Ian Grosse, professor in the Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department and director of the Intelligent Modeling, Analysis, and Design Laboratory has been named a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).
According to ASME, “The Fellows Grade is the highest elected grade of membership within ASME, the attainment of which recognizes exceptional engineering achievements and contributions to the engineering profession.”
"For over 25 years, I have been engaged in research in the area of finite element analysis and engineering design," said Grosse.
Nicholas Reich, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, is the lead biostatistician for a team of researchers who recently reported results of one of the largest infection prevention trials ever conducted in children, that daily baths with an antiseptic soap can reduce the risk of bloodstream infection in critically ill hospitalized children. Investigators at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center led the work at five pediatric hospitals. Findings were reported in a recent issue of the prestigious journal, The Lancet.
Professor Laura Briggs, chair of the Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies Department, has been awarded the James A. Rawley Prize, given annually by the Organization of American Historians to the author of the best book dealing with the history of race relations in the United States. Her book, "Somebody's Children: The Politics of Transracial and Transnational Adoption," was published last year by Duke University Press.
After bringing more than 60 Pakistani students to the UMass Amherst campus for the past three summers as participants of the Pakistani Young Leaders program, Mike Hannahan, visiting scholar in Political Science, traveled to Islamabad in January, where he oversaw a reunion of the program’s alumni before embarking on a speaking tour of the country—a trip that coincided with President Obama’s second term inauguration and provided ample opportunity to discuss the U.S. government’s policies and practices. 
Two Anthropology faculty and five graduate students are taking part in an international workshop on the theme of “Space, Placemaking, and the Politics of the Local” at the University of Barcelona from Feb. 5-8.