Science, Health & Technology

Organic and locally grown food: What’s in a name? What’s in it for you?

A recent University of Delaware study found that agriculture is an $8 billion business in the state. But only a tiny fraction of the state's farms are focused on the growing organic and local food movement. DFM News' Patrick Mairs spoke with farmers, shoppers and the experts to find out how Delaware fits into a movement to eat better food. ...More

Delaware seeks to lead in push for greater cyber security

In its milder forms, the problem is just about universal—every computer user has encountered a phishing scam message, had his or her Facebook account hacked, or has simply gotten spam messages. But in addition to being widespread, computer crime is growing more serious. The U.S. federal government’s computer systems are probed or attacked an average of 1.8 billion times a month, and cyber crime costs the national economy an estimated $8 billion per year, according to a report by the Senate’s Sergeant at Arms last year. Efforts to protect against such cyber attacks are underway, including in Delaware, where a U.S. Senator, state officials and college undergraduates are among those seeking solutions. ...More

General Assembly moves on Medical Marijuana bill

State Senator Margaret Rose Henry (D-Wilmington) is sponsoring a bill that would allow for regulated use of marijuana in medically recommended cases. She has been trying for two years to get such a law passed through the Legislature, but believed she didn’t have the necessary votes to get it passed in both houses, before this session. The bill is on the agenda for the State Senate next Thursday, March 31. ...More

Teaching marine science from way, way down under

MILLSBORO—This summer, Millsboro Middle School science teacher Michael League will be 8,500 miles away from Delaware, talking with students from the endless night of an Antarctic winter. The Millsboro Teacher of the Year will share his love of science with students from Delaware and across the country when he travels to Antarctica to conduct scientific research as part of PolarTREC: Teachers and Researchers Exploring and Collaborating. League, 29, was one of 12 teachers selected out of more than 200 from across the nation to participate in the project, funded by the National Science Foundation’s Office of Polar Programs. ...More

Crunching the numbers: Coping with Delaware’s Medicaid costs

Facing numerous challenges as more Delawareans turn to Medicaid while revenues remain flat, the state is proposing several initiatives to meet the growing demand while containing costs. ...More

Beyond the buzzword: How to teach STEM in schools

Governor Markell’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Education Council has given new energy to the dialogue about how to create a more competitive workforce by improving STEM education in Delaware schools (see related story). As the Council prepares to begin its work this month, DFM News talks to one group that has been focusing for decades on strengthening STEM education. Founded in 1989, the Delaware AreoSpace Education Foundation (DASEF)'s mission is to "raise the visibility and value of K-12 STEM education to meet intellectual and workplace needs of the future." DFM News’ Tom Byrne sat down with Stephanie Wright, President and CEO of DASEF to talk about STEM education in Delaware. ...More

DSU developed technology leaves research lab in search of real world application

DOVER– A partnership between Delaware State University and Photon Machines, Inc. may lead to a new diagnostic test for ovarian and other forms of cancer. Currently, there are very few noninvasive tests to determine if a woman has ovarian cancer and most of them do not have a high level of accuracy. The machine created through the partnership would allow doctors to determine if a person has cancer through a simple blood test. They would then be able to report their finding to the patient within a matter of minutes. The agreement between DSU and the company is the university's first ever transfer of intellectual property. ...More

New A.I. duPont Hospital for Children CEO accepts challenge of leading “dynamic institution”

WILMINGTON - Dr. Kevin Churchwell doesn't hesitate to answer when asked if taking over as CEO for Nemours/A.I. duPont Hospital for Children after Tom Ferry, who served in that post for 31 years, is a daunting task. "That would be a 'yes' to that question," said Dr. Churchwell, who took over as CEO on December 1st of last year. Dr. Churchwell sat down with DFM News to discuss his first few months on the job - what he's learned, his priorities, and what challenges A.I. du Pont Children's Hospital faces. ...More

Interview with new A.I. duPont Hospital for Children CEO, Dr. Kevin Churchwell.

Clarity and direction sought in Delaware’s STEM education effort

Ask an educator what “STEM” stands for, and the answer comes quickly. It’s an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Ask an educator what STEM education is, and … “To some degree it depends on who you ask,” says Dr. Nancy Brickhouse, interim dean of the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Delaware. Former Senator Ted Kaufman (D), a former DuPont engineer, will take on the question of how to teach STEM in Delaware’s schools as co-chair of the new Delaware STEM Education Council, which convenes next month. ...More