The value of truth and misinformation

By Dr. Rosa Hilda Lora M. Advisor at AIU | rosa@aiu.edu

We live in a world where we don’t know where we are going: a lot of technology, there is talk of money here and money there, but at the same time we have an education with great problems to reach everyone, undeclared wars, people killed for their ideas by those who govern through coups and people dying of hunger because they don’t get food. We must add that everyone says what they want, and they take what they say as truth and to increase the madness of this world there are those who govern according to what they want because they feel like the new “monarchs” and that the countries belong to them. We are in the society of the instantaneous: commerce and information. Instant commerce was generated with Globalization and Globalization brought with it the development of communication that should also be fast, instantaneous. But instant communication created the development of all the means that allowed it and there are platforms and social networks! The problem of the veracity of these means also arose and now we find ourselves in a serious problem because there’re no laws that control them in terms of what they publish. With globalization, the problem arose that not all countries had the infrastructure to work in this way.

Time has shown what was already known. You can see the work of the last years of the French philosopher and sociologist Edgar Morin, for example – Towards the abyss? Globalization in the 21st century. We see governments emerging everywhere whose forms of election were based on misinformation. The problem is that most of the population of the country you want doesn’t have all the formal education necessary to identify what is true and what is false. The United Nations Organization -UN- in its area dedicated to Science, Research and Culture, UNESCO, is working to guide digital media and platforms towards the truth. “They have committed to work together to implement the UNESCO Guidelines by cofinancing a UNESCO-hosted Global Regulators Forum, which will meet regularly with civil society to coordinate their efforts for better governance of digital platforms”. UNESCO and media regulators created a global ne twork to coo rdinate regulation of digital platforms. UNESCO, 16 Augus t 2024. https://www.unesco.org/en/ articles/unesco-and-media-regulators- create-global-network-to-coordinate- regulation-of-digital- How much does UNESCO do? “UNESCO, with its 194 Member States, contributes to peace and security by leading multilateral cooperation in education, science, culture, communication and information. Headquartered in Paris, UNESCO has offices in 54 countries and employs more than 2,300 people. It oversees more than 2,000 World Heritage sites, Biosphere Reserves and Global Geoparks; networks of Creative, Educational, Inclusive and Sustainable Cities; and more than 13,000 partner schools, university chairs and training and research institutions. The Director-General is Audrey Azoulay”. UNESCO and media regulators created a global ne twork to coo rdinate regulation of digital platforms. UNESCO, Augus t 16, 2024. https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/ unesco-and-media-regulatorscreate- a-global- By creating this Platform, UNESCO aims to teach media and platforms how to identify false information that affects citizens around the world. UNESCO aims to bring together as many media and platforms as possible and teach them how to work with all citizens of the world to promote the truth. This network will have scheduled meetings to follow up on this work. The transmission of false information for precise purposes is what is called disinformation. “Disinformation, understood as the deliberate dissemination of false or misleading information, and fake news, which are presented as true, but are completely invented or distorted, have found in social networks a favorable medium for their propagation. These digital platforms, designed to connect people and facilitate the exchange of information, have amplified the reach and speed with which disinformation can reach millions of users around the world (Jumbo, 2021)”. LATAM - Latin American Jou rnal of Soc ial Sciences . 2024. Volume 5 Number 2, p 139. Introduc tion . https://doi.org/10.56712/ latam.v5i2.1865 The great thing about the situation is that these platforms make a lot of money because users are manipulated with everything that can be done from Psychology to Marketing and Politics. The interesting thing will be to see what happens to governing countries when only the truth follows from the truth.

If everything they have said is false, how will they govern when the facts every day show that it’s impossible to do what they said. Governing is not a joke; governing means clear rules for the economy, for the rights and obligations of all, for private property, for the teaching of all sciences and for health protection. If everything said is disinformation, the management of public affairs will demonstrate the truth. “In the digital age, social networks have emerged as a powerful medium for the dissemination of information, but also as a significant vehicle for the spread of disinformation. This phenomenon has taken on even greater importance during global conflicts, where accurate and truthful information can have a significant impact on public perception and the course of events”. LATAM- Latin American Journal of Social Sciences . 2024. Volume 5 Number 2, p 139. Introduction. https://doi.org/10.56712/ latam.v5i2.1865 The problem with misinformation is that those who believe that because they are told something through digital media it must be true are often people with little formal education. The extraordinary thing about the situation is that their votes are bought in a way that looks legal: they will receive these and those benefits. They believe them, but after those who wanted power to achieve it, the problems begin because the money obtained goes to the group that is with the “monarch”. They are told that they must meet these and those requirements so that time passes, and it turns out that they didn’t have what was asked of them. Chaos and discontent will be generated by those who no longer gave them education when they realize that they were used.

“While social media offer unprecedented opportunities for communication and public participation, they also pose significant challenges in terms of the spread of misinformation and the manipulation of public opinion”. LATAM - Latin American Jou rnal of Soc ial Sciences . 2024. Volume 5 Number 2, p 140. Volume 5 Number 2, p 139 Introduc tion . https://doi. org/10.56712/latam.v5i2.1865 It seems that 2025 will be a year of surprises because the economy that was sought became global and instantly populist governments now say that their economies will be closed, they will not trade with anyone for reasons that do not make sense. How long has it been since trade began? Can a country produce everything it needs? What will the World Trade Organization do? It seems that everything that happened that produced a global disagreement that led to World War II has been forgotten. “Social media platforms must take greater responsibility for moderating content and promoting media literacy among their users. Governments can also play a crucial role in promoting transparency and countering misinformation through effective policies and regulations.” LATAM - Latin American Jou rnal of Soc ial Sciences . 2024. Volume 5 Number 2, p 139. Introduc tion . https://doi.org/10.56712/ latam.v5i2.1865 If governments must deal with the misinformation that media and platforms provide, what can be done if the only thing they seek is to benefit from all those they left without education, which is why they believe them. It is known and this is what UNESAmerican Journal of Soc ial Sciences. 2024. Volume 5 Number 2, p 139. Introduc tion . https://doi.org/10.56712/ latam.v5i2.1865 The moments of History don’t last forever, otherwise we would still be in the Stone Age; the interesting thing is to know what the geniuses or new “monarchs” of this 21st century are going to do with all the lies they have told and what they are going to do. One lie led to another. Science is done with statements that have been demonstrated and proven. There are also the principles of reason, Aristotelian Logical Principles, Principles under which science is still done.

“We do not believe that there is a non-Aristotelian logic in the sense that there is a non- Euclidean geometry, that is, a logical system that assumes the truth of the contraries of the Aristotelian principles of contradiction and excluded middle, as well as of the valid inferences drawn from them; the systems recently presented as alternative systems are nothing but different systems of notation or symbolization of the same logical facts”. Cohen and Nagel, 2019, p. 9. “This concept goes beyond simply understanding how the media works, and encompasses skills such as analyzing media messages, recognizing biases and manipulations, and making informed decisions about the information consumed and shared”. (Cobo, 2009). LATAM - Latin American Jou rnal of Soc ial Sciences . 2024. Volume 5 Number 2, p 139. Introduc tion . https://doi. org/10.56712/latam.v5i2.1865 These are the Social Networks we have: 1. Generalizing networks. Videos, links, texts are shared, example: Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. 2. Networks for professionals. They promote professional development and job opportunities. Xing and networking. 3. Networks for visual content. Videos and images are shared. Snapchat and Pinterest. 4. Microblogging networks. Posts or tweets are published. Tumblr and Twitter 5. Instant messaging networks. Telegram, Facebook, Messenger and WhatsApp 6. Interest-based networks. TikTok and Reddit. 7. Niche or special interest networks. Gooddreads and Strava.

Given the world that we seem to have for 2025, the convenient and safe thing to have a satisfactory life is to study. Knowing is never too much. You are doing a program at Atlantic International University, therefore: Study to be free. Study to know the value you have as a human being. Study not be part of those used by the new leaders or “monarchs”. Remember that it’s not just about being an expert in the use of the digital world, it’s also about knowing science.

