UVI Students Join ‘Live Chat’ with Ocean Researchers in Sea of Japan
UVI researcher Nasseer Idrisi, Ph.D., conducted his first “live chat” from the decks of a research ship in the Sea of Japan with a room full of students and other interested persons on the university’s St. Thomas campus on Saturday, Sept. 19. Idrisi first gave the UVI audience a tour of the ship and its laboratories. He and other scientists then fielded a variety of questions from students gathered in room 101 of the Teacher Education Building.
The students wanted to know about the subject of the research mission, the techniques used to obtain samples from the seabed, and if they had pulled up any precious gems. The project is investigating an extinct super volcano in an area known as the Shatsky Rise. Scientists use techniques similar to those employed in drilling oil wells at sea. They have found no gems just yet. The schedule of upcoming live chats, along with a photo of Idrisi at sea, is available from the UVI Today – photo blog, which is available from a button on the UVI home page – www.uvi.edu.
Hundreds Attend Annual UVI Student Research Symposium
A standing room only crowd turned out for UVI’s 11th annual Fall Student Research Symposium on Sunday, Sept. 20. Some 60 UVI student researchers presented the results of the past summer’s research – conducted on-island and at locations throughout the U.S. – in poster form and took the opportunity to explain their efforts to visitors.
Sponsored by UVI’s Division of Science and Mathematics and the Emerging Caribbean Scientists (ECS) program, the symposium’s goal was to showcase the outstanding quality and diversity of undergraduate and graduate student research that UVI students have conducted over the summer and during the past year.
Photos of some of the exhibitors and visitors are featured on the UVI Today – photo blog, which is available from a button on the UVI home page – www.uvi.edu.
Writing Project Participants Ready to Share Experience
Eleven public school teachers have returned to the classroom rejuvenated and refreshed after participating in the Virgin Islands Writing Project’s (VIWP) Summer Institute. This year’s institute, held from June 22 to July 17 on St. Croix, focused on “Teaching the New Writing,” which involves the use of technology to teach writing. The teachers joined more than 3,000 new National Writing Project (NWP) teacher-consultants across the nation.
Because of the Institute, the 11 Virgin Islands teachers and their coaches are more current in literacy research, have been exposed to a variety of ways of teaching writing, and are better equipped to use technology in the classroom, according to VIWP director, Valerie Combie, Ph.D.
Details are available from a news release on the UVI Web site – www.uvi.edu.
Bucs Volleyball Squad Begins Two Weeks of Road Matches Friday
The UVI Buccaneers men’s volleyball team continues its 2009 LAI season with two weeks of road games in Puerto Rico beginning Friday. The Bucs face American University at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 25, and follow up with a match against the University of Central Bayamon at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26. The Buccaneers lost home openers to UPR-Humacao on Friday and UPR Carolina on Saturday.
The Buccaneers LAI schedule includes ten regular season matches, five at home and five in Puerto Rico. Their next home games are scheduled for Oct. 8 and 10. Depending on their performance, the squad could qualify for additional inter-league matches, which lead to quarter-finals, semi-finals and a championship-round play that begins in late November.
Coast Guard to Conduct Recruitment Drive on St. Thomas Campus
The United States Coast Guard will conduct a recruitment drive in the Dining Pavilion on the UVI St. Thomas campus from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 24. An informational session/pizza party with Coast Guard representatives will also be held in the Classroom Administration Building, Room 204 on Friday, Sept. 25. For more information, contact the Careeer Services Office at 693-1087 or 693-1088.
Opening Reception, Signing and Reading Set for Sept. 25 for ‘All This Is Love’
The UVI community is invited to the opening reception, book signing and reading of a collection of Virgin Islands poetry, art and prose by local artists entitled “All This Is Love.” The authors include two former UVI professors, Jeanne O’Day and Hilda Lewis Joyce, and two adjunct faculty members, Elaine Warren Jacobs and Tregenza A. Roach. The other writer is Daisy Holder Lafond. The event is scheduled for 5-8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 25, at the V.I. Council on the Arts office, located in the Francois Complex in downtown Charlotte Amalie. For more information, call 774-5984.
UVI Bookstores on St. Croix and St. Thomas to Close for Inventory
UVI’s Bookstores on the St. Croix and St. Thomas campuses are planning breaks to allow for staffers to take inventory beginning this week. The St. Croix store will be closed from Sept. 24-30. On St. Thomas, the store will be closed from Sept. 25-30.
