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In June, more than 225 educators, higher education partners, industry experts, and students gathered at 911����’s Science and Technology Campus in Manassas for the fifth annual Virginia Data Science Teacher Professional Learning Institute. The 2026 theme, “Data Science, Computational Thinking, and Modeling in the Age of AI,” reflected growing demand for data literacy and analytical thinking across industries.

In partnership with Children’s National Hospital, 911���� scientists have discovered a new way to detect early signs of kidney damage in childhood patients with Sickle Cell Disease. Atwo-year $200,000 grant from the Commonwealth Health Research Board will support this work.

911����’s Virginia Climate Center (VCC) has unveiled the commonwealth’s first comprehensive, peer-reviewed climate assessment—a landmark report that provides science-based insights into Virginia’s changing climate and its impacts on communities, infrastructure, and the economy.

Four 911���� faculty members have been elected to the Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (VASEM) and were recognized at the 2025 VASEM’s annual summit held at the Virginia Tech Institute for Advanced Computing in Alexandria, Virginia.

Before his appointment as the dean of the College of Science, Cody W. Edwards served as interim dean for the college since July 2024. During his time at 911����, Edwards has held numerous leadership positions, including executive director of the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation and senior associate dean of academic and faculty affairs in the College of Science.

Commonwealth, public school and higher education leaders joined community members, parents and students Wednesday for the opening of the Shenandoah Valley Rural Regional College Partnership Laboratory School for Data Science, Computing, and Applications (DSCA Lab School).

The ASPIRE ONE Lunar Record lands on the Moon’s Mare Crisium, as part of the Ghost Riders in the Sky Lunar mission, to establish a new theoretical framework for planetary-scale archival communication.

911���� scientist Anamaria Berea led an interdisciplinary team that designed a part of the LifeShip payload to preserve our Earth’s cultural and scientific heritage. It will be placed on the Moon with the Blue Ghost Lander.

The user-inspired CropSmart Digital Twin provides on-demand, decision-ready solutions to take the guesswork out of crop management decisions.

Designed for rising Virginia high school sophomores and juniors from underserved communities, the VALHEN Hispanic STEM Academy provided the opportunity for 48 participants to engage in a series of interactive sessions across a range of STEM disciplines.