sealPurdue Story Ideas
____

March 25, 2002

JOURNALISTS: Here are story ideas and a list of selected Purdue events during the next two weeks.

Intellectual property value expert to speak

Richard Razgaitis, an expert on intellectual property valuation, will speak Thursday (3/28) from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Krannert Auditorium.

Razgaitis, who has both a doctorate in mechanical engineering and an MBA, is the author of the 1999 book, "Early Stage Technologies: Valuation and Pricing."

Razgaitis also will hold a two-day workshop on intellectual property valuation on Friday and Saturday (3/29-30). Space is limited to 20 participants and 10 individual observers.

Both the lecture and workshop are sponsored by the Purdue University Center for Entrepreneurship.

CONTACT: Ronald J. Steuterman, director of Purdue's Technology Transfer Initiative, (765) 494-4437, steuterm@purdue.edu.

Milder winter could mean fewer potholes

Despite the recent return of cold and snow, fewer lengthy periods of freezing temperatures this winter may result in fewer potholes this spring. That's because the main cause of potholes is the weakened condition of soil beneath the pavement due to the presence of water. When there are prolonged periods of subfreezing weather, the pavements and soils beneath pavements freeze from the top down.

When the weather warms even for a few hours, some thawing occurs from the top down. This causes there to be very wet soil directly beneath the pavement but still-frozen soil below the frozen layer. The frozen soil below the thawed soil acts like a barrier and prevents the drainage of water from the thawed soil. The thawed soil then becomes mushy and cannot do a good job of supporting the pavement above it, especially in locations where the pavement is weakened or cracked.

Because this winter brought fewer prolonged subfreezing spells, potholes may be less prevalent this year.

CONTACTS: Vincent P. Drnevich, (765) 494-5029, drnevich@purdue.edu; John E. Haddock, (765) 496-3996, jhaddock@ecn.purdue.edu.

Rescue dogs to demonstrate at vet open house

The 39th annual open house at the Purdue School of Medicine will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 13. Top attractions include search and rescue dogs that assisted with recovery efforts at the World Trade Center after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Wildlife veterinarian P.J. Deitschel who is featured on Animal Plant also will provide a demonstration at 11 a.m. Veterinary school staff also will perform "surgery" on stuffed animals children bring in for repair.

CONTACT: Jill Peterson, event co-chair, (765) 464-1561, peterson@vet.purdue.edu.

Purdue goes buggy over Spring Fest

Purdue's Spring Fest will offer nearly 100 activities for kids of all ages Saturday and Sunday, April 13 and 14. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Top attractions include the Bug Bowl, which features cockroach races, a petting zoo and honey tasting, among other activities. Bug Bowl events will take place in Smith Hall and other areas around the Agricultural Administration Building. Other events will be sponsored by the schools of Agriculture, Veterinary Medicine, Science, Engineering, and Consumer and Family Sciences. For complete information, visit the Spring Fest Web site at https://www.anr.ces.purdue.edu/sfest.html.

CONTACT: Dana Neary, special events coordinator for the School of Agriculture, (765) 494-9133, dn@aes.purdue.edu.

Events

• Thursday, March 28. 4-5:30 p.m. Purdue Memorial Union, East Faculty Lounge. Faculty open forum, "Recruitment and Retention of Female and Minority Faculty," sponsored by the University Senate Faculty Affairs Committee. Panel members who will respond to questions include: Sally Frost Mason, provost; David J. Asai, head of the Department of Biological Sciences; Margaret Katherine Banks, civil engineering professor; Rochelle Brock, curriculum and instruction assistant professor; and Richard A. Cosier, dean of the Krannert School of Management.

• Friday, April 5. 10 a.m. Stewart Center's Fowler Hall. Mark Land, business editor of the Indianapolis Star, will speak to Krannert School of Management MBA students on corporate communications. The talk is free and open to the public. CONTACT: Tim Newton, director of external relations and communications for the Krannert School, (765) 496-7271, tnewton@mgmt.purdue.edu.

• Wednesday, April 8. 8 p.m. Stewart Center's Fowler Hall. Purdue's Lecture Series on Science and Religious Faith. George R. Ellis, a distinguished professor of applied mathematics and theoretical physics at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. His talk, "On the Nature of Existence: Indications from Science and Religion," links science to spirituality, stressing a coherent approach to cosmology as it relates to daily life, the world and the universe. Ellis will be available to the media immediately following his 8 p.m. presentation, which will last about one hour. CONTACT: Roberto Colella, (765) 494-3029, colella@physics.purdue.edu.

° Friday, April 12. 9:30 a.m. Stewart Center, Room 326. Board of Trustees meeting. Room 326, Stewart Center.

• Friday, April 12. 2 p.m. Founders Park. Discover Purdue ceremony for the naming of the Steven C. Beering Hall of Liberal Arts and Education. CONTACT: Linda Mills, University Development Office, (765) 494-2730, lmills@purdue.edu.

• Friday, April 12. 7:30 p.m. Elliott Hall of Music. Annual awards ceremony honoring outstanding faculty members and honors students from the spring and fall semesters. The media are welcome to cover the event, during which many prestigious awards will be presented. CONTACT: Jim Vruggink, director of special projects, (765) 494-2086, jvruggink@purdue.edu.

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


* To the Purdue News and Photos Page