Campus News Briefs
USU offers biotech academy for teens
The Utah State University Biotechnology Center is putting on a summer academy for high school juniors and seniors on July 29 to Aug. 2 on the USU campus. This academy’s purpose is to allow Utah teens the opportunity to explore how scientists create lifesaving medicines, debate the safety of genetically-modified foods and learn about the latest research in plant and animal genomics. Participants will work with faculty mentors, stay in campus housing and eat on campus during the five-day camp. Students may select specific areas of interest including biology, chemistry, food and nutrition sciences, biological and environmental engineering, plant and soil science and animal, dairy and veterinary sciences. Twenty students will be selected on the basis of grade point average, letters of recommendation from educators and a personal essay. Participants will pay a $50 tuition fee and are responsible for transportation to and from the program, but other expenses are funded by the USU Biotechnology Center’s Outreach program and corporate sponsors. Application deadline is April 5. For more information, contact Mandy Smart at 797-3504 or merik@cc.usu.edu.
EIRI conference to feature speakers
The ninth annual conference of the Early Intervention Research Institute, Center for Persons with Disabilities and the College of Education will be held Friday at the Haight Alumni House from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Featured speakers include Carl Dunst, Orelena Hawks Puckett Institute, North Carolina and Frank Ascione, Utah State University. During the morning session Ascione will speak on “Animal Abuse and Youth Violence.” Ascione is the recipient of the 2001 Distinguished Scholar Award presented by the International Association of Human Animal Interaction Organizations and the International Society for Anthrozoology and he is the author of three books. Following lunch, Dunst will speak on “Everyday Activity and Natural Learning Environments for Young Children.” Dunst has an international reputation advocating for young children with disabilities and their families. He has authored more than five books and numerous articles on these topics. He will be presenting his most recent research on creating developmentally appropriate learning opportunities for children with disabilities as part of their daily routines. From 12:30 to 2 p.m. an afternoon poster session will be held. The posters will cover a wide range of early intervention research and demonstration projects within USU and Utah. There is no charge for attending the conference. A complementary breakfast and lunch will be provided for registered conference attendees. To RSVP for the conference or for further information about the conference, contact Mary Ellen at 797-0088.