From the Dean

I’m writing this intro especially to alert all our faculty, staff, students, and alumni in the College of Science, as well as all those across campus, to an exciting new event happening in the next few days: the Science Laureates Program at Purdue.

On October 4, 5, and 6, Purdue will host 10 of the world’s most renowned science journalists and honor them for the linchpin role they play in disseminating knowledge and information about science.

Clive Cookson—Science journalist at The Financial Times of London.
David Ewing Duncan—Science journalist, contributor to Nature and other science publications, and regular NPR and PBS contributor.
Joel Garreau—Author of Radical Evolution, journalist and editor at The Washington Post.
Simon Grose—Science and technology editor, Canberra Times.
Moira Gunn—Science journalist, creator of NPR’s TechNation and BiotechNation, and Purdue Science and Engineering alumna.
Joan Leach—Editor, Social Epistemology, and Convener, Science Communications Program at the University of Queensland.
Nuala Moran—Science journalist, editor, Science|Business, BioWorld, former Managing Editor, Nature, former Deputy Editor, Computer Weekly.
Apoorva Mandavilli—Senior news editor, Nature Medicine.
Jason Pontin—Science journalist, editor-in-chief of Technology Review, the MIT magazine of innovation.
Jeff Young—Senior editor, The Chronicle of Higher Education.

These journalists cover all aspects of science, engineering, and technology and relate them to business, education, public policy, global politics, consumer concerns, social ethics, and much more. The Science Laureates at Purdue program will connect the global community of science journalists as they work together to examine and develop their role in advancing society. . . and in the process, they’ll learn much about the outstanding work going on here at Purdue.

You’re invited to a dynamic town hall-style meeting on Thursday, October 5 from 10:30 a.m. until noon in the Lawson Computer Science Building. The Laureates and selected Purdue faculty will engage in lively interplay on the future of publication of science research and its impact and will answer questions from the audience.

At 3:30 that afternoon, everyone is invited to the convocation for the Purdue community in the Purdue Memorial Union Ballrooms. The Laureates will each offer their “200 words”—the message they want to convey to scientists—followed by a Q&A session with the audience and an informal reception.

Mark your calendars for Thursday, October 5, and join us for Science Laureates at Purdue! You can check the Science Laureates web page for more information.

Best regards,
Jeff Vitter

SPOTLIGHT ON NEW FACULTY

Olga Vitek, assistant professor of statistics and computer science, earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in econometrics and statistics at the University of Geneva, Switzerland and worked as a biostatistician at the University Hospitals of Geneva. She became interested in the development and application of quantitative methods in molecular biology and came to Purdue to earn her doctorate in statistics. As a graduate student, Olga collaborated with biologists, chemists, and computer scientists on projects in genomics and structural biology, statistical consulting, and an internship in a proteomics lab at Eli Lilly and Co.

John Peterson, assistant professor of physics, is an astrophysicist whose research addresses questions about the large-scale structure of our universe. To pursue these questions, John uses of a variety of observational techniques such as X-ray spectroscopy of clusters of galaxies and weak gravitational lensing. John received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Columbia University.

Steven Dong, assistant professor of mathematics, is a member of the Center for Computational and Applied Mathematics (CCAM). Steve's research involves multi-disciplinary fields requiring expertise in mathematics, engineering, and computer science. His work focuses on large-scale parallel scientific computing and grid computing applied to multi-physics modeling and simulations of biological and physical systems. Steve comes to Purdue from Brown University, where he was a research assistant professor.

SCIENCE PEOPLE

Fred Regnier to lead Purdue/IU cancer research team

The National Cancer Institute has awarded a $7 million grant to a Purdue-IU team led by Fred Regnier, Law Distinguished Professor of Analytical Chemistry. The joint effort pairs Purdue's experts in mass spectrometry and proteomics technology with the expert clinical team of cancer researchers from Indiana University School of Medicine. Together they will focus on technology to diagnose breast and prostate cancer through blood samples. Full story.

Noah Diffenbaugh named outstanding young scientist

Noah Diffenbaugh, assistant professor of earth and atmospheric sciences, has been named the 2006 James R. Holton Junior Scientist Award winner by the American Geophysical Union's Atmospheric Sciences section. Noah joined the department in 2004 and specializes in global environmental change, ecological climatology, and paleoclimatology.

