Understanding physical and chemical change: the role of speculation

A research project is described in which students aged 11-18 years were offered computer-produced sentences about four everyday changes in materials. They were asked to indicate whether the sentences made sense to them. In their styles of commentary upon their own responses to the computer sentences, students gave incidental evidence of the degree to which they were willing to speculate beyond the knowledge about which they felt individually secure. The authors argue that confidence and willingness to speculate are of value to students learning science and should be fostered

Essential dimension of abelian varieties over number fields

We affirmatively answer a conjecture in the preprint ``Essential dimension and algebraic stacks,'' proving that the essential dimension of an abelian variety over a number field is infinite.Comment: 4 pages. To appear in C. R. Math. Acad. Sci. Paris. Preprint posted earlier to http://www.mathematik.uni-bielefeld.de/LAG

DIVERSITY EFFORTS IN INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS

When it comes to diversity, many high-end institutions--including those in education, politics, and media--have been slow to change and reluctant to promote people who do not fit a certain profile. They are cautious institutions reflecting the broader culture of power. Independent schools are wrestling with the same concerns as law firms. They are trying to diversify their teaching staffs and student bodies, but are having limited success. Diversifying a school with a tradition of being predominantly white (and sometimes predominantly Christian) requires work on many fronts. Any effort to hire teachers of color, to be successful, must coincide with steps to become a multicultural organization

Variation Of Mixed Hodge Structures

Variation of mixed Hodge structures(VMHS), introduced by P. Deligne, is a linear structure reflecting the geometry on cohomology of the fibers of an algebraic family, generalizing variation of Hodge structures for smooth proper families, introduced by P. Griffiths. Hence, it is a strong tool to study the variation of the geometric structure of fibers of a morphism. We describe here the degenerating properties of a VMHS of geometric origin and the existence of a relative monodromy filtration, as well the definition and properties of abstract admissible VMHS.Comment: 46 page

The Potential of an Enhanced Cooperation Measure in the EAFRD (2014-2020): the case of Ireland

This report was funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) through the National Rural Network (February-May, 2012).The current Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on support for Rural Development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) includes Article (36) Cooperation that is potentially instrumental for realising the objectives of FOOD HARVEST 20204. The purpose of this report is to assess the scope and potential of Article 36 in the context of Irish agriculture and its findings have four key aspects. First, the main areas of confluence between Article 36 and primary policy objectives as set out in Food Harvest 2020 are identified. Second, a range of cooperation categories and types relevant to Article 36, many of which are operational in Ireland, are profiled. Third, drawing from case-studies of these co-operation types5, the operational characteristics of each type are presented, focusing on compatibility with Article 36. Possible supports that would encourage and assist the formation and operation of the cooperation types on a broad scale into the future, and also any possible constraints that would prevent success, are indicated. Fourth, a brief discussion of some key implementation considerations arising from the analysis overall is presented.Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marin