Wichita State News:

Husband-and-wife biology faculty learn from each other's work

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 15:36:00 CST

Deep in the corridors of Wichita State University's Hubbard Hall, two Biological Sciences faculty are intertwined in a sometimes contentious relationship.

Associate professor Mary Liz Jameson is a biodiversity scientist. Her research focuses on the science of insects, specifically beetles.

Associate professor Leland Russell is a plant population and community ecologist. His research focuses on the effects that herbivores, such as beetles, have on plants.

Jameson and Russell are married. One studies beetles. The other studies plants.

Beetles eat plants. Plants can poison beetles.

Can this relationship be saved?

Working together

Jameson and Russell have joked before about the comparisons between their two specialties. While, yes, sometimes their subjects can be at odds with each other, mostly it's a symbiotic connection.

"Plants need beetles," Russell said. "Beetles are the primitive pollinators. And, of course, the plants give the beetles their food. So there's a positive take on it as well."

Jameson agrees, calling theirs a "mutualistic relationship."

Russell, a St. Louis native, didn't develop an interest in insects until he met Jameson at the University of Nebraska, where Russell was working as a post-doctoral researcher and Jameson was a research assistant professor working on a grant. Jameson is a native of Lincoln, Neb., and earned her bachelor's and master's at Nebraska and her Ph.D. from the University of Kansas.

"I've always thought about how the plants can provide sustenance for my insects," Jameson said. "Now I think also about how the flowers benefit, or don't benefit, from the insects feeding on them or using them."

The couple enjoys working side by side whenever possible. Recently colleagues from the Czech Republic came to Wichita to work on a project involving insects that feed on thistles, giving Jameson and Russell a chance to work together on their specialties.

They also enjoy traveling, and, in January, will go to Peru, where Jameson will help lead a course.

"We both are fascinated with the natural world, so we have a lot of fun going out and identifying plants and identifying insects," Russell said.

Teaching what they know

As much as Jameson and Russell like research, they equally enjoy passing on their knowledge to WSU students.

Russell spends time teaching his students about plants on the Ninnescah, Gerber and Sellers Reserves – tracts of land where WSU has field stations for students to study plant, insect and animal life.

Jameson said her position affords her the ability to teach biology and higher-level courses, as well as help give some of her students real-world experience outside of the classroom and in the field.

A recent graduate student, Matt Moore, traveled to Guatemala in May to search for a specific type of beetle. Jameson said she enjoys helping further her students' interests and career goals.

"I like to make biology and science accessible to students, to challenge them to think conceptually, and to apply the tools that they gain in classes to their everyday life," she said.

Discovering new species

Jameson, who has been interested in tropics and conservation since childhood, has only been associate professor at Wichita State for only one year. But she has already made a lasting impact on her field of study. Read Jameson's full bio.

She has discovered and named 37 new species of scarab beetles through her research in places such as Sumatra, Peru, Honduras, the Soloman Islands and Thailand. Jameson has also had several species actually named in her honor.

"Species are the pieces of the puzzle that help us to understand how all of the components of life on Earth work together," she said. "Scientists have named about 1.8 million species on Earth, but millions more remain to be described."

She has yet to name a newly discovered species after Russell, but said she's working on it.

"I haven't found just the right one to name after Leland," she said. "It's gotta be from someplace he loves. Or it's gotta have a nice smile. Or it's gotta be something that strikes me as, like, him."

Russell jokes that he'd prefer not to be named after a dung beetle.

Farm life shaped Russell's interests

Russell became assistant professor at WSU in January 2005. Prior to that, he was a research assistant professor at the University of Nebraska.
Read Russell's full bio.

He is most interested in understanding the extent to which herbivores determine why some plant species are abundant and others are rare, as well as how herbivores distribute their food plants to particular habitats.

Russell said he developed his interest in this line of work from his youth. His father's family owned a farm in central Missouri that had a creek and plenty of woods to explore.

"I think that this exposure to the natural diversity of organisms as a child really shaped my interest in interactions among organisms in natural ecosystems," he said.

Faculty/staff news update: summer 2011

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 11:10:00 CST

Academe welcomes news from WSU faculty and staff about research, teaching and service activities. This column recognizes grants, honors, awards, presentations and publications, new appointments, new faculty, sabbaticals, retirements and deaths of our current and former colleagues.

