Advance

3 Latinos in higher ed 4 Mapping cicadas 5 Ornamental grass

Insi

deVolume 25, No. 33June 18, 2007

www.advance.uconn.edu

UNIVERSITY O F CONNECTICUT

BY JANICE PALMER

Recess – which, researchers say,improves student attentiveness, health, andsocial skills – just got a whole lot better atBatchelder Elementary School. That’sbecause of the efforts of four UConnteacher education students.

During a recent ceremony held at theHartford elementary school, the studentsfrom UConn’s Neag School of Educationpresented the principal and his studentswith new recess equipment, a renovatedplayground, and a recess guidebook.

“As the play areas were being painted,our students became more and moreexcited,” says principal John Laverty. “Weare so appreciative of what these NeagSchool students have been able to accom-plish on our behalf. Our kids now havemore than a couple of rubber balls forrecess, and a much better place to channeltheir energy appropriately.”

Just as important, he adds, is the guide-book created by the Neag students, whichhe plans to copy and supply to each of hisstaff members.

During the past academic year, theUConn students, all juniors, were assignedto Batchelder – one of the Neag School’sProfessional Development Centers fortraining future educators. As part of theirclinical experience, the students wererequired to identify an issue and help theschool address it by developing an actionplan. They called their initiative “RecessRenovation: Teaching Students to Play.”

“We observed that recess had become aproblem for students and for teachers,” saysBrian McDermott, a junior from Middle-bury. “There was hardly any equipment,and students needed to learn new games.”

So McDermott and classmates AnnieHaylon of West Hartford, Thomas Marianiof Somers, and Ryan Quinn of Stonington

set out to change that. In constructing theirplan, they sought the expertise of NeagSchool associate professor Jaci Van Heest,an exercise scientist, whose research focuseson childhood obesity and exercise.

“Recess is a vital part of the school day,and contributes to a child’s well being,” saysVan Heest.

She says a report from the U.S. Depart-ment of Education’s Center for EducationStatistics shows that 14 percent to 18 per-cent of U.S. children in grades 1 through 6get only 15 minutes or less of recess a day.

“Children need physical activity to runoff bottled-up energy, so they return totheir classrooms refreshed and more atten-tive,” she says.

In addition to the health and fitness ben-efits, Van Heest says that during recess,children develop physical skills, social rela-

Neag students improve recess at inner city school

Consulting,researchencouragedby legislature

see Renovating recess page 8

PHOTO BY PETER MORENUS

The peak of the Information Technologies Engineering Building against a cloudy sky.

BY RICHARD VEILLEUX

Faculty and members of faculty bargain-ing units may continue to consult and doresearch with private and public entities, asa result of recently enacted legislation.

The Connecticut General Assembly pro-vided that such arrangements do not vio-late the state’s code of ethics.

The legislation provides that faculty andmembers of the faculty bargaining units atUConn, its Health Center, and at otherpublic colleges and universities in Con-necticut who are engaged in consulting orresearch with public and private entities,may use a separate process for reviewingand approving such agreements. They willnot be bound by the provision in the statecode of ethics that bars certain businesstransactions between private companiesand state employees.

UConn officials were instrumental inconvincing legislators of the need for thechange.

“The legislature came to understand thatpublic higher education institutions, as dis-tinct from other state agencies, areexpected to interact with private entities,”says Rachel Rubin, UConn’s director ofcompliance. “This legislation will ensurethat our faculty will be able to continuetheir contributions to the state’s economicdevelopment and quality of life withoutinadvertently violating the state ethics code.It puts us on a level playing field with everyother research institution in the country.”

The bill, adopted unanimously in theHouse and Senate, awaits Gov. M. JodiRell’s signature.

The state’s code of ethics is predicatedon a regulatory framework that attempts tobuild a wall between private industries andstate agencies, and between employees ofthose industries and state employees.

Recent interpretations of the statutes bystaff of the Office of State Ethics have cre-ated a situation where UConn facultywould be prevented from conductingresearch in collaboration with major Con-necticut companies who fund the projectsand, in turn, bring new products and ideasto the state’s citizens.

The ruling also severely curtailed a fac-ulty member’s ability to provide consulting

see New legislation page 8

2 Advance • Monday, June 18, 2007

Elizabeth Omara-OtunnuEditor

Contributing Writers ......................... David Bauman, Sherry Fisher, Michael Kirk, Beth Krane, Mark J. Roy, Richard Veilleux

Health Center Writers ............................... Chris DeFrancesco, Kristina Goodnough,

Maureen McGuire, Carolyn Pennington

Calendar Editor ...................................................................................... Kala Kachmar

Photo Editor ......................................................................................... Peter Morenus

Designer ............................................................................................ Betsy Surprenant

Manager, Media Communications .......................................... Karen A. Grava, APR

The Advance is published weekly during the academic year except during breaks. Itis distributed free to faculty, staff, and students at the University of Connecticut.Published by University Communications, 1266 Storrs Road, U-4144, Storrs, CT 06269-4144. Phone: 860.486.3530. Second-class permit (ISSN 0746-3170, USPS 703-730) at Storrs, CT. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Advance at the above address.

Advance website: http://www.advance.uconn.edu E-mail: advance@uconn.edu

AdvanceUNIVERSITY O F CONNECTICUT

CorrectionsIn the May 29 Advance, the photos of the student speakers at the

Health Center Commencement ceremonies – Daniel Colonno andJustin Clemow – were switched and therefore incorrectly identified.

Also in the May 29 Advance, in an article about the ConnecticutYouth Financial Institute, a teacher at South Windham High Schoolwas misidentified. His name is Paul Jussila.

BY SHERRY FISHER

A 2007 UConn graduate is oneof the first five recipients of a newfull scholarship to the Universityof Washington School of Law inSeattle.

Salmun Kazerounian, whomajored in cognitive science andphilosophy, has been awarded aWilliam H. Gates Public ServiceLaw Scholarship.

The scholarship covers tuition,books, room and board, other fees,and incidental expenses. The pro-gram also provides support forseminars and internships and col-laborative opportunities withother law schools in Washingtonin the area of public service law.Acceptance of the award repre-sents a commitment on the part ofeach recipient to work in publicservice for five years followinggraduation.

Kazerounian is excited abouthis scholarship and the opportu-nity to pursue a law degree.

“I plan to attend law school tofind ways that I can help toadvance the interests of the

exploited and the oppressed, whoare neither few nor far,” he says.“The scholarship allows me toengage in this kind of work with-out worrying about repaying a six-figure debt.”

While at UConn, Kazerounianworked for social causes, includinglabor, human rights, environmen-tal, community, and studentissues.

He also served as a studenttrustee.

“I tried to adopt positions,regardless of how controversial,that I believed to be reflective ofthe interests of students, faculty,and staff,” he says. Last year heorganized a two-day conferenceon democracy and educationwhich, he says, “is an overarchingtheme of my activities during thepast four years.” The eventincluded workshops, panel discus-sions, and lectures.

Kazerounian helped start theUConn Free Press, an alternativestudent newspaper. “It was pri-marily for opinions that wouldn’thave made it into other papers,”

he says.He is one of the founding mem-

bers of Wrench in the Works, aproject in Willimantic. “It’s a cof-fee house and social justice centerfor nonprofit groups run by vol-unteers and funded by donations,”he says. The center, which hasabout 50 members, has a lendinglibrary, free movie showings, andpoetry and musical performances.

Kazerounian spent a year atMcGill University in Montrealthrough the Study Abroad pro-gram, and continues to work as aweb developer for the Institute forTeaching and Learning.

He says he has enjoyed being astudent at UConn. “You can findsome wonderful faculty who arededicated to their work and gen-uinely care about the students,” he says.

“UConn is generally a veryopen-minded institution and thereare many ways in which to getinvolved and participate,” he says.“I also met a wonderful group ofstudents, and I’ll probably remainfriends with them for ever.”

2007 grad wins scholarship to law school

Former art departmentslide librarian dies

Alumnus killed in Iraq

Dorothy Goodwin dies at 92

Katharine Alling Farina ofStorrs died at home on May 26.She was 76.

Farina was a slide librarian inthe University’s art departmentfor more than 25 years. A giftedphotographer, her works are ondisplay in several collectionsacross the country, including oneat the Stanford Universitymuseum in California.

Farina enjoyed traveling, andappreciated the art, architecture,and people of the many places shevisited.

