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Synthetic Biology Is About to Disrupt Your Industry
February 10, 2022 By François Candelon, Matthieu Gombeaud, Georgie Stokol, Vinit Patel, Antoine Gourévitch, and Nicolas Goeldel
Synthetic biology technologies are finally maturing, becoming the way almost anything can be manufactured competitively and sustainably. Businesses must learn to use syn-bio to develop new products and processes, improve existing ones, and reduce costs to remain competitive in the future.
It may be a phenomenon without a commonly accepted appellation, but synthetic biology—or syn-bio, as we call it—has become a disruptive force that is birthing the Bio Economy. Biology is usually defined as the study of living things and life itself, but syn-bio has turned the science into the manufacturing paradigm of the future. Microorganisms can, in theory, make many of the things that industrial processes currently manufacture, so syn-bio—the design and engineering of biological systems to create and improve processes and products—offers new ways of producing almost everything that human beings consume, from flavors and fabrics to foods and fuels.
Supply might no longer be constrained by the availability of raw materials. Companies can engineer and manufacture an infinite quantity of things, cell by cell, from scratch. Half a gram of cattle muscle could create as much as 4.4 billion pounds of beef—more than Mexico consumes in a year. Already, syn-bio has spawned an industry of science-based start-ups that are trying to alter conventional products and processes, transforming the material world as we know it.
By the end of the decade, syn-bio could be used extensively in manufacturing industries that account for more than a third of global output—a shade under $30 trillion in terms of value.
Synthetic Biology Could Help Business Save the Planet
How Public-Private Ecosystems Can Help Solve Societal Problems
Just as arranging zeroes and ones enabled all types of information to be communicated digitally, changing the genetic code—A, T, C, and G, which stand for adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine, the four nucleotides that form DNA—alters biological systems. New genome-editing technologies, such as CRISPR-Cas9, are helping the creation of novel DNA combinations, reducing the costs of editing DNA, and increasing the length of DNA strands that can be replicated without error. The viability of cell-free biology has improved, allowing companies to use metabolic cell processes that don't need live cells and make testing faster by using biosensors. Like data and cloud computing, DNA and DNA editing are fueling the creation of a new production frontier.
By the end of the decade, syn-bio could be used extensively in manufacturing industries that account for more than a third of global output—a shade under $30 trillion in terms of value—according to a new BHI study. To be sure, because of real-time data collection, automation, and AI, some industries are closer to feeling the impact than others. According to our projections, incumbents in sectors such as health and beauty, medical devices, and electronics will be challenged by syn-bio rivals—as the pharmaceutical and food industries already have been—in the next five years. Other industries, such as chemicals, textiles, fashion, and water, which many start-ups are already targeting, will face cost-based competition from syn-bio alternatives in the medium run, followed in the long term by sectors such as mining, electricity, and even construction.
Syn-bio's frontiers will continue to expand as the world's knowledge of biology rises, the cost of DNA writing and editing falls, and synthesizing tools become even easier to use. New products and processes will be created that sound like the stuff of science fiction but are ripe to go mainstream. Moreover, the syn-bio start-ups are engineering more sustainable products that consume fewer resources, such as land and water, and don't use fossil fuels and their derivatives. These products are also more durable, generate less waste after use, and are healthier for humans in most cases.
Just as synthesis changed chemistry and chip design altered computing in the last century, biologists have built on advances in molecular, cell, and systems biology to transform the science from an analytical to an engineering discipline.
CEOs the world over must come to grips with this fascinating technology right away, especially since business and science have tended to operate in separate spheres until now. If companies hope to survive, they must learn to use syn-bio to gain a competitive advantage that is, in every sense of the term, sustainable.
Syn-Bio Is Transforming Products and Processes
Just as synthesis changed chemistry and chip design altered computing in the last century, biologists have built on advances in molecular, cell, and systems biology to transform the science from an analytical to an engineering discipline. While hardware engineers design new integrated circuits and microprocessors based on materials' physical properties, biologists can build syn-bio systems that will help companies change products, processes, or both. Thus, the syn-bio pioneers are using the science to attain five different objectives:
1. Create innovative products and novel processes. Many syn-bio start-ups have designed all-new products that require fewer natural resources to make than those they replace. The challengers can sell them at premium prices because the products are more sustainable and are customized to each application or user.
Consider, for example, the synthetic meat industry, where more than 70 start-ups with idealistic names—such as Impossible Foods, Beyond Meat, Innocent Meat, New Age Meats, Change Foods, Eat Just, Good Chicken, and Upside Foods—are growing like wildfire.
Upside Foods was founded seven years ago in Berkeley, CA, by cardiologist Uma Valeti, oncologist Nicholas Genovese and Will Clem, who has a doctorate in biomedical engineering, to create syn-bio meats at scale. The start-up takes stem cells from several breeds of chicken and eggs, feeds them nutrients such as amino acids, carbohydrates, minerals, fats, and vitamins, and speeds the growth of the feasting cells using a bioreactor. This not only mitigates the environmental impact of raising animals for human consumption, but also limits the risk of contamination because of the sterile conditions in which the proteins are manufactured. Upside Foods has grown chicken, beef, and duck in its bioreactors, and like Eat Just, which launched cell-culture chicken in Singapore's restaurants last year, it plans to sell lab-grown chicken meat all over the US in the near future.
Syn-bio's innovations extend to processes as well. Boston-based syn-bio company Ginkgo Bioworks uses genetic engineering to produce bacteria that can be used in industrial processes. Ginkgo is reprogramming the science to disrupt a range of industries and has created a conglomerate business model that it calls "Berkshire (Hathaway) for biotech."
Many syn-bio firms are redesigning traditional processes, developing new ways of manufacturing familiar things that are more environmentally sustainable than existing ones.
Five years ago, Ginkgo Bioworks set up a joint venture with Bayer, the German manufacturer of pharmaceuticals, healthcare products, agricultural chemicals, and seeds. Called Joyn Bio, the new venture synthesizes microbes that will allow crops such as corn, wheat, and rice to use fertilizers more efficiently, thus reducing the quantity needed. Plants require nitrogen for growth and photosynthesis, but they can't access it directly from the air. They must rely on the soil as well as bacteria and archaea on their roots, which convert molecular nitrogen from the air to ammonia.
However, many cereal crops can't access enough bacteria, so farmers must use nitrogenous fertilizers to ensure that plants grow. Joyn Bio is hoping to change that by engineering microbial products that, when introduced to the soil, will help corn, wheat, and rice plants convert nitrogen into forms they can use. And as a bonus, the microbes will also protect plants from pests and diseases.
2. Improve the performance of existing products or processes. Many syn-bio firms are redesigning traditional processes, developing new ways of manufacturing familiar things that are more environmentally sustainable than existing ones, which tend to rely on petrochemicals, their derivatives, or other ecologically hazardous chemicals. Cell-based processes also often boost output, since scientists can engineer those strains of microorganisms that will deliver the maximum yields.
The mining industry, for example, uses heap leaching on site to extract metals such as copper, uranium, and gold from mined ores. The process uses chemicals to extract metals from underground deposits, triggering a series of reactions to absorb specific minerals and later, re-separating them from other materials. Trouble is, mining companies traditionally have used alkaline cyanide to treat crushed ores, which generates toxins. It also produces a lot of waste. Extracting the gold needed to fashion one wedding ring, for instance, can generate up to 20 tons of waste.
Instead, several mining companies—such as Rio Tinto in Spain, BHP Cerro Colorado in Chile, and Cananea in Mexico—are experimenting with bio-leaching and bio-oxidization. These syn-bio processes extract metals such as copper, zinc, lead, arsenic, antimony, nickel, molybdenum, gold, silver, and cobalt from sulfide concentrates using materials such as water, air, and, crucially, living microorganisms. The microorganisms catalyze the oxidation of iron sulfides to create ferric sulfate and sulfuric acid. The former oxidizes the copper sulfide, and the copper is leached by the sulfuric acid that forms.
Bio-leaching is cheaper than traditional processes because fewer engineers are needed to manage the process. It can be used to replace some of the crushing and grinding, reducing costs and energy consumption in mining. Even low ore-concentration levels don't pose a challenge; bacteria usually ignore the waste that surrounds the metal, and ensure extraction yields of more than 90%. The process is more environmentally friendly than traditional ore extraction, causing less landscape damage. Moreover, the bacteria breed inside mines, so they can be recycled with safeguards in place to prevent spillage. That creates a circular economy, where byproducts or waste are used as inputs for the same or other processes.
Despite the rising appetite for all things natural, the global output of natural vanilla is small and falling. Of the 18,000 metric tons of vanilla flavoring produced annually, less than 1% now comes from beans.
3. Reduce the costs or increase the availability of scarce raw materials. It has become commonplace for syn-bio companies to manufacture products by fermenting plant-based feedstock—just as brewers and pharmaceutical manufacturers use vats of yeast to make beer and insulin. The process doesn't need special raw materials, and when manufactured at scale, some plant-based feedstocks are also less expensive.
As syn-bio companies go up the learning curve, they have started making simple raw materials such as squalene, a chemical found in aquatic wildlife that is used in pharmaceuticals, as well as complex ones such as leather and vanillin. Consider, for instance, vanilla, a popular flavoring agent since the early 1900s. Despite the rising appetite for all things natural, the global output of natural vanilla is small and falling. Less than 1% of vanilla flavoring now comes from beans. Of the 18,000 metric tons of vanilla flavoring produced annually, manufacturers chemically synthesize about 85% from guaiacol, an organic compound derived from the guaiacum plant, and 15% from lignin.
Food companies that want to be all-natural are facing rising costs, complicated labeling laws, and consumer challenges about what is, and isn't, natural vanilla. One option that syn-bio has pioneered is natural vanillin made from sources other than vanilla beans. For example, since 2011, Evolva, a Swiss biotech company, has been working with the global leader, International Flavors and Fragrances (IFF), to develop vanillin in labs. Evolva has invested in developing the ingredients, optimizing their use, and shortening the time needed to scale production while IFF will help scale output and boost commercialization.
At the other end of the spectrum, several syn-bio firms are trying to bio-fabricate luxury materials such as leather. Making leather is a costly and labor-intensive process, and it has major environmental downsides. New Jersey-based Modern Meadow has started growing a strain of yeast that it engineers to produce collagen, the protein that gives leather its strength and stretch. Once it is purified, pressed into sheets, and tanned, the vat-grown collagen becomes almost like leather. The process does not depend on dead cattle or any of the petrochemicals required to make pleather or vegan leather.
Because yeasts don't produce collagen that can automatically assemble itself into sheets of leather, Modern Meadow has added two genes to generate enzymes that help modify the collagen's molecular structure. Using another process, it forms the material into sheets of rawhide. The company can tan the hides as it would cowhides, and it also can modify the collagen to make the engineered leather more tear-resistant, impossibly thin, or optimize it for specific requirements.
Similarly, California-based start-up MycoWorks is developing leather from mycelium. Better known as the root structure of mushrooms, mycelium displays the strength and durability of leather when lab-grown spores are used to bond the material into a pliable membrane. MycoWorks recently began a collaboration with Hermès to develop bio-leather with a patented technology that enhances mycelium as it grows. Called Sylvania, the bio-leather will be tanned, finished, and shaped by Hermès tanners and craftspeople—a rare distinction. The first Hermès bag made from Sylvania leather will be the all-new Victoria Voyage, to be launched at a price of around $4,000 in 2022.
4. Create products or raw materials that are more environmentally friendly. If synthetic biology delivers even partly on its original promise of making business more sustainable, it will have more than justified its existence. Sustainability usually results when companies develop new products and processes, but many are also substituting for environmentally hazardous products.
Take, for instance, San Diego-based Genomatica, which develops ecologically safer processes for making intermediate chemicals and basic chemicals. Eight decades ago, DuPont created and commercialized Nylon 6, which companies now use to make nylon carpets, clothing, car interiors, engineered plastics, and food packaging. Last year, Genomatica succeeded in developing a microorganism-based production process that ferments the sugars in plants, instead of petroleum, to make a key intermediate for the making of Nylon 6. And France's Aquafil converts the renewably sourced ingredient into Nylon 6 polymer chips and yarns at one of its plants in Slovenia. It plans to increase its bio-nylon production capabilities by 50 times in the next 10 years, primarily because switching to syn-bio-based nylon will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 60 million tons every year.
Some organic wastes may acquire value as syn-bio develops novel methods to use them. For instance, lignin, the natural polymer found in plant cell walls, can be reused as a carbon source to fuel the growth of microorganisms.
5. Catalyze resilient supply chains. Syn-bio manufacturing facilities are usually co-located with feedstock sources such as agricultural and city waste, reducing costs, making them more resilient, and shrinking their carbon footprints. These raw material sources are abundant and perennial, so supplies for syn-bio processes are likely to be immune to the shocks that plague today's global supply chains. Co-location also will insulate companies from fluctuations in commodity prices, foreign exchange rates, and geo-political tensions.
Some organic wastes may acquire value as syn-bio develops novel methods to use them. For instance, lignin, the natural polymer found in plant cell walls, can be reused as a carbon source to fuel the growth of microorganisms. Similarly, the biosynthesis of chitosan from chitin—the second most abundant natural biopolymer, which is found in the exoskeleton of arthropods—can be used to make several products, from plastic substitutes to food preservatives.
Syn-bio processes will help tackle demand fluctuations better. The microbial feedstocks for syn-bio fermentation plants can be used to make a variety of products, so companies can diversify once they've chosen a microbe. They can use their modular technology platforms to engineer the microbe and switch from making one product to another.
Syn-Bio Might Disrupt Your Industry Soon
Syn-bio will soon affect many industries, although the timing of the impact on each of them will differ. Our studies show that some industries, such as health and beauty, medical devices, and electronics, will be affected immediately, while other sectors including chemicals, textiles, and water management will face cost-based competition over the next 10 years, followed by industries such as mining, electricity, and construction, as we mentioned earlier. (See Exhibit 1.)
Two factors determine when syn-bio will disrupt an industry:
1. Time to maturity. Much will depend on the time that syn-bio technologies take to evolve from scientific theories to commercial technologies. It isn't easy to forecast how soon that will happen. These complex technologies don't scale in a linear fashion because, in addition to the known challenges, unknown factors creep in at each stage of technological development. Just as every technology has a tipping point when it ceases to be an experiment and is ready for commercialization, syn-bio technologies must cross two milestones in their journey to market.
Scale. This milestone is crossed when scientists can prove that the technology works first in a lab and then at industrial scale in a bioreactor. Although they could be promising at the lab stage, more than 90% of syn-bio technologies fail because they can't be scaled. Scale means different things for different cell types. Manufacturing yeast in bioreactors requires a scale of at least 600 kiloliters a year, while making animals cells attains scale at just 45 kiloliters. Either way, scaling takes time and effort. The industry practice is to execute 1,000 run-time hours for any change to a process.
Cost. The organization hits this mark when it can lower the cost of making the product or using the process to a level cheaper than its traditional counterparts. Moving to a cost-effective facility usually involves increasing its proximity to feedstock sources.
Which way the winds of social acceptance will blow around the syn-bio industry in the future is impossible to predict, so early adopters must shape the narrative and regulations so they're conducive to the syn-bio industry.
2. Diffusion. This factor, which captures how a technology gains acceptance, is a function of government regulations, industry concentration, investments, the nature of the product, the extent of its scarcity, and so on. The rate of diffusion also depends on the maturity of the supporting ecosystem, especially the availability of scientific talent, academic partners, and supply chains.
Implicit in our discussion of the impact of syn-bio technologies is their acceptance by society and consumers, which we don't address in this article. They could be uncontroversial—as the use of cultivated leather has been—or controversial, as with genetically modified foods. (Syn-bio techniques involve programming cells to produce unique chemicals or products, while genetic engineering focuses on modifying specific parts of existing organisms.) Which way the winds of social acceptance will blow around the syn-bio industry in the future is impossible to predict at this stage, which is why the early adopters must shape the narrative and regulations so they're conducive to the syn-bio industry.
Given the kind of technology that will disrupt an industry—microbes or whole cell, for instance—and industry margins, some companies are likely to feel the changes sooner than others. For instance, given their scale, scarcity, and margins, the chemicals used to manufacture beauty products are more likely to face competition from syn-bio products than those needed to make textiles. In the next section, we will apply the framework we have just described to forecast when a sample of industries likely will be affected by syn-bio.
Syn-Bio Threatens Three Disruptions Today
Apart from the differences in the timing of their impact, syn-bio technologies are likely to have diverse impacts on industries and incumbents. One, or more, of three types of fallout are expected:
Industry incumbents could face competition from new syn-bio engineered products, which will reduce and, over time, eliminate, demand for existing products by offering better features and a smaller environmental footprint.
Incumbents could shift to the new, more sustainable processes that syn-bio firms develop.
Incumbents could switch to new kinds of raw materials that syn-bio firms engineer to produce existing products.
Let's consider each of these consequences by turn, focusing on the industries that are most likely to be affected in the short run.
Product Substitution. In some industries, companies will soon have to compete directly or indirectly with syn-bio engineered substitutes. They can do so by developing their own syn-bio offerings, using their traditional offerings to go head-to-head with syn-bio start-ups, or focusing on the most lucrative niches for their existing products. These industries, our studies suggest, range from industrial (B2B) to consumer (B2C) businesses.
At the industrial end of the spectrum, several syn-bio firms have started producing bulk chemicals and specialty chemicals by engineering microbes and scaling them through fermentation. Consider, for instance, BDO (1,4-Butanediol), an intermediary chemical that is a primary alcohol and one of the four stable isomers of butanediol. It's used as a solvent in the manufacture of plastics, elastic fibers such as spandex, and polyurethanes. The leading BDO manufacturers—BASF, Dairen Chemical, Sinopec, Xinjiang Tianye, and Xinjiang Guotai—together produce over 1 million metric tons a year, which is used to make 2.5 million tons of polymers annually. In 2020, BDO was a $5 billion industry, with about 30 manufacturing plants using hydrocarbon feedstocks to produce BDO.
If all the world's BDO manufacturers switch to making bio-BDO, it will stop the emission of more than 15 million tons of carbon dioxide a year, nearly the annual carbon emissions of a million Americans, 2 million Chinese, or 3 million Europeans.
Several syn-bio firms have been trying to produce bio-BDO from sustainable sources on a commercial basis. Genomatica, for instance, uses renewable feedstocks such as sugarcane, sugar beets, and other sources of carbohydrates, such as corn, instead of petrochemicals to do so. It uses fermentation to make bio-BDO, which is chemically identical to its conventional rival but lowers greenhouse gas emissions and creates sustainable supply chains. In addition to scaling output from a first-generation industrial-scale plant, the firm is building a second one in the US.
Genomatica has also licensed its biomanufacturing process technology to a joint venture between Cargill, the global seed and meat company, and HELM, a family-owned chemical marketing and distribution company, which will invest $300 million to build the new plant. Slated for completion in 2024, the new facility will produce more than 65,000 tons a year, tripling the world's bio-BDO manufacturing capacity. At capacity, it will emit 93% less greenhouse emissions than a conventional BDO plant. Incidentally, if all the BDO manufacturers in the world switch to making bio-BDO, it will stop the emission of more than 15 million tons of carbon dioxide a year. That's almost equal to the annual carbon emissions of a million Americans, 2 million Chinese, or 3 million Europeans.
In the rubber industry, several companies are trying to manufacture syn-bio monomers that can be used to manufacture synthetic rubber (polyisoprene), a common alternative to natural rubber. Used in the production of surgical gloves, golf balls, adhesives, and tires, synthetic rubber is usually made from petroleum-derived materials. To change that using syn-bio technologies, companies such as Goodyear teamed up with DuPont Industrial Biosciences in 2007, GlycosBio has been working with Malaysia's Bio X Cell since 2010, and Bridgestone announced a joint venture with Japan's Ajinomoto in 2012.
These giants are trying to cost-effectively manufacture isoprene (2-methyl-1, 3-butadiene), a key chemical in the production of synthetic rubber, using a fermentation-based process. Called bio-isoprene or Biolsoprene, the new syn-bio monomer can be made from microbes engineered from renewable carbohydrate raw materials. Switching to it will shake up the $3 billion isoprene market and reduce the rubber industry's dependence on petrochemical-based raw materials.
Meanwhile, the popularity of bio-engineered flavors and fragrances, which lie midway on the industrial-to-consumer spectrum, are gaining ground. Sales of flavors and fragrances top $40 billion annually and are growing 3.5% a year. The majors have been partnering with syn-bio firms for more than two decades, with companies such as BASF, Firmenich, Givaudan, and Takasago making acquisitions and in-house investments, and syn-bio entrants such as Conagen and Manus Bio expanding the number of available molecules. Meanwhile, Ginkgo Bioworks has started producing a range of aromas in collaboration with Robertet, the French fragrance and flavor house based in Grasse.
Many food companies use synthetic vanillin—the main flavor component of cured vanilla beans—which can be synthesized from guaiacol and lignin, as we described earlier. Because of consumer pressure, companies are desperate to replace synthetic vanillin with natural vanillin produced from sources other than vanilla beans, which are expensive. For example, Solvay makes natural vanillin by fermenting ferulic acid, a by-product of rice bran oil, using a proprietary strain of yeast, while the French flavor company Mane uses eugenol from clove oil to do so. This is altering the dynamics of the $300 million global vanilla market.
Making one Impossible Foods beef burger patty, whose ingredients include a lab-engineered non-meat-based heme molecule, requires 96% less land and 87% less water than one beef patty, and it emits 89% less carbon into the atmosphere.
In the fertilizer industry, start-ups such as Joyn Bio and Pivot Bio are trying to create microorganisms that will help cereal crops improve their nitrogen intake from the soil, as we described earlier. By offering cheaper solutions and reducing the amount of nitrogenous fertilizers that farmers will need to use, they could disrupt the $250 billion nitrogenous fertilizer industry. The latter contributes 3% of the world's greenhouse emissions, which would be halved if the syn-bio start-ups succeed.
At the consumer end of business, the meat industry is facing competition from companies such as Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat. Impossible Foods makes its beef burger patties from wheat and potato protein, sunflower and coconut oils, methylcellulose, food starch, and—crucially—a lab-engineered non-meat-based heme molecule. It has figured out that heme, which gives ground beef its reddish-brown color, makes the patty bleed, sizzle, and taste like animal meat. According to an environmental lifecycle analysis of its burger produced by independent auditor Quantis, making one Impossible patty requires 96% less land and 87% less water than one beef patty, and it emits 89% less carbon into the atmosphere. (See Exhibit 2.)
The syn-bio meat companies are using new techniques to improve yield, increase scalability, and lower costs. Impossible Foods' products are used by fast-food chains such as Umami Burger, Bare Burger, White Castle, and Burger King as well as supermarkets such as Walmart and Kroger, while its archrival, Beyond Meat, sells its synthetic burgers at Carl's Jr., Subway, Denny's, TGI Fridays, A&W, Hardee's, Del Taco, and Dunkin'. If current trends continue, conventional meat consumption in the US could drop 33% by 2040.
Process Improvements. In many industries, syn-bio processes could substitute for today's processes, forcing the incumbents to develop better inputs or to improve them by switching to syn-bio-based sourcing. They also could use the syn-bio-based processes to improve yields and, at the same time, reduce their environmental impact.
Syn-bio technologies likely will affect different sections of the value chain differently. For instance, the textile industry is in the throes of change because of bio-engineered dyes and processing chemicals. The production of one ton of dyestuffs requires the use of 1,000 cubic meters of water, 100 tons of heavy petroleum compounds, 10 tons of toxic and corrosive chemicals, and at least 200 MJ/ton of energy. That's why start-ups such as PILI are trying to eliminate the use of petrochemicals, such as benzene and formaldehyde, as well as reducing the amount of water, energy, and chemicals needed to make dyes.
PILI uses enzymes to convert carbon from renewable sources into molecules that can be used to produce textile dyes, reducing waste and byproducts. It creates microorganisms with DNA encoding for an enzyme or a series of enzymes that can convert carbon into a dye or a pigment, which is then extracted and purified. A variety of colors can be produced by swapping enzymes and optimizing the metabolic engineering process. Since textile makers can use syn-bio dyes without changing their production systems, organic dyes are poised to take over the $33 billion market in the next five years.
Companies should approach syn-bio as they would any other disruptive technology, focusing on forecasting its immediate development and long-term evolution. They must act immediately based on the outcomes they can predict.
New Inputs. In some industries, syn-bio will change only the raw materials that companies use without affecting processes. Incumbents can reduce their costs or improve the consumer proposition by using syn-bio inputs. For instance, many aspects of an automobile's interior can be replaced by syn-bio alternatives such as biological sensors, syn-bio plastics, and mycelium-based leather upholstery. However, these materials are unlikely to change the way companies manufacture automobiles in factories.
Business Must Prepare for Syn-Bio Now
The innumerable possibilities that syn-bio offers business today are matched only by the multi-dimensional challenges that the technology presents. Just like digital technologies, syn-bio technologies soon will force companies to rethink their business models. Many will have to make large investments in syn-bio R&D, the payoffs from which are uncertain and will accrue in the long run even as companies figure out how to forge complex partnerships and joint ventures with start-ups. As in the case of AI, using syn-bio technologies will force business to deal with societies that are uncomfortable with the idea of re-engineering life in any form.
Companies should approach syn-bio as they would any other disruptive technology, focusing on forecasting its immediate development and long-term evolution. They must act immediately based on the outcomes they can predict, altering how closely they monitor technologies according to the projected impact on their industries. Given the growing speed at which syn-bio technologies are changing, as well as the way the industry is maturing, some sectors will need to react and respond sooner than others. CEOs in every industry would do well to take the following first steps right away:
Get familiar with the science and the technology. Because syn-bio is different from other technologies, business will face a steep learning curve. To strategize successfully, and to identify winning technologies and promising start-ups, corporations must find the time to learn. The pioneers, we find, are arranging study tours, inviting guest speakers, and organizing syn-bio learning days for their top management, strategy, and R&D teams.
Test promising opportunities. Using the shared knowledge and understanding gained across teams, business must hold workshops to explore the art of the possible, identify the most promising technologies, and pick a few to explore in depth. To validate the most promising concepts, executives must seek critical feedback from stakeholders and scientists. They can validate key hypotheses through iterative sprints and rank opportunities by the rewards they promise as well as the possible risks. Doing so will allow executives to identify quick wins and set up trials and experiments. For instance, the Swedish furniture company IKEA, as well as the US computer-manufacturer Dell, are trying to replace polystyrene and Styrofoam with Ecovative Design's plant-based mycelium packaging, which decomposes within a month of composting.
Scout for successful pioneers. For every opportunity they identify, companies must scout for the start-ups and giants that are trying to develop the technologies, products, and processes to realize them. It's best to pay attention to start-ups that have scaled technologies beyond the lab—an indicator of their ability to survive.
In industries that face the threat of immediate disruption from syn-bio technologies, companies have no choice but to focus on the transformative capabilities of the technology and try to get ahead of the curve.
Identify the manufacturing and supply challenges upfront. Many syn-bio applications face challenges in scaling, standardization, quality consistency, transportation, and biosafety compliance. Companies must identify all the potential techno-commercial challenges before choosing the paths to follow. For instance, unlike the other COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers, Moderna uses a lipid nanoparticle coating on its vaccine. It prevents mRNA degradation at temperatures as high as those of a regular freezer, eliminating the need for ultra-cold conditions to transport its vaccines.
Partner selectively. In industries that face the threat of immediate disruption from syn-bio technologies, companies have no choice but to focus on the transformative capabilities of the technology and try to get ahead of the curve. They should partner with start-ups and university incubators so they can learn quickly. As we said earlier, the German chemicals giant Bayer has set up a joint venture with Boston-based Ginkgo Bioworks, Joyn Bio, which is using syn-bio to fight plant disease and improve nutrition. Bayer's investment came from its Lifesciences Center, the company's innovation unit that searches for breakthrough technologies complementing Bayer's offerings. It has joined with Versant Ventures to launch stem cell therapeutics company BlueRock Therapeutics and has teamed up with CRISPR Therapeutics to form joint venture Casebia Therapeutics, which uses gene-editing technology to develop treatments for blood disorders, blindness, and congenital heart disease.
Drive syn-bio within your business portfolio. Corporations must quickly add syn-bio products to their portfolios by making greenfield investments as well as planning acquisitions. For instance, Cargill in 2018 launched its zero-calorie sweetener EverSweet, which is made through yeast fermentation. One of the world's largest meat producers, it has invested in several cultivated meat start-ups such as Just Foods and Aleph Farms as well as PURIS, a leading provider of pea protein, which is used in vegan meat and dairy products.
Companies with a history of R&D can explore the creation of syn-bio platforms. A platform play will enable an organization to develop and sell several syn-bio applications. This will provide it an opportunity to shape rules and standards. Managers must understand that platform development is an R&D-intensive, multi-year journey that requires the unwavering commitment of top management.
Curiously, syn-bio was lauded at first as an environment-saving technology, but it didn't quite live up to that narrow promise. As a popular magazine sarcastically tweeted some years ago: "Synthetic biology was going to save the world. Now it's being used to make vanilla flavoring." In retrospect, though, the commercial production of vanillin in a bioreactor did mark a watershed moment because it demonstrated the enormous commercial potential of syn-bio. It has taken time for syn-bio to reach a tipping point, but that moment has finally come. The timing couldn't be better. Using syn-bio at scale is the only way business will be able to grow sustainably in the future, helping to save the planet and redeeming its checkered reputation as well.
François Candelon
Managing Director & Senior Partner; Global Director, BCG Henderson Institute
Matthieu Gombeaud
Georgie Stokol
Alumna
Vinit Patel
Mumbai - Nariman Point
Antoine Gourévitch
Nicolas Goeldel
Featured Insights: BCG's most inspiring thought leadership on issues shaping the future of business and society.
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Pack chasing Brook in girl's 24-5A basketball
CHUCK HLAVA
Jan. 21, 2003 Updated: Oct. 5, 2016 10:54 a.m.
We're halfway through the district campaign and the 24-5A girl's basketball championship banner is Clear Brook's to win or lose.
The Lady Wolverines have asserted themselves to the tune of a 5-0 league mark (14-11 overall) following last week's convincing wins.
One of those triumphs came over second-place Galveston Ball (4-1) and put Brook into sole possession of the top spot.
Alvin is third on the ladder with a 3-2 district record.
Falling off the pace are Clear Creek and Clear Lake who, along with Brazoswood, fill out the rest of the six-team league with 1-4 records.
Clear Brook led Friday night's 24-5A roll call with a methodical 57-33 triumph over Clear Creek. Led By Morgan Mayon and Sabrina Wahid, the Wolverines opened the game with an 18-7 lead and stretched that to a 28-11 halftime lead over the Lady Wildcats.
By the time the fourth period rolled around it was 45-21 and Brook coasted from there. Wahid and Mayon each had 12 points. The Cats' Amanda Carroll led all scorers with 14 points.
Brazoswood gained its first district win by surprising Clear Lake on the Lady Falcons' home court on Friday, 47-38. In the low-scoring first half the Lady Bucs led only 16-14 but opened up the final two periods, outscoring Lake 18-9 in the third and holding their own in the fourth quarter. Emily Scarborough led Clear Lake with 12 points.
In the other Friday night game Galveston avoided a tie for second-place with Alvin by downing the Lady Jackets 50-46 in a topsy turvy contest.
Alvin began the game with a solid 17-point performance while the Lady Tors had eight points. But the second period went the other way as Galveston had 18 points to the Jackets' five. That added up to a 26-22 Tor lead. Alvin closed the gap further and trailed by only one heading into the fourth quarter. But Galveston closed ranks and outscored the Jackets 17-14 for the win. Alvin's Amanda Mock led all scorers with 20. Victoria Pryor had 14 for Galveston.
Earlier in the week Brook wrestled the Tors in Galveston for the 24-5A top spot, winning handily 56-44. The Wolverines, led by Mayon's game-high 21 points, led from start to finish. Brook opened with a 14-10 lead after the first period and extended that to 27-19 at halftime.
Galveston failed to mount a threat after the break as the Wolverines had their most productive period in the third, scoring 16 points to gain a comfortable 43-27 lead heading into the fourth quarter. Tamika Jackson's 18 points led the Tors.
Clear Creek gained its first district win earlier in the week with a 57-47 home win over Brazoswood. But it wasn't easy for the first three periods. In the fourth quarter the Wildcats broke open the close game (after three periods the Bucs led 36-32) by going on a 25-point tear to win comfortably in the final minutes. Rachael Driver, with 18 points, and Jordan Driver, with 10, led Creek in the win. Britany Pinson had 15 points for Brazoswood.
Clear Lake got into an early hole in Alvin and not even a fourth-quarter surge could get the Falcons out of it. The Jackets went up 15-12 after one period and 28-22 at the break. By the time Lake began its rally Alvin was leading 42-29 in the final quarter. The Jackets wound up taking the contest 59-51. Buchi Okoh led the Falcons with 16 points while Beth Thomas contributed 10. Alvin's Heather Fisher led all scorers with 22 points.
Second round action in district competition began Tuesday as Creek hosted Lake and Brook took on visiting Alvin.
Friday's contests find Brook entertaining Lake while Creek is at Galveston. On Tuesday, Jan. 28, Brook is at Brazoswood, Lake hosts Galveston and Creek is at home against Alvin. All games begin at 7:30 p.m.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Vehicles older than 15 years prohibited from roads in capital after WHO found the city has worst air quality.
India's green tribunal has banned vehicles older than 15 years from roads in the capital New Delhi in an attempt to tackle air pollution, after a study by the World Health Organisation found that the city has the dirtiest air in the world.
Environmentalists have also called on the government to invest in public transport to help curb pollution.


