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LSU's Office of Research & Economic Developments research magazine published for Fall 2010.
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1 OFFICE OF RESEARCH & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT | FALL 2010 Earth Scan Lab
Transcript
Page 1: LSU Research

1O F F I C E O F R E S E A R C H & E C O N O M I C D E V E L O P M E N T | F A L L 2 0 1 0

Earth Scan Lab

Louisiana State University

130 David Boyd Hall • Baton Rouge, LA 70803

Non-Profit Org.U. S. PostagePAID

Permit No. 733Baton Rouge, LA 70803

about the artistDavid Achee is an LSU undergraduate studentmajoring in graphic design. His piece, “Pelicans”,was a final selection in the Great Oil Leak of 2010Poster Project, an art show designed to assist GulfCoast fishermen.

“With this poster, I wanted to draw attention to thespill with a very stark image that would catchpeople’s attention immediately.”

For more information on the CommunityFoundation of Acadiana or to support its effortstoward protecting the coastline, visitwww.cfacadiana.org.

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GreetingsFrom Interim Vice Chancellor of Research & Economic Development Doris Carver . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Reporting Back:Q&A with John HamiltonLSU’s Provost discusses his newest award-winning book, “Journalism’s Roving Eye: A History of American Foreign Reporting”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Shaking Things UpJuan Lorenzo uses seismography to evaluate New Orleans levees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Annual Report 2009-2010A look at LSU’s research productivity over the year . . .AR2

New Frontiers of Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .AR3

Radical News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .AR4

A Tale of Two Fishes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .AR5

LSU RainmakersA selection of LSU’s top faculty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

A Model PandemicBret Elderd discusses statistical modeling of pandemics and the impact on public health . . . . . . .26

Getting Back to Brother TimeWesley Shrum looks at the violence following the Kenyan elections of 2008 . . . . . . . . . . .31

Fish FoodKelly Rusch develops a system to help the commercial fish farming industry . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

Ashes From the PastHuiming Bao studies ancient volcanic eruptions and their impact on climate . . . . . . . . . . . .38

The Art of AgingNeila Donovan works to develop unique testing tools to identify hearing and speech issues in older adults . . . .41

2009 Distinguished Research MastersSumanta Acharya and Nina Lam receive the 2009 Distinguished Research Master awards . . . . . . .43

in this issue

Leading the WayHow LSU and its faculty reacted to the Deepwater Horizon Disaster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

LSU Receives Grant for Oil ResearchBP gives LSU $5 million for oil spill-related research . . .4

Endangered TraditionsJames Catano and Carolyn Ware document the vanishing culture of Croatian oyster farming families on the coast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Finding a Pearl of WisdomKenneth Brown studies the potential impact of oil on oysters in their natural environment . . . . . . . .7

Spreading the WordLSU scientists inform the public about the oil spill . . . .9

Taking the StandDean of LSU’s School of the Coast & Environmenttestifies before the House of Representatives . . . . . . .10

Stressful TimesTroy Blanchard and Matthew Lee survey coastal residents for health issues related to the oil spill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Bacterial SolutionsJohn Pardue works with oil-eating microbes to develop new clean-up solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

NSF Recognizes LSU Oil-Related Research Several LSU researchers receive NSF Rapid Response Grants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

FEATURES

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When Oil Meets Water: An overview of LSU’s response to the Gulf Coast Disaster

187 AR8 43 45

novative tools to measure environ-mental conditions of the Earth’s sur-face. The software, which is a productcumulating from her basic research onfractals, wavelets and other relatedspatial indices, has been accessed byresearchers throughout the world.

In the early 1980s, Lam’s study oncancer mortality patterns in China re-vealed the unusual clustered patternsand identified possible links betweenenvironmental conditions and can-cers. Her research on the spread ofHIV/AIDS in the United States was thefirst to confirm a national trend ofHIV/AIDS spread in rural America.This pioneering research received na-tional attention. Lam’s current re-search focuses on developing modelsto understand business return deci-sions in New Orleans after HurricaneKatrina and to measure communityresilience.

Lam has published one book, 56 refereed bookchapters and journal articles and has served as theprincipal or co-principal investigator of 30 exter-nal grants. She has mentored 14 doctoral and 23master’s students. She has served on numerousnational and international advisory panels andjournal editorial boards such as the National Re-search Council; the National Science Foundation,or NSF; the National Institutes of Health; andNASA, and was an NSF program director. In 2004,Lam was honored with an Outstanding Contribu-tions in Remote Sensing Award by the Remote

Sensing Specialty Group of the Association ofAmerican Geographers. In 2006, she was selectedfor an LSU Distinguished Faculty Award and in2008 was named as an LSU Rainmaker.

Lam presented a public lecture during the awardceremony in May 2010, entitled “From Disease toDisaster: Geospatial Analysis for EnvironmentalDecision Making.” Lam is considered an intellec-tual leader and a truly distinguished research mas-ter by leading research collaboration, developingresearch initiatives, mentoring graduate studentsand providing expert/professional services to thecommunity.

noteworthy researchThe Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences celebrated its 40th anniversary this year.

Fact and Figures:

245 masters and 179 doctoral degrees have been awarded through 2009.

The current faculty of 27 has published more than 1,400 scientific articles and has a solid record of achievement in many areas including wetlands, deltaic processes, fisheries and the Dead Zone.

As the only oceanography department in the state, it offers the right mix of teaching, research and service to the people of Louisiana.

Nina Lam, LSU 2009Distinguished ResearchMaster, giving apresentation in acceptanceof the award.

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Greetings from the Interim Vice ChancellorThis year, 2010, is LSU’s sesquicentennial anniversary. On this special occa-sion, we celebrate our rich heritage as a land grant institution and look for-ward to continuing to serve the public through the innovations anddiscoveries of our outstanding faculty and students. The year has broughtdifficult challenges with looming budget cuts and the Deepwater Horizonoil spill right at our back door in the Gulf of Mexico; however, our re-searchers continue to rise to the occasion to support LSU’s land grant mis-

sion through the creation of new knowledge that benefits not only the state of Louisiana but alsoprovides worldwide benefits.

This combined research and annual report provides a glimpse into the research, scholarship and creativeactivity taking place at LSU, along with our 2009-2010 external funding and intellectual property data.The articles contained in this report cover a diverse set of topics, ranging from volcanic eruptions to dis-ease transmission patterns. We have included numerous articles related to the oil spill, including re-search that addresses environmental issues as well as research concerning health and economic impacts.

Since the spill occurred in April of 2010, LSU has been making contributions not only through its re-search but also through numerous other activities. LSU faculty have testified before Congress; hostedmeetings with the EPA and with the Consortium for Ocean Leadership; partnered with institutionsfrom across the Gulf Coast region and beyond to foster research opportunities; and have receivedfunds from the National Science Foundation as well as from BP that provide resources that allow ourresearchers to conduct research that will positively impact the people who have been affected and theenvironment that has been damaged by the spill.

As we look from LSU’s sesquicentennial anniversary to its future, we remain dedicated to advancingthe research enterprise at LSU by continuing the development of innovative research that solves prob-lems and impacts lives.

We hope you enjoy reading about the achievements of our excellent and dedicated researchers.

Doris CarverInterim Vice Chancellor for Research & Economic DevelopmentJuly 30, 2010

LSU Research is published annually by the Office of Research & Economic Development, LouisianaState University, with editorial offices in 130 David F. Boyd Hall, LSU, Baton Rouge, LA 70803. Any writtenportion of this publication may be reprinted without permission as long as credit for LSU Research is given.Opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of LSU faculty or administration.

