Clay weekly context brief for the University category (ISO week 2026-W42). Clay tracks publications from the University feed list. Below are recent items from this category, each with its source and a short description of what the publication covers when one is available in the source feed. Recent publications: 1. How to teach in era of AI, grade inflation Source: Harvard Gazette Link: https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2026/10/how-to-teach-in-era-of-ai-grade-inflation/ Professors detail assignments that require analytic skills, make it hard to use tech as crutch 2. Were still figuring out the side effects of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs Source: MIT Technology Link: https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/10/09/1146094/were-still-figuring-out-the-side-effects-of-glp-1-weight-loss-drugs/ This week my colleague Antonio Regalado had an interesting update on GLP-1 weight-loss drugs. 3. Supporting systems of success Source: MIT News Link: https://news.mit.edu/2026/supporting-systems-success-1008 Students taking 6.C31 (Hack Yourself) collect more than 60 Intention cards through the semester, commemorating their learning. 4. Before you laugh at leeches Source: Johns Hopkins University News Link: https://hub.jhu.edu/magazine/2026/fall/hopkins-history-of-medicine/ The pioneering Department of the History of Medicine examines our medical past without judgment 5. Building a healthier NUS, one habit at a time Source: National University of Singapore News Link: https://news.nus.edu.sg/building-a-healthier-nus-one-habit-at-a-time/ Designed to help NUS employees build lasting habits to support their health, NUS Health is the latest in a slew of initiatives to ensure employees lead happy, healthy lives. 6. Exhibition pieces together the story of a vanished village Source: Stanford News Link: https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2026/10/patty-chang-surfacing-exhibit-anderson-collection On view at the Anderson Collection, Patty Chang: surfacing features works exploring the 19th-century Point Alones Chinese Fishing Village, now home to Stanfords Hopkins Marine Station. 7. Historian Thomas Conlan receives commendation from Japans Foreign Minister Source: Princeton University News Link: https://www.princeton.edu/news/2026/10/07/historian-thomas-conlan-receives-commendation-japans-foreign-minister Conlan, a professor of East Asian studies and history, has taught at Princeton since 2013. He is an expert on medieval Japanese history. 8. As voters weigh incumbents, U-M research complicates case for congressional term limits Source: University of Michigan News Link: https://news.umich.edu/as-voters-weigh-incumbents-u-m-research-complicates-case-for-congressional-term-limits/ Most voters see Congress through floor debates, campaign promises and partisan conflict. Yet about half the work done by the average congressional office involves helping constituents, businesses, nonprofits, universities and local governments navigate federal agencies. 9. A synthetic answer to the squeak in aging joints Source: Cornell Health Nutrition Link: https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/10/synthetic-answer-squeak-aging-joints Two Cornell researchers join forces to produce a substance that could keep knees, hips and shoulders gliding smoothly for a lifetime. 10. New technique holds promise for improved gene editing Source: Cornell Food Agriculture Link: https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/10/new-technique-holds-promise-improved-gene-editing A new engineered gene editing system addresses some of the limitations of current gene editing tools with the hope of improving their use for research, for better crops or to treat diseases. 11. October lectures explore autocracy, communism and U.S.-China-Russia relations Source: Cornell Law Government Link: https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/10/october-lectures-explore-autocracy-communism-and-us-china-russia-relations Cornell Universitys Unmasking the CCP lecture series will feature talks by former U.S. Ambassador Michael McFaul Oct. 23 and historian Frank Dikötter Oct. 27 on democracy, communism and Chinas international role. 12. UW-led optoelectronic center receives second round of funding from the US National Science Foundation Source: University of Washington News Link: https://www.washington.edu/news/2026/10/05/uw-led-optoelectronic-center-receives-second-round-of-funding-from-the-us-national-science-foundation/ A University of Washington-led center for optoelectronics technologies that combine light and electronics brings researchers from 14 universities across the U.S. 13. Critic and art historian speaks on art, architecture and democracy Source: Cornell Arts and Humanities Link: https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/09/critic-and-art-historian-speaks-art-architecture-and-democracy At a talk hosted by Cornell Universitys Program on Freedom and Free Societies on Oct. 19, Brian T. Allen will discuss how democracies judge art and architecture. 14. Mysterious oarfishs fins inspire large underwater robot design Source: Cornell Life Science Link: https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/09/mysterious-oarfishs-fins-inspire-large-underwater-robot-design Oarfish, giant fish rarely spotted by humans, have hundreds of unique dorsal fin rays, which help propel the fish forward. 