More young people begin recreational cannabis use illegally in states that legalize it

Peer-Reviewed Publication

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - SAN DIEGOp

Once a state legalizes recreational cannabis, residents are more likely to start using it, including those too young to do so legally, report researchers at University of California San Diego. The findings, published online in the May 26, 2022 issue of Addiction, counter claims that legalization does not increase cannabis use, particularly among youth.

The observational study tracked 6,925 youths and 14,938 adults using data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health in the United States (PATH). Study authors found that young people, ages 12 to 20, were more likely to become cannabis users in states that legalize recreational use than in states that have not legalized the drug. An increased likelihood of use was also documented in adults.

According to a 2020 Natural Survey on Drug Use and Health, 17.9 percent of people aged 12 or older (approximately 49.6 million persons) reported using cannabis in the past 12 months.

Subjects in the study lived in four states that have legalized recreational cannabis use in recent years (California, Massachusetts, Nevada and Maine), 11 states that allow medical cannabis use and 17 states that prohibit all cannabis use.

The authors said using PATH data made the study the first to estimate age-level changes in a nationally representative longitudinal cohort. The study also has a much larger sample size than previous efforts.

“Our findings provide useful information to policymakers and public health practitioners interested in understanding the consequences of legalizing recreational cannabis,” said principal investigator Yuyan Shi, PhD, associate professor at the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science at UC San Diego. “It’s especially concerning that increased cannabis use occurs among young people because of the detrimental health effects associated with cannabis use at a young age, including impaired respiratory function, cardiovascular disease and adverse effects on mental health.”

Co-authors include: Christian Gunadi, UC San Diego; and Bin Zhu, UC San Diego and Southern University of Science and Technology, China.

Funding for this research came, in part, from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA042290, R01DA049730).

Full study: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/add.15895

Disclosures: The authors report no conflicts.

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JOURNAL

Addiction

DOI

10.1111/add.15895 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Observational study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

People

ARTICLE TITLE

Recreational cannabis legalization and transitions in cannabis use: findings from a nationally representative longitudinal cohort in the United States

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

26-May-2022

Residents of US states that legalize recreational cannabis are more likely to start using the drug

Peer-Reviewed Publication

SOCIETY FOR THE STUDY OF ADDICTION

A new study of more than 20,000 Americans published in the scientific journal Addiction has found that once a state legalizes recreational cannabis, state residents are more likely to start using the drug.  The study compared four US states with legalized recreational cannabis (California, Massachusetts, Nevada, and Maine) with states that had not.

This study is groundbreaking in four ways:

• It is the first study to estimate the association between recreational cannabis laws and individual-level changes in cannabis use among a nationally representative longitudinal cohort in the US.
• It examines cannabis use initiation in both youths and adults.
• It has a much larger sample size than  similar longitudinal studies: 6,925 youths and 14,938 adults, 21,863 in total.
• The study provides evidence against the claim that legalization would not increase cannabis use among youth.

Professor Yuyan Shi of Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science at University of California San Diego, the Principal Investigator of this study, says “Our findings provide useful information to policymakers and public health practitioners interested in understanding the consequences of legalizing recreational cannabis.  It’s especially concerning that increased cannabis use occurs among young people because of the detrimental health effects associated with cannabis use at a young age, including impaired respiratory function, cardiovascular disease, and adverse effects on mental health.”

-- Ends –

For editors:

This paper is free to read for one month after the embargo lifts from the Wiley Online Library: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/add.15895 or by contacting Jean O’Reilly, Editorial Manager, Addiction, jean@addictionjournal.org.

To speak with author Professor Yuyan Shi, please contact her through Yadira Galindo, Director of Communications, Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science at University of California San Diego by email (y2galindo@ucsd.edu) or telephone (619-379-3977).

