I HAD the privilege of attending a lecture by Professor Jeffrey Sachs of Columbia University at Universiti Malaya in early January this year.

His candid critique of US economic and foreign policies was both striking and inspiring.

Remarkably, his criticisms were delivered without hindrance and were even appreciated.

Our nation’s highest leaders, the prime minister and higher education minister, were present to listen to his insights.

Ironically, in Malaysia, the academic freedom of our local scholars is still curtailed by Act 605.

The developments at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and the continued existence of legislation that can be used against critical voices within academia should be taken seriously by the academic community and academic unions nationwide.

We cannot allow academic freedom – a cornerstone of the intellectual tradition – to be so easily stifled.

Academic freedom must be preserved, defended and enshrined in law.

In this context, it is crucial to remember that every Oct 5, Malaysia celebrates Academia Day, an annual reminder to appreciate the contributions and struggles of academics worldwide.

On this significant day, stakeholders such as the government, higher education institutions and academic unions should redouble their efforts to uphold and promote the principle of academic freedom.

Academia Day is not merely a celebration of knowledge but a reminder to ensure that the rights of academics continue to be respected and protected.

As public servants are paid with taxpayers’ money, the views of academics should be publicly accessible to the people.

The public has a right to hear their criticisms, research findings and direct commentaries on policies and decisions that affect the nation.

In today’s post-modern era, social media serves as a platform for both local and international academics to constructively express their views on national policies.

If these voices are silenced, all that remains is content that does not contribute to the nation’s development, such as shallow entertainment or sensational issues of no value.

Academics do not merely engage in idle chatter; they share research findings funded by public grants, using validated research instruments to critique and improve existing systems.

For instance, academics are among the critical voices that are actively voicing concerns about the state of the country’s education system based on the findings of their research, using the CIPP (Context, Input, Process and Product) model of curriculum evaluation.

Academics are specifically trained to think critically and analytically, and they are accountable for whatever they produce as my PhD supervisor once reminded me, “Question everything, even the accepted wisdom.”

If this critical thinking is stifled, it is a waste of public funds that finance the higher education of these scholars.

Returning to Sachs’ lecture, our nation will not be able to produce scholars of his calibre if the mouths and hands of our academics are tied by restrictive laws and regulations.

Therefore, academic freedom should be enshrined in stronger laws, such as amendments to the Universities and University Colleges Act.

Certainly other academics and I welcome the statement by Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, who supports the amendment of Act 605, and we are aware that this amendment effort has gone through important processes as initiated by former education minister Dr Maszlee Malik. Therefore, it should not take long to implement.

This is important so that there are no more circulars or instructions from higher education institutions that attempt to silence legitimate dissent.

If local academics are prevented from voicing their opinions and criticisms for the good of the nation, then there is no point in talking about efforts to educate the people.

Without academic freedom, we will not be able to produce academic figures of the calibre of Sachs, Professor Joseph Stiglitz or Professor Noam Chomsky, who dare to go against the grain and champion the truth.

Freedom of expression for academics is the cornerstone of a nation’s intellectual and moral development.

If we want this country to produce outstanding scholars, we must loosen the bonds of restrictive regulations.

Only with true academic freedom can we ensure that the nation’s intellectual future continues to grow and be competitive on the international stage.

The writer is a senior lecturer at the Department of Building Surveying, Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Malaya. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com

...

Suspect, identified as Atif alias Vicky Babu, had previously gone viral on social media for his videos.

Apple’s shares fell 1.7 per cent on Tuesday, a day after the US tech giant unveiled its new iPhones with AI

A 10-member team will compete in the 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary, from September 10 to 23.

We have received a new delivery from the Australian BMX company Tempered Bikes. In addition to the new "Wrath" & "Ritual" BMX frames we also have various new seats in different designs in stock. Several options of handlebars, the popular Tempered Bikes stems, sprockets and much more is available now!

Affan Salman holding up Pakistani flag while celebrating his victory in the World Youth Scrabble Championship 2024. — Geo Super/File

The Indian High Commission has refused to issue visas to most Pakistani players, preventing the defending champions from participating in the...

The NCAA Division I Council on Thursday approved a rule allowing players with Canadian Hockey League experience to compete at U.S. colleges starting next season, a landmark decision that has the potential of shaking up the NHL's two largest sources of developmental talent.

