Hopes, fears and uncertainty: life scientists react to Trump’s election victory

Science and Health

Donald Trump will take office on 20 January 2025.Credit: Chip Somodevilla/GettyThe re-election of Donald Trump as US president raises the prospect of big changes in US science, in terms of policy, funding and research. Nature asked six life scientists which priorities they’d like to see the administration focus on once Trump takes office in January next year.AMANDER CLARK: Support education and reproductive careAmander Clark implores Donald Trump to not dismantle the Department of Education.Credit: Don LiebigPolicy promises that president-elect Donald Trump made on his campaign trail stand to affect my professional life greatly — both as a professor at a public university and a principal investigator of a stem-cell laboratory. Now that the election is over, I am eager to learn which of those promises will come to fruition.On the topic of education, I would urge Trump to not dismantle the Department of Education, as he has proposed. Instead, he should consider ways to enable students to attend university without going into debt — for instance, expanding funding for federal Pell grants, which are awarded to students in financial need. At the University of California, Los Angeles, where I work, we are committed to supporting first-generation college students and under-represented populations to provide them with the tools that are needed for success.How the world will weather Trump’s withdrawal from global agreementsOn science funding, I would implore the incoming president to raise funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to a level that is consistent with the cost of doing science. After the last increase to the NIH budget in 2023, funding levels were 1.8% less than they were 20 years ago, when adjusted for inflation (see go.nature.com/3uvk5rr). Asking scientists to do more with less stifles creativity and poses a threat to the United States’ position as a world leader in biomedical research and innovation.And, finally, on reproductive health and science, I urge Trump to support basic research. For too long, federal policies have restricted the ability of scientists to develop technologies that can improve fertility care, and to research ways to expand contraceptive choices, eliminate reproductive diseases and promote healthy reproductive ageing. As a result, individuals and their families remain burdened by unaffordable and inaccessible reproductive treatments, including in vitro fertilization (IVF).In October, Trump recognized the value and importance of IVF to millions of Americans. I hope he will prioritize policies that will expand access to reproductive care and IVF and guarantee that this care is available for all.ERIC TOPOL: Embrace medical AIEric Topol hopes that the incoming administration can provide funding for artificial-intelligence technology to help transform US health care.Credit: Scripps ResearchHealth care in the United States is remarkably inefficient and is plagued by millions of serious diagnostic errors each year. It has a lack of clinicians, pervasive inequities and the worst outcomes of any rich country for life expectancy and maternal and infant mortality.Yet, we are on the brink of a seismic shift. Soon, it will be possible to use multimodal artificial intelligence (AI) to integrate all of a person’s data into one model — their electronic health record, laboratory tests, genome, social determinants of health, environmental exposures and more. The incoming Trump administration should provide financial backing for this technology, to accelerate AI’s transformation of US health care.Scientists must hold President Trump to account with courage and unityUnimodal AI, which analyses just one data type, has already been shown to significantly improve the accuracy with which physicians can interpret medical data, such as scans and pathology samples (E. J. Topol Nature Med. 25, 44–56; 2019). It can also substantially reduce the time that physicians need to spend on administrative work — such as dealing with insurance companies and note taking — so that they have more time to focus on patient engagement and care.Multimodal AI models, which integrate several data types, have the potential to do much more. For instance, it’s hoped that they will enable more-accurate diagnoses. These tools will use technologies such as digital twins — virtual models of a person — to optimize treatments and outcomes. They will be capable of personalized medical forecasting, helping to prevent age-related diseases. These models might also reduce the need for hospital stays by enabling people to be monitored remotely.The opportunities that lie ahead are extraordinary — improved efficiency, productivity, accuracy and outcomes and hugely reduced health-care costs. Still, more testing in real-world medical settings is needed. This clinical research is essential not only to validate AI models and fulfil regulatory requirements, but also to work out how multimodal AI can be used in ways that preserve an individual’s privacy and security, avoid bias and reduce health inequities. The government should make such work a priority.HANK GREELY: Protect patientsHank Greely is concerned that Donald Trump’s proposed budget cuts could decimate biomedical research.Credit: Eleanor GreelyI work on ethical, legal and social issues arising from the biosciences. The Trump administration’s top priority in this area should be to reassure people that the federal government will continue to support bioscience research, while maintaining the regulations needed to avoid exploitation of — and harm to — consumers and people receiving care. Uncertainty about what is to come, fed by statements such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s message that the “FDA’s war on public health is about to end,” can cause great damage even if threatened actions are not implemented. It can demoralize those who seek to improve public health, encourage people to retire or change careers and devastate public confidence in scientifically proven medical and public-health measures.