Full citation for article: Gunadi C, Zhu B, and Shi Y (2022) Recreational Cannabis Legalization and Transitions in Cannabis Use: Findings from a Nationally Representative Longitudinal Cohort in the United States.  Addiction: doi: 10.1111/add.15895

Funding: This research was supported by grant R01DA042290 and grant R01DA049730 from the US National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Declaration of interests:  The authors report no financial relationships with commercial interests.

Addiction is a monthly international scientific journal publishing peer-reviewed research reports on alcohol, substances, tobacco, and gambling as well as editorials and other debate pieces. Owned by the Society for the Study of Addiction, it has been in continuous publication since 1884.

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JOURNAL

Addiction

DOI

10.1111/add.15895 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Observational study

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

People

ARTICLE TITLE

Recreational Cannabis Legalization and Transitions in Cannabis Use: Findings from a Nationally Representative Longitudinal Cohort in the United States

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

26-May-2022

The first cave-bound mollusc species from the Americas

Peer-Reviewed Publication

PENSOFT PUBLISHERS

 

IMAGE: SMALL INDIVIDUALS OF EUPERA TROGLOBIA SP. N. EXPOSED TO THE AIR, WITH A HARVESTMAN (EUSARCUS SP.) NEAR THEM. view more 

CREDIT: RODRIGO LOPES FERREIRA

Exclusively subterranean bivalves - the group of molluscs comprising clams, oysters, mussels, scallops - are considered a rarity. Prior to the present study, there had only been three such species confirmed in the world: all belonging to a small-sized mussel genus known from southeastern Europe. Furthermore, bivalves are not your typical ‘underworld’ dweller, since they are almost immobile and do not tolerate environments low in oxygen. 

Against the odds, a new study by Dr. Luiz Ricardo L. Simone (Museum of Zoology of the University of São Paulo) and Dr Rodrigo Lopes Ferreira (Federal University of Lavras), published in the open-access scholarly journal Subterranean Biology, describes a new to science species of evidently cave-bound - or troglobitic - clam from northern Brazil. 

Named Eupera troglobia, the mollusk demonstrates features characteristic for organisms not meant to see the daylight, including lack of pigmentation, reduced size, delicate shell and fewer, yet larger eggs.

Curiously, it was back in 2006 when a report presenting a faunal survey of a cave in northern Brazil featured photographs of what was to be described as Eupera troglobia. However, the evidence was quickly dismissed: the clam must have been carried into the cave by water. 

In 2010, Dr Rodrigo Lopes Ferreira accessed the report and noticed the depigmentation of the clams. Wondering whether it was indeed possible that he was looking at a troglobite, he searched amongst the collected specimens from that study, but could not find any of the discoloured bivalve.

Ten years later, his team visited the cave to specifically search for depigmented shells. Although the cave was partially flooded, the researchers were able to spot the specimens they needed attached to the walls of the cave.

In conclusion, the scientists highlight that their discovery is the latest reminder about how important the conservation of the fragile subterranean habitats is, given the treasure troves in their holdings. 

Meanwhile, recently amended laws in Brazil put caves at considerably higher risk.

CAPTION

A submerged specimen of Eupera troglobia sp. n.

CREDIT

Rodrigo Lopes Ferreira

CAPTION

Casa de Pedra cave, with a partially flooded chamber.

CREDIT

Rodrigo Lopes Ferreira

Research paper: 

Simone LRL, Ferreira RL (2022) Eupera troglobia sp. nov.: the first troglobitic bivalve from the Americas (Mollusca, Bivalvia, Sphaeriidae). Subterranean Biology 42: 165-184. https://doi.org/10.3897/subtbiol.42.78074

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JOURNAL

Subterranean Biology

DOI

10.3897/subtbiol.42.78074 

ARTICLE TITLE

Eupera troglobia sp. nov.: the first troglobitic bivalve from the Americas (Mollusca, Bivalvia, Sphaeriidae)

Perplexing fish-like fossil finally classified

Peer-Reviewed Publication

AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

 

IMAGE: SCAN OF FISH-LIKE FOSSIL VERTEBRATE PALAEOSPONDYLUS GUNNI view more 

CREDIT: TATSUYA HIRASAWA / RIKEN

For the first time since its discovery 130 years ago one of the most mysterious fossil vertebrates has finally been classified, increasing our possible understanding of the first animals to crawl on Earth.

