陳良基率團訪MIT推動博士創新之星計畫

科技部長陳良基（中）、國研院科政中心主任莊裕澤（左）、IMES
運算生理實驗室主持人Roger Mark教授（右）

(Boston Orange) 科技部部長陳良基4月7日率團拜會麻省理工學院醫學工程與科學研究所（IMES），正式啟動科技部與麻省理工學院合作的「博士創新之星－前瞻科技人才海外培訓計畫（LEAP）」。

陳良基訪美團此行，在MIT之外，還和加州大學柏克萊分校、史丹福大學、麻州總醫院等院校、機構簽署了合作備忘錄。

科技部表示，國家實驗研究院科技政策研究與資訊中心將負責選送數名優秀國內博士後研究學者到麻省理工學院，和該校醫學工程與科學研究所（IMES）的博士後交流一年，參與醫療資訊分析領域的研究計畫。

麻省理工學院與科技部合作的實驗室包括運算生理實驗室（Laboratory for Computational Physiology）、整合神經監測及重症醫學資訊實驗室（Integrative Neuromonitoring and Critical Care Informatics Group）、臨床機器學習實驗室（Clinical Machine Learning Group）等。

IMES成立於2012年，主要研究先進醫療器材與開發創新產品，提升美國醫療保健價值，並試圖為愈趨高漲的醫療成本解套，是美國少數在第一線解決臨床醫學所面臨各式挑戰的醫學研究機構。

「博士創新之星－前瞻科技人才海外培訓計畫」（LEAP）是陳良基部長上任後，為培育台灣博士畢業生成為具國際視野與實務經驗之高科技創新創業人才而推動的計畫。該計畫將每年選送50~100名具企圖心的博士級人才，到美國矽谷與波士頓地區的知名學研機構及企業學習，並且參與當地創新創業社群活動，藉此推動台灣產業創新。

            查詢LEAP計畫，可上官網：http://leap.stpi.narl.org.tw

台灣培養智慧醫療人才 和麻州總醫院(MGH)簽約

(Boston Orange) 科技部部長陳良基4月初率團訪美，6日抵達波士頓，見證台灣國家實驗研究院和麻州總醫院(MGH)簽署備忘錄，正式啟動「台灣－波士頓智慧醫療人才培育計畫（簡稱BTH計畫）」。

陳良基此行率團訪美，先到加州參訪史丹佛大學（Stanford）與加州大學柏克萊分校（UC Berkeley），分別簽訂了合作備忘錄，為培育國內創新產業人才打基礎。4月6日再趕到美東，和全美排名前三的麻州總醫院簽署合作備忘錄，並特意選在Ether Dome紀念廳，這醫學史上實施首例乙醚麻醉手術的手術室來舉行簽署儀式，增強雙方合作歷史意義。

「台灣－波士頓智慧醫療人才培育計畫（簡稱BTH計畫）」的備忘錄，由台灣國家實驗研究院科技政策研究與資訊中心主任莊裕澤與麻州總醫院電腦科學實驗室主任 Henry Chueh博士簽署，麻州總醫院院長 Peter Slavin和科技部部長陳良基列席見證。

            今(2017)年9月起，台灣國家實驗研究院將每年選送2~3名具醫療資訊、程式語言設計相關背景，或在智慧醫療領域有專長者，到麻州總醫院電腦科學實驗室接受為期一年的智慧醫療及商業化實務培訓。

            科技部指出，麻州總醫院是哈佛大學醫學院旗下第一個，也是規模最大的教學醫院，以結合尖端臨床藥物與創新科學為使命，每年預算約7.86億美元，其醫學研究計畫規模之大，堪稱全球之最。大波士頓地區則是世界知名學府，醫學中心的集中地，科技先進，創新創業風氣興盛。接受培訓的台灣學員將有機會參與麻州總醫院實驗室的智慧醫療研究計畫，到哈佛醫學院，麻省理工學院史隆管理學院研修生醫資訊，創業發展等課程，也可參與當地新創事業加速器的實際運作，參加各式商業創業競賽，駭客松(Hackathon)，與當地相關領域人士交流，返台後將有助於台灣智慧醫療創新技術的發展，推動相關創業機會。