‘We need to be ready for a new world’: scientists globally react to Trump electionI have three main concerns about the incoming administration’s effects on bioscience and medicine.First, some people in its coalition could attempt to ban or restrict some useful things that they consider to be immoral — including fetal tissue research, embryo research, discarding of IVF embryos, preimplantation genetic testing to select healthier embryos, interstate transportation of abortion pills and more.Second, the administration might decide to protect company profits over the interests of people receiving medical care and consumers, and as a consequence it could gut regulations that protect people by preventing the sale of harmful or ineffective drugs, medical devices, nutritional supplements and a broad range of other unproven practices. The administration has the power not only to change an array of laws and regulations, but also to cripple the agencies, such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), that enforce them.Third, it could decimate biomedical research if Trump’s administration really makes huge cuts in the federal budget — even if those cuts fall short of the US$2 trillion that Elon Musk says could be slashed. This would mean a slowdown in the research of life-improving and life-saving innovations — at least in the United States — not immediately, but inevitably, and soon. US health statistics are already bad enough; the new president shouldn’t act to make them worse. I will be (pleasantly) shocked if the incoming administration avoids that result.SALIM S. ABDOOL KARIM & QUARRAISHA ABDOOL KARIM: Prepare for the next pandemicQuarraisha Abdool Karim and Salim S. Abdool Karim urge Trump to fund pandemic prevention.Credit: Elana SchilzThe world has seen first hand how pandemics can affect livelihoods and derail even the best-laid economic plans. In our view, three current epidemics have pandemic potential: AIDS, mpox and antimicrobial-resistant organisms. Respiratory pathogens such as influenza, along with coronaviruses and resurgent, vaccine-preventable measles, are also cause for concern, as highlighted by the World Health Organization (WHO; see go.nature.com/4fvcj22).Combating these pandemic threats will require a worldwide effort, in which the United States should have a leading role. We urge the incoming Trump administration to invest in pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, in the United States and globally.What Trump’s election win could mean for AI, climate and healthFirst, the administration should provide more funding to the WHO, especially its Health Emergencies Programme. This would help the WHO to undertake effective pathogen surveillance around the world, generate information about possible future pandemics and deploy teams that can respond to emerging pandemic threats across the world — a key line of defence.Second, it should support the US Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy, which was established in 2023 to advise the president and ensure that the United States can respond to a pandemic threat effectively. In practice, this means giving the office the necessary funding, authority and autonomy to develop evidence-based plans.Third, the administration should ensure that the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria are financially supported in their aim of ending AIDS as a public-health threat by 2030 — one of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. George W. Bush’s administration demonstrated bold leadership in creating PEPFAR in 2003. The programme needs secure support up to 2030, at least, to build on its global gains and complete its mission.The incoming administration has articulated bold economic plans — but these could be at risk if a pandemic emerges. The best time to stop a pandemic is before it becomes one.RAMANAN LAXMINARAYAN: Be smarter with antibioticsRamanan Laxminarayan advocates for improving access to effective antibiotics.Credit: Ramanan LaxminarayanIn Trump’s first presidency, much progress was made in biomedical sciences. NIH funding grew by nearly one-third in nominal terms, for instance — I don’t see funding decreasing significantly in the coming years.And consider Operation Warp Speed. This public–private partnership, initiated in May 2020, incentivized pharmaceutical companies to take risks to expedite the development of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics to fight COVID-19.The issue of antimicrobial resistance is particularly close to my heart, owing to my work with the One Health Trust, which is a public-health organization that addresses the interconnected world of humans, animals and environmental health. In my view, the first Trump administration gave this issue no more or less attention than the preceding or succeeding Democratic administrations.This time around, improving access to effective antibiotics — both in the United States and globally — should be the single biggest priority for the incoming administration.Drug-resistant pathogens don’t respect country borders. So it is in the United States’ best interests to ensure that, around the world, antibiotics are used only when appropriate. A programme on the scale of PEPFAR could improve diagnostics, surveillance of antibiotic-resistant microbes and guidance around antibiotic use in low- and lower-middle-income countries in Africa and Asia. Funding for the development of AI and other digital tools could enhance the usability of point-of-care diagnostics, and ensure that the correct antibiotics are used in the correct situations and in the best ways.Financing access to antibiotics globally could help small US biotechnology companies that make these drugs to survive and thrive. This, in turn, will benefit people in the United States who desperately need new antibiotics, because the companies will have more money available for drug development.We sometimes — incorrectly — equate impact with spending. For less than US$1 billion dollars a year, the US government could transform access to existing and new antibiotics worldwide.