She is survived by her husbandof 54 years, UConn professoremeritus of psychology Amerigo“Mig” Farina; a son, Eric; a daugh-ter and son-in-law, Ellen and JohnGilmartin; three grandsons; agranddaughter; and a great grand-daughter.

Memorial contributions may bemade to a charity of the donor’schoice.

Army 1st Lt. Keith Heidtman ofNorwich, a UConn graduate, waskilled in combat May 28 in Iraq.Heidtman, 24, was on a helicoptermission when his aircraft wasstruck by enemy fire. His co-pilotwas also killed.

Heidtman earned a bachelor’sdegree in agricultural andresource economics with honorsfrom UConn in 2005. He was acadet in the Army Reserve OfficerTraining Corps, and earned thetitle of distinguished militarygraduate in recognition of his out-standing leadership, high moralcharacter, academic achievement,and exceptional aptitude for mili-tary service. He attended the U.S.Army Aviation Warfighting Cen-ter in Fort Rucker, Ala., where hebegan his military service as anaviator.

He was a 2001 graduate of Nor-

wich Free Academy, where heexcelled in academics and sports.

In summer 2002, he was a life-guard and counselor at The Holein the Wall Gang Camp in Ash-ford.

He was assigned to the 25thInfantry Division at Schofield Bar-racks in Hawaii, and was deployedto Iraq in December.

Gov. M. Jodi Rell ordered allstate and U.S. flags lowered to halfstaff in Heidtman’s honor.

He was buried with full militaryhonors and posthumously hon-ored with a Bronze Star and Pur-ple Heart that were presented tohis parents.

He is survived by his father,Kerry Heidtman; his mother,Maureen Robidoux; his stepfather,Arthur Robidoux; his sister, Keely;his grandparents; and his girl-friend, Meghan Lenehan.

BY SHERRY FISHER

Dorothy Goodwin, who taughteconomics at UConn for manyyears and was a former member ofthe General Assembly, died June10 at her home in Bloomfield. Shewas 92.

Born in Hartford, Goodwingrew up in Connecticut, and grad-uated magna cum laude fromSmith College in 1937. After grad-uation, she joined the Bureau ofIndian Affairs as an intern, andwas then hired by the Departmentof the Interior. During World WarII, she was sent to India as a seniorintelligence officer.

After the war, she joined theU.S. Foreign Agriculture Organi-zation and was sent to Japan. She

worked on that nation’s postwarreconstruction from 1947 to 1952.

Goodwin earned a doctoraldegree in agricultural economicsfrom UConn in the mid-1950s,and taught economics at the Uni-versity until 1965. She was alsodirector of institutional researchand assistant provost in charge ofuniversity planning. She publishedwidely, particularly on issues ofstate taxes and state aid to educa-tion.

In 1974, Goodwin, formerly ofMansfield, ran as a Democrat andwon the seat as state representa-tive for the 54th District (Storrsand Mansfield). She served fiveterms. As chair of the House edu-cation committee and then as amember of the State Board of

Education, she exemplified herdedication to education.

“The University of Connecticutjoins the many friends and admir-ers of Dorothy Goodwin inmourning the passing of thisextraordinary lady,” said Univer-sity President Philip E. Austin.

“During the 1960s and 1970s,Ms. Goodwin made an invaluablecontribution to the University asdirector of the Bureau of Institu-tional Research – now the Officeof Institutional Research – and asassistant provost for planning,” headded. “She continued a lifetimeof service as a dedicated, far-sighted member of the Connecti-cut General Assembly. She leavesbehind a wonderful legacy andwill be greatly missed.”

PHOTO BY PETER MORENUS

Christopher Earley, who will become dean of the School of Business in January 2008, meets with faculty mem-bers of the School. Earley is currently dean of business at the National University of Singapore.

Advance • Monday, June 18, 2007 3

BY KAREN A. GRAVA

The University shared its planto expedite the inspection thissummer of buildings where reno-vations have occurred underUConn 2000 during a meeting ofthe Construction ManagementOversight Committee on June 15.

“The goal of the inspection pro-gram is to assure that student resi-dential facilities – includingdormitories and apartments –classroom buildings, and otherbuildings in which students con-gregate are safe, as determined bythe Office of the State BuildingInspector, by Sept. 1,” said BarryFeldman, vice president and chiefoperating officer.

He said the inspections will bedone under the direction of theState Building Inspector, and con-ducted by UConn and stateinspectors; representatives of aprivate architectural firm experi-enced in code inspections; and, ifnecessary, part-time licensedinspectors hired by the University.

Feldman also reported that todate, 56 recently constructed non-threshold buildings or buildingswith additions or major renova-tions – including newly con-structed apartment and residencehalls – have been inspected for fireand building safety, have necessarycorrective work either completedor underway, and have been deter-mined to be safe.

Ten more facilities in this cate-gory will be field inspected by Sept.1, and final inspection reports willbe completed by the end of the cal-endar year.

The list includes 77 buildingsthat are part of nine dormitorycomplexes that received alter-ations, sprinkler systems, andother fire safety improvementsunder the UConn 2000 program,and one complex (NorthwoodApartments) that was renovatedwith non-UConn 2000 funds.

These complexes were inspectedby the State Fire Marshall between2001 and 2004, and nine of the 10

were determined to be in compli-ance with the 1999 ConnecticutFire Safety Code. The 10th, thegraduate dormitory complex, wasin compliance, except for thediameter of a handrail.

“This group of buildings will befurther inspected by Sept. 1 toconfirm that basic safety require-ments are satisfied,” Feldman said.“Any immediate corrective actionwill be completed. Building codeinspections of the alterations willbegin after Sept. 1.”

The list also includes buildingsthat were subject to alterations orrepairs that were mostly minorand occurred in 79 buildings, ofwhich 47 are classroom buildings.The classroom buildings and otherbuildings where students congre-gate will be inspected before Sept.1, under the same protocol usedfor the dormitory complexes.

The inspections are beingundertaken pursuant to UConn2000 oversight legislation passedlast year.

Inspections of renovated buildings to be conducted this summer

Event explores Latinoissues in higher education

Conference examines ingredients for student success in college

BY SHERRY FISHER

Successful leaders in higher edu-cation have experience, vision, andintegrity, and are passionate aboutwhat they do, says Ricardo Fernán-dez, president of Lehman College,City University of New York.

Fernández gave the keynoteaddress June 8 at a conference,“Advancing and Preparing theNext Generation of Latino Leadersin Higher Education.” The eventwas sponsored by the ConnecticutAssociation of Latinos in HigherEducation.

“A leader has to have a clearidea of what he or she wants toaccomplish personally and profes-sionally,” Fernández said. “Youhave to have a vision. You have tohave the ability to grab people’sattention and sustain it.”

Fernández, the second PuertoRican appointed president of afour-year school in the U.S., hashad a 30-year career in education.His work has focused on how toimprove educational outcomes,especially through programs thatencourage and prepare largernumbers of minority students toenter and succeed in college.

He said there are “no easyanswers or prescribed paths” forpeople who want positions inhigher education administration,including the presidency: “Youneed educational preparation likea J.D. or M.D., experience, per-sonal traits, and individual skills.”

The pursuit of a doctoral degree“is the first step in the preparationfor leadership positions in highereducation – it’s the calling card,”he said. “However, this does notguarantee anything other than thefact that you’re going to be ahighly educated person in one par-ticular area. Persistence, hardwork, a positive attitude, and will-ingness to move are required.”

Although progress has beenmade by Latinos in higher educa-tion in terms of college enrollment,Latinos still lag behind many othergroups when it comes to comple-tion rates, Fernández said.

“In 2002, 1.6 million Latino stu-dents were enrolled in higher edu-

cation, with 60 percent enrolled intwo-year colleges,” he said. “Blackenrollment was nearly 2 million,and 43 percent of those wereenrolled in two-year institutions.In contrast, white enrollment wasover 11 million, but only 36 percentwere enrolled in two-year colleges.

“Despite the best efforts ofmany institutions ... students whoenroll initially in two-year collegesdo not persist through baccalaure-ate completion as often as thosewho initially start at four-yearschools,” Fernández said. “What’sbehind the lack of continuation inhigher education is a very complexmatter. One issue is that almostone-third of people who go to acommunity college don’t go thereto get an associate’s degree. Theygo to acquire a skill and move on toa job.”

Fernández said that in 2002,Latinos made up 14 percent of theyouth population, and receivedabout 7 percent of bachelor’sdegrees conferred that year.African Americans made up 13percent of the population andreceived about 10 percent of bach-elor’s degrees, and whites, 66 per-cent of the population, received 73percent of bachelor’s degrees.

