DISEASE AND HISTORY WORKSHOP

One of the nation's most respected authors and teachers in the field of world history will participate in an innovative workshop scheduled for Feb. 28 and March 1 at Sam Houston State University.

William McNeill, professor of history at the University of Chicago for 40 years and author of 20 books, will give the keynote address at the workshop, which is entitled "Disease and History: Microbes of Change."

McNeill's presentation is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28. Also scheduled that evening is an organizational meeting for the Texas Council for History Education.

Speaking on Saturday will be William Cook, distinguished teaching professor of history from the State College of New York at Genesco; Alfred Crosby, professor of American Studies at the University of Texas at Austin; Dr. Tobi B. Karchmer, a fellow at the University of Virginia Health Science Center, Division of Infectious Diseases; Allen Richman, professor of history at Stephen F. Austin State University; and Richard J. Smith, professor of history and director of Asian Studies at Rice University.

Dr. Joan Coffey, SHSU assistant professor of history and one of the workshop coordinators, said that the presentation will focus on the effect of disease, plagues and epidemics on world history, and the impact that AIDS is having on world history today.

The workshop is co-sponsored by the John Cooper School in the Woodlands and SHSU. Coffey said that goals of the unusual sponsorship arrangement are to facilitate interaction between secondary and collegiate educators and to promote collaboration between schools, museums, and the business community.

Registration is $15 for students, $30 for professionals, and $60 for commercial supporters. Interested members of the public are invited to participate. Contact Coffey at 294-1485 for registration information.

DRUGS, CRIME, AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE POLICY

The first of four presentations on the topic of "Drugs, Crime and Criminal Justice Policy" is scheduled for Thursday in the Beto Criminal Justice Center.

Dr. Gerald Gaes, director of the Office of Research and Evaluation of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, will discuss research and evaluation projects in the Federal Bureau of Prisons at 9:30 a.m. in the Killinger Auditorium.

Gaes' presentation at 1:30 p.m. in the Kerper Courtroom will focus on the value and effectiveness of in-prison drug treatment programs.

Also scheduled to lecture this spring are Thomas Constantine, director of the Drug Enforcement Administration, on Feb. 18; Dr. Elliott Currie, professor of the Legal Studies Program at the University of California at Berkeley, on Feb. 27; and Dr. Peter Reuter, professor in the School of Public Affairs at the University of Maryland, April 17.

The presentations are a part of the Beto Chair Lecture Series, named in honor of Dr. George J. Beto, who was instrumental in development of the criminal justice program at SHSU.

GREEN CHEMISTRY

Work underway by Dr. Rajender Varma, research faculty member at Sam Houston State University, on new ways to conduct chemistry that are environmentally friendly, is attracting international attention.

A presentation by Varma at the World Congress on Microwave Processing in Orlando, Florida, will be featured in an upcoming issue of Chemical and Engineering News.

In addition, Varma has received word that two papers on that subject will be published in Tetrahedron Letters, a respected chemistry journal, and he has been asked to submit information on his work to Materials Technology.

Varma will also make a presentation at the 1997 Green Chemistry and Engineering Conference in Washington, entitled "Microwave Induced Reactions in Solventless Systems."

"I barely get any sleep these days thinking how I can do all the extended work before big guys take over," said Varma. "In the meantime, more interesting work is being generated in the chemistry laboratory at SHSU."

SHSU REPRESENTED AT WRITING CONFERENCE

Several Sam Houston State University faculty members and administrators, including Dr. Bobby K. Marks, SHSU president, will participate in the Third National Writing Across the Curriculum Conference Thursday through Saturday.

The conference is being hosted by the College of Charleston, Clemson University, and The Citadel, in Charleston, South Carolina.

Marks along with Dr. Gene Young, chairman of the Department of English and Foreign Languages; Dr. Richard Wood, director of the Newton Gresham Library; and Dr. Patricia Williams, director of the Across-the-University Writing Program, will present a program on "Defining and Refining a Comprehensive WAC Program."

Four other faculty members, Dr. Diane Dowdey, Ms. Jerri Ann Burris, Ms. Barbara Jones and Ms. Christine Taylor will present a session on "The Benefit of Dialogue."

In addition, Williams will conduct a program entitled "Conversations Across the Curriculum" for faculty members and administrators at large universities.

WEB COURSE IS SOLD OUT

Patricia Williams, director of the Across-the-University Writing Program, said that although the first hands-on computer workshop on use of the Internet is full, she will attempt to re-schedule additional sessions if enough faculty members are interested.

Dr. Tom Casteen, assistant professor of chemistry, is scheduled to teach the first course, entitled "Web Course in a Box," from 2-3:30 p.m. Feb. 17 in Room 313 of the Teacher Education Center.

Williams asked that faculty members contact her at 294-1143 if they would like to attend a future workshop on the subject.

(end)


Media Contact: Frank Krystyniak

Feb. 2, 1997