Students, faculty, staff, department heads, division heads, heads of government agencies and the general public are asked to take note and to conduct necessary business with the bookstores before or after the affected dates.
Both UVI Bookstores will resume normal operations on Oct. 1.
Renowned AIDS Activist to Speak at Oct. 2nd Conference on St. Thomas Campus
Emmy Award-winning AIDS activist Rae Lewis-Thornton will be the featured speaker during a day-long conference on HIV/AIDS titled “Youth Taking Control,” which will be held on UVI’s St. Thomas campus on Friday, Oct. 2. All UVI students and high school seniors are invited to participate. The goal is to increase awareness of the risk of drug use and HIV/AIDS. The conference is sponsored by the Office of the Associate Campus Executive Administrator for Student Affairs.
While registration is free for all students, they must register in advance. Registration for other persons is $20. For details, call 693-1120/1121.
Coastweek Beach Cleanup Efforts to Continue Through Oct. 10
Members of the Virgin Islands community began their observance of the international Coastweeks beach cleanup effort with a cleanup at Brewers Bay Beach on UVI’s St. Thomas campus on Sept. 19. Other cleanups will take place throughout the territory through Oct. 10. Organized globally by the Ocean Conservancy, the USVI Coastweeks effort is coordinated locally by the University of the Virgin Islands, the V.I. Department of Planning and Natural Resources’ Coastal Zone Management Division, Friends of the V.I. National Park and the V.I. Waste Management Authority. The Virgin Islands Marine Advisory Service (VIMAS) is organizing Coastweeks cleanups on St. Croix.
Details are available from a news release on the UVI Web site – www.uvi.edu.
UVI-RTPark Directors to Meet Sept. 26 on St. Thomas
The Board of Directors of the University of the Virgin Islands Research and Technology Park (RTPark) Corporation and the Research and Technology Park Protected Cell Corporation (RTPark-PC) will meet at 9 a.m. (AST/EST) on Saturday, Sept. 26.
The session will take place in the third-floor conference room of Administration and Conference Center on UVI’s St. Thomas campus.
Teleconferencing is available. To participate or for more information, individuals should contact Ingrid Santangelo at 692-4200. Seating is limited.
Meeting for Prospective UVI Graduates on St. Thomas Planned for Sept. 27
A meeting and social for all prospective 2010 St. Thomas campus UVI graduates (students earning associates, bachelors and graduate degrees) will be held from 6:30-8 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 27. The session will take place in the Administration and Conference Center. The agenda includes elections of class officers, class activities and a review of requirements for graduation. For more information, call the Student Activities Office at 693-1111.
World Food Day Activities Set Oct. 18 on St. Croix
World Food Day activities will be held on the grounds of UVI’s St. Croix campus from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 18. This year’s theme is: “Global Food Crisis: Opportunities, Responsibilities and Solutions.”
The Virgin Islands community is urged to come out and support junior high and senior high school students as they compete in the second World Food Day “Youth Super Chef Competition.” There will also be an open “Breadfruit Bonanza Cooking Competition” for the public. Entries will be accepted from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. on Oct. 18. Categories are breads, desserts and side dishes. Prizes will be awarded for the best entries.
For the past 27 years, the UVI Cooperative Extension Service has taken the lead in providing educational workshops and interactive activities during World Food Day to encourage the planting of vegetables, fruits and other food crops, thus, securing our own food security. A news release is available from the UVI Web site – www.uvi.edu.
Calling All Student Models; UVI Photography Shoot Planned
If you’ve always wanted to be in pictures, this is your time to shine. The UVI Public Relations Office is planning an October photography shoot and is looking for male and female students who’d like to take part in this volunteer opportunity.
At least 10 students are needed for volunteer daytime modeling assignments on the St. Thomas and St. Croix campuses. Audition head shots and photography release forms can be obtained by visiting the UVI Public Relations Office on the St. Thomas campus (ACC Building, Room No. 229) weekdays between the hours of noon and 3 p.m.
On St. Croix headshots will be taken from 12:30 to 3 p.m., on Wednesday, Sept. 23, in the Student Activities Center.
For additional information, contact Lois Rivera at 693-1059.
