University of Pittsburgh Ranks No. 22 Globally and No. 16 in U.S. for Scholarly Research; 7th Among Public Universities

The University of Pittsburgh ranks No. 22 in the world among 2,000 institutions of higher education for the quality and quantity of its scholarly publications, according to 2013-14 statistics released by the University Ranking by Academic Performance Research Laboratory. Additionally, Pitt placed 16th nationally and 7th among U.S. public universities.

“This latest recognition of the scholarship and research being conducted here at the University of Pittsburgh reaffirms our commitment to doing work of impact,” Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg said. “Not only does the scholarship and research conducted here at Pitt contribute to enhancing human understanding, improving health, and spurring innovation, but as these rankings indicate, renowned institutions of higher learning around the world who pursue these same goals view Pitt as a source of seminal scholarship and research.”

Pitt has steadily advanced in these annual rankings since they were first released in 2010. That year, Pitt ranked No. 25 internationally, No. 18 nationally, and No. 8 among U.S. public universities.

Also on the list are Penn State (No. 50 worldwide) and Carnegie Mellon (No. 234 worldwide). The full list can be viewed at http://www.urapcenter.org/2013/world.php?q=MS0yNTA=.

The rankings are based on six performance indicators: number of articles, number of citations, total document count, journal impact total, journal citation impact total, and total number of publications made in collaboration with foreign universities.

Other universities in the Top 25 internationally in the 2013-14 rankings include Cambridge, Harvard, Oxford, University of Copenhagen, The University of Tokyo, and University of Toronto. Pitt’s company among the top U.S. public institutions includes Berkeley, Michigan, UCLA, UC San Diego, UC San Francisco, and Washington.

The University Ranking by Academic Performance Research Laboratory was established at the Informatics Institute of Middle East Technical University in 2009. The main objective of the laboratory is to establish a ranking system for universities worldwide based on academic performances, determined by the quality and quantity of scholarly publications. In line with this objective, an annual World Ranking of 2000 Higher Education Institutions has been released since 2010. Visit http://www.urapcenter.org for more information.

Source: University of Pittsburgh 

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Global Switchboard Project Opening May 2014 to Offer Office and Meeting Space for Individuals and Organizations with International Focus, Encouraging Global Engagement and Awareness

A shared building space called The Global Switchboard will open in May 2014 in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood as a way to bring together the region’s internationally-focused individuals and organizations by providing office and event facilities to encourage collaboration and potential partnerships.

“This is a community-oriented shared space that we envision will serve as Pittsburgh’s home for global engagement, a way to bring new resources to the city, and a space to cultivate new and innovative global ideas,” said Brandon Blache-Cohen, executive director of Amizade Global Service-Learning, which has signed the lease on the property and is powering the project.

The Global Switchboard will occupy a 4,200-square-foot building located at 3406 Ligonier St. on 34th St. near Doughboy Square, Blache-Cohen said. The facility will serve as headquarters for Amizade and Global Solutions Pittsburgh, another international non-profit which is anchoring the project. Project manager for The Global Switchboard will be Nathan Darity of Amizade.

“There are dozens of organizations in the Pittsburgh area working on global and local connections every day,” Darity said. “It is the goal of The Global Switchboard to bring these groups together so that we can work more collaboratively to enhance the work that we are all doing and to ensure that the local community benefits as well.”

Other organizations will be invited to occupy parts of the space and become paying members. Like other co-working spaces in the Pittsburgh area, the member organizations will have round-the-clock access to one or more desks for staff members, meeting space, a classroom, high-speed internet, high-definition video conferencing services, and a kitchen.

The Global Switchboard will be different than most other co-working spaces because it will comprise globally-focused organizations and individuals that are committed to one or more of the following:

• Socially responsible international development
• Global education in Pittsburgh and abroad
• Community empowerment

Other organizations in the process of becoming members of The Global Switchboard are GlobalPittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Hispanic Development Corp., Classrooms Without Borders, Cameroon Football Development Program, and ChildLight US.

In addition, organizations that have expressed interest in possible membership or other involvement in The Global Switchboard include Rukmini Foundation, Ujamaa Collective, and  Building New Hope.

The Global Switchboard aims to improve each member’s impact on the world by offering much more than a shared workspace. For this reason, members are expected to participate in the 3-tiered program component of The Global Switchboard, which include member workshops, spotlight events focusing on global engagement projects and leaders in the Pittsburgh area, and professional development.

