Talking Points

First land animals kept fishlike jaws for millions of years, says biologist

Scientists studying how early land vertebrates evolved from fishes long thought that the animals developed legs for moving around on land well before their feeding systems and dietary habits changed enough to let them eat a land-based diet, but strong evidence was lacking. Now, for the first time fossil jaw measurements by Philip Anderson, a senior research fellow in Biology, and others have tested and statistically confirmed this lag.
 
“This pattern had been hypothesized previously, but not really tested. Now we've done that,” Anderson says.

Three teams share $55,250 in Innovation Challenge prizes

The Innovation Challenge final business plan competition has awarded $55,250 to three competing teams. Fetch Rewards won the top prize of $30,000. VideoConversation won a total of $15,000 at the event while Crowd Solar received $10,000.
 
Since 2005, the UMass Innovation Challenge has provided more than $500,000 in awards to 65 different student-led teams. It is designed to help current students and young alumni who have innovative business ideas to develop business plans and move products closer to market. This year’s final round competition was held April 17.
 
The top winner, Fetch Rewards

150-pound birthday cake cut as campus celebrates Founders Day

Thousands of students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends attended festivities marking Founders Day celebration on April 29 on the 150th anniversary of the signing of the campus charter. Among the highlights was the ceremonial cutting of a 150-pound birthday cake created in the shape of the iconic Old Chapel.
 
It was on April 29, 1863 that Gov. John Andrews signed the charter to form Massachusetts Agricultural College, creating the first Board of Trustees for what would become Massachusetts State College in 1931 and the University of Massachusetts in 1947.
 
Befitting the occasion,

House approves $34 billion state budget for fiscal 2014

The state House of Representatives approved a $34 billion fiscal 2014 state budget on April 24.
 
The measure, which passed 127-29, adds nearly $135 million to the spending plan proposed by the House Ways and Means Committee and includes $39 million in new funding for the UMass system.
 
Currently, the state provides 43 percent of the cost to educate a student with students providing 57 percent. The university has proposed, under the leadership of President Robert Caret, that funding to reach the 50-50 formula could be phased in over a two-year period given the state’s fiscal challenges.

$300 million UMass Rising fundraising campaign announced

University leaders have announced the launch of the campus’ s most ambitious fund-raising campaign ever, “UMass Rising,” in its sesquicentennial year, setting a goal of $300 million to achieve new heights as a leader in the Commonwealth’s and the nation’s innovation economy.

At the April 28 kickoff event, Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy said, “To excel today, the best universities must adapt. Simply reacting to new circumstances will not do, much more is required.

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