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Scotsman
12 hours ago
- Business
- Scotsman
Inside the battle for North Sea control: How oil giants like BP lobbied over emission restrictions
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The North Sea oil regulator weakened environmental requirements designed to control greenhouse gas emissions after being lobbied by oil and gas companies including energy giant BP, a new investigation has revealed. The findings have heightened concerns over the level of influence large oil firms have over independent UK agencies charged with managing the sector. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A general view of the BP ETAP (Eastern Trough Area Project) oil platform in the North Sea, around 100 miles east of Aberdeen. Picture: Andy Buchanan -| Getty Images Documents obtained by The Scotsman through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request, in partnership with the investigative organisation Point Source, show BP pushed back against a wide range of proposed requirements that had been drafted by the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) as part of their Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) Plan. These included requirements to reduce the 'emissions intensity' of offshore oil platforms, as well as requirements to 'secure substantial and consistent total emissions reductions'. The scope of the North Sea consultation The NSTA received 32 responses from respondents that included industry bodies, relevant persons, energy transition companies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Outside of BP, the list of respondents also included Shell, Ithaca Energy - the company pushing to extra oil from the Rosebank field, west of Shetland - and Harbour Energy, which last month announced it was cutting a further 250 jobs in Aberdeen. The two-month consultation closed on November 30, 2023. People protest against the Rosebank offshore development off Shetland (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell) | Getty Images The Scotsman was denied a request to access unredacted consultation responses from other companies outside of BP involved in the consultation, with confidentiality exemptions cited. BP responses - and how the regulator adapted the oil plan In the wake of BP's communications with the NSTA, a requirement to reduce the emissions intensity was removed from the strategy document, along with a series other concessions that included relaxing requirements for the electrification of offshore platforms. Pushing back on an NSTA drive to shut down low-production fields that have high emissions intensity that was outlined in a draft plan, BP said the NSTA needed to take into consideration wider implications of shutting down these assets such as 'investor confidence' and 'risk of company defaults'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad After changes were made to the OGA plan, Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) said in its newsletter for members the consultation had led to the NSTA "softening" the language within the document. The trade association body said: "The plan originated from the position that the offshore industries own, and will continue to own, the agenda". Mark Wilson, OEUK's HSE and operations director, added: "Regulatory intervention should only be available as a backstop if required." Lang Banks, the director of the environmental group WWF Scotland, said: 'The influence that oil companies have over the supposedly independent North Sea Transition Authority means that instead of helping to support a planned and fair transition away from fossil fuels it prioritises watering down requirements that would reduce polluting emissions. This delays action on climate change, and stalls progress on green job opportunities. 'As we head towards the Holyrood elections next year, we need all political parties to commit to ensuring Scotland and the wider UK reaps the multiple benefits that will come from a properly planned and fair transition to clean energy.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Labour candidate Davy Russell wins the by-election and celebrates alongside party leader Anas Sarwar and his deputy Jackie Baillie. | Lisa Ferguson Consultation documents obtained by The Scotsman under FOI legislation show BP called for deadlines to be abolished for requirements to electrify oil platforms, a move that was intended to reduce the reliance on burning oil and gas to provide power for platforms. Following the consultation, the NSTA scrapped its proposed target of making all platforms 'fully electrified' by January 1, 2030 and replaced it with a requirement for platforms to be either fully electrified or 'run on alternative low carbon power with near equivalent emission reductions' by the same date. Ahead of the publication of the final OGA Plan, BP also criticised a proposed requirement that would force oil companies to carry out an assessment of 'potential emissions savings' that was based on 'the societal cost of emissions'. The oil and gas company said that including an assessment of this kind was a departure from 'traditional practice' and could cause market distortion. After receiving submissions, the NSTA removed the phrase 'based on the societal cost of emissions' from the finished version of the plan, which was published in March last year. