Purdue News Roundup
Purdue News Roundup
More than 300 bicyclists from across the country will attend classes and participate in rides throughout Tippecanoe and surrounding counties.
Bill Culpepper, local organizer from the Wabash River Cycle Club, said drivers will come across more bikes than usual on the road during the weekend. "We have 28 bike routes planned in six counties. All the rides start on campus and basically will head out in four directions."
Routes are planned along State Road 26 and South River Road, the Harrison Bridge and Canal Road, and the State Street Hill and Beck Lane. Rides start at 6:30 a.m. and at 12:30 p.m.
"Indiana law considers bikes vehicles," Culpepper said, "which means riders must obey the normal rules of the road. It also means people driving cars need to remember that bicyclists have every right to be on the road."
Culpepper's tip for drivers: "Don't try to squeeze past a bike on the road. Pass it
just like you would another car, leaving plenty of room between your car and the
bike."
CONTACT: Culpepper, (765) 477-4333.
The Purdue summer institute begins July 6 and will cover topics such as earthquakes, volcanic activity, the evolution of the earth and the theory of plate tectonics.
"We think earth science is a wonderful way to interest children in grades five through nine in science, because most of them are fascinated by earthquakes and volcanoes," said Gerald H. Krockover, professor of earth and atmospheric science education and co-director of the summer institute.
Science teachers from Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Missouri and Iowa are scheduled to attend. This is the third year for the program, which is supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation.
"We want to increase the teachers' knowledge of earth sciences so they can develop teaching materials for their classrooms, take a leadership role in science education at their schools, and make local, regional and national presentations about earth science education," Krockover said.
The institute will include field trips to the New Madrid seismic zone in Missouri and the Center for Earthquake Research in Memphis, Tenn. Participants also will study Mississippi River sediments, a coal mine and an oil well during visits to Illinois.
Indiana teachers participating in the institute are Nancy Eagle of Fort Wayne
, Sara Jarvis of Muncie
, Greg Louk of Lafayette
, James Maglis of Kokomo
, John Pokorney of Lucerne
and Kevin Smith of Centerville
.
CONTACT: Krockover, (765) 494-0272; e-mail, hawk1@purdue.edu
The researchers are seeking female high school cross-country runners and girls who are not active in or training for a fall sport. The study will compare iron status within the two groups.
Half the participants will be asked to eat a lean beef snack every day for three months to increase their intake of iron. Researchers will collect a variety of information on the participants through dietary records, activity records, fitness testing, body composition testing and blood sampling.
The time commitment will be three to four hours per month. The total time commitment will be 10 to 16 hours, and participants who complete all phases of the study will be paid $135.
The study is being conducted by researchers in Purdue's Department of Health, Kinesiology and Leisure Studies and the Department of Foods and Nutrition.
"Typically, teens have a low iron intake, with one in four teen-age girls having iron depletion or compromised iron status," said Roseann Lyle, associate professor of health. "The purpose of this study is to increase our knowledge of iron status in these girls and develop recommendations that will help young women avoid the problems of iron depletion."
Low levels of iron in the body are associated with a lack of energy or fatigue and sensitivity to cold. Teen girls have trouble meeting their iron needs because of rapid growth, the onset of menstruation, and a low intake of iron associated with an avoidance of meat and/or extreme emphasis on carbohydrate intake.
Girls wishing to participate in the study, or needing more information, can contact Lyle at (765) 494-3158 or Berdine Martin at (765) 494-6559.
-- Thomas J. Berndt, professor of psychological sciences, has been appointed head of the Department of Psychological Sciences effective July 1. Berndt succeeds Gerald E. Gruen, who will return to research and teaching.
Berndt came to Purdue in 1984. Prior to that he was on the faculties at the University of Oklahoma and Yale University.
Berndt earned his doctorate in child psychology from the University of Minnesota in 1975. He graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in psychology from Harvard College in 1971. His research has been primarily in the area of children's friendships and peer relationships.
Berndt has been a consultant to the National Institute of Health, most recently in 1996, and served on the panel on Work, Family and Community of the National Research Council in 1982. He has also served as an editor or consultant for journals such as Developmental Psychology, Child Development and Bulletin of the Hong Kong Psychological Society.
Compiled by J. Michael Willis, (765) 494-0371; e-mail, mike_willis@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu
