A free financial aid workshop hosted by PreCollege Programs on the Sonoma State University campus, will be held from 9-11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 5, in the Cooperage.
"With the rising costs of higher education, parents and potential college students will want to find out what financial aid options are available to help pay for college tuition, books, transportation, and room and board," says Judith Hatfield, a Student Services Specialist with PreCollege Programs.
Sonoma County high school seniors and parents are invited to attend. High school juniors and parents are also welcome.
Sonoma State University PreCollege Programs have provided free services to first-generation college-bound and/or financially eligible Sonoma County students for nearly two decades.
The services include tutoring, academic advising, college planning, supplemental academic classes, supplemental enrichment classes, as well as educational/cultural field trips.
For more information and to RSVP, contact Judith Hatfield at Sonoma State University PreCollege Programs (707) 664-2842 or (707) 664-2428.
Sonoma State University's popular "What Physicists Do" public lecture series features a schedule of prominent scientists discussing the latest adventures in astronomy and physics.
Lectures have moved to Tuesdays at 4 p.m., Feb. 8 through May 10, in room 2006 of Stevenson Hall on the SSU campus.
The first two speakers are prominent astrophysicists. UCLA professor Eric Becklin will describe SOFIA, the Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy, on Feb. 8. SOFIA includes a 100-inch telescope that will soon be flying in a modified Boeing 747 to get above most of the infrared-absorbing water vapor in the Earth's atmosphere.
On Feb. 15, Roger Blandford, the director of the Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology at Stanford University, speaks about cosmic ray particles, probably protons, which occasionally strike Earth with as much energy as a tennis ball.
IBM Fellow Stuart Parkin discusses novel sensor, memory, and logic devices based on manipulating the flow of spin-polarized electrons on March 1.
SSU observes the International Year of Physics, the centennial of Einstein's "miracle year" of 1905, with a talk by Tilman Sauer on "Einstein and the Riddle of his Creativity" March 22. Sauer is one of the editors working on Einstein's papers at Caltech.
"Deep Down Beauty: Particle Physics, Mathematics, and the World Around Us" is the title of the April 5 talk by UC Santa Cruz physicist Bruce Schumm, author of a recent book on the beauty of particle physics.
Tom Ramos of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory discusses some research on physics for the national defense, including "Star Wars" and nuclear proliferation April 12.
Other talks focus on quasicrystals, nanolithography, the expanding universe, and scanning tunneling microscopy of surfaces.
SSU professor Joe Tenn, who is directing the series, expresses his gratitude to the donors who have made it possible to bring such distinguished speakers to SSU for the privately-funded lectures. He also encourages visitors to arrive early, as the new room is smaller than the lecture room used for many years but now under reconstruction.
For a free poster describing all thirteen lectures, see http://www.phys-astro.sonoma.edu/wpd/ send e-mail to gayle.walker@sonoma.edu, or call (707) 664-2119.
Sonoma State University biology professor Hall Cushman has been named Director of the Fred B. Galbreath Wildlands Preserve, SSU's newly acquired 3,670 acre preserve in southern Mendocino County.
Cushman was chosen by Dean Saeid Rahimi of the School of Science and Technology for his expertise in ecology, conservation biology and land management.
Cushman joined the faculty at SSU in 1994 and has been active in environmental education and research for over 20 years. He has also been on the Board of Directors of the Sonoma Land Trust since 1998. Much of Cushman's research focuses on the ecology of invasive, non-native species, which so dominate natural areas in California.
Currently, he is studying the non-native pathogen that causes Sudden Oak Death, which is devastating oak woodlands and forests throughout the Bay Area.
"I'm honored to serve as director of the Galbreath Wildlands Preserve and look forward to developing programs that allow students, researchers and members of the broader community to enjoy, explore and learn about this amazingly rich landscape" Cushman said.
The Galbreath Wildlands Preserve was donated to Sonoma State University in October 2004 to honor the memory of Fred Burckhalter Galbreath (1901-2000), who purchased the land in 1944.
To honor Galbreath's vision and life, SSU is developing programs at the Galbreath Wildlands Preserve that will promote environmental education and research, as well as effective stewardship of the property.
The preserve will provide a natural laboratory for university students and researchers in the areas of biology, geology, geography, archaeology, astronomy and environmental studies.