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The consultation documents also reveal BP pushed back against a proposal that would require oil companies to execute emissions reduction initiatives aimed at reducing the 'emissions intensity' of an asset over a reasonable time scale and a requirement to deliver 'secure substantial and consistent total emissions reductions'. BP called these requirements 'impractical'. The NSTA changed the wording for both parts of the OGA Plan following the consultation, making the requirements less onerous for oil and gas companies. BP lowered its outlook for gas production in the first quarter of 2025. Picture: Yui Mok/PA Wire The NSTA replaced the phrase 'emissions intensity' with 'emissions' in the first paragraph, and said companies needed to 'secure substantial and emission reductions', removing the requirement for consistent improvements in the second paragraph. BP's position A BP spokesperson said: 'BP, similar to many organisations, engages appropriately with policymakers, industry groups and non-governmental organisations to offer feedback, expertise and insights into the policy-making process. This includes responses to public consultations. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Our aim is to inform the development of balanced and practical policy and regulation that promotes shared objectives across the industry.' The company's view on flaring The consultation documents also show BP criticised proposals that would require oil companies to put in place plans to deliver 'continuous improvements in flaring and venting reductions' as well as a proposed requirement that 'all assets must deliver zero routine flaring and venting by 2030'. Flaring is the practice of burning off methane that is produced alongside oil and venting is when methane is released into the atmosphere without being burned. In 2023, oil and gas companies operating in the North Sea flared and vented enough gas to heat more than 700,000 homes, representing a lost market value of £250 million, according to the NSTA's 2024 emissions monitoring report. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad BP pushed back against the proposed requirements for 'continuous improvements' in flaring and venting saying this was not 'technically feasible', according to communications obtained by The Scotsman. The oil company also stated dissatisfaction with plans to require oil companies to reduce gas leaks, also known as 'fugitive emissions', on a yearly basis. BP said: 'Due to the nature of leaks and seeps, continuous reduction is unachievable as they are by their nature ad hoc.' Louis-Maxence Delaporte, an energy sector analyst at the campaign group Reclaim Finance, said: "This investigation puts the spotlight once again on BP's weak climate strategy, which relies even more heavily on oil and gas than previously. "BP has severely reduced its planned investment in so-called 'low carbon' activities, it has increased its 2030 oil and gas production trajectory and abandoned its critical target for reducing scope 3 emissions. Far from being in transition, BP is building a fossil future.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Other company submissions The UK-based oil and gas company Serica was one of the other companies that responded to the consultation and pushed back against some aspects of the draft OGA Plan. The company stated that requiring yearly improvements in emissions 'may not be a useful target', adding the 'overall direction should be lowering emissions'. Serica said the proposed requirement for 'continuous improvement' to flaring and venting was 'not realistic' due to 'unforeseen disruptions to production and the time it takes to implement material flare reduction projects'. The company also called for the NSTA to make the 'intent and mechanics' clearer for its proposed methodology to determine the that date oil and gas assets should be shut down. Serica was contacted for comment by The Scotsman. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The OGA Plan was published ahead of the Court of Session in Edinburgh ruling earlier this year that permissions granted to the Rosebank oil field and the Jackdaw gas field under the previous Conservative government were unlawful and the fossil fuel giants behind the plans, Shell, Equinor and Ithaca, should have to reapply for permission. Conflicts of interest? However, significant concerns remain about the influence that large oil companies have over regulators like the NSTA, partly due to financial conflicts of interest. According to the NSTA's most recent financial results, which were published in July last year, the regulator's board members and their family members held shares in companies linked to the energy sector worth £351,258, including shares in BP. The family of the NSTA chairman Tim Eggar, who stood down in September last year, held 4,099 BP shares worth £20,331, as well as 1,875 shares in Shell worth £49,219. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Iain Lanaghan, another NSTA director held 1,017 BP shares worth £5,044 as well as 358 shares in Shell that are worth £9,398. The NSTA said that its board did not consider these holdings sufficient to 'impair their independent judgement in board discussions' An NSTA spokesperson said: 'The OGA Plan is a robust set of requirements, which demands that industry takes immediate action to reduce production emissions on the path to net zero by 2050. 'It was finalised following extensive public consultation, including responses from several operators and, as with any thorough consultation, all responses were considered.'
