Spectrum - Volume 19 Issue 15 December 12, 1996 - NEWSMAKERS

A non-profit publication of the Office of the University Relations of Virginia Tech,
including The Conductor , a special section of the Spectrum printed 4 times a year

NEWSMAKERS

Spectrum Volume 19 Issue 15 - December 12, 1996

Virginia Tech faculty and staff members and students are often the subject of significant national and state-wide news coverage. To better inform the university community about these accomplishments, the Office of University Relations has compiled this monthly report. This report excludes coverage in the Roanoke news-media market. For more information about the articles mentioned, call Julie Kane, university public relations coordinator, at 1-9934, or contact your college public relations office.

Electronic Engineering Times (November 4): The magazine's technology section included an article about computer-chip research conducted by Peter Athanas , assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering. Athanas and graduate student Ray Bittner have developed a computer platform that uses Wormhole Run-time Reconfiguration (RTR) to process complex data in real time (as it is being received).

EarthWatch Radio , a national syndicate headquartered in Madison, WI (November 4): Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences Professor Richard Neves discussed zebra mussels and other exotic species. The program is heard on more than 125 radio stations.

MS-NBC , a new 24-hour news channel (November 6): The Blacksburg Electronic Village was featured in a Wednesday night program called "The Site."

IDEA television, a Brazilian cable station (week of November 11): BEV was featured in a segment of a program devoted to science in society. Several Brazilians living in Blacksburg who spoke Portuguese were interviewed; English translations were added.

Virginia News Network (November 12): Fisheries and Wildlife Professor Dick Neves discussed the environmental damage caused by the collapse of a coal-waste pond in Lee County.

Richmond Times-Dispatch (November 16): David Kenyon and James Pease , professors of agricultural and applied economics, were featured in an article titled "Grain Price Dip is Seen Coming." The two were among five faculty members from the department to speak at a one-day conference sponsored by the Rural Economic Analysis Program on the impact of the 1996 Federal Farm Bill.

Norfolk Virginian-Pilot (November 17): Merle D. Pierson , professor of food science and technology, was featured in an article concerning new federal food-safety rules, "Poultry and Meat Producers Gear Up for Sweeping Safety Rules."

Richmond Times Dispatch (November 18): A feature story quoted Mechanical Engineering Professor Douglas Nelson and Humanities Professor Marshall Fishwick at length about what cars of the future will look like.