News

Walk for Light safety check postponed to Dec. 5

Due to expected inclement weather, the Walk for Light has been postponed from Nov. 7 to Wednesday, Dec. 5, starting at 6 p.m. from the Student Union steps.

During the annual event sponsored by the UMass Amherst Police Department, volunteers walk across campus to identify safety-related issues requiring repairs or other follow-up.

 

 

UWN speaker to discuss 'Workplace Well-Being'

The University Women’s Network luncheon on Wednesday, Nov. 14 will focus on “Workplace Well-Being,” with Chris Willenbrock of Workplace Learning and Development explaining how to identify toxic behavior and the steps employees can take to protect themselves.

The menu for the luncheon, which runs from noon to 1 p.m. in 1001 Campus Center, includes chicken and rice soup, sunflower bread, spinach salad,
 Naples braised beef with rigatoni pasta, mini-cannolis, fruit tarts and 
tea and coffee.

The cost is $12 for member lunch, $15 for non-member lunch and $5 for brown bag only.

RSVP by Nov.

Climate modeler identifies trigger for Earth’s last big freeze

For more than 30 years, climate scientists have debated whether flood waters from melting of the enormous Laurentide Ice Sheet, which ushered in the last major cold episode on Earth about 12,900 years ago, flowed northwest into the Arctic first, or east via the Gulf of St. Lawrence, to weaken ocean thermohaline circulation and have a frigid effect on global climate.
 
Now geoscientist Alan Condron, with Peter Winsor at the University of Alaska, using new, high-resolution global ocean circulation models, report the first conclusive evidence that this flood must have flowed north into the

Parking Services hours and locations

Parking Services has two locations that can service all parking needs.

The Green Lot 25 Parking Office, located at 51 Forestry Way next to the Mullins Center, is open weekdays, 7:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

The Satellite Campus Center Parking Office on level 2 of the Campus Center Parking Garage, is open weekdays, 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

Call 545-0065 to reach either office location.

For current updates and more information, visit the Parking Services website.

 

Ahern presents paper at Shanghai workshop

Jack Ahern, vice provost for International Programs and professor of Landscape Architecture, presented an invited research paper at the international workshop "Frontiers in Urban Ecological Research and Planning: Linking Ideas from the East and the West," held Oct. 25-30 in Shanghai, China.

Ahern's paper was titled "A model and research agenda for safe-to-fail adaptive planning and design."

The workshop was sponsored by the Shanghai Key Lab for Urban Ecological Processes and Eco-Restoration (SHUES) at East China Normal University.

UWN collecting winter clothing for hurricane victims

The University Women’s Network is collecting new and gently used winter accessories such as hats, mittens, scarves and socks for children and their families who were affected by Hurricane Sandy. Donations will be accepted until Monday, Dec. 3.

Drop-off locations:

  • Lisa Groth or Laurie Banas, 210 Conte Polymer Research Center
  • Carey Simos, Arnold House, Front Lobby
  • Linda Cahillane Smith, 101 University Drive, Slobody Bldg, 3rd Fl Suite C1
  • Glenda Pons, 126 Lederle GRT
  • Vanessa Kehler, 303 Goodell Building
  • Kelly Martula, 205 Middlesex House


For information or to volunteer to collect donations

Phillis to share team-based learning experiences

The Center for Teaching and Faculty Development’s Lunch & Learn series presents “Team-Based Learning (TBL): A Faculty Experience” on Tuesday, Nov. 13 from noon to 1 p.m.
 
The featured speaker, Biology professor and TBL Fellow Randy Phillis, will present “Half-Way Up the Learning Curve.” Phillis is teaching the biology for majors course to 48 honors freshmen in one of the new team-based learning classrooms for the first time. Over the years, he has tried many new things in my teaching, but never anything quite like a TBL experience.

Conference examines Americas in the Renaissance

UMass Amherst and Holyoke Community College scholars will speak at "The Americas in the Renaissance Conference" on Saturday, Nov. 10 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Renaissance Center.

The talks include:

Barry Levy, History, “When the Yankee was Fierce: Militarism in Massachusetts.”

Kate Freedman, History, “Cultivating Inner and Outer Plantations: Quaker Networks of Family, Faith, and Trade in the British Atlantic.”

Mason Lowance, English, “Millennialism in Early American Literature and Theology.”

George Ashley, “The Native People of Southern New England In the 16th and 17th Centuries.”

The

Political scientists to assess elections for Retired Faculty Association

Ray La Raja and Brian F. Schaffner of the Department of Political Science will speak on “U.S. Elections 2012: an initial assessment” at the Retired Faculty Association meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 11 a.m. in 101 Campus Center.

The talk will be preceded by coffee and tea at 10 a.m. and business and announcements at 10:30.

Flyer: Announce Nov. 2012 meeting.pdf

Retired Faculty Association website

 

Researchers propose new model of RNA transcription initiation

For years scientists have worked to understand molecular events at the initiation of RNA transcription, when special proteins called RNA polymerases, assigned to make a new hemoglobin molecule for example, kick-start the process. Now Chemistry professor Craig Martin and molecular biology doctoral student Luis Ramirez-Tapia have isolated these first steps and provide a new model for how and why it works.
 
Martin says, “People knew these steps happened, but we’re explaining why they happen and the consequences.” Using a combination of fluorescence imaging techniques in synthetic DNA, the

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