Send correspondence to Office of Research & Economic Development, to the address above, or e-mail [email protected]. Phone: 225-578-5833 Visit us on the Web at www.research.lsu.edu

Louisiana State University Administration

Michael Martin, Chancellor

John Hamilton, Provost, Executive Vice Chancellor,Academic Affairs

Doris Carver, Interim Vice Chancellor, Research &Economic Development

Carol O’Neil, Interim Associate Vice Chancellor, Research& Economic Development

LSU ResearchPublisher and Executive Editor: Carol O’NeilEditor: Ashley BerthelotCoordinator: Holly CarruthEditorial Assistant: Zac LemoineContributing Writers: Ernest Ballard, Billy Gomila,

Kristen SundeDesign: Tim Elder/LSU Design ServicesPhotographers: Eddy Perez and Jim Zietz

on the coverLSU Earth Scan Laboratory, CoastalStudies Institute, Department ofOceanography and Coastal Studies,School of the Environment. MODISsatellite image taken July14, 2010 -approximately 12 weeks into theDeepwater Horizon event. 1

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Offshore oil drilling has been a part of the in-dustrial landscape for as long as most can remem-ber. In the Gulf of Mexico, the horizon is dottedwith oil platforms, some abandoned and servingas artificial reefs, but with many others still in op-eration, plunging deep beneath the water’s sur-face in search of oil. The Deepwater Horizondisaster on April 20, 2010, was a devastating re-minder that the world’s dependence on oil canhave dangerous repercussions. Eleven lives werelost at the onset of what quickly became knownas the world’s worst environmental disaster.When it was clear that oil was in the water andthe flow wasn’t stopping anytime soon, BP andthe federal government began looking for an-swers. LSU was identified as one of the key placesto find expert opinions and a base of knowledgethat would support the search for real solutions.

“We have such a wealth of expertise in justabout every area of research applicable to this sit-uation,” said Doris Carver, interim vice chancellorfor research & economic development. “It onlymakes sense that we would be tapped to assistwith finding solutions and understanding the im-pact of such a devastating event.”

Within days, the Office of Research & EconomicDevelopment put together a forum drawing to-gether expertise from around the campus. Hun-dreds of scientists and interested researchersattended, resulting in a packed house and morethan 30 proposed joint-research projects fromthat single meeting. By June of 2010, more than200 researchers were involved in more than 300projects.

Since the traditional methods of securing grantsare slow and involve many steps and long ap-proval periods, finding support for the necessaryresearch became a paramount concern. Instead ofwaiting to receive funding for these proposalsthrough traditional means, many faculty reached

into their own pockets to support this re-search, well aware that time was rapidlyslipping away.

“This well blowout has created a very complexenvironmental situation with potentially very se-rious long term impacts,” said Christopher D’Elia,dean of the School of the Coast and Environ-ment. “It’s imperative that researchers get in andfind a baseline measurement, so that we can testthe impacts and repercussions of this situation onthe affected areas in six months, a year, five yearsand even more.”

LSU researchers were among the first to receiverapid response grants from the National ScienceFoundation, with projects ranging from studies todetermine the oil’s impact on oyster beds to therepercussions the disaster will have on humanpopulations. “Several faculty have ongoing re-search that is directly relevant to the environmen-tal impact of oil and they were able to quicklyengage scientifically with this disaster,” said KevinCarman, dean of LSU’s College of Science. “I’vebeen particularly pleased that other faculty withperipheral but highly relevant scientific expertisehave also stepped up, and that faculty from a vari-ety of disciplines are engaging in collaborative re-search. The work that we are doing will help usunderstand and better manage the current crisis,and it will provide a critical foundation for under-standing how to minimize the environmental im-pacts of future events.”

Individual labs and units across campus alsostepped up in a different way, offering demonstra-tions at the Petroleum Engineering Research andTechnology Transfer Laboratory, or PERTT, to edu-cate the public on the techniques being employedto shut down the flow of oil.

“The PERTT lab is a one-of-a-kind facility thatoffers our students hands-on experience in react-ing to and controlling situations like the Deepwa-ter Horizon blowout,” said Dean of LSU’s Collegeof Engineering Richard Koubek. “Because of itsrelevance to the events in the coast, our PERTTlab faculty thought it very important to give vi-

Leadingthe Way

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sual demonstrations underscoring the kind ofwork going on in the Gulf.”

With researchers such as John Smith from theCollege of Engineering and Joseph Mason of theE. J. Ourso College of Business being called uponto testify on Capitol Hill about the response capa-bilities of our nation, and environmental scientistEdward Overton becoming the scientific commu-nity’s spokesperson on the impact of the disaster,the university easily stepped into a leadership rolein the scientific response. LSU welcomed EPA ad-ministrator Lisa Jackson to meet with faculty andbrainstorm about the response efforts, then later

hosted the National Ocean Leadership Counciland several other high-profile meetings in orderto facilitate research.

“LSU researchers from numerous disciplines areworking to address many aspects of the aftermathof the blowout,” said Carver. “Time will tell, butLSU’s research capabilities in science and the artshave always been a core strength. We will be thereon the forefront to take our research from thefield to the lab and into the lives of many im-pacted by the Deepwater Horizon incident.”

financial support

LSU Receives Grantfor Oil Research

Since the oil disaster in the Gulf began, LSU researchers have been trying to deter-mine the effect the spill will have on the environment, people in the Gulf region andpossible engineering solutions. In recognition of LSU’s research expertise, BP se-lected the university as the recipient of $5 million in funds to support researchgeared toward expanding scientific understanding of oil spills and their ecologicalimpact.

Key players at LSU include the School of the Coast and Environment, the Collegeof Engineering and the College of Science, all examining areas such as environmen-tal science and ecology, engineering, coastal science and humanities.

The funds come from BP’s Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative, which will supportuniversities in the Gulf area in research on the fate and effects of oil, dispersed oiland dispersants. “This grant will allow teams of researchers to formulate solutions toone of this state and country’s most multi-faceted challenges in recent history,” saidCollege of Engineering Dean Richard J. Koubek.

BP and LSU have agreed that LSU researchers will have complete academic free-dom to conduct research without interference from BP. “These funds will allow ourfaculty to do what we do best: conduct research that solves problems,” said LSU In-terim Vice Chancellor for Research & Economic Development Doris Carver.

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The past five years have been a constant re-building effort for many people in the Gulf Coastregion. Initially hit by Hurricanes Katrina andRita, followed three years later by Hurricane Gus-tav, the awesome power of nature has poundedthe Louisiana coastline almost relentlessly. Withthe recent explosion of the drilling rig DeepwaterHorizon and the spread of oil across the Gulf,Croatian oyster farmers are one group that findthemselves waiting and hoping for the chance torebuild once again.

For generations, the oyster beds located at thesouthernmost tip of Louisiana marshland haveserved as the primary work place and communitycenter for the Tesvich, Barisich, Cibilich and Vu-jnovich families. These families, that can tracetheir heritage back to fishing on the Dalmatiancoast of the Adriatic Sea, came to the New Orleansarea in the late 19th century and began farmingoysters. At that time, most oyster farming wasdone on wild reefs, with natural production pro-viding the main source of the famous Louisianastaple.

But early in the 20th century, these families leftNew Orleans, moving to the wetlands in lowerPlaquemines and St. Bernard Parishes. There theyleased offshore land from the state, which addedto the natural oyster beds along the lower Missis-sippi delta coast of Louisiana and created thehighly productive oyster grounds they have main-tained for more than 100 years.

James Catano and Carolyn Ware, English fac-ulty at LSU, began visually documenting the con-tinued rebuilding efforts of these families afterHurricanes Katrina and Rita damaged their oystercrops in 2005. “What was supposed to be a one-year dramatization of their struggle to get backfrom Katrina has turned into a four- and nowfive-year project,” said Catano.

Just as Catano was finishing the final cut of“After the Aftermath,” the documentary drama-

tizing these familiesand their struggles, theDeepwater Horizon rigexploded, leading to

the worst man-made environmental disaster inU.S. history. “We were done with shooting, wehad a closing quote, and now we’re reworking thewhole story,” said Catano.

Catano spent the time following the oil spillconducting further interviews with the families,documenting the impact of the oil on their liveli-hood. “What we have here are farmers whosecrop is underwa-ter. It’s likesomebodypoured oil allover their farm-land, and theydon’t know whatthey’re going todo next.”

