Walk outside on a clear summer twilight and you might see hundreds of minute lights spark and glow. Together, fireflies, which produce chemical light through bioluminescence, display a celestial pattern unlike anything on earth. Or, more precisely, unlike anything visible to our unassisted eyes. In a darkness deeper than those summer twilights, our neurons fire and glow…

The Harvard Ed Portal in Allston was buzzing with the excitement of young minds on Feb. 5, as seventh grade students from the Gardner Pilot Academy (GPA) showcased “novel engineering projects.” The event, coordinated by Kathryn Hollar, Director of Community Engagement and Diversity Outreach at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied…

Mark D. Gearan has been appointed director of the Institute of Politics (IOP) at Harvard Kennedy School (HKS). Gearan will begin work at the IOP in March. “At Harvard we believe in the power of public service to transform our societies for the better,” said Drew Faust, President of Harvard University and Lincoln Professor of…

Ohio Governor John R. Kasich will deliver the graduation address to the Harvard Kennedy School Class of 2018, Dean Douglas Elmendorf announced today. Kasich was elected governor of Ohio in 2010 and re-elected in 2014. During his time in office, Kasich has worked to improve the state’s economy and has closed an $8 billion budget…

Consumers are increasingly choosing sustainable investments with socially responsible and environmentally-friendly goals. While there is promise in this area, there also is the potential for companies to claim to be more environmentally or socially responsible than they actually are. Now scientists at City University of New York (CUNY) and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public…

This March, the Harvard Black Community & Student Theater Group (BlackCAST) strives to challenge tradition with a brand-new production: “Vanity Lane: The Ballet.” Created by Harvard Extension School student La’Toya Princess Jackson, “Vanity Lane” is a contemporary ballet that examines the duality of beauty and self-worth with an interdisciplinary approach to exploring the world of…

It could be argued that nobody is more universally beloved by young children than loveable, furry monster Elmo. And that love extends way beyond Sesame Street, which was evident on Elmo’s recent trip to Jordan to visit with Syrian refugees. “We got to visit a school, and read books, and meet lots of new friends!”…

Vaccines have enormous impact not just on health, but on keeping people out of poverty, according to a new study led by researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. They estimated that increased investments in 10 vaccines administered in low- and middle-income countries over a 15-year period could avert up to 36 million…

When buying vegetables and fruits, it can be challenging to know when it’s worth spending more for organic products over conventionally produced options that generally have more chemicals. Scientists have linked pesticides in foods to fertility issues and other adverse health effects. A helpful tool for identifying products likely to have more pesticide residues is…

Hugo E.R. Uyterhoeven, M.B.A. ’57, D.B.A. ’63, an expert on general management and a member of the Harvard Business School (HBS) faculty for more than 50 years who maintained a steadfast commitment to course development and teaching while also making a lasting mark as a talented administrator, died on Monday evening, Jan. 29, at a…

Religion is a powerful influence on human affairs, nowhere more visibly than in its capacity to help both ignite and resolve conflict. Now a new collaboration between Harvard Divinity School and Harvard Kennedy School will enable scholars to study the role that religious communities play in violent conflict—and in promoting sustainable peace. Funded by Ramez Sousou ’85,…

The increasing polarization of healthcare politics poses a significant barrier to health care reform in the U.S., Robert Blendon, professor of health policy and political analysis at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, said in a Jan. 10, 2018 Harvard Political Review article. The article discussed left-wing health reform efforts since the 1940s, the…

The Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School announces the appointment of its Spring Resident Fellows. “We are very excited for the contributions that this diverse and inspiring class of fellows will make to students at the IOP and Harvard. Not only will they engage the campus in the most relevant political conversations of today,…

Rates of diabetes and hypertension are high among middle-aged and elderly people across all geographic measures and sociodemographic groups in India, according to the first nationally representative study of those conditions in the country. The study, led by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, also found unexpectedly high rates of hypertension among…

Mr. Andrew Elrick has been named Executive Director of the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies (DRCLAS), to begin Feb. 1. Elrick will depart his position as Director of Administration of the Global Initiative at the Harvard Business School (HBS). He will take the helm of one of the most active area studies centers…

The deans of 17 public health schools in the U.S. and Canada, including Dean Michelle A. Williams of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, have signed an open letter pledging not to accept any research money from the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World, a group funded by tobacco company Philip Morris. The Jan. 25,…

Being around trees and other greenery may help teens stave off depression, according to a new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Led by Carla Bezold, postdoctoral research fellow in Harvard Chan’s Department of Epidemiology, researchers analyzed data from more than 9,000 teens who began participating in 1999 in a large study…

Under a new Trump Administration policy, states can now impose work requirements on able-bodied Medicaid beneficiaries. But critics of the plan say it could lead to deaths among lower-income people who don’t meet the requirement and are pushed off the insurance rolls. Without insurance, they may delay or forego visits to the doctor because they…

Audition for BlackCAST’s first ballet: Vanity Lane! Everyone is welcome, from dancers to actors in and outside of Harvard College. And we aren’t just looking for ballerinas — we want dancers and actors from all backgrounds! We’re looking for people with various levels of dance and acting experience; actors should be prepared for/interested in learning…

The Coop Community and University Relations Committee recently named Harvard Extension Student Association (HESA) one of its 2017-2018 Coop Grants for Public Service Award recipients. Alexis Williams, HESA Director of Finance, states, “the Coop’s continued support reinforces the educational value of Harvard Extension School (HES), and the contributions of its students to the local Cambridge…

Twenty Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) students recently spent the afternoon consulting with nearly 50 subject matter experts as part of their J-term course, Informal Learning for Children. The course, taught by HGSE Professor Joe Blatt, Faculty Director, Technology, Innovation, and Education, tasks his graduate students with examining the role that media can play in…

Researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health have identified a gene associated with lower asthma risk and its role in the disease’s progression—findings that open a new potential pathway for treatment. Senior author Quan Lu, associate professor of environmental genetics and pathophysiology, and colleagues found a link between the gene GSDMB (gasdermin B) and…