Ben Shepard
Ben Shepard

Duke News

Keep up with our core and affiliated faculty in the national and international news. Read their op-ed pieces, quotes and interviews, and cutting-edge research findings.

Sun, Nov 17

Bridging Ethics, Trust, And Inclusivity: Three Organizations Are Shaping The Future Of Responsible AI

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to transform industries and societies, the conversation around responsible AI development is gaining urgency. Ensuring that AI systems are ethical, trustworthy, and inclusive is not just a technical challenge but a moral imperative. Emily Reid, CEO of AI4ALL, Kabir Barday, CEO of OneTrust and Rebecca Finlay, CEO of Partnership on AI are at the forefront, working to ensure AI development prioritizes human interests, promotes diversity, and adheres to ethical standards.

Fri, Nov 15

How the Arts Reshape Brain Function: Susan Magsamen on the Future of Neuroaesthetics

Can you start by introducing yourself and sharing what first drew you to the intersection of neuroscience and the arts?

My name is Susan Magsamen, and I’m the Executive Director of the International Arts and Mind Lab, Center for Applied Neuroaesthetics at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. I’m also the co-director of the NeuroArts Blueprint and co-author of Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us. For me, this work has been a lifelong journey. I grew up in a creative household where we made things like knitting, cooking, writing, and poetry.

Thu, Nov 14

LISTEN: Head of Duke’s Heat Policy Innovation Hub Ashley Ward

Head of the Heat Policy Innovation Hub at Duke’s Nicholas Institute Ashley Ward spoke with 97.9 The Hill’s Andrew Stuckey on Thursday, September 26. She discussed a recent White House Summit on Heat and a program called “Direct Pay” that offers robust tax credits for clean energy upgrades. She also talked about the coming hurricane and the challenges faced by various communities in North Carolina.

Wed, Nov 13

New Eastern NC Research Shows Increasing Plastics In Oceans May Be Causing Whales To Eat Things That Are Harmful

Whales that live and hunt in the deeper, darker parts of the ocean use what people commonly call “whale songs” for more than just mating and communication, but also use echolocation to find their next meal. New research performed in eastern North Carolina shows the increasing number of plastics in the world’s seas may be causing cetaceans to eat things that are harmful.

Tue, Nov 12

Cat Brains Age Like Ours — And Could Help Scientists To Understand Cognitive Decline

To unlock the secrets of human ageing, researchers might do better to look to the pet napping on their couch than to a laboratory mouse.

As cats age, their brains show signs of atrophy and cognitive decline that more closely resemble the deterioration seen in ageing humans than do the changes in the brains of ageing mice, according to findings presented last month at the Lake Conference on Comparative and Evolutionary Neurobiology near Seattle, Washington.

The results are part of a large project, called Translating Time, that compares brain development across more than 150 mammal species, and is now expanding to include data on ageing. The hope is that the data will aid researchers trying to crack the causes of age-related diseases, particularly conditions that affect the brain, such as Alzheimer’s disease.