How One Simple Change Can Save Thousands Of Dollars In Your Business

Business News

Running a business comes with countless decisions, but one of the most impactful moves you can make is also one of the simplest: do an expense audit and become mindful of your spending.

Many entrepreneurs focus on growing revenue, but often the real game-changer is managing what’s going out. By identifying and eliminating unnecessary expenses, you can instantly free up money to reinvest in your business or boost your bottom line.

The Hidden Costs of Overlooked Spending
It’s easy to let small expenses slip through the cracks. These may seem insignificant and harmless on their own but together they can add up to thousands of dollars over time. Here are a few common culprits:

Unused Subscriptions: Software, tools, or memberships that no longer serve your business.
Unoptimized Services: Paying for features you don’t use or higher-tier plans you don’t need.
Repetitive Costs: Spending on duplicate services or supplies because of poor tracking.
Impulse Purchases: Buying things you “might need” but never use.

Without regular reviews, these expenses silently erode your profits.

Why an Expense Audit Works

An expense audit is like a financial health checkup for your business. It forces you to take a hard look at where your money is going and ensures every dollar you spend is aligned with your goals. The benefits are clear:

Immediate Savings: Identifying and cutting unnecessary costs has an instant positive impact on your cash flow.
Improved Profitability: Lowering expenses means more money stays in your business.
Greater Financial Clarity: You’ll gain a better understanding of your spending habits and where adjustments can be made.
More Strategic Spending: With a clear view of your finances, you can allocate funds toward investments that drive growth

How to Conduct an Expense Audit
Gather Your Financial Data

Review the last 3–6 months of business bank statements, credit card statements, and invoices.

Categorize Expenses

Sort spending into categories like subscriptions, advertising, supplies, payroll, and utilities.

Identify Unnecessary Costs

Ask yourself:

Are we using this?
Does it provide value?
Could we find a cheaper alternative?

Negotiate or Eliminate

Cancel unused subscriptions.
Downgrade service plans to align with actual needs.
Negotiate better terms with vendors.

Set Spending Guidelines

Establish clear rules for future spending to avoid unnecessary costs creeping back in.

Real-Life Example
Let’s take the example of a marketing consultant. After doing an expense audit, they discovered:

A $200/month software subscription they hadn’t used in over a year.
A duplicate social media tool costing $50/month.
A recurring $100 monthly fee for a networking membership they didn’t attend.

By eliminating these expenses, they saved $4,200 annually. That’s money they used to upgrade their website and invest in a targeted ad campaign that brought in new clients.
The Power of Mindful Spending
An expense audit is only the first step. To maintain these savings, practice mindful spending by:

Regularly Reviewing Finances: Conduct expense audits quarterly or biannually.
Asking “Do I Really Need This?”: Before making a purchase, ensure it aligns with your business goals.
Tracking ROI: Evaluate the return on investment for every major expense.

Small Change, Big Results
The bottom line is that the great thing about this simple change is how quickly it can transform your finances. By being intentional about where your money goes, you can uncover hidden savings and direct those funds toward the growth and success of your business.

How travelers with disabilities can make their holiday trips smoother

Travel

AI-assisted summaryTravelers with disabilities should plan their transportation and accommodation in advance and be prepared for potential complications.It is crucial to inform airlines about accessibility needs well ahead of time and allow extra time at the airport.Researching local resources and disability travel blogs can provide valuable insights and assistance.Holiday travel usually means crowded airports, clogged roadways and exorbitant prices. For those with accessibility needs, it can be an even more complicated time of year to get around. Travelers with disabilities can take steps to ease the ordeal, but it’s probably best to anticipate complications. Mark Raymond Jr., principal accessibility consultant Universal Development Consulting, said travelers with disabilities should plan ahead and think about their needs in three different buckets: transportation, air travel and accommodation. Here’s what he said should be kept in mind in each category to ensure the smoothest possible holiday trip. The overall theme is: plan ahead. Accessible transportation tips Whether your trip is entirely by ground or you need a last-mile pickup and drop-off to the airport, Raymond said it’s important to plan ahead. Enjoy your worry-free vacation: Best travel insurance policies“Always have your vehicular transportation plans done,” he said. “Whether it’s having a public transportation plan or making sure that city has accessible taxi cabs, but have it identified on the front end and scheduled.” Flight cancelled this holiday season?:You’re entitled to a refund or other accommodation.You may not be able to get an accessible cab by default at some airports, for example, and some transportation systems may not be fully accessible either. Raymond said travelers should book accessible transportation in advance whenever possible, and research options and limitations for public transit in their destination if they’re not familiar with what’s available. Accessible air travel tips For air travel, Raymond said, it’s important to notify the airline about your accessibility needs as far in advance as possible, and to give yourself extra time at the airport. “Big thing is for people to plan accordingly, give themselves the time, be patient, because something’s going to go wrong,” he said. “You’re going to get there, something’s not going to go right, they’re going to say the plane’s too small. Make sure you call ahead. Let them know all your needs upfront.” Airlines typically damage thousands of wheelchairs and other mobility devices every year, and first-hand accounts by travelers show how accessible services in airports can be inconsistent. Unfortunately, that means the burden often falls to disabled travelers themselves to advocate for their own needs and know their rights and airline requirements in advance. The Department of Transportation has a Bill of Rights for disabled travelers that can be a handy resource. Some of the rights it outlines include the right to receive the appropriate seating accommodations based on accessibility needs, the right to travel with a mobility device or service animal, the right to receive information in an accessible format and others. Flight delayed this holiday season?:You may be entitled to a refund. Here’s what to know.Amanda Parkman, a disabled professor at the University of Arizona, said she’s planning a trip to Iceland over the holidays and finds it’s always important to brush up on her rights before she travels.  She agreed with Raymond that it’s important for travelers with accessibility needs to leave themselves extra time and be prepared if something goes wrong. “I’m making sure I have things for temporary fixes that could be quick fixes if my chair is broken in any way,” Parkman said. Her travel kit typically includes duct tape, Allen wrenches and other small tools for minor fixes. She added that she also typically puts signage on her wheelchair to let ground crews know how to handle it. “Ensuring there’s clear information on my chair should the baggage crew have any questions,” she said. “I include images … where to pick up the chair, if they need to disengage the battery, where and how to do that without causing any damages.” Accessible accommodation tips Raymond said travelers with disabilities should make sure their hotel or other accommodations are aware of their needs in advance. On his own travels, he said, he makes sure to call the hotel in advance to discuss what’s available. “I always want to talk to somebody. I need the accessible room with the roll-in shower,” he said. And while there’s no central, national repository for accessible travel information, Raymond said many cities have resources of their own to help identify accessible establishments, neighborhoods and services. “Looking to see if that city has an ADA department that can tell you what parts of the city are really, really done well,” can be a good way to get oriented in your destination, he said. Parkman added that many disabled travelers also have blogs, which can be invaluable resources for those heading to an unfamiliar destination or trying a new airline. “Information is the key. Information and planning is the most important thing,” she said. Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York. You can reach him at [email protected].

