Purdue Notebook

February 11, 2005

Campus activities

– On Saturday (Feb. 12) the MATHCOUNTS regional competition will take place at Purdue. MATHCOUNTS is a national math enrichment, coaching and competition program that promotes middle school mathematics achievement across the United States. Sixty-one area students in grades 6-8 will come to Purdue to compete for the chance to advance to the national level competition, which in 2004 was broadcast on ESPN. Events begin at 9 a.m. in Stewart Center, Room 302, and the "countdown round" starts at 1 p.m. in Fowler Hall, Stewart Center. The awards ceremony will be at 2 p.m. in Fowler Hall. The event is open to the public. For more information contact Purdue's MATHCOUNTS co-directors Vincent Drnevich (drnevich@purdue.edu, (765) 494-5029) or Bill Walker (wswalker@purdue.edu, (765) 494-5890).

– Purdue Musical Organizations will conduct auditions for four of its varsity-level ensembles, including Purdue Varsity Glee Club, Purduettes, Purdue Bell Choir and PMO Specialties. The auditions are scheduled for Feb. 21, Feb. 28 and March 7. Auditions begin at 1:30 p.m. each day in the PMO studio in the Elliott Hall of Music. Students interested in auditioning are asked to prepare a fully memorized piece of music to perform. In addition, prospective ensemble members must provide a resume and at least two letters of recommendation from instructors. A professional accompanist will be provided, but students with strong instrumental talent are encouraged to bring their instruments to their audition to demonstrate their proficiency.

Faculty and staff honors

– Physicist Daniela Bortoletto has been elected a fellow of the American Physical Society, one of her field's highest honors. Fewer than 5 percent of the 205 APS fellows are women. 2004 marked a banner year for Bortoletto, who also has been selected to co-organize the National Research Council's 20-year planning review for elementary particle physics and to become a member of the High Energy Physics and Advisory Panel, which advises both the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation. Bortoletto is a co-discoverer of the top quark, one of the elementary particles that constitute matter, and is an internationally known designer of the ultra-precise silicon detectors used to find such particles.

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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