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2007 Year in Review

By Lauren Gregg, News Services

From the very first State of the University presentation to a heightened focus on energy, to once again being named one of the best values in American higher education, North Carolina State University had a banner year.

In his State of NC State address, Chancellor James Oblinger highlighted some of NC State's 2007 accomplishments. "Stories like these describe NC State's dedication to leadership in a changing world," he said. "They are excellent examples of the work of an 'engaged university' which I believe describes NC State at its best."

Below are some of the university's many milestones and accomplishments in the year 2007.

1. Energy Initiatives/Research

• Turning Fats Into Jet Fuel
  New biofuels technology developed by NC State engineers has the potential to turn virtually any fat source – vegetable oils, oils from animal fat and even oils from algae – into fuel to power jet airplanes. The technology, called Centia™, is "100 percent green."
• A Soda Bottle is a Soda Bottle is a Soda Bottle . . .
  Chemical engineers at NC State have developed a more efficient way to chemically recycle your soda bottles back into new ones. Most beverage bottles collected for recycling are reprocessed into non-food products such as fiber and strapping. Only a small percentage of beverage bottles are reprocessed into food-grade PET, or plastic packaging, including beverage bottles.
• Engineering Students Develop New Techniques to Produce Ethanol and Methanol from Renewable Sources
  At NC State, even student researchers have caught the alternative fuels bug. The students have developed two new, cost-effective techniques – producing ethanol from wood and other biomass and capturing methane, a greenhouse gas, and converting it into methanol.
• NC State to Award $625,000 for Clean Fuel Projects
  The university is accepting applications for $625,000 in federal transportation funds to support emission-reduction projects, such as purchasing alternative fuel vehicles, installing infrastructure for cleaner burning alternative fuels and retrofitting older diesel vehicles.
• Energy Sec. Bodman Tours University Energy Research Labs
  U.S. Sec. of Energy Samuel Bodman visited NC State in October and said NC State's energy efforts epitomize "the type of partnerships that are needed for innovation to thrive."  While on campus, Bodman toured energy research labs, made a presentation on U.S. energy programs and policy, and participated in an energy roundtable with leaders from state government and the energy industry.
• Harvesting Biomass With a 'Mulching Machine on Steroids'
  Through a grant with the U.S. Forest Service, researchers at NC State are testing a machine that harvests small-diameter woody biomass for use as feedstock for electrical power generation. At the same time, the biomass harvester – think of a mulching machine on steroids – makes the forest less prone to wild fires and provides the opportunity to restore endangered habitats and associated species.
• BioSUCCEED Moves Biomass to Curriculum Forefront 
  Scientists with backgrounds in biomass and biofuel research are in big demand. NC State is helping to fill that demand by creating a curriculum any college or university can use that will allow students to receive either an advanced degree in biomass science. When completed, BioSUCCEED will be available to instructors either in DVD format or on the Web.
• Eat Your Heart Out Energizer Bunny
  Imagine an electric car with the same acceleration capability as a gas-powered sports car, or ultrafast rechargeable "batteries" that can be recharged a thousand times more than existing conventional batteries. According to physicists at NC State, all of these things are possible, thanks to their research on a polymer – or plastic material – that when used as a dielectric in capacitors may allow the capacitors to store up to seven times more energy than those currently in use.

