July 9, 2009
Etc: News & notes from around campus
CHAPTER TOPS CHARTS: The UW chapter of the Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) has won the Chapter of the Year Award in the 10-19 member division from the national organization. SACNAS is an organization made up mostly of graduate students that is designed to provide a network of support for its members. The group has served as advisers to the Graduate School in coordinating diversity efforts on campus and participated in panel discussions with various science departments about minorities in science. It has also done outreach in the public schools. The chapter will be recognized at the annual national conference in October.
NATURALIST OF NOTE: Robert T. Paine, emeritus professor of biology, has been chosen as a lifetime member of the American Society of Naturalists, one of only 12 scientists so honored at any given time. The American Society of Naturalists, which held its first meeting in 1883, is one of the oldest and most prestigious biological societies. Its purpose is to advance and diffuse knowledge of organic evolution and other broad biological principles so as to enhance the conceptual unification of the biological sciences.
COVER STORY: You can find a photo of Savery Hall gracing the June issue of Engineered Systems magazine. That’s because an article inside, coauthored by Clara Simon and Brian Berard of Capital Projects (together with engineers from Wood Harbinger, a consulting engineering firm) explains the building’s new system that combines natural ventilation with variable refrigerant flow cooling. Savery has been undergoing renovation for the past year as part of the Restore the Core project. It is slated to reopen in the fall.
RESEARCH STAR: Katherine Shannon, a 2009 doctoral graduate in psychology, was one of only four winners of an international research award, specifically the Student Grant Competition Award sponsored by the Association for Psychological Science. Shannon, who works with Psychology Professor Ted Beauchaine, presented her research at the APS annual conference. She’ll intern at the University of Chicago-Illinois in 2009-10.
GET OUT THE VOTE: Husky fans can vote for their favorite softball pitcher, Danielle Lawrie, who has been nominated for an ESPY Award. The ESPY awards honor the best achievements, moments and leading athletes of the previous year. Fans will determine winners in 37 categories through online and mobile phone voting, which continues through Saturday, July 11. Lawrie led the UW women’s softball team to the national championship and has been nominated for Best Female College Athlete. To vote, go to www.espys.tv. The awards show will appear on ESPN on July 19.
PSYCH HONORS: The Psychology Department has announced the winners of its annual departmental awards: Andrew Fleming, Yamile Molina, Renay Cleary Bradley, Kelly Koo and Christine Terry received the Distinguished Teaching Award for graduate students. Cleary Bradley and Richard Nobles received the Graduate Student Service Award, while Professor Michael D. Beecher won the Davida Teller Distinguished Faculty Mentor Award. Ursula Whiteside won the Distinguished Service Award for her outstanding performance with the Department of Human Subjects Pool over a number of years, a term marked by introduction of many innovations largely designed and implemented by Ursula.
Among undergraduates, Joy S. Kawamura and Alix B. W. Norton are co-winners of the 2009 Guthrie Prize in Psychology, which honors meritorious undergraduate students for their research papers. Kawamura’s paper was sponsored by Research Associate Professor Lynn Fainsilber Katz, while Norton’s was sponsored by Professor Sheri Mizumori. Psi Chi, the national honors society for psychology students, presented the Psychology Service Award to Timothy Kelly in recognition of his outstanding dedication to service and academics throughout his undergraduate career.
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