8 Ways to Improve the Customer Experience in Banking
By November 29, 2018 December 29th, 2020 CCG Financial Services Marketing Blog
Best practices to help build, strengthen and maintain profitable customer relationships.
Today's consumers expect to interact with their financial institutions in the same ways they interact with other establishments — whenever and wherever it's most convenient for them. If they don't find what they need, they often go elsewhere. In light of these expectations, and the increased competition for wallet share, many banks are scrambling to make customer experience a higher priority.
While many banks have placed more emphasis on improving customer service in recent years, that's not quite the same thing. Improving the customer experience in banking requires financial institutions to shift from a focus on internal benefits, like selling products and cost cutting, to customer benefits — like simplicity, convenience and responsiveness. Customer experience (also known as CX) is built throughout the customer journey and encompasses the customer's impression of your brand as a result of every interaction.
The Difference Between Customer Service and Customer Experience in Banking
The primary goal of customer service is to help customers resolve specific issues. When done effectively, it can greatly impact a customer's overall experience with your brand. While customer service and customer experience are different, both are important parts of a strategic financial marketing plan. According to Gartner, customer service is not the totality of customer experience. Rather, the service experience is just one component of the set of elements that comprise the overall customer experience.1
8 Tips to Improve the Customer Experience in the Banking Industry
As consumer buying habits shift, and technology trends enable 24/7 access to products and services, embracing a more customer-centric mindset can differentiate your brand, help you stand out from the competition and strengthen customer relationships. Here are eight strategies to help focus on and enhance the banking customer experience.
1. Empower your employees.
Make it a company-wide initiative to provide every employee with the tools and resources to answer a customer question accurately or find the information quickly. For example, ensure that employees know how (and where) to locate information and provide immediate answers to a customer question.
2. Become a source of valuable, helpful information.
Invest in content marketing to build trust and strengthen relationships by educating customers about relevant topics without directly selling. For example, include content on your website and through other channels (like emails, social media and direct mail) on topics such as "how to build a budget" or "retirement planning steps." Increase engagement opportunities by creating an easy-to-access digital library with personal finance topics organized by life stage. Create value-added content that helps customers answer a question or solve a problem, such as "tips for buying and selling a house at the same time."
3. Embrace technology and digital tools.
Replace outdated systems with current technology tools that help deliver more personalized, timely and relevant information. Keeping up with advances in technology can feel overwhelming — not to mention expensive. You can mitigate the stress by focusing on the tech tools that make life easier and more convenient for your customers, such as mobile payments and deposits.
4. Leverage your data to create personalized customer experiences.
Use data to segment your different audiences by life stage, needs, demographics or other factors. Then target the various groups with information that's most likely to resonate with them. For example, deliver HELOC offers to homeowners with enough equity, or share information about college savings plans with new parents. Be sure to include related value-added content with product or service offers so customers can see how it works. For instance, an article on "home remodel projects that deliver the highest ROI" would be appropriate for the home equity audience segment.
The more you're able to segment and personalize your customer communications, the more likely customers will feel valued and compelled to respond to your offers. And that will have a direct impact on their overall experience with your brand.
5. Provide consistent information across channels and touchpoints.
Ensure that however customers decide to engage with your brand, whether it's on their phone or inside your branch, they can find what they're looking for, and information is consistent and up-to-date. Pay special attention to your website and mobile app, making sure that pages are easy to view and navigate. Consider enhancing the customer experience even more by providing quick access to account information, as well as convenient self-service tools, like the ability to reset a password.
6. Let customers engage with your brand whenever and wherever they prefer.
Consumers want 24/7 access to their accounts from whatever method they choose. Make it easy for them to conduct banking when it's convenient for them, which might be at night and on weekends when the branch is closed.
In addition, make it easy and convenient for customers to not only access your channels but also tell you what and when they want to hear from you. An online preference center lets customers tell you which types of information they want to receive from you, how often and on which channels. Preference center best practices include offering a list of preferred communications channels for customers to choose from, such as email, postal mail, online and mobile; and frequency, such as weekly, bi-weekly or monthly. Include a list of categories to select, such as product updates, bank news and personal finance tips.
Make it easy for customers to find your preference center by including links and calls to action on emails, your website and even printed communications.
7. Include engagement opportunities at every step of the customer journey.
Look for ways to create value for the customer with every interaction, from consideration, to account opening to onboarding and retention. As we mentioned above, data can help you view and manage a customer journey in a proactive way, allowing you to better target customers with products and services they're most likely to want and need at each step on the path. And don't underestimate the importance of the personal touch, such as incorporating a series of personalized welcome emails or recognizing a customer on their birthday.
8. Make customer experience part of your overall financial marketing strategy.
According to The Financial Brand, nearly 100 percent of financial institutions consider customer experience a priority, yet less than 40 percent have a formal plan. Stand out from the pack by making customer experience an institution-wide priority by creating a customer experience plan that implements the tactics and strategies above.
A Positive Banking Customer Experience Builds Loyal, Long-Term Relationships
With increased competition comes greater customer choice for banking services and products. Yet research today repeatedly shows that customer experience is poised to overtake price — and even product selection — when it comes to giving your brand a competitive advantage. By focusing on the customer and ensuring that customer experience is equally good regardless of channel or touchpoint, you'll be on track to stay competitive and build trust and long-term loyalty.
1 "Know the Difference Between Customer Experience and Customer Service," Jordan Bryan, Gartner, posted Feb. 14, 2018, _URL_ accessed Oct. 24, 2018
The increase in competition and evolving customer expectations make creating and implementing a winning customer experience and engagement strategy more important than ever. CCG's financial marketing experts, analysts and creatives work hand-in-hand to help you build stronger customer experiences that lead to healthier bottom lines.
Our comprehensive suite of financial marketing solutions & services includes customer data, analytics and research, digital and interactive services, and content and creative.
Click below to schedule a free consultation or call _PHONE_.
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Hi Im creating an app where I need that a rectangle be visible all the time over the background. So I created this:
But in this example the rectangle is draw using white color. How can I do something like a xor that react with the background color to make this rectangle visible with any background?
Thanks in advance!

source: openbmb/Ultra-FineWeb


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Small area estimation and prediction problems: spatial models, Bayesian multiple comparisons and robust MSE estimation
Slud, Eric V
MetadataShow full item record
We study and partially solve three distinct problems in small area estimation. The problems are loosely connected by a common theme of prediction and (empirical) Bayesian models. In the first part of the thesis we consider prediction in a survey small area context with spatially correlated errors. We introduce a novel asymptotic framework in which the spatially correlated small areas form clusters, the number of such clusters and the number of small areas in each cluster growing with sample size. Under such an asymptotic framework we show consistency and asymptotic normality of the parameter estimators. For empirical predictors based on model estimates, we show through simulation and a real data example, improved prediction over estimates ignoring spatial error-correlations. The second part of the thesis involves using a hierarchical Bayes approach to solve the problem of multiple comparison in small area estimation. In the context of multiple comparison, a new class of moment matching priors is introduced. This class includes the well-known superharmonic prior due to Stein. Through data analysis and simulation we illustrate the use of our class of priors. In the third part of the thesis, for a special case of the nested error regression model, we derive a non-parametric second order unbiased estimator of the mean squared error of the empirical best linear unbiased predictor. For the balanced case, the Prasad-Rao estimator is shown to be second order unbiased when the small area effects are non-normal. Through simulation we show that the Prasad-Rao estimator is robust for departures from normality.


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Tip of the Day
Language: C++
Expertise: Intermediate
Jan 31, 2005
Use Functor for Callbacks in C++
Using the callback function in C is pretty straightforward, but in C++ it becomes little tricky.
If you want to use a member function as a callback function, then the member function needs to be associated with an object of the class before it can be called. In this case, you can use functor.
Suppose you need to use the member function get() of the class base as a callback function
class base
 int get ()
 { return 7;}
Then, you need to define a functor:
class CallbackFunctor
 functor(const base& b):m_base(b)
 int operator() ()
 return m_base.get();
Now you can use an object of CallbackFunctor as a callback function as follows.
Define the function that needs a callback to take an argument of type CallbackFunctor:
void call (CallbackFunctor& f)
 cout << f() << endl;
int main ()
 base b;
 functor f(b);
Saurabh Ramya
Comment and Contribute


THE North Yorkshire-built home of Captain James Cook has been vandalised by Australia Day protestors.
The cottage was originally built in 1755 in Great Ayton by Captain Cook's parents but was dismantled and transported to Melbourne in 1934 where it has become a museum and tourist attraction in the city's Fitzroy Gardens.
Australia Day is celebrated as the day, in 1788, that Cook landed on the country's east coast - but is known among some indigenous people and their supporters as "Invasion Day" because the British colonists who followed Cook claimed Australian land without a treaty.
The words "26th Jan Australia's shame" have been spray-painted across on the building.
Captain Cook was born in Marton, Middlesbrough, on October 27, 1728, and grew up in Great Ayton before becoming one of the most famous maritime explorers of the 18th Century.


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We base our conversations, reflections and research on some very general principles:
Definition of ethics: Ethics education can be understood as part of the Human Right to Education. Although the Human Rights are universal rights, business ethics education needs to reflect the cultural and historical developments in our respective countries.
Ethics Education: There is no unique style of business ethics education that can fit all demands due to the diversity of business practices.
Business Practices: Business practice is highly impacted by the development of the market economy, by historical and cultural factors of influence. Business practice is also influenced by the institutional framework of an economy like laws, legal property rights, social norms, routines, or customs. Also, there are institutions which work at a "lower" level of the economy like economic property rights or contracts which are arranged by the actors themselves.
Role of ethics training/ education on society: The actors' mental models, or business philosophies, or ideologies have a long-lasting influence on their business practices. Business education has to take notice of that and to make it a starting point of its program.


