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LSU Biologist Invited to Gates Foundation Photosynthesis Workshop

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:28:27 -0600

BATON ROUGE – LSU Biology Chair and Glenda Wooters Streva Alumni Professor James Moroney was one of 13 scientists invited to a workshop sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to share their views on how photosynthesis research may positively impact agricultural productivity. These discussions will help to educate the Gates Foundation’s Agricultural Development program about future projects to support increased sustainable productivity of small holder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

“The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is working to bridge the gap between basic research and getting improved crops to farmers,” said Moroney. “I am very excited to have been a part of that discussion.”

Three-quarters of the world’s poorest people acquire food and income from farming small plots of land, often contending with difficult conditions including unproductive soil, drought, pests and disease.

The goal of the Gates Foundation’s Agricultural Development program is to reduce hunger and poverty for millions of poor farm families in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Moroney, along with a team of nationally-renowned scientists, came together to discuss ways to help guide future Gates Foundation investments in photosynthesis research and to propose how such research could help small farmers improve their productivity and nutrition.

The two-day workshop entitled, Exploring New Opportunities to Improve Photosynthesis, convened January 9-10 in Seattle, Wash. Discussion topics included CO2 concentrating mechanisms, enhancing enzymes for carbon fixation, modeling for increased photosynthesis, reducing photorespiration, enhancing light capture efficiency and optimizing photoprotection.

For more information about the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation agricultural strategy, go to http://www.gatesfoundation.org/agriculturaldevelopment/Documents/agricultural-development-strategy-overview.pdf.

LSU Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Students Take Top Honors in National Grocers Association Competition

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:14:55 -0600

BATON ROUGE – A group of undergraduate students from the LSU College of Agriculture’s Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness recently took first-place honors in a case study competition held by the National Grocers Association, or NGA.

The competition took place during the organization’s annual convention, held Feb. 12-15 in Las Vegas.

Members of the LSU team include students Kaitlyn Dunn, Alexander Guinn, Cassandra Rideau, Gregory Shaw and Rawley Webber.

Wes Harrison, Warner L. Bruner Regents Professor of Agribusiness Marketing, served with Assistant Professor of Finance and Agribusiness Management Josh Detre as the students’ faculty advisors.

Harrison said the students’ assignment was to develop a social media marketing strategy for an independent, 10-store grocery operation, Harrison said.

“Our team was comprised of five undergraduate students from our agribusiness program,” he said. “They received the case study assignment in the fall of 2011 and developed an oral PowerPoint presentation. The presentation was made to food industry executives, and involved a preliminary round and a final round, judged by food industry executives.”

The LSU students finished first among seven other top food and agribusiness programs in the country, including Arizona State University, Illinois State University, University of Minnesota, Portland State University, Saint Joseph University, Sam Houston State University and Western Michigan University.

“Our team put in a huge amount of time preparing for this competition,” Harrison said. “The students worked very hard and deserve much of the credit for this achievement. I’m very proud of these young people and the recognition they bring to our academic programs in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, and LSU.”

“Our students competed against some of the best and brightest undergraduate students from across the country, and to come away as champs is a testament to both their hard work and to the quality education they are receiving in in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness,” Detre said.

The team was recognized for its achievement at the 2012 NGA Chairman's Dinner and Gala. They also presented their analysis at the following NGA general session, “How to Capitalize on the Digital Coupon Revolution: From Print at Home to Mobile,” with the director of shopper and integrated marketing for Kraft Foods, Inc.

“After all the research and presenting I almost feel like an expert in implementing mobile couponing,” said Rideau. “We met so many companies and people, and I absolutely love their support throughout the process.”

“It was an excellent opportunity for me to learn about the industry,” Webber said. “I thoroughly enjoyed networking with not only my peers, but also with industry executives. Preparation was lengthy, but in the end, it was worth it. A lot of time went into making sure we knew what we were going to present. We wanted to go into the competition and be competitive. We wanted to represent not only LSU, but the College of Agriculture extremely well.”

Dunn said she felt the NGA convention was “a great opportunity to meet leading businesses in the industry.”

