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UCI engineers are working on robotic technology to rehabilitate the nation’s aging water infrastructure. Photo by Steve Zylius, University Communications.
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Building Robots to Fix Water Pipes
The growing U.S. infrastructure crisis involves more than crumbling roads and bridges. Underground and out of sight looms a worsening problem every bit as critical. Thousands of miles of aging water pipes are breaking down. Each day, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers – which periodically grades the country’s infrastructure – 6 billion gallons of clean, treated drinking water disappears, mostly due to old, leaky pipes and mains. That’s enough water to supply California for a year, according to Maria Feng, civil & environmental engineering professor.
Headlines
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Campus News & Announcements
Helping Haitians Find Family
When a devastating earthquake leveled much of Haiti last month, it knocked out communications and made it nearly impossible for families in the stricken nation and elsewhere to locate and identify loved ones. So Chen Li, computer science associate professor, and six of his students went to work. In one weekend, they created a Web site with a collective search engine to help people do just that. The Haiti Family Reunification site scours and pulls data from other Web sites and compiles it in one location. Sources include CNN iReport, the Red Cross and the Person Finder application hosted by Google. Shortly after its launch, the site was receiving about 90 queries per minute, and it’s currently tracking almost 59,000 records. Photo by Michelle S. Kim, University Communications.
Healing the Exam Room
A visit to the doctor’s office can be intimidating, but a thoughtfully designed exam room can offer an environment that empowers patients, according to Julka Almquist, planning, policy, & design doctoral student. “Tension in the exam room often is intensified because of how it’s set up, especially when a patient is sitting across from a physician who’s looking over medical records and charts. Exam rooms haven’t changed much over the history of hospitals and clinics,” she says. Photo by Steve Zylius, University Communications.
Summit Aims to Restore Math & Science Excellence
Excellence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics has fueled American innovation for more than 50 years. But serious questions are being raised about our future competitiveness in these “STEM” areas. U.S. grade-school students continue to underachieve in math and science, and a lower percentage of them go on to pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees in STEM disciplines than at any time over the last five decades. To help find solutions, the Samueli Foundation, the Children & Families Commission of Orange County, and UCI’s Department of Education and Henry Samueli School of Engineering are teaming to present STEM Summit 2010: Early Childhood Through Higher Education Thursday-Friday, Feb. 18-19, at the Beckman Center. Photo by Paul R. Kennedy.
From Breast Cancer Patient to Bride-to-Be
Binh Phan glided into a sea of white silk and satin, her black pigtails dipping from sight occasionally as she blissfully examined the embroidered gowns crowding the bridal salon. A year earlier, Phan had lost most of her glossy black hair to chemotherapy for invasive ductal carcinoma, a rare disease in young women, especially those with no family history of breast cancer. Now 23, she’s in remission and planning the wedding she hardly dared dream of, thanks to oncologist Dr. Leonard Sender and his colleagues at UCI's Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. Photo by Paul R. Kennedy.
UCi brief Holiday Schedule
Due to Presidents Day on Monday, Feb. 15, the submission deadline for the Feb. 17 issue of UCi brief will be noon Friday, Feb. 12. As always, UCi brief welcomes your comments and suggestions at ucibrief@uci.edu.
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Involvement Opportunity
Volunteer to Be an Alternative Spring Break Adviser
The Center for Service in Action is seeking staff, faculty or graduate students to serve as advisers during the UCI Alternative Spring Break 2010 program. Program costs (meals, lodging, accommodations and travel) are provided. Spring Break is March 20-27 (actual program dates may vary). The deadline to apply is Friday, Feb. 12. The Alternative Break program places teams of college students in communities to engage in community service and experiential learning during their winter or spring break. Students perform short-term projects for community agencies and learn about issues such as literacy, poverty, racism, hunger, homelessness and the environment.
Contact: Darlene Esparza, 949.824.6477 or adesparz@uci.edu
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Work/Life
Relax Your Mind & Body
Relaxation is a key part of maintaining physical, mental and emotional wellness. Relax Your Mind & Body workshops explore techniques and resources available to manage stress and enhance personal wellness. The series covers various topics related to stress-management including: the sources of stress, ways to reduce stress, sleep, nutrition, time management, cognitive restructuring, attitude and relaxation techniques. The next free workshop is “Stress & the Relaxation Response” noon-1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10, at the Student Center, Moss Cove B. Explore what stress is, factors that influence stress and the impact of stress on the body, as well as personal techniques for managing stress. Register via TED.