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Labour's tax raid to trap 1.5bn barrels of oil and gas under North Sea
Labour's windfall tax on oil and gas producers will leave 1.5bn barrels of oil and gas stuck in abandoned North Sea oil wells, according to new analysis of the levy's impacts. The predicted output between now and 2050 has fallen 40pc from 3.6bn barrels of oil equivalent to just 2.1bn barrels, according to a report from investment bank Stifel. The findings are based on data supplied by the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA), the Government's oil and gas regulator. The slump in expected output comes after a surge in the number of companies abandoning productive wells, following Rachel Reeves's decision to extend the tax on oil and gas profits to 78pc. Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary, has also banned new drilling. Christopher Wheaton, a Stifel analyst, warned that the tax take from oil and gas was also set to plummet, partly because of declining production volumes but also because the price of oil has fallen so far that there is no longer a windfall to tax. The report said: 'The UK North Sea industry is being destroyed by taxes that are too high, taxes which threaten energy security, jobs, investment and economic growth. 'The impact of lower investment and production is already being felt through job losses, lower tax receipts and more energy imports. 'The Office for Budget Responsibility's current forecast for North Sea tax receipts to 2030 is £10bn too high due to declining production and lower energy prices.' The forecast represents a potential headache for Ms Reeves, the Chancellor, who has left herself only a narrow margin to meet her fiscal rules and is already borrowing more than forecast. The UK has about 280 oil and gas fields that last year produced 29bn cubic metres of gas and 28m tonnes of oil. These amounts were lower than a decade ago when the UK produced 38bn cubic meters of gas and 38m tonnes of oil. The reduction has largely been driven by natural decline but experts have warned that recent tax raids on the sector have accelerated the North Sea basin's demise. The NSTA's 2023 production forecasts said that the UK would produce oil and gas equivalent to 46m tonnes of oil in 2028. But its latest forecasts, just issued, downgrade that to 40m tonnes, falling further to 33m tonnes in 2030. By 2040, the NSTA predicts the UK will be producing just 9m tonnes of oil and 4bn cubic metres of gas – way below what the country will still need by then, meaning more imports. The fresh forecasts suggest the windfall tax, or Energy Profits Levy, has roughly doubled the rate of decline. Robin Allan, the chairman of Brindex, an offshore industry trade body, said: 'An accelerated decline of North Sea output will see UK dependency on imports reach more than 85pc by 2030. The windfall tax is self-defeating and it should be removed.' The tax was first proposed by Labour in opposition but was adopted by the then Conservative government under Rishi Sunak in 2022 in response to the surge in oil and gas prices caused by the Ukraine conflict. Mr Sunak initially said it would only remain in place while the windfalls lasted. However, he and then Labour subsequently decided to retain it until 2030, even though oil prices have fallen from a peak fo $139 a barrel to about $60 now. Offshore operators say the tax is so high that there is now more incentive to decommission productive wells and claim the associated tax rebates than to expand production. Serica, one of the largest UK operators, separately warned on Thursday that Ms Reeves's windfall tax and Mr Miliband's ban on new exploration was killing off the UK industry. David Latin, Serica's chairman, said: 'The impact of the inappropriate fiscal environment, and the years of uncertainty, is taking a heavy toll. UK production fell 5pc in 2024, drilling activity is at a record low, 10,000 jobs have been lost and companies continue to exit the UK North Sea. 'All of this will reduce tax receipts going forward and, given demand which will not go away any time soon, lost production will have to be imported – imports which are worse for the environment since they involve significantly increased emissions.' A government spokesman dismissed criticisms, saying: 'The Government has reformed the Energy Profits Levy to support investment and give industry certainty and stability. 'We are delivering a fair and orderly transition in the North Sea, with the biggest ever investment in offshore wind and two first-of-a-kind carbon capture and storage clusters.' The Conservatives, the original architects of the tax, said the political consensus on the windfall levy was gone forever. Andrew Bowie, Conservative shadow energy spokesman, said: 'The report shows in the starkest terms what many have been warning about for months if not years – that the windfall tax is killing the North Sea oil and gas industry. 'Up to 10,000 people have already been laid off with 250 in the last weeks alone. And the new jobs promised in renewables just do not exist yet. Labour must think again and speed up any future fiscal arrangement for the North Sea before we see an entire industry disappear.' Richard Tice, energy spokesman for the Reform Party, said: 'A Reform government would encourage people in the oil and gas sector to get ready to explore when we win the next general election. We are urging them to have new licences ready to approve on an accelerated timeframe.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Business Wire
