COSAM News:

Jan Lovelace retires, award established in her name
The dean’s executive support assistant, Jan Lovelace, is retiring after 13 years of exemplary service. A retirement reception was held in her honor at the Auburn Alumni Center on Dec. 12. During the reception, Charles Savrda, interim dean, announced the establishment of a new COSAM award that would recognize staff members.
“In my two years in the Dean's Office, one of my favorite things to do is to celebrate the efforts of individuals in the COSAM family—we have presented student teaching and research awards, faculty teaching, research, outreach and advising awards. But what about staff?” said Savrda. “I started thinking about this a month ago when we celebrated another retiree, Mrs. Eva Lilly, who retired after 42 years of service. I elected to institute and provide seed funding for a new annual staff award.”
In honor of Jan Lovelace, and recent retiree, Eva Lilly, the award was named the Lilly-Lovelace Distinguished Service Award in the College of Sciences and Mathematics. The award, which will be presented annually beginning in 2013, will recognize those who, like Lilly and Lovelace, have worked in the college for at least 10 year, and have excelled in areas of collegiality, productivity and efficiency, and professionalism.
“I have had the good fortune to work with Jan for two years…I came into the Dean’s Office under tragic circumstances…The transition was made smooth by an outstanding staff. Of course, Jan was at the frontline in that transition,” Savrda said. “Despite our loss, through various other trials, and even her own personal tragedies, Jan remained steadfast - an important part of the glue that held the Dean’s office together. She will be missed.”
Jan said her favorite thing about working at Auburn, and what she will miss most, is the people. During retirement, she plans to spend time with her family, friends and grandchildren, and travel with her husband. Her last day at Auburn will be Dec. 19. Good luck Jan!

Biological Sciences News:

Auburn University scientists to embark on six-week Antarctic cruise
On Jan. 1, a team of scientists from Auburn University’s College of Sciences and Mathematics will embark on a research cruise to one of the world’s most secluded and mysterious places, Antarctica. The voyage will last approximately six weeks, during which time the team will explore the genetic diversity of marine organisms found in the waters surrounding Earth’s southernmost continent.
The research is sponsored by a National Science Foundation grant titled, “Genetic Connectivity and Biogeographic Patterns of Antarctic Bethnic Invertebrates.” Kenneth Halanych, Stewart W. Schneller endowed chair in Auburn’s Department of Biological Sciences, is the principal investigator on the project. Scott Santos, associate professor of biological sciences at Auburn, and Andrew Mahon, assistant professor of biological sciences at Central Michigan University and former postdoctoral fellow at Auburn, are co-principal investigators. Santos will remain at Auburn and collect data and daily journal information from the expedition. The daily blog will be available to follow on the Antarctica Cruises website.
Participants on the cruise from Auburn University will include graduate students, one undergraduate student and Halanych, who made a previous research voyage to Antarctica in 1999.
To read the full story, which includes video, click here.

Mathematics News:

Kuperberg selected for Association for Women in Mathematics
Mathematics professor Krystyna Kuperberg was selected by the Association for Women in Mathematics as one of 10 recipients of the inaugural AWM Service Award.
The award will recognize individuals who help promote and support women in mathematics through exceptional voluntary service to the Association for Women in Mathematics. AWM was founded in 1971 and now has more than 3,000 student, individual and institutional members. The organization relies heavily on the work of volunteers to create, coordinate, and find funding for its many activities and programs.

Holmes receives outstanding teacher award
Mathematics professor Randall R. Holmes was awarded the inaugural Outstanding Teacher of Graduate Students award, given by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. The nomination process was conducted by an award committee composed of graduate students from the department. Holmes received a plaque at the end-of-the-year departmental meeting on Dec. 7.

Auburn represented at math conference in Africa
A group of mathematicians from Alabama attended the Southern Africa Mathematical Sciences Association meeting in Malawi in November. The theme of the conference was “Strengthening Mathematics and its Applications in Developing Countries.” The annual conference provides a platform for international experts to exchange new ideas in mathematical sciences, and establish and consolidate existing collaborations. The Alabama delegation included Auburn faculty members from the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Overtoun Jenda, associate provost for diversity and multicultural affairs, professors Pete Johnson and A.J. Meir, and associate professor Ash Abebe. Jenda is a member of the Scientific Committee for the conference. Zhijian Wu, chair of the Department of Mathematics at the University of Alabama, also represented the state. For more information, click here.

