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     If you could have one superpower, what would it be?

     Dreaming about whether you would want to read minds, see through walls, or have superhuman strength may sound silly, but it actually gets to the heart of what really matters in your life.

     Every day in our work, we are inspired by the people we meet doing extraordinary things to improve the world.

     They have a different kind of superpower that all of us possess: the power to make a difference in the lives of others.

We're not saying that everyone needs to contribute their lives to the poor. Your lives are busy enough doing homework, playing sports, making friends, seeking after your dreams. But we do think that you can live a more powerful life when you devote some of your time and energy to something much larger than yourself. Find an issue you are interested in and learn more. Volunteer or, if you can, contribute a little money to a cause. Whatever you do, don't be a bystander. Get involved. You may have the opportunity to make your biggest difference when you're older. But why not start now?

     Our own experience working together on health, development, and energy the last twenty years has been one of the most rewarding parts of our lives. It has changed who we are and continues to fuel our optimism about how much the lives of the poorest people will improve in the years ahead.

    Arriving in Sydney on his own from India, my husband, Rashid, stayed in a hotel for a short time while looking for a house for me and our children.

    During the first week of his stay, he went out one day to do some shopping. He came back in the late afternoon to discover that his suitcase was gone. He was extremely worried as the suitcase had all his important papers, including his passport（护照）.

    He reported the case to the police and then sat there, lost and lonely in strange city, thinking of the terrible troubles of getting all the paperwork organized again from a distant country while trying to settle down in a new one.

    Late in the evening, the phone rang. It was a stranger. He was trying to pronounce my husband's name and was asking him a lot of questions. Then he said they had found a pile of papers in their trash can（垃圾桶） that had been left out on the footpath.

    My husband rushed to their home to find a kind family holding all his papers and documents（文件）. Their young daughter had gone to the trash can and found a pile of unfamiliar papers. Her parents had carefully sorted them out, although they had found mainly foreign addresses on most of the documents. At last they had seen a half-written letter in the pile in which my husband had given his new telephone number to a friend.

    That family not only restored the important documents to us that day but also restored our faith and trust in people. We still remember their kindness and often send a warm wish their way.

Dear Li Hua,

    On behalf of the admissions committee, it is my honor and privilege to share with you that you have been admitted to the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development at New York University (NYU).

    Albert Gallatin, Treasury Secretary to U.S. Presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, rounded NYU in 1831. NYU has since grown to become the largest independent research university in America. I now have the pleasure of welcoming you to one of the most influential universities in the world. Congratulations!

    What Next?

    View your financial aid award (if applicable) and confirm your enrollment (注册) by January 8. Visit our website for very important instructions on how to view your financial aid estimate and confirm your enrollment.

    Withdraw (撤回) applications from other colleges or universities by January 8. As an Early Decision candidate, we expect that you will enroll at NYU if you are I financially able to do so. Once you confirm your enrollment, it is your duty to withdraw any applications you may have made to other colleges or universities. If finances prevent you from attending NYU, we will give up your space in our class on January 9.

    Keep performing. Your admission is contingent (取决于) on the successful completion of your existing academic program at the same performance level as the one presented in your application. Visit our website to review our expectations for admitted students.

    Connect with your classmates. Join the NYU Class of 2022 Facebook page to start connecting and communicating with your fellow NYU classmates.

    Your application was considered for any and all NYU programs and campuses for which you asked for consideration and it is our policy to only make a single offer of admission per student.

    Li Hua, you should be extremely proud of your achievements and I encourage you to celebrate with your family and friends who have supported you on your intellectual journey so far. We look forward to welcoming you to the NYU community.

Sincerely,

Shawn Abbott

Dean of Admissions

    “The failure to play is now a serious issue and it calls for action for change,” says Sir Ken Robinson, a leading expert in education, creativity and human development. This is the driving force behind Outdoor Classroom Day—a global teacher-led campaign, supported by Dirt is Good, a company producing daily chemical products.

