Dr. Kennon Publishes Paper
Dr. Tillman Kennon, Assistant Professor of Science Education, will have an article about the Arkansas State BalloonSAT Program published in the January edition of the peer-reviewed journal The Science Teacher. The article "Students at the Edge of Space" discusses atmospheric research being done with high school teachers and students using high-altitude balloons that are launched locally. A picture taken on a recent flight from 73,000 feet above the surface of the Earth that shows Memphis and the Mississippi River will be used for the cover of the January edition of the journal.

Drs. Benjamin Publish Paper
Drs. Earl and Ellis Benjamin recently published an article in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health on deactivating bacteria with microwave radiation in the presence of metal ions.  They were able to develop a mathematical model that predicts the growth and death rates of bacteria in these situations.  The paper was published in collaboration with two colleagues at Morgan State University in Delaware.

Dr. Hannigan Provides Book Chapter
Dr. Robyn Hannigan contributed a chapter for the book Diversity and the Future of the US Environmental Movement that was recently published by Yale University.  Her chapter, "Better Science Through Diversity: Disciplinary and Cultural Diversity in the Environmental Sciences", discusses the need for cultural diversity as well as the expected disciplinary diversity in the field of environmental science. 

ASU sends team to SENCER Summer Institute
A team of faculty and a graduate student from ASU attended the 2007 Science Education for New Civic Engagement and Responsibilities (SENCER) Summer Institute in Portland, Maine. SENCER is a National Science Foundation-funded program that selects a small cadre of teams from the many national and international application programs it received to attend the the institute to work on and share information and ideas on how to infuse civic engagement activities into the science curriculum. The team from ASU, led by Dr. Robyn Hannigan, Environmental Sciences program and Geochemistry, included Dr. Alan Christian, Zoology, Leonette Cox, graduate student, Environmental Sciences, Dr. Erik Gilbert, History, Dr. Steve Green, Soil and Water Conservation, and Dr. Tillman Kennon, Science Education. Dr. John M. Pratte, Chemistry and Physics, also gave a presentation, "The Effects of Online Classes on Engagement."

President Bush to appoint Dr. Allen for science panel
The White House announced through a news release that President Bush will appoint Dr. Susan Davis Allen, senior advisor to the chancellor, to the President's Committee on the National Medal of Science. She served as vice chancellor for research and academic affairs before electing in April to return to full-time faculty status. In August, her new position will be distinguished professor of laser applications and science.