit AYOS2018 will be daiy conference filled with engaging, dynamic and interactive discussions, one-on-one interviews, fast-paced debates and presentations from key industry leaders on a variety of topics, from  Youth and Education, Sports development and investment through  in international Issues

#AY0S2018

DECLARATION OF UNITY OF ASGARDIA

We, the free people of the first in the history of humanity space nation ASGARDIA, based on the birthright of Man in the universe, adopt this DECLARATION

1. Asgardia is a free and unified space nation.
2. The objectives of Asgardia are:
   • To ensure peace in space;
   • To ensure the protection of planet Earth and the entire humankind  (from outer space threats);
   • To ensure equal opportunities in space for all Asgardians residing on Earth, regardless of geographic, financial, technological and other   specificities of the countries of their Earthly citizenship.
3. Any resident of Earth can become a citizen of Asgardia, as long as he assents in the Declaration, and abides by the Constitution and the legislation of Asgardia.
4. All citizens of Asgardia are equal, regardless of their Earthly country of origin, residence, citizenship, race, nationality, gender, language, or financial standing.
5. Asgardia respects the laws of Earth’s nation states and the international treaties on Earth, and wishes to be recognised as an equal country among the nations on Earth.
6. Asgardia does not interfere in the affairs of Earth’s nations on the principle of reciprocity.
7. Asgardia participates in the international-level events on Earth, like any other country, based on its membership in the respective international organizations.
8. Asgardia respects and complies with the rights of citizens of Earth nations, and protects the rights of its citizens in the exclusivity of their space nation citizenship.
9. Asgardia does not engage in politics, and has no place for political parties. But every Asgardian can freely participate in political life on Earth.
10. Asgardia mirrors the Earth, but does not reflect Earthly borders. At the same time, in the framework of Earthly law, every Asgardian can freely live within the borders of any Earthly country.
11. Asgardia is a country of free spirit, science and internationalism. But every Asgardian can freely practice any religion on Earth.
12. There is no place for the history of Earthly conflicts in Asgardia. Asgardia creates a new peaceful history of the future of the humankind in space.

We, the people of Asgardia, will do everything for the prosperity of our new space nation created by us; for the protection of our motherland - planet Earth; and the development of the entire humankind in space.

One humanity - one unity.

This Declaration is a primary document for the creation of ASGARDIA - the Space Nation

https://asgardia.space /

The International Day for Street Children: Louder Together was launched on 12th April 2011, to give a louder voice to the millions of street children all around the world so their rights cannot be ignored.

Nearly all countries (except the United States) have signed AND ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and have a legal obligation to work towards ensuring that all children’s rights are integrated into national law. It is universally recognised that all children should have these rights realised; however many government policies and practices still do not include street children. Find out more about the Day, and the issues, from the International Day for Street Children website and the Consortium for Street Children (CSC) website.

The CSC website also has useful resources, including an infographic and mythbusters, and their YouTube feed has lots of video clips featuring the voices of street children.

If you would like further ideas to help your school mark this Day, you could browse through the ‘child rights’ teaching resources.  Useful link 1- http://www.salveinternational.org/get-involved/april-12th-international-day-for-street-children/ 2- https://streetchildren.org/our-work/international-day/ 3- http://www.streetchildrenday.org

Source  : https://globaldimension.org.uk/event/international-day-for-street-children/2017-04-12/ .

International Day of Sport for Development and Peace  6 April  ( Peace and Sport )

Due to its vast reach, unparalleled popularity and foundation of positive values, sport is ideally positioned to contribute towards the United Nations’ objectives for development and peace. In the Declaration of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development sport’s role for social progress is further acknowledged:

"Sport is also an important enabler of sustainable development. We recognize the growing contribution of sport to the realization of development and peace in its promotion of tolerance and respect and the contributions it makes to the empowerment of women and of young people, individuals and communities as well as to health, education and social inclusion objectives."

To raise awareness of this potential, 6 April was declared as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) by the UN General Assembly. The adoption of this Day signifies the increasing recognition by the United Nations of the positive influence that sport can have on the advancement of human rights, and social and economic development.

In its Resolution (A/RES/67/296) establishing the Day, the General Assembly “invites States, the United Nations system and, in particular, the United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace, relevant international organizations, and international, regional and national sport organisations, civil society including, non-governmental organizations and the private sector, and all other relevant stakeholders to cooperate, observe and raise awareness of the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.”...

http://www.un.org/en/events/sportday/

Celebrate International Day of Sport for Development and Peace

April 6 is the United Nations’ (UN) International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, which recognizes the power of sport in promoting peace and erasing cultural barriers worldwide.

The International Day of Sport for Development and Peace promotes healthy lifestyles and emphasizes the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) focus on giving as many people as possible access to sport. It is day when some of the world’s leading sportspeople work together with communities to bring sporting opportunities to enrich lives, particularly children.

About International Day of Sport for Development and Peace

The IOC and the UN have a long-standing commitment to using sport as a tool for social change and have worked together on many projects over the years. Both organizations have used sporting events, such as the Olympic Games, to bridge cultural understanding and improve education, health, economic and social development.

