Vineyard site assessment model to be explored
An-Min Wu, a master of science candidate in soil science, will make a presentation from 3:25 to 4:25 p.m. Oct. 31 in 101 Agricultural Sciences and Industries Building, University Park. His topic is "Development and Validation of a Vineyard Site Assessment Model for Southeastern Pennsylvania."
The event is free to the public. For information, call (814) 863-1615.
Artists to discuss their large-scale public art
Jacqueline Tarry and Bradley McCallum, who create large-scale public art projects through ConjunctionArts, a social awareness organization, will lecture on their work at 11:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 3, in Pattee Library's Foster Auditorium, University Park. Their presentation is part of the 2003-2004 John M. Anderson Endowment Lecture Series in the School of Visual Arts and is co-sponsored by the Pennsylvania Center for the Book. Tarry and McCallum, who are husband and wife, address current and sometimes controversial social issues in their work, such as police violence, gun violence and race relations.
In their University lecture, they will discuss "Civic Endurance," a series of life-sized color photographs and a video that together document a 25-hour endurance performance with homeless Seattle teenagers. The artists are currently featured in the Neuberger Museum Public Art Biennial in Purchase, N.Y.
For more information and examples of the couple's work, visit http://www.ConjunctionArts.org.
Professor to discuss Ouedraogo's style
The Comparative Literature Luncheon, a weekly, informal lunchtime gathering of students, faculty and other members of the University community, has announced the next speaker in this semester's series. Christiane Makward, professor of French and women's studies, will discuss "Visual Metaphor and Ellipses: Idrisso Ouedraogo's Film Style" on Monday, Nov. 3.
The events begin with lunch from 12:15 p.m. to 12:40 p.m. in 102 Kern Building on the University Park campus. Participants may bring their own lunch or buy something in Kern Cafeteria. Coffee and tea are provided. The speaker will begin at about 12:40 p.m.
The events are free to the public.
Potter to give demonstration, show slides
Potter Ellen Shankin will give a demonstration from 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Nov. 4, in the Ceramic Studio in the Visual Arts Building on the University Park campus. The event will be followed by a slide show of her work at 1:30 p.m. in the Palmer Lipcon Auditorium, Palmer Museum of Art. Shankin's demonstration and presentation are part of the 2003-04 John M. Anderson Endowment Lecture Series in the School of Visual Arts.
Outcomes for at-risk students to be explored
Celene Domitrovich, assistant director of the Prevention Research Center for the Promotion of Human Development, will give a seminar presentation from 4 to 5 p.m. Nov. 5 in 102 South Henderson Building on the University Park campus.
Domitrovich's topic is "A Comprehensive Preschool Program to Improve Academic Outcomes for At-Risk Urban Students."
Scientist to discuss optical frequency standards
John L. Hall, a senior scientist at JILA, will present the 2003 E.W. Mueller Memorial Lecture in Physics at 3:50 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, in 117 Osmond Laboratory, University Park. JILA, formerly called the Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics, is an interdisciplinary institute for research and graduate education in the physical sciences operated jointly by the University of Colorado and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
The lecture is titled "Optical Frequency Standards, Measurements and Their Applications" and is free to the public. The Erwin W. Mueller Memorial Lecture in Physics honors the late Erwin W. Mueller, who was a member of the Department of Physics from 1952 until his death in 1977.
Lecture to look at genome, population, politics
The Rock Ethics Institute Feminist Science Studies Initiative and Science, Medicine, Technology and Culture will be host to a lecture by Malia Fullerton, a post-doctoral fellow in the Department of Anthropology, at 4 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, in 102 Weaver Building, University Park.
Fullerton will speak on issues related to genome, population and politics. Her talk is part of the institute's lecture series that focuses on disability studies, along with current topics related to bioethics, unfree labor practices, gender issues in science and ethical matters in science, medicine, technology and culture for this fall and spring 2004.
Among the fall disability studies lectures are:
-- Nov. 21, 3 p.m.: Laurie Ringaert, North Carolina State University, on "Universal Design of the Built Environment: The New Paradigm," Foster Auditorium, 101 Pattee Library, University Park; and
-- Dec: 5, 3 p.m., Tobin Siebers, University of Michigan, on "Disability Aesthetics and the Built Environment," Foster Auditorium, 101 Pattee Library, University Park.
For information, call (814) 863-0314 or e-mail rockethics@psu.edu. To access the institute's calendar of events, visit http://rockethics.psu.edu.
Sociologist to lecture on 'culture war'
Paul DiMaggio, professor of sociology at Princeton University, will give a presentation as the 2003 Francis M. Sim Memorial Lecturer at 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, in 117 Osmond Building, University Park. The topic is "Was There a Culture War? Conflict and Consensus in Americans' Views on Values, Media and the Arts."
DiMaggio also will present an interdepartmental colloquium, "Beyond the Digital Divide: Understanding the Implications of the Internet for Social Inequality," at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 7, in 301 Steidle Building, University Park.
Panel focuses on libraries' progress
A panel discussion on the University Libraries' progress toward building a culture of assessment will be held from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Nov. 14 in 404 Old Main, University Park. The presentation takes place at the Quality Advocates' Network meeting.
The panel includes Laura Probst, head of public services; Linda Klimczyk, information center consultant; Eric Novotny, humanities librarian; and Paula Contreras, reference librarian. Topics will include: origins, program components and goals of the assessment system and its applicability to other service settings; collecting, managing and sharing assessment data; applying technology to service design; and assessment of Web-based user services and usability testing and user satisfaction with the library catalog (The CAT). Although the discussion will focus on service assessment in the libraries, panelists also will describe its applicability to other units at the University.
To attend, call the Office of Planning and Institutional Assessment at (814) 863-8721 or e-mail psupia@psu.edu. Campus colleges interested in participation via PicTel should contact the Office of Planning and Institutional Assessment.