BROOKLYN STUDENTS EARN SCIENCE DEGREES FROM RENSSELAER POLYTECH
NORTHERN BROOKLYN — Three students from Brooklyn have graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York (north of Albany), with a bachelor of science degree. Jaylen Campbell of Fort Greene/Navy Yard area (11205) earned her degree in civil engineering; Monika Dabrowska of Greenpoint (11222) earned her degree in biological neuroscience. Billy Wu of East Williamsburg (11206) earned his degree in mechanical engineering.
Many graduates will continue their post-graduate studies at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and other schools, including Columbia University, Stanford University, and Cornell University. Others will begin professional positions with companies such as Dow Jones, Rockstar Games, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pfizer, Volvo Group, Boston Children’s Hospital, Edwards Lifesciences, Mastercard, Consigli, and WL Gore.
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NYC PARTNERS WITH NYU TANDON ON FLOODNET TO DETECT REAL-TIME PROBLEMS
DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN — The city has teamed with NYU Tandon School of Engineering to utilize the university’s innovative FloodNet technology solar-powered ultrasonic flood detectors to help fight potential flooding in the 2023 hurricane season. NYC FloodNet “is a flood data collection program for real-time street-level flood information to city agencies, residents, emergency response teams, and researchers.” NYU Tandon Professor Andrea Silverman (CUE, CUSP, SEI), co-developer of Floodnet and Assistant Professor in the school’s Department of Civil and Urban Engineering, told NBC News last Friday during a June 2 segment titled “The Battle for Safe and Legal Basement Apartments” that “The NYC Emergency Management, with this data, might have a better understanding of where flooding is happening in real time.”
Dr. Silverman focuses her research on “developing sustainable and appropriate wastewater treatment systems, in an effort to protect public health and environmental quality,” according to C2Smart.
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TANDON RESEARCHERS: CHATS WITH AI CAN HELP BUILD MICROPROCESSING CHIPS
DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN — A team of researchers at NYU Tandon School of Engineering have discovered that conversations with Artificial Intelligence (AI) models can help fabricate microprocessing chips. The team, Hammond Pearce, Ramesh Karri and Siddarth Garg, built a microprocessing chip using plain English “conversations,” and achieving a precedent with the potential for faster chip development. The Tandon researchers, whose abstract of this discovery was published in arXiv explained that the first steps in developing any type of hardware — including chips, entail describing what the hardware should do in normal language. Specially trained engineers then translate that description into Hardware Description Languages (HDLs).
The breakthrough could allow individuals without specialized skills to design chips.
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NYC SCHOOLS TO OPERATE REMOTELY FRIDAY AS AIR REMAINS UNHEALTHY
CITYWIDE — Students attending NYC public schools are required to attend remotely on Friday, JUNE 9, because the city’s air quality from wildfires in Canada remains at unhealthy levels, according the city’s Department of Education. “All New York City Public School students and staff will pivot to remote learning and work on Friday, June 9, 2023—including school-based, district, and central staff,” DOE said.
The Air Quality Index in Brooklyn at roughly 4 p.m. on Thursday was 164, and over 200 in some areas of the city, down substantially from Wednesday’s “Hazardous” level API of 484. (Anything over 150 is deemed “unhealthy for everybody.”) You can find the current air quality in your neighborhood at AirNow.gov.
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TEEN WITH JUNIOR LICENSE LOSES CONTROL OF TESLA IN FATAL MIDWOOD COLLISION
MIDWOOD — A teen driving an expensive Tesla on a junior-grade driver license caused a fatal and destructive collision Wednesday night in Midwood, reports the Daily News. The youth, whose name NYPD withheld because he’s juvenile, was speeding northbound along Ocean Parkway when he lost control of the Tesla at Avenue M, hitting the curb and smashing into a 76-year-old man, since identified as Milorad Rajacic, killing the elderly man on impact. The Tesla, which still spun out of control, then knocked over a traffic signal pole, hitting a 25-year-old man sitting on a median bench, causing him serious injuries. Both the teen and elderly victim were believed to be local residents.