Latino completion rates at thegraduate level are “grim,” he said:“Latinos earn 3 percent of doctoraldegrees conferred. The dearth ofLatinos in positions of leadershiphas been impacted by the low levelof completion rates.”

After the conference, Xáe AliciaReyes, associate professor of edu-cation and Puerto Rican andLatino Studies, said the event pro-vided opportunities for dialogueand the initiation of collaborationswith and among Latinas and Lati-nos engaged in education through-out the state.

She noted that the event drewpeople from other states, such asMassachusetts and Michigan, aswell as non-Latino professionalswanting to understand the Latinoeducational experience. It alsooffered a venue for young Latino/aprofessionals to model anddevelop their leadership skills.

BY SHERRY FISHER

Elementary schools, highschools, colleges, and policy mak-ers will have to work together toensure that more students make asuccessful transition from highschool to college. That’s the wordfrom Michael Collins, programdirector at Jobs for the Future, anonprofit research, consulting,and advocacy organization.

“The rigid separations between[these entities] are one of the rea-sons for the tremendous and disap-pointing numbers of students whoget to college but aren’t successful,”said Collins during his keynoteaddress at a June 5 conference oncollege readiness and success.

The event was sponsored by theFirst Year Experience and EarlyCollege Experience programs, andthe Neag School of Education.

“We’ve got to get at preparationfor college in a very different waythan we’ve done in the past,” saidCollins. Jobs for the Future isworking to find ways to increasecollege entry and graduation.

Trends suggest that studentsmay become ready for college bytaking college courses while theyare in high school, he said. “Ithink it’s provocative, because thisstarted out as an option for acade-mically advanced students. Butwhy can’t we do the same forunderrepresented populations?”

The hypothesis is that a dose ofcollege-level credit might have apositive effect on students whohave not traditionally consideredcollege, or students who might beacademically unprepared, he said.

The Early High School Initia-tive, sponsored by the Gates Foun-dation, has the potential to do justthat, Collins said.

Early College High Schools are

small schools where students earna high school diploma and up to 60hours of college credit. They helpbridge the gap between school andcollege. There are 130 such schools.

“We’re making our case to peo-ple who make decisions about pol-icy,” Collins said. “When they findout that their students can earncollege credits while they’re inhigh school, they’re very excited.”

Collins said his group is devel-oping a system to track the stu-dents’ progress.

Veronica Makowsky, viceprovost for undergraduate educa-tion and regional campus admin-istration, said the Universitybelieves in nurturing the futureworkforce “in a way that today’sworld demands in terms of global-ization and diversity.

“The University cares deeplyabout the quality and outcomes of

the state’s K-12 educational sys-tem,” she added, and is “concernedabout the persistent achievementgaps existing in our state.”

UConn’s Early College Experi-ence provides opportunities forConnecticut high school studentsto take UConn courses while stillin high school.

Rachel Buck, a math teacher atthe Connecticut InternationalBaccalaureate Academy, spoke at aworkshop on high school modelsfor college success.

The Academy “aims to developinquiring, knowledgeable, andcaring young people who help cre-ate a better world through inter-cultural understanding andrespect,” she said before the work-shop. “It’s not just about acade-mics and passing tests. We’redeveloping students who are readyfor the real world.”

PHOTO BY SEAN FLYNN

Michael Collins, program director at Jobs for the Future, speaks during aconference on college readiness and success June 5.

PHOTO BY PETER MORENUS

Ricardo Fernández, president of CUNY’s Lehman College, gives the keynoteaddress during a conference on Latinos in higher education June 8.

4 Advance • Monday, June 18, 2007

BY CAROLYN PENNINGTON

The incidence of melanoma, themost deadly type of skin cancer, isgrowing fast. The percentage ofpeople with melanoma has morethan doubled in the last 30 years.

The melanoma program at theHealth Center offers patients ser-vices to help ensure that the dis-ease is caught in its earliest andmost curable stage.

The program offers multidiscipli-nary care through a team of doctors– dermatologists, an oncologist, anda surgeon – who have a specialinterest in melanoma.

“If you’ve been diagnosed withmalignant melanoma, it’s impor-tant that there’s a coordinatedapproach, because you’re going tobe seeing several different doctorswho will be giving you a variety ofcare,” says Dr. Philip Kerr, assis-tant professor of dermatology anddermatopathology and director ofthe Melanoma Clinic at the HealthCenter. “Because we’re all locatedat the Health Center, the interfacebetween doctors is much easierand we’re able to take a compre-hensive team approach to eachpatient’s individualized care.”

The Health Center is the onlyfacility in the state that offerswhole body digital imaging tomonitor and track potential skin

cancer in high-risk populations. “It’s similar to your dentist

keeping x-rays of your teeth andupdating them regularly,” saysKerr. “Melanomas change inappearance over time, anywherefrom three to 12 months. Thephotos provide a historical refer-ence so we can catch changes ear-lier and in the long run save lives.”

They may also serve to reassurepatients that a suspicious molelooks the same as it did six monthsago, and may save patients fromunnecessary biopsies, he adds.

Melanoma generally begins inthe skin, but can spread rapidly toother organs and bones. That’swhy an early diagnosis is crucial.

The Health Center has five dermatopathologists and anextremely busy dermatopathologylaboratory that provides servicesto the hospital and private practi-tioners throughout the region.Using a state-of-the art micro-scope with multiple lenses, thedermatopathologists are able toreview difficult cases together.

“It’s quality assurance,” saysKerr. “Instead of just one pair ofeyes looking at a suspicious sam-ple, you have several, and thatgreatly increases the odds of anaccurate diagnosis.”

When a melanoma diagnosis

has been made, the degree of riskcan be determined by how deeplythe malignant cells are invadingthe skin. Research has shown ifthe melanoma is less than a mil-limeter deep the prognosis is verygood. If it’s more than a millime-ter deep, the cancer is moreadvanced and more likely tospread to the lymph nodes or themajor organs in the body.

Surgical oncologist Lori Wilsonspecializes in sentinel node biop-sies, which can better determinehow far the cancer has spread.

Dr. Upendra Hegde, a medicaloncologist, also has a special inter-est in melanoma and can helppatients determine their best treat-ment options. He also advisespatients with advanced diseaseabout the clinical trials availableand appropriate for them.

For recently diagnosed patients,the Health Center plays host to thestatewide melanoma supportgroup, which offers emotional andeducational support. Oncologists,surgeons, nutritionists, and psychiatrists speak about the latesttreatments and research, andanswer questions.

The melanoma program hasplans to expand, by developing aCutaneous Oncology Center as aregional center of excellence.

Funds raised at the inaugural“Imagine Ball” to be held Oct. 20at the Wadsworth Atheneum in

Hartford will help recruit new fac-ulty and bolster research initia-tives for the new center.

Health Center’s melanoma clinicstrives to treat disease at early stage

UConn scientists map mass emergence of cicadas in Midwest

BY CINDY WEISS

team of biologists from theCollege of Liberal Arts and

Sciences descended on northernIllinois a couple of weeks ago tomap the mass emergence of mil-lions of 17-year cicadas.

This is the first time that GPS(Global Positioning Systems) hasbeen used in combination withcomputerized data entry to accu-rately track the spectacle of a broodof periodical cicadas emerging.

Chris Simon, professor of ecol-ogy and evolutionary biology, is aleading expert on periodicalcicadas. A team of researchers fromher laboratory, led by researchassociate John Cooley, is mapping

the emergence of “Brood XIII” ofthe insects in the Midwest for theNational Geographic Society.

Brood XIII is found from thenorthern half of Illinois to Iowa,Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

The cicadas in this emergencehatched in 1990, when their par-ents came up from underground.

On one of the first days of theBrood XIII’s emergence, morethan 100,000 cicadas surrounded asingle tree in a forest preserve insuburban Chicago, Cooley told theChicago Tribune.

Periodical cicada broods usuallytake about two weeks to emerge,depending on temperatures.

The periodicals, which differ

from the less numerous, shorter-lived annual cicadas, live under-ground as nymphs for 17 or 13years. There they feed on the rootsof plants. When they come out,they finish maturing, mate, lay eggsin the twigs of trees, and die, leav-ing a litter of shells behind. Theeggs hatch, the nymphs fall to theground, and the cycle begins again.

During their brief time aboveground, they dominate the land-scape. They coat the trees, andtheir shells coat the ground. Theirsynchronized, dawn-to-dusk buzz(a common sound effect in horrormovies) is so loud that biologistscounting them often wear ear pro-tection.

