October 15, 2013
In the Spotlight
Helping Purdue's employees understand the University's 2014 medical benefits and guiding them toward the most advantageous decisions are Eva Nodine's top priorities. As director of benefits in Human Resources, Nodine is an expert on the medical plan options available for next year. She has spent the last several months providing information to the University's employees ahead of open enrollment, which lasts Oct. 28 through 6 p.m. on Nov. 15.
Faculty and staff news
Human Resources will offer a 2014 benefits information session two times in seven days in Stewart Center's Loeb Playhouse.
The Honors College is currently scheduling Honors College (HONR) courses for the 2014-15 year. The process is open to all Purdue faculty on the West Lafayette campus who are interested in offering interdisciplinary coursework for honors students, who themselves come from every disciplinary college on campus.
The recently launched SharePoint Center of Excellence serves as a one-stop shop for support, training and online resources for Microsoft's Web-based collaboration software. A data steward in the University Development Office says the center has helped simplify processes within her department.
People
Gebisa Ejeta, Distinguished Professor of Agronomy and World Food Prize laureate, has been appointed to the U.N. secretary-general's newly created Scientific Advisory Board as the only agricultural scientist on the 26-member board.
The College of Veterinary Medicine recently honored the recipients of its 2013 Distinguished Alumnus Awards.
Kipling D. Williams, professor of psychological sciences, is one of the ostracism experts featured in the documentary "Reject," which will be shown this month at the 2013 Heartland Film Festival in Indianapolis.
Research news
The devices and technologies of the future will only be as good as the materials used to make them -- and that's part of the problem. The new Purdue Center for Predictive Materials and Devices (c-PRIMED) hopes it can be a leader in finding solutions.
Researchers have developed a system that concentrates foodborne salmonella and other pathogens faster than conventional methods by using hollow thread-like fibers that filter out the cells, representing a potential new tool for speedier detection.
Similarities in personal values and beliefs between an adult child and an older mother is what keeps that child in favor over the long-term, and that preference can have practical applications for mother's long-term care, according to a Purdue study.
General news
IPFW Fall Bus Tour stops in West Lafayette
President Mitch Daniels receives a gift from IPFW Chancellor Vicky Carwein during a dinner at Westwood on Sunday (Oct. 13). Carwein and 40 faculty and staff from IPFW were visiting West Lafayette as part of the IPFW Fall Bus Tour, taking place Sunday through today (Oct. 13-15). The tour is focused on fostering collaboration and discussion about new projects, initiatives and ideas. Stops include the IUPUI Fairbanks Simulation Center, Hardin Farms (owned by Purdue trustee John Hardin), Zimmer Inc. in Warsaw, and Purdue Calumet.
Boiler Television (BTV), the University's closed-circuit cable system, has made several changes to its channel lineup.
Purdue sports
For more information on Purdue sports, go to www.purduesports.com.
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