October 2008

University engineers identify conditions that initiate erosion

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Wind, water, and waves erode billions of tons of soil from the Earth's surface. As a result, many rivers are plagued with excessive amounts of suspended sediment. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, such eroded sediment is the largest nonpoint source pollution in the environment.

Community Design Assistance Center 20th anniversary celebration

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Looking for something out of the routine to do on Friday? Schedule the babysitter now, because space is still available at Virginia Tech's Community Design Assistance Center 20th Anniversary Celebration on Fri., Nov. 7, at 6 p.m.

Acclaimed artist of moving sculpture, Theo Jansen, to lecture

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Theo Jansen, a Dutch artist and kinetic sculptor, builds enormous works that resemble skeletons of animals and walk on wind power, discusses "The Battle of the Beast" on Tues., Nov. 4, from 2:30 to 4 p.m. in Squires Student Center's Haymarket Theatre.

One can from every fan: Twelfth Annual Hokies for the Hungry drive to be held in conjunction with Nov. 6 football game

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Virginia Tech's Marching Virginians marching band will sponsor a massive canned food drive in conjunction with the Virginia Tech versus the University of Maryland football game on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2008. The drive's goal is to collect 66.233 cans of food, which would be one can from every fan.

Professor spearheads documentary highlighting crumbling United States infrastructure

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

An associate professor at Virginia Tech's College of Engineering is the seed behind a new Public Broadcasting System (PBS) documentary that throws light on a long-buried problem -- America's aging water and sewer infrastructure.

University names John Jackson director of web communications

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

John Jackson of Roanoke, Va., former online editor of Roanoke.com / The Roanoke Times, has been named director of web communications at Virginia Tech.

New interns and residents join veterinary college

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Fifteen new veterinarians have been hired by the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech as residents and interns.

Service to celebrate the life of Dr. Zenobia Lawrence Hikes to be broadcast; other arrangements finalized

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

A campus service to celebrate and honor the life of Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Zenobia Lawrence Hikes, who died Monday, Oct. 27, 2008, will be held Friday, Oct. 31 in the Burruss auditorium promptly at 1:30 p.m. Doors will open at 12:30 p.m. All members of the university community are invited to attend.

Andy Sarjahani named sustainability coordinator for university's dining services

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Andy Sarjahani of Fayetteville, Ark., has been named sustainability coordinator for Dining Services, a department within the Division of Student Affairs at Virginia Tech.

Latest in classroom technologies will be explored Dec. 10-12 at the Hotel Roanoke

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

The 14th annual Educational Technology Leadership Conference, aimed at demonstrating the most up-to-date and successful techniques for integrating technology into classrooms, will be held Dec. 10-12 at the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center in Roanoke, Va.

Students' ingenuity world renowned for designs of ground to aerial robotics

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

If the engineering students at Virginia Tech are a litmus test for the success of autonomous systems research, this emerging strength in the Virginia Center for Autonomous Systems (VaCAS) at the university illustrates its national leadership in this crucial 21st century technology. The center’s faculty members advise student teams and perform basic research in vehicle autonomy.

Sports Club teams work to help the hungry

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Virginia Tech Sport Club teams will be supporting the community this year by collecting canned food donations for the Spiritual Roots Ministry Food Bank.

Professor works to inspire school children from his hometown

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Joseph Freeman, an assistant professor at the Virginia Tech – Wake Forest University School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences and director of the Musculoskeletal Tissue Regeneration Laboratory, teaches graduate students in Fundamentals of Tissue Function Structure and Replacement. He also has a different set of students, also hungry for knowledge of science, hundreds of miles away from Blacksburg, Va., that aren’t quite ready for college. Yet.

Multi-disciplinary university workshop aims to transform computing education

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Faculty members in computer science, English, and the Pamplin College of Business will lead a two-day workshop aimed at gathering information about the use of computing and information technology in different disciplines. The workshop, on Friday, Oct. 31 and Saturday, Nov. 1, will be held at the Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center.

