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STARMUS Launches the Stephen Hawking Medal Junior at The Kennedy Center

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Gitanjali Rao Honoured as the inaugural Recipient of the Stephen Hawking Medal Junior STARMUS cofounders, Garik Israelian and Brian May, introduce the Stephen Hawking Medal Junior Category to Inspire Young Innovators (LINK)STARMUS Celebrates Its US Debut at The Kennedy Center with Panel Discussions, Performances, the Junior Medal Announcement, the Presentation of STARMUS La Palma, and the US Première of the STARMUS VI Film (LINK)

WASHINGTON, April 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — STARMUS Festival proudly announced the launch of the Stephen Hawking Medal Junior Category during the STARMUS x Earth To Space launch event last night at The Kennedy Center. Gitanjali Rao was named the first recipient of this prestigious award. This new category of this prestigious award created by the late Professor Stephen Hawking and STARMUS Festival, represents his last legacy to promote science communication among the younger generation.

Introducing the Stephen Hawking Medal Junior Category

The Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication, established in 2015, honoured individuals who excelled in bridging the gap between science and the public through various disciplines such as music, arts, and cinema. The Junior Category aimed to recognize and encourage young innovators who demonstrated exceptional talent and dedication to science communication. Like the Stephen Hawking Medal, the Junior Medal will recognize such dedication through the categories of music, cinema, or literature.

In its inaugural year, the STARMUS Advisory Board selected a profile that perfectly embodies the type of inspiring young individual deserving of this prestigious recognition. Commencing in 2026, the full nominations process will be open to educational centres worldwide, including universities and secondary schools. These institutions will be invited to nominate their most outstanding students, aged 14 to 20, as candidates.

Winners will be awarded the Stephen Hawking Medal and will have the unique opportunity to enrol in a 4 to 6-week internship at a selected science or arts institution, sponsored by STARMUS and the Stephen Hawking Medal partners. During this internship, they will work on their own scientific communications project, which will be published by STARMUS and the Stephen Hawking Medal collaborators and endorsed by a past winner of the Medal.

STARMUS will announce soon the world-class institutions and centres that will collaborate with the Junior Medal Category.

Gitanjali Rao: The First Recipient

Gitanjali Rao, an American inventor, author, and STEM advocate, was selected as the inaugural recipient of the Stephen Hawking Medal Junior. Rao, known for her groundbreaking inventions and contributions to science at a young age, embodied the spirit of innovation and curiosity that Professor Hawking championed. She was named TIME’s first “Kid of the Year” in 2020 for her work in science and technology. Gitanjali is also the inventor of “Epione”—a device for early diagnosis of prescription opioid addiction using genetic engineering, and “Kindly”—an anti-cyberbullying service using AI and Natural Language processing, which is now a UNICEF “Digital Public Good” service available worldwide.

“Being the first recipient of the Stephen Hawking Medal Junior is an absolute honour, but it also comes with a massive responsibility,” said Rao. “I recognize that I am a trailblazer for thousands of young people beyond me who also have the passion to make a difference in our communities, especially girls of colour.”

Garik Israelian, STARMUS co-founder and Director, celebrated this huge step for the Stephen Hawking Medal in approaching younger generations with the Junior Category. “Stephen always shared that he became interested in science being inspired by his professor Dikran Tahta, who opened his eyes to mathematics and changed his life. Since the esteemed STARMUS Advisory Board and Professor Hawking created this Medal in 2015, we all shared the same dream: to inspire the younger generations, serving as a motivational bridge with science through recognizing exceptional contributions in science communications. We’ve awarded such iconic figures of our time such as Jane Goodall, Hans Zimmer, Christopher Nolan, Buzz Aldrin, David Attenborough, Brian May, The Big Bang Theory, Brian Eno among many other internationally renowned figures of science, space, music, and the film industry. It was a natural step for the medal to create a dedicated category for emerging talents who will actually be responsible for the future.”

“The STARMUS Advisory Board chose Gitanjali Rao as the first recipient because of her exceptional talent, dedication to science communication, and her inspiring role as a young innovator” added Professor Israelian. “The Medal reflects not only Stephen Hawking’s amazing dedication to science communication but also the STARMUS spirit. As our dearest Jane Goodall -founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and STARMUS Board member- said, ‘STARMUS brings together people who can link head with heart’.'”

