IN THIS ISSUE: ACES | CIVIL SERVICE SCHOLARSHIPS | ENGINEERING | FAA | LAS | LIBRARY | VET MED
agricultural, consumer and environmental sciences
Hans Blaschek, professor of microbiology in the department of food science and human nutrition, was one of the presenters at a symposium on food safety and security held by the French Senate in Paris during April. The only American presenter at the conference, Blaschek was invited to report on measures the United States has undertaken to ensure food safety and security since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The conference also covered topics such as the globalization of the food industry, genetically modified foods and foodborne disease.
civil service scholarships
Recipients of the 2004-05 Civil Service Employees and Dependents Scholarships were recognized June 8 at a reception. Three employees and four dependents of employees were selected to receive the awards.
Employees honored: Angella Anderson, staff secretary, Division of Rehabilitation Education Services; Talisa E. Webber, secretary IV, College of Law Library; Mary Yeazel, program administrative assistant, College of Engineering Career Services.
Dependent recipients: Clint D. Harper, son of Terri Palumbo, administrative assistant II, Office of Business and Financial Services; Lisa A. Henry, daughter of Nancy M. Henry, secretary IV, department of animal sciences; Wesley Logan, son of Deborah Logan, account technician III, University Payables; Kelly A. O’Connor, daughter of Joann K. O’Connor, service secretary II, UI Exension, Champaign Unit.
engineering
Benjamin W. Wah, the Franklin W. Woeltge Endowed Professor in the department of electrical and computer engineering, and research professor in the Coordinated Science Laboratory, along with computer science graduate students Yixin Chen and Chih-Wei Hsu, won two prizes at the Fourth International Conference on Automated Planning and Scheduling. SGPlan, an integrated planner that the team developed, won first prize in the suboptimal temporal metric track and second prize in the suboptimal propositional track. It was the only integrated planner to win in both tracks. (SGPlan did not participate in the third track.)
The biannual international planning competition is a siginificant event in the artificial intelligence research community that promotes advancement in planning, a core area of artificial intelligence. Teams from more than 20 universities participated in this year’s competition.
fine and applied arts
Clyde Forrest, professor emeritus of urban and regional planning, has been inducted into the American Institute of Certified Planners’ College of Fellows. AICP is the professional institute of the American Planning Association.
Forrest was recognized at a ceremony April 24 during the association’s National Planning Conference, in Washington, D.C. Forrest, who was recognized for his service to APA and his leadership on its Divisions Council, was one of 46 planners from 25 states inducted as fellows this year.
Planners who have been certified by AICP can use the designation AICP after their names; while Fellows are designated by FAICP. Currently, more than 14,000 practicing urban and rural planners in North America and elsewhere have earned AICP certification. Of those, fewer than 310 have attained the status of fellow.
liberal arts and sciences
Daniel J. O’Keefe, professor of speech communication, was honored with the Best Article Award by the International Communication Association at its 54th annual conference, “Communication in the Public Interest,” May 27-31 in New Orleans. O’Keefe was recognized for his article “Message Properties, Mediating States and Manipulation Checks: Claims, Evidence, and Data Analysis in Experimental Persuasive Message Effects Research,” which appeared in the August 2003 issue of Communication Theory. The International Communication Association is a 54-year-old organization based in Washington, D.C., which promotes the study of communication theories, processes and skills and provides a forum for scholars to share research findings and promote a greater understanding of the human communication process.
Carol Symes, professor of history, has been awarded the 2004 Van Courtlandt Elliott Prize for an outstanding first article in the field of medieval studies. The prize, awarded by the Medieval Academy of America, was for Symes’ article “The Appearance of Early Vernacular Plays: Forms, Functions and the Future of Medieval Theater,” which was published in Speculum. The award was presented April 2 during the academy’s annual meeting in Seattle.
university library
Diane C. Schmidt, biology librarian and associate professor of library administration, has been honored with the Special Libraries Association Biomedical and Life Sciences Distinguished Member Award 2004. The award recognizes Schmidt’s significant contributions to the division and the profession of librarianship, which include teaching continuing education courses, presentations in the biological sciences and publication of second and third editions of her book “Using the Biological Literature: A Practical Guide.”
veterinary medicine
Paul S. Cooke, professor of veterinary biosciences, has been selected to hold the new Field Chair in Reproductive Biology, the first endowed chair at the College of Veterinary Medicine. Cooke, an internationally recognized expert in his field, examines issues such as the role played by steroid hormones in the development and function of reproductive organs, the impact of toxins on reproduction and estrogen regulation of adipose tissue.
The endowed chair is part of an estate gift from Thanis “Billie” Alexander Field, a 1929 graduate of the UI’s Urbana campus and animal lover who was interested in supporting research that would address the problem of companion animal overpopulation.
