It’s virtually certain that 2020 will be on the top five list of hottest years on record for the planet, according to atmospheric scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In a briefing, NOAA officials announced their three-month outlook for this summer, with above average temperatures expected across almost all of the United States. The likelihood of excessive heat is highest in the West and Northeast.

The Department of Global Health’s mission to improve health for all through research, education, training, and service is exemplified each year by the department’s students, five of whom were recently named the 2020 Outstanding Students in Global Health. The Outstanding Student Awards recognizes Master’s, PhD, and medical students who embody DGH’s mission while creating tangible, positive outcomes in the field of global health.

A recently-awarded grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will allow Keshet Ronen, clinical assistant professor of Global Health, to develop natural language processing tools to use SMS text messaging to monitor and support maternal mental health in Kenya.

The grant, titled “Leveraging interactive SMS messaging to monitor and support maternal mental health in Kenya”, will fund Ronen’s research through May 2022 with a total award of $128,116. Ronen explained the purpose of this grant, as well as the public health impacts it can create.