Aug. 6, 1998 / Volume 18, Number 3
News Bureau | Calendar | II Info | II Archives
- Dark honey has more illness-fighting agents than light honey
- Honey bees pollinate the crops we eat and provide honey. Where they forage for nectar now has gained nutritional importance. According to new research, what they eat determines the level of antioxidants in honey.
UI professors featured on WILL ... Secretariat luncheon is Aug. 19 ... Noncredit courses and lecture series offered ... Office of Business Affairs offers training
By Jim Barlow
Honey bees pollinate the crops we eat and provide honey. Where they forage for nectar now has gained nutritional importance. According to new research, what they eat determines the level of antioxidants in honey.
In a study that analyzed 19 samples of honey from 14 different floral sources, UI scientists found that honey made from nectar collected from Illinois buckwheat flowers packs 20 times the antioxidant punch as that produced by bees that lap up California sage. Clover, perhaps the most common plant source tapped by honey bees, scored in the middle of the rankings.
Antioxidants -- substances that slow the oxidation of other substances -- counter the toxic effects of free radicals, which can cause DNA damage that can lead to age-related problems such as arthritis, strokes and cancer. Free radicals are atoms or molecules that are usually reactive or unstable.
In an article to be published in the Journal of Apicultural Research, the researchers say darker honey has less water and more antioxidants than light-colored honey.
The co-authors of the study -- funded by the Illinois Value-Added Research Program and National Honey Board -- were May Berenbaum, head of the UI entomology department; Gene E. Robinson, director of the UI bee research facility; and plant biology graduate student Steven M. Frankel.
"Not all honeys are the same," said Berenbaum, who also is a researcher in the UI Functional Foods for Health program. "The antioxidant content of buckwheat honey compares favorably, pretty much bite for bite, with the ascorbic acid-related antioxidant content of tomatoes. Gram for gram, antioxidants in buckwheat honey equal that of fruits and vegetables such as sweet corn or tomatoes. It packs the antioxidant power of Vitamin C in a tomato, but most people who would be willing to eat an entire tomato would balk at eating the equivalent of a tomato's weight-worth of honey."
Honey could be a supplemental source for antioxidants, the researchers concluded, noting that many fruits and vegetables often include other desirable sources for antioxidants. Although honey can't replace fruits and vegetables in the diet as a source of antioxidants, it has a lot to offer as a replacement for table sugar, which has little value other than as a sweetener, Berenbaum said.
Depending on the floral source, honey varies widely in color, water composition and sugar, ash, nitrogen and metal content. The UI researchers gathered and analyzed honeys produced in 1994 and 1995.
The findings could impact the beekeeping industry, which has been growing nationwide, mostly as a hobby, Robinson said. "Bees are essential for pollinating many of the crops that we grow for food and fiber. The estimated value of bee pollination in America alone is $10 billion per year," he said. "Now, honey may also take on extra importance as there may be health issues to add to the equation. Not all nectars are created equal, thus not all honeys are created equal."
By Melissa Mitchell
When a budding high school composer sent "The Complete Squirrel" over the Internet to his UI student-mentor, the mentor was able to listen to the creatively titled composition, analyze it and send feedback almost instantaneously.
The pair was brought together earlier this year to participate in Network for Technology, Composing and Music Mentoring, or NETCOMM, a pilot project designed and coordinated by UI music education professor Sam Reese. "The purpose of NETCOMM is to promote the teaching and learning of technology-based music composition as a means to better musical understanding and responsiveness," said Reese, who got the idea to try teaching composition over the Internet while working as director of fine arts and technology for the Park Ridge, Ill., public schools from 1987 to 1995.
Reese was hoping to solve a problem that made it difficult to introduce middle and high school students to musical theory and electronic composition: "too many students and too few teachers."
"So few teachers in the local environments were qualified to teach these subjects," Reese said. And while the UI's highly ranked School of Music had an abundance of skilled faculty members and advanced music students downstate, "there was the problem of distance and time. Not only was everyone too far away, they were all on a different schedule," Reese said. "This situation seemed like a natural fit for a solution involving an asynchronous, Internet environment."
