URI faculty members honored for outstanding research, outreach, inventions KINGSTON, R.I. — May 16, 2001 — Twenty faculty members were honored by the University of Rhode Island this month for their outstanding research and outreach, and faculty and students involved in developing 16 new inventions or novel ideas were also recognized. The recipients were selected by URI’s Council for Research, Council for Outreach, and/or Intellectual Property Committee. The honorees for outstanding research are: 1. Guo-Ming Chen of Kingston, professor of communication studies, whose research focuses on intercultural communication competence and Chinese communication behaviors. 2. Steven L. D’Hondt of East Greenwich, professor of oceanography, studies the microbial life buried in deep-sea sediments and the effects that mass extinctions have had on the Earth’s life and environment. 3. William B. Euler of Narragansett, professor of chemistry, researches polymeric materials for such uses as chemical sensors and the transport of electrons. 4. David M. Gitlitz of Kingston, professor of languages, has been researching three broad areas: the golden age of Spanish literature, Spanish-Jewish history, and pilgrimages. 5. Otto J. Gregory of Wakefield, professor of chemical engineering, studies physical sensors and thin film materials science, especially high temperature sensors for aerospace applications. 6. Hesook S. Kim of Exeter, professor of nursing, focuses her research on developing a framework for systematizing nursing knowledge. 7. Thomas G. Manfredi of Wakefield, professor of physical education, studies the effects of aging, exercise, diet and disease on human muscle. 8. Arun Shukla of Wakefield, professor of mechanical engineering, researches the dynamic behavior of materials, including fracture mechanics, impact mechanics and wave propagation. 9. Linda Welters of Peace Dale, professor of textiles, investigates textiles as material culture, including ethnic textiles and costume, Rhode Island quilts, archaeological textiles, and cloth made from the fibers of the pineapple plant. The honorees for outstanding outreach are: 1. David L. Beutel of North Kingstown, a research associate in the Department of Fisheries, Animal and Veterinary Science, seeks to connect the fishing industry, recreational fishing and aquaculture with science, management and society through programs of education, research and experience. 2. Everett E. Crisman of Woonsocket, assistant research professor in chemical engineering, is co-director of the URI Forensic Science Partnership and has promoted the scientific aspects of law enforcement throughout Rhode Island, New England and the nation. 3. Robert D. Felner of East Greenwich, professor of education, is director of the National Center on Public Education and Social Policy, which works with schools, communities and policymakers on educational reform and prevention initiatives to improve the lives of children and families. 4. Gayla J. Gazerro of East Providence, director of the Woodlawn/URI Community Outreach Partnership Center in Pawtucket and a specialist at the URI Urban Field Center in Providence, fosters links between community needs and university resources. 5. Arthur J. Gold of North Kingstown, professor of natural resources science, is the director of URI’s Cooperative Extension Water Quality Program, which develops training programs, publications and events to enable Rhode Islanders to protect and improve the state’s water quality. 6. Diane C. Martins of Warwick, assistant professor of nursing, provides outreach services to high risk, vulnerable populations in Providence through her involvement with the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless, Travelers Aid Society of R.I., the Providence Housing Authority and other groups. 7. Deborah L. Mathews of West Kingston, a research associate in the Department of Education, provides training and associated activities for staff of the R.I. Department of Human Services and the Department of Children, Youth and Families through URI’s Institute of Human Science and Services. 8. Joseph M. Parillo of North Kingstown, assistant professor of music and director of the URI Jazz Band, leads music workshops on such topics as world drumming and the music of India for high school bands and other groups, and he offers performances and special programs at a variety of local and regional venues. 