News

The Robert & MeiLi Hefner Foundation Sponsors The University of Portsmouth to Survey Plastic Pollution Around Great Britain's Waters

August 13, 2020
By Metra Taleghanifard

As one of the Robert & MeiLi Hefner Foundation’s areas of interest, environment & global ecosystem, the foundation sponsored a team of university rowers in the United Kingdom to assess ocean pollution levels around Great Britain. Through the GB Row Challenge 2020, the University of Portsmouth, Department of Marine Biological Sciences will be able to further measure micro plastics, acidity, temperature and acoustic noise pollution levels.

Team Exe Endurow took off rowing from the Tower Bridge in London on July 6 and continue to traverse the country’s coastline for 45 days. The row challenge, arduous in conditions of the ocean’s current and with the team rowing unassisted for over 2,000 miles, is acknowledged to be the toughest rowing race in the world. Robert and MeiLi Hefner, along with the University of Portsmouth, Team Exe Endurow and other sponsors, share the mission and desire to bring awareness of ocean pollution to the rest of the world in an effort to achieve a more sustainable future. To learn more please visit www.gbrowchallenge.com.

 

The Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics welcomed Hefner Initiative - USA Scholars and Ambassador

March 12, 2020
By Metra Taleghanifard

Three students and one teacher from Beijing High School No. 4 (BHSF) spent three weeks studying at the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics (OSSM) as part of the 2020 “Hefner Initiative USA/ China/ Asia.” This year’s Hefner Scholars were Martin Jinyuan Zhang, Jerry Xujie Zhang and Alice Yutong Yang. They were accompanied by Hefner Ambassador Layla Jingyi Zhang a teacher and alumni of BHSF. The Scholars and Ambassador attended classes and participated in school activities, as well as enjoyed special outings to learn about the history and culture of Oklahoma.

This year’s program included tours of the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, the University of Oklahoma campus, the Sam Noble Museum and the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. The Hefner Scholars also enjoyed an Oklahoma City Thunder basketball game and celebrated the Lunar New Year at OSSM. They experienced Oklahoman-style Chinese food and expressed how much they enjoyed it and the State’s take on Dim Sum. Martin wrote about his experience, saying “The past has passed. Though the future remains unknown, may our good luck last, may we meet in the future.”