Posted on Feb 9, 2001

Julius Barbanel, professor of mathematics, has written two papers: “On the structure of Pareto optimal cake partitions” in the Journal of Mathematical Economics (vol. 33, 2000, pp. 401-424); and (with J. Dunn) “One model for an integrated math/physics course focusing on electricity and magnetism and related calculus projects” in American Journal of Physics (vol. 68, 2000, pp. 749-757). Barbanel also gave a talk, “On the Structure of Pareto Optimal Cake Partitions,” at the First World Congress of the Game Theory Society in Bilbao, Spain, last July.

Robert Fleischer, research professor of geology, wrote a letter in the Sept. 29, 2000 issue of the journal Science in response to an article about astronomer P.J.E. Peebles, which described him as “a theorist who predicted the remnant of the big bang in the form of microwave radiation.” Fleischer points out that Ralph Alpher, distinguished research professor of physics, and his colleague, the late Robert Herman, were the first to make the prediction in two articles they published in the late 1940s. Also, a list of “astronomy's greatest hits” compiled by Virginia Trimble in a recent issue of American Physics Society News, puts at Number 5 the discovery that the universe is expanding from a hot dense phase, citing research by Alpher and others.

Posted on Feb 9, 2001

A number of events celebrating Black History Month are planned at the College. Some of them are:

• Saturday, Feb. 17, 5 p.m., Old Chapel. “Amateur Night at Old Chapel,” a variety talent show modeled after similar shows at the Apollo Theater.
• Tuesday, Feb.20, 6:30 p.m., Fero House. Film and discussion: The Kings of Comedy.
• Saturday, Feb. 24, 5 p.m., Open House (Fox) “Taste of the Tropics” exploring cuisine of Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America.

Posted on Feb 9, 2001

Works by five noted photographers – Thomas Broening, Robert Dahlquist, Linda Levinson, Klaus Schnitzer and Pamela Vander Zwan – will be featured in the Photography Invitational 2001 through March 14 in Union College's Arts Atrium Gallery.

.The show, free and open to the public, is curated by Timothy Archibald, Union Prof. Martin Benjamin and Schnitzer.

Broening, a professional photographer living in San Francisco, uses an 8 x 10 view to make street portraits. This is the first exhibition of his works featuring rich digital, ink jet prints.

Dahlquist is a graphic designer whose work consists largely of “typographic treatments, logotypes and identity systems.” He will exhibit works created with Diazo or blueprint process normally used by architects and planning engineers.

Levinson, who teaches photography and digital imaging at Montclair ( N.J.) State University, uses various photographic applications and contextual frame works to investigate the function of “found” photos as cultural artifacts and works of art.

Schnitzer, also a professor at Montclair State University, will exhibit mainly platinum prints. His early work is part of the tradition of social documentary and later moves into sequential imagery during the 70s.

Vander Zwan will be exhibiting works titled “The Bank Portraits,” black and white portraits of the neoclassical architecture of neighborhood banks. Fragile, beautiful, yet quietly subversive images, they are hand printed in a way that makes them appear to be graphite drawings.

For details, call ext. 6714.

Posted on Feb 9, 2001

Richard Bopp, RPI professor of earth and environmental sciences, will speak on “The Real Story of Contaminants in the Hudson from Sewage to PCBs” on Wednesday, Feb. 14, at 7 p.m. in the Nott Memorial.

His talk is the third in the six-part seminar series, “The Hudson River: From the Wilderness to the Sea,” sponsored by Environmental Studies and the Association for the Protection of the Adirondacks.

The series topic – the Hudson River – was planned to coincide with the dredging issue and the EPA decision, said John Garver, director of environmental studies.

“We want to highlight current environmental issues in a broad-based seminar series that addresses the scientific, political, and cultural aspects of a particular environmental issue,” he said. Previous seminars have focused on lakes and environmental change, global warming and the Adirondacks.

Other lectures in the series, all on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. in the Nott Memorial, are:

• Feb. 21 – “Adirondack Guides from the Hudson's Headwaters: A Short Season, Hard Work, Low Pay” with Chuck Brumley, author and licensed guide;
• Feb. 28 – “The Hudson River School Painters” with Robert T. McLean, art gallery proprietor;
• Mar. 7 – “Folk Music Along the Hudson” with George Ward, singer and folk historian.

Posted on Feb 9, 2001

The three dozen or so people huddled under the dome of the College's observatory last Saturday night had to chuckle when observatory manager Chuck Winrich stopped his narration to answer the phone.

“Hello, Pizza Hut … no the bread sticks will take longer than 30 minutes.”

Actually, the call was from students in the control room below. They wanted to know where they should next aim the 20-inch telescope for the monthly open house.

“Saturn,” Winrich replied.

Moments later, amid a low-pitched rumble, visitors had the odd sensation that the room was turning; what really happened was the dome and telescope were rotating to the southern sky to take in the ringed planet and a couple of its moons.

So it went on Saturday as Winrich, who is also planetarium director at the Schenectady Museum, led a tour of the night sky that also included stops at Venus, the moon, Jupiter and the Orion nebula.

Conditions on Saturday were near perfect, the stars and planets shining brightly through the cold, clear air.

Saturday's open house brought about 60 people to the top of the F.W. Olin Center, a typical turnout, Winrich says.

The open houses usually draw a few students and employees with their families, but most of the visitors seem to be folks from the local community.

The usual questions range from the predictable (How far away is Venus?) to the sensational (Have you seen any UFOs?). The discussion also has spurred some philosophical debate on the existence of extraterrestrial life.

Upcoming open houses are planned for Saturday, March 3, at 6:30 p.m. and Friday, April 20, at 8:30 p.m., the latter in conjunction with the Museum's celebration of Astronomy Week.

For more information on the observatory and the open houses, see the Web at www1.union.edu/~koopmanr/observatory.htm or call the hotline at 388-7100.