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» Study » Student profiles » What makes plants rare?
What makes plants rare?
Mention the concept of a 'rare' plant, and it conjures up images of a brightly coloured flower, deep within the jungle - unseen by human eyes for decades except for an old, dusty picture from an expedition when photography itself was a novelty.
But does actually that make it rare? Simply being hard to find, or even endangered? It was this question that Fenner PhD student Meena Sritharan is searching for an answer to.
"Originally I asked that question and thought it would be certain traits that makes plants rare," Meena said.
"My honours research was looking if alpine plants were changing through time by looking at plant traits. This led me to think that certain traits may influence the abundance, distribution and or the threatened status of a species – I wanted to question whether it was trait driven, so let's test this out."
Meena began by conducting a systematic review of the literature, which looked at certain traits that researchers thought would make plants rare. But when she looked at all the data, Meena found there's many ways for a plant to be rare, and a list of categorizing traits isn't actually a definite guide to classifying a rare plant as such.
"In terms of rarity, different researches are interested in different issues in relation to rarity. They might place different emphases on what aspects of rarity concern them, such as if a rare plant is threatened," she said.
"This may be a problem, if we are looking for ways to fund conservation management, especially regarding threatened species. If we think something is rare, when it might not be – just in that moment in time – we may declare it threatened, and this consequently could affect how we fund conservation strategies.
Meena was discussing this with one of her lecturers, and said that for humans 'rare' is something that is one-of-a-kind, like a collector's item, with only one or two in existence. But in plants it doesn't quite work that way.
"Ecosystems change across time, and in one year there might only be a few examples of a species, but in other years there might be more. Then a fire comes through and then there's hundreds…its abundance may oscillate."
Researching rarity
To undertake the practical component of her research, Meena spent the last few months down at Booderee National Park, Jervis Bay on the South Coast of NSW. Typically, her day would start early to escape the summer heat, with rulers, measuring tapes and plant identification books in hand.
Surveying specific 10m x 10m plots set up by Fenner School academic Professor David Lindenmayer and Chris MacGregorin the bush, Meena would merticulously collect data, documenting the number of plants bit by bit.
"Currently where I'm coming from - to see if plants are rare - I think it depends on the environment in which a plant grew up in that controls its abundance and distribution - not the traits of the plant itself."
Human perception can play a part as well. Meena described how sometimes you think you're seeing a pattern, but it might be localized to the small sample size of the space that you are working in.
An ironic twist demonstrated exactly that, as Meena came across a single dandelion flower on one of her last days.
"It was frustrating, I had done the entire site and had got to the last box. I remember thinking to myself – 'what are you doing here, you look like a rare plant but you're not!'"
Working alone outdoors for such a long period of time had its own benefits and drawbacks for Meena. She said it was fantastic to be outside all the time, and was a chance to learn completely new skills including operating a four-wheel drive vehicle. But she also learnt the importance of debriefing after the time spent in the field.
"Being alone all the time can also mean that you're stuck in your own head, and with your own thoughts for a long time. I found it really important to be able to call up a friend at the end of the day to talk about my work, and whether the day was successful or not. Otherwise I'd only have the cat in the house I was staying at to talk to!"
Implications for conservation
Over the next few months Meena will have to analyze the data, and see if there is a management implication from the identification of rarity.
"I think we have to somehow move away from the idea of just looking at traits to identify rare plants. In some of the research I've looked at people assume that if we know the traits of rare species, we probably know the traits of threatened species, so we find plants with these traits then 'deduce' that they are more likely to be threatened.
"This doesn't take into account the complexities of much wider systems – we need to look at the ecosystem as a whole – was it affected by a fire or invasive species or whatever, and then use this contextual data to see if it may influence a plant in being rare, common or threatened."
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) »
Fenner in the news - 'Radical action': NSW triples size of feral-free zones to restore bush »


