ENGINEERING
Ange-Therese Akono, a professor of civil and environmental engineering, has been named one of 10 2016 New Faces of Civil Engineering Professionals by the American Society of Civil Engineers. The New Faces of Civil Engineering– Professional Edition recognition program promotes the bold and humanitarian future of civil engineering by highlighting the achievements of young civil engineers, as well as their contributions and impact on society. Akono will be officially recognized during the society’s annual Outstanding Projects and Leaders Gala on March 17 in Arlington, Virginia.
Nick Holonyak Jr., a professor emeritus of electrical and computer engineering, was named an honorary member of the Optical Society for his numerous technology innovations advancing solid-state lighting, the Internet, high-performance computing, visible LEDs and quantum-well diode lasers. The society’s honorary membership is the most distinguished status a member may achieve, making Holonyak one of only 47 such members.
SungWoo Nam, a professor of mechanical science and engineering, was awarded a grant from the Air Force Young Investigator Research Program for his project titled “Reconfigurable, Corrugated Graphene Plasmonics,” one of 41 proposals chosen from the 265 submitted to the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. The program is for scientists and engineers across the country who received their Ph.D. in the last five years and show promise for conducting research. The program’s goals are to give young researchers the opportunity to conduct creative research in science and engineering, and offer early career development.
FAA AND LAS
The Humanities Without Walls Consortium has announced its 2016 Predoctoral Fellows, including John Moore, a U. of I. graduate student in English, and Sara Thiel, a U. of I. graduate student in theatre. Moore and Thiel, along with 28 other graduate students from the 15 universities that make up the consortium, will participate in a three-week “alternative academic careers” workshop this summer.
The workshop, which is funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, aims to help prepare doctoral students for careers both within and outside the academy. Graduate students selected for this program will engage in intensive discussions with organizers of public humanities projects, leaders of university presses and learned societies, experts in the various domains of the digital humanities, representatives of governmental and nongovernmental organizations and holders of important nonfaculty positions in colleges and universities. The workshops will introduce opportunities and strategies for fellows to utilize their research interests and skills across various career paths.
FIRE SERVICE INSTITUTE
The Institute of Museum and Library Services announced that the Illinois Fire Service Institute Library is among 30 finalists for the 2016 National Medal for Museum and Library Service. The medal is the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries for service to communities. Finalists are chosen for significant and exceptional contributions made to their communities. Winners will be announced this spring.
“The 2016 national medal finalists make lasting differences in their communities by serving and inspiring the public,” said Kathryn K. Matthew, the director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
“Our library and archive and its associated service activities are an essential element of the IFSI mission – helping firefighters do their work through training, education, information and research,” said Royal Mortenson, the director of the Illinois Fire Service Institute.
The facility is the only library in Illinois dedicated to fire and emergency services, and it’s the third-largest in the U.S. The collection includes more than 65,000 titles in a variety of media. The library also is home to the Illinois Firefighter Line of Duty Deaths Database, which includes a collection of nearly 900 firefighter records.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 35,000 museums. Its mission is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning and cultural and civic engagement. Its grant-making, policy development and research help libraries and museums deliver valuable services that make it possible for communities and individuals to thrive.
LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES
Harry Liebersohn, a professor of history, has been selected as a fellow at the American Academy in Berlin for spring 2017. The academy brings together scholars, artists and policymakers with the goal of furthering trans-Atlantic relations. Each semester, the academy invites a dozen prize fellowships for outstanding recipients from the U.S. Liebersohn is the first faculty member from the U. of I. to receive this honor.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
L. Brian Stauffer, a photographer for the News Bureau, was honored by the University Photographers’ Association of America. One of his portraits taken for the spring Postmarks publication received fourth place in the people and portraits category in the association’s monthly image competition for February. The association is an international organization of college and university photographers concerned with the application and practice of photography as it relates to the higher education setting.
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