On August 23, 2013, the UN proclaimed that the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace would be celebrated on April 6 each year. This date also marks the opening of the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896.

https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/un/sport-day .                                               April 6 Peace and Sport  :
At the UN headquarters in New York, on 23 August 2013, the UN General Assembly declared 6 April as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) – a decision that represented a historic step in recognizing the transformative power of sport and its great potential in advancing positive social change.
This day is commemorated globally each year by international, regional, national sport and development organizations to honour the role that sport plays in society, whether by encouraging healthier lifestyles, making sport more widely accessible or using it as a vehicle for development in areas made vulnerable by conflict, poverty and inequality.
The two first editions of IDSDP were celebrated all over the world by a diversity of actors involved in using the benefits of sport to connect people to a wide range of development and reconciliation efforts.
For more information: https://www.peace-sport.org/
on the projects held in 2017
Get more information on International Day of Sport for Development and Peace:
- on the IOC website
- on the United Nations website (read Mr. Ban Ki Moon’s message)
- on UNOSDP’s website
- FOR MORE IFORMATION https://www.april6.org/en/
With the 4th edition of International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, Peace and Sport is urging all stakeholders and supporters of the peace through sport movement to mobilize their efforts for the annual event.
The online platform www.april6.org to list and promote all actions and events which celebrate April 6.
The #WhiteCard Campaign
#WHITECARD A SYMBOLIC INITIATIVE TO CELEBRATE THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SPORT FOR DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE.
To celebrate 6 April, Peace and Sport invites you to rally around the symbol of a #WhiteCard as a sign of your commitment to peace efforts worldwide.
Whether or not you registered a project on the April6 website, #WhiteCard allows you to demonstrate your support for the peace through sport movement in your part of the world.
This digital campaign on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram is supported by the Champions for Peace and many other personalities.
Thanks for your support!
https://www.april6.org/en/white-card/the-origins-of-whitecard.html
International Day of Sport for Development and Peace  6 April  ( Peace and Sport )
https://www.peace-sport.org/
Developed by ‘Peace and Sport, L’Organisation pour la Paix par le Sport’,
april6.org is a website intended for stakeholders worldwide wishing to
celebrate the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.
For more information, please visit our website www.peace-sport.org My Events : https://april6.org/en/my-events.html
Media : http://peaceballproject.com/

Global citizenship is about shared values and shared responsibility. Image: REUTERS/NASA/Tim Peake.
09 Nov 2017
April Rinne
Adviser, New Economy | Sharing Economy | Future of Work  :
First, let’s set the stage: the world is becoming more global and interconnected every day. From multinational corporations to climate change to social and political movements, humanity’s fate is increasingly intertwined.
Moreover, we are in the early stages of an historic shift of identity — increasingly less tied to any particular location — which will have far-reaching implications for business, government and society alike.
Against this backdrop, debates about globalization are taking place at an unprecedented level. And yet, we seem to have almost forgotten about the role of global citizenship. It is imperative that we turn these tides.
There are two kinds of global citizens: individuals, who share a set of values and responsibilities; and corporations, who have focused on globalization and seem to have left global citizenship behind. I am focused on being a role model for individuals, helping corporations become better global citizens, and highlighting the importance and voices of global citizens everywhere.
'The shared human experience'
Global citizenship is about the shared human experience. It acknowledges and celebrates that, wherever we come from and wherever we live, we are here together. Our well-being and success are ultimately interdependent. We have more to learn from one another than to fear about our future.
Global citizenship is also about shared values and shared responsibility. Global citizens understand that local events are significantly shaped and affected by global and remote events, and vice-versa. They champion fundamental human rights above any national law or identity, and social contracts that preserve elements of equality among all people.
Diversity, interdependence, empathy and perspective are essential values of global citizenship. Global citizens harness these values and are uniquely positioned to contribute in multiple contexts — locally, nationally and internationally — without harming one community to benefit another. They foster and promote international understanding.
Global citizens include individuals, corporations, global nomads, “glocals,” young and old, big and small, for-profit and non-profit, public and private, introverts and extroverts, men and women and children and anyone in between. Global citizenship and long-term, visionary leadership go hand-in-hand: Individual leaders who espouse shared values, and corporate citizens whose governance, ethics, business model and investment strategy create — not only extract — value in each and every place they touch.
Global citizenship is not the same as globalization. Globalization — the process by which organizations develop international influence or operate on an international scale — is driven by economics, business and money. It’s about the flow of products, capital, people and information. Global citizenship, on the other hand, is driven by identity and values. Global citizens build bridges, mitigate risk and safeguard humanity. While globalization is under hot debate today, we have never needed global citizens more than now.
Why does global citizenship matter?
Global citizens are not born; they are created. Children do not have an innate understanding of their shared humanity; they learn this over time. The importance of education and enabling global perspectives cannot be understated.
Historically, global citizenship was rooted in a common desire to prevent war. Common reasoning was that the more we knew about each other, the more likely we would ensure peace, progress and prosperity. More recently, the Human Genome Project has shown us — for the first time in human history — that scientifically, we are all one. New technologies also enable us to connect with more people in more ways than ever before, allowing us to discover our similarities and differences, better understand our interdependencies, and expand our worldviews.
Yet many people don’t feel this way or have not had such experiences. Around the world, we see people who lack a sense of belonging: they do not feel a deeper connection to other places, people or cultures. Often they do not feel as though they even belong at home. Moreover, especially in developing countries, people who have been unable to participate in the “digital revolution” have also been left out of these conversations. Connectedness is not universal.
In the corporate realm, all too often in recent decades we have seen companies that have put corporate interests above those of individuals, communities and the environment. We read about unethical behavior, corruption, rent-seeking, egregious labor practices, environmental degradation, and worse. These activities represent the antithesis of what the world needs.
Global citizenship helps bridge these gaps and rectify these realities, and global citizens are its ambassadors. Doing this is not only about mindset; it is about actions, lifestyles and building greater connections over time.
Why now? What’s different about today?
Despite the fact that we’ve been living in an increasingly global world for centuries, debates about globalization today are raging unlike almost ever before. From Brexit to the U.S. presidential election, rising nationalism and refugee crises, we see backlash and misunderstandings across-the-board. Global citizenship has always been important. But it is now urgent to highlight its importance to society, business, and the world at large.
We are in the early stages of an historic shift of identity. Increasingly, we are less tied to any particular location, social structure, or nation-state. This is a massive shift, which we (read: people and organizations everywhere) are broadly not aware of or prepared for. It requires a re-grinding of our frames of reference and lenses on change. It also has a wide range of implications. Here are some of the most important:
Technology: The internet is borderless and globalization has gone digital. Smartphones and other mobile devices give us an unprecedented level of global interconnectedness. New technologies have an incredible democratizing power, for those who can access them. If we couple this interconnectedness with global citizenship values, then the world opens up — and gives voice and opportunity — to far more people.
Leadership: Globalization and global citizenship are not the same. Globalization has brought unprecedented benefits to many, but not all. Successful leaders are global citizens, whether they are CEOs, prime ministers, community leaders or children. Whether and how we build a truly inclusive, sustainable future will depend on our ability to help new generations of leaders to become global.
Business: Global businesses, in particular multi-national corporations (MNCs) are bearing the brunt of today’s globalization debates. And they should. For decades, and even centuries, MNCs have extracted more than they have contributed. They have benefited a few (typically executives and shareholders) at the expense of others (often those without a voice: workers, communities and the environment).
Nonetheless, globalization has added immense value to the global economy (to the tune of 10% of global GDP). More interconnected countries and emerging markets have benefited most from this trend, in terms of economic growth. So it is not that globalization itself is bad, nor that it is going away anytime soon.
This is where global citizens are crucial, because they understand both global and local contexts. For example, while globalization has narrowed inequality among countries, it has exacerbated it within them. Hence the solutions are more about targeted domestic policy changes than closing borders or deregulation. In terms of business, it’s time to revise MNCs’ strategies to ensure they generate global prosperity, engage society and contribute to a greater good.
Politics: Many politicians see globalism as a disease, and nationalism as the cure. But this is a false dichotomy. “Deglobalizing” will not achieve the goals of peace, progress and prosperity. Rather, we must look to global citizenship’s shared values for lasting answers.
Youth, education and workforce mobility: New technologies break down barriers for learning, development and earning income. Today’s youth tend to see the world — and themselves — as more global, borderless and fluid. And one in every seven people in the world today is already an immigrant.
Yet these themes are full of unknowns ahead, from the automation of jobs to the “youth bulge” in many emerging markets. High-skilled workers may be less tied to any particular location or profession, while low-skilled workers may have ever-fewer options. Global citizens who understand the layers of implications will be key to developing responsible solutions.
Environment and climate change: There is probably no other issue that more clearly underscores our interconnectedness than climate change. The earth depends on collective stewardship that transcends any geopolitical border or economy. One of the many essential roles that global citizens play is to protect and enforce global compacts. The health of the planet, and society, hinges on global citizens leading this charge.
Cities and urbanization: We are living in the urban millennium. By 2100, more people will live in cities than exist in the world today. Cities are the engines of global growth. They are full of opportunities as well as challenges. They present a classic case of “glocalism”: the most successful cities are both connected globally and able to address local needs… in other words, in perfect alignment with the values of global citizenship.
Global citizenship is not a one-size-fits-all concept, nor is it a panacea. But it is an extremely powerful tool in our 21st century toolbox for building a more sustainable, resilient and compassionate world. Everyone can play an important part. The world is waiting for you. Searches : http://www.weforum.org/agenda/2017/11/what-is-global-citizenship