15. Dieter Schwarz Stiftung and the University of Oxford renew partnership Source: Oxford University Link: https://www.oii.ox.ac.uk/dieter-schwarz-stiftung-and-the-university-of-oxford-renew-partnership/ Dieter Schwarz Stiftung and the University of Oxford renew partnership on how we live work and govern in the AI era 16. Robert J. David Source: McGill University News Link: https://www.mcgill.ca/newsroom/node/22751 Robert David Title: Professeur(e) titulaire Department: Faculté de gestion Desautels Areas of expertise: Émergence de nouvelles industries; transformation des industries matures; évolution des pratiques de gestion; institutions et esprit d'entreprise Email address: robert. 17. Heart attack, stroke and hip fractures Source: Harvard Gazette Link: https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2026/10/heart-attack-stroke-and-hip-fractures/ Endocrinologist discusses life-or-death stakes of weak bones and how to protect against devastating falls 18. Job titles of the future: Delivery drone air traffic controller Source: MIT Technology Link: https://www.technologyreview.com/2026/10/09/1145737/job-titles-delivery-drone-air-traffic-controller-trevor-wischnewsky/ The moment Trevor Wischnewsky heard that drones were delivering pizza and sushi around his Texas neighborhood, his mind was made up. 19. Shape-sensing sheet digitally tracks its movement as it bends and twists Source: MIT News Link: https://news.mit.edu/2026/shape-sensing-sheet-digitally-tracks-movement-bends-twists-1008 In physical therapy, you often need to gather patient data on how they are moving and stretching their arm during rehabilitation. Surface shape sensing could be very useful in that way, says graduate student Qifan Yu. 20. Stream of consciousness Source: Johns Hopkins University News Link: https://hub.jhu.edu/magazine/2026/fall/stream-of-consciousness-anand-pandian-anthropology/ Anand Pandian sees Baltimore's Jones Falls waterway as it is now but also envisions what it could be 21. NUS Enterprise evolves into NUSX, expanding global pathways for deep tech ventures Source: National University of Singapore News Link: https://news.nus.edu.sg/nus-enterprise-evolves-into-nusx-expanding-global-pathways-for-deep-tech-ventures/ NUS Enterprise celebrated its 25 th anniversary with a new identity: NUSX , where breakthroughs become advantage. 22. Why a tiny slice of VCs capture almost all the profit Source: Stanford News Link: https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2026/10/venture-capitalists-profits-study-report Stanford finance professorIlya Strebulaev helped assemble the largest dataset of individual VCs to date and found that 90% of net profits flow to just 5% of players. 23. Princeton pre-meds pursue careers in pediatrics and family medicine through new national fellowship Source: Princeton University News Link: https://www.princeton.edu/news/2026/10/05/princeton-pre-meds-pursue-careers-pediatrics-and-family-medicine-through-new The Coleman Family Ventures Fellowship supports undergraduates at Princeton and other selective universities to help address the shortage of primary and family care doctors. 24. Art at work: Understanding Americas past, shaping public policys future Source: University of Michigan News Link: https://news.umich.edu/art-at-work-understanding-americas-past-shaping-public-policys-future/ As both the 2026 Roman J. 25. Medicines that feed us promote healing in a toxic world Source: Cornell Health Nutrition Link: https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/10/medicines-feed-us-promote-healing-toxic-world In a new book, anthropologist Stacey Langwick explores plant-based healing and sustainable farming practices in Tanzania that treat bodies and lands as inseparable. 26. What healthy labeling on packaged food conceals Source: Cornell Food Agriculture Link: https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/09/what-healthy-labeling-packaged-food-conceals Looking for nutritious foods in the grocery store? Don't believe everything you read. 27. Private equity ownership results in poor working conditions in NYS home care Source: Cornell Law Government Link: https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/10/private-equity-ownership-results-poor-working-conditions-nys-home-care Private equity firms investment in home care agencies perpetuates poor working conditions for workers by continuing the exploitation that is prevalent across the industry, according to a new study from the ILR SchoolsWorker Institute. 28. UW establishes new home on Microsofts Redmond campus Source: University of Washington News Link: https://www.washington.edu/news/2026/09/30/uw-establishes-new-home-on-microsofts-redmond-campus/ The University of Washington and Microsoft today expanded their decades-long partnership with the opening of the universitys first-ever, full-time location on Microsofts campus in Redmond. Sources in this brief: Cornell Arts and Humanities; Cornell Food Agriculture; Cornell Health Nutrition; Cornell Law Government; Cornell Life Science; Harvard Gazette; Johns Hopkins University News; MIT News; MIT Technology; McGill University News; National University of Singapore News; Oxford University; Princeton University News; Stanford News; University of Michigan News; University of Washington News. Selected 28 of 273 available items for this weekly brief.