Les Anderson

Les Anderson, professor, Elliott School of Communication, was honored recently with an Alumni Achievement Award from Fort Hays State University. Anderson completed undergraduate work at Fort Hays State; he earned a Master of Arts in journalism from the University of Missouri, Columbia.

Deema de Silva, director, assistant professor, TRIO-Student Support Services, attended the Oxford Round Table on Aug. 7-12 by invitation from Oxford University in London, England. She had participated in a spring 2011 Oxford Round Table discussion as a delegate in a panel of 40 women from around the globe.

Amy DeVault, instructor, and Les Anderson, professor, Elliott School of Communication, presented "Blogs as learning tools in journalism education" at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication in St. Louis. The conference was attended by 2,200 faculty members, doctoral students and others with an interest in communication education.

Amy DeVault and Lisa Parcell, assistant professor, Elliott School, presented "Social networking in higher education" at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication in St. Louis. The conference was attended by 2,200 faculty members, doctoral students and others with an interest in communication education. Parcell had an additional presentation with former ESC faculty member Mike Boyle.

Sharon Iorio

Sharon Iorio, dean, College of Education, presented an invited paper with M.E. Yeager, a post doctoral fellow in the college. The paper, "School reform: Past, present and future," was the lead/first presentation in Harris Manchester College at an Oxford University Round Table on school reform in July.

Patricia McDonnell, director, Ulrich Museum of Art, served as a juror for Kansas City's 29th annual River Market Regional Exhibition, fueled by the Kansas City Artists Coalition. McDonnell chose 46 artists from Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Arkansas for the exhibition.

D. Paul Rillema, professor, chemistry, has been named a 2011 ACS Fellow of the American Chemical Society.

TENURE, PROMOTION AND PIR
The following faculty members, listed with their colleges, have earned tenure (T), promotion (P) or professor incentive review (PIR), effective at the start of the 2011-2012 academic year.

College of Education: Fuchang Liu, associate professor, curriculum and instruction (TP)

College of Engineering: Klaus Hoffmann, professor, aerospace (PIR); Babek Minaie, professor, mechanical engineering (TP); Lawrence Whitman, professor, industrial and manufacturing engineering (P)

College of Fine Arts: Ted Adler, associate professor, art and design (TP); Elaine Bernstorf, professor, music (PIR); Mark Foley, professor, music (P); Royce Smith, associate professor, art and design (TP)

College of Health Professions: Kelly Anderson, associate professor, dental hygiene (TP); Ngoyi Bukonda, associate professor, public health sciences (T); Diana Cochran-Black, associate professor, medical technology (P); LaDonna Hale, associate professor, physician assistant (P); Trisha Self, associate professor, communication sciences and disorders (TP); Betty Smith-Campbell, professor, nursing (P)

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences: Dinorah Azpuru, associate professor, political science (TP); Michael Birzer, professor, community affairs (P); Chris Brooks, professor, English (P); George Dehner, associate professor, history (TP); Tom DeLillo, professor, math (PIR); Jean Griffith, associate professor, English (TP); Michael Hall, associate professor, political science (TP); Twyla Hill, professor, sociology (P); Kirk Lancaster, professor, math (PIR); Michael McGlynn, associate professor, political science (TP); Leland Russell, associate professor, biological sciences (TP); Lisa Thrane, associate professor, sociology (TP)

W. Frank Barton School of Business: William Miles, professor, economics (P); Tim Pett, professor, management (P)

IN MEMORIAM
Eugene E. Kaufman, 81, retired orthopedic surgeon, team physician (known as "ShockDoc") for the Shockers, died July 5. He was preceded in death by his sister, Betty Kleffel; and his wife of 44 years, Dorothy, and their first child, Kathryn. He is survived by his wife, Linda; three children, Eric E. Kaufman (Kathy), Debra S. Folkerts (Darwin) and Marc L. Kaufman (Eva); 11 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; and his brother, Kenneth L. Kaufman of Saratoga, Calif. Services have been held. Please make memorial donations to Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice, 313 S. Market, Wichita , KS 67202, or Lorraine Avenue Mennonite Church, 655 S. Lorraine St., Wichita, KS 67211-3093.