What is a Genset?
What is a Reefer Genset
For situations that require powered engines in remote locations and during inland transport, a genset offers the solution. Several industries use gensets for fulfilling their [...]
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What Is a Reefer Container?
The terms "reefer container" and "reefer" are short for "refrigerated container." These containers maintain a stable temperature inside while controlling humidity and promoting adequate airflow. [...]
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Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common innate liver tumor. Due to improved surgical techniques, even extended resections are feasible, and more patients can be treated with curative intent. As the liver is the central metabolic organ, preoperative metabolic assessment is crucial for risk stratification. Sarcopenia, obesity and sarcopenic obesity characterize body composition and metabolic status. Here we present the impact of body composition on survival after liver resection in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
Methods: A retrospective database analysis of 70 patients who were assigned for liver resection due to hepatocellular carcinoma was conducted. For assessment of sarcopenia and obesity, skeletal muscle surface area was measured at lumbar vertebra 3 level (L3) in preoperative four-phase contrast enhanced abdominal CT scans, and L3 muscle index and body fat percentage were calculated.
Results: Univariate analysis comparing the survival curves using the score test demonstrated superior postoperative overall survival for sarcopenic (P=0.035) and sarcopenic obese (P=0.048) patients as well as a trend favoring obese (P=0.130) subjects. Whereas multivariate analysis could not identify significant difference in postoperative survival regarding sarcopenia, obesity or sarcopenic obesity. Only large tumor size, multifocal disease and male gender were risk factors for long-term survival.
Conclusions: Sarcopenia, obesity and sarcopenic obesity are indeed no risk factors for poor postoperative survival in this study. Our data do not support the evaluation of sarcopenia, obesity and sarcopenic obesity before liver resection in hepatocellular carcinoma patients. (C) 2018 First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine in China. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
- Hepatocellular carcinoma
- Sarcopenic obesity
- Liver resection
- SKELETAL-MUSCLE DEPLETION
- SARCOPENIC OBESITY
- CRYPTOGENIC CIRRHOSIS
- MASS INDEX
- TUMOR SIZE


Transformando pequeños en gigantes
Inspirados en la Pedagogía Waldorff
Dyslexia can be overcome with nursery rhymes and music
Reading time: 3 minutes
In Trinus our children learn the multiplication tables by moving and clapping, by stepping in a rhythmical way. We integrate music in all the subjects, it is not treated as a separate subject. This benefits all children but particularly children with dyslexia. In the following article written by Sarah Knapton, she mentions how rhymes and music can help overcome dyslexia.
Children can overcome dyslexia by learning nursery rhymes, dancing and singing because the condition is caused by lack of rhythm in brain, a leading neuroscientist has suggested.
Usha Goswami, professor of Cognitive Developmental Neuroscience at Cambridge has spent the last 10 years testing the brains of youngsters to find out what was driving the learning problem.
Brain scans shown that the metre of words was out of phase with internal rhythms in brain, meaning that youngsters struggled to encode the patterns, and therefore memorise speech.
But keeping up rhythmic practice will eventually allow children to read properly.
"Children who are dyslexic struggle with speech rhythm," Prof Goswami told The Hay Festival.
"We realised that children are struggling in tasks which are not related to learning or reading but are related to rhythm. So we began to think that rhythm and these problems found in children with dyslexia might be related."
Dyslexia is thought to be one of the most common learning difficulties. It's estimated that up to 1 in every 10 people in the UK has a certain degree of dyslexia and Britain has one of the worst rates because the language is so difficult to learn.
Prof Goswami recommended clapping games, music, nursery rhymes and marching to The Grand Old Duke of York. "All kinds of rhythmic experiences can be helpful, nursery rhymes, dancing and music as long as the beat is matched to language," she said. "Playground clapping and games may be very important to stopping dyslexia. You could start to remediate it before children even start school.
"If children keep it up they will learn to read. It will definitely happen. The brain just needs more training. These children need to know that their brain just works a bit differently and reading is going to be harder for them."
teacher doing clapping game
Picture by Melbourne Rudolf Steiner
Usha Goswami is a researcher and professor of Cognitive Developmental Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge and the director of the Centre for Neuroscience in Education at St. John's College, Cambridge. She obtained her Ph.D. in developmental psychology from the University of Oxford before becoming a professor of cognitive developmental psychology at the University College London. Goswami's work is primarily in educational neuroscience with major focuses on reading development and developmental dyslexia. Some of her current research projects include the neural basis of developmental dyslexia, the neural basis of speech and language impairments, and the neural basis of rhythmic motor behavior.
Dr. Goswami's research is concerned with focusing on dyslexia as a language disorder rather than a visual disorder as she has found that the way that children with dyslexia hear language is slightly different than others. When sound waves approach the brain, they vary in pressure depending on the syllables within the words being spoken creating a rhythm. When these signals reach the brain they are lined up with speech rhythms and this process doesn't work properly in those with dyslexia.
× ¿Cómo podemos apoyarle?


When a person is choosing a career path, an office job may not sound interesting, and can be boring to individuals who want more thrill out of life. There are many jobs that include more excitement than just sitting at a desk all day long.
Career Opportunities For Thrill Seekers
Here are a few career opportunities for people who seek thrill and adventure:
1. Firemen: Fanning The Flames Of Excitement
Firemen are often considered some of the bravest people around. They go to great lengths to keep people safe. Besides fighting fires, most firemen take an active part in the community. Most of these professionals are trained as paramedics as well. An individual who is interested in this career must be able to pass various physical and written tests. This person must be a high school graduate and over the age of 18. The hourly average salary of a fireman is approximately $20/hour. Being a fireman comes with many risks. Jumping into a burning building can harm personal health. However, saving someone else's life can be very rewarding.
2. Zookeeper: Wild Animals Galore
For people who love animals and crave excitement, it may be wise to consider a career as a zookeeper. This professional will need to have a college degree in environmental science or biology. The best training can take place on a volunteer basis or through an internship. A person will need to learn the habits of animals along with how to feed and care for these creatures. This type of job may be exciting, but salary tends to be on the low side. An average zookeeper's salary will range between $30,000 and $50,000 depending on experience. There are both risks and rewards associated with a job in wildlife management. It can be a great experience to help an endangered species live. However, wild animals can be very dangerous. Even if they seem calm, these creatures can be unpredictable. A zookeeper or anyone who cares for wild animals must be on guard at all times. There are numerous rules that must be followed carefully.
3. FBI: The Spies The Limit
Movies are always filled with exciting people who have the job as an FBI agent. Special agents normally work in areas involving kidnapping, extortion, foreign intelligence, and terrorism. A person in this field must be over 23 years old, possess a four-year degree, and have at least three years of practical experience. This job can get quite physical, so an individual must be in top shape. All candidates will train in Virginia at the Academy for FBI agents in Quantico. Salary for newcomers will be approximately $65,000 a year. Many people are interested in law enforcement. To get the most thrills in this field, a person should enter FBI training. This job is very dangerous, but can help to clean up the street with basis of this career standing for justice.
4. Rescue Team For The Coast Guard
The Coast Guard patrols the country's major waterways and deals with the protection of the environment. A candidate for a career as a Coast Guard Rescuer must be under 27 years old and have a high school diploma. A person must be in good physical shape with no legal violations. The excitement takes hold quickly because a person gets immediately emerged into missions. Dangers may lie around any corner. For example, it is not unusual to use a helicopter in a rescue or to battle rough water and difficult weather. There are many jobs that include a high amount of thrill and adventure. The above fields are just a sample to choose from. Through proper training and dedication, a person can work in a career that is both interesting and satisfying. Joshua Turner is a writer who creates informative articles relating to business. He aims to encourage further study with a Bachelor Degree in Fire Science. Enjoy this article? You've got time for another! Check out these related articles: Photo Credit: Shutterstock


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Alexander V. Nebylov
State University of Aerospace Instrumentation
St. Petersburg, Russia
9.1 Sensor systems
9.1.1 The sensor system concept
If there is only one sensor for obtaining information on the value of any measured parameter onboard a vehicle, opportunities for determining the accuracy and reliability of this measurement are essentially limited. For example, measurement of noise can be partially suppressed only along with some of the spectral components of the useful signal, and optimal one-dimensional filtration of a signal mixed with noise defines the limit of measurement accuracy. Also, the failure of a single sensor obviously leads to the complete loss of the desired measurement....


