Issues Streaming Now
Smart Grid Blockchains
For large research universities with large green agendas, blockchain technology offers changing the approach of “integration in the market” into “becoming the market” by enabling peer-to-peer transactions. We may want to inject this possibility into recently proposed amendments to the US Public Utility Regulatory Act which contemplates a new standard for renewable energy.
Genomics Informatics
ISO/TC 215 creates standards for information and communications technology that promote interoperability among between independent systems in the healthcare sectors; typically on the order of 25 percent of any national economy. A new subcommittee has been formed, led by the Korean Association of Standards and Technology, to facilitate capture, interchange and use of health-related data, information, and knowledge to support and enable all aspects of the health system; including genomics.
Federal Participation in Consensus Standards
The degree to which leading practice can and should be discovered and promoted by private-public partnerships is a question upon which which good minds will disagree. At a speech given at the University of Michigan in 2014, S. Joe Bhatia, CEO of the American National Standards Institute, expands upon this point.
Climate Accounting Standard
The Leonardo Academy has proposed a new standard that will measure--in dollars-- how human activities and emissions have altered the earth's energy balance, leading to the trapping of excess energy in the atmosphere, which in turn is disrupting the climate and causing global temperatures to rise. This is a climate change standard.
Electric Vehicle Energy Management
The penetration of electric vehicles are driving demand to develop technology to support the efficient and safe charging of the vehicles with less impact on the current electrical distribution infrastructure during peak charging times. The CSA Group has announced a new standardization project to meet this demand.
Lightning Protection Systems
Extreme summer weather in the Central US inspires a revisit of lightning protection standards. NFPA 780 provides lightning protection system installation requirements to safeguard people and property from hazards associated with lightning exposure. However, this standard does not establish evacuation criteria -- a consideration for outdoor events in educational settings. [Public input for the 2023 Edition is due June 30, 2020]
Readings / Higher Education Act of 1965
Another in a series of posts for two-click access to original text of foundational legislation. Education policy sets the broad contours of social, political and economic discourse in the United States. We are hard upon the annual lament about the cost of education and reflection upon whether the academy places a higher priority on the employment of the Old over the education of the Young.
Coffee
Earlier this year ANSI posted a US leadership opportunity regarding the value chain of a product familiar -- and essential -- to campus life. We see this as an outstanding opportunity for faculty and students to gain insight into the geo-politics of food supply generally and the subtleties of coffee markets specifically. Fifty-five other nations are participating in the development of this standard. @ICONTEC @ANSIdotorg @isostandards
Campus Fountains
From time to time we break from our primary interest in lowering the cost of our "cities-within-cities" to enjoy the work of our colleagues responsible for seasonal ambience. We have a dedicated post that celebrates the accomplishments of our gardeners and horticultural staff. Today we dedicate a post to fountains--usually an emotional center of campus--and a place for reflection for which there is no price.