BIBLIOGRAPHY. Cohen M. y Ernest Nagel. 2019. Introducción a la Lógica y al Método Científico. Argentina, Amorrortu editores. | LATAM- Revista latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales. 2024. Volumen 5 Número 2. https://doi.org/10.56712/latam.v5i2.1865https:// doi.org/10.56712/latam.v5i2.1865 | Morin, E. 2010. ¿Hacia el abismo? Globalización en el siglo XXI. España, Paidos. | UNESCO. Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Educación, la Ciencia y la Cultura. La UNESCO y reguladores de medios crean una red mundial para coordinar la regulación de las plataformas digitales. UNESCO, 16 de agosto 2024. https://www.unesco.org/es/articles/ la-unesco-y-reguladores-de-medios-crean-una-red-mundial-para-coordinar- la-regulacion-de-las

Architecture and Isomorphism: The Conflict between occupants’ behavior and the environmental characteristics of the building

Elvira Mumy Arielle Celina | Doctorate in Architecture | Part 1/2

Introduction Most people around the world are suffering from climatic changes due to the non respect of the whole ecological system. The need of taking into consideration the characteristics of environment when planning and acting in all the daily-life situations has become more and more important. On the other hand, the protection of the environment is also one of the important need of mankind. People of all ages are capable of understanding the importance of nature protection: protection of animals and plants, of human life and health; maintenance of clean environment, of humans’ daily life and entertainment; reduction of pollution, prevention of a possible end of the world (Dovilė Šorytė & Vilmantė Pakalniškienė , 2019). In this perspective, the issue of harmony with the environment remains a crucial worldwide problematic.

Concerning that issue of conformity with the environment and as far as the architecture field is concerned, more and more people around the world are interested in the problem of building or constructing houses in connection with the environment. Building design, building techniques and building construction materials that do not conflict with the environment are used more often in many countries. Given the increasing human need of reducing the gap between human activities and the environment; taking into account the increasing human need of improving the way of resolving the housing problem in the world and referring to human behavior that sometimes disharmonize with the ecological system, how can we proceed to solve the problems related to the Conflict between the building occupants’ behavior and the environmental characteristics, from conflicts interspaces in connection with the principle of isomorphism in architecture? Considering the problem situation on a specific building to be improved, would it be pertinent, based on the principle of isomorphism in architecture, especially on the relation of bijective correspondence between spaces, to explain problems of buildings focused on the Conflict between occupants’ behavior and the environmental characteristics of the building? These are the questions to be examined in this piece of work.

A four part analysis This work, whose main objective is to explain and to solve the problems related to the Conflict between the occupants’ behavior and the environmental characteristics of the building, from conflicts interspaces in connection with the principle of isomorphism in architecture, is made up of four parts. After the introduction, theoretical framework, then the methodological aspects, later on, the results and finally the conclusion are presented. Theoretical framework The concept of isomorphism in Architecture Defining the concept of isomorphism, Timmermans (2012, p. 42) stated, A homomorphism Ф A1→A2 is a mapping from A1 to A2 that preserves the structure relations in A1 (…); if a homomorphism Ф is one-toone, onto and if its inverse mapping Ф-1: A2→A1 is also a homomorphism, then Ф is called an isomorphism.

A homomorphism from A1 to itself is called an endomorphism. If this endomorphism is also an isomorphism, it is called an automorphism. An isomorphism refers to a one-to-one correspondence between the elements of 2 or more sets; a one-to-one relation onto the map between the sets which preserves the relations existing between elements in its domain1. From the characteristics of the definition of the concept of isomorphism, some sciences such as Biology, Chemistry, many principles could be identified as aspects of the principle of isomorphism. They are the principle of similitude or similarity (of structures, relations, operations…); the principle of constancy (of structures); the principle of correspondence (of structure, relations, operations…); the principle of extension or continuity (of structures, relations, operations…); the principle of reciprocal influence and the principle of the strength of the original ecological unit. According to Elvira Mumy (2016), the principle of isomorphism in Architecture refers to a great analogy, a close similarity and correspondence, the extension of relations between two or many domains, structures, spaces, ecological units, environmental sets or systems. It could be divided into many sets of aspects: the unity of environment, the relations, and the priority of the original ecological unit in creating spaces or in solving architectural problems.

These aspects and elements are (i) the unity of the environment which involves the notions of constancy, harmony of ecological units; boomerang effect of negative influences…; (ii) the relations between ecological units which is made up of the notions of correspondence, equivalence, extension of the relations sets… inside the space, the domain, or between spaces, domains, or ecological units; (iii) the priority of original space which deals with the strength of the original (initial) natural ecological unit. The principle of isomorphism in architecture which refers to a bijective correspondence is made up of principles such as the principle of correspondence, the principle of extension/ continuity, the principle of reciprocal influence, the principle of the strength of the original ecological unit, the principle of constancy, the principle of similarity / similitude. The figure on the left presents the extension of the principle of isomorphism. (See Figure 1)

The theory of linear spaces and architecture In the perspective ecological design, Architects are intended to create spaces whose link with the whole world would be as an isomorphism. One of the pertinent theories connected to the principle of isomorphism in architecture is the theory of linear spaces. In their research on linear spaces, Agoshkov, Dubovsky, and Shutiaye (2006, p.5) stated: The linear normalized spaces X and Y are termed isomorphous if the image J: X → Y is defined on all X. This image is linear and carries out isomorphism X and Y as linear spaces and is such that there are constants α > 0, ß > 0, such that for any f ε X the inequality α|| f ||x≤|| J(f) ||Y ≤ ß|| f ||X is fulfilled. According to Pankov (2010, p.17), Linear spaces are isomorphic if there exists a bijection f: P → P_ such that f (L) = L’; this bijection is called a collineation of Π to Π’. A bijection of P to P’ is said to be a semicollineation of Π to Π’ if it maps lines to subsets of lines. An injection of P to P’ sending lines to subsets of lines is called an embedding of Π in Π’ if distinct lines go to subsets of distinct lines. In congruence with these mathematical statements in connection with architecture, Statistics have shown throughout the years that all human activities have a dramatic impact on the natural environment. “The external climate (temperature, humidity, radiation and wind), state Balocco and Grazzini (2010, p. 1), “determines the heating and cooling requirements of the building.” Site and Climatic Conditions such as Solar Orientation, the local climate, water and other available resources, environmental controls specifically air-quality controls which provide ventilation, a comfortable indoor climate and major possibilities for energy savings, must be taken into consideration when designing and creating spaces (Crawford, 2011; Apos poros , 2012; Sayigh, 2014; Tabb and Devine, 2013;Yellamraju, 2011).

According to Santamouris (2006), when working in the context of environmental design, the architect should consider many factors such as the shape and size, the ‘body’ and ‘skin’ of buildings, the use of the sun’s energy and daylight, the provisions of views for occupants, the need of ventilation, heat loss through the building envelope that have an impact on the environment. About the environmental Impact of Building Materials and according to Bokalders and Block (2010), some important aspects should be taken into account when choosing the right material from an ecological perspective. How the materials will influence the interior climate? How the materials will impact the outdoor environment in general? How plants and animals are influenced by the discharged caused by the production and disposal of these materials? Architects of ecological design are intended to build houses, to create spaces that are an image of the whole environmental systems or which harmonize with the whole ecological system (Roth, 2017). In this perspective, when designing, planning, building, architects should be aware of the importance of bijective correspondence, great analogy, close similarities, extension of relations between spaces to be created and the environment or at least the pertinent ecological units of the related ecological system.

Additionally, the ecologically sustainable architecture and construction is based on major principles such as the use of the natural resources suitable to the environment, waste reduction, recycling of resources; protecting the critical resources, water efficiency, resource conservation, respecting the harmony between the human beings and his natural environment, flexibility, durability and using principles of physics (the concept of heat transfer for example) to improve people’s behavior in a building (Sendzimir and Bradley, 2002; Akadiri, Chinyio and Olomolaiye, 2012; Piotrowich & Osgood, 2009). As far as the theory of linear spaces in relation with architecture is concerned, architects of ecological design are intended to create spaces whose link with the whole world would be as an isomorphism. This involves the environmental characteristics of the original space and surroundings as well as people behavior

Methodological aspects of the study The situation of the residential building The client is facing a set of problems in his residential building. Firstly, the noise produced by the music played by his neighbors around is perceived in his rooms, even when all the openings are closed. Secondly, he is also experiencing much heat in his house. Additionally, he suffers from cooling and other problems. The roof of his house is made up of AL, the ceiling of wood; the walls are made up of cement block; the doors and windows are made up of wood. Also, there is no sufficient free air movement in the building. In addition, rooms are not big; day lighting, insufficient. From the interview we got with him, he stated that he needed an explanation of that situation and a renewed building that would offer him a well-being in harmony with his environment, an ecologically sustainable residential building. Techniques and instruments for data collection A set of techniques and instruments were used for data collection: firstly, an observation of the site and the building, secondly an interview addressed to the occupants of the building. Table 1 drawn on the right represents for each main variable, the objective or assessment criteria and the technique(s) used for data collection. (See Table 1) Some of these criteria correspond to the main characteristics of buildings suitable to ecologically sustainable architecture and construction in connection with the research problem and with the research objective of the study.