When Is the Next Blue Moon?               There are two definitions of a Blue Moon; both are a type of Full Moon. If the moon actually looks blue, it's caused by a rare type of dust in the atmosphere. Double Blue Moon in 2018
In 2018, there were two Full Moons in January, and there are also two in March in most time zones. This is sometimes called a double Blue Moon. Check the Moon Phase page to see if this is the case in your location.                                          Two Definitions of Blue Moon
Seasonal Blue Moon = The third Full Moon in an astronomical season with four Full Moons (versus the usual three).
Monthly Blue Moon = The second Full Moon in a month with two Full Moons.
Astronomical terms & definitions
Local Time & Date for Blue Moons
Blue Moons can vary by time zone. On our Moon Phase Pages, you'll find local and worldwide times and dates for Blue Moons, Moon Phases, lunations, Supermoons, Micromoons, and Black Moons. You will also find Full Moon names for the Northern Hemisphere.

Why Are There Different Definitions?
The reason the second definition of Blue Moon exists is down to an error originally made by amateur astronomer James Hugh Pruett (1886–1955). He misunderstood the basis for calculating the seasonal Blue Moon and wrote that a Blue Moon was the second Full Moon in a month in an article published in Sky & Telescope magazine in 1946. This erroneous definition since spread, particularly after it was quoted in a popular radio program called StarDate in 1980 and then appeared as an answer in a 1986 version of the board game Trivial Pursuit. Today, it is considered a second definition rather than a mistake.

A Full Moon Without a Name
The seasonal Blue Moon originally came about as a kind of placeholder name for a Full Moon which doesn't have a proper Full Moon name, such as Harvest Moon or Paschal Moon. This way, when there are 13 Full Moons in a year instead of the usual 12, the other 12 can keep their rightful place in relation to the solstices and equinoxes.

How Rare Is a Blue Moon?
The term once in a Blue Moon means that something is rare. Blue Moons happen once every two or three years. In the 1100 years between 1550 and 2650, there are 408 seasonal Blue Moons and 456 monthly Blue Moons.

Double Blue Moons happen only about 3 to 5 times in a century. The next year that has two months with two Full Moons each will be 2037, while the last time this occurred was in 1999.

Other combinations of Blue Moons also exist. Between 1550 and 2650 there are 20 years which have one seasonal and one Monthly Blue Moon. The next time is in 2048 while the previous time was in 1934. Triple Blue Moons, a combination of one seasonal and two monthly Blue Moons in the same calendar year, happens 21 times in the same time span. The next is in 2143, while the last time was in 1961.

There can never be a double seasonal Blue Moon, as that would require 14 Full Moons in the same year, which is not possible because the time between two Full Moons is approximately 29.5 days.

How can Full Moon be in the daytime?
The Rarest Blue Moon
A Moon that actually looks blue, however, is a very rare sight. The Moon, full or any other phase, can appear blue when the atmosphere is filled with dust or smoke particles of a certain size: slightly wider than 900 nm. The particles scatter the red light, making the Moon appear blue. This is known as Mie scattering, and can happen for instance after a dust storm, a forest fire, or a volcanic eruption.