Brian May, Queen lead guitarist and STARMUS cofounder, celebrated the launch of the Stephen Hawking Medal Junior with these words: “We believe this is going to make a difference in the future by encouraging young minds, young artists, young scientists, and young communicators. We hope that the next generation will be inspired to bring art and science even closer together and make this world a better place.”

Celebrating STARMUS’ US Debut at The Kennedy Center

This announcement was made at the STARMUS x Earth To Space event, a two-day program held as part of the Earth To Space Festival at the prestigious Kennedy Center. The event, being held on April 1-2, 2025, featured an impressive lineup of Nobel Prize-winning scientists, astronauts, and explorers, including former NASA astronauts Nicole Stott and Frank Lee Culbertson Jr., Nobel Laureate Kip Thorne and artist Lia Halloran, world-renowned best-selling author Mario Livio, President of the US National Academy of Sciences Marcia McNutt, renowned astrophysicist Eva Villaver, quantum mind reader David Zambuka and SETI pioneer Jill Tarter.

Attendees also enjoyed the spectacular ‘Explosive Universe’ concert by renowned musicians from the STARMUS All Stars, such as Derek Sherinian, Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal, Tony Franklin, and Vinny Appice. This concert was a highlight of the event, showcasing the fusion of science and music that STARMUS is known for. The celebration of the beauty and mystery of the universe promised to be an unforgettable experience for all attendees.

STARMUS has announced its next edition, ‘STARMUS La Palma, The Island of Stars,’ featuring a short preview of the STARMUS La Palma documentary. This event will be held on the island of La Palma from April 25 to 28, 2025, with a focus on protecting the night skies in collaboration with the Starlight Foundation. The program will include STARMUS Talks with over 40 renowned speakers, such as Jane Goodall, Nobel Laureates, astronauts, and other scientific luminaries. The ‘Sonic Universe’ concert will showcase the STARMUS All Stars with special guest Glenn Hughes, Oscar and 15 Latin Grammy winner Jorge Drexler, and the Spanish pop-rock band Efecto Pasillo, among others. Additionally, there will be two STARMUS Camps and the educational project ‘Interscholar,’ aimed at engaging thousands of young students with science, music, and space.”

The event also included the US première of the STARMUS VI film, which showcases the most exciting moments of the 2022 STARMUS Festival in Armenia. This film perfectly captures the essence of STARMUS and the unique STARMUS experience, merging the gathering of the most brilliant minds and talented artists of our time with the local culture.

Linked Videos:

•  This is STARMUS _ LINK

•  The Stephen Hawking Medal _LINK

About STARMUS 

Created by Garik Israelian PhD, astrophysicist at the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands (IAC) and Sir Brian May PhD, astrophysicist and the lead guitarist of the iconic rock band Queen, Starmus is a festival of science, art and music that features presentations from astronauts, cosmonauts, Nobel Prize winners and prominent figures from various scientific disciplines and musical backgrounds. Starmus brings together Nobel laureates, eminent researchers, astronauts, thinkers and artists to share their knowledge and experiences, as we search for answers to the great questions of our time. 

The STARMUS Advisory Board members are: Jane Goodall, Brian May (co-founder), Garik Israelian (Director and co-founder), Peter Gabriel, Emmanuelle Charpentier, Richard Dawkins, Chris Hadfield, Jill Tarter, Steven Chu, and David Eicher.

Home of the Stephen Hawking Medal 

Stephen Hawking and Alexei Leonov, together with Brian May and Garik Israelian, worked to create the Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication in 2015, which is awarded to individuals and teams who have made significant contributions to science communication. Previous Stephen Hawking Medal winners include Dr. Jane Goodall DBE, David Attenborough, Christopher Nolan, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Jean-Michel Jarre, Brian May, Laurie Anderson, and the Apollo 11 documentary. 

For more information visit Starmus.com   

STARMUS Communications   
Brezo Rodríguez  —  brezo@starmus.com   / press@starmus.com  / +34 678 255 196 

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdbUOyYW3Oc
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWDC3G139Y4
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Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2649772/5249367/STARMUS_Logo.jpg

 

 

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/starmus-launches-the-stephen-hawking-medal-junior-at-the-kennedy-center-302418857.html

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Robinson Nuclear Plant receives approval from U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to continue operating until 2050

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License extension supports growing energy demand, helps keep customer costs as low as possibleExtended operation provides significant economic benefits for Pee Dee region

Editor’s note: Visit the Duke Energy News Center for downloadable B-roll and high-resolution images of Robinson Nuclear Plant.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has renewed the operating license for Duke Energy’s Robinson Nuclear Plant for an additional 20 years, extending the plant’s ability to deliver reliable energy until 2050.