The sight and sound of the peri-odicals was eagerly awaited by theSimon lab research team. Theypacked their cars with tents, GPSunits, and collection supplies, andwaited for the first reports of theinsects showing up in late Mayand early June.

The maps they make will helpbiologists understand more aboutthe range of this species, where itwill re-emerge in 2024, and howits distribution is affected by otherbroods that emerge in differentyears.

Simon, who receives researchfunding from the National ScienceFoundation, is interested in theDNA of the periodical cicadas,their evolutionary tree, and hownew species form.

Two members of her researchteam, Cooley and David Marshall,have studied the songs of cicadasto help differentiate new species.

Some of the 17-year cicadas inthe Midwest, a periodical cicadastronghold, switched back to a 13-year cycle and joined existing 13-year cicada groups. The life-cycle-switching cicadas formed a new13-year species that did not inter-breed with the existing 13-yearcicadas.

“We found these new 13-yearcicadas through DNA studies.Based on the DNA, I could tellthey weren’t interbreeding (withthe existing 13-year cicadas), but Ididn’t know why,” she says.

Cooley and Marshall came fromthe University of Michigan towork as postdoctoral fellows withSimon at UConn. Their behavioral

work complemented her geneticstudies, showing that cicadassought mates among those whosesongs matched their own.

In fact, in areas where the newand old 13-year cicadas over-lapped, natural selection causedthe new 13-year cicadas to pitchtheir mating song higher toenhance its difference. This phe-nomenon, predicted by evolution-ary theory, is “reproductivecharacter displacement,” Simonsays.

Simon’s group maintains a website well known to cicada experts,Cicada Central, which was cited inthe Chicago Tribune’s daily updatesof the recent emergence, and ablog detailing their findings.

Other members of her grouptraveling to the Midwest weretechnician Kathy Hill, graduatestudent Beth Jacobsen, and GerryBunker, an amateur enthusiastfrom Massachusetts.

Periodical cicadas once existednear the University’s Storrs cam-pus. The extinction of a brood inWillington was confirmed yearsago by James Slater, emeritus pro-fessor of biology; Carl Schaeffer,professor of ecology and evolu-tionary biology; and others.

The only other Connecticutbrood occurs in the ConnecticutRiver Valley and is not due outuntil 2013, Simon says.

But stay tuned. In 2008, BroodXIV is due to come out over muchof the eastern U.S., from Marylandto Cape Cod (skipping Connecti-cut), from Long Island to Ohio,and as far south as Tennessee.

PHOTO BY JANINE GELINEAU

Dr. Philip Kerr in the microscope room where physicians examine tissueslides of potential melanoma cases.

PHOTO BY JOHN COOLEY

Periodical cicadas such as these emerge en masse every 13 or 17 years. A research team from the lab of ecology andevolutionary biology professor Chris Simon is currently studying an emergence of 17-year cicadas in northern Illinois.

A

Advance • Monday, June 18, 2007 5

Ornamental grass goes from greenhouse to worldwide marketBY DAVID BAUMAN

UConn plant breeder andresearcher Mark Brand is alwaysseeking candidates for stardom.His latest prospect, an ornamentalgrass he developed and propa-gated for more than a decade inthe greenhouses and fields of theplant science department, is aboutto hit the big time.

Ruby Ribbons, a new variety ofPanicum virgatum – or switchgrass – with blue-green basefoliage that turns a deep wine-redcolor months earlier than otherred switch grasses, is beinglaunched for wholesale productionthis month.

The firm launching the grass,the West Chicago-based Ball Hor-ticultural Co., is the world’s largestbreeder-producer of ornamentalplants, with distribution compa-nies in 19 countries around theglobe. In the highly competitivehorticultural industry, Ball’s deci-sion to market Ruby Ribbons toretailers such as Wal-Mart andLowe’s is equivalent to baseball’s“grand slam.” Every year hundredsof new plants are introduced byAmerican breeders and growerswith the hope of commercial suc-cess. Just a handful are selected.

“It’s certainly nice they came onboard,” Brand, a professor of plantscience, agrees, with modestunderstatement. “They have a lotof influence in the horticulturalworld, and when they decide topick something up and do all themarketing, they obviously expectit to perform well for them.”

Garden plants are big business.Sales of floral and bedding plantsales generated $15 billion in 2003.With so much money at stake,companies compete fiercely to produce the next “hot” new cultivar.

Ornamental grasses are relativenewcomers to American gardensbut are becoming more popular,as gardeners realize their beautyand ease of care, says Brand. Culti-vated for their intriguing color,varying angles of arches andplumes, and distinctive masses offoliage, they provide eye-catchingappeal. And low maintenancerequirements, a long season ofornamental interest, and toleranceof many soil types, have the horti-cultural industry scrambling todevelop new varieties to meet anincreasing demand among garden-ing consumers.

Ruby Ribbons’ soft blue-greenfoliage emerges in the spring onupright, clumping plants. Thefoliage takes on a wine-red colorin early summer, which intensifiesas the season progresses, Brandsays. Flower heads appear in latesummer, followed by ornamentalseed heads which, if left uncut,provide long-lasting winter inter-est. Plants mature at about 3 to 4feet in height, with a spread of 2 to3 feet.

“Ornamental grasses havebecome very trendy,” Brand says,adding that the movement towardnative plants in the landscapehelps. “Grasses give lots of bangfor the buck. For a $15 plant, youget lots in return. It’s the kind ofthing people buying now are look-ing for.”

Brand has previously intro-duced more than a dozen hardyrhododendron cultivars suited tothe climate of New England. Theseare currently under evaluation by Monrovia, another large horticultural company, based inCalifornia.

He began the ornamental grass-breeding program in the early1990s, with the goal of developing

durable grasses with new colorsthat would perform well in theregion.

“It was clear that grasses werecoming in vogue,” he says, “andmy thinking was to create a newvariety that would develop colorearlier and last longer. So I tookan existing popular variety thathad steel-blue foliage and polli-nated it with an older cultivar thatdeveloped red foliage later in thesummer.”

Creating new grasses is a slowprocess. It took several yearsbefore Brand developed the newRuby Ribbons variety from suc-cessfully hybridized clumps. Theoriginal Ruby Ribbons plant wasselected as the best plant fromamong 200 seedlings in trials conducted in the field.

Initially Brand had the newornamental grass variety evaluatedby several Connecticut nurseries,including Prides Corner Farms, a large plant wholesaler based inLebanon, Conn. When theyexpressed interest in negotiatingan exclusive marketing license,Brand contacted Gregory Gallo,director of technology licensingwith UConn’s Center for Scienceand Technology Commercializa-tion.

“We thought we had a showstopper,” Gallo says.

“Once the folks at Prides Cor-ner saw the color, the dramaticway this variety of grass changescolor, it really caught their eye,” headds. “Their attitude was, ‘This isgoing to be a winner.’”

Because Brand wanted to do

business with both Prides Cornerand the Ball Horticultural Co.,Gallo worked out a deal thatallows Ball – primarily interestedin wholesaling trays of smallplants to intermediate growers –an exclusive license to sell propa-gating plants worldwide. PridesCorner – which concentrates onselling landscape plants – has alimited exclusive right to sell two-to three-gallon size plants thatmay retail for as much as $22.

Gallo says it’s premature to talkabout the amount of royaltiesUConn may obtain. “What isreally beneficial for the Universityis that UConn’s name will be onall the plants sold,” he says. “Itgets the UConn name out beforethe everyday gardener every-where.”

PHOTO BY PETER MORENUS

Mark Brand, professor of plant science, with a new breed of ornamental grass he developed, known as Ruby Ribbons.

BY BETH KRANE

others who regularly ate afunctional food containing

an Omega 3 fatty acid duringpregnancy gave birth to infantswith better problem-solving abili-ties as measured at nine months ofage, according to a new UConnstudy to be published in the Juneissue of the American Journal ofClinical Nutrition.

The study is the first to reporton problem-solving abilities dur-ing the first year of life tied to pre-natal dietary intake ofdocosahexaenoic acid (DHA), anOmega 3 fatty acid found in par-ticularly high concentrations inspecific regions of the brain,including the cerebral cortex,synapses, and retinal rod photore-ceptors.

A functional food is any food-stuff that is enhanced by additivesand marketed as beneficial tohealth.

