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Rice's James Tour wins Feynman Prize(Rice University) James Tour, the inventor of the nanocar at Rice University, has been awarded the prestigious Foresight Institute Feynman Prize for experimental nanotechnology for 2008 by the California think tank dedicated to the beneficial implementation of nanotechnology. Read more | Comments
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US teens feel prepared for careers in science, tech, engineering, math, yet many lack mentors(Lemelson-MIT Program) American teens are embracing the subjects of science, technology, engineering and mathematics with increasingly positive attitudes; yet many lack the necessary encouragement from mentors and role models in these fields, according to this year's Lemelson-MIT Invention Index. The annual survey, which gauges Americans' perceptions about invention and innovation, also reveals teens' altruistic intentions and feelings of preparedness to pursue careers in STEM fields. Louisiana Tech physicists highlight top 10 science stories of 2008(Louisiana Tech University) Discover, one of the world's premier science and technology news magazines, released its list of the top 100 stories for 2008 and features two projects involving physicists from Louisiana Tech University in its top 10. Montville resident and NJIT professor receives engineering honors(New Jersey Institute of Technology) Nirwan Ansari, of Montville, a professor in the department of electrical and computer engineering at NJIT, has received two notable honors. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers has named him a Fellow for his contributions to broadband networks and communications. Florida professor creates endowment for insect scientists(Entomological Society of America) Dr. Nan-Yao Su, a professor of entomology at the University of Florida, has donated $250, 000 to the Entomological Society of America for the establishment of an endowment to award creative entomologists who have demonstrated the ability to find alternative solutions to problems that significantly impact entomology. Each year, the interest from the $250, 000 will be presented to the winner of ESA's newest award, the Nan-Yao Su Award for Innovation and Creativity in Entomology. Emotional needs key for teaching gifted students(Dick Jones Communications) Teachers of gifted students need to pay close attention to the social and emotional needs of their pupils or they are far less likely to reach their potential. This is according to the author of a chapter in a new book about how to teach the gifted. Describing soils: Calibration tool for teaching soil rupture resistance(Soil Science Society of America) A new tool has been developed that will help measure the rupture resistance of soils by calibrating the correct amount of pressure between a thumb and forefinger of students and soil scientists when studying soils in the field. The measurement is important for accurately assessing the quality and makeup of soils. Peer discussion improves student performance with 'clickers,' says CU-Boulder study(University of Colorado at Boulder) Across the University of Colorado at Boulder campus students are sharing answers, checking their responses to questions against those of their neighbors and making adjustments to those answers in hopes of earning a better grade. The culture of medicine(Brandeis University) Everybody is familiar with the stereotypes of medical education from the student perspective: grueling hours, little recognition, and even less glory. Now a novel Brandeis study published in Academic Medicine this month pulls back the curtain on the dominant environment of academic medicine from the perspective of faculty, the providers of medical education in medical schools. The study raises questions about how the prevailing culture of academic medicine shapes the delivery of health care. Education practices influence women engineer shortage, MU study finds(University of Missouri-Columbia) As the need for engineering professionals grows, educators and industry leaders are increasingly concerned with how to attract women to a traditional male career. A new University of Missouri study found the impact of the engineering curriculum and obstacles, including self-efficacy and feelings of inclusion, can impede women's success in the predominantly male discipline of engineering. Tel Aviv University's Cohn Institute awarded new Minerva Center for the Humanities(American Friends of Tel Aviv University) Following a competition among the major centers of higher education in Israel, Tel Aviv University's Cohn Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Ideas has been selected to establish the newest Minerva Center for the Humanities. Vidalia onions: Alternative to hand-transplanting proven effective(American Society for Horticultural Science) "Because of the higher cost of transplanting compared with direct seeding, this study was undertaken to evaluate effects of sowing date, variety, and fertility on direct seeding short-day onions in southeastern Georgia." Boyhan added that the research was also aimed at finding ways to lower production costs for growers. A win-win: U-pick pumpkin farms recycle urban leaves(American Society for Horticultural Science) The growing popularity of rural fall festivals, grade school farm tours, and "u-pick" pumpkin farms has resulted in an increase in consumer demand for pumpkins throughout the country. A critical challenge for pumpkin farmers promoting entertainment agriculture, or "agritourism, " is maintaining fields that are weed-free, attractive, and safe for consumers. Transcendental meditation reduces ADHD symptoms among students: New study(Maharishi University of Management) The transcendental meditation technique may be an effective and safe non-pharmaceutical aid for treating ADHD, according to a promising new study published this month in the peer-reviewed online journal Current Issues in Education.The pilot study followed a group of middle school students with ADHD who were meditating twice a day in school. After three months, researchers found over 50 percent reduction in stress and anxiety and improvements in ADHD symptoms. Flowering plants speed post-surgery recovery(American Society for Horticultural Science) Contact with nature has long been suspected to increase positive feelings, reduce stress, and provide distraction from the pain associated with recovery from surgery. Now, research has confirmed the beneficial effects of plants and flowers for patients recovering from abdominal surgery. Organic plant waste proves effective weed control for citrus trees(American Society for Horticultural Science) Interest in organic crop production is increasing around the world. Organics are healthy for consumers while adding environmental benefits and decreasing the