Robinson, located in Hartsville, S.C., provides enough energy to power 570,000 homes and plays an important role in protecting reliability and affordability for customers as regional electricity demand continues to grow.

What they’re saying

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster: “South Carolina’s energy needs continue to rise, and extending Robinson Nuclear Plant’s operating license preserves a reliable, affordable source of nuclear energy our state depends on. This plant ensures we have the power needed to support jobs and strengthen communities across the Pee Dee region.”Congressman Russell Fry (SC-07): “For 50 years, Robinson Nuclear Plant has been the backbone of South Carolina’s nuclear fleet. The extension of its license is monumental for the Pee Dee and allows Duke Energy to continue providing affordable, reliable electricity to homes and businesses in the region. This renewal is a win for families in the Pee Dee, Robinson Nuclear Plant’s employees and Darlington County as a whole.”Steven Capps, chief nuclear officer for Duke Energy: “Extending the operating life of this proven asset helps us deliver low-cost, always-on electricity for customers while supporting jobs and energy security for the region. Robinson’s subsequent license renewal reflects the strength of our safety culture and the rigorous work our teams do every day to support our communities.”

Why it matters

Duke Energy’s nuclear fleet provides about 51% of customers’ energy needs in the Carolinas, making nuclear energy an essential component of the company’s diverse generation portfolio.License renewal extends the use of cost-effective generation, resulting in significant savings for customers over time.Extended operation sustains significant economic benefits for Darlington County and the broader Pee Dee region.

Robinson by the numbers

Delivers 759 megawatts (MW) of electricity, powering nearly 570,000 homes.Nearly 500 high-paying jobs supported.$1.7 billion in equipment upgrades completed.Approximately $28 million in annual local tax contributions.

Go deeper

U.S. nuclear facilities are licensed by the NRC. The process to renew a license requires a comprehensive analysis and evaluation to ensure the plant can safely be operated for the period of extended operation.Robinson’s original 40-year operating license was granted by the NRC in 1970, making it one of the first commercial nuclear power plants in the Southeast. Robinson’s initial license was renewed for an additional 20 years of operation until 2030, and the subsequent license renewal allows for continued operations until 2050.Robinson is the second Duke Energy nuclear facility to receive approval for subsequent license renewal, following Oconee Nuclear Station in 2025. Duke Energy plans to seek subsequent license renewal for all 11 operating units across its nuclear fleet.For more background and updates on the subsequent license renewal process, visit Duke Energy’s subsequent license renewal webpage.

Duke Energy

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America’s largest energy holding companies. The company’s electric utilities serve 8.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 55,700 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio and Kentucky.

Duke Energy is executing an energy modernization strategy, keeping customer value at the forefront as it invests in electric grid upgrades and efficient generation resources to strengthen the system and serve growing energy needs.

More information is available at duke-energy.com. Follow Duke Energy on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook for stories about the people and innovations powering its communities.

Contact: Mikayla Kreuzberger
24-Hour: 800.559.3853

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/robinson-nuclear-plant-receives-approval-from-us-nuclear-regulatory-commission-to-continue-operating-until-2050-302752297.html

SOURCE Duke Energy

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Cin7 Appoints Sheldon Cummings as Chief Executive Officer

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Seasoned SMB technology leader joins to drive AI-powered growth for inventory and commerce platform

DENVER, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Cin7, a leading inventory management and connected commerce platform for small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs), today announced the appointment of Sheldon Cummings as Chief Executive Officer, effective April 20th. Sheldon succeeds Ajoy Krishnamoorthy, who is stepping down after leading the company through a significant period of product investment, global expansion, and customer growth.

I’m thrilled to be joining Cin7 at such a defining moment for both the company and the future of commerce.

“Leading Cin7 over these past few years has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career,” said Ajoy. “I am proud of the work that we’ve done to improve the product, unite our global team, and deepen our connection with our customers. I’m confident that Sheldon is the right leader for Cin7’s next phase and I look forward to watching this team take the business to the next level.”

Sheldon brings more than 25 years of experience scaling technology businesses that serve small and mid-sized businesses. He most recently served as President and General Manager of the Corporate Business Unit at Smarsh. Prior to Smarsh, he served as Chief Operating Officer of Mailchimp, leading revenue, strategy, and operations across one of the world’s most widely used SaaS platforms for small businesses. He has also held senior leadership roles at Intuit, including Vice President of Sales, where he contributed to scaling go-to-market engines for SMB and Mid-Market focused products.