“This strange animal has baffled scientists since its discovery in 1890 as a puzzle that’s been impossible to solve,” Dr Daisy (Yuzhi) Hu, researcher and PhD graduate from The Australian National University (ANU), said.

Palaeospondylus gunni is a mysterious fish-like fossil vertebrate with a strange set of morphological features, including a lack of teeth and dermal bones in the fossil record.

The small animal with an eel-like body lived approximately 390 million years ago. Despite its age, its position on the evolutionary tree has remained unclear, until now.

Research led by the University of Tokyo in conjunction with ANU and the Evolutionary Morphology Laboratory RIKEN, has uncovered that the specimen was likely one of the earliest ancestors of four-limbed animals.

“Morphological comparisons of this animal have always been extremely challenging for scientists,” Dr Hu said.  

“However, recent improvements in high resolution 3D segmentation and visualisation have made this previously impossible task possible.

“Finding a specimen as well preserved as the ones we used is like winning the lottery, or even better!” 

Previously damaged or incorrectly preserved specimens of the animal have meant that placing this fossil on the evolutionary tree has always been a challenge.

The researchers found that Palaeospondylus was most likely a member of Sarcopterygii, a group of lobe-finned fishes, due to its cartilaginous skeleton and the absence of paired appendages.

“Despite the investigation, it is still hard to determine what the animal was with 100 per-cent accuracy,” Dr Hu said.  

The new findings mean that scientists could unlock a range of unknown morphological features and evolutionary history of four-limbed animals. 

“Even with this new information, long-lasting investigations with the joint effort of scientists from around the world is needed to give us the perfect answer of what actually is Palaeospondylus gunni.”

The study has been published in Nature.  

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JOURNAL

Nature

DOI

10.1038/s41586-022-04781-3 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Imaging analysis

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Animals

ARTICLE TITLE

Morphology of Palaeospondylus shows affinity to tetrapod ancestors

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

26-May-2022

New survey illustrates challenges associated with healthcare environmental hygiene in facilities worldwide

Results from first-of-its-kind evaluation published in American Journal of Infection Control will inform refinement of new self-assessment and improvement tool

Peer-Reviewed Publication

ASSOCIATION FOR PROFESSIONALS IN INFECTION CONTROL

Arlington, Va., May 26, 2022 – A global, pilot study published today in the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC), provides the first, quantified overview of the strengths and challenges associated with healthcare environmental hygiene (HEH) practices in healthcare facilities (HCFs) around the world. Study researchers will use the findings to further enhance an in-development self-assessment tool that will help facilities benchmark and improve their HEH.

“We were surprised to find that 98 percent of the facilities participating in our survey were majorly lacking in one or more of the World Health Organization’s multimodal improvement strategies for infection prevention and control practices,” said Alexandra Peters, Ph.D., Can, University of Geneva, and first author on the published study. “This survey suggests that challenges with key components of HEH, including staff education and training, workplace culture, and access to adequate products and equipment, remain ubiquitous regardless of geography or income level. These results reinforce the need for a self-assessment tool to help HCFs worldwide identify HEH challenges and necessary resources.”

HEH is an important component of infection prevention and control (IPC) that comprises the cleaning of all surfaces in hospital rooms. It is reliant on multiple factors, including adequate cleaning products and supplies; best practices-based protocols; training, education and quality control; and the institutional safety climate. Departments responsible for HEH face numerous challenges, including limited budgets, an unstable workforce, and a lack of access to safe and effective products.

