Vol. 2, Issue 2
February 2008
Sigma Xi Member Newsletter
Welcome to your Member Newsletter. This monthly communiqué depends on your news and views. So e-mail us now, at kgreenaway@sigmaxi.org. We always welcome your contributions.
IN THIS ISSUE
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
John H. Marburger, III (1982), Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President, recently gave a lecture to the American Geophysical Union. I asked him if he could say a few words about his lecture: "When I was asked by the American Geophysical Union to give the 'Union Lecture' at their annual meeting, I decided it would be a good opportunity to try to frame climate change in the larger context in which real-world action is necessary. Viewed as a scientific phenomenon (really a large set of intricately connected phenomena) the actions that need to be taken to address anthropogenic global warming are straightforward: stop doing those activities that produce greenhouse gases. But when you consider why those actions are occurring in the first place, and what it will take to change them, the situation becomes much more complicated. I tried to explain why in my lecture, and what kind of response is required for this most daunting of all environmental problems." To read Marburger's lecture, please click to http://tiny.cc/WDPAX.
Long-time Life Member J. Daniel Bode (1949) will be remembered, and honored in perpetuity with a $340,000 testamentary gift to the Society. Bode passed away in December 2006, requesting that the remainder of his estate go to support the Society's Grants-in-Aid of Research, with priority given to research requests in the field of chemistry. Bode's kindness shown to the young researcher earns him a privileged place in the Society's Leroy Record Heritage Society. Named in honor of one of Sigma Xi's most generous supporters, the Leroy Record Heritage Society recognizes members and friends who have made a commitment to Sigma Xi through their wills and other planned gifts.
New Book by Two Sigma Xi Members Out Soon
Reid A. Bryson (1946) and Alison T. Stenger (2007) have just published a landmark book on archaeology and paleoclimatology. Working with colleague Katherine DeWall, the three have utilized archaeological and paleontological data to validate models of paleoclimates. While this book focuses upon different regions within Oregon, the same criteria used in this book can be applied to nearly every other part of the world to interpret the past. The title is: The Archaeoclimatology Atlas of Oregon: The modeled distribution in space and time of the past climates of Oregon. It is being published by University of Utah Press, Salt Lake City, and is due to be released this Fall.
Through climate models and extensive field data, the past is finally being accurately rebuilt. Now researchers can predict the time periods and grazing areas that would have supported mammoth or American bison. Useful environments for humans can also be determined. These same models illustrate when the environment could not have supported such animals, or when the landscape might not have been hospitable to human needs without enormous adaptation. Excavation results have consistently validated the models. This is a very exciting and extremely useful tool for multiple disciplines. It is now possible to project site locations, identify selected causality in population movement, and to enhance the interpretation of site data. Scientists, from paleontologists to paleobiologists, can now greatly expand their knowledge of the past. Ecosystems that supported ancient people and animals can now often be predicted, and understood.
The authors describe the book in this way: "This book provides an in-depth look at the modeled climatic and environmental history of the state of Oregon over the past 14,000 years and analyzes the relationship between climatic variables and people in the past. The Atlas provides both broad scale reconstructions of specific times in the past as well as detailed, site-specific graphs of precipitation, temperature, evaporation, and snowfall for more than seventy-five locations in Oregon. Applications of the model and its implications for human populations in Oregon are explored for each region of the state, demonstrating the variability of human-climate interactions. A must have resource for anyone interested in Oregon, history or climate."
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MEMBERS' NEWS
Anoop Desai (2007) writes that he has recently published a new research book, Product Development: A Structured Approach to Consumer Product Development, Design and Manufacture (Elsevier Publishing Company (Butterworth-Heinemann)). "The book deals with the product development process from cradle to grave, thus encompassing the entire product lifecycle. It has been written with the twin disciplines of engineering and business in mind and can be used by professionals/researchers in both disciplines. It can also be used in graduate degree programs in the aforementioned disciplines." Desai would also like to thank his co-authors, Anil Mital, Anand S. Subramanian (2007) and Aashi Mital for making this book a success.
Firas H. Kobeissy (2007), writes: "I am a post doctorate at the University of Florida and I have my Ph.D. from the neuroscience department. I work on drug abuse research studying their effect on the brain and how they could lead to neuronal injury. Lately, our findings showed that the methamphetamine club drug causes damage to the brain similar to what's been seen in traumatic brain injury. This was featured on CNN, Yahoo News and local newspapers here in Florida."
