Ian Thomsen - News @ Northeastern

The artificial intelligence race will hinge in part upon a renewed desire by the government to retain international students who have earned degrees in the U.S., Northeastern President Joseph E. Aoun said in a one-on-one discussion with Steven Walker, director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Photo by Zach Gibson for Northeastern

‘The human factor has to be at the center of everything we do’

New technologies should be focused on human ethics and a universal desire to make life better for people around the world. That was the message embraced by Northeastern leaders, security specialists, and defense experts at an innovation conference hosted by the university in Washington, D.C. Monday.

by Ian Thomsen September 23, 2019

Throughout his psychedelic trips, Pollan experienced epiphanies of love, which, he acknowledges, can ring banal. Some of his visions left him crying. As he recovered from the abject nothingness set forth by the venomous toad, he experienced a profound sense of gratitude for his being. Photo by Adam Glanzman for Northeastern University

What LSD, mushrooms, and toad venom taught Michael Pollan about spirituality

“To the extent that you can diminish the role of the ego, you become a more spiritual person—more connected, less defended,” says the best-selling author.

by Ian Thomsen September 20, 2019

For more than 100 years, the NHL had been a man’s league. Then she was asked to make the calls.

Northeastern graduate Kelly Cooke became one of the first women to referee an NHL preseason event. Will she be working in the NHL itself someday?

by Ian Thomsen September 16, 2019

From left, Democratic presidential candidates Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden, and Elizabeth Warren raise their hands to answer a question Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019, during a Democratic presidential primary debate hosted by ABC at Texas Southern University in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Make sense of the Democratic presidential race in real time

The latest presidential debate revealed the candidates’ strategies, says Northeastern professor Nick Beauchamp, who has helped develop a couple of visualization tools that bring new perspective to the election.

by Ian Thomsen September 13, 2019

The legendary professor who brings American history to life

Ray Robinson, who taught history at Northeastern for 57 years, surrounds himself with George Washington memorabilia, anecdotes of the Kennedys, and a grandfather who was born during the Civil War.

by Ian Thomsen September 10, 2019

NUPD Sgt. John Farrell drives the RedEye safety escort van. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

A better way for students to commute at night

Students who live off the Boston campus can catch a free ride home at night by using the new Northeastern RedEye app. Pickups are available every half-hour at Snell Library daily from 7 p.m. until 6 a.m.

by Ian Thomsen September 5, 2019

India has a plan to deport millions of Muslim immigrants. Here’s why it’s failing.

Too many people in India lack the documentation to prove their citizenship, says Northeastern professor Liza Weinstein, which may force the government to scale back its expectations for its crackdown on illegal immigration.

by Ian Thomsen August 29, 2019

You can’t see your destination. But you always get there.

It has become part of everyday life on the Boston campus since the new pedestrian bridge over the MBTA track was opened to foot traffic last spring. Here’s an up-close look at Northeastern’s latest architectural addition.

by Ian Thomsen August 29, 2019

From the NHL to the local rink, he’s helping ice hockey players stay sharp

People would roll their eyes whenever Northeastern graduate Russell Layton described his invention: a machine that enables hockey players to sharpen their skates at home. His fast-growing company, Sparx, has silenced the doubters.

by Ian Thomsen August 23, 2019

Northeastern launches campus in Vancouver, British Columbia

Northeastern is adding a campus in Vancouver to the university’s global network that will fill a demand for computer scientists on Canada’s west coast in its burgeoning high-tech industry. The Vancouver campus will offer degree programs to prepare students for careers in the age of artificial intelligence, including pathways that enable those with no high-tech background to pursue computing careers.

by Ian Thomsen August 21, 2019

Posts by Ian Thomsen