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November 24, 2008

This Month in Research Update:

UChicago Argonne, LLC News

Argonne strategic plan on track, says Isaacs
At the October meeting of the UChicago Argonne, LLC Board of Governors for Argonne Eric Isaacs, Deputy Laboratory Director for Programs, laid out his plans for delivering a strategic plan to the Board by March 2009.

The strategic planning process started in July 2008 with the development of Argonne’s business plan for the DOE Office of Science which established six business lines for Argonne. The business lines are:

  1. Hard X-ray Science
  2. Advanced Computing for Science and Engineering
  3. Nanoscale Materials Science and Chemical Processes
  4. Sustainable Energy Technologies
  5. High Energy and Nuclear Physics
  6. National and Homeland Security

From subsequent planning activities, 17 themes emerged based on the input, analysis and contributions of over 150 Argonne employees who served on committees in addition to input from the Argonne Strategic Planning Group comprised of senior Lab managers.

Moreover, The Clement Group, a leading management consulting firm, was retained and a Board of Governors Strategic Planning Committee was formed lending considerable expertise to the process.

Members of the Board’s Strategic Planning Committee include Harry Davis, Roger L. and Rachel M. Goetz Distinguished Service Professor of Creative Management, Graduate School of Business, The University of Chicago (Chair); Charles V. Shank, Professor, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; Brian Hanessian, Director, McKinsey & Company; Jack Gould, Steven G. Rothmeier Professor Distinguished Service Professor of Economics, University of Chicago Graduate School of Business; Walter Massey, President Emeritus, Morehouse College; Jim Madara, CEO, University of Chicago Medical Center; University Vice President for Medical Affairs; Dean, Division of the Biological Sciences; Dean, the Pritzker School of Medicine; Sara and Harold Lincoln Thompson Distinguished Service Professor; and Larry Hill, Associate Vice President for National Laboratories, Secretary to the UChicago Argonne, LLC Board of Governors for Argonne.

A review process was developed to refine the themes and develop 4-6 key Lab objectives that will define the Lab’s future mission and vision. The evaluation phase is currently underway and the strategic plan is expected to be completed by March.

Isaacs informed the Board that part of the Lab’s mission will include strong, sustainable partnerships across, and external to, the Lab and the ability to weather tough times. “Lab objectives will be guided by the principles of thinking big, the best people, safety and discovery,” Isaacs said.

“This process will help us to develop an exciting future for Argonne based on our core competencies as well as our key partners that deliver on our customers’ needs,” said Isaacs. “It will allow us to determine clear objectives for the Lab, increase teamwork and collaboration, and establish a robust planning process that will ensure long-term prosperity for Argonne.”

Argonne Director Search makes progress
The search for a new Laboratory Director is moving forward according to Maryfrances Miley, Director of Programmatic Reviews, Office of the Vice President for Research and National Laboratories, and Search Committee staff member. Working with executive search firm Spencer Stuart, the committee has identified several interesting candidates for consideration and will soon begin the interviewing process.

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University Research Highlights

University of Chicago Establishes Initiative to Give Big Ideas Support
The University of Chicago has launched the Arete Initiative, an intellectual incubator program designed to assist faculty in developing innovative, large-scale interdisciplinary research projects.

In announcing the initiative, Donald Levy, the Albert A. Michelson Distinguished Service Professor in Chemistry and Vice President for Research and for National Laboratories at the University, wrote that Arete's primary purpose is "to remove the barriers to success by providing expertise in leading interdisciplinary teams" and ensure that investigators have the resources they need to produce "research innovations, advance what were thought to be intractable problems, influence multiple disciplines and spawn new scholarly fields."

The initiative emerged from a collaboration among John Cacioppo, the Tiffany and Margaret Blake Distinguished Service Professor in Psychology; Matthew Christian, Administrative Director of the Center for Cognitive & Social Neuroscience; and Ken Olliff, Director for Strategic Foundation Initiatives. Cacioppo is the faculty director of the initiative, while Christian and Olliff are co-leaders.

"Over the past year, that work has blossomed into a pilot program, vetted and approved by the administration, and recently was established as a University initiative institutionalized within my office," Levy said. Full story.

University Research Videos

The Secret Life of Shells: Looking into the ecological past
Susan Kidwell, William Rainey Harper Professor in Geophysical Sciences, discusses a new tool for measuring human impact on marine ecosystems. By collecting data on the living organisms and the skeletal remains of those same organisms scientists can perform what is called a live-dead analysis. Large discrepancies in the ratio of living and dead organisms correlate with radical changes in the ecosystem. View video.

