Daily Business Report: Wednesday, March 23, 2022
Women scientists featured in statue exhibit at the Smithsonian
By Gabriela Goldberg
A few steps away from the delicate pink and white blooms of the Japanese cherry trees in Washington D.C, a striking collection of 120 bright orange statues of women, including the statues of two UC San Diego scientists, are currently on exhibit in the National Mall. This month, the Smithsonian is celebrating its own spin on Women’s History Month
called Women’s Futures Month: a forward-looking celebration of the power of women and girls in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to shape a better world.
From March 5 to 27, the Smithsonian will present “#IfThenSheCan – The Exhibit,” a collection of 120 statues of women in STEM—the largest collection of statues of women ever assembled in one location, at one time.
Dotting the Smithsonian gardens and within the museums, the life-size 3D-printed statues represent a diverse group of contemporary women STEM role models in a variety of fields, from teaching robots how to dance, protecting endangered species of bats, to leading the development of video games like Fortnite. The goal of the installation is to serve as a platform for young girls to see women successfully pursuing a STEM career. The idea is that IF she can see it, THEN she can be it.
Top Photo: The exhibit in the Smithsonian gardes and around the National Mall celebrating Women’s Futures Month. (Courtesy of the IF/THEN Collection)
Navy to retrofit 3 new San Diego-based
warships to launch hypersonic missiles
By Chris Jennewein | Times of San Diego
The Navy plans to replace the giant guns on three futuristic San Diego-based warships with launchers for new hypersonic missiles.
The USS Zumwalt and USS Michael Monsoor are already in San Diego, and the future USS Lyndon B. Johnson will be based here as well.
According to the nonprofit United States Naval Institute, plans are to remove the two 155mm guns from each destroyer and replace them with missile tubes for the Common Hypersonic Glide Body being developed for the Army, Air Force and the Navy.
San Diego-based General Atomics is one of the defense contractors working on the hypersonic program.
Danielle Moore takes seat as the Port
of San Diego’s newest port commissioner
Danielle Moore has become the newest commissioner to represent the City of San Diego on the Board of Port Commissioners.
A native San Diegan, Moore has over a decade of experience as an attorney and her current practice focuses on the renewable energy industry. Moore currently serves on the board of The New Children’s Museum.
She is also a member of the Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association and San Diego Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Moore is a graduate of the Howard University School of Law, a historically Black university in Washington D.C. where she was a Merit Scholar.
She is also a graduate of Stanford University and the recipient of the Stanford Alumni Association’s Award of Merit for her volunteer service.
Moore is an alumna of the San Diego School for the Creative and Performing Arts in Paradise Hills, Aaron Price Fellows Program in San Diego, and Capital Fellows Program in Sacramento.
Wildlife Explorers Basecamp
completed at San Diego Zoo
Pacific Building Group has completed construction on the new 3.2-acre Denny Sanford Wildlife Explorers Basecamp at the San Diego Zoo. It opened to the public on March 11.
Encompassing four environmental biomes with animal habitats and landscapes associated with each, Wildlife Explorers Basecamp creates an immersive environment that encourages Wildlife Explorers of all ages to learn about nature, actively play, encounter new species and develop empathy for wildlife.
The project connects the newly constructed areas with the existing infrastructure and pathways of the Zoo, while establishing new access routes for service and emergency vehicles. The project, which began in April 2019, included the integration of unique materials such as reclaimed wood, ETFE roof and wall assemblies that are transparent to welcome in light, decorative metal panels, vegetated wall systems, rubber play surfaces and more.
Cellular rejuvenation therapy
safely reverses signs of aging in mice
Age may be just a number, but it’s a number that often carries unwanted side effects, from brittle bones and weaker muscles to increased risks of cardiovascular disease and cancer. Now, scientists at the Salk Institute, in collaboration with Genentech, a member of the Roche group, have shown that they can safely and effectively reverse the aging process in middle-aged and elderly mice by partially resetting their cells to more youthful states.
“We are elated that we can use this approach across the life span to slow down aging in normal animals. The technique is both safe and effective in mice,” says co-corresponding author Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte, professor in Salk’s Gene Expression Laboratory and holder of the Roger Guillemin Chair. “In addition to tackling age-related diseases, this approach may provide the biomedical community with a new tool to restore tissue and organismal health by improving cell function and resilience in different disease situations, such as neurodegenerative diseases.”
