Fall 2008 Perspectives Magazine: Kudos

Perspectives: Research and Creative Activities at SIUC, Fall 2008

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Kudos

The School of Social Work received the 2008 Partners in Advancing Education for International Social Work Award, conferred by the Council on Social Work Education's Commission on Global Social Work. Six schools were nominated from among 600 degree-granting social work education programs. SIUC's program is active in numerous international initiatives and has ties with 11 universities in eight countries.

The History Channel's "Modern Marvels" series revisited SIUC recently, this time to feature research at the Center for Advanced Friction Studies (the first trip, a few years ago, was for a program on metals). The crew taped interviews for "Super Hot," a show looking at how researchers create and study extreme temperatures. The SIUC footage included airplane brake friction demonstrations.

Daotai Nie, assistant professor of medical microbiology, immunology, and cell biology, was recently awarded three federal grants totaling $1.75 million for cancer research. Two, from the National Cancer Institute, involve prostate cancer studies; the third, from the U.S. Army, involves breast cancer metastasis.

Zoology professor Chris Kohler, former director of SIUC's Fisheries and Illinois Aquaculture Center, is the 2008 recipient of the Excellence in Fisheries Education Award from the American Fisheries Society (AFS), the top such annual award in North America. He also won the Stephen Forbes Award of Excellence from the Illinois AFS this year.

Marianne Webb, Distinguished University Organist and professor of music, received the biennial Edward A. Hansen Leadership Award from the American Guild of Organists at its national convention this past June. The award recognizes her career as a concert artist, teacher, and innovator.

Two leading professional organizations in the area of toxicology awarded their highest rankings to SIUC's science dean in 2008. The American Board of Toxicology named Jay Means as a diplomate, and the Academy of Toxicological Sciences elected him as a fellow. The honors certify Means as an international leader in his field.

Om Agrawal, a professor of mechanical engineering and energy processes, gave a keynote speech on "Fractional Derivatives and Their Applications" at the Sixth EUROMECH Nonlinear Dynamics Conference this past summer in St. Petersburg, Russia.

An SIUC graduate student this fall is studying the ongoing democratization of Romania as a winner of a Fulbright award. Charles Harris, a doctoral student in political science, also is working with Romanian students as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant.

Joyce Fetro, professor of health education and recreation, has been named the American Association for Health Education's 2009 scholar. Her research focuses on youth development, resilience, and health risk behaviors.

John Downing, director of SIUC's Global Media Research Center, has been named to a four-year term as a vice president for the International Association for Media and Communication Research. Downing is a professor of media studies in the Department of Radio-Television.

Frank Stemper, music professor and SIUC composer in residence, recently received his 20th consecutive ASCAPlus award from the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers. Stemper had premieres of new works in 2008 in the United States, Mexico, France, and Hungary.

—by Marilyn Davis