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Legal Hospitality-Hotel Restaurant-Food Service Marketing Research Writer/ Editor Remote Job Full time
Non-Profit (18) Biotech (4) Media-Journalism (4) Veterinary Services (3) Environmental (3) Engineering (2)
Executive (2) Finance (2) Management (2) Strategy-Planning (2) Administrative Assistant (2) Business Development (1) Health Care (1) Other (1) Science (1)
Woodstock Farm Sanctuary High Falls, NY, USA
Woodstock Farm Sanctuary envisions a peaceful world rooted in respect and justice for all living beings. We rescue farmed animals and give them care and sanctuary, connect animals with people to advance veganism, and advocate for animal rights in alliance with other social justice movements. At the heart of our mission is the hands-on work of rescuing, rehabilitating and caring for farmed animals, advocating for animal rights, and educating the public about these issues. We host thousands of visitors every year through our event, tour, and volunteer programs. Located in New York state's Hudson Valley region 90 minutes from New York City, the area boasts a rich cultural and artistic heritage, offering a rare mix of rural and cosmopolitan resources. Job Overview: The Marketing Department is looking for its next savvy and creative Social Media Coordinator to join the team! The Social Media Coordinator will report to the Marketing and Communications Director while working...
Animal Place 17314 McCourtney Rd, Grass Valley, CA 95949, USA
Organization : Animal Place is a nonprofit sanctuary for farmed animals and an education/advocacy organization. It operates three shelters in northern California. Its headquarters is located on 600-acres in Grass Valley, (60 miles north of Sacramento). This position will be working out of the Grass Valley site. Position Objectives: To expand and maintain a thriving social media, expand our presence offline and online, and provide administrative assistance to the Programs Department Job Title: Social Media Coordinator Job Status: Full-Time, Grass Valley, CA Reports to: Program Director Responsibilities and Duties: Assist with the management of social media for the organization including but not limited to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, Blog, Pinterest, YouTube, TikTok Expand online presence Write articles/blogs related to Animal Place's mission Create content related to Animal Place and its mission for social media channels Assist...
Headline Writer
PETA Los Angeles, CA, USA
Position Description: PETA is looking for a smart, quick, and creative individual to hype up our animal rights campaigns into provocative written content that will change hearts. Were you an expert at "clickbait" before it was a thing? Is "sensationalism" your middle name? You should have experience writing and promoting content for a brand or nonprofit and/or experience working in a digital newsroom. You must be accustomed to writing, editing, and posting several headlines/stories daily. The ideal candidate will be comfortable in a fast-paced digital environment, is vegan, have true enthusiasm for the work, and be a champion for all animals. Primary Responsibilities and Duties: • Write catchy, exciting headlines for dozens of news articles, action alerts, emails, blogs, op-eds, and other articles daily • Follow breaking news in the animal rights world closely and suggest compelling stories to your manager daily • Write breaking news articles and/or other online...