William Thomas Kirkwood Stevenson, 56, chemistry professor at Wichita State University, died July 21. Private family services have been held. Survivors are wife, Laura (Smyth) Stevenson; children, Laura Bateman (David) of New Orleans, La., and William Thomas Kirkwood Stevenson of Boston, Mass.; sister, Frances Stevenson of Scotland. Memorials have been established with M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, c/o University of Texas, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX, 77030 and the Kansas Humane Society, 3313 N. Hillside, Wichita, KS 67219.

Observatory holding telescope, Native American events

Fri, 5 Aug 2011 11:28:00 CST

The Lake Afton Public Observatory, in conjunction with the Kansas Astronomical Observers, is inviting people who would like pointers on how to use their telescope to attend one of its "Bring Your Own Telescope" programs.

The program is at 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19.

The observatory is also presenting a special program on the star lore of Native Americans, called "Native American Storytelling." Visitors will sit around a campfire and listen to how the sky affected Native American life.

The program is at 9:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19, and at 8:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16.

For more information on both events, go to http://webs.wichita.edu/lapo/.

Lake Afton Public Observatory is operated by the Fairmount Center for Science and Mathematics Education, a part of the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Science at Wichita State University.

Physics faculty, students take part in cosmic ray project

Wed, 3 Aug 2011 15:53:00 CST

Wichita State University is the lead Kansas institution participating in the development of the $127 million northern test site of the Pierre Auger Cosmic Ray Observatory, a major international effort to probe the cosmos and learn more about how cosmic rays work.

Cosmic rays are charged particles that constantly rain down on Earth from space. They are the most energetic and rarest of particles in the universe. While much progress has been made in understanding cosmic rays with low to moderate energies, those with extremely high energies remain mysterious.

Since 2004, nearly 500 physicists from 19 countries have gathered data at the southern Pierre Auger Observatory near Malargue, Argentina, to help shed light on those mysteries. And now the same is being done near Lamar, Colo., where construction of the northern Pierre Auger Observatory is under way.

Wichita State, Fermilab (Ill.), and five other universities are working on the project. The other universities are: Colorado State University, Colorado School of Mines, Michigan Technical University, Case Western University and University of Paris VII.

WSU's researchers are in charge of handling the computer read-out system. The control room for the test site is located at WSU and was paid for in part by donations from physics alumnus Bill Simon.

Holger Meyer

Physics professor Nick Solomey, assistant professor Holger Meyer and physics students Jeanette Bergkamp, Richard Bonde and Matthew Onstott are conducting the research on behalf of Wichita State. The research is a unique chance for the students to get hands-on experience with a big international project.

The observatory research also promotes Wichita State on a comprehensive level among its peers, Solomey said, and advocates the WSU Department of Physics as a leader in the industry.

"The Auger project is a great opportunity for physics faculty and students because it is (a) worldwide priority project in astro-physics that will bring great attention to our physics program," Solomey said. "Wichita State University will be able to shine in the spotlight with us."

How the observatory works

The Auger Observatory is a "hybrid detector," employing two independent methods to detect and study high-energy cosmic rays. One technique detects high-energy particles through their interaction with water placed in surface detector tanks.

The other technique tracks the development of air showers by observing ultraviolet light emitted high in the Earth's atmosphere.

Employing these two complementary observation methods provides the Auger Observatory with high-quality information about the types of particles in the cosmic rays.

The southern observatory in Argentina has 1,500 surface detector tanks. The northern site will be much larger, with 8,000 tanks more than a 100-by-100-mile area.

It will study the origins of cosmic rays, trying to understand where they come from.

"It is a new window on the very distant past and the Big Bang creation of the universe," Solomey said. "The studies might also find evidence of dark matter and dark energy – an ongoing mystery."

Solomey said the students will have an opportunity to learn a lot about this type of astro-particle physics science and how to work in large groups. WSU will be the closest research university to the test site and can provide a unique ability for the students to participate in the project because of the proximity to the planned array.

Physics: Real-world experience for students

Wed, 3 Aug 2011 15:53:00 CST

Three Wichita State University physics students are contributing to a research project that is giving them a chance to experience hands-on research on a global scale.

Undergraduate students Jeanette Bergkamp, Richard Bonde and Matthew Onstott have joined WSU professor Nick Solomey and assistant professor Holger Meyer in their research on the $127 million northern Pierre Auger Cosmic Ray Observatory site, being built in Lamar, Colo.

