News and Notes

October 2006

These highlights related to the social, behavioral, and economic sciences at Michigan State University are brought to you by the Office of the Dean and University Relations. For the latest news, visit our Web site at www.socialscience.msu.edu. For more information, contact Michelle Strobel at 517/432-0746 or mstrobel@ur.msu.edu.

AWARDS, HONORS, AND RECOGNITION

Kudos to the department of anthropology, which has been ranked #1 in the United States by the Public Anthropology’s Public Outreach Assessment Project. Rankings were based on the number and nature of programs focusing on public issues and public outreach that were associated with a department, the degree to which department faculty members engaged in public outreach activities, the nature of the activities engaged in, and the degree to which faculty members were cited in prominent printed media related to their activities. For more information about the project, see the report on the Public Anthropology Web site.

Congratulations to psychology professors Anne Bogat and Alexander von Eye, who were recently selected as Fellows of the Association for Psychological Science. Fellow status is awarded to APS Members who have made sustained outstanding contributions to the science of psychology in the areas of research, teaching, service, and/or application. more...

MATRIX: The Center for the Humane Arts, Letters, and Social Sciences Online has been recognized as a leading national research center for cyberinfrastructure in the humanities and social sciences by the American Council of Learned Societies. more...

MATRIX has also been awarded a third grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences to support its partnership with Detroit Public Television (DPTV) and the Michigan Historical Center. Project work will produce rich multimedia resources on African-American history in Michigan, including the production of a DPTV broadcast for the American Black Journal program, a demonstration at the Michigan Historical Center, and an innovative Web resource. A teacher advisory board will review project content and design training for fourth-grade and high school history teachers as well as for introductory college history courses.

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS STILL HIT HOSPITAL SNAGS, MSU PROFESSOR FINDS
From the Lansing State Journal: Hospitals have made strides in caring for sexual assault victims, but a recent study reveals some still do not provide emergency contraception or test for sexually transmitted infections. Michigan State University psychology professor Rebecca Campbell released a nationwide study recently analyzing hospitals with sexual assault nurse examiner programs. ... "At the point when victims most need the help and don't get it, it can be very traumatizing," she says. A related interview with Campbell aired on WKAR.org.

MICHIGAN'S ECONOMIC FUTURE
From the Traverse City Record-Eagle: "Charlie Ballard knows his new book will never be a best seller. But if a few of the right people read it — and lots of them should — Michigan might be much better off in the long run," writes Jack Lessenberry. ... "The book is called 'Michigan's Economic Future' ... and if that title makes you fear that you might fall asleep just thinking about it, think again. Ballard may be an economics professor at Michigan State, but he is also an excellent writer who can easily be understood by any intelligent reader. And any intelligent reader who lives in or cares about Michigan ought to read this book."

WHAT'S WRONG WITH CREATIONIST PROBABILITY?
From ABC News: A recent international study in the journal Science by professor Jon Miller of Michigan State University and his associates finds that a growing number of Americans do not believe in the theory of evolution. In fact, the survey of 32 European nations and Japan reveals that only Turkey has a higher percentage of its citizens rejecting Darwin. ... "There is no major political party in Europe and Japan that uses opposition to evolution as a part of its political platform," Miller says. A related story appeared in NewsMax.com.

CLIMATE CHANGE AND TART CHERRIES
From the Minneapolis Star Tribune: Growing up in Oriska, N.D., Julie Winkler was "always interested in the wider world." That led her to a degree in geography at the University of North Dakota, a Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota and a professorship at Michigan State University, where she teaches geography, meteorology and climate change. ... "Seventy percent of the U.S. tart-cherry production is in Michigan. You can get your arms around this industry and can use it as prototype for how climate impacts the system," she says.