Archive for the ‘Just Interesting’ Category

06.02.10 | posted by Joe Hice |

N.C. State Trustee Norris Tolson on Sustaining biotech’s growth

By E. Norris Tolson, president and CEO N.C. Biotechnology Center

http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/06/01/505076/sustaining-biotechs-growth.html

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK This year, of all years, North Carolina needs to hold fast to its commitment to bioscience as a jobs-growth engine.

Even through the economic crisis, North Carolina’s bioscience sector maintained a respectable 1 percent growth in employment. That’s a stark contrast to the double-digit unemployment figures elsewhere. State support of the bioscience sector and of the business-building programs of the Biotechnology Center creates jobs. Excellent clean, dignified, $30-an-hour jobs.

North Carolina remains the third-largest bioscience state, behind only California and Massachusetts. If we fail to keep fueling this reliable jobs-growth engine, however, we could be overtaken by Maryland, Massachusetts and other states that are growing their bioscience industries by making billion-dollar investments. They want our jobs.

Here are some relevant North Carolina bioscience facts: (more…)

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06.01.10 | posted by Joe Hice |

What about a simple logo re-design has people all up in arms?

From the quality logo products blog:

When Michigan State Spartans confirmed that they were moving forward with a re-branding effort which included a new logo (featured on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Web site) the outcry from students, alumni, and fans was deafening.

Before long, online message boards began filling with negative opinions on the new design. In fact, by the time of writing this post, more than 18,100 fans had joined a Facebook page entitled: “JUST DON’T — No new Nike-influenced Spartan helmet.” One alum even admitted he’s part of a grassroots Web effort to flood the e-mail inboxes of MSU officials and coaches to stop the logo change.

Tom Izzo, the Spartans men’s basketball coach, supported the new logo stating:

“For all of you out there that are complaining, shame on you, because … we are trying to do what’s best for Michigan State University, our athletic department and the great people that we associate with and Nike’s done a heck of a job …We are going to be moving into that new century here in the proper way and I’m excited about it.”

spartan-logo

New logo is on Right

As a fan of many teams (none of which are the Spartans) I’d have to agree with Tom. Shame on students, alumni, and fans that would turn their backs on the organization they support so easily. Just take another glance at the two logos and see if these minor changes are worth so much fuss. It’s just a logo after all. (more…)

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05.18.10 | posted by Joe Hice |

Chancellor addresses budget in N&O op-ed

By Randy Woodson

Public universities like N.C. State are critical to the nation’s ability to maintain its edge in the global economy. They are especially important to states like North Carolina where emerging technologies and innovation are rapidly replacing more traditional economic models.  In an area like the Research Triangle that is heavily dependant on technology and innovation for its continued success, they are even more important.

NC State is an institution that has a clear understanding of its mission and a passion for connecting that mission to the people of the state and the nation.  It serves as an economic engine for the area and it helps train the workers of tomorrow.  The state’s continued support of higher education is critical if we’re to continue meeting those expectations.

An analysis of the latest available data indicates the economic impact of N.C. State and its alumni in the local economy totals about $4.2 billion annually.  We are also responsible for the creation of around 64,000 jobs. That’s approximately 20 percent of the Wake County workforce. (more…)

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05.13.10 | posted by Joe Hice |

Innovations in Sustainability is Topic of Upcoming CIMS Meeting

by Anna Rzewnicki

Innovations in Sustainability is the focus of the spring meeting of the Center for Innovation Management Studies (CIMS), an NSF-funded research and outreach center based in the North Carolina State University College of Management.

The meeting will be held May 25 through 27 at the Marriott City Center in downtown Raleigh, N.C. Registration is open until May 18, with registration details available online at cims.ncsu.edu.

(more…)

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05.07.10 | posted by Joe Hice |

NC State women assigned submarine duty

How cool is that.  Two NC State women will be among the first females to serve on submarines, the United States Navy announced yesterday.

Midshipman Megan Bittner, 22, from Chesapeake, Va., and Officer Candidate Karen Achtyl, 25, from Rochester, N.Y. will be commissioned as ensigns in the U. S. Navy on May 14. On May 15, the two students will graduate from North Carolina State, Magna Cum Laude. Bittner will graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering with a concentration in Green Chemistry and Engineering and a minor in Naval Science. Achtyl will graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering and a minor in Business Management.

sub-210

Following their commissioning and graduation on May 15, Bittner and Achtyl will attend Nuclear Power School in Charleston, S. C., before being assigned their first submarine.

“I don’t believe the Navy could have picked two finer females to pioneer the entrance of females in the submarine community,” said Marine Corps Lt. Col. Timothy Nichols, executive officer of the North Carolina Piedmont Region NROTC consortium, which includes Duke University, the University of North Carolina and N.C. State.