2. Buildings

• Golden LEAF Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center
  The Golden LEAF Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center (BTEC) on Centennial Campus officially opened for business in September, giving the state a new tool for supporting a growing biotechnology industry. BTEC is the largest facility of its kind in the nation. Through partnerships between NC State, North Carolina Central University and the North Carolina Community College system, BTEC's distance education and on-site programs will train as many as 2,000 students and prospective employees per year.
• University Breaks Ground on New Veterinary Medical Center
  NC State broke ground on a new companion animal veterinary center at the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) in November. Construction for the Randall B. Terry, Jr. Companion Animal Veterinary Medical Center, or "Terry Center," a 110,000-square-foot, $72 million facility, is expected to be completed by 2009. This new medical facility is more than double the size of the current companion animal hospital, and will help accommodate the more than 20,000 cases referred to the CVM each year.
• Carmichael Recreation Center Opens
  The new $12.1 million, 43,000 square-foot Carmichael Recreation Center opened on Dec. 3. The facility boasts state-of-the-art cardiovascular and weight-training equipment and features amenities one would expect to find in a private health club. In addition to new equipment, the gym offers some new amenities as well. Campus Recreation plans to begin offering services such as fitness assessments, personal training sessions and massage therapy.
• Thompson Building Renovation
  The Thompson building is stepping into the 21st century, undergoing a transformation into a first-class center for its current residents – University Theatre and the Crafts Center. Renovations will include the addition of gallery exhibition space to the main theatre lobby; enhanced soundproofing and structural improvements that will allow multiple performances and activities to occur simultaneously; and improved access for people with disabilities.
• NC State Dedicates Reynolds' Floor to Kay Yow
  NC State named the Reynolds Coliseum basketball court in honor of long-time women's basketball coach Kay Yow. In her 32 years at the helm of the Wolfpack women's program, Yow has now guided her teams to more than 650 victories. She is only the second women's college basketball coach in the nation to have a court named in her honor.