The Global Switchboard has received support from Pittsburgh District 7 Councilwoman Deb Gross, as well as community development organizations Lawrenceville United and Lawrenceville Corp.

"I am incredibly excited to welcome The Global Switchboard to Lawrenceville and Pittsburgh City Council District 7," Gross said. "The Global Switchboard is a perfect example of the new and exciting ways in which our city is attracting innovative ideas and a 21st century global perspective. We are lucky to have them in District 7, and I can't wait to see what they do in our neighborhoods and city."

Lauren Byrne, Executive Director of Lawrenceville United, said: "We are excited to welcome The Global Switchboard to Lawrenceville. Lawrenceville is becoming home to many innovative individuals, organizations, and companies. As a community, Lawrenceville embraces and celebrates innovation, collaboration, and community. This physical space exemplifies those values that continue to shape our plans and our vision for the community. We look forward to working with members of The Global Switchboard and to becoming more engaged in universal issues while also engaging more Lawrenceville residents and organizations in these issues.”

Maya Henry, Director of Special Initiatives at the Lawrenceville Corp., said: "As the local community development corporation (CDC) in Lawrenceville, the Lawrenceville Corp. is excited to help The Global Switchboard shape neighborhood connections, particularly within the local business community. The Global Switchboard reflects the creative and authentic businesses and resources that have grown out of Lawrenceville’s rebirth.”

Membership Details
All memberships begin on or after May 1st, 2014, The Global Switchboard launch date.

Early-signing Discounted Rate - Sublease signed before April 1st

• $150/month for first 6 months*
• 12-month membership with optional opt out after 6 months
• $200/month after first 6 months

Standard Member - Sublease signed anytime after April 1st

• $200/month
• 12-month membership required
• *A limited number of membership rate discounts are available and can be discussed after application is received. 

Applications will be received and reviewed on a rolling basis. Once an application is submitted, it will be reviewed by the Membership Committee. If recommended by the Committee, applicants will be invited to an interview to discuss final details of the lease agreement.

Biographical information for Nathan Darity, Project Manager for The Global Switchboard 
Darity was raised in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and moved to Pittsburgh in 2001 to complete his undergraduate education at the University of Pittsburgh. In 2008, he finished a dual masters program in public health and international development at the University of Pittsburgh. A year later he relocated to Santarém, Brazil to work as the local Amizade Site Director. In 2012, Darity moved back to Pittsburgh and became an Amizade Project Director, responsible for new program ideas, oversight of foreign faculty-led programming, and development of health-related multinational collaborations and exchanges. He maintains a reduced role in Santarém as the current Brazil Site Coordinator.

The Global Switchboard has launched a crowdfunding campaign at www.wedid.it with the goal of raising $10,000 in additional funds for building out the new space. Supporters of the concept are invited to invest at http://wedid.it/campaigns/1203-building-the-global-switchboard.

For additional information, contact Nathan Darity at 412-586-4986 or nathan@amizade.org, or go to www.theglobalswitchboard.org.

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CMU International Film Festival Focusing on Films Touching on "Faces of Work" March 20 - April 5

The eighth edition of the Carnegie Mellon International Film Festival will be held at venues around Pittsburgh from March 20 to April 5, featuring screenings of new, distinctive, and award-winning international films and documentaries from Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Peru, Sweden, Romania, Turkey, Poland, Bulgaria, Croatia, Germany, France, Egypt, Chad, Iran, India, Israel, Vietnam, China, Canada, and the United States.

Sponsored by CMU's Humanities Center, the 2014 festival is dedicated to the legacy of Paul Goodman, the world-renowned filmmaker, psychologist and Carnegie Mellon professor, and to his professional focus on the human challenges and achievements of diverse groups of workers worldwide. 

This year, Paul has been recognized with two major awards at the Madrid International Film Festival for his astounding achievements, including the Best Producer of Documentary Film Award for Shipbreakers! Festival audiences will have the opportunity to explore the many “Faces of Work” through Paul's compelling short films along with a full schedule of Pittsburgh premieres of notable international films.

Paul's work emphasized global awareness through his teaching and research while exploring the theme of work in both international and local Pittsburgh communities. This dedication prompted his desire to bring to light important but often overlooked aspects of work by diverse individuals using his favorite teaching mechanism - filmmaking. "Faces of Work" takes its inspiration from Paul's vision; its international roster of films will provide a visual examination and interpretation of global working conditions and spaces, and the people in them.

