In the Headlines
Rings like Saturn’s, but supersized
Think you’ve seen big rings in our own solar system? Not even close. When the University of Rochester’s Eric Mamajek tells other astronomers about the object he and his colleagues discovered about 430 light-years from Earth, they tend to be skeptical–very skeptical.
This planet’s rings make Saturn look puny
“This planet is much larger than Jupiter or Saturn, and its ring system is roughly 200 times larger than Saturn’s rings are today,” co-author Eric Mamajek, professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Rochester, said in a statement. “You could think of it as kind of a super Saturn.”
Behold a material so water repellent that liquid just bounces off
Two scientists at the University of Rochester, Chunlei Guo and Anatoliy Vorobyev, have created a metal surface that is so hydrophobic that it makes Teflon look like superglue by comparison.
Science & Technology
Professor named to Forbes’ ‘30 Under 30’ in science
Each year, Forbes Magazine lists the top 30 people under the age of 30 who have reached notable success in their chosen field. Elika Bergelson, a research assistant professor in the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, was selected for the 2015 list for her work on the development of language in infants.
Fatty acids in fish may shield brain from mercury damage
New research provides further evidence that the benefits of fish consumption on prenatal development may offset the risks associated with mercury exposure. The Seychelles Child Development Study – a partnership between the University of Rochester. Ulster University, and the Republic of Seychelles Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education – is one of the longest and largest studies of its kind.
Wilmot Cancer Institute a destination in fight against deadly disease
Four decades into the nation’s ‘war on cancer,’ the Wilmot Cancer Institute and its director Jonathan Friedberg prepare for the next era in the fight.
Society & Culture
Author and director of Schomburg Center of Black Culture to deliver MLK Commemorative Address
Khalil Gibran Muhammad will deliver the University’s 2015 Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Address. Muhammad is author of Condemnation of Blackness: Race, Crime and the Making of Modern Urban America, in which he explored the roots of the popular conception of black criminality in America.
Professor’s 5 decades of research on Congress now available online
A lifetime of scholarly work by one of the University’s most preeminent political science professors is now available to researchers across the world. For the first time, the papers of Richard Fenno, Jr., Distinguished University Professor Emeritus in the Department of Political Science, are easily accessible through a new web portal: www.richardfenno.com.
Digital Humanities Project turns a lens on prewar Japan
For the last 15 years, professor Joanne Bernardi has collected more than 1,100 postcards, film prints, brochures and other visual representations of early 20th century Japan. But how can this collection continue to grow while allowing other scholars to register and contribute content? Enter the Digital Humanities Center.
Photo of the Week
MLK Commemorative Address
Khalil Gibran Muhammad, director of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture at the New York Public Library, meets with students at the Douglass Leadership House before delivering the annual University of Rochester Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Address.
Student Life
Making his move
Computer science major Francis Hinson ’16 says that chess is a game in which players improve through study, not just repeated play. His start-up, Chesscademy, which he founded with two other students, aims to make such instruction readily available and fun. (Photo: Josh Edelson/AP Images for Rochester Review)
Student activities assistant director honored for leadership
Stacey Fisher, assistant director for Wilson Commons student activities, was recently awarded the Joseph H. Benedict Award by the Association of College Unions International (ACUI), an international organization for university union and student activities professionals.
Student group aims to change conversation around mental health
Stigma and taboo can keep individuals suffering from mental illness from getting help. The University’s chapter of Active Minds hosts a variety of events to encourage a dialogue about mental health and to combat misconceptions about common mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.
The Arts
Pianist Peter Serkin performs with Eastman Philharmonia
Distinguished American pianist and classical music legend Peter Serkin will perform with the Eastman School of Music’s Philharmonia orchestra under conductor Neil Varon on Saturday, Feb. 21,
(en)Gendered exhibit marks tenth anniversary
For ten years, this annual competition has showcased the artwork of undergraduate students exploring ideas of gender and sexuality. From January 23 through February 27, an exhibition in Rush Rhees Library features the 2015 jury’s top selections.
Organ concert celebrates University of Rochester Press, new book on Mendelssohn
Audiences will have the rare opportunity to hear the entire Eastman School of Music organ department faculty perform during a concert celebrating the 25th anniversary of the founding of the University of Rochester Press and publication of a book edited by Eastman musicologist Jürgen Thym.
University News
MAG closed today after nearby fire
The Memorial Art Gallery remains closed Wednesday, Jan. 28, after a fire damaged a nearby building that was once part of the University’s historic Prince Street Campus.
Investiture ceremony of Andrew Ainslie as dean of Simon Business School
Andrew Ainslie will be formally installed as the seventh dean of Simon Business School during an investiture ceremony on Tuesday, February 3, in the Interfaith Chapel. President Joel Seligman will preside and present Ainslie with a Dean’s Medal, recognizing his leadership to the school.
2015 Diversity Award winners honored at annual Martin Luther King Jr. address
The Eastman Pathways Program and Kristin Hocker, an organizational development specialist with Human Resources, were honored as the University’s 2015 Presidential Diversity Award recipients.
