News » Archives » September 2010
$1.4 million awarded in second round of scientific research on generosity
• Date: September 30, 2010 • Categories: Research
The University of Notre Dame’s Science of Generosity Initiative has awarded $1.4 million to nine research projects that will study the origins, manifestations and consequences of generosity. The winning projects were chosen from among 327 proposals by scholars in numerous disciplines in this second phase of research funding. Four projects were funded earlier this year.
Wall Street Journal ranks Notre Dame EMBA No. 6
• Date: September 30, 2010 • Categories: Academics
The Notre Dame Executive MBA program at the Mendoza College of Business earned the No. 6 ranking in The Wall Street Journal’s just released “Best Executive MBA Programs 2010.” The ranking recognizes the top EMBA programs in the world as rated by graduates and companies.
The Mendoza College received especially high marks for its teaching of critical management skills and mentions by graduates for its emphasis on business ethics.
Notre Dame and University of Wyoming scientists genetically engineer silkworms to produce artificial spider silk
• Date: September 29, 2010 • Categories: Research
A research and development effort by the University of Notre Dame, the University of Wyoming, and Kraig Biocraft Laboratories, Inc. has succeeded in producing transgenic silkworms capable of spinning artificial spider silks.
“This research represents a significant breakthrough in the development of superior silk fibers for both medical and non-medical applications,” said Malcolm J. Fraser Jr., a Notre Dame professor of biological sciences. “The generation of silk fibers having the properties of spider silks has been one of the important goals in materials science.”
Notre Dame presents The Tournées Festival
• Date: September 29, 2010 • Categories: Academics and Campus and Community
The University of Notre Dame’s Nanovic Institute for European Studies, French and Francophone Studies Program, and Department of Film, Television and Theatre will present The Tournées Festival, a showcase of five of today’s internationally recognized and celebrated French films, from Sept. 30 to Oct. 28 in the Browning Cinema of the University’s DeBartolo Performing Arts Center.
Tickets may be purchased online at performingarts.nd.edu or by calling the ticket office at 574-631-2800. Prices are $6 for the general public, $4 for seniors and $3 for all students.
Research breakthrough to be announced at press conference
• Date: September 28, 2010 • Categories: Research
The University of Notre Dame and Kraig Biocraft Laboratories will hold a joint press conference at 11 a.m. on Sept. 29 (Wednesday) in the Jordan Hall of Science on the Notre Dame campus to describe a new research breakthrough and its possible biomedical and commercial applications.
A live video stream of the press conference will be available here.
Notre Dame and Biocraft representatives will make comments and answer questions during the press conference.
Research to focus on increasing security for humanitarian workers worldwide
• Date: September 28, 2010 • Categories: Faith and Service, International, and Research
The U.S. Agency for International Development has awarded Larissa Fast, assistant professor of conflict resolution and sociology at the University of Notre Dame, and her co-investigators from Johns Hopkins University and Save the Children, a grant for research that seeks to increase security for international relief and development agencies worldwide.
New study reveals that insecticides from genetically modified corn are present in adjacent streams
• Date: September 27, 2010 • Categories: Research
A new study by University of Notre Dame ecologist Jennifer Tank and colleagues reveals that streams throughout the Midwest are receiving transgenic materials from corn crop byproducts, even six months after harvest.
Transgenic maize (corn) has been genetically engineered to produce its own insecticide, a delta endotoxin from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). Bt endotoxins deter crop pests, such as the European corn borer.
Notre Dame welcomes first Moreau Fellows
• Date: September 27, 2010 • Categories: Academics
Eleven postdoctoral fellows have joined the University of Notre Dame under a new program that is enhancing faculty diversity while adding a fresh view on the positive potential of diversity recruitment activities.
The 11 are the first recipients of Moreau Academic Diversity Postdoctoral Fellowships, a program underwritten by the Offices of the President, Provost, the deans and Lilly Endowment Inc. They were chosen from about 300 newly-minted Ph.Ds whose next career step is to achieve a tenure-track appointment.
2010-11 Notre Dame theater season to open Sept. 30
• Date: September 24, 2010 • Categories: Campus and Community
The University of Notre Dame’s Department of Film, Television and Theatre will present four plays in its 2010-11 theater season, beginning Sept. 30 (Thursday) with “The Bible: The Complete Word of God (abridged)” by Adam Long, Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor and additional material by Matthew Croke.