“These are two outstanding midshipmen and the perfect candidates to be officers and leaders in the submarine force. They are both ready and eager to start their Navy careers.”

(more…)

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04.26.10 | posted by Joe Hice |

Future of Communications in Higher Education — It’s all about Influence

I’ve written about this before, but wanted to share the updated presentation I made to the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) last week in Savannah.  Had a great group of about 60 people from as far away as Australia and Bermuda.  Great discussions followed.  More to come.  CASEFutureComm

Trends that affect us all

•Accountability to our various publics

•Challenge from the competition

•The rise of a new breed of Chancellor

•Changing role of communications

Accountability

•With increased competition for funding and the need to justify our contribution or value to all of our stakeholders; communications will have to lead message development and delivery

–Different messages for different groups

•Parents, students, civic leaders, business leaders, etc.

•How does giving help?

(more…)

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04.20.10 | posted by Joe Hice |

Experts: Planned Approach to Social Media is Key to Success

Can you say “duh” with me.  I know, I know.  It’s not fair to be critical when someone else is doing the work, but CASE ought to do better than this when they are dispensing advice on social media.

Of course planning is critical.  Planning is critical to the success of any communications campaign.  Print, broadcast, Web, invisible ink.  You’ve got to plan.  Use the classic RACE Formula; Research, Action (planning), Communicate (do the communicating) and Evaluate.  Or R-PIE; Research, Plan, Implement, Evaluate.

I’m not going to lecture any more so here’s the lowdown from CASE regarding social media:

Social media is all the rage but leading experts at a recent CASE conference say communications professionals must address five key questions before they start tweeting, blogging and posting content on behalf of their institutions. (more…)

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04.12.10 | posted by Joe Hice |

Public records requests and release of information process

As a public university, NC State receives numerous requests from individuals and organizations to provide information pertaining to research, education, our outreach efforts, funding, personnel and more.  While we strive to fulfill these “public records requests” as quickly and completely as possible, it can be a challenge, especially given the daily requirements and work load of our staff.  When requests ask for information that goes back for months — even years — you can only imagine.

To help provide consistency in the way we respond to these requests, the university has revised guidelines created back in July 2002.  I’m posting a copy of the revisions here, but there are a couple of  things to remember;  First, requests need to be made in writing.  This helps us understand the scope and nature of the requests and helps us determine who should respond.  We’ll log the requests and are in the process of developing a more consistent method of tracking their progress within the university. (more…)

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04.09.10 | posted by admin |

Test-Driving the iPad

NC State student Jason Smith

NC State student Jason Smith shows off his iPad.

With all of the hoopla surrounding Apple’s newest gadget, NCSU Libraries (which already loans students everything from laptops and digital cameras to scanners, eBook readers and GPS units) wanted to put a few in the hands of a few NC State students to see what they really think.

Do they like it? Do they hate it? Would the iPad be helpful as they go through their normal educational routine?

Earlier this week, University Communications and the Libraries teamed up to give these five students a creative online outlet for their musings, reviews and comments. It’s gone extraordinarily well – our iPad-related pageviews have eclipsed the 3,000+ mark in less than 48 hours.

So far, comments have run the gamut from “OMG!” to “What was Apple thinking?” as the bloggers download Apps, browse the Web and attempt to do everything they normally would, both in and out of the classroom.

iPad Test Drive: http://www.ncsu.edu/features/tag/ipad/

And if you’ve already visited the site, take another look – our students will be posting day and night for the next week or so.

Passion Rules!

1 of Many

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04.08.10 | posted by Joe Hice |

NC State Veterinary Medicine student selected by Howard Hughes!

Michael Peace, a third year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine student in North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, is the recipient of a $27,000 scholarship from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute to support his participation in an innovative, year-long research training program with the National Institutes of Health.

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute-National Institutes of Health (HHMI-NIH) Research Scholars Program provides “outstanding students at U.S. medical schools” the opportunity to receive research training under the mentorship of senior NIH research scientists. Peace is one of 42 scholarship recipients—and the only veterinary medicine student— selected from 207 applicants nationwide.

Scholars will live together at the Cloister, a residential community on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland. Peace will spend the first two months of the 12-month program interviewing with investigators and exploring opportunities with different labs prior to deciding which one of the more than 2,500 NIH projects encompassing cell biology, genetics, immunology, neuroscience, structural biology, and epidemiology is of interest and aligned with his career goals. He will then conduct basic, translational, or applied biomedical research under the direction of a senior NIH scientist before giving a formal presentation on his research activity. (more…)

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