College of Sciences E-newsletter

June 2006

In this issue:

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National Science Foundation Awards

Michael Wells, associate professor of geology, has received a 2006 National Science Foundation (NSF) Award in the amount of $169,058 for a project entitled, "Collaborative Research: Testing Theories of Synconvergent Extension in the Hinterland of the Sevier Orogen"

Abstract: It is increasingly well recognized that high altitude mountains and continental plateaus, which owe their high elevations to crustal shortening, commonly undergo extension during plate convergence. Despite widespread recognition of this process, the causes of synconvergent extension are currently incompletely understood and remain an outstanding problem in continental tectonics. This study evaluates the processes that led to synconvergent extension in the Cretaceous Sevier orogen in the western United States, with application to other mountain belts. Three frequently cited mechanisms for synconvergent extension are being evaluated: (1) thermal relaxation of tectonically thickened crust, leading to partial melting and decoupling of crust from mantle; (2) localized crustal thickening resulting from duplex faulting leading to supercritical orogenic taper, and (3) the delamination of lithospheric mantle. Each of these processes has predictable effects that are being tested through studies of two localities within the hinterland of the Sevier orogen: the Raft River-Albion-Grouse Creek ranges in northwestern Utah and southern Idaho and the Funeral Mountains in southeastern California. These are ideal areas to evaluate processes related to synconvergent extension. As prior studies indicate, protracted metamorphic and deformational records of Mesozoic orogenesis are well preserved due to minimal or absent thermal overprints and preservation of Mesozoic fabrics between and beneath well-defined Cenozoic extensional shear zones and detachment faults. As part of this research project we are conducting detailed field mapping, structural and kinematic analysis, quantitative metamorphic thermobarometry and PT path determination on garnet, in situ ion microprobe Thorium-Uranium-Lead dating of monazite, Luticium-Hafnium and Samarium-Neodymium garnet geochronology, and Argon-Argon thermochronology. This integrated approach is necessary to (1) determine pressure-temperature-time paths, (2) evaluate the kinematics of early thrust burial and subsequent synconvergent extension, (3) test hypotheses for synconvergent extension by comparing the pressure-tempearture-time paths to those predicted by numerical simulations, and (4) correlate hinterland and foreland evolutions. The multiple geochronologic methods employed in this study provide a basis for refining the calibrations of temperature dependence of the Luticium-Hafnium and Samarium-Neodymium methods of dating garnet. This integrated study represents a research effort between three universities and principal investigators with expertise in structural geology, metamorphic petrology, numerical thermal modeling, isotope geochemistry and geochronology. The proposed work is fully collaborative and integrated at all levels. Information and techniques developed in this research is being disseminated to tectonic, petrologic, and geochemical communities. This project provides research training for four graduate students and four undergraduates, including members of under-represented groups. The student participants conduct important components of this research as graduate and undergraduate theses, and gain experience in making field observations, data acquisition, and data analysis. They contribute to the dissemination of the findings of this study through presentations at university research expositions and geologic conferences, and contribute to scientific papers in refereed journals. Students benefit from the collaborative nature of the project through exposure to the investigative methods of this study, and the need to understand and integrate data and analysis from collaborators. The research complements two University of Nevada-Las Vegas geology summer field camps in the Marble Peak and Mill Creek areas of the Grouse Creek and Albion Mountains, and contributes to the scientific knowledge base for Death Valley National Park, where the Funeral Mountains are located.

Stephen Lepp, professor of physics and principal investigator, and Balakrishnan Naduvalath, associate professor of chemistry and co-principal investigator, received a 2006 National Science Foundation (NSF) award in the amount of $192,015 for a project entitled, "Collaborative Research: Bringing Primordial Microphysics out of the Dark Ages: Advanced Chemistry and Cooling Calculations for First Star Formation and Evolution."