Notre Dame to host fourth annual Energy Week
• Date: September 24, 2010 • Categories: Campus and Community
The University of Notre Dame will observe its fourth annual Energy Week today through Thursday (Sept. 24-30) with the theme “Green is Gold.”
Organized by members of the Student Advisory Board of the Notre Dame Energy Center, each day of Energy Week will feature energy education and awareness activities, lectures on renewable energy sources, tours of both the Notre Dame power plant and Geddes Hall (the first building on campus to receive LEED Gold Certification) and screenings of documentaries and energy-focused movies, such as “The 11th Hour.” See all the activities.
Gurulé to address AG symposium on Mexican criminal justice reform
• Date: September 24, 2010 • Categories: Academics and International
Jimmy Gurulé, professor of law at the University of Notre Dame, will make two presentations at a major symposium hosted by the Indiana Attorney General’s office for training Mexican prosecutors in the modernization and reform of Mexico’s criminal justice system.
The training session is the result of an agreement signed by Attorney General Greg Zoller and Rommel Moreno Manjarrez, the attorney general of the Mexican state of Baja California.
Center encourages students to become creators of knowledge
• Date: September 24, 2010 • Categories: Academics and Research
“Notre Dame is strong in undergraduate teaching, but the next frontier is students working with professors to do research,” says Daniel Lindley, associate professor of political science and director of the University of Notre Dame’s new Center for Undergraduate Scholarly Engagement (CUSE).
“Research is development of the mind—the development of students who will be of service to the University and to the world,” he says.
The center, which opened on the second floor of Notre Dame’s Geddes Hall late last year, will offer ideas, advice and centralization of information for undergraduates interested in doing research, in addition to partnering with faculty to create research opportunities.
ND Expert: Israelis “bound to sink talks with Palestinians”
• Date: September 23, 2010 • Categories: Academics
With Israel’s construction moratorium on Jewish settlements in the West Bank due to end this weekend, Palestinian and Israeli negotiators are seeking a way to keep the peace talks going.
But according to University of Notre Dame political scientist Michael Desch, these negotiations were over almost before they began.
“The Netanyahu government is bound and determined to sink the talks with the Palestinians,” says Desch, who specializes in international relations and national security.
Notre Dame updates University events calendar
• Date: September 23, 2010 • Categories: Campus and Community
The University of Notre Dame has launched a new electronic events calendar that delivers information about Notre Dame activities to your desktop, your smart phone and to personal electronic calendars such as Outlook and Google.
The new site, calendar.nd.edu, phases out the former agenda.nd.edu for a visually lively homepage of pictures and clearly identified events of the day.
In Memoriam: ND microbiologist Julian Pleasants
• Date: September 23, 2010 • Categories: Academics
Julian R. Pleasants, associate professor emeritus of biological sciences at the University of Notre Dame, died Friday (Sept. 17) at the Sanctuary at Holy Cross. He was 92.
A native of Palmetto, Fla., and a 1939 Notre Dame alumnus, Pleasants began working at LOBUND, Notre Dame’s germ-free research center, in 1944, earned a doctoral degree in microbiology from the University in 1966, and continued in germ-free research for the rest of his life.
Cargill donation will help Notre Dame Haiti Program fight disease
• Date: September 22, 2010 • Categories: International and Research
Cargill, an international producer and marketer of food, agricultural, financial and industrial products and services, has donated $20,000 toward the purchase of raw salt to assist in the University of Notre Dame Haiti Program effort to eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) in that country.
LF, which commonly is called elephantiasis, is one of the leading causes of disability in the world and it affects roughly one-third of the population in Haiti. However, the debilitating disease can be eliminated by using table salt. Cargill’s donation will assist a community development model that includes table salt as an integral component.
President of Catholic Relief Services to present lecture at Notre Dame
• Date: September 21, 2010 • Categories: Campus and Community and Faith and Service
Ken Hackett, president of Catholic Relief Services, will present the Center for Social Concerns’ 2010 Rev. Bernie Clark, C.S.C. lecture, “Globally Engaging Charity in Truth,” on Sept. 23 (Thursday), at 7:15 p.m. in the Andrews Auditorium of Geddes Hall on the University of Notre Dame campus.
CRS is one of the world’s most effective and efficient relief and development agencies according to independent studies and Hackett will share best practices on relief and development efforts, situating the work of CRS in the context of recent papal encyclical which addresses the financial crisis.
