The Duke Digest - March 5, 2010

In Today's Issue:

  • Duke, NC State Announce National K-12 Engineering Program
  • Congressional Testimony: Restoring Coastal Habitats Creates Jobs
  • Al Gore to Speak at Duke April 8
  • Evolutionary Study Center Grant Renewed
  • Duke CFO Survey: Spending and Earnings to Jump, Employment Flat
  • GoDuke.com Presents the Duke vs. UNC Rivalry Exclusive

DUKE, NC STATE ANNOUNCE NATIONAL K-12 ENGINEERING PROGRAM
A new program designed to stimulate interest in science and technology in students from kindergarten to 12th grade was announced by the engineering deans at Duke University and North Carolina State University Friday during the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) Grand Challenges Summit in Raleigh.

The Grand Challenge K-12 Partners Program will enlist colleges of engineering across the country to serve as community resources for K-12 students, teachers and administrators in their region. Partner colleges would develop age-appropriate engineering materials and curriculum, periodically host regional conferences, and provide ongoing support and professional development for teachers. Partner colleges also will freely share their materials, curriculum and experiences on the national program website, http://www.grandchallengek12.org.

Read More:
Duke and NC State Announce Launch of National K-12 Engineering Program (EducationNews.org)
NAE Grand Challenges Website

CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY: RESTORING COASTAL HABITATS CREATES JOBS
A panel of six national experts discussed the economic value and job creation potential of coastal and estuary habitat restoration during a Congressional briefing on Tuesday in the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center’s South Congressional Meeting Room.

The briefing, “Restoring Habitats, Revitalizing Economies,” was co-hosted by the environmental nonprofit Restore America’s Estuaries and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Restoration Center and focused on the need for increased capital investment in infrastructure to support coastal economies and restore coastal ecosystems.

“While estuary counties make up only 13 percent of the U.S. land area, they historically have generated 49 percent of our gross domestic product and supported 40 percent of all American jobs,” says panelist Linwood Pendleton, director of coastal and ocean policy at Duke University’s Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions. “Lately however, these areas aren’t living up to their economic potential.”

Panelists presented three case studies showing how federally funded restoration projects have helped improve employment opportunities and economic and environmental conditions in coastal communities.

Read More:
Congressional Testimony: Restoring Coastal Habitats Creates Jobs (DukeNews)


AL GORE TO SPEAK AT DUKE APRIL 8
Former Vice President Albert A. Gore Jr., who received the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for his advocacy of environmental causes, will give the 2010 spring Duke Environment and Society Lecture at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 8.

Sponsored by Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment, the free public lecture will take place in Page Auditorium on Duke’s West Campus. Tickets are required for admittance. Ticket and event information are available online at www.nicholas.duke.edu/deanseries.


EVOLUTIONARY STUDY CENTER GRANT RENEWED
The National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent), a collaborative effort of Duke University, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, has been awarded a 5-year, $25 million grant renewal from the National Science Foundation. This is the second major NSF grant that NESCent has received, which brings the total funding for the Center to $40 million. The grant will enable the Center to continue its core programs in evolution research, informatics and education through 2014.

NESCent is a scientific research center that supports cutting-edge, cross-disciplinary research in evolutionary biology. The Center offers a range of fellowships for visiting scientists and educators and sponsors numerous scientific meetings each year. Since its beginnings in 2004, NESCent hosted more than 3,000 visitors from nearly 35 countries.

Read More:
About NESCent (nescent.org)
Evolutionary Study Center Grant Renewed (DukeNews)


DUKE CFO SURVEY: SPENDING AND EARNINGS TO JUMP, EMPLOYMENT FLAT
According to the most recent Duke University/CFO Magazine Global Business Outlook Survey, chief financial officers in the United States expect strong growth in business spending and earnings this year, but plan only modest hiring and the continued outsourcing of jobs. Additionally, several significant risks remain, including tight credit markets, weak consumer demand and decreasing inventory levels.

The survey, which concluded Feb. 26, asked nearly 1,400 CFOs from a broad range of global public and private companies about their expectations for the economy. (See end of release for survey methodology.) The research has been conducted for 56 consecutive quarters. Presented results are for U.S. firms unless otherwise noted.

Read More:
Summary of Findings (DukeNews)


GODUKE.COM PRESENTS THE DUKE VS. UNC RIVALRY EXCLUSIVE
Before the Blue Devils prepare for the ACC tournament, they still have one last regular season battle with long-time rival, the North Carolina Tar Heels. To prepare you for what is sure to be another epic game, GoDuke.com has put together a collection of free essentials to brush up your rivalry knowledge including:

- A video library that documents the history of the rivalry, defines the term "Tobacco Road" and highlights the "Carolina Killer"
- All-time Duke-UNC series scores and statistics
- Interviews with current and former players

Read More:
Duke vs. UNC Rivalry Experience