The goals of NETCOMM -- as outlined on the project's Web site -- are twofold: first, "to connect university students and public high school students who are both doing music composition with MIDI sequencers"; and second, "to determine if and how music and Internet technologies can be used to promote the teaching and learning of music composition with students in different places and times."
While middle and high school students may likely gain new, basic skills through their participation, Reese said NETCOMM isn't aimed at "helping students become composers, per se; I am interested in the process of students becoming more perceptive about music."
The pilot project paired five sets of public-school students and university student-mentors, who worked one-on-one. Additional assistance was provided by online composer-in-residence Timothy Bowlby, who reviewed interactions between students and mentors, and provided feedback to all -- including the students' classroom teachers. Students used Musicshop 2.01 sequencing software with General MIDI keyboards to compose, and students and mentors sent music files and messages back and forth using First Class conferencing software.
This summer, Reese is evaluating the project's initial launch and fine-tuning it to gear up for an expanded effort during the upcoming academic year. The biggest question he's looking at now is, "What can we do to scale up and yet maintain some quality of the interactions?"
The NETCOMM Web site is located at www-camil.music.uiuc.edu/NETCOMM/default.html.
Interviews with Alaina Kanfer, research scientist at NCSA and in human and community development, and Larry Smarr, director of NCSA will be featured in "Digital Nation." Airing at 9 p.m. Aug. 18 and 19, the program features rural America in the information age, including farms in Illinois that use data from satellites to monitor crops and use the Internet to check corn prices.
The fall-semester courses are presented in a noncompetitive, informal atmosphere with no exams or grades. Instructors are selected primarily from the university faculty.
Early enrollment is encouraged because some classes may fill quickly. Minimum enrollment age is 18, except for two courses on dance for children. Fees range between $15 and $200. Discounts are available for some courses to retirees at least 62 years old.
Catalogs listing all courses are available from the UI Office of Continuing Education, Division of Academic Outreach, Suite 1405, 302 E. John St. Information about courses or registration also is available by calling 333-6305, or through the Web site at www.extramural.uiuc.edu.
The courses:
The Office of Academic Human Resources, Suite 420, 807 S. Wright St., maintains the listings for faculty and academic professional positions. More complete descriptions are available in that office during regular business hours. Job listings are also updated weekly on its Web site at: webster.uihr.uiuc.edu/ahr/ahrjobrg.htm. Any other information may be obtained from the person indicated in the listing.
faculty
Accountancy. Faculty (rank open, three to five positions). PhD (or dissertation in progress), demonstrated teaching effectiveness and strong research potential commensurate with position sought required. Available Aug. 21, 1999. Gene Willis, 333-2451. Closing date: Oct. 15.
Anthropology. Assistant professor, sociocultural anthropologist specializing in the study of Asian Americans in the United States. PhD. Available Aug. 21, 1999. Janet Dixon Keller, 333-3616. Closing date: Jan. 15.
Civil and environmental engineering. Faculty positions, transportation engineering (rank open). PhD, BS or MS in engineering, and an ability to teach effectively at undergraduate and graduate levels required. Expertise in PCC pavements and materials, airports, railroads, highways, transportation systems or transportation planning helpful. Additional information: cee.ce.uiuc.edu. Starting date: open. David Daniel, 333-3814. Closing date: Oct. 12.
Computer science. Faculty (rank open, one or more positions). PhD in computer science or a closely related field required (or imminent completion of degree), outstanding academic credentials. Starting date: Aug. 21, 1999. Daniel A. Reed, 3124 Digital Computer Lab, MC-258. Closing date: Dec. 12.
History. Assistant professor, Jewish History (the Chaim Lopata Endowed Professorship). PhD required with publication and teaching experience preferred. Available August 1999. Harry Liebersohn, 333-1155. Closing date: Nov. 9.
Mathematics. Part-time teaching associates (one or more positions). Master's degree and evidence of teaching skills required; knowledge of Web-based instruction highly desirable. Available Aug. 21. Philippe Tondeur, 333-3352. Closing date: Aug. 7.
