Kirstin R.W. Matthews – Baker Institute Blog

Combating NTDs through early education, detection and prevention: An interactive activity for sixth-grade children

September 28, 2015admin

Educating children about neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) through interactive role-play activities is an effective way to raise awareness about NTDs, encourage early detection and treatment for these diseases, and decrease transmission. NTDs are a group of diseases that severely affect the world’s “bottom billion.” Approximately one billion people are currently infected with one or more NTDs, while another billion are at direct risk of becoming infected.
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Student blog: Using visual media to raise awareness of NTDs

September 20, 2015admin

I was telling a friend about the Africans affected by neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and how these diseases perpetuate poverty. She was convinced of their global importance. But apparently, my speech did not stir her until I told her the scabies she just recovered from was one of the NTDs. This is a clear example showing that the collective term “NTDs” might be confusing. The term might seem even more removed from Americans who do not live in the poorest neighborhoods and have never contracted any of the NTDs; such people are mostly unaware of the pain and suffering caused by NTDs, despite their far-reaching socioeconomic significance for the affected population and America as a whole.
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Student blog: Using social media to raise awareness of NTDs

September 8, 2015admin

With the spread of globalization and the Internet, an awareness campaign has the potential to reach millions of people and educate them about neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). I propose the creation of a new campaign, called Tropical Diseases Campaign, to reach people through social media and events. Continue Reading →

Why the MERS virus matters

July 25, 2014admin

The last time you went to an airport, did you see signs inquiring if you have been to the Middle East? No, they are not covered in cliché images of camels, enticing tourists to visit the region. Rather, they are… Continue Reading →

Science research in America: Avoiding doomsday

December 17, 2012admin

December 21, 2012. This quickly-approaching date in our modern Gregorian calendar is notorious for allegedly having been ordained as a global doomsday in an ancient calendar created by the Maya. But after repeatedly being discredited by scientists at NASA and prominent Mayanists among others, the popular end-of-days prediction has lost some of its cache (not before being milked for its commercial value by Hollywood, of course). Continue Reading →

A new future for NASA in technology R&D?

October 19, 2012admin

Last month, hundreds of Houstonians went outside in the daylight to watch as a plane attached to the space shuttle flew over the city. It was a bittersweet moment for all who watched — a reminder that the shuttle program… Continue Reading →

Stem cell researchers win Nobel Prize, regenerative medicine gets a boost

October 8, 2012admin

This morning, two researchers — British scientist John Gurdon and Shinya Yamanaka of Japan — received the highest honor that scientists can achieve: the Nobel Prize. While Gurdon’s research stemmed from work in the 1960s, Yamanaka emerged as a world-class scientist only in the past six years. Regardless of when the research was accomplished, both have contributed immensely to how we understand human development and stem cell research. Continue Reading →