TECH Clean California rebate program
launched to assist homeowners
California has officially launched its newest rebate program, TECH Clean California, also known as “Switch is On.” The program was designed to help homeowners lower their carbon footprint by offering substantial rebate incentives. The funds were just made available but are limited. Carini Heating, Air and Plumbing is one of only a few San Diego companies approved to submit for these rebates.
This rebate is offered to single and multi-family homes that replace old inefficient gas heating systems with a new Mini Split or Central Heat Pump. The rebate can be up to $6,000 per household, depending on the number of systems replaced. The program also includes rebates for replacing an old gas water heater for a new Hybrid Heat Pump water heater. The water heater rebates range from $1,000 to $3,100, depending on the fuel source of the old unit.
“New Heat Pump systems eliminate open flame in the home protecting from potential fire risks, do not emit deadly carbon monoxide fumes and can save money on utility bills,” said Gabriel Carini, founder of Carini Heating, Air and Plumbing.
Local Roots Hard Kombucha opens Vista ‘Boochyard’
After a two-year delay, Local Roots Hard Kombucha opens “Boochyard” tap room in Vista. Owned, brewed, and operated by cousins – Ryan White and Joe Carmichael – Local Roots will host a grand opening celebration on Saturday, March 26 from noon to 11 p.m. The all-day event will feature live music, giveaways, along with drink and food specials.
The new 7,500-square-foot space (2,000 indoor and 5,500 outdoor patio) on the border of Vista and Carlsbad, will serve all products and flavors including favorites, such as: Cali Mule, Blood Orange Mimosa, Strawberry Mojito, Purple Haze, Island Vibes, Mai Tai, and a specialty Hop ‘N Citrus, collaboration with Second Chance Brew Co.
Also debuting this spring is Local Roots’ Can-for-a-Cause to benefit the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. Launching April 1 with special can art, proceeds between April and June will be donated to the Alliance, an international, nonprofit conservation organization.
City of San Diego reaches 90 percent
COVID-19 vaccination rate after mandate
With 90 percent of its workforce now vaccinated, the City of San Diego has announced plans to accommodate city employees who requested religious or medical exemptions to the city’s Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policy.
Approximately 790 employees will receive notices starting this week that their requests for reasonable accommodation were approved. City departments will accommodate these employees by providing free weekly COVID-19 testing at the workplace to ensure the protection of employees and members of the public. Employees who refuse to comply with the weekly testing regimen will be subject to termination.
Last year, the city mandated that all employees become fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Dec. 1, 2021, as a condition of employment. Employees who refused to get vaccinated were provided the option to apply for a reasonable accommodation for medical or religious exemption to the Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination Policy. These exemption requests were reviewed on a case-by-case basis, as required by law.
Applications are still under review for approximately 200 employees who submitted requests for reasonable accommodation.
Cue Health and Albertsons partner to provide
COVID-19 testing for customers
Cue Health Inc., a San Diego health care technology company, and Albertsons Companies announced a first-of-its-kind partnership that offers customers access to Cue’s highly accurate, convenient, and fast molecular COVID-19 tests at participating Albertsons Cos. pharmacies across the country.
Pharmacy personnel will provide this new service, which will allow customers to get Cue’s lab-quality COVID-19 test results delivered to their email in 20 minutes.
Albertsons Cos. and Cue piloted this in-pharmacy COVID-19 testing program last fall in 40 pharmacies in the state of Washington and at Lumen Field for fans attending Seattle Seahawks home games. The companies have since rolled out the offering into approximately 900 pharmacies and expect the test to be available at most Albertsons Cos. pharmacies over the coming weeks.
Customers can schedule a Cue test at an Albertsons Cos. pharmacy at www.scheduletest.com. Walk-ins and appointments are also available through the Albertsons Cos. local banner app for people ages 2+. Testing under the age of 18 requires parental consent and must have a guardian present.
Kratos’ OpenSpace platform now enables
carrier Ethernet-over-Satellite
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc., a leading National Security Solutions provider, announced that its OpenSpace Platform now supports integrated delivery of E-Line services using Carrier Ethernet-over-Satellite.
Kratos’ OpenSpace Platform is the first and only completely virtual satellite ground system based upon an open, standards-based Software-Defined Networking (SDN) architecture that enables satellite operators and global communications networks to interoperate seamlessly. Introduced last year with support for Earth Observation and Remote Sensing missions, the OpenSpace Platform now adds support for E-Line Carrier Ethernet Services through its SCPC Service Chain, enabling operators to expand their offerings to include use cases where a two-way satellite segment is beneficial, such as service delivery to remote locations underserved by terrestrial or cellular technologies.