Political science. Associate or full professor, comparative politics. PhD required with proven leadership abilities. Proposed starting date: Aug. 21, 1999. Contact: Paul F. Diehl, 333-3880. Closing Date: Nov. 30.
Social Work. Assistant professor, Asian American studies. PhD in a pertinent area is required, ABDs near completion may apply. A degree in social work also required (BSW, MSW or PhD). Candidates with an MSW and two years post-MSW practice experience will be given special consideration. Start date: August 1999. P.R. Balgopal, 333-2260. Closing date: Dec. 15.
academic professional
Academic Affairs, Office of the Vice-President for. Director of Illinois virtual campus. Earned PhD required. Must have at least 5 years' progressive experience in higher education administration involving program development, coordination and decision-making, including the exercise of independent judgment. Must have experience with and understanding of Internet-based learning technologies. Available immediately. Charles V. Evans, 333-1460, cevans4@uillinois.edu. Closing date: Aug. 24.
Admissions and Records. Assistant to the director (one or more positions). Bachelor's degree and one year's experience in student recruitment, development, marketing, alumni relations or related area. Master's degree in college student personnel, higher education administration, counseling or related field; and two years' experience in student recruitment, development, marketing, alumni relations or related area preferred. Excellent public speaking, writing and organizational skills. Willingness to travel and to work evenings and weekends needed. Salary range: $25,000 - $28,000, or commensurate with experience. Starting date: Sept. 15. Gregg Perry, 333-0824. Closing Date: Aug. 25.
Admissions and Records. Assistant director. Bachelor's degree (master's preferred). Strong background in computer application implementation, including experience with a wide variety of tools for the personal computer and the World Wide Web. Experience in the selection, implementation and support of database applications and programming tools in a client-server environment required. Minimum $32,000. Available Sept. 15. William F. Fierke, 240 Admissions and Records, MC-061. Closing date: Sept. 1.
Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. Assistant dean, extension program coordination. PhD required in a field related to the responsibilities of the position, with a minimum of five years' experience in extension or outreach education. Available immediately. James Oliver, 333-2664. Closing date: Aug. 31.
Animal Sciences. Research scientist, life sciences. BS degree in a biological science with at least one year's relevant laboratory experience. Good organizational skills and the ability to conduct semi-independent research. Available Sept. 2. Salary: $20,000 minimum, commensurate with experience. Rodney W. Johnson, 333-2118. Closing date: Aug. 26.
Biotechnology Center. Director of bioinformatics. PhD in bioinformatics, biology or computer science with significant professional experience in relevant software, relational databases and SQL (Structured Query Language). Available Oct. 1. Barbara Whitmarsh, Search #6177, 103 Observatory, MC-190. Closing date: Sept. 9.
Business Affairs. Assistant director of university payables. Bachelor's degree in accounting or related field with at least three years' experience in management. Knowledge of automated processes and excellent verbal and writing skills. Available as immediately. Contact: Bobbie Pittman, 333-0780. Closing date: Aug. 24.
Business Affairs-Business Systems. Management methods analyst. Bachelor's degree in accounting, business, computer science, management information or related field and four years' experience in coordinating or actively participating in systems analysis required. Must have a knowledge of PC and mainframe computing with at least two years' experience each. Available immediately. Gloria Keely, 244-5568. Closing date: Aug. 14.
Business Affairs-Business Systems. Research programmer. Bachelor's degree and minimum of three years' related experience with microcomputer hardware and software installations, programming and managing local area networks required. Working knowledge of Microsoft NT Server, Exchange Server, SQL Server and Internet Information Server. Minimum $40,000. Gloria Keely, 244-5568. Closing date: Aug. 7.
Commerce and Business Administration. Assistant director of development. Bachelor's degree and minimum two years' work experience required. Experience in fund raising and/or university administration highly desirable. Travel is required (up to 50 percent). Available immediately. Mark Neville, 244-6646. Closing date: Aug. 15.
Computing and Communications Services. Research programmer and/or visiting research programmer consulting positions (full or part-time, several openings). Bachelor's degree with two years' relevant experience. Joyce McCabe, 333-1637. http://ntx2.cso.uiuc.edu/userv/DUS/employment/searchad.asp. Closing date: when filled.