Eruptions like the ones on Mt. Krakatoa in Indonesia (1883), El Chichon in Mexico (1983), on Mt. St. Helens in the US (1980), and Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines (1991) are all known to have made the moon look blue. Some people even suggest the term once in a Blue Moon is based on these rare occasions, rather than the Full Moon definitions.

Red Moon
The Full Moon can look red if other sizes of dust particles fill the atmosphere or during Total Lunar Eclipses, which are much more common than Moons that look blue.

Super Blue Blood Moon Eclipse
On the night of the Blue Moon on January 31, 2018 (UTC), there was a total lunar eclipse. A totally eclipsed Moon usually looks red, and because of this coloring, it is sometimes called a Blood Moon. So, this was a rare opportunity to see a red Blue Moon. If this wasn't enough, it was also almost a Supermoon, earning it the nickname Super Blue Blood Moon.

Watch our stream of the Blood Moon
Blue Sky and Red Sunset
A similar phenomenon is Rayleigh scattering, which occurs when light strikes a molecule of air. This scattering causes the sky to look blue in the daytime and red at sunrise and sunset.                     Search https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/moon/blue-moon.html

ARTiFACTS Launches First-Ever Blockchain-Based Platform for Scientific and Scholarly Research

Specialized Collaboration Platform, Distributed Ledger Transaction Engine, and Comprehensive Index to Speed Research, Improve Knowledge Sharing, and Expand Attribution to All Relevant Research                                         ARTiFACTS provides a simple, user-friendly platform, purpose built for academic and scientific research that leverages blockchain technology. Researchers can record a permanent, valid, and immutable chain of records in real-time, from the earliest stages of research for all research artifacts, including citing/attribution transactions. While today's digital scholarship merely creates linkages among an artificially narrowed subset of indexed publications long after discoveries are made, ARTiFACTS focuses on capturing and linking knowledge from its initial ideation throughout the research process to informal and formal dissemination. By using the ARTiFACTS platform, researchers will be able to immutably prove ownership and existence of novel work, expand access to their research artifacts, provide and receive 'real-time' attribution for novel work and more comprehensively and rapidly build and demonstrate their body of scholarly contributions.

To learn more, visit us at artifacts.ai and follow us on Twitter @ARTiFACTS.ai.
Contact: John Roderick, 1-631-584-2200, john@jroderick.com
SOURCE ARTiFACTS
Related Links
http://artifacts.ai .                            Seaerches: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/artifacts-launches-first-ever-blockchain-based-platform-for-scientific-and-scholarly-research-300615989.html

World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD), 21 March, is a global awareness day which has been officially observed by the United Nations since 2012.

Down Syndrome International (DSi) encourages our friends all over the world to choose their own activities and events on WDSD to help raise awareness of what Down syndrome is, what it means to have Down syndrome, and how people with Down syndrome play a vital role in our lives and communities.

For this purpose DSi created this dedicated website as a single meeting place where the global community can share their experiences and advertise their activities (see WDSD World Events) and participate in DSi’s WDSD initiatives, including our WDSD Call To Action, the WDSD Global Video Event, the WDSD Conference at UN Headquarters, New York, the WDSD event at UN Geneva, the LOTS OF SOCKS campaign and the WDSD Awards.

Join in with us to create a single global voice for advocating for the rights, inclusion and well being of people with Down syndrome on 21 March. Each year the voice of people with Down syndrome, and those who live and work with them, grows louder.

Why 21 March?

The date for WDSD being the 21st day of the 3rd month, was selected to signify the uniqueness of the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome.

History of WDSD

WDSD was first observed in 2006 in many countries around the world and Down Syndrome Association Singapore launched and hosted the WDSD website from 2006-2010, on behalf of DSi, for global activities to be recorded.

On 19 December 2011, the United Nations General Assembly declared 21 March as World Down Syndrome Day. The General Assembly decided to "designate 21 March as World Down Syndrome Day, to be observed every year beginning in 2012" and "invites all Member States, relevant organizations of the United Nations system and other international organizations, as well as civil society, including non-governmental organizations and the private sector, to observe World Down Syndrome Day in an appropriate manner, in order to raise public awareness of Down syndrome".

Searches : https://worlddownsyndromeday.org/about-wdsd

"What I bring to my community"

All people with Down syndrome must have opportunities to contribute to the community and live valued lives, included on a full and equal basis with others, in all aspects of society.

People with Down syndrome can and do bring so much to the community, wherever they live around the world, when given the opportunity.

But many are prevented from making meaningful contributions.

On World Down Syndrome Day, Wednesday 21 March 2018, we call upon every person with Down syndrome to tell the world what you bring to your community .

#WhatIBringToMyCommunity #WDSD18

Down Syndrome International's campaign aims to:

• Explain how people with Down syndrome can and do make meaningful contributions throughout their lives, whether in schools, workplaces, living in the community, public and political life, culture, media, recreation, leisure and sport;
• Explain how negative attitudes and a lack of knowledge about their potential as individuals prevent people with Down syndrome from having opportunities to make contributions;
• Empower people with Down syndrome (and those supporting them) to advocate for their rights and opportunities to make meaningful contributions and
• Reach out to key stakeholders including educators, employers, public authorities, media and the wider community to ensure they see the benefits of enabling people with Down syndrome to make meaningful contributions and encourage these stakeholders to bring about change and disseminate this message .

This campaign will be integrated into all of DSi's WDSD activities and we encourage everyone around the world to do the same.

Searches : https://worlddownsyndromeday.org/call-to-action

Down syndrome  :

Down syndrome is a chromosomal condition that is associated with intellectual disability, a characteristic facial appearance, and weak muscle tone (hypotonia) in infancy. All affected individuals experience cognitive delays, but the intellectual disability is usually mild to moderate.

People with Down syndrome may have a variety of birth defects. About half of all affected children are born with a heart defect. Digestive abnormalities, such as a blockage of the intestine, are less common.

