Latest news with #DistinguishedAlumniAward
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Gov. Abbott names new leaders to Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission
CROCKETT, Texas (KETK) — Governor Greg Abbott has appointed John A. McCall Jr., O.D. to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission and Paul Foster as its chairman. Owner of Crockett Eye Clinic, McCall is the senior vice president and a founder of Vision Source, co-founder and co-owner of Logansport Surgical Center, and founder and owner of Stealth Vision Optics and Rifles. McCall is also the former city councilman and mayor of Crockett. McCall has also been a private pilot for 25 years and has over 3800 hours flying. McCall has won several awards, including Texas Optometrist of the Year, Texas Young Optometrist of the Year and the Texas Distinguished Service Award. Paul L. Foster of El Paso is not only the Wildlife Commission's newest chairman but also on the board of trustees of the Baylor College of Medicine. Foster has served as a commissioner for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission since 2021 and is a former director of the National Petroleum Refiners Association and the Western Petroleum Marketers Association. Foster has received the Baylor University Distinguished Alumni Award and was inducted into the 2013 Class of the Texas Business Hall of Fame. Each is expected to start on a term that is set to expire February 1, 2031. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
India Gazette
26-05-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
Centre grants second one-year service extension to DRDO chief Dr Samir V Kamat
New Delhi [India], May 26 (ANI): In a significant decision, the centre has granted Dr Samir V Kamat, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) chief, a one-year extension to his service until May 31, 2026. This is his second service extension. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet approved the extension to the service of Dr Samir V Kamat, who is also the Secretary of the Department of Defence Research and Development (DDR&D). Kamat was appointed to the top post on August 25, 2022. An alumnus of IIT Kharagpur and The Ohio State University, USA, he joined DRDO in 1989 and previously served as Director General (Naval Systems and Materials). A distinguished scientist, Dr Kamat is a Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE) and the Institution of Engineers India (IEI). He is a recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award from IIT Kharagpur, the Metallurgist of the Year Award from the Ministry of Steel, and DRDO's Scientist of the Year Award. He has authored over 180 papers in international peer-reviewed journals. Earlier on May 22, DRDO Chairman Dr Samir V Kamat visited Solar Industries in Nagpur on Thursday. Solar Industries is a leading indigenous defence manufacturing company that contributes to India's self-reliance on defence production. During his visit, Dr Kamat reviewed the manufacturing processes of various defence products being developed by Solar Industries. In an exclusive interaction with ANI, Dr Kamat emphasised the growing role of private industry in strengthening India's defence capabilities. 'The private sector is playing a crucial role in the defence sector. To achieve the goals of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' and to enhance our combat strength, it is essential to promote indigenous defence manufacturing,' Kamat said. Referring to the recent conflict with Pakistan, Dr Kamat expressed satisfaction over the performance of DRDO-developed weapons systems, which were reportedly deployed during the operations. (ANI)
India Today
26-05-2025
- Business
- India Today
DRDO chief Dr Samir Kamat's tenure extended again by 1 year
The tenure of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) chairman, Dr Samir V Kamat, has been extended by another year, a government order said on Monday. Dr Kamat's tenure has been extended till May 31, is the second extension for Dr Kamat after he earlier got a one-year extension as the chief of the indigenous defence manufacturer till May 31, Appointments Committee of the Cabinet on Monday approved the extension in service of Dr Samir V Kamat, Secretary, Department of Defence Research and Development (DDR&D) and Chairman, Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) for a further period of one year from June 1, 2025 till May 31, 2026, or until further orders or whichever is earlier, the order said. He was first appointed to the highest post in the DRDO in August 2022 and was slated to retire on May 31, incumbent DRDO chief is seen as a reformer in his organisation and would be in charge of carrying out the reforms planned by the government to make the organisation more result-oriented and focusing on core science and technology Kamat completed his (Hons) in Metallurgical Engineering from IIT-Kharagpur in 1985 and PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from The Ohio State University, USA in 1988 and joined DRDO in Kamat is credited with providing leadership and direction to several critical material programmes in the DRDO, such as the development of high-strength steels for naval ship hulls, development of high temperature titanium alloys and nickel-based, superalloy-based components for aero engines, development of tungsten