“It was also a great place to network with fellow students and also gain insight about independent grocers,” she said, “Preparing for the case study was a lot of hard work and required a significant amount of collaboration; the end result however was a strong and stable stance on how our independent grocers can implement this new technology.”

Harrison said that the team received a wealth of support in its efforts from the Associated Grocers, or AG, of Baton Rouge.

“We are very fortunate and thankful for AG of Baton Rouge’s assistance and support of our team,” he said. “AG has invited our team to present the award winning presentation to its entire marketing staff. Through the leadership of its president, Jay Campbell, who is an LSU alumnus, AG of Baton Rouge has been a strong supporter of all our food and agribusiness programs for many years. We would also like to recognize the support of another LSU alumnus, Don Welge, who is president of Gilster-Mary Lee Corporation.”

The LSU Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness is nationally and internationally known for teaching, research, service programs and providing outstanding undergraduate and graduate degrees. The department conducts research in areas including food, agriculture, natural resources and the environment, community development, international trade and transportation and agribusiness. LSU agricultural economists develop programs to deliver information on farm financial management, market and policy. The school’s faculty also teaches the use of economic principles in making business decisions.

LSU’s Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans Program Being Held Feb. 25-March 4

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:30:52 -0600

BATON ROUGE – The LSU Stephenson Entrepreneurship Institute is holding its inaugural Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans, or EBV, with Disabilities Program from Feb. 25-March 4, 2012, at LSU.

The EBV program offers cutting-edge, experiential training in entrepreneurship and small business management to soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines who were disabled as a result of their service supporting operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

The intent of the EBV is to open the door to entrepreneurial opportunity and small business ownership to these individuals by developing their competencies in the many steps and activities associated with creating and sustaining an entrepreneurial venture and also by helping them coordinate their efforts with programs and services for veterans and others with disabilities.

“We are very pleased to have such an amazing program at LSU. With LSU’s storied military history and tradition, it was a natural fit for us to offer the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans program,” said Robin Kistler, director of LSU Executive Education and EBV at LSU. “We are looking forward to it being one of the jewels of LSU SEI.”

There are 12 veterans expected to participate in the program at LSU. Many are from around the country, but four participants are from Louisiana. Applications were accepted from veterans with a service-connected disability, as designated by the Veterans Administration, who served on active duty after September 2001.

LSU is one of a consortium of eight schools around the country offering the program, which began at the Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University. In addition to LSU and Syracuse, other schools offering the program include UCLA, Florida State, Connecticut, Purdue, Cornell and Texas A&M.

This program is entirely free to the veterans. As a result of the generous support of the EBV Universities and the private giving of individuals and corporations, all costs, including travel, lodging and meals, are covered. More information can be found at ebv.lsu.edu.

Contributions to the LSU EBV program can be made online or by mailed check. To make a gift online, visit https://www.lsufoundation.org/contribute/business/ebv. To make a gift by mailed check, make the check payable to “LSU Foundation” and write EBV in the memo line. Mail the check to Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities c/o Lisa O’Beirne, LSU SEI, P.O. Box 67027, Baton Rouge, LA 70896.

The Stephenson Entrepreneurship Institute, an integral part of LSU’s E. J. Ourso College of Business, utilizes the Stephenson Entrepreneurship Fellows, LSU Executive Education and Social Entrepreneurship to address the challenges of entrepreneurship and to positively impact students, the regional economy, the state of Louisiana and the nation. A generous donation by LSU alumni Emmet and Toni Stephenson made the continued development of the college’s entrepreneurship institute possible. For more information, visit www.sei.lsu.edu or call 225-578-1190.

Looking for LSU’s Oldest Living Graduate

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:56:22 -0600

BATON ROUGE – The LSU Alumni Association is looking for LSU’s oldest living graduate to take part in the 2012 Golden Tigers reunion on May 17-18. The Golden Tigers reunion, held in conjunction with spring commencement, will honor the Class of 1962 and the Golden Tigers, those who graduated more than 50 years ago.

To submit the names of alumni 98 years of age or older, contact Jackie Bartkiewicz at jackie@lsualumni.org.

For more information on the LSU Alumni Association, visit http://www.lsualumni.org/.