Scientists beat chefs to the skinniest spaghetti

Science and Health

25 Nov 2024

UCL scientists have ousted a renowned Sardinian pasta maker’s record for the thinnest pasta ever created. Their lab-created ‘nanopasta’ is said to measure just 372 nanometres in width – narrower than some wavelengths of light and a fraction of the thickness achieved by legendary chef Paola Abraini’s famously thin variant.
Abraini’s recipe, mastered only by two of her close female relatives in the town of Nuoro in Sardinia, is titled su filindeau (‘Threads of God’). Estimates of its thickness vary but can be less than 1 millimetre and efforts to replicate it manually, including by chef Jamie Oliver, have so far failed.
However, laboratory science has succeeded where culinary nous has fallen short, thanks to the use of electrospinning techniques. These involve liquid and flour threads being taken through the eye of a needle, using electric charge, to strike the mixture at a metal plate; with the plate and needle in effect functioning as a battery.
Researcher Beatrice Britton undertook the study for her chemistry master’s at UCL, replicating the standard method for making spaghetti, explained UCL chemistry department’s Dr Adam Clancy, who co-authored the paper published in Nanoscale Advances. 
He commented: “To make spaghetti, you push a mixture of water and flour through metal holes. In our study, we did the same except we pulled our flour mixture through with an electrical charge. It’s literally spaghetti but much smaller.”
While the novel pasta threads can be viewed collectively as part of a 2 cm wide nonofibre mat, the individual threads were invisible to the naked eye and too indistinct even for visible light cameras or microscopes. A scanning electron microscope was required to measure them.
Abraini’s status as premier pasta maker is unlikely, however, to be challenged by her spaghetti’s even more svelte new competitor, admitted Clancy’s co-author, professor Gareth Williams of UCL pharmacy school.
He said: “I don’t think it’s useful as pasta, sadly, as it would overcook in less than a second, before you could take it out of the pan.”
Coupled with that, the nanopasta is not made with the traditional mix of flour and water but relies on formic acid for its liquid component. While formic acid has its uses in foodstuffs as a preservative and to counter acidity, it is unlikely to gain approval as a primary ingredient.
However, where it fails in the kitchen, the invention could prove potentially useful in medical science and industry. 
Starch nanofibres can be extracted from plant cells but the purification process remains energy and resource intensive. Creating the fibres from flour starch offers a more sustainable alternative, explained Clancy as it is abundant, renewable and biodegradable, as well as being the second largest biomass source after cellulose.
Added Williams: “Nanofibres, such as those made of starch, show potential for use in wound dressings as they are very porous. In addition, [they] are being explored for use as a scaffold to regrow tissue, as they mimic the extra-cellular matrix – a network of proteins and other molecules that cells build to support themselves.” 
Pics: Beatrice Britton/Adam Clancy