Jeanette Bergkamp

Working on this large, international project is a rare opportunity, said Jeanette Bergkamp, providing her and her fellow students with "tons" of real-world experience before they ever even graduate college.

The observatory will study ultra-high energy cosmic rays, which are charged particles that constantly rain down on Earth from space. These high-energy rays are an area of physics research that remains somewhat mysterious to scientists.

New experiences

Since 2004, The Pierre Auger Observatory near Malargue, Argentina, has been studying cosmic rays in the southern hemisphere. The northern site will conduct similar research. Nearly seven Universities are collaborating on the project, which is still in the testing phase.

"Any kind of practical research is very, very useful if you want to go on further with a degree," she said. "It helps as far as a resume – being able to say I have done research, because that's a lot of what they (employers) look for in a graduate assistant."

Richard Bonde

WSU's role is to maintain the control room, which has been set up in Jabara Hall. Bergkamp, Bonde and Onstott are responsible for helping develop the software that observes the site in Lamar.

"We want to be sure it's working and to make sure we are reading what we are supposed to be reading," Bonde said.

Working on those computer programs is a new experience, Bergkamp said. And getting to work in a collaborative effort is something that helps her become a more well-rounded researcher.

"I've gotten the chance to work as a collaborator," she said. "Sometimes you don't get to really do that, especially with physics, where a lot of it is solitary learning."

Solomey said by taking on such a large project, the students are getting invaluable experience they can't get just from a textbook.

"I think the students take from it the concept of how do you build something big," Solomey said. "You (normally) have a lot of people doing little things in a lab. But how do you build something like the Hubble Space Telescope? How do you build something super enormously big, like a Dreamliner? They are seeing that for the first time."

The students are also learning that what they're doing is important to such a big project.

"It has lots of pieces that all have to work, and every one's task is crucial," Solomey said.

Faculty/staff news update: summer 2011

Thu, 7 Jul 2011 16:32:00 CST

Les Anderson, professor, Elliott School of Communication, won second place in the National Federation of Press Women communications contest for "feature photo in a publication other than newspaper" (2010 Symphony in the Flint Hills magazine) and two third-place awards for general column and general nonfiction book ("Never Take a Snake for a Ride"). National winners advance from state contests held by such NFPW affiliates as Kansas Professional Communicators.

Amy DeVault, instructor, Elliott School of Communication, won a second-place award in the National Federation of Press Women communications contest for "page layout for publication" (2010 Symphony in the Flint Hills magazine). National winners advance from state contests held by such NFPW affiliates as Kansas Professional Communicators.

Mary Koehn, professor, director, School of Nursing, and nursing student Rachel Wilson, traveled with a team of medical professionals, educators and students to train on high-tech mannequins at the Johns Hopkins Medicine Simulation Center in Baltimore on June 23. Koehn is part of a citywide health care committee that has been working toward creating and building a simulation center in Wichita. For the June 26 Wichita Eagle story "Local health workers try out simulation training," go to http://www.wichita.edu/j/?1083.

Kim Kufahl, marketing manager for Wichita State's Cooperative Education and Work-Based Learning program, won a first-place award in the National Federation of Press Women communications contest for the program's annual report. National winners advance from state contests held by such NFPW affiliates as Kansas Professional Communicators.

On Sabbatical
Betty Smith Campbell, associate professor, School of Nursing, spring 2012, to expand professional experience in health policy and advocacy to maintain accreditation of graduate nursing programs (policy course updates) and journal article submissions

Doris Chang, associate professor, Center for Women's Studies, fall 2011, to conduct research on career and political ideas of Chairwoman Ing-wen; conference presentation; and journal article submissions

Dharam Chopra, professor, mathematics and statistics, academic year 2011-12, to work on research problems in statistical design experiments dealing specifically with fractional factorial designs and graph theory; paper presentations; journal article submissions

Darren DeFrain, associate professor, English, spring 2012, to complete research for and prepare final draft of novel followed by submission to agent for review

Anthony DiLollo, associate professor, communication sciences and disorders, fall 2011, for development and publication of a workbook designed to facilitate counseling with persons who have communication disorders