Searches : https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/down-syndrome

World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD), 21 March, is a global awareness day which has been officially observed by the United Nations since 2012.

Down Syndrome International (DSi) encourages our friends all over the world to choose their own activities and events on WDSD to help raise awareness of what Down syndrome is, what it means to have Down syndrome, and how people with Down syndrome play a vital role in our lives and communities.

For this purpose DSi created this dedicated website as a single meeting place where the global community can share their experiences and advertise their activities (see WDSD World Events) and participate in DSi’s WDSD initiatives, including our WDSD Call To Action, the WDSD Global Video Event, the WDSD Conference at UN Headquarters, New York, the WDSD event at UN Geneva, the LOTS OF SOCKS campaign and the WDSD Awards.

Join in with us to create a single global voice for advocating for the rights, inclusion and well being of people with Down syndrome on 21 March. Each year the voice of people with Down syndrome, and those who live and work with them, grows louder.

Why 21 March?

The date for WDSD being the 21st day of the 3rd month, was selected to signify the uniqueness of the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome.

History of WDSD

WDSD was first observed in 2006 in many countries around the world and Down Syndrome Association Singapore launched and hosted the WDSD website from 2006-2010, on behalf of DSi, for global activities to be recorded.

On 19 December 2011, the United Nations General Assembly declared 21 March as World Down Syndrome Day. The General Assembly decided to "designate 21 March as World Down Syndrome Day, to be observed every year beginning in 2012" and "invites all Member States, relevant organizations of the United Nations system and other international organizations, as well as civil society, including non-governmental organizations and the private sector, to observe World Down Syndrome Day in an appropriate manner, in order to raise public awareness of Down syndrome".

Searches : https://worlddownsyndromeday.org/about-wdsd

"What I bring to my community"

All people with Down syndrome must have opportunities to contribute to the community and live valued lives, included on a full and equal basis with others, in all aspects of society.

People with Down syndrome can and do bring so much to the community, wherever they live around the world, when given the opportunity.

But many are prevented from making meaningful contributions.

On World Down Syndrome Day, Wednesday 21 March 2018, we call upon every person with Down syndrome to tell the world what you bring to your community .

#WhatIBringToMyCommunity #WDSD18

Down Syndrome International's campaign aims to:

• Explain how people with Down syndrome can and do make meaningful contributions throughout their lives, whether in schools, workplaces, living in the community, public and political life, culture, media, recreation, leisure and sport;
• Explain how negative attitudes and a lack of knowledge about their potential as individuals prevent people with Down syndrome from having opportunities to make contributions;
• Empower people with Down syndrome (and those supporting them) to advocate for their rights and opportunities to make meaningful contributions and
• Reach out to key stakeholders including educators, employers, public authorities, media and the wider community to ensure they see the benefits of enabling people with Down syndrome to make meaningful contributions and encourage these stakeholders to bring about change and disseminate this message .

This campaign will be integrated into all of DSi's WDSD activities and we encourage everyone around the world to do the same.

Searches : https://worlddownsyndromeday.org/call-to-action

Down syndrome  :

Down syndrome is a chromosomal condition that is associated with intellectual disability, a characteristic facial appearance, and weak muscle tone (hypotonia) in infancy. All affected individuals experience cognitive delays, but the intellectual disability is usually mild to moderate.

People with Down syndrome may have a variety of birth defects. About half of all affected children are born with a heart defect. Digestive abnormalities, such as a blockage of the intestine, are less common.

Searches : https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/down-syndrome

World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD), 21 March, is a global awareness day which has been officially observed by the United Nations since 2012.

Down Syndrome International (DSi) encourages our friends all over the world to choose their own activities and events on WDSD to help raise awareness of what Down syndrome is, what it means to have Down syndrome, and how people with Down syndrome play a vital role in our lives and communities.

For this purpose DSi created this dedicated website as a single meeting place where the global community can share their experiences and advertise their activities (see WDSD World Events) and participate in DSi’s WDSD initiatives, including our WDSD Call To Action, the WDSD Global Video Event, the WDSD Conference at UN Headquarters, New York, the WDSD event at UN Geneva, the LOTS OF SOCKS campaign and the WDSD Awards.

Join in with us to create a single global voice for advocating for the rights, inclusion and well being of people with Down syndrome on 21 March. Each year the voice of people with Down syndrome, and those who live and work with them, grows louder.

Why 21 March?

The date for WDSD being the 21st day of the 3rd month, was selected to signify the uniqueness of the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome.

History of WDSD

WDSD was first observed in 2006 in many countries around the world and Down Syndrome Association Singapore launched and hosted the WDSD website from 2006-2010, on behalf of DSi, for global activities to be recorded.

On 19 December 2011, the United Nations General Assembly declared 21 March as World Down Syndrome Day. The General Assembly decided to "designate 21 March as World Down Syndrome Day, to be observed every year beginning in 2012" and "invites all Member States, relevant organizations of the United Nations system and other international organizations, as well as civil society, including non-governmental organizations and the private sector, to observe World Down Syndrome Day in an appropriate manner, in order to raise public awareness of Down syndrome".

Searches : https://worlddownsyndromeday.org/about-wdsd

"What I bring to my community"

All people with Down syndrome must have opportunities to contribute to the community and live valued lives, included on a full and equal basis with others, in all aspects of society.

People with Down syndrome can and do bring so much to the community, wherever they live around the world, when given the opportunity.

But many are prevented from making meaningful contributions.

On World Down Syndrome Day, Wednesday 21 March 2018, we call upon every person with Down syndrome to tell the world what you bring to your community .

#WhatIBringToMyCommunity #WDSD18

Down Syndrome International's campaign aims to:

• Explain how people with Down syndrome can and do make meaningful contributions throughout their lives, whether in schools, workplaces, living in the community, public and political life, culture, media, recreation, leisure and sport;
• Explain how negative attitudes and a lack of knowledge about their potential as individuals prevent people with Down syndrome from having opportunities to make contributions;
• Empower people with Down syndrome (and those supporting them) to advocate for their rights and opportunities to make meaningful contributions and
• Reach out to key stakeholders including educators, employers, public authorities, media and the wider community to ensure they see the benefits of enabling people with Down syndrome to make meaningful contributions and encourage these stakeholders to bring about change and disseminate this message .