Scientists beat chefs to the skinniest spaghetti

Science and Health

25 Nov 2024

UCL scientists have ousted a renowned Sardinian pasta maker’s record for the thinnest pasta ever created. Their lab-created ‘nanopasta’ is said to measure just 372 nanometres in width – narrower than some wavelengths of light and a fraction of the thickness achieved by legendary chef Paola Abraini’s famously thin variant.
Abraini’s recipe, mastered only by two of her close female relatives in the town of Nuoro in Sardinia, is titled su filindeau (‘Threads of God’). Estimates of its thickness vary but can be less than 1 millimetre and efforts to replicate it manually, including by chef Jamie Oliver, have so far failed.
However, laboratory science has succeeded where culinary nous has fallen short, thanks to the use of electrospinning techniques. These involve liquid and flour threads being taken through the eye of a needle, using electric charge, to strike the mixture at a metal plate; with the plate and needle in effect functioning as a battery.
Researcher Beatrice Britton undertook the study for her chemistry master’s at UCL, replicating the standard method for making spaghetti, explained UCL chemistry department’s Dr Adam Clancy, who co-authored the paper published in Nanoscale Advances. 
He commented: “To make spaghetti, you push a mixture of water and flour through metal holes. In our study, we did the same except we pulled our flour mixture through with an electrical charge. It’s literally spaghetti but much smaller.”
While the novel pasta threads can be viewed collectively as part of a 2 cm wide nonofibre mat, the individual threads were invisible to the naked eye and too indistinct even for visible light cameras or microscopes. A scanning electron microscope was required to measure them.
Abraini’s status as premier pasta maker is unlikely, however, to be challenged by her spaghetti’s even more svelte new competitor, admitted Clancy’s co-author, professor Gareth Williams of UCL pharmacy school.
He said: “I don’t think it’s useful as pasta, sadly, as it would overcook in less than a second, before you could take it out of the pan.”
Coupled with that, the nanopasta is not made with the traditional mix of flour and water but relies on formic acid for its liquid component. While formic acid has its uses in foodstuffs as a preservative and to counter acidity, it is unlikely to gain approval as a primary ingredient.
However, where it fails in the kitchen, the invention could prove potentially useful in medical science and industry. 
Starch nanofibres can be extracted from plant cells but the purification process remains energy and resource intensive. Creating the fibres from flour starch offers a more sustainable alternative, explained Clancy as it is abundant, renewable and biodegradable, as well as being the second largest biomass source after cellulose.
Added Williams: “Nanofibres, such as those made of starch, show potential for use in wound dressings as they are very porous. In addition, [they] are being explored for use as a scaffold to regrow tissue, as they mimic the extra-cellular matrix – a network of proteins and other molecules that cells build to support themselves.” 
Pics: Beatrice Britton/Adam Clancy

Why You Should Plan Your Business’s Social Media Calendar in Q1 (and 12 Helpful Tips!)