Farming oys-ters has been thefamily businessfor the Croatianfamilies for gen-erations, andoyster farming serves not just as a job, but as afoundation on which their community is built.Catano spoke with one oyster farmer who relieson help from his son during the summer months;this provides both another set of hands and asource of income that will help pay for his son’scollege tuition. Now that money for college is indoubt. “You go down there and it’s pretty devas-tating, these people are looking at the end of away of life,” said Catano.

The oil spill is affecting everyday life for theoyster farmers now, but it also poses potentiallong-term problems. It may affect the life cycle ofthe oysters, which – at the time of the oil spill –were in the early growth stage called spat. Spatstake two to three years to reach market size. “Atbest they may be looking at getting a crop in twoyears and they don’t know if they can hold out

Endangered Traditions

WPA photo of 1930s oyster farmerunloading after a hard day’s work.

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that long,” said Catano. But these farmers refuseto give up.

Even if the families survive the two-year wait forthe next crop, it is difficult to determine the effectthe oil will have on the oysters’ growth. Oysterdevelopment is based on several factors, most no-tably the salinity of the water, which also has adirect influence on the oyster’s unique taste. Withfreshwater being flushed to the Gulf to halt theincoming oil, the oysters are losing the salt waterthey require to fully develop and maintain theirflavor. Should the oil have a minimal effect onthe oysters’ development, the change in taste dueto the freshwater could reduce the marketabilityof the crop.

“We have to be more hopeful than most peo-ple,” said George Barisich, “because we have somuch more to lose.”

According to Catano, the worst part of the situ-ation is the uncertainty. “No one really knows, noone can plan beyond a day-to-day basis.” Whilethey wait to learn the fate of the oysters, the fami-lies are trying to get work from the only companyhiring in the area, BP. “As ironic as it is,” saidCatano, “in order for them to survive the oil spillby BP, they have to work for BP cleaning it up.”

Catano’s documentary “After the Aftermath:Louisiana’s Croatian Fishing Families” is expected tobe released in late 2010 or 2011.

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Kenneth Brown, LSU professor of biological sci-ences, is no stranger to the sometimes unexpectedimpact oil can have on oysters.

“I’ve done research on the effects of oil on oys-ter reproduction and the associated animals thatlive on oyster reefs,” he said. “However, the largescale nature of the current Deepwater Horizonspill in the Gulf is unprecedented.”

Brown has conducted experiments testing oys-ters’ reaction to oil in their environment, and was

surprised at some of theresults. One experiment,which entailed hangingclay tiles treated in oil inthe ocean water column,actually increased thenumber of oysters set-tling there. “Apparently,

the film of oil weathered enough to form abiofilm that attracted oyster larvae,” he ex-plained. “While not what was expected, it’s alsonot representative of the current situation in theGulf. The amount of oil there may not degradenaturally into a biofilm in a short enough time tonot do integral damage to oyster reproduction.”His team also treated oyster shells with oil andplaced them in a healthy reef to gauge the impacton surrounding aquatic life.

Finding a Pearl of Wisdom

Oiled marsh grass in theBreton Sound, near the

natural habitat of wild oysters.

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“We found that the biodiversity of the reef de-creased, though not by a dramatic amount,” hesaid. “However, this is a small-scale experiment. Ifone were to extrapolate based on size and spread,I’d say that it would be easy to imagine this situa-

tion having serious results on the oyster popula-tions in the Gulf of Mexico area.”

However, it’s the uncertainty that intrigues thescientist. Since an oil spill of this magnitude hasnever occurred before, it’s nearly impossible for

researchers to predict the exact courseecosystem reaction and remediationwill take. “It’s very important for theresearch community to take an activerole in investigating the impacts,” hesaid. “Oysters play an integral role inthe ecosystem, ecology and culture ofLouisiana. We need to watch howthey are impacted so that we can beprepared for future events.”

In response to the Deepwater Hori-zon oil disaster, Brown and his re-search team are engaging in newexperiments, placing oysters out inbags at several sites along the coast ofLouisiana. Although capping the wellhas resulted in less surface oil, there isstill concern that a major storm mightpush sub-surface oil into the marshes.“We will monitor their [oysters] sur-vival, growth and look at their tissuesfor signs of oil related stress at thephysiological and molecular levels,”he said. “These are long-term prob-lems that, unfortunately, we don’thave short-term solutions to.”

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Brenton Bird, one of Brown’sstudents, holding an

oyster bag.

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In addition to research efforts to determine theeffect of the oil spill, dozens of LSU researchersand administrators freely gave their time to helpinform the public on matters related to the oilspill. They spoke with the local, state, nationaland international media to lend their expert opin-ions to media stories about the spill. LSU scien-tists are highly respected media sources whoprovided balanced views of the challenges of de-veloping energy resources while preserving qual-ity of the environment. Immediately after the oilspill, there were 10-15 mentions of LSU per day inthe media. Edward Overton, professor emeritus ofenvironmental sciences in LSU’s School of theCoast and Environment, conducted over 200 in-terviews.

Some of the most notable media appearances byLSU experts were in the New York Times, The Fi-nancial Times, the New Orleans Times-Picayune,National Geographic, the Washington Post, theWall Street Journal, Christian Science Monitor,Scientific American, the Los Angeles Times, theAssociated Press, as well as on CNN, NPR, NBC,CBS and Fox News.

It is with a sense of pride that in the time of anational event such as the oil spill that LSU re-searchers were recognized for the expertise to helpinform the public or to help provide research tohelp identify solutions that may prevent futureoccurrences.

Also as another example of LSU’s contributionsto public service, the Petroleum Engineering De-partment has a well-control facility on campusthat teaches students how to prevent blowoutsand other catastrophes when working on an oil

rig. The facility is the only oneof its kind (a university-basedtraining facility) in North Amer-ica. LSU hosted a demonstration

of the facility for the local and national media onFriday, June 4.

Numerous student volunteer groups offeredservices to help with the aftermath of the oil spill.The Stephenson Disaster Management Institute,or SDMI, helped with management of vendor pro-posals for the Governor’s Office of Homeland Se-curity and Emergency Preparedness, commonlyreferred to as GOHSEP, and other state agencies.At the time of publication, they have handledmore than 1,358 proposals. At the request ofLSU’s SDMI, the Office of Coastal Protection andRestoration, and the GOHSEP, LSU Sea Grant per-sonnel reviewed and evaluated nearly 200 oil-spillrelated proposals. The SDMI also assisted theLouisiana National Guard in searching their ven-dor data base for specific capabilities needed.SDMI worked through a virtual activation of theGOHSEP Louisiana Business Emergency Opera-tions Center in providing the listed services. Fi-nally, the SDMI supported Dek Terrell, in theDepartment of Economics, and his group in pro-viding economic impact analysis of the oil spill toLouisiana Economic Development.

A Sea Grant Seafood Specialist represented SeaGrant on a working group composed of seafoodexperts from the Gulf Sea Grant programs, NOAAand FDA. This group developed protocols to de-termine the safety of seafood products from theGulfland criteria for re-opening areas previouslyclosed to seafood harvest due to the spill.

During this time, our faculty, staff and studentsgave freely of their time for public service to helpaddress the national issues that were crucial at thetime of the disaster.

Spreading the Word

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On June 15, 2010, Dean of LSU’s School of theCoast & Environment Christopher D’Elia testifiedbefore the U.S. House of Representatives Subcom-mittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife on“Ocean Science and Data Limits in a Time of Cri-sis: Do NOAA and the Fish and Wildlife Servicehave the Resources to Respond?” The meeting wascalled nearly two months after the Gulf of Mexicodisaster in an effort to address current deficienciesin the nation’s science capabilities. D’Elia waschosen because of his extensive experience in en-vironmental research and administration.

