November 10, 2007
Case’s unique SAGES program teaches communication beyond the keyboard
Want to learn how to beat your parents in an argument?
"In SAGES seminars, students refine their ability to speak persuasively," explains Peter Whiting, associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and director of SAGES.
SAGES, which stands for Seminar Approach to General Education and Scholarship, was one of 13 college programs featured in a recent report celebrating innovative teaching approaches in higher education.
The program is a four-year sequence of seminars that focuses on improving oral communication. SAGES is especially innovative because all of its courses are capped at 17 students—perfect for intimate classroom discussions, presentations and field trips.
Read more about SAGES and the report it was featured in.
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November 05, 2007
Mighty Mouse makes Case its home
The mouse of tomorrow has been born in Case Western Reserve University’s research labs. Researchers have found an enzyme that makes mice run faster, live longer and remain healthy.
"They are metabolically similar to Lance Armstrong biking up the Pyrenees; they utilize mainly fatty acids for energy and produce very little lactic acid” says Richard W. Hanson, professor of biochemistry
These “mighty mice” are able to reproduce after one year, which is considered to be “old age” for mice. Researchers have also found that mice with the new enzyme will eat 60 percent more than control mice while remaining more physically fit than the controls. Although researchers wish to continue experimenting with this gene, they understand human applications—at least at this point in time―would be unethical and close to impossible. They hope that these experiments will show the effects of prolonged exercise on other aspects in life.
Related
Check out Case’s undergraduate program in biochemistry.
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October 31, 2007
Case Western's Alumni Give a $4.5 million Makeover
Undergraduate labs get a $1.6 million face-lift thanks to alumnus L. David Baldwin (B.S. ’49 Physics). Baldwin’s research on mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) has lead to possible treatments of a multitude of afflictions. “The Baldwin gift will defray upgrade expenses to transform the undergraduate labs and accompanying classrooms to top-level electronic classrooms, adding physiology laboratory workstations and replacing 30 dissecting microscopes.” The donation will also create a three year term chair, the L. David and E. Virginia Baldwin Professorship. To date Baldwin has contributed $4.5 million through the Case Alumni Association (CAA).
http://blog.case.edu/case-news/2007/09/24/baldwin
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October 30, 2007
Some Quality Face Time with Research at Case Western
We can make you stronger, faster, better.
Thanks to Radhika Atit we may one day make a whole new you. Atit is currently researching the growth of face skin cells in the hope of being able to grow replacement skin for people with an facial injury. Her hope is to generate fully-functioning skin cells that give full sensory function to even growing new hair.
"The goal is to create synthetic functional skin using one's own cells," Atit said. "The problem so far in skin regeneration is that they don't have competent dermis, and without dermis, they have no functional parts of the skin." –Atit
The dermis is the layer of skin cells under the top layer that is the living and regenerating part of the skin. Atit hopes to use mice to understand how the dermis forms from blank precursor cells that can also form a multitude of structures.
http://blog.case.edu/case-news/2007/09/28/atit
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July 13, 2006
The 'Ol Women in Science Debate
Poor Larry Summers (former Harvard president). Not only was his comment about women having less intrinsic aptitude for science the catylst for a no-confidence vote (and eventual unemployment), but now this old-fashioned notion has been dubbed the "the Larry Summers Hypothesis" in the Wall Street Journal.
On the other hand, there's a lot of talk in the news about women "leaving men in the dust" at the college level. At Case, we still have more men than women (even though a larger percentage on the incoming class is female than ever. Case's historically male student body is often attributed to the fact that our strength in the sciences and engineering tends to attract more male applicants.
One of the things that makes gender issues like these so hard to talk about is that, with gender roles having changed so much in the last few decades, different people have such different personal experiences around them. Cultural factors come into play--for some, it just comes down to what your family believed was an appropriate role for a women. Partly, it's generational. A 50-year-old female science prof was more likely to be treated differently in her day than women today.
To add more uncertaintainty to the equation, social factors are now thought to mold biology:
The biggest recent revolution in neuroscience has been the discovery of the brain's "plasticity," or ability to change structure and function in response to experiences. "It's not hard to believe that differences between the brains of male and female adults have nothing to do with genes or the Y chromosome but may be the biological expression of different social settings," says biologist Joan Roughgarden of Stanford, who completed her own transgender transition in 1998.
What do you think? Students, do you think the tides have turned on this issue? How relevant are the historical perspectives offered by baby boomers to you? What are your experiences regarding this issue?
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April 11, 2006
Liberal Arts Weekend
Spring time is, without a doubt, my favorite time of year to work in Tomlinson Hall here at Case. The gallery and hallways are always jumping and filled with visiting students and their families, which is great for those of us who do more behind-the-scenes work in the Office of Undergraduate Admission (and not just because sometimes there are extra snacks around we can munch on).
Spring time gives us a chance to finally see the students we’ve worked hard all year recruiting, and sometimes a chance to meet students and families in person who we had previously only met via e-mail or the phone. All of Case’s spring programs are great, and like Bob has already mentioned, visiting campus is a great way to really see which of your many college options is truly the best fit.