3. Groundbreaking Research

• New Filter Grabs Bad Proteins from Donated Blood
  Dr. Ruben Carbonell and colleagues developed resin beads – and then a filter containing the beads – armed with molecules that can effectively bind to harmful proteins associated with diseases like variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, mad cow disease and scrapie The beads serve as an adsorption filter, capturing the bad proteins and allowing other blood components to be effectively cleansed of the disease-causing agents.
• Fruit Flies Meet Joe Camel
  NC State researchers have gleaned insight into the genes involved in resistance to nicotine in the lab rat of many gene studies – Drosophila melanogaster, the fruit fly. The research team led by Dr. Greg Gibson, William Neal Reynolds Professor of Genetics, and his graduate student, Gisele Passador-Gurgel, found that regulation of levels of a certain enzyme plays an important role in establishing how long flies can tolerate nicotine.
• Tyrannosaurus Rex Tasted like Chicken? 
  Paleontologist Dr. Mary Schweitzer and colleagues at the Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center confirmed the existence of protein in soft tissue recovered from the bone of a 68 million-year-old T. rex. They successfully sequenced the dinosaur protein, identifying the amino acids and confirming that the material from the T. rex was collagen. When the researchers compared the collagen sequences to a database that contains existing sequences from modern species, they found that the T. rex sequence had similarities to those of chicken, frog and newt.
• You Say Tomato, I Say Bug Spray
  Thanks to a compound identified at NC State, which naturally occurs in wild tomato plants, a safer, natural alternative for surviving mosquito season is headed to store shelves. Now, the wait for a DEET-free, child-safe insect repellent is over. The EPA has officially approved BioUD(tm) as a safe active ingredient in insect repellent for direct skin application with no child safety restrictions. HOMS, LLC, a North Carolina-based biotech company, will immediately begin distribution of the BioUD™ formula in a product called Bite Blocker.
• Even "Ahnold" Would Enjoy This "Muscular" Research
  In research most bodybuilders would endorse, NC State scientists have devised new materials that aim to put some serious muscle behind robots or biomedical devices. The artificial muscle materials are activated by an external electrical field and then change dimensions in specific directions. Besides a pumped-up robot or smart prosthetics, other uses for these materials could be small vehicles that fly or slither into a cave, responsive textiles, steerable catheters, microfluidic or haptic devices such as continuous-action micropumps and refreshable Braille pads and other biomedical applications.
• March of the GIANT Penguins
  Dr. Julia Clarke and colleagues studied two newly discovered penguin fossils and determined that these penguin species – one of which was 5-feet tall – reached equatorial regions in what is now Peru tens of millions of years earlier than expected and during a period when the earth was much warmer than it is now
• Researchers Create Chemical 'Light Switches' to Aid Study of Gene Function      
  Chemist Dr. Alex Deiters and molecular and biomedical scientist Dr. Jeff Yoder have received a five-year, $1.4 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop a series of "photo-switchable" compounds – organic compounds that respond to light cues – that will allow scientists to turn individual genes on and off within zebrafish embryos, enabling them to determine the function of particular genes.
• Height or Flight? Fossil Answers Some Questions About Evolution of Flight in Dinosaurs
  NC State paleontologists studied a newly discovered fossil that proves that dinosaurs grew smaller in size well before they evolved the ability to fly. This discovery calls into question previous assumptions about the evolution of flight in dinosaurs, and will impact the way paleontologists study this evolution in the future.
• When Ants Go Sweating: Zoologist Gets $3M Grant to Study Climate Change Effects
  An NC State zoologist is the lead researcher on a five-year, $3 million study that will turn up the heat on a number of ant species to learn more about the effects of climate change. The study, says Dr. Rob Dunn, assistant professor of zoology at NC State, will specifically examine how climate change affects the movement and distribution of ants and other invertebrate species. That's important, Dunn says, because changes in insect distribution can have major effects on the ecosystems.
• Lush or Lightweight? Study Finds Genes Behind Alcohol Sensitivity in Fruit Flies
  Some fruit flies can drink others under the table. Now, scientists at NC State have a few more genetic clues behind why some flies are more sensitive to alcohol than others. And the results might lead to more knowledge about alcoholism in humans. After genetically modifying fruit flies to be either extremely sensitive or extremely resistant to alcohol – lightweights or lushes – the NC State scientists found that a number of fruit fly genes undergo changes when sensitivity to alcohol changes. A number of these genes, the researchers report, are similar to genes found in humans, suggesting that they may be good targets to study human predisposal to alcoholism.
• Researcher to Study Dog Genome for Clues to Lymphoma in Humans
  Dr. Matthew Breen, genomics professor, has been awarded a five-year, $1 million grant by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to find cancer-associated genes in canines. Breen, who worked on sequencing the canine genome in 2004, says that not only is the dog genome very similar to the human genome, it is also much easier to pinpoint the location of abnormal areas within the dog genome, due to the lack of genetic variability within breeds.
• Heating Up the Fight Against Pet Cancer
  NC State researchers are turning up the heat to fight pet cancer. Scientists in the College of Veterinary Medicine are combining the effects of increased heat, or hyperthermia, with traditional cancer treatments like radiation and chemotherapy. Results so far show that heating tumors helps keep them under control, says Dr. Don Thrall, professor of molecular and biomedical sciences. Moreover, he says, the technique is gaining wider acceptance for treatment of human cancer.                        

4. Partnerships

• Friday Institute Leads State Initiative to Provide Broadband Connectivity to All K-12 N.C. Schools
  At the request of the N.C. Board of Education and Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue, the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation is leading the implementation of a $6 million state-funded pilot project to provide high-speed network connectivity to all K-12 schools in North Carolina.
• NC TEACH Program Addresses State Teacher Shortage
  NC State's College of Education's NC TEACH (North Carolina Teachers of Excellence for All Children) program is increasing the number of teachers in our state. The alternative licensure teacher preparation program aids individuals in changing careers and becoming professional educators.
• Xerox, College of Management Work to Advance Research in Service and Innovation Management
  Xerox Corporation and the College of Management announced a three-year collaborative project to fund research that will lead to new courses in professional service management and innovation management. The new courses include the Service Innovation Lab where students will work with companies to develop innovative service concepts. In addition, a new graduate-level service management course will be taught in partnership with Indiana University, using emerging virtual world tools and technology.