Promise Hsu Speaking on “The Chinese Quest for Liberty” Today at LSU

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:25:39 -0600

BATON ROUGE – Beijing journalist Promise Hsu is speaking on the “The Chinese Quest for Liberty” on Wednesday, Feb. 22, from 3-4:30 p.m. in the LSU Hill Memorial Library Lecture Hall.

The event is free and open to students, faculty and staff, and the general public. Hsu’s visit is sponsored by the Eric Voegelin Institute, Department of Political Science, and Intercollegiate Studies Institute at LSU.

Hsu (Hong Xu) is an independent journalist based in Beijing. He has published in leading Chinese magazines, including Vista, Global Entrepreneur, South Wind Window, Asian Business Leaders, Almond Flowers, and in English media, including Christianity Today, World Magazine, Compass Direct News, and The Media Project. He was a world affairs journalist at the English news channel of China Central Television for six years after studying International Journalism at Beijing Broadcast Institute – now Communication University of China – from 1994 to 1999. He is writing a book exploring the spiritual and intellectual foundations of a free and responsible civilization.

LSU’s Susanne Brenner Selected as Managing Editor for Mathematics of Computation

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:27:28 -0600

BATON ROUGE – SIAM Fellow and Michael F. and Roberta Nesbit McDonald Professor of Mathematics Susanne Brenner has been selected as managing editor of Mathematics of Computation, one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious research journals in computational mathematics.

Established in 1943 by the National Research Council, Mathematics of Computation, is devoted to high quality computational mathematics research articles covering the areas of numerical analysis, computational discrete mathematics, including number theory, algebra and combinatorics, and related fields such as stochastic numerical methods.

“Sue is an exceptional scientist, researcher and educator,” said Kevin Carman, dean of LSU’s College of Science. “Her contributions to the college and international research in computational mathematics are truly extraordinary.”

Mathematics of Computation has been an American Mathematics Society publication since 1962. The journal has been led by a number of notable computational mathematicians including E. Isaacson, New York University (1966-1974); J.H. Bramble, Cornell University (1975-1983); W. Gautschi, Purdue University (1984-1995); L.B. Wahlbin, Cornell University (1996-2002); and C.W. Shu, Brown University (2003-2011).

Currently, Brenner serves on the editorial boards of 12 mathematical journals. In 2010, she was named Fellow of the Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics. She is also a recipient of the 2005 Humboldt Award for Senior U.S. Scientists from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in Bonn, Germany.

Brenner’s research interests include numerical analysis, finite element methods, multigrid methods and domain decomposition methods.

LSU’s Marcia Newcomer Selected to NIH Scientific Review Council

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:22:20 -0600

BATON ROUGE – LSU Biological Sciences Professor Marcia Newcomer has accepted an invitation to serve on the Macromolecular Structure and Function E-Study Section, or MSFE, of the Center for Scientific Review, or CSR, from July 1, 2012 until June 30, 2016.

As a member of the study section, Newcomer will review grant applications submitted to the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, recommend potential research projects to the appropriate NIH national advisory council or board, and survey the areas of research in her field of science.

“Marcia is an accomplished researcher and professor with a number of research grants to her credit,” said James Moroney, Ph.D., chair of LSU’s biological sciences department. “Her knowledge and understanding of NIH projects make her a strong asset to the study section.”

In addition to NIH, National Science Foundation and American Heart Association grant awards, she has also been recognized for her work on the structure of human Lipoxygenase, which was published in the Jan. 14 edition of “Science.”

“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve on this review panel,” said Newcomer. “My participation will increase the LSU Department of Biological Sciences’ presence on NIH study sections and give me an opportunity to help identify some of the most innovative research in the structure and structure-function relationships of enzymes and their complexes.”

Newcomer earned a bachelor of science in chemistry from the College of Charleston and a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Rice University. Her current research examines the molecular basis of initial events of inflammation with emphasis on the structural biology of enzymes that catalyze the biosynthesis of pro-and anti-inflammatory signaling molecules. Newcomer is particularly interested in the enzyme that initiates the synthesis of leukotrienes, which are inflammatory compounds that trigger asthma attacks. This enzyme is a target for the development of new asthma medications.

