Supercomputing raises Materials Science to New Heights (HPC Wire): Manufacturers are using supercomputing techniques, similar to those used in airplane or automotive design, to develop new materials from scratch. This high-throughput computational materials design method will be responsible for developments in improved batteries, solar cells, fuel cells, computer chips, and much more.
China Industrial Growth Slows, but Auto Sales Hit Record (Industry Week): Information on Chinese industrial output, one of the top US competitors in the world. As industrial production slowed in the past month, auto retail sales expand at a faster pace.
Federal budget deal faces test in House (LA Times): As Congressional budget negotiators attempt to reach an agreement to avoid another government shutdown, agreeing on a plan to restore money into programs hit by sequestration may be difficult. A House vote is expected this week and will once again test the ability of lawmakers to pass the compromise with their support.
For Top-Tier Universities, Changes in Higher Education Might Be Overblown (The Atlantic): While scholars of higher education talk of the wave of revolution coming for colleges and universities, some believe that the core structure of top-tier universities is likely to remain the same over the next couple of decades.
Principles for Reforming Workforce Development and Human Capital Policies in the US (Brookings): Workforce development strategies that embrace the approach to learning are critical to economic success, though some scholars believe that despite historic levels of unemployment and concern about the skills gap, the US has an under-developed vision when it comes to workforce development.
