Infoblaze University News

CDA partners with University of Birmingham in Dubai to launch professional development programme for social workers In alignment with the objectives of Dubai Social Agenda 33 and with the aim of enhancing the quality of social services and improving the well-being of community members, the Community Development Authority (CDA), in collaboration with the University of Birmingham, has launched a training programme to qualify social workers involved with government agencies across the emirate. The launch event was attended by His Excellency Abdulla Mohammed Al Basti, Secretary General of The Executive Council of Dubai; Abdulrazaq Ameri, Chief Executive Officer at Irada Center for Rehab and Treatment; and Sheikha Al Mansouri, Acting Director-General, Dubai Foundation for Women and Children. As per the agreement between the CDA and the university, the newly designed training programme is set to offer a series of specialised courses in various aspects of social work. Focused on equipping workers with the latest knowledge and global best practices in the field of social work, the programme aims to develop a skilled workforce capable of providing efficient support and assistance to diverse segments of society. This initiative will also strengthen the role of government agencies in promoting sustainable development and contribute to the achievement of Dubai Plan 2033 and its agendas.... https://bit.ly/49Bzk0Y #CDA Community Development Authority #UoBDubai University of Birmingham Dubai #Dubai #SocialWork #Training #UAE #GCC #MiddleEast

Breaking through to open airwaves New acoustic filters could support faster future mobile communications by tapping into underused higher frequency bands, reducing congestion in existing channels. Global internet traffic has surged past three trillion gigabytes annually, largely due to high-definition video streaming. As our insatiable appetite for data grows, so does the need for faster, more efficient communication systems. However, the invisible highways of electromagnetic (EM) waves—known as frequency bands—that connect Wi-Fi and mobile networks are becoming increasingly congested. “Due to the development of 5G and 6G communications, frequency bands below 6 GHz are almost fully occupied,” said Xinghua Wang, a Scientist at A*STAR’s Institute of Microelectronics (IME). “It will be increasingly critical to tap into lesser-used higher frequencies with potential for further exploitation, such as the Ku band (12-18 GHz) and the millimetre-wave (mmWave) spectrum.”... https://bit.ly/3ZeAA6K Xinghua Wang #IME Institute of Microelectronics A*STAR - Agency for Science, Technology and Research #Singapore #Telecom #MobileCommunication #Research #SoutheastAsia

#MachineLearning tools that drive positive impact in various fields Assoc Prof Kelly Ke develops machine learning tools that drive positive impact in various fields. Machine learning techniques that enable computers to learn like humans have rapidly advanced the ability of AI to accurately make predictions from large amounts of input data. Machine learning algorithms have been used to solve problems ranging from identifying spam mail to enabling autonomous vehicles to sense and respond to road situations.... https://bit.ly/3AFDDLt Assoc Prof Kelly Ke School of Computer Science and Engineering Nanyang Technological University Singapore #Singapore #Research #AI #ML #SoutheastAsia

Singaporean flexitarians | Seeking to reduce meat intake Amid rising anxiety over the environmental and health impacts of meat production, a growing wave of consumers is embracing a ‘flexitarian’ diet—a middle ground that scales back but doesn't entirely cut out meat consumption. While campaigns like ‘Meat-Free Mondays’ have gained traction, the deeper drivers behind this dietary shift remain elusive. “Flexitarians are often seen as one homogenous group of consumers, hence we sought to identify subgroups of flexitarian consumers with different underlying psychological traits or motivations,” said Amanda Lim, a Senior Research Officer at A*STAR’s Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation (SIFBI). Lim worked alongside Florence Sheen and Ciarán Forde, formerly of SIFBI’s Clinical Nutrition Research Centre, to survey 650 Singaporean flexitarians and delve deeper into their attitudes towards reducing meat consumption..... https://bit.ly/4g1Jqee #SIBFI Singapore Institute of Food & Biotechnology Innovation A*STAR - Agency for Science, Technology and Research #Singapore #Research #Flexitarians #AlternateDiet #SoutheastAsia

NUS and A*STAR researchers develop wearable, stretchable sensor for quick, continuous, and non-invasive detection of solid-state skin biomarkers The novel sensor accurately measures markers such as cholesterol and lactate — crucial for the early detection of diseases Detecting diseases early requires the rapid, continuous and convenient monitoring of vital biomarkers. Researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) have developed a novel sensor that enables the continuous, and real-time detection of solid-state epidermal biomarkers (SEB), a new category of health indicators. Jointly led by Assistant Professor Liu Yuxin from the NUS Institute for Health Innovation & Technology as well as N.1 Institute for Health and the Department of Biomedical Engineering under the NUS College of Design and Engineering, and Dr Yang Le, Principal Scientist and Head of the Sensors and Flexible Electronics Department of A*STAR’s Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (A*STAR’s IMRE), the research team’s innovation offers a non-invasive method to monitor health by detecting biomarkers such as cholesterol and lactate— directly on the skin.... https://bit.ly/3T5LUhX National University of Singapore A*STAR - Agency for Science, Technology and Research #Singapore #HealthCare #Research #Wearable #SoutheastAsia

Robot-computer synergy propels a sustainable future The innovative integration of robotics and machine learning accelerates the development of efficient, sustainable hydrogen catalysts. For materials scientists, optimising chemical catalysts is like solving a Rubik’s Cube: each twist and turn represents an adjustment in chemical composition or process parameters, with only a precise combination of elements and conditions yielding the optimal catalyst. “The traditional approach to materials discovery uses ‘Edisonian’ trial-and-error, with one-variable-at-a-time manual experimentation,” explained Yee-Fun Lim, a Principal Scientist at A*STAR’s Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment (ISCE2). This method not only demands significant time and effort but also stifles innovation by its sheer inefficiency... https://bit.ly/4fuFX81 A*STAR - Agency for Science, Technology and Research #Singapore #Research #Robotics #Sustainability #SoutheastAsia

Integrating light-responsive molecules into polymers to advance #biomedical applications - A breakthrough approach Dynamic molecular arrangements shaped by light From its early ceremonial roots in ancient Japan, origami is now serving as inspiration for modern-day applications: collapsible medical implants for supporting blood vessels, compact satellite technology and foldable solar panels all showcase origami’s timeless ingenuity. Now, scientists are taking the art of origami to the molecular level to create dynamic structures. A new wave of smart materials made from light-reactive polymer hydrogels can revolutionise applications where precise control over material behaviour is critical.... https://bit.ly/3We2GO1 Vinh Truong A*STAR - Agency for Science, Technology and Research National University of Singapore Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) QUT (Queensland University of Technology) #Australia LetsTalkCity #Singapore #Research #SwitchableMolecules #SoutheastAsia

Wishing all friends Happy Christmas and a wonderful new year!