MSFE reviews a broad range of applications including theoretical, computational, and experimental methods such as quantum mechanics, molecular mechanics, kinetic, mechanistic and thermodynamic characterization of enzymes and their functions.

The CSR is the portal for NIH grant applications and their review for scientific merit. The Center receives about 80,000 applications a year and recruits more than 17,000 external experts to review the applications. This peer review system has enabled NIH to fund research that has led to the creation of major drugs, new medical treatments and cures for diseases. All NIH funds allocated to universities and medical centers are awarded though the CSR peer review system.

LSU’s Andrew Sluyter Receives ACLS Fellowship

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:06:23 -0600

BATON ROUGE – LSU College of Humanities & Social Sciences Associate Professor Andrew Sluyter has been awarded a fellowship by the American Council of Learned Societies, or ACLS, for the upcoming academic year.

Sluyter, faculty in the Department of Geography & Anthropology, studies the cultural and environmental history of the Atlantic world. He is currently finalizing a project on the role of blacks in the establishment of cattle ranching in the Americas, including Louisiana. That work will appear in his second book, due to be released later this year by Yale University Press.

The ACLS is a private nonprofit association of 70 scholarly organizations founded in 1919. For more information on the American Council of Learned Societies, visit www.acls.org.

The funding for this prestigious fellowship comes from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. For more information on the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, visit www.mellon.org.

For more information on the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, visit hss.lsu.edu.

LSU Boyd Professor Arthur J. Riopelle Passes Away at 91

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 14:46:18 -0600

BATON ROUGE – Arthur J. Riopelle, Boyd Professor of Psychology and Professor Emeritus at LSU, passed away on Saturday, Feb. 11, at the home of his daughter in Houston. He was 91 years old.

A native of Thorp, Wis., Riopelle graduated from the University of Wisconsin and then joined the U.S. Army in 1942. Following his tour, he returned to Wisconsin and earned his Ph.D. in experimental psychology. From there he taught at Emory University, and in the late 1950s became director of the Psychology Division of the Army Medical Research Laboratory in Fort Knox, Ky, and worked with the Army and Air Force in the project that sent the first monkeys into space and return them safely to Earth. He also conducted research on the effects of radiation to help protect future astronauts. In 1959 he became director of the Yerkes Laboratories of Primate Biology in Orange Park, Fla., where he conducted psychological and biomedical research. Riopelle subsequently became the first director of the Delta Regional Primate Research Center in Covington, La., and later joined the faculty at LSU in 1972.

He was respected internationally for his work on primate learning and nutrition and spent the final portion of his career guiding Ph.D. candidates as professor of experimental psychology at LSU.

He was named as one of the university’s Boyd Professors in 1977, the highest distinction an LSU faculty member can achieve for national and international distinction for outstanding teaching, research or other creative achievement. He retired from the university in 1988.

During his career, Riopelle authored more than 150 scientific publications and book chapters, in addition to articles in National Geographic Magazine about the first-ever-described albino gorilla that his research team found in Rio Muni, Africa, and transported to enjoy a long and happy life at the Zoological Garden of Barcelona, Spain. An amateur violinist, Riopelle was an avid supporter of the performing arts at the university and also donated an endowment to be used to purchase materials in his field of psychology to LSU Libraries in the 1990s.

Information regarding services was unknown as of Feb. 20, but Riopelle’s family has requested that in lieu of flowers, friends make contributions in his memory to the LSU Library. Checks may be made payable to the LSU Foundation and mailed to LSU Libraries, Attention Elaine Smyth, Rm. 295 Middleton Library, Baton Rouge, La. 70803.

NCBRT and Extension Disaster Education Network Announce Partnership

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 14:43:03 -0600

BATON ROUGE – The National Center for Biomedical Research and Training, or NCBRT, and the Extension Disaster Education Network, or EDEN, have announced a new partnership with a common mission to improve preparedness, relief and recovery of communities affected by disasters. The signing of the agreement took place on Friday, Feb. 17, at the Chateau le Mayne in New Orleans.

EDEN, www.eden.lsu.edu, is a network of more than 70 land grant and sea grant universities that pulls together the expertise of specialists with the Cooperative Extension Service to help homeowners, business owners and farmers reduce the impact of disasters through research-based information.