Sheldon joins Cin7 at a pivotal moment as AI reshapes how businesses manage inventory, fulfill orders, and connect their commerce operations. Already deeply invested in AI, Cin7 is positioned to lead the transformation by delivering smarter, faster, and more connected capabilities to its customers around the world.

“I am thrilled to be joining Cin7 at such a defining moment,” said Sheldon Cummings. “Cin7 has built something genuinely valuable. It has real product depth, a passionate global team, and a large market still full of opportunity. There is a compelling opportunity to become the intelligent commerce platform for SMB and Mid-Market product sellers across the globe. To be the one that harnesses the power of AI to help businesses operate better and grow faster. I am excited to partner with this team to chase that opportunity and to continue delivering the innovation our customers deserve.”

Cin7 serves thousands of businesses worldwide, helping them manage inventory, streamline operations, and connect their sales channels through a single, powerful platform. With teams in the United States, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates, India, and the Czech Republic, Cin7 operates as a truly global business with a local commitment to every market it serves.

About Cin7

Cin7 is the leading inventory management and connected commerce platform for small and mid-sized product businesses. Cin7 helps growing brands manage inventory, automate workflows, and connect their sales channels, from e-commerce to wholesale to retail, in one powerful, easy-to-use platform. With over 8,500+ customers in over 100 countries processing over 125 million orders annually, Cin7 is a global business on a mission to make commerce simpler, smarter, and more connected for product sellers everywhere. For more information, visit www.cin7.com.

Media Contact

Karla Fleege, Cin7, 1 509-413-0025, pr@cin7.com, www.cin7.com

View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/cin7-appoints-sheldon-cummings-as-chief-executive-officer-302752187.html

SOURCE Cin7

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ShareRing, TKC and Transformational Launch Thailand’s First National Trust Infrastructure for Verifiable Credentials, with Production Rollout Starting June 2026

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A three-party alliance between ShareRing, publicly listed digital infrastructure provider TKC, and Thailand digital transformation firm Transformational will deliver the country’s first integrated Verifiable Credential and Digital Document Wallet infrastructure, anchored on ShareRing’s Privacy KYC technology.

BANGKOK, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Turnkey Communication Services PCL (TKC), in partnership with Transformational and ShareRing, today announced a strategic alliance to launch Thailand’s first integrated Verifiable Credential and Digital Document Wallet infrastructure, bridging the trust gap between government and private sector transactions.

We are building the trust layer that the whole country runs on.

“This partnership is about establishing a ‘National Trust Infrastructure,’ which is a critical national policy direction,” said Mr. Sayam Tiewtranon, CEO of TKC. “TKC’s role is to merge our existing infrastructure with global technology standards to drive widespread adoption in alignment with MDES and ETDA. We aim to reduce costs and increase transparency without burdening existing systems, while ensuring future international connectivity.”

Thailand’s Digital Paradox: Connectivity vs. Physical Friction

Despite a 95 percent internet penetration rate, the transactions that matter most, proving where you live, verifying a professional qualification, or applying for a loan, still require a physical visit and photocopies. “In 2026, citizens are still taking half-days off work to manage paperwork at service counters that close at 3 PM,” said Khun Ariya Banomyong, CEO of Transformational, and former Country Head of Google Thailand and Managing Director of LINE Thailand. “What Thailand lacks is a shared infrastructure layer connecting verified documents to real transactions.”

The High Cost of Unverifiable Documents

Reliance on paper documents leaves citizens and businesses vulnerable. “Paper documents are the ‘weakest link’ in the trust chain; easy to forge and impossible to verify,” Mr. Ariya added. “Once data is on paper, you lose control. For businesses, scanned affidavits prove nothing without independent verification, exposing them to massive risks, from unauthorized directorship changes to fraudulent contracts. Nationally, the cost is measured in hundreds of billions of baht in untraceable educational loan portfolios and public services.”

The Solution: Digital Document Wallet plus Verifiable Credential

The alliance introduces a Digital Document Wallet infrastructure, acting as a “Digital Twin” for critical documentation. Powered by ShareRing’s blockchain technology, already deployed in multiple international markets, the platform supports a wide array of Verifiable Credentials. It is designed to accommodate professional licences, employment certifications, company affidavits, academic transcripts and other identity documents as they transition into the ecosystem.