9. Michael J. Platek of Woonsocket, electrical materials engineer in the Department of Electrical Engineering, works on many forensics cases for the state crime lab each year, while managing the laboratory of the URI Sensors and Surface Technology Partnership and analyzing materials and surfaces for local companies using the University’s state-of-the-art equipment. 10. Gail Scowcroft of Narragansett, manager of the Narragansett Bay Classroom in the Office of Marine Programs, provides marine and environmental education programs for elementary school students and professional development programs for young scientists and educators. 11. Judith Tolnick of Providence, coordinator of the art gallery in the Fine Arts Center, promotes the understanding of art as an integral component of the humanities through the changing exhibitions of contemporary art in the University’s three public galleries. Recognition for intellectual property – inventions and novel ideas – is divided into two categories. Outstanding inventions are those that have been developed fully and are being reviewed for their potential to receive a patent. Outstanding presentations are those that were recently proposed to the URI Intellectual Property Committee and appear promising. (Due to the confidential nature of some projects, the descriptions are intentionally vague.) Those recognized for outstanding intellectual property inventions are: 1. Martin Bide of Wakefield, professor of textiles, for his “Application of Antibiotics to Polyurethane Biomaterials Using Textile Dyeing Technology.” 2. Augustus Uht of Cumberland, associate professor of electrical engineering, for his “Digital System Performance via Error Toleration.” 3. Sze C. Yang of Wakefield, professor of chemistry, and student Wenguang Li, for their “Functionalized and Processable Conducting Polymers.” 4. H. Thomas Rossby of North Kingstown, professor of oceanography, and James H. Miller of Kingston, professor of ocean engineering, for their “Monopole-Driven Underwater Sound Source.” 5. William J. Ohley of Wakefield, professor of electrical engineering, and students John Labomba and Lynn Antonelli, for a “Non-Contact Heart Monitor.” 6. James Prochaska of Wakefield, director; Wayne F. Velicer of Peace Dale, professor; Joseph S. Rossi of Wakefield, professor; Colleen Redding of Wyoming, associate research professor; Guy Natelli of North Kingstown, research associate; Geoffrey W. Greene of Kingston, professor; Kathryn Meier of Wakefield, assistant director, all in the URI Cancer Prevention Research Center, for their projects “Pathways to a Healthier Diet,” “Pathways to Healthier Sun Exposure” and “Pathways to Healthier Sex.” 7. William Euler of Narragansett, professor of chemistry, Otto Gregory of Wakefield, professor of chemical engineering, and a colleague in private industry, for “Pyroelectric Polymers for Infrared Sensors.” 8. Benjamin T. Allen, formerly a research assistant in oceanography, for his “Sensor Cleaning System.” 9. William Euler of Narragansett, professor of chemistry, Otto Gregory of Wakefield, professor of chemical engineering, and Brett Lucht of South Kingstown, assistant professor of chemistry, for their “Thermochromic Polymers for Rapid Visual Assessment of Temperature.” 10. Thomas Mather of Kingston, professor of entomology, and students Melissa Weiss and Kimberly Kowal, for their CD-ROM “Tick Attack…Don’t Get Bitten.” Those recognized for outstanding intellectual property presentations are: 1. Ken Q. Yang of North Kingstown, professor of electrical engineering, and student Jian Li for their “Cost-Effective Approach for Realtime, Online, and Remote Data Back-Up.” 2. Ken Q. Yang of North Kingstown, professor of electrical engineering, and student Xubin He, for their “Distributed Web Server.” 3. Richard Brown of Wakefield, professor of chemical engineering, and colleagues at the U.S. Navy, for their “Non-Chromate Primer for Paint.” 4. Steven Alm of Wakefield and Roger LeBrun of Kingston, both professors of entomology, and student Kristen Bartlett, for their “Canopy Trap for Capturing Horse Flies and Deer Flies.” 5. Musa Jouaneh of Kingston, associate professor of mechanical engineering, and students Ryan Grandidge, Michael Timmons, Kevin Thurston, Phillip Diffley, and Stephen Coelho, for their “Two-Speed Ratchet.” 6. Ying Sun of Wakefield, professor of electrical engineering, and students Rachel Starr and George Dibb, on a “Voice Activated Nurse Call Bell.” For Information: Melissa McCarthy 874-2599, Todd McLeish 874-7892