EDEN was developed as a result of lessons learned by the land-grant system responding to the catastrophic Mississippi and Missouri river floods of 1993, said Virginia Morgan, outreach program coordinator at Auburn University and current EDEN chair.

Extension educators recognized that resources were available at land grant universities to help those affected by the flooding, but different universities had different resources. By coming together as a network, each university’s extension service had improved access to expertise at other universities, allowing them to better help the citizens in their state.

“This partnership highlights the value of EDEN,” Morgan said. “Through our nation-wide network of extension specialists and educators, we provide research-based disaster education to individuals and organizations at the local level. NCBRT’s excellent faculty and high quality FEMA-approved courses will significantly increase our ability to meet our mission of reducing the impact of disasters through research-based education.”

Vice Chancellor of the LSU AgCenter Paul Coriel is also very optimistic about this project.

“Cooperative Extension is in the disaster education business (EDEN) and helps people improve their lives. I am excited about the opportunity to partner with organizations like NCBRT to advance the land- grant mission beyond traditional clientele. We need to leverage and share resources in this difficult financial times and this partnership is an ideal model,” said Coriel, who is also the AgCenter extension director and nation extension (ECOP) liaison to EDEN.

The mission of the NCBRT is to help America prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from acts of domestic and international terrorism, weapons of mass destruction and high-consequence events through teaching, training, technical assistance and research.

Michael Moody, associate director, R&D, NCBRT said, “Our initial efforts through this partnership will focus on food and agriculture, America’s most important infrastructure. By leveraging our expertise, outreach and delivery capabilities, we will be in a position to provide food and agriculture protection education to many communities and throughout the nation.”

The NCBRT is part of the Stephenson National Center for Security Research and Training, or SNCSRT, at LSU, as well as the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium, recognized by the Department of Homeland Security as the principal vehicle through which the Training and Exercise Integration division identifies, develops, tests and delivers training to federal, state, local and tribal emergency responders. More information about the NCBRT can be found at www.ncbrt.lsu.edu.

For more information, contact Lauren Bourg, public affairs for NCBRT, at 225-578-8187, 225-252-5754 or lbourg@ncbrt.lsu.edu.

Photo cutline: Representatives from EDEN and NCBRT sign a partnership to share curriculum and training resources at the EDEN board meeting in New Orleans. Pictured from left to right: Mary Lou Peter, EDEN secretary, Kansas State; Bill Dictson, EDEN agrosecurity committee, New Mexico; Rick Atterberry, EDEN chair elect, University of Illinois; Tom Tucker, NCBRT director, LSU; and Virginia Morgan, EDEN chair, Auburn University.

LSU to Hold Annual Book Bazaar in March

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:54:13 -0600

BATON ROUGE – The annual Friends of the LSU Libraries’ 2012 Book Bazaar will be held on March 1-3 on the LSU campus at the 4-H Mini-Farm and Nelson Memorial Buildings. Hours of operation for the event will be 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. This year’s sale will have more than 60,000 books, as well as an ample collection of CDs, DVDs, sheet music and vinyl record albums. Admission to the 2012 Book Bazaar is free and parking is available.

Last year, the Friends of the LSU Libraries' Book Bazaar raised $73,000 for the Friends of the LSU Libraries’ endowment fund. Over the last 35 years, the Friends of the LSU Libraries have raised more than $1.5 million for that endowment fund. Proceeds from the endowment are used by the LSU Libraries to fund projects wherever the need is greatest.

Volunteers from the Friends of the LSU Libraries’ Book Barn have been working throughout the year collecting and organizing books for the 2012 Book Bazaar. This year's sale will offer books in dozens of categories, from contemporary fiction and non-fiction to rare and collectible books. The books come in all forms and sizes, from hardback to leather-bound and from oversized to very small, and most are priced at less than $10, with many titles selling for $1.

Some of the books at the 2012 Book Bazaar will include an ample collection of Southern fiction; more than 5,000 history books including Southern, Civil War and military history; 6,000 children's books; 2,400 cookbooks; many beautiful large-format art books; 2,000 science fiction books; and more than 1,000 vinyl record albums. For mystery and suspense lovers, there will be more than 4,000 titles to chose from. There will also be a large number of LSU Gumbo yearbooks available for sale, as well as a selection of titles from the LSU Press.