Thalia Jeffres, associate professor, mathematics and statistics, fall 2011, to continue research on the Yamabe problem and the zeta function; conference presentations; grant proposal submission

Hyuck M. Kwon, professor, electrical engineering and computer science, spring 2012, for joint research project to improve previously published model with application to realistic wireles/mobile/communications systems; joint journal article submission; course updates

Kirk Lancaster, professor, mathematics and statistics, academic year 2011-12, for collaborative research on solution of central fan question and expansion of results on capillarity; joint journal article submission and work on new book

Chinyere Okafor, professor, Center for Women's Studies, spring 2012, to rewrite three plays in light of new research for potential book publication and participate in creative forum at Nigerian journalism institute

Royce Smith, assistant professor, School of Art and Design, spring 2012, for completion and publication of manuscript, "Biennale: Representation, Crisis, and the Contemporary Mega-Exhibition"

Johnnie Thompson, associate professor, curriculum and instruction, spring 2012, for completion of research on the attainment of wisdom, its sources in specialized life knowledge and its relationship to cultural variables and age leading to scholarly publication

In Memoriam
Robert "Bob" C. Wherritt, 83, associate professor emeritus, mathematics, died June 7. He is survived by his wife, Mildred (Millie), and his daughter Judith (Judy); he was preceded in death by his daughter Susan Wherritt Sherman. A memorial service will be held at the First Unitarian Universalist Church, 7202 E. 21st St. N. in Wichita. A memorial fund has been established with the church.

Native American program at the observatory

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:23:00 CST

Join the Lake Afton Public Observatory for a special evening of Native American storytelling. Choose from three dates: 9:30 p.m. Friday, July 8, and Friday, Aug. 19, and 8:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16.

The programs will be held in the field west of the observatory building and will be hosted by Jan Brooks of the Ojibwe tribe.

The North American plains tribes had constellations, stars and legends unique to their culture just as the Greeks and Romans did. Hear some of the many wonderful sacred star stories Native American tribes told, and learn how the night skies influenced tribal life.

There will be a limited number of chairs available, so participants are encouraged to bring a folding chair or blanket to sit on. A good bug repellent is also advised.

There is no charge for the Native American Storytelling program, but if you want to take in the observatory's regularly scheduled program and see the observatory's exhibits, regular admission charges will apply.

Lake Afton Public Observatory is operated by the Fairmount Center for Science and Mathematics Education, a part of the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Science at Wichita State University.

Faculty/staff news update: spring, summer 2011

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 10:46:00 CST

Les Anderson

Les Anderson, professor, Elliott School of Communication, won four first-place awards (non-fiction book, columns, feature photos, photography/writing); two second-place awards (columns, magazine editing); one third place; and four honorable mentions in the 2011 Kansas Professional Communicators communication contest. First-place winners compete with other state affiliates of the National Federation of Press Women for national awards, whose winners will be announced at NFPW's fall convention.

Ted D. Ayres, vice president and general counsel, gave the promotion speech for the eighth-grade class at the Gordon Parks Academy on May 23. This was the first group of middle-schoolers to attend all three years at the academy; there were 33 graduates.

Dan Close, associate professor, Elliott School of Communication, has been named a summer Dart Academic Fellow for the Dart Center. He will join 13 other journalism educators from North America, Australia and Great Britain at Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism in New York from June 15-18 for intensive training on teaching accurate, ethical and sensitive coverage of tragedy.

Lynne Davis

Lynne Davis, Ann and Dennis Ross Endowed Faculty of Distinction in Organ, was featured on "It's All Good," a television show hosted by local personality Sierra Scott, on June 5. The show aired on KTWU Channel 5/33 in Wichita.

Amy Devault, instructor, Elliott School of Communication, had her manuscript "Social Networking in Higher Education: A Collaboration Tool for Project-Based Learning" accepted for presentation at the annual Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication conference in August in St. Louis, Mo.

Amy Devault, Elliott School, won first place in page layout for publication; four second-place awards (magazine editing, page layout, feature photo, audiovisuals); and one third place award in the 2011 Kansas Professional Communicators' communications contest. First-place winners compete with other state affiliates of the National Federation of Press Women for national awards, whose winners will be announced at NFPW's fall convention.

Amy Devault and Les Anderson, Elliott School, share one of their second-place awards in the 2011 Kansas Professional Communicators' communications contest for their editing on the 2010 Symphony in the Flint Hills magazine, filled with stories and photographs by communication students.

