College of Sciences E-newsletter

December 2006

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Geoscience Professor Receives UNLV’s Top Research Award

UNLV geoscience professor Eugene Smith received the 2006 Harry Reid Research Award, formally presented at the UNLV Foundation Donor Appreciation Dinner on November 2, 2006. The Harry Reid Research Award was established in 2001 by President Carol C. Harter to honor the contributions of Senator Harry Reid to research at UNLV. This award has a focus on research that positively impacts the local community as well as the state of Nevada.

Throughout his 26 years at UNLV, Smith has developed an impressive record of research in the field of volcanology, including research involving the probability of volcanic eruption in the area of Yucca Mountain. Smith is also currently studying the geology of the new Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area south of Henderson and large stratovolcanoes related to the Ring of Fire in Alaska and Kamchatka, Siberia, related to the "Ring of Fire," which contains much of the world's volcanic activity.

Smith is the author of 75 journal articles. He has mentored 15 graduate students, five postdoctoral scholars, and six research associates. Smith played an instrumental role in the development of the Geoscience masters and Ph.D. degrees at UNLV.

All full-time faculty members are eligible to be nominated for the award, which is funded by the Annual Fund. The winner receives a $10,000 stipend and a medal presented at UNLV's academic recognition ceremony.

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"Earthquake a Real Possibility: Report Ranks Nevada Third for Seismic Activity behind Alaska and California," Las Vegas Sun, November 17, 2006, by Launce Rake

To Nevadans who have grown complacent about the potential for a devastating temblor rocking the region, a state earthquake-activity report presents an unsettling conclusion. Nevada ranks third among the states, behind Alaska and California, in terms of seismic activity - defined by the magnitude of earthquakes that occur on average once per year, according to a report issued last week by UNR's Nevada Seismological Laboratory.

Nevada's ranking may be a surprise, given that the state has been shaken by only 19 significant earthquakes between 1868 and 1994. But a repeat of those earthquakes, which generated a total of $17 million in damage at the time, would cause $1.57 billion in damage today because of how the state has grown, based on estimates by the Nevada Earthquake Safety Council.

Catherine Snelson, UNLV assistant professor of seismology, says a quake causing significant damage in Las Vegas "is very possible..."

"...UNLV researchers have reported that the region could experience an earthquake that could kill hundreds of people and do more than $10 billion in damage. Snelson says the faults under Las Vegas typically would produce a magnitude 7 earthquake every 1,000 to 10,000 years. The ability to precisely predict earthquakes eludes scientists.

There hasn't been a very large earthquake under Las Vegas in the 150 years of modern record-keeping, but a study by UNLV geology professor Wanda Taylor suggests that a big temblor occurred within the last 2,000 years.

The potential for an earthquake isn't the only seismological threat to the area. A fault system that is believed by geologists to be more active than those in Nevada lies beneath Death Valley in California, 150 miles from Las Vegas but with the potential of causing serious structural damage here.

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"UNLV Researcher Helping to Solve Honeybees' Secrets: Genetic Code May Reveal Keys to Aging, Life Cycles," Las Vegas Review Journal, November 6, 2006, by Lawrence Mower

Michelle Elekonich has heard every bad bee joke in the book. "Bees, queen bees, being sweet," she recalls as she shakes her head. But there's no joking about Elekonich's research, which has landed her among 170 co-authors of a report in the October issue of the journal Nature. A group of 170 scientists from 64 institutions around the world, including Elekonich at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, has unlocked the genetic code of the European honeybee, Apis mellifera. The research has revealed hints into the honeybee's aging and life cycles and shown how the incredibly adaptable insect deals with heat and other stresses on its body.

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UNLV TV Documentary to Feature Assistant Professor Brian Hedlund

UNLV -TV has received a $ 6,000 grant from The Research Channel, (http://www.researchchannel.org/prog/) a nonprofit organization that shares the work of university researchers with the general public. The Research Channel distributes programming via cable and satellite and through a live webstream, and more than 3,000 video presentations are available at its website. Laurel Fruth, general manager for UNLV-TV, part of the Hank Greenspun School of Journalism and Media Studies, received grant funds as part of a pilot program to encourage video programming and UNLV is one of only five institutions to receive support.  UNLV-TV will commit matching funds to support the production of a thirty-minute documentary featuring assistant professor Brian Hedlund and his research on Nevada's hot springs. The completed film will be available for distribution on the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in Fall 2007.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) recently selected Hedlund as the recipient of a 2006 Early Career Development Award, the most prestigious honor given to young faculty by the foundation. The award recognizes and supports the early career development activities of teacher-scholars who are considered most likely to become academic leaders of the 21st century. The five-year, $841,632 grant was awarded to Hedlund for his research on how microorganisms - some of which represent phyla and classes that are new to science - thrive in hot springs located in the Great Basin of Nevada. "This research will allow us to better understand the foundations of life in Nevada's geothermal habitats and will expand our knowledge about the biological diversity of life on earth," said Hedlund. "I'm thrilled that my research is valued by the nation's scientific community in such an important way." Ardyth Sohn, director of the Hank Greenspun School of Journalism and Media Studies, noted "UNLV-TV is thrilled to work with a scientist such as Brian Hedlund, a researcher committed to increasing public knowledge and interest in science. This project furthers our goal of producing news documentaries worthy of national awards as we highlight UNLV's best and brightest minds."

