EPA names Clemson a Center of Excellence for Watershed Management in South Carolina
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Clemson University has been recognized as a Center of Excellence for Watershed Management by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This is only the third such center to be designated in the Southeast and the first center in the nation that focuses on using remotely sensed monitoring data, enabling scientists to collect and analyze information through this type of data network. Students use water column to calibrate instruments.Clemson officials signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the EPA and the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) during a ceremony on the university campus. The center is part of Clemson University’s Restoration Institute. 'This designation recognizes our shared commitment to restore and protect South Carolina’s watersheds,' said Jim Giattina, EPA Region 4 Water Management Division director. 'EPA and our partners, like Clemson and S.C. DHEC, are taking a broader approach to managing water resources by looking at watersheds more holistically.' 'The Restoration Institute’s work in protecting South Carolina watersheds is vital to our future,' said Clemson Vice President John Kelly. 'This center can be an important resource for local governments, industries and community groups who recognize the need for a comprehensive approach to water management.' Students construct a flume to measure stream flows.Gene Eidson, director of Clemson Restoration Institute’s ecology program, said the center will provide innovative resources to support development of cost-effective watershed management for communities throughout the state. 'At this challenging time for water resources, we are very excited about the additional coordinated resources such a center will bring to our watersheds,' said Eidson. 'We’re committed to connecting graduate students and additional resources directly to watersheds where the groundwork is being done.' The center is taking a leadership role in water resources and watershed issues in South Carolina and is developing strong partnerships with other institutions and agencies. An example of this commitment is organizing a statewide water resources conference Oct. 14-15 at the Charleston Area Convention Center. Installing instruments to measure stream water levels.'S.C. DHEC is very excited to be part of this MOU. The Center for Watershed Excellence is the first of its kind in South Carolina, and we as an agency believe it will increase awareness and facilitate improvement in water quality across the state,' said David Wilson, DHEC Water Bureau chief. 'The center will provide excellent resources to various stakeholder groups, regulated entities, academia and any other parties interested in maintaining and improving water quality in South Carolina. We believe that this agreement is a testament to our commitment to working collaboratively to protect and restore water bodies throughout South Carolina.' One of the major projects being developed by the Clemson center is the cyber infrastructure-based digital watershed. 'Having real-time data to monitor environmental characteristics - water quality, storm-water runoff, even tree growth - from any Internet access point can improve watershed management,' said Eidson. 'This system of remote sensors will provide real-time information to the public, scientists and professional environmental managers. The system will provide hands-on practical information to help promote objective, science-based discussions about economic growth and the environment. For South Carolina to prosper, both economics and ecology must be considered together and ultimately shift the paradigm of river management.' Measuring to deploy a water-quality sensor.The university awarded a $1.5 million grant to the Center for Watershed Excellence to develop the cyber platform and four demonstration projects. These projects include real-time monitoring of 215 miles of the Savannah River watershed, a low-impact development project in Georgetown County that is part of the Program of Integrated Study for Coastal Environmental Sustainability, a small watershed project at Lake Issaqueena in the Clemson Forest in Pickens County. Another is a segment of the Saluda River Watershed in Greenville County that is part of the Changing Land Use and the Environment program. The cyber-infrastructure network will be in place and online by October 2008. The platform will host regional projects, watershed group projects and other resources. In addition to the digital watershed program, the center is working with the City of Aiken, S.C., and Hitchcock Woods Foundation to formulate an ecological restoration master plan for the Sand River. This plan will describe the existing ecological conditions and prioritize individual restoration and remediation projects for the area. Another project is the Pickens County Strategic Water Supply Plan. This project brings together all water-supply groups in Pickens County to formulate a 20-year plan to address population growth and water needs. To become a recognized Center of Excellence, the institution must demonstrate technical expertise in identifying and addressing watershed needs; involve students, staff and faculty in watershed research; have the capability to involve the full suite of disciplines needed for all aspects of watershed management; be able to become financially self-sustaining; deliver and account for results; be willing to partner with other institutions; and receive support from the highest levels of the organization. Some of the benefits of being a recognized Center of Excellence include receiving EPA technical assistance where needed (from instructors, speakers, etc); being able to promote the Center of Excellence to stakeholders; having EPA letters of support for grant opportunities; and identifying opportunities for Center of Excellence involvement in local and regional watershed issues. For decades, the EPA protected the nation’s lakes, rivers and wetlands by regulating specific points of pollution; the most common of these being sewage treatment plants and factories. Although this approach led to the successful cleanup of many waterways, others still remain polluted from sources not as easily regulated, such as more subtle sources include farms, streets, parking lots, lawns, rooftops and other surfaces that come in contact with rainwater. Today, the EPA takes a broader approach to water protection, looking at both the individual waterway and the watershed in which it is located. Started in 2007, the EPA