Abstract: Recent significant advances in our understanding of the early Universe can be attributed to impressive developments in numerical hydrodynamics, radiative transfer, and nucleosynthetic modeling, as well as spectacular observational efforts. However, while it is accepted that microphysical processes play an important, if not controlling, role in the formation and evolution of the first stars, improvements in the treatment of chemistry and molecular excitation have been lacking. This program of new atomic and molecular calculations, in conjunction with astrophysical modeling of early star formation and evolution, will bring the treatment of primordial microphysics to state-of-the-art. Explicit quantum-mechanical calculation of various hydrogen and deuterium reactions will be combined with current chemistry and cooling models and added into hydrodynamical calculations of a range of early star formation and evolution pictures. Emphasis will be placed on non-LTE molecular level populations and the resultant molecular spectra. The primordial chemical/cooling network will then be extended to include heavy elements such as carbon and oxygen. Astrophysical studies including this state-of-the-art microphysics will investigate the photon escape fraction from Population III stars embedded in halos, the formation of low-mass Population III stars in fossil ionized hydrogen regions, and metal dispersal behavior from Population III supernovae. This work will advance the understanding of primordial and low-metallicity chemistry by applying state-of-the-art atomic and molecular computations to new problems. Results will be added to a web-accessible database of reactions and code modules relevant to primordial astrochemistry. The project includes the training of graduate students, and extending current activities for the participation of undergraduate students and under-represented groups, enhancing the infrastructure of astrochemical research and strengthening interdisciplinary collaborations. In addition, the techniques and results are applicable to other areas such as fusion energy, combustion research, and atmospheric chemistry.

Dennis Lindle, professor of chemistry and principal investigator, along with Oliver Hemmers, assistant research professor and co-principal investigator and Wayne Stolte, assistant research professor and co-principal investigator, received a National Science Foundation (NSF) Award in the amount of $170,900 for a project entitled, ÒX-Ray Atomic and Molecular Spectroscopy: Probing Fundamental Interactions between X-Rays and Matter.

Abstract: This experimental research program is aimed at pursuing fundamental investigations of physical phenomena important to understanding x-ray interactions with atoms and molecules. The primary scientific focus is probing the limits of the dipole approximation, the simplest reasonable treatment of photon interactions, for soft-x-ray photoionization and inelastic x-ray scattering (x-ray emission) from mostly molecular targets. Photoemission studies done as part of this program have demonstrated, in some cases rather unexpectedly, quantitatively large non-dipole effects at surprisingly low photon energies, leading to a minor paradigm shift within the photoemission community regarding the general validity of the dipole approximation. The proposed research will be carried out using three unique home-built instruments, one for gas-phase photoemission using time-of-flight electron-energy analysis, one for high-resolution polarized x-ray emission of gases, and a third for measuring macroscopic currents in gas-phase samples irradiated with beams of x-rays. The broader impact of the program involves student training as well as applications to material science.

Balakrishnan Naduvalath, assistant professor of chemistry and principal investigator, received a National Science Foundation (NSF) award in the amount of $ 50,000 for a project entitled, ÒFundamental Studies of Molecular Collisions and Chemical Reactions at Ultracold Temperatures.

Abstract: The experimental realization of molecular Bose-Einstein condensation in the last two years has intensified research on ultracold molecules and collisional properties of ultracold molecules have become a topic of considerable experimental and theoretical interest. The objective of this proposal is to explore three key issues that are central to current research in ultracold molecules: (i) development of a computational algorithm for the description of collisional properties of ultracold molecules with special emphasis on ultracold molecule-molecule collisions; (ii) exploration of factors influencing chemical reactivity at ultralow temperatures, in particular, how long-range interaction influences chemical reactivity at cold and ultracold temperatures; (iii) exploration of coherent control of chemical reactivity in bimolecular scattering involving ultracold polar molecules. All three proposed topics will be addressed using explicit quantum mechanical calculations.