a local port, immediately monitor the spawned port, and in the remote init function, immediately monitor the passed local port. This two-way monitoring ensures that both ports get cleaned up when there is a problem. "spawn" guarantees that the $initfunc has no visible effects on the caller before "spawn" returns (by delaying invocation when spawn is called for the local node). Example: spawn a chat server port on $othernode. # this node, executed from within a port context: my $server = spawn $othernode, "MyApp::Chat::Server::connect", $SELF; mon $server; # init function on C<$othernode> sub connect { my ($srcport) = _USER_; mon $srcport; rcv $SELF, sub {... }; } after $timeout, _USER_ after $timeout, $callback Either sends the given message, or call the given callback, after the specified number of seconds. This is simply a utility function that comes in handy at times - the AnyEvent::MP author is not convinced of the wisdom of having it, though, so it may go away in the future. cal $port, _USER_, $callback[, $timeout] A simple form of RPC - sends a message to the given $port with the given contents (_USER_), but adds a reply port to the message. The reply port is created temporarily just for the purpose of receiving the reply, and will be "kil"ed when no longer needed. A reply message sent to the port is passed to the $callback as-is. If an optional time-out (in seconds) is given and it is not "undef", then the callback will be called without any arguments after the time-out elapsed and the port is "kil"ed. If no time-out is given (or it is "undef"), then the local port will monitor the remote port instead, so it eventually gets cleaned-up. Currently this function returns the temporary port, but this "feature" might go in future versions unless you can make a convincing case that this is indeed useful for something. AnyEvent::MP vs. Distributed Erlang AnyEvent::MP got lots of its ideas from distributed Erlang (Erlang node == aemp node, Erlang process == aemp port), so many of the documents and programming techniques employed by Erlang apply to AnyEvent::MP. Here is a sample: # chapters 3 and 4 # chapters 5 and 6 # chapters 4 and 5 Despite the similarities, there are also some important differences: * Node IDs are arbitrary strings in AEMP. Erlang relies on special naming and DNS to work everywhere in the same way. AEMP relies on each node somehow knowing its own address(es) (e.g. by configuration or DNS), and possibly the addresses of some seed nodes, but will otherwise discover other nodes (and their IDs) itself. * Erlang has a "remote ports are like local ports" philosophy, AEMP uses "local ports are like remote ports". The failure modes for local ports are quite different (runtime errors only) then for remote ports - when a local port dies, you *know* it dies, when a connection to another node dies, you know nothing about the other port. Erlang pretends remote ports are as reliable as local ports, even when they are not. AEMP encourages a "treat remote ports differently" philosophy, with local ports being the special case/exception, where transport errors cannot occur. * Erlang uses processes and a mailbox, AEMP does not queue. Erlang uses processes that selectively receive messages, and therefore needs a queue. AEMP is event based, queuing messages would serve no useful purpose. For the same reason the pattern-matching abilities of AnyEvent::MP are more limited, as there is little need to be able to filter messages without dequeuing them. (But see Coro::MP for a more Erlang-like process model on top of AEMP). * Erlang sends are synchronous, AEMP sends are asynchronous. Sending messages in Erlang is synchronous and blocks the process (and so does not need a queue that can overflow). AEMP sends are immediate, connection establishment is handled in the background. * Erlang suffers from silent message loss, AEMP does not. Erlang implements few guarantees on messages delivery - messages can get lost without any of the processes realising it (i.e. you send messages a, b, and c, and the other side only receives messages a and c). AEMP guarantees (modulo hardware errors) correct ordering, and the guarantee that after one message is lost, all following ones sent to the same port are lost as well, until monitoring raises an error, so there are no silent "holes" in the message sequence. * Erlang can send messages to the wrong port, AEMP does not. In Erlang it is quite likely that a node that restarts reuses a process ID known to other nodes for a completely different process, causing messages destined for that process to end up in an unrelated process. AEMP never reuses port IDs, so old messages or old port IDs floating around in the network will not be sent to an unrelated port. * Erlang uses unprotected connections, AEMP uses secure authentication and can use TLS. AEMP can use a proven protocol - TLS - to protect connections and securely authenticate nodes. * The AEMP protocol is optimised for both text-based and binary communications. The AEMP protocol, unlike the Erlang protocol, supports both programming language independent text-only protocols (good for debugging) and binary, language-specific serialisers (e.g. Storable). By default, unless TLS is used, the protocol is actually completely text-based. It has also been carefully designed to be implementable in other languages with a minimum of work while gracefully degrading functionality to make the protocol simple. * AEMP has more flexible monitoring options than Erlang. In Erlang, you can chose to receive *all* exit signals as messages or *none*, there is no in-between, so monitoring single processes is difficult to implement. Monitoring in AEMP is more flexible than in Erlang, as one can choose between automatic kill, exit message or callback on a per-process basis. * Erlang tries to hide remote/local connections, AEMP does not. Monitoring in Erlang is not an indicator of process death/crashes, in the same way as linking is (except linking is unreliable in Erlang). In AEMP, you don't "look up" registered port names or send to named ports that might or might not be persistent. Instead, you normally spawn a port on the remote node. The init function monitors you, and you monitor the remote port. Since both monitors are local to the node, they are much more reliable (no need for "spawn_link"). This also saves round-trips and avoids sending messages to the wrong port (hard to do in Erlang). RATIONALE Why strings for port and node IDs, why not objects? We considered "objects", but found that the actual number of methods that can be called are quite low. Since port and node IDs travel over the network frequently, the serialising/deserialising would add lots of overhead, as well as having to keep a proxy object everywhere. Strings can easily be printed, easily serialised etc. and need no special procedures to be "valid". And as a result, a port with just a default receiver consists of a single code reference stored in a global hash - it can't become much cheaper. Why favour JSON, why not a real serialising format such as Storable? In fact, any AnyEvent::MP node will happily accept Storable as framing format, but currently there is no way to make a node use Storable by default (although all nodes will accept it). The default framing protocol is JSON because a) JSON::XS is many times faster for small messages and b) most importantly, after years of experience we found that object serialisation is causing more problems than it solves: Just like function calls, objects simply do not travel easily over the network, mostly because they will always be a copy, so you always have to re-think your design. Keeping your messages simple, concentrating on data structures rather than objects, will keep your messages clean, tidy and efficient. SEE ALSO AnyEvent::MP::Intro - a gentle introduction. AnyEvent::MP::Kernel - more, lower-level, stuff. AnyEvent::MP::Global - network maintenance and port groups, to find your applications. AnyEvent::MP::DataConn - establish data connections between nodes. AnyEvent::MP::LogCatcher - simple service to display log messages from all nodes. AnyEvent. AUTHOR Marc Lehmann


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Challenging traditional assumptions of secondary science through the PET curriculum Documents
Michael J. Ross and
Valerie K. Otero
This study seeks to illustrate aspects of a physics classroom experience in an underserved high school through the perspective of the students. This context was chosen with the intent of determining factors that lead to successful secondary physics education outcomes for populations historically underrepresented in STEM. Two class periods of physics were observed and interviewed in an urban high school while using the Physics and Everyday Thinking (PET) curriculum. Findings indicate that students came to value and positively identify with the activities of physics through instruction that fosters a more dignified student experience than traditional approaches. Specifically, this experience was characterized by the valuing of students' naïve and developing understandings and shifting the authority for validating science knowledge from the instructor to laboratory evidence and social consensus.
- Download PERC2012_Ross.pdf - 152kb Adobe PDF Document
Published January 24, 2013
Last Modified July 1, 2013


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An experimental study of the detailed flame transport in a SI engine using simultaneous dual-plane OH-LIF and stereoscopic PIV
Understanding the detailed flame transport in IC engines is important to predict ignition, rate of heat release and assess engine performance. This is particularly important for RANS and LES engine simulations, which often struggle to accurately predict flame propagation and heat release without first adjusting model parameters. Detailed measurements of flame transport are required to guide model development. This work introduces an experimental dataset designed to study the detailed flame transport and flame/flow dynamics for SI engines. Simultaneous dual-plane OH-LIF and stereoscopic PIV is used to acquire 3D measurements of unburnt gas velocity, flame displacement speed and overall flame velocity during the early flame development. Experiments are performed in an optical engine operating at 800 and 1500 RPM with premixed C8H18-air mixtures. Analysis reveals several distinctive flame/flow configurations that yield a positive or negative flame displacement for which the flame progresses towards the reactants or products, respectively. For the operating conditions utilized, Sd exhibits and inverse relationship with flame curvature; a strong correlation between negative Sd and convex flame contours is observed. Trends are consistent with thermo-diffusive flames, but have not been quantified in IC engines. Flame wrinkling is more severe at the higher RPM, which broadens Sd distribution towards higher positive and negative velocities. Spatially-resolved distributions of Ugas and Sd describe in-cylinder locations where convection or thermal diffusion is the dominating mechanism contributing to flame transport. Findings are discussed in relation to common engine flow features, including flame transport near solid surfaces. Findings are designed to support engine simulation validations.


text:
Release:2016, Vol. 2. №1
About the authors:Galina I. Moreva, Cand. Sci. (Psych.), Associate Professor, Department of General and Social Psychology Institute of Psychology and Pedagogy, Tyumen State University; _EMAIL_
Abstract:Nowadays it is possible to observe the contradictory phenomena, when the activity of young electors goes down during the elections, young people demonstrate a mistrust to the political structures, and the amount of the young people involved in the political organizations activity still remains at a low level. Apart from that one can see a high enough level of the public's destructive activity, including protesting, as in the street protest acts, which easily turn into calls for mutiny and power takeover, as it on the Bolotnaya Square in 2012. The article presents an attempt to study the features of young of different political activity.


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During Kerrigan's resurgence, Abathur discovered the vile strain by forcing roaches on the world of Mehlus IV to drink microbe-infested water on the planet's surface. The roaches that survived the toxic ingestion adapted to produce acidic saliva which were altered by the byproducts of the microbes. When the vile attacks a target, their acidic saliva will act as a constrictive agent. As newer layers are added with each attack, the old layers harden and tighten thus debilitating the target.
Its attacks slow normal enemy units' movement speed and attack speed by 75%. Heroic units instead suffer a penalty of 20% to both movement speed and attack speed.
The slowing attacks of the vile roach make it very effective against larger enemy units such as the colossus, thors, siege tanks and archons by making their already slow attacks even slower. With proper micro, vile roaches can also kite zealots easily. However, the slowing effect is somewhat wasted on masses of smaller units, such as marines.
When compared with the corpser, the vile is more effective against larger, heavier hitting units such as colossi and thors, while the corpser is more effective against smaller closely grouped enemies.


