Posted on Apr 21, 2009

For Cybil Tribié ’10, Earth Day is another good chance for a volunteer cleanup effort at a local park. For several campus groups, the day offers a chance to update the community on sustainability initiatives and ways to "live green." 

To mark Earth Day – celebrated each year on April 22 – Union has planned a day full of activities. From noon to 2 p.m. Wednesday in Reamer, there will be a host of educational tables including Union Environmental Club, Octopus’ Garden and U Sustain. And from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Tribié will lead volunteer efforts at a park located at Park Place and South Avenue.

“As long as we are students here, we are also a part of the community, and it is partly our responsibility to maintain it and be an active part of it,” Tribié said.

Below is a list of events:

Wednesday, April 22

Noon:  Sustain 2009 Webcast, Reamer Auditorium

Noon-2 p.m.: Come to the tables outside of Reamer (facing the Nott) and inside Reamer (across from the elevator) to hear about Union College sustainability initiatives and what you can do to live green from the Union Environmental Club and U Sustain.

Noon-1 p.m. – Live Webcast of a speech by Alan Belensz, of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Office of Climate Change. Belensz will be addressing climate change and the new energy economy. The speech will be broadcast in the Reamer Auditorium.

4-7 p.m.: Off-campus Park Avenue community stewardship cleanup event. Come to the park on the corner of Park Avenue and South to help restore the park and beautify the community. This event is lead by Cybil Tribie ’11. Click here for a map of the park location.

4:30 p.m.: On-campus Hans Groot Creek cleanup. This area is near the bridge and the hockey rink.

8:30-9 p.m.: Earth Hour – Turn off your lights to conserve energy.

For more, visit the U Sustain activities page here.

Posted on Apr 21, 2009

Even if biology isn’t your favorite subject, chances are you know about Charles Darwin. You’re probably even thinking “survival of the fittest” at this very moment.

This phrase relates to Darwin’s theory of evolution, now a cornerstone of modern science.

In recognition of the British man’s remarkable contributions – like this theory – institutions around the world are celebrating the 200^th anniversary of his birth in 1809. Here at Union, the celebration includes a new exhibit at Schaffer Library, a lecture, and food befitting the occasion.

“His discoveries and ideas changed the whole way we think about the history of mankind,” said Librarian Ellen Fladger. “People have been arguing about it, really, since he presented his ideas.

“He’s just a hugely important figure in all kinds of ways.”

On Thursday, the library will open its “Darwin @ Union” exhibit, which features a recent gift from Aaron Feingold ’72. Feingold, whose daughter, Rachel, is a freshman, donated four early editions of Darwin’s works to the College. The exhibit, located on the first floor of the library, runs through May 21 and also showcases work by individuals who influenced Darwin.

Other activities on Thursday include food in Upper Class Dining inspired by the Darwin family cookbook, and a lecture by Mark Walker. The John Bigelow Professor of History will present “Charles Darwin and Human Evolution” in Olin Auditorium at 7 p.m.

Darwin’s theory of evolution is discussed in his book, “On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection.”

The book, published in 1859, was extremely controversial. It made it seem possible that even humans might have evolved – maybe from apes – and forever altered the prevailing orthodoxy on how the world was created.

Posted on Apr 16, 2009

With construction of the Peter Irving Wold Center slated to begin in May, the first phase of the project — relocation of utilities — may result in revised foot traffic patterns as early as next week, according to Doug Klein, dean of interdisciplinary studies and special programs.

The building site is between the Olin Center, Science and Engineering and Schaffer Library.

Project updates will be posted to the Wold Center Web site. The building is set to be completed by early 2011. 

Posted on Apr 15, 2009

Former Vermont governor and Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean spoke Monday, April 13, in Memorial Chapel.

More than a half-dozen media representing print, television and radio, came to campus to cover Dean's talk, which attracted more than 500 people.

To read an account of Dean's visit in The Daily Gazette, click here (registration may be required).

Posted on Apr 15, 2009

The Times Union featured a piece on the Mandeville Gallery’s newest exhibit, “Dynamic Equilibrium,” which explores the intersection of art and science. It seeks to stimulate interdisciplinary dialogue by presenting contemporary artists who explore science and contemporary scientists who explore art.

Two Union scientists are among those whose work is featured in the exhibit. Electrical Engineering Professor Palma Catravas and Associate Professor of Biology Kathleen LoGiudice have teamed up to supply the show with captivating images from the College’s scanning electron microscope (SEM).

To read the story, click here (registration may be required).

Posted on Apr 15, 2009

When Stephen Schneider ‘09 and Greg Fullenkamp ’09 arrived in Kennesaw, Ga. earlier this month, they’d never flown the airplane they were entering in the Society of Automotive Engineers Aero Design competition. They’d watched their 15-pound creation taxi along the Union track, but that was it.

Nevertheless, the mechanical engineering students, coached by Ashok Ramasubramanian, held their own in the three-day event, which drew contenders from schools in Canada, Poland, Mexico, Venezuela, Germany, Brazil and India.

“Not having tested the plane before competition, it was satisfying to see it take its first flight,” Fullenkamp said. “We didn’t win, but we were able to stand up to the competition – at least most of it.”

It’s been nearly a decade since Union last participated in the contest, according to Ramasubramanian, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering. Unfortunately, the College’s radio-controlled plane didn’t get off the ground that year.

Schneider and Fullenkamp faced their own technical hurdle when their engine failed to start. With some diagnostic help from another team, the duo’s aircraft ultimately performed well in flight trials.

“We finished 21^st out of 44 teams,” said Ramasubramanian. “If we were scored just on flight performance, we would have finished higher.”

The Union plane, which has a wing-span of about six feet, carried a payload of 13.2 pounds during flight trials. The overall winning team, from Brazil, carried 28 pounds and excelled in the competition’s second crucial challenge.

During the oral presentation portion, each team tried to convince a mock government customer to buy its plane.

“We didn’t do that well in the oral competition,” Ramasubramanian said. “We didn’t know what to expect and we didn’t get to see the other teams present.”

“We made lots of rookie mistakes that cost us points,” he added. “We’ll have to figure that presentation out.”

Despite their setbacks, Schneider, Fullenkamp and Ramasubramanian consider their performance a great success. It was also a valuable learning experience.

“This was real-life, real-time engineering,” Ramasubramanian said. “Planes that landed usually sustained some damage, so the students would run off to the tent and furiously patch and glue to repair them.”

Schneider and Fullenkamp, who were also coached by Mechanical Engineering Associate Professor Frank Wicks, plan to give an advice-filled presentation to juniors interested in competing next year.

“We’ll tell them to start preparing way early,” Schneider said. “At the competition, before anyone had even flown, people were already asking the organizers when the rules for the 2010 contest might be published.”