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College of Sciences Students Honored at the May, 2006 Commencement Ceremonies

UNLV recognized a number of students at the recent graduation ceremonies. College of Sciences students selected for this honor include the following:

Bob Ain is a non-traditional student who is finishing his MS degree in mathematics with a stellar GPA. He obtained his B.S. degree from the United States Air Force Academy in 1974. After spending twenty years as an officer and pilot in the US Air Force, he decided to pursue his graduate degree at UNLV. Bob volunteers regularly for the R.O.T.C. program at UNLV, and he is applying to UNLV's doctoral program in mathematics so that he can eventually teach mathematics.

Shana Goffman is a graduate student who will receive her M.S. in water resource management. Her GPA is an impressive 4.0. She holds a B.A. from University of California, Berkeley in applied mathematics. As a graduate assistant, she taught courses while pursing her graduate degree at UNLV and always received Òglowing reviews from students.Ó In the fall, Shana was hired by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation based on her thesis research ÒUncertainty Analysis: Mid-Term Operational Model for the Lower Colorado River.Ó That thesis research will contribute to improved management of the Colorado River as a resource for Nevada, Arizona, and California.

Archana Nelliot is a bachelor's student in biology who will be graduating with honors (3.9 GPA). She has been accepted at John Hopkins University into the prestigious MD/Ph.D program. As an undergraduate student, she has been involved with important research for Dr. Debbie Hoshizaki in the biological sciences and presented her findings at six national conferences- an astounding accomplishment for an undergraduate student. Ms. Nelliot is the first author for a research paper published in Developmental Biology, another significant achievement for an undergraduate student. She is a member of several campus organizations, including academic honorary groups such as Alpha Delta Epsilon. Nelliot also earned the distinctive 2005 Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship for her undergraduate research in the natural sciences, the premier undergraduate award of its type in the field. In addition to her stellar academic performance, Archana has been an active member of the community by preparing meals for Shade Tree and she serves as a volunteer tutor.

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"Colleges Chase as Cheats Shift to Higher Tech," New York Times, May 18, 2006

A recent New York Times article on cheating in the classroom included statements by Dean Ron Yasbin and undergraduate student Amanda M. Souza. "The Wired Campus," the Chronicle of Higher Education's electronic news distribution list also distributed this story. In addition, CNN visited campus and prepared a news story on this important topic.

...And at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, after students photographed test questions with their cellphone cameras, transmitted them to classmates outside the exam room and got the answers back in text messages, the university put in place a new proctoring system.

"If they'd spend as much time studying," said an exasperated Ron Yasbin, dean of the College of Sciences at U.N.L.V., "they'd all be A students." Professor Yasbin, the dean, was not the only one upset by the camera phone cheating episode there, which occurred in 2003; honest students were appalled, too. They suggested that they police one another, by being exam proctors. "The students walk around the classroom, and if they see something suspicious, they report it," Professor Yasbin said.

Amanda M. Souza, a third-year undergraduate who heads the proctor program, said her classmates had decidedly mixed reactions to the student monitors. "The ones that aren't cheating think it's a great idea, " she said. "You always see students who are really well prepared covering their papers. But the ones that aren't prepared, probably don't like us..."

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Dinner Honoring Local High School Juniors, May 24, 2006

The College of Sciences hosted a dinner event recognizing, "Outstanding High School Juniors in Math and Science," on May 24th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm in Room 130 of the Stan Fulton Building. The dinner, catered by the Hotel College, honored approximately forty outstanding Clark County high school juniors who have demonstrated excellence in math and science courses, as selected by their teachers. The students, parents, and teachers enjoyed a meal and brief presentations from Dean Yasbin, assistant professor Cathy Snelson (who spoke about her academic career and current seismic research interests).

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Planning Initiative Awards (PIA)

A number of College of Sciences faculty received PIA Awards. Abstracts for four projects are provided below.

