Here's your USD News Connect — where each week the University of San Diego media relations team offers expert voices to speak on stories impacting our community. If you're interested in the stories below, or need experts for any other topic you might be working on, don't hesitate to reach out to us at press@sandiego.edu.*
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“Ghost Guns” Rival Serial Firearms for the First Time in California, According to USD Professor’s Research Findings
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USD professor Cid Martinez has done extensive research with law enforcement and the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) on Privately Made Firearms (PMFs) or “ghost guns,” specifically in Northern California. His recent findings show “ghost guns” are now the most common firearm in the streets in Northern California, however, he believes this is a problem that could be seen across California. Martinez found some of the factors leading to this increase include supply and demand in the gun market, the pandemic and also tougher gun restrictions in California which creates a “black market” for these types of guns. Martinez is now working to connect with local communities to get a community perspective on this research.
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USD Nursing Students + Professor Volunteer to Help Displaced Ukrainians With Telehealth Services
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Dr. Charisse Tabotabo, clinical associate professor, and USD nursing students in the healthcare informatics program are volunteering weekly with TeleHelp Ukraine to provide health informatics help to the recently-formed organization that is providing telehealth services to Ukrainians impacted by the war. The USD group is developing medical dashboards, collecting data to better assist upcoming appointments and also digitally track the needs of patients. The group felt a calling to help Ukrainian families who are impacted by the war by using their skills as nursing informatics professionals. The professor and students are available for interviews.
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USD’s Jacobs Institute Awarded Grant to Develop Minecraft Learning Experience
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The Jacobs Institute for Innovation in Education at the University of San Diego was just awarded a $1.18 million grant from the National Science Foundation to develop an immersive, culturally-relevant and affirming learning experience in Minecraft: Education Edition to help strengthen Hispanic elementary students' spatial computational thinking skills and awareness of STEM careers. Minecraft, a video game used by millions worldwide, enables participants to explore a three-dimensional world, engineer new environments, and create tools and structures. Perla Myers, executive director of the Jacobs Institute, is available to speak about the project and how local students will be utilizing the virtual learning experience.
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* Please note that times of availability will vary according to professors' schedules.
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USD Ranked 9th on List of Best Online Master's in Cybersecurity Degrees by Fortune
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The University of San Diego was given a #9 ranking on Fortune's recent Education list of the Best Online Master’s in Cybersecurity Degrees in 2022. For those entering careers in cybersecurity, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found that "employment of information security analysts is projected to grow 33 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations." USD offers two cybersecurity master’s degree programs — the 100% online Master of Science in Cyber Security Operations and Leadership and the online or on-campus Master of Science in Cyber Security Engineering.
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Office of Media Relations
University of San Diego
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