IN THIS ISSUE: ACES | ENGINEERING | LAS | LIBRARY | GSLIS | VETMED |
agricultural, consumer and environmental sciences
Seven scholars from the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences have been selected to form the college’s Academy for Global Engagement Class of 2008. The yearlong program encourages global awakening among faculty members in areas of education, research and outreach.
The academy involves a yearlong commitment that focuses on global activities at the college, campus, state and national levels, and culminates in an international immersion trip.
The scholars selected: Kent Rausch, agricultural and biological engineering; Miguel Gomez, agricultural and consumer economics; David Miller, animal sciences; Kris Lambert, crop sciences; Nicki Engeseth, food science and human nutrition; Angela Kent, natural resources and environmental sciences; Michelle Norris, UI extension educator.
Harris Lewin, the director of the Institute for Genomic Biology and a professor and Gutgsell Endowed Chair in the department of animal sciences, has been elected to the Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Forestry. He was the only American in a group of seven new foreign members elected during an annual meeting in late December.
President George W. Bush has announced his intention to appoint Robert A. Easter, dean of the college of ACES and professor of nutritional sciences and of animal sciences, as chairman of the board for International Food and Agricultural Development.
William Sullivan, professor of human and community development and of natural resources and environmental sciences and director of the Environmental Council, was elected president-elect of the Council of Environmental Deans and Directors at the council’s winter business meeting in Washington, D.C. Sullivan will be president-elect for two years and then president for two more. His responsibilities include meeting with leaders of federal agencies and congressional committees to push for increased funding for environmental research.
engineering
Nadya Mason, professor of physics, was named a Standout Scholar for 2008 by the publication Diverse: Issues in Higher Education. The award is given to 10 young researchers who have demonstrated outstanding abilities in research and teaching. They were profiled in the Jan 10 issue. Mason’s research explores electron correlations and coherence in various geometries of nanostructures.
James A. Weyhenmeyer, interim vice president for technology and economic development, has been elected to the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences.The academy is an international, independent institution that promotes research and innovation as well as technological and economic development. He will be inducted at the annual meeting in Stockholm early next October. Weyhenmeyer is a professor of cell and developmental biology, of neuroscience and of pathology. He also is an affiliate at the Institute for Genomic Biology.
liberal arts and sciences
Benita S. Katzenellenbogen, Swanlund Professor and Center for Advanced Studies Professor of Physiology and Cell Biology, in the School of Molecular and Cellular Biology and College of Medicine, received an honorary degree (Laurea ad Honorem) from the University of Milan, Italy. The honorary degree was awarded in a ceremony in Milan on Nov. 26. Katzenellenbogen was recognized for “biomedical research that has advanced our understanding of the actions of estrogens and estrogen receptors in women’s health and diseases such as breast cancer.” During the formal awards ceremony, Katzenellenbogen presented a lecture on her recent research contributions.
library
Lura E. Joseph, professor of library administration and geology librarian at the UI, was awarded the Geological Society of America’s Best Paper Award for her research article “Image and Figure Quality: A Study of Elsevier’s Earth and Planetary Sciences Electronic Journal Back File Package.” Her paper was published in the September-December 2006 issue of Library Collections, Acquistions and Technical Services.
library and information science
Associate dean and professor Linda C. Smith and professor Christine Jenkins have been honored by the Association for Library and Information Science Education. Smith is a co-recipient of the 2008 ALISE Award for Professional Contribution to Library and Information Science Education. Jenkins has been awarded the 2008 ALISE Award for Teaching Excellence in the Field of Library and Information Science Education. The awards were given at a reception on Jan. 10 at the ALISE Annual Conference in Philadelphia.
veterinary medicine
Humphrey Hung-Chang Yao, professor of veterinary biosciences, will receive the New Investigator Award from the Society of the Study of Reproduction. Yao will receive the award during the society’s annual meeting May 27-30 in Kona, Hawaii, where he also will present a talk showcasing his research. The award is based on originality of research, significance and impact on the reproductive sciences or allied fields and the degree to which the nominee’s research was independent of that of a mentor.