This research is ideally suited to the goals of The Research Channel. Research projects were evaluated on their ability to: (1) contribute to and support public awareness of the value of research; (2) contribute to and support public knowledge of and thinking about major issues and discoveries that affect our lives and future; and (3) highlight the meritorious research of the institution. "Dr. Hedlund's work will not only improve our understanding of the unique ecosystems and species that may represent the environment first encountered by life on our planet, but it may also aid in the identification of bio-products that will enhance the quality of life for all of us, " said Ron Yasbin, Dean of UNLV's College of Sciences. "Furthermore, this award recognizes Brian's research and teaching skills, as well as his impressive development as a leader in his field."

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Inside UNLV, November 2006 Features College of Sciences Faculty Members

The November 2006 issue of Inside UNLV included features on microbiologist Brian Hedlund, recent recipient of a National Science Foundation Early Career Achievement Award, and professor Peter Starkweather, who discussed his involvement with the Center for Academic Enrichment and Outreach (CAEO) and the McNair Scholars Program.

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School of Life Sciences Seminar

Dr. Juli Wade, Michigan State University, Departments of Psychology & Zoology, and Neuroscience Program) presented a seminar in Friday, November 3rd entitled, "Hormonal and Genetic Influences on Sexual Differentiation of the Zebra Finch Song System"

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Physics Forums

On Friday, December 1, 2006, Dr. J. Christopher Howk, Department of Physics, University of Notre Dame will speak on the topic, "Gas Phase Physics and the Evolution of Galaxies."

Abstract: One of the major accomplishments of modern astrophysics is the development of a picture for the evolution of star formation in the Universe.  The stars in the Universe formed from the gas within the galaxies containing stars.  Indeed, the gas itself can be an important indicator of the physics of galactic evolution.  I will describe some of our ongoing work to use the gas phase of galaxies to study their evolution from the early Universe to today, including the physics of the interstellar gas in early galaxies and the creation and distribution of elements in the Universe.

On Friday, November 17, 2006 Dr. Haozhe Liu of HPCAT (Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory), Carnegie Institution of Washington, delivered a talk entitled, "In Situ X-ray Scattering Studies for Materials Under High Pressure: From A to Z."

Abstract: The current state-of-the-art synchrotron x-ray techniques combined with diamond anvil cell (DAC) techniques make x-ray scattering studies one of most active, burgeoning fields in the high pressure community. The structural evolution of materials under pressure, which include equation of state, pressure induced phase transition, pressure induced amorphization, or crystallization from amorphous materials, is the long term active research subject and strongly depend on the development of corresponding high pressure and synchrotron technologies. The selected research cases performed at ID-B diffraction station of HPCAT for various materials, such as Al(OH)3, ZnO, metallic glasses, and amorphous materials under high pressure, will be presented in this talk.

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Mathematics Seminar

On Thursday, November 16th, professor David Costa presented a seminar entitled, "The Logistic Equation with Harvesting - A Model for Fishering Management."

Abstract: We introduce the classical logistic equation (ODE) proposed by Verhulst (governing population growth of one species), as well as its perturbation by a harvesting term. The consideration of a random spatial dispersion leads to a PDE problem involving the study of the population density u(x,t) as a function of position x and time t, and also to the study of possible steady-states (time independent solutions) U(x). Such problems provide natural models for fishering and hunting management.

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Upcoming Seminars

The College of Sciences has established a listserve to better publicize and promote scientific seminars offered throughout the academic year. For more information on upcoming seminars and to subscribe to the listserve, please visit: http://cmse.unlv.edu/seminar/.

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Submit Your News Stories

The College of Sciences E-Newsletter is published on or about the first of each month. Please submit news items via email by the fifteenth of each month, for consideration. You may send your submissions to: Bill Brown, Director of Development william.brown@unlv.edu.

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