From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Middridge is located in County Durham
 Middridge shown within County Durham
OS grid reference NZ251261
Unitary authority County Durham
Ceremonial county County Durham
Region North East
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town Newton Aycliffe
Postcode district DL5
Dialling code 01325
Police Durham
Fire County Durham and Darlington
Ambulance North East
EU Parliament North East England
List of places
County Durham
Coordinates: 54°38′N 1°40′W / 54.63°N 1.66°W / 54.63; -1.66
Following the fall of the Roman Empire, the Saxons arrived in the area around 500 AD [1] and created several settlements, including Middridge. The name "Middridge" is derived from its location at that time on the "middle ridge" between Eldon and School Aycliffe (near the current Aycliffe golf course).
Anglo-Saxon Middridge lasted for five hundred years before being destroyed by the Normans during William the Conqueror's Harrying of the North. Those who survived this massacre (and the resulting disease and starvation) were enslaved by the invaders. They were forced by the Bishop of Durham to toil in the surrounding fields as serfs, and forcibly relocated to gloomy huts centred on the village green. The "serfs" eventually gained their freedom and the village green survives to this day, although the housing has improved considerably.
The arrival of the industrial age in the nineteenth century resulted in two coal mines: Charles Pit and Eden Pit.[2] These pits were collectively known as Middridge Colliery, and provided employment for hundreds of people in their heyday while producing a combined daily total of 600 tons of coal,[3] before closing in the early 20th century. The remains of this era live on in the names of places such as Charles Row, Eden Grove and the "pit heap", a small hill used in the winter as a sledge run# Until recently, the pit heap was also used to host the annual village bonfire#
Notable buildings and structures[edit]
Middridge Grange is a Grade II listed building [4] situated just outside the village itself, between Shildon and School Aycliffe. It is one of the oldest buildings in the region, beginning life as a large Elizabethan manor in 1578. However, the current Middridge Grange bears little resemblance to the original manor, much of which was destroyed by fire in the 19th century.
Used as a farmhouse, it has been owned by the Scott family since the early 20th century but has not been lived in since the 1970s, after falling into serious disrepair. A site of great interest to historians, it is currently undergoing an extensive renovation.
Middridge Village Hall was originally built as a school for the children of the village and local farming community. It served this purpose for many years, but due to a continuing fall in pupil numbers in the 1950s and 1960s and changes in education policy, it closed.
To prevent the building becoming derelict, the committee of the village association took over the administration of the hall. After various repairs and alterations, it became the village hall, which it has been for well over thirty years. The village hall is used as a venue for discos, church services, parties and social gatherings such as the monthly wine club. The hall has recently been refurbished, with an entirely new roof section, plumbing structure and electrical system.
Famous residents[edit]
The Byerley Turk, the great stallion owned by the then Captain (later Colonel) Robert Byerley, was arguably Middridge's most famous resident. The Byerley Turk was one of the three[5] founding stallions of today's thoroughbred horses and was stood at Middridge Grange, until being moved to Goldsborough Hall, near Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, when his owner married his cousin, Mary Wharton, in 1692.
Robert Byerley was the son of Colonel Anthony Byerley, a cavalry officer who served Charles I in a unit known as "Byerley's Bulldogs". The Byerley line eventually died out, but their name lives on in place names around the region, such as Byerley Park, Byerley Road etc.
It is believed that King Charles I of England took refuge in Middridge Grange during the English Civil War.[6]
Legends and folklore[edit]
The Middridge fairies (or faeries) are, according to legend, very different from the kind, winged fairies of popular culture. They are rumoured to be evil demons that scourge people and generally cause mischief. The story goes that the fairies chased a traveller, who took refuge in Middridge Grange, getting inside the building just before the pitchfork struck the door. The pitchfork mark was reputedly on this door for many years afterwards. They were also blamed for disruptions to the building of the Stockton and Darlington railway.
The village fete[edit]
Middridge village fete is a yearly event for the local community (but people come from miles around). It is usually a combination of a jumble sale, children's entertainment, competitions and other events, usually ending in a barbecue that is enjoyed alongside copious amounts of alcohol.
In 1974 during excavations for the foundation of the Bay Horse Pub extension in Middridge, a hoard of coins mainly dating from Edward 1 era was found. Known as "The Middridge Hoard", the significant hoard was mainly distributed at an auction by Dinning in 1976, although some remain in the Dorman Long Museum in Middlesbrough, and the British Treasury Museum in London. The Hoard. The hoard of 3072 coins was estimated to be buried in 1311, and consisted of mainly English, but also Irish, Scottish and Continental coins.
 1. ^ [1][dead link]
 2. ^ Lloyd, Chris. "Come friendly bombs and fall on...Eden (From The Northern Echo)". Thenorthernecho.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
 3. ^ _URL_
 4. ^ "Keys To The Past, Ref No D15753". Keystothepast.info. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
 5. ^ The Byerley Turk by Jeremy James, publ. Merlin Unwin Books, ISBN 978-1-873674-98-7
 6. ^ [2][dead link]
 - Leighton, H.R. (1910) Memorials of Old Durham London: G. Allen
External links[edit]


text:
Features and Benefits
EMU was developed to provide an intuitive interface to manage, modify and import large numbers of users. Originally developed as a tool to import and modify users for schools, universities and colleges, EMU is more than just a series of batch files or individual utilities. EMU has evolved into a fully-fledged application that eases the administrative burden for all eDirectory, NetWare, GroupWise, and NetMail administrators who deal with large numbers of accounts.
- Easy to use, intuitive workstation application
- Bulk create/modify NetMail attributes (includes automatically creating and setting Sent Folder values and Message Store Settings)
- Bulk modify maximum concurrent connections
- Significant speed improvement with dealing with groups of more than 5,000 users.
- Select/modify/delete accounts based on last login time. Selectable parameters for number of days since last login time, never logged in, not used in X days, etc.
- Supports extended eDirectory schemas and changing extended schema values from a text file.
- Bulk change eDirectory values for existing users from text file
- Scan for duplicate eDirectory/GroupWise accounts or Home Directories entries when creating accounts. Rename duplicates on the fly and have them automatically verified.
- Automatically append a number to accounts that would otherwise conflict. Ability to change the duplicate accounts to a name of your choice.
- Save new, non-conflicting user names to a text file for future reference.
- Ability to bulk modify NDS and/or GroupWise passwords based on the contents of a text file.
- Ability to select and bulk modify accounts and account information based on the contents of a text file.
- Support for managing Novell NetMail user preference settings
- Create and copy files to "Secondary" home directories (directories in another location with "home directory" Trustee Assignments and file ownership)
- Set Trustee Assignments for Home Directories (and Secondary Home Directories) - at creation and during mass modification
- Ability to mass copy files or directories into home directories
- Move user home directories to other volumes - keeps Trustee Assignments, File Ownership and Disk Restriction information
- Check for duplicate user names in specific containers (or the entire tree) before creating user IDs
- Enhanced ability to modify users based on the contents of a text file
- Bulk modify user properties based on Group Membership
- Add and delete Group Membership at the same time
- Bulk modify GroupWise visibility
- Bulk modify GroupWise and NDS passwords
- Create GroupWise users for existing NDS users
- Ability to save all create information to an EMU profile - a powerful improvement on the concept of user templates. Allows you to re-use the field links for multiple import sessions.
EMU drives value to the bottom line by freeing up your advanced network administrators to carry more critical tasks than managing user accounts. By using EMU to carry out identity management bulk changes, network administrators from schools, school districts, colleges, universities and large enterprise networks are able to focus on the more pressing tasks of increasing the Return On Investment and offering additional and improved services to their users.
Short turn-arounds between semesters and bulk account creation or deletion have never been easier than with EMU.
EMU helps your company save time, energy and effort. It allows your administrators to focus on upper level tasks rather than user creation and modification tasks.
Better and faster user creation and management - better results!


text: The objective of Spreadsheet Query is to provide the user with two powerful tools for the strategic and competitive analysis of a nation in terms of the Millenium Development Goals. The first tool is called the Reference Matrix. The Reference Matrix creates a bubble chart that compares a Country's results with respect to a group of indicators against the results of the other countries within the same geographical region, income level or type of lending. The second tool is called the Goals Scorecards. The Goals Scorecard allows the user to follow up on a Country's performance with respect to the Millenium Development Goals, through a graphic representation of their deviations or progress achieved. Spreadsheet Query is an Excel (Microsoft Office) based application. It works with Excel 2003 and higher versions. It takes advantage of the functionality offered by these spreadsheets for the management and analysis of databases.


text:
A successful character design is the use and combination of a wide range of skills, as well as the possession of certain basic knowledge. In other words, a successful design is a process consisting of half of the design, half of the visualization. The design consists in analyzing the situation, formulating the task and developing an inventive, interesting and elegant solution. Visualization consists in skillful use of the basic principles of anatomy, composition and color theory, as well as in the ability to implement the solution of the very task formulated in the design process.
In the process of project implementation, our designers carry out a detailed and illustrated presentation of the concept, with the amount of illustrative material (various angles and variants of the character, settings and environments, etc.) that the customer needs to understand the project, and so on. Also we use animated clips in the demonstrations project volumes. For characters in 3d, we create a visualization of the character's model and work on texturing.
A very effective way to convey the image of the hero is to create an illustration in a more narrative style. Of course, such a picture can only come about when the character's design is already well developed. Showing your hero involved in some major conflict or turning point in history, we convey more information about him than with a simple sketch.