The Faces Festival is an annual celebration of international film and its potential to shine a light on the human faces involved in shaping our contemporary social landscape. Audiences are encouraged to explore the numerous complex themes of these films beyond the screenings themselves by participating in audience Q&A sessions with directors, artists, academics, and professionals; by engaging with interactive performances by student artists; and by sampling exotic foods and international cuisine from local eateries. 

From Polish director Andrzej Wajda's biopic of Lech Walesa, former electrician and controversial President of Poland whose championing of workers' rights contributed to the fall of communism in eastern Europe; to Paul Goodman's depiction of the challenging assignments of ship breakers in India; to famed documentarian Frederick Wiseman’s exploration into the inner workings of a publicly-funded university; to a Chinese rehab center for Internet addicts. This year's feature films and documentaries will engage audiences with the efforts of workers around the globe, and examine how their contributions to our economy both improve and challenge societies in countless ways.

For additional information about the festival, please visit www.cmu.edu/faces or contact the festival director, Jolanta Lion, at jola@cmu.edu.

SCHEDULE:

THURSDAY, MARCH 20

Walesa: Man of Hope (Poland, 2013)

7:15pm | Regent Square Theater

Opening Night!

+ Special appearance by Danuta Wa??sa, Former First Lady of Poland

+ A discussion with Piotr Adamowicz, a famed Polish writer and journalist, moderated by Oscar Swan, Professor of Slavic Languages & Literature at the University of Pittsburgh

+ Opening Night Reception

FRIDAY, MARCH 21

Shipbreakers (USA/India, 2013)

7:15pm | McConomy Auditorium, CMU's University Center

+ Post-screening Q&A with Director Ralph Vituccio

+ CMU Opening Night Reception

SATURDAY, MARCH 22

The Square (Egypt/USA, 2013)

4:30pm | McConomy Auditorium, CMU's University Center

Web Junkie (China/Israel/USA, 2013)

7:15pm | McConomy Auditorium, CMU's University Center

+ Exclusive Q&A with Director Shosh Shlam

SUNDAY, MARCH 23

Walesa: Man of Hope (Poland, 2013)

4:30pm | McConomy Auditorium, CMU's University Center

+ Special appearance by Danuta Wa??sa, Former First Lady of Poland

MONDAY, MARCH 24

The Cleaner (Peru, 2012)

4:00pm | Kresge Theater, Carlow University

FREE! and open to the public

+ Exclusive Q&A with Director Adrián Saba

TUESDAY, MARCH 25

The Cleaner (Peru, 2012)

7:30pm | McConomy Auditorium, CMU's University Center 

+ Exclusive Q&A with Director Adrián Saba

+ Reception

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26

Eat Sleep Die (Sweden, 2012)

7:15pm | McConomy Auditorium, CMU's University Center

+ Screening of Goodman Short "Plant Closing"

THURSDAY, MARCH 27

Secret Screening!

5:00pm | McConomy Auditorium, CMU's University Center 

+ Reception

Co-sponsored by the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Sofia's Last Ambulance (Bulgaria/Germany/Croatia, 2012)

7:15pm | McConomy Auditorium, CMU's University Center

+ Screening of Goodman Short "Nurse"

FRIDAY, MARCH 28

Short Film Competition

7:15pm | Melwood Screening Room 

+ Reception

Open City of Amereida (Chile/USA, 2013)

9:00pm | Melwood Screening Room

+ Exclusive Q&A with Director Andres Tapia-Urzua

SATURDAY, MARCH 29

GriGris (Chad/France, 2013)

6:00pm | McConomy Auditorium, CMU's University Center

+ Performance by Nego Gato

+ Reception

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2

Madame Presidenta: Why Not U.S.? Vamos Meninas! (USA/Brazil, 2013)

7:00pm | McConomy Auditorium, CMU's University Center 

+ Exclusive Q&A with Director Heather Arnet

THURSDAY, APRIL 3

Women's Day (Poland, 2012)

5:00pm | McConomy Auditorium, CMU's University Center

Trapped (Iran, 2012)

7:00pm | McConomy Auditorium, CMU's University Center

+ Exclusive Q&A with Director Parviz Shahbazi

FRIDAY, APRIL 4

At Berkeley (USA, 2013)

4:30pm | McConomy Auditorium, CMU's University Center

+ Reception

SATURDAY, APRIL 5

Sweet Dreams (Rwanda/USA, 2012)

Closing Night! 6:30pm | McConomy Auditorium, CMU's University Center

+ Exclusive Q&A with Director Lisa Fruchtman

+ Closing Night Reception   READ FULL ARTICLE