June 2, 2008
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Cal Poly Students Present Smart Energy Practices from European Model Cities Tour

Students from the Empower Poly Coalition will present findings from the European Smart Energy Study Tour on Monday, June 2 at 11 a.m. in the Berg Gallery in the Architecture Building at Cal Poly.

The panel will present findings and suggestions for implementation at Cal Poly and in San Luis Obispo County. 

A group of students, educators, policy makers and business leaders toured European model cities that exhibit best-practices in smart growth, green building, innovative transportation, renewable energy, energy efficiency and conservation.


June 2, 2008
CSU, San Bernardino
CSUSB professor part of research team that makes major discovery

The findings of a team of five researchers, including Cal State San Bernardino biology professor Stuart Sumida, have proved that some modern amphibians, frogs and salamanders evolved from one ancient amphibian group.

June 2, 2008
CSU, Sacramento
High-tech buses of the future wheel onto campus

Sacramento State and the Sacramento Regional Transit (RT) District are working together to promote the future of mass transit in the region. The two organizations will host a seminar on modern bus and mass transit technology 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 3 in the University Union Ballroom.

University President Alexander Gonzalez will give the welcoming remarks. Mike Wiley, RT general manager and CEO, and Steve Cohn, vice mayor of Sacramento, will give the opening remarks.

The seminar will explore modern bus technologies and look at the role they may play in Sacramento’s future.

May 30, 2008
Humboldt State
HSU Geographers Make Strong Showing At State Conference

More than 20 HSU geography majors, accompanied by department chair Joe Leeper, professors Joy Adams, Stephen Cunha, Dennis Fitzsimons and Chris Hayne, attended the California Geographic Society's 62nd annual Conference. Adams chaired a panel discussion on “Strategies for Mentoring and Supporting Female Students and Faculty,” along with geography students Anna Leeper, Diana Muncy, Corinne Cogger and Angela Crane. Adams was also elected to the CGS board of directors. Leeper presented “Challenges Confronting Humboldt County Agriculture” and Cunha presented “The Changing Face of Vietnam.”


May 29, 2008
CSU, Fresno
Report raises concerns about regional health challenges

A report by researchers at the Central Valley Health Policy Institute (CVHPI) at California State University, Fresno reveals the central San Joaquin Valley is not making progress toward meeting “Healthy People 2010” objectives.

The report, “Healthy People 2010: A 2007 Profile of Health Status in the San Joaquin Valley,” also concludes that the region is unlikely to reach a majority of target measures by the end of this decade.

May 29, 2008
CSU, Fresno
Nunes tour showcases Fresno State’s agriculture and research leadership

Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Visalia) and his annual Central Valley Ag Tour 2008 brought 50 federal, state and local officials to California State University, Fresno on Wednesday, May 28, to see two unique operations: the award-wining Fresno State Winery and the Gibson Farm Market.


May 28, 2008
CSU, Fresno
Fresno State researcher examines grape ‘hang time’

A scientist from Fresno State’s Viticulture and Enology Research Center (VERC) will soon join the “hang time” debate with San Joaquin Valley wine grape growers.

Viticulture research specialist Dr. Sanliang Gu is examining several “regulated deficit irrigation” (RDI) strategies using extended hang time in a study to determine how the methods affect quality and color of grapes grown for wine in the valley.


May 28, 2008
CSU, Fresno
Award-winning interdisciplinary teams to present projects

Interdisciplinary teams of students majoring in anthropology, engineering and business from California State University, Fresno that won first- and second-place awards in regional and national competitions will present final project results to a panel of local judges Wednesday, May 22. The reports will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Smittcamp Alumni House on campus.

May 23, 2008
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Cal Poly Students Win National Award for Design Benefiting Disabled Workers

Mechanical engineering students Paula Gijon and Chittayong (Jao) Surakitbanharn have won a national award and a $10,000 prize for designing a device to aid disabled hospitality industry employees.

The duo won the NISH National Scholar Award. The award recognizes the design of devices that improve access to the workplace for people with disabilities. 