Gobero: Preparing the Triple Burial
One of the most exquisite discoveries from Gobero is a triple burial which preserved an adult woman interred with two young children. The bodies were buried with their arms around each other and were holding hands. Paul Sereno's vision was to create something unique that would enable people to 1) view the burial from both sides and 2) preserve all of the scientific information in place: from the tiniest bones to the original position of the artifacts. He met with his staff at the University of Chicago Fossil Lab to make a plan. Paleoartist Tyler Keillor brought a "paleo-trifecta" of art, science and innovation to bear in order to help reconstruct this ancient scene. View video.

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Events

University, Labs offer family friendly programming as part of Science Chicago
As part of Science Chicago, the world's largest science celebration, the University of Chicago, Argonne and Fermilab have created dozens of exciting, science-based educational programs that are open to both children and adults. The yearlong program aims to highlight science and technology achievements, increase access to science learning experiences and promote dialogue about science and technology. Full story.

Science Chicago events:

NOW THROUGH DECEMBER 13, BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
EXHIBIT: “SCIENCE IN ART”
THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, GORDON CENTER FOR
INTEGRATIVE SCIENCE, 929 EAST 57TH STREET, CHICAGO
The University of Chicago presents “Science in Art” -- a juried art exhibit featuring multimedia art from scientist-artists at the University of Chicago, Argonne National Laboratory, and Fermilab, as well as artists whose subject is science. The exhibit highlights cross-disciplinary connections in the development, expression, and exploration of novel ideas. For details, visit: www.uchisciart.org. To arrange an appointment to see the exhibit, email Rebecca Ayers at rayers@uchicago.edu. All ages. Free. Full story.

SELECT THURSDAYS, 5:30 PM-7:30 PM
GREAT CONVERSATIONS: THE BEAUTY OF SCIENCE LECTURE SERIES
THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO/DOWNTOWN, GLEACHER CENTER,
450 NORTH CITYFRONT PLAZA DRIVE, CHICAGO (773-702-1722)
The strangeness and beauty found at the cutting edge of contemporary science is the theme for this series of discussions ranging from cosmological explorations of the beginnings of the universe to the work of environmental scientists concerned about Earth’s future. Join the Graham School for food, drink, and the best talk in town! Registration required. Adults. Fees apply.

OCTOBER 18 – MAY 9
SELECT SATURDAYS, 9:00 AM-2:30 PM
BIOLOGY TODAY: SEMINARS ON CURRENT RESEARCH
THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES LEARNING CENTER, ROOM 109,
924 EAST 57TH STREET, CHICAGO (773-834-4699)
High school students and their teachers are invited to attend this series of eight seminars delivered by University of Chicago faculty in the Biological Sciences. The seminars are offered one Saturday each month and cover current research performed in the faculty’s laboratories. Each seminar is followed by a meeting where teachers from Chicago private and public high schools share ideas on teaching science in classroom as well as laboratory settings. (STEP: Science Teachers Exchange Program) Lecture dates: 10/18, 11/15, 12/13, 1/10, 2/7, 3/7, 4/18, 5/9. Advanced registration required. Call Beatrice Fineschi at: 773-834-4699. High school students and adults. Free.

NOVEMBER 23, 7:00 PM-8:30 PM
DISCUSSION:
SCIENCE EDUCATION FOR KIDS IN THE 21ST CENTURY
UNCOMMON GROUND, 1401 WEST DEVON AVENUE, CHICAGO
Experts from the University of Chicago’s Center for Elementary Math and Science Education will engage parents in an interactive discussion: “What is good science education for your kids for the 21st Century?” The discussion will center on the importance of high quality science education and what parents should expect their children to know and be able to do in science starting as early as preschool. Adults. Free.

DECEMBER 6, 10:00 AM-12:30 PM (GROUP 1); 2:00 PM-4:30 PM (GROUP 2)
“PHYSICS WITH A BANG!”
HOLIDAY LECTURE AND OPEN HOUSE
THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, SAMUEL KERSTEN, JR. PHYSICS
TEACHING CENTER, 5720 SOUTH ELLIS AVENUE, CHICAGO
Students, families, teachers, and those simply curious are invited to attend the University of Chicago Physical Sciences Division Holiday Lecture and Open House. See exciting, loud, surprising, and beautiful physics demonstrations performed by Professors Sidney Nagel and Heinrich Jaeger. Tour labs where scientists conduct research, learn about their latest findings and participate in hands-on activities. Limited space available. All ages. Free.

