Members of the campus and the community are invited to bring their art or artifacts to the Art Conservation Department for examination, conservation advice, and possible treatment during the department’s annual Art Conservation Clinic on Friday, September 18.Appointments are required. Contact Diana McNerney, 878-5025, to schedule a 30-minute visit.
As an educator and physicist, Michael De Marco has a passion for working with natural elements to improve technology. He begins his work by asking questions. How can we build a bigger, stronger magnet? How can we create a cleaner fuel? The professor and chair of the Physics Department had the opportunity to investigate such questions during a spring 2008 sabbatical.
De Marco and Dermot Coffey, associate professor, have worked as principal investigators on several grants from the U.S. Department of Energy since 2003. The funding, which was renewed in 2006 and again this summer, allows them to research the superconductive properties of ruthenium—element 44 on the periodic table. Superconductivity is the ability of a material to conduct electricity at ultralow temperatures without the loss of energy.
The sabbatical provided De Marco time to learn to use a 9 Tesla magnet, which is about 90,000 times stronger than a common household magnet. De Marco and Coffey have been able to use the magnet to experiment with the nucleus of ruthenium through a technique called the Mössbauer effect in a special laboratory at the University at Buffalo, where scientists collect data about the properties of nuclei by producing and studying emissions.
Superconductive materials are frequently used in the medical field for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and in the transportation field for high-speed trains that run on magnetic levitation, such as those in Japan. De Marco believes elements like ruthenium can help meet future energy needs, and he hopes the data collected with the magnet can help scientists create a superconductor that can operate at room temperature. Currently, ruthenium is superconductive only at immensely cold temperatures—below negative 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
“If you understand how a scientific process works, then you can figure out how to make it better and apply it to different systems,” De Marco said.
Since 2003, De Marco and Coffey have received more than $1 million from the U.S. Department of Energy. The grants include stipends for undergraduate student researchers, who De Marco said are critical partners in the experiments.
De Marco also invited a group of scientists from the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium to campus toward the end of the sabbatical. Together, they are working to develop a ruthenium compound that can remove nitrous oxides from diesel fuel, which would make the fuel cleaner. De Marco traveled to Belgium in the fall for continued experiments.
Without the sabbatical, De Marco said, he wouldn’t have had time to be a physicist—which, in turn, makes him a better educator. “When you perform experiments, you’re a scientist,” he said. “You can’t just teach by reading a book. You need insight of how to fail and how to succeed. Getting that firsthand knowledge of methodology helps you understand what it means to work in physics.”
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Read previous Focus on Sabbatical stories:
Felix Armfield
Betty Cappella
Ann Colley
Rob Delprino
Musa Abdul Hakim
Katherine Hartman
David Henry
Wendy Paterson
M. Stephen Pendleton
Stephen Phelps
John Song
Carol Townsend
Jonathan Thornton
Consultant Jessica Kozloff with Academic Search Inc. will visit campus today and tomorrow to meet with members of the Buffalo State community regarding the ongoingpresidential search. The visit is designed to provide Kozloff with broad exposure to the Buffalo State community, to allow the campus community to convey its aspirations for the next president, and to ensure that the consultants have a firm understanding of Buffalo State College.
An open meeting for all faculty, staff, and students will be held today at 12:15 p.m. in Bulger Communication Center North for those who are unable to attend the meeting designated for their constituent group or those who do not find another appropriate group meeting.
The schedule for Kozloff’s visit can be found on the president’s Web site. All members of the campus community are invited to take advantage of these opportunities. Comments and suggestions also may be submitted via e-mail atpresidentsearch@buffalostate.edu.
Students are admitted to law schools from virtually all majors, according to the American Bar Association. Buffalo State’s new legal studies minor, which is offered for the first time this semester, is designed to ensure that students interested in attending law school are exposed to a variety of subjects and achieve a balance of educational experiences.
The 18-credit-hour minor is housed in the Political Science Department, but, said chair Laurie Buonanno, “the minor is administered by an interdisciplinary faculty.” It was devised by the pre-law advisement committee, chaired by Virginia Grabiner, associate professor of sociology. Jon Lines, lecturer in political science, serves as the minor’s coordinator and as coach for the Buffalo State Mock Trial team.
Two courses are required to complete the minor: Introduction to Law and Introduction to Philosophy. The capstone project is Moot Court, a 400-level course cross-listed with psychology, criminal justice, and sociology, which is taught by a judge and is based on a murder trial. This year, Town of Tonawanda Town Justice John J. Flynn will teach the course. Students may take Contemporary Constitutional Issues instead.
