Campus Connection - July 6-12, 2009

Mike Zack in classroom.

Mike Zack, UW-Stevens Point’scChemistry department, introduced research in alternate energies being done at Argonne National Laboratory to girls attending the Girls in Science workshop on campus June 27 and 28.

Middle-school girls learn about math, science in Girls in Science workshop

RAs from workshop
Above: UW-L students served as residence assistants for the Girls in Science workshop. They included, clockwise from top left, Katie Nakielski, Elise Gavle, Anna Baltz, Melissa Wiehr, Stephanie Wegesser, Jenna Otto, Anna Halat, Ashley McLaren and Brittany Smith.
Mike Hunt's workshop

Above: Girls in Science student Kathryn Kaminski constructed a virtual 3D world in Kenny Hunt’s Movie Production through Computer Programming workshop.

Eighty middle-school girls from the La Crosse area and across the state, as well as one from New York and one from California, were on campus June 27-28 for the 11th annual Girls in Science weekend.

The workshop included hands-on workshops taught by a UW-L faculty and college student teaching assistants. Each girl took two of the following workshops: 

  • Art and Music ... and Math! taught by Karl Kattchee, mathematics
  • Crime Scene Investigation: The Case of Jason Worth taught by Faye Ellis, biology
  • Movie Production Through Computer Programming taught by Kenny Hunt, computer science
  • Shards of the Past: Experimental Archaeology taught by Connie Arzigian, archaeology
  • The Wonderful World of Plankton taught by Eric Strauss, biology
  • Rockets taught by Eric Barnes, physics; and Will It Float? taught by Jon Hasenbank, mathematics.

On Sunday morning, Michael Zach, UW-Stevens Point’s chemistry department, talked about the country’s need for more scientists and the work some scientists are doing at Argonne National Laboratory to address alternative energy needs. He presented the work he did while at Argonne, including the team he was on that developed Argonne’s patented Ultrafast, Ultrasensitive Nanostructured Hydrogen Sensor. It's the world’s fastest hydrogen detector and will be used in future Space Shuttle missions and in hydrogen fuel cell cars to detect possible hydrogen leaks before the lower limit of flammability is reached. He also demonstrated the properties of hydrogen (boom), hydrogen and oxygen (BOOM!) and other gasses (WOW! Can we do that again?). 

The girls finished the program with one more workshop from the following list:

  • Catch a Flying Car taught by Susan Kelly, mathematics
  • Food is Fuel and Munch, Munch More taught by Peg Maher, biology
  • Mrs. Jones’s Kidney Problem taught by Bernadette Taylor-Winfrey, microbiology  
  • The Universe in Invisible Light taught by Shauna Sallmen, physics
  • You GO Girl! taught by Rebecca Battista, exercise and sports medicine

The program is directed by Sandy Grunwald, chemistry; Susan Kelly, mathematics; and Karen Langaard, Continuing Education and Extension. The Mississippi Valley Gifted and Talented Network joined the College of Science and Health and UW-L Continuing Education and Extension in providing the program this year.

Three generations of Girls in Science participants.

Girls in Science program brings three generations to UW-L

Alyssa Fraser, front, came from Escondido, Calif., to attend the Girls in Science weekend program.  Her mother, Kathy (Weggen) Fraser, a 1988 UW-L chemistry and biology graduate, read about the program in the UW-L Science and Health newsletter and scheduled a trip to visit her family during the event.  Alyssa, Kathy and Alyssa’s grandmother, Diane (Irwin) Weggen, a 1965 English and physical education graduate of UW-L,  all stopped by campus at the start of the program. 

 

Centennial Hall construction map

Centennial Hall construction map updated

Demolition of Baird, Trowbridge and Wilder halls is underway and the contractor needs to begin running new utilities to the site. In order to tie the new steam lines that will feed Centennial Hall into the existing campus steam distribution system while that system is down in early August, the contractor must disturb an area outside of the main project site.

