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New Mexico State University EXCELLENCE IN ACTION A Periodic Newsletter from President William B. Conroy Those familiar with the Physical Science Laboratory at New Mexico State University know it has a long history of supporting NASA and U.S. defense agencies, and that is still a big part of the laboratory's workload. NASA's comet-chasing Stardust spacecraft, for instance - launched in February and headed now for deep space - is communicating with Earth using antennae designed and built by PSL. Increasingly, however, the technologies developed for the space program or military purposes are finding an amazing variety of practical applications. Delphi Automotive Systems, the world's largest automotive supplier, recently forged a partnership with PSL to test automotive sensors that are critical to the safe and efficient operation of cars and trucks. Largely because of PSL's extensive experience in electromagnetic systems work with the U.S. Department of Defense, Delphi has invested about $400,000 in a custom-designed facility at PSL to test components to make sure they are immune to interference from electromagnetic fields the vehicles may encounter. In addition to technological advances, NMSU's research and outreach activities help New Mexicans in a variety of ways, as some of the following bits of news illustrate.
Promoting and preserving our unique heritage NMSU has been awarded a $450,000 challenge grant by the National Endowment for the Humanities to establish the Southwest and Border Cultures Institute, which will promote research and community outreach that emphasize the rich cultural heritage of our region. Reed Dasenbrock, associate dean and director of NMSU's Arts and Sciences Research Center, describes the new initiative in terms of the university's land-grant mission, providing "cultural extension services to complement the university's traditional agricultural extension services." The university will raise an additional $1.35 million in matching funds to create a $1.8 million endowment. Areas of interest will include historic preservation, oral history, language, literature, and museum and library collections. Scientist studies odor-reduction technology for dairies Along some stretches of New Mexico highways, you can't help but notice the odor that wafts into your car from large dairy operations. NMSU soil scientist April Ulery is studying new methods of reducing odors and potential ground water contamination from dairy waste. According to the Dairy Producers of New Mexico, the state's dairy industry is now 10th in the nation in milk production. Water is an essential part of this operation, and pollution prevention, odor control, and ground and surface water protection are all priority issues in New Mexico. Glowing squids illuminate bacteria-animal relationships NMSU biologist Michele Nishiguchi studies bobtail squids, sea creatures that have a fascinating ability to glow at night and make themselves virtually invisible to predators beneath them in moonlit waters. "If you're a Star Trek fan, you might think of it as a Klingon cloaking device," she says of the squid's light organ, which harbors luminescent bacteria that provide the protective light. It is a case study that sheds light on how bacteria interact with larger animals, including humans. NMSU ranks No. 2 in engineering research impact ... New Mexico State ranked second among U.S. universities in the impact of its engineering research published between 1993 and 1997, according to the Institute for Scientific Information. The ISI rankings are a measure of how important the research is, not just how many papers are published. ... and among the Top 25 Colleges for Hispanics In its March issue, Hispanic magazine lists NMSU as No. 8 among "The Top 25 Colleges and Universities for Hispanics." Ranked according to the diversity of the student body, curriculum, student organizations, faculty, and recruiting and retention rates, "all of the schools on our 'Top 25' list offer an excellent education," the magazine states. Making their mark Recent reminders that New Mexico State's faculty are among the best, courtesy of national and international television coverage: Horticulture and agronomy Professor Paul Bosland, NMSU's "Mr. Chile," was featured in February on "Scientific American Frontiers," a PBS series hosted by Alan Alda. Alda, a confirmed "chile-head" himself, turned to Bosland to learn what makes chiles hot and why the same substance that gives them their pungency is helpful in relieving arthritis pain. Let us hear from you If you would like more information on these or other developments at NMSU, or if you have comments about this newsletter, please let me know. I'd like to hear from you.
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