Rhode Island College Digital Commons @ RIC What's News? Newspapers 10-13-2008 What's News At Rhode Island College Rhode Island College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.ric.edu/whats_news Recommended Citation Rhode Island College, "What's News At Rhode Island College" (2008). What's News?. 92. https://digitalcommons.ric.edu/whats_news/92 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Newspapers at Digital Commons @ RIC. It has been accepted for inclusion in What's News? by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ RIC. For more information, please contact [email protected]. October 13,3, 22008008 VVol.ol. 2299 IIssuessue 2 WHAT’S NEWS @ Rhode Island College Established in 1980 Circulation over 52,000 RIC, URI receive $12.5 million National Science Foundation grant By Rob Martin of chemistry at RIC and a lead Managing Editor principal investigator on the project, A project based at Rhode Island known at RITES (Rhode Island College and the University of Rhode Technology Enhanced Science). Island to improve science learning at Gov. Donald L. Carcieri the middle and secondary levels in announced the grant award at Rhode Island has received a $12.5 a ceremony at Johnston Senior million grant from the National High School on Sept. 25. Science Foundation (NSF) – the Carcieri commended the state’s largest such grant ever awarded in higher education institutions for Rhode Island. The project will be establishing a “great sense of administered in schools statewide camaraderie” and “aggressively through the newly established collaborating” with Rhode Rhode Island STEM (science, Island’s K-12 school system. technology, engineering and The RITES project seeks to mathematics) Center at RIC. enhance the quality of science The NSF grant, awarded to RIC teaching and learning at Rhode and URI, is the fi rst large-scale Island’s middle schools and high Campus funding under the umbrella of the schools and increase the number Activities Day – STEM Center. It was one of only and diversity of students who 23 out of a pool of 181 proposals are profi cient in science and who a student to receive NSF grants, and it was pursue STEM-related careers. organization the largest of the four that received The timing for the project showcase funding of $12 million or more. “couldn’t be better” said Carcieri. “This is a statewide project Last month, the results of Rhode Campus Activities Day, an that will serve as a model for the Island’s fi rst state annual RIC event, was held whole nation,” said Glênisson assessment in science Cont p 12 on the quad on Sept. 17. de Oliveira, associate professoror at grades 4, 8 and The festival-style fair featured exhibits of dozens of student clubs and organizations looking Patriotic to recruit new members, celebration and also included other student-related offerings. and serious RIC freshman Toby Bradshaw shows he can juggle more than just schoolwork at Campus issues: Activities Day held on Sept. 17. For more photos of the day's events, see page 16. DebateWatch town hall meeting WN Quotes… By Hillary Feeney ’10 “I“I treat improvisationsimprovisations Staff Writer justjust like classical music – Chico State Exchange Student I kkeepeep tthehe sspiritpirit bbutut plplayay Colorful streamers draped the the notes exactlyexactly as thetheyy walls and star-shaped confetti glittered on top of red, white and are on the record.” blue clothed tables. A purple half- Donovan Dining Center was the site of – Pianist Steven Mayer, who elephant, half-donkey character, DebateWatch 2008, which featured a will perform at RIC on Sunday, which represented a cross televised presentation of the Sept. 26 Nov. 9, as part of the College’s presidential debate between John McCain between the two major political and Barack Obama. Performing Arts Series. [P 10] parties, paraded around the room to pop music from the disc jockey. said RIC President Nancy “Students will be excited This was the scene Sept. 26 Carriuolo as an introduction to learn about spin when when DebateWatch 2008 brought to the town hall meeting. they realize it relates to over 400 Rhode Island College “Millions of viewers across the curve balls.” students, staff, local politicians country will tune in seeking – Robin Kirkwood Auld, RIC and media guests together in information that could decide associate professor, who a town hall forum to discuss their votes, and consequently Anna in the Tropics along with three other RIC their expectations of the fi rst the future of our great nation.” educators, helped design a K-8 presidential debate, which they Bill Rappleye, political reporter arrives at RIC next month curriculum guide using baseball viewed later that evening. from WJAR-10, [P 9] as a teaching tool. [P 14] “As we all know the race is doubted that the Cont p 15 close and the stakes are high,” issues discussed Page 2 — WHAT’S NEWS @ Rhode Island College, Oct. 13, 2008 WHAT’S NEWS @ Rhode Island College Editor: Jane E. Fusco Managing Editor: Rob Martin Design Manager: Jennifer Twining ’92 Photographers: Gene St. Pierre ’77 Mike Shiel ’11 Graphic Designers: Lance Gorton ’09 Paul J. Silva ’03 Copy Editor: Ray Ragosta Staff Writers: Gita Brown Hillary Feeney Marah Roach ’09 Public Relations Assistant: Alicia Vanasse ’08 Karen Almeida '94, assistant professor of chemistry (second from right), and RIC students, from left, Priscila Falcao, Krystal Bergeron, What’s News @ Rhode Island College Yvonne Chekaluk and Eileen Murphy at Washington, D.C.’s Einstein statue. (USPS 681-650) is published by: Rhode Island College Offi ce of News and Public Relations RIC students attend national IDeA 600 Mt. Pleasant Ave. Providence, RI 02908 symposium in Washington, D.C. It is published monthly from September to June. Periodicals By Marah Roach ’09 Also present were Karen Almeida, assistant professor postage paid at Providence, RI. Staff Writer of chemistry, Sarah Spinette, assistant professor of Printing: TCI Press, Seekonk, Mass. For three faculty members and seven students of biology, and John Williams, professor of chemistry. RIC’s biology and physical sciences departments, the Students attended lectures, discussions on science National IDeA symposium offered an environment and training, workshops and scientifi c sessions based where ideas were shared and new ones were formed. on stem cell research, time management, cancer The students learned from the best in their fi elds and research, scientifi c writing and other topics. They POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: interacted with others with similar interests in science. also presented their research on poster boards to What’s News @ One went home with a large group of scientists from all Rhode Island College a special award in Offi ce of News and Public Relations over the country. recognition of the 600 Mt. Pleasant Ave. work she submitted. “I think that the Providence, RI 02908 The 2nd Biennial meeting provided the Deadline: National IDeA students a wonderful Deadline for submission of copy and Symposium of introduction to photos is noon the Tuesday two weeks Biomedical Research how scientists before publication date. communicate their Telephone: (401) 456-8090 Excellence was held Fax: (401) 456-8887 in Washington, D.C., work and their from Aug. 6-8. The ideas, both in formal event showcased lectures and informal the scientifi c one-on-one poster accomplishments of presentations,” said the IDeA program. Spinette. “I hope IDeA is an acronym RIC graduate Joseph Salisbury M ’08 and John Williams, professor of chemistry, that after presenting for Institutional display their poster at the IDeA symposium. their research in Development Award. this setting, [the Two main components of the IDeA program are students] left with the feeling that they are really a part of a large scientifi c community.” the Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence The next issue of Senior biology major Gadbois received one of (COBRE) and the IDeA Networks of Biomedical What’s News several travel awards of $1,000 that were given Research Excellence (INBRE). COBRE entities will be November 10, 2008 focus on the career development of young to students based on review of scientifi c abstracts investigators and researchers. INBRE includes submitted a few months before the symposium. statewide research networks that promote increased Following graduation, Gadbois plans to do research in Story ideas are welcome. research in schools and research institutions. a biology lab, and eventually go to medical school. Call (401) 456-8090 RIC attendees included students Nicole Gadbois, She and the other students will use what or email [email protected]. Jose Solares, Krystal Bergeron, Priscila Falcao, Yvonne they learned at the symposium to enhance Chekaluk, Eileen Murphy and Joseph Salisbury M ’08. their research in the lab at RIC. Page 3 — WHAT’S NEWS @ Rhode Island College, Oct. 13, 2008 Which way? Which way? Down the rabbit hole with Richard Whitten The living room of the President’s house doubles as part of an art gallery. RIC artists fi nd patron in RIC President Carriuolo By Gita Brown a desk in the lobby of the residence hall where Staff Writer she served as resident assistant. She gazed up Art is not what you see, but at a copy of Rembrandt’s Night Watch and what you make others see. remarked to an art student sitting nearby that – Edgar Degas she liked Rembrandt’s use of dark and light. The art student prompted her to notice more. Rhode Island College now has two art galleries “I began with just looking,” she said, “but on campus. One is Bannister Gallery, created by then realized that engaging with a work of the art department in 1978 and located in Roberts art also involves thinking and feeling.” Hall.