UMass Innovation Institute forging links between academic research and industry

The UMass Innovation Institute (UMII) is accelerating connections between advanced science and technology available in campus laboratories and private business. Its most recent initiative is a five-year strategic partnership with BASF, the world’s leading chemical company, to develop new advanced materials for the automotive, building, construction and energy industries. The new agreement was announced last week in Cambridge.
 
The agreement between BASF and the UMII along with Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is called the North American Center for Research

Brown examines magnetic field reversals in Distinguished Faculty Lecture

Professor Laurie Brown of the Department of Geosciences will be presenting a Distinguished Faculty Lecture titled "Magnetic Field Reversals: The Ups and Downs of Earth's Dipole, as seen from South America" on Monday, March 11 at 4 p.m. in the Massachusetts Room of the Mullins Center.

While studying an active volcano in the Chilean Andes, Brown discovered lava flows that gave evidence of the most recent reversal of Earth’s magnetic poles. Paleomagnetism, the study of how Earth’s magnetic field is recorded in rocks, suggests that when the field reverses itself, it reduces to a low intensity.

Consultant hired to review residence hall security program

Business Protection Specialists, Inc., an independent security consulting firm based in Canandaigua, N.Y., has been hired to conduct a comprehensive review of the residence hall security program and recommend improvements to ensure a safe campus community.
 
As part of the study, BPS representatives will visit campus during spring break, March 18-22, to tour the 45-residence hall system, inspect technical security measures and current visitor access in the six residential areas. The BPS team will return to campus April 4-5 to observe security procedures while students are on campus.
 

New student portal offers mobile and desktop access to campus info

Starting this week, students have a new way
 of accessing campus resources on the go. Go.UMass is a device-responsive website that brings together students’ personalized
 academic information and other useful campus data, such as news, events, maps and athletics scores, on mobile and desktop devices.

“Given the prevalence of smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices among students and our desire to streamline the delivery of campus information, we opted for a ‘one-stop virtual shop,’ a centralized, mobile‐friendly portal that meets students’ information needs,” said Heidi Dollard,

Biochemists gain insight into double-protected dance of cell division

Biochemistry researchers including assistant professor Peter Chien recently gained new insight into how protein synthesis and degradation help to regulate the delicate ballet of cell division. In particular, they reveal how two proteins shelter each other in “mutually assured cleanup” to insure that division goes smoothly and safely.
 
Cells must routinely dispose of leftover proteins with the aid of proteases that cut up and recycle used proteins.

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