Region 4 Centers of Excellence for Watershed Management Program works with colleges and universities from across the Southeast to provide hands-on, practical products and services for communities to identify watershed problems and solve them. Each EPA-designated center actively seeks out watershed-based stakeholder groups and local governments that need cost-effective tools for watershed scientific studies, engineering designs and computer mapping, as well as assistance with legal issues, project management, public education and planning. The Clemson center has formed partnerships with groups across the state, including: Coastal Carolina University; the College of Charleston; the Medical University of South Carolina, biomedicine and environmental sciences; the University of South Carolina School of the Environment; NOAA-Hollings Marine Laboratory and Coastal Service Center; the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control Water Bureau and Ocean and Coastal Resource Management; the S.C. Department of Natural Resources Hydrology and Marine Research; and the USDA Forest Service. The center also is teaming up with other groups at Clemson University, including Computing and Information Technology and the Genomics Institute. For more information on the Center for Watershed Excellence at Clemson University: www.clemson.edu/restoration/ecology/. For more information on EPA priority watersheds in the Southeast: www.epa.gov/region4/water/watersheds/priority.html.
Student Insurance Plan Upgrades Announced
Monday, July 07, 2008The insurance plan available to graduate students for the coming academic year will feature three upgrades sought by the Graduate Student Government. The pharmacy benefit has increased to $1,000 per year; the dental benefit includes two cleanings per year; and a $300 wellness benefit are now included. Clemson University requires all full-time (9 hours or more), on-campus graduate students to have health insurance coverage. All international graduate students are required to have health insurance, as well. Students with assistantships recieve a subsidy to pay most of the cost of the student insurance plan.
Student Insurance Plan
Gartner Receives Award from Top Business Journal
Friday, June 27, 2008Dr. William (Bill) Gartner, Spiro Professor of Entrepreneurial Leadership and professor of management in the College of Business and Behavioral Science at Clemson University, received an Outstanding Reviewer Award for 2008 for his service to the Journal of Business Venturing. The Journal of Business Venturing is the eleventh most influential journal in the business category of the Social Science Citation Index, which measures the scholarly importance of journals. “Our success depends on the quality of our reviewers and among our well-qualified, talented pool, Bill was one of our truly top reviewers. We very much appreciate his service,” said Dean A. Shepherd, Randall L. Tobias Chair in Entrepreneurial Leadership at the Kelley School of Business (Indiana University) and associate editor of the Journal of Business Venturing. According to Shepherd, over and above being thorough, Gartner was also fair. His reviews contained a balance between general and detailed comments. These comments also pointed out current problems and deficiencies as well as specific suggestions for improving the manuscript. His suggestions were specific on how the authors could improve the paper and bring it closer to publication. 'Dr. Gartner is one of our most distinguished scholars, having been recognized internationally for excellence in research. This recent recognition is evidence of his role as a thought leader who gives of his time to advance the study of entrepreneurship,” said Dr. Caron St. John, associate dean of graduate programs and research in the College of Business and Behavioral Science. For more information about Clemson's graduate program in managment, visit http://www.grad.clemson.edu/programs/Management/index.php
Clemson urban planning program ranked among nation's best
Wednesday, June 25, 2008The Planetizen Guide to Graduate Urban Planning Programs ranks Clemson University's program among the best in the nation. Clemson is ranked seventh in the nation among programs that do not offer a PhD, and 10th in the South among all graduate programs. The city and regional planning program at Clemson is offered through the department of planning and landscape architecture. The professional master's degree program emphasizes sustainable land development while recognizing the balance of physical, economic, financial, social and policy dimensions of planning. Students pursue specializations in areas such as development planning, environmental and land-use planning, urban design and transportation planning. Other non-PhD programs ranked highly by Planetizen include California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo and California State Polytechnic University in Pomona in the No. 1 and 2 spots, followed by University at Buffalo-State University of New York, University of Minnesota, Michigan State University and University of Virginia. Among a 14-state Southern region, Clemson's program ranked 10th, in company with University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech. Clemson University also has one of the 10 best graduate programs in historic preservation, according to Planetizen, which listed Clemson, Columbia University, Cornell and the University of Southern California among the 10 best. The institutions were not ranked by number in that category. Also, Clemson was No. 4 in a ranking of financial aid per student. 'We are pleased with the company we are keeping with increased national recognition for the program,' said James B. London, who was director of the graduate program until his recent appointment as associate dean for research and graduate studies. 'We are proud to deliver a program that prepares professionals who lead communities into the future.' Planetizen enlisted the help of a professional opinion research firm to survey hundreds of professionals, educators and students to produce the 2009 Guide to Graduate Urban Planning Programs. Planetizen is a news and information resource for the urban planning, design and development community. The Planetizen Guide to Graduate Urban Planning Programs is published by Planetizen Press, a division of Urban Insight Inc. For more information about Clemson's graduate program in city and regional planning, visit www.grad.clemson.edu/programs/CRP/index.php. For more information about Clemson's graduate program in historic preservation, visit www.grad.clemson.edu/programs/HistPres/index.php.