DHA consumption is especiallyimportant during pregnancy. The

fatty acid accumulates at a highrate during the third trimester, asthe majority of brain cells arebeing formed for an entire life-time, says Michelle Judge, a post-doctoral fellow in UConn’s Schoolof Nursing and Department ofNutritional Sciences who is thelead author of the study.

Yet in the United States andCanada, DHA intake during preg-nancy is far below the current gen-erally accepted level of 300milligrams per day, which raisesconcern for infant neurodevelop-ment. That concern is com-pounded by the fact that fetalconversion of a more commonlyconsumed Omega 3 fatty acid – a-linolenic acid (LNA) – to DHA isextremely limited, Judge says.

“Our research confirms that it isextremely important for expectantmothers to regularly consume adirect source of DHA, ideallythose cold water marine fish thatare considered safe for pregnantwomen or a DHA-enhanced func-

tional food,” she says. “Our find-ing of better problem-solving abil-ities in the group of infants whosemothers consumed a prenatalDHA supplement supports theidea that DHA plays an importantrole in the development of atten-tion required for infant goal-directed behavior,” Judge adds,“and suggests that DHA consump-tion during gestation is particu-larly important for infantcognitive development.”

The double-blind, placebo-con-trolled, randomized trial involved29 pregnant women ages 18 to 35,who were recruited through theUniversity and through HartfordHospital at less than 20 weeks’gestation.

The women were divided intotwo groups: One group receivedcereal bars enhanced with 300 mil-ligrams of DHA, while the othergroup received cereal bars withoutDHA. The women consumed anaverage of five cereal bars a week,beginning at 24 weeks of gestation,

through delivery. The mean dietary DHA intake

for the entire group was 99 mil-ligrams per day. The mean DHAintake for mothers in the interven-tion group, which included regulardietary intake of DHA and theDHA functional food, was consid-erably higher: 313 milligrams perday.

A two-step, means-end prob-lem-solving test was presented toall the infants in their own homesat nine months of age, to evaluatetheir ability to execute a series ofsteps to retrieve a toy. The stepsinvolved pulling a covered toywithin reach and uncovering thetoy. The test was presented to theinfants five times, and all five per-formances were scored. TheUConn researchers found a statis-tically significant differencebetween the problem solving abili-ties of the two groups, with theinfants whose mothers had con-sumed a DHA functional foodduring pregnancy faring better.

These findings support previ-ously published studies that haveestablished links between prenatalDHA consumption and/or infantDHA consumption and improvedattention and eye-hand coordina-tion in toddlers and higher IQlater in childhood, Judge says.

Further studies are needed toestablish recommended dailyallowances of DHA for pregnantwomen, she adds.

Former UConn nutritional sci-ences professor Carol Lammi-Keefe, who is now at thePennington Biomedical ResearchCenter at Louisiana State Univer-sity, secured funding for this pro-ject from the U.S. Department ofAgriculture and served as its prin-cipal investigator.

Additional support for thestudy came from Nestec Ltd., theUConn Research Foundation, theNational Fisheries Institute, andthe American Dietetic AssociationFoundation.

Omega 3 taken during pregnancy improves infant problem solving

M

6 Advance • Monday, June 18, 2007

GRANTSThe following grants were received through the UConn Health Center’s Office of Grants and Contractsin March 2007. The list represents new awards as well as continuations. The list of grants is suppliedto the Advance by the Health Center’s Office of Grants and Contracts.

Department Prin. Investigator Sponsor Amount Award Period

Federal GrantsNeuroscience Pfeiffer, S. National Institute of $57,504 12/02-11/07

Neurological Disorders & StrokeOligodendrocyte Differentiation and Myelin Biogenesis

Neuroscience Bernstein, L. National Institute on $33,050 12/02-11/07Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

Binaural Processing of Complex Stimuli

Genetics & Developmental Mohler, W. National Institute of $48,803 01/03-12/07Biology Child Health & Human DevelopmentFunction of the Protein EFF-1 in Cell Membrane Fusion

Oral Rehabilitation, Kosher, R. National Institute of $54,477 01/03-12/07Biomaterials, & Skeletal Development Child Health & Human DevelopmentRole of DIX-5 in Chondrocyte Differentiation

Immunology Vella, A. National Institute of $309,344 03/03-02/08Allergy & Infectious Diseases

Understanding of the Mechanism of 41BB Constimulation

Neuroscience Oliver, D. National Institute on $67,555 12/03-11/07Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

Synaptic Organization of the Auditory System

Medicine Pilbeam,C. National Institute of $56,899 01/04-12/07Arthritis & Musculoskeletal & Skin Diseases

Regulation of the Prostaglandin G/H Synthases in Bone

Center for Vascular Biology Hla, T. National Heart, Lung $68,474 12/03-11/07& Blood Institute

Cyclooxygenase-2 Regulation and Function

Genetics & Developmental Rogina, B. National Institute on $320,248 02/04-01/08Biology AgingMolecular Genetics of Caloric Restriction in Aging Flies

Genetics & Developmental Lichtler, A. National Institute of $281,443 04/04-02/08Biology Arthritis & Musculoskeletal & Skin DiseasesDLX Gene Regulation of Osteoblast Differentiation

Neuroscience Papermaster, D. National Eye Institute $445,218 02/05-01/08Membrane Biosynthesis in Normal and Dystrophic Retina

Surgery Das, D. National Heart, Lung $42,372 12/05-11/07& Blood Institute

Transgenic/Knockout Animals in Myocardial Preservation

Medicine Kream, B. National Institute of $241,976 01/05-11/07Arthritis & Musculoskeletal & Skin Diseases

Transgenic Expression of 11B-HSD2 in Bone

Oral Health & Diagnostic Litt, M. National Institute on $115,618 03/05-02/08Sciences Alcohol Abuse & AlcoholismIndividualized Assessment and Treatment for Alcoholism

Genetics & Developmental Rowe, D. National Institute of $308,728 04/05-12/07Biology Arthritis & Musculoskeletal & Skin DiseasesPromotor GFP Markers of the Osteoprogenitor Lineage

Neuroscience Eipper, E. National Institute of $96,951 01/06-12/07Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases

Biochemistry & Physiology of Peptide Amidation

Hematology-Oncology Mukherji, B. National Cancer $255,082 04/06-02/08Institute

Rescuing CTL from Activation Induced Death

Psychiatry Hesselbrock, V. National Institute on $300,569 12/06-11/07Alcohol Research Center-Core Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism

Genetics & Developmental Li, Y. National Institute of $319,812 02/07-01/08Biology Child Health & Human DevelopmentThe Role of Alternative Splicing of FGF8 in Mouse Development

Pharmacology Pachter, J. National Institute of $191,085 01/07-11/07Neurological Disorders & Stroke

Microvascular Endothelial Cell Heterogeneity in the Central Nervous System

Private GrantsHematology-Oncology Tannenbaum, S. Tufts New England $5,875 07/94-12/10

Medical CenterECOG Cooperative Outreach Program DHHS CA39088

Surgery Kurtzman, S. University of $1,600 06/95-05/07Pittsburgh

NSABP Breast Cancer Prevention Trial DHHS P5400-5425

Medicine Garibaldi, R. UConn Foundation $35,273 01/00-06/07James E.C. Walker MD/Primary Care

Surgery Albertsen, P. CTRC Research $2,100 09/04-05/13Foundation

Selenium & Vitamin E Chemoprevention Trial DHHS 80003

Cell Biology Claffey, K. UConn Foundation $9,506 06/05-12/07To Augment Existing Research Project

Oral Health & Diagnostic Wagner, J. American Diabetes $100,000 01/06-12/07Sciences AssociationRelationships Among Type 2 Diabetes, History of Depression and Coronary etc.