May 19, 2008
CSU, Los Angeles
Glendale’s McQueen earns key biotech research honor

You’d expect Cal State L.A. biology professor and Glendale resident Nancy McQueen to have an infectious smile, especially when it comes to talking about her Cal State L.A. students’ role in her virus research.

Collaborating over nearly two decades with a string of roughly 60 (mostly graduate) students, McQueen has been precisely tracking the mutations in genes that alter the pathogenicity—or disease-causing strength—of Sendai virus, a rodent-infecting organism similar to the human influenza virus. Their work has led to numerous advances in understanding how mutated genes alter the molecular machinery behind the infection process.


May16, 2008
CSU, Sacramento
Building bonds through research

For one chemistry major at Sacramento State, bonds come in all forms, and they’re benefiting him in more than one way.

Michael Skidmore works in one of professor Kathie McReynolds’ student research teams outside of his normal class work. The group designs molecular decoys that are capable of binding to viruses, like West Nile or HIV, to prevent them from binding to, and infecting host cells. But while he’s busy binding molecules, it’s his research that is connecting him to opportunities outside of the classroom.

May 16, 2008
CSU, Dominguez Hills
Graduate Students Take Home Awards at System-wide CSU Student Research Competition

Two graduate students from California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) were winners at the 22nd annual system-wide CSU Student Research Competition held May 2-3 at CSU East Bay.

Redondo Beach resident Giancarlo Bonora, a second-year grad student, was named outstanding presenter in the biology-graduate division’s first session for his presentation of a study that could have implications in the fight against breast cancer. His research mentor on the project was Dr. H.K. Choi, CSUDH assistant professor of biology.

Chaka Dodson, a CSUDH alumna (2007, B.A. psychology) who is now working on her master’s degree in clinical psychology, was named runner-up in her session in the graduate-psychology division for research she did on neurocognitive dysfunction, depression and resilience in HIV-positive men. Her research mentor was Dr. Karen Mason, assistant professor of psychology and coordinator of the M.A. in clinical psychology program.


May 13, 2008
CSU, Fresno
New biological control proves effective against tadpole shrimp

In Central California rice fields, the tadpole shrimp, Triops longicaudatus, is an invasive pest that can have devastating effects on rice yields. Copper sulfate, a Class I Hazardous Material, is the standard means of tadpole shrimp control, but it is becoming more expensive, and for organic farmers, has been restricted by the USDA.

With increasingly harsher laws against chemical use, an organic means of pest control is both desirable and a possible necessity. To help resolve this issue, California State University, Fresno biology professor Dr. Brian Tsukimura has spent several years developing a hormone-based pellet that reduces reproductive capacity of tadpole shrimp. In his most recent work, the hormone, methyl farnesoate (MF), was incorporated into standard crustacean protein pellets that can be fed to tadpole shrimp. Laboratory studies indicated that small doses (0.75 µg/g) are effective in reducing tadpole shrimp fecundity, thus limiting future generations of these crustacean pests.


May 12, 2008
CSU, Bakersfield
CSUB graduate student symposium scheduled

California State University, Bakersfield's School of Education will hold its fourth annual graduate student research symposium on Monday, May 19, at 6 p.m. in the Dezember Leadership Center on campus.

Graduate students will present their research centered on the theme, "Ideas which will help teachers improve student achievement."


May 9, 2008
CSU, Bakersfield
CSUB student wins in CSU statewide competition

Aaron Ramirez, a California State University, Bakersfield student, was awarded second place at the CSU Statewide Student Research Competition for his presentation "Starvation in Hollywood: The Mechanism of Post-Fire Resprout Failure on Santa Catalina Island."


May 9, 2008
CSU, Sacramento
Mathematics professor wins Outstanding Scholarly Achievement Award

A Sacramento State professor, who specializes in the study of elastic deformations on geometric objects, received the University’s Outstanding Scholarly Achievement Award.

Marcus Marsh, a professor of mathematics and statistics, received the award for his research toward discovering stronger forms of Dutch mathematician L.E.J. Brouwer’s fixed point theorem.