Located 17 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean, the spectacular landscape ranges from 900 to 2,200 feet in elevation and is home to many species and habitats, including bald eagles, coyotes, foxes, bobcats, mountain lions, and black bear as well as extensive stands of redwood, fir, oak and madrone.
Galbreath worked for decades in San Francisco's marine insurance business but his greatest love was this rugged forested landscape in Mendocino County, which he explored frequently on foot and horseback.
For further information on the Galbreath Wildands Preserve, visit http://www.sonoma.edu/scitech/news/preserve/.
Hall Cushman can be reached at (707) 664-2142.
Jazz and Blues legend Mose Allison, along with North Bay jazz stalwarts, bassist Mel Graves and drummer George Marsh, combine their talents for an evening of great music at Sonoma State University's Evert B. Person Theatre at 8 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 7.
Allison's songs are a fusion of rustic blues and jazz, often embellished with profound and humorous lyrics. Besides admiring jazz pianists Bud Powell and Lenny Tristano, Allison also learned from such noted composers as Bartok, Ives, and Hindemith. He continues to write and perform all over the world. His songs have been covered by Van Morrison, John Mayall, The Who, The Clash, Eric Clapton, The Yardbirds, Elvis Costello and Bonnie Raitt.
Allison's most recent grammy nomination was for one of his two newest recordings, "Mose Chronicles, Live in London, Volume I." "Mose Chronicles, Volume II" was just released last year.
Sonoma State University jazz professors Mel Graves and George Marsh are no strangers to jazz buffs in the region. Their resumes are filled with recording ventures and live performances all over the world and they have played and performed with a number of jazz greats.
Tickets are $15 general, $12 FANS (faculty, alumni, staff), $8 students/seniors. To attend this concert, call the Center For Performing Arts Box Office at (707) 664-2353. The box office is open Monday through Friday from noon to 5 p.m.
The Evert B. Person Theatre is handicapped accessible. Parking at the University is $2.50 during the week, and free on the weekends.
The Sonoma Student Union InterCultural Center hosts a discussion with Princeton University professor Cornel West on his new book, "Democracy Matters: Winning the Fight Against Imperialism" in February.
The event takes place on Friday, Feb. 4, at 7:30 p.m. in the Sonoma State University Cooperage. The event will be streamed live over the Web at streaming.sonoma.edu.
West's writing, speaking, and teaching weaves together the American traditions of the Baptist Church, socialism, transcendentalism, and pragmatism. His best-selling book, "Race Matters," changed the course of America's dialogue on race, justice, and democracy.
West is currently the Class of 1943 University Professor of Religion at Princeton University. One of America's most gifted and provocative public intellectuals, West has won numerous awards, including the American Book Award, and has received more than 20 honorary degrees. He received his B.A from Harvard University and his M.A and Ph.D. from Princeton University.
West was an influential force in developing the storyline for the popular "Matrix" trilogy. Not only is he the spokesperson for this box-office hit series, West also had recurring roles in the final two volumes.
A long-time member, West now serves as an honorary chair of the Democratic Socialists of America. He has worked with numerous political and social organizations, including co-chairing the National Parenting Organization's Task Force on Parent Empowerment.
West was also part of President Clinton's National Conversation on Race, and has joined Al Sharpton's Presidential exploratory committee.
Admission is free for SSU students, $10 for SSU faculty and staff and $15 for general admission. Special seating and admission to a VIP reception following the talk can be purchased for $75. All tickets are available at the Sonoma Student Union Front Desk (707) 664-2382.
The Sonoma Student Union InterCultural Center, the School of Social Sciences, Associated Students, and Instructionally Related Activities are sponsoring this event.
For more information on these or other ICC events, call (707) 664-2537, or visit www.sonoma.edu/ICC.
Professor Rashmi Singh is available to comment on the history, culture, religions and politics of South Asia, including regional issues, such as why India turned down offers of U.S. military aid after the recent earthquake and tsunami in the region.
Singh grew up in India and received her master's degree in English Literature at Delhi University. She has taught for many years in the American Multicultural Studies at SSU and will offer a lecture on "India: Empire of the Spirit" at the Lifelong Learning Institute's globalization lecture series on Feb. 9
To reach her, phone (707) 664-4115 ext. 3 or contact Jean Wasp, Media Relations Coordinator, (707) 664-2057.
