From the Dean

Let me begin by saying that this is the real April edition of Science @ Purdue. We couldn’t resist the temptation last week to have a little April Fool’s fun, and the reactions we got from many of our readers tell us that you had as much fun reading it as we had writing it!

All fooling aside, I’m writing this month about some exciting new developments in Discovery Park. Ever since it moved from dream to reality in 2001, Discovery Park has provided an environment where projects flourish through the shared ideas and expertise of multidisciplinary research teams. Six centers are now in full operation. Earlier this year, the Lilly endowment awarded $25 million in additional funding to Discovery Park, $10 million of which is designated for the creation of four new centers, to be selected through a University-wide competition.

In response to the initial invitation to the competition from Executive Director Chip Rutledge, 53 proposed centers submitted letters of intent in late February. From that group, the following 10 finalists were selected and invited to submit full proposals by April 7:

Purdue Cyber Infrastructure Institute
Purdue Institute for the Environment
Oncological Sciences Center
Future Energy Discovery Center
Center for Systems Biology of Diet, Disease, and Health
Center for Innovative Scientific Instrumentation
Purdue Imaging Center
Center for Wireless Systems and Applications
Center for Transportation Innovation
Center for Engineered Spaces

These project areas represent a wide variety of research interests spanning the campus. The first eight have strong involvement from the College of Science. For example, the first two proposals come from working groups spawned by the Cyber-Infrastructure Symposium and the Environmental Studies assessment, both of which the College of Science co-hosted in mid-2003.

The 10 proposals will be evaluated by panels of outside experts, based upon five criteria: 1) Quality; 2) Leverage; 3) Leadership; 4) Interdisciplinary strength; and 5) Potential for economic development. We expect the four new centers to be announced in time for our June e-newsletter, so stay tuned for more info! Regardless of which four are chosen, the 10 projects and many of the original 53 will no doubt play active roles one way or the other in Discovery Park.

Best regards,

Jeff Vitter

SCIENCE PEOPLE

Science to honor Distinguished Alumni

Ten distinguished scientists and educators will return to campus on April 15 for the Science Distinguished Alumni Awards Program. Everyone is invited to attend the program at 1:00 p.m. in the Elliott Hall of Music. The Distinguished Alumni Awards were established in 1990 to recognize outstanding achievement by our alumni in professional and related fields of endeavor. 2005 Science Distinguished Alumni.

State weatherman an experienced researcher, official

Dev Niyogi , Assistant Professor of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, is the new Indiana state climatologist. The state climatologist is responsible for collecting information on weather from across Indiana. Yet it’s hard to limit the task to such set boundaries, Niyogi said. The weather here depends greatly on what happens elsewhere in the country, he said. Full story.

Zenephia Evans honored by Mortar Board

Dr. Zenephia Evans, Director of Multicultural Programs in the College of Science, has been selected as an Honorary Member of Mortar Board for 2005-06. Mortar Board is a national college senior honor society. Mortar Board members are selected for their superior scholarship, dedicated service to the university community, and outstanding and constant leadership. Purdue’s Barbara Cook Chapter of Mortar Board is so named to honor retired Dean of Students Barbara Cook, who advised Mortar Board from 1956 to 1986. More information about Mortar Board.

Barbara Clark receives Council on the Status of Women award

Barbara Clark, Director of the Science Diversity Office and Director of Women In Science Programs, is the 2005 recipient of the Violet Haas Award from the Council on the Status of Women at Purdue.
The award honors an individual, program or department that has made an outstanding effort toward the advancement of women at the university. Barb will be recognized at a reception in her honor on April 22. Full story.

Honorary Doctorate recipient awarded National Medal of Science

Carl de Boor, a mathematician and computer scientist, has won the 2005 National Medal of Science, the most prestigious science award in the country. Administered by the National Science Foundation, the National Medal of Science has since 1959 recognized pioneers in a range of scientific fields. Dr. de Boor received an Honorary Doctorate from Purdue in 1993. Full story.

PROFILES OF SUCCESS

Ed and Natasha Zdobylak

Each month we spotlight the personal accomplishments and career successes of a College of Science alum. This month’s spotlight is on Dr. Edward Zdobylak, who received his B.S. in Biological Sciences in 1994. Full story.