Rui-Hua Xie (2004) writes: "Recently I was appointed as an associate editor by the international journal, Journal of Computational and Theoretical Nanoscience. The journal's Web site is: www.aspbs.com/ctn. Please submit papers to me at: jrhxie@yahoo.com."
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MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
Bruce M. Alberts (1960), president emeritus of the National Academy of Sciences and former chair of the National Research Council (1993-2005), has been named by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) to serve as editor in chief of its journal Science beginning March 1, 2008. Alberts, professor of biochemistry and biophysics at the University of California, San Francisco, will become the 18th editor in chief of Science since its inception in 1880.
Thomas Eisner (1954) has been awarded the John J. Carty Award for the Advancement of Science by the National Academy of Sciences. The medal and a prize of $25,000 are awarded annually for noteworthy and distinguished accomplishment in any field of science (ecology in 2008). Eisner, J.G. Schurman professor of chemical ecology, department of neurobiology and behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, is recognized "for pathbreaking studies of the myriad ways that organisms utilize chemistry to mediate ecological interactions and providing a foundation for the field of chemical ecology." The award was established by the American Telephone & Telegraph Co. in honor of John J. Carty and has been awarded since 1932. You can view an excellent 2006 Sigma Xi interview with Eisner on our Web site at: www.sigmaxi.org/programs/giar/index.shtml.
Jarita C. Holbrook (1998), Ph,D. will be giving a lecture at Columbia University on February 20th, titled African Cultural Astronomy: What do we know. Academics and adventurers have traveled to Africa and asked Africans about their sky knowledge for over 100 years. Looking at this long history what can be said about African cultural astronomy? Are there general trends or is their astronomy as diverse as their ethnic groups? Included in this lecture are the discoveries that researchers are making today. This talk is in conjunction with black history month. Holbrook is keen to remind Sigma Xians that most of the first African American Ph.D.s in the sciences also became Sigma Xi members. "So, Sigma Xi has a long history of inclusiveness which we should continue." Further information on the lecture can be found at: www.u.arizona.edu/~holbrook/Jarita%20Holbrook%20FlyerColumbia.pdf. If you miss the lecture, Holbrook's book, African Cultural Astronomy: Current Archaeoastronomy and Ethnoastronomy Research in Africa (Springer, 2008), is available on Amazon.com.
Norman P. Neureiter (1953), director for the Center for Science, Technology, and Security Policy, American Association for the Advancement of Science, has been awarded the Public Welfare Medal, the national Academy of Sciences' most prestigious award. The Academy selected Neureiter for enhancing the status of science and technology in the U.S. State Department as the first science and technology adviser to the secretary of state and for spurring international cooperation in science and technology under U.S. leadership. The medal was established in 1914 to recognize distinguished contributions in the application of science for the public good and is presented annually.
Terry E. Meyer (1981) has been presented the 2007 Floyd Andre Award for his service to agriculture at the Iowa State University Alumni Association awards ceremony on October 19, 2007. The award was established in 1978 to honor an Iowa State University alum who has made an outstanding contribution to production agriculture, agricultural business, or is in a position to have a significant influence on Iowa agriculture. Meyer is currently program manager for the Optimum® GAT® Trait at Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business. This new trait is expected to provide crop producers with expanded weed management options and economic benefits, upon regulatory approval in soybeans and corn and other crops. Meyer received his bachelor's degree from Gustavus Adolphus College in 1981, and his doctorate in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology in the department of biochemistry and biophysics from Iowa State University in 1987.
John F. Stamler (1987) was keen for us to mention Darwin Day, "which celebrates the benefits brought to humanity by science. There are many celebrations around the globe; ours is detailed here: www.icdarwinday.org."
Michael J. Stillman (1992), of Framingham, Massachusetts, is now a principal medical writer with Hologic, a women's health medical device company in Massachusetts.
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GOT ADVICE FOR YOUR FELLOW MEMBERS?
Terry L. Helser (1982), professor of biochemistry, S.U.N.Y. College at Oneonta asks: "Since I am a year or two away from my last sabbatical leave eligibility, I am wondering how to find opportunities for research in nucleic acid or ribosome molecular biology, my field. I'd like to be located somewhere between Washington D.C. and Chapel Hill, North Carolina, geographically, for nine months to a year, depending on funding. Any ideas on how to look for such positions?" If you do have any ideas, please contact Terry at: helsertl@oneonta.edu.
