October 19, 2009
Alumnus and Middle East expert to head center
Peter Bechtold, first recipient of Portland State's Middle East Studies certificate, will serve as director of the University's Middle East Studies Center for the next year. Gil Latz, vice provost for International Affairs, recently announced the hiring of Bechtold, who starts Nov. 1. Interim Director Jean Campbell will resume the post of associate director.
A 1961 mathematics graduate from Portland State, Bechtold went on to earn master's and doctoral degrees from Princeton. For many years he was an award-winning professor of Near East and North Africa Area Studies at the Foreign Service Institute. During his career he has given countless private briefings to ambassadors and flag officers and appeared on television and radio news programs. Having conducted field research in 25 Middle East countries, Bechtold is fluent in four dialects and classical Arabic. He also speaks German and French.
Harvesting solar power
Solar energy fuels the natural world, and it's carbon-free. Yet we've only just begun to tap this virtually endless power source. Professor Carl Wamser has dedicated himself to that challenge. He's leading a team of researchers in developing better solar cell materials that mimic the process of photosynthesis to produce clean energy cheaply. Read more >
Expect fire trucks but no fire
Portland Fire & Rescue plans to circle Shattuck Hall with parked fire engines Monday, Oct. 19, for the unveiling of firefighter memorial designs created by adjunct faculty in the University's Architecture Department. A reception is planned from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Shattuck's second floor and the designs will remain on public display in that location through Friday, Oct. 23, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Read more >
Telling their ‘Go Green' story
Hear how students and faculty "Go Green" in a new, short video made during PSU Party in the Park. See it on the Go Green Web site under YouTube—one of four links to social media sites that feature green wearing, green talking Portland State community members.
It's not to late to create your own video and enter the "How I Go Green" contest sponsored by the Office of University Communications. Submit a short video by Nov. 12; the first 75 will receive a free T-shirt. An iPod nano goes to the individual grand winner and a $150 Hot Lips Pizza gift certificate goes to the group grand winner.
Get tickets now for Burns Supper
Haggis. A Scottish delicacy made from sheep liver, heart, and kidneys cooked in the animal's stomach is not usually an American favorite—not by a long shot. However, on Jan. 23 the PSU community is invited not only to eat haggis, but to salute it as well.
At PSU's fourth annual Robert Burns Supper, John MacLean, a Scottish ex-patriot and PSU's assistant director for Facilities and Planning, will deliver Burns' poem "Address to a Haggis," followed by a toast of whisky. Tickets for the Supper, a fundraiser for the School of Fine and Performing Arts, are $40 for dinner, $40 for an optional whisky tasting, and available at the PSU Box Office in Smith Union. After Oct. 31, the price goes up to $45. Read more >
New alliance to help minority students in science
Portland State is participating in a five-year, $2.6 million project funded by the National Science Foundation to double the number of underrepresented minority students who graduate with bachelor's degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Provost Roy Koch is serving as the University's principal investigator for the project, which is led by University of Washington and includes Oregon State University, Boise State University, and Washington State University. Read more >
Expert to discuss regional growth
"What's the Big Idea?" a free lecture series sponsored by College of Urban and Public Affairs, presents Myron Orfield, former Minnesota legislator, speaking on "Creating Successful Communities: Sharing the Benefits and Burdens of a Growing Region," Tuesday, Oct. 27, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Smith Union Ballroom, third floor.
Orfield, now a law professor at University of Minnesota, is known as an expert on state and local finance, land use planning, civil rights, and state and local government. A panel of community leaders will respond to his presentation. Faculty are invited to bring their class to the event by contacting Raihana Ansary at ransary@pdx.edu. Read more about the event >
Applications sought for Faculty Fellows program
Faculty interested in community-university partnerships are invited to apply for the Center for Academic Excellence Faculty Fellows program. Faculty Fellows from across disciplines will meet as a team to work on individual projects while benefiting from group discussions and resources. Applications are due Nov. 17.
This fall, Faculty Fellows is designed specifically for faculty who are interested in exploring new community partnerships that will be coupled with academic curriculum or engaged research. All faculty, including those who have little or no experience with community partnership development, are encouraged to apply. The minimum award is $500 and up to 10 awards will be made. For more information, contact Amy Spring at springa@pdx.edu or 5-5582, or Kevin Kecskes at kecskesk@pdx.edu or 5-5642.
For October 2009
Notices | People | Presented | Published/Exhibited | Grants
