University presidents talk value

3 vital ways to measure how much a university education is worth [Click here to view this message in your web-browser](. Edition: US 30 April 2018 [[The Conversation]Academic rigor, journalistic flair]( Editor's note Tomorrow is National Decision Day, the deadline for college-bound high school seniors to choose what university to go to. This is arguably the biggest decision in their lives so far. And it’s being made at a time when there’s increased pressure – from both sides of the political spectrum – for colleges and universities to demonstrate their value to students, families and taxpayers. So, what is the best way to judge what a college education is worth? That’s the question we asked [the presidents of three of the country’s leading universities](: Michael Drake of The Ohio State University, Michael Schill of the University of Oregon and Mark Schlissel of the University of Michigan. Nitrogen is a critical nutrient for all life forms, and for decades scientists have believed that virtually all of it came from the air. But more nitrogen accumulated in soils and plants than they could explain. In a recent study, Benjamin Houlton, professor of global environmental studies at the University of California, Davis, [found that the “missing nitrogen” comes from weathering of bedrock](. This paradigm shift raises an intriguing prospect: could rock nitrogen fertilize plant growth that would pull more carbon from the air? Potentially, Houlton writes – but it’s no magic answer to climate change. Maria Balinska Editor and Co-CEO Top Stories The U.S. continues to wrestle with questions about the value of a college degree. ByEmo/Shutterstock.com [3 vital ways to measure how much a university education is worth]( Mark S. Schlissel, University of Michigan; Michael H. Schill, University of Oregon; Michael V. Drake, The Ohio State University The presidents of the University of Michigan, the University of Oregon and The Ohio State University offer three ways to judge the value of a college education. Long’s Peak framed by rock outcrop, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. Roy Luck [Nitrogen from rock could fuel more plant growth around the world – but not enough to prevent climate change]( Benjamin Z. Houlton, University of California, Davis Scientists have long thought most nitrogen in Earth's ecosystems comes from the air, but new research shows it also is released as rocks weather. This could boost plant growth and help sequester carbon – but not fast enough to avert climate change, as some pundits have claimed. Politics + Society - [The goal in Korea should be peace and trade – not unification]( Alexis Dudden, University of Connecticut; Joan E. Cho, Wesleyan University; Mary Alice Haddad, Wesleyan University You have to walk before you can run, and baby steps are the best way forward in Korea. - [Black employees in the service industry pay an emotional tax at work]( Alicia Grandey, Pennsylvania State University Three studies found that customers and managers rate black employee performance lower than white employees because they're perceived as unfriendly or rude. Science + Technology - [Your genome may have already been hacked]( Norman A. Paradis, Dartmouth College When you send off a cheek swab to one of the private genome companies, you may sacrifice not just your own privacy but that of your family and your ancestors. - [Local governments' cybersecurity crisis in 8 charts]( Donald Norris, University of Maryland, Baltimore County; Anupam Joshi, University of Maryland, Baltimore County; Laura Mateczun, University of Maryland, Baltimore County; Tim Finin, University of Maryland, Baltimore County Local governments don't pay much attention to cybersecurity, leaving them vulnerable to hijacking as happened to Atlanta and Baltimore. Arts + Culture - [With the Supreme Court's pending sports gambling decision, states are already prepping for legalization]( Jennifer Roberts, University of Nevada, Las Vegas But those hoping for a boon in tax revenues could be sorely mistaken: Sports betting isn't as lucrative as it's often portrayed to be. Economy + Business - [Tariffs are the wrong weapon in fight against China's 'pirates' – here's the right one]( Sean Pager, Michigan State University; Eric Priest, University of Oregon Unfair competition law offers a more effective, targeted strategy to persuade China to play by the rules. Health + Medicine - [The deadliest drug in America at center of VA nominee withdrawal: Alcohol]( Jamie Smolen, University of Florida Opioid addiction is a serious public health problem, killing more than 42,000 people a year and ruining families. But alcohol is still the deadliest drug in the US. An addiction expert tells why. Ethics + Religion - [I did research at Rajneeshpuram, and here is what I learned]( Marion Goldman, University of Oregon A scholar visited Rajneeshpuram and met the many highly accomplished men and women who became devotees of the controversial guru. What brought them to the spiritual community, and what made them stay? Trending on Site - [Melting Arctic sends a message: Climate change is here in a big way]( Mark Serreze, University of Colorado Climate change is transforming the Arctic, with impacts on the rest of the planet. A geographer explains why he once doubted that human actions were causing such shifts, and what changed his mind. - [Should you insure that trip or TV? Here's what an economist would do]( Jay L. Zagorsky, The Ohio State University Companies these days offer insurance on pretty much anything you buy, no matter how inexpensive. How do you know when it's worth it? - [How the lowly mushroom is becoming a nutritional star]( Robert Beelman, Pennsylvania State University Mushrooms, long popular on pizza and in cooking, are getting more attention for their health benefits. Here are some reasons you might want to add them to your grocery list and not just your pizza. Today’s chart - [Enable images to see the chart]( From the article: [We calculated how much money trees save for your city]( [Theodore Endreny] Theodore Endreny State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry [Follow us on Twitter.]( [Join us on Facebook.]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation](. Not interested anymore? [Unsubscribe instantly](. We’ll miss you. 89 South Street - Suite 202 Boston, MA 02111