heavy alloys for kinetic energy penetrators, development of fused silica radomes for missile seekers, development of armour solutions for personnel as well as combat vehicles and stealth materials for airborne and naval have found use in various systems being developed by DRDO addition, Dr Samir V Kamat has spearheaded the development of naval systems such as advanced light-weight torpedo, anti-torpedo decoy systems, autonomous underwater vehicles, advanced hull-mounted and towed array sonars for ships and fuel cells based air-independent propulsion systems for Kamat is a Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering (INAE) and the Institution of Engineers India (IEI).He is a recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award from IIT-Kharagpur, Metallurgist of the Year Award from the Ministry of Steel and Scientist of the Year Award from Samir V Kamat has published more than 180 papers in international peer-reviewed Watch
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
#47: Microplastics- The unwanted passenger in our bodies—and what to do about it
Dr. Nickhil Jakatdar has been working at the cutting edge of preventive health and longevity over the last 10 years with the 3 D's – data, doctors, and dietitians – to go from being diagnosed with heart disease at the age of 41, to now having all his blood markers and body measurements in the green and his epigenetic biological age at 41 while his chronological age is 51. With a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from UC Berkeley and more than 60 patents to his name, Dr. Jakatdar has always believed in a scientific, data driven and practical approach to solving problems. He has founded or run 5 startups in the areas of semiconductors, consumer mobile video and molecular diagnostics and serves on the Advisory Boards of the South Asian Heart Center in California, the Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society (CITRIS), has been a TEDx speaker and has been the youngest recipient of the esteemed UC Berkeley Distinguished Alumni Award. LESS ... MORE No one knowingly has plastic as part of their meals, but the reality is: we're likely consuming it every day. Not because we're careless, but because modern life is saturated with it—from our food packaging to the clothes we wear, from bottled water to the air in our homes. According to some estimates, the average person ingests between 39,000 and 52,000 plastic particles annually. That's not clickbait—it's from systematic analyses of real food and water samples: seafood, vegetables, protein powders, even salt. And yes, plastic has been found in human lungs, blood, breast milk, placenta, and brain tissue. But the real question is: what does this mean for our long-term health? What are microplastics? Microplastics are plastic fragments less than 5 mm long, often the result of larger items breaking down over time. Nanoplastics are even smaller—less than 1 micrometer—small enough to potentially pass through cell membranes. These particles come from both obvious and hidden sources: Obvious: bottles, wrappers, takeout containers, synthetic fabrics. Hidden: tea bags, detergent pods, skin creams, household dust, tire particles, and synthetic clothing. How do microplastics enter our bodies? The primary route is ingestion—from drinking water, processed foods, and seafood. But exposure also occurs via: Inhalation of household dust, vehicle tire particles, and airborne fibers. Skin contact, possibly, through products like sunscreen and lotion (this is speculative). Once inside, these particles don't just pass through. Studies have found them embedded in lungs, liver, arteries, testes, placenta, and brain tissue. They're not inert either—they interact with our biology. What is the impact of these microplastics on our bodies? We're early in the research curve, but here's what's emerging: Microplastics may trigger inflammation and oxidative stress, key drivers of aging and chronic disease. Chemical additives in plastics—like BPA and phthalates—are well-known endocrine disruptors, altering hormone signaling. In the gut, they may damage the lining and alter the microbiome, affecting immunity and metabolism. A few human studies have added concern: Plastic particles have been found in artery plaque, and those individuals with higher levels of these particles were 4.5 times more likely to experience heart attacks or strokes. Workers in plastic factories show higher rates of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and premature death. Is this definitive proof? No. But early signs that these microplastics may be affecting our bodies make it worth addressing—especially given how easy it is to reduce exposure. What can you do to reduce exposure? You can't eliminate microplastics completely. But like improving your VO₂ max or reducing insulin resistance, small, consistent steps can shift the trajectory. Here's what I am doing to reduce my plastic load in practical ways: 1. Stop Heating Food in Plastic—Always Plastic breaks down faster with heat. Microwaving or boiling food in plastic causes nanoplastics to leach into your food—even in 'microwave-safe' containers. This is what I do: Use glass or ceramic dishes for heating, whether it is leftovers from a restaurant meal that was packed in a plastic container, frozen meals and 'boil-in-bag' rice or vegetables. Avoid pouring hot liquids into plastic bottles, shakers, or cups. Avoid drinking water from plastic bottles as much as possible because I have no idea when those bottles were left in the sun or in heated areas in the supply-chain to bring it to me. Instead, I carry my water in those 1 liter stainless-steel bottles. 