June 2008 Archives

Economic experts will offer assessments on the direction of the economies of the state and nation during a one-day conference in Biloxi that is sponsored by Bureau of Business and Economic Research in the College of Business at The University of Southern Mississippi.

"The Economic Outlook: A Mid-Year Assessment for South Mississippi and the Gulf Coast" conference is set for July 17 at the Peoples Bank in downtown Biloxi. This is the second such conference to be hosted by the bureau this year. 

"Economic events are moving quickly today and this conference is designed to bring
attendees up to date on where the United States and Mississippi economies are likely heading in 2009," said Dr. William Gunther, professor of economics and director of BBER.

According to Dr. Ed Ranck, associate director of BBER on the Gulf Coast, the conference will include a range of topics and presenters of particular interest to business leaders, managers, economic developers and government policy makers in South Mississippi.

In addition to Gunther and Ranck, speakers will include Mike Chaney, Mississippi insurance commissioner; Leroy Barnidge, vice president of state and local government relations for Air Mobility Systems for Northrop Grumman; and keynote speaker Dr. Martha Saunders, president of The University of Southern Mississippi, who will address the future of Southern Miss on the Gulf Coast

Sponsored by The Peoples Bank, the conference will be held from 8:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. A $45 conference registration fee includes coffee breaks, lunch and a copy of "A Mid-Year Assessment for South Mississippi and the Gulf Coast." Conference seating is limited. For more information or to register for the event, access http://www.usm.edu/bber, call 601.266.5854 or send an e-mail to Janis.May@usm.edu This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .

Three University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast professors have been selected as recipients of the Butch Oustalet Family Distinguished Professorship Awards for 2007-08.

Dr. Tom Lansford, assistant dean in the College of Arts and Letters and associate professor of political science, received the award for research; Dr. Ray Scurfield, professor in the School of Social Work and director of the Katrina Research Center, received the award for service; and Robert Turnbull, instructor and laboratory coordinator in the Department of Biological Sciences, received the award for teaching.

Lansford, who edited or co-edited six books this past year and produced four book chapters, received the Distinguished Professorship Award in Research for his many contributions to the academic community. Lynn University awarded him their inaugural Fellow in American Studies for his outstanding research endeavors. Lansford also secured $94,000 in external research funding for the Community and Regional Resilience Initiative funded by Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

As president of the Gulf Coast Faculty Council and a member of seven university committees, Scurfield has been recognized with the Distinguished Professorship Award in Service. Following Hurricane Katrina, he worked to expand counseling services for Southern Miss Gulf Coast students, faculty and staff. Scurfield's service contributions also include writing three opinion-editorial pieces; conducting 31 media appearances; and maintaining advisory board membership for Make a Difference Media, the Disaster Accountability Project, and Traumatology Commission on Accreditation and Certification.

Turnbull, who strives to challenge students, has frequently taught a multitude of courses each semester, including the design of laboratories for several biology courses. The dedication Turnbull has for his students is evident through his mentorship. His students have submitted a number of comments that show respect, support and admiration for their instructor. One student's comment described Turnbull as a "wonderful instructor who goes the extra mile for his students."

The faculty members who were selected for the awards will receive a cash award and plaque to recognize their achievements. All Southern Miss faculty members were encouraged to nominate a colleague. Through this nomination process, the winning faculty members were selected.

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Three Southern Miss Gulf professors -- Dr. Ray Scurfield, Robert Turnbull and Dr. Tom Lansford -- recently were selected as recipients of the Butch Oustalet Family Distinguished Professorship Awards for 2007-08. Pictured are, from left, Dr. Pat Joachim, left, associate provost, Scurfield, Turnbull, Lansford and Butch Oustalet of Butch Oustalet Inc.
(Southern Miss Public Relations photo by Charmaine Williams)

Students taking part in the University of Southern Mississippi's Archaeological Field School in Biloxi are revealing an important period of the state's history and gaining valuable experience by examining the remains of a French colonial settlement and cemetery.

The Moran site, located near downtown Biloxi, was included in a French immigration initiative when Biloxi served as the capital of the Louisiana colony from 1720-23. Recorded observations of skeletal remains at the site date back to 1914, but the area only became fully accessible for exploration following Hurricane Katrina.

"History lays buried beneath our feet at this site," said Dr. Amy Young, associate professor of anthropology at Southern Miss, who, along with colleague Dr. Marie Danforth, is leading the school. 

Southern Miss has conducted a field school at the site for the last three years.

"What's special about this is that it's a major part of Mississippi's history that doesn't get as much attention as the Civil War, so it's an opportunity to enlighten people about the state's past," said Danforth. 

Danforth, a professor of anthropology at Southern Miss, said an examination of ship records and other evidence show that immigrants coming to the area were up against extreme odds, including poverty and disease. Many fell ill during the voyage from Europe from a variety of illnesses.

"Five to six people a day were dying, so there was something affecting them, and most likely it was infectious diseases such as malaria or yellow fever," she said. "They were dropping like flies."

Once they arrived, they encountered a lack of land suitable for farming and little support financial support from France presented additional challenges to the settlers. Frequent storms, including hurricanes, added to their difficulties. Eventually, the capital of the French colony would move to New Orleans.

The project has been ongoing since late May and concludes this week. Participating students gain valuable, hands-on experience in the principles of archaeological excavation, recording, and burial recovery and analysis by working the Moran site.

Barbara Hester of Gulfport, a graduate student in anthropology with an emphasis in archaeology, said up to 29 burials have been discovered and more may be found as the dimensions of the site are determined.

The team is also looking at the potential for finding artifacts from an area depicted on a map dating back to 1722 as an African habitation at the back bay of Biloxi. This area could have been home to the first generation slaves brought by the Europeans. The same map also shows an area west of the settlement where the proposed Fort Louis was to be constructed. Groundwork for the site was undertaken, but the fort was never constructed.

Hester said the property where the historic Dantzler home stood before Katrina, adjacent to the Moran site, will also be explored as part of the project. "We're trying to see if there are other residents in the area that would give us permission to probe their property for more artifacts," Hester said.

As a coast native, Hester feels strongly about the importance of what is found at the Moran site. With few landmarks remaining after the destruction brought by Katrina, the significance of the settlement and cemetery site has increased, and she hopes it will be preserved as a reminder of the heritage of the area.

"When you look at the coast, you see that the impact of the storm is going to be with us for a long time," she said. "Many of our landmarks are gone. This site is the roots of our history."  

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Southern Miss students participating in the university's Department of Anthropology and Sociology's Summer Archaeology Field School examine the remains of a French settler buried in Biloxi, Miss. The settlement dates back to the early 1700s when Biloxi was the capital of the Louisiana colony. (Southern Miss Marketing and Public Relations photo by Steve Rouse)

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Rev. Henry McInerney, pastor of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Ocean Springs, blesses the site of an early French settlement cemetery Tuesday in Biloxi where University of Southern Mississippi students are participating in an archaeology field school. (Southern Miss Marketing and Public Relations photo by Steve Rouse)

For more information on this project, online visit http://www.usm.edu/antsoc/anthro/research/index.htm.

The University of Southern Mississippi Department of Biological Sciences' Graduate Student Forum will host the first Ashe Lake Disc Golf Tournament Saturday, June 21 at the Ashe Lake recreational facility in Brooklyn. 

The tournament will benefit ACCESS Recreation, a Southern Miss-based non-profit initiative devoted to making recreational activities more inclusive.

The nine-hole course is designed specifically for people with mobility disabilities, visual impairments. Beginners and participants will play on either the nine or 18-hole course. The courses are in full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act standards, and features paved pathways connecting courses to each other as well as to parking, restrooms, and a pavilion.

Ashe Lake is the first federally funded disc golf course in the country "to focus specifically on players with disabilities," and the first in the nation addressing access for the visually impaired, said Shea Hammond, a graduate assistant in biological sciences who oversaw the development of the course.

