Hatch (Canada)

The “2024 Collectors Tour” was a field-based science communication initiative that employed narrative structure, place-based explanation, and methodological transparency to bring Critical Zone science alive for a non-specialist audience. The Collectors Tour consists of a 21-episode video series produced during an 18-day, 4,500-km field campaign to empty mineral dust collectors deployed across Utah, Nevada, and Idaho in the southwestern United States. This work was part of the DUST^2 project, funded by the US National Science Foundation to investigate the role of mineral dust erosion, transport, and deposition in the geoecological functioning of Earth surface environments (i.e. the “Critical Zone). Each video of the Collectors Tour was anchored to the location where a specific dust collector is deployed, and used that location to introduce concepts related to mineral dust, soil formation, snow hydrology, climate variability, ecosystem function, and human influence. In this way, the Collectors Tour embedded scientific explanation directly within active fieldwork, inviting viewers to observe how geoscience knowledge is generated in real settings. The strategy of multiple sequential videos, produced and distributed in rapid succession, emphasized authenticity, continuity across episodes, and visual engagement with landscapes, transforming the routine annual campaign to service the dust collectors into a coherent outreach narrative. The Collectors Tour also reflected lessons learned from long-term communication efforts, including the value of consistency, the power of storytelling grounded in genuine field practice, and the importance of acknowledging collaboration, logistics, and uncertainty. To date the videos have received more than 2600 total views, making this a broadly successful and lasting science outreach success.​ As a case study, the Collectors Tour offers a replicable model for integrating science communication into ongoing field research and contributes to broader discussions on effective strategies for communicating science to diverse audiences.

Time-domain diffuse optical spectroscopy was used to determine optical properties of chicken eggs during incubation. Results show the integrating sphere effect, heterogeneity, and embryonic development as challenges in the development of optical techniques for eggs.

In den letzten Jahren hat sich das Para Badminton auf internationaler Ebene, insbesondere durch die Paralympics 2020 in Tokio, zunehmend im Leistungssport etabliert. In Sachsen ist das Para Badminton im Vereins- und Breitensport nur geringfügig verankert. Für die vermehrte Etablierung des Sports müssen zunächst grundlegende Voraussetzungen geschaffen werden. Ziel dieser Arbeit ist es herauszufinden welche Anforderungen das Para Badminton an die Gestaltung von Mehrzwecksporthallen stellt. [... aus dem Text]

This study examined the instructional supervision needs of private higher education institutions engaged in online distance learning to develop a unique framework for managing online distance learning effectively. Employing a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design, quantitative data were collected from 301 teachers via surveys, followed by qualitative insights from five purposively selected school leaders through focus group discussion. Thematic analysis of qualitative data involved coding, theme development, and cross-referencing with existing literature to identify key supervisory practices. Results indicated that teachers demonstrated strong competencies in management, institutional, social, and communication skills, while pedagogical, design, and content skills were adequate. Technological skills, however, were the weakest and required focused improvement. In response, school leaders implemented tailored instructional supervision strategies addressing these needs. Based on these findings, the study proposes a distinct distance learning management framework comprising initiatives across six categories: pedagogical, technological, management and institutional, social and communication, design, and content. This framework provides a valuable tool for school leaders to effectively support and manage online teaching, particularly during crises or unexpected disruptions.