Lectures
Penn State Intercom......April
17, 2003
Garden Forum focuses
on roses, perennials
The College of Agricultural Sciences will hold a Garden Forum on May 31 in the Agricultural Sciences and Industries Building on the University Park campus.
The all-day, consumer-oriented conference will feature how-to sessions on container gardening, growing roses, water gardening, herbaceous and woody perennials and using photography and color in the garden. Expert instructors at the forum will include Anne O'Neille, curator of roses at Brooklyn Botanical Garden, and Dan Benarcik, horticulturist at Chanticleer Gardens.
The fee for the Garden Forum is $85 and includes morning refreshments, lunch and instructional materials.
For a registration form or more information, contact Kathy Kelley at (814) 863-0918 or by writing to 102 Tyson Building, University Park, Pa. 16802.
Registration forms may be downloaded from the Web http://hortweb.cas.psu.edu.
Public lecture featured
at statistics workshop 
Bradley Efron, Max H. Stein professor in the Department of Statistics at Stanford University, will present "Bayes and the Bootstrap" at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 26, in 201 Thomas Building, University Park.
The lecture is free to the public. It is part of a two-day workshop, "Current Trends in Bayseian Methods," which is organized by the Department of Statistics and Center for Multivariate Analysis. Immediately before his lecture, Efron will be presented with the C.R. and Bhargavi Rao Prize by Daniel J. Larson, dean of the Eberly College of Science.
Efron, whose research involves both theoretical and applied statistics, is known for his work on statistical problems in biological and astrophysical systems.
The "Current Trends in Bayseian Methods" workshop, which begins Friday, April 25, includes 10 lectures by leading experts in Bayesian statistical analysis. For information or to register to attend other events in the workshop, e-mail Thomas Hettmansperger at tph@stat.psu.edu or C.R. Rao at crr1@psu.edu.
Goethe speech marks
retirement of professor
Karl S. Guthke, Kuno Franke professor of German art and culture at Harvard University, will speak at 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 29, in the Faculty/Staff Club room of The Nittany Lion Inn, University Park.
His topic is "Destination Goethe: Goethe and his English and American Visitors."
This speech is being held as part of an occasion marking the retirement of Ernst Schürer, professor of German since 1978 and head of the Department of German from 1978 to 1991.
Seminar to examine
use of virtual reality
"Immersive Environments in Design Education" will be held from noon to 1 p.m. April 25 in 141 Computer Building, University Park.
This is the last in a series of three Technologies for Learning Forum presentations sponsored by Information Technology Services. Presenters will describe their experiences with development of the Immersive Environments Lab system, its use by undergraduate design students and their assessments on the efficacy of the virtual reality approach for better understanding of human-scale spatial relationships that are critical to the architectural design process.
Participants are welcome to bring a lunch and a beverage. Space is limited, so reserve a seat by registering online at http://its.psu.edu/training/.
For more information, visit http://tlt.its.psu.edu/fmc/teach/.
Hill Seminar focuses on
cholesterol reduction
Donald C. Beitz, professor in the Departments of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, and of Animal Science at Iowa State University, will present the annual Hill Seminar at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 1, in 324 Agricultural Sciences and Industries Building, University Park.
The title of Beitz's seminar will be "A novel probiotic for cholesterol reduction." The event is free to the public.
The Hill Seminar series is funded by an endowment funded by Otto J. and Opal I. Hill. Hill received his master's degree in dairy and animal science at Penn State in 1930.
For information, call Peter Tozer at (814) 863 3917.
Lecture links Rodin,
American sculptor's work
George Mauner, distinguished professor emeritus of art history and fellow emeritus and past director of the Institute for the Arts and Humanistic Studies, will present a lecture at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 6, in the Palmer Lipcon Auditorium at the Palmer Museum of Art, University Park.
His topic is "American Vigor in Rodin's Paris: George Grey Barnard's The Two Natures." Among the many sculptors who were deeply affected by the work of Rodin was Bellefonte-born George Grey Barnard. This lecture will focus on Barnard's "Two Natures of Man" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Mauner's lecture at the Palmer Museum is presented in conjunction with the exhibition, "Rodin's Obsession: The Gates of Hell, Selections from the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Collection," which features 30 works in bronze related to Rodin's most challenging commission -- "The Gates of Hell."
"Rodin's Obsession" will be on view through June 1 at the Palmer Museum. Admission to the museum is free.
For information, call (814) 865-7672 or e-mail Robin Seymour at qzq1@psu.edu.
Implementing strategic
plans topic for discussion
Representatives from the Capital College will discuss a database at the Quality Advocates' Network meeting from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Friday, April 25, in 404 Old Main, University Park.
The database is used to help ensure that the goals in the college's strategic plan are widely communicated and successfully implemented. Thomas Streveler, director of enrollment at Penn State Capital College, will provide an overview of the communication and tracking features of their database. Robert Russell, assistant professor of management and co-chair of the strategic planning steering group, will share information about faculty involvement with the database.
The Quality Advocates' Network is an informal, bi-monthly gathering of those at the University interested in improvement and change. To register to attend, call (814) 863-8721 or e-mail psupia@psu.edu. Campus colleges interested in participation via PicTel should contact the Office of Planning and Institutional Assessment.
Murtha to speak, sign
new book at ARL event
U.S. Rep. John P. "Jack" Murtha (D-Pennsylvania), an authority on international affairs, will speak at 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 23, in the Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) auditorium, Applied Science Building, University Park.
He is the author of From Vietnam to 9/11: On the Front Lines of National Security, published by the Penn State Press. His book offers an insider's look at the formation and conduct of U.S. foreign policy in the last quarter-century. Murtha represents Pennsylvania's 12th district. A book-signing will follow the talk. ARL, the Office of the Vice President for Research, the Department of Political Science and the Penn State Press are sponsors of the event, which is free to the public. For information, call (814) 863-0524.