Orthopedic Surgery Lieberman, J. UConn Foundation $28,922 05/06-05/07Chase Family Skeletal Biology Fund

Neuroscience Zecevic, N. Multiple Sclerosis $165,130 10/06-09/09Development of Oligodendrocytes in the Human Fetal Brain: Relevance for MS

Medicine Hurley, M. UConn Foundation $56,525 01/07-12/07Great Explorations

Pediatrics Lapin, C. CT Children’s Medical $9,168 01/07-12/07CF Center Personnel Center

Neuroscience D’Sa, C. National Organization $20,000 01/07-01/08for Hearing Research

Inactivation of Fibroblast Growth Receptor 1 and 2 in Oligodendrocytes

Oral Health & Diagnostic Tanzer, J. SUNY-Buffalo $141,458 04/04-12/07SciencesAmylase Binding Streptococci Plaque-Cary DHHS R263976

Pediatrics Ferrer, F. CT Children’s Medical $25,000 09/06-08/07Sphingolipid Signaling in Wilms’ Tumor Cells Center

Surgery Albertsen, P. Univ. Med/Dent of $43,591 08/06-07/10New Jersey

Evaluation of Palliative Prostate Cancer among Elderly Men

Psychiatry Tanev, K. University of Rochester $2,475 07/05-06/07Cooperative Huntington’s Observational Research Trial

Calhoun Cardiology Center Stoenescu, M. Saint Jude Medical $1,100 06/06-06/08Programming Ventricular Tachycardia Therapy for MADIT-II Patients

State GrantsCommunity Medicine & Gregorio, D. Department of Public $119,567 11/06-06/07Health Care HealthFetal & Infant Mortality Surveillance Program

Psychiatry Ford, J. Mental Health/ $74,965 09/04-01/07Addiction Services

Women’s Treatment & Support Diversion PGDHHS 05MHA1121

Community Medicine & Ungemack, J. Mental Health/ $200,000 09/04-09/07Health Care Addiction ServicesCT Strategic Prevention Incentive Grant DHHS 06MHA1126

Pediatrics Wakefield, D. UConn-Storrs $1,401 10/06-09/07UConn Food Stamp Nutrition Education

Pediatrics Rusert, J. Easter Seals $4,500 11/06-08/07Mind the Gap: Reference Guide for People with Physical Disabilities

Genetics & Developmental Xu, R.-H. DPH/CI $794,349 03/07-02/08BiologyHuman Embryonic Stem Cell Core at UConn and Wesleyan University

Genetics & Developmental Xu, R.-H. DPH/CI $172,646 03/07-02/08BiologySMAD4-Based Chip-Chip Analysis to Screen Target Genes of BMP&TGF in HESC

Genetics & Developmental Graveley, B. DPH/CI $220,000 03/07-02/08BiologyAlternative Splicing in HESC

Genetics & Developmental Carmichael, G. DPH/CI $220,000 03/07-02/08BiologyDSRNA and Epigenetic Regulation in HESC

Genetics & Developmental Li, Y. DPH/CI $100,000 03/07-02/08BiologyDevelopment of Efficient Methods for Reproducible Transgene Expression in HESC

Genetics & Developmental Krueger, W. DPH/CI $100,000 03/07-02/08BiologyCell Cycle and Nuclear Reprogramming Bysomatic Cell Fusion

Immunology Liu, B. DPH/CI $100,000 03/07-02/08Embryonic Stem Cell as a Universal Cancer Vaccine

Genetics & Developmental Rowe, D. DPH/CI $1,167,818 03/07-02/08BiologyDirecting Human Embryonic Stem Derived Progenitor Cells into Musculoskeletal Lineages

PHOTO BY STEPHEN SLADE

Men’s basketball coach Jim Calhoun speaks to bikers participating in the Big Y Jim CalhounCancer Challenge Ride June 9. The ride, a fund-raiser for the Health Center’s Neag Compre-hensive Cancer Center and the Coaches vs. Cancer program, began and ended in Simsbury.

Items for the weekly Advance Calendarare downloaded from the University’sonline Events Calendar. Please enteryour Calendar items at:http://events.uconn.edu/ Items mustbe entered by 4 p.m. on Monday forinclusion in the issue published the fol-lowing Monday.NNoottee:: The next Calendar will includeevents taking place from July 23through August 27. Those items mustbe entered in the database by Monday,July 17.

If you need special accommodationsto participate in events, call 860-486-2943 (Storrs), or 860-679-3563 (Farm-ington), or 860-570-5130 (Law School).

Libraries HHoommeerr BBaabbbbiiddggee LLiibbrraarryy.. Hours: Mon-day-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday &Sunday noon-5 p.m.DDoodddd CCeenntteerr.. Reading Room hours:Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; closedweekends.Research Center hours: Monday-Friday,8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; closed weekends.HHeeaalltthh CCeenntteerr LLiibbrraarryy.. Hours: Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m.-11 p.m.; Friday, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.;Sunday, noon-10 p.m.LLaaww LLiibbrraarryy.. June hours: Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-11 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.;Sunday, 1-9 p.m. Except June 26-29,when the hours will be 8 a.m.-5 p.m.July hours: Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-7p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, 9a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, closed. TToorrrriinnggttoonn CCaammppuuss LLiibbrraarryy.. Hours:Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Fri-day-Sunday, closed.SSttaammffoorrdd CCaammppuuss LLiibbrraarryy.. Hours: Mon-day-Thursday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Friday-Sunday, closed.AAvveerryy PPooiinntt CCaammppuuss.. Hours: Monday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m.; Friday,8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday & Sunday,closed. WWaatteerrbbuurryy CCaammppuuss LLiibbrraarryy.. Hours:Monday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m.;Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday & Sun-day, closed. HHaarrttffoorrdd CCaammppuuss LLiibbrraarryy.. Hours: Mon-day-Thursday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday,closed.

University ITSHHoouurrss: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

HHeellpp DDeesskk HHoouurrss: Call 860-486-4357,Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Ph.D. DefensesMMoonnddaayy,, 66//1188 –– BBiioommeeddiiccaall SScciieenncceess..Elucidation of the Mechanisms bywhich TGF-beta1 Augments AstrocyticNOS-2 Expression, by Mary Hmaby(adv.: Hewett). 1 p.m., Low LearningCenter, Academic Research Building,Health Center.MMoonnddaayy,, 66//1188 –– MMeeddiicciinnaall CChheemmiissttrryy..Utilizing a Cysteine Substitution Strat-egy to Elucidate Key Residues in hCB2and mCB2 Binding Pocket: Ligand-Based Structural Biology, by Ying Pei(adv.: Makriyannis). 3 p.m., Room 627,Pharmacy/Biology Building. MMoonnddaayy,, 66//1188 –– LLiinngguuiissttiiccss.. The Syntaxof Objects: Agree and DifferentialObject Marking, by Miguel Rodriquez-Mondonedo (adv.: Boskovic). 4:30p.m., Room 311, Arjona Building. WWeeddnneessddaayy,, 66//2200 –– MMaarriinnee SScciieenncceess..Top-Down Control by Calanoid Cope-pods in Marine Plankton Communities,by Amy Suida (adv.: Dam). 10 a.m.,Room 103, Marine Sciences Building,Avery Point Campus. TThhuurrssddaayy,, 66//2211 –– CCoommmmuunniiccaattiioonn DDiiss--oorrddeerrss. Phonological Priming in AdultsWho Stutter, by Irena Vincent (adv.:Gilbert). 9 a.m., Room 142, PhillipsCommunication Sciences Building.TThhuurrssddaayy,, 66//2211 –– IImmmmuunnoollooggyy.. Shapingand Optimizing CD8 T Cell Responsesthrough CD137 and CD134 Dual Costim-ulation, by Seung-Joo Lee (adv.: Vella).1:30 p.m., Room EG013, AcademicResearch Building, Health Center.TThhuurrssddaayy,, 66//2211 –– SSppeecciiaall EEdduuccaattiioonn..Novice Physical Therapists’ Use of Fam-ily-Centered Practices in Physical TherapyServices, by Deborah Bubela (adv.: Shaw).2 p.m., Room 142, Gentry Building.TThhuurrssddaayy,, 66//2211 –– CClliinniiccaall PPssyycchhoollooggyy..Accelerated Head and Body Growth inInfants Later Diagnosed with AutismSpectrum Disorders: A ComparativeStudy of Optimal Outcome Children, byKrista Mraz (adv.: Fein). 2 p.m., Room109, Bousfield Building. WWeeddnneessddaayy,, 66//2277 –– NNeeuurroobbiioollooggyy.. Roleof GABAergic Synaptic Proteins, byWendou Yu (adv.: de Blas). 3 p.m.,Room 130, Biology/Physics Building.FFrriiddaayy,, 66//2299 –– EEdduuccaattiioonnaall PPssyycchhoollooggyy..Exploring Changes to Reading Compre-hension on the Internet: Paradoxesand Possibilities for Diverse Adoles-

cent Readers, by Julie Coiro (adv.: Leu).10 a.m., Room 246, Gentry Building.FFrriiddaayy,, 66//2299 –– CChheemmiissttrryy.. Organo-lithium Methodologies and the Asym-metric Addition of Achiral

Organomagnesium Reagents to Prochi-ral Ketones or Benzaldehyde, by MarkLuderer (adv.: Bailey). 10 a.m., RoomA304, Chemistry Building. FFrriiddaayy,, 77//1133 –– PPoolliittiiccaall SScciieennccee.. EvolvingThreats and Faceless Enemies: Engen-dering Human Security in the UnitedNations, by Natalie Hudson (adv.: Boyer).10 a.m., Room 119, Monteith Building.