Computing and Communications Services. Senior research programmer (network support). Bachelor's degree and minimum five years' relevant experience required. Minimum $40,000. Available immediately. Michael Gardner, 244-0914. www.uiuc.edu/ccso/news/062698job2.html. Closing date: when filled.
Crop Sciences. Visiting research specialist in agriculture. BS degree, MS preferred, and experience with both field and greenhouse research in plant pathology. Experience with computers, word processing, spreadsheets and statistical analysis required. Available immediately. D.A. Lee, Search #6178, 333-9479. Closing date: Aug. 17.
Crop Sciences. Research specialist in agriculture. BS in biology, biochemistry, crop science or related field and training in soybean tissue culture, regeneration and transformation required. Available Aug. 21. Jack Widholm, 333-9462. Closing date: Aug. 7.
Crop Sciences. Senior research specialist in agriculture. PhD in biochemistry or related field and training in protein chemistry, enzymology and immunology is required. Available: Aug. 21. Jack Widholm, 333-9462. Closing date: Aug. 7.
Crop Sciences. Visiting senior research specialist in agriculture. PhD in biology, biochemistry, crop science, plant pathology or related field and training and experience in molecular biology and soybean plant pathology required. Available Aug. 21. Jack Widholm, 333-9462. Closing date: Aug. 7.
Extension, UI. Extension specialist, 4-H/Youth. PhD in education or discipline related to human resource development required. Experience conducting youth development education programs and in grant-writing and project management required. Available Oct. 1. Geraldine Peeples, 244-2847. Closing date: Aug. 27.
Foundation, UI. Regional director of gift development. Bachelor's degree required. Should posses strong communicative, interpersonal and organizational skills; minimum of two years' fund-raising experience preferably in higher education; a track record of successful major gift solicitations; 50 percent time traveling to an assigned geographic area. Ron Hermann, 244-0471. Closing date: Sept. 1.
Illini Union. Program manager. Bachelor's degree required (master's preferred), plus two years' experience in student activities and programming as a student or professional and possession of a genuine commitment to multiculturalism. Experience in college union/student activities preferred. Ability to relate to and work with diverse students essential. Minimum $25,000. Available immediately. Hank Walter, 244-8332. Closing date: Aug. 7.
Intercollegiate Athletics. Assistant varsity coach, baseball. BS/BA required, master's preferred; proven ability to recruit and select high-skilled student athletes at the Division I level preferred. Minimum two years' experience at the Division I level desired. Available immediately. Contact: Richard "Itch" Jones, 244-8140. Closing date: Aug. 20.
Law, College of. Assistant dean for development. BS/BA required, but MS/MA/JD preferred. Minimum three years' experience in development or comparable skills and experience in other organizations. Considerable travel required. Available fall. William G. Goodman, 333-9862. Closing date: Sept. 1.
Library. Director of library development and public affairs. Bachelor's degree (master's preferred), minimum five years' fund-raising experience with an emphasis on major gift solicitation, a proven record of successful fundraising, excellent oral and written communication abilities, and outstanding interpersonal and leadership skills required. The position requires extensive travel. Available Nov. 1. Allen Dries, 333-5494. Closing date: Oct. 9.
Mechanical and Industrial Engineering. Director of budget and resource planning. Bachelor's degree preferably in business administration, accounting or finance with five years' experience in the areas outlined above. Available Sept. 21. Richard O. Buckius, 333-1079. Closing date: Sept 1.
Music. Manager of system services. BA/BA required. One to three years' experience using and supporting DOS/Windows, Novell NetWare 4.x, MAC OS and related software; experience with TCP/IP, LAN and Web server administration. Available Aug. 24. $35,000. James C. Scott, 244-2676. Closing date: Aug. 17.
Natural Resources And Environmental Sciences. Visiting research specialist in agriculture. BS in natural resources sciences or engineering and a valid driver's license required. Experience in field research, with soil and water quality research methods highly desirable. Available immediately. $25,000 - 30,000. LuAnn Schiff, 244-1484. Closing date: Aug. 12.
