Newsroom

Research from North Carolina State University shows that utilizing a freely available literacy tool results in significant advances in fundamental reading skills for elementary school students, without requiring schools to drastically overhaul existing programs. The research focused on children who were characterized as “struggling readers” at risk for a learning disability in reading. Continue Reading »

In a first for historically black colleges and universities, North Carolina State University’s Confucius Institute will extend its reach across Raleigh by opening a Confucius Classroom at St. Augustine’s College. The Confucius Classroom will provide one Chinese language instructor and an operational fund for supporting Chinese language classes and cultural events at St. Augustine’s College throughout the academic year.

Through this program, all St. Augustine’s students will be provided with expanded opportunities to engage in language and culture classes as well as extracurricular activities to enhance their understanding of Chinese language and culture. Through these increased global perspectives, St. Augustine students will be provided with the tools they need to succeed in an increasingly interdependent world.

With the expansive growth of China’s economy and global reach over the past several decades, there has been a sharp increase in the demand for Chinese language instruction. The Confucius Institute at NC State was established in 2007 to enhance intercultural understanding in the United States by sponsoring Chinese language and culture programs. NC State’s Confucius Institute promotes this mission through a range of educational and outreach activities for students, teachers, businesses, and community members. Saint Augustine’s Confucius Classroom will be the third developed by NC State’s Confucius Institute, joining those already in place at Central Carolina Community College in Sanford and Enloe High School in Raleigh.

St. Augustine’s Confucius Classroom is a collaborative initiative between NC State, Nanjing Normal University, located in Nanjing, China, and Hanban (Confucius Institute Headquarters).

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With Hurricane Irene churning toward the Southeastern United States, media looking for information on a variety of hurricane topics can contact the following North Carolina State University experts:

Storm Surge and Flood Prediction

Marine meteorologist Dr. Lian Xie can discuss research on hurricane formation. Specifically, Xie can talk about hurricane climatology and seasonal prediction; storm surge and coastal flooding forecasting; and ocean-hurricane interaction. He is at 919/515-1435 or lian_xie@ncsu.edu.

Rip Currents

Dr. Jie Yu is an expert in water wave mechanics, coastal hydrodynamics and processes, and environmental fluid mechanics. She can explain rip currents, how hurricanes effect rip current activity and how researchers can predict rip currents. She can be reached at 919/515-7702 or jie_yu@ncsu.edu.

Beach and Dune Erosion

Dr. Margery Overton is an expert on coastal hazards, particularly dune and beach erosion. She is chair of the Science Panel on Coastal Hazards, a group that makes recommendations on coastal topics to the N.C. Coastal Resources Commission. She can be reached at 919/515-7682 or overton@ncsu.edu.

Hurricanes in North Carolina

State Climatologist Ryan Boyles is a weather and climate specialist who can talk about hurricane history and impacts in North Carolina. He can be reached at 919/513-2816 or ryan_boyles@ncsu.edu.

Care for Pets and Animals During and After Disasters

Dr. Kelli Ferris, assistant professor of clinical sciences, has been instrumental in saving animals during natural disasters. Dr. Ferris directs the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Community-Campus Partnership, which provides a range of veterinary services to communities around the Research Triangle. Dr. Ferris is no stranger to disaster relief: Utilizing a mobile veterinary hospital, she cared for hundreds of animals in the aftermaths of Hurricane Floyd in 1999 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005. She can be reached at 919/606-2752 or kelli_ferris@ncsu.edu.

Dr. Dianne Dunning is the director of NC State’s Animal Welfare, Ethics and Public Service Program. She can discuss these efforts and can talk about how to care for animals and animal survival during disasters. She can be reached at 919/513-6267 or dianne_dunning@ncsu.edu.

Dr. David Eggleston, director of the Center for Marine Sciences and Technology, can speak to the impact that hurricanes can have on crab and fisheries populations along the eastern seaboard. He can be reached at 919/515-7840 or 252/222-6301, or at eggleston@ncsu.edu.

Dr. Barrett Slenning, College of Veterinary Medicine director of agrosecurity and biopreparedness, can speak to large-animal care, emergency needs and biosecurity issues. He can be reached at 919/513-6324 or barrett_slenning@ncsu.edu.

Water Quality

Dr. Greg Jennings is an expert in water quality. Jennings can discuss a hurricane’s effects on drinking water quality and on pollution from farms and urban runoff. He can be reached at 919/600-4790 or jennings@ncsu.edu.

Dr. David Eggleston, director of the Center for Marine Sciences and Technology, can discuss a hurricane’s effects on ocean salinity and dissolved oxygen levels. He can be reached at 919/515-7840 or 252/222-6301, or at eggleston@ncsu.edu.

Effects on Children and Parents

Dr. Kimberly Allen can discuss the effects of disasters – like hurricanes – on children and parents, and how to help parents assist their children in preparing for and recovering from a disaster. She can be reached at 919/515-9139 or kimberly_allen@ncsu.edu.