Donald Trump's first picks for immigration policy jobs spent the last four years angling for this moment.

Ben Shelton beat his doubles partner Arthur Fils at the Swiss Indoors on Saturday and will face another Frenchman, Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, in the final.

U.S. Open finalist Taylor Fritz benefitted from a questionable serving decision by Daniil Medvedev and frustrated his opponent so much that the Russian broke his racket and was docked a point in a 6-4, 6-3 victory for the American in the opening match of the ATP Finals on Sunday.

U.S. Open finalist Taylor Fritz frustrated Daniil Medvedev to the point that the Russian smashed his racket and was docked a point in a 6-4, 6-3 victory for the American in the opening match of the ATP Finals on Sunday.

Daniil Medvedev was able to "block the noise" following a temper tantrum in his previous match and moved back into contention at the ATP Finals with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Alex de Minaur on Tuesday.

Virginia's marquee matchups for U.S. House races in Tuesday's election feature tight contests in a district being vacated by three-term Democratic U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger and a district known to flip between Democratic and Republican control.

The Liberian government is mounting a sustained campaign against corruption to win trust and new international investments, whether they come from the U.S. or China, Liberian President Joseph Boakai said in an interview.

The president of the suspended Russian Olympic Committee said Tuesday he plans to step down after six years in charge.

Temperature is a main driver for most ecological processes, and temperature time series provide key environmental indicators for various applications and research fields. High spatial and temporal resolutions are crucial for detailed analyses in various fields of research. A disadvantage of temperature data obtained by satellites is the occurrence of gaps that must be reconstructed. Here, we present a new method to reconstruct high-resolution land surface temperature (LST) time series at the continental scale gaining 250-m spatial resolution and four daily values per pixel. Our method constitutes a unique new combination of weighted temporal averaging with statistical modeling and spatial interpolation. This newly developed reconstruction method has been applied to greater Europe, resulting in complete daily coverage for eleven years. To our knowledge, this new reconstructed LST time series exceeds the level of detail of comparable reconstructed LST datasets by several orders of magnitude. Studies on emerging diseases, parasite risk assessment and temperature anomalies can now be performed on the continental scale, maintaining high spatial and temporal detail. We illustrate a series of applications in this paper. Our dataset is available online for download as time aggregated derivatives for direct usage in GIS-based applications (Reconstructed MODIS Land Surface Temperature Dataset - http://gis.cri.fmach.it/eurolst/).

Source: Metz M, Rocchini D, Neteler M. (2014) Surface Temperatures at the Continental Scale: Tracking Changes with Remote Sensing at Unprecedented Detail.Remote Sensing 6(5): 3822-3840. doi: 10.3390/rs6053822

Published just recently, a new open access EU BON article discusses the need for additional research efforts beyond standard biodiversity monitoring to reconstruct the impacts of major anthropogenic pressures and to identify meaningful temporal baselines for biodiversity.

The article, published in Scientific Reports, reports on the temporal baselines that could be drawn from biodiversity monitoring schemes in Europe and compares those with the rise of important anthropogenic pressures.

With most biodiversity monitoring schemes initiated late in the 20th century, well after anthropogenic pressures had already reached half of their current magnitude, the team of scientists found that setting temporal baselines from biodiversity monitoring data would underestimate the full range of impacts of major anthropogenic pressures.

The authors stress that these limitations need to be explicitly acknowledged when designing management strategies and policies as they seriously constrain our ability to identify relevant conservation targets aimed at restoring or reversing biodiversity losses.

Find out more in the original research paper:

Mihoub J B, Henle K, Titeux N, Brotons L, Brummitt N A, Schmeller D S (2017) Setting temporal baselines for biodiversity: the limits of available monitoring data for capturing the full impact of anthropogenic pressures. Scientific Reports. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep41591

The Mass. native got snatched up by Snoop Dogg during blind auditions on the hit NBC series.

The post Mary McAvoy might’ve sung at your wedding. She competes Monday on ‘The Voice.’ appeared first on Boston.com.

