The Scripps Institution of Oceanography will present a lecture titled “”The Secret Sharers: Episodes near the Coast of the Military-Industrial-Academic Complex”” on Oct. 15 at 3 p.m. in the Sumner Auditorium.
The lecture, to be given by Cornell University researcher John Cloud, will address developments made in the earth science arena during the Cold War. Earth science research during this period benefited both military and academic worlds, albeit for different purposes. The Cold War effort, Cloud says, allowed scientists to gain a better understanding of the atmosphere, climate, geography and other earth systems.
Cloud was recognized as a William E. and Mary B. Scripps Memorial Fellow, a biennial honor given to a noted scholar of marine science history. Cloud received his doctorate in geography in 2000 from the University of California at Santa Barbara and was appointed as a postdoctoral researcher at Cornell’s Peace Studies Program the same year.
UCSD annual Open House scheduled for Oct. 19
UCSD will host its annual Open House, featuring music, presentations and fun for all ages, on Oct. 19. The free community event will begin at 8 a.m. with campus tours for prospective students and their parents.
Activities scheduled throughout the day include Homeland Defense: UCSD and the San Diego Region, a discussion highlighting UCSD’s scientific achievements in detecting and warding off bioterrorist attacks; a talk given by the First Poet Laureate of the State of California, Quincy Troupe; and recognition of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography’s centennial.
In addition, there will be events specifically geared toward children, tours of the San Diego Supercomputer Center, a beer garden and Homecoming games sponsored by the athletic department. For more information about Open House call (858) 534-1577.
Researchers find evidence for similar solar system
A team of international researchers, including UCLA professor of astronomy Benjamin Zuckerman, has uncovered evidence that there may be other solar systems like ours.
The team found that there are other massive planets with wide orbits like that of Saturn, Uranus and Neptune; this feature is essential for a star to support life.
The researchers zeroed in on Fomalhaut, which is 25 light-years away from our sun and is one of the biggest stars in the sky. The results of the study, which will be published in the Astrophysical Journal, indicate that there is a distorted disk of cold dust surrounding the planet, which is most likely the cause of a large planet tugging on the disk nearby.
The researchers believe that Fomalhaut’s solar system will provide insight into what the Milky Way looked like when it was only 200 million years old.
Public school teachers happier, better paid
A new study conducted by the UC Berkeley reveals that prekindergarten educators working in public schools are better educated, better paid and enjoy more job stability than teachers in private educational settings.
The authors of “”Inside the Classroom: A Study of Staffing and Stability in State-Funded Prekindergarten Programs”” focused on programs in California, Georgia, Illinois, New York and Texas, and concluded that private schools function as a training ground for prekindergarten teachers.
After receiving training and completing apprenticeships at these facilities, the teachers often move on to higher-paying jobs in public settings. To view the full report, visit www.ccw.org on the Web.