Additional highlights for the 2012 Book Bazaar include a number of rare Louisiana books and pamphlets about New Orleans, 19th and 20th century leather-bound books and sets, Civil War books, and a large collection of metallurgy, blacksmithing and ironwork books. There will also be a rare collection of children’s books in braille, as well as a collection of drawings by Ben Earl Looney – “Eight Drawings of LSU.”

The Friends of the LSU Libraries would like to acknowledge the support they receive from Kean’s Fine Dry Cleaning. During the summer and fall months, Kean’s assists in collecting books by providing bins in many of their area stores. Throughout the year the Friends of the LSU Libraries also accept books, CDs, DVDs and vinyl record albums at the Book Barn at 3355 River Road. Donors are encouraged to call 578-5925 to arrange for a drop-off time. Although it’s too late to make a book donation for this sale, book collection for the 2013 Book Bazaar will begin on Monday, April 2, at the Book Barn location.

For more information about the 2012 Book Bazaar, visit http://www.lib.lsu.edu/lib/friends/bazaar.html.

Winners Announced from 2012 Louisiana Region VII Louisiana Science and Engineering Fair

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:40:12 -0600

BATON ROUGE – High school and middle school students from around the area gathered Tuesday and Wednesday to compete in the Region VII Louisiana Science and Engineering Fair, held in the Royal Cotillion Ballroom at the LSU Student Union.

More than 300 students from grades 6-12 representing 35 schools participated in this year’s fair and competed for scholarships, savings bonds and other awards. Students who won first, second and third place in their categories were also invited to compete at the Louisiana State Science and Engineering Fair, held next month.

Overall winners in the junior division, grades 6-8, were Samhita Rao and Anna Jang of Glasgow Middle School in Baton Rouge. Rao took first place with her project, “Less Tension, More Oil?” Jang placed second with her project, “MSG without MSG?” and also won a special award from the U.S. Air Force.

Overall winners in the senior division, grades 9-12, were Marianne Konikoff and Allie Young, both of St. Joseph’s Academy in Baton Rouge. Konikoff won first prize with her project, “Molecular Hydrogen and Far-Ultraviolet Extinction Due to Dust.” Young placed second with her project, “A Comparison of Analytical Methodologies for the Determination of Sulfur Dioxide Levels in Bleached, Wooden Chopsticks,” and.also won a special award from the U.S. Metric Association.

Glasgow Middle School and St. Joseph’s Academy were awarded Top School Awards based on the number of first-, second- and third-place category awards received by students at each participating school.

The Region VII Louisiana Science and Engineering Fair was hosted by LSU and LSU Continuing Education. Region VII consists of students from several surrounding parishes including East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Ascension, Iberville, Pointe Coupee, East Feliciana, St. Tammany and West Feliciana.

Students brought their projects to be judged by LSU faculty members and experts from the Baton Rouge community. Students were interviewed about their projects by judges with expertise in the area of the student’s research. Judging was conducted in 16 categories for each division, plus a team category. The event ended with an award ceremony honoring the winners.

“The Science and Engineering Fair programs are part of LSU’s service to the state of Louisiana,” said Douglas Weimer, Executive Director of LSU Continuing Education. “By coordinating these events, Continuing Education is supporting the University’s effort to attract the best and brightest students.”

The Louisiana State Science and Engineering Fair will be held March 25-27 at LSU. The state fair is comprised of participants from all over the state and winners from regional fairs can compete in the Louisiana statewide science and engineering fair.

Complete results for each category and further information about the Louisiana Science and Engineering Fair can be found on LSU Continuing Education’s webpage www.outreach.lsu.edu/ScienceFair/.

LSU Continuing Education acts as a leading university provider of educational outreach and engagement to help people achieve their goals and improve their quality of life, their organizations and their communities. Visit www.outreach.lsu.edu for more information.

LSU School of Music Names John Dickson as New Director of Choral Studies

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:59:02 -0600

BATON ROUGE – The LSU School of Music recently announced that John H. Dickson will become the school’s new director of choral studies and serve as a professor of music, effective Aug. 15.