Under the direction of Prof. Didier Pittet of the University of Geneva Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Peters and several colleagues designed a pilot study to evaluate the strengths and challenges in HEH programs around the world and across resource levels. The study also evaluated a preliminary version of the Healthcare Environmental Hygiene Self-Assessment Framework (HEHSAF), a 39-question tool designed by global experts to help facilities’ HEH programs evaluate their current strengths and challenges and their improvement over time. Researchers sent the preliminary HEHSAF to 743 HCFs between April and June 2021; 51 HCFs from 35 countries ultimately participated in the study.

Overall, 98% (50 out of 51) of participating HCFs lacked in some or all of the five components of the multimodal IPC improvement strategy, independent of income level. Other key findings include:

• 71% of respondents felt that their facility gave enough importance to HEH and 47% felt that the budget allocated for cleaning and disinfection was adequate.
• 67% of HCFs reported that necessary HEH products and supplies were always available, 27% said they were sometimes available and 6% said they were never or rarely available. Among the 90% of HCFs that reported HEH equipment and supplies were available, 16% could still not perform adequate sterilization because equipment was not in good working condition.
• Just over 50% of HCFs reported that their protocols were based on best practices and updated regularly.
• Only 22% of HCFs provided or required (if staff was outsourced) comprehensive formal HEH training upon hiring; 28% did not provide or require any formal training at all.

“This study highlights environmental hygiene needs that are similar to those we identified more than 25 years ago for hand hygiene promotion at the time we introduced alcohol-based hand gels in hospitals,” said Prof. Pittet, who is also chair of the Clean Hospitals Initiative, leading the WHO Hand Hygiene promotion initiative “SaveLives:CleanYourHands”, and lead senior author of the study published today.

“These findings provide the global IPC community with a baseline for HEH assessment, and should encourage focus, improvement, and investment in HEH globally to reduce healthcare-associated infections and their implications,” said Linda Dickey, RN, MPH, CIC, FAPIC, and 2022 APIC president. “The final HEHSAF will be an invaluable tool to support this effort.”

About APIC

Founded in 1972, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) is the leading association for infection preventionists and epidemiologists. With more than 15,000 members, APIC advances the science and practice of infection prevention and control. APIC carries out its mission through research, advocacy, and patient safety; education, credentialing, and certification; and fostering development of the infection prevention and control workforce of the future. Together with our members and partners, we are working toward a safer world through the prevention of infection. Join us and learn more at apic.org.

About AJIC

As the official peer-reviewed journal of APIC, The American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC) is the foremost resource on infection control, epidemiology, infectious diseases, quality management, occupational health, and disease prevention. Published by Elsevier, AJIC also publishes infection control guidelines from APIC and the CDC. AJIC is included in Index Medicus and CINAHL. Visit AJIC at ajicjournal.org.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

“Results of an international pilot survey on healthcare environmental hygiene at the facility level,” by Alexandra Peters, PhD, Can; Marie N. Schmid BS; Marlieke E.A. de Kraker, PhD; Pierre Parneix, MD; Didier Pittet, Prof., MD, MS, CBE, was published online in AJIC on May 26, 2022. The article may be found online at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2022.02.029

AUTHORS

Didier Pittet, Prof., MD, MS, CBE (corresponding author: didier.pittet@hcuge.ch)

University of Geneva Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland

 

Alexandra Peters, PhD, Can

University of Geneva Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine; University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland

 

Marie N. Schmid, BS

University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland

 

Marlieke E.A. de Kraker, PhD

University of Geneva Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland

 

Pierre Parneix, MD

Bordeaux University Hospital, Bordeaux, France

 

# # #

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JOURNAL

American Journal of Infection Control

DOI

10.1016/j.ajic.2022.02.029 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Survey

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

People

ARTICLE TITLE

Results of an international pilot survey on healthcare environmental hygiene at the facility level

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

26-May-2022

Pets or threats? Goldfish might be harmful for biodiversity

Peer-Reviewed Publication

PENSOFT PUBLISHERS

Invasive species are one of the leading causes of global biodiversity loss, and the pet trade is responsible for a third of all aquatic invasive species. Pet owners releasing unwanted pets into the wild is a major problem. Whilst many believe this is a humane option, a new research suggests that attempting to ‘save’ the life of a goldfish could in fact lead to catastrophic outcomes for native biodiversity.