Those with visual impairments will use discs with buzzers attached so they can hear where the discs land, and bells attached to each hole will help players identify where to throw the disc. Spatially correct maps printed on tactile paper will help players identify the location of obstacles and the direction of trails as they move their hands across these maps. 

Sponsors for the event include Southern Miss Department of Biological Sciences, Living Independent for Everyone and the U.S. Forest Service. The event is a Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) Tier C Sanctioned Event. 

To learn more about the Ashe Lake Disc Golf Tournament or about the Ashe Lake Recreational Facility, contact Shea Hammond at 601.266.4378.  E-mails should be sent to gsf.president@gmail.com This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it , shea.hammond@usm.edu This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it or shane.seal@gmail.com This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .

The University of Southern Mississippi Center for Science and Math Education will host a computer gaming camp for 7th-12th grade students June 23 - 27, focusing on learning how to make games for their Windows-based PCs and X-Box's.

"We are excited to offer the computer camp for the first time here at Southern Miss," said camp coordinator Cathy Craig. "Computers are a major force in today's communications and entertainment networks."

Each day of the camp will feature four hours of hands-on learning in which students will find out how to use different types of programs to make games.  They will use Flash Animation for computer games and also learn about basic Web design, as well as XNA Gaming with C#, a program used to design X-Box games.

The camp is designed as an introduction to video game programming, and organizers hope students will expand their knowledge in the future. "As participants learn to create games for their X-Box's and PCs, we may see the beginning of the next multi-million dollar industry," Craig said.

For more information on the camp, or to download an application, visit msregion1.clubspaces.com.  To contact Craig, call 601.266.6845, or send an email to msregion1sciencefair@gmail.com This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it or science.fair@usm.edu This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it with "Attention: Catherine Craig Sellers" in the subject line.

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Cecil Mills, second from left, was recently feted with a retirement reception at the John C. Stennis Space Center. Others who attended the reception include, from left, Southern Miss President Martha Saunders, Stennis Space director Robert Cabana and associate director Patrick Scheuermann. (Southern Miss Photo by Tammy Stafford)

More than 100 children are attending Camp Invention this week at The University of Southern Mississippi.

The camp, sponsored by the Department of Biological Sciences, inspires creativity and inventive-thinking through science, math, history and the arts. It offers children hands-on activities with five age-appropriate modules each day including disassembling old machinery and using parts to make their own inventions in the I Can Invent™ module; rebuilding a cleaner, more eco-friendly city in the Saving Sludge City™ module and art with recycled materials in the Art Park™ module.

"I have chosen to continue offering Camp Invention to the Hattiesburg community because I believe in the curriculum," said Aimée T. Lee, Southern Miss Camp Invention program director. "It is hands-on and mind-on learning and fun for all who are involved." 

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The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Research Laboratory recently announced the addition of Dr. Eric Saillant and Dr. Wei Wu to the Department of Coastal Sciences faculty as assistant professors of coastal sciences.
 
A native of France, Dr. Saillant's research expertise is in aquaculture and conservation genetics. His research interests include the application of molecular markers to breeding programs and the development of gender control techniques in aquaculture. He also has interest in molecular population genetics applicable to conservation biology, fisheries management and stock enhancement.

"Dr. Saillant's experience in reproductive biology, population genetics and breeding genetics fills a prominent void in our department and our rapidly developing Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center," said Dr. Jeff Lotz, department chairman.

Saillant received his doctorate in reproduction and development biology from Ecole Nationale Supérieure Agronomique de Montpellier in France. He holds two masters degrees, one in bio- and molecular technologies from Ecole Nationale Supérieure Agronomique de Rennes and another in aquaculture and fisheries management from Ecole Nationale Supérieure Agronomique de Montpellier. 

A member of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Saillant was a postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences at Texas A&M University before joining Southern Miss. 

Wu is a landscape ecologist whose research interests include an interdisciplinary approach to modeling real and complex ecosystems in a spatial context. Ultimately, she hopes to understand how human activities, such as land use and cover changes, population growth, energy use, air pollution and forest disturbance will affect microclimate and natural resources.

"Dr. Wu's experience in ecosystem modeling using statistics, GIS and remote sensing, along with her stellar quantitative skills, make her a welcome and needed addition to our department," said Dr. Lotz.

Wu received her doctorate in systems ecology from the State University of New York and holds a master's degree in computer sciences from Syracuse University.   

"I view teaching as an interactive process that tries to bring the best out of students," said Wu, "not only conveying knowledge to them, but equipping them with tools to think and solve practical problems in a more efficient way."

Wu's postdoctoral research was in biogeochemical modeling -- assessing the impact of atmospheric acid depositions on soil and water quality.

Located on the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory focuses on sustainable coastal and marine resources, development of new marine technologies and the education of future scientists and citizens. The GCRL is home to the Department of Coastal Sciences, the J.L. Scott Marine Education Center, the Center for Fisheries Research and Development, and the Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center. It is in the university's School of Ocean and Earth Sciences, College of Science and Technology. More information can be found at www.usm.edu/gcrl.

Dr. Eric Saillant

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HATTIESBURG, Miss. - University of Southern Mississippi chemistry doctoral student Mary Mackey of Crystal Springs found out she was the recipient of a National Science Foundation Graduate Student Fellowship April 1.

No joke.

"I thought, 'Surely the NSF isn't playing an April's Fool joke,' but you have to wonder," said Mackey, who earned her undergraduate degree from Southern Miss and was a student in the university's Honors College.

There's no funny business in the Southern Miss laboratory of Dr. Steven Stevenson, where Mackey will continue her research that began when she was an undergraduate.

Mackey's research includes separation and isolation of metallic nitride fullerenes, which involves identification and separation of new molecules already in the process of developing, and finding new separation methodology to isolate molecules that have already been identified.

The NSF's goals for the program include support of the human resource base of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in the United States and reinforcement of its diversity by offering approximately 1,100 graduate fellowships. These fellowships provide three years of support for graduate study leading to research-based master's or doctoral degrees, and are intended for students in the early stages of their graduate study.

The fellowship provides Mackey with a stipend of $30,000 per year for three years, a $1,000 travel award and coverage of her tuition and other expenses for a total award of approximately $130,000.

Stevenson describes Mackey as "hard working and inquisitive." His wife, fellow chemistry professor Dr. Paige Phillips, has also worked closely with Mackey.

"We are honored to have Mary stay here for her graduate work," Stevenson said. "She has been a co-author on several publications, and could have gone anywhere to graduate school."

Mackey said she particularly enjoys research that includes analytical chemistry, and is interested in obtaining experience working with government research in chemistry following graduation. Her research has potential for resulting in enhancements for medical services, including magnetic resonance imaging.

"Mary has a natural curiosity toward understanding science and is tenacious researcher," Stevenson said. "She loves the idea of discovering new molecules and has discovered some new structures that mankind has not known."

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HATTIESBURG/LONG BEACH, Miss.  - George A. Schloegel, chairman of the board of Gulfport-based Hancock Holding Company, will be the commencement speaker for University of Southern Mississippi spring graduation ceremonies in Hattiesburg and Biloxi, May 9 and 10.

Approximately 1,508 students will be candidates for graduation on the Hattiesburg campus in two ceremonies May 9 in Reed Green Coliseum. The Colleges of Business, Science and Technology, and Education and Psychology will participate in a 1:30 p.m. ceremony, while the Colleges of Arts and Letters and Health will participate in a 6:30 p.m. ceremony.

Graduation exercises for approximately 212 students at Southern Miss Gulf Coast are slated for 10 a.m., Saturday, May 10 in the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi.

Under Schloegel's leadership, Hancock Holding Company has grown into a dominant force with $6.4 billion in assets and a geographic presence that extends along the Gulf Coast from Tallahassee, Fla., to Baton Rouge, La. A recognized voice for strategic economic growth and educational opportunity, Schloegel has amassed an extensive resumé of personal and professional achievement since the 1960s.

