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Inside UNLV UNLV Publications 12-2005 Inside UNLV LaNelda Rolley University of Nevada, Las Vegas Shane Bevell University of Nevada, Las Vegas Carol C. Harter Black Mountain Institute LaNelda Rolley University of Nevada, Las Vegas Mamie Peers University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/inside_unlv Part of the Civic and Community Engagement Commons, Community-Based Learning Commons, See next page for additional authors Curriculum and Social Inquiry Commons, Family, Life Course, and Society Commons, Other Education Commons, Other Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration Commons, Other Sociology Commons, Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration Commons, and the Social Control, Law, Crime, and Deviance Commons Repository Citation Rolley, L., Bevell, S., Harter, C. C., Rolley, L., Peers, M., Russell, D. (2005). Inside UNLV. Inside UNLV Available at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/inside_unlv/14 This Newsletter is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Newsletter in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/or on the work itself. This Newsletter has been accepted for inclusion in Inside UNLV by an authorized administrator of Digital Scholarship@UNLV. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Authors LaNelda Rolley, Shane Bevell, Carol C. Harter, LaNelda Rolley, Mamie Peers, and Diane Russell This newsletter is available at Digital Scholarship@UNLV: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/inside_unlv/14 Improved E-mail Communication New Faces New software now allows you to send e-mail to Meet three new coworkers who are bringing their students in a particular department. Page 3 expertise to campus. Page 6 Favorite Gifts Which colleague had a star named after her? Coworkers share memories of the best gifts ever News & Information for UNLV Insiders DECEMBER 2005 received. Page 7 PLI Makes Mark in Community Public Lands Institute Fosters Research, Education, and Outreach By LaNelda Rolley | Public Lands Institute After just two years of sweat and perseverance, UNLV’s Public Lands Institute (PLI) has evolved from a good idea to a vital component in the stewardship of Nevada’s public lands. At the same time, the PLI is offer- ing UNLV students and faculty unique learning and research opportunities. Working in conjunction with federal agencies, students and faculty from seven colleges and five divisions are providing expertise to environmental projects worth millions of dollars. “We knew going into this effort that the benefit to the federal agencies and the university would be sig- nificant,” said Nancy Flagg, institute director. “The federal agencies, operat- ing together as the Southern Nevada Agency Partnership, gained immediate access to faculty and staff with expertise in subject areas that affect federal land management. In turn, the university opened the doors for faculty, staff, and students to become more engaged in local conservation programs, research, and educational activities.” Outreach programs, such as this farm festival, provide an opportunity for UNLV’s Public Lands Institute to educate youngsters to be future stew- ards of Nevada’s public lands. Bringing Together Federal Agencies The Public Lands Institute began Management Act of 1998. proceeds from the sale of public lands • The Southern Nevada Water as a university initiative in April 2004, Southern Nevada is surrounded to help fund: Authority when Peg Rees, associate vice presi- by seven million acres of public land, • Capital improvements at Lake dent for research and outreach, learned which includes eight conservation and Mead, Red Rock Canyon, the Desert Boosting Research Opportunities the federal land management agencies recreation areas plus 19 wilderness National Wildlife Refuge, and other The institute’s staff of 28 are focused in Clark County needed a mechanism areas. There are four federal land agen- federally managed recreation and con- in three broad program areas: educa- to jointly implement projects funded cies to manage them: the U.S. Bureau servation areas. tion, research, and community engage- by the Southern Nevada Public Land of Land Management (BLM), National • Development of parks, trails, and ment. Through its education programs, Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife natural areas in Clark County. the institute enriches the knowledge Service, and U.S. Forest Service. • Conservation and environmental of children and adults through direct More Inside: The federal act requires the BLM to education initiatives on federal land. interaction with the natural world. > PLIPLI VolunteerVolunteer ProgramProgram WinsWins NationalNational sell certain federal lands in Southern • Restoration and conservation of Flagg cites as an example the Discover Award, page 2 Nevada and acquire environmentally Lake Tahoe. Mojave Outdoor World program, sensitive lands. It also