Business News

Image from Adobe Stock

Planning your business’s social media calendar in the first quarter of the year can set a productive and proactive tone for the months ahead. By mapping out social media strategies early, businesses can align their marketing goals, leverage key events, and ensure that content supports broader company objectives. 
An organized calendar reduces the chances of last-minute content scrambles, allowing teams to maintain quality and relevance. With thoughtful, early preparation, businesses can tackle each quarter with confidence and purpose. This guide provides essential tips for creating an effective social media calendar that will keep your audience engaged throughout the year.
1. Align Social Media Goals With Business Objectives
To make social media impactful, a company needs to align its goals with overarching business objectives. For example, if a company aims to boost brand awareness, social media posts should emphasize storytelling, brand values, and user engagement. Alternatively, if the goal is to increase leads or drive conversions, the focus should shift toward targeted campaigns, promotional posts, and strategically timed calls to action.
“Consider your industry, the recent performance of the brand, and the current traditional marketing promotions for the product and its competitors,” says Professor Keith A. Quesenberry of Messiah University.  “A startup or new product needs to generate awareness, while an older product may need to be revived.”
Consistency is key in connecting social media posts with long-term goals. Establishing these priorities early in Q1 enables businesses to begin the year with a cohesive strategy that resonates across platforms.
2. Identify Key Campaigns and Themes for the Year
Selecting campaigns and themes early on can lend structure to a business’s social media presence. A skincare brand might plan seasonal campaigns that correspond with different weather-related skin concerns, while a tech company could create posts that follow new product releases. 
“Having a central theme for each quarter helps create consistency across social media platforms,” says Cody Candee, Founder and CEO of Bounce. “Cohesion gives audiences something familiar to look forward to (and easily remember) while helping you keep content fresh and timely.”
When you brainstorm themes in Q1, content creation becomes a proactive process, leading to higher-quality, well-thought-out posts that reinforce your brand’s identity.
3. Plan for Seasonal and Industry-Specific Events
Whether it’s a holiday, trade show, or annual industry milestone, incorporating seasonal and industry-specific events into your social media calendar is essential. For instance, a fitness brand might center campaigns around New Year’s resolutions in January or offer summer workout tips mid-year. 
“Planning around key events allows brands to connect with timely, relatable content and avoid missing out on valuable opportunities,” notes Michael Klein, CEO of functional herbal tea from Herbaly. “When businesses are prepared for these moments, they can join the conversation naturally and make a bigger impact.”
By accounting for these events early, businesses can have ample time to create compelling content that resonates with their target audiences. Foresight also creates flexibility for additional last-minute content adjustments as needed.
4. Schedule Product Launches and Promotional Campaigns
Planning social media around product launches and promotional campaigns ensures these high-impact events get the visibility they deserve. A new product line debut could benefit from a month-long countdown, teaser posts, and behind-the-scenes previews to build excitement.
“By scheduling product launches in advance, businesses can build anticipation and maximize reach,” says Lauren Elias, General Manager and Chief Marketing Officer of Kora, a company known for its organic skincare. “Similarly, planned discount events or giveaways can drive interest and engagement, attracting new followers while rewarding loyal customers.”
Mindful launches help avoid rushed content or missed opportunities. This way, teams can focus on creating high-quality posts that will resonate with audiences when it counts most.
5. Mix Up Content Types To Keep Audiences Engaged
Image from Adobe Stock
A brand that shares only one type of post may see diminished engagement over time as followers become accustomed to predictable content. Instead, varying posts between videos, images, blogs, polls, and stories keeps followers curious. 
“A balanced mix of content types keeps followers interested and engaged with your brand,” emphasizes Dr. Manjula Jegasothy, Co-Founder of MiamiMD, a company that specializes in crepe skin cream. “Offering variety shows adaptability and responsiveness to different audience needs and preferences.”
Scheduling diverse content helps maintain a dynamic, interactive social feed that resonates across a broad range of potential customers.
6. Establish Posting Cadence and Frequency
Early Q1 planning helps determine the best posting frequency for each platform. Posting too infrequently can reduce visibility, while over-posting might annoy followers. 
“Setting a regular posting cadence ensures brand visibility without overwhelming followers,” says Brianna Bitton, Co-Founder of O Positiv, a company known for its MENO vaginal moisturizer. “A thoughtful cadence maintains engagement and keeps your content consistently fresh and relevant.”
The right strategy depends on factors like platform, audience preferences, and content type. On platforms like Twitter or LinkedIn, more frequent posting may be effective, while Instagram might benefit from fewer but highly curated posts.
7. Incorporate User-Generated Content (UGC) Opportunities
Planning UGC opportunities, like asking followers to share photos with a branded hashtag or participate in a challenge, encourages community involvement.
“User-generated content is a powerful way to build community and amplify brand messaging,” states Erin Banta, Co-Founder and CEO of Pepper Home, a company that specializes in custom curtains. “Engaging followers with UGC allows them to feel part of your brand experience and brings authentic voices into your social media conversation.”
When they schedule UGC initiatives in Q1, brands can ensure there are consistent opportunities throughout the year to engage their followers meaningfully. Planned UGC campaigns also allow time for reposting high-quality user content that aligns with brand values.
8. Utilize Analytics To Adjust and Optimize Content
Effective social media planning involves continuous optimization based on performance analytics. Regular analysis helps keep the strategy dynamic, making it possible to refine posts and formats for maximum impact.
“Social media data is a gold mine of valuable insights that can guide strategies, bolster customer relations and inform competitive analysis,” says Rebecca Kowalewicz of Clearbridge Branding Agency. “In this context, competitive analysis refers to evaluating your competitors’ social media strategies, understanding their online performance and drawing insights to enhance your business strategies.”
By integrating competitive analysis into the review of performance metrics, businesses can not only fine-tune their own social media efforts but also gain a better understanding of market trends and gaps in the competitive landscape. Monitoring these metrics consistently ensures that businesses stay ahead of industry trends.
9. Establish Content Pillars for Consistent Messaging
Content pillars are the foundational themes that define a brand’s voice and purpose on social media. Establishing these pillars in Q1 ensures that every post reinforces key messages and values, creating a cohesive brand presence.
“Defining content pillars in advance helps structure content and ensures messaging aligns with the brand’s core values and objectives,” explains Maggie Brown, Founder and CEO of Recess Pickleball, a company that specializes in pickleball paddles. “When content is built around central themes, the brand’s message becomes more focused and memorable.”
Setting content pillars early on allows for consistent, thematic posts throughout the year. A pillar-centric strategy strengthens brand identity and helps audiences understand what your brand stands for, building trust and loyalty over time.
10. Outline a Strategy for Engaging With Followers
Planning a follower engagement strategy — such as responding to comments, sharing follower stories, and holding Q&A sessions — ensures consistency rather than sporadic engagement. 
“Engaging with followers in a consistent, meaningful way helps build a community around the brand,” notes Shaunak Amin, CEO and Co-Founder of Stadium. “When brands actively participate in the conversation, it creates a sense of connection that drives loyalty and trust.”
Engagement strategies help businesses avoid the risk of neglecting the community building facet of social media. Early preparation allows for thoughtful, proactive engagement.
11. Integrate a Strategy for Paid Ads and Boosted Posts
Planning a paid ad strategy as part of the social media calendar helps businesses drive targeted engagement and expand their reach. A structured ad approach through promoting posts that perform well organically or running ads around product launches can amplify social media impact. 
“Integrating paid ads into the social media strategy helps ensure key messages reach a larger audience,” states Justin Soleimani, Co-Founder of Tumble, a company that specializes in washable rugs. “An organized approach to boosting posts can help brands maximize reach and capitalize on top-performing content.”
When they conceptualize a paid ad strategy early, brands can set specific goals, select content strategically, and monitor performance to see where ads are most effective.
12. Prepare for Social Media Trends and Algorithm Changes
Social media is constantly evolving, with trends and algorithms shifting frequently. Thinking about these changes in Q1 helps brands stay adaptable and respond effectively as new features, platforms, or best practices emerge. 
“Adapting to social media trends and algorithm updates is essential for maintaining reach,” notes Charlie Melvoin, Co Founder of Zygo, a company known for its swimming headphones. “Planning with flexibility ensures brands can evolve and stay relevant as new features and preferences emerge.”
Through building flexibility into the social media calendar, brands can avoid reactive adjustments and instead focus on measured strategic adaptations. 
Set Your Social Media Strategy for Success
Planning your business’s social media calendar in Q1 sets the stage for a well-organized, effective year of engagement and growth. This structured strategy reduces stress, supports cohesive messaging, and ultimately drives stronger connections with audiences.
With a thoughtfully planned calendar, your business can navigate the year’s demands efficiently and effectively, making every post an opportunity to connect meaningfully with followers. Starting with a robust Q1 plan ensures that your social media presence is ready to support your brand’s goals all year long.