Do you ever have those moments when God’s Word being alive and active gets super real? As spiritual leaders in our different capacities, we’ve all talked about it and referred to that sweet verse in Hebrews multiple times, but nothing beats those experiences when it becomes alive and active to us personally. Something else I’ve learned through these encounters is that it’s not uncommon for them to be meant for someone else besides you. So I’d love to tell you about one of those moments that happened to me. I’m confident that the message was blatantly meant for me, but maybe it’ll be an encouragement to someone else out there.

There I was, perusing 2 Corinthians 5. I was actually focusing initially on the piece about being a new creation, but in the midst of the passage, a phrase leapt off the page and hit me over the head with a supernatural force.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 says, “For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.”

FOR. THE. LOVE. OF. CHRIST. CONTROLS. US.

Other translations use words like compels, rules, and puts us into action. What does it mean to live a life compelled by the love of Christ? The conviction settled in deep that it should look much different than my life does now. I like to think that overall, I’m a fairly generous, kind, loyal, and patient person. But then I get woken up by the sound of my children fighting, or get stuck behind that annoying driver who clearly has no clue where they’re going, and I realize quickly that there are short limits to that generosity, kindness, loyalty, and patience. Why? Why can’t I seem to get this down? Then it hit me that instead of being compelled or controlled by Christ’s love, I’m allowing myself to be compelled by my own mood and feelings. And let’s face it, when those take over, who knows what might happen?

What if, though, for one day I chose to see everything and everyone through the lens of Christ’s love? What would be different? Well for starters . . . the way that I interact with my 3 sons. Imagine the changes that would take place in my home if I dealt out more gentleness. Please tell me I’m not alone in this struggle. What about forgiveness? We are so quick to attach conditions on our willingness to forgive someone. Yet Jesus forgave with no strings attached. Marriages . . . Someone once set the challenge before my husband and I to approach each day with the mindset of out-serving one another. What if that became the norm in Christian marriages and homes? Then there’s the Church! Some of the hardest people to love walk through the doors of our churches on a weekly basis. Some of them may even be serving within our different worship ministries. What would change within our ministries if we figured out how to love each individual, compelled by Christ himself?

For those of us lucky enough to grow up in the 90’s, you didn’t have to look far to find someone wearing a W.W.J.D. bracelet. What Would Jesus Do? It sounds like such a simple question. But at its core, it holds the power of life and death when it comes to our relationship to those around us. Taking that pause to consider Christ’s perspective changes a lot of things.

Something else to consider . . . living a life compelled and controlled by the love of Jesus offers us a whole new level of freedom. When we encounter the situations or people that normally drive us to those places we don’t like to go, there’s no longer any confusion about how we are to respond. Jesus will always love. He will always forgive. He will always deal in patience. He will always give of himself without complaining. He will always put others first. That seems to make the decision making process a lot easier, doesn’t it? If only that translated to our everyday lives as easily.

So how do we do it? How do we approach our days completely ruled by Christ’s love? I’m inclined to think that the rest of Paul’s thought in 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 helps answer that question. The solution for us is found smack dab in the middle of the gospel. When we remind ourselves regularly of the cross, and the redemptive work that was completed there, adjusting our behavior and choices seems to come a little more naturally. Keeping the cross and Christ’s love ever before us, may we see those around us the same way He did, and may we let that same love dictate our every move. That, my friends, has the power to bring a little Heaven to earth!

Eovaldi gets ready to pitch against the Royals. | Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images Boston's former ace is reportedly on their radar this offseason. by: Michael Kadlick Posted: Nov 12, 2024 / 03:59 PM EST Updated: Nov 12, 2024 / 03:59 PM EST SHARE As the MLB's 2025 offseason begins, the Red Sox have a former ace on their radar. According to WEEI's Rob Bradford , Boston is among "about a dozen teams" who have shown interest in starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi. He declined his 2025 player option on Nov. 4 and is set to hit free agency this winter. While top tier available pitchers remain Red Sox priority, they are one of about a dozen teams who have shown some level of interest in Nathan Eovaldi — Rob

In this video, W&C contributor Trent Cotney discusses ways to reach potential and existing customers.

Toronto — A recent decision by Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board to formally recognize Parkinson’s disease as an occupational disorder linked to McIntyre Powder exposure guarantees provincial compensation benefits to affected workers and their families, Minister of Labor Monte McNaughton has announced.

