August 2011 News Releases
Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2011
THE PROOF IS IN THE TEACHING AND RESEARCH: K-STATE FACULTY STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE IN EVERYTHING THEY DO: It's been a teaching- and research-filled week for James Shanteau, university distinguished professor of psychology. He spent the weekend preparing a research publication and devoted Monday night to readying lectures for his undergraduate forensic psychology class. At the end of the week, he left for an academic conference in Paris. But for Shanteau, it's a typical week as an educator and researcher, and that's why he enjoys the profession.
COUNSELING COUPLES: THERAPIST'S NEW BOOK OUTLINES SAFE SOLUTIONS TO CONFLICT PROBLEMS: "Never go to bed angry" is bad advice for some couples, says Sandra M. Stith, a Kansas State University marriage and family therapist who has been studying high-conflict partners for more than 15 years.
FIVE TIMES AS NICE: ROBOTICS TEAM TAKES FIFTH CONSECUTIVE WIN AT INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION: The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers began hosting a student robotics competition five years ago, coinciding with the society's annual international meeting. Teams from the U.S., Canada, and Taiwan have competed for top honors and bragging rights since 2007.
ANNUAL BEACH MUSEUM FUNDRAISER AN EVENING OF ENTERTAINMENT TO BENEFIT KANSAS ART: Those who enjoy jazz music, fine food and regional art can play an important role in helping Kansas State University's Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art expand its permanent collection of Kansas artwork. The Friends of the Beach Museum's fundraising gala will be from 6-10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16, at the K-State Alumni Center.
HAND WASHING MOTIVATOR: STUDY SHOWS POSTERS CAN HELP INCREASE HAND HYGIENE PRACTICES: A study by Kansas State University shows posters can make a difference when it comes to hand hygiene in a health care setting.
Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011
READY TO TAKE OFF: K-STATE SALINA'S UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS PROGRAM GETS FAA AIRSPACE AUTHORIZATION: Kansas State University at Salina's unmanned aircraft systems program office has landed key authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration that will benefit program offerings and students.
PRAIRIE PRIMER: KONZA'S BEGINNINGS HELP SHAPE ITS FUTURE: Nestled in a small valley of the Flint Hills just south of Manhattan, sits a ranch house and an old barn. If these walls could talk, the history they could tell.
Monday, Aug. 29, 2011
JUGGLING ACT: EXPERT SAYS FINDING BALANCE KEY FOR ADOLESCENTS IN AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES: How much is too much when it comes to after-school activities for adolescents?Kansas State University's Dru Clarke, instructor of curriculum and instruction and a former high school teacher, says finding a healthy balance is key.
MAKING THEIR MARK: GRADUATE STUDENTS PRESENTING RESEARCH AT FINANCIAL THERAPY CONFERENCE: Eight Kansas State University graduate students from the College of Human Ecology's personal financial planning and marriage and family therapy programs will present their research at the second annual conference of the Financial Therapy Association, Sept. 11-13, in Athens, Ga.
LUNCHTIME LESSONS: TUESDAY TALKS IN THE KSU GARDENS FREE WAY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT GARDENING: Take your lunch break in the Kansas State University Gardens this fall and learn something new. Tuesday Talks in the Gardens are scheduled on Tuesdays from Sept. 6 to Oct. 4. The talks will be from 12:15-12:45 p.m. in the Quinlan Visitor Center, 1500 Denison Ave.
Friday, Aug. 26, 2011
FAST TRACK TO SUCCESS: NEW CONCURRENT BACHELOR'S/MASTER'S PROGRAMS HELP HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT, HUMAN NUTRITION STUDENTS REACH GOALS SOONER: Students majoring in hospitality management and human nutrition at Kansas State University now have a fast-track option to earn their bachelor's and master's degrees and get into the work force sooner.
WELL ADVISED: K-STATE OFFERS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSES TO ACADEMIC ADVISERS AT BYU: Kansas State University is making it easier for academic advisers at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, to earn course credit for their academic advising certificate or master's degree.
SCHOLARLY SERVICE: CIVIL ENGINEERING STUDENT RECEIVES SCHOLARSHIP FOR COMMUNITY WORK: A Kansas State University senior is being honored for his commitment to education, public sector work experience in several Kansas communities and community service.
Thursday, Aug. 25, 2011
HEAT WARNINGS: PHYSICAL ACTIVITY POLICIES AN EXERCISE IN PROGRESS: Across the nation athletes of various ages have begun preparations for the upcoming fall sports season. For coaches, it's a time to closely watch practices for top performances and to monitor an important determinant of those efforts: the heat index.