SCIENCE NEWS AND RESEARCH

Purdue scientists unravel Midwest tornado formation

Purdue study of tornado formation indicates that twisters can develop in unexpected ways and at unexpected times and places, a discovery that presents a new twist to weather watchers across the country. Although tornadoes are often conceived of as springing from springtime storms that develop in early evenings out of isolated weather cells, a new study spearheaded by Earth & Atmospheric Sciences Professor Robert “Jeff” Trapp indicates those conceptions often fail to hold, especially in the Midwest. Full story.

Science faculty involved in homeland security research

Purdue University has dozens of researchers working in areas related to homeland security and several centers dedicated to these areas of research. The list of some of these experts and their research includes four faculty members in the College of Science. Complete list

Graduate student group helps conduct community survey

Statistics in the Community, known as STATCOM, helped the city of West Lafayette conduct a survey to gauge residents’ levels of satisfaction with city features and services. A volunteer organization of Purdue University graduate students in the department of statistics, STATCOM provides free statistical services to government and non-profit agencies, said Alex Lipka, a graduate student with STATCOM. Full story.

Researchers use enzyme to clip ‘DNA wires’

Researchers at Purdue have attached magnetic “nanoparticles” to DNA and then cut these “DNA wires” into pieces, offering the promise of creating low-cost, self-assembling devices for future computers. The findings are detailed in a paper published online in February in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. The paper was written by Purdue graduate student Joseph M. Kinsella and Albena Ivanisevic, Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering. Full story.

K-12 Outreach staff visit school, host Shark Day at Purdue

Hands-on science and mathematics was featured at Purdue’s Focus on Science Week, held at Bunker Hill Elementary School in Indianapolis. Focus on Science is a week of science engagement for students and a professional development opportunity for teachers. Also last month, students from a local elementary school spent a day on campus doing experiments designed to teach about scientific investigation in biology, chemistry, and physics. Full story.

Science Student Council revives traditional run

The Purdue Science Student Council will sponsor the “Spring Science Scramble” 5K run/walk on Saturday, April 16th. The run is an opportunity for students, alumni and members of the community to support education. Proceeds from the day will go to a Science a scholarship and to the Public Schools Foundation of Tippecanoe County. The run/walk will begin at 8a.m. at Vawter Field on the West Lafayette campus of Purdue University. More information.

Science and Agriculture to present student research symposium

The Colleges of Science and Agriculture will present the 2005 Undergraduate Research and Poster Symposium on April 11. The event spotlights the undergraduate research and project activity in both colleges and recognizes the many faculty and undergraduate research interactions that are a vital part of the educational experience across the Purdue campus. More information.

SCIENCE ALUMNI NEWS

Science alumni: We want to hear from you! Share your professional news and your personal and family milestones with the Science community by sending email to news@science.purdue.edu.

Click here for this month’s Alumni News.

Purdue Alumni Association offers trip for new alumni

Send your senior packing! To Europe, that is. What better gift for a new graduate than trip site-seeing through Europe? What better way to see Europe than with fellow Boilermakers? Designed for Purdue's newest alumni, the Purdue Alumni Association is offering its third summer tour of Europe May 19 through June 4. The trip includes stops in London, Paris, Rome, Sorrento, the Greek Islands and Athens. Graduates have a private tour escort and stay in select tourist-class hotels. Registration deadline is May 1. Call (800) 414-1541 to register or visit the web site for more details.

PURDUE NEWS

Plants defy Mendel’s inheritance laws, may prompt textbook changes

Contrary to inheritance laws the scientific world has accepted for more than 100 years, some plants revert to normal traits carried by their grandparents, bypassing genetic abnormalities carried by both parents. These mutant parent plants apparently have hidden templates containing genetic information from the preceding generation that can be transferred to their offspring, even though the traits aren’t evident in the parents, according to Purdue University researchers. Full story.

gh’s MathSpeak™ finds its ‘voice’ with Pittsburgh speech synthesis company

gh LLC has chosen Cepstral LLC to give its MathSpeak™ assistive software technology a high-quality synthetic voice. When used in conjunction with a Digital Talking Book - such as the gh PLAYER™ - MathSpeak™ can render Math Markup Language (MathML) for mathematics and science both orally and visually. MathSpeak™ is software technology developed by gh in collaboration with Purdue University and with support from the Indiana 21st Century Research and Technology Fund. Full story.