5. Rankings and Recognitions

• NC State was again Ranked National 'Best Value.' The university's combination of quality and affordability makes it one of the best values in higher education. In rankings released by Kiplinger's Personal Finance, NC State is rated 12th among the nation's colleges and universities. 
• Marvin Malecha, dean of the College of Design, was voted president-elect of The American Institute of Architects (AIA) for 2007-2008. He will join the AIA Executive Committee in 2008 as the first vice president/president-elect and will assume leadership of the organization in 2009.
• Alumnus Dr. Rajendra Kumar Pachauri was chair of the United Nations agency that shares the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with former Vice President Al Gore. Pachauri, chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), obtained his graduate degrees from NC State, including a master's degree in industrial engineering, and doctorates in industrial engineering and economics. He also served at NC State as an assistant professor (August 1974 to May 1975) and visiting faculty member (summer 1976 and 1977) in the Department of Economics.
• The Association of University Research Parks (AURP), named NC State's Centennial Campus as the top Research Science Park of the Year.
• This year TurfNET Magazine named NC State'e Turfgrass Management Program No. 1 in the nation.
• Jennifer Boyd of Chesapeake, Va., Joe Morrow of Brevard, N.C., Warren Perry of Wendell, N.C., and Jennifer Ricks of Wilson, N.C., won prestigious Barry M. Goldwater Scholarships for the 2007-08 academic year. NC State is one of only seven universities to have four students selected as Goldwater Scholars this year. 
• Brian Lee Clark, a senior majoring in physics and minoring in mathematics, wins a 2008 Marshall Scholarship. Clark is one of two Marshall Scholar recipients representing a North Carolina institution and one of just 37 recipients nationwide from more than 900 applicants. He is NC State's second Marshall Scholar.

6. International Initiatives

• Chancellor Visits India and China
  In March, Chancellor Oblinger took a trip to India with a delegation from the State Department and several other chancellors and presidents. In May, the Chancellor joined an economic development delegation from the Research Triangle on a relationship-building trip to China. The chancellor and deans met with their counterparts at several Chinese universities and visited NC State students studying in China.
• Confucius Institute Opens on Campus
  In April, the university opened the Confucius Institute, which will enhance intercultural understanding by sponsoring programs in Chinese language and culture and providing a range of outreach activities to students and the community. It also supports NC State's growing partnership with China.
• N.C. Delegation Tours Korea, Japan
  A recent trip to the two Asian countries by a number of NC State administrators resulted in a unique agreement to conduct a dual Ph.D. program in genomics and an opportunity to reconnect with some important alumni. The first global, dual Ph.D. program for NC State and Seoul National University will provide opportunities for students to obtain a dual Ph.D. degree from both universities in genomics. To receive both degrees, students must fulfill the degree requirements of both institutions. The trip also showed the strength of alumni relations in South Korea, as 31 of the informal 350-member South Korean alumni club attended a reception in Seoul.
• Trip to India Includes Visit With Nobel-Winning Alumnus
  Hearty congratulations were in order as Nobel Prize-winning alumnus Rajendra Pachauri received an NC State delegation traveling to India. In addition to meeting with Pachauri, the NC State delegation also met with U.S. Ambassador David Campbell Mulford and visited with officials at the Indian Institute of Technology Dehli, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology, Ansal Institute of Technology Gurgaon, and the United States Educational Foundation in India. Dr. John Gilligan, vice chancellor for research and graduate studies, and Dr. Bailian Li, vice provost for international affairs, met with the chairman of India's Atomic Energy Commission, Dr. Anil Kakodkar.

7. New Faces

• Nevin E. Kessler, former associate dean for development and alumni relations at Yale University School of Management, was named vice chancellor for advancement at NC State.

