Articles by John Spear
Addressing the Rumor Mill in South Thomaston
I typically don't respond to letters that are inconsequential and unproductive, such as Ed Modell's recent letter to the editor titled "On Going Coverup in South Thomaston." It’s simply not worth my time and effort, especially when they are based on, quote, "common knowledge," which I take as a euphemism for the rumor mill. But when someone questions my integrity, suggesting that I am "covering up something" and have lost my "moral compass," I feel I have no alternative.
Scope 3 emissions: The competitive edge companies are missing
The terrible scenes in Southern California last month were only the latest proof that the climate crisis is intensifying, and the destruction it is causing is growing. Temperatures are rising and weather patterns are growing more extreme. Even affluent parts of the world are finding themselves unprepared for natural disasters caused by climate change-making the damages everyday more expensive as well as deadly. Despite this, global leaders are pulling back.
Supply Chain Decarbonization: What Actually Works?
We need to decarbonize our supply chains. It isn’t a vague or distant goal, a can to kick down the road. It’s an immediate necessity. Supply chains account for the vast majority of corporate carbon emissions — sometimes, more than 90%. Yet the way forward often seems shrouded in confusion, smothered by contradictory advice and empty talk. So what works? What actually reduces emissions? Identifying your carbon drivers.
What actually works when decarbonising your supply chain?
The tragic events of the last few months – floods in Spain and central Europe, wildfires in Portugal – remind us why corporate sustainability is important, and why climate rules will only get tougher. Companies have an urgent need to decarbonise. It isn’t something to do in future, but now. This goes beyond turning off the computers when staff leave for home in the evening – though that matters. It means grappling with the supply chain.
The Microbial Ecology of Serpentinites
Abstract Serpentinization, the collective set of geochemical reactions initiated by the hydration of ultramafic rock, has occurred throughout Earth history and is inferred to occur on several planets and moons in our solar system.
Opinion: How Companies Can Motivate Suppliers Across the Value Chain And Reach Net Zero
byJohn Spear, Managing Director at epi Consulting Reducing greenhouse gas emissions involves tackling three categories: Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions. Scope 1 emissions come from sources that a company directly owns or controls, such as the fuel burned in company vehicles. Scope 2 emissions relate to the energy that a company purchases and consumes, like the electricity that powers its offices.
How to Motivate Suppliers Across the Value Chain? Engage, Engage, Engage
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions involves addressing three distinct categories of emissions: Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3. While managing Scope 1 and 2 emissions is relatively straightforward, tackling Scope 3 emissions is far more complex. These emissions lie outside a company’s direct control, across the value chain; yet they typically constitute the majority of its carbon footprint (in some sectors, up to 98%). But the task of reducing Scope 3 emissions is not insurmountable.
It’s not us, it’s you: Why women don’t join Web3
"Welcome to our International Women's Day celebration!" the founder of Crypto Girls Club announced to the crowd. Women in Web3 had gathered from all over Berlin to celebrate the holiday and listen to panelists discuss the need for more diversity in tech. Temps de lecture : 5 minutes It's a common topic at Web3 events: we need more diversity, perspectives, and women to help shape the nascent industry. Without them, it will again be a white man's world with incredible bias.
In terms of influence, LinkedIn is still the boss - here’s how to win on the professional network
It’s easy to take LinkedIn for granted. Unlike other popular social networks, which have experienced periods of hype, rapid user growth or controversy, LinkedIn has consistently and reassuringly always - or so it seems - been there for us. Temps de lecture : 5 minutes But to assume it hasn’t evolved over the years would be a mistake.
The future of the former Gilford Butler School
South Thomaston is on the cusp of receiving just over $3 million in Federal and private grants to construct a modern library and community center at the site of the former Gilford Butler School. This new building is envisioned to be energy efficient and will include a large meeting room and kitchen. It will serve this town well for the next 50, perhaps 70, years.
Collaborative Decarbonisation: Information Sharing on Scope 3
Opinion#Sustainability 7 March 2024 Even before the introduction of ground-breaking climate regulation like the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), many big companies around the world were trying to chart a course to net zero. SHARE REPORT AN ERROR DOWNLOAD PDF / EXPORT Many were realising the scale of the task ahead of them, and the daunting prospect of having to make transformative changes to the way they operated all by themselves.
Five steps to address Scope three emissions
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Seasonal variation in the biological succession of marine diatoms over 316L stainless steel in a coastal environment of Chile
Abstract Characterizing seasonal changes in diatom community profiles in coastal environments is scarce worldwide. Despite diatoms being prevalent in microfouling, their role in microbially influenced corrosion of metallic materials remains poorly understood. This study reports the effect of seasonal variations on the settlement of marine diatoms and corrosion of 316 L stainless steel surfaces exposed to Chilean coastal seawater.