Lectures & SeminarsTTuueessddaayy,, 66//2266 –– CCeelleebbrraattee WWoommeenn DDiiss--ccuussssiioonn. Shoulder and Elbow Injuries:Prevention and Treatment, by orthope-dic surgeons Drs. Robert Arciero,Augustus Mazzocca, and Kevin Shea. 6p.m, Low Learning Center, Health Center.

Performing ArtsTTuueessddaayy,, 66//1199 –– BBeennttoonn SSuummmmeerr GGaarr--ddeenn CCoonncceerrtt. Guitarist Victor Pachas.Noon, Benton Museum.

ExhibitsTThhrroouugghh SSuunnddaayy,, 88//55 –– BBeennttoonnMMuusseeuumm.. Alpine Views: AlexandreCalame and the Swiss Landscape; andArpilleras: Women’s Protest Tapestriesfrom Chile; and Connecticut Landscapesfrom the 20’s and 30’s; and Summer inthe City. Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Saturday & Sunday, 1-4:30

p.m. Free admission, $2 per person fordocent-led tours. Talk every Tuesday,12:15 p.m., Benton Lobby.TThhrroouugghh FFrriiddaayy,, 88//1177 –– HHoommeerr BBaabb--bbiiddggee LLiibbrraarryy.. Deep Inside the Blues,photography by Margo Cooper, DoddCenter Gallery; Backyard New England,nature photographs by Paul Swiacke,Stevens Gallery; and Splendor in theGlass, paperweights and sculpturalobjects, Gallery on the Plaza.TThhrroouugghh 99//55 –– CCeelleessttee LLeeWWiitttt GGaalllleerryy..Still Life Paintings by Janet Shafner,and Recent Oils and Watercolors byMarija Pavlovich McCarthy. Daily, 8a.m.-9 p.m., UConn Health Center.TThhrroouugghh 1111//1177 –– BBaallllaarrdd IInnssttiittuuttee ooffPPuuppppeettrryy.. Shadows & Substance, 20thanniversary exhibit. Hours: Friday, Sat-urday, Sunday, noon-5 p.m. WeaverRoad, Depot Campus. Free admission,donations accepted. Docent-led toursevery day during museum hours.

OOnnggooiinngg.. SSttaattee MMuusseeuumm ooff NNaattuurraall HHiiss--ttoorryy && CCoonnnneeccttiiccuutt AArrcchhaaeeoollooggyy CCeenntteerr..New permanent exhibit, Human’sNature: Looking Closer at the Relation-ships between People and the Environ-ment. Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday & Monday, closed.Free admission, donations accepted.

PotpourriTTuueessddaayyss,, tthhrroouugghh 88//77 –– TToonnss ooff FFuunnTTuueessddaayy.. Fill a 32 oz. bucket with icecream from the Dairy Bar at the Stu-dent Union Patio, 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m. $2with student ID/$3 without.WWeeddnneessddaayyss,, tthhrroouugghh 88//88 –– LLiivveellyyWWeeddnneessddaayyss.. Live entertainment behindthe Student Union, Noon-1 p.m.TThhuurrssddaayyss,, tthhrroouugghh 88//99 –– TThhrriilllliinngg TThhuurrss--ddaayyss.. Programs in Charter Oak Suitesand Northwest Dining Hall, 5-7 p.m. SSaattuurrddaayy,, 66//2233 ––NNaattuurraall HHiissttoorryyMMuusseeuumm TTaallkk.. Richard French introducesthe science of pathobiology and publicservices offered by the pathobiologydepartment. Adults and children ages 8 and up, accompanied by an adult.Advance registration needed: $10 perNatural History museum member/$15non-member. 10 a.m.-noon.SSaattuurrddaayy,, 66//3300 –– NNaattuurraall HHiissttoorryyMMuusseeuumm TTaallkk.. Caterpillars to Kimonos– Spectacular Silk! Adults and childrenages 6 and up, accompanied by anadult. Advance registration required:$10 per member/$15 non-members. 10 a.m.-noon. SSaattuurrddaayy,, 77//1144 –– CCoonnnneeccttiiccuutt SSttaatteeMMuusseeuumm ooff NNaattuurraall HHiissttoorryy.. MysteryTour at the Nathan Hale Homestead.Adults and children ages 6 and up,accompanied by an adult. Advance registration required: $10 per mem-ber/$15 non-members. 10 a.m.-noon. SSaattuurrddaayy,, 77//1144 –– CCoonnnneeccttiiccuutt SSttaatteeMMuusseeuumm ooff NNaattuurraall HHiissttoorryy.. ThingsThat Go Splash in the Night! Adultsand children ages 6 and up, accompa-nied by an adult. Advance registrationrequired: $10 for members/$15 non-members. 7-9 p.m.MMoonnddaayy,, 77//1166 –– FFrriiddaayy,, 77//2200.. AArrcchhaaeeooll--ooggyy FFiieelldd SScchhooooll ffoorr AAdduullttss.. Ages 16and up. Advance registration required:$300 for members/$400 non-mem-bers. Contact David Colberg at 860-486-5690. 9 a.m.-3 p.m., ConnecticutState Museum of Natural History. SSaattuurrddaayy,, 77//2211 –– NNaattuurraall HHiissttoorryyMMuusseeuumm EEvveenntt.. Project O – In the Laband Out to Sea. Adults and childrenages 6 and up, accompanied by anadult. Advance registration required:$30 per member/$40 non-members. 10a.m.-4 p.m., Avery Point Campus.

Advance • Monday, June 18, 2007 7

CALENDAR Monday, June 18 to Monday, July 23

PHOTO BY PETER MORENUS

Nature photographs by Paul Swiacke are on display in the Stevens Gallery atHomer Babbidge Library through Aug. 17. See Exhibits.

BY KALA KACHMAR

hen Paul Swiacke jokinglyasked library curator David

Avery if he could hang his ama-teur photographs on the walls heso often touches up with paint,Avery took him seriously.

Swiacke, who holds a degree inbiology from UConn and hasworked in Facili-ties Oper-

ations for 20 years, showed Averya small sample of his 8,000 candidnature photographs. And the twobegan to plan for an exhibit ofSwiacke’s work that is now on dis-play in the Stevens Gallery atHomer Babbidge Library untilAug. 17.

“Paul really has an eye for pho-tography,” Avery says. “There’ssomething about his photos that

makes them seem so real andalive.”

Swiacke’s photos,inspired by his love of

nature, were takenalmost exclusively inNew England. Hisphotographs depictsuch images astrees arched over asparkling river with

a triangle of sunlightilluminating the fore-

ground, or a dragonflywith faint black stripes on

its screened wings grasping atwig with lush, buddingleaves behind it.

“His pictures say it all.They make you stop and

say, ‘I know that place,’” Averysays.

“One of his photos is taken onthe Moosup River, where I fish,”he adds. “When I saw the image, itstruck me as familiar, and then Irealized where it was taken.”

Swiacke hand built the frames forthe 10 large images and 58 smallerones that are displayed in anarrangement he designed himself in the gallery. The 8-by-10 photoswere printed on his own inkjetprinter, while the 11-by-17 photoswere sent to a digital imaging lab.

This is the first public exhibi-tion of Swiacke’s work.

“I don’t consider myself anartist,” he says. “I shoot what I likeand what’s available to me: nature.”

Swiacke spends most of his freetime canoeing, fishing, and back-packing. He takes photos alongthe way.

“Taking photos of nature is justan extension of what I do outside,”he says. “It gives me something todo other than stand in a river allday and fish.”

Most of the photos were takenin various locations around New

England, with many from placesin Connecticut including PachaugState Forest in Voluntown, BluffPoint in Groton, and the ThamesRiver in Norwich. “I took some ofthem in my backyard,” saysSwiacke, who lives in Plainfield.

Some were also taken in theAdirondack Mountains in Keene,N.Y. In the past, Swiacke has shotphotographs in the GrandCanyon, Mammoth Cave NationalPark in Kentucky, and the WhiteMountains with a traditional cam-era using film.

Swiacke has a long-standinginterest in photography, but hehadn’t photographed anything in30 years until three years ago,when he took an old 35mm cam-era on a trip to Alaska with hisson. The trip inspired him to learnhow to use a digital camera.

