Purdue Story Ideas

November 2, 2001 JOURNALISTS: Here are story ideas and a list of selected Purdue events during the next two weeks. Are online shopping prospects up? Has nervousness about the economic slowdown and the U.S. mail made consumers more likely to embrace e-commerce in the upcoming holiday shopping season as they did immediately after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks? Patrick J. Duparcq, a marketing professor at the Krannert School of Management and director of its Center for E-Business Education and Research, says yes – and no. The case for yes: "Consumer confidence is down, so even if people go to the mall, they'll tend not to make extra purchases. If consumers stay home and shop online, they'll do more price comparison on items they're specifically looking for." The case for no: "People are traveling and going out less, so they may tend to buy only a few nice things for the holidays. And e-commerce ends with a package delivered to the home, so you're right back to fears of anthrax." CONTACTS: Patrick J. Duparcq, (765) 494-4461; J. Michael Lillich, University News Service, (765) 494-2077, mlillich@purdue.edu. Professor leads Chinese department Gavriel Salvendy, a professor of industrial engineering at Purdue, is the first Western researcher to head a university department in China since the Communists came to power in 1949. Salvendy has been named chair professor and head of the newly established Department of Industrial Engineering at China's prestigious Tsinghua University in Peking. The development is attracting international attention for Salvendy, whose unprecedented appointment is noted in the Oct. 26 issue of Science magazine, a widely read journal. Salvendy will fill both his Purdue and Tsinghua positions concurrently. Tsinghua University is ranked No. 1 in engineering in China. Salvendy is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, the author or co-author of about 400 research publications and author or editor of 24 books. In 1995, he received an honorary doctorate from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, making him only the fourth person ever to receive the honor from the fields of science and engineering in the academy's 45-year history. CONTACT: Gavriel Salvendy, (765) 494-5426, salvendy@ecn.purdue.edu. Old Masters return to mentor students Ten Purdue alumni who are leaders in their professions will return to campus Sunday through Tuesday (11/4-6) to share their knowledge and experience with students as part of the 52th annual Old Masters Program. An opportunity to meet and talk with the Old Masters will take place at an all-campus reception at 8 p.m. Monday (11/5) in Hillenbrand Hall. During their stay on campus, Old Masters visit classrooms and residence units, attend informal breakfasts, luncheons and dinners, and engage in discussions with Purdue students. CONTACT: Heather K. Webb, (765) 494-1747, hwebb@purdue.edu. Research Park to celebrate expansion plans Purdue University celebrates the Purdue Research Park's economic development advancements on Tuesday (11/6) at Vistech I. This Discover Purdue event highlights expansion plans for the park, including road work, the planned development of nine building sites for high-tech companies and the opening of the first privately funded business incubator within the park. Journalists are invited to attend from 10:30 a.m. to noon at Vistech I on Win Hentschel Boulevard, West Lafayette. Time will be made available following the event for journalist interviews with Purdue President Martin C. Jischke, West Lafayette Mayor Sonya Margerum and Research Properties LLC's Mike Witteveen. CONTACT: Jeanine Phipps, Purdue Research Park public relations director, (765) 496-3133, jeanine@purdue.edu. Vatican meteorite expert to talk Guy J. Consolmagno, an award-winning planetary scientist who is curator of the Vatican's meteorite collection, will speak at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, in Fowler Hall, Stewart Center. Consolmagno, whose research explores the connections between meteorites and asteroids, will deliver a lecture entitled, "The Mechanics of God: Religion and the Technical Mindset." The talk will concentrate on how scientists and engineers practice religion. Consolmagno's visit is part of a lecture series that seeks to challenge the view that science and religion don't mix. All the series speakers are respected researchers who share how religion has had an impact on their lives. The speakers are primarily scientists. Roberto Colella, a Purdue physics professor and one of the organizers of the Lecture Series on Science and Religious Faith, says his aim is to stimulate religious discussion among scholars in different disciplines by bringing in speakers whose research has already earned them the respect of their peers, and whom are also conversant in religious and ethical issues. Consolmagno recently was awarded the Antarctic Medal from the National Science Foundation. He will be available for interviews immediately following his 8 p.m. presentation, which will last about one hour. Interviews might also be available earlier in the evening by contacting Colella. CONTACT: Roberto Colella, (765) 494-3029, colella@physics.purdue.edu. Former astronaut, 250 kids to visit Purdue Two hundred fifty schoolchildren will explore their interests in space and science during the Sixth Annual Fall Space Day, Saturday, Nov. 10, at Purdue University's West Lafayette campus. Photo opportunities will be available as students design rockets using household materials, build and then eat an edible Mars habitat, create their own Mars landers and attempt other challenging projects. Students in the third through eighth grades will participate in the activities from 10:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Fall Space Day will follow a program by Purdue alumnus and former astronaut Loren Shriver, who will tell the inside story of the space shuttle program and efforts to build the space station Alpha when he speaks Friday, Nov. 9. The media are invited to attend the free, one-hour talk and video presentation, which begins at 8 p.m. in Stewart Center, Room 218. Registration is not required. Shriver will field questions from the audience following his presentation. CONTACTS: Ann Broughton, Fall Space Day coordinator, (765) 494 -5147, broughto@ecn.purdue.edu. Events • Tuesday, Nov.6. Noon to 1 p.m. The fourth in a series of seven one-hour conversations about the Sept. 11 terrorists attacks continues with a look at the economy. Potter Engineering Center, Room 118. CONTACT: Dorothy Simpson-Taylor, director of diversity resources, (765) 494-2797, dmsimpson-taylor@purdue.edu. • Thursday, Nov. 8. 7 p.m. Stewart Center, Room 206. Linda James Myers, motivational speaker and psychology professor at the Ohio State University, will speak on "Cultural Education and Resilience: African-American Challenges and Triumphs in the New World Order." • Saturday, Nov. 10. 2 p.m. Family presentation by children's book illustrator Floyd Cooper. Black Cultural Center, 1100 Third St., West Lafayette. • Saturday, Nov. 10. 6:30 p.m. International Center 30th anniversary celebration. Dinner and dance at University Inn, West Lafayette. CONTACT: Penne Nelson, International Center board chair, (765) 743-4353. Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page