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Clara Sousa-Silva, assistant professor of physics at Bard College, was interviewed in Jacobin about how crucial scientific data required for her research had vanished from federal government servers. Sousa-Silva’s research studying the atmospheres of other planets relies on climate monitoring data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). “This data disappearance coincides with the aggressive implementation of two intertwined initiatives from the Trump administration: the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, and President Donald Trump’s campaign to purge the federal government of anything ‘woke,’ including efforts to combat climate change,” writes Meagan Day for Jacobin. “The consequences for my research on Venus are pretty bad,” said Sousa-Silva. “I will be a worse astrophysicist. But that feels pretty minor considering the importance of being able to monitor how our climate is changing. To climate science, this is absolutely disastrous.”

Associate Professor of Mathematics Lauren Rose was invited to give a workshop as part of SIGMAA Inquiry-Based Learning’s Workshop Series. Rose showed that one way to develop and explore active learning strategies is through the use of puzzles and games, which can be used to introduce and explore mathematical concepts related to the course material, or as a way to invite exploration. The benefits include fostering mathematical habits of mind, creating inclusive collaborative environments, leveling the playing field, and creating a non-judgmental space for all students to thrive. Rose embraces the fun of teaching and learning mathematics. She modelled ways that educators, no matter their familiarity with these games, can incorporate Rubik’s cubes, EvenQuads, Dominos, and Julia Robinson Math Festival puzzles into meaningful classroom activities. 
 

Clara Sousa-Silva, assistant professor of physics at Bard College, delivered the presentation “Alien Life, and How to Find It” for the D&H Canal Historical Society in High Falls, New York. Sousa-Silva’s research looks for signs of life elsewhere in the universe using astronomical tools to detect faint signals emitted by potential alien biospheres. In her presentation, she discusses how molecules interact with light so that they can be detected on faraway worlds, and breaks down how those interactions can broadcast much about a planet—including how any molecule associated with life can leave specific signatures. “You can think of our atmosphere and its light as a planet-sized message communicating to the galaxy that we have oceans and forests and varied ecosystems with rich life cycles,” she said. “What are we looking for when we look for a planet and try to find out if it’s inhabited by something, anything? Well, we know the laws of physics are universal, and we know that chemistry is universal. We can and have tested many of these physical and chemical boundaries of the universe, and we know the rules that bind them. But what might be the universal laws of biology?  Well, we don’t know, but we can start with what we do know.”

To mark the occasion of 100 years of quantum mechanics and to inspire its future applications, the United Nations (UN) has proclaimed 2025 to be the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ). The UN resolution recommends the year to be “observed through activities at all levels aimed at increasing public awareness of the importance of quantum science and applications.” UNESCO and the IYQ Secretariat have named Associate Professor of Physics Paul Cadden-Zimansky one of four Global Coordinators for IYQ in recognition of his involvement in bringing this year of international awareness to fruition and coordinating aspects of some of the highest profile global events, including the IYQ 2025 Opening Ceremony at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris this February. Professor Cadden-Zimansky is described as “the physicist at Bard College who set the ball rolling that eventually resulted in the UN declaration” in the cover story of the January 1, 2025 issue of Physics Today. “In physics, everyone understands how central quantum mechanics has become, but that’s not the case for the public,” said Cadden-Zimansky. Professor Cadden-Zimansky is also scheduled to speak about quantum at the Consumer Electronics Convention, the world’s largest annual tech event, in Las Vegas on January 9.

Five Bard College students have been awarded highly competitive Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships by the US Department of State. Gilman Scholars receive up to $5,000, or up to $8,000 if also a recipient of the Gilman Critical Need Language Award, to apply toward their study abroad or internship program costs. This cohort of Gilman scholars, who will study or intern in over 90 countries, represents more than 500 US colleges and universities.

Bard College Mathematics and Italian Studies double major Ezra Calderon ’25, from Harlem, New York, has been awarded a Gilman Scholarship to study at the University of Trento in Italy via exchange, for the spring semester 2025. “This scholarship provides an exciting opportunity to improve my language skills and conduct research while abroad for my Senior Project in Italian Studies,” says Calderon.

Bard College Studio Art major Adelaide Driver ’26, from Taos, New Mexico, has been awarded a $4000 Gilman Scholarship to study at Kyoto Seika University in Japan, for the spring semester 2025. “Receiving this scholarship means the world to me. I have always wanted to study abroad, but money was a concern. This scholarship provides the opportunity to study what I love in an incredible place. I am so grateful,” says Driver. She serves as a peer counselor at Bard and will be studying illustration at Kyoto Seika.

Bard College junior Dashely Julia ’26, who is jointly majoring in Architecture and Art History with a concentration in Latin American and Iberian studies, has been awarded a $3000 Gilman Scholarship to study at Bard College Berlin in Germany, for the spring semester 2025. “Winning the Gilman Scholarship holds profound significance for me. It represents the opportunity to engage with diverse cultures and gain new perspectives that will enrich my understanding of art history and architecture. As someone deeply passionate about exploring how cultural and historical contexts shape artistic and architectural practices, studying abroad is more than an academic pursuit—it is a lifelong dream come true,” says Julia, who is a Posse Puerto Rico Scholar and lead peer mentor for the Office of Equity and Inclusion at Bard.

Bard College Computer Science major Nyla Lawrence ’26, from Atlanta, Georgia, has been awarded a $5,000 Gilman scholarship to study at National Sun Yat-sen University in Taiwan via exchange, for the spring semester 2025. “My grandmother told me this quote from Derek Bok: ‘If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.’ There is always something to be ignorant about but, I am happy the Gilman Scholarship provides others and myself the ability to learn more about the world while also studying. Studying abroad not only allows for broader education opportunities, but also life lessons and responsibility before exiting college, which I am really excited for,” says Lawrence, who will be learning Mandarin, her third language after English and German, to better communicate and traverse the land. Lawrence is currently one of three captains of the Bard women’s volleyball team and the Katherine Lynne Mester Memorial Scholar in Humanities for the 2024–2025 academic year at Bard.

Bard College Psychology major Brenda Lopez ’26, from Bronx, New York, has been awarded a $3,000 Gilman scholarship to study at Kyung Hee University in Seoul via exchange, for the spring semester 2025. “I couldn’t be more grateful, and I can’t wait to see how this scholarship helps me when spending my time in Korea,” says Lopez. At Bard, Lopez is part of the Trustee Leader Scholar Project Nicaragua Education Initiative and a clubhead for the K-DIARY club on campus.

The Department of State awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to approximately 1,600 American undergraduate students from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, in this fall 2024 cycle. All scholarship recipients are US undergraduate students with established high financial need as federal Pell Grant recipients. On average, 65 percent of Gilman recipients are from rural areas and small towns across the United States, and half are first-generation college or university students.

Since the program’s inception in 2001, more than 44,000 Gilman scholars have studied or interned in more than 170 countries around the globe. Supported by the US Congress, the Gilman Scholarship is an initiative of the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and is aided in its implementation by the Institute of International Education. To learn more about the Gilman Scholarship and its recipients, including this newest cohort, visit gilmanscholarship.org.