Green Chemistry and energy experts to present lectures and demonstrations at Notre Dame
• Date: September 20, 2010 • Categories: Academics and Campus and Community
John Warner, one of the founding fathers of green chemistry, will give a lecture titled “Twelve Principles of Green Chemistry” on Saturday (Sept. 25) at 10 a.m., in Room 101 of the Jordan Hall of Science at the University of Notre Dame.
Warner is the co-founder, chief technology officer and chairman of the board of the Warner Babcock Institute for Green Chemistry. Warner, who co-authored the seminal book “Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice,” will discuss green chemistry and how it is used to reduce the use and/or generation of hazardous substances in the design phase of materials development. Warner holds numerous patents and has worked extensively in the areas of semiconductor design, biodegradable plastics, personal care products and polymeric photoresists.
Warner’s talk will be immediately followed by a presentation by Ty Newell at 11 a.m., and green chemistry demonstrations for children of all ages by Amy Cannon at noon also in the Jordan Hall of Science.
Notre Dame creates position to coordinate life initiatives
• Date: September 20, 2010 • Categories: Faith and Service
A final recommendation from the Task Force on Supporting the Choice for Life at the University of Notre Dame recently was accepted by the University’s president, Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C.
As it completed its term of service in May, the task force recommended to Father Jenkins that structures be created to implement previous recommendations and continue the group’s work. In response, Father Jenkins has established the position of coordinator for university life initiatives and appointed Mary K. Daly to the post.
Research shows child rearing practices of distant ancestors foster morality, compassion in kids
• Date: September 17, 2010 • Categories: Research
Ever meet a kindergartener who seemed naturally compassionate and cared about others’ feelings? Who was cooperative and didn’t demand his own way? Chances are, his parents held, carried and cuddled him a lot; he most likely was breastfed; he probably routinely slept with his parents; and he likely was encouraged to play outdoors with other children, according to new research findings from the University of Notre Dame.
Three new studies led by Notre Dame Psychology Professor Darcia Narvaez show a relationship between child rearing practices common in foraging hunter-gatherer societies (how we humans have spent about 99 percent of our history) and better mental health, greater empathy and conscience development, and higher intelligence in children.
Notre Dame Forum events to explore morals, professions, technology and the common good
• Date: September 16, 2010 • Categories: Academics and Campus and Community
Three panel discussions will be presented at the University of Notre Dame in September and October as part of the 2010-11 Notre Dame Forum, “The Global Marketplace and the Common Good.”
A yearlong discussion on the role of ethics, values and morals in the rebuilding and reshaping of the global economy, the Forum will bring experts and speakers to campus to join Notre Dame faculty and students to examine the inherent demand for an essential moral framework in the quest for human development, a topic that has taken on increased scrutiny in the wake of the current global economic crisis and that is relevant to the recent papal encyclical “Caritas in Veritate,” in which Pope Benedict XVI offers reflections on the subject, touching on theological, economic and political questions.
Notre Dame alumnus Bishop appointed associate VP for undergraduate enrollment
• Date: September 15, 2010 • Categories: Academics and Campus and Community
Donald C. Bishop, a long-time admissions leader in higher education and a University of Notre Dame graduate, has been appointed associate vice president for undergraduate enrollment at Notre Dame, effective Dec. 1. He succeeds Daniel J. Saracino, who retired in June.
In addition to directing the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, Bishop will oversee the Office of Student Financial Services, a new collaboration that will help Notre Dame attract and recruit highly talented students whose interests and aspirations align with the University’s mission as a Catholic university.
Notre Dame establishes new Ph.D program in theology and peace studies
• Date: September 14, 2010 • Categories: Academics
The University of Notre Dame has established a Ph.D in theology and peace studies to educate and train scholars in both theology and interdisciplinary peace research. The program is a partnership between Notre Dame’s Department of Theology and Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies.
Notre Dame’s Ph.D in peace studies, a joint program with the Kroc Institute and the Departments of History, Political Science, Sociology and Psychology, began in 2008. Adding a partnership with theology is a natural step for Notre Dame, says Robert Johansen, director of doctoral studies at the Kroc Institute.
Notre Dame alumni honored with annual awards
• Date: September 14, 2010 • Categories: Campus and Community and Faith and Service
The University of Notre Dame Alumni Association honored the achievements of two Notre Dame graduates with awards this month.
Capt. Wendy Sue Kosek, a 2004 graduate and 2007 graduate of the Notre Dame Law School, received the Rev. William Corby, C.S.C., Award for distinguished military service.