"Molecular Biology Training Grant"

Eduardo Robleto and Kurt Regner, Assistant Professors, Biosciences

Molecular biology is the branch of biology that investigates the creation, structure and function of macromolecules including: DNA, RNA, and proteins. This discipline frequently requires the manipulation of DNA in order to determine the function of a gene and the corresponding protein. The establishment of the Nevada Cancer Institute, the Biotechnology Center at the UNLV Shadow Lane Campus, and new biotechnology initiatives in the Las Vegas metropolitan area has created a need for an educated work force with skills in molecular biology. Currently, the Department of Biological Sciences has faculty with expertise in various areas of molecular biology who are exceptionally well qualified to provide students with the necessary theoretical background for a career in this field. However, the missing key ingredient is a course that provides students with a "hands on" experience in molecular biology. Research laboratories in the Department of Biological Sciences are only able to provide a limited number of undergraduate students with training in molecular biology. This situation leaves the majority of students entertaining a career in biotechnology or applying for advance studies in molecular biology at a disadvantage. In this proposal, funds are solicited for the establishment of laboratory courses in molecular biology that will provide training in current techniques necessary for a successful career. The majority of the seed funds will be used to purchase laboratory equipment that will be dedicated to these courses.

"The Arid Lands Resource Inventory and Planning Project: Combining Interdisciplinary Scientific and Cultural Land Surveys with Responsive Land Use Planning in Southern Nevada"

Jean S. Cline, Professor, Geoscience; Mark Hoversten, Professor, Landscape Architecture; Brett Riddle, Professor, Biology; and Barbara Roth, Assistant Professor, Anthropology

This project proposes to conduct integrated scientific, cultural, and landscape surveys to document natural and historic resources at the Walking Box Ranch and in the surrounding Piute Valley of southern Nevada. This project will: contribute to historic, prehistoric, and scientific exhibits at the future Walking Box Ranch Museum; identify locations suitable for the future Walking Box Ranch Field Research and Training Center; identify natural and historical land values in a fragile part of the Mojave Desert threatened by approaching development; and, craft research proposals for long-term Mojave Desert monitoring studies that will guide future development planning in Piute Valley. The project will be planned, conducted, interpreted, and reported by a team of approximately 8 graduate and undergraduate students from the departments of anthropology, biology, geoscience, and landscape architecture, and will employ a novel interdisciplinary approach. Because many important and exciting scientific discoveries are made at the intersections of disciplines, project leaders anticipate that integrated surveys will identify critical linkages between geological features and landscapes, plant and animal habitats, and the locations of prehistoric and historic sites that are not recognized in non-interdisciplinary studies, significantly advancing all of these disciplines. This project will benefit both undergraduate and graduate students by teaching them about the value of interdisciplinary studies, and project results will be used for future grant proposals and will be reported via professional meeting presentations and abstract and journal publications.

"Improving Academic Readiness in Science and Mathematics"

John Farley, Professor, Physics

Too many freshman-level students enter UNLV unprepared to take college-level courses in mathematics and science. Consequently, these students are placed in pre-college or pre-major courses. In the College of Sciences (COS), the departments of Mathematical Sciences, Chemistry, and Biological Sciences currently administer a test to determine placement in the appropriate course. Under this PIA proposal, the Center for
Mathematics and Science Education (CMSE) will collaborate with these COS departments and with the Clark County School District (CCSD) to create Early Mathematics and Science Placement Tests available to CCSD high school students. The goal is to reach four audiences: students, their parents, their teachers, and school guidance counselors, in order to allow them to understand the level of proficiency required in mathematics and science to succeed in college, not just to graduate from high school. The present PIA proposal affects a large number of students: four of our present pre-college courses enroll a total of 4600 students in 72 sections. Many students receive F or W in these courses and have to repeat them. A goal of this PIA grant is to have students be better prepared when they enter UNLV, thereby allowing a reduction in the number of students taking pre-college classes, and a higher passing percentage among those students who do take the pre-college classes. This PIA proposal directly affects those who come as freshmen from the Clark County Schools (2/3 of the incoming UNLV students).