Anthony DiLollo, associate professor, communication sciences and disorders, recently co-authored an article that ranked third in the "Top 25 Hottest Articles" in the January-March 2011 Journal of Fluency Disorders. The article, "Client perceptions of effective and ineffective therapeutic alliances during treatment for stuttering," covers the much debated topic of underlying factors that contribute to a successful or unsuccessful therapeutic interaction between clients and their clinicians.

Ed Flentje

H. Edward Flentje, professor, Hugo Wall School of Urban and Public Affairs, has been named interim president of Emporia State University, his alma mater. He will serve as interim president until the Kansas Board of Regents names a new president. Flentje does not plan to be a candidate for the presidency.

Kim Kufahl, marketing manager for the WSU Cooperative Education and Work-Based Learning, won first place for that office's annual report. First-place winners compete with other state affiliates of the National Federation of Press Women for national awards, whose winners will be announced at NFPW's fall convention.

Sal Mazzullo, professor, geology, WSU alumnus Brian Wilhite, and graduate students Beau Morris and Robert Turner were featured in the American Association of Petroleum Geologists "Explorer," the flagship publication for the petroleum geology industry. The "Explorer" published two articles in the May issue detailing new research done by Mazzullo, Wilhite, Darwin Boardman from Oklahoma State University, and several graduate students.

Cheryl Miller, assistant dean of WSU's Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, won a first-place award for newsletter editing in the 2011 Kansas Professional Communicators' communications contest. First-place winners compete with other state affiliates of the National Federation of Press Women for national awards, whose winners will be announced at NFPW's fall convention.

Wilma Moore-Black, assistant director and curriculum coordinator, TRIO Communication Upward Bound, was presented the 2011 Communicator of Achievement Award at the Kansas Professional Communicators' spring conference. She will compete with other state affiliates of the National Federation of Press Women for the national Communicator of Achievement Award, whose winner will be announced at NFPW's fall convention.

Wilma Moore-Black won a first-place award in the Kansas Professional Communicators' annual communications contest for her advising on the TRIO Communication Upward Bound newsletter. Moore-Black also won a second-place award for book editing. First-place winners compete with other state affiliates of the National Federation of Press Women for national awards, whose winners will be announced at NFPW's fall convention.

Jay Price, associate professor, history, director, public history, was a consultant for KTWU, Channel 5/33, for what is now an Emmy-nominated Sunflower Journey episode on Wichita's Lebanese Heritage for Historical/Cultural/Segment. Price and his collaborative book "Wichita's Lebanese Heritage" served as resources for the project.

Patsy Selby, vice president for finance and administrative services, WSU Foundation, will be a recipient of the Wichita Business Journal 2011 CFO Awards at a luncheon Thursday, June 16, at the Hyatt Regency Wichita. Selby is one of 11 local CFOs selected from more than 100 nominees. She has been at the WSU Foundation for 11 years.

Elaine Steinke, professor, School of Nursing, spent four weeks as a visiting scholar in the Department of Nursing and School of Health Sciences at Jonkoping University, Jonkoping, Sweden. There, she gave four presentations related to her research area of intimacy and the heart to undergraduate students, doctoral students, doctoral faculty and hospital staff, in addition to learning more about the Swedish educational and health care system.

In Memoriam
A. Richard (Dick) Graham, 76, professor and executive director emeritus of the Center for Technology Application (Mid-American Manufacturing and Technology Center), died in mid-May in Wichita. Services have been held. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Carol; children, Cara and Evan (Kristine); grandchildren, Margaret and Benjamin; and brother Sam (Dorothy) Graham of Kingman. Memorials have been established with Grace Presbyterian Church, 5002 E. Douglas, Wichita, KS 67208 and Botanica, 701 Amidon, Wichita, KS 67203.

William George Douglas Sharp, 71, former dean, W. Frank Barton School of Business, died May 28 at home with family in Stonebridge Village in Branson, Mo. Survivors include two brothers, James Agnew Sharp (Jan) of Peck, Kan., and David Sharp ( Julie) of Lee's Summit, Mo.; sister-in-law Kathy Sharp of McAlester, Okla.; brother-in-law Gene Wallis of Ardmore, Okla.; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends. Funeral services have been held. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1100 Pennsylvania Ave., Kansas City, MO 64105.