Dickson will fill the vacancy left by longtime Director of Choral Studies Kenneth Fulton, who is retiring after 27 years with the LSU School of Music.

Dickson most recently served as dean and professor of conducting of Mercer University’s Townsend School of Music since July 1, 2008. He previously served as director of choral studies and chair of the conducting division at Texas Tech University. Prior to his appointment at Texas Tech, Dickson served as professor of conducting and associate dean for doctoral studies at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary’s School of Church Music in Louisville, Ky.

“Ken Fulton and the LSU choral program are synonymous with choral artistry,” Dickson said. “LSU’s choral program now faces a new vision that can embrace the greatness of its past traditions while establishing new collaborations and goals for creative choral excellence. It is at this crossroad with enormous potential that I am honored to accept this new calling and challenge.

“Teaching has always remained my highest priority. Commitment to the sacredness of our tasks as choral musicians has produced my greatest joy – the countless students whose lives have been touched through a shared intimacy and discovery of the mysteries of music making.”

Willis Delony, interim director of the LSU School of Music, said he was excited for Dickson’s recent appointment.

“That a person of Dr. Dickson’s stature in the choral community would be attracted to LSU is actually no surprise, especially given the powerhouse program that Ken Fulton has built during his time here,” Delony said. “Now we have a wonderful opportunity to go from strength (Fulton) to strength (Dickson) and build even further on a tradition of choral excellence that is decidedly world class. Our future is bright, and we’re excited to welcome Dr. Dickson to our LSU family.”

Laurence Kaptain, dean of the LSU College of Music & Dramatic Arts, also expressed his pleasure with bringing Dickson, whom Kaptain referred to as a “world-class choral conductor,” to LSU.

“Dr. Dickson explained to me that the high level of faculty colleagues, a tradition of attracting talented students and the opportunity to train the next group of graduate students in choral conducting, led to his decision to become a part of the excellence that defines music study, creativity and performance at LSU,” Kaptain said. “His appointment to our faculty sends a signal world-wide that the traditions of choral excellence established by conducting luminaries such as the late Dallas Draper, Victor Klimash and, most recently, Ken Fulton, will continue.”

Fulton, the Earleene Noland Sanders Alumni Professor of Choral Studies and Chair of the Division of Ensembles and Conducting in the LSU College of Music & Dramatic Arts, will retire after directing his final LSU A Cappella Concert, who will perform with LSU Symphony Orchestra, on April 22 at the LSU Student Union Theater at 2:30 p.m.

In addition to heading the university’s choral department, Fulton has also taught undergraduate and graduate choral conducting, literature and methods and guides the graduate degrees in choral conducting. He has been named as one of LSU’s Distinguished Professors and, in January 2006, he was awarded an Alumni Professorship, the university’s most prestigious endowed teaching professorship. Fulton is also the chorus master for the Baton Rouge Symphony Chorus and the artistic director and conductor for the Linz International Choral Festival in Linz, Austria where he annually conducts performances with the Festival Orchestra and Chorus. He also serves as editor for the Kenneth Fulton Choral Series, published by Alliance Music Corporation.

Throughout his career, Fulton has conducted performances in some of the most prestigious performance venues in the world including Carnegie Hall in New York, Symphony Hall in Boston, the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., the Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, the Mozarteum and the Brucknerhaus in Austria. In addition, he has conducted the LSU A Cappella Choir in invitational performances at the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris and the Vatican in Rome. He has also led the choir on six successful European tours of the Netherlands, France, Germany, England, Wales, Scotland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Italy and Switzerland.

For his part, Dickson said he feels welcome at LSU already.

“I am most grateful for the warm reception I have already experienced from the LSU faculty, staff and students,” he said “I believe my gifts are an excellent fit for this post, and with the collaboration of the faculty and students, I have the passion, the energy, and the vision to continue the legacy of artistic excellence that has been the hallmark of the LSU choral program.”

For more information on the LSU Choral Department, visit www.music.lsu.edu/choir.