"Teaching Teachers through Field Experiences: A Study on the Earth-System Approach for Earth Science Curriculum Development"

Kimberly Johnson, Assistant Professor, Geoscience

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas Department of Geoscience will partner with teachers from the Clark County School District (CCSD), the Center for Mathematics and Science Education (CMSE), and the Public Lands Institute (PLI) to support teacherÕs learning about science content and best practices of science instruction through participating in interactive field experiences utilizing the Earth-system approach to content knowledge. The Earth-system approach views the Earth as a compilation of different, but very important and connected subsystems. These subsystems include the solid Earth itself (Lithosphere), water (Hydrosphere), life (Biosphere), air (Atmosphere), the solar system (Exopshere), and the human aspect (Anthroposphere). The Earth-system approach to teaching involves interconnecting curriculum from two or more of these synergistic subsystems during classroom activities. Interconnecting subsystems helps classify not only a traditional discipline, but demonstrate the interdisciplinary relationship among all sciences. The primary function of this grant is for the project facilitators from the Department of Geoscience to: (1) apply the Earth-system approach to existing science instruction to increase teachers knowledge of content, (2) assist teachers in integration of the Earth-system approach to the instruction of science, (3) model interdisciplinary teaching practices to increase science content comprehension, and (4) assess teachers both before and after the project. Assessment will be conducted to determine if: (1) content knowledge increased by utilizing an Earth-system approach to teaching science, (2) attitudes about the integration of the Earth-system approach to science instruction were positive, and (3) self-efficacy increased regarding both curricular content and instructional methodology. The results of this pilot project will be used for the submission of NSF proposal NSF 05-609 where the primary goal of that grant is to improve the quality of geoscience education as well as increase the number and competency of Earth and Space Science teachers at the K-12 levels. Success of this PIA grant will be the basis for a program that could potentially be taken into other grade levels within Clark County and possibly other counties within Nevada.

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Revised Website for the College of Sciences

Please visit our redesigned website at : http://sciences.unlv.edu/ The new website provides students, faculty, staff, alumni, friends,and supporters with information and links that highlight the college's many teaching, research, and community service activities and promotes our many accomplishments to a wide audience, including prospective students, current students, university colleagues, alumni and donors, Nevada residents, the general public, and anyone interested in the world of science and mathematics.

The website now includes such features as electronic versions of our printed newsletter and updated information on our facilities & laboratories, research centers, and community services. You will also find alumni and student profiles, and on-line donation capabilities. The College of Sciences website remains, by definition, a work in progress, and we shall strive to add, update, and enhance the information contained therein in a timely manner. A special thanks to Deana Waddell in Marketing and Public Relations for her many contributions to this website.

As you review the website please offer your comments, suggestions, corrections, and thoughts to Bill Brown, Director of Development at: william.brown@unlv.edu

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Southern Nevada Regional Science and Engineering Fair, April 27-29, 2006

The 2006 Southern Nevada Regional Science and Engineering Fair welcomed 239 individual student submissions. Awards were presented in categories for: science experiments, technological design/inventions, biological/behavioral science. environmental science, earth and space science, and physics/mechanical science. Our thanks to the entire staff of the College of Sciences Advising Center for organizing the Fair, to our many judges, and to Frank Saba, Ph.D., Mathematics and Adam Simon, Ph.D., Geoscience, for offering presentations to the students. .

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College of Sciences - 2006 Graduating Class Statistics

UNLV reports the following data on the 2006 graduating class:

These statistics are clearly an indication of the quality of our students and of the dedication of the faculty who work with these students. Congratulations!

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"All Shook Up," Las Vegas Review Journal, May 21, 2006

A recent television miniseries about an earthquake, "10.5 Apocalypse," included a scene in which a giant sinkhole emerges on a portion of the Las Vegas Strip. Geoscience department assistant professor Cathy Snelson is quoted in the article, and she provides some much-needed scientific perspective on the nature of seismic activity in the region.

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Physics Forum

Maija Kukla, MRSEC Program Director, National Science Foundation (NSF), and UNLV adjunct physics professor will presented a talk on Wednesday, May 24th on funding opportunities within the NSF MRSEC program. Forum presentations are held in the physics conference room (BPB 217).

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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