Science Logic
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Researchers discover how cells can survive in high salt concentrations

Joan S. Reed

IMAGE

IMAGE: Image of a cell “ruptured ” by a fire-polished micropipette
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Credit: UPF – IRB Barcelona

Cells have to constantly adapt to their surroundings in order to survive. A sudden increase in the environmental levels of an osmolyte, such as salt, causes cells to lose water and shrink. In a matter of seconds, they activate a mechanism that allows them to recover their initial water volume and avoid dying.

Finding out which genes are involved in surviving osmotic stress was the subject of a study led by the laboratories of Dr. Posas and Dr. de Nadal at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona) and Dr. Valverde at Pompeu Fabra University (UPF), in collaboration with a group led by Dr. Moffat from the University of Toronto (Canada). wide-genome genetic screening, the scientists discovered the central role of a gene known as LRRC8A in cellular ability to

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Smart Education
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Computer Science freshman awarded prestigious DoD SMART Scholarship

Joan S. Reed

Jacob Roberts, a freshman in Louisiana Tech University’s Computer Science program, has been selected for a prestigious U.S. Department of Defense Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation Scholarship (DoD SMART Scholarship).

Jacob RobertsThe DoD SMART Scholarship provides academically successful students with full tuition for up to five years, summer internship opportunities, a stipend, and full-time employment with the Department of Defense after graduation. This unique opportunity offers students hands-on experience at one of more than 200 of the nation’s most innovative laboratories across the Department of Defense. In addition, during summer internships, SMART Scholars work directly with experienced mentors on defense-related projects, gaining valuable technical skills.

“I am so honored to be given this opportunity,” he said, “and I can’t wait to see what possibilities arise in the future during my time at Louisiana Tech and during my SMART internships.”

By the time he begins his first internship in summer 2022,

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Education Games
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Tallmadge esports club to start in the fall

Joan S. Reed

In April, Tallmadge High School sophomore Sam Ruby jokingly suggested to his physical education teacher Collin Epstein that they should have an esports league. 

About a month later, the new club received unanimous approval from the board of education and could start competing as early as this fall. Nearly 90 high school students have already expressed interest in joining the club, and there are talks of extending the club to eighth graders in the STEM program.

“I’m really excited,” Ruby said. “I’m really interested in the tournaments and competition and also the community we’ll build. I’ll get to introduce people to different games, and possibly get introduced to different games myself and hopefully making lots of friends.” 

Esports, or electronic sports, is competitive, organized video gaming that has been increasing in popularity locally and across the country. Nearby, Stow-Munroe Falls, Akron Public Schools, Barberton and Medina already have clubs, and

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Education Management
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Waste Management to offer no-cost education to employees’ dependents

Joan S. Reed

Dive Brief:

  • On April 20, Waste Management launched Your Tomorrow, an education and upskilling benefits program in partnership with Guild Education. The program offers Waste Management’s nearly 36,000 U.S. employees access to more than 170 fully-funded programs, including undergraduate and graduate degrees, short-term technology and business certificate programs and high school completion. 
  • On Jan. 1, 2022, the program will expand to include employees’ nearly 34,000 benefits-eligible dependents, including children and spouses. 
  • Waste Management says it is the first company to expand education benefits to employees’ dependents. After hearing from employees that college education for their children was chief among their financial burdens, “I just had this idea,” Tamla Oates-Forney, senior vice president and chief people officer for Waste Management, told HR Dive. “It didn’t take long for us as a company to realize that it would be a key differentiator for us.”

Dive Insight:

Education as a benefit has gained

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