College News

ASU faculty members aid student researchers in contest

Two ASU-Jonesboro student researchers recently placed in the student presentation competition held at the 92nd annual meeting of the Arkansas Academy of Science held recently at Henderson State University, Arkadelphia. Paul Minor, an electrical engineering major, presented "Organic Chemical Bath Deposition of Indium (III) Sulfide" to win first place in the Undergraduate Physical Science category. Dr. Robert Engelken, Engineering, is Minor's research advisor. Other co-authors on the presentation were fellow ASU student research assistants Michael Sattler and Matthew Pruitt, and Dr. Tansel Karabacak and Dr. Hye-Won Seo of the University of Arkansas-Little Rock. Nathan Wentz presented "Mussel Inventory and Population Status of the Federally Endangered Potamilus Capax (Green 1832) in the Tyronza River, Arkansas," to win second place in the Graduate Environmental Science category. Dr. Alan Christian, Zoology, is Wentz's research advisor; co-authors were Dr. John Harris, Biology, and Dr. Jerry Farris, Environmental Biology, Associate Dean, College of Sciences and Mathematics. The Arkansas Academy of Science holds the student presentation competitions every year at its conference to showcase excellence in high-level student research within the state. ASU has had numerous previous winners.

Fourth annual Brain Awareness Day celebrated

The ASU Society for Neuroscience (ASU-SFN) hosted the 4th annual Brain Awareness Day on Saturday, March 29, at the Craighead County Jonesboro Public Library. This year's event had a record turnout of more than 230 attendees from the community and more than thirty volunteers from ASU, Jonesboro High School, and the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville. Brain Awareness Day is part of a series of events held worldwide to increase public awareness of  the brain and nervous system. ASU Society for Neuroscience faculty sponsors are Dr. Malathi Srivatsan, Molecular Neuroscience, and Dr. Amy R. Pearce, Psychology and Counseling.

Science articles by ASU faculty highlighted nationally

ASU faculty members have been recognized by The Coalition on the Public Understanding of Science (COPUS). The organization has cited the publication of weekly articles by ASU science faculty members as exemplary outreach activity in the U.S. COPUS is a grassroots coalition linking universities, scientific societies, science centers and museums, government agencies, advocacy groups, media, educators, businesses, and industry to promote public understanding of the nature and societal value of science. The coalition works to create new forums for communication and develop new partnerships for engaging the public with science. ASU faculty articles on scientific topics are published in The Jonesboro Sun every Sunday and are available online. The articles are also distributed to about 30 local, state, regional, and national media outlets and are reprinted in approximately 10 local and regional newspapers.

ASU biology faculty launch book of real-life adventures

A new book by Arkansas State University biology faculty is being published. “Adventures in the Wild: Tales from Biologists of the Natural State” will make its debut on  the ASU campus on Monday, April 28, at 2 p.m., in ASU’s Hall of Science, Laboratory Sciences Center, East Wing. The book will be unveiled for the public with many of its authors on hand for a book-signing ceremony. Dr. Dan Howard, vice chancellor for Academic Affairs and Research at ASU, will preside over the ceremony, which is free and open to the public. Dr. Aldemaro Romero and Joy Trauth are the book's editors. For details, including all faculty authors, and to view the book jacket, see the NewsPage release.

Dr. Bouldin wins Bailey Memorial Educator Award

Dr. Jennifer Bouldin, director of ASU’s Ecotoxicology Research Facility, is this year’s recipient of the James Bailey Memorial Educator of the Year Award. Dr. Bouldin has served as director of the Ecotoxicology Research Facility since 2006, and she has the distinction of being the first woman to receive a PhD from ASU. As a doctoral student, she was the recipient of the Environmental Sciences Doctoral Research Award. A native of Paragould, Dr. Bouldin received her PhD in Environmental Sciences, with a subdiscipline in ecotoxicology, in 2004. For details, see the NewsPage release.

Dr. Ogendi presents at water ethics symposium

Dr. George Ogendi, Environmental Geology, recently presented a paper, “Incorporation of Water Ethics in Water Legislation and International Treaties” at the international symposium, "Common Grounds, Common Waters: Toward a Water Ethic" at Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, Cal. Dr. Ogendi was also one of the panelists on the forum “Water Ethics in a Globalized World." The symposium focused on identifying the implicit water ethics of groups with direct interests in fresh water resources, such as the water industry, agriculture, government, environmental organizations, and indigenous peoples. The symposium sought common ground in identifying a fundamental water ethic for all interests and agreed that such an ethic should serve as a basis for all agreements, legislation, and management efforts related to fresh water resources.