Process of explaining the problems related to the Conflict between occupants’ behavior and the environmental characteristics of the building, from conflicts interspaces in connection with the principle of isomorphism in architecture In order to achieve the objective of explaining the problems related to the Conflict between the occupants’ behavior and the environmental characteristics of the building, from conflicts interspaces in connection with the principle of isomorphism in architecture, a set of steps were observed. Step 1: First assessment: Defining the problem to be solved from initial data collected Step 2: Detailed assessment: analysis and diagnostic of the situation 2.1. Definition of spaces 2.1.1. The original space 2.1.2. The target space 2.2. Definition of the relations (different conflicting situations between spaces) 2.2.1. Identification of the different relations between spaces 2.2.2. Identification of harmonious relations (identification and definition of the harmonious relation of the building with its environment) 2.3. Definition of the conflicting situation 2.3.1. Identification of the conflicting relationship of the created space and its environment) 2.3.2. Definition of the conflicting relationship and the conflicting situation (of the building and its environment from the principle of correspondence) 2.4. Definition of the final problem to be solved (from the analysis of the situation and referring to the principle of correspondence or bijective relation, state the different conflict situations within the whole set of relations between spaces -original space and target space) Step 3: Conclusion The methodological aspects of the study were centered on the collection of data related to a set of relevant criteria, using observation and interview. The process of determining the pertinence of the use of conflicts interspaces in connection with the principle of isomorphism when explaining problems of buildings was aimed at evaluating the gap between created spaces and original spaces.

Results of the study Referring to the principle of isomorphism in architecture, how can we use conflicts interspaces, so as to understand problems of buildings related to the Conflict between the occupants’ behavior and the environmental characteristics of the building? What are the components of the different spaces? From the relations between the spaces, what are the different conflicting situations? How will the final problem related to the Conflict between the occupants’ behavior and the environmental characteristics of the building be defined? These are the questions examined in this piece of research. The problems of buildings and the conflict between occupants’ behavior and the environmental characteristics of the building with regard to isomorphism The case studied in this piece of work is in connection with the relation between spaces: the created space that corresponds to the building and the initial space to which the building is related. Before thinking on the explanation process, it is necessary to first restate the principle of isomorphism, and to define the main characteristic property from which this principle can be defined. TO BE CONTINUED

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‘Swatting’ calls

The school shootings were fake, but the terror was real.

It was a Wednesday morning in May 2023, when the call —from someone who identified himself only as “Wayne”— came in via a publicly listed regional emergency line. “I’m going to walk into Central Valley High School in Veradale with my AK-47,” Wayne told the operator who first picked up. ... “I’m going to kill everyone I see.” That operator transferred him to Sarah Jones. ... who realized she was speaking to an active school shooter, and that she had seconds to persuade this stranger not to carry out his plan. “Hi. Wayne? What’s going on?” Jones asked calmly. ... “All you need to know is that I want cops here as soon as possible. Because after I kill everyone I see, I want to kill cops too.” “Wayne,” Jones answered ... “Are you in front of the school right now?” “Yes, I’m walking in now.” “OK, can you stop, please?” Jones said. ... The only answer was a series of rapid staccato blasts: automatic gunfire. ... The chaos, the fear, the dread and immense disruption triggered by that voice on the phone wasn’t targeted at Spokane alone. The call was one of dozens that a person would make to law enforcement, targeting schools across Washington state over a little more than 24 hours. ... Torswats had been tormenting schools all over the country. He was a player in a loosely linked network of young trolls who made hundreds of “swatting” calls —hoaxes designed to send heavily armed police to a victim’s door— and bomb threats that triggered mass evacuations. ... Read full text:

Food delivery

...drivers can be a nightmare, but the real problem is you.

Food delivery drivers can be a menace: On scooters or e-bikes, they weave in and out of traffic, run red lights, and terrorize pedestrians on the sidewalks. When they’re in cars, they can make illegal U-turns, block bike lanes, and double-park. Nearly everyone hates delivery drivers. Major cities like New York and Boston have been trying to crack down on the chaos. The city council in Washington, DC, just passed legislation to try to regulate them, and city residents have called for better traffic regulation to restore order. It’s an uphill battle. The delivery companies’ high-powered lobbyists have fought regulation, which is complicated by genuine concerns for the low-income immigrants exploited by the delivery app companies. Rarely discussed in all the furor, however, are the real monsters: the customers! People who frequently use services like DoorDash and Uber Eats are like the single-occupancy commuter on the Beltway, the Amtrak passenger who piles his luggage on the adjacent seat on a crowded train, or the driver who blocks the intersection. They’re exemplars of American individualism, where one person’s immediate gratification comes at the expense of an entire city’s ability to use the crosswalks. Delivery services can be legitimate lifelines for people with disabilities, new parents, the elderly, or people battling an illness. But the couriers clogging the roads and dominating sidewalks today aren’t delivering a week’s worth of groceries. ... Read full text:

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Conan the Bacterium

Can survive extreme radiation. Scientists find out why.

In the 1950s, scientists exposed a tin of meat to a dose of radiation that they expected would kill all forms of life. But they discovered a surviving microorganism: the bacteria Deinococcus radiodurans. It is able to withstand radiation doses thousands of times higher than what it would take to kill a human being, earning it the nickname ‘Conan the Bacterium.’ Ever since its discovery, scientists wondered why made it so resilient against radiation. In a study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers finally home in on an answer. Three components found in a Deinococcus radiodurans cell —manganese ions, phosphate and peptides— come together to create a very powerful antioxidant that is more resistant to radiation than expected. Study co-author Brian Hoffman, a chemist at Northwestern U., says that prior to the study, he thought the answer would be a simple math problem: Add the radioactive resistance of each component and get the total amount of radioactive resistance the overall bacterium had. But the results surprised him. “There’s something new that forms when you put the pieces together. It’s the combination [in which] they interact with each other!” ...

Metamaterial

Could help us build shapeshifting space habitats.

In living things, structures are built from simple, repeatable patterns. These often come in the form of a disorganized lattice. Large structures, like bones or coral, emerge from repeated rounds of growth of a fundamental pattern that builds off of itself in a haphazard way. Despite this apparent disorganization, the resulting structures can acquire a variety of shapes and have surprising strengths, versatility and other useful properties. Most importantly, the resulting structure often has properties that the underlying lattice unit doesn’t possess. ... One promising kind of metamaterial is known as a totimorphic lattice. The basic component of this lattice is a triangular structure. On one side is a fixed beam with a ball joint in the center. An arm attaches to that ball joint, and the other end of the arm is attached to the ends of the fixed beam with two springs. When many of these shapes are attached together, the resulting structure can morph into a wide variety of shapes and structures, all with very minimal input. This gives the totimorphic lattice incredible flexibility. In a recent paper, scientists with the European Space Agency’s Advanced Concepts Team took a major leap in advancing totimorphic lattices from a hypothetical idea to practical applications. One major question with these lattices was how to reconfigure a large structure ... Read full text

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Jennie

Robotic pet

US robotics company Tombot has unveiled Jennie, a battery and AI-powered robotic pet designed to provide companionship and comfort to those struggling with cognitive health. With artistic design by Muppets creator Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, Jennie was created by Tombot CEO Tom Stevens in response to his mother's dementia, which resulted in the pair re-homing a dog after she could no longer properly care for the pet. According to Tombot, peer-reviewed studies indicate robotic animals have the capacity to ease the symptoms of dementia such as hallucinations or aggressive outbursts associated with the condition. Jennie was also designed as a cost-effective and accessible alternative to owning a real pet, a challenge for some facing behavioural or cognitive struggles. ... Read full text