Consequently, an area to the east of the University Memorial Gazebo (north of Wing Technology Center) and the main east-west sidewalk located immediately south of the construction site will be blocked off until the end of July.

Pedestrians wanting to move east or west on the south side of the construction site are asked to follow an alternate route. To download a full-sized version of the map, visit www.uwlax.edu/universityrelations/images/2009/summer/june/CentennialHallConstructionMap.pdf.

Open forums set to discuss furloughs

Chancellor Joe Gow and other administrators are hosting two open forums to discuss the furloughs and other budget related matters. The forums are scheduled from 3-4:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 7, and Friday, July 10, in Port O’ Call, Cartwright Center-Gunning Addition. All campus community members are encouraged to attend one or both of the sessions. The chancellor has approved 1.5 hours of release time for all classified staff to attend the forums. Work with supervisors to ensure office coverage.

Campus Kudos

 

 

 

Jim Jorstad, Educational Technologies, was a featured speaker at the national EduComm conference held in Orlando, Fla., June 15-18. Jorstad presented the program “Lost in Space — Finding the Right Learning Space for Learners.” The program was Webcast worldwide. In the presentation, also Jorstad highlighted a new worldwide pilot, the Learning Space Repository project. The new Webcast site will feature global examples of innovative and effective learning spaces which faculty and administrators can review and explore online. Links for this resource will be available in early fall 2009.

Centennial Celebration Logo

Centennial Gala Celebration planned for Oct. 24

Reserve tables now

UW-L is celebrating its centennial during the 2009-10 academic year. There have been many obvious changes to the campus since the Normal School doors opened in 1909 but "academic excellence" has been a hallmark for all 100 years.

There will be a number of activities scheduled during the year to help celebrate one event, including the Gala Celebration Saturday night, Oct. 24, in the Recreational Eagle Center. The event includes a meal, presentations, an AV show highlighting UW-L's 100 year history and the musical Big Band sounds of the Greg Balfany group.

For levels of table sponsorships and a reservation form, visit www.uwlax.edu/universityrelations/images/2009/summer/July/CenSponsorFlyer.pdf. You can also reserve a space by going to the UW-L home page at www.uwlax.edu and clicking on "Centennial Celebration."

For more information, contact Pat Stephens at 785.8153 or stephens.patr@uwlax.edu.

Human Relations

 

 

 

New employees

Kathleen Eirschele, IS business automation analyst, Records and Registration, July 1.

Corinne Means, University Services Assistant 2, Records and Registration, July 5.

Michael McGargle, IS business automation analyst, Financial Aid, July 6.

Patrick Timm, IS business automation analyst, Admissions, July 6.

Transfer opportunity

UW-L has the current transfer opportunity on campus for a 100 percent University Services Associate 2 in the Center for Advancing Teaching and Learning. Pay Schedule Range is 02/10. Interested people at or above the pay range indicated may apply by contacting Kathy Ring at ring.kath@uwlax.edu or at 785.6499. For additional information, including a full position description, visit www.uwlax.edu/hr/employment. Deadline to sign up for transfer is noon, July 13.

In the news

 

 

 

"UW-L grad breaking the silence in Iran," La Crosse Tribune, June 27. A UW-L graduate now living and working in Tehran is breaking through the government-imposed silence in Iran. The communication crackdown has followed the violence and political unrest in the wake of Iran's contentious June 12 presidential elections. Full story: www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2009/06/27/news/00lead.txt.

Oral Defense

 

 

 

Sarah Grosskopf, candidate for master's of science-community health education, "Stress Less: A Healthier Worksite Program," 10 a.m. Friday, July 17, in 206 Wimberly Hall. Adviser: Gary Gilmore, health education/health promotion.

Classified

 

 

 

Set of irons for men 3 through PW, graphite shafts, new. $95. New putters. $45. A Sun Mountain Cart golf bag in great condition. $55. Bob at 781.3695 or 785.6559.

Getting information into the Campus Connection