May 8, 2008
CSU, Chico
Students Take First Place in CSU Student Research Competition; Microbial Biochemistry Project Uses Industrial Waste to Make Biodegradable Plastic

Two California State University, Chico biology students won first place in the 22nd annual California State University Student Research Competition, held at CSU, East Bay May 2 and 3.

CSU, Chico seniors Christopher Paul Morris and Kevin Roy Parsons topped 18 other entrants from other CSU campuses with research in microbial biochemistry that has great potential for creating new uses and sustainable practices for waste products.


May 8, 2008
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Cal Poly Students Succeed at Statewide Competition

Cal Poly had two first-prize winners among its ten entries at the 22nd Annual California State University Student Research Competition, held on May 2 and 3 at CSU East Bay.

The Cal Poly students were among nearly 200 students from 22 campuses who took part in this year’s competition. The students’ research and creative work was judged by scientists, academics and other professionals from outside the CSU.


May 7, 2008
CSU, Stanislaus
Dhaliwal, Wing capture firsts at CSU Student Research Competition

A pair of California State University, Stanislaus students, one of them presenting on the use of soil analysis to locate historic military fort sites and the other making a report that demonstrated the positive academic impact of music education on young students, captured first place honors in the May 2 and 3 CSU Student Research Competition.

Muninder Dhaliwal, a Psychology major from Turlock, and Kristina Wing, an Education graduate student from Turlock, came home with first place prizes from the systemwide competition held at CSU East Bay in Hayward.


May 5, 2008
CSU, Long Beach
CSULB Geological Sciences Professor Receives Grant from SCEC to Study San Jacinto Fault Zone

With the 75th anniversary of the magnitude 6.4 Long Beach earthquake in March and a new report indicating that Southern California has a 97 percent probability of experiencing a 6.7 magnitude quake during the next 30 years, understanding seismic risks is one of region's most important scientific research topics.

Nate Onderdonk, a California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) assistant professor of geological sciences, is one of more than 600 researchers affiliated with the Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC), based at USC and funded by the National Science Foundation and United States Geological Survey (USGS).

Onderdonk recently received a $25,000 grant from SCEC to continue his examination of the San Jacinto fault zone. The results of his project will be used to produce more precise California earthquake risk reports like the one released in April by the USGS, SCEC and the California Geological Survey.


May 5, 2008
CSU, Long Beach
Cal State Long Beach Aerospace Engineering Team Takes 2nd Place at SAE International Aero Design East Contest

A team of aerospace engineering students from California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) recently captured second place overall in the SAE International Aero Design East Competition with its micro plane entry, beating out competitors from Yale University, Warsaw (Poland) University of Technology and Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico.


May 1, 2008
CSU, Fullerton
CSUF Students to Showcase Research Efforts in Statewide Contest

Ten Cal State Fullerton students representing eight separate projects will go head-to-head with students from other California State University campuses May 2-3 at the 22nd annual California State University Student Research Competition at Cal State East Bay.

The purpose of the competition is to promote excellence in undergraduate and graduate scholarly research and creative activity by recognizing outstanding student accomplishments throughout the 23 campuses.


May 1, 2008
San Diego State
Seven at SDSU Named 2008-09 Fulbright Scholars

Six students and one staff member at San Diego State University have received Fulbright Scholar grants for the 2008-2009 school year, the university announced today.

The grants will support their research and education endeavors in countries around the world including Austria, Brazil, Chile, Korea, Macao and Switzerland.

April 30, 2008
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Cal Poly biologist will study link of cancer in fish to detergents

Cal Poly biology professor Lars Tomanek has received a $30,000 grant to investigate why gobies in Morro Bay are developing cancerous tumors.

Eight percent of 150 arrow gobies recently collected from the mudflats of Morro Bay had large tumors. Subsequent testing at UC Davis showed that even apparently healthy fish had signs of abnormal liver cell growth, which indicates the early stages of liver cancer.

Tomanek believes the tumors are being caused by contaminants in the bay that disrupt the fishes’ endocrine systems.

April 29, 2008
Cal Polly San Luis Obispo
Cal Poly’s College of Education Dean Receives National Research Award

Bonnie Konopak, dean of Cal Poly’s College of Education, and her research co-authors received the 2008 Award for Distinguished Research in Teacher Education.