Jianping He

Summer Design academy in China

Jianping He, also known as Jumping He, is a 51-year-old German- Chinese graphic designer, teacher and publisher. He was born in Hangzhou, China. In 2002 he opened hesign in Berlin, where he lives most of the year, and in 2008 another office in his home province, Hangzhou. ... For 15 years, the DS academy in Hangzhou has drawn from the rich pedagogical traditions of both China and the West. The school [the independently funded art/design school that He calls Design Summer academy] is inspired by the ideas of two key figures: 20th-century Chinese educator Cai Yuanpei, who promotes the concept of aesthetic education in society, and John Dewey, who considered education to be “life itself.” DS academy builds its coursework on “exploration and innovation” in order to cultivate artists and designers who possess refined tastes, demonstrate creative passion, and fluently utilize modern technology. This is accelerated through inventive classes taught by a skilled, illustrious international faculty that weds contemporary practice and technology with a history of Eastern and Western accomplishments, thus bridging the gap between design as pragmatics and art. He’s recipe of in-person learning, handson training and intensive craftsmanship nurtures individual thought. That he does it without official funding is a design thinker’s miracle. ... Read full text

CLIP

Portable e-motor device

Founded in 2018 by Som Ray and Clem De Alcala in Brooklyn, New York, CLIP aims to overcome the constraints of e-bikes and existing e-bike conversion kits. According to the company, CLIP is the “world’s first no tools plug and play solution to upgrade a regular bike into an e-bike”. Unlike existing e-bike conversion kits, the format doesn’t require the user to make any alterations to their bike before attaching it. “The idea was born from my own need —while living in Brooklyn I bought a bike to commute to work, but it became a pain because of a long uphill gradient,” CLIP co-founder Som Ray told Dezeen. “An obvious solution was to get an e-bike, but I’d already invested in my own bike and loved it, and an e-bike is a whole magnitude more expensive,” he said. ... Read full text

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Long COVID

It may be linked to autoimmune dysregulation.

When Jeff Yau started having strange symptoms after his COVID- 19 infection —numbness, tingling, and shaking— he experienced what thousands of others with long COVID have found: answers were hard to find, and treatments weren’t working. But Dr. Jeff Yau was in a unique position: he’s a neuroscientist who had the training, resources, and —most importantly— a strong scientific network to help him seek out answers. So when his treatments failed, Jeff turned to science to figure out why. ... Over the months, the tingling and numbness worsened and spread ... But when Jeff developed a tremor, causing his hands to shake uncontrollably, he knew something was seriously wrong. ... A spinal tap, where fluid was extracted from Jeff’s spine, was the first step to unlocking the mystery of his symptoms: he had an autoimmune disorder called chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). ... Antibodies from his immune system were attacking a fatty tissue called myelin that insulates nerve cells and allows the nerves to transmit information efficiently. ... After several failed treatments and a clinical lab test that failed to identify the antibodies that were wreaking havoc on his nerves, Jeff turned to his collegue Dr. Matt Rasband for help. ... For both neuroscientists, the hardship of Jeff’s illness was subsumed by the excitement of scientific discovery. ... Read full text

Short sleepers

They hadn’t been recognized, until now.

Natural short sleepers are genetically wired to need only four to six hours of sleep a night. These outliers suggest that quality, not quantity, is what matters. If scientists could figure out what these people do differently it might, they hope, provide insight into sleep’s very nature. Scientists once thought sleep was little more than a period of rest ... But modern sleep research has shown that sleep is an active, complicated process we don’t necessarily want to cut short. During sleep, scientists suspect that our bodies and brains are replenishing energy stores, flushing waste and toxins, pruning synapses and consolidating memories. As a result, chronic sleep deprivation can have serious health consequences. ... We’ve always known there are short sleepers and long sleepers, but most people fall in between, they’ve been out there, but the reason that they haven’t been recognized is that they generally don’t go to doctors.” ... That changed when Louis Ptáček and his colleague Ying-Hui Fu, a human geneticist and neuroscientist at UC San Francisco, were introduced to a woman who naturally woke up in the wee hours of the morning, when it was “cold, dark, and lonely.” Her granddaughters inherited her same sleep habits. The researchers pinpointed the genetic mutation for this rare type of morning lark, and after they published their findings, thousands of extreme early risers came out of the woodwork. ... Read full text:

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Nuclear power

New York state is reconsidering it.

Just a few years ago, the closure of the Indian Point nuclear power plant was celebrated by a broad coalition of environmentalists, residents and even actors as a victory for public safety and environmental protection. But times may be changing in New York, where rising greenhouse gas emissions are now threatening the state’s ambitious climate goals. State officials are exploring a new generation of nuclear technologies, driven by concerns that natural gas, solar and wind power may not be enough to meet growing energy demand, especially during peak periods. “We need to understand how this [nuclear] technology has advanced, what are the current resources that could be used, and to really be quite careful and objective about looking at the opportunity that it may present,” said Doreen Harris, president and chief executive of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). In September, the agency convened a summit meeting and released a draft blueprint outlining plans to evaluate advanced nuclear technologies, including advanced light water reactors, sodium and molten salt reactors, hightemperature gas reactors and even fusion reactors. NYSERDA also sought input from stakeholders to determine the potential role of next-generation nuclear power in New York and identify opportunities to leverage federal funding programs. ... Read full text:

We’re fine

Lying to ourselves about a climate disaster.

In 2020, ... my fiancé and I decided to get out of New York City for a while. ... Our two week stay [in Los Angeles] has become five years. While debating whether we were going to move to Los Angeles full time, my partner and I joked that we had to choose between the “fire coast” and the “water coast.” New York City had been getting pummeled by a series of tropical storms and downpours, and vast swaths of California were fighting some of the most devastating wildfires it had ever seen. We settled on the fire coast, mostly to try something new. It turns out this was a false choice. ... Both coasts are the fire coast, and the water coast. ... My group chats are full of my friends saying that they are fine, followed by stories and messages explaining that actually, they are not fine. ... Almost all of my friends in the city have now left their homes to go somewhere safer; some people I know have lost their homes. ... Earlier on Tuesday, I texted my mom “yes we are fine, it is very far away from us. It is many miles from us. We have an air purifier. It’s fine.”... Within minutes of waking up [next day], we knew that we should leave. ... A friend in Richmond, Virginia texted ... “We had a bad ice storm this week and ... The whole city has been without water since Monday.” ... Once we were out of Los Angeles, I stopped at a Best Buy to get an air purifier ... and kept driving away from the fire. I do not know when we will be able to go back. ... Read full text:

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Limitarianism

Could we put a cap on extreme wealth?

How much personal wealth should one person have? Should anyone have more than £10 million in wealth? Or is £1 million too much? Those are some of the questions put forward by Dutch economist and philosopher Ingrid Robeyns in her new book Limitarianism: The Case Against Extreme Wealth. In it, she calls for governments to cap the amount of wealth any one individual can own. Robeyns argues that there is a strong moral case for capping the wealth of individuals. Not only do extreme wealth gaps further entrench inequality but huge riches are often acquired by questionable means, whether that be through exploitative business practices or outright criminality. Even well-intentioned philanthropists can’t make up for the damage that the excessive wealth of just a few thousand people can do to the rest of society, Robeyns said. Developed countries with adequate social safety nets, such as her native Netherlands, should impose a limit of €10 million on individual personal wealth, according to Robeyns. Individuals should also apply a voluntary moral code on wealth. She said an “ethical limit [on wealth] will be around 1 million pounds, dollars or euros per person.” “Thinkers have been making the case for this ‘limitarianism’ and the capping of business rewards for centuries”, albeit in slightly different forms, said Stewart Lansley, visiting fellow at the U. of Bristol, in a review of Robeyns’ book for the London School of Economics. ...

Huge impact

A new study of children living through the war in Gaza has found that 96% of them feel that their death is imminent and almost half want to die as a result of the trauma they have been through. A needs assessment, carried out by a Gaza-based NGO sponsored by the War Child Alliance charity, also found that 92% of the children in the survey were “not accepting of reality”, 79% suffer from nightmares and 73% exhibit symptoms of aggression. “This report lays bare that Gaza is one of the most horrifying places in the world to be a child,” Helen Pattinson, chief executive of War Child UK, said. “Alongside the levelling of hospitals, schools and homes, a trail of psychological destruction has caused wounds unseen but no less destructive on children who hold no responsibility for this war.” The survey questioned parents or caregivers of 504 children from families where at least one child is disabled, injured or unaccompanied. The sample was split between southern and northern Gaza and was complemented by more in-depth interviews. The survey was carried out in June 2024, so is likely to understate the accumulated psychological impact of Gaza’s children now, after more than 14 months of Israel’s assault on the territory. The estimated death toll in Gaza is more than 44,000 and a recent assessment by the UN Human Rights Office found that 44% of the fatalities it was able to verify were children. ...
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Four lynx

...captured in Scottish Highlands. One of them died.

