News 10-01-2002

Sponsor: We approach e-Learning a little differently.

When you provide an e-Learning solution for faculty and staff, you don't have to go it alone. Whether you're starting to implement e-Learning or you are a veteran, Element K will deliver extensive service. To learn more and get your free guide, How To Train Faculty and Staff With E-Learning, visit http://go.elementk.com/syen1001 or call 1-800-434-3466

U. Toronto Buys Two Cray SX-6 Supercomputers

The University of Toronto purchased two interconnected Cray Inc. SX-6 supercomputers to support its research related to the Earth's interior and atmosphere. Specific projects include modeling the Earth's magnetic field; simulating ice age development and the accompanying variations in sea level; enhancing a coupled atmosphere-ocean-ice-land climate model; simulating the distribution of methane and carbon monoxide in the troposphere; and modeling the thermal convection process within the Earth's mantle, which causes plate tectonics. "The Cray SX-6 system is ideal for the large-scale calculations we need to make to advance our science, and we are excited about the opportunities it makes available to do innovative and ground-breaking studies," said Pekka Sinervo, professor of physics at Toronto.

Sponsor: Featured Session on Wireless Networking at Syllabus fall2002

With the deployment of wireless networking, students and faculty alike are beginning to enjoy the freedom of roaming unfettered through campus with their notebook and handheld computers. Will wireless networking change teaching and course administration? What are the security issues? A panel discussion led by Judith B'ettcher, CREN, will present first-hand observations and studies of wireless usage on campus at Syllabus fall2002. This education technology conference, held Nov. 3-5 at the Boston Marriott Newton Hotel, includes keynote speakers, breakout sessions, a vendor fair and an opportunity to network with colleagues focused on technology in higher education.

For information and to register, go to www.syllabus.com/fall2002.

UNC Wilmington Signs Tech-Transfer Agreement

The University of North Carolina at Wilmington signed its first-ever technology-transfer licensing agreement with aaiPharma Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company. The deal aims to transfer scientific discoveries by university researchers into future medicines. UNCW is studying molecules that might be used to develop life saving medicines from pharmaceutically active entities found in coastal waters. Once a new entity is identified as having pharmacological activity, it will be offered to aaiPharma. If commercially viable, aaiPharma will move the compound through the drug development and approval process. If approved by federal regulators, aaiPharma will take over sales and marketing of the medicine, or license it to a third party.

College Group Offers e-Learning to High Schoolers

The consortium of 19 independent community colleges are using higher ed e-learning software from WebCT to offer for-credit courses to high school students, including those schooled at home. The New Jersey Virtual Community College Consortium will also offer "collaborative degrees" composed of courses mixed and matched from the schools. The colleges formed the consortium four years ago to provide distance learning courses to one another's students. Starting this month, high school students can take the WebCT-based Internet courses for early college credit, enrichment or as make-up work for extended absences due to illness. "The Internet has ... ripped down campus boundaries so that it is easy, cost-effective and good business to extend courses to new constituencies," said Mark Kassop, chair of the NJVCCC and Distance Learning Coordinator at Bergen Community College.

University Installs Campuswide Video-on-Demand

Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore is installing a broadband video on demand application that will enable 22,000 NTU staff and students to view video clips from the university's Media Library at any campus location. Using the university Internet portal students and staff can browse lists of pre-defined categories or conduct a search of available titles. If a requested selection has not been pre-digitized, a message is sent to a librarian, who will encode the video into MPEG-1 in real-time and stream it in unicast mode over the university's local area network to a student at a particular campus PC. NTU used encoding and streaming platforms, MPEG MovieMaker and MGW 2000, from Israel-based Optibase, Ltd., a developer broadband streaming platforms.

Clemson, BMW Partner on Automotive Engineering

Clemson University and BMW Manufacturing Corp. announced a partnership to build an automotive engineering graduate education center in South Carolina to meet the academic and research needs of BMW, its suppliers and the state's growing automotive industry. BMW pledged $10 million to endow the academic programs while the state will provide $25 million to construct and equip a state-of-the- art facility to house the center. The BMW gift is the largest cash donation in Clemson history. The center will feature facilities for automotive research and development and graduate engineering programs in mass customization. The program will offer masters and doctoral degrees in automotive engineering. Clemson president James Barker called the center a major step in Clemson's quest to be a top 20 public university.

Coleman Admissions Institutes Web Voice Services Implements Viper Networks Technology

Coleman College, a computer and technical training school, said it would purchase technology for its training school Web sites to enable prospective students to speak live with counselors and admissions representatives at its La Mesa and San Marcos, Calif., campus locations while viewing the Coleman College Web site. The school will use Viper Networks Inc.'s Viper Connect application. Utah-based Viper specializes in blending IP-based technologies including e-mail broadcast, Java-based streaming video, and customer relationship management tools. The company said Viper Connect had the "power of human interaction to Web sites, e-mail campaigns and banner ads."

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