After two years of data collection, quantitative and qualitative analyses, meetings and stakeholder interviews, a University of Maine-led team of researchers developed new socioeconomic indicators to holistically monitor the lobster industry’s resilience. Outline in study published in the academic journal Marine Policy, the eight socioeconomic indicators identified by the team include coastal accessibility, operational condition, business investments, community composition, financial health, risk taking, personal spending and physical and mental health. Each indicator is backed by secondary data from state and federal agencies, as well as publicly available information from certain businesses and organizations.

With support from a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, two West Virginia University researchers have designed an interdisciplinary, cross-institutional program to engage liberal arts faculty in discussions on the social, ethical and technical aspects of artificial intelligence and its role in classrooms.

A new study suggests that countries with stronger commitments to protect the natural environment—regardless of national oil dependence or other economic interests—are more likely to see the establishment of counter climate change groups that aim to obstruct climate change action. Jared Furuta and Patricia Bromley of Stanford University, U.S., present these findings in the open-access journal PLOS One on January 22, 2025.

A newly established research hub in North East England will explore the extent and environmental impact of microfibre loss from textiles.