Harnessing AI to crack supply chain emissions
AI has big implications for sustainable telecoms. Major players are striving for a greener future but creating a sustainable supply chain is key but difficult. Now the application of AI and machine learning could reduce supply chain emissions. Scope 3 covers indirect emissions arising from an organisation’s activities along its value chain, from upstream and downstream sources that they do not directly own or control.
Accelerating student STEM skills in a three-week program (opinion)
You have /5 articles left. Sign up for a free account or log in. Students from Colorado School of Mines on a three-week field research session. Colorado School of Mines For several years, industry and educational institutions have been discussing the mismatch between the skills that employers demand in STEM fields and those that the available workforce possesses.
Why does densely populated Japan fare so much better than Utah when it comes to COVID-19?
I just read in a recent Tribune that Utah had 1,715 new cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 1. In the same edition there was an article indicating Japan is now reporting about 1,600 new COVID-19 cases a day. Utah has a population of about 3,300,000. Japan has a population of about 126,000,000. Why is densely populated Japan (59% full vaccination rate) with about 122,000,000 more people than Utah (51% full vaccination rate) faring better?
Islands Within Islands: Bacterial Phylogenetic Structure and Consortia in Hawaiian Lava Caves and Fumaroles
Introduction Volcanic features in Hawai‘i, such as lava caves and fumaroles, are often oligotrophic, yet they host unexpectedly high microbial diversity (Northup and Lavoie, 2015; Riquelme et al., 2015; Wall et al., 2015). Lava caves and tubes form when the surface of flowing molten lava cools, crust over, and the molten lava beneath continues to flow, leaving tube-like structures or pockets behind that to form caves.
78rpm Records Digitized by George Blood, L.P.
Newest uploads! Auto-78-twitter. Through the Great 78 Project the Internet Archive has begun to digitize 78rpm discs for preservation, research, and discovery with the help of George Blood, L.P.. 78s were mostly made from shellac, i.e., beetle resin, and were the brittle predecessors to the...
Genomic Analysis of the Yet-Uncultured Binatota Reveals Broad Methylotrophic, Alkane-Degradation, and Pigment Production Capacities
Research Article Chelsea L. Murphy, Andriy Sheremet, Peter F. Dunfield, John R. Spear, Ramunas Stepanauskas, Tanja Woyke, Mostafa S. Elshahed, Noha H. Youssef Caroline S. Harwood, Editor DOI: 10.1128/mBio.00985-21 ABSTRACT The recent leveraging of genome-resolved metagenomics has generated an enormous number of genomes from novel uncultured microbial lineages yet left many clades undescribed.
pH-Induced Conformational Changes of Human Bocavirus Capsids
Structure and Assembly Mengxiao Luo, Mario Mietzsch, Paul Chipman, Kangkang Song, Chen Xu, John Spear, Duncan Sousa, Robert McKenna, Maria Söderlund-Venermo, Mavis Agbandje-McKenna Colin R. Parrish, Editor DOI: 10.1128/JVI.02329-20 ABSTRACT Human bocavirus 1 (HBoV1) and HBoV2 to -4 infect children and immunocompromised individuals, resulting in respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, respectively.
pH-Induced Conformational Changes of Human Bocavirus Capsids
Structure and Assembly Mengxiao Luo, Mario Mietzsch, Paul Chipman, Kangkang Song, Chen Xu, John Spear, Duncan Sousa, Robert McKenna, Maria Söderlund-Venermo, Mavis Agbandje-McKenna DOI: 10.1128/JVI.02329-20 ABSTRACT Human bocavirus 1 (HBoV1) and HBoV2-4 infect children and immunocompromised individuals, resulting in respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, respectively.
Astrobiology | Vol 19, No 5
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Women in Microbiology
Tales of Extraordinary Female Scientists Many girls want to become scientists when they grow up, just like many boys do. But for these girls, the struggle to do what they love and to be treated with respect has been much harder because of the discrimination and bias in our society. In Women in Microbiology, we meet women who, despite these obstacles and against tough odds, have become scientific leaders and revered mentors.
Women in Microbiology
Many girls want to become scientists when they grow up, just like many boys do. But for these girls, the struggle to do what they love and to be treated with respect has been much harder because of the discrimination and bias in our society. In Women in Microbiology, we meet women who, despite these obstacles and against tough odds, have become scientific leaders and revered mentors.
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