In this special episode of If Walls Could Talk, Walls & Ceilings Associate Editor Michael Levitt speaks with Phampena Inc.’s Taide Pham, Hien “H” Pham and Trinidy Pham. The company is on the cover of W&C’s September issue and has grown into an industry leader since being founded in 2010.

On April 23, the Federal Trade Commission voted 3-2 to issue a new rule prohibiting the use of non-compete agreements for most U.S. workers. It is estimated that approximately 30 million workers are currently bound by such agreements, which prevent them from changing employers in their industry.

Are you ready to step into a retail space where style meets acoustic excellence? Welcome to the remarkable transformation of Dardano’s shoe store in Broomfield, Colorado, where Altispace laminate beams, illuminated beams and wooden ceiling clouds have mitigated sound reverberation issues and revolutionized the shopping experience.

Austin, TX – Shorter words and sentences, clearer headings, and less jargon are among the changes the Texas Department of Insurance Division of Workers’ Compensation has made to its form letters for injured employees.

A worker claiming unsafe working conditions sought unemployment benefits after quitting is role as a technician with a fire services company.   

Under a new proposed rule, the FTC would ban employers from saddling workers with non-compete agreements that prohibit them from working at competitors. 

Salem, OR — Students from Silverton and Hermiston high schools took first-place prizes in this year’s Oregon OSHA media contest to promote young worker safety and health awareness.

Complementary tempering blankets are now available for the Haws Model 7603 15-
gallon, air-pressurized, keg-style eyewash.

These SEO-friendly content writing tips can help security industry professionals enhance their online visibility, attract more visitors and outperform their competition.

The FTC's new rule has triggered a lawsuit from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, raising concerns about legal costs and economic impact on businesses.

Salem, OR — Students from Portland’s Parkrose High School and West Linn High took the top prizes in this year’s Oregon OSHA media contest to promote young worker safety and health awareness.

In the security systems integration business, fewer than 20 firms operate globally or nationally. The majority of integrators are regional and local businesses, which depend on construction and spending

Birmingham, AL – Can your office’s thermostat setting affect how much you eat at work? Recent research from the University of Alabama, Birmingham, indicates “yes.”

Chicago — Workers can get quite heated when it comes to office temperatures. In a recent Harris Poll survey of 1,012 full-time U.S. adult employees, conducted between April 4 and May 1, 46 percent of respondents said their office is either too hot or too cold.

The Greenlee Gator Insulated Series of cutters and crimpers can help protect workers from up to 1,000 volts.

Stockholm – Working in the cold increases the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, according to researchers at the Karolinska Institute.

“Workers – both indoors and outdoors – in services, transportation, agriculture, construction and other industries may be exposed to environmental cold stress that can lead to thermal discomfort, and in some cases even severe injuries, illnesses or death,” NIOSH warns.

The Almond Board of California (ABC) announced the kickoff of its national Tastemaker Trials student competition, which invites U.S. college and university students to create delicious almond-based snack products that excite the tastebuds of younger generations and set a new standard for "intentional indulgence" in snacks.

“Cultivating the next generation of culinary innovators is both a privilege and a passion. Working on the competition with the students at IIT, sponsored by the Washington Red Raspberry Commission, has been a rewarding journey,” said Zal Taleyarkhan, Corporate Research Chef, Charlie Baggs Culinary Innovations.

Soupergirl—the plant-based soup and gazpacho company based in Washington, DC—was one of five winning contestants of Kroger’s new "Go Fresh & Local Supplier Accelerator," a national competition that ended with a Sharktank-like business presentation in front of a panel of judges in Cincinnati.

The competition invited university students across the United States to develop unique snack products highlighting the nutritional and functional benefits of eggs, aligning with today’s consumer preferences for new and exciting snack options. 

Students Anandu Chandra Khanashyam, Abrielle Schnurr, Nghi Huynh and Suchismita Roy are studying food science and earned the first-place prize of $10,000. 

The latest product innovation showcases the just-baked texture, organic ingredients, and whole grain nutrition that consumers know paired with plant-based protein for that extra boost.

Three companies are using interesting methods to keep refrigerated and frozen foods at just the right temperature.

Temperature is that one measurement that’s dictated by governmental regulations to prove that you have a kill step in your process. Beyond that, there are rules for keeping fresh food under a certain temperature to keep it safe both in transit and storage, and—just as important—maintain its quality so you don’t have to throw it out prematurely.