Schloegel received his Bachelor of Science degree from Louisiana State University in New Orleans, now the University of New Orleans and attended senior management tracts at Harvard Business School, Columbia University and Northwestern University. He is a faculty member of the Mississippi School of Banking at the University of Mississippi and is a faculty member, trustee and past president of the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University.

He also served as the president of the Mississippi Bankers Association from June 1997 to June 1998 and is on the board of directors of Mississippi Power. He was the founder of the Harrison County Strategic Planning Commission, known as Coast 21, and serves as chairman of Mississippi's Workforce Investment Board.

A founding father of Leadership Mississippi and Leadership Gulf Coast, Schloegel was selected as one of South Mississippi's inaugural Top Ten Community Leaders in 2002. In early 2004, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour selected Schloegel as chair of his transition team.

Schloegel also was an instrumental business leader in the effort to add freshman and sophomore courses at Southern Miss Gulf Coast. The new Southern Miss Gulf Coast campus location at Cross Creek is 150 acres of donated property by the Hancock Holding Company and W.C. Fore along the I-10 corridor in Harrison County.

Mr. Schloegel is married to the former Peggy Harry of Gulfport. They have four children and 10 grandchildren.

All Southern Miss graduation ceremonies are open to the public with seating on a first-come, first-served basis.

Hattiesburg guests unable to physically negotiate the steps in Reed Green Coliseum should enter through the Fourth Street North entrance for assistance. All guests and candidates for graduation with physical disabilities may contact the Office of Disability Studies at 601.266.5024 for assistance.

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HATTIESBURG, Miss.  - University of Southern Mississippi President Martha Saunders today signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, a nationwide initiative of college and university presidents and chancellors dedicated to counteracting climate change by taking steps to make their campuses climate neutral.

"We will think ecologically with a commitment to actions that reduce, reuse and recycle. Our buildings will be designed with the environment in mind. Our physical plant will re-think operations to minimize our environmental footprint," Dr. Saunders told an audience at a campus Earth Day event. "Good for the environment yes, but these actions will mean bottom line savings."

By signing the commitment, Saunders is committing the university to completing an emissions inventory, setting milestones for becoming climate neutral, taking immediate steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and integrating sustainability into the curriculum.

Several Southern Miss sustainability initiatives are already underway.

Over the past year Southern Miss officials began work on a new strategic plan, and as a result, identified creating a culture of healthy minds, bodies and campuses as one of four areas of strategic emphasis. This area, said Saunders, is important because "it enables us to put the full force of the university community behind the tenets of sustainability."
 
In addition, the university has established a 25-member committee as a sustainability initiative and pilot program in the Student Affairs area. Co-chaired by John Byxbe and Larry Lee, the group is looking at how to incorporate sustainability efforts throughout all aspects of the university, including recycling, educational practices, facilities and consumption.

"The university has a great opportunity here," said Lee, contracts manager for Student Affairs. "Southern Miss will be the leader in sustainability in South Mississippi. We will be the example that everyone else follows."

A new residence hall for the Hattiesburg campus is in the planning stage and when completed will be the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified residence hall in Mississippi. The LEED Green Building Rating System™ is a third party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. The LEED certification is an initiative of the U.S. Green Building Council. To learn more, online visit www.usgbc.org.

The American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment is a high-visibility initiative to make campuses more sustainable and address global warming by garnering institutional commitments to reduce and ultimately neutralize greenhouse gas emissions on campuses.

Organizers of the initiative also believe America's higher education community can play a major role in addressing climate change through leadership in research and education. The effort has been developed and is being coordinated and supported by Second Nature, ecoAmerica and the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. To learn more, online visit www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org.

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HATTIESBURG, Miss.  - The College of Science and Technology at The University of Southern Mississippi is observing Earth Day April 22 by hosting a lecture on sustainability and launching a Web site initiative that same day with resources on the subject.

Matt Williams, project coordinator of the Auburn Sustainability Initiative at Auburn University, will present "What is Sustainability? Southern Perspectives on the Movement that is Reshaping our Campuses and our Future" at 2 p.m. in the Thad Cochran Center, Room 208. 

Williams' lecture will focus on defining sustainability while promoting sustainable practices both on and off campus. He will also provide resources and suggestions to incorporate sustainable practices into everyday work and life.

Earth Day, celebrated every April 22, was founded in 1970 through the efforts of the late U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin as a way to draw attention to and find solutions for environmental ravages through education.

The overwhelming response from people to his presentations is that sustainability "just makes good sense," Williams said.

"Universities like Southern Miss have the potential to really showcase that sustainability is far more than a short-term fad. It's a way of maximizing the benefits for natural systems, economics and people in our region, and the best part is that every one of us can contribute."

The Auburn Sustainability Initiative works with Auburn University to "green" the campus and make it more eco-friendly while promoting the addition of sustainability issues into the university's curriculum.

Dr. Rex Gandy, dean of the College of Science and Technology, said it is critically important to discuss the sustainability issue.

"The college is proud to promote responsible stewardship. We exist on a fragile rock coated by a thin layer of atmosphere in a hostile universe. If we do not promote sustainability, there is no guarantee that our species will survive," said Gandy. "This college initiative fits well with President Martha Saunders' introduction of sustainability as a university-wide initiative."

The college is also launching a new sustainability initiative on its Web site with resources and information on courses related to sustainability. For more information visit http://www.usm.edu/cost/sustainability/.

This is not the first initiative by the College of Science and Technology to promote sustainable use of resources on campus. It continues its aluminum can recycling efforts begun in 2007 at science and technology buildings.

"I applaud the College of Science and Technology for bringing Mr. Williams to campus and encourage attendance at his lecture on April 22. I believe this topic is timely considering the initiatives of University's Strategic Planning Committee," said Sid Gonsoulin, associate vice president of Student Affairs at Southern Miss.

For more information on the Auburn Sustainability Initiative, visit http://www.auburn.edu/projects/sustainability/. 

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HATTIESBURG, Miss.  - Spending quality time with some of the world's most highly regarded forensic scientists like Dr. Henry Lee is just one way students at The University of Southern Mississippi catch a glimpse inside the real world of forensics.

A group of students recently returned from the fourth annual Forensic Science Seminar at Sea. The Caribbean trip, designed exclusively by Southern Miss, introduces Southern Miss students to world-renowned scientists who present on various topics within the field of forensics. Lee attends Seminar at Sea each year to give a lecture on high-profile forensic science. He is famous for his involvement as a key expert in the O.J. Simpson trial, Laci Peterson and the JonBenét Ramsey murders.

Other Forensic Science Seminar at Sea guest lecturers and topics include forensic odontology by Dr. Robert Barsley, footwear impression evidence by John Byrd, forensic pediatric medicine by Dr. Mary E. Case, computer forensics by Dr. David Dampier, blood stain patterns by Grant Dr. Graham, alternative light sources by Michael J. Grimm and Rodney A. Schenck, courtroom testimony by Ron Smith and forensic anthropology by Dr. Doug Ubelaker. 

Students aboard Seminar at Sea are not limited to just hearing these experts speak, they are given the opportunity to interact with them as well.

"The students have 24/7 access to these scientists," said Dean Bertram, coordinator for Forensic Science Seminar at Sea. "Lecturers attend for the entire time with their families."

And learning while mingling with famous forensic scientists is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, said senior criminal justice major Van Tuggle of Hot Coffee.

"We had Dr. Lee for a whole week. Not many can say that," Tuggle said.

Jessica Welborn of Laurel said Seminar at Sea enhanced her outlook of the forensic science profession.

"What I learned there made me feel like I was more than just a student with a declared major," she said. "It made me feel like I was a part of a field that reaches to improve life in a scope that is too broad to describe with words, numbers or ideas."