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(-) Western Hemisphere (22)
Africa (Sub-Sahara) (14)
East Asia and the Pacific (36)
Europe and Eurasia (20)
(-) United Arab Emirates (9)
(-) Trade Missions (29)
CAFTA-DR (2)
Emerging Markets Program (EMP) (4)
Foreign Market Development Program (FMD) (1)
Market Access Program (MAP) (4)
News Release (17)
(-) United Arab Emirates
(-) Trade Missions
USDA Accepting Applications for Panama Agribusiness Trade Mission
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service is accepting applications from U.S. exporters for a regional trade mission to Panama from March 19-23, 2023.
Dubai Trade Mission: Camelicious Visit Shows U.S.-UAE Trade in Action
The recent USDA trade mission to Dubai included site visits to local importers and agribusinesses. Among them was the world's largest camel-milking farm, which uses California-grown feed.
USDA Trade Mission Underway in Dubai
FAS Administrator Daniel Whitley arrived in Dubai today to launch the U.S. Department of Agriculture's first trade mission since November 2019.
Sec. Vilsack to Lead Trade Mission, Hold Events on Climate Change in UAE
From February 18-22, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will travel to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to lead a U.S. Department of Agriculture trade mission and hold events focused on the United States' commitment to working with international partners to combat climate change.
USDA Radio: FAS Administrator Whitley Heads to Dubai for USDA Trade Mission
Gary Crawford, with USDA Radio, talks with FAS Administrator Daniel Whitley about the USDA trade mission to the United Arab Emirates, which kicks off in Dubai on February 16, 2022.
USDA Radio: FAS Administrator Whitley on Upcoming UAE Trade Mission
FAS Administrator Daniel Whitley says USDA uses their trade missions to link exporters with customers around the world. USDA Radio's Rod Bain has the story.
USDA Trade Missions Resume, Apply Now for United Arab Emirates Mission
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced in-person trade missions will resume early next year. The first trade mission is to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), February 16-21, 2022.
USDA to Expand Agriculture Export Opportunities on Seven Trade Missions in 2020
Washington, D.C., Dec. 5, 2019 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will sponsor seven agribusiness trade missions in 2020 to grow and diversify export opportunities around the world for America's farmers and ranchers, Under Secretary for...
Secretary Perdue Leads USDA Trade Mission to Mexico
Washington, D.C., November 5, 2019 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue will lead a trade mission to Mexico November 6-8 to forge new opportunities with U.S. agriculture's largest bilateral trading partner and second-largest export market...
Bringing Together U.S. Agriculture and Its #1 Customer
USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Ted McKinney led a successful trade mission to Toronto and Montréal in September to show appreciation for the United States' closest trading partner and to highlight the benefits of the...
Under Secretary McKinney to Lead U.S. Exporters on Trade Mission to Colombia
Contact: press@fas.usda.gov or (202) 720-7115 WASHINGTON, May 31, 2019 – Colombia and Panama are among the fastest-growing markets in the Western Hemisphere for U.S. farm and food products. American exporters seeking to tap that potential will join...