TRIP SHOWS FUTURE ENGLISH AS SECOND LANGUAGE TEACHERS THAT LANGUAGE IS NO BARRIER TO LEARNING: When it comes to teaching, 13 Kansas State University students recently learned firsthand that the language of learning is universal. The students were part of a K-State Center for Intercultural and Multilingual Advocacy study abroad experience in Guatemala City, Guatemala. They spent nearly a month in the Land of Volcanoes, where they served as both teachers and students.
STRONG STUDENT ENROLLMENT ENABLES KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY TO PROVIDE MID-YEAR PAY INCREASE TO FACULTY AND UNCLASSIFIED STAFF: Continued strong student enrollment and an improved financial situation at Kansas State University will permit a permanent mid-year 2.5 percent pay increase for faculty and unclassified staff.
Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2011
TALKING IT OUT: SEPT. 11 BRINGS CHANGES IN TRAUMA COUNSELING: As the nation steps back to remember the 10-year anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, and the many lives lost and altered, mental health professionals step back to analyze lessons in trauma counseling that stemmed from not only that day, but traumatic events at all levels.
RESEARCH PROPOSALS SEE INCREASE OVER PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR DESPITE FEDERAL FUNDING CONSTRAINTS: New ideas and explorations were plentiful at Kansas State University in the last fiscal year. Research was the focus of many faculty members, as the university recorded an increase in project proposals for the 2010-2011 fiscal year compared to the 2009-2010 fiscal year.
PROFESSIONAL SUMMER: STUDENTS GAIN WORK EXPERIENCE THROUGH INTERNSHIPS AT ADVANCED MANUFACTURING INSTITUTE: To some college students, summer means lounging at the pool all day. For six Kansas State University undergraduates, this past summer meant gaining professional work experience by serving internships at K-State's Advanced Manufacturing Institute.
Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2011
GA GA FOR GOO GOO: RESEARCH EXPLORES THE SCIENTIFIC BASIS FOR BABY FEVER: We see it in the movies and on television when a character realizes they desperately want to have a child. Often it is connected with a ticking biological clock. Or we may experience it ourselves when we see baby toys and clothes in the store. "It" can be summarized in two words: Baby fever.
LEARNING SECRETS OF WORLD'S MOST COMMON ORGANIC COMPOUND DRIVING RESEARCH FOR BIOFUELS: Preliminary research at Kansas State University may make a difference one day at the gas pump. Many scientists believe that cellulose, the most common organic compound on earth, has enough energy to be the next source for biofuels -- if a procedure to effectively break it down could be devised. Cellulose is a cell wall component that gives plants their rigidity.
COMMUNICATING DIVERSITY: HUCK BOYD LECTURER TO FOCUS ON PRE-COLLEGE OPPORTUNITY PROGRAMS: An honored journalist who now mentors high school students on careers in communications will be the speaker for Kansas State University's 12th annual Huck Boyd Lecture in Community Media.
Monday, Aug. 22, 2011
SHAKY SITUATION: UNSTABLE FINANCIAL TIMES MAY NOT MEAN SHORT-TERM RATE HIKES NOW, BUT MIGHT DOWN THE ROAD: When Standard and Poor's recently downgraded the U.S. credit rating from AAA to AA+, the financial markets immediately started to fluctuate, and fears began to rise about the effect the downgrade would have on other sectors of the economy.
TARGETING A CURE: RESEARCH LOOKS AT DEVELOPING A BULL'S-EYE THERAPY TO COMBAT LUNG CANCER: A Kansas State University professor is trying to create a patient-friendly treatment to help the more than 220,000 people who are diagnosed with lung cancer each year.
STUDENTS BENEFIT FROM ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARDS PROVIDING FUNDING FOR LECTURES, TRAVEL AND MORE: Allowing undergraduates to present their research at a conference and to hear a Pulitzer Prize-winning author speak are just a few of the ways that Academic Excellence Fund Awards are helping Kansas State University students.
AMBASSADORS OF PHILANTHROPY: K-STATE STUDENT FOUNDATION SELECTS NEW MEMBERS: A student group that promotes philanthropy at Kansas State University has 13 new members.
Friday, Aug. 19, 2011
FOOD SAFETY SPECIALIST JEANNIE SNEED TO HEAD DEPARTMENT OF HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT AND DIETETICS: A food safety specialist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture is joining Kansas State University's College of Human Ecology as head of the department of hospitality management and dietetics.
