In Brief

Academic life to be discussed

Julius Getman, law professor at the University of Texas, will be lecturing on Monday, May 3, at 7 p.m. in Room 2-162 in Dewey Hall on "Academic Life: Is It Worth It?"

Getman will examine life at universities, from teaching and mentoring to scholarship and competition. He will explore how decisions are made on university campuses, the changing relationships between faculty and administration, and what university life is like for graduate students.

Getman is the former president of the American Association of University Professors and a preeminent scholar in the field of labor law. He has pioneered many empirical studies and continues to do extensive fieldwork. His books include In the Company of Scholars: The Struggle for the Soul of Higher Education and The Betrayal of Local 14: Paperworkers, Politics, and Permanent Replacements. He has written numerous articles for legal, educational, and labor journals.

The lecture is co-sponsored by the Graduate Organizing Group and the Rochester chapter of the American Association of University Professors. For more information call x5-6592.

'Nature vs. nurture' to be debated

Several University professors will participate in a discussion of the controversial issue of "nature vs. nurture" in child development on Wednesday, May 5, at 7 p.m. in Hoyt Hall.

The discussion will explore the critical period for language learning in children, the influence of parents and peers on intellectual and personality development, and how modern techniques for genetic screening affect the way in which we view human potential.

Elissa Newport, chair of the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, is an expert on language acquisition and will discuss the critical period for language learning. Judith Smetana, professor of clinical and social psychology, will explain the influence of parents and peers on social and personality development. Peter Rowley, professor of medicine at the School of Medicine and Dentistry, is involved in genetic testing and will talk about how these techniques will become increasingly influential in individual and public policy decisions. Richard Aslin, professor of brain and cognitive sciences, will moderate the discussion.

The debate is part of the Regional Alumni Council's Wednesday Evening Lecture Series. Admission is free and open to the public, but reservations are requested and can be made at x3-5888.

Smith's memorial service planned

The Department of Pediatrics is sponsoring a memorial service to honor David Smith on Saturday, May 8, at 12:30 p.m. in the River Campus Interfaith Chapel. There will be a reception in the chapel following the service. Smith died on February 23; he was 67.

A former chair of the pediatrics department, Smith also co-invented the Hib vaccine, which has almost eradicated childhood bacterial meningitis in America, Australia, and several European countries. He and co-inventor Porter Anderson worked on the vaccine while both were at the University.

Help Strong's kids on June 5

"Stroll for Strong Kids"--a two-mile walk to benefit Children's Hospital at Strong--will take place on Saturday, June 5, at 11 a.m. in Genesee Valley Park. It will be followed by a free lunch provided by Outback Steakhouse, plus music and activities for children.

Participants raise money through sponsorship pledges. Those who raise $75 or more will receive a commemorative T-shirt; prizes will be awarded to the top fund-raisers. Last year more than 500 people participated to help raise $30,000. For more information call x3-5948. (The last issue of Currents carried incorrect information on this event.)

Warner School sponsors program

Area teachers who want to research educational topics of interest under the guidance of mentors at the University are invited to apply for this year's "Teacher as Scholar" program.

The two-week program, sponsored by the Office of Professional Development at the Warner School, focuses on a small group of educators working on individual research projects that can be used in their home districts.

The program will be offered July 19-30 in Rush Rhees Library in the Treasure Room. An application and two letters of recommendation are due by May 21. For more information or an application call x5-7833.

Time to hit the links

The 14h Annual Hackers & Whackers Employee Golf Tournament will be held on Tuesday, August 3, at Shadow Lake Golf & Racquet Club. The cost of the tournament includes golf, cart, lunch, dinner, and prizes. Slots fill up quickly and are handled on a first-come, first-served basis. Full teams of four players per team are required to register. Call x5-4111 for further information or to request a registration form.

Call for crafters

The second annual "Crafts Under Glass" crafts show will be held on Friday, November 19, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., in Wilson Commons. Applications now are available to interested artisans and crafters and can be obtained by contacting Beverly Dartt (x4-3326 or bdartt@admin. rochester.edu).

Graduate school guide published

Nicholas Cohen--professor of microbiology and immunology, psychiatry, and oncology at the Medical Center--has collaborated with former URMC postdoctoral fellows Dale Bloom and Jonathan Karp on a book that provides a real-world view of the graduate school process and what it takes to earn a doctorate in the sciences.

Released by Oxford University Press, The Ph.D. Process: A Student's Guide to Graduate School in the Sciences offers those considering a graduate degree insight into the educational experience, from beginning to end.

"We drew from our own experiences as former graduate students and as individuals who now see the process from another perspective," Cohen said. "We also contacted hundreds of students who had helpful advice to give, and included many of their comments and reflections in the book."

The book provides an understanding about the graduate school experience, from the application process, to choosing an advisor, to writing and defending the dissertation. It also includes information for foreign students who face unique issues relating to graduate school in the United States. Cohen added that the book illustrates both the positives and the negatives encountered in earning a graduate degree, thus giving the reader the information needed to make an educated decision.

Student earns employee award

Scott Nuernberger, a Take Five Scholar, has been honored as Student Employee of the Year for New York State and the Northeast. He was one of three runners-up for the recent National Student Employee of the Year Award.

As an information analyst in the Department of Psychiatry at the Medical Center, Nuernberger is responsible for extensive and original computer programming; coordinating several research projects, including his own project; working with seriously ill patients; and training other students in research procedures. For two years he has worked with Steven Silverstein, assistant professor of psychiatry, on a research grant examining electrophysiological correlates of perceptual deficits in schizophrenia.

Nuernberger, who is majoring in brain and cognitive sciences and statistics, will enter a doctoral program in statistical science at Cornell University in the fall.

The competition is sponsored by the National Association of Student Employment Administrators. Nuernberger has received $250 in savings bonds, a gift certificate from University Computer Sales, and ceremonial plaques.

The winners were announced during Student Employment Week, April 4-10.