05-05-2025
- Science
- Business Wire
Eight Student Teams Named National Winners of 33
MCLEAN, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Toshiba and NSTA today announce eight national winners of the 33 rd annual Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision competition, the world's largest K-12 science competition. This year's winners have shared innovative proposals to help overcome some of the greatest challenges facing the world today, from healthcare challenges to transportation efforts to protecting the environment. 'For the last 150 years, and for the next 150 years, our goal is to enable a more sustainable, resilient future." Tomoaki Kumagai, Chairman & CEO, Toshiba America, Inc. The Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision competition is designed to inspire students to develop the skills emphasized in the Next Generation Science Standards, including problem-solving, critical-thinking and collaboration skills. To participate, students must imagine and produce a system or a technology with the potential to solve the problems of the future. Regional finalist ideas were judged by a multidisciplinary panel of scientists across various sectors of government (e.g., NIH, NASA, NSF), academic researchers, biotechnology scientists and physician researchers. 'At Toshiba, we're proud to inspire the world's future STEM leaders,' said Tomoaki Kumagai, Chairman & CEO, Toshiba America, Inc. 'For the last 150 years, and for the next 150 years, our goal is to enable a more sustainable, resilient future. Key to that is nurturing the development of today's students. Through our ongoing partnership with NSTA, we're thrilled to be able to further encourage the STEM engineers of tomorrow as part of our commitment to the future and to the people who will shape that future.' Some of the winning solutions included: Environmental Technology Innovations: Several of the winning projects focused on protecting the environment to encourage pollination (Electro-Buzz) to fighting wildfires (Drone Ranger). Medical Technology Advancements: From glasses that translate sign language (Eye Understand) to seizor prevention and detection (Seizor) to heart-attack prevention (Nano Artertract Plaque Seeker), winning projects across grades sought to address today's most pressing health challenges. Transportation Inventions: Students aimed to create safer roads by inventing concepts for improved road surfaces (Biomimetic Surfaces) that prevent crashes. 'I'm always impressed with how attuned young minds are to the needs of our society,' said NSTA President Alicia Conerly, Ed.D. 'Their projects demonstrate the remarkable understanding of the of the challenges of tomorrow and I was inspired to see such creative solutions. Our future is in good hands with these future scientists and innovators at the helm.' ExploraVision Prizes The eight national winning teams are comprised of a first-place winner and second-place winner from four groups based on grade level. Members of first place nationally winning teams each receive a $10,000 U.S. Series EE Savings Bond (at maturity). Members of second place nationally winning teams will each receive a $5,000 U.S. Series EE Savings Bond (at maturity). The national winners of ExploraVision 2025 are invited to participate in an award ceremony on Friday, June 13 in Washington, D.C. During this event, students will have the opportunity to present their winning ideas to Bill Nye 'the Science Guy,' a renowned scientist, engineer, author, and inventor, who is a strong advocate of STEM education and the ExploraVision program. The event will conclude with an awards ceremony where the winning teams will be formally recognized for their creativity and accomplishments. For 33 consecutive years, sponsored by Toshiba and administered by NSTA, ExploraVision has helped children to expand their imagination and have fun while developing an interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education at an early age. For more information or to access an application for the 2025-26 program, visit or email exploravision@ For updates on the ExploraVision program, follow on X at or Facebook at Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision 2025 National Winners 2025 First-Place Winners Grade K-3: Eye Understand: Glasses for People who use Sign Language A.D. Henderson University School Boca Raton, FL Project Storyboard here Grade 4-6: ElectroBuzz: Redefining Pollination for a Resilient and Sustainable Future Willow Springs Elementary School Fairfax, VA Project Website here Grades 7-9: Drone Ranger for Fighting Wildfires Twin Grove Middle School Buffalo Grove, IL Project Website here Grades 10-12: Seizor Victoria Park Collegiate Institute North York, Ontario Project Website here 2025 Second-Place Winners Grades K-3: BlazeBlock: The Hep Revolution That Stopes Fires Cold Don Campbell Elementary School Red Deer, Alberta Project Poster here Grades 4-6: Lost Then Found Heritage School Salem, OR Project Website here Grades 7-9 Biomimetic Surfaces STEM School Highlands Ranch, Highlands Ranch, CO Project Website here Grades 10-12 Nano Artertract Plaque Seeker (NAPS) Downtown Magnets High School Los Angeles, CA Project Website here About Toshiba As Toshiba Group celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2025, it is enhancing its