Thursday, Aug. 18, 2011
K-STATE ATHLETICS RECEIVES NCAA THIRD-CYCLE CERTIFICATION: President Kirk Schulz announced today that Kansas State University's intercollegiate athletics department has received full certification from the Division I Committee on Athletics Certification, following a formal announcement by the National Collegiate Athletics Association.
HARNESSING THE POWER OF PLANTS: UNIVERSITY TEAM STUDIES SORGHUM GENETICS TO FUEL GREEN ENERGY RESEARCH: Those choices at the pump may look a little greener in the future as a Kansas State University research team is conducting a study that could eventually add "plant" to the list of fuel options.
SECOND-GENERATION ALUM BUILDS ON FATHER'S FOUNDATION, GIFTS $6 MILLION TO K-STATE: Like father, like son. The phrase still resonates today as James M. Johnson, Colorado Springs, Colo., has built on the solid foundation laid by his father, the late Gil E. Johnson, building a thriving career in general contracting -- and giving back to the university that set him on the path to success.
BEYOND THE BOOK: EVENTS ACROSS CAMPUS PROVIDE 'ZEITOUN' READERS WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO DELVE FURTHER INTO THEMES, MEANING: Devouring this year's Kansas State Book Network book, "Zeitoun," is only the first part of the story -- the organizers of the program at Kansas State University have planned several events throughout the fall meant to emphasize the book's powerful themes.
READY, SET, LEARN: COURSES WITH ACCELERATED SCHEDULES KEEP NONTRADITIONAL STUDENTS FOCUSED ON THE FINISH LINE: For nontraditional students at Kansas State University, courses offered on accelerated schedules can lead not only to a faster degree path -- they also can help students focus and retain course content.
KEEPING ROADWAYS SAFE: CAMPUS POLICE TAKING PART IN STATE CRACKDOWN ON DRUNK DRIVERS: Drunk driving. Over the limit. Under arrest. If you or someone you know sometimes drives after drinking alcohol or consuming other drugs, be warned that from Thursday, Aug. 18, through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 5, there will be additional enforcement of Kansas drunk driving and other traffic laws -- and the Kansas State University Police Department will participate.
Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2011
COMPROMISED CONTROL: EXPERT SAYS COMPUTER HACKING PROLIFERATING WITH HIGHLY NETWORKED SOCIETY: Google, the International Monetary Fund and Sony represent major names in the world economy. But the three share another distinction -- recently disclosed attacks by computer hackers that have compromised sensitive information.
AROUND THE WORLD: PHI KAPPA PHI STUDY ABROAD GRANT HELPS SENIOR TEACH STUDENTS ACROSS THE GLOBE: Colby Heckathorne, senior in elementary education, Baldwin City, received a 2011 Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grant to support two summer study abroad trips -- to China in May and Guatemala in July.
Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2011
BRINGING IT HOME: HEALTH COMMUNICATOR SPREADS KNOWLEDGE, IMPROVES LIVES THROUGH HIV/AIDS RESEARCH: Nancy Muturi has not forgotten her roots in her efforts to prevent HIV/AIDS. Muturi, associate professor of journalism and mass communications at Kansas State University, has returned to her native Kenya on several occasions to help prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.
ALTERNATIVE MEAL PLANS: STUDENTS STUDY ON-CAMPUS EDIBLE LANDSCAPES: A group of students will spend the first few days of the fall semester drawing up creative ways to produce food on the Kansas State University campus. All landscape architecture and regional and community planning students will participate in Design Days 2011: onelunch from Aug. 22-24.
Monday, Aug. 15, 2011
KANSAS STATE ANNOUNCES GROUNDBREAKING LAUNCH OF K-STATEHD.TV NETWORK: In a landmark announcement by university and athletics officials, Kansas State University will launch an exclusive, high-definition digital network Aug. 30 known as K-StateHD.TV that will provide a worldwide connection to Kansas State University and K-State Athletics and establish the university as an international leader in programming, accessibility and exposure.
BURSTING THE BUBBLE: ECONOMISTS SUGGEST GOLD INVESTMENTS ARE RISKY: As the price of gold continues to rise and public uncertainty of the economy increases at a similar pace, many investors are turning to a traditional fail-safe: gold. However, it's a growing bubble that may be ready to burst, according to economic experts at Kansas State University.
CHANGE IN NEED: ECONOMICS EXPERT SAYS BOGUS RATINGS OF MORTGAGE-RELATED SECURITIES SHOW CONFLICTS OF INTEREST BY CREDIT RATING AGENCIES: Obvious conflicts of interest and poor performance are among the reasons why a Kansas State University economist says the way the leading credit rating agencies are funded should be changed.