One of the four lynx captured in the Scottish Highlands this week has died. The animal, which had been illegally released, was caught on Friday near Kingussie in the Cairngorms national park. The Eurasian lynx was one of four that had been discovered running wild in the Dell of Killiehuntly area. Two were captured on Thursday [January 9th] and are being kept in quarantine at Edinburgh zoo. The other pair were trapped the next day and the survivor will join the first two in captivity. Dr Helen Senn, the head of conservation at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), said the circumstances behind the death of the lynx were not yet known. “However, we will be carrying out a postmortem to try to establish what happened,” she added. “Whatever the case, this unfortunate development just serves to further demonstrate the folly of abandoning these amazing animals in the wild, with no preparation or real concern for their welfare. We can only imagine the stress that all four of the recovered lynx must have experienced after being thrust into an entirely new and extremely harsh environment to fend for themselves.” Temperatures in the area plunged to as low as -14C (6.8F) this week. Usually they hover around 0C at this time of year. Adult lynx are roughly the size of a labrador and are shy and solitary creatures that very rarely attack humans. ...
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Iceland

An elven alliance is protecting its natural wonders.

Huldufólk [hidden people —fae elves who dwell in the rocks and only appear to some humans] are thought to live parallel lives to humans. As long as we don’t disturb them, they don’t disturb us. They may even help us in times of need. Threaten their homes, however, and they can cast great malady and misfortune upon us. ... According to a 2007 survey, 62% of Icelanders say that the existence of Huldufólk is possible, likely, or certain. The Hidden People are so ingrained in Icelandic culture that, since at least the 1930s, activists have disrupted construction projects in defense of elf habitat and culture. These efforts have, in some ways, protected the natural landscapes that Iceland is famous for. This Arctic country attracts around 2 million tourists each year, many of whom are drawn to its waterfalls and geysers, volcanoes and ice caves, Northern Lights and tectonic fissures. Believe in the elves or not, the Huldufólk have played a role in conserving these natural wonders. ... Protection for elves has even been etched into a 2012 law, which, according to the Iceland Monitor, protects magical and folkloric places, including those important to elves. ... “Everyone is aware that the land is alive, and one can say that the stories of hidden people and the need to work carefully with them reflects an understanding that the land demands respect,” Terry Gunnel, a folklore professor from the University of Iceland, told The Independent ...
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Homelessness What drives it and what’s needed to end it

By Kate Whiting

For six months in 2013, David Tovey lived inside his red Peugeot 203. In August 2024, that car became the centrepiece of an exhibition on homelessness in the UK — transformed by Tovey himself into a house-shaped sculpture Homelessness: Reframed at the Saatchi Gallery in London was opened by Prince William’s Homewards programme, which over five years aims to scale innovative solutions to prevent and end homelessness. It’s hoped the exhibition will improve the UK’s “understanding of homelessness and inspire optimism that it can be ended”. Tovey, an award-winning artist, who is also the co-director of Arts and Homelessness International, said of his sculpture Home 2013: “I wanted to tell the truth about what is out there and what is happening. There are thousands of people living in cars.” There wasn’t just one thing that led to Tovey living in his car: he was in his 30s and had gone back to university after having a stroke and losing his businesses, he told the Big Issue magazine. He was in poor mental and physical health and struggled with addiction and alcoholism. “Instead of saying onesize- fits-all, let’s say there’s a multitude of reasons why someone becomes homeless, let’s give them a multitude of solutions and choices to get out of it. It’s simple isn’t it?”

Homelessness statistics around the world What it means to be homeless is different for everyone and depends on where you are in the world, so country comparisons can be difficult.It can be defined as living in a shelter, or a place not fit for human habitation, or being in a transitional phase of housing —and internal displacement from conflict or natural disasters may or may not be taken into account. Across the globe, UN Habitat estimates that as many as 1.6 billion people —or more than one in five— live in ‘inadequate, crowded and unsafe housing’. In its Envisaging the Future of Cities report, the agency says: “Although slums and informal settlements are characteristics of cities in low- and middleincome countries, some cities in developed countries are also experiencing inequalities in housing. “London, for example, has experienced an appalling surge in homelessness because of restrictive urban housing markets.” In fact, the UK has one of the highest populations experiencing homelessness in OECD [Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development] countries, according to data from 2023, with 16 people in every 100,000 people living on the streets and 410 per 100,000 living in temporary accommodation or shelters. More than 300,000 people in the UK —half of them children— are thought to be sleeping on friends’ sofas or in cars or other forms of temporary accommodation. It’s estimated that around 14 million people in the UK live in relative poverty and the number of people relying on food banks has surged from 25,000 in 2009 to more than 3 million in 2024. In the US, the number of people living on the streets is 76 per 100,000, with 117 per 100,000 staying in temporary housing. Of the half million people experiencing homelessness in the US in 2022, around one in five lived in either Los Angeles or New York, with half of all unsheltered people living in California, according to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. Japan reportedly has the lowest rate of homelessness among OECD countries, with just two people living on the street per 100,000 people. In April 2024, the Japan Times reported homelessness had reached a record low, falling by 8% in the year to January, to just 2,820 people, with the highest population in Osaka. At the other end of the spectrum, more than 50% of Pakistan’s urban population live in slums or informal settlements —‘katchi abadis’— as the country’s housing crisis means there is a deficit of nine million homes. Pakistan is extremely vulnerable to natural disasters: the flooding in 2022 affected 33 million people.

What causes homelessness and what are the impacts? UK homelessness charity Crisis lists some of the many reasons people are forced into homelessness, which vary from poverty and a lack of affordable housing to losing a job, mental or physical health problems, and, often in the case of women, violent or abusive relationships. Since the COVID pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis sparked by high inflation has made it even more difficult for people to buy homes in the UK, while the cost of renting is rising. Being homeless can make it harder to hold down a job and exacerbates existing mental and physical health conditions. In fact, people experiencing homelessness are more than twice as likely as the general population to report a physical health condition (78% vs 37%), while almost half (44%) have a mental health diagnosis compared to less than a quarter among the general public. Rates of drug and alcohol use are four times higher among people experiencing homelessness than in the general population and twofifths report using substances to cope with mental health problems.

How homelessness can be addressed around the world Finland has become the poster country for efforts to address homelessness, with its Housing First initiative, introduced in 2008, leading to a 76% reduction in the number of people without somewhere to call home. The Housing First policy in Finland is a human rights strategy guided by a set of core principles —and involves collaboration between the state, cities and local NGOs to transform short-term shelters into affordable housing, with efforts driven by a shared goal to end homelessness. Housing First prioritizes permanent housing as a first step to address homelessness, giving apartments to those, as newsmagazine Speigel points out, might not qualify for a shelter in some cities or countries. While aid programs in other countries require complete abstinence from substances, that is required just in Housing First public spaces and residents have a team of therapists, doctors, social workers and even a first-ofits kind empathy consultant providing care and support around the clock. The Housing First model was originated by Canadian clinical psychologist Dr Sam Tsemberis who advocated providing housing and on-site support for people with a history of mental illness and substance abuse, as a way to end homelessness. Housing First, which began in 1992 as a five-year trial by Dr Tsemberis in New York called Pathways to Housing, has since been adopted around the world, from Argentina to Australia, and the Nordic nations of Denmark, Norway and, perhaps most successfully, Finland. “What’s frustrating about homelessness is you can solve it right away. It’s not like you need to develop a cure,” Tsemberis told Global Citizen. “There is so much evidence showing how Housing First works, but it takes political will.” In the UK, there are six locations taking part in Prince William’s Homewards programme —from Lambeth in London, to Sheffield in Yorkshire— with local action plans in place for each. “Homewards aims to give people across the UK hope that homelessness can be prevented by showing them the progress we can make when we collaborate,” says the Prince. “It’s a big task, but I firmly believe that by working together it is possible to make homelessness rare, brief and unrepeated, and I am very much looking forward to working with our six locations to make our ambition a reality.”

Solving the affordable housing crisis As Crisis says, the best way to tackle homelessness is to “stop it happening in the first place”, by ensuring those vulnerable to homelessness, such as people leaving prison or care, have a home. In January, the World Economic Forum published Reshaping Affordability: Interventions for Inclusive and Liveable Cities, which brings together ideas on how to make cities affordable through land use, sustainable communities and inclusive design. “Access to adequate housing and basic services is fundamental to affordable and accessible cities. This starts with investing in formalizing informal housing for the one in eight people who live in slums worldwide,” write Jonathan Reckford, CEO, Habitat for Humanity International and Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr.

To achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goal 11 of ‘decent housing for all’ by 2030, governments must “prioritize adequate housing” by “increasing financial commitments … and making meaningful policy changes”. They outline three steps for governments to alleviate the housing crisis: prioritizing land tenure security, strengthening climate-resilient housing and expanding finance for housing. The collection of articles includes one on how Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas is aiming to re-establish the affordable housing supply through an $870 million public investment plan and a mix of short-term solutions and long-term investments. Such initiatives bring hope but also reinforce the need for policymakers and communities across the globe to work together and put in place effective policies and interventions to end homelessness —in all its forms. “Much like the urban affordability and affordable housing crisis, there is no single solution to homelessness,” says Kristy Henrich Klein, the World Economic Forum’s Urban Innovation Lead. “It is a complex problem with diverse root causes that must be tackled through multi-dimensional programmes.”

Read text by Kate Whiting at World Economic Forum:

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Crutcheze.

This crutch bag allows you to easily carry your items while on crutches. The bag attaches with adjustable Velcro straps that allow you to find the ideal placement on your crutches. www.crutcheze.com

Mesh produce bag.

Made with recycled cotton, it features handy drawstring closure and is available in small, medium and large sizes or a set of all three. www.greentulip.co.uk

Starter kit.

A great way to sample some of Field Notes popular items. The kit includes: One 80-page Steno (a notebook with a black spiral at the top, one Kraft mixed 3-pack (three 48-page memo books), one No. 2 Woodgrain pencil, one Black clic pen, one Band of rubber. fieldnotesbrand.com

Xochitl Castañeda.

“Even in hard times there is light, and public health is a marvellous instrument to shine that light.”

Xochitl Castañeda. Mexican Medical Anthropologist who is working to improve public health for Latin American immigrants in the United States.

Miffy & friends crochet plush toy.

Each adorable figure is donned in an outfit inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s famous painting The Starry Night (1889). This plush toy is handmade by differently abled workers in Vietnam. store.moma.org

Say what?

“My wallet is like an onion. Every time I open it, it makes me cry.” Source: 100 Funny sayings that are definitely worth memorizing. www.rd.com

BACHELOR’S DEGREE in Theology

SCHOOL OF SOCIAL AND HUMAN STUDIES

The Bachelor of Theology (BA) program objective is to help students who are planning to invest their lives in church or mission vocations to achieve the desired level of knowledge through biblical and theological studies. The Bachelor of Theology program is offered online via distance learning. After evaluating both academic record and life experience, AIU staff working in conjunction with Faculty and Academic Advisors will assist students in setting up a custom-made program, designed on an individual basis. This flexibility to meet student needs is seldom found in other distance learning programs. Our online program does not require all students to take the same subjects/ courses, use the same books, or learning materials. Instead, the online Bachelor of Theology curriculum is designed individually by the student and academic advisor. It specifically addresses strengths and weaknesses with respect to market opportunities in the student’s major and intended field of work. Understanding that industry and geographic factors should influence the content of the curriculum instead of a standardized one-fits-all design is the hallmark of AIU’s unique approach to adult education. This philosophy addresses the dynamic and constantly changing environment of working professionals by helping adult students in reaching their professional and personal goals within the scope of the degree program.

Important:

Below is an example of the topics or areas you may develop and work on during your studies. By no means is it a complete or required list as AIU programs do not follow a standardized curriculum. It is meant solely as a reference point and example. Want to learn more about the curriculum design at AIU? Go ahead and visit our website, especially the Course and Curriculum section: https://www.aiu.edu/ academic-freedom-and-open-curriculum/

Orientation Courses:

Communication & Investigation (Comprehensive Resume)
Organization Theory (Portfolio)
Experiential Learning (Autobiography)
Academic Evaluation (Questionnaire)
Fundament of Knowledge (Integration Chart)
Fundamental Principles I (Philosophy of Education)
Professional Evaluation (Self Evaluation Matrix)
Development of Graduate Study (Guarantee of an Academic Degree)

Core Courses and Topics

Introduction to Theology
Biblical studies
Church History
Theology
PROGRAMS AT AIU
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Systematic Theology
Ethics and morality
Comparative religion
Philosophy of religion
Pastoral care and counseling
Homiletics
Church leadership and administration
Liturgical studies
Mission and Evangelism
Understanding the Bible
The New Testament
Dynamics of world religion
Hebrew script post Bible Judaism
The Church
Understanding of faith
Contemporary religious education
Women in the Church

Research Project

Bachelor Thesis Project
MBM300 Thesis Proposal
MBM302 Bachelor Thesis
(5,000 words)

Publication

Each graduate is encouraged to publish their research papers either online in the public domain or through professional journals and periodicals worldwide.

Contact us to get started

Submit your Online Application, paste your resume and any additional comments/ questions in the area provided.

aiu.edu/apply-online.html

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800-993-0066 (Toll Free in US)
808-924-9567 (Internationally)

Accreditation

Atlantic International University offers distance learning degree programs for adult learners at bachelors, masters, and doctoral level. With self paced program taken online, AIU lifts the obstacles that keep professional adults from completing their educational goals. Programs are available throughout a wide range of majors and areas of study. All of this with a philosophically holistic approach towards education fitting within the balance of your life and acknowledging the key role each individual can play in their community, country, and the world.

Atlantic International University is accredited by the Accreditation Service for International Schools, Colleges and Universities (ASIC). ASIC Accreditation is an internationally renowned quality standard for colleges and universities. Visit ASIC’s Directory of Accredited Colleges and Universities. ASIC is a member of CHEA International Quality Group (CIQG) in the USA, an approved accreditation body by the Ministerial Department of the Home Office in the UK, and is listed in the International Directory of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). The University is based in the United States and was established by corporate charter in 1998.

Our founding principles are based on the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights; per article 26, AIU believes that Higher Education is a Human Right. The University has implemented a paradigm shifting educational model for its academic programs that have allowed it to move closer to this goal through the self-empowerment of its students, decentralization of the learning process, personalized open curriculum design, a sustainable learning model, developing 11 core elements of the Human Condition within MYAIU, and utilizing the quasi-infinite knowledge through the use of information technology combined with our own capacity to find solutions to all types of global issues, dynamic problems, and those of individuals and multidisciplinary teams. Due to these differentiations and the university’s mission, only a reputable accrediting agency with the vision and plasticity to integrate and adapt its processes around AIU’s proven and successful innovative programs could be selected. Unfortunately, the vast majority of accrediting agencies adhere to and follow obsolete processes and requirements that have outlived their usefulness and are in direct conflict with the university’s mission of offering a unique, dynamic, affordable, quality higher education to the nontraditional student (one who must work, study what he really needs for professional advancement, attend family issues, etc.). We believe that adopting outdated requirements and processes would impose increased financial burdens on students while severely limiting their opportunities to earn their degree and advance in all aspects. Thus, in selecting the ASIC as its accrediting agency, AIU ensured that its unique programs would not be transformed into a copy or clone of those offered by the 10,000+ colleges and universities around the world. Since ASIC is an international accrediting agency based outside the United States, we are required by statute HRS446E to place the following disclaimer: ATLANTIC INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY IS NOT ACCREDITED BY AN ACCREDITING AGENCY RECOGNIZED BY THE UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF EDUCATION. Note: In the United States and abroad, many licensing authorities require accredited degrees as the basis for eligibility for licensing.

In some cases, accredited colleges may not accept for transfer courses and degrees completed at unaccredited colleges, and some employers may require an accredited degree as a basis for eligibility for employment. Potential students should consider how the above may affect their interests, AIU respects the unique rules and regulations of each country and does not seek to influence the respective authorities. In the event that a prospective student wishes to carry out any government review or process in regards to his university degree, we recommend that the requirements of such are explored in detail with the relevant authorities by the prospective student as the university does not intervene in such processes. AIU students can be found in over 180 countries, they actively participate and volunteer in their communities as part of their academic program and have allocated thousands of service hours to diverse causes and initiatives. AIU programs follow the standards commonly used by colleges and universities in the United States with regards to the following: academic program structure, degree issued, transcript, and other graduation documents. AIU graduation documents can include an apostille and authentication from the US Department of State to facilitate their use internationally.