IAEA to Host Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Science and Technology’s Role in Addressing Global Challenges

Science and Health

The 2024 Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Science, Technology and Applications and the Technical Cooperation Programme will take place on 26-28 November 2024 at the IAEA’s headquarters in Vienna, Austria. The conference will bring together key decision makers to highlight how nuclear science and technology and the IAEA’s technical cooperation (TC) programme are addressing global challenges, including climate change, a growing cancer burden, rising hunger, water scarcity and plastic pollution.
Nuclear applications can offer technical solutions to help countries meet development goals while addressing pressing and emerging challenges – including mitigating and adapting to climate change. Climate change is increasing food insecurity and water scarcity, and threatening ocean resources, while global health is impacted by pandemic threats and gaps in cancer care.
“For decades, the IAEA has led the way in helping countries harness the great potential of nuclear science and technology,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Marino Grossi. “Together we have succeeded in touching the lives of many around the world. But seeing the scale of the challenges, we need to do more.”
The IAEA has launched five flagship initiatives to help countries manage their development challenges. They are: 

ZODIAC, assisting countries prevent pandemics caused by zoonotic diseases (diseases originating in animals that can be transmitted to humans) with a focus on research, and innovation. 
NUTEC Plastics, fighting plastic pollution both by introducing new technologies to improve plastic recycling; and by identifying, and monitoring plastic pollution in the ocean.
Rays of Hope: Cancer Care for All, aimed at expanding cancer care in middle- and low- income countries where the need is greatest.
Atoms4Food, a joint initiative with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations aimed at boosting food security.
Atoms4NetZero, which seeks to inform policymakers and decision-makers on the potential way forward for nuclear power as the reliable backbone of clean, affordable, resilient and more secure energy transitions.

The Ministerial Conference will encourage dialogue on facilitating the development and deployment of nuclear techniques to help countries achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – emphasizing food security and safety, climate change, and water resource management. The event aims to raise awareness of the IAEA’s research and development capacities, and the role of its TC programme in transferring nuclear applications and technology so that countries can apply it safely and securely to address development challenges.
The IAEA helps countries use nuclear science, and applications safely, and sustainably for peaceful purposes. These range from eliminating pests with the environmentally friendly sterile insect technique, to creating better crops using mutation breeding and employing nuclear techniques to combat malnutrition. Radiotherapy and nuclear medicine make a key contribution to human health. Countries also use nuclear techniques for climate change mitigation, monitoring and adaptation. Isotope hydrology can be used to manage water resources more effectively as they help scientists understand groundwater systems, water quality, and the sustainable use of aquifers.
Around 150 countries benefit from the IAEA’s technical cooperation (TC) programme, the IAEA’s primary mechanism for transferring nuclear technology to member countries to address key development priorities. In addition, the IAEA brings together research institutions across the globe to collaborate on coordinated research projects ranging from isotope and radiation applications in agriculture, human health, industry, and terrestrial and marine environments.
By sharing knowledge, establishing and facilitating regional cooperation, the IAEA assists countries in addressing their most urgent priorities in a safe and sustainable manner, including those in agriculture, food, water and health.

