AMHERST, Mass. - Two professors at the University of Massachusetts, using nearly $300,000 in foundation grants, are searching the frontiers of cyberspace to find out how disputes that arise there can be settled online.

AMHERST, Mass. - The editorial pages of American newspapers have undergone significant change, according to Stephen Simurda, a member of the journalism faculty at the University of Massachusetts. Dramatic changes have taken place on editorial pages during the past decade, including an increasing number of local editorials, page redesigns, more illustrations, expanded letters sections, and more local columns. There has also been a shift in focus, from national and international issues to topics that hold state and local interest.

AMHERST, Mass. - Matthew P. Golombek, the University of Massachusetts graduate who is the chief scientist on NASA’s Mars Pathfinder mission, will present a lecture on the mission on Friday, Sept. 12, at 4 p.m. in Mahar Auditorium on the UMass campus. The presentation, which is hosted by the office of the dean of natural sciences and mathematics, is free and open to the public, and will include a question-and-answer period.

AMHERST, Mass. - Using satellite images from space along with volunteers who collect measurements and samples from lakes and ponds, University of Massachusetts researchers are developing a cost-effective way to monitor water quality and weed growth in the state’s waters. UMass is sharing its findings with the state Department of Environmental Management (DEM), and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).