News roundups

September 14, 2011

Etc.: Campus News & Notes

WHEELS OF CHANGE: The University of Washington has been chosen to receive the “Wheels of Change” award presented by Zipcars Seattle office. The award recognizes the University for:

• Taking significant actions to lessen its negative environmental impact
• Promoting alternative transportation
• Giving back to the community, and
• Having fun while doing it

As part of an ongoing effort to make it easier for the campus community to leave their personal cars at home, the University offers U-PASS members the opportunity to join the Zipcar car sharing program at a discount. And UW has recently adopted the new Zipcar program for students 18-21 years old.  The Seattle campus hosts eight hybrid and fuel efficient Zipcars and all Zipcar vehicles park for free in any non-restricted campus location during a reservation.

Currently, almost 81 percent of commuters get  to UW Seattle using transportation options greener than driving in their cars alone. Other organizations honored with Zipcar Seattles  “Wheels of Change” award included  the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Swedish Medical Center, IA Interior Architects, Cascade Land Conservancy and Seattle Childrens Hospital.

HISTORY IN THE STARS: Woodruff Sullivan, a UW astronomy and adjunct history professor who has long devoted efforts to documenting the history of astronomical research, is the 2012 winner of the LeRoy E. Doggett Prize for Historical Astronomy. The prize, to be presented in January in Austin, Texas, is awarded every two years by the Historical Astronomy Division of the American Astronomical Society to someone whose long-term efforts and lifetime achievements have had significant impact on astronomical history.

Sullivan has specialized in the history of radio astronomy, a field in which he has been involved for four decades, and has written three books detailing the history of the field, the most recent published in 2009. He did his undergraduate work at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and earned a doctorate from the University of Maryland, joining the UW faculty in 1973. He was among the faculty members who were key in establishing the first graduate program in astrobiology at UW. Sundials also are a special passion for Sullivan, ever since he designed the sundial on the outside wall of the Physics-Astronomy Building in 1994.

CREATIVE CHEMIST: The American Chemical Societys Linus Pauling Award is being given to Larry Dalton, emeritus professor of chemistry and B. Seymour Rabinovitch Endowed Chair in Chemistry and George B. Kauffman Professor of Electrical Engineering. The award recognizes outstanding achievement in chemistry.

PSYCHOLOGY STAR: Ana Mari Cauce, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, has received the MFP James Jones Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Psychological Association. The award recognizes distinguished and exemplary long-term contributions to the field of racial and ethnic minority psychology. Cauce is also the Earl R. Carlson professor of psychology and professor of American ethnic studies.

ECONOMIC ADVISER: The Washington Governors Council of Economic Advisors now includes a UW professor. Neil Bruce, professor of economics, has been appointed to the council, which advises the governor on state financial matters, including the state budget, tax policy, the issuance of debt and debt management, cash management, and other fiscal matters that reflect upon the overall financial condition of the state.

MR. PRESIDENT: James Wellman, associate professor of international studies and chair of the Comparative Religion Program, will serve as president of the Pacific Northwest American Academy of Religion/Society for Biblical Literature in 2012. The organization covers Oregon, Washington, Idaho, western Montana, and the Canadian province of British Columbia.

‘CLASSY CFD: After months of “likes” on Facebook and online voting, the UW Combined Fund Drive has moved from the qualifying round to the top 25 and then the top 10 in the “Most Successful Fundraiser” category of the Classy Awards, presented by the social fundraising platform StayClassy. The nomination is now before a panel of judges who are reviewing semi-finalists. The winners will be announced on Sept. 17 at an awards ceremony in San Diego.

Do you know someone who deserves kudos for an outstanding achievement, award, appointment or book publication?  If so, send that persons name, title and achievement to uwtoday@uw.edu