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SOCIAL NETWORKING VIA FACEBOOK AND LINKEDIN
Sigma Xi now has its own Facebook and LinkedIn sites. The aim of the Facebook group is to inform, educate and even entertain our fellow Sigma Xi members and science enthusiasts. The group is open, so non-members can participate. This provides a broader exposure for Sigma Xi, and helps connect all of us who are interested in science. If you join, please invite your friends and colleagues who are interested in science to join the group. LinkedIn is a professional networking site that enables Sigma Xi members to build their online network of colleagues, co-workers and others sharing professional interests. Both networking groups can be accessed online.
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GRANT ALERT—FOR YOU OR TO PASS ON
Jennifer Patterson (1998) writes: "Here is an announcement for a grant targeting biomedical engineers/bioengineers interested in pursuing an international research experience. Funding is available for both B.S. graduates and Ph.D.s. The Whitaker International Program is a competitive grant that is targeted at sending emerging leaders in the field of biomedical engineering overseas to increase international collaboration in the field. The grant is awarded based on an activity/project proposal that is relevant to biomedical engineering. Grantees have gone overseas to work on a wide range of activities, from pursuing Bioscience Enterprise coursework to modeling blood flow through the heart to developing prosthetics for amputees. The online application is now available. Visit www.whitaker.org/ for more information.
The National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent) is offering postdoc fellowships providing two years of funding to support ambitious, synthetic research on any aspect of evolutionary biology and relevant disciplines. Annual stipends will be $37,000 with $5,000 in research expenses, plus medical and dental coverage. Proposals can include any type of synthetic project, but fellows should plan on mainly working on-site, to add to our intellectual community. Go to www.nescent.org/science/postdoctoral.php for further information.
PCCP, UNESCO-IHE and IHP-HELP Centre Postgraduate Programs Related to Water Conflict: Many nations share their water resources. More than 250 major rivers, lakes and aquifers cross national borders, and these are potential sources of conflict, raising serious issues for peace and security. The challenge is to provide the foundation for sustainable and equitable allocation of scarce water resources, which this can act as a catalyst for peaceful cooperation between water users. A unique opportunity to study conflict management in Dundee and Delft has been created by two new and related master programs that are offered under the aegis of PCCP, UNESCO's program on water and cooperation:
- M.Sc. in Water Management - specialization Water Conflict Management
- LL.M. in Water Governance and Conflict Resolution
The Masters programs provide the participants the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the theoretical background of scientific, legal and institutional aspects of water management. Furthermore it gives them a range of methods, techniques and tools at hand to apply the acquired knowledge, to critically assess the different functions of existing water resources systems, and to enhance their ability to design comprehensive water resource policies and strategies. Click here for further information: www.unesco.org/water/wwap/pccp/pdf/msc_llm_flyer.pdf
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HEADS UP
David J. Triggle (1978), SUNY distinguished professor and SUNY university professor, has created a new Ed.M. program for the University of Buffalo's Graduate School of Education, called Science and The Public.
"We have 19 students (U.S. and international) now enrolled. Since the course is delivered completely online over the course of two years, we have room for more. Students get an Ed.M. degree plus a certificate in 'Science and the Public' for completing four core courses. We perceive the importance of the program since we believe that the gulf between the problems that we face and the public understanding of science is growing.
"The program is ideal for students preparing for careers in research, science education, public policy, and science journalism, as well as further study in sociology, history and philosophy of science, science communication, education, or public administration. The goal of the project on Science and the Public is not only to provide educators, journalists, social scientists, and opinion makers with the latest findings and techniques in the field of scientific and technological literacy. It will also explore the broader philosophical, social, and cultural implications of the methods and cosmic outlook of the sciences. Thus, the project concerns both the public understanding of science in the narrower sense, as well as the broader self-reflection that every modern society must undertake. The main themes of this project can be summed up in the following questions:
- What is science?
- How does the public engage with science?
- How does the scientific outlook intersect with our basic beliefs and values?"
Further information on the Ed.M. program can be found at: www.gse.buffalo.edu/programs/lai/31/.
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WHAT'S YOUR NEWS? WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO YOU?
We always welcome your contributions to the monthly newsletters!
Editor: Kristen Greenaway
kgreenaway@sigmaxi.org
919-547-5210, or 800-243-6534, ext. 210
Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society
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Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
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