JANUARY 17, 9:00 AM-11:30 AM
ARGONNE NATIONAL LABORATORY:
EVALUATING HYDROGEN, FUEL CELLS, AND BATTERIES
ARGONNE NATIONAL LABORATORY, 9700 SOUTH CASS
AVENUE, ARGONNE (773-947-3150)
Look for upcoming details at: http://sciencechicago.uchicago.edu.

JANUARY 17, 1:00 PM-5:00 PM
FERMILAB FAMILY OPEN HOUSE
FERMI NATIONAL ACCELERATOR LABORATORY,
PINE STREET AND KIRK ROAD, BATAVIA
Watch Mr. Freeze’s fabulous cryogenics show, explore physics concepts with hands-on activities, and ask a real-life scientist your physics questions! To register, contact Nancy Lanning at 630-840-5588 or visit: http://ed.fnal.gov/ffse/openhouse. Ages 8 and up. Tours restricted to ages 10 and up. Free.

JANUARY 17 - FEBRUARY 21
SATURDAYS, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM
PHAROAH’S MENAGERIE:
THE SCIENCE AND ART OF ANIMALS IN ANCIENT EGYPT
ORIENTAL INSTITUTE MUSEUM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO,
1155 EAST 58TH STREET, CHICAGO (773-702-9520)
Go behind the scenes at the Oriental Institute, take part in hands-on examination of ancient specimens and discuss ways archaeologists interpret the animal bones found at ancient sites. This class will introduce the animals of ancient Egypt using both science and art through a combination of laboratory visits, classroom presentations, and museum gallery visits. Pre-registration required. $175, Oriental Institute members; $225, non-members. Adults.

For a full list of University, Argonne and Fermilab Science Chicago events that are open to the public, click here. Click here to visit the Science Chicago website.

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University Research in the News

Scientists inaugurate world's largest cosmic-ray observatory
Scientists of the Pierre Auger Observatory, a project to study the highest-energy cosmic rays, will celebrate the inauguration of their 3000-square-kilometer detector array at the southern site of the observatory in Malargüe, Argentina, this Friday, November 14, 2008. The event will mark the completion of the first phase of the observatory construction and the beginning of the project's second phase, which includes plans for a northern hemisphere site in Colorado, USA, and enhancements to the southern hemisphere site.

The inauguration celebration in Argentina will begin with an informal reception on November 13. A symposium on Friday, November 14, will include presentations on the origins of the project, the construction of the experiment and the latest science results. Full story.

NORC establishes center for advancing research and communication in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (ARC)
The National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago announced today the establishment of a new research center to assist the National Science Foundation (NSF) in advancing, assessing, and coordinating the diffusion of knowledge generated by basic and applied research in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

"ARC will increase the likelihood that opportunities for impacting policy and practice are not missed, and that investments in basic, upstream, ‘frontier’ STEM education research are supported and promising work is brought to scale," said Principal Investigator and NORC Senior Fellow Barbara L. Schneider (Michigan State University) who will direct the center. Full story.

Nature study demonstrates that bacterial clotting depends on clustering
Bacteria can directly cause human blood and plasma to clot—a process that was previously thought to have been lost during the course of vertebrate evolution, according to new research at the University of Chicago, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and Institut Pasteur in Paris. Their findings will be published online Nov. 2 in Nature Chemical Biology.

The discovery will improve scientists' understanding of coagulation during bacterial infections and may lead to new clinical methods for treating serious medical conditions such as sepsis and anthrax. Full story.

University of Chicago scientists invent new device that vividly controls, measures the dynamics and interactions of chemicals in live tissue
Measuring an electrical current in an organism is pretty straightforward. All you need is an electrode. Measuring the flow of chemicals in cells or live tissue, however, is much more difficult because the molecules diffuse, mix with one another, and interact with their surroundings.

So to help understand biological processes, university researchers have invented a new device, the "chemistrode," that makes it possible to stimulate, record, and analyze molecular signals at high resolution—in terms of precisely when, where, and in what sequence the signals occurred. Full story.

New $11 million center to speed production of new compounds for drug discovery
Scientists from three Chicago-area universities have joined forces to develop new ways of building state-of-the-art chemical libraries that will help identify new compounds for future drug development and basic biomedical research.

Scientists from the University of Chicago, Northwestern University and the University of Illinois at Chicago will establish the Chicago Tri-Institutional Center for Chemical Methods and Library Development with a $9.2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health. Furthermore, the Chicago Biomedical Consortium, which is funded by the Searle Funds at the Chicago Community Trust, has awarded a $2 million Lever grant to support the core infrastructure of the center and to make its resources available to the entire Chicago scientific community. Full story.

Link to other recent University of Chicago news stories

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