NEWS TIP- NC State Experts Can Offer Insight into Gulf Oil Spill

Posted on May 5, 2010 by kmfaber2

NEWS TIP – May 4, 2010

Media Contact: Tracey Peake, News Services, 919/515-6142 or tracey_peake@ncsu.edu .

The recent British Petroleum oil spill will have a major environmental impact on the U.S. Gulf Coast, and beyond. North Carolina State University experts can address issues pertaining to the spill, from how ocean currents may carry it beyond the Gulf, to how long and difficult the clean-up process may be, as well as effects on tourism and the economy.

Dr. Thomas Birkland, the William T. Kretzer professor of public policy, 919/513-7799, mobile 518/229-8814 or tom_birkland@ncsu.edu, is an expert on disasters and environmental policy, and has extensively studied oil spills including Exxon Valdez. He can discuss the government's response to the oil spill including factors that delayed response time and the changes to law on oil spills since the Exxon Valdez spill.

Dr. Gene Brothers, associate professor of parks, recreation and tourism management, 919/515-3699 or gene_brothers@ncsu.edu, is an expert on tourism and can address the implications of the oil spill for tourism along the Gulf Coast and on the N.C. coast.

Dr. David Eggleston, professor of marine, earth and atmospheric sciences, 919/515-7840 or eggleston@ncsu.edu, is an expert on marine fisheries ecology and conservation. He can address potential impacts of the Gulf oil spill on the crabs, oysters and fish populations in the affected areas.

Dr. Ruoying (Roy) He, , associate professor of marine, earth and atmospheric sciences, 919/513-0249 or ruoying_he@ncsu.edu, is an expert on coastal circulation dynamics. He can discuss ocean circulation in the Gulf and how it will affect the spill.

Dr. Chris Osburn, assistant professor of marine, earth and atmospheric sciences, 919/515-0382 or chris_osburn@ncsu.edu, is an aquatic biogeochemist who studies the sources and transformations of organic matter in river, estuarine, and coastal marine environments. He can discuss the environmental impact of the spill on the salt marshes along the Gulf Coast.

Linda R. Taylor, lecturer in the Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, 919/513-3972 or lr_taylor@ncsu.edu, can speak about the training and certifications required for those who work to clean up oil spills, as well as what that training entails.

Dr. Roger von Haefen, associate professor of agricultural and resource economics, 919/924-3935 or rhhaefen@ncsu.edu, believes that there may be a modest rise in gas prices due to the oil spill, and that there will be a major lawsuit brought against BP that may rival the Exxon Valdez lawsuit.

Grappendorf Keynotes Women in Sport Symposium

Posted on April 29, 2010 by kmfaber2

Dr. Heidi Grappendorf - NC State Parks, Rcreation & Tourism Management Dr. Heidi Grappendorf, an assistant professor in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management at NC State University, delivered the keynote address at the 2nd Annual UNC-G Girls and Women in Sport Symposium on Friday April 23, 2010.

Her presentation, "Where We've Been, Where We Are, Where We Are Going: Girls & Women in Sport and Physical Activity" focused on the long and ongoing journey of girls and women in sport and physical activity. The presentation included a brief overview of the early struggles and victories for women in these areas, provided a current status update and highlighted some future issues facing girls and women in sport and physical activity.

At NC State University, Grappendorf teaches undergraduate courses in sport administration, sport finance & economics, women in sport and senior seminar; as well as a graduate level diversity in sport course she developed. NC State recently awarded her the 2010 Equity Award for her work developing a social network for faculty and staff women at the univeristy.

Dr. Grappendorf has presented numerous papers, articles and text book chapters on the under-representation of women in sport management, served as co-editor of the text Women in Sport Leadership: Impact & Influence, and currently serves as the Vice President of Research for the National Association for Girls and Women in Sport.

Nyeema Harris: Conserving Wildlife

Posted on April 29, 2010 by kmfaber2

Perspectives Online: Student Perspectives- Winter 2010

Nyeema Harris - Graduate Student / NC State Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences Nyeema Harris is an award winning graduate student in the NC State Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences program. Nyeema was recently featured in the Student Perspectives section of Perspectives Online. She talks about how her interest in wildlife was peaked at an early age, about her work with the Philadelphia Zoo, and about her research and international travels.

