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Crew Systems Solutions

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The graduation rate of engineers in India and China exceeds 1,000,000 per year. In contrast, the graduation rate of engineers in North America is 80,000 per year.

Oops, findings from a 20 year study at Lancaster University of CO2 absorption from the atmosphere have cast doubt on previous assumptions. Seems as CO2 levels rise, plants and soils loose their ability to absorb and retain CO2. This implies the world's forests will have less capacity than originally assumed for CO2 gas reduction.

Over 4000 patents have been issued for genes of human DNA. Patents are being issued to research and pharmaceutical firms with interests in developing diagnostic tests and drugs. In effect, 20% of our DNA is now privately owned.

In anticipation of commercial space tourism, the US Federal Aviation Authority has drafted proposed regulations (120+ pages) for public and industry comment. The proposed rules address aspects such as crew and passenger training, flight operations, and emergency preparedness.

The US Department of Energy completed dismantlement and cleanup of the Rocky Flats nuclear weapons production site in Colorado. Begun in the early 1990s, the cleanup was projected at $37 billion with a duration of 70 years. The project was completed in 14 years for a cost of $7 billion. The site has been turned into a national wildlife refuge.

Russia and China have begun construction of a 70 Mw floating power plant for Severodvinsk in Russia's European north. China is providing the floating island and Russia is providing the nuclear systems. The power plant has the capacity to provide both electricity and thermal energy to 200,000 residents.

A Canadian team lead by James DeLaurier successfully fly a human piloted ornithopter. The aircraft achieves both thrust and lift by flapping the main wings at a 1 Hz rate.

Participation in the Halden, Norway workshop on 'Future Control Station Designs and Human Performance Issues' and presentation of papers on teamwork in control room operations and change management in partnership with Lee Lane of Ontario Power Generation.

Preparation of three papers in partnership with Ontario Power Generation and Atomic Energy of Canada colleagues for presentation at the annual Canadian Nuclear Society conference. The papers discussed design principles for new nuclear build to support human performance in operations, experience in using control centre operations as the focus for building station teamwork, and recent experience with function analysis in new plant design.

Crew Systems Solutions begins a two-year project with Darlington Operations and Engineering staff to improve the application and effectiveness of alarm conditioning for plant evolutions.

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