• NC State Board of Trustees Elects New Officers, Welcomes New Members

• D. McQueen Campbell III was elected as chair – the youngest chair in the history of the university – while Robert B."Bob" Jordan was elected first vice chair, Suzanne Gordon was elected second vice chair and Steve Warren was elected secretary.
• Barbara Mulkey, John Sall and Gayle S. Lanier were newly appointed to four-year terms; and Cassius S. Williams and Steve F. Warren were reappointed to second four-year terms.

8. Distinguished Visitors

• Millennium Seminars
  Coordinated by Mary P. Easley, the first lady of North Carolina and a faculty member at NC State, the Millennium Seminar Series is aligned with the university's mission to train students to become leaders and problem-solvers. This year the series welcomed GlaxoSmithKline President Chris Viehbacher, NASA's Waleed Abdalati, Acting U.S. Surgeon General Rear Admiral Kenneth P. Moritsugu and Charlie Rose moderated a panel of experts on 'Green' Design including Dick Jackson, Marvin Malecha and Thom Mayne.
• Shelton Forum
  The annual General Hugh Shelton Leadership Forum featured Howard Putnam, former CEO of Southwest Airlines. This year's forum, titled "Shaping the Game: The Power of TEAM Leadership," also included the forum's namesake, retired Army Gen. Hugh Shelton; Lt. Gen. Russel L. Honoré, commanding general of the First Army; Courtney Lynch, founder of Lead Star; and James Speed, president and CEO of North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Co. 
• Emerging Issues Forum
  U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, Harvard professor and former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers and other nationally and internationally recognized speakers brought their expertise on higher education – and ideas on how colleges and universities can continue to provide leadership to North Carolina and the United States in maintaining a competitive advantage in the global marketplace – to NC State for the 22nd Emerging Issues Forum.

9. New Centers and Special Announcements

• World's First Nonwovens Institute Will Boost State's Industry Leadership
  The Nonwovens Institute will be the world's first accredited academic program for the interdisciplinary study of engineered fabrics. The institute will serve as a central resource and support center for education, research, engagement and economic development for the nonwovens textiles industry in the United States and will combine the expertise of NC State's leading colleges of Textiles, Engineering and Natural Resources.
• Arnold Palmer Tees Off Construction for New Golf Course
  In July, golf legend Arnold Palmer teed off construction of the Lonnie Poole Golf Course on Centennial Campus. The Palmer Course Design Company designed the 18-hole, 7,025-yard, par-71 public course. In addition to serving as a recreational amenity, NC State's golf course will serve as a living laboratory for the university's nationally recognized turfgrass program, provide a home for the university's PGA-sanctioned Professional Golf Management program and serve as a venue for the NC State golf teams. The course is slated to open in spring 2009.
• NC State's Water War
  NC State Chancellor James Oblinger and Student Body President Bobby Mills issued a water conservation challenge to UNC-Chapel Hill. Students in the residence halls on both campuses are competing to see who can conserve the most water when compared to last year's water use.
• Institute for Advanced Analytics
  NC State's new Institute for Advanced Analytics will spearhead graduate education in a field of increasing relevance in the 21st century – analyzing reams of data. The institute oversees NC State's master's degree in analytics, an intensive 10-month program.
• Launch of New University Homepage
  This year the university launched a new homepage. The new site features more than 100 new pages, easier navigation and an impressive array of multimedia features and interactivity. Users will find superior navigation – including customizable "Quicklinks" that will help frequent users tailor the site to their needs – numerous video choices and feature items that portray the university's people, research and service.
• NC State Launches Digital Games Research Center
  NC State's Department of Computer Science launched the Digital Games Research Center (DGRC) this year to study an area of information technology that holds the promise to change the way we learn, play, collaborate and work in the 21st century. The new center will investigate the scientific, social and educational challenges of designing and constructing new games and game technologies.

These are just a few of NC State's 2007 highlights. Fore more stories, check out the complete lists of 2007 news releases and features on http://news.ncsu.edu.

NC State University News Services (919) 515-3470 or newstips@ncsu.edu