Clemson bioengineers inducted as fellows in prestigious societies
Friday, June 20, 2008Two Clemson bioengineers have been inducted as fellows in biological engineering societies. Clemson University bioengineer Martine LaBerge has been inducted as a Fellow of Biomaterials Science and Engineering at the World Biomaterials Congress in Amsterdam. The international honor is reserved for accomplished members and role models in the field of biomaterials science and engineering. In addition to being professor and chairwoman of the department of bioengineering at Clemson, LaBerge is president of the Society for Biomaterials. The organization is a professional society that promotes advances in all phases of materials research and development through cooperative educational programs, clinical applications and professional standards in the biomaterials field. Her current research projects include the investigation of the wear performance of total knee-joint replacements, total knee-joint design and dynamic contact mechanics, as well as the mechanisms of friction, lubrication and wear of vascular implants. Also in the department of bioengineering, Shalaby W. Shalaby, adjunct professor, was elected a Fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering. He was recognized for his pioneering role and innovation in the field of polymeric medical devices. The College of Fellows consists of outstanding bioengineers in academia, industry and government. These leaders in the field have distinguished themselves through their contributions in research, industrial practice and education. The College of Fellows leads the way in technological advancement, advocating for public policies facilitating progress in medical and biological research and development to benefit the public. Since 1991, AIMBE Fellows have helped to revolutionize medicine, engineering and related fields that enhance and extend the lives of people all over the world. For more information about Clemson's graduate programs in bioengineering, please visit www.grad.clemson.edu/programs/Bioeng/index.php.
Call for Presentations: Seventh National Conference on Best Practices in Black Student Achievement
Thursday, June 19, 2008The Seventh National Conference on Best Practices in Black Student Achievement will be held on January 25-27, 2009 and is accepting presentation proposals until July 7, 2008. This conference offers a 'how-to' approach that focuses on the nuts and bolts of programs with a proven record of success. It consistently attracts many of the country's top leaders and advocates for black students. You are encouraged to attend and/or send in a proposal to be one of this year's featured speakers. Share your expertise. Present Clemon's best-practice programs that help African-American students succeed. To learn more about the conference or how to submit a proposal, visit www.clemson.edu/bestpractices.