To better understand the ecological risks posed by species within the pet trade, the researchers focused on the two most commonly traded fish species in Northern Ireland: goldfish and the white cloud mountain minnow.

The globally popular goldfish was first domesticated over a thousand years ago and has since established non-native populations around the world. The white cloud mountain minnow on the other hand is a species with a limited invasion history to date.

This study, published in NeoBiota, developed a new method for assessing the ecological impacts and risks of potential pet trade invaders, based on availability, feeding rates and behaviour. The research showed goldfish to be voracious, consuming much more than the white cloud mountain minnow or native species. In terms of behaviour patterns, goldfish were also found to be much braver, a trait linked with invasive spread.

Lead author, Dr James Dickey from Queen’s University Belfast, explains: “Our research suggests that goldfish pose a triple threat. Not only are they readily available, but they combine insatiable appetites with bold behaviour. While northern European climates are often a barrier to non-native species surviving in the wild, goldfish are known to be tolerant to such conditions, and could pose a real threat to native biodiversity in rivers and lakes, eating up the resources that other species depend on.

“Our research highlights that goldfish are high risk, but we hope that the methods developed here can be used to assess others in the pet trade across Ireland and further afield. Readily available species are most likely to be released, so limiting the availability of potentially impactful ones, alongside better education of pet owners, is a solution to preventing damaging invaders establishing in the future.”

The research led by Queen’s University Belfast was funded by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Inland Fisheries Ireland and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) NI. The study was presented at the International Conference on Aquatic Invasive Species in Oostende, Belgium along with a range of other leading research from Queen’s on alien species.

 

Original source:

Dickey JWE, Arnott G, McGlade CLO, Moore A, Riddell GE, Dick JTA (2022) Threats at home? Assessing the potential ecological impacts and risks of commonly traded pet fishes. NeoBiota 73: 109–136. https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.73.80542

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JOURNAL

NeoBiota

DOI

10.3897/neobiota.73.80542 

ARTICLE TITLE

Threats at home? Assessing the potential ecological impacts and risks of commonly traded pet fishes

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

25-May-2022

Decline of diatoms due to ocean acidification

Study shows unexpected negative impact by CO2 on important plankton group

Peer-Reviewed Publication

HELMHOLTZ CENTRE FOR OCEAN RESEARCH KIEL (GEOMAR)

 

IMAGE: BIOLOGICAL OCEANOGRAPHER JAN TAUCHER IS WORKING ON A MESOCOSM. MESOCOSMS ARE A TYPE OF LARGE-VOLUME, OVERSIZED TEST TUBE IN THE OCEAN WITH A CAPACITY OF TENS OF THOUSANDS OF LITERS, IN WHICH CHANGES IN ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS CAN BE STUDIED IN A CLOSED BUT OTHERWISE NATURAL ECOSYSTEM. view more 

CREDIT: ULF RIEBESELL / GEOMAR

While calcifying organisms like oysters and corals have difficulty forming their shells and skeletons in more acidic seawater, diatoms have been considered less susceptible to the effects of ocean acidification – a chemical change triggered by the uptake of carbon dioxide (CO2). The globally widespread tiny diatoms use silica, a compound of silicon, oxygen and hydrogen, as a building material for their shells. That diatoms are nevertheless under threat has now been demonstrated for the first time by researchers from GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Limited New Zealand and the University of Tasmania in a study published in Nature. For the study, researchers linked an overarching analysis of various data sources with Earth system modeling. The findings provide a new assessment of the global impact of ocean acidification.

