Two UC science professors win Nobel Prizes
The Royal Swedish Academy of Science awarded its prestigious Nobel Prize to two UC professors. The most recent announcements, made one day apart, bring the total number of Nobel Prizes awarded to UC researchers to 16 since 1995.
The academy recognized David Gross, a UC Santa Barbara physics professor and director of the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, for his role in the discovery of a mathematical model for the atomic “strong force,” one of four fundamental forces of nature.
His work has brought scientists one step closer to formulating “a unified theory for everything,” said the academy in a statement, explaining that Gross is one of the founders of the current understanding of the “standard model” for a nucleus.
Gross, who received his doctorate from UC Berkeley, will share the prize with two other researchers who studied the same theory. The award is based on Gross’ 1973 work performed while teaching at Princeton University.
The academy also awarded its chemistry prize to UC Irvine researcher Irwin Rose for his co-discovery of the way cells destroy unwanted proteins. Rose will share the prize with two other scientists.
Conducted in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the research is credited with providing the basis leading to the creation of new therapies to treat diseases like cervical cancer and cystic fibrosis.
Rose’s award marks the fifth time in the last decade that UC faculty have won the Nobel Prize in chemistry.
The awards underscore “the major contributions that research universities make to our understanding of the world,” UC President Robert. C. Dynes said in a statement.
Animal rights group to hold candlelight vigil
Animal rights activists plan to gather at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies on Oct. 8 for a candlelight vigil to commemorate National Primate Liberation Week.
The activists plan to showcase graphic photos depicting types of animal experiments conducted at the institute in an attempt to draw public attention to the almost 100,000 primates that have been killed during the course of experiments at U.S. laboratories.
They hope that the event will force the public to demand better treatment of animals and more accountability on the part of researchers, said San Diego Animal Advocates member Jill Fritz.
SDAA said it has recently been contacted by an “anonymous whistleblower” who reported “several disturbing cases of animal abuse and neglect” at Salk.
Congress votes for HEA temporary funding measure
In a temporary funding measure intended to support government operations through Nov. 20, Congress included a provision to extend the terms of the 1998 Higher Education Act.
Because the law requires Congress to reauthorize the act every five years, the temporary move will keep it from expiring.
The measure, known as a continuing resolution, authorizes federal agencies to operate all programs and activities at the same levels as in the 2004 fiscal year, but generally does not allow the launching of any new programs.
Though the resolution was expected, American Council on Education Director of Government Relations Becky Timmons said the delay will allow for legislators to wait until after the November election to avoid approving “the harsh provisions” of the 2005 budget.
Funding plans currently before lawmakers would keep the maximum Pell Grant at $4,050 for the third consecutive year.
Poll: Youth prefer Bush over Kerry for president
A Harris Interactive poll has found that kids and teenagers aged eight to 18 would rather vote for President George W. Bush than for Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) by a 10-point margin.
In a similar poll in August, respondents preferred Kerry over Bush by a six-point margin.
Though the poll showed that both boys and girls picked Bush over Kerry by similar margins, older teenagers between 16 and 18 favor Kerry.
Historically, the polls of children have had “a remarkable track record at predicting presidential elections outcomes,” stated John Geraci, vice president of youth research at Harris Interactive.
In addition, kids responding to the poll gave Bush a 54-percent job approval rating and said they believed he would do a better job than Kerry at making the world safer for children and improving education. They gave Kerry the edge for helping poor children and families.
