Refreshments at 4:30 p.m.

Martha Zuniga is a Professor in the Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology at the University of California, Santa Cruz, CA. Her research focuses on the role of the structure expression of the class I major histocompatibility molecule and its tissue-specific role in regulating immune response versus tolerance. She was a recipient of the Presidential Young Investigator Award in 1989.

Abstract
Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules play a central role in the initiation and execution of immune responses.  The genes encoding these molecules are extremely diverse in most species, including human and mouse.  This genetic diversity in the MHC is believed to provide species with a greater ability to survive diseases.  Thus, pestilence itself is an evolutionary force byselecting for pathogen-resistant variations. However, this is not the entire story.  Several species, including humans and mice, engage in MHC-mediated mating behavior, preferring mates of different MHC type.  These preferences appear to be due to MHC-associated odorants.  So now we know that a biological imperative was behind Napoleons exhortation to Josephine: "I will return soon from war.  Do not wash so that I may enjoy all of your natural aromas."  In this presentation I will discuss the fascinating discovery of MHC, its role in immunity and disease, and the evidence that MHC molecules may have affected not only Napoleons affection for Josephine but also our own mate choices even in this day of perfumes and aftershave lotions.

George Gibson is a Professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT. His research focuses on the fundamental interactions of high-intensity ultra-fast lasers with atoms, molecules and biological molecules. He dropped out of graduate school to pursue studying piano for two years.

Abstract
From the Neaderthals to Pythagoros, through the Enlightenment, to the development of Quantum Mechanics, physicists have been motivated, inspired, and obsessed by music. Even today physicists try to describe the natural world in musical terms. The talk will discuss this complex interplay between physics and music; it will explore just how deep this connection really is. Arnold Sommerfeld, a famous physics teacher, once said, What we are nowadays hearing of spectra is a true music of the spheres within the atom, chords of integral relationships, an order and harmony that becomes ever more perfect in spite of the manifold variety.

Abstract
It is unfortunate but true that catastrophic events drive public awareness! For structural health monitoring (SHM) that is not different. Recent catastrophic events such as the dramatic explosion of the space shuttle Columbia in 2003 and the collapse of the I-35 Bridge in Minneapolis last summer raised the public awareness of such potential perils and the need for SHM technologies. The history of structural health monitoring can be dated back to mid 19th century when it was realized that classical scheduled maintenance activities cannot guarantee avoiding the repetition of these disasters. We start with Röntgen’s suggestion to use X-ray for flaw detection. This was followed by using Eddy current to measure damage in metals due to corrosion in 1920s to the first use of ultrasonic method as a non-destructive evaluation (NDE) technique in the US in 1940s. In the last two decades, SHM technologies grew exponentially. Sensing technologies using fiber optics that operate wirelessly were implemented worldwide. New battery-free sensors that use energy harvesting techniques are becoming available in the market and there is growing interest in the SHM community on using machine intelligence to interpret monitoring data that is flowing over the World Wide Web.

I will present our contributions at UNM on the fast growing structural health monitoring field. Our research efforts are concerted to develop robust monitoring technologies. Our work covered a wide spectrum of research ranging from developing new sensing technologies that can provide damage diagnosis at scales not attainable using current technology (i.e. measuring tens or hundreds of nanostrains) to developing methods based on machine intelligence to identify damage in structures. We have also introduced, for the first time, fuzzy and possibilistic damage pattern recognition techniques to provide robust damage diagnosis that consider uncertainty. Our effort is multi-disciplinary in nature and our research collaborations extend with colleagues in other departments at the school of Engineering at UNM and with physicists, neuropsychologists and structural monitoring experts in the national labs and other universities in the US and abroad.

Biography
Mahmoud Reda Taha, Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of New Mexico. He received his BSC and MSC in structural engineering, from Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt in 1993 and 1996 respectively and his PhD from the University of Calgary in Canada in 2000. He worked as a bridge designer for 5 years before he joined UNM in January 2004. He has authored and co-authored more than 40 journal articles and 70 articles in conference proceedings. His research interests include structural health monitoring, modeling and simulation using artificial intelligence, advanced composites and biomechanics.

Dr. Taha was awarded the Ralph Powe Junior Faculty Award from Oak Ridge Associated Universities (2004), Egypt State Award of Encouragement (2005), the Sigma-Xi award (2007) and more recently the Stamm Lectureship award for outstanding faculty performance from the Department of Civil Engineering at UNM in Fall 2007.

Abstract
The U.S. has an elaborate system of laws and institutions that are supposed to:
(1) Allow witnesses to fraud, malfeasance, and deadly neglect to shed light on such conditions without fear of reprisal;
(2) Protect whistleblowers who are harassed or punished for their disclosures; and
(3) Protect agencies and companies from frivolous or erroneous disclosures.