Special Fathers' Day Weekend at the observatory

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 10:56:00 CST

In honor of fathers everywhere, Lake Afton Public Observatory is featuring a Fathers' Day Weekend special 9-11 p.m. Friday, June 17, and Saturday, June 18.

Bring Dad or Grandpa to the observatory for the program "Thirty Years of Astronomy – the Dark Sky," and they will receive free admission when accompanied by a paying child.

Participants will start by observing the mysterious ringed planet, Saturn, then move on to a binary star system and a huge tightly packed cluster of half a million stars. Then, participants will take a look at another galaxy that is 12 million light years away.

Observatory officials will discuss what astronomers have learned about objects like these during the past 30 years.

An exhibit area gives visitors an opportunity to make a telescope, explore the properties of light, learn about the phases of the moon, touch rocks from space, go on a scavenger hunt through the solar system or practice landing a spacecraft on the moon.

Outside, visitors can use small telescopes and binoculars to find objects in the night sky for themselves.

Lake Afton Public Observatory is operated by the Fairmount Center for Science and Mathematics Education, a part of the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Science at Wichita State University.

Geology professor's research highlighted in national publication

Wed, 8 Jun 2011 10:55:00 CST

Wichita State University geology professor Sal Mazzullo, WSU alumnus Brian Wilhite, and graduate students Beau Morris and Robert Turner were featured in the American Association of Petroleum Geologists "Explorer," the flagship publication for the petroleum geology industry.

The AAPG "Explorer," which is read by tens of thousands of people each month, published two articles in the May issue detailing new research done by Mazzullo, Wilhite, Darwin Boardman from Oklahoma State University, and several graduate students.

The publication features new and innovative advances in the understanding of Mississippian-age stratigraphic architecture and its relevance to the exploration for petroleum occurrences in the subsurface rocks in Kansas, Oklahoma and throughout the mid-continent.

Their research greatly expands Mazzullo and Wilhite's earlier studies of the subsurface Mississippian-age Cowley Formation in Kansas. That research was published in the 2009 issue of the "Bulletin" of the AAPG.

The Cowley Formation is a very prolific, but previously poorly understood petroleum reservoir in the mid-continent, Mazzullo said.

Advances in understanding of the stratigraphic architecture gained from their work at the outcrop level in Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma has been re-applied to the subsurface of Oklahoma and Kansas to aid in better understanding previously misinterpreted reservoirs, hence adding new hydrocarbon production, Wilhite said.

In large part because of their research, Mazzullo said, now oil exploration can be more methodical, based on clear, concise and repeatable/testable science.

'Jumping on this information'

Oil exploration that used to be hit-and-miss is now more successful.

That's good news for petroleum geologists and oil and gas companies.

"The mid-continent region is experiencing a renaissance in exploration and production based on new drilling technology and a renewed desire to better understand discrete reservoir objectives, which makes the timing of our work quite relevant to Mississippian exploration," Wilhite said.

It's also a boost to local economy, meaning more money for landowners as the oil companies lease property for exploration. Subsequent oil and gas production from this recent leasing activity will yield additional tax revenues to county and state coffers.

"For the first time, we now have a more coherent picture of the Mississippian-age reservoirs that have produced so much oil and gas in the mid-continent, and petroleum geologists are literally jumping on this information," Mazzullo said.

Learn how to use your telescope from the pros

Mon, 6 Jun 2011 08:00:00 CST

Lake Afton Public Observatory is holding three "Bring Your Own Telescope" programs designed to help people who own a telescope, or want to own one, better learn how to use them.

The programs, which are free to the public, will be held on the observing pad north of the observatory building. Members of the Kansas Astronomical Observers will be there assisting participants.

Times and dates for the program:

9 p.m. Friday, June 17
9 p.m. Friday, July 15
9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19

For more information, call (316) 978-7827 (WSU-STAR) or go to http://webs.wichita.edu/lapo.

The Lake Afton Public Observatory is operated by the Fairmount Center for Science and Mathematics Education, a part of the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Science at Wichita State University.

For this crew, popular program at Cosmosphere always an adventure

Thu, 2 Jun 2011 08:37:00 CST

Minimum wage and long hours of work haven't discouraged those hoping for a shot at becoming space camp counselors at the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center's summer educational camps.