The teen’s license, as part of New York’s Graduated License Program, required him to drive with a licensed adult in the front passenger-side seat, unless traveling to school or work, although police reported that he was alone in the vehicle when he lost control.
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ROBERT DE NIRO, TRIBECA FILM FEST’S CO-FOUNDER, RECEIVES KEY TO THE CITY OF NY
TRIBECA — Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday, June 7, awarded a Key to the City of New York to legendary actor and co-founder of the Tribeca Festival Robert De Niro for his lifetime of achievement and service to New York.
Mayor Adams presented the key to De Niro on the festival’s opening night, celebrating the actor and philanthropist’s decades of contribution to film and over 20 years since the founding of the Tribeca Festival, which De Niro established in 2002 to help revitalize New York City after 9/11. De Niro, born and bred in New York City and one of its most iconic actors, has been honored many times including two Academy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, the Cecil B. DeMille Award, the Golden Lion, the American Film Institute Life Achievement Award, and a Presidential Medal of Freedom.
First presented in 1702, The Key to the City of New York has become “a beloved symbol of civic recognition and gratitude reserved for individuals whose service to the public and the common good rises to the highest level of achievement, according to the Mayor’s Office.
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STATE JUDGE DENIES NRA’S MOTION TO USE PREVIOUSLY-REJECTED COUNTERCLAIMS IN TRIAL
STATEWIDE — New York State Supreme Court Justice Joel Cohen has denied motions by the National Rifle Association (NRA) to use previously-rejected counterclaims as part of their defense in the upcoming trial. Among these claims were assertions that Attorney General James’ investigation into the organization’s self-dealing, abuse, and unlawful conduct was unconstitutional and politically motivated, as a defense for the upcoming trial. As he did in 2022, Justice Cohen held that Attorney General James’ claims against the NRA are serious and viable, and are well within her office’s jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute.
Attorney General James, who first filed a lawsuit against the NRA and its senior management in August 2020, said, “For over two years, the NRA and its senior management have used every tool and trick to try and avoid the consequences of their bad actions. Bringing up arguments that have already been rejected is just the latest example of how far the NRA will go to distract from the serious charges of misconduct it is facing.”
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CLEAN SLATE ACT NEGOTIATIONS INCH IT TOWARD VOTE
STATEWIDE — The Clean Slate Act that Brooklyn State Senator Zellnor Myrie (D-20) co-sponsored has made progress in negotiations toward a vote and becoming law, the New York Law Journal reports. The language of the bill which, if it becomes law, would automatically seal certain criminal records of thousands of New Yorkers, was tweaked to narrow the scope of who would be eligible. While the bill would automatically seal certain old convictions that could hinder job seekers’ prospects — particularly for persons of color — an 11th-hour change would mandate an eight-year wait period for automatic sealing of felony convictions, except for Class A felonies, which would not be eligible at all.
Supporters hope that both legislative houses can pass the Clean Slate Act by Thursday, June 8, the last scheduled day of the New York legislative session.
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NEW YORK AWARDED $1.5M TO BOLSTER MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS.
STATEWIDE — The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) announced $1.5 million for New York to strengthen the Medical Reserve Corps network — focusing on emergency preparedness, response, and health equity needs. As part of this, the American Rescue Plan has provided funding for the first-ever MRC State, Territory and Tribal Nations, Representative Organizations for Next Generation grant program. The New York State Department of Health and Health Research, Inc. will use the funding to enhance the state’s system for volunteer registration and verification of volunteer medical professionals’ credentials and will provide support for background checks.
The MRC is a national network of 300,000 volunteers organized into approximately 750 local community-based groups, with units of local volunteers who donate their time and expertise to prepare for and respond to emergencies and support steady-state preparedness initiatives.
Our world in photos: June 8
June 8 |
Daniel Cody
Attorney General: Watch out for price gouging as NYers deal with poor air quality
June 8 |
Rob Abruzzese
Christine Clarke returns to Legal Services NYC as Chief of Litigation and Advocacy
June 8 |
Rob Abruzzese
Clean Slate Act gets a makeover: Amended version excludes Class A felonies and extends waiting period
June 8 |
Rob Abruzzese