2. Filter your water—don't just trust the tap (or the bottle) One study found bottled water may contain 100x more nanoplastics than tap. At home, I have made the following changes around drinking water: I use an activated carbon filter at home because it improves taste, removes chlorine and pesticides, retains healthy minerals, and doesn't waste water—unlike Reverse Osmosis, which strips everything and produces wastewater (waste 2-3 liters of water for every 1 liter of filtered water). 3. Prioritize minimally processed, whole foods Highly processed foods tend to have higher microplastic content due to packaging, handling, and contact with plastic processing surfaces. Here is what we do at our home instead: Buy unpackaged produce when possible. Wash and peel root vegetables thoroughly. Opt for fresh cuts of meat or paneer from the store—avoid items that are breaded, pre-marinated, or vacuum-sealed with additives or preservatives. While I personally don't eat much seafood, I recommend buying seafood only from sources that offer wild-caught options, as farmed fish tend to contain higher levels of microplastics and other contaminants. 4. Upgrade your kitchen tools Chopping vegetables on plastic boards or stirring with plastic utensils can release fragments into your food—especially when heated. A few years ago my wife made the following change Moved to hardwood cutting boards. Switched to stainless steel, copper, ceramic, and wrought iron pots, pans, and utensils. 5. Avoid detergent pods and plastic-coated cleaners Pods are made with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), which doesn't always fully degrade and contributes to environmental plastic load. So we switched to: Liquid or powder detergent in paper-based boxes. Concentrates or refillable containers that skip single-use packaging. However, there is still plastic packaging involved and we haven't found a great solution to this as yet. Ideas welcome! 6. Watch out for plastics in tea, supplements, and skincare Plastics show up in places you'd never expect; this is what surprised me the most because I wouldn't have imagined the following as sources of microplastics—from tea bags sealed with plastic to coatings on capsules and creams. Here are a few changes we made: On those rare occasions I have green tea, I use loose-leaf tea in a stainless-steel infuser. Choose supplements in softgel or powder form with clean ingredient labels. Since the supplement industry isn't regulated, this is one of the trickier ones to manage. I try to find supplements that follow good manufacturing practices (GMP) standards. However, this usually makes those supplements more expensive. Use mineral-based sunscreens (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) and plastic-free moisturizers. Final thought: My goal in writing about this topic of reducing microplastic exposure isn't to add to your list of things to worry about, but rather to increase awareness. If you can make even a few of the changes above that are practical and easy for you to put into action, you will reduce your risks that much more. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Madisonville Community College honors one with distinguished award
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) – Madisonville Community College (MCC) has recognized someone as the 2025 recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award. MCC says Tanya Bowman received her award during the college's Spring Commencement Ceremony on May 9. A Hopkins County native, Bowman began her journey of service by volunteering at the Door of Hope Pregnancy Care Center, where she advanced to leadership roles and helped secure a $1 million federal grant. She eventually established the Plans 4U Youth Foundation in 2009, an organization she continues to lead to this day. Disaster Recovery Centers in KY to remain open on Memorial Day MCC says after earning her degree in criminal justice, Bowman joined the Hopkins County Circuit Clerk's Office in 2011. In 2018, she made history by becoming the first African American elected to a countywide office in Hopkins County and the first in Kentucky elected as a Circuit Court Clerk. Her achievements have been recognized nationwide, earning honors such as the Whitney M. Young Community Improvement Award, the Harriet Tubman Icon Award, and the Madisonville Lions Club's 2023 Woman of the Year. Colorado shelters take in dogs from storm-damaged Kentucky shelter 'Tanya represents the best of MCC — grit, focus and a desire to be of service to others. We are honored to recognize her for her accomplishments and thank her for her continued support of the college,' said Dr. Cindy Kelley, President of Madisonville Community College. Officials say beyond her professional work, Bowman has served the community as a Youth Pastor, jail chaplain and speaker at educational and civic events across Kentucky. She currently serves in leadership roles on multiple boards and committees. Bowman is the mother of six children, several godchildren and a grandmother to seven. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