Presented by the Association of Teacher Educators, the award recognized the research study, “Student Engagement in the Teaching and Learning of Grammar: A Case Study of an Early Career Secondary English Teacher.” Published in the Journal of Teacher Education (2007, 58:1), the study focused on one co-author’s development as an educator throughout her university program, student teaching experiences, and first teaching jobs.

April 29, 2008
San Jose State
$1.3 Mil Biomed Gift

A year ago, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute issued a challenge to 224 undergraduate colleges nationwide: identify creative new ways to engage your students in the biological sciences. Now 48 of the nation's best undergraduate institutions will receive $60 million to help them usher in a new era of science education. San José State, which received a $1.3 million grant, is among those institutions. Julio G. Soto, associate professor of biology and science education, will oversee the SJSU grant.

April 25, 2008
CSU, Fresno
Economic research partnership could help regional job scene

The Center for Economic Research and Education of Central California at California State University, Fresno and the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) serving Fresno County are partners in a new alliance designed to add research opportunities to help local businesses create jobs.


April 25, 2008
CSU, Long Beach
All University Celebration of Research, Scholarly & Creative Activity

California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) is hosting the first university event designed to showcase outstanding examples of recent and ongoing research, published works, and the creative accomplishments of faculty and students. The All University Celebration of Research, Scholarly and Creative Activity, being held Thursday, May 1 at the Pointe in the Walter Pyramid, is free and open to the public from 2 – 5 p.m.


April 25, 2008
CSU, Fullerton
CSUF Golden Anniversary Award

Cal State Fullerton’s 50th Anniversary event--“In Celebration of Research: Strengthening CSU’s Research Partnerships and Collaborations” was a one day celebration held on Friday, March 14, 2008 in the Titan Student Union.

The intent of the event was to bring together faculty, research administrators, chief research officers and others from across the 23 sister CSUs, invited campuses, funding agencies representatives and special guest speakers to share a range of research and other scholarly works, as well as possible funding opportunities, in twelve selected focal areas: Environmental Sustainability; Energy and Water Resources; Agriculture; Computer Science/Engineering; Teacher Education; Homeland Security; Life Sciences; Physical Sciences; Humanities; Health Sciences; Technology Transfer; and Existing System-wide Partnerships and Collaborations between and among CSU, UC, and other institutions. More specifically, its purpose was to showcase the vast body of research and other scholarly activities being undertaken by the range of represented institutions, and especially those involving research and other partnerships and collaborations.

Guest speakers included: Representatives from the Chancellor’s Office i.e., Keynote Speaker, Dr. Gary W. Reichard, Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer and Dr. Elizabeth “Beth” L. Ambos, Assistant Vice Chancellor, Research Initiatives and Partnerships;  other noted speakers included: Dr. Lawrence B. Coleman, Former Vice Provost for Research, UC system; Dr. Linda Slakey, Division Director, Division of Undergraduate Education, NSF;  Michael Rondelli, Program Manager, Technology Transfer, SDSU Research Foundation;  and Willie B. Williams, Science Specialist/Export Control Representative, International Space Station Payloads Office/OZ, NASA, Houston, Texas.

Following speaker presentations, attendees met in a series of focal group concurrent sessions.

The culminating event was a Wine and Hors D’oeurves Poster Networking Reception featuring current research of CSUF and visiting faculty. A harpist provided the entertainment. Following the reception, all attendees were invited to attend a musical performance at the Meng Performing Arts Center.

An expected outcome of the celebration will be the establishment of new research and other partnerships and collaborations in the selected areas which should result in the acquisition of increased extramural support obtained through grant, contract, and cooperative agreement procurements. It has also been recommended to the Chancellor’s office that this inaugural event become institutionalized and offered annually at one of the CSU campuses.

