Baylor profs receive NSF grant for ELG
Posted by The Baylor Proud Team in : Academics, Research, HonorsCongratulations to Drs. Ian Gravagne and Kenneth Van Treuren on receiving a $145,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to support their Engaged Learning Group (ELG)!
You might remember reading about their group, titled “Energy and Society: the costs and benefits of an energy-dependant civilization,” in the summer ’07 issue of Baylor Magazine. In short, ELGs provide a unique opportunity for freshmen to meet with their fellow residents for weekly, interdisciplinary lectures and discussions about a particular issue. Gravagne and Van Treuren’s ELG is one of three that began this fall. It’s a unique way to dive into a topic with professors from across campus.
Sic ’em, Drs. Gravagne and Van Treuren!
Fly Girls of World War II
Posted by The Baylor Proud Team in : Alumni, Research
You probably won’t find any mention of them in your history textbook, but during World War II over 1,000 women trained as combat pilots, flying all the same aircraft and types of assignments as male pilots (except for combat). As the war neared its end, however, the women were sent home with no recognition, their military records sealed and filed away for more than 30 years.
Baylor alumna Nancy Parrish’s mother was one of those pilots, known as a WASP - Women Airforce Service Pilots. (Another was 1937 Baylor grad Ruth Helm.) With help from the university, Parrish has begun a project to document the stories of those WASP still living. Among the project’s benefactors are Dr. Michael Korpi and Dr. Corey Carbonara from the film and digital media department, who over the years have loaned Parrish (a TV producer by trade) equipment to record the interviews. Perhaps her biggest supporter was former President Herbert Reynolds, who she says will forever remain the project’s honorary chairman.
Through January, you can see an exhibit on the WASP and Parrish’s group, Wings Across America, at Baylor’s Mayborn Museum. For more on Parrish and Wings Across America, read the Baylor Alumni Association’s recent Q&A with Parrish or visit their website, wingsacrossamerica.org.
Sic ’em, Wings Across America!
Honored down under
Posted by The Baylor Proud Team in : Academics, Research, HonorsBaylor professor Dr. James Garven took the mandate to “fling our green and gold afar” quite seriously this summer.
Garven was selected by a group of 13 Australian universities as one of three professors from across the globe to appear at a financial conference in Brisbane, Australia, in July. There, he spoke to a select group of Australia’s brightest finance Ph.D. students as part of a program designed to “enhance the integrity and efficiency of Australia’s financial system.”
Sic ’em, Dr. Garven!
Two Baylor profs make ALA Top 10 books list
Posted by The Baylor Proud Team in : Baylor 2012, Research, Honors
Not one, but two books by Baylor professors made the American Library Association’s list of the Top 10 Books in Religion for 2007.
The Listening Heart: Vocation and the Crisis of Modern Culture, by the late Dr. A.J. “Chip” Conyers, and Discovering God: The Origins of the Great Religions and the Evolution of Belief, by Dr. Rodney Stark, were among the list of 10 books that were honored in what the ALA noted was an exceptional year for books on religion.
Before his death from cancer in 2004, Dr. A.J. “Chip” Conyers was one of Truett Seminary’s first professors. A prolific writer, Conyers finished his final book not long before his death. Stark is the co-director for Baylor’s Institute for Studies of Religion, which gained national recognition for the University last year for its survey on American religious beliefs.
An honor like this is nice recognition that Baylor professors are among the leaders in the study of religion — one of the goals of Baylor’s Vision 2012, and a status befitting the world’s largest Baptist university.
Sic ’em, Baylor professors!
Baylor undertakes mammoth effort at local site
Posted by The Baylor Proud Team in : Academics, Research
USA Today ran a nice article today on the Waco Mammoth Site and Baylor’s involvement in both the excavation of the site and its preparation for possible inclusion as part of the National Park System.
In short, the site — located just outside Waco — is “the largest known concentration of prehistoric mammoths perishing from a single event.” Researchers have uncovered 24 mammoths, a prehistoric camel and a large cat at the site since its discovery in 1978.
Local and national officials predict that the site could become a hot tourist stop if or when it becomes part of the National Park System, due to its proximity to Waco and I-35. In the meantime, Baylor’s Mayborn Museum will continue to serve as the primary caretaker for both the remains and the site. While the site is not open to visitors now, mammoth enthusiasts can tour a replica of the site at the Mayborn Museum (pictured at right).
Sic ’em, mammoth-loving museum folks!
Working to preserve gospel music
Posted by The Baylor Proud Team in : ResearchMusic makes up a large part of our Christian heritage, from Benedictine chants to gospel choir. Much of that music is unavailable today, increasing the chances that even some recent music may soon be lost to history.
On the heels of writing a history of black gospel music, Baylor professor Robert Darden is heading up a project to preserve and digitize early traditional music.
Darden appeared on National Public Radio (NPR) this week to discuss the project and preserving black gospel music in general; take a listen.
Sic ’em, gospel historians!
Grant allows BU student to study fishy problem
Posted by The Baylor Proud Team in : Academics, ResearchFrom Lake Waco to the Brazos River to the creek running through the heart of campus, Baylor sometimes seems surrounded by water. (And that’s not including when a thunderstorm threatens to flood 5th Street…)
Baylor grad student Laura Dobbins recently received funding from the EPA to study the life found in bodies of water like these–specifically, at how aquatic life is effected by certain chemicals found in many personal care products, pharmaceuticals and foods. Her method’s unique approach may allow future scientists to predict the effects of other contaminants on the environment.
Sic ’em, Laura!
Raising riches for research
Posted by The Baylor Proud Team in : Academics, ResearchIn a recent speech to Baylor faculty and staff, provost Randall O’Brien shared this tidbit that I haven’t seen anywhere else with those gathered:
“In the area of research, since 2002 research expenditures have increased over 45%, with external, non-Baylor monies in support of Baylor research exceeding $13 million.”
Sic ’em, research fundraisers!
New computer cluster to aid Baylor research
Posted by The Baylor Proud Team in : Academics, ResearchBy next spring, Baylor should have in place a new high-performance computer system that will aid University researchers in their own work and in collaborations with other universities.
Put simply, the new system from Hewlett Packard is 35 times faster than what is currently in place, and about 1,000 times faster than your average personal computer. Work that would previously have taken five days will soon take only one — an advantage that should not only help current Baylor researchers, but also may help the University attract new professors.
Sic ’em, researchers!
Not-so-ancient history
Posted by The Baylor Proud Team in : Research, HonorsLooking back, it seems like every history professor I ever had was ancient. When my junior high history teacher was talking about the signing of the Magna Carta, I figured he had been there that day.
There are young historians out there, though — and Baylor has one of the best. Earlier this month, The History News Network named Dr. Thomas Kidd one of 20 Top Young Historians from all across the world based on his contributions to the area of historical research. Kidd has focused on 18th-century North American history, especially the history of evangelism.
Sic ’em, Dr. Kidd!