Workshops Focus on Relationship with Money, Communication Styles
The Think Different Workshop Series continues with the webinar “Explore Your Relationship with Money” 11 a.m.-noon. Thursday, Feb. 11. Presented by Cascade EA, the training explores some of the beliefs you may have about money and gives pragmatic tips for being healthier financially. Register online. The series continues with “Communication Interaction Styles” (Career Discovery Networking Series) noon-1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, at the Student Center, Moss Cove B. Learn tips on how to be a better team member, and explore four interaction style patterns to better understand yourself and others. Register via TED.
Health Center Hosts Two Events to Raise AIDS Awareness
The UCI Health Education Center will host two events to raise awareness of AIDS prevention. The first is a Condom Rose Party 7-10 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, at the Student Center, Emerald Bay A-C. Entrance is $2, which includes all supplies to make four condom roses. All proceeds will go to AIDS Walk Orange County, and refreshments will be provided. On Wednesday, Feb. 17, Marvelyn Brown (shown) will share her inspiring story, “The Naked Truth: Young, Beautiful & (HIV) Positive,” 7-9 p.m. at the Student Center, Crystal Cove Auditorium. Brown dispels myths associated with HIV and has been featured on “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” CNN, MTV, BET and “The Tyra Banks Show.”
‘Expecting Parents’ Workshop Offers Guidance
Human Resources and the Wellness & Safety Partnership are dedicated to providing work and life resources and support. The New Parenting Workshop Series has been created to address concerns and needs around parenting from pregnancy disability leave through adulthood. The “Expecting Parents” workshop will show how to navigate the UCI disability leave process, get a personalized pregnancy disability time line and more. Martha Nunez-Flores, Human Resources disability specialist, will present the workshop 9-11 a.m. Tuesday, March 9. Register via TED.
Wellness & Safety Partnership: Did You Know?
There are 19 automated external defibrillators on campus in case of emergency. The AED is a computerized medical device that can check a person’s heart rhythm and recognize a rhythm that requires a shock.
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People
Belmont Heads ‘March for Babies’
UC Irvine Medical Center CEO Terry A. Belmont will chair the 2010 March of Dimes, Orange County Division’s “March for Babies,” overseeing fundraising efforts for the Sunday, April 25, walk. The event supports efforts to combat premature birth, a condition affecting more than 500,000 babies in the U.S. annually and the No. 1 cause of newborn death. “UC Irvine Medical Center is Orange County’s only healthcare institution serving high-risk pregnant women and high-risk infants under one roof,” Belmont said. “Our partnership with the March of Dimes is a great community cause to rally behind: helping babies.” This year’s fundraising goal is $750,000. Walkers of all ages, including student, family and corporate teams, are encouraged to participate.
Gajski Receives Lifetime Achievement Award
Daniel Gajski, Center for Embedded Computer Systems director, has received the 2010 European Design & Automation Association Lifetime Achievement Award. The award is given to people who have made outstanding contributions to electronic design, automation and the testing of electronic systems. Gajski has published more than 250 journal and conference papers; has edited, authored and co-authored seven books and numerous book chapters; and has received several best-paper awards and nominations. Gajski will receive his award in March at the Design, Automation & Test conference in Germany.
Lin Awarded Time on World’s Fastest Supercomputer
The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded Zhihong Lin, physics & astronomy professor, time on a Cray XT – the fastest supercomputer in the world – located at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee. The three-year award has an estimated value of $1 million the first year. Lin and colleagues will use the time to simulate and study turbulence and energetic particle transport processes in fusion plasmas. An understanding of these processes is essential for the eventual use of controlled fusion as an unlimited and non-polluting energy source. The award is part DOE’s Innovative & Novel Computational Impact on Theory & Experiment program.
