AACC International (formerly the American Association of Cereal Chemists) invites your department and students to participate in the newest addition to its annual meeting, the Best Student Research Paper Competition. Sponsored by the association's Professional Development Panel and held at the 2009 Annual Meeting in Baltimore (September 13-16, 2009), the competition will feature a special, oral presentation session where the top six student paper entries will compete for recognition and cash prizes. 

Abstracts must be submitted electronically to AACC Intl. by February 28, 2009.  Each department may submit one entry only and complete the accompanying nomination form.  The research must have been carried out (and be presented) by the submitting student (undergraduate, Masters or Doctoral).  In addition, submitting students must submit a short (5 minutes or less) PowerPoint explaining the goal of the work, its significance, novelty and/or timeliness. These will aid the judges in screening entries down to the six finalists. Upload these presentations to http://dropbox.yousendit.com/scisoc.  

Initial screening/judging will begin March 6 with finalists notified by April 1.  All finalists will have their abstract submission fee waived and will receive $300 in support of their travel to the meeting.   Full information regarding the competition can be found at http://www.aaccnet.org/membership/srpaper.asp

The Nebraska Rural Development Commission (RDC) and Nebraska Department of Economic Development have awarded $658,277 in funding for 22 projects through the Value-Added Agricultural grant program, which invests in products and businesses that help support and grow the state’s agriculture industry.  The four companies which received assistance by Suzanne Weeder-Einspahr and Mark Hutchison of The Food Processing Center were awarded grant money totaling $163,324. Additionally, The FPC is written into two of these grants for future projects

The School of Natural Resources will be holding seminars on January 29 and February 5.  Both seminars will be held at 3 PM in 901 Hardin Hall.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Science and Environmental Literacy:  Opportunities for Action, Engagement, and Collaboration through Education?

Dave Gosselin, Director of Environmental Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Executive Committee Member, Council of Environmental Deans and Directors, National Council for Science and the Environment

Seminar Abstract
Science and environmental literacy is required to address many important economic, national security, health, social, and ethical issues. This presentation has three goals. The first is to provide background information about several current national science and environmental literacy initiatives. The second goal is to provide an overview of recommendations made to President-elect Obama’s Energy and Environment transition team by the National Council for Science and the Environment (NCSE) of which UNL is one of 160 affiliated members. The third goal is to reflect on some current and potential opportunities for our community related to the development of a scientifically and environmentally knowledgeable work force that can effectively contribute to energy, environmental, and natural resources decision-making needed for a healthy and economically productive society.

Thursday, February 5, 2009
The Educational Challenges of Climate Change.

Jon Jensen, Visiting Professor, School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  Jon is on sabbatical for the 2008-2009 academic year from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, where he is Director of Environmental Studies and Associate Professor of Philosophy and Environmental Studies.  He is a member of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s (AASHE) working group on sustainability across the curriculum and on the steering committee for the Upper Midwest Association for Campus Sustainability.

Seminar Abstract

Global climate change is one of the most serious threats we face and challenges many aspects of the status quo.  While the scientific, political, technological, and economic challenges of climate change are increasingly well known, climate change also poses specific challenges to educational institutions.  What does it mean for schools, colleges and universities to respond to climate change?  How does it affect what and how we teach as well as operations and all aspects of life on campus?  This talk will reflect on the educational challenges and argue that these are some of the most neglected and most important aspects of responding to global warming.  The talk will offer suggestions on how we meet these challenges including examples from across the country.  Though the primary focus will be on higher education, much of what is presented will be relevant to all types and levels of education.

Drs. Susan Cuppett and John Rupnow  are being recognized with the "Certificate of Recognition for Contributions to Students."  This award is presented by the  UNL Parents Association and the Teaching Council, which asks UNL parents, in consultation with their sons and daughters, to recommend faculty and staff who should be recognized for this certificate. This is the twelfth time Dr. Cuppett has won this award and the fifth for Dr. Rupnow.

Congratulations for your hard work and dedication!

On Monday, the Lincoln Journal-Star published an article on the Gut Function Initiative at FDST.  You can read the article here.