Case Western Reserve Psychologist, Colleagues Research How Children with ADHD Can Tap into Personal Strengths to Succeed at School, Life
Collaborative research conducted by Case Western Reserve University psychology professor Elizabeth J. Short has won the 2007 Keith Conners Award for Scholarly Contribution. The award recognizes an outstanding article published in the Journal of Attention Disorders in 2007.
Short, together with colleagues Michael Manos from the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and Robert Findling from Case Medical Center, a partnership between Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and University Hospitals Cleveland, explored how children diagnosed with attention deficit and hyperactive disorder (ADHD) can succeed in school and everyday life by tapping into their personal strengths. Assets can be categorized as internal (emotional adaptability, school attitude and self esteem) and external (parental support, educational support and community support).
Traditional mental health research has focused on deficits, but Short and her research group wanted to find out why some ADHD children prevail in school and social settings while others fail. Read more.
University Mathematician Explains How Hunches and Numbers Could Help Computers Solve Problems
For the majority of people, the gates of scientific computing open to numbers only, and anything not expressed in quantitative terms is of no help.
This, Case Western Reserve University mathematician Daniela Calvetti says, seems like a waste of good information by not taking advantage of people's hunches and beliefs about problem solving and what the results should be. Combining a hunch with numbers could help computers do a better job in solving problems.
Calvetti and her collaborator Erkki Somersalo from Helsinki University of Technology revisited scientific computations and augment data with those beliefs and hunches. They outline the process in their new book, Introduction to Bayesian Scientific Computing: Ten Lectures on Subjective Computing. Read more.
Campus News
The Common Reading Committee is beginning the selection process for the assigned reading for new undergraduate students entering the university in fall 2009. The committee is seeking a theme for the selection process as well as specific books that conform to the proposed theme. To make recommendations, complete the online Common Reading survey. Read more about the 2008 assigned reading, The Reluctant Mr. Darwin: An Intimate Portrait of Charles Darwin and the Making of His Theory of Evolution by David Quammen.
Nominations are being sought for the Judson 2008 Smart Living Awards, which honor individuals of all ages who perpetuate the dynamic atmosphere of University Circle. The organization encourages people to nominate movers and shakers, as well as the unsung heroes who contribute to the vitality of this region's cultural and educational jewel. The submission deadline is March 25. Winners will be announced during a special April broadcast on WCLV FM/104.9. For more information, call (216) 791-2321 or go to the Judson Smart Living Web site.
For Faculty and Staff
The Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity begins its Spring Diversity Workshop Series with "Not Just Skin Deep: The Psychological Construction of Race" from noon to 1 p.m., March 12 in Adelbert Hall, Room 352. The session will focus on racial identity theory and its impact on self concept and intergroup relations. Participants will develop the competency to track their own identity development, as well as to explore the development of other racial groups. The program will be facilitated by Erica Merritt, the university's manager of diversity and Shirley Mosley from the Office of Equal Opportunity. To register, send e-mail to Erica Merritt or call 368-4786.
For Students
The Biomedical Graduate Student Organization (BGSO) is holding its first open meeting for all School of Medicine graduate students at 4 p.m., March 11 at the Biomedical Research Building, Room 732. The BGSO is a new organization created to represent and address the unique needs of the university's biomedical graduate students. The group seeks to unite biomedical graduate students pursuing master's and doctoral degrees in various biomedical graduate programs, with the ultimate goal of enriching the student experience and promoting career and professional development.
Events
The campus community is invited to the "Speaking Out through Spoken Word" event featuring actor, director, activist and poet Amalia Ortiz beginning at 7 p.m., March 20 at Ford Auditorium. Ortiz, a San Antonio-based slam poet, is the Puro Slam grand slam champion of 2000, 2001 and 2002. Free. Refer to the Flora Stone Mather Center for Women calendar for more details.
The next Science Café Cleveland, sponsored by the university's Sigma Xi chapter, will feature researchers from the Case Center for Global Health and Diseases on the topic of "Malaria: An Evolving Arms Race Among People, Parasites and Mosquitoes beginning at 6:30 p.m. this evening at the Great Lakes Brewing Company's Tasting Room, 2701 Carroll Ave.
Refer to the Web event calendar for a list of events and activities on campus and in the community today and in the days ahead.
In Memoriam
Sidney Katz, assistant clinical professor emeritus of anesthesiology, died this month. He was a leader in helping older adults continue to function so they could remain in their communities, and helped develop the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Scale, which is considered the classic landmark assessment instrument for older adults.