Scientific equipment used at some of the world's top engineering universities is now available to students at Sonoma State University thanks to a recent donation by Agilent Technologies.
The company has donated $150,000 worth of photonics and test and measurement equipment that gives students an opportunity to track lasers and measure unknown light sources as part of its continued support of the School of Science and Technology. This gift is in addition to Agilent's original $1 million equipment donation in 2002.
The donated equipment is being used in the Agilent Technologies Communications Laboratory at SSU as part of the new Engineering Science Department, which includes both bachelor's and master's programs. The equipment consists of fiber optic and electronic test and measurement instruments.
Agilent also came to the rescue of the School of Science and Technology with the donation of 75 pallets of Herman Miller furniture valued at approximately $24,500 to help provide office space for faculty and staff during the renovation of the School's science building, Darwin Hall, over the next two years.
The cubicles and desks, which would have amounted to a nearly $150,000 expenditure if purchased new, is being used on the second floor of the Schulz Information Center and at other locations on the campus. Darwin Hall is being completely evacuated for a $29.5 million upgrade financed by the passage of state bond measures .
Agilent's donations are part of a program to benefit universities and colleges in geographical areas where the company has offices and plants. Jeff Weber, Agilent's Sonoma County public affairs manager, says the sophisticated instruments donated to SSU are similar to equipment given by the company to engineering programs at larger universities in the U.S. and around the world.
"Agilent is proud to have been involved in helping SSU establish its engineering degree programs, and our goal with the donations is to enable those programs to grow and flourish," Weber says. "We value the partnership with SSU and will be looking for additional ways to support the Engineering Sciences Department."
Agilent test and measurement equipment is used by international global communication and aerospace and defense companies in the design, development, manufacture, installation, deployment and operation of electronic equipment and systems and communications networks and services.
Sonoma SERVES, Sonoma State University's AmeriCorps program, is hosting its sixth annual Martin Luther King Jr. Poetry Night on Friday, Jan. 14 from 6 to 8 p.m. at R.L. Elementary School in Santa Rosa. Children at seven elementary schools in Southwest Santa Rosa will read poetry, sing songs, and perform skits based on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.is message of non-violent social change.
The event will commence with guest speaker Reverend James E. Coffee from the Community Baptist Church. Reverend Coffee marched with Dr. King and has been recognized for his contributions toward human rights and community education throughout Sonoma County.
Students throughout Santa Rosa, including those in Sonoma SERVES programs, are also invited to participate in the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Poster Contest. A selection of the posters will be shown at the Children's Poetry Night, and the winners of the contest will be displayed in the lobby of the Luther Burbank Center of Performing Arts in Santa Rosa on Sunday, Jan. 16 for the Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday celebration. Sonoma SERVES students are invited to perform at this celebration as well.
During February, the children's poetry, songs, and drawings will be compiled in a Sonoma SERVES Martin Luther King, Jr. book.
Sonoma SERVES is Sonoma State University's AmeriCorps program that serves students and families in the Roseland, Wright, and Bellevue school districts in Sonoma County.
The programs include daytime one-on-one tutoring sessions, after school programs that are educational and fun, and family programs that offer parents free ESL, GED, and parenting classes while children receive academic support.
For further information, contact Sara Fuller, Sonoma SERVES, (707) 664-3148.
Sonoma State University School of Business and Economics will hold its annual North Bay Economic Outlook Conference on Thursday, Feb. 3 at the Hyatt Vineyard Creek Hotel, Spa and Conference Center in Santa Rosa.
The 2005 conference, "Seizing Opportunities for Economic Prosperity: An Outlook for the North Bay Economy", promises to be one of the most dynamic events of the year. The School has worked with a number of individuals from the North Bay business community to develop an information-packed program.
The 2005 Conference will offer two perspectives on local and regional economic indicators. Panels include representatives from the Retail, technology and wine industries as well as North Bay experts on the topics of business attraction and sustainability.
For additional information or to register for the conference, visit the School's website at www.sonoma.edu/sbe. Those interested in becoming a sponsor or receiving a conference brochure should contact the School of Business and Economics at (707) 664-2220.