Read all about Nyeema and don't miss the great photos of her at work!

About the NC State Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences Program –
The Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources administers the Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences Program, which is shared with the Department of Biology. Because of its interdisciplinary nature, the program also includes faculty members from the departments of Agricultural & Resource Economics, Biological & Agricultural Engineering, Entomology, Environmental & Molecular Toxicology, Statistics, and the College of Veterinary Medicine.

The program provides a balanced approach to the study of wildlife, fisheries and aquaculture. Students observe and analyze systems at the population, community and ecosystem levels. Undergraduate education emphasizes ecological principles with socioeconomics in their application to natural resource management needs. Graduates are well integrated for post-graduate work and entry-level professional positions in agencies, organizations and industry. In addition, the program sponsors many different extension outreach services to educate the public on issues affecting the health of fish and wildlife populations.

Vick Recognized for Expertise in Academic Advising and Professionalism

Posted on April 27, 2010 by kmfaber2

Dr. Candace Goode-Vick Dr. Candace Goode Vick has been awarded a Certificate of Merit from the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) and will be honored at the NACADA annual conference in October 2010.

"The function of the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS) is to promote improvement of programs and services to enhance the quality of student learning. A few of the qualities in which CAS desires to see student improvement are intellectual growth, effective communication, enhanced self esteem, realistic self-appraisal, career choices, healthy behavior, collaboration, social responsibility, and independence. NACADA’s core values largely focus on how the faculty advisor facilitates CAS standards. Candace’s advising style very much brings these standards and values together," comments Dr. Dorothy Anderson, Department Head, Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management.

"A strength of the PRTM department is its student advising." says Anderson. "In large part this strength can be traced to the passion and professionalism that Vick has shown over her years of working with students. She is the primary faculty advisor for over 600 students in the various undergraduate degrees."

"Candace strongly believes that students are best served when their advising needs are met not only in a timely manner but in a way that is focused on the student as an individual. She is committed to making the student’s experience a positive and worthwhile experience that will serve the student throughout the student’s life. When the latter happens the student’s academic experience is enriched, which in turn helps assure we retain and graduate top notch professionals in our field."

Vick has also recently been selected by the National Recreation and Park Association to serve on the NRPA Council of Accreditation. Dr. Candace Goode Vick is an associate professor, assistant department head and director of undergraduate programs in the NC State University Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management.

More information on Dr. Goode Vick is available at http://cnr.ncsu.edu/prtm/faculty/goode-vick.php .

Paper Science and Engineering Students Tackle Need for Humanitarian Shelters

Posted on April 27, 2010 by kmfaber2

For Immediate Release:
Contact: Dr. Joel Pawlak, Professor, Department of Forest Biomaterials
North Carolina State University

humanitarian shelter design Raleigh, NC – In light of the recent disaster in Haiti, the need for temporary shelters that can be provided with humanitarian relief has been highlighted. Seniors in the Paper Science and Engineering Program at North Carolina State University have elected to tackle this critical issue facing the world.

As part of their senior design course, students have been tasked with the challenge of designing a lightweight humanitarian shelter that can be deployed throughout the world on a moment’s notice. The design criteria for the shelter include the ability: (1) to provide housing for three months for a family of four, (2) to be transported by one person on foot, (3) to protect occupants from mosquitoes, and (4) to be at least 80 % compostable with no toxic materials.

Patrick Buenaventura, a senior in Paper Science and Engineering, explains why he chose this project, "In terms of the disasters that have been happening, it was a great way to apply our knowledge to help people." Pat’s hometown is Crescent City, Florida. Being from Florida, Pat knows the strain a disaster such as a hurricane or earthquake can place on a community. He goes on to add, "Hopefully, one of our projects will become the innovation that is needed to help disaster victims."

One of the humanitarian shelter designs usingpaper, wood and/or paper composites Four design groups have been working in Dr. Pawlak’s Paper Physics and Product Design class to come up with novel solutions to this problem. Peter Jin, a senior in Paper Science in Engineering, comments that, "Meeting all the design criteria has been a challenge." The students have used various forms of paper, wood, and paper composites to generate structures that meet the strict criteria. The designs range from familiar house-type structures to geodesic domes.

Students will be testing their structural materials and presenting their final design prototypes at the Hodges Lab at NC State during the week of April 26, 2010.