Educators bringing new focus to teaching physics

Physics professors Mark Haugan and Lynn Bryan are part of a multi-university team that received nearly $2 million in NSF funding—$600 thousand of which will come to Purdue—to disseminate an innovative new physics curriculum for undergraduate students. Called Matter & Interactions, the calculus-based introductory physics curriculum integrates contemporary physics to help students learn how to work on contemporary problems. Matter & Interactions teaches students how to use a small set of fundamental principles to understand and to predict the behavior of complex real-world physical systems. Computation is an integral part of the course. Project abstract.

Three departments to honor outstanding alumni

Ten alumni of the departments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry, and Physics will return to campus this month to receive their departments' top alumni awards. Each department will hold separate ceremonies on October 26 to honor their alumni for outstanding achievement in professional and related fields. The departments of Computer Science, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, and Statistics will hold outstanding alumni awards ceremonies in the Spring of 2007. Fall 2006 outstanding alumni bios.

SCIENCE NEWS AND RESEARCH

Lawson Computer Science Building dedicated in high style

The Purdue community celebrated the computer science department's new home on September 15 with the dedication of the new Richard and Patricia Lawson Computer Science Building. The gala ceremony kicked off a day of tours, seminars, and demos showcasing the world-class facility. Full story.

2,482 told of possible computer security incident at Purdue

Purdue is informing people who were College of Science students in 2000 that a file containing information about them may have been accessed by unauthorized individuals. The possibility was discovered last month during a security check of an administrative workstation. While there is no direct evidence that any unauthorized person viewed or downloaded data, efforts have been made to alert every individual whose information was in the file. More information.

Computer scientists and engineers simulate jet colliding with World Trade Center

Computer scientists led by Prof. Chris Hoffmann worked with engineering researchers to create a simulation based upon scientific principles to study in detail what likely happened when a commercial airliner crashed into the World Trade Center's North Tower on Sept. 11, 2001. The simulation can help understand how the building's structural core was affected, how it responded to the initial shock of the aircraft collision, and how the tower later collapsed. Full story.

Low's work sheds new light on drug delivery

Work by Phil Low, Ralph C. Corley Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, has explained for the first time the details of how drugs are released within a cancer cell—knowledge that will improve the ability to deliver drugs to a specific target without affecting surrounding cells. This new understanding can also be applied to cells involved in such conditions as arthritis, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, and Crohn's disease. Full story.

Kids discover fossil fun in tabletop dig

Children who love to play in the dirt had a field day recently at the Marion, Indiana Public Library and were able to learn while digging at the library's Archaeology/Paleontology Day. One of the big hits with the kids was a "Paleopuzzle" designed by Steve Smith, K-12 outreach coordinator for the department of earth and atmospheric sciences. Full story.

Research Funding Report

Science researchers received funding totaling more than $3.7 million in August 2006. Complete list of funded proposals.

PURDUE NEWS

Purdue breaks ground for Discovery Learning Center

Purdue officials announced on September 21 that an anonymous gift of $2.5 million, along with gifts from Purdue friends, will help fund a new $10 million building to house the Discovery Learning Center, one of 10 interdisciplinary research centers in the university's Discovery Park. Full story.

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation forms $1 million alliance with Regenstrief Center

The Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation is forming a $1 million partnership with Purdue University's Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering to study how engineering principles can improve the delivery of health care. Full story.

SCIENCE ALUMNI NEWS

Science alumni: We want to hear from you! Update your information and share your professional news as well as your personal and family milestones with your classmates and the Science community. Click here.

Click here for this month’s Alumni News.

Science Kids Club blasts off

The Science Kids Club is off and running! Since we launched the club in October, nearly 150 kids have joined! Enroll the special kids in your life in the Science Kids Club for Science fun for kids of all ages. More information.

Stay connected!

Join the Purdue Web Community and stay connected to your alma mater. This interactive site will help you keep in touch with your Purdue family—your friends, faculty and staff, and fellow alumni. Click here to sign up and get started.

Increase your reach: Support Science by joining the Purdue President’s Council!

