Union in the Media

A crew from the popular BBC "Horizons" science documentary series was on campus last June to film a segment about a study by Christopher Chabris, associate professor of psychology. Chabris and some of his students re-enacted the "Fight Club" study to demonstrate inattentional blindness, the failure to see something unexpected because one's attention is focused on something else. The segment is part of documentary on how people make decisions. It will air in the UK this week and later in the U.S.

To view a clip, click here.

The women's hockey team gathered at Messa Rink to watch the Olympic gold medal game between the United States and Canada. The U.S. team featured Julie Chu, a former assistant hockey coach at Union.

To read a story in the Daily Gazette, click here.

European Romantic Review recently accepted an article by Andrew Burkett, assistant professor of English, for publication. “Photographing Byron’s Hand” will appear later this year for the journal for the North American Society for the Study of Romanticism.

Donald Rodbell, professor and chair of the Geology Department, was the featured speaker at a meeting for the Hudson-Mohawk Professional Geologists Association in Albany. His talk was titled “Glaciation and Climate Change Recorded in Moraines and Lake Sediments in the Tropical Andes Mountains.”

Submit your items to People in the news to gowanc@union.edu.

Bob Soules, director of the Becker Career Center, was quoted in a story on the job prospects for this year's seniors.

To read the article in the Times Union, click here.

To view a clip about Becker's recent Career Fair, click here.

The College's Aerogel Team is studying the feasibility of commercializing their aerogel fabrication process.

Their research has been mentioned on a number of science blogs.

To read Science Daily, click here.

President Stephen C. Ainlay spoke at the College’s “Climate Change: Adaptation and Building Resiliency in our Communities” last week, welcoming local officials and professionals. The conference featured presentations and workshops on the ecosystem and public health implications of climate change, smart growth, land use planning and floodplains and stormwater regulations.

Chad Orzel, associate professor and chair of the Physics Department, participated in a Google Hangout about faculty members who write blogs. Watch the hangout and read more on his blog.

An article on the Wall Street Journal’s “Moneybeat” blog details the ups and downs of investment for Mary O’Keeffe, who teaches economics classes, and her late husband, Ross Miller. “When a Great Gain Causes Pain,” discusses the psychology of investing and how the big swings in the stock market can affect rational thinking. Read the article here. (subscription may be required)

Submit your items to People in the news by emailing gowanc@union.edu.

The New York Six Liberal Arts Consortium has been awarded a three-year, $1.25 million grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to support new collaborations in the areas of globalization and language learning.

Union is a member of the consortium, along with Colgate University, Hamilton College, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, St. Lawrence University and Skidmore College.

Therese McCarty, the Stephen J. and Diane K. Ciesinski Dean of the Faculty and Vice President for Academic Affairs, spoke to the Albany Business Review about the grant.

To read the article, click here (subscription may be required).

“Climate Change: Adaptation and Building Resiliency in our Communities” was the focus of a daylong conference hosted by Union Friday, Jan. 24, at College Park Hall.

The keynote speaker was Judith Enck, regional administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 2, which includes New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and seven Tribal Nations.

To read more about it in the Daily Gazette, click here.

A new collaboration between the U.S. Geological Survey, the New York State DEC's Mohawk River Basin Program, New York Power Authority, Union College and Brookfield Renewable Power has resulted in the initial installation and development of an ice jam monitoring system that helps emergency managers monitor the progress of ice jams and potential flooding on the lower Mohawk River.

John Garver, professor of geology, was instrumental in the new system.

To learn more in the Daily Gazette, click here.

Columnist Paul Bray cited President Stephen C. Ainlay in a Sunday Times Union piece for reaching out to the Schenectady community through Union’s programs, including the Mohawk River Symposium and the establishment of the Kelly Adirondack Center. Also mentioned were Eddie Summers, chief of staff, and John Garver, professor of geology. Read the column here.

Palma Catravas, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, performed alongside her brother Nicolas Catravas, on WMHT radio. The duet played Brahms’ “Sonata for Two Pianos, Op. 34.” The performance was recorded in Memorial Chapel.

Kenneth Aslakson, associate professor of history, will take part in the Schenectady County Historical Society’s film and discussion series on the Civil Rights Movement. He will lead a conversation on the film, “Slavery by Another Name,” at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8 at the organization’s headquarters at 32 Washington Ave., Schenectady.

Scott Kirkton, associate professor of biology, recently gave a talk at the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Meeting in Austin, Texas. “Effect of gravity on jump performance and muscle physiology in the American locust” was co-authored with John Carroll '13.

Jennifer Matsue, associate professor of music and director of the Asian Studies program, will present her paper, “Female Passivity or Musical Democracy?: Making Music with Hatsune Miku,” at the upcoming conference, “Voices of Asian Modernities: Women, Gender and Sexuality in Asian Popular Music of the 20th Century,” at the University of Pittsburgh.

Rudy Nydegger, professor of psychology, was recently quoted in the Ocala Star Banner in Ocala, Fla. Nydegger discussed the possible mixed messages school districts are sending students as they openly violate the state’s class-size amendment.

To submit your items to People in the news, email Christen Gowan at gowanc@union.edu.