management structure, streamlining operations, and investing in forward-looking businesses to build foundations for new growth. This will allow it to continue to support advances toward a sustainable future with products and services developed by its wide range of businesses in the energy, infrastructure, and electronic devices domains. Guided by its corporate philosophy, 'Committed to People, Committed to the Future.,' Toshiba brings industry-leading capabilities in green transformation (GX) and digital transformation (DX) to solutions for companies addressing the many challenges faced by modern society. By leveraging the power of data derived from its constantly evolving products and solutions, the Group is determined to help to achieve carbon neutrality and a circular economy. In fiscal year 2023, Toshiba Group generated annual sales of 3.3 trillion yen, and had 105,000 employees around the world. For more information, visit or follow Toshiba Corporation on LinkedIn. About Toshiba America, Inc. Founded in 1965, Toshiba America, Inc. (TAI) is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Toshiba Corporation and the holding company of three Toshiba operating companies that offer a broad range of products and solutions for the commercial, energy and industrial sectors. The three companies, which along with TAI are known collectively as Toshiba America Group, are Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc. (Semiconductor & data storage solutions), Toshiba America Energy Systems, Corp. (Power generation solutions), Toshiba International Corporation (Industrial, power electronics & transmission & distribution solutions), and a Toshiba America Company, Toshiba America Business Solutions (Multifunction printers, label and receipt printers, digital signage, managed print services, and cloud solutions). About NSTA The National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) is a vibrant community of 35,000 science educators and professionals committed to best practices in teaching science and its impact on student learning. NSTA offers high quality science resources and continuous learning so that science educators grow professionally and excel in their career. For new and experienced teachers alike, the NSTA community offers the opportunity to network with like-minded peers at the national level, connect with mentors and leading researchers, and learn from the best in the field. For more information, visit or follow NSTA on X, formerly known as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or LinkedIn.
National Post
05-05-2025
- Science
- National Post
Eight Student Teams Named National Winners of 33rd Annual ExploraVision Competition
Article content Article content Article content MCLEAN, Va. — Toshiba and NSTA today announce eight national winners of the 33 rd annual Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision competition, the world's largest K-12 science competition. This year's winners have shared innovative proposals to help overcome some of the greatest challenges facing the world today, from healthcare challenges to transportation efforts to protecting the environment. Article content The Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision competition is designed to inspire students to develop the skills emphasized in the Next Generation Science Standards, including problem-solving, critical-thinking and collaboration skills. To participate, students must imagine and produce a system or a technology with the potential to solve the problems of the future. Regional finalist ideas were judged by a multidisciplinary panel of scientists across various sectors of government (e.g., NIH, NASA, NSF), academic researchers, biotechnology scientists and physician researchers. Article content 'At Toshiba, we're proud to inspire the world's future STEM leaders,' said Tomoaki Kumagai, Chairman & CEO, Toshiba America, Inc. 'For the last 150 years, and for the next 150 years, our goal is to enable a more sustainable, resilient future. Key to that is nurturing the development of today's students. Through our ongoing partnership with NSTA, we're thrilled to be able to further encourage the STEM engineers of tomorrow as part of our commitment to the future and to the people who will shape that future.' Article content Some of the winning solutions included: Article content Environmental Technology Innovations: Several of the winning projects focused on protecting the environment to encourage pollination (Electro-Buzz) to fighting wildfires (Drone Ranger). Medical Technology Advancements: From glasses that translate sign language (Eye Understand) to seizor prevention and detection (Seizor) to heart-attack prevention (Nano Artertract Plaque Seeker), winning projects across grades sought to address today's most pressing health challenges. Transportation Inventions: Students aimed to create safer roads by inventing concepts for improved road surfaces (Biomimetic Surfaces) that prevent crashes. Article content 'I'm always impressed with how attuned young minds are to the needs of our society,' said NSTA President Alicia Conerly, Ed.D. 