text:
[Nos. 17-32] Universal Joints, Out of Line Drives, Eccentrics
William M Clark
38.7cm x 38.7cm
Cast aluminum and wood (painted) on a vertical panel.
For educational use only. All rights reserved by the contributor(s) and publisher(s).
double-slider, eccentric, higher pair
An eccentric is a revolving disk having the point, on which it revolves, off the center of the disk. The eccentric is the driving force and works in an elongated yoke. This does away with the oscillating motion caused by disks which work in circular guides as in No. 23.
[Virginia Downward & William M. Clark, 1930]
[Editorís Note: This eccentric is similar to the Scotch Yoke [Model 21] except that the rectangular slider is replaced by an off-center cylinder. In Reuleaux's theory of kinematic mechanisms, the area-contact rectangular slider is called a 'lower pair' while the line contact of the cylinder against the vertical track is called a 'higher' pair. Higher pair mechanisms have fewer parts but more wear and noise. This mechanism is sometimes called a 'double-slider crank because of the sliding motion in both the vertical and horizontal directions. This model is similar to a sketch in the 1868 catalog of mechanical movements by Henry T. Brown, Figure 90. FCM]

source: HuggingFaceFW/fineweb-edu


Sam Francis
Untitled, 1984
106.7 X 73 inch
What is Epreuvre d'Artist?
What is Epreuvre d'Artist?
Épreuve d'Artist refers to the artist's proofs in a limited edition run of prints. Artists commonly reserve a few prints for their own personal use. These are usually marked with the abbreviation E.A. for épreuve d'artist or AP for artist's proof.
Contemporary Art
Porcelain is a hard material made of clay which is primarily composed of the mineral kaolinite. It is used to make art objects and a wide range of everyday household wares such as dishes and bowls. Porcelain items are popular for painting with special glazes.
Aquagravure is a technique combining several processes; including compressing wet paper pulp in a carved wood mold until the water runs off, painting the compressed paper, adding ink to the mold to print onto the painted paper, and allowing the entire work to dry.
Can't find your Answer?


text:
Fee: $75 for those in the California library community and Infopeople Partners, $150 for all others.
(An Infopeople Online Learning Course)
June 16, 2009 – July 20, 2009
Are you staying ahead of the game at your library? You may be offering gaming programs for kids and teens but missing opportunities to involve older adults in the fun…and learning.
All over the U.S., libraries are discovering the benefits of intergenerational gaming programs. Connecting young people with older adults, gaming programs actively engage young minds and keep aging minds young and engaged. These programs recognize the popularity of gaming with teens and the demographics of the "baby boomer cohort" and its impact on all parts of society. It's a profoundly social experience where experts and novices come together to learn from each other.
In this course, experienced gamer and library programmer Kelly Czarnecki will help you:
- Understand how gaming is developmentally appropriate for teens and older adults
- Generate ideas for intergenerational gaming programs
- Develop talking points about your programs targeted to potential funders.
- Identify elements that make an intergenerational gaming program successful
When you complete the course you'll have a "game plan" for starting intergenerational gaming at your library, with funding and marketing strategies, evaluation tools, and tips from expert library programmers
Workshop Description: In this online course you will explore ideas for intergenerational gaming programs that bring teens and older adults together. Starting with age-appropriate outcomes, you'll develop a plan for a gaming program at your library, look at spaces and equipment, identify funding sources, create marketing tools, and figure out how to measure success, sustain and expand the program.
During the course, you will be reading background materials and case studies, completing assignments and participating in online discussion forums. The instructor will provide resources, best practices, and useful tips and techniques that can be applied immediately.
Online meetings during the course will provide opportunities to hear:
- Jan Perrier, Roxbury Public Library in New Jersey, talk about her popular class, "Wii for Seniors: Beat Your Grandchildren."
- Maddie Siegel describe the intergenerational gaming programs at the Peters Township Public Library in Pennsylvania.
- Allan Kleiman, former Senior Spaces manager at Old Bridge Public Library, now a library consultant, share his experiences with intergenerational gaming and focus on success and sustainability.
Preliminary Course Outline: Using your web browser and your Internet connection, you will log in to the Infopeople online learning site and complete the following learning modules:
- Week One: Gaming and Libraries
- Historical context
- "Brain fitness" in teens and boomers
- Developmentally appropriate gaming
- Week Two: Bringing the Generations Together
- What makes these programs different
- Characteristics of successful programs
- Planning, promoting and implementing
- Week Three: Internal and External Funding
- Identifying funding sources
- Short term planning
- Longer term funding
- Week Four: Evaluation and Expansion
- Case studies from successful libraries
- Ways to measure success
- Expansion and sustainability
- Use of volunteers
Who Should Take This Course: Anyone from the library community with an interest in intergenerational gaming, connecting teens (ages 12-18) and older adults (ages 55 and up). Those responsible for library programs will find this course especially helpful and interesting.
Course Start: This 4-week-long online learning course starts on June 16, 2009.
If you would like to subscribe via RSS and be notified whenever new Infopeople training events are available, you can use these links:
**For new on-ground or online workshops: _URL_
**For new podcasts: feeds.feedburner.com/InfopeoplePodcasts


Giant Steps, Tiny Steps
Giant Steps is a John Coltrane song infamous for being difficult to improvise over, because it has massive key changes (hence "giant steps") that are hard for musicians to keep track of.
It didn't seem to give Coltrane too much trouble though:
The "circle of fifths" is the sort of landscape in which these steps (giant or otherwise) can be taken. Say we start with the note C. Within the key of C major, if we move up five notes we get to a G (C, D, E, F, G). This G is the fifth of C. Likewise, if we move up five notes from G we get to D (G, A, B, C, D). Continuing this we eventually walk around all 12 notes in the scale by fifths (because \[ 5n \: \mathrm{mod} \: 12 \] cycles through all possibilities).
Here's what happens if you do a step-by-step walk around the circle of fifths. (The chords sound like they're alternating between low and high pitch because I moved around the chords to fit within a smaller range of pitches.) Every one of these samples is going to repeat once, so you'll be able to hear it repeat at the midway point.
If you take three of these fifth-sized steps at a time, you end up using only four chords out of the twelve:
Here's four steps around, which of course means three chords. It has a different rhythmic feel because it's based on counting to three instead of four, but the chord changes are still similar. This is also the set of chord changes most similar to what's in Coltrane's song.
Here's what happens if you walk at five steps around: you end up with chords right next to each other on the scale.
Because 12 is divisible by 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6, and because 5 is just 6-1 (so the same as going 1 step in the other direction after jumping half the circle), any integer value of jumps around the circle leads to a repetitive pattern. Any linear recurrence mod 12 gives us a human-recognizable pattern of chords.
We could try to fix this by jumping into the world of the pseudorandom. Instead of just adding \[ n \] at every step, let's use an LFSR or a Mersenne Twister to generate more-random (but still not totally random) sequences. They should sound more strange to the human ear, providing a bizarre musical experience while still being grounded in recognizable patterns.
Would this work? Well…not exactly. We can generate a random sequence of chord changes using something like the code below. Because the cycle here is so long (Python's random module has a period of \[ 2^{19937-1} \]), if we're going to hear any sequence as "random", this should be it.
import random
def note(n):
 """Converts position on circle of fifths to a note name"""
 notes = ['C', 'G', 'D', 'A', 'E', 'B', 'Gb', 'Db', 'Ab', 'Eb', 'Bb', 'F']
 return notes[n - 1]
for i in range(12):
 print(note(random.randint(1, 12)))
Here's a sample "song" made using the above code.
Do you hear this as a random sequence? My guess is no. Human brains are very good at detecting patterns even in truly random data, and the scope of what's allowed here (only 12 options, all major chords, repeats once) just doesn't allow for something that sounds all that "random". We may have giant steps, but it's still hard to go for a random walk.


text:
The spatial distribution of activity points depicts the fundamental state of spatial interaction. Figure 6 Spatial distribution of activity points. 4.3.2. Spatial Interaction With reference to the Shanghai Fourth Comprehensive Traffic Investigation, the city territory y-secretase inhibitor of Shanghai was divided into 35 traffic macrozones. The identities of the 35 macrozones
and the identity of the study area together constituted the item set M in the frequent item set mining. The minimum support threshold pmin was set to be 2%. The spatial interaction of residents' activities is fetched from the outputs. The frequent 1-item sets depict the spatial distribution of activity points in different macrozones, which yields a similar result as Figure 6. Figure 7 illustrates the outcomes of frequent 2-item sets and shows the spatial interaction between two different macrozones. Figure 7 Spatial interaction of residents' activities in the study areas. 4.3.3. Discussion Through the visualization of calculation outcomes, a brief analysis can be carried out to discover some representative features in spatial interaction. As shown in Figure 6(a), the spatial distribution of Gucun residents' activities is a nonuniform
distribution shaped like a binuclear dumbbell. There are two centers of activity: the regional center nearby and the area in the central city along Metro line 7. As shown in Figure 7(a), both of the two centers have strong association with the surrounding areas. There also exists a strong link between the two activity centers, which plays the role of handle that joins
the centers. Figure 6(b) shows a less centripetal tendency for the residents' activities in Dahua. The spatial distribution of residents' activities shapes like a ribbon along Metro line 7. However, as Figure 7(b) illustrates, there are still two activity centers. Due to the short distance between Dahua and the central city, the two activity centers are closely interlinked and fuse to form one morphologically. But from the viewpoint of function level, they are still divergent. The activities of residents Entinostat in Jing'an distribute evenly without evident centralization, characterized by the flexible shape and the uniform distribution in Figure 6(c). The spatial interaction in Figure 7(c) only shows the strong associations between Jing'an and the surrounding areas. The above analysis proves the rationality of the framework proposed in this paper. The long-term and pervasive monitoring of activities based on mobile phone data is an effective way to obtain the spatial interaction between the different areas. The representative features extracted can be applied in the further studies on the interaction between individual behavior and urban space structure. 5. Conclusion Mobile phone data can pervasively track individual behavior in both temporal and spatial dimension.