The event intended to attract 170 attendees; 225 attended. In addition to Cal State Fullerton’s faculty, staff, and graduate students, coupled with ASC staff, the following institutions, funding agencies, and other entities were represented:

• The California State University (Office of the Chancellor)
• Cal Poly Pomona
• Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
• CSU Bakersfield
• CSU Dominguez Hills
• CSU Long Beach
• CSU Los Angeles
• CSU Northridge
• CSU Sacramento
• CSU San Bernardino
• CSU Stanislaus
• San Diego State University
• UC Riverside
• UCI
• UC Davis
• University of California System Representative
• Charles Drew University
• Desert Research Institute
• Dillard University
• Howard University
• University of Southern California
• Garza Consulting
• Magnolia High School
• NASA, Johnson Space Center
• NASA, Dryden Flight Research Center
• NSF
• Orange County Robotics League
• Valencia High School
• M2Mi Corporation

April 25, 2008
CSU, East Bay
CSU Student Research Competition

The Twenty-Second Annual California State University Student Research Competition will be held May 2 and 3, 2008, at California State University, East Bay. This system-wide competition will showcase excellent research conducted by CSU undergraduate and graduate students in the full range of academic programs offered by the CSU. Student participants will make oral presentations before juries of professional experts from major corporations, foundations, public agencies, colleges and universities in California.

The competition is held to promote excellence in undergraduate and graduate scholarly research and creative activity by recognizing outstanding student accomplishments throughout the twenty-three campuses of the California State University.


April 22, 2008
CSU, Sacramento
Sacramento State researcher hopes to bring a sea change to offshore fish farm policies

Bill Leach, research director for Sacramento State’s Center for Collaborative Policy, isn’t studying clams, but he’s receiving a lot of them to study the debate about the commercial farming of fish and shellfish in the oceans.

Leach is part of a research team that received $284,982 in grant money this year from the National Science Foundation to examine partnerships both for and against marine aquaculture, in hopes of helping the two competing sides negotiate a solution.


April 21, 2008
CSU, Long Beach
Research Blooms in Biology Lab

Eight students are conducting research with biology Professor Simon Malcomber that could ultimately lead to increased agriculture production and new biofuels.


April 16, 2008
CSU, East Bay
Research Scholarly and Creative Activity Exhibit

On March 13th  CSU East Bay held their first Research, Scholarly and Creative Activity Exhibit. The event highlighted research and scholarly activities of about 30 faculty members’ from various academic departments and the library. Many of these projects involved student co-authors, who also presented at the exhibit.

In the last fiscal year 2006-2007 CSUEB has received approximately $12.7 million in external grants and contracts.   Additionally, the University’s Faculty Support Grant program provided $361,249 to support faculty projects.  This funding has provided a plethora of benefits – it has allowed departments to modernize labs and equipment, directly supported student researchers, and re-assigned faculty time so that they may focus on their scholarship.

Research, Scholarly and Creative Activity Exhibit Program (.pdf)

April 16, 2008
San Diego State
Student Research Symposium

San Diego State University’s first Student Research Symposium was held on February 29th through March 1st. With some $35,000 in support from university, industrial, and private sources, SDSU put on a 2-day symposium that featured 312 oral and poster presentations by undergraduate, masters, and doctoral students. Evaluations were provided by 210 judges from SDSU's faculty and staff, and from the community.

There were 37 awards made: 12 Provost's awards for the most outstanding posters, 15 dean's awards for the top two presentations in each college, and 10 President's awards for the top-rated oral presentations across the whole symposium. The 10 President award winners will compose SDSU's team in the upcoming CSU student research competition at East Bay in May.


April 16, 2008
San Diego State
Kyoto Laureate Lectures

On March 12th through March 14th Kyoto Laureate lectures were held on SDSU's, UCSD's, and USD's campuses. These "Japan Nobel's" are awarded to three of the world's leading voices in advanced technology (SDSU's laureate), basic sciences (UCSD's), and arts and philosophy (USD's). The awards are made in Kyoto each November, then reprised in San Diego in March. Approximately 835 guests attended SDSU's laureate's lecture featuring Hiroo Inokuchi, who discovered electrical conductance in organic molecules. Sony sent its chief electronic engineer to follow Dr. Inokuchi's lecture with a demonstration of the Sony's new organic LED screen that promises to make plasma and LCD's obsolete.

