News Highlights
iCons' Jared Starr shares insights with The Guardian on Elon Musk's environmental journey
Story from The Guardian: Elon Musk was once an environmental hero: is he still a rare green billionaire?
Elon Musk was once lauded as a sort of green Tony Stark – the genius inventor who leads a double life as superhero Iron Man – for single-handedly tackling the climate crisis one Tesla at a time, helping to forge a clean energy future and pushing for new taxes to drive down fossil fuel use.
iCons Students Present at Department of Energy Conference in Washington, D.C.
Story from UMass News: A team of students from the UMass iCons Program presented “Improving Access to Electrical Power for Climate Resilience,” a project conducted in collaboration with the Department of Energy’s Office of Economic Impact and Diversity, at the Justice Week 2023 conference in Washington, D.C., in early November.
UMass iCons’ Idea Slam Tackles the Challenge of Unstainable Chocolate Production
On October 25, 2023, current and aspiring students in the Integrated Concentration in STEM (iCons) Program teamed-up to present innovative solutions addressing the issue of unsustainable chocolate production in Colombia during the annual iCons “Idea Slam.” This initiative was led by Dr. Marianny Yajaira Combariza ’03G and Dr. Cristian Blanco-Tirado ’03G, esteemed professors at Universidad Industrial de Santander in Bucaramanga, Colombia, who are also UMass Amherst Chemistry graduate alumni.
Sasha Adkins Named 2023-2024 iCons Teaching Fellow
Story from UMass News: The UMass Amherst iCons Program has announced that Sasha Adkins, senior lecturer in environmental health sciences, has been named the 2023-24 iCons Teaching Fellow. The award provides funding for faculty to join the iCons teaching team while receiving professional development funds. Selected faculty learn to teach student-driven courses with inclusive values while bringing their own expertise and unique experiences to the iCons Program.
Edward Marram and Karen Carpenter Gift to Support New Academic Track on Food-Water-Climate
UMass Amherst has announced a donation from Edward Marram ’59, ’61G and Karen Carpenter to support the launch of a Food-Water-Climate track within the UMass Amherst Integrated Concentration in STEM (iCons) Program. This gift will enhance the program’s ability to address critical challenges in the areas of food security, water resource management and climate change.
U.S. Census Bureau Recruits UMass iCons Program Students to Work on Equitable Access to Electrical Power
Story from UMass News: Students from UMass Amherst’s Integrated Concentration in STEM (iCons) Program were recently recruited by the U.S. Census Bureau’s The Opportunity Project (TOP) for a 10-week sprint challenge called “Improving Access to Electrical Power for Climate Resilience,” which is helping the Department of Energy (DOE) to more equitably address lapses in the electrical grid during emergency situations.
Longtime iCons Instructor Jared Starr Leads Study Linking America's Wealthiest to 40% of Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Story from UMass News: A new study, led by the University of Massachusetts Amherst, reveals that the wealthiest Americans, those whose income places them in the top 10% of earners, are responsible for 40% of the nation’s total greenhouse gas emissions. The study, published in PLOS Climate, is the first to link income, especially income derived from financial investments, to the emissions used in generating that income. The authors suggest that policymakers adopt taxes focused on shareholders and the carbon intensity of investment incomes in order to equitably meet the goal of keeping the global temperature to 1.5 C of warming.
UMass iCons Program Celebrates Success in Promoting Women and Diversity in STEM at its 10th Graduation Ceremony
The UMass Amherst Integrated Concentration in STEM (iCons) program proudly concluded its 10th Annual Senior Exposition, showcasing its remarkable success in promoting women in STEM and fostering their success as innovators. The event, held on May 18, 2023, marked another milestone in the program's dedication to empowering underrepresented voices in science, technology, engineering, and math.
Western Mass Economic Development Council Joins UMass iCons' Industry Consortium to Enhance Local Economy Through Internships
Story from UMass News: The Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council (EDC) and the UMass Amherst iCons Program, under the umbrella of the iCons Industry Consortium, are joining forces to provide UMass iCons students with exceptional internship and career opportunities in western Massachusetts. This partnership highlights the collective strength of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the iCons Program, and the EDC, demonstrating their commitment to fostering talent and economic growth in the region.
Recent iCons Graduate – Audrey Gabriel – Receives 21st Century Leader Award
We are proud to announce that Audrey Gabriel '23, a recent iCons graduate who double-majored in Microbiology and Public Health Sciences, has been selected as a recipient of the UMass Amherst 21st Century Leader Award. This prestigious award recognizes graduating seniors at UMass Amherst who have demonstrated exceptional leadership skills, academic excellence, and a commitment to making a positive impact on their communities.
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