D’Elia joined a panel of peers, including ChrisReddy, associate scientist at the Woods HoleOceanographic Institution; Robert Weisberg, pro-fessor in the Department of Marine Science at theUniversity of South Florida; Valerie Ann Lee, pres-ident of Environment International Ltd.; andDenise Reed, interim director of the PontchartrainInstitute for Environmental Sciences and profes-sor at the University of New Orleans.

D’Elia provided perspective on the existing gapsin observation data as related to tracking the oilplume trajectory, as well the adequacy of pre- andpost-impact data to determine natural resourcedamage assessments. He also gave his opinionsabout what other data and support would be criti-cal to advancing the scientific mission of under-standing and controlling the well then mitigatingits consequences. D’Elia emphasized that the sci-entific community needed more immediate re-

search support in order to de-velop a baseline from which tointerpret future test results.

“The baseline to measure change and impacts isslipping away with each day and week that sup-plemental funds are absent, or that adaptive andfocused new initiatives are stalled,” he stated.“The environmental, social and economic insultshave come quickly [months], but the results willbe here for decades.”

D’Elia stated that increased technical supportfor responding scientists, high frequency radarscovering the Gulf of Mexico and a better under-standing of this event’s impact on the wildlife ofthe area were needed.

He also pointed out that:

· The research community is capable of makingmore significant contributions if allowed toparticipate fully; also, communicationbetween the federal government and theacademy should be enhanced.

· More impetus should be placed on studyinghuman health impacts.

· Dedicated resources should be made availableto research and monitor “inevitable” conflictsarriving between energy needs andenvironmental protection.

“If we are to truly learn from this disaster, thenwe need to know much more about the pre-exist-ing conditions and the transition as the spill pro-gresses. We cannot start this in December – itneeds to begin now,” he explained.

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Another facet of the Deepwater Horizon disasterand its ensuing environmental impact is the sud-den emotional blow it dealt to coastal communi-ties dependent upon fishing, seafood harvestingor the petroleum industry as a way of life.

“The oil invading our coast threatens not onlyour marshes and our wildlife, but also our com-munities and our way of life,” said Gaines Foster,dean of LSU’s College of Humanities & Social Sci-ences. “Understanding the human impact of thisenvironmental disaster is vitally important, and atask LSU scholars in the social sciences and hu-manities are uniquely qualified to study. Indeed,they have already begun the task.”

Arguably the most immediate impact was feltalong the coastal parishes of Louisiana, wheregenerations have built livelihoods on their prox-imity to the Gulf of Mexico. Populations are sta-ble in these areas, with few new people enteringinto existing communities and even fewer leav-ing. LSU sociologists Matthew Lee and Troy Blan-chard surveyed residents of coastal Louisiana todetermine the current health impacts they face.

“Louisiana’s coastal communities are the mostgeographically proximate human settlements tothe actual disaster site,” said Lee, interim associatevice chancellor in LSU’s Office of Research & Eco-nomic Development and professor of sociology atthe university. “It is im-perative that we beginwork now to better un-derstand the humanimpacts of this situa-tion because the resultsare expected to be long-lasting and diverse.”

Lee and Blanchardtargeted their survey toLaFourche, Terrebonne

and Plaquemines Parishes, located in the south-ernmost tip of Louisiana nearest the actual site ofthe Deepwater Horizon explosion. The phone sur-vey, conducted by the LSU Public Policy ResearchLab, interviewed 933 residents of these areas be-tween June 17 and July 1, 2010. More than fivepercent of respondents lived within five miles ofthe coast; more than 60 percent lived within 20miles, making the survey population especiallysusceptible to impacts stemming from the spill.When completed, there were some troubling re-sults.

Self-rated stress levels of respondents have dou-bled since this time last year, according to thestudy. Nearly 60 percent of those surveyed indi-cated that they were in a state of almost constantworry during the week before they were inter-viewed, and 40 percent reported feeling sick totheir stomach nearly all the time or some of thetime during that same period. Similarly, 46 per-cent of respondents worried about how theywould be able to take care of their families in thewake of closed fishing grounds, drilling moratori-ums and the absence of tourism due to concernsabout the spill.

“The indication is, at least at this point, that thehuman health impacts are real and substantial,”said Blanchard. “Right now, the data suggest thatsignificant public health resources may be re-quired to assist residents in the coastal parishes ofLouisiana in dealing with the consequences ofthis disaster.”

statistics

11

StressfulTimes

Percent Reporting ‘Almost Constantly’ During the Last Week Because of the Oil Spill

80604020

0Worry Fear Hopelessness Sadness Anxiety Anger Nervousness Happiness Depression Excitement

Note: Weighted data for N=925 respondents

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In a sweltering greenhouse just off LSU’s cam-pus, John Pardue watches a container of oil-cov-ered saltwater marsh grass from the Louisianacoast as bacteria breakdown the oil. A professor ofcivil and environmental engineering at LSU, di-rector of the Louisiana Water Resources ResearchInstitute and co-director of the EPA HazardousSubstance Research Center, Pardue has beenstudying the effects of oil on marshlands for morethan a decade.

When the Deepwater Horizon well exploded, Par-due began gathering samples of the oil and plantlife along the coast, specifically a saltwater marshgrass called Spartina alterniflora, with the hope ofpromoting the natural breakdown of the oil as bac-teria feed on the oil’s carbon. Crude oil contains alarge amount of carbon, a natural food source forbacteria found naturally in marshes. Nitrogen andsulfates enhance the bacteria and encourage afaster breakdown of the oil. This is where Pardue’sresearch begins, adding different mixes of nutrientsto augment the bacteria. “We are comparing differ-ent nutrient variations, and after a period of timewe will take the plants and soil, extract the oil andsee which variation works the best,” said Pardue

Salt marshes are some of the most productive

ecosystems on the planet, equiv-alent to rainforests in terms ofplant matter produced annually.With the abundant plant life

comes a host of bacteria. The oil breakdownwould happen naturally without any outside as-sistance, but by adding nutrients to enhance thebacteria, Pardue hopes to shorten the time it takesthe bacteria to breakdown the oil.

The oil from Deepwater Horizon is washedashore as an emulsion, a thicker form of oil com-pared to what would be seen from a pipeline spill.But that doesn’t change the fact that it containscarbon. In fact, the form of oil hitting the coast ismore receptive to bacterial breakdown than othervariations, making the process faster. “We knew[the breakdown] was going to happen due to theexperiments we have done before, but why this isso dramatic in this case is because this type of oilis more adaptable to the treatment we are apply-ing, so it has actually worked better than we ex-pected,” said Pardue.

With the scope of the oil spill disaster, many areworking to provide options for oil cleanup, butPardue feels his 15 years researching disaster re-covery has given him a head start. “We have someof the first data on the spill, combined withmarsh grass, that’s available in the country, and Ithink that will go a long way in helping us getfurther opportunities,” said Pardue.

Bacterial SolutionsSP

ECIA

L SE

CTI

ON

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financial support

NSF Recognizes LSU Oil-Related Research

LSU researchers have received a number of National Science Foundation Rapid Response Grants in the days since the Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf. The awards listed below showcase both the depth and breadth of LSU research, as they range in topic from oyster health to the use of social networks in the wake of the disaster and beyond.

· Robert Twilley, Department of Oceanography and Coastal SciencesTitle: “Extension of the ADCIRC Coastal Circulation Model for Predicting

Near Shore and Inner Shore Transport of Oil from the Horizon Oil Spill”

· Christopher Kenny, Kathleen Bratton and Christopher Weber, Department of Political ScienceTitle: “Social Context and Emotional Response to Disaster”

· Crystal Johnson, Edward Laws, of the Department of Environmental Sciences, along with Gary King of the Department of Biological SciencesTitle: “Phytoplankton and Environmental Stressors as Determinants of Vibrio Ecology”

· Robert Cook, Department of ChemistryTitle: “The Effects of Oil Contamination from the Deep Horizon Disaster

on the Composition of Dissolved Organic Matter in LA Coastal Marshes”

· R. Eugene Turner, Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, together with Laurie Anderson, Department of Geology and GeophysicsTitle: “Community-level Wetland Stressors, Northern Gulf of Mexico”

· Andrew Whitehead, Department of Biological SciencesTitle: “Genetic Impact of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Release”

· Michael Malisoff , Department of MathematicsTitle: “Autonomous Control and Sensing Algorithms for Surveying

the Impacts of Oil Spills on Coastal Environments”

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In his most recent book, John Maxwell Hamil-ton, executive vice chancellor and provost, delvesdeep into the world of American foreign report-ing, writing the definitive history of intrepid for-eign correspondents and the enterprise of foreignnews-gathering in the award-winning “Journal-ism’s Roving Eye: A History of American ForeignReporting.”