Students can choose from a list of 21 courses to complete the minor’s requirements, but no more than two may be from the same department. The list reflects a wide range of law-related topics including rhetorical criticism, economic analysis of law, and English legal history.
Buonanno noted that Kelly Boos, assistant to the dean of natural and social sciences, will continue to serve as pre-law adviser for students interested in attending law school. The pre-law handbook provides valuable information, including a timeline indicating when students should acquire the necessary academic skills.
William C. Smith, a janitor in the Custodial Services Department, has been awarded the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Classified Service. Smith has received many unsolicited commendations from grateful members of the Buffalo State community since he joined the college in 1979 as a cleaner. He has consistently exceeded the requirements of his job, voluntarily taken on additional tasks, and put in extra time when necessary, all the while delivering outstanding results.
Smith is known as a flexible, effective, and dependable leader who has demonstrated superior specialized floor and surface cleaning and finishing throughout the campus. Faculty and staff in academic departments, administrative offices, E. H. Butler Library, and the Burchfield Penney Art Center have praised his work. He also has been commended for improving the appearance of upholstered furniture, especially in highly visible areas.
In addition to his outstanding results, his work ethic and dedication have been greatly respected throughout his years of service. He has willingly put forth special efforts to fulfill requests, often exceeding expectations, and he is known for being a “can-do” person who is very reliable. His good cheer and service-oriented attitude have added to the widespread appreciation for his work.
The award will be formally presented to Smith during the college’s 22nd annual Academic Convocation ceremony on September 17 in Rockwell Hall Auditorium.
Buffalo State will offer an incentive for Buffalo Public Schools students with the Buffalo State College Challenge, a new program that provides admission and a scholarship for those who meet specific academic benchmarks by the time they graduate.
The Buffalo State College Challenge will begin this year as a pilot program in McKinley High School. To participate, students must take classes geared toward college preparation, earn a score of 1,000 or better on the critical reading and math sections of the SAT, and maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 85. Those who meet the requirements will be granted admission and a scholarship to Buffalo State.
The program is modeled after the Syracuse Challenge, a partnership between Syracuse University and the Syracuse City School District that began in 1993. Dean Reinhart, associate director of admissions, previously worked in admissions at Syracuse University and thought the idea would benefit the Buffalo School District.
“This is not so much a recruitment program as it is a community service program—an opportunity for admissions professionals to go into high schools and work with students to get to college,” he said. “The primary objective is to make sure students understand the opportunities and realities that going to college will pay off big for them. Anything we can do to improve the retention rate within the Buffalo Public Schools is something that we genuinely want to do because it helps the community.”
Hal Payne, vice president for student affairs, and Mark Petrie, associate vice president for enrollment management, secured approval for the Buffalo State College Challenge through Buffalo Public Schools Superintendent James Williams earlier this summer. The Admissions Office has designated Kenneth Robinson, admissions assistant, as a coordinator for the program. Robinson will spend a minimum of three days each month at McKinley High School to meet with students and monitor program progress with teachers, counselors, and principals. He said the program will also have tie-ins to Buffalo State’s precollegiate programs.
“With the Buffalo State College Challenge, students will work more closely with us, stay focused on doing what it takes to get into college, and be accountable for their academic performance,” Robinson said. “We want to help—and challenge—these capable students, many of whom are at-risk.”
Robinson believes the program comes at a crucial time for Buffalo. He said roughly half of students in public urban high schools in the 50 largest U.S. cities currently do not graduate. Graduation rates are especially low in high-need districts like Buffalo, one of the nation’s poorest cities.
Robinson hopes faculty and staff will get involved with the program to provide guidance to students about career paths. He also hopes to recognize ongoing student progress and program alumni in future years with an annual ceremony.
“The success of the Buffalo State College Challenge would underscore our commitment to the community,” Robinson said. “This is an opportunity for us to demonstrate that when you partner for progress, you can change lives.”
The Burchfield Penney and Hallwalls are pleased to present the Western New York premiere of Guest of Cindy Sherman, a documentary that follows the relationship between the film’s director, Gallery Beat’s Paul H-O, and photographer (and former Buffalo State student) Cindy Sherman.
Three screenings will be held at the Burchfield Penney: Saturday, September 12, at 2:30 and 8:30 p.m.; and Sunday, September 13, at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are available online. For more information on the film, visitwww.guestofcindysherman.com.
The Burchfield Penney at Buffalo State is pleased to present Fresh—a film celebrating the farmers, thinkers, and business people across America who are reinventing our food system—today at 6:30 p.m.
Fresh features Will Allen, an urban farmer and activist and a 2008 MacArthur’s “Genius Award” fellow; Joel Salatin, a sustainable farmer and entrepreneur featured in Michael Pollan’s book The Omnivore’s Dilemma; David Ball, a supermarket owner who is creating a new market model for family farmers; and similar people and initiatives around the country.