A Three-Party Architecture

The alliance is designed around three complementary roles. TKC provides the national infrastructure footprint and institutional reach into Thai state-owned enterprises. Transformational leads enterprise and government delivery, translating national policy direction into operational rollout. ShareRing contributes the production Privacy KYC technology stack, already live in multiple international markets. ShareRing also holds a strategic equity stake in Transformational, aligning commercial incentives across delivery and technology beyond a standard vendor relationship.

What Institutions Actually Buy: Sovereign Issuance

The commercial offering at the core of the alliance is what ShareRing calls Sovereign Issuance. A government agency, university, regulator or large enterprise issues its own verifiable digital documents, from its own infrastructure, under its own seal. The end user holds the document on a personal device, gives explicit consent before anything is shared, and reveals only what the verifier requires through Zero-Knowledge Proofs. Verification happens in real time, cryptographically, without the verifier ever needing to contact the issuer. Trust stays with the real authority, the issuer, rather than with a centralised intermediary.

Compliant with Global Security Standards (Private and Secure by Design)

The platform is built on privacy-first global standards, with User Consent at its core. It is W3C Verifiable Credential compliant, DIATF certified and ISO 27001:2022 accredited, and aligned with GDPR, Thailand’s PDPA and the Australian Privacy Act. Implementation is being tracked against the emerging OpenID for Verifiable Credentials (OID4VC) interoperability layer being shaped by ETDA.

“By utilizing Zero-Knowledge Proof (ZKP) and Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI), we ensure users verify information without exposing sensitive data,” said Mr. Tim Bos, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of ShareRing. “No information is accessed without explicit user consent, ensuring only the owner holds the access keys to their digital identity.”

From Policy to Implementation

The alliance focuses on providing enterprise-ready solutions to bridge the gap between policy and execution:

Seamless connectivity via SDKs and APIs for immediate integration into existing legacy systems.Sovereign issuance infrastructure enabling organisations to securely issue their own verifiable digital documents.Real-time verification to eliminate manual delays and fraudulent documentation risks.

“We are building the trust layer that the whole country runs on,” said Mr. Rohan Le Page, Founder and Co-CEO of ShareRing. “By deploying W3C-compliant and ISO-accredited technology, we are providing Thailand with an infrastructure built for global interoperability and international business expansion.”

Implementation Roadmap

“We are already in execution,” said Mr. Piya Jirapapongsa, Deputy Managing Director (Operations) at TKC. “Our first deployment goes live with a major state-owned enterprise in June 2026, followed by digital credential issuance for a network of Thai universities in August 2026, with active discussions underway across financial services, hospitality, and public administration.”

A Blueprint for the Region

Thailand is the first national-scale deployment of the alliance’s model. The partners intend the same architecture, a national infrastructure anchor, a locally credible delivery partner, and a W3C compliant identity and credential stack, to serve as a template for broader South East Asian rollout, with regional conversations already active.

For further project enquiries, please contact Mr. Ekkapol Promratanapong, Digital Product Director, TKC, who leads this initiative.

About Turnkey Communication Services PCL (TKC)

TKC is Thailand’s full-service digital infrastructure provider, covering telecommunications, cybersecurity, and digital solutions for government and large enterprises. Led by CEO Sayam Tiewtranon, the company focuses on building infrastructure that is resilient, secure, and compatible with international standards, supporting the country’s transition to a digital economy.

About Transformational Co., Ltd.

Digital transformation consultancy, working with corporate clients and state-owned enterprises, specialising in digital document trust infrastructure and verifiable credential solutions. Led by CEO Ariya Banomyong.

About ShareRing

ShareRing is a Privacy KYC and Verifiable Credential platform operating across multiple international markets. W3C Verifiable Credential compliant, DIATF certified, and ISO 27001:2022 accredited, ShareRing’s infrastructure is built for institutional scale. The company operates ShareLedger, a Cosmos-based Layer 1 calibrated for identity workloads, and ships the ShareRing Me consumer wallet and ShareRing Link enterprise SDK. ShareRing holds a strategic equity stake in Transformational Co., Ltd.

Media Contact

Rohan Le Page, ShareRing, 61 438094075, marketing@sharering.network, https://www.sharering.network

View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/sharering-tkc-and-transformational-launch-thailands-first-national-trust-infrastructure-for-verifiable-credentials-with-production-rollout-starting-june-2026-302752315.html

SOURCE ShareRing

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