For information on the book, go http://www.psupress.org.
Former astronaut is speaker
Mae Jemison, the first African-American woman to go into space, is the next speaker in the Distinguished Speakers Series at 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, in Eisenhower Auditorium, University Park.
The event is free to the public, but tickets are required.
Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis at the Eisenhower box office. Limited tickets may be available the night of the speech.
For information, call (814) 863-3786.
Lecture on terrorism
slated for Wilkes-Barre
Martin Slann, director of academic affairs at Penn State Wilkes-Barre, will present "Terrorism and You: Attacks on Democracy in the 21st Century" from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, in the Center for Technology 101.
Slann's lecture will focus on the terrorist's motivations, increased lethality and terrorism as a global menace.
The event is free to the public. Registration is requested as seating is limited. For information, call (570) 675-9117 or e-mail wbce@cde.psu.edu.
Stone Memorial Lecture
focuses on genomics 
Derek R. Lovley, distinguished professor of microbiology at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, will present the 2003 Stone Memorial Lecture at 4 p.m. Monday, April 21, in 101 Althouse Laboratory on the University Park campus.
This free public lecture, "Cleaning Up with Genomics: Applying Molecular Biology to Environmental Restoration and Energy Harvesting," is sponsored by the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Lovley's current research uses genome sequencing and genomics to understand respiratory processes in microorganisms that live without oxygen. Such anaerobic microorganisms can be used to harvest electricity from waste organic matter.
Commission plans
brown bag lunch series
The Commission for Women's staff issues committee has scheduled a series of brown-bag discussions on a variety of topics. All sessions will be held on Wednesdays from 12:10-1:10 p.m. on the University Park campus. The schedule follows:
* April 23: "Depression and Grieving — Loss in Transition" with Evelyn Wald, Center for Alternatives in Community Justice, 141 Computer Building;
* May 14: "Ten Commandments of Communicating with Persons with Disabilities" with Bill Ritzman, Office of Affirmative Action, Hintz Family Alumni Center; and
* June 11: "The Fear of Technology" with Erin Rehrig, University Learning Centers, 141 Computer Building.
Videoconferencing will be provided for the April and June sessions to Lehigh Valley. For videoconferencing or other information, e-mail Tracy Leitzel at tll8@psu.edu.
Visiting scholar to speak
at literature luncheon
The Comparative Literature Luncheon, a weekly informal lunchtime gathering of students, faculty and other members of the University community, has announced the next speaker in this semester's series.
Bela Tsipuria, visiting scholar in Comparative Literature, will speak Monday, April 21.
The events begin with lunch from 12:15 p.m. to 12:40 p.m. in 102 Kern Building on the University Park campus. Participants may bring their own lunch or buy something in Kern Cafeteria. Coffee and tea are provided. The speaker will begin at about 12:40 p.m.
The events are free to the public.
For information, e-mail Daniel Walden at dxw8@psu.edu.
Professor to lecture on
bard's 'Romeo and Juliet'
Wendy Wall, professor of English at Northwestern University, will give a lecture at 4 p.m. April 22 in 140 Fenske Building on the University Park campus.
The topic is "Citing Romeo and Juliet: Quoting, Performing, Remembering."
Leading statistician to
present 2 lectures
James O. Berger, a leading theorist in the use of statistical estimation in decision-making and a Visiting Krishnaiah Scholar, will present the Krishnaiah Memorial Lectures April 25 and 26 on the University Park campus.
His April 25 lecture, "Statistical Validation of Computer Models," will take place at 9:30 a.m. in 107 Wartik Laboratory.
His April 26 lecture, "Reflections on Bayesian and Non-Bayesian Statistics," will take place at 9 a.m. in 201 Thomas Building.
Berger is arts and sciences professor at Duke University and director of the Statistical and Applied Mathematical Sciences Institute (SAMSI), a partnership of Duke University, North Carolina State University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the National Institute of Statistical Sciences.
The Krishnaiah lectures, which are free to the public, are part of the workshop, "Current Trends in Bayesian Methods," organized by the Center for Multivariate Analysis in the Department of Statistics.
For access assistance to the lectures or to register to attend the workshop, e-mail C.R. Rao at crr1@psu.edu.
Videoconference focuses
on obesity in children
The 2003 Current Issues in Nutrition Satellite videoconference, "Overweight Issues in Childhood: Role of Environment and Community," originating from Iowa State University, will be downlinked to the University Park campus and 19 Cooperative Extension locations across the state.
The satellite videoconference is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, April 24, in 101 Health and Human Development, East, University Park.
The conference will provide a critical review of research efforts to define the specific contributors to the increased prevalence of overweight problems among children. The program will suggest ways to put that research into practice by determining approaches that can help prevent excess weight gain in childhood.
For information about the videoconference, go to http://www.ucs.iastate.edu/403/nutrition.htm. To register at University Park, call Tom Dimick at (814) 865-3360 or e-mail tsd3@psu.edu.
Eberly lecture looks
at geometry, physics
Sir Michael Atiyah, an elected member of the national academies of 20 nations, will present the 2003 Eberly Family Distinguished Lecture in Science at 4:30 p.m. April 24 in 117 HUB-Robeson Center, University Park.
The free public lecture, "Geometry and Physics from Plato to Hawking," is sponsored by the Eberly College of Science.
Atiyah, who is an honorary professor at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, will trace key ideas in human understanding of space, time and matter during his lecture, from several thousand years ago to the present time, when developments in theoretical physics are interacting powerfully with the latest ideas in modern geometry.
For information, call (800) 297-1429.