The AIU Difference

It is acknowledged that the act of learning is endogenous, (from within), rather than exogenous.

This fact is the underlying rationale for “Distance Learning”, in all of the programs offered by AIU. The combination of the underlying principles of student “self instruction”, (with guidance), collaborative development of curriculum unique to each student, and flexibility of time and place of study, provides the ideal learning environment to satisfy individual needs.

AIU is an institution of experiential learning and nontraditional education at a distance. There are no classrooms and attendance is not required.

Mission & Vision

MISSION:

To be a higher learning institution concerned about generating cultural development alternatives likely to be sustained in order to lead to a more efficient administration of the world village and its environment; exerting human and community rights through diversity with the ultimate goal of the satisfaction and evolution of the world.

VISION:

The empowerment of the individual towards the convergence of the world through a sustainable educational design based on andragogy and omniology.

Organizational Structure

Dr. Franklin Valcin Presi den t/Academic Dean	Dr. José Mercado Chief Executive Officer Chairman of the Board of Trustees	Ricardo González, PhD Provost

Dr. Ricardo Gonzalez Chief Operation Officer and MKT Director	Linda Collazo Logistics Coordinator	AIU Tutors Coordinators: Deborah Rodriguez Amiakhor Ejaeta Amanda Gutierrez William Mora Miriam James Admissions Coordinators: Amalia Aldrett Sandra Garcia Junko Shimizu Veronica Amuz Alba Ochoa Jenis Garcia Judith Brown Chris Soto René Cordón Dr. Anderas Rissler Academic Coordinators: Dr. Adesida Oluwafemi Dr. Emmanuel Gbagu Dr. Lucia Gorea Dr. Edgar Colon Dr. Mario Rios Freddy Frejus Dr. Nilani Ljunggren De Silva Dr. Scott Wilson Dr. Mohammad Shaidul Islam

Dr. Miriam Garibaldi Vice provost for Research	Carolina Valdes Human Resource Coordinator

Dr. Ofelia Miller Director of AIU	Carlos Aponte Teleco mmunications Coordinator

Clara Margalef Director of Special Projects of AIU	David Jung Corporate/Legal Counsel

Juan Pablo Moreno Director of Operations	Bruce Kim Advisor/Consultant

Paula Viera Director of Intelligence Systems	Thomas Kim Corporate/ Accounting Counsel

Felipe Gomez Design Director / IT Supervisor	Maricela Esparza Administrative Coordinator

Kevin Moll Web Designer	Chris Benjamin IT and Hosting Support

Daritza Ysla IT Coordinator	Maria Pastrana Accounting Coordinator

Daritza Ysla IT Coordinator	Roberto Aldrett Communications Coordinator

Nadeem Awan Chief Programming Officer	Giovanni Castillo IT Support

Dr. Edward Lambert Academic Director	Antonella Fonseca Quality Control & Data Analysis

Dr. Ariadna Romero Advisor Coordinator	Adrián Varela Graphic Design

Jhanzaib Awan Senior Programmer	Vanesa D’Angelo Content Writer

Leonardo Salas Human Resource Manager	Jaime Rotlewicz Dean of Admissions

Benjamin Joseph IT and Technology Support	Michael Phillips Registrar’s Office

Rosie Perez Finance Coordinator

FACULTY AND STAFF PAGE: www.aiu.edu/FacultyStaff.html

School of Business and Economics

The School of Business and Economics allows aspiring and practicing professionals, managers, and entrepreneurs in the private and public sectors to complete a self paced distance learning degree program of the highest academic standard. The ultimate goal is to empower learners and help them take advantage of the enormous array of resources from the world environment in order to eliminate the current continuum of poverty and limitations. Degree programs are designed for those students whose professional experience has been in business, marketing, administration, economics, finance and management.

Areas of Study:

Accounting, Advertising, Banking, Business Administration, Communications, Ecommerce, Finance, Foreign Affairs, Home Economics, Human Resources, International Business, International Finance, Investing, Globalization, Marketing, Management, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Public Administrations, Sustainable Development, Public Relations, Telecommunications, Tourism, Trade.

School of Social and Human Studies

The School of Social and Human Studies is focused on to the development of studies which instill a core commitment to building a society based on social and economic justice and enhancing opportunities for human well being. The founding principles lie on the basic right of education as outlined in the Declaration of Human Rights. We instill in our students a sense of confidence and self reliance in their ability to access the vast opportunities available through information channels, the world wide web, private, public, nonprofit, and nongovernmental organizations in an ever expanding global community. Degree programs are aimed towards those whose professional life has been related to social and human behavior, with the arts, or with cultural studies.

Areas of Study:

Psychology, International Affairs, Sociology, Political Sciences, Architecture, Legal Studies, Public Administration, Literature and languages, Art History, Ministry, African Studies, Middle Eastern Studies, Asian Studies, European Studies, Islamic Studies, Religious Studies.

School of Science and Engineering

The School of Science and Engineering seeks to provide dynamic, integrated, and challenging degree programs designed for those whose experience is in industrial research, scientific production, engineering and the general sciences. Our system for research and education will keep us apace with the twenty-first century reach scientific advance in an environmentally and ecologically responsible manner to allow for the sustainability of the human population. We will foster among our students a demand for ethical behavior, an appreciation for diversity, an understanding of scientific investigation, knowledge of design innovation, a critical appreciation for the importance of technology and technological change for the advancement of humanity.

Areas of Study:

Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, Communications, Petroleum Science, Information Technology, Telecommunications, Nutrition Science, Agricultural Science, Computer Science, Sports Science, Renewable Energy, Geology, Urban Planning.

Online Library Resources

With access to a global catalog created and maintained collectively by more than 9,000 participating institutions, AIU students have secured excellent research tools for their study programs.

The AIU online library contains over 2 billion records and over 300 million bibliographic records that are increasing day by day. The sources spanning thousands of years and virtually all forms of human expression. There are files of all kinds, from antique inscribed stones to e-books, form wax engravings to MP3s, DVDs and websites. In addition to the archives, the library AIU Online offers electronic access to more than 149,000 e-books, dozens of databases and more than 13 million full-text articles with pictures included. Being able to access 60 databases and 2393 periodicals with more than 18 million items, guarantees the information required to perform the assigned research project. Users will find that many files are enriched with artistic creations on the covers, indexes, reviews, summaries and other information.

The records usually have information attached from important libraries. The user can quickly assess the relevance of the information and decide if it is the right source.

Education on the 21st century

AIU is striving to regain the significance of the concept of education, which is rooted into the Latin “educare”, meaning “to pull out”, breaking loose from the paradigm of most 21st century universities with their focus on “digging and placing information” into students’ heads rather than teaching them to think. For AIU, the generation of “clones” that some traditional universities are spreading throughout the real world is one of the most salient reasons for today’s ills. In fact, students trained at those educational institutions never feel a desire to “change the world” or the current status quo; instead, they adjust to the environment, believe everything is fine, and are proud of it all.

IN A WORLD where knowledge and mostly information expire just like milk, we must reinvent university as a whole in which each student, as the key player, is UNIQUE within an intertwined environment. This century’s university must generate new knowledge bits although this may entail its separation from both the administrative bureaucracy and the faculty that evolve there as well. AIU thinks that a university should be increasingly integrated into the “real world”, society, the economy, and the holistic human being. As such, it should concentrate on its ultimate goal, which is the student, and get him/her deeply immersed into a daily praxis of paradigm shifts, along with the Internet and research, all these being presently accessible only to a small minority of the world community. AIU students must accomplish their self-learning mission while conceptualizing it as the core of daily life values through the type of experiences that lead to a human being’s progress when information is converted into education. The entire AIU family must think of the university as a setting that values diversity and talent in a way that trains mankind not only for the present but above all for a future that calls everyday for professionals who empower themselves in academic and professional areas highly in demand in our modern society. We shall not forget that, at AIU, students are responsible for discovering their own talents and potential, which they must auto-develop in such a way that the whole finish product opens up as a flower that blossoms every year more openly.

THE AIU STANCE is against the idea of the campus as a getaway from day-to-day pressure since we believe reality is the best potential-enhancer ever; one truly learns through thinking, brainstorming ideas, which leads to new solutions, and ultimately the rebirth of a human being fully integrated in a sustainable world environment. Self-learning is actualized more from within than a top-down vantage point, that is to say, to influence instead of requesting, ideas more than power. We need to create a society where solidarity, culture, life, not political or economic rationalism and more than techno structures, are prioritized. In short, the characteristics of AIU students and alumni remain independence, creativity, self-confidence, and ability to take risk towards new endeavors. This is about people’s worth based not on what they know but on what they do with what they know.

