The Duke Digest - July 1, 2011
In Today's Issue:
- New Humanities Initiative at Duke
- Duke Law Prof Testifies Before Senate on Supreme Court Rulings and Corporate Behavior
- Brodhead Visits International Duke Programs
- Merson Named Interim Leader of Global Programs at Duke
- Duke Expert: House Passage of America Invents Act 'Important Step Forward'
A new endeavor at Duke University aimed at changing the role of the humanities in the undergraduate curriculum is being funded with a five-year, $6 million grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
The "Humanities Writ Large" initiative also will support visiting scholars and new faculty appointments, undergraduate research efforts, humanities labs, and focused support for interdisciplinary collaborations across departments and institutions.
Read More:
Duke to Overhaul Humanities (duke.edu)
DUKE LAW PROF TESTIFIES BEFORE SENATE ON SUPREME COURT RULINGS AND CORPORATE BEHAVIOR
Duke Law School Professor James Cox testified on Wednesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee on recent Supreme Court decisions in corporate law and their impact on Americans' access to the courts.
Prof. Cox told the committee that the court's ruling in Janus Capital Group v. First Derivative Traders follows a pattern of recent rulings that "give the fraudster a pass."
Read More:
Supreme Court Rulings and Corporate Behavior (C-Span)
Cox Testimony (judiciary.senate.gov)
BRODHEAD VISITS INTERNATIONAL DUKE PROGRAMS
Extending and reviewing Duke University's global presence will be the focus of President Richard H. Brodhead's visit to the United Kingdom, China, Singapore, Tanzania and Uganda.
During his trip, which began June 24, Brodhead will meet in China with Duke's partners at Wuhan University and visit the future campus of Duke Kunshan University. He also will attend the graduation of the first class of the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School in Singapore, learn about ongoing work by Duke students and faculty in Tanzania and Uganda, and meet with government and educational leaders in each country.
He also will connect with Duke alumni around the world, including through events called "The Duke Idea," an ongoing series of alumni programs featuring Brodhead in conversation with distinguished members of the Duke community.
Read More:
Summer 2011 Global Outreach Travel Blog (duke.edu)
Brodhead to Visit International Duke Programs (duke.edu)
MERSON NAMED INTERIM LEADER OF GLOBAL PROGRAMS AT DUKE
Michael H. Merson, the founding director of the Duke Global Health Institute and vice chancellor for Duke-National University of Singapore (NUS) Affairs, will take on the role of interim vice president and vice provost for global strategy and programs, Duke President Richard H. Brodhead announced last week.
Merson succeeds on an interim basis Greg Jones, who is stepping down from the position for health reasons after creating the Office of Global Strategy and Programs (OGSP) in 2010. The university will launch an international search for a permanent successor to Jones at the start of the academic year in September.
Read More:
Merson Named Interim Leader of Global Programs at Duke (duke.edu)
DUKE EXPERT: HOUSE PASSAGE OF AMERICA INVENTS ACT 'IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD'
Arti Rai, a professor at Duke Law School, is a leading authority on patent law, administrative law, and innovation policy. From 2009-10, Rai served as administrator of the Office of External Affairs at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
Quote:
"Last [week's] passage of patent reform legislation by the House of Representatives is an important step forward in making our patent system a more effective engine for innovation. Most importantly, the legislation confers the fee setting authority the Patent and Trademark Office needs to reduce a backlog of more than 700,000 patent applications that creates enormous uncertainty for innovators.
"Unlike the Senate version of the bill, however, the House version does not include a guarantee that fees won't be diverted by Congress to other uses, as has happened repeatedly in the past. Some version of such a guarantee is an essential component of patent reform."
Read More:
News Tip: House Passage of America Invents Act 'Important Step Forward,' Expert Says (duke.edu)
Arti Rai (law.duke.edu)