Virginia Tech Board of Visitors to meet Nov. 2-3

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

The Virginia Tech Board of Visitors will hold its quarterly board meeting at 1:15 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, in the Board Room of Torgersen Hall (Room 2100) on the Blacksburg campus.

Letter from Provost McNamee to the university community

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Dear Colleagues, We are in regular contact with Zenobia's family and we will be coordinating plans for memorial services and remembrances with their plans. The expressions of condolences for Zenobia are very powerful and demonstrate the love and admiration we all have for her. We will provide additional details as they develop.

Profile of Todays College Student survey results released

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Virginia Tech has released highlights from the Profile of Today's College Student survey. The Profile of Today's College Student is administered by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) and powered by Student Voice – a comprehensive assessment tool for student affairs professionals in higher education.

Theater critic to speak on Russian theater in the last two decades

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

The Virginia Tech Department of Theatre Arts Graduate Program presents John Freedman, theater critic of The Moscow Times, speaking on Russian Theater and Drama Over the Last Two Decades, on Tuesday, Nov. 4 at 3:30 p.m. in Room 105 of the Performing Arts Building. Admission is free.

Mid-Atlantic research networks collaborate to boost access

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Two major academic regional optical networks, the Mid-Atlantic Terascale Partnership (MATP) and the Mid-Atlantic Crossroads (MAX), have joined forces to maximize research and education network infrastructure for their academic and research members and participants.

In Memoriam: Dr. Zenobia Lawrence Hikes

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Vice President for Student Affairs Zenobia Lawrence Hikes, whose strength and leadership helped unite the Virginia Tech community -- most notably in the hours and days following the tragic events of April 16, 2007, has died from complications following cardiac surgery. She was 53 years old.

University hosts annual CANstruction canned food drive

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

On Friday, Oct. 3, the basketball courts outside of Lee Hall were host to the Department of Residence Life's annual CANstruction food drive, an event designed to help hungry local families while promoting a spirit of community among on-campus residents.

Virginia Tech and Hollins University theatre departments join forces to present award-winning Doubt

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Hollins University and the Virginia Tech Department of Theatre Arts joins forces to present the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning, Doubt, a parable by John Patrick Shanley.

University Chamber Music series presents Opera Roanoke's Das Lied von der Erde

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Virginia Tech Department of Music University Chamber Music series presents Opera Roanoke's production of Gustav Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde on Monday, Nov. 3 at 8 p.m. in Blacksburg's Lyric Theatre.

Veterinary school uses acupuncture as treatment for many animal ailments

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Needles are often equated with pain and discomfort; however, for a horse named Gypsy the tiny sharp objects brought about much needed relief as Dr. Mark Crisman, a professor in the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences in the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech, administered acupuncture therapy.

University inventions to be featured at Mid-Atlantic Innovation Showcase

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties (VTIP) Inc. will show off inventions from Virginia Tech faculty members, students, and partners at the Mid-Atlantic Innovation Showcase Nov. 14 at the McLean Hilton in Tysons Corner, Va.

2007 Veterinary Memorial Fund research grants awarded

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Almost $70,000 in clinical research grants have been awarded to four principal investigators in the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech through the 2008-09 distribution of Veterinary Memorial Fund research grants.

Toal to study secessionist regions in Eurasia; research critical to future of relations between United States and Russia

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

When political geographer Gerard Toal, professor of Government and International Affairs, School of Public and International Affairs, applied to the Human and Social Dynamics program of the National Science Foundation for a research grant this past spring, he had no idea that the topic would suddenly become the center of a worldwide crisis.

Parade in honor of Family Day to be held by the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

In honor of the families of all Virginia Tech students visiting campus, the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets will have a formal review on Saturday, Oct. 25 at 11 a.m. on the university's Drillfield. It will be centered on Burruss Hall.

Office of Economic Development to use $525,000 grant to bring better jobs to Southwest and Southside Virginia