 

As a result of ocean acidification, the silicon shells of diatoms dissolve more slowly. This is not an advantage – it causes diatoms to sink into deeper water layers, before they chemically dissolve and are converted back into silica. Consequently, this nutrient is more efficiently exported to the deep ocean and thus becomes scarcer in the light-flooded surface layer, where it is needed to form new shells. This causes a decline in diatoms, according to the scientists in their recent publication. Diatoms contribute 40 percent of the production of plant biomass in the ocean and are the basis of many marine food webs. They are also the main driver of the biological carbon pump that transports CO2 into the deep ocean for long-term storage.

 

Dr. Jan Taucher, marine biologist at GEOMAR and first author of the study says: "With an overarching analysis of field experiments and observational data, we wanted to find out how ocean acidification affects diatoms on a global scale. Our current understanding of ecological effects of ocean change is largely based on small-scale experiments, that is, from a particular place at a particular time. These findings can be deceptive if the complexity of the Earth system is not taken into account. Our study uses diatoms as an example to show how small-scale effects can lead to ocean-wide changes with unforeseen and far-reaching consequences for marine ecosystems and matter cycles. Since diatoms are one of the most important plankton groups in the ocean, their decline could lead to a significant shift in the marine food web or even a change for the ocean as a carbon sink."

 

The meta-analysis examined data from five mesocosm studies from 2010 to 2014, from different ocean regions ranging from Arctic to subtropical waters. Mesocosms are a type of large-volume, oversized test tube in the ocean with a capacity of tens of thousands of liters, in which changes in environmental conditions can be studied in a closed but otherwise natural ecosystem. For this purpose, the water enclosed in the mesocosms was enriched in carbon dioxide to correspond to future scenarios with moderate to high increases in atmospheric CO2 levels. For the present study, the chemical composition of organic material from sediment traps was evaluated as it sank through the water contained in the experimental containers over the course of several weeks of experiments. Combined with measurements from the water column, an accurate picture of biogeochemical processes within the ecosystem emerged.

 

The findings obtained from the mesocosm studies could be confirmed using global observational data from the open ocean. They show – in line with the results of the meta-analysis – a lower dissolution of the silicon shells at higher seawater acidity. With the resulting data sets, simulations were performed in an Earth system model to assess the ocean-wide consequences of the observed trends.

 

"Already by the end of this century, we expect a loss of up to ten percent of diatoms. That's immense when you consider how important they are to life in the ocean and to the climate system," Dr. Taucher continued. "However, it is important to think beyond 2100. Climate change will not stop abruptly, and global effects in particular take some time to become clearly visible. Depending on the amount of emissions, our model in the study predicts a loss of up to 27 percent silica in surface waters and an ocean-wide decline in diatoms of up to 26 percent by the year 2200 – more than a quarter of the current population."

 

This finding of the study is in sharp contrast to the previous state of ocean research, which sees calcifying organisms as losers and diatoms being less affected by ocean acidification. Professor Ulf Riebesell, marine biologist at GEOMAR and head of the mesocosm experiments adds: "This study once again highlights the complexity of the Earth system and the associated difficulty in predicting the consequences of man-made climate change in its entirety. Surprises of this kind remind us again and again of the incalculable risks we run if we do not counteract climate change swiftly and decisively."

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JOURNAL

Nature

DOI

10.1038/s41586-022-04687-0 

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Meta-analysis

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Not applicable

ARTICLE TITLE

Slower silica dissolution under ocean acidification triggers global diatom decline

ARTICLE PUBLICATION DATE

25-May-2022

Purdue, Rolls-Royce sign 10-year, $75 million strategic alliance agreement

Industry-academia deal is the largest in Purdue University history

Business Announcement

PURDUE UNIVERSITY

 

IMAGE: PURDUE UNIVERSITY AND ROLLS-ROYCE OFFICIALS HAVE SIGNED A RESEARCH AND TESTING AGREEMENT THAT WILL BRING $75 MILLION OVER 10 YEARS; THE INVESTMENT WILL BE FOCUSED PRIMARILY AT PURDUE’S ZUCROW LABORATORIES, THE LARGEST ACADEMIC PROPULSION LABORATORY IN THE WORLD. view more 

CREDIT: (PURDUE UNIVERSITY PHOTO: CARSON SLABAUGH)

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University and Rolls-Royce officials have signed a research and testing agreement that will bring $75 million over 10 years to the West Lafayette campus. It is the largest deal with an industry partner in Purdue history.