The President's Council is a unique group of alumni and friends who contribute generously to the future of Purdue University. Working closely with the president, these leaders volunteer to support the University in ways that are very personal and meaningful to them. Through special events and programs, members build strong and lasting relationships with one another—relationships that enhance their experiences and change their lives. Click here to join online!

Make the most of your gift!

The newly passed Pension Protection Act of 2006 contains a two-year IRA Charitable Rollover provision that will allow people age 70½ or older to exclude up to $100,000 from their gross income for a taxable year for direct gifts from a traditional or Roth IRA to a qualified charity. To talk about how you can take advantage of this opportunity to increase your giving power, click here!

SCIENCE EVENTS AND CALENDAR

Science Laureates, October 4-6

TT (Trading Technologies) Days, Computer Science, October 4

Computer Science "Unplugged" Fall workshop for teachers, October 4

Chemistry Discovery Partners Meeting, October 12-13

Fall Chemistry Show: "The Chemistry of Polymers", October 15, 11:00 a.m., WTHR 200

Alumni reception at Society of Actuaries Meeting, Chicago, October 16

Actuarial Science Advisory Board Meeting, October 20

Biological Sciences Alumni Advisory Committee Meeting, October 20-21

Conte Distinguished Lecture, Computer Science, October 23

Outstanding Alumni Awards, Departments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry, and Physics, October 26

Dean’s Club luncheon for Outstanding Alumni, October 27

Discovery Lecture Series: The American Competitiveness Initiative, Leading the World in Innovation, by Dr. John H. Marburger, October 27

President’s Council Weekend, October 27-28

Chemistry Department Advisory Committee Meeting, October 29-30

Physics FunFest, November 11

Science Events

Science Seminars

Purdue Events

.