1. What spiked your interest in American foreign re-porting? Was it your own experience as a foreign cor-respondent for the Christian Science Monitor andABC Radio?

I had an early interest in foreign affairs, whichwas added to by my undergraduate education injournalism school and then service abroad in theMarine Corps during the Vietnam War. By thetime I was in graduate school, I knew I wanted tobe a foreign correspondent.

2. Why write this book?

I have written other books on foreign affairs,one being a biography of Edgar Snow, whose re-porting on China was so important. In theprocess of writing those books, I thought moreand more about journalists and what they didabroad historically. I became interested in variouspeople who were foreign correspondents. Fromtime to time I did research on an individual corre-spondent with the idea of doing a biography. Ul-timately, I decided that what was needed was ahistory of foreign reporting. There hasn’t beensuch a book in over 40 years, and none have goneback in time as far as I did.

3. What makes you the person to write this book?

Any number of better qualified people than Iam could have written such a book. It is just a

Reporting Back: Q&A with John Hamilton

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matter of wanting to do the work and being will-ing to stick with it over many years.

4. “Roving Eye” has won several awards and received agreat deal of praise. How does it feel to have yourwork so praised?

It’s very gratifying to win awards. I am com-pletely honest when I tell you there are a lot ofgood books out there that could have just as eas-ily won these awards. But sure, I’m glad I won theGoldsmith Prize and other accolades.

5. What is Americans’ interest in foreign reporting andwhat is its significance?

One of the things that I talk about [in the book]is why foreign reporting isn’t very interesting tothe American people. That’s one of the problemswith maintaining the quality; it is one of themost expensive kinds of journalism and has oneof the smallest audiences. The great majority ofAmericans care about local affairs, which seemmore relevant. For that reason foreign reporting –in modern times – has been a tenuous enterprise.

As I noted in the book, foreign correspondentslike to say Americans would read more foreignnews if editors would only give it to them. That’snot the case. What the public says about its inter-est and what those interests are aren’t necessarilythe same. News stand sales of weekly news maga-zines featuring foreign news on the cover havevery low sales compared, say, to covers talkingabout improving interpersonal relations. The factis that editors and publishers give the publicpretty much what they want. What I try to do inthis book is avoid recycling some of the old, un-analyzed views on foreign reporting, which soundgood but are simply not true.

6. In what major ways has foreign reporting changedfrom Ben Franklin to today?

The high watermark of foreign reporting wasthe colonial period. The percentage of foreignnews in newspapers was never higher than inBenjamin Franklin’s time. Although there weren’treporters or editors, [news media] lifted newsfrom foreign papers. That news was cheap to ac-quire and highly relevant to Americans becausethey saw themselves as being tied to Europe.Once news began being presented to a mass audi-ence, with editors having to pay for newsgather-

ing and wanting to attract as many readers as pos-sible, it all started to change.

7. What is the highlight of foreign reporting now, warand disaster or economic news akin to BloombergNews coverage?

For much of the 20th century we had a singleclear model for a foreign correspondent. Corre-spondents tended to write for relatively elite au-diences through relatively elite media: The NewYork Times, The Washington Post or one of themajor networks. Today we have many models offoreign correspondents: bloggers and other citi-zen journalists, specialized media likeBloomberg’s financial news, parachute correspon-dents who – thanks to modern travel – can goabroad relatively easily on short-term assign-ments for local news media, in-house corporatejournalists who write for management and staff,and so forth.

8. What is the highlight for you in American foreign re-porting? Do you have a favorite reporter?

I think the Golden Era was paradoxically duringa time that is generally considered isolationist,the period between the two world wars. For a lotof reasons – economic, social, technological – wehad a large number of dedicated, highly qualifiedforeign correspondents who had a great deal offreedom to cover news that was urgent to a greatnumber of Americans – namely the rise of com-munism and fascism and, of course, the drift toworld war.

9. In several interviews and reviews about your bookit’s mentioned that you brought some foreign re-porters out of the “bog of history,” like Victor Law-son and Jack Belden. How did you go aboutunearthing these journalists?

Jack Belden was a good friend of Edgar Snow’s,whom I wrote the biography of, so I was inter-ested in him, in particular his coverage of China.At one time, I thought about doing a biographyof Belden and unearthed new information. Hemay not be the greatest combat reporter of WWII,but he was one of the greatest for many reasons,for instance his courage and knowledge of fight-ing. Although I did not do the biography of him,he becomes a major figure in my book.

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Publisher’s Description of Roving Eye:

In Journalism’s Roving Eye, John Maxwell Hamilton –a historian and former foreign correspondent – providesa sweeping and definitive history of American foreignnews reporting from its inception to the present dayand chronicles the economic and technological ad-vances that have influenced overseas coverage, as wellas the cavalcade of colorful personalities who shapedreaders’ perceptions of the world across two centuries.

—LSU Press

Journalism’s Roving Eye’s Awards

Winner of the 2009 Goldsmith AwardNamed as one of Slate Magazine’s Best Books of 20092010 Book of the Year award from the American Journalism Historians Association2010 Tankard Book Award

There are so many out there who were – in theirown ways – great. Edgar Snow is someone forwhom I have great deal of admiration. VictorLawson, the owner of the Chicago Daily News, isimportant because he fielded the first great corpsof foreign correspondent at the beginning of the20th century. Vincent Sheen was another giant.He was a kind of genius and also was a bit mad.He had an extraordinary intuition. He predictedthat Gandhi would be assassinated by a Hindu,and he was right. He was there when Gandhi wasmurdered. He did that kind of thing all the time.He also was a brilliant writer. His book, “PersonalHistory,” is a work of great literature as well as in-sightful journalism.

10. What was the research process for you and whatpart did LSU play in this research?

What helped me enormously, without any ques-tion, was the Hopkins P. Breazeale LSU Founda-tion Professorship that I was awarded some yearsago. To research this book I needed considerableresources. I went to libraries and traveled to inter-view people. Without the professorship, I don’tknow how I would have been able to do it all. TheLSU Foundation can take credit for the book.

11. In your book you mention the glamour of foreign re-porting, how has this changed? Is the job still asprestigious as it was in the early part of the 20thCentury?

It used to be that going abroad wasn’t easy; it was-n’t something just anyone could do. This helpedmake correspondents elite. Today, anyone can gooverseas. So, correspondents aren’t so special.

12. How has technology changed foreign reporting?What aspect has been most affected: the writing, theediting or the publishing?

Technology has changed things in many ways.Thanks to the Internet, we have citizen corre-spondents. Traditional correspondents can travelto a news story much faster than in the past,thanks to jet travel, and they can report backhome more quickly because of satellite phones.This same technology, of course, has put a greatdeal of pressure on the old mass media model,which has resulted in lower profits for traditionalmedia and hence prevented them from fielding asmany correspondents.

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ShakingThings Up

LSU’s Juan Lorenzoand graduate studentDavid Smolkin withSeismeauxbile,Lorenzo’s mobile lab,in the background.

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LSU’s Juan Lorenzo studies the processes thatformed the earth, applying them to everything fromfinding valuable mineral deposits to helping identifyweak spots in the New Orleans levee system.