This campaign will be integrated into all of DSi's WDSD activities and we encourage everyone around the world to do the same.

Searches : https://worlddownsyndromeday.org/call-to-action

Down syndrome  :

Down syndrome is a chromosomal condition that is associated with intellectual disability, a characteristic facial appearance, and weak muscle tone (hypotonia) in infancy. All affected individuals experience cognitive delays, but the intellectual disability is usually mild to moderate.

People with Down syndrome may have a variety of birth defects. About half of all affected children are born with a heart defect. Digestive abnormalities, such as a blockage of the intestine, are less common.

Searches : https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/down-syndrome

The world’s last male northern white rhino has died, according to a Kenyan wildlife conservatory and anti-poaching NGO WildAid, spelling the likely extinction for the subspecies.

Kenya’s Ol Pejeta Conservancy announced that 45-year-old Sudan was put down on Monday after battling multiple age-related infections that left him unable to stand. The decision to euthanize Sudan was taken with consultation of Kenyan wildlife officials and representatives from the Dvůr Králové Zoo in the Czech Republic, where he previously lived.                         The world’s last male northern white rhino has died, according to a Kenyan wildlife conservatory and anti-poaching NGO WildAid, spelling the likely extinction for the subspecies.
Kenya’s Ol Pejeta Conservancy announced that 45-year-old Sudan was put down on Monday after battling multiple age-related infections that left him unable to stand. The decision to euthanize Sudan was taken with consultation of Kenyan wildlife officials and representatives from the Dvůr Králové Zoo in the Czech Republic, where he previously lived.
Northern white rhinos used to roam central Africa, with an estimated population of 2,000 in 1960, according to the World Wildlife Fund. But conflict and poaching have driven the subspecies to the brink of extinction in the wild.
Sudan’s death leaves only two northern white rhinos in the world, his daughter Najin, 27, and granddaughter Fatu, 17, who remain at the Ol Pejeta reserve. Though the females were unable to conceive naturally, efforts to save the subspecies have not come to an end.
Last year, Ol Pejeta created a Tinder profile for Sudan in an attempt to draw attention to the species’ plight and raise $9 million to fund an experimental in-vitro fertilization procedure, Reuters reported. The plan would see eggs from the remaining females inseminated with sperm samples from now-deceased males before being implanted in a surrogate female southern white rhino, a related subspecies that still numbers an estimated 20,000, according to WildAid.
“We at Ol Pejeta are all saddened by Sudan’s death. He was an amazing rhino, a great ambassador for his species, and will be remembered for the work he did to raise awareness globally of the plight facing not only rhinos, but also the many thousands of other species facing extinction as a result of unsustainable human activity,” said Ol Pejeta Conservancy CEO Richard Vigne. “One day, his demise will hopefully be seen as a seminal moment for conservationists worldwide.”  Search: By ELI MEIXLER http://time.com/5206760/last-male-northern-white-rhino-kenya-died/

Young Champions of the Earth

You want to change the world. We’re here to help. Young Champions of the Earth aims to celebrate and support individuals between the ages of 18 and 30 who have outstanding potential to create positive environmental impact.

In 2018, seven young people – selected from every global region – will be named Young Champions of the Earth. These winners receive seed funding, intensive training, and tailored mentorship to help them bring their big environmental ideas to life.

Whose big idea will change the world? Following an open call for applications, UN experts will short-list 35 Regional Finalists who will be subjected to an online public vote, informing the selection of 14 World Finalists. A Global Jury will then select the seven 2018 winners.

Each winner will be expected to implement their big idea and keep us updated on their progress by producing videos and blogs that we will share on our website.

In parallel, up to 50 of the most promising applicants will be granted privileged access to an expert community of Covestro mentors offering insights on topics ranging from communications and business development to project planning and financial management.

Download the Young Champions Information Brochure

The Prize

What do the Young Champions receive?

In 2018, seven Young Champions of the Earth will be selected from each global region: one from each of Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America and West Asia; and two from Asia and the Pacific. Each winner will receive the following:

• US$15,000 in seed funding;
• Attendance at a high-level UN meeting;
• An introduction to dignitaries at the Champions of the Earth Award Ceremony;
• Publicity and recognition through online and global media;
• Access to a community of Covestro experts offering insights and mentoring; and
• Participation in an entrepreneurial training program provided by The DO School.

The 2018 Young Champions will be required to share their implementation journeys through blogs and vlogs posted on this website for a period of up to one year.

Mentorship

More than just an honorary title, Young Champions of the Earth aims to nurture the next generation of environmental leaders.

Up to 50 applicants who clearly articulate their skills requirements and demonstrate a strong willingness to learn will be granted privileged access to an online mentoring programme. They will be able to seek technical guidance and professional advice from a broad community of experts drawn from Covestro’s 16,000 global staff members. These mentors will share their experience through webinars, thematic online roundtables and individual support. Topics of strategic relevance such as communications, project planning and financial management, will be explored in depth with the aim of strengthening the viability and impact of mentees’ ventures.

The engagement process between the mentees and Covestro will be facilitated by The Do School, an international platform fostering collaboration among leading corporations, experts and young talented individuals with the aim of encouraging innovation and making a positive social impact.

Research http://web.unep.org/youngchampions/about-us

The Head of Nation Tells All About Upcoming Plans for Asgardia's Development

The first space nation yesterday, today and tomorrow: parliamentary elections that took place in March of this year, the formation of other government bodies, and the prospects of Asgardia’s scientific and technological development – all in the interview with the Head of the first space nation.

https://asgardia.space/en/page/notifications/Head-of-Nation-Tells-All-About-Plans-for-Asgardia-Development

World Water Day , on 22 March every year, draws the world's attention to the importance of water.  Damaged ecosystems affect the quantity and quality of water available for human consumption. Today, 2.1 billion people live without safe drinking water at home; affecting their health, education and livelihoods. Sustainable Development Goal 6 commits the world to ensuring that everyone has access to safe water by 2030, and includes targets on protecting the natural environment and reducing pollution. World Water Day 2018 will also mark the launch of the Decade for Action: Water for Sustainable Development (2018-2028) .