text:
Enriquez, M., Afonin, O., Yager, B., MacLean, K. (2001). "A Pneumatic Tactile Notification System for the Driving Environment." in Proceedings of Workshop on Perceptive User Interfaces (PUI '01), Orlando, FL, 2001.
Sensory overloaded environments present an opportunity for innovative design in the area of Human-Machine Interaction. In this paper we study the usefulness of a tactile display in the automobile environment. Our approach uses a simple pneumatic pump to produce pulsations of varying frequencies on the driver's hands through a car steering wheel fitted with inflatable pads. The goal of the project is to evaluate the effectiveness of such a system in alerting the driver of a possible problem, when it is used to augment the visual display presently used in automobiles. A steering wheel that provides haptic feedback using pneumatic pockets was developed to test our hypothesis. The steering wheel can pulsate at different frequencies. The system was tested in a simple multitasking paradigm on several subjects and their reaction times to different stimuli were measured and analyzed. For these experiments, we found that using a tactile feedback device lowers reaction time significantly and that modulating frequency of vibration provides extra information that can reduce the time necessary to identify a problem.


text:
ENGAGE YOUR ENTIRE CLASS, SCHOOL, OR DISTRICT IN POWERFUL STEAM LEARNING. STEAM Education Class Packs are bundles of the littleBits STEAM Student Set, configured for varying classroom sizes to make it easy for educators to decide which solution is right for them. Built for 3rd–8th grade classrooms of 18, 24, and 30 students, Class Packs make it easy to integrate science, technology, engineering, art, and math into your curriculum in an engaging way that ties to national standards.
Product Details - 18 Student Class Pack:
- The STEAM Student Set brings effective, invention-based learning into your classroom
- Students understand challenging subjects by creating inventions that solve challenges they can relate to
- Suitable for 18 Students : Includes 6x Steam Student Sets + 2x Tackle Boxes
- Comes with a 72-page Student Invention Guide, and a 124-page online Teacher's Guide and Invention Logs
- Each individual STEAM Student Set supports 1–3 students in an individual or group setting
- Each individual kit Includes 19 BITS + additional materials & accessories.
- Kits also available for 24 or 30 Students
- Recommended Age : 8+ (Grade 3-8)
Disclaimer: Pictures shown of the tackle box are for illustration purposes only. Actual product may vary in colour, pattern and size due to product enhancement.


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Page Object Model (POM)
Page Object Model (POM) in Test Automation
We got familiarized with TestCafe, an automation tool for web-based applications, in one of our earlier blogs. In this article we will see what Page Object Model (POM) is for TestCafe, its advantages and how to create a basic framework.
What is Page Object Model (POM)?
Page Object Model is a design pattern which is commonly used in Test Automation to enhance test maintenance and reduce code duplication. It helps in building an Object Repository for Web UI elements, which boosts the readability of your tests too.
In a Page Object Model, each page in the web application contains a corresponding Page Class which comprises the Web Elements and the Methods which operate on those Web Elements.
Page Object Model
Why do we need Page Object Model?
For better understanding of this, let us take the example of the home page of a web application, which has a menu bar leading to different modules with different features. Suppose a developer changes an element such as ID/NAME/CLASS, on this, which is being used in multiple test scripts. This leads to a condition where you need to remember to change the location in all the fields where it is being used. Updating the locators in a duplicated code can be a time consuming and a tedious job, and can be subject to omissions, which may lead to errors. This is one major reason why we use POM. It helps in making the code more readable, maintainable and reusable.
How to create POM Framework using TestCafe?
Implementing your own POM framework is quite easy now. Let us discuss bit-by-bit on how to implement your own POM using TestCafe. Here we are using Visual Studio Code to write scripts. You can download it by going to the following link.
Throughout this tutorial article, we will be using the demo website, "_URL_ as an example.
Let's get started
- Install Node – explained in the previous article _URL_
- Create a Project Folder and open the Project Folder in Visual Studio Code
1. Initialize project.json
In package.json file, we can store information about the project such as name, version, description, scripts, dependencies, git repository links, etc.
To initialize project.json file, type "npm init" command either in VS integrated terminal or any external terminal. It will prompt you to a set of questions about project, just fill it if required or just hit Enter. At the end, it will prompt – "Is this OK? (yes)". Type "yes".
This will create a project.json file inside your Project Folder. You can find the screenshots of the same below.
2. Install dependencies
The dependency in our project is TestCafe. Install your dependency locally to your project by executing the command "npm install testcafe".
This will create a node modules folder, which contains node modules with respect to TestCafe. You can see that the dependency of TestCafe with version will be added in package.json file.
3. Create a Folder "Page" and create a "LoginPage.js" file under it
4. Declare a Page Object Class in "LoginPage.js" file
This class will contain all the element locators and methods of Login Page. Hence name it as LoginPage.js.
5. Add Page elements to the Page Model
Go to "_URL_ right-click on email address text field and click on Inspect. Then Elements Panel will be displayed, and the element will be highlighted in the DOM. Mostly, an element can be uniquely identified by using its classname, id, value withText or xpaths. Now in this example, the unique locator to identify web element email address is "id = email". Hence you can use it as "emailId = Selector(_TAG_);"
Similarly, unique locator for other two elements are also found.
Now, you must be wondering what is this "Selector" that has been used in the above step.
Selector in TestCafe
A Selector is a function in TestCafe that identifies a webpage element in the test. Import the Selector constructor from the TestCafe module. With the help of Selector, you can store the web element in a variable and perform actions on these elements.
6. Create a Folder "Test", with a subfolder "login" and create "login_test.js" file under it
Under "Test" folder, test scripts related to each module should be separated by their module name. For example, in this case, login test cases will be included in "login_test.js", which is under login folder. Similarly, if there is a register module, then create a separate folder called "Register" under "Test" folder and write test script related to register module in "register_test.js" file. This ensures that the test cases are categorized with respect to the modules.
7. Write Test Script that uses Page Model elements
a. In the test file, import the page model instance from LoginPage.js. Then create an object of that page "const loginPage = new LoginPage()", and now you will be able to use locators or methods defined in LoginPage.js file by using "loginPage" object.
Declare a test fixture by using fixture function – you can specify the description of the test as "fixture 'TestCafe Framework'", URL of the webpage with keyword as ".page '_URL_ The metadata, initialization and clean-up code for tests can be included in the fixture using test hooks like beforeEach, afterEach etc.
b. To create a test, use keyword test(), where we can specify all TestCafe actions.
Each test() has its own description – in this case it is, "Login Test"
test('Login Test', async t => {
 //test code goes here
The "t" used in the above code is a test controller, you can use any name you want but the general convention is to use "t".
In the screenshot, you can see that we have used await t.typeText('Selector', 'text'); it means that we are asking the test controller to use typeText function.
Screenshot of how to import page model instance, create an object, declare a fixture and write your tests and actions
8. Add Actions to the Page Model, i.e., add common methods that is used by login_test.js file
LoginPage.js with login (email, password) function
In this case, Line 12, 13 and 14 constitute an operation that can be used in most of the test cases to log in to the application with different inputs. Hence, a login function is defined with email and password as parameters in LoginPage.js file.
The image below shows how to access or call "login" function from "login_test.js".
Line 11, Calling login function by passing parameters from Login_test.js
9. Create a config.js file
Example which demonstrates how to define config file
Line 8, 12 shows how to read data from config.js file
Configuration files are mainly used to store Global fields that are used throughout the tests or even database configuration details. It is mainly used to maintain project configuration data, database config, project settings etc. Each parameter in config file is stored in a key and value format, where each line has a single key-value pair.
10. Create a data folder to store data related to specific tests/pages
Create a new folder called "data" and create a new file under it and name it as "login.js". Files under data folder should contain test data that will be utilized by your login test scripts such as valid login credentials, invalid login credentials, success messages, error messages etc.
The main purpose of this is to avoid hard coded values. Data sets increases test coverage by performing testing with various inputs of valid and invalid data, with all the data easily maintained at a single location.
Line 21 and 23 shows the usage of test data in login_test.js
Login.js file should contain all the test data that will be used by your login test scripts.
11. Create a common helper function file to store functions used by all your test modules/pages
Create a folder and name it as "common" and create a file under it with name "helperFunction.js".
There may be functions which can be used by more than one test script. Thus, these methods are grouped together in a file called "helperFunction.js". The following images depict how the test script can access these common methods by importing them into the test file.
Define all the common functions used throughout your test
Line 4, 20, 21, 23 shows usage of common helper functions from login_test.js file
Done! You have successfully completed creating your own POM framework.
Your final folder structure should look something like this,
POM Summary
POM model approach makes test automation framework programmer friendly by keeping tests and the element locators separate. This keeps the code clean and understandable. The result is that test cases can easily be implemented, updated, maintained and reused.
We hope, with this information you will be able to easily create your own POM framework for your project. Stay tuned for more. Happy testing!!!
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Readers ask: How To Spell Devi In Roman?
How do you spell Devi?
Correct spelling for the English word " devi " is [dɪvˈi], [dɪvˈi], [d_ɪ_v_ˈi] (IPA phonetic alphabet).
What does Devi mean?
What is to Bacchus mean?
(ˈbækəs ) (in ancient Greece and Rome) a god of wine and giver of ecstasy, identified with Dionysus.
What is goddess called in Urdu?
Goddess Meaning in English to Urdu is دیوی, as written in Urdu and Devi, as written in Roman Urdu. There are many synonyms of Goddess which include Celestial, Creator, Divinity, Godhead, Idol, Immortal, Divine Being, Celestial Being, Supreme Being, etc.
What does Devi mean in Hebrew?
What does Devi mean in Russian?
You might be interested: Readers ask: How To Go From Jammu To Vaishno Devi?
Who is the powerful goddess?
Is Shiva a male or female?
Is Devi a surname?
Who is the god of partying?
Egyptian equivalent Osiris
Why is Bacchus important?
Bacchus was primarily known as the god of agriculture and wine, but was also associated with fertility, drama, and revelry. In regards to agriculture, he was depicted as a god of trees and forest, and was often sought ought to help the orchards grow.
What is the meaning of goddess?
1: a female god. 2: a woman whose great charm or beauty arouses adoration. Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about goddess.
Is Anahita a Hindu name?
Anahita is a Hindu Girl name and it is Hindi originated name with multiple meanings. Anahita name meaning is Graceful. Anahita name popularity and rank stands at 17107 among 29430 Hindu names.
You might be interested: FAQ: What Year Did Gayatin Devi Quote We Focus On So Much Memory Thst Forgetting Has Been Maligned?
What is the Islamic meaning of name Anahita?
Meaning of Anahita Anahita is an Avestan (an ancient Persian language) name for girls that means "pure", "innocent", "unblemished, "without flaw", "non-corrupt".
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Grapher v15 added the ability to create a scatter plot and color the symbols with a gradient, based on the values in a data column. To display a scatter plot with data-based coloring and show a color scale for these points, complete the steps below:
- Select the scatter plot in the Object Manager.
- Click on the Symbol tab in the Property Manager.
- In the Plot Symbol Properties section, expand the Fill section.
- Set the Color variable.
- Define the desired Colormap.
- Check the box next to Show color scale.
- Now that the color scale exists, you can select it to edit the properties in the Property Manager.
Color scatter plot points based on data values and then display a color scale to display which values represent which colors.
Updated March, 2020