    Outdoor Classroom Day, taking place on 17th May and 1st November this year, will see schools around the world swap the inside for the outside and take learning into the playground and beyond to make playtime a key part of the school day. This might involve using natural objects like stones to do sums, or going on an insect hunt to encourage curiosity. By now, Outdoor Classroom Day has grown from a grassroots movement to a global campaign that is expected to benefit five million children and over 40,000 schools from all around the world in 2018.

    This is helping to change the trend that sees many schools selling up or building on their playgrounds and cutting back on playtime to make more room for academic studies, while at home children's lives are increasingly filled with organized activities intended to help them learn. Today globally 61% of parents surveyed in the Dirt is Good Qualitative Study said that children don't know how to play without using technology.

    Outdoor Classroom Day is making playing time happen, with 22% of participating schools having increased their playtime since joining the campaign. 93% of teachers surveyed saw improvements in children's creativity after playing outside, and 97% believe that time outdoors is necessary for children to reach their full potential.

    Scientific studies show that real play—the active, physical, self-directed play—is essential for children to develop key life skills that are not taught elsewhere. Few would question the value of developing creativity, leadership, resourcefulness, and curiosity.

    Researchers are looking into new ways to generate efficient photovoltaic energy (光伏能源) and for this they have been inspired by the v-shaped posture of the Cabbage White butterfly(菜粉蝶).

    Photovoltaic energy is the science behind solar power, where light is turned into electricity. It is a two-set process. Step one is a photoelectric effect, caused by sunlight. The second step is an electrochemical process, which generates an electric current.

    To improve the collection of sunlight, a research group has been inspired by the resting posture of the Cabbage White butterfly. The species has a natural range across Europe, Asia, and North Africa. To many farmers, the butterflies are regarded as a pest; to others, they are pretty to look at. To one research group the butterflies are an inspiration.

    The butterfly adopts a v-shape in order to heat up its flight muscles before taking off. By creating solar panels(太阳能电池板)in this formation，scientists think that the quantity of power that a solar panel can produce can be increased by around 50 percent.

    The Cabbage White butterfly is different to many other butterflies in using the v-formation. On cloudy days butterflies need to wait to receive enough sunlight in order to fly. However  by using the v-posture, the Cabbage White butterfly is able to take in more energy more quickly than other butterflies. In addition, the butterfly can reflect sunlight from its wings, which allows its flight muscles to be warmed to an ideal temperature.

    The new research was conducted at the University of Exeter's Environment and Sustainability Institute (ESI) and the Centre for Ecology and Conservation. Discussing the findings with Laboratory Manager magazine, lead researcher Professor Tapas Mallick stated :"Biomimicry(仿生学)in engineering is not new. However, this research shows pathways to develop low cost solar power that have not been done before. "

    Reusable straw with cleaner & case

    This stainless steel straw is a good product to replace single-use straws. The straw folds into four, meaning you can carry it in your pocket. It's also easy to clean, thanks to the supplied brush. You can get it now for just $24. 99, that's 50% off.

    Aduro Homedome Smart Outlet (插座)

    This new product fits in any outlet and allows you to control the power supply through your phone. This means you can cut your energy use, from lights to heaters. The Aduro is now 60% off at just $19. 99.

    Omega AXL Inkless Pen

    Millions of ballpoints are made and thrown away each year. The Omega AXL is a green replacement—this amazing pen puts down perfect lines using a special kind of aluminium. It never runs out and your drawings will always stay clear and tidy. Worth $39. 99, the Omega pen is now discounted to $29. 99.

    Altgalley chopsticks

    Disposable chopsticks are another example of unnecessary waste. The Altgalley chopsticks are better for the planet, and they won't affect the taste of your dish. In addition, they are specially designed so they will stand upright. This makes sure that the chopsticks stay clear of restaurant-table dirt. You can get a pair now for $11. 99, saving 33 percent on the usual price.