June 2004

Science and technology arm of Mexican government agrees to develop cooperative programs with Virginia Tech

Wed, 30 Jun 2004 00:00:00 -0400

Charles W. Steger, president of Virginia Tech, and Jaime Parada Avila, director general of the National Council for Science and Technology of the United Mexican States (CONACYT), have signed an agreement that provides for development of a multi-year cooperative education program.

JOUSTER project aimed at readying unmanned vehicles for military roles

Tue, 29 Jun 2004 00:00:00 -0400

Using a $2.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense, Virginia Tech researchers will begin developing an experimentation site at the Virginia International Raceway near Danville, Va., as an initial step in the Joint Unmanned Systems Testing, Experimentation, and Research (JOUSTER) program.

New Hokie/ACC apparel unveiled; "Crazy for the Hokies" sweepstakes launched

Tue, 29 Jun 2004 00:00:00 -0400

A new line of Virginia Tech and ACC co-branded apparel will be introduced as Virginia Tech prepares to become an official member of the Atlantic Coast Conference July 1. In addition, a new "Crazy for the Hokies" sweepstakes will be held with prizes totaling more than $10,000.

Cuban expert laments recent developments that further restrict travel to the Caribbean Island

Fri, 25 Jun 2004 00:00:00 -0400

Joseph Scarpaci, professor of geography in the College of Natural Resources at Virginia Tech, has just returned from his 43rd educational tour to Cuba and says that the federal government's latest tightening this week of study travel is a sad development for students and scholars

Virginia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit receives excellence award

Fri, 25 Jun 2004 00:00:00 -0400

The National Cooperative Research Unit (CRU) Awards program has recognized the Virginia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit of Virginia Tech’s College of Natural Resources for outstanding achievements above normal services of individual research units.

Bent Mountain resident and student receives Virginia Chapters of the Wildlife Society Student Scholarship

Thu, 24 Jun 2004 00:00:00 -0400

Michael Nichols of Bent Mountain, Va., a senior majoring in wildlife science in the College of Natural Resources at Virginia Tech, was awarded the Virginia Chapters of the Wildlife Society Student Scholarship.

Pamplin College of Business names interim associate dean of undergraduate programs

Wed, 23 Jun 2004 00:00:00 -0400

Debra A. Salbador of Blacksburg, Va., associate professor of accounting and information systems, has been appointed interim associate dean of undergraduate programs at Virginia Tech’s Pamplin College of Business, effective July 1.

Affordable homes available in most of Virginia, despite increases in housing prices

Wed, 23 Jun 2004 00:00:00 -0400

Affordable homeownership is generally available in most of Virginia, according to a recent report compiled by the Virginia Tech Center for Housing Research and the Virginia Association of Realtors. The report divides Virginia into housing market regions and measures affordability based on percent of income required for owner-occupied homes.

Formaldehyde-free wood products possible, just not viable

Wed, 23 Jun 2004 00:00:00 -0400

A World Health Organization panel of 26 scientists from 10 countries announced last week its conclusions that formaldehyde poses a greater hazard than previously thought. They noted that the chemical is "carcinogenic to humans."

National Academy invites researcher to Frontiers of Engineering

Tue, 22 Jun 2004 00:00:00 -0400

Amy Bell, of Blacksburg, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering in the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech, has been invited to participate in the National Academy of Engineering's (NAE) 10th Annual Symposium on Frontiers of Engineering, Sept. 9-11 in Irvine, Calif.

Virginia Tech to confer 24 master's degrees in education in Malawi

Tue, 22 Jun 2004 00:00:00 -0400

Graduation celebrations may have abated locally, but on July 13, 24 master's degrees in education from Virginia Tech will be conferred upon Malawi natives.

Virginia Tech to host virtual reality, robotics, and web workshops for middle school students

Tue, 22 Jun 2004 00:00:00 -0400

Three summer workshops on web development, virtual reality, and robotics will offer aspiring middle school web designers, writers, and computer scientists a high-tech learning adventure designed to teach skills in math, science, computers, and oral and written communication. Virginia Tech's Continuing and Professional Education and the Center for Instructional Technology Solutions in Industry and Education developed the workshops with support from Montgomery County and Salem schools. Classes will be held on the Virginia Tech campus and will be small in size to ensure personalized attention.

Virginia Tech conference to focus on community and university partnerships

Tue, 22 Jun 2004 00:00:00 -0400

Community organizations and college and university faculty can learn more about working together at "Envisioning Partnership: The First Annual University-Community Partnership Conference," a conference that will be held July 12 through July 14 at the Donaldson Brown Hotel and Conference Center on the Virginia Tech campus.

J. Michael Kelly named dean of Virginia Tech's College of Natural Resources

Tue, 22 Jun 2004 00:00:00 -0400

J. Michael Kelly, chair of the Natural Resource Ecology and Management Department at Iowa State University, will become the second dean of Virginia Tech's College of Natural Resources, effective Sept. 1. He will replace Gregory N. Brown, founding dean of the college, who has announced his retirement this summer.

Virginia Tech's Paul A. Distler honored as professor emeritus

Tue, 22 Jun 2004 00:00:00 -0400

Paul A. Distler of Blacksburg, Va., Alumni Distinguished Professor and director of the School of the Arts at Virginia Tech, was conferred with the title Alumni Distinguished Professor emeritus by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors during the board's summer meeting June 7.

New designed paclitaxel analog kills more cancer cells

Mon, 21 Jun 2004 00:00:00 -0400

A multi-university research team led by Virginia Tech University Distinguished Professor of Chemistry David G. I. Kingston and his collaborators Professor Susan Bane at the State University of New York (SUNY) Binghamton and Professor James P. Snyder at Emory University has succeeded in enhancing the structure of paclitaxel (Taxol) to make it more effective in killing cancer cells.

Ten local teachers to travel to Malawi on Fulbright-Hays Program

Mon, 21 Jun 2004 00:00:00 -0400

Ten local teachers will travel to Malawi with Virginia Tech professors on July 1 to begin a month-long, in-depth study of this African nation. This cultural experience has been made possible by a $66,000 grant from the Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad Program.

Two interim appointments announced in university's Judicial Affairs Office

Fri, 18 Jun 2004 00:00:00 -0400

Two interim appointments named by Judicial Affairs Office

Virginia Tech Foundation to review WVTF Public Radio budget

Thu, 17 Jun 2004 00:00:00 -0400

The Virginia Tech Foundation will consider the annual budget for WVTF Public Radio at its meeting Thursday, June 24, at the Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center, Jefferson Board Room.

Institute for Advanced Learning and Research officially opens doors

Wed, 16 Jun 2004 00:00:00 -0400

Citizens, leaders, and officials from throughout Southside and administrators from Virginia Tech gathered in Danville Saturday to dedicate the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) and to cut the ceremonial ribbon to officially open the multi-million dollar facility.

Professor named head of Virginia Tech's dairy science

Wed, 16 Jun 2004 00:00:00 -0400

R. Michael Akers of Blacksburg, will become the new head of the Department of Dairy Science in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech, effective July 1.

Professor reappointed to Virginia's Freedom of Information Advisory Council

Tue, 15 Jun 2004 00:00:00 -0400

W. Wat Hopkins of Blacksburg, associate professor of communication in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences at Virginia Tech, has been reappointed to another four-year term on Virginia's Freedom of Information (FOI) Advisory Council by William J. Howell, Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates.

Engineering science and mechanics department head named