科技部2017年起推動「博士創新之星－前瞻科技人才海外培訓計畫（LEAP）」。BTH計畫是其中的子計畫之一，旨在鏈結波士頓地區的生技產業聚落資源，培育國內數位醫療創新商業化人才，並藉受訓學員返台後發揮的影響力，來持續擴大數位醫療創業的早期投資及相關社群，加速台灣科技研發成果的產業化，進而推動新創團隊進軍國際市場，驅動台灣新經濟。

            LEAP計畫預定分「產業組」及「學研組」雙軌進行，每年選送50~100名博士級人才到矽谷等國際知名高科技聚落實習或從事研究合作，以為台灣培養具國際視野與戰略思考的創新創業重點人才，帶動台灣生技企業轉型，升級。

            陳良基表示，透過「博士創新之星計畫」，我國優秀博士級人才將有機會親自接觸全球最創新氛圍與最頂尖技術，與國際級企業及頂尖機構連接，進而吸引尖端技術研發團隊到台灣落地深耕，推動台灣成為前瞻技術的研發重鎮。

查詢LEAP計畫相關內容，可參考官方網站：http://leap.stpi.narl.org.tw。

Boston Youth Host Health Fair to Promote Cancer Prevention

Boston Youth Host Health Fair to Promote Cancer Prevention

Special Guest Troy Brown and City Leaders Join Trained Youth Ambassadors in HPV Prevention Efforts

BOSTON - Saturday, April 8, 2017 - As part of a Boston Public Health Commission's (BPHC) cancer prevention initiative, teenagers from eight Boston Public Schools hosted a health fair for their peers Saturday, sharing information on testing for and prevention of human papillomavirus (HPV), handing out educational materials, and leading workshops on prevention at the Kroc Center.   Boston's Chief of Health and Human Services Felix G. Arroyo and Patriots Super Bowl champion Troy Brown recognized the teens for their work to educate their peers and serve as leaders for HPV prevention in their communities.   "I am proud of these Youth Ambassadors for stepping up to the plate and having a positive impact on the health and well-being of their peers," Arroyo said. "I think peer-to-peer engagement is one of the most effective ways of getting the message out, and it plays a major role in promoting youth leadership within our communities."   The youth ambassadors, recruited by the BPHC's Boston Area Health Education Center (BAHEC) received 12 weeks of training on Sexual Health and HPV in collaboration with Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston before engaging in weekly outreach activities in their schools in collaboration with School-Based Health Center (SBHC) staff. They worked with a local film company to produce two public service announcements, available in English and Spanish, that encourage boys and young men to get vaccinated against HPV.   "These teens understand the risks of HPV to both men and women, and serve as powerful champions for raising awareness among theirs peers about how to prevent cancer from HPV,"said Monica Valdes Lupi, JD, MPH, Executive Director. "As the public health department, we're happy to support the youth as they spread the important message that you can significantly reduce your risk of HPV-related cancers with the HPV vaccine."                                                                     Specific strains of the HPV virus can cause cancers of the cervix, mouth, throat, and genitals, and HPV is a leading cause of head and neck cancer in men. Nearly 80 million people in the United States are infected with HPV, and 14 million people are newly infected each year, making HPV the most common sexually transmitted infection. Every year in the United States, HPV causes 30,700 cancers in men and women. HPV vaccination can prevent most of those cancers from occurring.   The HPV vaccine, which is administered in two to three doses, has been proven the best protection against most HPV-related cancers, including cervical cancer. The vaccine is ideally given to boys and girls ages 11 and 12, and may be given up to age 21 in young men and age 26 in young women. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that 11- to 12-year-olds receive two doses of HPV vaccine at least six months apart rather than the previously recommended three doses to protect against cancers caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infections. Teens and young adults who start the series later, at ages 15 through 26 years, will need three doses of HPV vaccine to protect against cancer-causing HPV infection.   Patriots Super Bowl champion Troy Brown, at Saturday's event, congratulated the youth on their work to spread the message that the HPV vaccine prevents cancer. "My two sons were vaccinated, but beyond that it's great that the student ambassadors in this program are being leaders in their communities by working to educate their peers about these health issues," Brown said.   Despite having higher HPV immunization completion rates than the national average, Massachusetts -at 53 percent completion for females and 35 percent for males in 2015- is still working toward the 80 percent completion goal that was set out in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services's Healthy People 2020 Report.