I have seen this system from both sides. First as a Regional Administrator for OSHA, the federal agency that investigates charges of retaliation against private-sector whistleblowers in workplace, environmental, financial-accounting, and most recently as a litigant against my own agency. In 2002, after protesting internally against my agency's decision not to provide inexpensive blood tests to our own employees who had been exposed to dangerous levels of beryllium dust in the course of conducting inspections of contaminated facilities, I discussed my concerns with a reporter On the day the article about the decision appeared, I was stripped of my executive position and transferred across the country with my family. I eventually won a substantial settlement from OSHA, and the agency later revealed that the first round of medical tests had uncovered health problems in our workforce at twice the prevalence I had predicted. This talk will summarize the current information about chronic beryllium disease at OSHA and in the much larger private-sector workforce, and will focus on the lessons I learned as a target of the very agency charged with investigating worker-health and whistleblower retaliation cases. I will pay particular attention to the way scientific claims were evaluated at OSHA and at the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (the agency that is supposed to protect public-sector employees), and try to put my experiences in context of other much more well-known stories of whistle blowing and their consequences.

Kimberly Thompson is an Associate Professor of Risk Analysis and Decision Science at the Harvard School of Public Health. Her research interests and teaching focus on the issues related to developing and applying quantitative methods for risk assessment and risk management, and consideration of public policy implications associated with including uncertainty and variability in risk characterization. She is the author of the book, Risk in Perspective: Insight and Humor in the Age of Risk Management.

Abstract: Professor Thompson will suggest that we are now in the age of risk assessment, a time in human history where we recognize that life is full of risks, choices often involve tough trade offs, and a good data and risk analysis play a critical role in the decisions we make as individuals and collectively. Relying on both insight and humor, she will discuss the importance of understanding systems as a requirement for effective management, and the ability to analytically characterize variability, uncertainty, and dynamics as essential skills. Using a number of real examples ranging from airbags and airplanes, to vaccines and video games, she will demonstrate the significant interactions between engineering and behavior and the critical role of improved risk communication and education for all stakeholders.

Spring 2008

Veronica Vaida is a Professor of Chemistry, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO. Her research interests focus on light initiated reactions of molecules and radicals of atmospheric interest. She developed methods for the study of water by investigating water clusters (hydrates), water-air interfaces and aerosols to provide the data-base needed to establish the role of chemistry in aqueous environments in atmospheric chemistry and climate. Her honors include: Sloan Foundation Fellow, Camille & Henry Dreyfus Teacher Scholar. Veronica is also Fellow of: AAAS, APS, and the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study.

Abstract: Sunlight drives atmospheric chemistry and controls Earths temperature and climate. The photon flux is controlled by solar emission modulated by absorption by atmospheric gases, aerosols and clouds. The factors determining the characteristics of sunlight at a given altitude will be discussed to explain its effectiveness in driving processes relevant to climate. Sunlight initiated reactions of organic species in aqueous environments will be used to illustrate the basic chemistry driving the reactivity of the atmosphere in determining the temperature of the planet. The discussion will point to known and well understood facts as well as to fundamental processes not yet completely understood.

Dale Compton is the Lillian M. Gibreth Distinguished Professor of Physics (Emeritus) at the Purdue University School of Industrial Engineering, West Lafayette, IN. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering.

Abstract: The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has concluded that a quality healthcare delivery system must provide safe, effective, timely, efficient, and equitable care for its patients. The newspapers cite examples in which elements of the system have failed to meet these objectives. While IOM metrics do not speak directly to the reduction in the cost of healthcare, this is the focus of many complaints. It is timely to ask what, if anything, engineering can do to assist in bringing improvements to healthcare delivery. A review is undertaken of examples of engineering procedures, techniques, and systems that are currently available that can be of assistance and those for which more research is needed. Recommendations for changes in curricula and for enlarging the capabilities for the interdisciplinary research related to healthcare delivery will be discussed.

Adela is a Professor and Director of Chicano Studies Program at the University of California at Davis, CA. Her research interests include: Public Policy, Race, Ethnicity and Gender issues as well as Family & Community Medicine and cultural factors associated with HIV/ AIDS transmission. Adela is the past President of the American Society of Hispanic Economists and a member of the National Hispanic Science Network on Drug Abuse.

Abstract: Economic literature on Mexican female sex workers asserts that financial need is a primary motivation for labor market entry. If the price differential between protected and unprotected sex is significantly higher, negotiating condom use may be difficult. We discuss this issue with respect to two Mexican border cities. A total of 277 females were interviewed in Tijuana and 345 in Ciudad Juarez. Price differentials were evaluated at both cities. Significant differences were found depending upon the sexual power and attractiveness of females. The results suggest that a higher price is paid for unprotected sex in both cities. This has long-term consequences for communities considering sustainability of prevention and intervention programs. These will be discussed.

Additional Spring 2008 Lectures To Be Announced

Archive of Distinguished Public Talks: 2005-2006

Archive of Distinguished Public Talks: 2006-2007