If you’ve ever been on LSU’s campus, you prob-ably noticed the Seismeauxbile. It’s hard not to.Parked behind the Howe-Russell Geoscience Com-plex, its purple-and-gold body draws quite a fewconfused glances. And its “Cajun-ized” spelling ofmo (meaux!) evokes laughter and some universitypride. But most are unaware of the Seismeaux-bile’s true purpose – and of the mind behind themachine, Associate Professor of Geology and Geo-physics Juan Lorenzo.

Though its spirited décor is fun and light-hearted, its mission is serious science – structuralseismology, the forms and faults of Earth.“Since I was young, I’ve been fascinated by earthprocesses. Everything isgoverned by them,whether you’re looking foroil or studying how theEarth began,” said Lorenzo.“It’s all based on the samefundamental processes.”

It’s the mystery behindthese ancient processes,primarily the fact that no one truly understandswhy most of the activity below the Earth’s crusthappens, that really piques Lorenzo’s curiosity.“Think about it,” he said. “After all this time andall this research, we still don’t know exactly whyearthquakes happen. Plates move almost con-stantly, but earthquakes are relatively rare. Theyonly happen when the moving rocks hit a snag.But why doesn’t that happen more often?”

Although not an earthquake specialist, Lorenzodoes study seismology, using sound waves (upand down) and shear waves, which travel side-to-side, to “see” from tens to thousands of feet belowthe Earth’s surface. This is useful for determiningwhat lies beneath … whether it’s valuable miner-als, water deposits or even underground cavernsand valleys.

“We use explosions, which vary in size frombeing quite modest to pretty impressive, to gener-ate recordable movement below ground,” saidLorenzo. “It works a bit like medical imaging

does. We use sound to measure solids … when thewaves run into liquid, or perhaps empty space,our readouts indicate as such.”

Lorenzo and his team of students travel widelyto put their skills to good use. They have traveledoften to study a giant fault line in central Chile.Recently, their work was supported by a nationalcopper company there. “The copper deposits inChile are generally found next to great faults,pathways for crustal water. So, the company hiresus to find the buried fault. The students benefitfrom learning how and why water moves fromdepths of 40 miles or more, and the companybenefits from learning where deposits might belocated. It’s definitely a win-win,” said Lorenzo.

Lorenzo’s most recent research now focuses onsomething of a Louisiana icon – the New Orleanslevees. After Hurricane Katrina and the failure of

the city’s barrier levees, the levee boards chargedwith their upkeep were reorganized, and new leg-islation dictated that a geologist sit on each one.After that, Lorenzo and his team started work.“This is an instance where good government andlegislation fueled good science, which leads to thedevelopment of better tools, which in turn leadsto the ability to ask more, and better, questions,”said Lorenzo.

He and his team travel to the levees frequently.Using the Seismeauxbile, the mobile lab they’vedeveloped, they distribute “geophones,” smallsensory devices that translate ground movementinto seismic readings. These geophones are soseismographically-sensitive that they will recordthe movement of an ant along the area of inter-est. Using an ATV, they string out several geo-phones, then place a metal plate on the groundand essentially hit it with a hammer to createsound waves. Shear waves are created by shakingit from side to side. Sounds simple, right? Wrong.

Lorenzo and his students use a seismometer to measure seismic activity duringLSU football games. Since his office is located so close to the football stadium,it makes for a perfect educational experience for students. “It’s exceptionallyclear,” said Lorenzo. “You can pinpoint when the band plays, or when there’s atouchdown. It’s particularly intriguing for undergraduate students – I think itreally illustrates the field [of seismology] to them.”

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“It’s not just that theequipment is so sensi-tive,” said Lorenzo. “It’sthat it’s also relativelydelicate, extremelyheavy, and there’s a lot ofground to cover. We have managed to speed theprocess by connecting the geophones togetherinto a long seismic snake which we pull slowlybehind our ATV.” It’s a slow and tedious project,especially during hot Louisiana summers whenthe group might consist of Lorenzo and a singlestudent. But the work is important, and knowingthat problems cannot be addressed until they areidentified keeps the group motivated.

“There is a direct relationship between naturalsoil makeup and the strength of a levee system,”said Lorenzo. “When a levee is so vital to a city’ssurvival, it necessitates lots of upkeep and mainte-nance. Our job is to get a ‘picture’ of the problemearly on and define its boundaries.”

Once their seismic readings have identified thesize and scope of a potentially problematic area inthe levee, the information is passed to the leveeboard so the appropriate preventative measures

can be taken. “We’re notsolving problems,” hecautioned. “We’re identi-fying them. It’s the firststep in a complicatedprocess.”

Since Lorenzo’s methods are comparativelyquick and inexpensive, they are of immense valueto the area. Natural subsidence and slumping areongoing problems in levee systems, and mainte-nance, which traditionally includes rigorous vi-sual inspections and protection of thegroundcover, can be difficult and time-consum-ing. But in New Orleans, where the annual threatof hurricanes is never far from thought, time is aprecious commodity. “As a seismologist, simplyworking in Louisiana is a learning experience,” hesaid. “Here, sound travels faster in the air than itdoes in the ground. But to work in such a uniqueclimate and geographical location and also havethe opportunity to make a real impact with re-search is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Seismeauxbile is Lorenzo’s design. Made com-pletely from recycled materials, it is steel-en-cased to prevent radio-wave interference tothe sensitive measuring equipment inside.“It’s a mobile office,” said Lorenzo. “And wemade the whole thing right here at LSU.”

Juan Lorenzo demonstratesthe advanced technological

features of the Seismeauxbile.

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LSU Rainmakers

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Each year, LSU recognizes a group of Rainmakers, those faculty members who arenationally and internationally recognized for innovative research and creativescholarship, compete for external funding at the highest levels and attract andmentor exceptional graduate students. For these individuals, research and artisticendeavor is a passion – one that offers valuable insight into life. From creatingmusic through new technology to understanding the impact of post-traumatic stressdisorder on children, their work facilitates a better understanding of the worldaround us.

For achieving excellence in their respective fields and furthering the researchmission of the university, we present a selection of this year’s Rainmakers.

Caring for Katrina’s KidsMary Lou Kelley, a professor in the LSU Depart-

ment of Psychology, landed on the frontlines ofHurricane Katrina’s aftermath with a special mis-sion: to gain a better understanding of the long-term psychological impacts of natural disasters onchildren.

Using her expertise in child psychology, Kelleypaid for the study out-of-pocket at first. But shefought for funding and soon received one of thelargest grants ever awarded to an LSU faculty mem-ber by the National Institute of Mental Health.

Her research, designed to follow the childrenuntil high school graduation, could play a role inhelping everyone from parents to politicians bet-ter understand how to help children affected by

natural disasters. Her tentative results suggested ahigher number of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder,or PTSD, symptoms than seen in children fromprevious disasters, later results yielded anotherdisturbing fact.

“It turns out that what we did find was that ex-posure to violence was equally important as a pre-dictor of PTSD symptoms as exposure to ahurricane,” said Kelley.

But Kelley didn’t stop there. In the past year,she had four articles published and another sixaccepted for publication in prestigious scholarlyjournals. She’s also been awarded funding by theDepartment of Homeland Security and, thanks toher leadership, LSU is now the lead institution forthe assessment, “Psychological Adjustment Fol-lowing Coastal Disasters.”

“I felt like I just had to do something,and what I do well is research.”Mary Lou Kelley works with her research group to study the long-term psychological impacts of natural disasters on children.

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A WorkingRelationshipManagers of all kinds often

devote a lot of time wonder-ing how to increase produc-tivity and profit. Attractingquality employees plays a bigrole in this equation, but re-taining and motivating themonce they are hired is evenmore demanding. But whatmakes employees tick? Howcan managers boost employeesatisfaction and output at thesame time?

Such questions are asked every day in officesaround the world, and here at LSU, Arthur Be-deian is working to find a solution.

“The real challenge for both employ-ees and businesses in a world that ischanging in nano-seconds is not somuch being great,” said Bedeian, “butstaying great.”