科技部長陳良基獲選為美國國家發明家學院院士

科技部陳良基部長訪波士頓

接受「2016年美國國家發明家學院院士

 (NAI, National Academy of Inventors) 院士」表揚

美國國家發明家學院除了重視學術成就外，更推崇學有所用。美國國家發明家學院遴選委員會頒給陳部長的頌辭中，推崇陳部長的主要貢獻是領導團隊開發世界頂尖的影像壓縮技術，並且實現應用於即時影像編碼的超大型積體電路架構設計。

陳部長於4月6日晚間出席美國國家發明家學院第六屆年度會議，並接受表揚為NAI院士。

美國國家發明家學院迄今當選院士累積超過2萬6000項美國專利。2016年共選出175名新院士，當選院士皆備受尊崇，各項創新發明對社會與經濟帶來卓越貢獻，成為帶領社會、文化前進的力量。其中有3位NAI院士來自台灣：科技部陳良基部長、臺北醫學大學校長閻雲及國防大學藥學系教授胡幼圃。

前幾年獲選NAI院士的國內學者還包括，中央研究院長廖俊智、臺大校長楊泮池、交通大學校長張懋中、中央研究院錢煦院士、朱經武院士和李文華院士，他們的努力貢獻，為全世界的經濟與社會進步發展提供創新動力，也為人類醫療健康和環境永續帶來福祉與希望。

加上2016年新任院士，全球共有757人榮獲NAI院士桂冠，其中包括94位大學校長或非營利性研究機構總裁，382位國家科學院院士、216位美國科學家促進協會(AAAS)院士及126位IEEE院士等，這當中還有28位諾貝爾獎得主及45名美國國家科技創新獎和美國國家科學獎章的得獎者。

Parcel P-12 Planning & Disposition Public Meeting 4/27

Parcel P-12 Planning & Disposition

Public Meeting

Description:The BPDA will present to the community an outline of draft development guidelines which is based upon feedback received at the January 19, 2017 community workshop. These guidelines are slated to be part of a Request for Proposals to be issued for the P-12 site. This site, located on Tremont Street between the Doubletree Hotel and a Tufts New England Medical Center parking garage, is in the Mid-Town Cultural Zoning District and South Cove Urban Renewal Area. This site offers potential for a mixed-use development that will create synergy between neighboring elements and communities.
[more]

Time: 04/27/2017 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Location: Josiah Quincy Elementary School, Cafeteria, 885 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111

Contact

Reay Pannesi
Reay.L.Pannesi@Boston.gov
617.918.6239

MAYOR WALSH, DEPARTMENT OF INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY LAUNCH ANALYZE BOSTON

MAYOR WALSH, DEPARTMENT OF INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY LAUNCH  ANALYZE BOSTON

BOSTON - Friday, April 7, 2017 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh and the Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT) today launched Analyze Boston, the City's open data hub. Analyze Boston will create a user-friendly digital catalog of facts, figures, and maps that reflect on life in Boston, such as maps of Boston's historic districts and datasets of 311 services requests. "In Boston we don't shy away from new technologies -- we embrace them as we look for ways to better serve the residents of our City," said Mayor Walsh. "Building off of previous, successful models like CityScore and 311, Analyze Boston will make civic data easily available to all our residents." Analyze Boston curates more than a hundred datasets, enriches them with descriptive information, and pairs them with tools for data exploration and analysis to broaden their accessibility. Most importantly, the site presents the City's data with plain language and vivid imagery to spark the imaginations of all City residents, regardless of technical background. Sparked by a grant from the Knight Foundation's News Challenge competition, the City's Department of Innovation and Technology partnered with the Boston Public Library to create a user-friendly digital catalog of facts, figures, and maps that reflect on life in Boston. "Boston has been an innovator in using data and analytics to improve many aspects of City Services," said Andrew Therriault, the City's first Chief Data Officer. "I am thrilled to share all the work we've done on Analyze Boston with our residents so they can better access open data in their City. Analyze Boston represents our desire to share meaningful data and information with everyone in this city in a way that is clear and relevant." Analyze Boston is the City's latest step to set a better example by improving government transparency, increasing accountability and fostering civic participation throughout Boston. This next generation open data hub will support the city's goal of publishing open datasets of high quality with clear public value. During the site's beta period, the Analyze Boston team shared how they planned to re-imagine the open data experience and asked for feedback to help figure out how to make the site as functional as possible for current and future users. Working with partners AppGeo and OpenGov, the Department of Innovation and Technology worked to build out the site, and improve its functionality. The newest features coming to Boston include implemented data dictionaries, added downloadable file formats, an enhanced data preview experience and improved content. There will be more datasets and improvements as the year goes on. The release is a significant milestone for the Knight Foundation funded "Open Data to Open Knowledge" project, which seeks to democratize access to the City's datasets. For more information on Analyze Boston visit boston.gov, sign up for their newsletter or follow them on Twitter at @AnalyzeBoston.