I first bought the I Stand shirt and I really liked Nine lines quality shirt, specially after many washes. So I bought me a whole weeks worth! Good job Nine Line, one satisfied customer.
First shirt I bought, the fabric was so soft and fits so well! Love this company and all theyre doing. Definitely buying more soon!!


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package com.yuktix.bencode.scan;

import java.io.IOException;
import java.io.InputStream;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.List;

import com.yuktix.bencode.ds.IBencodeType;
import com.yuktix.bencode.ds.ListType;

class ListScanner extends CompositeObject implements IScanner{

	private List<IBencodeType> list ;

	public ListScanner() {
		this.list = new ArrayList<IBencodeType>();
	}

	@Override
	public void scan(CompositeObject parent,InputStream is) throws IOException {
		super.scan(parent, is);
		if(parent != null)
			parent.add(new ListType(this.list));
	}

	@Override
	public void add(IBencodeType data) throws IOException {
		this.list.add(data);
	}

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


NClass is a free, UML-based class diagram editor with full C# and Java language support. The user interface is designed to be simple and user-frienly for easy and fast development. Properties, enums, delegates and other language specific elements are fully supported with strict syntactical and semantical verification, and declaration parsers provide a handy way for skipping the old mouse-controlled editing.
Diagram skins, code generation, reverse engineering and other cool features are already implemented, although many others are on the way. A plugin system provides an easy way to extend the main functionality.


I often get asked about this study, as every few months it will pop on social media with a catchy headline like "Fibromyalgia Mystery Solved!" I have seen it recycled so many times since the study was first published in 2013, always presented as a "new" finding.
While it sadly does not solve the mystery, it definitely gives us an important clue.
So let's break down what this study really shows. They compared skin samples taken from the palms of people with fibromyalgia to those taken from healthy controls. They counted how many and what types of nerves were in each sample. Anyone who has burned their hand on hot stove or had a case of sweaty palms can tell you that everyone has both pain-sensing nerves and nerves that make us sweat in our hands. And that is exactly what the researchers found.
The samples from both groups contained both pain-sensing nerves (called sensory nerves) and nerves that regulate blood flow and sweating (called sympathetic nerves) clustered together near the small blood vessels in the skin. This is all normal and to be expected in any samples taken from skin in the hand.
However, other studies have found conflicting results and reported less than normal amounts of pain-sensing nerves in skin samples from the legs of fibromyalgia patients. So the jury is still out how much the actual amount of pain-sensing nerves contributes to pain.
No matter the amount of pain-sensing nerves, it is how they are functioning that matters for pain. And we know that in fibromyalgia, the pain-sensing nerves are not functioning correctly, because they are sending excessively high signals. The piece of the fibromyalgia mystery we have not figured out is what has triggered the pain-sensing nerves to go haywire. But the clue may be another finding in the skin samples: There were slightly more sympathetic nerves in the fibromyalgia patients.
And remember that sympathetic nerves are all tangled up with the pain-sensing nerves and these two types of nerves send signals back and forth to each other that affect how they work.
This is the most important piece to remember; that we already know that the fundamental problem in fibromyalgia is that the sympathetic nervous system—all the way from the brain to those tiny nerves in the hand—is malfunctioning and overactive. The sympathetic nervous system is also called the fight-or-flight system, and it is triggered in times of danger. But in fibromyalgia, this response has gone haywire and is active all the time, even when there is no danger, like a smoke alarm going off even though there is no smoke. You can find more detail on this in my book The FibroManual.
When sympathetic nerves are hyperactive, they leak chemicals that irritate pain-sensing nerves into sending louder signal, and this is what likely triggers the exceptionally loud pain signals of fibromyalgia. So it may not be the amount of pain-sensing nerves that matters as much as whether they are being sprinkled with irritating "lemon juice" from the sympathetic nerves around them.
For me the take-away from this study is that we need to focus more on the interplay between sensory and sympathetic nerves in fibromyalgia. While this study does not solve the fibromyalgia mystery, it is a clue to point us in the right direction to focus more on the sympathetic nerves and their effects on pain.


849,00 € tax incl. 707,50 € tax excl.
Fairly deep, dark, cherry; vegetal nose, 'brocoli', sweet, rich, high alcohol, assertive and more grip than the '90.
Could still do with more bottle age.
A subtle, concentrated, graceful wine, offering a band of cherry, spice, oak and plum-tinged flavors that bring out vanilla, nutmeg and brown sugar notes on the finish. It's also firmly tannic and backward now, so it's a good candidate for the cellar.


Smartphone battery has been a topic of research since a long time. Several technologies are circumnavigated in order to find out how to make the batter stronger. Improvements have been made, no doubt but still the excessive battery drainage encountered by smartphones are not yet solved. Recently Legion Meter a smartphone charge accelerator has come into the market with fascinating features.
Recently many smartphones launched has good battery ranging from 2500 to 4000 mAH. Samsung Galaxy Note 2 (3100 mAh), LG G2, Samsung S4 (2,600 mAH), Huawei Ascend D2 (3,000 mAH) are few of these. Huawei Ascend Mate has non-removable Li-Ion 4050 mAh battery. THL officially announced that it will bring 5000 mAh battery smartphone. This Chinese manufacturer has decided to make 5000 mAh Eton Thundergod and pack in a giant battery in their new smartphone.
Chinese manufacturer THL have decided to follow in the lead of Eton with their 5000 mAh Eton Thundergod and pack in a giant battery in their new smartphone, the THL 5000. A very fitting name in that it most likely refers to the huge 5000 mAh silicon anode Li-Po battery powering the device. It claims to have the largest battery.
The phone will run Android Jellybean 4.2. The phone has 5″ high resolution (1920 x 1080p, 441 ppi) display, dimensions are 144.9mm x 72.3mm x 8.9mm. The phone has 1.7ghz octo-core processor, 2 GB RAM, 32 GB ROM, Coning Gorilla Glass 3, 5 megapixel front camera, 13 megapixel rear Sony camera with F/1.8 aperture, NFC/Bluetooth 4.0/OTG/Quick charge and many more.


