News

Football players join team doctor to encourage kids to 'get moving'

The UMass football team’s bye week provided an opportunity for several players to venture into Holyoke in support of team physician Dr. Pierre Rouzier’s effort to get kids to eat right and exercise.

Several current athletes spent Saturday, Oct. 13 at Holyoke’s Envision Depot Square Block Party, where they participated in a “story walk” for parents and children that featured the new bilingual children’s book, “Henry Gets Moving,” written by Rouzier.

Players worked at reading stations, led group exercises and talked to kids and parents about healthy eating in an effort to spread the message of

Center for Excellence in Apoptosis Research selects Amarantus BioSciences Inc. to explore new treatments for brain disorders

The Pioneer Valley Life Sciences Institute’s (PVLSI) Center for Excellence in Apoptosis Research has awarded a $27,900 translational research grant to Amarantus BioSciences Inc., of Sunnyvale, Calif., a biotechnology company that is developing new treatments for brain-related disorders including Parkinson’s disease and traumatic brain injuries. The award is centered on Amarantus’s anti-apoptotic therapeutic protein, mesencephalic-astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF). 

Larry Schwartz, Isenberg Professor of Integrative Sciences and principal investigator of the PVLSI project, said, “The

Pastry chef is raisin' the profile of cinnamon swirl bread with award-winning baked delight

Some of the best raisin bread in the country may be closer than you think.
 
A cinnamon swirl raisin bread prepared by pastry chef Pam Adams of the Dining Services Bakeshop has received the grand prize in the commercial category of the fifth annual America's Best Raisin Bread contest.
 
The event was held at the American Institute of Baking and organized in conjunction with Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kan. on Oct. 13. Altogether, there were 36 contestants in the artisanal, commercial and breakfast categories.
 
After winning, Adams said she was “humbled and honored” to be the

Fountain explores state development in digital age as Distinguished Faculty Lectures begin Oct. 24

Political scientist Jane E. Fountain of the Center for Public Policy and Administration will lead off the 2012-13 Distinguished Faculty Lecture Series on Wednesday, Oct. 24. Fountain, who is the founder and director of the National Center for Digital Government, will discuss “Technological Change as a Variable in State Development.”

Fountain will describe the ways in which information and communication technologies are transforming democracy around the world, and will suggest that these same technologies have the capacity to mitigate policy problems such as disaster preparedness, disease

Alumni Association to make special license plate designations at Minuteman football game this Saturday

As orders for the UMass Amherst license plate continue to be collected, the Alumni Association board of directors has announced special designations for UMass Amherst license plate No. 1 and plate No. 1863.

The board will present plate No. 1 to the Office of the Chancellor in recognition of the support provided to the Alumni Association. Chancellor Kumble R. Subbaswamy will accept plate No.1 during a special on-field ceremony at the Homecoming football game at Gillette Stadium on Saturday, Oct 20.

In recognition of support for the flagship campus, board will present plate No.

4th annual History of the Book Conference is Oct. 20 at the Renaissance Center

The 4th Annual History of the Book Conference is being held on Saturday Oct. 20 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Reading Room of the Renaissance Center at 650 E. Pleasant St.

Lisa David of Simmons College will discuss “Flagellants, Thieves, a War Refugee and a Very Unscrupulous Bookdealer: A Renaissance Manuscript’s Journey from 14th-century Venice to 21st-century Boston.”

Other speakers include Mark Morford of the Smith College Mortimer Rare Book Room; John Lancaster will discuss several of the new rare books in the Renaissance Center’s collection; Jen Adams of the English Department will speak

Christine Ingebritsen to Speak in Scandinavian Impulses Series Oct. 22

This fall semester the German and Scandinavian Studies Program is sponsoring its second Scandinavian Impulses lecture series, focusing on the theme of "Vengeance and Violence."

On Oct. 22, Christine Ingebritsen will talk on “Transformations in the Scandinavian Welfare State: Real or Imagined?” at 4:30 p.m. in 301 Herter.

Ingebritsen is director of the Center for West European Studies at the University of Washington, where her specialty is the position of small states in international relations.

Renaissance Wednesday Lecture Series Presents 'What is Baroque?' Oct. 17

Richard O’Brien will present a talk,  “What is Baroque?” on Wednesday, Oct. 17 at 4 p.m. in the Reading Room of the Renaissance Center.

The Renaissance Center is located at 650 E. Pleasant St. in Amherst. The talk is free and open to the public. No reservations are needed. Refreshments to follow.

Student Union Art Gallery reception for Laurie LeBreton is Oct. 18

The Student Union Art Gallery is hosting the opening reception for artist Laurie LeBreton on Thursday, Oct. 18 from 5-7 p.m. LeBreton will give a talk at 6 p.m.

Her exhibit, "ELUSIVE," is on display from Oct. 15 through Friday, Nov. 2.

LeBreton makes sculptures with handmade paper. Her artwork includes nontraditional books made with traditional binding techniques and paper sculptures constructed on armatures, with saturated, vibrant colors.

LeBreton examines ideas of impermanence, the role of chance, the interplay of joy and sorrow and the futility of control.

Faculty & Staff Campaign for 2012-13

Members of the campus community are invited to participate in the 2012-13 Faculty & Staff Campaign. Gifts can support student scholarships, a specific college or department, an athletic program, or one of hundreds of special programs you choose. 

Recognizing the importance of growing the culture of philanthropy on campus, a fund of $500,000 has again been established to match gifts given by current or retired faculty and staff during the 2012-13 academic year. The matching offer expands the strength of giving to the campus and departments people care about.

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