LSU Department of Plant Pathology & Crop Physiology Master’s Candidates Take Top Honors in Regional Meeting Competition

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:53:53 -0600

BATON ROUGE – Felix Francis and Jake Fountain, two master’s degree candidates in the LSU Department of Plant Pathology and Crop Physiology, earned respective first- and second-place honors for student papers submitted during the 89th annual meeting of the American Phytopathological Society, or APS, Southern Division, held Feb. 5-6 in Birmingham, Ala.

A record 36 graduate students from nine universities competed in the student paper competition. The Southern Division sponsors the competition for students who are members of the Division and APS and are presenting oral papers at the division meeting. Presentations are judged on both content and presentation of the topic. Awards are $300 for first place, $200 for second place and $100 for third place. Winners are also presented a certificate in recognition of their presentations.

Francis, a master’s candidate in the department under the supervision of Assistant Professor Jong Ham, won first place for his presentation titled “Comparative genomic analyses of the rice pathogenic Burkholderia glumae strains reveals plasticity among the genomes.”

Fountain, a master’s candidate in the department under the supervision of Associate Professor Zhi-Yuan Chen, won second place for his presentation, titled “Identification and analysis of differentially expressed maize WRKY transcription factors in response to Aspergillus flavus colonization of resistant and susceptible germplasm.”

The American Phytopathological Society is the premier society dedicated to high-quality, innovative plant pathology research. For more than a century, members of APS have been making and sharing significant breakthroughs, both for the science and society. APS is driven by a distinctive community of scientists, whose energy and commitment ensure the global advancement of this critical science. APS members represent a broad range of specialties, from pushing frontiers in the accuracy and speed of field diagnosis, to increasing understanding of plant pathology through laboratory research. Members come from academia, government, industry and private practice. The diversity of the members and science makes the society pertinent to a multitude of research areas, while the international involvement ensures that the latest innovations from around the world are available to all.

LSU Performing Arts Academy & New Orleans Opera Association to Hold Opera Camp July 22-28

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 11:43:07 -0600

BATON ROUGE – LSU’s Performing Arts Academy, a division of the LSU College of Music & Dramatic Arts, and the New Orleans Opera Association are pleased to announce the formation of a new partnership to provide music programming for Louisiana’s youth.

The summer of 2012 marks the first phase of this new venture with the launch of Opera Camp 2012, to be held at July 22-28 at LSU.

Opera Camp is a weeklong intensive experience designed to develop participants’ skills in opera singing and performance. Targeted to promising young high school singers in grades 9-12, the program is designed to introduce students to the world of opera at an early age. Camp activities will run from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day. Students may opt to stay on campus or may commute to campus each day. Coursework includes two individual applied lessons; classes in acting, Italian diction and Alexander technique; master classes in style, performance and audition techniques; performance opportunities in Baton Rouge and New Orleans; and a day trip to New Orleans to visit the New Orleans Opera.

In addition to training young singers, the camp will teach young pianists to work collaboratively in opera and musical theatre settings. The young pianists will work alongside professional coaches to accompany voice lessons and opera rehearsals, while receiving feedback on their playing.

The camp will be led by professional artists from the New Orleans Opera Association and the LSU Voice & Opera faculty. They include Lori Bade, Michael Borowitz, Robert Grayson, Dennis Jesse, Robert Lyall, Dugg McDonough, Patricia O’Neill, Terry Patrick Harris, Todd Simmons and Loraine Sims.

“I am thrilled about this partnership with LSU,” said Simmons, who serves as executive director of New Orleans Opera Association. “This is a wonderful opportunity to bring together the strengths of both the New Orleans Opera Association and LSU to benefit young musicians, not only in Louisiana, but also in surrounding states. This is the beginning of a powerful new program that will benefit our community on multiple levels.”

Camp tuition rates are $520 for students looking to reside on campus, with meals included, and $395 for commuter students. Students who register by the early application deadline of April 1 will receive a $20 discount on their registration. Final deadline for application is May 1.

Auditions are required for participation in the camp. For information on the camp, including auditions requirements, visit www.cmda.lsu.edu/paa/camp-opera.html.

To learn more about the LSU Performing Arts Academy, call 225-578-3230 or email performingarts@lsu.edu.