This book is a comprehensive, yet practical, reference for information and guidance to comply with the requirements of the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993. It provides school administrators with the latest information to ensure that school policies and practices are up-to-date and it helps to manage leave and avoid costly legal violations. This guide includes school-centered examples and best practice recommendations. It will be of interest to all public and private school administrators. After an introduction, this book is divided into the following chapters: (1) Schools as FMLA-Covered Employers; (2) Employee Eligibility; (3) Covered Family Members; (4) Covered Conditions; (5) Notice Requirements; (6) Documentation Requirements; (7) Leave Amount and Scheduling; (8) Paid Leave Substitution; (9) Maintenance of Employment Benefits; (10) Return to Work from Family and Medical Leave; (11) Record-Keeping Requirements; (12) Coordination of the FMLA with Other Employee Rights and Benefits; and (13) Prohibited Acts, Enforcement, and Remedies. The following are appended: (1) FMLA Poster; (2) FMLA-USERRA Memos; (3) DOL FMLA Fact Sheets; (4) DOL WH-381: Employer Response to Employee Request for FMLA; and (5) DOL WH-380: Medical Certification Form.


See where it all began! Casa Vicens was Antoni Gaudí's first major commission, and its legacy can be felt throughout all of the master architect's finest work. It was built as a summer garden house for Manuel Vicens i Montaner, and kickstarted the Modernism movement in Europe. This fascinating museum is a living tribute to one of the greatest creative minds the world has ever known.
When a Catalonian stockbroker enlisted the skills of a young architect to design his holiday home, he couldn't have known the scale of the genius he was about to unleash. Inspired by patterns found in the natural world, the pastel-hued and intricately detailed miniature palace is as stunning today as it was in 1883.
Step inside Gaudí's mind and discover a technicolor tribute to his endless imagination. The renovated building has been repurposed as an architectural museum and cultural space, with two floors of meticulous design, and a truly exquisite rooftop terrace which offers amazing views of the surrounding area.
Don't miss the Mediterranean garden, dedicated to Saint Rita, and the cavernous Catalan vaults, which now house the La Capell bookshop – the perfect place to pick up a memento of your visit!
Easy and safe way to buy tickets, and no queuing. Gaudi's first house is interesting to explore. I particularly liked the marigold tiling, the detailed wooden ceilings, and the exquisite smoking room. Recommended!
Beautiful place to visit, Gaudi's first masterpiece. Loved the combination of styles and how he's made it unique by using inside materials for the outside and bringing nature under the roof. Stunning and well worth a visit.
All staff is also very nice, polite and helpful. The Hoffman coffeeshop is amazing too, make sure you try the thickest hot chocolate in the world and the mascarpone croissant. Unique!
We arrived in BCN and made our reservations immediately for later that day. We were a group of 5 so it was very convenient, not to mention receiving a discount.The house itself was very interesting and we enjoyed the floor guides knowledge. I'd definitely use it again.
Easy to get tickets. Everyone spoke english and was very helpful. I AM AN ENORMOUS Gaudi fan! I loved every bit of this exp and the other Gaudi visits I've made.


Everything you need to know about cosmetics for the eyes, from eye makeup application to choosing eye shadow colors and mascara tips.
The eyes are the window to the soul, and the best way to show them off is with the correct makeup. The following articles give you all the information that is needed to have the most glamorous eyes in the room. No matter whether you are looking for an everyday look, a look for a special occasion or just some additional information on eye makeup and eye cosmetic products.
How to Apply Eye Makeup A step-by-step process to apply a basic eye look that works for everyone. No matter what the eye shape is, this look will work. It requires three eye shadows, makeup brushes, eyeliner and mascara.
Smokey Eye The smokey eye is a very dramatic look that demands a lot of attention. However, it does not work for everyone. If you have deep-set eyes, the smokey look is not for you. The smokey eye look is great for evenings and special events. If you have prominent eyes, it will work for you no matter what the time! It also requires three eye shadows, makeup brushes, eyeliner and mascara.
Choosing Eye Shadow Colors The hardest part in eye makeup is picking the correct colors. There are two main things to take into consideration: your eye color and your skin tone. With the correct colors of eye shadows, your eye color will stand out more, no matter what the color is!
Applying Eyeliner There are many forms of eyeliner on the beauty market. Applying different eyeliners varies according to the look that you desire and the formula of the eyeliner you pick. Each one will require its own technique.
How to Apply Mascara Not very many women will walk out the door without mascara. It is the number-one cosmetic product that women buy and are completely loyal to. Although it may take some time, you can get great results with a simple mascara, eyelash comb (remember metal ones work, plastic do not), and an eyelash curler.
How to Apply False Eyelashes Some women like to keep their false lashes under wraps, but this is how they get their lashes so long and full, there really is no other way. False eyelashes are a scary cosmetic product for many women. However, they are super-easy to apply. To apply false eyelashes you will need an eyelash curler, false eyelashes, eyelash glue, a hand-held mirror and mascara.
Eye Makeup Tip A great eye makeup tip I learned from watching Damone Roberts. This tip will prevent any eye makeup smudges from messing up your perfect look.
If you have any questions or want to share a tip of your own, feel free to start a discussion.


Golf is one of the most popular hobbies these days, and some people even take it to the next level and build their career on playing golf. Many people start playing golf only to see if they like it, and it slowly becomes their favorite hobby. So, if you are looking for a way to spend great time outdoor and meet people who share the same passion as you do, you can do it in one of the golf courses Spain. And you might say that you would not travel to Spain only to take golf classes, but you can do this while being in your holiday, because there are plenty touring services which organize trips and breaks in amazing destinations. Golf offers you the possibility to spend your holiday in a beautiful place, while doing what you like. Here are some steps you should follow if you want to become a great golf player.
If you want to learn the basics of golf before heading to Spain, then you should try to find a local professional and ask them offer you some lessons. You only have to take a visit to the local coach and ask them offer you some training. The majority of golf coaches have professional equipment, they can use to record your golf swing and they could lately analyze it, to offer you tips on how you can improve your style. But if you want to wait until your vacation to learn playing this sport, then you have the possibility to hire a coach in one of the golf resorts in Spain, because there is definitely an expert there, who is willing to offer lessons to the interested ones. Other amazing option you have, if you want to find some things about golf by yourself, is to take a look at some online lessons. The biggest advantage of this method is that it would be cheaper to follow the lessons of a reputable site, but it does not compare with the benefits you would have when you are hiring an expert.
So, you can learn the basics of golf while being home, and when you arrive in Spain, you can work with an expert to help you improve your style. For being sure that you would get the best results, you should carefully choose the golf club you want to join, even for a few weeks during your holiday. If you want to become a better golfer, than the club has an essential impact on it, because there you have the possibility to learn from the bests from this domain. Remember to follow these steps, because it is important to first visit your local golf coach and then book some professional lessons in a beautiful destination. It is advisable to have some knowledge of the sport when you arrive in Spain, and check in to a golf resort, because there you would play golf with experts, and you have to have a base on which to build.
If you want to join golf courses Spain or find golf resorts in Spain, please click on these links!


text:
Die Eishockey-Weltmeisterschaften des Jahres 2019 wurden durch die Internationale Eishockey-Föderation in fünf verschiedenen Alters- und Geschlechtsklassen durchgeführt. Insgesamt fanden in sämtlichen Divisionen 30 Turniere statt.

Turnierüberblick

Herren
Die 83. Eishockey-Weltmeisterschaft der Herren wurde vom 10. bis 26. Mai 2019 in der Slowakei ausgetragen. Die Vergabe des Turniers erfolgte auf dem IIHF-Kongress in Prag während der Weltmeisterschaft 2015, nachdem der einzige weitere Bewerber Schweiz seine Bewerbung zurückgezogen hatte und das Turnier 2020 austrägt. Die Slowakei richtete damit seit der Unabhängigkeit des Landes im Jahr 1993 das Turnier zum zweiten Mal nach 2011 aus.

 Austragungsorte und -zeiträume
 Top-Division: 10. bis 26. Mai 2019 in Bratislava und Košice, Slowakei
 Division I
 Gruppe A: 29. April bis 5. Mai 2019 in Nur-Sultan, Kasachstan
 Gruppe B: 28. April bis 4. Mai 2019 in Tallinn, Estland
 Division II
 Gruppe A: 9. bis 15. April 2019 in Belgrad, Serbien
 Gruppe B: 21. bis 27. April 2019 in Mexiko-Stadt, Mexiko
 Division III: 22. bis 28. April 2019 in Sofia, Bulgarien
 Qualifikation zur Division III 2020: 31. März bis 6. April 2019 in Abu Dhabi, Vereinigte Arabische Emirate

U20-Junioren
Die 43. Eishockey-Weltmeisterschaft der U20-Junioren fand vom 26. Dezember 2018 bis zum 5. Januar 2019 in Vancouver und Victoria (Kanada) statt.

 Austragungsorte und -zeiträume
 Top-Division: 26. Dezember 2018 bis 5. Januar 2019 in Vancouver und Victoria, British Columbia, Kanada
 Division I
 Gruppe A: 9. bis 15. Dezember 2018 in Füssen, Deutschland
 Gruppe B: 8. bis 14. Dezember 2018 in Tychy, Polen
 Division II
 Gruppe A: 13. bis 19. Januar 2019 in Tallinn, Estland
 Gruppe B: 15. bis 21. Januar 2019 in Zagreb, Kroatien
 Division III: 14. bis 20. Januar 2019 in Reykjavík, Island

U18-Junioren
Die 21. Eishockey-Weltmeisterschaft der U18-Junioren fand in Örnsköldsvik und Umeå (Schweden) statt.