Traveling Luck for Jasika, Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of (general), FYR Macedonia
FYR Macedonia flag
Where is Jasika?
What's around Jasika?
Wikipedia near Jasika
Where to stay near Jasika
The timezone in Jasika is Europe/Skopje
Sunrise at 04:57 and Sunset at 18:18. It's Dark
Latitude. 41.5314°, Longitude. 20.8403°
WeatherWeather near Jasika; Report from Ohrid, 47.8km away
Weather :
Temperature: 21°C / 70°F
Wind: 13.8km/h North
Cloud: Scattered at 4000ft
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Geographic features & Photographs around Jasika, in Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of (general), FYR Macedonia
populated place;
a place where ground water flows naturally out of the ground.
a tract of land without homogeneous character or boundaries.
a mountain range or a group of mountains or high ridges.
small primitive houses.
a high conspicuous structure, typically much higher than its diameter.
an elongated depression usually traversed by a stream.
Airports close to Jasika
Ohrid(OHD), Ohrid, Former macedonia (47.8km)
Skopje(SKP), Skopje, Former macedonia (96.2km)
Tirana rinas(TIA), Tirana, Albania (112.9km)
Pristina(PRN), Pristina, Yugoslavia (139km)
Aristotelis(KSO), Kastoria, Greece (150.8km)
Airfields or small airports close to Jasika
Alexandria, Alexandria, Greece (203.3km)
Photos provided by Panoramio are under the copyright of their owners.


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BALISTIKA 2010 : An Automated Firearms Identification System for Forensic Laboratories
BALISTIKA® 2010 is a ballistic image analysis and recognition system with the following characteristics:
High matching performance, user friendly, scalable, capable of extracting and using 3-dimensional data, based on a relational database relating bullets, cartridge cases, firearms, incidences and individuals.
Firearms leave unique marks on fired bullets and cartridge cases when they are used. When the marks on two bullets or cartridge cases are compared, one can determine whether these have been fired from the same firearm or not. In this way, the relations between different events can be established. Comparing cartridge cases or bullets to match those fired from the same firearm is a time consuming and a painstaking task that requires continuous attention.
When the number of evidences to be examined and the archive of evidences are large, then manual comparison becomes virtually impossible. Balistika® 2010 is a project to solve this problem. Balistika® 2010 enables matching cartridge cases and bullets automatically at a high matching performance.
BALISTIKA is a system developed by TUBITAK UZAY, consisting of the software and the hardware, which acquires the 3D data of the cartridge cases and bullets using photometric stereo method, saves this data in the database together with the accompanying metadata, is capable of saving the information about the cases, persons, firearms in addition to the cartridge case and bullet data, compares these by extracting features data from 3D data and gives the probability of them being sisters, is capable of distributing the load of correlation task among the computers within the system, is capable of performing data communications with the other BALISTIKA installations, provides computerized cartridge case and bullet correlation.
BALISTIKA is a ballistic mark image analysis and recognition system. BALISTIKA has three main functions:
1. Data Acquisition: provides the creation of high quality images by means of smart software and hardware.
2. Query and Visualizing: provides the correlation of the created images with the previous data and analyze.
3. Evidence Matching: provides the storage of the information about the images, evidence, cases and individuals by means of server unit and opportunity of matching.


Rutgers Professors Create Software to Assist in Facility Evacuation
Program would help large facilities develop procedures for evacuating people during a fire, bioterror attack or natural disaster
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - Two Rutgers University professors are developing a computer program to help large facilities develop procedures for evacuating people during a fire, bioterror attack or natural disaster.
The software could be customized to fit any building plan. Once it detects anthrax or a fire, for example, it would provide security officials with specific steps to take, such as blocking off access to a contaminated area of a building.
"It gives them directions and guidance on how to respond to the incident," said Ali Maher, professor and chairman of the civil and environmental engineering department at Rutgers. Maher also serves as director to the federal and state-funded group called The Center for Advanced Infrastructure & Transportation.
The professors are testing their software now at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick. Their work also has caught the interest of New Jersey State Police and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Maher said.
"We're trying to develop a platform that every hospital in the nation could use, actually any place could use," said Mohsen Jafari, an industrial engineering professor at Rutgers and member of the center. "Several hospitals in the state are very interested."
Rutgers is working with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, managed by the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, Calif., and with a private firm to incorporate an anthrax detection technology in the program.
The lab, which primarily works for NASA on sending rovers to Mars, invented an anthrax "smoke" detector in 2002. Universal Detection Technology of Beverly Hills, Calif., purchased the licensing for the detectors.
"The most important thing you want to know is if you've been exposed," said Adrian Ponce, senior scientist with the lab. "The only people who died (in the 2001 anthrax attacks) were the ones who didn't know they've been exposed."
Rutgers representatives will meet with lab and Universal Detection Technology officials Thursday in California. They aim to have their software available within nine months.
Though many large-scale public facilities and high-rise buildings have evacuation plans, very few have tested them, the professors said.
"New Jersey is the primary transit hub of the Northeast. You have airports, ports, trains and the turnpike," Maher said. "You're basically the main transit corridor between Boston and Florida."
Maher said he envisions the program being used as a network in the future so several buildings on a city block could use it to evacuate in a crisis.
The Garden State's proximity to New York and its history of anthrax contamination at the Hamilton post office make it one of the nation's best test markets, said Amir Ettehadieh, director of research and development for Universal Detection Technology.


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Tusks and crocodile blood seized at UK borders in crackdown on endangered animal products
Criminal gangs and wildlife traffickers in more than 100 countries were targeted in the operation led by Interpol.
Crocodile blood capsules
Image: Crocodile blood capsules were among the items seized
Why you can trust Sky News
Crocodile blood and elephant tusks are among thousands of endangered animal products seized in a month-long operation at UK ports and airports.
Specially-trained UK Border Force officers took part in the international drive against wildlife criminals, who are responsible for a huge increase in the trade in rare animal and plant items.
The operation, led by Interpol and the World Customs Organisation, specifically focussed on the activities of criminal gangs in more than 100 countries, who feed off organised wildlife trafficking.
An elephant tusk with wall mount
Image: An elephant tusk with wall mount
As part of that effort, Border Force officers intensified their operations at sea ports and airports, making 178 separate seizures of items totalling thousands of products, banned under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
The seizures included elephant tusks and other ivory goods, live corals and reptile skin products and bottles containing crocodile blood.
The reptile blood products are increasingly popular in Thailand and a number of other countries in the Far East, where some believe they are effective in preventing cancer.
Officers also seized a number of rare cactus plants. The cacti astrophytum asterias plants are native to a small number of states in the US and Mexico.
More from Elephants
Border Force officials unwrapping cacti
Image: Border Force officials unwrapping cacti
They are classed in the highest category of protected plant species and described as critically imperilled.
But despite this protection, illegal collection continues to threaten the future of this rare cactus.
Other items seized at the UK border included queen conch pearl, among the rarest type of pearl in the world. High-quality specimens can fetch up to £15,000 per carat.
Despite a UK ban on the trade in ivory, Border Force agents still regularly recover ivory products at Britain's ports and airports.
Astrophytum asterias cacti are endangered
Image: Astrophytum asterias cacti are endangered
Elephant tusks, attached to wall mounting chains, were among the ivory products found during this latest operation.
The European Union has come under increasing pressure to follow the example of the UK and US in banning the trade in ivory products.
The international trade in those products was outlawed 30 years ago, but trade in antique ivory and shipments of personal effects for non-commercial purposes are still allowed and this loophole is being exploited by some traders within the EU.
A queen conch pearl
Image: A queen conch pearl
Conservationists have accused the EU of helping fuel the trade, which has seen a rise in elephant poaching in parts of Africa over the past decade, with around 20,000 elephants killed each year for their ivory.
Home Office Minister Chris Philip said the UK was proud to play a part in the latest international efforts to combat wildlife crime.
"The trade in endangered species is driven by organised crime groups and the movement of banned animal products is key to how they operate," he said.
Codenamed Operation Thunder, the international drive against the trade in endangered animal and plant products led to the worldwide seizure of 1.3 tonnes of ivory, more than one tonne of pangolin scales, 1,400 live turtles and 1,800 reptiles.