Minc is invited speaker at topology conference
Topology professor Piotr Minc was invited as a plenary speaker at the 47th annual Spring Topology and Dynamics Conference, hosted by Central Connecticut State University. The conference will take place in New Britain, Conn., March 23-25. The conference will feature special sessions in Continuum Theory, Dynamical Systems, General/Set Theoretic Topology, Geometric Group Theory and Geometric Topology/Low Dimensional Topology.

Rodger gives keynote address at mathematics conference in Australia
Chris Rodger, associate dean for research and the C. Harry Knowles Professor for Research in Mathematical Instruction, was invited as a keynote speaker at the 36th annual Australasian Conference on Combinatorial Mathematics and Combinatorial Computing. The conference was held at the University of New South Wales in Sydney Dec. 10-14.

Govil is invited speaker at international symposium
Narendra Govil, alumni professor of mathematics, has been invited to be a plenary speaker at the ninth international symposium, "Geometric Function Theory and Applications 2013." The symposium will be held at Isik University in Istanbul, Turkey, Aug. 26-30. He has also been invited to give a mathematical lecture series at Erciyes University in Turkey. Govil is the associate chair and undergraduate program officer for the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.

Auburn journal to be published in database
“Topology Proceedings” has been accepted for inclusion in Mathematical Review’s Citation Database Reference List. Topology Proceedings is a journal published at Auburn University and Nipissing University in Canada, which includes papers in all areas of topology and dynamical systems. The journal was started in 1976 by Auburn Professor Emeritus Philip Zenor as a conduit for the proceedings of the annual Spring Topology Conference, and in 1997, the journal added the proceedings of the annual Summer Topology Conference. The journal maintains a close relationship to these conferences, but has evolved into a regular research journal which has gained an international reputation in the fields of general topology and dynamics. Its editorial board includes editors from the U.S., Canada and Japan. Mathematics professors Gary Gruenhage and Piotr Minc are the local Auburn editors, and Beth Fletcher, editorial assistant and web manager for the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, is a technical editor who handles subscriptions and prepares papers for printing. Minc also maintains the journal’s website.

Alumni Highlights:

Contact Us!
We want to hear from you! Please email news on promotions, research, graduations, honors and awards, new jobs, marriage, children and anything else that's new in your life to ceh0012@auburn.edu. Please include a photo.

Snead joins Saint Louis Rams
After spending nearly two decades playing a key role in helping two different franchises become perennial playoff contenders, Les Snead, biomedical sciences and psychology ’94, was named general manager of the Saint Louis Rams on Feb. 14, 2012. Snead, who also received a master’s degree in human exercise science from Auburn in 1996, joined the Rams after spending 13 seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. In his role as general manager for the Rams, he oversees the club’s personnel and scouting efforts while partnering with Head Coach Jeff Fisher to direct all personnel decisions for the club. For more information on Snead, click here.

Leadership Council member spotlight: Edward L. Wampold
Edward L. Wampold, biological sciences ’53, is a member of the COSAM Dean’s Leadership Council and the 2009 recipient of the COSAM Distinguished Alumnus Award. He is also the founder and co-chair of COSAM's Dean's Scholarship Golf Classic.
A Montgomery native who completed his undergraduate studies after serving in the Army during World War II and the Korean War, in 1953, Wampold joined Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation, a Johnson and Johnson company, as a territory salesman. Quickly proving to be a valued asset to the team, he was asked to join Ortho Diagnostics, Inc. in 1959. In 1963 he became the division manager of the southern division. While working with Ortho Diagnostics, Wampold attended Syracuse University in the Marketing Executives International program and later studied marketing at Columbia University. In 1972, Wampold was promoted to general manager of the Arlington, Texas, manufacturing facility and served on the management board from 1969-1974.
In 1974, he co-founded Biological Corporation of America, a diagnostic company dedicated to immunohematology. Serving as executive vice president, Wampold helped build the company to the second largest diagnostics company in the industry. After BCA was acquired by  Cooper Laboratories, Wampold served as group vice president and a member of the board of directors.
To continue reading, click here.