ECONOMIC STRANGLEHOLD: ECONOMIST SAYS BUDGET DEFICIT, WEAK SPENDING, POLITICS MAKING IT HARD TO GET ECONOMY GOING: A Kansas State University economist says the government is running out of options when it comes to stimulating the weak economy and holding off a second double-dip recession since the 2007-2009 financial crisis.
USDA OFFICIAL VISITS K-STATE AND NBAF SITE; BRI USED TO TRANSITION AND EXPAND AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH: Accepting an invitation from Kansas State University President Kirk Schulz, an official from the U.S. Department of Agriculture visited the university's campus Thursday.
FALL FOR CULTURE: SEPTEMBER OFFERS MUSIC, ART WORKSHOPS AND MCCAIN MAGIC AT K-STATE: Fun with 3-D, performances by guest musicians and a chance to support the K-State art museum are just some of the ways to fall into the arts this September at Kansas State University. K-State is offering a variety of cultural events, including art exhibitions, music and more during the month, which also features the first performance in the 2011-2012 McCain Performance Series.
BARBECUE, PART-TIME OPPORTUNITIES FAIR HELP STUDENTS WITH CAREER PLANNING, JOB NEEDS: Free food, free advice, free opportunities. Kansas State University's career and employment services is kicking off the fall semester by hosting two events to help students with their career options and job searches.
Friday, Aug. 12, 2011
K-STATE AVIATION LANDS HIGHEST LEVEL OF ACCREDITATION: Kansas State University Salina's professional pilot program is flying in elite company with renewed program accreditation from Aviation Accreditation Board International.
TOP COP: K-STATE POLICE OFFICER GRADUATES FIRST IN CLASS FROM STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING CENTER: When it comes to law enforcement, Kansas State University police officer Jason Blackburn is at the head of his class. Blackburn recently graduated first in his class from the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center. The 14-week academy had 49 officers from police and sheriffs' departments throughout the state of Kansas.
Thursday, Aug. 11, 2011
KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY SALINA CEO TO RETIRE IN JUNE 2012: Dennis Kuhlman, the CEO of Kansas State University Salina, announced that he plans to retire June 30, 2012.
RISKY BUSINESS: AG ECONOMIST PART OF RESEARCH TEAM EXAMINING EFFECT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON AFRICAN AGRICULTURE: Climate change in Africa, including increased temperatures and decreased rainfall, is causing an uncertain future for African farmers. But an international research team that includes a Kansas State University agricultural economist hopes to bring clarity to the situation.
Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2011
BIASED ALLIANCE: AUTHOR SAYS DEBT CRISIS REINFORCES AMERICAN RELIANCE ON CHINESE ECONOMIC SUPPORT: The recent U.S. debt crisis was filled with intrigue worldwide, especially for the owner of a sizable portion of American debt: China. A Kansas State University professor and author of a recent book that examines the role of capitalism in the Chinese economy, says China has used its U.S. debt holdings to leverage a favorable economic position.
CIVIC IMMERSION: STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT ENGAGED IN COMMUNITY, UNIVERSITY AFFAIRS DURING SUMMER MONTHS: Nate Spriggs has always maintained a busy array of school and community-related activities. A one-time school board candidate in high school, where he compiled an impressive academic and extracurricular resume, Spriggs never hesitated to become involved. Similar results followed at Kansas State University, culminating in his election as student body president in March.
ARTFUL INTERPRETERS WANTED: MARIANNA KISTLER BEACH MUSEUM OF ART SEEKS DOCENTS: Want to help visitors to Kansas State University's Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art get to the art of the matter? Then the museum's docent program is just for you.
Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2011
FILLING A NEED: PH.D. PROGRAM TEACHES FINANCIAL PLANNERS WITH PASSION TO HELP MIDDLE CLASS CLIENTS: Although it may sound counterintuitive, those who struggle to get their financial world in order often have a more difficult time finding a financial planner who can set them on the right course than those who have been successful accumulating wealth, according to a Kansas State University financial planning expert.
IN THE BEGINNING: ECOLOGICAL GENOMICS PROGRAM LINKS FUTURE WITH PAST AT MOLECULAR LEVEL: A special twist on the nature versus nurture debate is grabbing the attention of students seeking a graduate degree in biology.
DOUBLE FEATURE: K-STATE MAKES TWO LISTS OF THE BEST COLLEGES IN THE NATION: Kansas State University has once again been recognized as one of the country's best schools by two elite publications.
