Panel to celebrate double helix
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the double helix by 1962 Nobel laureates James D. Watson and Francis H.C. Crick, former Knight Science Journalism Fellowship director Victor K. McElheny will discuss his book "Watson and DNA: Making of a Scientific Revolution" at 6 p.m. in Wong Auditorium on Thursday, March 6.
Joining McElheny in the discussion will be Professor Phillip A. Sharp, director of the McGovern Institute for Brain Research, the 1993 Nobel laureate in medicine; and Professor Nancy H. Hopkins of biology. Rosalind H. Williams, the Metcalfe Professor of Writing and director of the Program in Science Technology and Society, will introduce the panelists. The event is part of the authors@mit series, co-sponsored by MIT Libraries and the MIT Press Bookstore.
MacVicar Day activities scheduled for Friday
MacVicar Day activities on Friday, March 7 will highlight the integral relationship between the rethinking of effective educational methods and the changes to the physical space in which teaching and learning take place. William J. Mitchell, dean of the School of Architecture and Planning, will discuss "Places for Learning: New Functions and New Forms" at 3 p.m. in Room 10-250. From 4 to 5:30, the community is invited to visit the following newly renovated classrooms: 33-116 (Aeronautics and Astronautics Learning Laboratory), 26-152
(TEAL, Technology-Enabled Active Learning), 10-337 (Teacher Education Program), 7-432 (Undergraduate Architecture Studio), 4-231 (Shakespeare Electronic Archive) and 3-370 (the Park Room for Innovative Education in the Department of Mechanical Engineering).
Call for proposals on affirmative action
The grants program of the Committee on Campus Race Relations is soliciting proposals for events, activities and educational programs that address the topic of affirmative action. Students, faculty and staff are welcome to apply. The grants committee will review proposals for this targeted topic on a rolling basis. For more information or an application, contact the committee at 253-1706, e-mail racerelations@mit.edu or see http://web.mit.edu/ccrr/grantsl.
Nominations accepted for annual awards
Nominations are being solicited for Institute awards to be presented at the annual Awards Convocation on Tuesday, May 13 at 4 p.m. in Room 10-250. The event honors students, faculty and staff who have made special contributions to the life of the MIT community.
To nominate someone, write a letter describing his or her qualifications and accomplishments and send it, as well as other supporting documents, if available, to the Awards Committee in Room W20-549. The deadline for most nominations is Friday, March 21.
Some awards have different nominating procedures and deadlines, as well as online nomination forms. For full descriptions of the awards and procedures, go to http://web.mit.edu/awards.
Report concerns on animal care
Vice President for Research and Associate Provost Alice Gast and the chairman of the Committee on Animal Care are once again soliciting any information which would aid MIT's effort to maintain the humane care of animals used in research.
The committee was established to ensure that all MIT researchers working with animals comply with federal, state, local and institutional regulations on animal care. To that end, it inspects animals, animal facilities and labs, and reviews all research and teaching exercises which involve animals before experiments are performed.
If you have information about inadequate animal care or any information that would help the committee fulfill its responsibilities, contact the committee at 253-9436 or call Gast at 253-1403. All concerns about animal care will be handled confidentially and will be investigated by the committee.
A version of this article appeared in MIT Tech Talk on March 5, 2003.
