Spain Lauds Prof with Ecology Prize
The autonomous government of Catalonia in the country of Spain has awarded UCSD oceanographer Paul Dayton the first of a new class of ecology prizes.
The government gave Dayton the newly developed Ramon Margalef Prize in Ecology and Environmental Sciences, which included a monetary award of $100,000, in a ceremony in Barcelona on Jan. 18.
A group of scientists from Catalonia, the European Union and the international ecology community chose to recognize Dayton for his research, which has revolutionized the entire field of ecology.
As a researcher at Scripps Institution of Oceanography for the past 35 years, Dayton has conducted research on coastal and estuarine habitats, and has documented the effects of overfishing and El Niño on coastal habitats, especially kelp forests.
UCLA Scientists Develop Nanomotor
An international team of chemists from UCLA and the University of Bologna in Italy announced that it has developed a molecular motor smaller than the eye can see. The device is the size of a nanometer and is powered by sunlight.
According to Fraser Stoddart, director of the project, the nanomotor can work continuously without any external interference, and operates without consuming or generating chemical fuels or waste.
Stoddart also said that the new nanomotor could have far-reaching implications in the fields of nanoelectronics, molecular computers and nanovalves that could be used for the delivery of anti-cancer drugs and other medications.
Sexual Harrassment Equal Between Genders
According to a new report released by the American Association of University Women, nearly two-thirds of both male and female students experience some form of sexual harassment during their college experience.
Men and women were almost equally likely to experience sexual harassment, with 61 percent of men and 62 percent of women reporting an encounter.
The report revealed that female students are more likely to be the target of sexual jokes, comments, gestures or looks, while male students are more likely to be called gay or have messages about them posted on the Internet.
The study also found that women are more likely than men to change their behavior as a result of a sexual-harassment experience.
UCSD Creates Black Studies Minor
UCSD has announced the addition of a new black studies minor effective retroactively to include classes offered during the fall 2005 quarter.
The minor will be led by faculty spanning across numerous departments, including communication, ethnic studies, history, literature, music, sociology, theatre and dance.
The new program is designed to lead to an understanding of the attitudes, evolution, circumstances and experiences of blacks.
The minor begins with one or more courses in black history, and then students will take additional courses that further explore the history and context of the black experience within the United States.
The new minor is being offered through the guidance of Thurgood Marshall College and is directed by linguistics professor and interim Provost Robert Kluender.