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Two Methods:Playing Slender in Classic ModeUnlocking Other Modes
If you've downloaded the indie survival horror game, Slender: The Eight Pages, you may find it to be difficult to complete. Not to fear! This article will provide you all the steps you will need to beat the game and triumph over the Slender Man. No security blanket, night light, or pacifier needed.
Method 1 of 2: Playing Slender in Classic Mode
 1. 1
 Google a map of the Slender forest on the Internet. Since you're already on this page, one can be found here. Memorize it till you're certain you'll be able to navigate your way through it. There are 10 unique landmarks, and 8 notes spread randomly amongst them.
 - There being 10 locations ensures a different game each time. Not finding a note where you expect to find one (if you've been counting on it) is the easiest way to lose the game.
 2. 2
 Start the game. Slender Man will not appear before you attain the first note, so use this to your advantage. Turn off your flashlight during this period to save the batteries. It will eventually shut off if you take too long. You may like to spend this "down time" checking out the landmarks beforehand to find out where the notes are positioned.
 - However, you're not allowed to dilly-dally as long as you please. The longer you take between pages, the harder the game will get. You'll know when this initial grace period is over when you hear a stomping sound in the background.
 - The same sound is heard when you do collect the first page.
 3. 3
 Obtain the note in the bathroom at the centre of the map first. This, in theory, saves you from being ambushed or trapped by Slender Man later. If it's not there, simply continue onwards.
 - Getting the center out of the way is your best bet. That way, you don't have backtrack at all throughout the game and can work on the outside of the circle. Slender Man can only kill you if you look at him and he is always behind you. Never turn around, never see Slender Man. Simple as pie.
 4. 4
 Take a circular route around the map going out from the bathroom. This reduces the time it takes between notes. Following the main path is a good way of keeping your bearings.
 - The game will be measuring your sanity level and stamina. Sprint too often, your stamina goes. Lose your cool, your sanity level drops, and the game will be over. Eliminating time between notes and going as quickly as possible doesn't give your levels time to drop in the first place.
 5. 5
 Remember that Slender Man gets faster and faster. His stalking grows more frenzied for every note you collect. You'll want to keep the flashlight on after about 3, so if and when you turn around, you can immediately double back as soon as you see him.
 - The music in the background will get more and more intense as you collect notes. To get around this, just hit your mute button. It can be awfully distracting (which is the point).
 6. 6
 Be on super alert after the 5th note. If you do see him, line his face up with an object, so you can only see his arm or leg. When he's on the screen, he won't move. Then back away until you're out of range. Then get outta there!
 - After about 5 notes, he will be right on your tail almost constantly. Peeking at him when he is so close will get your character'scared' and allow you to sprint very fast. Use this to dash towards the last note/s, but know that it will wear your character out.
 7. 7
 Don't look behind you when you have 6 pages (unless you have the guts to do so!).[1] Slender Man will be right behind you and if you turn around, he will kill you. So keep sprinting until you find the last note.
 - This is why the bathroom is such a pain in the rear end. If you leave it for later, you'll be constantly turning around, trying to get out of it. You're as good as dead.
 8. 8
 After you collect all 8 notes, stand around until the game ends. Depending on your version of the game, you will have unlocked a different mode -- a cruel, circular hell for the non-existent player in the game. "Beating" the game is sort of a misnomer; you simply get out of the level you were in before.
Method 2 of 2: Unlocking Other Modes
 1. 1
 Unlock "daytime mode" in version 0.9.4. After collecting all the pages from the first mode, you'll "wake up" in the daytime. It probably sounds easier, but it's not. You don't have to worry about your flashlight, but everything else is just as intense.
 - After "daytime mode," unlock "$20 mode." Again with version 0.9.4, if you beat daytime mode, you'll reemerge after the credits once again in the dark. Beating this mode is no different from the standard version except for the fact that you'll hear 20 Dollars by Ron Browz playing in the background.
 - The reference to this is that some believe that if you give Slender Man $20, he won't kill you. Cheap date, huh?
 - You can select these modes in the options screen and you can play both simultaneously, if you'd like.
 2. 2
 For version 0.9.5., unlock "MH mode." This will run like a video from Marble Hornets on YouTube, using the entry format. The music is slightly different, the static is more prominent, and it runs like a prerecorded video. Once you get past this, you can then move to daytime mode and $20 mode.
 3. 3
 For version 0.9.7., unlock Marble Hornets mode first. It's only a slight name change (MH is one in the same, really). $20 mode was removed due to copyright infringement.[2]
 - You also have the options of using a crank lantern and a glow stick. What's more, you can pause the game as long as there isn't static on the screen. The more and more pages you collect, the less you can see. Fog will start rolling in, too.[3]
 - There are also more links in the menu, leading to forums and extra resources, etc.
 - Keeping in constant motion will prevent the likelihood of Slender Man taking you from behind.
 - Print out the map if you can't memorize it.
 - Conserve battery life; turn it off for the first few pages.
 - If your game is running slowly, decreasing the graphic resolution will speed things up.
 - Sprinting when scared (i.e. when Slender Man appears close to you) will make you go very fast, but also reduce the maximum stamina of the character. Only use on the last few notes.
 - Slender can't move if you watch him. But you can only watch from a very far distance. Don't use this as a strategy tactic; just keep it in mind.
 - Make sure you don't look at the ground. You won't see anything and the chances of Slender Man attacking will increase.
 - Start running when you have 4 pages. Slender man is more likely to teleport when you are walking.
 - Your distance (and whether you have your flashlight on) decide how long you can stare at Slender Man for.
 - Don't spam the shift key, the README.txt states that as of V0.9.7, clicking the shift key immediately deducts 5% of your stamina. Just hold the key if you would like to jog/sprint.
 - If there's a page in the bathroom complex, there usually isn't a page in the tunnel. Use this tip to avoid wasting time and battery life on your flashlight.
 - If you want to fully understand the story behind Slender Man, watch the film.
 - Don't play the game with headphones on.
 - Don't do it in the dark whilst home alone.
 - Don't start thinking Slender Man is real. He's just a character in a story.
Things You'll Need
 - Slender: The Eight Pages downloaded
 - A computer
 - A map of the Slender forest (optional)
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Categories: Multi Platform Games
In other languages:
Português: Completar Slender: The Eight Pages, Deutsch: Wie man „Slender: Die acht Seiten" durchspielt, Italiano: Sconfiggere Slender, Español: pasar Slender: The Eight Pages, Русский: пройти игру Slender: The Eight Pages, Bahasa Indonesia: Menamatkan Game Slender: The Eight Pages, Français: terminer le jeu Slender: The Eight Pages
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text: What is a Loss? Loss[los]noun1.A Loss is an injury or damage that is covered by an insurance Policy. Losses can be partial, like when wind damages part of a roof, or total, as when an automobile is "totaled" in a collision. Share | Have A Question About This Topic? Name Email Address Question Thank you! Oops! Related Contents Snapshots Your life is marked by images. Prepare for the unexpected, so you can keep those pictures going. Did You Know This Fact About Damaged Property? Damaged property during the claims process shouldn't be thrown away. Long-Term-Care Protection Strategies The chances of needing long-term care, its cost, and strategies for covering that cost.


text:
The American Council on Germany established its network of Eric M. Warburg Chapters to promote a greater understanding of German and European affairs beyond the business community in New York and the policy community in Washington, D.C. and to enhance the positive impact the transatlantic relationship has in local communities across the United States.
Named after ACG founder and longtime Treasurer Eric M. Warburg, the Warburg Chapters were launched in 1992 to offer ACG members and the general public across the United States with a dynamic forum for German and American government officials, journalists, policy analysts, academics and students, business and civil society representatives and other professional practitioners to engage with one another to discuss economic, political, and social issues on the transatlantic agenda. In addition, Warburg Chapters provide opportunities to examine how German-American relations on trade, foreign policy, and defense, to name just a few, impact the local community. Programming in Warburg Chapters also focuses on German politics, policies, and practices on a range of issues, such as sustainable urban development, immigration and integration, workforce preparedness, technological change, and entrepreneurship, that enables an exchange of ideas and sharing of best practices to common challenges facing local communities on both sides of the Atlantic.
Today the network of 21 chapters across the country is a vital component to the ongoing work of the American Council on Germany. Through the Warburg Chapters, the ACG engages not only those already interested in Germany, but also strives to expand the community of individuals that have an awareness and understanding of German-American affairs.
In cooperation with local partner organizations, including German Consulates and honorary consuls, German American Chambers of Commerce, Goethe-Instituts, World Affairs Councils, and other local community institutions, through its Warburg Chapters the ACG offers a variety of activities:
- Policy discussions and conferences, ranging from small group discussions to gatherings of more than 100 people, on current pertinent topics in transatlantic relations with visiting speakers from Germany or American experts on Germany;
- Hosting delegations of German policymakers and practitioners examining American strategies and approaches to common transatlantic challenges;
- Fellowship programs, leadership missions, and study tours enabling Americans to connect with their peers across the Atlantic, to gain insights and a deeper understanding on issues of common concern, and to analyze best practices for potential implementation in their local communities;
- Local programming for students in high schools and universities
Through the Warburg Chapters, the ACG convenes roughly 150 events annually, exposing a broad audience across sectors and generations with deep and nuanced insights about developments in Germany, Europe, and around the world – and how they impact the transatlantic partnership and communities across the United States.
Origins of the Warburg Chapters
After the death of one of the ACG's founders and long-serving treasurer, Eric M. Warburg, in 1990, the Council established Eric M. Warburg Chapters in cities across the United States as a lasting memorial to his steadfast commitment to promote transatlantic ties. Lionel Pincus, a business associate of Mr. Warburg's, provided the initial funding for these Chapters.
The number of Chapters has grown to 21 in 18 states. Each Chapter is unique, but they all have tremendous convening power in the communities they serve. Through a variety of events and activities, the Chapters provide fora for the discussion of the most pressing issues on the transatlantic agenda. As the ACG's outreach has grown through the years, the Chapters have reached thousands of Americans across the country.