July 2005

Ceremony to launch Hahn Horticulture Garden expansion

Fri, 29 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0400

Virginia Tech will break ground for the Peggy Lee Hahn Pavilion in the Peggy Lee Hahn Horticulture Garden at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2.

Staff member receives national science writing award

Fri, 29 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0400

Sally Harris, of Christiansburg, Va., a communications manager at Virginia Tech, will receive a national award at the meeting of the National Federation of Press Women (NFPW) in September.

National Academy invites researcher to Frontiers of Engineering

Fri, 29 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0400

Sandeep Shukla, an assistant professor in the Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Virginia Tech, is among 88 of the nation’s outstanding young engineers invited by the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) to participate in the 11th annual Frontiers of Engineering Symposium, Sept. 22-24 at the General Electric Research Center in Niskayuna, N.Y.

Forestry 4-H'ers attended national 4-H Forestry Invitational

Fri, 29 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0400

For five days each summer, it's never business as usual at the state 4-H Camp in West Virginia. “This week 4-H forestry teams from across the nation converged on this picturesque boyhood home of Stonewall Jackson to compete in a spirited educational event, the National 4-H Forestry Invitational,” said Jeff Kirwan, 4-H forestry Extension specialist at Virginia Tech’s College of Natural Resources.

University Statement on Lane Stadium

Fri, 29 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0400

In the interest of keeping our fans and public apprised, Virginia Tech provides the following update.

IALR, Virginia Tech, Old Dominion announce VIPER partnership

Fri, 29 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0400

Today, Virginia Tech's Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR), Virginia Tech, and Old Dominion University (ODU) announced a collaborative agreement bringing together resources to benefit the Virginia Institute for Performance Engineering and Research (VIPER). The formation of this partnership enhances the range of services that VIPER offers to the automotive and motor sports industries.

Institute for Advanced Learning and Research Honored with Regional Innovator Award

Thu, 28 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0400

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research was honored with a regional Innovator Award as part of the Rising Together: Summit on the Rural South conference held in Point Clear, Ala., in June. Alabama Gov. Bob Riley presented Tim Franklin, executive director, and Nancy Franklin, senior director of Technology and Programs, with an Innovator award at the opening session of the conference. Each year Southern Growth Policies Board, a regional public policy think tank, recognizes innovative programs in the South that are improving the quality of life in the region with the Innovator Awards.

Science experiments will go forward at Kimballton mine

Thu, 28 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0400

Research on physics will continue at the deep underground mine in Giles County despite last week’s announcement that the Kimballton site did not make the short list for a deep underground lab funded by the National Science Foundation.

VMRCVM names associate dean for research, graduate studies

Thu, 28 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0400

Roger John Avery, senior associate dean of Virginia Tech’s Graduate School, has been named associate dean for research and graduate studies for the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine (VMRCVM).

Virginia Tech's Police Department wins first place in state, national competition

Wed, 27 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0400

The Virginia Tech Police Department, headed by Chief Debra C. Duncan, will receive both state and national first-place awards in the annual Chief’s Law Enforcement Challenge, which focuses on education and enforcement in the areas of driving under the influence of alcohol, occupant protection, and speed enforcement.

Gerontology program boasts three national award winners

Tue, 26 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0400

With the field of gerontology on the cusp of catering to the burgeoning “boomer” population, three Virginia Tech students are prepared for the challenge as they were recently selected for the 2005-2006 national AARP Scholars Program. Libbey Bowen, Nancy Brossoie, and Erica Husser were chosen by a panel of educators and AARP staff to each receive a $10,000 scholarship. In addition, they will participate in a leadership seminar and recognition event at AARP in Washington, D.C., in March 2006.

Professor's book honored along with those of Aristotle, Heidegger, Kepler

Mon, 25 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0400

Markus Breitschmid’s book, "Der bauende Geist. Friedrich Nietzsche und die Architektur," or "The Building Spirit. Friedrich Nietzsche and Architecture," has been selected by the Institute of Philosophy in Karlsruhe-Germany as one of 14 seminal texts along with books by Aristotle, Heidegger, and Kepler written on the problem of architectural space.

Mining conference seeks sustainability through advanced separation technologies

Wed, 20 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0400

The Center for Advanced Separation Technologies (CAST), a Virginia Tech consortium which recently received a $12 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), will share its latest research discoveries at its second annual workshop for representatives from the coal and minerals industries and academia. The three-day event will take place from Tuesday, July 26, to Thursday, July 28, at the new Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center.

