Dr. Kafatos Calls for Vigilance in Wake of Japan's Reactor Crisis
Menas Kafatos, Ph.D., dean of the Schmid College of Science, was interviewed by the Orange County Register and KCAL9 regarding whether the United States should worry about radiation from Japan’s damaged nuclear reactors reaching the Pacific coast. Dr. Kafatos agreed with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s statement that no present danger existed, but advised vigilance by
Science Competition to be Hosted at Chapman
Chapman University will be abuzz with engineering activity the next couple of Saturdays, as hundreds of middle and high school students descend on the campus to compete in the annual science competition days sponsored by the Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) Program. One of the country’s most innovative and successful programs, MESA works with thousands
String Theory, Strings and Einstein Celebrated in "Einstein's Universe" Series
One day, the story goes, Albert Einstein was playing a string duet with his friend Fritz Kreisler, the famous Viennese violinist. Einstein went off the melody at one point. “You know, Albert,” said Kreisler, “your trouble is that you can’t count.” It’s a funny story that brings up a little-known fact: Einstein (1879-1955), the great physicist who
Dr. Piper Finds Uncommon Knowledge in Life of Common Loons
The opening scene of a feature story in the current issue of Natural History magazine reads like a dispatch from the sidelines of a gladiator battle, with two males lunging, grasping, pummeling, pounding and thwacking one another in a battle to the death. But Walter Piper, Ph.D., professor, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Schmid
Technology's New Role in Weather, Earthquake Forecasting
Forget the old jokes about Southern California’s weather being changeless. Weather forecasting in Southern California is critical when it comes to fires, floods, earthquakes and other natural hazards. A number of advanced systems in computing and observations have been installed at Chapman University that are either operational or in advanced development. Talking about these new technologies
Professor Works to Find Marijuana's Most Helpful Properties
Marijuana’s medical use is one of the hot topics of the moment in the national media, but a leading scientist at Chapman University who has long studied the plant’s properties is working on research that may make pot an easier pill to swallow. Susan Yang, Ph.D., professor, Schmid College of Science, published ground-breaking research on the topic
Food Science Pioneer, Program Celebrated at Anniversary Party
More than 80 students, faculty, alumni, staff, family and friends of the Chapman University Food Science Program gathered recently to celebrate the program’s 30th anniversary and the 90th birthday of Walter Clark, PhD., one of the founders of the program and beloved faculty member. As the master of ceremony, Fred Caporaso, Ph.D., welcomed a crowd of alumni
Professor Kim Wins Prestigious Dreyfus Foundation Award
The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation has announced that Christopher Kim, Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Chemistry, Schmid College of Science, has been selected as a Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar for 2010. Dr. Kim, who is spending this year as a Visiting Scholar at Harvard University, is also principal investigator for the Environmental Geochemistry Lab at Chapman
Chapman University Researchers Find Big Answers in Little Sea Slugs
No surprise — sea slugs are not the smartest creatures on the planet. They just don’t have enough brain cells. But Chapman University researchers were surprised to discover that the little invertebrates apparently are smart enough to remember a nasty lobster attack. Sea slugs have relatively few brain cells, but what they have are hefty
Chapman University Students Deliver Fizzy Fun at Local Zoo
Several Chapman University chemistry students wowed youngsters visiting the Santa Ana Zoo’s recent celebration of National Chemistry Week with homemade “lemon fizzy soda.” The science demonstration doubled as a tasty lesson in what happens when lemon juice, water, sugar and baking soda are combined. The bubbly fun was conducted by members of Chapman University’s student