Sobel Awarded Particle Physics Prize
Henry Sobel, physics & astronomy professor, has been awarded the 2009 Bruno Pontecorvo Prize from the Joint Institute of Nuclear Research in Dubna, Russia. Established in 1995, the prize is awarded annually to a distinguished scientist for significant investigation in the field of particle physics. Sobel was chosen for his contributions to neutrino oscillations. Sobel will receive his award during a scientific council session in Russia Friday, Feb. 19.
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Sports Update
Highlight: Men’s Basketball
Men’s basketball hosts Cal State Fullerton 7:05 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10, and UC Davis 7:05 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at the Bren Events Center.
Highlight: Women’s Tennis
Women’s tennis hosts Cal Poly 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at Anteater Tennis Stadium.
Highlight: Men’s Tennis
Men’s tennis hosts UC Santa Barbara 11 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 14, at Anteater Tennis Stadium.
Keeping Score
Follow these links to get the Anteaters’ latest results.
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University Communications
Informing campus and community
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Quicklinks
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Quotable
Drake on Biomedical Jobs
“Everyone knows that this is a knowledge-based industry. We think it’s critical for the state to continue investing in it, by investing in people and investing in ideas.” – Chancellor Michael Drake, commenting on “recession-resilient” jobs in the biomedical field. San Diego Union-Tribune, Feb. 3, 2010.
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UCI in the News
Get a Daily Dose:
UCI in the News, a compendium of articles featuring UCI, is available by e-mail each workday from University Communications.
Contact asamano@uci.edu to be added to the distribution list. Daily news clips are also available at: today.uci.edu/news
/newsclips.php
For breaking news, visit Zot!Wire – UCI’s frequently updated newswire.
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Featured Events
Law
Regulating Today for Tomorrow’s New Technologies: The Challenge of Connecting Regulation to Technological Realities.
With J. (Han) Somsen, Tilburg Institute for Law, Technology & Society chair, Tilburg University, Netherlands. 4-5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10. MPAA, Room 130.
UNICEF at UCI
Hearts for Haiti Benefit Concert.
6-9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10. Student Center, Crystal Cove Auditorium. Suggested donation $10.
Social Ecology
Keeping Orange County Moving.
With Will Kempton, Orange County Transportation Authority CEO. 6 p.m. reception; 7-8:30 p.m. lecture and discussion, Wednesday, Feb. 10. Student Center, Pacific Ballroom C. Free. RSVP.
Center for the Neurobiology of Learning & Memory
Timing, Neural Dynamics and ‘Learning’ in Vitro.
With Dean Buonomano, neurobiology professor, UCLA. 4-5:15 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11. Herklotz Conference Center, Room 320 Qureshey Research Laboratory. Free.
Studio Art
Critical Aesthetics: The Performative Lecture Series – Grin and Bear It: Joe Sola’s Performance Work.
With Joe Sola, artist. 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11. Studio Art Building, Room 160. Free.
Irvine Barclay Theatre
Masters of Persian Music: Next Generation.
8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12. Irvine Barclay Theatre. $26.
Arboretum
Saturday Plant Sale.
9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13. Arboretum. Free.
V-Day @ UC Irvine
The Vagina Monologues.
With Eve Ensler, playwright and V-Day founder. 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14. Bren Events Center. $10-$17.
Music
Men in Blaque and UCI Acappella 16th Annual Valentine’s Concert.
With Joseph Huszti, conductor. 8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14. Reception follows. Winifred Smith Hall. $9-$14.
Humanities Collective
Country Driving: Peter Hessler in Conversation with Kenneth L. Pomeranz.
With Peter Hessler, author, and Kenneth L. Pomeranz, Chancellor’s Professor of history. 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16. Humanities Gateway, Room 1030. Free.
Event sponsors: Send information regarding upcoming events to
calendar@uci.edu.
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Classes & Workshops
Campus Recreation
Health & Fitness Fridays: My Road to the Gold.
With Olga Connolly, former Olympic gold medalist and exercise instructor, and John Halsey, fitness programs coordinator. 12:10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12. Anteater Recreation Center. Free. Register via TED.
Human Resources
1st Time Home Buyers Workshop.
Noon-1 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16. 111 Theory, Suite 200, Human Resources Training Room. Free. Register via TED.
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