The Purdue and Rolls-Royce relationship has thrived for more than 70 years, highlighted by millions of dollars invested in aerospace testing technology, sponsorship of graduate student research fellowships and more than 600 Purdue graduates among the company’s current workforce in Indianapolis. Purdue is designated among the top class of partners as a Rolls-Royce University Technology Center, recognizing their collaborations on research, including advanced engine technology, materials and testing capability. Additionally, the relationship between Rolls-Royce and Purdue recently has expanded to include significant work on initiatives in hypersonics, cybersecurity and digital technology.

The newly signed agreement will fund testing and research with a focus in the areas of gas turbine technology and electrical and digital technology. Rolls-Royce already boasts some of the most efficient and capable power systems in the world across a suite of civil and defense applications. This investment will be focused primarily at Purdue’s Zucrow Laboratories — the largest academic propulsion laboratory in the world — for research in sustainable power systems through advanced technology in electrification, turbines, compressors and combustion with sustainable fuels.

This research partnership announcement is concurrent with news in April that Purdue will construct a $73 million, 55,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art, high-speed propulsion laboratory for hypersonic technologies in the Discovery Park District at Purdue.

What they're saying

Purdue University President Mitch Daniels: "Purdue's research partnership with Rolls-Royce will address some of the greatest technology challenges facing the U.S. Our faculty and students will work on advanced technology capabilities to ensure long-term national security. This will enhance the university's role as a world leader in engineering research." 

Mung Chiang, the John A. Edwardson Dean of the College of Engineering and executive vice president of Purdue University for strategic initiatives: "Purdue has become the epicenter of hypersonic research and testing in the U.S. We are excited across three tracks: first, our own investment for federal and industry projects, such as the wind tunnel and manufacturing facility announced in 2021, and the high-speed propulsion facility in 2022 that Rolls Royce will be able to use; second, private sector’s investment to grow their presence in the Discovery Park District at Purdue; and third, a nonprofit consortium of industry members for ground testing hosted at Purdue.”

Theresa Mayer, Purdue University executive vice president for research and partnerships: "This record-setting agreement is another example of Purdue working with leaders in industry, government and academia to advance national security. We are excited by the prospects of technological innovation that will be discovered and developed through this agreement with Rolls-Royce."

Warren White, Rolls-Royce head of assembly and testing: “We’re excited to further strengthen our long-standing partnership with Purdue University through this new test and research agreement. We firmly believe in the innovative power that comes from strong collaboration between industry and academia. Over the next decade, we’ll explore transformative technologies like hybrid-electric and hypersonic propulsion that will help define the future of aerospace.”

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to today’s toughest challenges. Ranked in each of the last four years as one of the 10 Most Innovative universities in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at https://stories.purdue.edu.

About Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce pioneers the power that matters to connect, power and protect society. We have pledged to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions in our operations by 2030 (excluding product testing) and joined the UN Race to Zero campaign in 2020, affirming our ambition to play a fundamental role in enabling the sectors in which we operate to achieve net zero carbon by 2050.

Rolls-Royce has customers in more than 150 countries, comprising more than 400 airlines and leasing customers, 160 armed forces and navies, and more than 5,000 power and nuclear customers.

Rolls-Royce supports a global network of 28 University Technology Centers, which position Rolls-Royce engineers at the forefront of scientific research.

www.Rolls-Royce.com 

Writer: Steve Martin, sgmartin@prf.org 

Sources: Mitch Daniels

Mung Chiang

Theresa Mayer

Warren White