allows for the • The Clark County School District > See Public Lands, Page 2 Family Philanthropy Longtime Math start a scholarship for mathematics students in the College of Sciences. Professor and Family Satish, who is an associate dean Establish Scholarship of the College of Sciences, said he started the scholarship as a way By Shane Bevell | Marketing & PR to give back to UNLV. “I feel Satish Bhatnagar’s family has wit- attached to the people, ideas, and nessed the value of a UNLV educa- the institution.” tion from several angles: as faculty, as students, as graduates, and now Life’s Lessons as donors. Growing up in India, Satish Originally arriving with plans to learned the value and importance of stay only one year, Satish has spent higher education from his father; a the past 31 years teaching math to lesson he, in turn, passed on to his thousands of UNLV students. During children. that time three of his own chil- Avnish, who graduated from dren, including son Avnish, earned UNLV in 1989 with a degree in math- degrees here. ematical sciences, now works for the Witnessing the impact a UNLV Computer Sciences Corp. as a con- Math professor Satish Bhatnagar and his family have established an endowed scholarship for education can have on students, the tractor for NASA. “In our home, my math students. They say it’s their way of giving back to UNLV. father and son decided in 2002 to > See Scholarships, Page 3 From The President By Carol C. Harter | UNLV President Renewable Energy Research Buzzing with Potential Former President Bill College of Engineering’s Center for Energy using traditional power and one employing Clinton recently ener- Research, recently received the 2005 Rudolf W. energy-producing technologies and energy- gized (pun intended) Gunnerman Silver State Award for Excellence efficient construction, such as solar paneling a packed house at the in Science and Technology, in recognition of and specially insulated windows and walls, Nevada Development his work on solar power and other renewable to such an extent that there is net zero energy Authority’s annual din- energy sources. Under Boehm’s leadership the use. Partnering with Pinnacle Homes, Nevada ner with the sugges- work of the center has grown tremendously, Power, and others, our researchers have set up tion that our state is with more than $8 million in research funding a living laboratory wherein real-life conditions uniquely poised to lead received over the past five years. are monitored and analyzed. The energy ben- the nation in develop- Our congressional delegation — and par- efits realized, weighed against costs of the new ing renewable energy technologies. The instant ticularly Sen. Harry Reid — has recognized the technology, may truly make this the home of response was, “Why not?” need to develop renewable technologies here the future. Certainly the climate, geographic features, in Nevada. More than $35 million in federal Another example is a UNLV Research and population growth in our state make it an research grants over the past three years have Foundation-sponsored hydrogen storage ideal test bed. In addition to the entrepreneurial been secured for renewable energy research project, teaming Clemens Heske and other attitude found in our region, there are also high at UNLV. In addition, the current energy and researchers with hydrogen experts from Ford, economic stakes for the construction and hospi- water appropriations bill includes $27 million General Motors, other automotive corpora- tality industries, along with many others whose for energy efficiency and renewable energy tions, and oil companies, to resolve pressing financial futures are increasingly linked with work on campus — for production of biofuels, safety and mileage issues to further the use of the cost of doing business — with an ever-ris- hydrogen, hybrid solar lighting, and more. hydrogen in automobiles in the future. ing percentage of that cost dedicated to power. To fully realize the vision for Nevada as a Projects like these, involving the private sec- Though the latest buzz surrounding this renewable energy leader, these technologies tor and engaging the consumer, will go a long idea of Nevada as a renewable energy capital must be applied at the practical level for busi- way in demonstrating the practical potential has been loud, the idea is not new. One needs ness and consumer use. One current example for renewable energy application. As a uni- to look no further than our campus to find of this is a wonderful public-private project versity community, we must seek out and cul- leading work in hydrogen fuel, solar energy, of our Center for Energy Research, called the tivate these partnerships. Local business and wind, and hydroelectric power. Many of our Zero Energy Home (a project contracted by the civic leaders should also capitalize on these faculty members have long been engaged in National Renewable Energy Lab).

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