What is this year's theme?
The theme for World Water Day 2018 is ‘ Nature for Water ’ – exploring nature-based solutions to the water challenges we face in the 21 ^st century. Nature-based solutions have the potential to solve many of our water challenges. We need to harmonize ‘green’ infrastructure with ‘grey’ infrastructure wherever possible. Planting new forests, reconnecting rivers to floodplains, and restoring wetlands will re-balance the water cycle and improve human health and livelihoods.

How can you get involved?
Water is an ubiquitous part of our lives. World Water Day is an occasion to dive into great stories about nature and water . If you are the creative type, there is a collage competition that has your name on it.  The UN Chronicle's March edition " The Quest for Water " explores how we can ensure the availability and sustainable management of water for all and the High Level Panel on Water issued its report " Making Every Drop Count ". However you choose to spend the day, either in nature or at home learning more about it, help spread the message about the importance of clean water for sustainable development using #EveryDrop ! You can also share your ideas in a dedicated discussion on the UNAI Member Forum .

Research : https://academicimpact.un.org/

World Water Day , on 22 March every year, draws the world's attention to the importance of water.  Damaged ecosystems affect the quantity and quality of water available for human consumption. Today, 2.1 billion people live without safe drinking water at home; affecting their health, education and livelihoods. Sustainable Development Goal 6 commits the world to ensuring that everyone has access to safe water by 2030, and includes targets on protecting the natural environment and reducing pollution. World Water Day 2018 will also mark the launch of the Decade for Action: Water for Sustainable Development (2018-2028) .

What is this year's theme?
The theme for World Water Day 2018 is ‘ Nature for Water ’ – exploring nature-based solutions to the water challenges we face in the 21 ^st century. Nature-based solutions have the potential to solve many of our water challenges. We need to harmonize ‘green’ infrastructure with ‘grey’ infrastructure wherever possible. Planting new forests, reconnecting rivers to floodplains, and restoring wetlands will re-balance the water cycle and improve human health and livelihoods.

How can you get involved?
Water is an ubiquitous part of our lives. World Water Day is an occasion to dive into great stories about nature and water . If you are the creative type, there is a collage competition that has your name on it.  The UN Chronicle's March edition " The Quest for Water " explores how we can ensure the availability and sustainable management of water for all and the High Level Panel on Water issued its report " Making Every Drop Count ". However you choose to spend the day, either in nature or at home learning more about it, help spread the message about the importance of clean water for sustainable development using #EveryDrop ! You can also share your ideas in a dedicated discussion on the UNAI Member Forum .

Research : https://academicimpact.un.org/

International Day of Sport for Development and Peace  6 April 2018

For University Students ..!

Firat University,  Faculty of Sports Sciences , Seminar Saloon, Elazig, Turkey

Date / Time : 06 April 2018   14:00 -15:00

Moderator

Assoc.Prof.Sebahattin Devecioglu

For More Information: https://april6.org/

Contact : sdevecioglu@gmail.com

Organisation : PEACE BALL PROJECT

My Events : https://april6.org/en/my-events.html

Media : http://peaceballproject.com/

International Day of Sport for Development and Peace  6 April  ( Peace and Sport )

Due to its vast reach, unparalleled popularity and foundation of positive values, sport is ideally positioned to contribute towards the United Nations’ objectives for development and peace. In the Declaration of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development sport’s role for social progress is further acknowledged:

"Sport is also an important enabler of sustainable development. We recognize the growing contribution of sport to the realization of development and peace in its promotion of tolerance and respect and the contributions it makes to the empowerment of women and of young people, individuals and communities as well as to health, education and social inclusion objectives."

To raise awareness of this potential, 6 April was declared as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) by the UN General Assembly. The adoption of this Day signifies the increasing recognition by the United Nations of the positive influence that sport can have on the advancement of human rights, and social and economic development.

In its Resolution (A/RES/67/296) establishing the Day, the General Assembly “invites States, the United Nations system and, in particular, the United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace, relevant international organizations, and international, regional and national sport organisations, civil society including, non-governmental organizations and the private sector, and all other relevant stakeholders to cooperate, observe and raise awareness of the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.”...

http://www.un.org/en/events/sportday/

Celebrate International Day of Sport for Development and Peace

April 6 is the United Nations’ (UN) International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, which recognizes the power of sport in promoting peace and erasing cultural barriers worldwide.

The International Day of Sport for Development and Peace promotes healthy lifestyles and emphasizes the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) focus on giving as many people as possible access to sport. It is day when some of the world’s leading sportspeople work together with communities to bring sporting opportunities to enrich lives, particularly children.

About International Day of Sport for Development and Peace

The IOC and the UN have a long-standing commitment to using sport as a tool for social change and have worked together on many projects over the years. Both organizations have used sporting events, such as the Olympic Games, to bridge cultural understanding and improve education, health, economic and social development.