Students who participate in the cruise also receive three credits for the trip and do not pay additional tuition for credit if already full-time students.

Forensic Science Seminar at Sea is scheduled again for Spring Break 2009.

To find out more about this opportunity and others offered through the Forensic Science Program, call Tara McCrink-Burcham at 601.266.5910.

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Hattiesburg, Miss. - Two of The University of Southern Mississippi's top students have been honored by the renowned Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program, an organization devoted to supporting academic achievement in science and mathematics.

Justin Poelma, a junior polymer science major from Ocean Springs, and Tyler McCleery, a sophomore physics major from Mobile, Ala., earned the Goldwater Scholarship and an honorable mention from the program, respectively. Both are Presidential Scholars enrolled in the university's Honors College.

"It's a real honor because it affirms that people view you as having potential as a scientist who can contribute to the field," said Poelma, who plans on pursuing a career as a university faculty researcher. 

Named for the late presidential candidate and longtime U.S. senator from Arizona Barry M. Goldwater, the program was established in 1986 as a way to bolster the number of active scientists, mathematicians and engineers by awarding scholarships to college sophomores and junior studying in these fields. Poelma is the 17th Southern Miss student to receive the scholarship and the only student in Mississippi to receive it this year. 

The one- and two-year scholarships cover the cost of tuition, fees, books, and room and board, up to a maximum of $7,500 per year. 

Since his freshman year, Poelma has worked in the laboratory of Southern Miss polymer science professor Dr. Robson Storey, where his research on model compounds has been published. "Justin is creative, excited about what he's doing and is truly worthy of the Goldwater Scholarship," Storey said.

Poelma has hands-on experience in the lab's cutting-edge research, which is biomedical in nature and has potential applications for advancements in the field, such as controlled drug release in the human body. "It's definitely mission-oriented research that we're engaged in," Storey said.

Both students believe their Honors College experience gave them an edge in the scholarship competition. "The senior honors component (thesis) that the college requires is very important," Poelma said. "It teaches you to value individual research and it helped me in writing the essay required for the Goldwater."

"I love the active learning component," said McCleery, referring to the field trips included in the Honors College curriculum. "You see how what you are learning is applied, and the smaller classes offer more one-on-one academic experiences."

Southern Miss Honors College Dean Dr. David R. Davies said the Goldwater Scholarship was "essentially the Rhodes Scholarship of science."

"It speaks volumes about the quality of our students that we have not only a winner, but also a runner-up," he said.

Southern Miss Dean of Science and Technology Dr. Rex Gandy, who is the official faculty representative for the Goldwater Scholarship, wrote a letter of recommendation for Poelma. Candidates are required to have three letters of recommendation from faculty members and mentors.

"Both Justin and Tyler are outstanding students, and I believe they have a promising future ahead of them," Gandy said. "We're thrilled to have them represent Southern Miss and our college as Goldwater honorees."

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TO: News Editors, Directors
 
WHAT: "Meet the Deans Session" with the Southern Miss College of Science and Technology
 
WHERE: Southern Miss Johnson Science Tower, Outside
 
WHEN: Thursday, April 10, 12:15 - 1:30 p.m.

SPECIFICS:  College of Science and Technology Deans Dr. Rex Gandy, Dr. Joe Whitehead and Dr. Patricia Biesiot will host this "Meet the Deans Session" event that is hosted for students. Held annually, this event gives students the opportunity to address any questions or concerns and is an ongoing effort to foster greater communication between students and college leadership.

Pizza and soft drinks will be available for those attending.

The deans will be available for media interviews about current happenings within the college.

The College of Science and Technology is home to approximately 3,000 majors and 190 faculty members in 12 departments at locations in Hattiesburg and across the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

HATTIESBURG, Miss.  - Northrop Grumman Corporation representative Tommy Cauthen visited The University of Southern Mississippi College of Science and Technology recently to deliver a $2,500 check from the Northrop Grumman Foundation in support of minority students in engineering programs. 

Cauthen, director of reporting and analysis for Northrop Grumman, said he is proud to be a part of the scholarship process. "It is with great pleasure that I present this check on behalf of the Northrop Grumman Foundation. The funding will provide opportunities for students in engineering disciplines to further their education," said Cauthen. "Northrop Grumman has historically had a strong, long-term relationship with Southern Miss and a large number of Southern Miss alumni work at our Gulf Coast shipbuilding facilities. This funding is just a small part of the continuation of that relationship." 
 
The College of Science and Technology will award the Northrop Grumman Foundation Scholarship to qualified students majoring in industrial engineering technology or a science, technology, engineering or mathematics field. Students will be selected based on academic performance, financial need and extracurricular activities such as academic competitions, workshop participations and professional presentations. The minimum semester scholarship award will be $750.

Dr. Joe Whitehead Jr., associate dean, said he is pleased the relationship with Northrop Grumman continues to increase opportunities for students at Southern Miss. "The College of Science and Technology and The University of Southern Mississippi commend Northrop Grumman for its continued support of Southern Miss students through scholarship and ultimately employment opportunities," said Whitehead. "There is a national need to recruit and retain students into science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and the Northrop Grumman funding helps address this need by expanding opportunities for underrepresented students in these areas of national need. The partnership between Northrop Grumman and Southern Miss is a successful model for providing educational and opportunities for the citizens of Mississippi."

The College of Science and Technology has numerous scholarship opportunities available for students. For more information, contact LaTandra Cowan, scholarship coordinator, at LaTandra.Cowan@usm.edu This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it or on the Web, visit http://www.usm.edu/cost/scholarships.php.  For more information about Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, on the Web, visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/about_us/shipbuilding.html.

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OCEAN SPRINGS, Miss. - The J.L. Scott Marine Education Center is offering a new summer career camp for teens ages 15-18 and is now accepting registrations.

The CSI: Coastal Sciences Investigation Camp will be held at the J.L. Scott Marine Education Center, located at The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Research Laboratory in Ocean Springs.

"The new Coastal Sciences Investigation (CSI) camp is an excellent opportunity for high school students to get hands-on career orientation and interaction with scientists in various marine-related disciplines," said Michael Carley, coordinator of summer camps. "This camp promises to be an immersive experience. Participants will work in small groups with GCRL scientists both in the field and in the laboratory."

CSI camp will be offered June 2-6 and July 28-Aug. 1. 

Cost per week is $490 and include official CSI: Coastal Sciences Investigation field wear T-shirt and cap, all instructional costs and materials, admission fees and field trips. The five-day sessions run from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

"The CSI Camp is important because it provides an engaging atmosphere for students interested in marine sciences to receive information that can steer them toward a fulfilling and meaningful career," said Carley.

To register or for more information, call 228.818.8890 or e-mail marine.education@usm.edu This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .
   
The J.L. Scott Marine Education Center is the public education and outreach arm of GCRL.

Located on the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory focuses on sustainable coastal and marine resources, development of new marine technologies, and the education of future scientists and citizens. GCRL is home to the Department of Coastal Sciences, the J.L. Scott Marine Education Center, the Center for Fisheries Research and Development, and the Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center. It is in the university's School of Ocean and Earth Sciences, College of Science and Technology. More information can be found at www.usm.edu/gcrl.

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HATTIESBURG, Miss.  - Two University of Southern Mississippi professors have completed a virtual reality project sponsored by the Government of Chile. The workshop, part of ongoing efforts to improve the state of engineering education in Chile, was presented by Dr. Tulio Sulbaran in Santiago, Chile, and Dr. Andrew Strelzoff remotely from Hattiesburg. Fifteen faculty from the University of Chile and Pontifical Catholic University of Chile participated. 