Student Highlights:

Alverson named Homecoming Queen
Blanche Alverson, COSAM student and member of the women’s basketball team, was named Auburn University’s Miss Homecoming 2012. Alverson, a senior in biomedical sciences, pre-medicine, received the news from Governor Robert Bentley at the homecoming game against New Mexico State. A native of Andalusia, Ala., Alverson has a 3.68 grade-point average and is a two-time selection to the Capital One Academic All-District Team. Alverson was named the SEC's women's basketball scholar-athlete of the year in 2012, and is a member of Phi Eta Sigma and Alpha Lambda Delta honor societies, as well as Omicron Delta Kappa and the Order of Omega. Alverson was also selected as a member of Cardinal Key, honoring the top 40 juniors on Auburn's campus, and Mortar Board, a community service honor society.

Scheuerle featured in The Plainsman
Ricky Scheuerle, a junior in microbiology, was featured in The Auburn Plainsman for his role as director of speakers and comedians for the University Program Council. Scheuerle was responsible for booking the wildly popular Bill Nye for a speaking event in the Auburn Arena in November. Click here to read the story.
*Photo courtesy of The Plainsman

Student Services News:

Diehl receives inaugural advising award
Krysta Diehl, an advisor in COSAM’s Student Services office, was selected by the Office of the Provost to receive the inaugural Auburn University Outstanding Advising Award—Advisor Category. The honor recognizes Diehl for her outstanding academic advising of COSAM students and carries with it a cash award. Congratulations Krysta Diehl!

Outreach News:

Cornerstone Christian Preparatory Academy receives top award at robotics competition
Cornerstone Christian Preparatory Academy, located in South Park, Pa., won first place in the BEST Award category at “South’s BEST,” a regional robotics competition that is part of the Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology program. The BEST Award is given to the team that most embodies the concept and spirit of the competition and is the highest achievement any team in the competition can accomplish. The winner is judged on a combination of project engineering notebook, marketing presentation, team exhibit and interview, and team spirit and sportsmanship.
BEST is a national robotics program for middle and high school students and is headquartered at Auburn University. The program culminates in one of three regional championships. South’s BEST took place Dec. 1-2 at Auburn University, and in addition to the first-place BEST Award, Cornerstone Christian Preparatory Academy won second place for team exhibit and interview, third place in marketing presentation, third place for best team mascot, and third place in the Founders Award for Creative Design category. The Founders Award for Creative Design is given to the team that makes best use of the engineering process in consideration of offensive and defensive capabilities in machine design, and is awarded in recognition of BEST founders Steve Marum and Ted Mahler.
South’s BEST included teams from Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, Louisiana and Pennsylvania.
BEST Robotics is the third largest educational robotics program in the nation and is the only one that is free to schools. The primary objectives of the BEST Robotics program are to: provide students with a real-world engineering experience that incorporates the practical application of math and science; prepare students to be technologically literate and thus better prepared to enter the workforce; help students develop leadership, project management, teamwork and organizational skills; and develop confidence and competence.
For more information, including a complete list of competition results and sponsors, go to the website at www.southsbest.org.

Hickman wins poster award
Five research posters were recognized for making outstanding scholarly contributions at the Engagement Scholarship Consortium’s 2012 National Outreach Scholarship Conference in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Among the winners was Elizabeth Hickman, director of the Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative for Auburn University. Posters were rated on the basis of quality of engagement, scholarship content, textual clarity and visual/graphic quality. A panel of judges reviewed more than 50 posters from a field of national and international submissions. Winners were invited to publish an abstract of their work in a special issue of the Journal of Community Engagement and Scholarship to be published in 2013. Hickman’s poster was titled, “Improving Classroom Instruction: Alabama Math, Science, and Technology Initiative,” and she described the Alabama Department of Education’s initiative to improve math and science statewide. The posters can be seen here.

Arboretum News:

Arboretum installs stormwater walking tour
In an effort to educate the public on best practices for handling stormwater in the landscape, the Donald E. Davis Arboretum installed an 11-stop stormwater tour. The tour takes participants through the arboretum landscape while highlighting features that deal with stormwater management. Signage marking the stops along the tour is temporary, and the arboretum welcomes input on the effectiveness of the information provided as permanent signage will eventually be installed. The tour is free to the public. For more information, see the story, which includes video, here.

2013 Arboretum calendars now available
The 2013 Donald E. Davis Arboretum calendars are now available for purchase. Calendars are $5 and feature winners of the 2012 arboretum photo contest. To order a calendar, please contact the arboretum at 334.844.5770 or send an email to arbinfo@auburn.edu.