Purdue Spring Fest features exhibits on aviation, forensics, animals

Spring Fest will dominate Purdue's campus on April 16-17 with a variety of free and fun activities. Events take place Saturday, April 16, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, April 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Campus-wide events include Spring Fest Showcase, the 92nd Annual Horticulture Show, Boiler Brick Bowl, 15th annual Entomology Bug Bowl, Boiler Barnyard, Super Saturday Live, 42nd annual School of Veterinary Medicine Open House, ENvision (Engineering) and Science Outreach Showcase. Visitors can find a map and information online.

RESEARCH FUNDING REPORT

Science researchers received funding totaling nearly $4.4 million in February 2005. Complete list of funded proposals.

CALENDAR

“A Celebration of Structural Biology at Purdue: A Symposium in Honor of Michael G. Rossmann”, April 9

Distinguished Science Alumni Awards, April 15

Purdue Science Student Council “Spring Scramble,” April 16

Department of Physics “Grand Finale Symposium,” celebrating 100 years of Physics at Purdue, April 16.

Department of Statistics Myra Samuels Lecture 2005, April 21

College of Science Dean’s Leadership Council Spring meeting, May 4-6

Department of Statistics Fourth Prem S. Puri Memorial Lecture 2005, May 13

Science Events

Science Seminars

Purdue Events


April 2005
From the Dean Let me begin by saying that this is the real April edition of Science @ Purdue. We couldn’t resist the temptation last week to have a little April Fool’s fun, and the reactions we got from many of our readers tell us that you had as much fun reading it as we had writing it! All fooling aside, I’m writing this month about some exciting new developments in Discovery Park. Ever since it moved from dream to reality in 2001, Discovery Park has provided an environment where projects flourish through the shared ideas and expertise of multidisciplinary research teams. Six centers are now in full operation. Earlier this year, the Lilly endowment awarded $25 million in additional funding to Discovery Park, $10 million of which is designated for the creation of four new centers, to be selected through a University-wide competition. In response to the initial invitation to the competition from Executive Director Chip Rutledge, 53 proposed centers submitted letters of intent in late February. From that group, the following 10 finalists were selected and invited to submit full proposals by April 7: Purdue Cyber Infrastructure Institute Purdue Institute for the Environment Oncological Sciences Center Future Energy Discovery Center Center for Systems Biology of Diet, Disease, and Health Center for Innovative Scientific Instrumentation Purdue Imaging Center Center for Wireless Systems and Applications Center for Transportation Innovation Center for Engineered Spaces These project areas represent a wide variety of research interests spanning the campus. The first eight have strong involvement from the College of Science. For example, the first two proposals come from working groups spawned by the Cyber-Infrastructure Symposium and the Environmental Studies assessment, both of which the College of Science co-hosted in mid-2003. The 10 proposals will be evaluated by panels of outside experts, based upon five criteria: 1) Quality; 2) Leverage; 3) Leadership; 4) Interdisciplinary strength; and 5) Potential for economic development. We expect the four new centers to be announced in time for our June e-newsletter, so stay tuned for more info! Regardless of which four are chosen, the 10 projects and many of the original 53 will no doubt play active roles one way or the other in Discovery Park. Best regards, Jeff Vitter *SCIENCE PEOPLE* Science to honor Distinguished Alumni Ten distinguished scientists and educators will return to campus on April 15 for the Science Distinguished Alumni Awards Program. Everyone is invited to attend the program at 1:00 p.m. in the Elliott Hall of Music. The Distinguished Alumni Awards were established in 1990 to recognize outstanding achievement by our alumni in professional and related fields of endeavor. 