Exoplanet Characterization and the Search for Life

Over 300 extrasolar planets (exoplanets) have been detected orbiting nearby stars. We now hope to conduct a census of all planets around nearby stars and to characterize their atmospheres and surfaces with spectroscopy. Rocky planets within their star's habitable zones have the highest priority, as these have the potential to harbor life. Our science goal is to find and characterize all nearby exoplanets; this requires that we measure the mass, orbit, and spectroscopic signature of each one at visible and infrared wavelengths. The techniques for doing this are at hand today. Within the decade we could answer long-standing questions about the evolution and nature of other planetary systems, and we could search for clues as to whether life exists elsewhere in our galactic neighborhood.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures, submitted to Astro2010 Decadal Revie

Live Case Analysis: Pedagogical Problems And Prospects In Management Education

The selection of an appropriate and effective pedagogy has been a central theme in management education for decades. There currently exists a wide range of pedagogical options designed to match course content with the most appropriate technique(s) for effective learning outcomes. Most recently, a variety of experiential learning methods have been employed to provide students with real-life experiences and applications in the overall class design. Live case analysis is typically identified as one of a series of options within the domain of experiential learning methods. This paper examines the live case approach as a tool for achieving desired outcomes in management education. Perspectives are offered from multiple stakeholder groups that highlight both the challenges and prospects in the use of this method of teaching. Results demonstrate the usefulness of the live case approach for achieving assessment objectives and measuring important program outcomes

Transforming sustainability education: Ethics, leadership, community engagement, and social entrepreneurship

Globally, organizations continue to be challenged regarding their impact on citizens, cultures, and the environment. As a result sustainability has become an important curricular element in leadership education. We examine the relationship between ethics, social justice, and sustainability as a response to the need to develop curriculum that encourages students to consider social value creation in leadership decisions. To meet this important challenge we suggest a multi-disciplinary, community-based learning approach to sustainability with the focus on spurring creativity, innovation, and alternative models of education and practice for community and workplace success. Community engagement and social entrepreneurship serve as teaching and learning tools. Through this curricular approach, a new generation of students is influenced to tap into ethical and just actions that will positively affect workplace options

Service Learning And Business Education: Distinctions Between Undergraduate And Graduate Business Students

Research on service learning in business education often enumerates its efficacy and overall value. The focus on business students attitudes toward service learning offers insight into program design and implementation of service learning into business curricula. This study investigates the distinctions between undergraduate and graduate business students attitudes related to service learning in the business college of a Midwestern liberal arts university. A survey was distributed to a total of 210 students in three of the colleges undergraduate and graduate business courses respectively. Students assessed their motivation, preparation, and skills to meet and fulfill service learning projects. Results of this study reflected that graduate business students possessed greater levels of commitment and skill sets to perform service learning projects. These data support an ideology that undergraduate business students may need more social development and academic preparation to gain the maximum benefit from service- learning projects. Traditional-age undergraduate business students were surveyed; thus responses to survey questions could have differed greatly if the undergraduate business students surveyed were non-traditional-aged or returning adult students

Re-thinking management education: from cognition, to action, to learning

This research memorandum is the transcript used in the inaugural lecture given at the University of Hull on 12th March 2007. The lecture is presented in two parts. Part I begins with an introduction to cognitive style, a psychological construct from within the domain of individual differences psychology. This is discussed in relation to its potential influence on student performance in management education. Part II focuses on more macro aspects of management education. It begins by considering the historical context of Business Schools and the ways in which management education has evolved (generally for the worse). This is followed by an evaluation of the state of management education today. Its relevance is challenged and various connections are questioned, for example, between theory & practice, management education & career success, and scholarship & management practice. Drawing on theories associated with learning, knowledge, and achievement, the lecture then moves on to argue for doing radically different things in the medium term, and for completely re-thinking the management education provision in the longer term

A study of the effects of size-controlling rootstocks on spurring, blooming and fruiting habits of two apple varieties

Size-controlling apple rootstocks have been known and used for centuries. At present, there is considerable interest in smaller than standard size trees because they allow almost all orchard operations from pruning to harvesting to be done easier and perhaps with less labor. The smaller trees also present more opportunity for mechanical harvesting. Some methods besides rootstocks that may be used to dwarf apple trees are as follows: (1) scoring or ringing the trunk, (2) scion variety selection such as spur types, (3) chemicals such as Alar or B-9, (4) severe pruning, (5) low fertility levels, and (6) site selec-tion such as shallow, infertile or sandy soils. Although all these methods have potential, dwarfing by rootstock is most satisfactory at pre-sent. Dwarfing of apple trees offers possible improvement in fruit color and fruit characteristics. Evidence indicates dwarf trees are more open than standard trees. This makes possible more efficient use of sunlight. Therefore, more sugars may be manufactured with better fruit color resulting and more spurs developing. Openness of the tree is probably related to Auxin factors which relates to branch angles. Apple flowers are usually formed from buds on short shoots known as spurs. Spurs are usually formed from leaf buds on wood in its second growing season. Spurs usually produce flower buds the year they are formed and every other year thereafter. Fruit set usually occurs with blooming. Annual production is related to numbers of live vigorous spurs on various aged wood throughout the tree and the fruiting of these spurs. Past studies with dwarfing apple rootstocks have been on tree size, yields and performance of scion varieties with various soils and climates. The objectives of this investigation were to determine the effects of eight size-controlling rootstocks on leaf bud numbers, and number of spurs developing, blooming, and fruiting on wood of various ages

Service-Learning in Information Systems Courses: Community Projects that Make a Difference

Service-learning methodologies provide information systems students the opportunity to create and implement systems in real-world, public service-oriented social contexts. Students contract with local non-profit and government agencies to provide needed information systems services and solutions that are closely related to the specific course topics, such as database creation for a database course, system evaluation for a systems design and analysis course, or even a larger scope for a capstone course. In these activities, students actively evaluate and analyze the complex contributors associated with understanding problem domains as well as design and implement real-world solutions. Multi-dimensional learning takes place as they simultaneously assume the role of professional consultants producing systems that are immediately used and by the client. The student learning outcomes include a deep learning of the course technical knowledge, improved interpersonal communication skills, more effective client and project management skills, and an enhanced societal sensitivity for the value of their information systems knowledge to their community

Transforming sustainability education: Ethics, leadership, community engagement, and social entrepreneurship

Abstract: Globally, organizations continue to be challenged regarding their impact on citizens, cultures, and the environment. As a result sustainability has become an important curricular element in leadership education. We examine the relationship between ethics, social justice, and sustainability as a response to the need to develop curriculum that encourages students to consider social value creation in leadership decisions. To meet this important challenge we suggest a multi-disciplinary, community-based learning approach to sustainability with the focus on spurring creativity, innovation, and alternative models of education and practice for community and workplace success. Community engagement and social entrepreneurship serve as teaching and learning tools. Through this curricular approach, a new generation of students is influenced to tap into ethical and just actions that will positively affect workplace options