Victor Dukay, a 1978 Notre Dame graduate, was presented the Thomas A. Dooley Award for his outstanding service to humankind, specifically for his work with HIV/AIDS and improving the lives of orphaned children in Africa.
ND Expert: Official poverty numbers misleading; better measure needed
• Date: September 13, 2010 • Categories: Academics
On Thursday (Sept. 16), the U.S. Census Bureau will release its annual official poverty report for 2009. Based on the rise in unemployment for the year, the number of Americans defined as poor is expected to increase by 2 to 3 percentage points – the largest year-to-year increase of the past 50 years.
Though the statistics are grim – potentially indicating that one in seven people were poor in 2009 – they fail to reflect the significant gains in well-being over a longer period, according to University of Notre Dame economist James Sullivan, who researches the consumption, saving and borrowing behavior of poor households and how welfare and tax policies impact the poor.
Newt Gingrich to present new John Paul II documentary at Notre Dame
• Date: September 13, 2010 • Categories: Campus and Community
Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich and his wife, Callista Gingrich, will introduce the documentary film “Nine Days that Changed the World” Sept. 20 (Monday) at 7 p.m. in the University of Notre Dame’s Washington Hall auditorium.
The Gingriches are the executive producers of the film, which concerns Pope John Paul II’s nine-day visit to his native Poland in June of 1979. That historic papal trip greatly strengthened the country’s Solidarity workers movement, emboldened conscientious dissidents throughout Eastern Europe, and hastened the collapse and dissolution of the Soviet Union.
A vision informed by a life journey
• Date: September 10, 2010 • Categories: Research
The behavior of fluids seems simple and intuitive—rivers flow downhill, drinks take the shape of the glass they’re in, etc.
But at extremely small scales, fluids follow a physics that can seem strange to us. The effects of gravity and inertia, for example, give way to more powerful forces like surface tension and viscosity. By understanding and exploiting these properties, engineers in the young field of “microfluidics” have developed a wide range of useful applications, including well-known ones in the home (inkjet printers) and on police dramas (DNA analyzers).
For Hsueh-Chia Chang, Bayer Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Notre Dame, the greatest uses of microfluidic technology still lie ahead, in applications that will help tackle some of the world’s toughest health and environmental problems.
Notre Dame police, fire and risk management departments to be aligned under new Office of Campus Safety
• Date: September 10, 2010 • Categories: Campus and Community
The University of Notre Dame’s police, fire and risk management and safety departments will be aligned under a new Office of Campus Safety to be directed by Michael Seamon, who has been promoted to associate vice president.
An eight-member task force led by John Affleck-Graves, the University’s executive vice president, was created last October to examine Notre Dame’s current structure as well as the organizational models at others colleges and universities. Working in conjunction with an outside consultant, the committee made the recommendation for the realignment, which is effective Oct. 1. Seamon will report to Affleck-Graves.
Lecture to provide insider’s look at New START treaty
• Date: September 10, 2010 • Categories: Campus and Community
Rose Gottemoeller, U.S. assistant secretary of state and chief negotiator of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) between the U.S. and Russia, will speak at the University of Notre Dame on Sept. 21 (Tuesday) at 4:15 p.m. in the auditorium of the Hesburgh Center for International Studies. The event is free and open to the public.
Gottemoeller will provide an insider’s view of negotiations toward a treaty to reduce nuclear arsenals, which was signed by President Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev last spring. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is scheduled to vote on ratification of the treaty on Sept. 16.
Respondents to the lecture are Col. Richard Klass of the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation and Ira Helfand of Physicians for Social Responsibility.
Discussion will include the terms of the new treaty, its impact on relations between the United States and Russia, and its implications for U.S. and international security.
Chuck Lennon retiring as executive director of Notre Dame Alumni Association
• Date: September 09, 2010 • Categories: Campus and Community
Charles F. Lennon Jr. will retire in June 2011 after 30 years as executive director of the University of Notre Dame Alumni Association. Louis M. Nanni, vice president for University Relations, will conduct a national search for Lennon’s successor.
Speaking on behalf of the two other presidents for whom Lennon served, Revs. Theodore M. Hesburgh and Edward A. Malloy, Notre Dame’s current president, Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., said: “Chuck Lennon embodies the spirit of Notre Dame. As a student, athlete, alumnus, coach, administrator, and, since 1981, as the leader of one of the most extraordinary alumni associations in the nation, that spirit animates everything he does. His life is one of loving service to Notre Dame. We will miss his leadership, insight and infectious enthusiasm but wish him the very best in this next stage of his life.”