The workshop introduced Chilean faculty to Second Life®, a collaborative virtual reality environment.  Sulbaran and Strelzoff, assisted by Southern Miss students, constructed a virtual environment for participants utilizing the software. The workshop existed on the internet and took place in virtual reality. Sulbaran traveled to Chile while Strelzoff remained on the Southern Miss campus and taught by the workshop through use of his virtual reality avatar.     

"It worked really well, we had full participation and the attendees often stayed late to continue interacting in the environment," said Strelzoff. "Each attendee was on a computer in their graphics lab using their avatar to participate in workshop activities demonstrating how the environment could be used to enhance engineering curriculum in Chile. It is amazing that I was able to effectively deliver presentations and activities from 10,000 miles away."  

Workshop goals included introducing collaborative virtual reality environments as a teaching tool to Chilean engineering faculty, creating long-term collaboration opportunities between Southern Miss and Chilean researchers, and enhancing the learning experience for Southern Miss students through international collaboration. 

Sulbaran said participants found many ways to use virtual reality to offer new services, "We asked the Chileans to brainstorm on how virtual reality could be used in their programs. Ideas included demonstrations of engineering principles for K-12 outreach, an orientation of the University of Chile campus, and advanced meeting facilities for development sessions. We believe this is the start of long term international collaboration to help the Chileans build the first 'Virtual University of Chile' campus."

Sulbaran and Strelzoff were hosted by professor Dr. Patricio Poblete, director of the School of Engineering at the University of Chile and professor Ximena Vargas, associate professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Chile. 

The event also provided a unique learning experience for Southern Miss construction and computing majors. Eight Southern Miss students majoring in software engineering met the Chileans online and worked on a two-week project to help prepare the Chileans for their own projects in Second Life®. Students sat at their computers in Hattiesburg, Miss., while interacting, via Second Life, with Chilean workshop participants. 

"It was exciting to work with the Chileans on a joint project. It was inspiring to help someone on another continent," said senior James Ross.

The workshop resulted in lectures and exercises being successfully delivered in Second Life and Chilean researchers planning to develop Second Life student advisement and outreach programs with continuing collaboration with Southern Miss faculty. 

The virtual reality project was a collaborative effort between the School of Construction and the School of Computing and supported by the College of Science and Technology. For more information, contact Dr. Tulio Sulbaran at Tulio.Sulbaran@usm.edu This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it . Second Life is a 3-D virtual world entirely created by its users and inhabited by millions from around the globe. For more information about Second Life, visit http://secondlife.com/. 

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HATTIESBURG, Miss.  - Dr. Alina Gearba, assistant professor of physics at The University of Southern Mississippi, has been selected as a Summer Faculty Fellow at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.

The Air Force Summer Faculty Fellowship Program offers hands-on exposure to Air Force research challenges through eight to 12-week research residencies at participating Air Force Research Facilities for full-time science and engineering faculty at U.S. colleges and universities.

Dr. Gearba will be working at the Laser and Optics Research Center, which includes Space Physics and Atmospheric Research. LORC researchers, consisting of faculty and students from departments of physics, electrical engineering, biology, and mathematics, study laser and optical physics problems relevant to the needs of the Air Force. Current research at the LORC includes the study of optical nonlinearities in silica and polymers; the development of fiber optical chemical and biological sensors; laser cooling and trapping of neutral atoms; and the development of infrared lasers.

"I consider the Summer Faculty Fellowship a unique program designed to bring together Air Force scientists and research faculty to work on problems that address the Air Force interests and needs," said Dr. Gearba. "I am excited about the opportunity to further my knowledge in laser cooling and trapping and its potential for technology advancement."

Fellowship program objectives include stimulating professional relationships among scientists and engineers at Air Force Research Facilities; elevating awareness in the U.S. academic community of Air Force research interests; and providing participants opportunities to perform meaningful research and providing nationally accredited mentoring at Air Force Research Laboratory Directorates, the United States Air Force Academy or the Air Force Institute of Technology. 

"This year, almost 300 individuals applied, and roughly 95 awards were given out, making the selection process extremely competitive for the Summer 2008 Air Force Summer Faculty Fellowship Program," said Rick Kempinski, ASEE program manager.  ASEE administers the application process for the program on behalf of the Air Force Office of Scientific Research.

Following evaluation of applications performed by a panel of experts, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research awarded fellowships in March 2008. Application requirements include holding a Ph.D. in science or engineering, faculty status at a U.S. college or university, and research interests in line with the interests and needs of the various Air Force Research Facilities; Air Force relevance of the proposed area of research is also considered.

Following participation, SFFP Fellows submit final reports at the end of their their tenure with the program. The final report includes technical and scientific holdings of the fellow's research. In addition, fellows evaluate their experiences providing recommendations for future programs. 

For more information about research in the Southern Miss Department of Physics and Astronomy, visit http://www.usm.edu/physics/research.php. For more information about the United States Air Force Summer Faculty Fellowship program, visit http://www.asee.org/sffp/index.cfm. 

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HATTIESBURG, Miss.  - Senior managers from IMTC-MEI Houston offices, a recognized leader in construction, management, and project controls, met with The University of Southern Mississippi Assistant Professor John Hannon and School of Construction graduate students recently on a service-learning based research project involving ethanol production. 

IMTC-MEI, a subsidiary of Crown Enterprises of Louisiana, specializes in repair of catastrophically damaged industrial facilities.  The company is entering a new market for ethanol plant construction, and is engaging Southern Miss graduate students in construction management technology in research on ethanol production and facilities, as well as assisting in estimating and scheduling ethanol plant production.

IMTC-MEI representatives attending included Sean T. Regan, Ph.D., CCE, Senior Project Services Manager Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia, Middle East, Oleksiy Sheshyn, CCE, Lead Project Controls Engineer and Shane M. Thomas, Senior Project Services Manager North America.

For more information on the construction management program at Southern Miss, visit http://construction.usm.edu/.  For more information on IMTC-MEI, visit http://www.imtc-mei.com/. 

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HATTIESBURG, Miss.  - Middle and high school students from across the state will be tested on their knowledge of science at the Mississippi Science Olympiad, a statewide science competition hosted by The University of Southern Mississippi on Friday, March 28.

About 350 students will participate in the competition, set for Friday, March 28 from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. in the Thad Cochran Center, the Walker Science Building and the Payne Center. An awards ceremony will be held at 4:30 p.m. Students in grades 6-12 will compete in individual and team events modeled after popular board games, sports and television shows.

In Crave the Wave, students will answer questions about sound waves, including those created by earthquakes. Scientific principles will be required for other events, like with the Robo-Cross, where students build robots and use them to perform tasks. In Science Crimebusters, students use DNA, blood samples and other clues to solve a "crime" based on a story.

Students prepare all year for the MSO by participating in classroom activities, scientific research and after-school training clubs.

The Mississippi Science Olympiad is organized by the Southern Miss Center for Science and Mathematics Education (CSME), under the College of Science and Technology. CSME also sponsors the Region I Science and Engineering Fair each year.

The event is inspired by the National Science Olympiad, which began in 1983 to encourage scientific interest and education among students and teachers. Similar science olympiads are held in 48 states and Ontario, Canada.

For more information on the MSO, online visit http://www.usm.edu/outreach/mso.html; for information on the national Science Olympiad, visit http://www.soinc.org. Information for the Center for Science and Mathematics Education can be found at http://www.usm.edu/csme.

TO: News Editors, Directors
 
WHAT: Southern Miss Department of Biological Sciences Student Science Symposium
 
WHERE: Southern Miss Hattiesburg Campus, Walker Science Building, Reuben Hall
 
WHEN: Saturday, March 29, 9 a.m.

SPECIFICS:  The Southern Miss Department of Biological Sciences and Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society, present the Southern Miss Student Science Symposium. 

The symposium offers students a chance to gain experience explaining their research to an audience of their peers and for the community to learn more about the cutting edge research being conducted by Southern Miss students.  Symposium winners are awarded monetary prizes. 