There never seems to be a shortage of qualified staff.

"It always amazes me the caliber of the applicants," said Tom Holcomb, education director for the Cosmosphere, on a recent morning.

Staff members include 21-year-old Katie Gillmore, a returning counselor. The Wichita State University pre-med senior and history major envisions a future attending medical school, then hopefully landing a job with NASA, doing medical testing with astronauts.

Michael Staab, 22, also a veteran camper and counselor, credits those experiences with heavily influencing his life. The Wichita State University student is currently in a cooperative education program working at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Despite his busy schedule, he keeps returning to Hutchinson.

"I love this place," said Staab, who was on hand to help with counselor training. "Camp is a different beast. It never gets old."

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Service and faculty awards spring 2011

Wed, 18 May 2011 16:02:00 CST

2011 Distinguished Service Awards
The President's Distinguished Service Awards and the unclassified professionals' Wayne Carlisle Distinguished Service Award were presented during the Shocker Pride Celebration Tuesday, May 3. Here is a list of 2011 Shocker Pride honorees; their biographical information is available at http://www.wichita.edu/j/?1022.

President's Distinguished Service Awards:
Ali Levine, administrative officer, School of Music
Mark McCain, director of radio and general manager, KMUW 89.1
Patty McLinden, senior administrative assistant, Health Professions Dean's Office
Mary Myers, administrative specialist, sport management
Larry Ramos, director, TRIO Talent Search Project Discovery
D. Paul Rillema, professor, chemistry
Larry Spurgeon, Larry Jones Faculty Fellow in Business Ethics, finance, real estate and decision science
Peter Zoller, associate professor, English

Wayne Carlisle Distinguished Service Award:
Marilyn Yourdon, director, Student Health Services

2011 University Faculty Awards
Wichita State faculty members were honored during the 2011 Faculty Awards on Tuesday, May 10, at the RSC Ballroom. Mildred Edwards with the Kansas Board of Regents gave remarks and assisted with presenting the awards. The honorees chosen are recognized for setting the gold standard for teaching, research and creative activities at WSU. Here is a list of 2011 Faculty Award honorees; their biographical information is available at http://www.wichita.edu/j/?1048.

Excellence in Teaching:
Kelly Anderson, assistant professor, dental hygiene, College of Health Professions
Frank Rokosz, associate professor, human performance studies, College of Education

Community Research Award:
Deborah Ballard-Reisch, professor and Kansas Health Foundation Distinguished Chair in Strategic Communications, Elliott School of Communication

Leadership in the Advancement of Teaching:
Brien Bolin, associate professor, School of Social Work

Academy for Effective Teaching:
Jen-Chi Cheng, associate professor and chair, economics, W. Frank Barton School of Business

Excellence in Creative Activity:
Lynne Davis, associate professor and Ann and Dennis Ross Endowed Faculty of Distinction in Organ, School of Music

Excellence in Research:
William Miles, associate professor, economics, W. Frank Barton School of Business

Young Faculty Scholar:
Kirk Ring, assistant professor, management, W. Frank Barton School of Business

Wichita State student finds motivation after accident

Fri, 13 May 2011 08:05:00 CST

Just before 3 p.m. today (May 13), Thanh Vo will drive to Koch Arena at Wichita State University to pick up her diploma. Most people call it the walk, as in the graduation walk, the short hike across the stage to take the diploma earned with hard study and a good grade point average.

But Thanh will not walk. Instead she will roll, in her wheelchair, a chair in which she has learned many things.

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Learn how to use your telescope from the pros

Mon, 9 May 2011 14:41:00 CST

Lake Afton Public Observatory and Kansas Astronomical Observers (KAO) are hosting "Bring Your Own Telescope" programs to help people who own telescopes learn how to use them.

The free programs will be held at the following times:

9 p.m. Friday, July 15
9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19

Bring your telescope to the observing pad behind north of the observatory building, where KAO members will help you. They will also have a number of their own telescopes available to look through.

If you don't have a telescope but are considering buying one, you might also benefit from attending one or more of the sessions.

Lake Afton Public Observatory is operated by the Fairmount Center for Science and Mathematics Education, a part of the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Science at Wichita State University.