A panel discussion with Diane Held, Western New York representative for American Farmland Trust; Kate Mendenhall, director of the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York; Tom Tower, small-scale fruit and vegetable farmer in Youngstown, New York; and Karen Agle from Eden Valley Growers in Eden, New York, follows the film.
Tickets are available online. Fresh is presented by Edible Buffalo with support from the American Farmland Trust and Buffalo Spree.
The following grants were awarded through the Research Foundation at Buffalo State College in August. For more information, contact the principal investigator or theResearch Foundation at Buffalo State College.
August 2009
Yolanda Belle, Director, Talent Search Program
$298,275 (Continuation)
U.S. Department of Education
Talent Search
Laurie Buonanno, Professor and Chair, Political Science
$51,500 (Year One of Four)
U.S. Department of Education
Mobility Project: Transatlantic Public Administration
Patrice Cathey, Program Director, Precollegiate Programs
$381,700 (New Cycle)
New York State Education Department
Liberty Partnerships Program
Robin Harris, Associate Professor, Earth Sciences and Science Education
$74,500 (Continuation)
Buffalo Public Schools
MSP Tuition, Science Focus, ’09–’10
Margaret Shaw-Burnett, Associate Vice President, Continuing Professional Studies
$312,881
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Head Start Hispanic/Latino Service Partnership Institution
Robert Spaner, Chief Administrative Officer, Center for Development of Human Services
$291,436 (Continuation)
Erie County Department of Social Services
Staff Training, Component 1: Master of Education Program; Component 2: Bachelor’s Degree Program
Robert Spaner, Chief Administrative Officer, Center for Development of Human Services
$634,833 (Continuation)
Erie County Department of Social Services
Staff Training, Component 4: Educational Services
William Wieczorek, Director, Center for Health and Social Research
$57,652 (Year One of Four)
National Institutes of Health via Subcontract from the Research Institute on Addictions
Problem Gambling: A Decade of Change
The 2009–2010 Faculty Development Workshop Serieshas been developed by Susan McMillen, director of faculty development, and her advisory board. Activities are geared to faculty members because of their typical responsibilities, but all activities are open to those interested in delivering instruction or working on their writing/publishing careers. “Classes are really open to anyone,” said McMillen. “If any activity fills up, we will try to schedule a second section.”
This year, she has reserved certain times for certain series. The “Aspects of Teaching” workshops, covering a variety of topics related to teaching, will be held on the first Friday and third Thursday of each month. McMillen will lead “Teaching Underprepared Students,” the first workshop in this series, on Friday, September 4, at noon in Cleveland 418. Registration is requested; a light lunch will be provided.
“We choose topics based on data from several sources,” said McMillen. “The faculty took part in a survey conducted by EduVentures last fall, and that’s been an important resource. The advisory board makes suggestions, and we ask for input at the workshops. We also turn to the college’s strategic plan. Its emphasis on active learning gives us additional direction.”
Three different series will take place on Tech Tuesdays, during Bengal Pause. The first is SPSS workshops, led by Kelly Marczynski and Sheldon Tetewsky from the Center for Health and Social Research. Four workshops covering basic topics will take place this semester, and three more advanced workshops, whose topics will reflect faculty input, will take place in the spring.
The second series is Emerging Technologies. “These are hands-on workshops led by librarians from Information Commons,” said McMillen. Participants will learn how to use emerging Web 2.0 and Web 3.0 technologies available online for free, such as Google documents, Picasa, Twitter, and RSS feeds.
The third series is Pedagogy 2.0, presented by Melaine Kenyon, associate director for instructional technology, and Meghan Pereira, instructional technology specialist, both of Instructional Resources. “They will introduce state-of-the-art technologies such as image and video resources that a faculty member might choose to meet their own pedagogical goals,” McMillen said. “For example, I might want my students to use free Google software to build an interactive timeline showing the contributions of famous mathematicians in history.”
Faculty development also sponsors two discussion groups: The first, “Courageous Conversations: Teaching All Students,” is cosponsored with CEURE and the Teacher Education Council. The group meets once a month to discuss the challenge of preparing students to work with many different kinds of people, including fellow students. The second, moderated by Ken Fujiuchi, emerging technologies librarian, discusses the impact of the new Web tools on society. “It’s a nice companion to the hands-on series,” said McMillen. “In each discussion group, participants choose their own topics.”
McMillen officially became director of faculty development in September 2008, but most programming did not start until February 2009. “We found that the numbers grew throughout the year,” she said. “This year, we will collect more data and input to help us in the future.