October 2006
From the Dean I’m writing this intro especially to alert all our faculty, staff, students, and alumni in the College of Science, as well as all those across campus, to an exciting new event happening in the next few days: the Science Laureates Program at Purdue. On October 4, 5, and 6, Purdue will host 10 of the world’s most renowned science journalists and honor them for the linchpin role they play in disseminating knowledge and information about science. Clive Cookson—Science journalist at The Financial Times of London. David Ewing Duncan—Science journalist, contributor to Nature and other science publications, and regular NPR and PBS contributor. Joel Garreau—Author of Radical Evolution, journalist and editor at The Washington Post. Simon Grose—Science and technology editor, Canberra Times. Moira Gunn—Science journalist, creator of NPR’s TechNation and BiotechNation, and Purdue Science and Engineering alumna. Joan Leach—Editor, Social Epistemology, and Convener, Science Communications Program at the University of Queensland. Nuala Moran—Science journalist, editor, Science\|Business, BioWorld, former Managing Editor, Nature, former Deputy Editor, Computer Weekly. Apoorva Mandavilli—Senior news editor, Nature Medicine. Jason Pontin—Science journalist, editor-in-chief of Technology Review, the MIT magazine of innovation. Jeff Young—Senior editor, The Chronicle of Higher Education. These journalists cover all aspects of science, engineering, and technology and relate them to business, education, public policy, global politics, consumer concerns, social ethics, and much more. The Science Laureates at Purdue program will connect the global community of science journalists as they work together to examine and develop their role in advancing society. . . and in the process, they’ll learn much about the outstanding work going on here at Purdue. You’re invited to a dynamic town hall-style meeting on Thursday, October 5 from 10:30 a.m. until noon in the Lawson Computer Science Building. The Laureates and selected Purdue faculty will engage in lively interplay on the future of publication of science research and its impact and will answer questions from the audience. At 3:30 that afternoon, everyone is invited to the convocation for the Purdue community in the Purdue Memorial Union Ballrooms. The Laureates will each offer their “200 words”—the message they want to convey to scientists—followed by a Q&A session with the audience and an informal reception. Mark your calendars for Thursday, October 5, and join us for Science Laureates at Purdue! You can check the Science Laureates web page for more information. Best regards, Jeff Vitter *SPOTLIGHT ON NEW FACULTY* Olga Vitek, assistant professor of statistics and computer science, earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in econometrics and statistics at the University of Geneva, Switzerland and worked as a biostatistician at the University Hospitals of Geneva. She became interested in the development and application of quantitative methods in molecular biology and came to Purdue to earn her doctorate in statistics. As a graduate student, Olga collaborated with biologists, chemists, and computer scientists on projects in genomics and structural biology, statistical consulting, and an internship in a proteomics lab at Eli Lilly and Co. John Peterson, assistant professor of physics, is an astrophysicist whose research addresses questions about the large-scale structure of our universe. To pursue these questions, John uses of a variety of observational techniques such as X-ray spectroscopy of clusters of galaxies and weak gravitational lensing. John received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Columbia University. Steven Dong, assistant professor of mathematics, is a member of the Center for Computational and Applied Mathematics (CCAM). Steve's research involves multi-disciplinary fields requiring expertise in mathematics, engineering, and computer science. His work focuses on large-scale parallel scientific computing and grid computing applied to multi-physics modeling and simulations of biological and physical systems. Steve comes to Purdue from Brown University, where he was a research assistant professor. *SCIENCE PEOPLE* Fred Regnier to lead Purdue/IU cancer research team The National Cancer Institute has awarded a $7 million grant to a Purdue-IU team led by Fred Regnier, Law Distinguished Professor of Analytical Chemistry. The joint effort pairs Purdue's experts in mass spectrometry and proteomics technology with the expert clinical team of cancer researchers from Indiana University School of Medicine. Together they will focus on technology to diagnose breast and prostate cancer through blood samples. Full story. Noah Diffenbaugh named outstanding young scientist Noah Diffenbaugh, assistant professor of earth and atmospheric sciences, has been named the 2006 James R. Holton Junior Scientist Award winner by the American Geophysical Union's Atmospheric Sciences section. Noah joined the department in 2004 and specializes in global environmental change, ecological climatology, and paleoclimatology. Educators bringing new focus to teaching physics Physics professors Mark Haugan and Lynn Bryan are part of a multi-university team that received nearly $2 million in NSF funding—$600 thousand of which will come to Purdue—to disseminate an innovative new physics curriculum for undergraduate students. Called Matter & Interactions, the calculus-based introductory physics curriculum integrates contemporary physics to help students learn how to work on contemporary problems. Matter & Interactions teaches students how to use a small set of fundamental principles to understand and to predict the behavior of complex real-world physical systems. Computation is an integral part of the course. Project abstract. Three departments to honor outstanding alumni Ten alumni of the departments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry, and Physics will return to campus this month to receive their departments' top alumni awards. Each department will hold separate ceremonies on October 26 to honor their alumni for outstanding achievement in professional and related fields. The departments of Computer Science, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, and Statistics will hold outstanding alumni awards ceremonies in the Spring of 2007. Fall 2006 outstanding alumni bios. *SCIENCE NEWS AND RESEARCH* Lawson Computer Science Building dedicated in high style The Purdue community celebrated the computer science department's new home on September 15 with the dedication of the new Richard and Patricia Lawson Computer Science Building. The gala ceremony kicked off a day of tours, seminars, and demos showcasing the world-class facility. Full story. 