CU-ICAR partners with Okuma, Morris South to support automotive engineering education and research
Thursday, June 19, 2008Clemson University and Okuma America Corp. announced a partnership that includes investments by Okuma and Morris South, Machine Tool Systems of $1.5 million in the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR). Consignment of $1.1 million of Okuma machine tools and $400,000 in training and support from Morris South will benefit post graduate-level education and research in areas that include automotive, industrial automation, production launches and proposal development. Okuma America Corp. is the US-based affiliate of Okuma Corp., a world leader in the development of computer numeric controls and machining technology. Under the terms of the agreement, Okuma and regional distributor Morris South will provide equipment and support services for the automotive engineering research and graduate education programs in the Carroll A. Campbell Jr. Graduate Engineering Center (CGEC), the academic anchor for CU-ICAR. Okuma also will provide an annual internship with the company for a student enrolled in the automotive engineering graduate program. CGEC Director Tom Kurfess announced the first Okuma intern, Chan Wong, already is working in the company's US headquarters in Charlotte, NC. He noted that with locations throughout the world, Okuma offers students outstanding internship opportunities. Instead of donating specific equipment, Okuma is providing state-of-the-art equipment in a consignment agreement that will continuously upgrade equipment for new versions as improvements are made. The arrangement also enables the CU-ICAR team to effectively tailor their capabilities to meet industry needs by working with Okuma to identify and provide the best possible equipment for newly initiated research and education projects. 'Okuma is committed to making sure our students and faculty have access to the latest technology,' Kurfess said. 'They have allowed us to avoid obsolescence, one of the biggest problems we face in terms of equipment. We do not have to dispose of or replace equipment; they will update as new generations of this machinery become available. The assurance that they will be working on the latest equipment from one of the world's most outstanding machine tool companies is extremely important for our current and potential students, and it is also important for those who will be hiring our graduates. We are very grateful for the very generous terms of this agreement.' The Okuma equipment will be used in both research and education programs, according to Kurfess. Research applications will include machining, metrology and machine-integration research projects--such as National Science Foundation and US Army machining projects--as well as serving as available resources for developing new proposals. The equipment will be integrated directly with graduate engineering classes such as automotive manufacturing processes, production preparation and launch and industrial automation. The faculty will use the equipment to provide demonstrations and data to reinforce class concepts. After spending many years in the automotive industry, Bob Kral, vice president of operations for Okuma America, sees extensive value in automotive industry research. 'As a car guy, I know how important it is to find those new innovations that break through the technological barriers we are particularly facing now in the domestic market. Okuma appreciates the opportunity to be a part of a premier global initiative that supports research for advanced manufacturing and promotes higher learning.' Kurfess said the partnership with Okuma and Morris South will improve the automotive engineering graduate program significantly by providing practical reinforcement of modeling and control concepts. 'It improves our capabilities to enable research in advanced machining and machining control areas, which is critical to automotive manufacturing,' he said. 'Through the expert support the companies will provide students will also interact with some of the machine tool industry's top control-system developers. Additionally, domestic and international internships are a critical part of our graduate program, and this partnership offers our students tremendous opportunity. We look forward to working with these outstanding companies.' --- Located in Charlotte, Okuma America is the US-based affiliate of Okuma Corp. which was founded in 1898 in Nagoya, Japan. Okuma builds machines that have the balance of power, speed and size to meet most any application--machines that can hold tight tolerances, perform sophisticated cuts and create precision-crafted parts. Only Okuma engineers and builds each component on every machine, including the Automatic Tool Changer, motor/drive/encoder, base casting, turret, spindle and the Microsoft Windows-based THINC-OSP control with its 40 GB open architecture plug-and-play capability. Providing superior service and support through the Okuma CARE program, 44 distributor partners also provide One Source sales, service, training, engineering and more throughout North and South America. Okuma initiated Partners in THINC to meet the evolving needs of industry as a one-stop facility and concept. More than 30 collaborating partners from ABB to Zoller work under the same roof to provide advanced-technology solutions to customers. Visit www.okuma.com or www.partnersinthinc.com for more information. Morris South CU-ICAR CU-ICAR is strategically located in the rapidly growing southeastern automotive and motorsports region. The 250-acre campus in Greenville, SC, is midway between Charlotte and Atlanta on the Interstate 85 corridor. This is where Clemson University offers the nation’s only PhD in automotive engineering, contributing to the University's continued climb in national reputation. For more information, visit www.cuicar.com.
For more information about Clemson's graduate programs in automotive engineering, please visit www.grad.clemson.edu/programs/AutoEng/index.php.
Okuma America Corp.
As a world leader in the development of computer numeric controls and machining technology, Okuma machines are known for their power, control, reliability and repeatability. Okuma offers vertical and horizontal machining centers, lathes, double-column machining centers, grinders and wheel machines to meet a wide range of industry needs.
Located in Charlotte, Morris South, Machine Tool Systems has been serving Southeast manufacturers for more than 25 years. Morris South, Machine Tool Systems offers the full line of Okuma products; fully automated turnkey solutions, manual lathes, mills, electronic lathes, transfer equipment and CMMs. Visit www.morrissouth.com for more information.
The Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research is an advanced-technology research campus where university, industry and government organizations engage in synergistic collaboration. With more than $200 million in commitments, it represents the ultimate public-private partnership, directly fueling a knowledge base critical to the automotive industry.