'Their projects demonstrate the remarkable understanding of the of the challenges of tomorrow and I was inspired to see such creative solutions. Our future is in good hands with these future scientists and innovators at the helm.' Article content ExploraVision Prizes The eight national winning teams are comprised of a first-place winner and second-place winner from four groups based on grade level. Members of first place nationally winning teams each receive a $10,000 U.S. Series EE Savings Bond (at maturity). Members of second place nationally winning teams will each receive a $5,000 U.S. Series EE Savings Bond (at maturity). Article content The national winners of ExploraVision 2025 are invited to participate in an award ceremony on Friday, June 13 in Washington, D.C. During this event, students will have the opportunity to present their winning ideas to Bill Nye 'the Science Guy,' a renowned scientist, engineer, author, and inventor, who is a strong advocate of STEM education and the ExploraVision program. The event will conclude with an awards ceremony where the winning teams will be formally recognized for their creativity and accomplishments. Article content For 33 consecutive years, sponsored by Toshiba and administered by NSTA, ExploraVision has helped children to expand their imagination and have fun while developing an interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education at an early age. Article content Grade K-3: Eye Understand: Glasses for People who use Sign Language A.D. Henderson University School Boca Raton, FL Project Storyboard here Article content Grade 4-6: ElectroBuzz: Redefining Pollination for a Resilient and Sustainable Future Willow Springs Elementary School Fairfax, VA Project Website here Article content Grades 7-9: Drone Ranger for Fighting Wildfires Twin Grove Middle School Buffalo Grove, IL Project Website here Article content Grades 10-12: Seizor Victoria Park Collegiate Institute North York, Ontario Project Website here Article content 2025 Second-Place Winners Article content Grades K-3: BlazeBlock: The Hep Revolution That Stopes Fires Cold Don Campbell Elementary School Red Deer, Alberta Project Poster here Article content Grades 4-6: Lost Then Found Heritage School Salem, OR Project Website here Article content Grades 7-9 Biomimetic Surfaces STEM School Highlands Ranch, Highlands Ranch, CO Project Website here Article content About Toshiba As Toshiba Group celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2025, it is enhancing its management structure, streamlining operations, and investing in forward-looking businesses to build foundations for new growth. This will allow it to continue to support advances toward a sustainable future with products and services developed by its wide range of businesses in the energy, infrastructure, and electronic devices domains. Guided by its corporate philosophy, 'Committed to People, Committed to the Future.,' Toshiba brings industry-leading capabilities in green transformation (GX) and digital transformation (DX) to solutions for companies addressing the many challenges faced by modern society. By leveraging the power of data derived from its constantly evolving products and solutions, the Group is determined to help to achieve carbon neutrality and a circular economy. In fiscal year 2023, Toshiba Group generated annual sales of 3.3 trillion yen, and had 105,000 employees around the world. For more information, visit or follow Toshiba Corporation on LinkedIn. Article content About Toshiba America, Inc. Founded in 1965, Toshiba America, Inc. (TAI) is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Toshiba Corporation and the holding company of three Toshiba operating companies that offer a broad range of products and solutions for the commercial, energy and industrial sectors. The three companies, which along with TAI are known collectively as Toshiba America Group, are Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc. (Semiconductor & data storage solutions), Toshiba America Energy Systems, Corp. (Power generation solutions), Toshiba International Corporation (Industrial, power electronics & transmission & distribution solutions), and a Toshiba America Company, Toshiba America Business Solutions (Multifunction printers, label and receipt printers, digital signage, managed print services, and cloud solutions). Article content About NSTA The National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) is a vibrant community of 35,000 science educators and professionals committed to best practices in teaching science and its impact on student learning. NSTA offers high quality science resources and continuous learning so that science educators grow professionally and excel in their career. For new and experienced teachers alike, the NSTA community offers the opportunity to network with like-minded peers at the national level, connect with mentors and leading researchers, and learn from the best in the field. For more information, visit or follow NSTA on X, formerly known as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or LinkedIn. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content
Associated Press
28-04-2025
- Science
- Associated Press
Exceptional Young Scientists Awarded Scholarships and Awards at the 63rd Annual National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium
CHANTILLY, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 28, 2025-- Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (JSHS), the nation's premier showcase for high school science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) research, proudly announces the 2025 winners of the 63 rd National JSHS competition. JSHS is sponsored by the Department of Defense (DoD) and administered by the National Science Teaching Association. This year's National JSHS event took place April 22-26 at the Westfields Marriott Washington Dulles in Chantilly, Virginia. The event welcomed 239 of the brightest high school STEM students from across the country, their teachers, and JSHS university partners. Esteemed judging panels of scientists from the Department of Defense selected the top presenters in each of the eight categories. 'Each year, the students at JSHS redefine the possibilities in STEM,' said Winnie Boyle, Senior Director of Competitions, NSTA. 'Their groundbreaking research and unwavering curiosity inspire us all, and we are honored to support their academic journeys with scholarships and awards.' The National JSHS competition awarded 48 national winners, selected from students who first presented their original research at one of 49 regional symposia held at universities and colleges across the U.S., Puerto Rico, and DoDEA schools worldwide. The top five students from each region were invited to compete at the National JSHS event as national finalists. Of these five, the top two finalists competed in oral presentations for the chance to win scholarships ranging from $4,000-$12,000 and the remaining three finalists competed in the poster competition for a chance to win cash awards. In total, the National JSHS event awarded $192,000 in scholarships and $10,800 in cash awards to the national winners. 'JSHS is a testament to the creativity and determination of young researchers nationwide. It is an honor to celebrate these bright young minds as they push the boundaries of scientific discovery and innovation. Congratulations to this year's national winners, whose hard work and passion for research are commendable. We look forward to seeing the impact they will have on the future of science and technology,' said NSTA Interim Chief Executive Officer Bob Lay. Abstract submissions for the 2024-2025 JSHS competition will open in the fall. For more information on JSHS, visit 1 st Place Oral Presentations: earning $12,000 scholarships Vocalyze: A Deep Learning Approach to Detecting Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Tracking Treatment Efficacy via Vocal Acoustic Inflections and Sentiment Analysis Multi-Color Magneto-Fluorescent Nanoarchitectures for the Targeted Identification of Exosomes of Triple Negative Breast Cancer Physics-Informed Machine Learning for Many-Objective Generative Design BeeMind AI: Development of an Artificial Intelligence-Based System to Assess Honeybee Health, Behavior, and Nutrient Effects Turf Trouble: Does The DEET In Bug Repellent Really Kill Grass? Year II AI on Edge: Novel Post-Training Quantization for Education Applications ParkinSense: A Telehealth Toolkit for Quantitative Analysis of Motor Symptoms in Parkinson's Disease Revolutionizing Turbulence Studies: Novel Low-Cost Zero Mean-Flow Chamber Design and Physics-Informed Tensor Basis Neural Network 2 nd Place Oral Presentations: earning $8,000 scholarships Characterizing the RyR2-Mediated Cardiac Pathophysiology of COVID-19 in Rodent Models ICEFAB-Nano: An Integrated Computational-Experimental Framework to Accelerate the Development of Highly Biofunctional Nanotherapeutics for Healthy and Cancerous Applications Next-Generation VTOL Drones: A Breakthrough in Tilt Mechanism and Modular Design for Optimization and Accessibility Investigating the Influence of Coal Ash Heavy Metal Leachate on Thyroid Hormone Concentration, Hormone Receptor Gene Expression, and Spectral Sensitivity in Danio Rerio The Neurobiology of Voluntary Exercise: A Novel Approach to Alleviate Chemobrain by Promoting Hippocampal Neurogenesis Multi-Branch Temporal-Spectral LSTM-CNN in Deepfake Audio Detection Early Detection of Critical Salmonella Cases for Pre-Emptive Treatment via Novel Biomarkers discovered through Protein Domain Analysis and Machine Learning A Novel Method to Analyze Thermonuclear Explosions in Four Binary Star Systems Using NASA's High Time Resolution TESS Data 3 rd Place Oral Presentations: earning $4,000 scholarships Decoding ASXL3: A Novel Biomarker and Treatment for Neurodevelopmental Disorders Combating Alzheimer's Disease: Design and Synthesis of a Novel Drug Molecule for Targeted Metal Chelation Therapy Mitigation of Pressure Injuries: Inertial Wearable and Computer Vision Approaches A Novel Method of Water Purification: Optimizing Foam Fractionation for Effective Broad-Spectrum Removal of DBP and DBP Precursors in Chlorinated Drinking Water Effects of Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG) and Piperine Compounds on the Regeneration of D. Tigrina Identifying Key Factors to Improve Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis with Machine LearningWater World Exoplanet Atmospheric and Spectral Data Analysis via Thermodynamic Modeling and Unsupervised Machine Learning 1 st Place Poster Presentations 2 nd Place Poster Presentations 3 rd Place Poster Presentations View source version on CONTACT: Winnie S. Boyle 703.312.0387 [email protected] KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA VIRGINIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: SCIENCE PUBLIC POLICY/GOVERNMENT OTHER SCIENCE DEFENSE WHITE HOUSE/FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OTHER DEFENSE PRIMARY/SECONDARY EDUCATION SOURCE: National Science Teaching Association Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 04/28/2025 09:15 AM/DISC: 04/28/2025 09:14 AM