CONTACTS:  Shea Hammond, 601.266.4748.  

HATTIESBURG, Miss.  - Noetic Technologies Inc. will host a workshop on the basics of patents at The University of Southern Mississippi from 3-4 p.m. March 24 in the Thad Cochran Center Ballroom I.

Brian Simmons, a partner and licensed patent attorney with Howrey LLP, will be the guest speaker for the workshop. Simmons has extensive experience in patent, trademark, trade secret and unfair competition issues.

Topics of discussion at the workshop will include these items: overview of intellectual property concepts, benefits of obtaining protection for ideas, how intellectual property protection works in the real world, how patents fit with university research, impact of disclosure on patent rights, and common pitfalls and tips on avoiding them.

In addition, a question-and-answer session will allow participants to further discuss related topics.

For more information contact Christian Corral by e-mail at christian.corral@noetictechnologies.com This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .

BAY ST. LOUIS - Dr. Ralph Goodman, a research professor in the Department of Marine Science at The University of Southern Mississippi Stennis Space Center teaching site, died on Tuesday, March 10. He was 80.

The memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 15, at the Edmond Fahey Funeral Home, located at 110 S. Necaise Avenue in Bay Saint Louis.

Before graduating with his doctorate in physics from the University of Michigan in 1958, Goodman served as a U.S. Army paratrooper during World War II. Goodman served as associate director at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C.; founding director of the Naval Ocean Research and Development Activity, now the Naval Research Laboratory at Stennis Space Center; and director of the National Physical Acoustics Center in Oxford.

The most recent position Goodman held was for the Southern Miss Department of Marine Science as a research professor. During that time he also served as a senior scientist for the Applied Research Laboratory at Penn State University.

"Ralph was a friend, colleague and mentor to many of us at the Department of Marine Science, and I am sure the same can be said for all the other groups with which he was associated," said Steven Lohrenz, chair and professor for the Department of Marine Science. "He always had a smile and a chuckle and shared his excitement and enthusiasm for his work and his life. He will be sorely missed."

Goodman is survived by his wife Charlotte; his sister, Marilyn Cloutier of Ormond Beach, Fla.; his sons, David and Matthew; his daughter, Christina; his stepsons, William and Bradley Farwell; and his grandsons, Daniel and Ben.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations be made to the American Cancer Society.

POLYMER SCIENCE DAY- Prentiss High School student Charles Otis takes part in an experiment recently at the University of Southern Mississippi's annual Polymer Science Day, on the Hattiesburg, Miss., campus. Otis dips his hand into water through aluminum stearate, as fellow student Calandra Walker looks on. A common ingredient in coatings, concrete, water sealants and deodorant, the material keeps Otis' gloved hand from getting wet. Students from a number of schools participated in experiments at the university's Shelby Freland Thames Polymer Science Research Center. (Southern Miss Public Relations photo by Steve Rouse)

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POLYMER SCIENCE DAY- University of Southern Mississippi researcher Michael Blanton demonstrates the use of a video microscope to high school students recently at the university's annual Polymer Science Day, on the Hattiesburg, Miss., campus. Students from a number of schools participated in experiments at the university's Shelby Freland Thames Polymer Science Research Center. (Southern Miss Public Relations photo by Steve Rouse)

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BILOXI, Miss. - Margaritaville, the ever-popular Jimmy Buffett song, will no longer be just a lyrical paradise, but one of the largest developments in downtown Biloxi as work moves forward on the new Margaritaville Casino and Resort.

A project of this magnitude requires someone with the knowledge and ability to handle the task. And Jason Wold, a 1999 graduate of The University of Southern Mississippi's construction engineering technology program, has plenty of responsibility on his shoulders as project executive for the highly anticipated development.

Although Wold went to work for Yates Construction right after graduation, he moved up from assistant project manager to project manager in only eight years. From the ground-breaking to the first day the resort is open to the public, Wold will make sure the casino and resort live up to the owner's expectations, all while reasonably maintaining its budget.

"In the last few years, I have had a couple major projects that have given me the opportunity to step up and show the company what I can do," said Wold, whose responsibilities include status reports to the owner and keeping production going according to schedule.

Expected to open in March 2010, the $445 million construction project will likely be one of the hottest spots on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Margaritaville, when completed, will consist of two hotel towers, a 90,000 square-foot casino, restaurants, shopping and open walkways along the storefronts.

Wold said his construction engineering technology degree from Southern Miss has helped him tremendously in his career. "As soon as you step into the field, it all starts coming back," he said. "You remember the terminology that was used and the specific analogies or examples that were used in the classroom."

One of the professors that Wold, and many others, have come to rely on to teach them the finer points of construction engineering is David Marchman, associate professor and associate director in the Southern Miss School of Construction. Marchman, who teaches courses at both the Hattiesburg campus and the Gulf Park campus in Long Beach, is fascinated by what Margaritaville will become.

Marchman said the most important skill any of his students need when completing the construction engineering technology program is the ability to communicate effectively.

"Good communication allows construction professionals to easily manage the project with their colleagues, architects and, most importantly, the owners," Marchman said, and he believes Wold effortlessly exhibits this talent, which has contributed to his early success.

Another Southern Miss School of Construction alum working on the Margaritaville Casino and Resort project is Nicholas McIlwain, who graduated in 2001. He is serving as senior estimator, coordinating with each group working on the project to make sure they stay within budget.

"The program at Southern Miss prepares you well above any program that I've seen," said McIlwain. "Working on this project is very exciting and very challenging, but a lot of fun."

Construction crews are currently working on the foundation and concrete sections of Margaritaville, and Wold projects that the structural steel will be visible to passersby beginning in April. "You'll be able to see the iron which serves as the skeleton of the project," said Wold. "April or May will be a real turning point for the public to see a change in vertical construction."

Wold is not sure what the future may hold for him after Margaritaville is complete, but one thing he knows is he loves what he is doing and wants to continue doing it. "As long as I am enjoying the projects that I am building here, I have all intentions of staying in construction," he said.

For more information on the construction engineering technology program, visit http://www.usm.edu/construction.

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Jason Wold, project executive for Margaritaville Casino and Resort, stands before an architect's rendering of what the project will look like when completed in March 2010. A Southern Miss School of Construction graduate, Wold has worked his way up to project executive for Yates Construction since graduating eight years ago. (Southern Miss Public Relations photo by Charmaine Williams)

Hattiesburg, Miss. - Elementary and high school students from throughout South Mississippi will compete in the Mississippi Region I Science and Engineering Fair at The University of Southern Mississippi March 18-20.

Students from 27 different counties will show off their science skills at the event.  Students in grades 1-6 will participate in the Primary Fair March 18 at Reed Green Coliseum, while students in grades 7-12 will compete in the Secondary Fair March 20 at the Thad Cochran Center. Both fairs start at 11:30 a.m. and are open to the public.

"Science fair projects are developed through practical applications of science, reading, math, technology, art, English and oral presentations," said Cathy Craig, director for Region I. "For many students, the science fair is their first opportunity to apply the educational foundation that our K-12 school system strives to develop."

Fair participants will be judged on originality, research, experimental design, presentation and their ability to utilize the scientific method. They will also be judged on how well they can back up their claims with academic citations.

Southern Miss scholarships will be awarded to students with the best projects. The top three winners in each category in the Secondary Fair will advance to the state fair on April 3 at the University of Mississippi. 

The fair "provides a way for K-12 students to engage in science, to work toward scholarship opportunities and to visit the Southern Miss campus," said Dr. Sherry Herron, director of the university's Center for Science and Mathematics Education, which sponsors the Region I Science and Engineering Fair each year. She is also vice president for the Mississippi Science and Engineering Fair (MSEF).

MSEF is affiliated with the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), which will be held May 11 in Atlanta. Two individual projects and a team project from each region will advance directly to the International Fair.