Clemson's Habitat for Humanity named Campus Chapter of the Year
Wednesday, June 18, 2008Clemson University's Habitat for Humanity chapter has been named Campus Chapter of the Year by Habitat for Humanity International. Clemson's chapter was selected for its strong relationship with the Pickens County Habitat for Humanity affiliate and for being a leader in green building practices. Last year the chapter sponsored a design contest with Clemson's Emerging Green Builders as a service-learning project for architecture, landscape architecture and construction science students. Students designed environmentally friendly houses, and the winning design, named 'Green House,' was constructed at 101 Zion Street in Easley. The chapter now is working on a house that will apply for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. That house is under construction at 225 Stephens Road in Clemson. It will be the first Habitat house in South Carolina to be LEED certified. 'This award is certainly a testament to the dedication of Clemson students to provide affordable housing to the local community. I am honored to be a part of this enthusiastic group of student leaders who do not settle for mediocrity,' said Chelsea Reighard, 2007-2008 president of Habitat for Humanity at Clemson and a Clemson native who graduated in May with degrees in genetics and language and international health. The award comes with a $20,000 grant that the chapter can use to participate in a Global Village trip to another country. 'This grant will allow our chapter to reach beyond our corner of South Carolina and give Clemson students an opportunity to fulfill Habitat for Humanity's mission in an international setting,' Reighard said. The LEED house will be the chapter's 27th house. The chapter has built more houses than any other campus Habitat for Humanity chapter in the nation. Clemson's Habitat for Humanity chapter also was honored this year by Clemson's community service office with the Outstanding Service Collaboration Award for its partnerships with the Pickens County Habitat for Humanity chapter and YouthBuild, a local organization that works with high school dropouts. For more information about Clemson's chapter of Habitat for Humanity, please visit http://people.clemson.edu/~habitat.
Liska to head construction science and management
Wednesday, June 18, 2008Roger W. Liska has been tapped to chair the construction science and management department in Clemson University's College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities. Liska has more than 35 years of experience in construction and construction education, including 23 at Clemson University. He chaired the department once before and returned to the faculty to serve as director of its Center for the Improvement of Construction Management and Processes, a position he still holds. Dean Clifton S.M. 'Chip' Egan awarded the post to Liska again after a university committee conducted a national search. Liska has developed and taught more than 300 continuing education courses for the construction industry worldwide, including in the United Kingdom, South Africa, Australia and China. He helped develop and currently facilitates and teaches in the Supervisor and Project Manager Academies in conjunction with the National Center for Construction Education and Research. The professor is the author of numerous books, articles and research reports on management, education, safety and training in the construction industry. Liska chairs the board of governors for the American Institute of Construction Constructors Certification Commission. He is past national president of both the American Institute of Constructors and the American Council for Construction Education and serves on the boards of both organizations. He is co-founder of the Construction Industry Cooperative Alliance and is a Fellow in the American Institute of Constructors, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the Chartered Institute of Building in the United Kingdom. For more information about Clemson's graduate program in construction science and management, visit www.grad.clemson.edu/programs/CSM/index.php.
Clemson supercomputing power ranks 62nd among sites in the world
Wednesday, June 18, 2008Clemson University has made its first appearance on the list of the top 500 supercomputing sites in the world, debuting at number 62. The 31st edition of the TOP500 list was released Wednesday at the International Supercomputing Conference in Dresden, Germany. Since 1993, the list has been produced twice a year and is the most extensive survey of trends and changes in the global supercomputing arena. 'Clemson is on the move in a big way,' said Jim Bottum, Clemson's vice provost and chief information officer. 'In a very short period of time we have moved from outside the top 500 computing sites in the world to solidly within the top 75. That is tremendous progress toward Clemson's goal of becoming a top-20 public university, but even more important is how this enables and empowers our faculty, students and staff to conduct competitive, engaging and collaborative work in a global environment.' Bottum said he was brought to Clemson to build a world-class cyberinfrastructure for education, research and service. However, he maintains that enabling learning and discovery is more than just offering compute cycles; it requires creating a collaborative environment where IT specialists work in partnership with faculty and students to create an advanced cyberinfrastructure that serves the needs of a multi-disciplinary set of programs. The Palmetto Cluster, for which Clemson is ranked 62nd, is an example of the collaborative partnerships driving Clemson’s progress. It also enables research and other computationally intense work that could not be done prior to the development of the system. 'This ranking recognizes Clemson's new role as a leader in campus-based high-performance computing systems,' said Jim Pepin, Clemson's chief technology officer. 'Plus, our academic community is now equipped to compete for and win contracts and grants that were previously out of reach.' For more information on the top 500 supercomputing sites go to www.top500.org/. Read more about the development of the Palmetto Cluster here. For information about CCIT visit www.clemson.edu/ccit/.