On August 23, 2013, the UN proclaimed that the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace would be celebrated on April 6 each year. This date also marks the opening of the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896.

https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/un/sport-day .                                                     April 6 Peace and Sport  :
At the UN headquarters in New York, on 23 August 2013, the UN General Assembly declared 6 April as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) – a decision that represented a historic step in recognizing the transformative power of sport and its great potential in advancing positive social change.
This day is commemorated globally each year by international, regional, national sport and development organizations to honour the role that sport plays in society, whether by encouraging healthier lifestyles, making sport more widely accessible or using it as a vehicle for development in areas made vulnerable by conflict, poverty and inequality.
The two first editions of IDSDP were celebrated all over the world by a diversity of actors involved in using the benefits of sport to connect people to a wide range of development and reconciliation efforts.
For more information: https://www.peace-sport.org/
·         on the projects held in 2017
Get more information on International Day of Sport for Development and Peace:
- on the IOC website
- on the United Nations website (read Mr. Ban Ki Moon’s message)
- on UNOSDP’s website
- FOR MORE IFORMATION https://www.april6.org/en/
With the 4th edition of International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, Peace and Sport is urging all stakeholders and supporters of the peace through sport movement to mobilize their efforts for the annual event.
The online platform www.april6.org to list and promote all actions and events which celebrate April 6.
The #WhiteCard Campaign
#WHITECARD A SYMBOLIC INITIATIVE TO CELEBRATE THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SPORT FOR DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE.
To celebrate 6 April, Peace and Sport invites you to rally around the symbol of a #WhiteCard as a sign of your commitment to peace efforts worldwide.
Whether or not you registered a project on the April6 website, #WhiteCard allows you to demonstrate your support for the peace through sport movement in your part of the world.
This digital campaign on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram is supported by the Champions for Peace and many other personalities.
Thanks for your support!
https://www.april6.org/en/white-card/the-origins-of-whitecard.html

International Day of Sport for Development and Peace  6 April  ( Peace and Sport )
https://www.peace-sport.org/
Developed by ‘Peace and Sport, L’Organisation pour la Paix par le Sport’,
april6.org is a website intended for stakeholders worldwide wishing to
celebrate the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.
For more information, please visit our website www.peace-sport.org
Media : http://peaceballproject.com/

Stephen Hawking now says humanity has only about 100 years to escape Earth

I believe that the long-term future of the human race must be in space ," Hawking said in an interview  in 2008. "The human race shouldn't have all its eggs in one basket, or on one planet."

In November, Stephen Hawking and his bulging computer brain gave humanity what we thought was an intimidating deadline for finding a new planet to call home: 1,000 years.

Ten centuries is a blip in the grand arc of the universe, but in human terms it was the apocalyptic equivalent of getting a few weeks' notice before our collective landlord (Mother Earth) kicks us to the curb.

Even so, we took a collective breathe and steeled our nerves.

So what if there's no interplanetary Craigslist for new astronomical sublets, we told ourselves, we're human — the Bear Grylls of the natural order. We've already survived the ice age, the plague, a bunch of scary volcanoes and earthquakes, and the 2016 election cycle.

We got this, right? Not so fast.

Now Hawking, the renowned theoretical physicist turned apocalypse warning system, is back with a revised deadline. In "Expedition New Earth" — a documentary that debuts this summer as part of the BBC's "Tomorrow's World" science season —‚ Hawking claims that Mother Earth would greatly appreciate it if we could gather our belongings and get out — not in 1,000 years, but in the next century or so.

You heard the man — a single human lifetime. Is this nerd serious?

Thanks, Steve.

"Professor Stephen Hawking thinks the human species will have to populate a new planet within 100 years if it is to survive," the BBC said with a notable absence of punctuation marks in a statement posted online. "With climate change, overdue asteroid strikes, epidemics and population growth, our own planet is increasingly precarious."

"In this landmark series, Expedition New Earth, he enlists engineering expert Danielle George and his own former student, Christophe Galfard, to find out if and how humans can reach for the stars and move to different planets."

The BBC program gives Hawking a chance to wade into the evolving science and technology that may become crucial if humans hatch a plan to escape Earth and find a way to survive on another planet — from questions about biology and astronomy to rocket technology and human hibernation, the BBC notes.

The cosmologist lives with the motor neuron disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's Disease. As the disease has progressed, he has become almost entirely paralyzed. And in 1985, after contracting pneumonia, Hawking underwent a tracheotomy that left him unable to speak. He communicates using the assistance of a voice-producing computer.

In recent months, Hawking has been explicit about humanity's need to find a "Planet B." In the past, he has also called for humans to colonize the moon and find a way to settle Mars - a locale he referred to as "the obvious next target" in 2008, according to New Scientist.

Remaining on Earth any longer, Hawking claims, places humanity at great risk of encountering another mass extinction.

"We must ... continue to go into space for the future of humanity," the 74-year-old Cambridge professor said during a November speech at Oxford University Union, according to the Daily Express.

"I don't think we will survive another 1,000 years without escaping beyond our fragile planet," he added.During the hour-long speech, Hawking told the audience that Earth's cataclysmic end may be hastened by humankind, which will continue to devour the planet's resources at unsustainable rates, the Express reported.

His wide-ranging talk touched upon the origins of the universe and Einstein's theory of relativity, as well as humanity's creation myths and God. Hawking also discussed "M-theory," which Leron Borsten of PhysicsWorld.com explains as "proposal for a unified quantum theory of the fundamental constituents and forces of nature."

Though the challenges ahead are immense, Hawking said, it is a "glorious time to be alive and doing research into theoretical physics."

"Our picture of the universe has changed a great deal in the last 50 years, and I am happy if I have made a small contribution," he added.

S ome of Hawking's most explicit warnings have revolved around the potential threat posed by artificial intelligence. That means — in Hawking's analysis — humanity's daunting challenge is twofold: develop the technology that will enable us to leave the planet and start a colony elsewhere, while avoiding the frightening perils that may be unleashed by said technology.

When it comes to discussing that threat, Hawking is unmistakably blunt.

"I think the development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race ," Hawking told the BBC in a 2014 interview that touched upon everything from online privacy to his affinity for his robotic-sounding voice.

Despite its current usefulness, he cautioned, further developing A.I. could prove a fatal mistake.

"Once humans develop artificial intelligence, it will take off on its own and redesign itself at an ever-increasing rate," Hawking warned in recent months. "Humans, who are limited by slow biological evolution, couldn't compete and would be superseded."

Thanks again, Steve.

RESAERCH : http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/science/ct-stephen-hawking-escape-earth-20170505-story.html