Nuclear Engineering. Project coordinator. BS/BA in communication, library science, business administration, journalism or related field. Experience in handling and/or editing technical publications/reports, and in administrative duties. Available immediately. Barclay G. Jones, 333-2295. Closing date: Aug. 8.
Public Affairs. Communications associate. BS/BA required, but MS/MA preferred. Candidates with at least two years' related experience will be given preference. Must have excellent research and communications skills. Available immediately. Carolyn Curti, 333-5010. Closing date: Aug. 21.
Sociology. Academic adviser. MA required. Some familiarity with the sociology field; working knowledge of and experience with the Urbana campus; good communication skills and previous experience in undergraduate academic advising or teaching required. Available immediately. John Lie, 333-1950. Closing date: Aug. 10.
Supercomputing Applications, National Center for. Research programmer, automated learning (one or more positions). BS/BA (MS/MA preferred) in computer science, engineering or related field.. Minimum five years' experience in a variety of programming languages with (preferably) three years pertaining to automated or machine-based learning/education. Available immediately. Janet McGreevy, 265-0619, jlp@ncsa.uiuc.edu. Search #6159. Closing date: Aug. 14.
Supercomputing Applications, National Center for. Senior research programmer, scientific and computing visualization. MS in computer science or related field or BS and 10 years' experience in systems or research programming. Experience in professional software development, computer graphics, rendering, virtual reality, production of animations, multimedia, familiarity with Silicon Graphics equipment, C and C++ languages and UNIX required. Available immediately. Janet McGreevy, 265-0619, jlp@ncsa.uiuc.edu. Search #6156. Closing date: Aug. 14.
Water Survey, Illinois State. Assistant or associate professional scientist. BS or MS in civil or other related engineering fields or environmental sciences. Experience in hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, hydrologic and water quality data collection, report preparation and public presentations required. Minimum $30,000. Available September. Mike Demissie, 333-4753. Closing date: Aug. 14.
Water Survey, Illinois State. Professional scientist or senior professional scientist. PhD in civil engineering, hydrogeology or other related field and at least five years' relevant work experience required. Available January. Joyce Changnon, 333-0448. Closing: Oct. 30.
Water Survey, Illinois State. Assistant supportive scientist. BS in engineering or natural science fields and at least 24 semester hours in any combination of courses such as engineering, surveying, physical science, biology or mathematics. Two years' experience. Salary: $22,000-27,000. Available: Sept. 1. Human Resources, 333-0448. Closing date: Aug. 14.
Water Survey, Illinois State. Field coordinators-assistant professional scientist (two positions). BS in environmental or natural science fields and at least 24 semester hours in any combination of courses such as engineering, surveying, physical science, biology or mathematics with five years' experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities described above or a MS and eight additional semester hours in any combination of courses as listed for a BS. $30,000-35,000. Available Sept. 1. Contact: Human Resources, 333-0448. Closing date: Aug. 14.
staff
Personnel Services Office, 52 E. Gregory Drive, Champaign, conducts
open and continuous testing for civil service classifications used on campus.
More information is available by calling 333-2137. Or visit its Web site
at: www.uiuc.edu/providers/pso/pso.html.
A report of honors, awards, offices and other outstanding achievements of faculty and staff members.
Andrea H. Beller, professor of agricultural and consumer economics, was appointed to the Child Support Advisory Committee this spring. The primary responsibility of the committee is to provide advice to the director of the Illinois Department of Public Aid on issues relating to the Child Support Enforcement Program. Beller also was appointed to the National Advisory Board for the Institute for Research on Poverty Evaluation of the Wisconsin Works Child Support Demonstration.
John E. Cronan Jr., head of the microbiology department, has been elected a fellow in the American Academy of Microbiology for demonstrating scientific excellence, originality and leadership; high ethical standards; and scholarly and creative achievement.
Jon Dooley, program adviser with the Illini Union, was appointed chair of the National Association for Campus Activities (NACA) Foundation Commission for Association Volunteer Development in May. The NACA is a national, not-for-profit organization. The commission's function is to recruit and train a diverse volunteer leadership for the association.
