Grain & Chaff

Scholarly pursuits

Professor emeritus Joseph S. Larson of Natural Resources Conservation is serving this month on an American Association for Advancement of Science team reviewing the programs of the Natural Resources and Environmental Institute at the University of Alaska-Anchorage. Larson is the former director of the campus's Environmental Institute. ... A paper by Seshu Desu, head of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, and his colleague I. K. Yoo was selected to appear in the 40th anniversary edition of the international journal physica status solidi (solid state physics). Only 40 papers from more than 40,000 published by the journal were chosen for reprint as the "best and most cited papers," according to Stefan Hildebrandt, the journal's editor. Desu's paper is in good company: his 1992 "Mechanism of Fatigue in Ferroelectric Thin Films" shares journal space with four papers by Nobel Prize laureates. ... Stella Volpe, associate professor of Nutrition, was an invited speaker at the Caribbean Sports Medicine Conference held Dec. 13-15 in Kingston, Jamaica. Her presentations were entitled "Nutrition to Maximize Athletic Performance" and "The Future of Nutrition in Sport and Physical Activity."

Take it outside

Starting next August, Smith College is banning smoking in its residence halls. Citing health and safety concerns, acting President John M. Connolly issued the order in October. The prohibition follows a similar action by Mount Holyoke College last fall. At UMass, dorm residents are allowed to smoke only in designated areas, while Hampshire College assigns smokers to specific rooms and Amherst College allows students to smoke in their own rooms but not in public spaces.

Branch manager

Gordon King, professor emeritus of Arboriculture and Park Administration, received the Tree Award in November from the Massachusetts Community Forestry Council for "taking urban forestry to new heights." The honor recognizes King's teaching career and leadership within the forestry industry. King retired in 1983, but still runs a Christmas tree farm in Leverett.

Just for kicks

Men's soccer coach Sam Koch, who led the Minutemen to its first-ever Atlantic 10 tournament title and an NCAA tournament berth, got his due last month as the National Soccer Coaches Association of America named him East Region Coach of the Year. During the season, Koch's squad tied campus records for wins (15), conference wins (8) and consecutive wins (9) while scoring 49 goals, the second highest total in team history. Koch also won coach of the year honors in 1992. ... Citing family obligations, former UMass women's soccer coach Kalekeni Banda resigned last week as head men's soccer coach at the University of Wisconsin. Banda led the Badgers for five seasons, compiling a 37-58-4 record. Minutewomen fans remember Banda guiding the team for eight seasons, including five NCAA Final Four appearances and the runner-up spot in 1987.

Leading role

Professor Phillip R. Westmoreland of the Chemical Engineering Department was elected 2001-2003 chair of the Eastern States Section of the Combustion Institute at its meeting held Dec. 2-5 in Hilton Head, S.C. Representing nearly 1,000 engineers and scientists, the ESSCI is the largest of the international Combustion Institute's sections.