“I watched people who wereusing digital cameras,” Swiackesays. “When they were done tak-ing the photos, they were done. Istill had to have mine processed.”

Since that trip, Swiacke hastaken more than 8,000 digital pho-tos with a 5.0 megapixel Nikon

Coolpix 5700. He recently pur-chased a digital 35mm NikonD200 that he is still learning howto use.

“I’m completely self-taught,” hesays. “It took me six or eightmonths to figure out digital cam-eras.”

When going on outdoor trips,he carries only his small digitalcamera with him in case hedecides to take photos. When hisprimary purpose is to take photos,he travels to places he’s alreadybeen, bringing along the morebulky 35mm digital camera.

He says he doesn’t make a lot ofadjustments to his photos, butdoes use Adobe Photoshop Ele-ments 3.0 to sharpen them, cleanthe edges, and adjust the lighting,if necessary.

“I don’t add any color or makeany digital changes to the photos,”he says.

Swiacke has sold a few 8-by-10sand plans to submit his photos toa nature photography contest.

“I’m going to do it for fun andsee where it goes,” he says. “But Idon’t plan to get rich from it.”

Nature lover’s photographs on display at Babbidge Library

PHOTO BY PAUL SWIACKE

A photo of an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butter-fly, taken in Pachaug State Forest in Volun-town, Connecticut.

W

8 Advance • Monday, June 18, 2007

BY CHRIS DEFRANCESCO

Maureen Worley will tell yousaving lives is just part of her job.

It’s something she’s donecountless times during her nearly20 years at the Health Center’sJohn Dempsey Hospital, whereshe is clinical nurse supervisor forthe cardiac catheterization labora-tory.

But it was a life saved awayfrom the hospital that led to herbeing named the state’s DirectCare Nurse of the Year.

While at Hammonasset BeachState Park in Madison one daylast summer, Worley noticedpeople waving for help.

“I went over and found therewas a man who was unrespon-sive,” Worley says.

She performed CPR for 20minutes until paramedics arrivedwith a defibrillator.

Since then, Worley has beenon a crusade to get a defibrillatorin every state park. She’s madeher case in letters to local andstate officials, including the Gov-ernor.

“I believe this is why I receivedthe award,” Worley says. “I wasan advocate for this patient. Iwouldn’t give up. I saved thisman’s life, but I didn’t want it tostop there. I felt strongly thisincident needed to be a catalystto make Connecticut state parksa safer place to enjoy.”

Worley says she neverexpected the honor.

“When I was nominated, I wasvery surprised,” she says. “I’mcomfortable speaking out forpatient safety, and helping thatman came naturally to me.”

State Nurse of the Year honorsare awarded annually by theDepartment of AdministrativeServices.

Ellen Leone, director of nursingat the Health Center, says it wasone of the proudest moments ofher career, “to introduce one of‘our’ nurses to the outside world –a nurse who embodies everythingI am instilling in my professionalstaff: patient advocacy, teamwork,high professional standards, and asense of responsibility that goes

far beyond the traditional workday.”

Dr. Peter Deckers, executivevice president for health affairs atthe Health Center, who was oncea patient in Worley’s care, says,

“She is a professional whoenables a calm, pleasant atmos-phere of confidence and trust forthe patient and family.”

Worley, a resident of Clinton,spent seven years as an emer-gency room nurse at Dempsey,then seven years in the intensivecare unit, before joining the car-diac catheterization lab as a staffnurse.

She says Dempsey Hospital is agreat place to be a nurse. “Peoplestay here because they feel val-ued,” Worley says. “We’rerespected for our skills. Patientsknow they can rely on us forquality care.”

Deckers also named Worleythe winner of the Health Center’s2007 Executive Vice President’sAward, in recognition of her out-standing patient care and serviceto the Pat and Jim Calhoun Car-diology Center.

Nursing supervisor is Connecticut Nurse of the Year

PHOTO BY JANINE GELINEAU�

The Health Center’s Maureen Wor-ley, Connecticut Nurse of the Year.

Ten facultyelected toCASE

Six faculty members from theSchool of Engineering, two fromthe College of Liberal Arts andSciences, and two from the HealthCenter were recently elected tothe Connecticut Academy of Sci-ence and Engineering (CASE) inhonor of their accomplishments: Luke Achenie, professor of chem-ical, materials, and biomolecularengineeringRajeev Bansal, professor of elec-trical and computer engineeringAnn Bucklin, professor of marinesciencesHans Dam, professor of marinesciencesSteve Demurjian, professor ofcomputer science and engineeringEric Jordan, professor of mechan-ical engineeringDr. Mark Lalande, professor of genetic and developmental biology Nejat Olgac, professor ofmechanical engineeringDr. David Rowe, professor of oralrehabilitation, biomaterials, andskeletal developmentQuing Zhu, professor of electricaland computer engineering.

tionships, and the ability to nego-tiate and work as a team.

A number of studies suggestthat U.S. schools, under pressureto improve student achievementscores, are reducing or eliminatingrecess, in order to increase timespent on academics.

Van Heest is encouraged bywhat is going on at Batchelder.“Principal Laverty is committed toimproving recess for his studentsand has been very supportive ofour students,” she says.

Van Heest volunteered todesign the new play area. Sheidentified appropriate activities forelementary school-aged children

and then drew up specificationsfor four distinct play areas to helporganize recess. After surveyingthe teachers, the Neag studentscreated an equipment wish list;but the school had no funds avail-able to cover the Recess Renova-tion costs. The students weredetermined to turn their plan intoreality, however. They raised$5,000 in donations from severalgroups, including the UConnChapter of the Connecticut Edu-cation Association and the NeagSchool Dean’s Fund.

Dean Richard Schwab says hedecided to invest privately raisedfunds in the project because of the

Neag School’s long and productivepartnership with Batchelder as aProfessional Development Center.

“Principal Laverty and histeachers have been incredibly sup-portive in training our studentsand collaborating with our facultyon research,” he says. “Just look atthese four juniors. They demon-strate the initiative and dedicationwe hope all of our graduates bringinto Connecticut’s classrooms.Preparing high quality teachers isa collaborative effort, and JohnLaverty and his team at BatchelderElementary School are extraordi-nary partners and mentors.”

Renovating recess continued from page 1 New legislation continued from page 1

and research services to a widerange of firms, something that fac-ulty at virtually every other insti-tution in the country enjoy.

Specifically, these interpreta-tions prevented physicians at theUConn Health Center who helpdevelop new medications whileperforming research for or collab-orating with pharmaceutical com-panies, from prescribing thatcompany’s medication to patientswhen performing clinical work.With the governor’s signature,that, too, will change.

“The legislature protected usfrom rulings that could closedown many avenues of facultyconsulting,” says Dr. Scott Wet-stone, director of health affairspolicy planning and an associateprofessor of community medicineand health care. “The bill main-tains our right to continue theserelationships, as long as it’s doneethically and fairly.”

The legislation charges the Uni-versity with creating and enforc-ing policies to prevent facultyfrom engaging in collaborativeresearch or consulting agreementsthat create conflicts of interest orinappropriately use proprietaryinformation.

It also calls for an oversightcommittee at each constituentunit to monitor compliance withthe legislation.

At UConn, these policies wererecently developed, and wereapproved by the Board of Trusteesin April.

The policy requires faculty tofulfill all their professional respon-sibilities to the University, and to

gain school or college and Univer-sity approval prior to enteringinto any consulting or researchagreement. Faculty who do notobtain that approval become sub-ject to the authority of the Officeof State Ethics.

Wetstone says the policies arerigorous, and provide for semi-annual audits by internal auditors.

The audits will be shared withan oversight committee compris-ing both internal and externalappointees.

“Developing a University-widepolicy demonstrated the ability ofStorrs and the Health Center towork together,” says Ilze Krisst,assistant vice provost at the Officeof Sponsored Programs and acrafter of the internal policies.“The policy meets everybody’sneeds. It is a model of the cam-puses working together well understrict time pressures.”

Another ethics ruling, whichprevented companies doing busi-ness with the state, or those thatare registered with the state aslobbyists, from contributing to theagencies they work with, wasamended in January to allow cor-porations to continue makingdonations to UConn.

University officials successfullyargued that UConn would losetens of millions of dollars annuallyif corporations, who traditionallyenter into research and other part-nerships with the University andare among UConn’s largestdonors, were prohibited fromdoing so.

PHOTO BY JANICE PALMER

Neag School of Education students review plans for the playground at Hartford’s Batchelder Elementary School.