Director of Office for Equal Opportunity named

Wed, 20 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0400

Kevin G. McDonald, of Baltimore, former associate director for Compliance and Conflict Resolution at The Johns Hopkins University, has been named director of Virginia Tech’s Office for Equal Opportunity. He will begin work at Virginia Tech in July.

University to develop hazard mitigation plan

Wed, 20 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0400

Virginia Tech has begun the process of developing a University Hazard Mitigation Plan and will involve many members of the university community in the development of this important document.

First woman named to endowed engineering professorship

Tue, 19 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0400

Karen A. Thole, Virginia Tech professor of mechanical engineering, is the first female recipient of an endowed engineering professorship at the university. Thole has received the William S. Cross Professorship in the College of Engineering, established in 1984 by a generous gift from William S. Cross Jr., of Greensboro, N.C.

Engineer named Loring Professor

Tue, 19 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0400

Saifur Rahman, Virginia Tech professor of electrical and computer engineering (ECE) and the founding director of Virginia Tech’s Northern Virginia Division of the College of Engineering, is the recipient of the Joseph R. Loring Professorship of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Engineer receives Worcester professorship

Tue, 19 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0400

Jeffrey H. Reed, Virginia Tech professor of electrical and computer engineering (ECE), is the new recipient of the Willis G. Worcester Professorship of Electrical and Computer Engineering, traditionally awarded to a leading researcher.

Professors combine talents in play's world premiere

Mon, 18 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0400

A playwright, composer, and actor from Virginia Tech have collaborated for a world premiere event in Edinburgh, Scotland. Patricia Raun, head of the Department of Theatre Arts, is the lone performer in “Eurydice,” a one-woman play by internationally-acclaimed Virginia Tech English professor Thomas Gardner. Alan Weinstein, also a Virginia Tech professor and noted cellist, has composed the original score and will accompany the production at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. “Eurydice” runs August 8-10 in the Greyfriars Kirk House.

Bevlee Watford accepts one-year post with NSF

Mon, 18 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0400

Bevlee Watford, associate dean for academic affairs for Virginia Tech’s College of Engineering, has accepted a temporary assignment for one year at the National Science Foundation (NSF) beginning in August.

Engineer develops DynaPro, a production planning tool

Fri, 15 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0400

Manufacturers have long been plagued with planning problems related to production and inventory decisions, labor requirements and capacity adjustments. DynaPro, a new software tool developed by Subhash Sarin, an engineering faculty member at Virginia Tech’s Center for High Performance Manufacturing (CHPM), could help manufacturers make those types of decisions.

2005 Orange, Maroon Effect T-shirts now available

Fri, 15 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0400

The Student Government Association’s 2005 Orange and Maroon Effect T-shirts are officially on sale.

Faculty member edits book on Clean Water Act regulations

Thu, 14 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0400

Tamim Younos, of Blacksburg, interim director of the Virginia Water Resources Research Center at Virginia Tech, has edited the book Total Maximum Daily Load: Approaches and Challenges.

Virginia Tech, VACO partner to conduct County Supervisor Certification Program

Thu, 14 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0400

Members of the boards of supervisors of Virginia counties will have an opportunity to receive additional training by participating in the County Supervisor Certification Program conducted by Virginia Tech’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the Virginia Association of Counties (VACo).

New engineering researcher receives presidential award

Thu, 14 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0400

Michael Garvin, who joined the faculty of the Virginia Tech Via Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering on July 1, was honored at the White House on June 13 as a recipient of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) for 2004.

Researchers discover half-billion-year-old fossils

Wed, 13 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0400

Scientists interested in ancient life have a wealth of fossils and impressions frozen in rocks that they can study from as far back as 540 million years ago – when animals with shells and bones began to become plentiful. But evidence of complex life older than 540 million years is scant and difficult to study.

VBI researcher receives USDA functional genomics grant

Wed, 13 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0400

Brett Tyler, research professor at the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute (VBI) and Virginia Tech professor of plant pathology, physiology, and weed science, has been awarded a three-year, $980,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to identify the ways in which the plant pathogen Phytopthora sojae overcome the defenses of its host soybean.

Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center open for business

Mon, 11 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0400

The sun shone in Blacksburg for the first time in days on Sunday July 10 when Virginia Tech opened its new 147-room hotel and conference center located on 25 acres of the northwestern corner of campus.

Pamplin College dean assumes AACSB board chairmanship