2005 Science Distinguished Alumni. State weatherman an experienced researcher, official Dev Niyogi , Assistant Professor of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, is the new Indiana state climatologist. The state climatologist is responsible for collecting information on weather from across Indiana. Yet it’s hard to limit the task to such set boundaries, Niyogi said. The weather here depends greatly on what happens elsewhere in the country, he said. Full story. Zenephia Evans honored by Mortar Board Dr. Zenephia Evans, Director of Multicultural Programs in the College of Science, has been selected as an Honorary Member of Mortar Board for 2005-06. Mortar Board is a national college senior honor society. Mortar Board members are selected for their superior scholarship, dedicated service to the university community, and outstanding and constant leadership. Purdue’s Barbara Cook Chapter of Mortar Board is so named to honor retired Dean of Students Barbara Cook, who advised Mortar Board from 1956 to 1986. More information about Mortar Board. Barbara Clark receives Council on the Status of Women award Barbara Clark, Director of the Science Diversity Office and Director of Women In Science Programs, is the 2005 recipient of the Violet Haas Award from the Council on the Status of Women at Purdue. The award honors an individual, program or department that has made an outstanding effort toward the advancement of women at the university. Barb will be recognized at a reception in her honor on April 22. Full story. Honorary Doctorate recipient awarded National Medal of Science Carl de Boor, a mathematician and computer scientist, has won the 2005 National Medal of Science, the most prestigious science award in the country. Administered by the National Science Foundation, the National Medal of Science has since 1959 recognized pioneers in a range of scientific fields. Dr. de Boor received an Honorary Doctorate from Purdue in 1993. Full story. *PROFILES OF SUCCESS* Ed and Natasha Zdobylak Each month we spotlight the personal accomplishments and career successes of a College of Science alum. This month’s spotlight is on Dr. Edward Zdobylak, who received his B.S. in Biological Sciences in 1994. Full story. *SCIENCE NEWS AND RESEARCH* Purdue scientists unravel Midwest tornado formation Purdue study of tornado formation indicates that twisters can develop in unexpected ways and at unexpected times and places, a discovery that presents a new twist to weather watchers across the country. Although tornadoes are often conceived of as springing from springtime storms that develop in early evenings out of isolated weather cells, a new study spearheaded by Earth & Atmospheric Sciences Professor Robert “Jeff” Trapp indicates those conceptions often fail to hold, especially in the Midwest. Full story. Science faculty involved in homeland security research Purdue University has dozens of researchers working in areas related to homeland security and several centers dedicated to these areas of research. The list of some of these experts and their research includes four faculty members in the College of Science. Complete list Graduate student group helps conduct community survey Statistics in the Community, known as STATCOM, helped the city of West Lafayette conduct a survey to gauge residents’ levels of satisfaction with city features and services. A volunteer organization of Purdue University graduate students in the department of statistics, STATCOM provides free statistical services to government and non-profit agencies, said Alex Lipka, a graduate student with STATCOM. Full story. Researchers use enzyme to clip ‘DNA wires’ Researchers at Purdue have attached magnetic “nanoparticles” to DNA and then cut these “DNA wires” into pieces, offering the promise of creating low-cost, self-assembling devices for future computers. The findings are detailed in a paper published online in February in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. The paper was written by Purdue graduate student Joseph M. Kinsella and Albena Ivanisevic, Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering. Full story. K-12 Outreach staff visit school, host Shark Day at Purdue Hands-on science and mathematics was featured at Purdue’s Focus on Science Week, held at Bunker Hill Elementary School in Indianapolis. Focus on Science is a week of science engagement for students and a professional development opportunity for teachers. Also last month, students from a local elementary school spent a day on campus doing experiments designed to teach about scientific investigation in biology, chemistry, and physics. Full story. Science Student Council revives traditional run The Purdue Science Student Council will sponsor the “Spring Science Scramble” 5K run/walk on Saturday, April 16th. The run is an opportunity for students, alumni and members of the community to support education. Proceeds from the day will go to a Science a scholarship and to the Public Schools Foundation of Tippecanoe County. The run/walk will begin at 8a.m. at Vawter Field on the West Lafayette campus of Purdue University. More information. Science and Agriculture to present student research symposium The Colleges of Science and Agriculture will present the 2005 Undergraduate Research and Poster Symposium on April 11. The event spotlights the undergraduate research and project activity in both colleges and recognizes the