UCSD biologist Julian I. Schroeder won this year’s $250,000 Blasker Award for Environmental Science and Engineering for his discovery of the molecular mechanisms that allow plants to remove toxic metals from contaminated soil.
Schroeder will receive the award at the June 13 San Diego Foundation ceremony.
The Blasker Award is traditionally given to individuals or groups who have enhanced the living conditions of San Diego residents and other communities by creating solutions to an environmental problem that has already been selected by the Blasker Award’s committee of experts.
Schroeder fulfilled this requirement by identifying the genes responsible for the transport and detoxification of such toxic metals as cadmium, arsenic and lead.
May to Mark Mental Health Awareness Month
Community Advocates for Disability Rights and Education will hold its annual Inner/Outer Limits Conference at UCSD May 1 and May 2.
The conference is a part of Mental Health Awareness Month and will feature discussions and workshops, including “”Good News About Depression and Bipolar Disorders: Recent Advances in Diagnosis and Treatment,”” on May 1 in the Santa Barbara room of the Price Center.
John Klescoe, associate professor of psychiatry, and Constance Nagi, of the UCSD Department of Medicine, will lead the discussion.
Most of the programs are open to the public and refreshments will be served.
Inner/Outer Limits is sponsored by CADRE and the Women’s Center. For more information call (858) 534-3958.
Two UCSD Students to Attend NASA Academy This Summer
David Galvan, a UCSD physics major, was one of 11 students selected from around the country to attend the NASA Ames Astrobiology Academy at Moffett Field, Calif.
Cari Goulard, a mechanical engineering major, was one of 16 students nationwide to be selected to attend the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.
Students from space grant-affiliated campuses, which in addition to UCSD include UC Berkeley, UCLA and UC Santa Barbara, were eligible to apply to the programs.
The California Space Grant Consortium, which is housed at UCSD, contributes to the nation’s science enterprise by funding research, education and public service projects.
The 10-week NASA academy’s goal is to guide future leaders of the space program. Each student will be teamed with a NASA scientist mentor to develop and carry out a research project.
Students were selected on the basis of academic record, demonstrated motivation and qualification to pursue multidisciplinary research.
UC Vice President for Educational Research Resigns
Alex M. Saragoza announced Tuesday that he will resign from his post as UC Vice President for Educational Outreach, effective June 30.
In his statement of resignation delivered to UC President Richard C. Atkinson, Saragoza claimed that he felt his work in the position had been compromised by “”outside events.””
Saragoza also expressed gratitude to Atkinson for his investment in academic outreach
Food Fight Debilitates Sierra Summit, Rathskeller
Housing and Dining Services staff closed Sierra Summit early Thursday night after students instigated a food fight. Students allegedly organized the incident by e-mail.
The Rathskeller was closed Thursday night as well, while beleaugared staff cleaned up tables, chairs and walls.
The incident began around 6:30 p.m. Students wielding oatmeal and eggs allegedly started tossing food, splattering bystanders and participants alike.
Soon after it began, Sierra Summit employees tried to round up the students responsible, but the participants fled the scene quickly, leaving a mess.
One Sierra Summit worker commented that the food fight looked like it was out of a scene from a movie.
The staff was left with the task of washing down tables, putting out chairs to dry and deep-cleaning carpeted areas.
Because of the closings, hungry Muir students were forced to look for food in places other than Muir College.
However, Sierra Summit did open its doors Friday morning at its normal time.
