Olivia DrakeAt left, Daniel Greengard '08, Albert Hill '07 and David Pollack, assistant professor of mathematics, work through problems, which were part of the William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition held Dec. 2. Posted 12/20/06 During a recent mathematics test, which spanned six hours, Daniel Greengard 08 believes he only got one question completely correct out of 12. But getting only one question correct puts him in the top half of all test-takers, explains David Pollack, assistant professor of mathematics and faculty-advisor for the 67th Annual William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition held Dec. 2. The Putnam exam tests originality and technical competence,…
Posted 12/20/06 Wesleyan University Press will be the recipient of a $20,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. The grant was awarded for the publication, promotion and distribution of new collections of poetry. The press requested support for the publication and promotion of 12 poetry books that will be published in the Wesleyan Poetry Series in 2007 and 2008. Forthcoming titles to be covered by the grant include New and Collected Poems by Barbara Guest, a new edition of Victor Segalens modernist classic Stèles, and Zong by Marlene NourbeSe Philip. We are delighted that the NEA is recognizing…
Rebecca Littman '08, Thomas Coen '07, Stacie Szmonko 07 and Aaron Sussman '07 are the editors of Incite Magazine, which aims to bridge political commentary with the activist community. Posted 12/20/06 The power of insight, the power to incite. Thats the motto of a new magazine created by Wesleyan students that links progressive political commentary with action.Incite Magazine founded by Thomas Coen 07, Aaron Sussman 07 and Rebecca Littman 08, features articles that call for a compassionate and honest world while providing readers with the tools and resources to help fight for it. The magazine is updated online as new…
In back, Hilary Barth, assistant professor of psychology, works with her student, Ariel Ballinger 07, on data resulting from a study on children's counting ability. Posted 12/20/06 So many people have had one of those moments, when a check comes after dinner and theyre having a problem adding it up, and they stop and say, Im just not any good at math! says Hilary Barth, assistant professor of psychology. But they are. We all are. Were born with it. This isnt just an opinion from an overly-optimistic academic. Barth is one of a growing number of researchers studying intuitive understanding…
Matthew Donne '07, Jenna Gopilan '07 and Dan Austin '08 received fellowships based on academic achievement and enthusiasm for laboratory science. Posted 12/20/06 Three Wesleyan students received research bioscience fellowships from the Connecticut Business & Industry Association (CBIA) and the Connecticut United for Research Excellence (CURE). The fellowships are designed to increase the number of qualified scientists interested in pursuing careers in the biosciences. Molecular biology and biochemistry major Dan Austin '08; neuroscience and behavior major Jenna Gopilan '07; and biology major Matthew Donne '07 each received the $5,000 fellowship. The students were selected on the basis of academic…
Posted 12/20/06 Professor, Student Study Children's Ability to Count Posted 12/20/06 Online Incite Magazine Pushes Readers to Take Actions Posted 12/20/06 Students Compete in National Putnam Math Competition Posted 12/20/06 Betty Tishler Celebrates 97th Birthday at Wesleyan Posted 12/20/06 Students Inducted into Scholastic Honor Society Phi Beta Kappa Posted 12/20/06 Students, Faculty, Alumni Present Papers at Ethnomusicology Conference Posted 12/20/06 Wesleyan University Press Receives NEA Grant Posted 12/04/06 Wesleyan Receives State Stem Cell Grants Posted 12/04/06 Grant Targets Treatment of Epileptic Seizures Posted 12/04/06 Wesleyan Students Pedal for Affordable Housing Posted 12/04/06 Scott Plous Named CASE Professor of the Year…
Pictured at top, from left, Gina Driscoll, associate director of stewardship, Penny Apter; Betty Tishler, and Philip Bolton, chair of the Chemistry Department and professor of chemistry. Pictured at left, President Doug Bennet reads a Proclamation to Tishler. (Photos by Olivia Drake and by Roslyn Carrier-Brault) Posted 12/20/06 Betty Tishler, wife of the late Professor Max Tishler, celebrated her 97th birthday Dec. 14 in the Exley Science Center. Tishlers family and friends, Wesleyan affiliates and students attended. During the two-hour party, President Doug Bennet presented Tishler with a Mayors Proclamation that acknowledged Tishler for her contributions to the greater Middletown…
Wesleyan senior Maggie Arias was one of 15 seniors welcomed to Phi Beta Kappa, the oldest national scholastic honor society during a ceremony Dec. 13. Also pictured, at left, is Gary Yohe, the Woodhouse/Sysco Professor of Economics and PBK secretary; Mark Hovey, president of the gamma chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, and Jane Tozer, assistant to the vice president of University Relations and PBK treasurer and event coordinator. Posted 12/20/06 Fifteen Wesleyan students were inducted into the oldest national scholastic honor society, Phi Beta Kappa, during an initiation ceremony Dec. 13. Election is limited to 12 percent of the…
At left, ethnomusicology students Marzanna Poplawska, Nick Hockin, Amy Ingram and Hae Joo Kim gather during the Society for Ethnomusicologys 51st Annual Conference Nov. 16-19 in Honolulu. Posted 12/20/06 Nine Wesleyan graduate students studying ethnomusicology ended a recent conference on a high note. Each student presented papers at The Society for Ethnomusicologys 51st Annual Conference Nov. 16-19 in Honolulu. This years topic was Decolonizing Ethnomusicology. The annual convention is the focal point of the year; these meetings offer a great chance to network with fellow grad students, eminent senior scholars, and former alums, says Mark Slobin, professor of music. In…
Benjamin Michael, general manager of WESU 88.1 FM spearheads the Second Annual WESU Holiday Pledge Drive. Posted 12/04/06 As the only full-time employee and sole general manager of Wesleyans college and community radio station, Benjamin Michael says the station wouldnt be possible without the dedication of the stations volunteers. It takes Michael and 115 student and community volunteers to broadcast 88.1 FM WESU 24 hours a day. "It's a real partnership and labor of love for all of our volunteers, Michael says, noting that some programs have been broadcasting for more than 25 years. But, like any other non-commercial…
Janis Astor del Valle, director of the Green Street Arts Center, says the center's people, young and old, keep her job interesting. She relies on the help of Wesleyan students to create a invigorating artsy environment at the center. Posted 12/04/06 Q: When did you come to the Green Street Arts Center?A: I first came on board in February 2006 as assistant director; then, when the director resigned in March, I became the interim director. I was promoted to director in June.Q: How did you find out about the GSAC initially? What drew you towards working there?A: About a…
Posted 12/04/06 Scott Plous, professor of psychology, was named the Connecticut Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). This designation means he is among only 43 professors working in the United States, the District of Columbia and Guam to be considered a 2006 U.S. Professor of the Year. It was quite a surprise, as you can imagine," Plous says, modestly. The goal of the U.S. Professors of the Year Program is to increase awareness of the importance of undergraduate instruction. In recognizing faculty members…