 Austragungsorte und -zeiträume
 Top-Division: 18. bis 28. April 2019 in Örnsköldsvik und Umeå, Schweden
 Division I
 Gruppe A: 14. bis 20. April 2019 in Grenoble, Frankreich
 Gruppe B: 14. bis 20. April 2019 in Székesfehérvár, Ungarn
 Division II
 Gruppe A: 7. bis 13. April 2019 in Elektrėnai, Litauen
 Gruppe B: 25. bis 31. März 2019 in Belgrad, Serbien
 Division III:
 Gruppe A: 25. bis 31. März 2019 in Sofia, Bulgarien
 Gruppe B: 9. bis 12. April 2019 in Kapstadt, Südafrika

Frauen
Die 21. Eishockey-Weltmeisterschaft der Frauen fand 2019 in Espoo in Finnland statt. Erstmals wurde das Turnier mit zehn Teilnehmern ausgetragen.

 Austragungsorte und -zeiträume
 Top-Division: 4. bis 14. April 2019 in Espoo, Finnland
 Division I
 Gruppe A: 7. bis 13. April 2019 in Budapest, Ungarn
 Gruppe B: 6. bis 12. April 2019 in Peking, Volksrepublik China
 Division II
 Gruppe A: 2. bis 8. April 2019 in Dumfries, Vereinigtes Königreich
 Gruppe B: 1. bis 7. April 2019 in Brașov, Rumänien
 Qualifikation zur Division IIB: 13. bis 18. Januar 2019 in Kapstadt, Südafrika

U18-Frauen
Die 12. Eishockey-Weltmeisterschaft der U18-Frauen fand in Obihiro, Japan statt.

 Austragungsorte und -zeiträume
 Top-Division: 6. bis 13. Januar 2019 in Obihiro, Japan
 Division I
 Gruppe A: 7. bis 13. Januar 2019 in Radenthein, Österreich
 Gruppe B: 6. bis 12. Januar 2019 in Dumfries, Vereinigtes Königreich
 Qualifikation zur Division IB 2020: 12. bis 18. Januar 2019 in Jaca, Spanien

Einzelnachweise

Weltmeisterschaft
2019

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
In A Room Dodgy
Blossoms Share There's A Reason Why (I Never Returned Your Calls) Video
Blossoms in There's A Reason Why (I Never Returned Your Calls) video. Picture: YouTube/BlossomsVEVO
See the Stockport five-piece in their latest visuals, which were inspired by The Beatles' A Hard Day's Night.
Blossoms have shared the new video for their current single There's A Reason Why (I Never Returned Your Calls).
The clip - which was directed by Masashi Muto - was filmed on the streets of Tokyo and was inspired by The Beatles' famous 1964 musical film.
Speaking about their promo's direction, the band explain: "Shooting a music video in Japan was something we'd wanted to do for a while. We took influence from The Beatles' A Hard Day's Night and tried to capture the camaraderie between us a band of friends.
"We've been to Japan a couple of times and we fell in love with it from the first time we went. When we wanted to make a video overseas somewhere, it was always going to be Tokyo. We loved being chased around the streets and It made five lads from Stockport feel like the Beatles for a day".
Blossoms visited Radio X to perform the new track, which comes from their Cool Like You album, in an exclusive live session.
See it here:
The Stockport outfit also played I Can't Stand It, the catchy lead single from their sophomore album, which is out now.
On top of that, Tom Ogden and co. treated us to a special rendition of their Charlemagne single, which comes from their UK number one self-titled debut.
Watch them perform Charlemagne here:
Blossoms will embark on a headline UK tour this May, which includes two nights and a matinee at their hometown venue, Stockport Plaza, as well as sold out dates at London's O2 Kentish Town Forum and Manchester's O2 Apollo.
See Blossoms' UK 2018 tour dates:
4 May – Stockport Plaza
5 May – Stockport Plaza (matinee and late performance)
7 May - Leeds O2 Academy 8 May - Newcastle O2 Academy
10 May - London O2 Kentish Town Forum
11 May - Manchester O2 Apollo
12 May - Norwich The Nick Rayns LCR, UEA
Blossoms Songs
Download 'I Can't Stand It' on iTunes
Download 'Charlemagne' on iTunes
Download 'Your Girlfriend' on iTunes
Blossoms Latest
See more Blossoms Latest
VIDEO: Blossoms reveal when we can expect a new album
See Blossoms play a live session at Radio X
WATCH: Blossoms translate Northern slang
Blossoms unveil Your Girlfriend video & talk new music ahead of Edgeley Park gig
Blossoms tease Your Girlfriend single with Tom Ogden dressed as a werewolf


Wrap your skin in comfort with our favorite Shea Butter products suitable for dry to very dry skin.
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• 30ml Shea Butter Foot Cream.


I have never posted on StackExchange before but enjoy reading the threads and have helped me start my own little hobby. A friend of mine works at a night club and is being told they need a vector logo for tshirts. I said no problem send me logo. I opened in Illustrator and see these random little lines everywhere. Before I go and create the art again for him in illustrator I wanted to see if anyone knew what this was or how this was caused? I asked him how he created the logo and said in photoshop but it is used on video boards. So I assume it is created in a different program all together and then he put it in photoshop and saved to send to the tshirt company.
Anyways long story short, do I need to recreate this art for him or is there a way to clean up these random lines quickly?
UPDATE: I started seperating the logo to patchs and notice these lines on just the curves. See second screenshot. I think I can just use the paths and create the logo again?
have you try this, choose preset you like it most, minimize threshold and go to advanced tracing result?
Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged adobe-illustrator vector logo or ask your own question.
How do you color vectorized art on Illustrator?
How can I suggest ease of use in a logo?


text:
The Art of Recycling Pulsars
The formation of millisecond pulsars is the result of stellar cannibalism where matter flows from a donor star to an accreting pulsar in a binary system. During this process the pulsar emits X-rays while being spun up to amazingly high rotational speeds.Thomas Tauris (Bonn Univ. & MPIfR) can show that millisecond pulsars loose about half of their rotational energy during the final stages of the mass-transfer before the pulsar turns on its radio beam. This is in agreement with current observations and also explains why radio millisecond pulsars appear to be much older than their companion stars - and perhaps why no sub-millisecond radio pulsars exist at all.
Millisecond pulsars are strongly magnetized, old neutron stars in binary systems which have been spun up to high rotational frequencies by accumulation of mass and angular momentum from a companion star. Today we know of about 200 such pulsars with spin periods between 1.4-10 milliseconds. These are located in both the Galactic Disk and in Globular Clusters.
Since the first millisecond pulsar was detected in 1982 is has remained a challenge for theorists to explain their spin periods, magnetic fields and ages. As an example, there is the "turn-off" problem, i.e. what happens to the spin of the pulsar when the donor star terminates its mass-transfer process?
"We have now, for the first time, combined detailed numerical stellar evolution models with calculations of the braking torque acting on the spinning pulsar", says Thomas Tauris, the author of the present study. "The result is that the millisecond pulsars loose about half of their rotational energy in the so-called Roche-lobe decoupling phase." This phase is describing the termination of the mass transfer in the binary system. Hence, radio-emitting millisecond pulsars should spin slightly slower than their progenitors, X-ray emitting millisecond pulsars which are still accreting material from their donor star. This is exactly what the observational data seem to suggest. Furthermore, these new findings can help explain why some millisecond pulsars appear to have characteristic ages exceeding the age of the Universe and perhaps why no sub-millisecond radio pulsars exist.
The key feature of the new results is that it has now been demonstrated how the spinning pulsar is able to brake out of its so-called equilibrium spin. At this epoch the mass-transfer rate decreases which causes the magnetospheric radius of the pulsar to expand and thereby expelling the infalling matter like a propeller. This causes the pulsar to loose additional rotational energy and thus slow down its spin rate.
"Actually, without a solution to the "turn-off" problem we would expect the pulsars to even slow down to spin periods of 50-100 milliseconds during the Roche-lobe decoupling phase", concludes Thomas Tauris. "That would be in clear contradiction with observational evidence for the existence of millisecond pulsars."
This work has profited from a recent effort to bridge the Stellar Physics group at the Argelander-Institut für Astronomie at University of Bonn (led by Norbert Langer) with the Fundamental Physics in Radio Astronomy group at the Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie (led by Michael Kramer). The stellar evolution models used for this work were made using a state-of-the-art code developed by Norbert Langer. A significant part of the observational data was supplied by the pulsar group. Michael Kramer and his colleagues are using the 100-m Effelsberg Radio Telescope to participate in several ongoing searches and discoveries of millisecond pulsars.
Thomas Tauris has been working at the Argelander-Institut für Astronomie and the Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie as a visiting research professor since 2010. Some of his recent work on the recycling of millisecond pulsars has been published in the journal "Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society" in joint publications with Norbert Langer and Michael Kramer. On February 27 they host an international one-day workshop in Bonn on the "Formation and Evolution of Neutron stars".
Provided by Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie


This is a really short version because of the constraints of the season it's for, so there is only one verse and the chorus.
Happy New Year to you. Well played. From a Scotsman in Yorkshire.
Thank you! That means a lot to me! I was trying not to say "zyne"--I read that it's pronounced as an S.
Nice, Joanna! Happy New Year!
"The song's Scots title may be translated into English literally as 'old long since', or more idiomatically, 'long long ago', 'days gone by' or 'old times'. Consequently 'For auld lang syne', as it appears in the first line of the chorus, might be loosely translated as 'for (the sake of) old times'.
syne = 'since' or 'then' - pronounced 'sign' rather than 'zine'"
Thanks very much! Yours is great too--I could never play melody on an ukulele!