many faculty and undergraduate research interactions that are a vital part of the educational experience across the Purdue campus. More information. SCIENCE ALUMNI NEWS Science alumni: We want to hear from you! Share your professional news and your personal and family milestones with the Science community by sending email to news@science.purdue.edu. Click here for this month’s Alumni News. Purdue Alumni Association offers trip for new alumni Send your senior packing! To Europe, that is. What better gift for a new graduate than trip site-seeing through Europe? What better way to see Europe than with fellow Boilermakers? Designed for Purdue's newest alumni, the Purdue Alumni Association is offering its third summer tour of Europe May 19 through June 4. The trip includes stops in London, Paris, Rome, Sorrento, the Greek Islands and Athens. Graduates have a private tour escort and stay in select tourist-class hotels. Registration deadline is May 1. Call (800) 414-1541 to register or visit the web site for more details. PURDUE NEWS Plants defy Mendel’s inheritance laws, may prompt textbook changes Contrary to inheritance laws the scientific world has accepted for more than 100 years, some plants revert to normal traits carried by their grandparents, bypassing genetic abnormalities carried by both parents. These mutant parent plants apparently have hidden templates containing genetic information from the preceding generation that can be transferred to their offspring, even though the traits aren’t evident in the parents, according to Purdue University researchers. Full story. gh’s MathSpeak™ finds its ‘voice’ with Pittsburgh speech synthesis company gh LLC has chosen Cepstral LLC to give its MathSpeak™ assistive software technology a high-quality synthetic voice. When used in conjunction with a Digital Talking Book - such as the gh PLAYER™ - MathSpeak™ can render Math Markup Language (MathML) for mathematics and science both orally and visually. MathSpeak™ is software technology developed by gh in collaboration with Purdue University and with support from the Indiana 21st Century Research and Technology Fund. Full story. Purdue Spring Fest features exhibits on aviation, forensics, animals Spring Fest will dominate Purdue's campus on April 16-17 with a variety of free and fun activities. Events take place Saturday, April 16, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, April 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Campus-wide events include Spring Fest Showcase, the 92nd Annual Horticulture Show, Boiler Brick Bowl, 15th annual Entomology Bug Bowl, Boiler Barnyard, Super Saturday Live, 42nd annual School of Veterinary Medicine Open House, ENvision (Engineering) and Science Outreach Showcase. Visitors can find a map and information online. *RESEARCH FUNDING REPORT* Science researchers received funding totaling nearly $4.4 million in February 2005. Complete list of funded proposals. *CALENDAR* “A Celebration of Structural Biology at Purdue: A Symposium in Honor of Michael G. Rossmann”, April 9 Distinguished Science Alumni Awards, April 15 Purdue Science Student Council “Spring Scramble,” April 16 Department of Physics “Grand Finale Symposium,” celebrating 100 years of Physics at Purdue, April 16. Department of Statistics Myra Samuels Lecture 2005, April 21 College of Science Dean’s Leadership Council Spring meeting, May 4-6 Department of Statistics Fourth Prem S. Puri Memorial Lecture 2005, May 13 Science Events Science Seminars Purdue Events	In this Issue: Science People Science to honor Distinguished Alumni State weatherman an experienced researcher, official Zenephia Evans honored by Mortar Board Barbara Clark receives Council on the Status of Women award Barbara Clark receives YWCA Salute to Women Award Honorary Doctorate recipient awarded National Medal of Science Profiles of Success Science News and Research Purdue scientists unravel Midwest tornado formation Science faculty involved in homeland security research Graduate student group helps conduct community survey Researchers use enzyme to clip ‘DNA wires’ K-12 Outreach staff visit school, host Shark Day at Purdue Science Student Council revives traditional run Science and Agriculture to present student research symposium Science Alumni News Purdue News Plants defy Mendel’s inheritance laws, may prompt textbook changes gh’s MathSpeak™ finds its ‘voice’ with Pittsburgh speech synthesis company Purdue Spring Fest features exhibits on aviation, forensics, animals Research Funding Report Calendar Science alumni: We want to hear from you! Share your professional news and your personal and family milestones with the Science community by sending email to news@science.purdue.edu. Past issues of Science @ Purdue College of Science Purdue News Purdue University