Bedeian recently found that agree-ment among employees regarding theirleaders promotes improved dedicationand less burnout, despite the quality ofleadership. “When co-workers agreeabout the nature of theirsupervisor’s leader style, they aremore dedicated in their work and expe-rience less stress and work-group con-flict,” said Bedeian. “This in turnincreases their personal commitmentand decreases the impact of emotionalexhaustion.”

Bedeian is a Boyd Professor, the highestprofessional rank awarded by LSU. He isalso the Ralph and Kacoo Olinde Distin-guished Professor of Management in theRucks Department of Management inthe E.J. Ourso College of Business. An in-ternationally renowned expert on role theory andhuman motivation, Bedeian has served on govern-ment committees such as the J. William FulbrightForeign Scholar Board, the National Science Foun-dation, the National Academy of Science and the

Research Council of Canada. With an outstandingpublication record and teaching history, Arthur Be-deian is truly changing today’s work environmentinto a better place.

Directing a Model ProgramLSU’s Center for Internal Auditing, or CIA, has

been the international leader in internal audit ed-ucation since its inception in 1985, when the In-stitute of Internal Auditors designated the LSUCIA program as the Internal Audit Pilot School todevelop internal audit education. Since then, LSUhas established the most recognized internal auditprogram internationally.

Students graduating from the program will bepart of a small group that can claim a specializationin internal auditing, significantly increasing em-ployment opportunities and career enhancement.

More than 40 universities have initiated programssimilar to or modeled after the LSU program.

A large part of the program’s success can betraced back to Glenn Sumners, director and fac-ulty member in the LSU CIA. Sumners, a member

Arthur Bedeian

23

Glenn Sumners, directorof LSU’s Center forInternal Auditing, hashelped the center to riseto international acclaimsince its start in 1985.

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of the LSU faculty since 1980, was named IIA’sEducator-of-the-Year in 1987 and received the So-ciety of Louisiana CPAs Lifetime Achievement inAccounting Education Award in 1999. In 2006, hereceived the Bradford Cadmus MemorialAward. Sixteen students from the LSU CIA pro-gram have won international awards for the high-est score on the CIA exam, with Trista Sandersmost recently accomplishing the feat in Novem-ber 2007. Sumners also received the 2001 CIA Ac-ademic Outreach International Award. In 2003LSU CIA received the AHIA Institution Award.

In the last 20 years, Sumners has madeover 1,100 presentations to companies, organiza-tions and IIA Chapters. This list includes numer-ous CIA exam reviews. In addition, he providesquality assurance and consulting services to inter-nal audit departments and audit committees.

Researching in the RealWorld … and VirtualWorlds, TooComposing music, exploring novel ways of

using technology to create music, co-foundingthe largest animation festival in the United Statesand leading a campuswide initiative to develop a

strong digital media program are just apart of Stephen Beck’s research inter-ests.

Beck is a professor with the LSUSchool of Music and Interim Director ofthe Center for Computation and Tech-nology, or CCT, specializing in composi-tion and computer music, where hiscurrent research includes sound diffu-sion systems, which are high-perfor-mance computing applications in musicand virtual music instruments.

In 2003, Beck developed the Labora-tory for Creative Arts & Technologies atCCT. Beck’s lab explores the intersec-tions among art, technology and com-putational science, and has been acampus leader in digital media develop-ment.

In 2005, Beck and colleague StaceySimmons created the Red Stick Interna-

tional Animation Festival to showcase their re-search to the public. Red Stick takes place eachyear in downtown Baton Rouge, and it is now thelargest festival of its kind in the United States.

At CCT, Beck leads the Cultural ComputingFocus Area, in which faculty explore how compu-tational science technologies and infrastructurescan benefit the arts, humanities and social sci-ences. In 2008, Beck’s group led the creation ofLSU in Second Life, a popular online virtual envi-ronment, and established an LSU Virtual WorldsResearch Group so people from across campus cansee how these new environments can foster learn-ing.

Beck also led a team of faculty to create the Arts,Visualization, Advanced Technologies and Re-search, or AVATAR, Initiative, a multidisciplinaryhiring initiative that will establish a researchfocus on the intersections among arts, technologyand computational sciences with scholars fromacross the university throughout the comingyears. AVATAR will recruit interdisciplinary fac-ulty, scholars and artists who are dedicated to de-veloping new technologies, exploring new realmsof creativity and engaging students at all levels intheir research activities to the LSU campus.

LSU’s Stephen Beck hasspearheaded many

programs integratingtechnology, music and

the visual arts, includingthe Red Stick Animation

festival in Baton Rouge, La.

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A Year in RomeUrsula Emery McClure works at LSU but lives in

Rome. While this doesn’t seem like the most fea-sible of living arrangements, McClure resides inthe Eternal City to finish work she and her hus-band laid the groundwork for at LSU – landscapearchitecture that brings together the stand-outtraits of Louisiana’s laid-back culture with thestaggering beauty of ancient Rome.

The project, “Terra Viscus: Hybrid TectonicPrecedent,” encompasses what McClure and herhusband see as the very essence of southernLouisiana.

“The terra viscus is a super-saturated condition,never completely solid or liquid, consisting of ge-ological, economical, cultural and ecological con-ditions that interweave and overlap,” saidMcClure. “This condition allows us to vivify, ana-lyze and create relevant building strategies in the

phenomenal identity that is Southern Louisiana.”

Aside from teaching in LSU’s Department ofLandscape Architecture – an internationallyrenowned program noted annually for the talentit produces – McClure runs emerymcclure archi-tecture with her husband, Michael. They recentlytook home the prestigious Rome Prize of Architec-ture, an award that gives recipients a one-yeartenure at the American Academy in Rome, Italy.

“Ancient Rome’s ability to focus on commu-nicative tectonics over pragmatic safety offersunique counter-lessons to the Gulf Coast’s cur-rent fixation of solely pragmatic solutions,” saidMcClure. “Our hope is to apply the analyticalmethodology of terra viscus to Rome, focusing onits hydro-tectonic development.”

The final product will include a pamphlet ofgraphic, written and design proposal studies, whichwill serve as a continuation for her existing research.

“Our hope is to apply the analytical methodology of terra viscus to Rome,

focusing on its hydro-tectonic development.”

LSU landscape architecturestudents benefit fromexposure to innovative

ideas such as thosedemonstrated here by

McClure.

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Bret Elderd, assistant professor of biological sci-ences, develops models to help officials stop the spreadof deadly pandemics.

Few things stir public hysteria like the potentialof a pandemic. Recent scares such as avian flu,Ebola and SARS inspired mass panic across theglobe. In response, airports developed screeningmethods, travel plans were canceled and familiesisolated themselves from public spaces. But thefear associated with each seemed to fade from so-ciety’s memory all too quickly. In the spring of2009, though, a new epidemic swept North Amer-ica and soon the world over, bringing with it

panic and a global lack of preparedness encapsu-lated into four characters: H1N1.

Because the disease seemed to travel faster thanaccurate scientific reporting, fear and misinforma-tion were widespread. H1N1 spread rapidly, cross-ing borders with ease, infecting children, adultsand senior citizens alike. According to estimatesmade by the Centers for Disease Control and Pre-vention, or CDC, approximately 57 million casesof H1N1 occurred in the United States betweenApril of 2009 and January of 2010. It tookmonths before a vaccination was made availableto the public, and by that time demand had

A ModelPandemic

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reached a fever pitch. CDC health officials issuedthe first vaccination deliveries to “priority lists,”or groups of people at exceptionally high risk ofcontracting the flu, including pregnant women,the elderly, caregivers and people who might beexposed to the aforementioned groups.

While frustrating to those not considered a “pri-ority,” researchers agree that in pandemic situa-tions, a strategy must be employed to ensuremaximum coverage from minimum output.“With any transmittable disease, you have to lookat the reproductive rate of spread. Basically, Imean, how many people can you as an infected

individual pass it on to?” said Bret Elderd, assis-tant professor of biological sciences at LSU andexpert on disease transmission.

