PAMS Focus - March 2004

PAMS Focus is a periodic e-mail newsletter about activities, achievements and other news from the NC State College of Physical & Mathematical Sciences. If you have any suggestions or comments, please share them with Sally Ramey, Director of College Relations, at 919-513-0300 or slramey@ncsu.edu.

PAMS 2003 Distinguished Alumna among speakers at 2004 Emerging Issues Forum

Christine Hemrick, PAMS' 2003 Distinguished Alumna, was a speaker at the 2004 Emerging Issues Forum, held on campus Feb. 9-10.

The Institute for Emerging Issues is a "think and do" tank committed to helping government, business, and nonprofits make sense of the future. Through the prestigious Emerging Issues Forum, now in its 19th year, the Institute identifies emerging trends in North Carolina, sharpens public debate on their impact, proposes strategic responses, and stimulates action by the public and private sectors.

The 2004 Emerging Issues Forum focused on global trade, the merging of old and new industries, regional solutions to economic development, and reducing inequality in North Carolina. The topic meshed well with Hemrick's work with Cisco Systems' initiatives in developing nations.

For more on the Institute for Emerging Issues and this year's forum, visit http://www.ncsu.edu/iei/index.html .

For more on Christine Hemrick, visit http://www.ncsu.edu/news/press_releases/03_11/332.htm

Can dinosaur size teach us something about global warming?

Scientists have often wondered how and why dinosaurs grew to be so large. The answer is probably a lot of hot air, according to doctoral student Sara Decherd of the Department of Marine, Earth and Atmospherics Sciences.

Decherd studies the ecology of the Cretaceous period, about 160 million years ago, when Earth's atmosphere contained more oxygen and more carbon dioxide and was, in her words, "a hothouse." She believes, and is working to demonstrate, that this richer atmosphere helped plants grow bigger and faster. With lots of food, herbivorous dinosaurs thrived -- and became lumbering prey for their carnivorous cousins. Does that explain the massive size of the dinosaurs? It might, but Decherd prefers to focus on the plant-growth aspects of her research.

"The larger issues my work could help illuminate aren't the dinosaurs," she says, "but rather the ecology of the Cretaceous period, the addition of our data to environmental and climatic models, and perhaps some insight into current concerns about greenhouse gases and global warming."

For more details, go to http://www.ncsu.edu/news/press_releases/04_01/026.htm

Penguin Bones from "Land of Fire" Rewrite Bird's Evolution

Fossilized bones found in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, are likely those of the earliest known South American penguin, which probably lived 20 million years earlier than scientists had supposed. The new find, made by Dr. Julia A. Clarke of NC State's Department of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, doubles the known fossil record of penguins in South America.

For the full story and photos, go to http://www.ncsu.edu/news/press_releases/04_02/049.htm

USTL Building opens; dedication planned for spring

Despite construction delays, the new Undergraduate Science Teaching Laboratory (USTL) Building opened on time for classes in January. However, due to the delays, the dedication ceremony originally planned for December has been delayed until later this spring, once all landscaping in the new green area facing the building is complete. Alumni with an ongoing relationship with the College or who have purchased an engraved brick in the Walk of Discovery will be invited. Speaking of which.

First batch of "Walk of Discovery" engraved bricks laid at USTL

The first round of engraved bricks has been laid in the brick walkway near the entrance to the USTL. The fall/winter issue of Scope , PAMS' alumni magazine, contains a photo of two of the bricks on the inside back cover. New bricks will be added in batches of 100 as we collect additional orders.

The bricks cost $100 apiece, with proceeds supporting student scholarships. If you would like an engraved brick, contact us at pamsalumni@lists.ncsu.edu and we will send you an order form.

Challenge grant attracts support for Science House

Recently, an anonymous donor announced a challenge grant of $250,000 to support endowment for The Science House. To date, several donors have taken advantage of the opportunity, collectively contributing $50,000, which has been doubled to $100,000.

Not only will the donor match contributions one-to-one to a general Science House Endowment, but the donor will support endowments in other donors' names. For example, if "Jane Smith" establishes an endowment in her name to support The Science House, the anonymous donor would designate a match into the Jane Smith endowment. This enables Jane Smith to double the value of her gift.

The challenge grant expires Dec. 31, 2004 or when the total meets $250,000. For information about making a contribution, please send an inquiry to pamsalumni@lists.ncsu.edu .

PAMS Development office has new employee

Joy Jefferson recently joined the staff of the PAMS Office of Development and College Relations as director of development. She has an impressive record through her service to Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia, and will be meeting with college alumni. She replaces Stacy Zearing, who accepted an advancement opportunity at Indiana University, enabling him to be closer to family.