What I really want to talk about though, is a program this year for admitted liberal arts students (coinciding with Case’s Humanities Week 2006 the theme of which was “Childhoods.” Check out this lineup!) called… wait for it… Liberal Arts Weekend! I had the privilege of helping out with the program this year, and it was a complete blast from beginning to end. What I like about the program is that it really highlights what it is like to be a humanities major here at Case and the nowhere-else-in-the-world opportunities that our liberal arts majors get to take advantage of all the time. Lemme hit some of the highlights:
Students each had a SAGES-style seminar taught by some of our outstanding faculty members, Jonathan Sadowsky from the history department, John Orlock from the theater department, Darci Brandel from the English department and Alan Rocke from the history department.)
Students and their families (and some UGA staffers) had a great lunch with some of Case’s humanities faculty members (complete with delicious asparagus and great conversation, especially at my table!). Mark Turner, Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, spoke during dessert about the history of liberal arts at Case and the SAGES program.
Our student tour guides and some faculty braved the rain to show off our beautiful campus. (To the left, check out tour guide Sean giving a tour to some parents along with History Professor Ken Ledford.)
Probably the highlight of the day was the reading by author Anne Lamott and follow-up discussion moderated by Florence Harkness Professor of Religion and Director of the Baker-Nord Center for the Humanities Tim Beal. Anne Lamott’s reading was laugh-out-loud funny and her conversation with Prof. Beal, as well as her answers to questions from the audience revealed (if you’ll pardon the cheese) the humanity that makes her such an amazing author. For anyone interested in any type of writing (or as Anne pointed out, any creative endeavor) let me recommend Anne’s book, Bird by Bird, which is full of insight into the creative process as well as some hilarious anecdotes from Anne’s life. (The pictures are of visiting students waiting for the lecture to start, as well as Tim and Anne’s discussion. Quality isn’t the greatest, darn flash!)
I could go on with highlights and tell all about what a great time the UGA staff had hosting the event, as well as what a great time our current students, faculty, prospective students and their families had, but let me cut to the chase: While this schedule seems almost too cool to be true - days chock full of invigorating seminars, opportunities to meet with faculty outside of class, and lectures by world-renowned authors, musicians, scientists, researchers, politicians and civic leaders - days full of chances to extend learning outside the classroom are every day for students of the liberal arts at Case! Don’t believe me? Check out some of our students’ blogs, or slap this puppy on the portable listening device of your choice. Case Western Reserve University offers students the chance to create their own curriculum by building their own major, traveling abroad, and spending time at some of the coolest cultural institutions in the world like the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Playhouse Square, Severance Hall, the Museum of Contemporary Art, all with mentorship from our top notch faculty.
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January 23, 2006
What's Your SOURCE of Inspiration
There's a lot that goes on around campus, which means that everybody who works in undergraduate admissions--from the counselors on down to every student tour guide, ambassador, and greeter--constantly has to be learning about Case's programs. So once a month, we all get together to hear someone from one of these programs speak.
Last Friday, it was Sheila Pedigo from SOURCE, Support of Undergraduate Research & Creative Endeavors. SOURCE helps students find experiential learning opportunities like research and creative projects.
As a staff member, it was really cool for me to hear from some of our student workers who are into research. Nicole, one of our tour guides, is a sophomore biomed engineering major who's already doing paid research work for her advisor.
Actually, a lot of the students who work in our office have done research work. Campuswide, about 75% of students do research or independent study.
Sheila from SOURCE had some good tips for prospective students.
Don't get into research in your first semester--give yourself some time to settle in. College is a big adjustment for most students. No matter how many AP classes you had senior year, it will seem like more work. Plus, you'll probably be living away from home for the first time and learning a new level of time management, etc.
There's another advantage to waiting--it gives you a chance to think about what kind of research you'd like to do and figure out which projects going on around campus fit best with your plans.
Cast a wide net at first. If there are no paid positions on the project that's perfect for you, consider volunteering until something opens up. If something is available in chemistry and you were hoping for something biochemistry, go for it. It will be great experience.
Sheila also encourages students to be willing to travel. SOURCE helps students apply for summer research positions at other universities and research institutes. One of our students at the meeting had done summer research at the National Institutes of Health.
You also need to be willing to put yourself out there. Most students find research positions on campus by asking around. Professors, advisors, and friends are great people to start with. And don't forget to consult the folks in the SOURCE office.
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January 11, 2006
Seminar Approach
A recent article from the Associated Press focused on the increasing popularity of the seminar approach in the freshman year experience at colleges. The article cites the positive aspects that seminars bring to the first year experience including small class sizes, interaction with top faculty and engaging content.
I found the article interesting and it reaffirmed my belief that Case’s commitment to a four-year seminar approach is unique and would have a lasting impact on our students. At Case, through SAGES, all students participate in a series of seminars beginning in their first year and lasting, not just as a one-hit-wonder, throughout your entire experience here.
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