Elizabeth Dulaney, associate director of University Press, received the Mormon History Association's Grace Fort Arrington Award for Historical Excellence for her leadership in developing the Press' Mormon Studies list. This is the association's highest honor and is only the second time in 15 years a non-Mormon has been recognized.
Charles J. Hadlock, professor of finance, received the Merton Miller Prize for his article co-written with Gerald B. Lumer, "Compensation, Turnover and Top Management Incentives: Historical Evidence." The article appeared in the April 1997 Issue of the Journal of Business.
Wallace Hendricks, professor of labor and industrial relations and of economics, was honored with the Institute of Labor and Industrial Relations' first Faculty Teaching Excellence Award. Presented in May at the ILIR's convocation ceremony, the award is based on student nominations submitted during the spring semester. Hendricks was recognized for bringing innovative techniques into the classroom by transferring courses onto the Internet; for always having an open door and listening to his students' questions and concerns; and for facilitating change at ILIR to continuously improve and produce a more postitive and productive learning environment.
Thomas Huang, professor of electrical and computer engineering and in the Beckman Institute's Human-Computer Intelligent Interaction research area, was one of 23 signal-processing "pioneers" worldwide who were interviewed for an oral history compiled by the Institute for Electrical and Electonics Engineers History Center for the commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the IEEE Signal Processing Society. Parts of Huang's interview were included in "Signal Processing: The Emergence of a Discipline, 1948 to 1998" (IEEE History History Center, 1998) by F. Nebeker. Huang was honored with others at the IEEE International Conference on Acoustics, Speech and Signal Processing.
Billy Morrow Jackson, professor emeritus of art and design, was selected to show his diamond-shaped color-block print "Flowering" in Realism '98, a national juried exhibition, at the Stage Gallery in Merrick, N.Y., in May and June. His work was one of 20 pieces selected by curator Peter Tatistcheff from more than 1,000 works submitted. In May, the work of Jackson and his wife, Siti Mariah Jackson, were featured in an exhibition of ceramic sculpture, paintings and prints at the David Strawn Art Gallery in Jacksonville, Ill.
Benita Katzenellenbogen, professor of molecular and integrative physiology and of cell and structural biology, has been chosen to receive the Jill Rose Award from the Breast Cancer Foundation for outstanding breast cancer research. The award, which includes a $25,000 contribution to her research program, will be presented at a luncheon in New York in October.
Sarah Krepp, professor of art and design, displayed new works at the Roy Boyd Gallery in Chicago March 27 through April 28.
Fred Kummerow, emeritus professor of food chemistry, has been elected a fellow by the American Institute of Nutrition for lifetime achievement in his research at the UI. He received the award designation during the institute's meeting in San Francisco this spring. Kummerow has spent much of his academic career studying the role of lipids on various degenerative diseases -- particularly atherosclerosis. Although retired, he continues his research in this area.
Jon C. Liebman, professor emeritus of engineering, received the Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award in Education from the University of Colorado's College of Engineering and Applied Science. He was chosen based on his continuing contributions and devotion to education in his field. He specializes in environmental systems engineering and is considered an innovator in classroom instruction and educational theory. The award was presented at the annual awards banquet in Boulder in April. The accomplishment marks the first time a husband and wife have received the award. Liebman's wife, Judith, also professor emeritus of engineering at UI, received the award last year.
I was diagnosed with Sjogren's Syndrome in 1990. It's an autoimmune disease that no one knows much about. I was really sick. I'd gone 10 to 15 years without being diagnosed and didn't know anyone here who had it. In 1993, I suggested the Association for Sjogren's Syndrome start a listserv, but they didn't even have computers in their offices yet. Then Gail Hawisher [professor of English and director of the Writing Center] talked me into starting the list.
-- Nancy Koeneman
Hendershot had worked at the UI for 17 years, most recently as a library technical assistant at the main library.
He is survived by a brother.
Morris is survived by her father and stepmother and a cousin.
Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor's choice.
Smith worked at the UI for 18 years. He served in the Army during the Vietnam War.
He is survived by his wife, Marie; a son; two daughters; three grandsons;
six sisters; and two brothers.