If Driving is a lesson, then parking is an important syllabus in it. It is really tough to park our vehicles in congested area with more obstacles. We need some logical skills to park our vehicle more efficiently and meanwhile with out affecting other vehicles on parking lot. How it could be? If we have some training to do parking efficiently. Yeah, it will be definitely good and fun.
By having this in mind, Hill stone animation studios has designed an iphone game named, Park In, which is all about these efficient parking concept based on boats on a lake parking lot. The game is intended to improve the logical thinking of the player. A mini game with lots of fun and challenging levels.
In Park in game play, there are 3 or 5 boats are in lake and player need to park it on its corresponding parking lot. Boats are identified with colors of its parking lot. Boats and parking lots have the same colors, so that player can easily understand about which boat have to be placed in which parking lot.
By simply touching the boat on finger, we can direct it to its lot. Player has to use minimum moves to park a boat where he needs to use his logical mind. The constraint is that a boat can be parked at only a empty parking lot. The game has nearly 25 challenging levels to park the boats and need sharpen mind to solve the puzzle on the game. Cool graphics and back ground images of the game play adds more value to the game play.
Worth buying and playing game is available in tunes for iphone, ipad and ipod touch devices. Get it for $0.99 and have more fun.


Fred & Joshua celebrated a warm Vancouver reception at Hawksworth Restaurant after their intimate wedding in Maui, Hawaii just days prior. Friends and family joined the two men for cocktails, dinner and heartfelt speeches. The York Room was filled with love and I am so happy I could document this part of their week long celebration.
I, John Bello, am a Vancouver wedding photographer who specializes in gay weddings, and all celebrations associated with the LGBTQ community. I am proud member of the community and feel privileged to call an open and loving city as Vancouver home – please contact me for more information on wedding coverages and engagements.


text:
About The LPAR
County Affiliates
Bylaws and Platform
Platform of the LPAR
National Libertarian Party Platform
What is a Libertarian?
Lifetime Member and Torch Club Recognition
LPAR Awards
History of the Libertarian party of Arkansas
Public Office Holders
Torch Club Membership
Run 2022 Project
Libertarian Party of Arkansas Opposed to Issue #1
October 10, 2020 October 12, 2020 / Uncategorized / By Michael Pakko
The Libertarian Party of Arkansas has taken a firm stance against ballot Issue #1, the "Transportation Sales Tax Continuation Amendment." A resolution passed by the party's executive committee cited a number of reasons for the its endorsement of a "NO" vote on Issue #1:
Ballot Issue #1 would enshrine a permanent new sales tax in the Arkansas Constitution and the Libertarian Party is opposed to all new taxes, favoring solutions that use free-market principles to address the financing of infrastructure and all other public-interest initiatives.
Arkansas already has the 9th highest sales tax rate in the U.S. And if county and municipal sales taxes are included, Arkansas has the second-highest sales tax rates in the nation.*
A general sales tax to support road construction and maintenance violates the principle of holding the users of infrastructure responsible for paying for its costs.
The current "temporary" tax remains in effect until June 30, 2023, so there is no need for a precipitous, permanent amendment to the Arkansas Constitution at this time.
The resolution went on to say that Libertarians are generally skeptical of any Amendment to the Arkansas Constitution that is proposed by the sitting legislature.
"All of our candidates supported this resolution and the vote on the Executive Committee was unanimous," said Michael Pakko, chairman of the Libertarian Party of Arkansas. "The feedback I've received from our supporters is similarly overwhelming. Libertarians would like to see necessary infrastructure improvements, but let's have an open and honest dialogue about how to pay for it, instead of just endorsing a permanent extension of the stop-gap measure the legislature asked us to approve in 2012."
Vote "NO" on Issue #1.
*An earlier version misstated the second-highest ranking. Documentation available from the Tax Foundation.
Michael Pakko
Dr. Michael Pakko is currently Chair of the Libertarian Party of Arkansas. Now in his third term as Chair, he previously served for two years as Treasurer and for three years as the Second District Representative to the LPAR Executive Committee. Before moving to Arkansas in 2009, Dr. Pakko was active in the Libertarian Party of Missouri, including two terms as a member of the party's Executive Committee and serving for a time as Chair of the St. Louis County Libertarian Party.
Like Peace Prosperity and Freedom?
The Libertarian Party is committed to America's heritage of freedom: individual liberty and personal responsibility, a free-market economy of abundance and prosperity, a foreign policy of non-intervention, peace and free trade.
PO Box 46730 Little Rock AR 72214 | 501-396-9804 | info@lpar.org | Paid for by the Libertarian Party of Arkansas.


text:
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FASEA refines policy on degree pathways
On November 20, the Financial Adviser Standards and Ethics Authority (FASEA) issued two policy papers and a draft legislative instrument on the degree qualifications pathways for both new and existing financial advisers.
The guidance provided by FASEA in these documents has shifted somewhat from that provided in March of 2018. Some of the major changes include:
one course credit being awarded for a degree in an unrelated field,
clear course credit frameworks for those who have completed an advanced diploma, or 8-subject diploma, in financial planning,
a framework for course credits to be provided for professional designations awarded due to completed coursework,
a redefinition of what is a "relevant" degree,
a new list of already approved tertiary qualifications, and
a clear pathway for career changers based on a graduate diploma requirement.
Existing advisers
An existing adviser is generally someone who has provided advice in 2016, 2017 or 2018 who is not disqualified. Existing advisers still fall into the 4 categories outlined in March's draft guidance from FASEA. These are:
Those with an approved degree
Those with a degree in a relevant field
Those with a degree in an unrelated field
Those with no degree
That said, the way the course credit framework interacts with these categories may mean that an existing adviser with no degree but an advanced diploma and a professional designation has the same amount of study to undertake as an existing adviser with a relevant degree and nothing else.
For a flowchart of the various pathways for existing advisers, click here.
Existing advisers with an approved degree will need to complete a single subject on ethics and professionalism.
What is an approved degree?
All approved degrees will be identified both on FASEA's website, and in a legislative instrument. The draft legislative instrument can be viewed here.
FASEA has released an entire policy paper on their course approval process. This paper includes approval processes for degrees, bridging courses and coursework required to obtain professional designations. At this time, only degrees have been approved by FASEA.
FASEA's education pathways policy makes it clear that vocational qualifications will not be approved. For a degree to be approved, it must be regulated by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA).
Those with a degree in a relevant field will be eligible for 4 subjects' worth of course credits, leaving only 4 subjects to be completed to achieve the necessary graduate diploma. Three of these subjects to be completed must be on ethics, financial advice regulation and behavioural finance respectively.
What is a relevant field?
FASEA's previous definitions of a degree in a relevant field have varied with March's definition including financial services, accounting, finance, tax, law and economics.
The guidance in the new education pathways policy now includes any course at a bachelor's degree level or higher of 8 subjects or more in any one or combination of the following fields:
In addition to the 4 subjects of course credit for the relevant degree, existing advisers may receive further credit of:
3 subjects for any completed advanced diploma or 8-subject diploma in financial planning, or
Up to 3 subjects for approved coursework completed in obtaining a professional designation.
The ethics subject cannot be completed by course credit, thus the minimum required study for those with a relevant degree, an advanced diploma and approved designation coursework is 1 subject.
wealthdigital contacted FASEA who confirmed that more credit is provided for an advanced diploma, 8-subject diploma or designation coursework when it is paired with a relevant degree than when it is not.
Approved coursework to achieve a designation
At the time of writing, no designation coursework has been approved by FASEA for this course credit. That said, in a press release issued on November 16, FASEA identified the FPA's Certified Financial Planner designation achieved after 2007, and the AFA's Fellow Chartered Financial Planner from 2014 as being examples of such coursework. In December 2018 FASEA proactively encouraged professional associations to seek approval for their designation coursework.
Existing advisers with a degree:
at bachelor's level or higher,
of 8 subjects or more, and
in an unrelated field
will be eligible for 1 subject's worth of course credits. This leaves 7 subjects to be completed to achieve the required graduate diploma, three of which must be on ethics, financial advice regulation and behavioural finance respectively.
An unrelated degree is one in a field not listed as being relevant and not on FASEA's approved degree legislative instrument.
In addition to the 1 subject of course credit for the unrelated degree, existing advisers may receive further credit of:
Thus, the minimum required study for those with an unrelated degree, an advanced diploma and approved designation coursework is 3 subjects. Please note, the ethics, regulation and behavioural finance subjects cannot be completed by course credits from the advanced diploma or designation coursework.
Existing advisers with no degree are required to complete an approved 8-subject graduate diploma in financial planning.
Existing advisers may receive credit of:
Thus, the minimum required study for those with no degree, an advanced diploma and approved designation coursework is 4 subjects. Please note, the ethics, regulation and behavioural finance subjects cannot be completed by course credits from the advanced diploma or designation coursework.
Qualifications over 10 years old
In early FASEA draft guidance, qualifications older than 10 years old were not going to be considered for approval or as a relevant degree. This latest set of releases from FASEA no longer mentions this restriction. In fact, the draft legislative instrument outlining approved courses specifically includes some that are well over 10 years old.
Course credits and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
The course credits awarded as outlined above will be issued by the education provider through the RPL process. FASEA's policy statement on program and provider accreditation states that, in order to be approved, the provider will need to adhere to these course credit policies set out by FASEA.
It is worth noting that some providers may have previously given RPL of greater than 2 subjects for designation coursework. What's more, the provision of course credits for an advanced diploma is unusual.
TEQSA's guidance note on RPL raises concerns with the awarding of RPL at a level not appropriate to the course being completed. This seems at odds with the awarding of credit in a qualification at a graduate diploma level (known as "AQF level 8") for study undertaken at advanced diploma level (known as "AQF level 6").
New advisers will be required to undertake an approved bachelor's degree, which is typically 24 subjects. A post-graduate pathway has been introduced which will allow career-changers to complete an approved 8-subject graduate diploma or a 12-subject masters. No clarification is provided in the FASEA policy statement on how a "career changer" is defined.
FASEA's states that submissions on their draft legislative instrument will be accepted until December 14, 2018. This draft legislative instrument only lists approved courses. The two policies on education pathways and course approval are not explicitly stated as being open for consultation.
Click here to read more or make a submission.
3 FASEA issues advisers need to know and 3 to act on now
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