MIRA: Immigration Day a success

Immigrants’ Day was a huge success! Now we fight on

We had more than 1,600 registered participants and made a big splash at the State House. So let’s celebrate… and keep up the good work

Thank you so much for your support and for showing up to our biggest ever Immigrants' Day at the State House. We had more than 1,600 registered for the event and boy, was the Hall of Flags packed! It was incredible to see so many faces from across the state there and buzzing around the State House meeting with legislators. All of this happened because YOU showed up, and we are so grateful.

Read our wrap-up of the event, look at our photos, and check out some of our media coverage:
• On Immigrants’ Day, advocates urge legislators to pass ‘sanctuary state’ bill (Boston Globe)
• Immigrants Day held in Boston (NECN and NBC Boston)
• Safe Communities Act may force Beacon Hill to weigh in on immigration (State House News Service)

But the fight for immigrant rights is not over, there is still so much that needs to be done.

First, if you were at Immigrants’ Day, we need you to fill out this survey on how you visit with your legislator went (so we know who to target with more education).

Second, we have some postcards left! If you want to get some to write messages to legislators you haven’t reached, or to Governor Baker, let us know and we'll get you a bunch.

Third, be ready to help us advocate for key items in the state budget – and fight anti-immigrant amendments (see below).

Fourth, save May 1 on your calendar – there will be a big rally for #UnDiaSinInmigrantes.

Thank you again for all of your hard work and dedication! It is only by your efforts that we will make Massachusetts a safe place for ALL people.

In solidarity,

– MIRA Organizing Team

State House update

The Safe Communities Act has the attention of state legislators and is currently before the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security. We anticipate that the Committee will hold a hearing on the bill this summer, which gives us time to educate legislators and the public about this complex bill and the issues that make statewide legislation so essential.

If we can get two thirds of each chamber to commit to voting in favor of the bill – our next project – we will have a veto-proof majority, which will convince State House leadership the public has their back. Keep us posted on your visits with state legislators – and remember, you can always offer MIRA’s expertise. We are a phone call away! We will be making legislative visits too, but remember, legislators listen to their constituents’ concerns. Your voices count more than ours do!

Upcoming advocacy opportunities: The House Ways and Means committee releases its proposed budget this Monday, April 10th, followed by three days of amendment filing, both pro- and anti-immigrant. We will need your help calling on state legislators to support pro-immigrant budget amendments calling for more funds for programs that serve immigrants and refugees, and to oppose the anti-immigrant budget amendments seeking to exclude and punish immigrants and refugees.

Newton Passes Accessory Apartment Ordinance

Newton Passes Accessory Apartment Ordinance

Step forward in Mayor Setti Warren’s Housing Strategy goal to expand housing options and affordability for individuals, families, and seniors

Newton, MA – On Monday night, the Newton City Council voted 22-2 to pass an ordinance that allows internal accessory apartments by right, one of the two priority policies in Mayor Setti Warren’s 2016 Housing Strategy. The passage of this ordinance marks the first time that accessory apartments will be allowed by right in all Newton single and two-family homes. 

Accessory apartments will provide much-needed diversity to Newton’s housing stock, increasing options and affordability. This new accessory apartment ordinance will allow individuals, seniors, and families to reside and thrive in Newton and take advantage of all the amenities that the City has to offer.

“This ordinance is a vital component of our housing strategy,” said Mayor Warren. “It is a great step in creating more housing diversity and moderately priced units, giving options to our families and seniors. I am thankful of the collaborative work with the City Council and community members who have worked hard to get this important ordinance passed in our City.”

An accessory apartment is a fully contained, separate unit located within a single- or two-family property.  The new ordinance allows for the construction of interior accessory apartments by right and detached accessory apartments through the special permit process. The owner of the household with an accessory unit must live on the premises. There are size restrictions on the interior unit as well as building codes that must be followed.

For further information visit: www.newtonma.gov/accessoryapartments