April 16, 2008
San Diego State
Merit Award Granted to Dr. Mark Sussman of SDSU

During competition for funding at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institute of Health (NIH), Dr. Mark Sussman, one of San Diego State’s five senior molecular biologists competing was pulled out and given a Merit Award which includes 10 years of funding at approximately $400K/yr.  This is the first Merit award at SDSU.


April 16, 2008
Humboldt State
Fulgham Contributes to New Peer Journal

Dr. Kenneth Fulgham, HSU Professor of Rangeland Resources, and D.E. Coultrap, a former HSU graduate student, are among the co-authors of an article about western juniper in the inaugural edition of Invasive Plant Science and Management magazine, published by the Weed Science Society of America under the auspices of the University of California, Davis.


April 15, 2008
San Jose State
Distinguished Scholar

Professor Richard Tieszen, an international expert on the philosophy of mathematics, is the recipient of the 2007-2008 President's Scholar Award at San José State University. The President's Scholar Award recognizes a faculty member who has achieved widespread recognition based on the quality of his or her scholarship, performances or creative activities.


April 14, 2008
San Francisco State
Rose honored with Jefferson Award

SF State Professor of Dance Albirda Rose has received a Jefferson Award for Public Service for her work with The Village Dancers Children's Dance Co., an SF State program she founded in 2000 to teach free dance classes to disadvantaged children in San Francisco's Visitacion Valley and Bayview-Hunter's Point neighborhoods.


April 14, 2008
Humboldt State
Psychology Students, Faculty Share Work At Leading Conference

Since 2000, HSU Department of Psychology's students and faculty have given nearly 150 conference presentations.

This year was no exception, with 18 presentations given at this year’s Annual Western Psychological Association (WPA) conference in Irvine, Calif., which took place last week, April 10 through 13. The meeting is the nation’s largest regional psychology conference with 1500-2000 attendees.

April 11, 2008
CSU, Bakersfield
National Science Foundation grant awarded to CSUB for scholarships

A $400,000 grant from the National Science Foundation will fund scholarships for science, computer science, engineering and mathematics students at California State University, Bakersfield. An average of 40 annual scholarships will be awarded over the next four years through the university's Pipeline to High Tech Professions program.


April 8, 2008
CSU, Los Angeles
With turbines’ high efficiency, Cal State L.A. students generate first place

Demonstrating outstanding manufacturing technology skills, teamwork and problem-solving abilities, Cal State L.A.’s technology student team placed first in the university category for its boundary-layer turbines at the WESTEC 2008 Manufacturing Challenge, a creative annual manufacturing competition where college students design and manufacture products for judging by manufacturing professionals.


April 4, 2008
Cal Poly Pomona
Cal Poly Pomona Landscape Architecture Students Explore Ways to Improve Unsightly Beach-End Streets (.pdf)

They may still be college students, but Cal Poly Pomona landscape architecture majors will have their handiwork on display in downtown Laguna Beach. The students spent winter quarter developing proposals to improve three beach-end streets (roads that dead-end at the ocean) that were in dire need of attention. A large vacant storefront at 225 Forest Ave. was recently donated to showcase the students’ work, which are on display from April 3 until the space is leased.


April 3, 2008
CSU, Monterey Bay
Seth Pollack wins Fulbright award

Seth Pollack, director of the Service Learning Institute, has been named a Fulbright Scholar and will work in South Africa.

The yearlong appointment will begin in July. Dr. Pollack will work with faculty members at two South African universities to design service learning courses.

March 25, 2008
CSU, Sacramento
Sacramento State professor awarded philosophy grant

Philosophy professor Michael Epperson has been awarded a $200,000 grant for a research project that re-examines the “subjective” vs. “objective” features of nature.


March 17, 2008
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
See the New Cal Poly Animal Nutrition Center
& Plans for the New Meats Center

Cal Poly’s College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences is opening the doors of its brand new Animal Nutrition Center during its dedication ceremony.

The nearly 21,000-square foot, $5.5 million teaching and research plant can produce up to 6 tons of animal feed per hour for a variety of animal species and is filled with state-of-the art processing equipment.