AIU Service

AIU offers educational opportunities in the USA to adults from around the world so that they can use their own potential to manage their personal, global cultural development. The foundational axis of our philosophy lies upon self-actualized knowledge and information, with no room for obsoleteness, which is embedded into a DISTANCE LEARNING SYSTEM based on ANDRAGOGY and OMNIOLOGY. The ultimate goal of this paradigm is to empower learners and help them take advantage of the enormous array of resources from the world environment in order to eliminate the current continuum of poverty and limitations.

This will become a crude reality with respect for, and practice of, human and community rights through experiences, investigations, practicum work, and/ or examinations. Everything takes place in a setting that fosters diversity; with advisors and consultants with doctorate degrees and specializations in Human Development monitor learning processes, in addition to a worldwide web of colleagues and associations, so that they can reach the satisfaction and the progress of humanity with peace and harmony.

Contact us to get started

Now, it’s possible to earn your degree in the comfort of your own home. For additional information or to see if you qualify for admissions please contact us.

Pioneer Plaza / 900 Fort Street Mall 410 Honolulu, HI 96813
800-993-0066 (Toll Free in US) info@aiu.edu
808-924-9567 (Internationally) www.aiu.edu

Amílcar Mateus Joaquim Bachelor of Science Architecture Angola	Ernesto Francisco Joao Bachelor of Engineering Environmental Health and Safety Angola	Enrique Stel Doctor of Legal Studies Criminal Justice Argentina	Yousif Amin Al Ameen Doctor of Philosop hy Project Management Bahrain	Ariel Richard Subelza Flores Bachelor of Science Electrical Engineering Bolivia	Ginia Beradette Valenzuela Antigua Doctor of International Relations International Relations Dominican Republic

Lorena Javier Alcántara Master of Management Management and Productivity Dominican Republic	Ramón Nicolás Jiménez Díaz Doctor of Philosop hy International Business Dominican Republic	Hector Augusto Rodriguez Bachelor of Science Civil Engineering Dominican Republic	Oscar Orlando Romero García Master of Science Organizational Development El Salvado	Yésica Juana Castillo Galíndo Master of Science Health Sciences Guatemala	Leslyn Ann Garraway Doctor of Science Urban and Regional Planning Guyana

Christine Russell Doctor of Education Early Childhood Education Jamaica	Taneisha Reboe Master of Science Nutrition Jamaica	Carlton D'Cruz Doctor of Education General Education Kenya	Kaume Adams Kubai Master of Science Legal Studies Kenya	Emmanuel Ruiz Romero Bachelor of Science Cyber Security and Hacking Mexico	Canisio Heitor Jeronimo Chambale Bachelor of Science Petroleum Engineering Mozambique

Jacintha R. Brice Master of Science Psychology Netherlands	Heather Ciweku Onoh Doctor of Philosop hy Renewable Energy Nigeria	Andrew Aigbogie Mamedu Doctor of Philosop hy Political Science Nigeria	Ibianga Philip Brown Doctor of Philosop hy Accounting Nigeria	Aldo Gonzales Montoya Bachelor of Science Industrial Engineering Peru	Hina Asif Bachelor of Science Counselling Psychology Qatar

Olympia Piper Cools Vitalis Doctor of Philosop hy Psychology Saint Lucia	Bakary Sanneh Doctor of Science Agriculture Senegal	Tsitsi Muvunzi Doctor of Philosop hy Project Management Sierra Leone	George Sebastiano Akot Riing Bachelor of Science Architecture South Sudan	Gloria Engracia Medina Cuéllar Doctor of International Relations International Public Relations Spa in	Andres Rodrigo Barci Doctor of Business Administration Accounting Spain

Sherese S. Browne Bachelor of Social Sciences Social Work St. Vincent and the Grenadines	Eng Muhigirwa Charles Doctor of Science Engineering Education Management Uganda	Mauricio Nava Palacios Certificate of Management Business Management USA	Mistreselasie Sentayehu Abate Master of Science Structural Engineering USA	Audrey Leoni Lee- Peynado Doctor of Education Business Education USA	Yuta M Silverman Doctor of Psychology Positive Psychology USA

Mohammad Hamidullah Sheikh Doctor of Philosop hy Business Administration USA	Francisco Jose Cabello Guzman Bachelor of Business Administration Business Administration Venezuela

February 2025 Edition!

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PMP Certification

Land tenure security

Graduated with Distinction

Humanitarian work

Contribution to Higher Education

Doctorate in Psychology

8TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON Global Studies

Find More Graduates

Student Testimonials

FIND MORE TESTIMONIALS FROM AIU STUDENTS HERE:

The value of truth and misinformation

By Dr. Rosa Hilda Lora M. Advisor at AIU | rosa@aiu.edu

Architecture and Isomorphism: The Conflict between occupants’ behavior and the environmental characteristics of the building

Elvira Mumy Arielle Celina | Doctorate in Architecture | Part 1/2

Learning

‘Swatting’ calls

The school shootings were fake, but the terror was real.

Food delivery

...drivers can be a nightmare, but the real problem is you.

Find Open Courses and a world of learning granted by AIU at courses.aiu.edu Help others study and change their lives. Visit MyAIU Pledge.

Conan the Bacterium

Can survive extreme radiation. Scientists find out why.

Metamaterial

Could help us build shapeshifting space habitats.

AIU makes a huge contribution to the world by giving new scient ifics the space for original investigations and research. Visit MyAIU Evolution

Jennie

Robotic pet

Jianping He

Summer Design academy in China

CLIP

Portable e-motor device

Get a better knowledge about our rights and the way we can use them on a daily basis to prevent any abuse or limitations of them. Visit MyAIU Human Rights.

Long COVID

It may be linked to autoimmune dysregulation.

Short sleepers

They hadn’t been recognized, until now.

Find support for your own unique art and design projects, or support other creative projects at MyAIU Research

Nuclear power

New York state is reconsidering it.

We’re fine

Lying to ourselves about a climate disaster.

Live a better life learning how to keep your body, mind and soul balanced. Visit regularly MyAIU Body / MyAIU Mind / MyAIU Spirit and MyAIU Energy.

Limitarianism

Could we put a cap on extreme wealth?

Huge impact

Huge impact

Live a better life learning how to keep your body, mind and soul balanced. Visit regularly MyAIU Body / MyAIU Mind / MyAIU Spirit and MyAIU Energy.

Four lynx

...captured in Scottish Highlands. One of them died.

Iceland

An elven alliance is protecting its natural wonders.

Live a better life learning how to keep your body, mind and soul balanced. Visit regularly MyAIU Body / MyAIU Mind / MyAIU Spirit and MyAIU Energy.

Campus

Homelessness What drives it and what’s needed to end it

By Kate Whiting

Help others study and change their lives. Visit MyAIU Pledge. Learn how to have a better financial control. Visit MyAIU Money.

Crutcheze.

Mesh produce bag.

Starter kit.

A great way to sample some of Field Notes popular items. The kit includes: One 80-page Steno (a notebook with a black spiral at the top, one Kraft mixed 3-pack (three 48-page memo books), one No. 2 Woodgrain pencil, one Black clic pen, one Band of rubber. fieldnotesbrand.com

Xochitl Castañeda.

“Even in hard times there is light, and public health is a marvellous instrument to shine that light.” Xochitl Castañeda. Mexican Medical Anthropologist who is working to improve public health for Latin American immigrants in the United States.

Miffy & friends crochet plush toy.

Each adorable figure is donned in an outfit inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s famous painting The Starry Night (1889). This plush toy is handmade by differently abled workers in Vietnam. store.moma.org

Say what?

“My wallet is like an onion. Every time I open it, it makes me cry.” Source: 100 Funny sayings that are definitely worth memorizing. www.rd.com

BACHELOR’S DEGREE in Theology

SCHOOL OF SOCIAL AND HUMAN STUDIES

Important:

Orientation Courses:

Core Courses and Topics

Research Project

Publication

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aiu.edu/apply-online.html

About Us

Accreditation

The AIU Difference

“Even in hard times there is light, and public health is a marvellous instrument to shine that light.”

Xochitl Castañeda. Mexican Medical Anthropologist who is working to improve public health for Latin American immigrants in the United States.