News Archive
Tuesday, June 29 2004
News
Student team third in international contest
Three Iowa State students placed third overall in the IEEE Computer Society's international design competition on Monday, making them among the few U.S. teams ever to place in this event.
The team of Melanie Davis, a senior from Minneapolis; Douglas Houghton, a graduate student from Ames; and Shahzaib Younis, a senior from Pakistan, also received the Microsoft Software Engineering Award for their project, a computer program that utilizes global positioning system technologies to trigger messages. Applications for this technology range from assisting search parties to reminding patrons what to buy at the grocery store.
The students received a total of $9,000 in prize money, and hope to patent their technology (see USA Today story at right). Their project was among 250 entries in the annual competition, with the top 10 teams participating in the World Finals in Washington, D.C.
Veterinary Medicine dean candidate to visit campus this week
Dr. John Thomson, a candidate for dean of ISU's College of Veterinary Medicine, will be in Ames June 30-July 1. He is dean of veterinary medicine at Mississippi State University, Starkville. Thomson is one of four finalists who have visited the Iowa State campus as part of the search process.
ISU Veterinary Medicine Dean Norm Cheville will retire in mid-August.
Tractor ride runs through campus
The WHO Radio Great Iowa Tractor Ride made its way through campus Monday, spending the night at Wallace-Wilson dining center.
The tractors, 450 in all, will travel 160 miles in three days as they make their way across a section of Iowa. The group started out at Enterprise on Monday and had lunch at the Collins-Maxwell High School.
This morning (June 29), the group headed through Slater. They will spend tonight at the Dallas County Fairgrounds in Adel.
Wednesday, the tractors will pull into Sec Taylor Stadium, Des Moines, for lunch and an awards ceremony before heading to the fairgrounds for their final destination.
Iowa State University selects new Engineering dean
Mark J. Kushner, Founder Professor of Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, will become dean of Iowa State University's College of Engineering effective Jan. 1, 2005. He replaces Dean James Melsa, who will retire June 30. Provost Ben Allen will appoint an interim dean next week.
ISU residence director resigns
Randy Alexander, director of the Department of Residence since 1996, will leave the university July 1 to pursue other employment interests, including consulting on campus housing master plans. Todd Holcomb, associate vice president for student affairs, will serve as interim director. A search for Alexander's replacement will begin in July.
Nutritional Sciences Council lectures address world food needs
Nobel Laureate Norman Borlaug and leaders from technology transfer organizations in Africa and Mexico will address ways to meet future global food needs during the 2004 Nutritional Sciences Council Summer Lectureship, June 28-July 2. The daily lectures are from 10 a.m. to noon in 1352 Gilman. All events are free and open to the public, including a reception at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
The "Independence Day Celebration" at the Farm House Museum on campus (1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 4) will include games, music, cloggers and historic tours. Hotdogs, popcorn and lemonade will be sold. Then head over to Reiman Gardens (7 to 10:30 p.m.) to watch the fireworks across the street. Admission will be $5 per household. Picnic baskets and lawn chairs are welcome.
ISU in the news
Students seek 'spatial clues' patent
USA Today
Three Iowa State students are seeking a patent on an acclaimed computer program that combines wireless technology with the Global Positioning System. The system could help rescue teams warn each other about dangerous locations. The technology is called "spatial clues."
"We store information in space."
-- Shahzaib Younis, who designed the concept with fellow computer science students Melanie Davis and Doug Houghton.
First lady role evolves
Contra Costa (Calif.) Times
The role of "first lady" has evolved from only helping with White House social events in the early 19th century to surrogate for a candidate who "can't be in two places at the same time," said Dianne Bystrom, director of the Catt Center.
The first lady's role started to become more pronounced when John Kennedy became president.
"They were a young, attractive family, and the TV era was just starting. From that point on, the role of spouses on the campaign trail and in the White House just evolved," Bystrom said.
A mouse in the hand
NewsFactor Top Tech News
A new computer mouse, invented by two Iowa State professors, helps eliminate back, wrist and hand pain associated with the tradition mouse.
"One thing that has surprised me about the device is the way people react when they first learn of the idea. We often hear comments such as, 'I've got to have one of those,' or 'When can I get one to try out?'"
-- Don Flugrad, who invented the ergonomically friendly mouse with Abir Qamhiya. Both are mechanical engineering professors.