amount of synthetic herbicides in foods, soil, and water. While organics gain popularity with consumers, organic farmers are faced with new production challenges, especially managing and reducing invasive weeds. Minimizing obesity's impact on ovarian cancer survival(University of Alabama at Birmingham) A new study showed that when actual body weight was used in chemo dosing for epithelial ovarian cancer, the overall survival is 40 months for non-obese patients and 47 months for obese patients, not a significant difference. Similar outcomes are seen in obese and non-obese cancer survivors being monitored for recurrence of their ovarian cancer, the study authors said. Earlier studies found obesity as a negative indicator. New use for human hair(American Society for Horticultural Science) Studies have shown that human hair, a readily available waste generated from barbershops and hair salons, combined with additional compost, is an additional nutrient source for crops. Another reason to get your hands dirty(American Society for Horticultural Science) Gardening is a very popular leisure activity for adults aged 65 or older in the United States. A recent study conducted by Sin-Ae Park, Candice Shoemaker, and Mark Haub of Kansas State University, set out to determine if gardening enables older adults to meet the physical activity recommendation set forth by the CDC and the ACSM. Can't chalk it up to 'baby fat'(Case Western Reserve University) Despite recent widespread media attention given to studies that have indicated one-third of American children have a weight problem, a new study shows just one-third of children who are overweight or obese actually receive that diagnosis by a pediatrician. The study, led by researchers at the MetroHealth System and Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, also stresses that this failure to diagnose appears to mostly impact children who may most greatly benefit from early intervention. Web-based case studies help students develop career skills(American Society for Horticultural Science) A survey of employers in the landscape industry revealed the importance of arming landscaping and horticulture students with technical knowledge, practical application, and problem-solving skills. Teaching students the skills necessary to solve complex landscape management decisions is crucial to their career success. Rice psychologist identifies area of brain key to choosing words(Rice University) New research by a Rice University psychologist clearly identifies the parts of the brain involved in the process of choosing appropriate words during speech. Joint Mathematics Meetings in Washington, D.C.(American Mathematical Society) Over 5, 500 mathematicians will attend the annual meetings of the American Mathematical Society and Mathematical Association of America at the Marriott Wardman Park and Omni Shoreham hotels in Washington, D.C., Jan. 5-8. Researchers will present over 2, 000 papers from all specialties of mathematics. Study first to pinpoint why analgesic drugs may be less potent in females than in males(Georgia State University) Investigators at Georgia State University's Neuroscience Institute and Center for Behavioral Neuroscience are the first to identify the most likely reason analgesic drug treatment is usually less potent in females than males. This discovery is a major step toward finding more effective treatments for females suffering from persistent pain. Presidential Early Career Award(Virginia Tech) Maura Borrego, an assistant professor in the Virginia Tech College of Engineering's Department of Engineering Education received a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers for the development of methods that will better prepare faculty and graduate students for interdisciplinary research. Life on Earth got bigger in 2-million-fold leaps, says Stanford researcher(Stanford University) Earth's creatures come in all sizes, yet they (and we) all sprang from the same single-celled organisms that first populated the planet. So how on Earth did life go from bacteria to the blue whale? "It happened primarily in two great leaps, and each time, the maximum size of life jumped up by a factor of about a million, " said Jonathan Payne, assistant professor of geological and environmental science at Stanford. Concordia Professor awarded American Educational Studies Association Critics Choice Book Award(Concordia University) Concordia University is pleased to announce that Dr. M. Ayaz Naseem, assistant professor with the Department of Education, is one of the winners of the prestigious American Educational Studies Association 2008 Critics Choice Book Awards for his book "Scientism and Education: Empirical Research as Neo-Liberal Ideology, " co-authored with Dr. Emery Hyslop Margison. The effect of parental education on the heritability of children's reading disability(Association for Psychological Science) The results of a new study show that there is a significant interaction between parents' years of education and the heritability of reading disability. The researchers concluded that on average, poor instruction or lack of reading practice may often be the main influence on reading disabilities in families with low socioeconomic status, while genes may be the main influence on reading disability among children in families with high socioeconomic status and educational support. College students find comfort in their pets during hard times(Ohio State University) A new study suggests that college students may handle stressful situations better if they have a pet. Research has already shown that pets can improve the quality of life for people who are aging or those who are chronically ill. But researchers at Ohio State University recently found that many college students may also benefit from owning a cat or a dog. Case Western Reserve professor helps control infectious diseases with models and math(Case Western Reserve University) Professor David Gurarie is developing mathematical models to track and analyze symptoms, treatment outcomes and environmental conditions that affect diseases like malaria and schistosomiasis, also known as "snail fever." These models would allow doctors to make predictions towards effective treatment. New edition of laboratory manual includes cutting-edge techniques to study gene regulation(Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) A new edition of a popular laboratory manual on transcriptional regulation has just been published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press. The manual, "Transcriptional Regulation in Eukaryotes: Concepts, Strategies, and Techniques (Second Edition), " will help molecular biologists decipher the sophisticated signaling networks that turn genes on and off in more complex organisms, including humans. |
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