The Mississippi Science and Engineering Fair is one of the oldest fairs in the country.  "We strive to be the best," said Dr. Lawrence Bellipanni, a retired Southern Miss science professor who serves as president of MSEF.

The Center for Science and Mathematics Education will also be sponsoring the Mississippi Science Olympiad March 28, and it will be hosting science camps for first through 12th grade students over the summer.

For more information on the Mississippi Region I Science and Engineering Fair, visit http://www.usm.edu/outreach/msef.html or call Cathy Craig at 601.266.6845. For information on the International Fair, visit http://www.societyforscience.org/isef.

Hattiesburg, Miss. - Two University of Southern Mississippi students have been named finalists for a prestigious Truman Scholarship and have been preparing for the challenging interview process required of applicants.

Jessica Shackleford, a chemistry major from Senatobia, and Paul Saputo, a psychology major from New Orleans, La., meet with Truman regional interview committees through March 10 in Nashville, Tenn., and Fort Worth, Texas. Both are students in the university's prestigious Honors College.

Named in honor of the late U.S. President Harry S. Truman, the Truman Scholarship is awarded to high-achieving college juniors who show commitment to public service and potential to continue that service beyond graduation. It provides $30,000 for graduate study and leadership training.

To prepare for the interview stage, both Shackleford and Saputo have engaged in mock interviews on campus with the help of faculty, administrators and community members, which includes questions on a variety of topics of the panel's choosing.

"I don't think you're ever really ready," said Shackleford, who was named to the USA Today's Honorable Mention Academic Team in February. "It's a very rigorous process."

Saputo concurred. "There are no words to describe it," he said. "Even the application process is daunting."

Outside of the classroom, both Saputo and Shackleford have been active in serving their communities. Saputo, a Presidential Scholar at Southern Miss, has worked as a community activist to help his native New Orleans recover from the impact of Hurricane Katrina's storm surge. He founded Conversations for Change, through which he has engaged in helping communities address social issues in Hattiesburg, New Orleans and on campus.

Shackleford, who was also named a Goldwater Scholar last year, is director of FANTASIA, a program to increase access to higher education for high school students. She began the program at Hattiesburg High School and then implemented similar programs at Sacred Heart and Oak Grove High Schools.

As part of the Truman Scholarship application process, students must also present a policy proposal on an issue affecting society. Saputo's proposal, titled "Community Crime Crisis Response Unit" is designed to reduce neighborhood crime through social and environmental improvements. Shackleford's is "Improving College Awareness Programs in Mississippi Public High Schools," which proposes implementation of a statewide college prep program in public schools through specialized counselors.

Southern Miss alumni and Truman Scholarship recipient Lance Brown, who has worked in government and political campaigns now works with an advertising agency in Montgomery, Ala., met with the two students recently and helped them in the preparation process. To date, he is the only student from Southern Miss to receive the Truman Scholarship.

"My goal was to give them as much insight as I could into the process," Brown said. "It's a challenging process of evaluating your intentions in life, and certainly makes you think more about it."

To prepare the students for the interviews, Peggy Varnado, Southern Miss national scholarship adviser, arranged practice interviews with panels composed of faculty members and administrators from across the university, including Dr. David Davies, dean of the Honors College; Dr. Rex Gandy, dean of the College of Science and Technology; Dr. Ken Panton, retired dean of the Honors College; and Dr. Mike Forster, director of the School of Social Work. The team challenged and questioned the students in a rigorous 20-minute interview.

Southern Miss faculty who have served as mentors for Shackleford and Saputo include Dr. Gandy, Dr. Davies, Dr. Robert Bateman, Dr. Richard Conville, Dr. Doug Masterson, Dr. Amy Miller, Dr. Stan Kuczaj and Dr. Sabine Heinhorst.

Brown said both students possess important qualities that make them worthy of consideration for the Truman Scholarship.

"Jessica is analytical and has a great knack for getting to the heart of a problem, and Paul has a real passion for the causes he's dedicated his life to," he said.

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HATTIESBURG, Miss. - A new class implemented last fall at The University of Southern Mississippi College of Science and Technology is helping students better prepare for admission into medical schools.
 
Students who took the fall 2007 Medical College Admission Test preparation course increased their scores on the full practice MCAT by 9 percent, according to college officials.

"Reviewing content and working practice test questions is a proven way of improving test scores, and our workshop is designed to do just that. Meeting on a regular basis with a structured format is the best way to get through the massive amount of material, and it gives students the opportunity to ask questions and clarify topics," said Dr. Ray Scheetz, faculty member and the coordinator of the course.

"The reviews and practice tests help identify deficiencies that students can improve upon. We have high hopes that MCAT scores will improve and more Southern Miss graduates will be attending medical school." 

Throughout the semester, Southern Miss faculty and staff, including Scheetz, Peggy Varnado, Dr. Rex Gandy and Dr. Doug Masterson, taught the class the content of the MCAT exam including physical sciences, verbal reasoning, biological sciences and writing samples. Faculty familiarized students with the exam format and students worked practice questions in the MCAT format. Students earned two hours of course credit and were given a full practice MCAT. 

The class, designed for premedical students meeting course prerequisites and minimum grade point average requirements, was held on the Hattiesburg campus and through an interactive video network at Southern Miss Gulf Coast. 

Clare Bush, Southern Miss Gulf Coast student from Biloxi, Miss., took the course via IVN. "I appreciated having the class available through IVN rather than having to commute to Hattiesburg. Had it not been for IVN and such supportive teachers, I would not have been able to take part in such a worthwhile class." 

Last fall was the first time the course was offered at Southern Miss. "The college is delighted in the MCAT score improvement demonstrated by the students in the fall class," said Rex Gandy, dean of the College of Science and Technology. "The college is committed to providing the resources needed to improve the chances of Southern Miss students being admitted to medical school." 

There is such high student demand for the class that it is being offered again this semester. 

The course is coordinated by the College of Science and Technology through the Southern Miss Preprofessional Advising Office, which advises over 500 students in preprofessional fields. The office offers assistance with course selection, schedule planning and application processes for programs in medicine, dentistry, optometry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, dental hygiene, physical therapy, occupational therapy, cytotechnology and health information management. 

For additional information about the MCAT preparation class, please contact LaTandra Cowan, preprofessional adviser, at 601.266.4724 or LaTandra.Cowan@usm.edu This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .  

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HATTIESBURG, Miss.  - The University of Southern Mississippi School of Polymers and High Performance Materials will host a polymer science high school recruitment day Friday, March 7 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on the Hattiesburg campus.

Targeted for high school juniors and seniors, the event will give participants the opportunity to conduct experiments covering several research topics as well as participate in recreational activities. The event is organized by the Polymer Science Association, a student group composed of graduate and undergraduate polymer science majors.

The day's activities begin at 9 a.m. with hands-on experiments of polymer science in action. Students will be able to learn about coating spray processes, making foam and other polymer science applications.

After lunch, the students will be able to participate in a volleyball tournament, take campus tours and hear about scholarship opportunities.

Dr. James Rawlins, assistant professor of polymer science and PSA adviser, is one of several of faculty members who will be involved in the day's activities. "Our goal is to increase awareness about science and technology, and polymer science in particular," said Rawlins. "We'll show these students some cool stuff and hopefully get them interested in becoming a student here at Southern Miss."

Kristin Hamilton, president of the student association encourages students and teachers to attend. "All students interested in cutting-edge science and technologies are encouraged to attend. And teachers are welcome to bring an entire class," said Hamilton.

Interested students and teachers should contact Hamilton by phone at 228.860.2970 or by e-mail at Polymer.Science.Association@gmail.com This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it . More information is also available by calling the School of Polymers and High Performance Materials at 601.266.4868 or visiting the school's Web site at http://www.usm.edu/polymer/explore.php.

