Twice each year, we are pleased to offer our friends and alumni a selection of images and stories that capture the excitement and relevance of the arts and sciences at Ohio State. Highlights of this issue of ASCENT: "Ahead of the Class," educators redefining the traditional classroom; "Full Steam Ahead," researchers transforming our Land-Grant legacy; "A Force for Change," A PhD candidate working with students in the South Linden area of Columbus to create positive change in their community; "About the Cover," an alumnus on a 10-year mission to make people smile.

Earlier this month, the Society for Music Theory presented the Outstanding Publication Award to David Clampitt, associate professor and area head, theory and composition, and his co-author Thomas Noll, who teaches in Barcelona. The award recognized their article, "Modes, the Height-Width Duality, and Handschin's Tone Character," published in Music Theory Online.

 

Scott Bair, professor, School of Earth Sciences, received the 2013 George Burke Maxey Distinguished Service Award for his contributions and service to hydrogeology and to the Geological Society of America. The award was presented at the Hydrogeology Division of the Geological Society of America's annual meeting in late October.

The Sawyer Seminar is a series of events and activities through October 2014, centered around the theme, CrossRoads: Culture, Politics, and Belief in the Balkans and South Asia. On December 2, Chandra Mallampalli, associate professor of history at Westmont University will present "Religion, Law, and Identity in Colonial India: The Role of Court Cases in Defining Religious Boundaries."
 

Paul Kwiat, Bardeen Chair in Physics, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and Fellow of the American Physical Society and the Optical Society of America, will discuss how quantum randomness, superposition, and entanglement can be used to realize perfectly secure cryptography, ultra-fast computation, and completely non-invasive "photography." Time/appetites permitting, Kwiat may also give a brief lesson in Quantum Cooking. Lecture: 3-4 pm, Ohio Union, U.S. Bank Conference Theater. Reception: 4-5 pm, Ohio Union Ohio Staters Traditions Room. Both free/open to the public. 

 

The November issue of Research Development and Grant Writing News, from the Office of Research, is now available (OSU login required). Topics include: Searching the Foundation Form 990 for Funding; Your Grant-Writing Elevator Speech; Backgrounding the National Robotics Initiative; NSF's Research Coordination Networks; Agency Reports, News, and Updates; New Funding Opportunities.

 

Microsoft is making a change to BuckeyeMail on December 18 that will require users to take a few steps in preparation. If these steps are not taken, users may have problems logging into BuckeyeMail after the upgrade is complete. The upgrade affects students only but anyone who interacts with students on a regular basis could benefit from being informed about the change. Details are posted on OCIO’s home page. Questions regarding the BuckeyeMail upgrade should be directed to the IT Service Desk at 688-HELP (4357) or 8help@osu.edu.

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2014 North American Computational Linguistics Olympiad (NACLO): Plan Ahead