FUTURE VETERINARIANS COMBINE SCIENCE WITH SOCIAL SENSITIVITY TO DEBATE KEY ANIMAL WELFARE ISSUES: Caring for the health of animals large and small is the No. 1 priority for veterinarians, but it's also important to combine the science of their craft with an understanding of socially sensitive issues, according to a Kansas State University veterinarian.
Monday, Aug. 8, 2011
TRAUMA DRAMA: K-STATE PROFESSOR RESEARCHES DRAMA QUEEN OF IMMUNE SYSTEM: Kansas State University's Sherry Fleming is investigating the factor that initiates the immune system's "drama queen": the one responsible for intestinal cell damage after hemorrhage.
FINDING THEIR WAY: STUDY SHOWS CONNECTION BETWEEN ACADEMIC DIRECTION AND STUDENT LEARNING: A Kansas State University professor is helping students improve their confidence and academic performance by creating a map of learning.
Thursday, Aug. 4, 2011
MONEY MATTERS: SETTING A BUDGET, FINANCIAL PLANNING CAN HELP COLLEGE STUDENTS NOW AND IN FUTURE: A college student's idea of investing may lean more toward purchasing season basketball tickets than an individual retirement account, but financial experts say taking a more focused look at their financial situation early can help students budget for today and the future.
THE BEAT GOES ON: EXPERTS SAY POSTHUMOUS ALBUM RELEASES CAN REWARD FANS BUT CAN ALSO DIMINISH A LEGACY: For fans, the day an artist dies is also the day the music dies -- unless the artist has left some previously unreleased material. But according to two Kansas State University professors, a posthumous release of unfinished and shelved material can often trivialize a career. Worse, it can also come off as unethical.
THE WRITE STUFF: PENMANSHIP STILL IMPORTANT SKILL FOR KIDS TO HAVE, EDUCATION EXPERT SAYS: Laptops, cellphones, smartphones, tablets. It's becoming an e-world when it comes to messaging, but a Kansas State University education expert says that doesn't mean it's time to put a period to handwriting.
Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2011
A RESEARCH TALE WITH A HEART TO MATCH: PROFESSOR LOOKS AT CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE IN DOGS: For more than 15 years, Kansas State University researcher Michele Borgarelli has studied heart diseases in man's best friend. But there is an interesting twist in his work with mitral valve disease: chronic mitral valve disease in dogs is similar to the same disease affecting humans, making Borgarelli's research beneficial to dog's best friend, too.
BEYOND BORDERS: CANADIAN EDUCATOR CONTINUES ON PATH OF LIFELONG LEARNING WITH HELP FROM K-STATE DISTANCE EDUCATION: A winding educational path led Isabel Hay, Fraser Valley, British Columbia, to Kansas State University.
Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2011
A HOT TOPIC: RADIOACTIVE DECAY IS KEY INGREDIENT BEHIND EARTH'S HEAT, RESEARCH SHOWS: Nearly half of the Earth's heat comes from the radioactive decay of materials inside, according to a large international research collaboration that includes a Kansas State University physicist.
UNDERSTANDING DIFFERENCES: DIVERSITY TRAINING CAN HELP VETERINARY STUDENTS IN THEIR FUTURE PRACTICES: Understanding a pet owner's cultural, ethnic, religious and other diversity characteristics can help a veterinarian better understand his or her clients and better care for the client's pets, according to a Kansas State University veterinarian.
Monday, Aug. 1, 2011
ACCIDENT OCCURS AT STADIUM CONSTRUCTION SITE: A construction worker died Monday after a fall at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. The man was doing masonry work on the east side of the stadium where restrooms are being added. Witnesses said that a wooden board on the scaffolding gave way and that he fell through about 100 feet onto the stadium's parking lot.
GAME CHANGER: BUSINESS ETHICS EXPERT WEIGHS IN ON MONITORING ONLINE IDENTITY OF PROSPECTIVE, CURRENT EMPLOYEES: Should businesses monitor the social media activities of their employees? A Kansas State University business ethics expert says the practice can be a double-edge sword.
READY TO RUMBLE: DOCTORAL STUDENT RESEARCHES BALANCE BETWEEN HIGHWAY SAFETY, NOISE: The next time you are jarred from a lazy drift to the left speeding down a rural two-lane highway, Daniel Karkle should come to mind.
FULL PLATE: UPCOMING MCCAIN PERFORMANCE SERIES SEASON OFFERS MUSIC, THEATER, DANCE AND SURPRISES TO SUIT ANY TASTE: Those with an appetite for a wide variety of entertainment can prepare to help themselves to a buffet of Broadway, music, dance and innovation with the 2011-2012 McCain Performance Series at Kansas State University.