Home Cleanup and Restoration

Dr. Sarah Kirby can talk about a variety of topics on storm damage to homes, including cleaning and minor structural repairs. She can be reached at 919/515-9154 or sarah_kirby@ncsu.edu.

Effect on Trees and Timber Resources

Forestry and Environmental Resources extension specialist Dr. Robert Bardon can discuss the economic damage to the timber industry and how any salvage operations might be conducted. He can also discuss tree care and cleanup related to urban trees and storm damage. Bardon can be reached at 919/515-5575 or bob_bardon@ncsu.edu.

Disaster-Resilient Housing

Dr. David Tilotta, director of the American Home program, can discuss how to make homes more resistant to natural disasters, as well as ways to speed the return of residents to their homes in the wake of natural disasters. He can be reached at 919/515-5579 or dave_tilotta@ncsu.edu.

Natural Disaster Impact on Tourism

Tourism extension specialists Dr. Samantha Rich and Dr. Stacy Tomas are available to discuss the impact natural disasters play on the coastal tourism industry. Rich can be reached at 919/513-0351 or samantha_rich@ncsu.edu and Tomas can be reached at 919/513-7407 or stacy_tomas@ncsu.edu.

Impact on Local Wildlife

Dr. Chris DePerno, assistant professors of forestry and environmental resources, is an expert in wildlife and fisheries who can discuss the hurricane’s impact on wild animals. DePerno is at 919/513-7559 or chris_deperno@ncsu.edu.

Environmental Concerns

Environmental technologist Dr. Elizabeth Nichols studies the movement of pollutants through the ecosystem. She can discuss ways of dealing with the pollution resulting from a hurricane, and which pollutants may persist longer in the environment than others. Nichols can be reached at 919/513-4832 or elizabeth_nichols@ncsu.edu.

Plant pathologist Dr. Robert Bruck can explain the effects of the hurricane on forests and plant life, and the types of plant diseases that may occur after a hurricane causes changes to their environment. Bruck can be reached at 919/515-2086 or bob_bruck@ncsu.edu.

On the Web

A State Climate Office Web site with real-time access to weather information collected from hundreds of weather stations around the state and bordering regions can be accessed here.

A list of N.C. Cooperative Extension personnel with expertise in disaster-related issues can be accessed here.

Information and materials on tree-related damage after natural disasters can be accessed on Extension Forestry’s website.

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North Carolina State University will be part of a new national project aimed at promoting collaboration between international and diversity/multicultural education initiatives on college and university campuses.

The American Council on Education (ACE) project, “At Home in the World: Educating for Global Connections and Local Commitments,” will explore connections between international and diversity efforts that will better prepare students for the impacts of globalization and will improve cultural communication skills among students, faculty and staff.

One of NC State’s goals is to increase by 25 percent the number of under-represented minority students who participate in study, service-learning, internships and/or research abroad. NC State will also focus on developing a new course on cultural competence and global competitiveness and providing out-of-the-classroom opportunities for students to learn more about their place in the world.

“The ‘At Home in the World’ initiative will provide high-impact educational experiences for NC State’s students,” said Provost Warwick Arden. “The initiative is very much in keeping with our strategic goals of enhancing the success of our students through educational innovation and enhancing local and global engagement through focused strategic partnerships.”

NC State was one of eight colleges and universities named to the effort. They were chosen from 54 applicants.

The project, which will run through summer 2013, is funded by the Henry Luce Foundation.

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What:         North Carolina State University will hold a memorial service to recognize and honor all those who perished during the tragic events on Sept. 11, 2001, as well as those members of the Wolfpack family who have honorably served the United States since the university’s founding in 1887. U.S. Air Force jets will conduct a flyover during the event.

Who:        Chancellor Randy Woodson will lead the event. It is sponsored by the NC State Alumni Association and supported by the university’s Army, Navy and Marine Corps Reserve Officer Training Corps.

When:        Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011, at 2 p.m.

Where:       NC State’s Alumni Memorial Belltower, located near the intersection of Hillsborough Street and Pullen Road

Cost:          Free and open to the public

Contact:    NC State News Services, 919/515-3470

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Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed a simple, scalable way to align gold nanorods, particles with optical properties that could be used for emerging biomedical imaging technologies. Continue Reading »

Researchers from North Carolina State University, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and CFD Research Corporation have found a new way to develop straight carbon nanofibers on a transparent substrate. Growing such nanofiber coatings is important for use in novel biomedical research tools, solar cells, water repellent coatings and others. The technique utilizes a charged chromium grid, and relies on ions to ensure the nanofibers are straight, rather than curling – which limits their utility. Continue Reading »

When it comes to finding a job, who you know is as important as what you know. Work experience generally helps people foster the kinds of personal contacts that can lead someone to new career opportunities, but a study from North Carolina State University shows that this is really only true for men. The study finds that work experience doesn’t improve women’s chances of finding a job through social contacts. Continue Reading »