Although the end of the pandemic may be in sight, the costs of working remotely are growing. It’s time companies had a plan – even if they aren’t returning to the office any time soon.
Thomas Edison remains the poster child of American invention 89 years after his death.
Underwood & Underwood via the Library of Congress
The story of invention in America typically features larger-than-life caricatures of white men like Thomas Edison while largely ignoring the contributions of women and people of color.
Jessica C Lai, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington and Jesse Pirini, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
Innovation means creating and capturing value from new things. And it’s better for the Kiwi economy if investment in that innovation grows local industries and creates jobs.
These beautiful curves hold the key to a simple way to vary the stiffness of robotic grippers.
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What if roads and bridges could signal structural problems that need repair?
Spatial applications show where the COVID-19 vulnerable populations and active cases are, where to find care, and where there are resource gaps.
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Insects are plentiful and inexpensive. Even when children aren’t attending school in person, they can learn from the encounters they have with insects outside.
Professor Christian Happi, director of the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases, displays one of the most advanced automated acid extractors being used in the laboratory.
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Widely adopted in the US when pandemic precautions kept people home, telehealth faces a challenge as insurance coverage changes, right when its popularity had surged.
Scientists around Africa are working at the cutting edge of research and their work is relevant beyond the continent.
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Thanks to major science infrastructure, human resource training and education investment in African nations, the continent is well placed to lead from the front.
Sometimes promising innovations, such as this glass that can harness solar energy, developed by scientist Lance Wheeler, take a long time to reach consumers.
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Societies and cultures that seem ossified and entrenched can be completely upended by pandemics, which create openings for conquest, innovation and social change.
Many prizes that aim to spur innovation are winner-take-all.
VCG for 2019 RoboMaster Robotics Competition Final Tournament via Getty Images
Luciano Kay, University of California, Santa Barbara
Society has never faced more pressing challenges. Researchers are investigating how monetary prizes can help focus innovators’ attention, creativity and investment on finding solutions.
Increased automation threatens job security in South Africa’s auto industry.
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Automation in South Africa’s auto industry may have made car manufacturing easier, faster, and more productive but it comes with social and employment costs.
The coronavirus pandemic has resulted in increased adoption of communication and network technologies.
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Internet technologies and the devices that enable information access and transfer are useful in crisis management. Accessing these readily available digital technologies can help community resiliency.
Problem-solving is key to math and science instruction.
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Teachers in training can be taught to teach their students to tackle problems like mathematicians and scientists. But will they stick with that approach once they get their own class?
Vietnam broke its streak of no coronavirus deaths in July, but with dragonfruit, YouTube and free masks, innovators have helped the country fight back.
Innovators are comfortable dealing with uncertainty.
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Many great innovators have personality traits in common. Comfort with uncertainty is critical, but passion, curiosity and a number of other learnable skills can prime you for an innovate idea.
The global pandemic has interrupted supply chains for almost 75% of US companies.
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Medical supply shortages during the pandemic revealed that US industries are unable to provide essential goods in a crisis. A return to domestic production would boost incomes and prepare us for the next crisis.
Melbourne’s Innovation Districts were launched a few years ago, but the impacts of COVID-19 have added urgency to having places to trial new ways of urban living.