5 Local Issues
1. Summer Shortage: Insect Venom Deficit Stings Allergy Sufferers
http://www.gainesville.com/lifestyle/20170728/summer-shortage-insect-venom-deficit-stings-allergy-sufferers
This article details the struggles allergists are facing with a shortage of insect venom that is used in immunotherapy practice. This venom is extremely important as it is used in allergy shots that come close to curing people who suffer from allergies. There are many adults that are extremely allergic, some even deathly allergic, to the sting of a honeybee, hornet, or wasp. These people can go to their allergist and receive small doses of venom injected into their arms and over time their bodies build up immunity to this. Two main manufacturers of this venom extract shut down last fall and have left many people out of medicine and unable to build their immunity.
The problem is that now many doctors are seriously rationing their venom supplies to their patients, some even cutting them off entirely. This in turn impacts these patients lives as they may have to change daily habits in order to avoid stings that could cause severe reactions. The opportunity here would be to start manufacturing venom extracts in order to fill this serious need of allergists and patients.
2. UF Campus Faces Minor Damage After Hurricane Irma
http://www.alligator.org/news/article_c2fd1b96-9721-11e7-aefa-83313355b8eb.html
The large oak in front of the new physics building was torn down by Hurricane Irma. This was an incredibly sad event for UF's campus as the oak was a nearly a century old and a beautiful addition to campus. The problem is that the tree has to be removed entirely and the building that before accentuated this tree has a gaping hole in the landscaping. This is UF's opportunity to take this area and do something with it that will hopefully be as beautiful as the tree was before.
3. Humane Society Sends Animals North to Find Homes
http://www.alligator.org/news/article_4f1e3c64-999c-11e7-a008-03a378530ab3.html
The Humane Society took in every animal from all surrounding counties and rural areas. They did this in an effort to free up space for those shelters to take in animals that would be displaced due to hurricane Irma. Alachua county is on a mission to become a no kill county and their efforts in times like this prove how dedicated they are. It is a huge feat and not one that is cheap to load up airplanes and send animals north. The problem is that this is a huge expense and even though Alachua county wants to be no kill it's a strain on their resources to go to lengths like this. The opportunity is to help set up and run programs that could facilitate things like this.
4. Months Past Deadline GAU, UF Fail to Reach Agreement
http://www.alligator.org/news/article_fed38276-928b-11e7-8123-0ffa3cfd8dec.html
The Graduate Assistants United labor union has been at a standstill with UF in regards to their current salaries and desired raises. The deadline for a new agreement to be reached was two months ago, however still nothing has been approved by both parties. This problem is that Graduate assistants are a vital part of the university and if they're unsatisfied it could seriously impact UF as a whole. The opportunity would be to assist in facilitating this decision making process and consult on behalf of both sides.
5. RTS Driverless Busses in Works
http://www.alligator.org/news/article_345cd07e-928b-11e7-952d-b723ef9c15c0.html
By next Fall RTS and Gainesville want to have driverless shuttles on test routes. This would push Gainesville into the front of technological advancement. The plan is to have smaller routes that don't go over main roads or highly populated areas have the driverless busses. The problem is that this is a disruptive change for the university and has the potential to have countless issues that would affect students and Gainesville residents who rely on RTS. The opportunity would be to spearhead the development of these new driverless shuttles before they become common in the market.
http://www.gainesville.com/lifestyle/20170728/summer-shortage-insect-venom-deficit-stings-allergy-sufferers
This article details the struggles allergists are facing with a shortage of insect venom that is used in immunotherapy practice. This venom is extremely important as it is used in allergy shots that come close to curing people who suffer from allergies. There are many adults that are extremely allergic, some even deathly allergic, to the sting of a honeybee, hornet, or wasp. These people can go to their allergist and receive small doses of venom injected into their arms and over time their bodies build up immunity to this. Two main manufacturers of this venom extract shut down last fall and have left many people out of medicine and unable to build their immunity.
The problem is that now many doctors are seriously rationing their venom supplies to their patients, some even cutting them off entirely. This in turn impacts these patients lives as they may have to change daily habits in order to avoid stings that could cause severe reactions. The opportunity here would be to start manufacturing venom extracts in order to fill this serious need of allergists and patients.
2. UF Campus Faces Minor Damage After Hurricane Irma
http://www.alligator.org/news/article_c2fd1b96-9721-11e7-aefa-83313355b8eb.html
The large oak in front of the new physics building was torn down by Hurricane Irma. This was an incredibly sad event for UF's campus as the oak was a nearly a century old and a beautiful addition to campus. The problem is that the tree has to be removed entirely and the building that before accentuated this tree has a gaping hole in the landscaping. This is UF's opportunity to take this area and do something with it that will hopefully be as beautiful as the tree was before.
3. Humane Society Sends Animals North to Find Homes
http://www.alligator.org/news/article_4f1e3c64-999c-11e7-a008-03a378530ab3.html
The Humane Society took in every animal from all surrounding counties and rural areas. They did this in an effort to free up space for those shelters to take in animals that would be displaced due to hurricane Irma. Alachua county is on a mission to become a no kill county and their efforts in times like this prove how dedicated they are. It is a huge feat and not one that is cheap to load up airplanes and send animals north. The problem is that this is a huge expense and even though Alachua county wants to be no kill it's a strain on their resources to go to lengths like this. The opportunity is to help set up and run programs that could facilitate things like this.
4. Months Past Deadline GAU, UF Fail to Reach Agreement
http://www.alligator.org/news/article_fed38276-928b-11e7-8123-0ffa3cfd8dec.html
The Graduate Assistants United labor union has been at a standstill with UF in regards to their current salaries and desired raises. The deadline for a new agreement to be reached was two months ago, however still nothing has been approved by both parties. This problem is that Graduate assistants are a vital part of the university and if they're unsatisfied it could seriously impact UF as a whole. The opportunity would be to assist in facilitating this decision making process and consult on behalf of both sides.
5. RTS Driverless Busses in Works
http://www.alligator.org/news/article_345cd07e-928b-11e7-952d-b723ef9c15c0.html
By next Fall RTS and Gainesville want to have driverless shuttles on test routes. This would push Gainesville into the front of technological advancement. The plan is to have smaller routes that don't go over main roads or highly populated areas have the driverless busses. The problem is that this is a disruptive change for the university and has the potential to have countless issues that would affect students and Gainesville residents who rely on RTS. The opportunity would be to spearhead the development of these new driverless shuttles before they become common in the market.
I think you did a great job finding articles that have really important issues that can be solved by taking advantage of opportunities. I think you also did a good job at stating what the opportunity was but I thought you could have given another sentence or two on the details of what you could do to start these ideas that you had. With these few extra sentences you then have a starting point if you wanted to pursue these opportunities.
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