2,482 told of possible computer security incident at Purdue Purdue is informing people who were College of Science students in 2000 that a file containing information about them may have been accessed by unauthorized individuals. The possibility was discovered last month during a security check of an administrative workstation. While there is no direct evidence that any unauthorized person viewed or downloaded data, efforts have been made to alert every individual whose information was in the file. More information. Computer scientists and engineers simulate jet colliding with World Trade Center Computer scientists led by Prof. Chris Hoffmann worked with engineering researchers to create a simulation based upon scientific principles to study in detail what likely happened when a commercial airliner crashed into the World Trade Center's North Tower on Sept. 11, 2001. The simulation can help understand how the building's structural core was affected, how it responded to the initial shock of the aircraft collision, and how the tower later collapsed. Full story. Low's work sheds new light on drug delivery Work by Phil Low, Ralph C. Corley Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, has explained for the first time the details of how drugs are released within a cancer cell—knowledge that will improve the ability to deliver drugs to a specific target without affecting surrounding cells. This new understanding can also be applied to cells involved in such conditions as arthritis, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, and Crohn's disease. Full story. Kids discover fossil fun in tabletop dig Children who love to play in the dirt had a field day recently at the Marion, Indiana Public Library and were able to learn while digging at the library's Archaeology/Paleontology Day. One of the big hits with the kids was a "Paleopuzzle" designed by Steve Smith, K-12 outreach coordinator for the department of earth and atmospheric sciences. Full story. Research Funding Report Science researchers received funding totaling more than $3.7 million in August 2006. Complete list of funded proposals. PURDUE NEWS Purdue breaks ground for Discovery Learning Center Purdue officials announced on September 21 that an anonymous gift of $2.5 million, along with gifts from Purdue friends, will help fund a new $10 million building to house the Discovery Learning Center, one of 10 interdisciplinary research centers in the university's Discovery Park. Full story. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation forms $1 million alliance with Regenstrief Center The Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation is forming a $1 million partnership with Purdue University's Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering to study how engineering principles can improve the delivery of health care. Full story. SCIENCE ALUMNI NEWS Science alumni: We want to hear from you! Update your information and share your professional news as well as your personal and family milestones with your classmates and the Science community. Click here. Click here for this month’s Alumni News. Science Kids Club blasts off The Science Kids Club is off and running! Since we launched the club in October, nearly 150 kids have joined! Enroll the special kids in your life in the Science Kids Club for Science fun for kids of all ages. More information. Stay connected! Join the Purdue Web Community and stay connected to your alma mater. This interactive site will help you keep in touch with your Purdue family—your friends, faculty and staff, and fellow alumni. Click here to sign up and get started. Increase your reach: Support Science by joining the Purdue President’s Council! The President's Council is a unique group of alumni and friends who contribute generously to the future of Purdue University. Working closely with the president, these leaders volunteer to support the University in ways that are very personal and meaningful to them. Through special events and programs, members build strong and lasting relationships with one another—relationships that enhance their experiences and change their lives. Click here to join online! Make the most of your gift! The newly passed Pension Protection Act of 2006 contains a two-year IRA Charitable Rollover provision that will allow people age 70½ or older to exclude up to $100,000 from their gross income for a taxable year for direct gifts from a traditional or Roth IRA to a qualified charity. To talk about how you can take advantage of this opportunity to increase your giving power, click here! *SCIENCE EVENTS AND CALENDAR* Science Laureates, October 4-6 TT (Trading Technologies) Days, Computer Science, October 4 Computer Science "Unplugged" Fall workshop for teachers, October 4 Chemistry Discovery Partners Meeting, October 12-13 Fall Chemistry Show: "The Chemistry of Polymers", October 15, 11:00 a.m., WTHR 200 Alumni reception at Society of Actuaries Meeting, Chicago, October 16 Actuarial Science Advisory Board Meeting, October 20 Biological Sciences Alumni Advisory Committee Meeting, October 20-21 Conte Distinguished Lecture, Computer Science, October 23 Outstanding Alumni Awards, Departments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry, and Physics, October 26 Dean’s Club luncheon for Outstanding Alumni, October 27 Discovery Lecture Series: The American Competitiveness Initiative, Leading the World in Innovation, by Dr. John H. Marburger, October 27 President’s Council Weekend, October 27-28 Chemistry Department Advisory Committee Meeting, October 29-30 Physics FunFest, November 11 Science Events Science Seminars Purdue Events .	In this Issue: Spotlight on New Faculty Science People Fred Regnier to lead Purdue/IU cancer research team Noah Diffenbaugh named outstanding young scientist Educators bringing new focus to teaching physics Three departments to honor outstanding alumni Science News and Research Lawson Computer Science Building dedicated in high style 2,482 told of possible computer security incident at Purdue Computer scientists and engineers simulate jet colliding with World Trade Center Low's work sheds new light on drug delivery Kids discover fossil fun in tabletop dig Research Funding Report Purdue News Purdue breaks ground for Discovery Learning Center Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation forms $1 million alliance with Regenstrief Center Science Alumni News Science Events and Calendar Science alumni: We want to hear from you! Share your professional news and your personal and family milestones by clicking here. Contact us Past issues of Science @ Purdue Insights, the College of Science Magazine College of Science Purdue News Purdue University