UCSD Chancellor Robert C. Dynes met with members from four South County community groups last week as part of UCSD’s 40th anniversary.

Dynes met with members at Southwestern Community College, including board members and superintendents, elementary school students and the National City Kiwanis Club. He met with them to discuss various UCSD community service programs that serve the South County.

Other members of the UCSD community, including Robert Langer, a professor of family and preventative medicine who heads the Women’s Health Initiative in Chula Vista, and Christine Salomon, a UCSD Scripps Institution of Oceanography graduate student, joined Dynes in his meetings.

Steve Napear of the San Diego Supercomputer Center located on the UCSD campus also joined the chancellor to discuss “”Classroom 21,”” an online high school curriculum planned for South County schools.

UCSD Researchers Create Silicon Chip to Grow Liver Cells

UCSD researchers have created a silicon chip with spaces allowing for upkeep of naturally functioning liver cells. This invention may help scientists sustain liver cells outside the body leading to new treatments for liver disease.

The chip is about the size of a dime and is being dubbed the “”liver bioreactor.”” It was discovered by bioengineers at the Jacobs School of Engineering and chemists in UCSD’s Division of Physical Sciences.

Cancerous cells may be grown in culture dishes, however, liver cells require highly specialized environments to grow. The structure of the chip will allow nutrients and chemicals to flow unobstructed and will filter bacteria and viruses.

One of the first intended uses of the chip is to test the toxicity of experimental therapeutic drugs.

Awards Banquet Honors Scripps Scientists

Scripps supporters, the E.W. Scripps Associates, held a special banquet March 21 at the Birch Aquarium at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography to recognize recipients of the 2000 E.W. Scripps Award.

At the ceremony, awards were presented to Wells Fargo Bank, the late Mia Tegner of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Scripps Committee for Humanity and Public Service.

The E.W. Scripps Associates group is dedicated to upholding the goals and mission of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and does so through events such as this one.

Wells Fargo Bank received the 2000 Benefactor of the Year award for its support of its faculty and programs.

The Scripps Committee for Humanity and Public Service received the 2000 Leadership award for its leadership in community service.

UCSD’s Science Programs and Professional Schools Ranked Among Best in the Nation

In a study conducted recently by “”U.S. News and World Report,”” many of UCSD’s social sciences programs were ranked among the top 10 in the country. Also ranked very highly was the UCSD Jacobs School of Engineering; it ranked 10th among public universities and second in the UC system behind UC Berkeley.

The findings will be published in the April 9 issue of the magazine and again in the magazine’s 2002 “”Best Graduate Schools Guidebook.””

The results are based upon surveys filled out by deans and faculty members in specific fields who judged the reputation of each of the institutions considered.

Factors examined in the process include research activity, faculty resources and student selectivity.