IAEA to Host Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Science and Technology’s Role in Addressing Global Challenges

Science and Health

The 2024 Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Science, Technology and Applications and the Technical Cooperation Programme will take place on 26-28 November 2024 at the IAEA’s headquarters in Vienna, Austria. The conference will bring together key decision makers to highlight how nuclear science and technology and the IAEA’s technical cooperation (TC) programme are addressing global challenges, including climate change, a growing cancer burden, rising hunger, water scarcity and plastic pollution.
Nuclear applications can offer technical solutions to help countries meet development goals while addressing pressing and emerging challenges – including mitigating and adapting to climate change. Climate change is increasing food insecurity and water scarcity, and threatening ocean resources, while global health is impacted by pandemic threats and gaps in cancer care.
“For decades, the IAEA has led the way in helping countries harness the great potential of nuclear science and technology,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Marino Grossi. “Together we have succeeded in touching the lives of many around the world. But seeing the scale of the challenges, we need to do more.”
The IAEA has launched five flagship initiatives to help countries manage their development challenges. They are: 

ZODIAC, assisting countries prevent pandemics caused by zoonotic diseases (diseases originating in animals that can be transmitted to humans) with a focus on research, and innovation. 
NUTEC Plastics, fighting plastic pollution both by introducing new technologies to improve plastic recycling; and by identifying, and monitoring plastic pollution in the ocean.
Rays of Hope: Cancer Care for All, aimed at expanding cancer care in middle- and low- income countries where the need is greatest.
Atoms4Food, a joint initiative with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations aimed at boosting food security.
Atoms4NetZero, which seeks to inform policymakers and decision-makers on the potential way forward for nuclear power as the reliable backbone of clean, affordable, resilient and more secure energy transitions.

The Ministerial Conference will encourage dialogue on facilitating the development and deployment of nuclear techniques to help countries achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – emphasizing food security and safety, climate change, and water resource management. The event aims to raise awareness of the IAEA’s research and development capacities, and the role of its TC programme in transferring nuclear applications and technology so that countries can apply it safely and securely to address development challenges.
The IAEA helps countries use nuclear science, and applications safely, and sustainably for peaceful purposes. These range from eliminating pests with the environmentally friendly sterile insect technique, to creating better crops using mutation breeding and employing nuclear techniques to combat malnutrition. Radiotherapy and nuclear medicine make a key contribution to human health. Countries also use nuclear techniques for climate change mitigation, monitoring and adaptation. Isotope hydrology can be used to manage water resources more effectively as they help scientists understand groundwater systems, water quality, and the sustainable use of aquifers.
Around 150 countries benefit from the IAEA’s technical cooperation (TC) programme, the IAEA’s primary mechanism for transferring nuclear technology to member countries to address key development priorities. In addition, the IAEA brings together research institutions across the globe to collaborate on coordinated research projects ranging from isotope and radiation applications in agriculture, human health, industry, and terrestrial and marine environments.
By sharing knowledge, establishing and facilitating regional cooperation, the IAEA assists countries in addressing their most urgent priorities in a safe and sustainable manner, including those in agriculture, food, water and health.

St Kitts Tourism Authority Launches 2024 UK Road Show, Promotes Tourism Offerings

Travel

St Kitts Tourism Authority Launches 2024 UK Road Show, Promotes Tourism Offerings.
St Kitts and Nevis: The St Kitts Tourism Authority has launched its 2024 UK Road Show with a spectacular and vibrant media event to showcase St Kitts and Nevis’ charm and tourism offerings in Central London.
The St Kitts Minister of Tourism Marsha T. Henderson and the CEO of St Kitts Tourism Authority Kelly Fontenelle led the launch event. The key authorities were accompanied by team members who engaged with the media representatives from well recognized London-based publications.
The people present at the event were treated to a glimpse of St Kitts’ charm, showcasing the island’s rich culture, natural beauty, and diverse tourism experiences that highlights why the destination is a must-visit.
The St Kitts UK Road Show continued to emphasise on the destination’s delightful offerings with an engaging influencer event in London with the objective of inspiring content creators to “Venture Depper” into the island’s unique offerings.

The St-Kitts themed event gathered significant amount of attention and the gathering featured a captivating presentation about the island’s beauty and culture. The organisers appealed the influencers to share its story with their social reach and audiences.
Significantly, the event also included interactive activities like destination-themed quizzes, “sip and paint” session inspired by St Kitts, vibrant local music of St Kitts and exciting giveaways.
Remarkably, the show made its way to Leeds which aimed at boosting the destination’s visibility among the travel agents in the region.
The event welcomed Leeds-based travel agents, offering them a deeper look at St Kitts’ allure and varied tourism offerings. The agents gained several valuable insights through presentations and interactive conversations. These travel agents will now recommend and sell St Kitts to their clients.
Notably, the St Kitts UK Road Show is a part of the broader strategy of St Kitts and Nevis that aims to strengthen the island’s presence in the markets of UK.