Programs in the Southern Miss School of Polymers and High Performance Materials are among the top-ranked programs in the world in polymer science and materials research. The school offers accredited undergraduate and graduate programs leading to Bachelor of Science, Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in polymer science and engineering.

HATTIESBURG, Miss.  - The University of Southern Mississippi College of Science and Technology's science education and engineering programs have been rated in the top 10 nationally, according to an index measuring the scholarly output of faculty members at colleges and universities.

Academic Analytics' findings were the subject of an article in the Nov. 16, 2007, edition of The Chronicle of Higher Education. In the article, the most recent index examines the productivity of 164,843 faculty members in 7,400 programs at 357 institutions. The Chronicle published data on the top 10 in 172 disciplines.

At Southern Miss, the Center for Science and Mathematics Education was rated seventh in Science Education, and the School of Polymers and High Performance Materials was rated eighth in the category of "other" Engineering. The indicators included publications, citations, number of grant awards and total dollars of grant awards.

"These rankings are particularly significant as Academic Analytics has taken a very quantitative approach as opposed to some other types of rankings that rely more on subjective input," said Dr. Rex Gandy, dean of the Southern Miss College of Science and Technology. "These top 10 rankings are indicative of the high quality faculty we have in the College of Science and Technology."

For faculty publication information, Academic Analytics used the database Scopus, which counts journal publication and citation data, and for books uses Amazon.com, whose database matches the Library of Congress. Data on grants were taken directly from federal agencies or from their Web sites, and faculty awards and honors impact the rankings.

Dr. Bob Lochhead, professor and director of the School of Polymers and High Performance Materials said the school is delighted with the Academic Analytics ranking. "This is a significant milestone," said Lochhead. "Being ranked within the top 10 programs in the nation attests to the high quality of research and education that is a hallmark of our polymer program at Southern Miss, and it is gratifying when an outside ranking acknowledges our untiring efforts."

Dr. Sherry Herron, director of the Southern Miss Center for Science and Mathematics Education, said the ranking is a testament to the faculty's commitment to science literacy. 

"Southern Miss is rich with faculty who are willing to provide opportunities to enhance the science and mathematics knowledge of K-12 students and their teachers. We look forward to continuing our efforts and having even greater success in promoting science literacy in South Mississippi," Herron said. 

This is the third year the index has been published. The first index included overall institutional rankings on 166 large research universities, categorized as having 15 or more doctoral programs, and 61 smaller research universities offering between one and 14 doctoral programs.

Stefanie Altman, Academic Analytics marketing manager, said having two programs ranked is an accomplishment. "It is great to see that they are showing up well in our analysis and benefitting from the data. For any institution to have two programs that rank in the top 10 is a noteworthy achievement for them." 

Academic Analytics was founded by Dr. Lawrence B. Martin, dean of graduate studies at State University of New York at Stony Brook. Academic Analytics' rankings are based strictly on statistical data and is one of several indices that measure programs at colleges and universities, such as those produced by U.S. News & World Report . 

Also according to the Chronicle article, Academic Analytics offers its services for a fee and subscribers can choose 10 peer institutions with which they would like to be compared.  For more information on the College of Science and Technology's doctoral programs in science education and engineering, visit http://www.usm.edu/cost/; for more information on Academic Analytics, visit http://www.academicanalytics.com.

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HATTIESBURG, Miss. - When asked about her career plans after graduation, University of Southern Mississippi student Jessica Shackleford points to her mentor, chemistry professor Dr. Doug Masterson.

"I want his job," she said, before quickly qualifying her statement to reassure him. "At a different university, of course."

And with her recent selection as an honorable mention selection to USA Today's 2008 All-USA College Academic Team, Shackleford appears well on her way to a successful career as a professor conducting organic chemistry research.

Those selected are featured in today's Life section of the national newspaper. Judges selected a total of only 60 students from hundreds nominated by universities and colleges across the country for the first, second and third teams, along with 20 honorable mentions.

The honor is just another testament to the academic success of the junior chemistry major from Senatobia, one of few chosen to be part of a university research team normally the turf of graduate students. Shackleford was invited to join the Masterson Research Group as a second-semester freshman.

"It's not that often that an undergraduate gets this kind of opportunity," she said. "But he (Masterson) took a chance on me, and I really appreciate it."

Shackleford has been involved in two Masterson Research Group projects and will be making presentations on her work at conferences hosted by the Mississippi Academy of Sciences and the American Chemical Society this year.

Last year, she was selected as an undergraduate recipient of a Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship for 2007-08, a prestigious national scholarship program for future scientists, mathematicians and engineers.

Also a Presidential scholar at Southern Miss, Shackleford is enrolled in the university's prestigious Honors College, and serves as one of its student ambassadors. She is president of the American Chemical Society Student Affiliate, is an Ambassador for the College of Science and Technology, and the founder and director of an extensive tutorial project at Hattiesburg High School, known as Project FANTASIA.

"Jessica is simply an exemplary Honors College student," said Dr. David R. Davies, dean of the Honors College. "She represents the best of what our students can do. She's involved in research and she's involved in community service through her tutorial project at Hattiesburg High."

Masterson said he wasn't surprised when he learned of the honor USA Today bestowed on Shackleford. "She's one of our hardest working students," he said. "She's definitely a plus for our research group, a joy to have as part of our team."

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HATTIESBURG, Miss.  - Noetic Technologies Inc. is seeking entries for the fourth annual "Invent Your Future" competition this spring with an eye toward identifying and fostering ideas for potential commercial development. Teams will compete for $10,000 in prize money that could help jump start their innovative ideas.

The technology-oriented competition is designed to identify entrepreneurial ideas in Mississippi and the surrounding region and to foster their commercial potential. Participation is open to all high school and college students across Mississippi and the region. The deadline for entry submissions is Feb. 29.

A maximum of eight teams will be selected for the final competition that is slated for 8:30 a.m. on March 25 at the Thad Cochran Center at The University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. Finalists will make a 15-minute presentation and have a five-minute question-and-answer session with a panel of three external judges who will select the winner.

"The competition is open to showcase inventions from any industry, whether it be biochemistry, polymers, nanotech, biotech, health care, consumer goods or athletics," said Kelli Booth, marketing director for Noetic. "Entries must involve an invention, and they do not necessarily have to be products."

"We are extremely excited about this year's competition," said Booth. "The success of our previous winners going on to finish so well in other regional competitions gives this year's finalists something to aspire to."

Previous winners of the "Invent Your Future" competition have taken their ideas to the next level, both in competition and further development.

- Ablitech Inc., the 2006 first-place winner, offers new technology in the design of heart stents, which provides greater control in drug delivery. The team went on to place third in that year's Fed Ex business plan competition. In October 2007, the company received a $100,000 Small Business Innovation Research grant from the National Science Foundation to help further its research efforts.

- The 2007 winner, Pierce-Safe Technologies, developed an anti-microbial polymer coating to assist in preventing infection and improve healing time for body piercings. The team went on to place second in the 2007 Fed Ex business plan competition.

The 2008 competition is hosted in conjunction with the Southern Miss College of Science and Technology and is sponsored by the Area Development Partnership, Crosslink, the Mississippi Technology Alliance, the Trent Lott National Center for Excellence in Economic Development and Entrepreneurship, Howrey LLP, Copy Cats Printing, Welsh and Katz Attorneys and The University of Southern Mississippi Federal Credit Union.

Competition rules, entry form and additional information is found online at http://www.noetictechnologies.com/inventyourfuture. For additional information, contact Christian Corral at 412.334.0117.

About Noetic Technologies Inc.
"Noetic Technologies Inc. began as an initiative of The University of Southern Mississippi and is geared toward marketing and commercialization of the university's technology. For the past four years, Noetic has played a vital role in bringing ideas to the marketplace for several high tech startup companies. Noetic's management team comprises over 50 years of combined experience in market research, product development, process management and marketing strategies.