Elderd studies disease transmission patterns inhuman populations and natural systems, develop-ing predictive models for use by public health in-stitutions and land managers, respectively.

“To describe disease transmission, I use a suiteof mathematical models,” said Elderd. “One ofthe great things about the mathematical modelsthat I use is that they describe disease transmis-sion equally well in both human and wildlifepopulations.”

For public health institutions, one of the keyquestions is the reproductive rate of the disease,or how many healthy people can be infected byone infected individual. “Basically, if you are in-fected, you have to pass the disease on to at leastone person or the disease will die out,” said El-derd. “They then pass it to at least one person andso on. This way, the disease will maintain itself inthe population. If you are able to pass the diseaseonto more than one person, then the disease willspread. The greater number of people that youand other infected individuals can pass the dis-ease to, the faster it spreads.”

According to Elderd, the rate of spread variesgreatly between diseases. For example, feline im-munodeficiency virus has a relatively low rate ofspread, coming in at approximately 1.1 – 1.5 catsinfected by one carrier. However, whoopingcough in humans has a relatively high rate ofspread, with a single infected person spreadingthe disease to between 16 and 18 others. Obvi-ously, the rate of spread should have a direct in-fluence on the methods officials choose toemploy toward controlling an outbreak.

To protect the population against any disease,one of the main weapons employed is vaccines.Vaccination takes susceptible individuals whocould potentially catch then spread the diseaseand makes them immune. If you do this forenough people in the population, the rate ofspread can be drastically reduced or even negated.

“If vaccinations are conducted correctly, youcan knock the reproductive rate of spread, whichwe call Ro, below one,” Elderd explained. “In epi-

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demiological terms, you create ‘herd immunity’to the disease.” Herd immunity occurs when thedisease effectively goes extinct in the population.The development of mathematical models to an-swer key questions surrounding the rate of spreadand vaccination rates helps public health officialsdetermine the best method of responding to apandemic, such as H1N1.

“Vaccinations are nearly always considered,”said Elderd. “It brings down the rate of spread.But during an epidemic, decision makers have tofollow a path of thought that is quite differentthan one for preventative vaccinations, such asthose we give children when they’re infants.”

According to Elderd, there are many vaccinationstrategies, but two are generally the main onesconsidered to combat an outbreak of infectiousdisease. The first, called trace vaccination, is aplan that calls for the vaccination of only thosepeople already having been exposed to the carrierof the disease. The second strategy, called massvaccination, does exactly what its name implies:vaccinates the population en masse.

“People often wonder why we don’t respond toevery contagious biological threat with a massvaccination plan, but in reality it’s just not a goodidea,” he explained. “It’s cost-prohibitive, time-consuming and can even be dangerous, as somevaccinations have serious, sometimes fatal, sideeffects.” However, Elderd cautions that diseasespread estimates are often quantified by a singlenumber – the average rate of spread – with the as-

sumption that no uncertainty is associated withthe prediction.

By employing Bayesian statistics, Elderd directlyquantifies how certain we should be about our es-timates of Ro. In regard to smallpox or any othercommunicable disease, the rate of spread is notjust a single number.

“On average, Ro could be seven, but in someoutbreaks it can be much lower, say, five. But instill other outbreaks, it could be outrageouslyhigh at 15 or more,” he said. Because of this vari-ability, there is some degree of uncertainty abouthow severe an outbreak or an epidemic can be.Quantifying this uncertainty is important and canhelp public health officials and policy makersmake better informed decisions regarding protect-ing the populace.”

In previous work, Elderd used statistical meth-ods to determine if trace or mass vaccinationwould better protect the populace against a small-pox epidemic using data from a series of smallpoxoutbreaks in the United States during the 18th and19th centuries. The data comes from historicalrecords kept by Spanish missions in the southwestregion of the country. For the smallpox example,it took dozens of computers running computa-tions over thousands of hours to arrive at an an-swer that correctly incorporates uncertainly aboutthe rate of spread of smallpox.

Currently, Elderd is using Bayesian statistics todevelop a spatial model of how the smallpox

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virus spread throughout the Southwest missionpopulations in the 1700s. The results from thesestudies show dramatic variability in smallpox Ro,meaning an equally variable number of deathsafter an outbreak. “In fact, there is often a consid-erable amount of variability associated with dis-ease reproduction, which can have dramaticimpacts on disease dynamics and, in turn, hostsurvival,” said Elderd. “That’s why modeling is soimportant.”

The development of such models is vital to helppublic health officials determine the best methodof responding to a pandemic such as H1N1. “Byincorporating known variability in epidemic dy-namics into policy decisions regarding vaccina-tion strategies, a more well-informed policychoice can be made,” said Elderd. “In the case of

smallpox, due to the uncertainty in determiningits rate of spread, the most effective decision todecrease the number of deaths associated with anepidemic would be to employ a mass vaccinationstrategy to combat that uncertainty, basically pro-tecting the populace against the potential of ahorrific outbreak.”

The results and similar models could be usefulfor officials dealing with the next potential pan-demic, which is only a matter of time. With thegrowing human population, the threat of a rap-idly transmittable illness is truly never far away,and disease-spread modeling capabilities need tobe quick and easy for laypeople to understand sothat implementation of an effective vaccinationplan can begin early in the process.

“I think that researchers often get carried away

louisiana biomedical research symposiumIn January, the College of Science and the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine hosted the Louisiana Bio-

medical Research Symposium to highlight biomedical research and excellence and enhance collaborationamong scientists and research centers in Louisiana.

The symposium, held at the Baton Rouge Marriott Hotel, featured more than 300 participants and150 research abstracts. Most research featured was from National Institutes of Health, or NIH,sponsored centers supported by program grants from the NIH Center for Research Resources,NCRR, Institutional Development Awards, or the IDeA program.

“The [conference] is an excellent opportunity to showcase our excellent work to thestate and the nation and, most importantly, to forge and advance collaborations withtalented faculty at other universities in Louisiana,” said Kevin Carman, dean of theLSU College of Science.

Research and development topics discussed in the symposium included cancergenetics, cardiovascular biology, hypertension, infectious disease, oral health,obesity and diabetes, neurologic diseases and molecular and tumor virology. Aspecial emphasis was given to prospects for developing medical translational re-search in Louisiana.

During the past few years, Louisiana’s biomedical research community hasobtained significant funding – more than $131 million per year – from NCRR.These grants, held at LSU, the LSU Health Sciences Centers in New Orleansand Shreveport, the Tulane Health Sciences Center, the Tulane National Pri-mate Research Center and the Pennington Biomedical Research Center,focus on developing and expanding the biomedical research activity and ca-pacity at all levels in the state.

Event sponsors included the Louisiana Biomedical Research Network, theLSU-Tulane Center for Experimental Infectious Disease Research and thePennington Biomedical Research Center.

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with developing overly complex models that de-liver every possible scenario. But that leads to in-formation overload and doesn’t really help thedecision-making process when it comes to publichealth. It also doesn’t allow us to quantify ouruncertainty about the likelihood of an outbreakor its severity,” said Elderd. “By combiningBayesian statistics with a simple mathematicalmodel that keeps track of whether individuals aresusceptible, exposed, infected or recovered fromthe disease, or an SEIR model, I’ve been able tokeep these models quite simple, relatively speak-ing, and they are thus more informative in mod-eling the paths future outbreaks might take.”

The focus of Elderd’s research though, isn’t tiedto one specific answer or solution. “Often peopleare looking for science and epidemiology to pro-vide ‘the answer,’” he explained. “For instance,how many people do we need to vaccinate so thatthere won’t be an outbreak?” Elderd’s work pointsout that there is some uncertainty about what

that answer would be. Outside of the laboratoryenvironment, there are too many variables affect-ing the outcome, so there is never only one solu-tion.

“Hurricane forecasting makes for a good anal-ogy – as the storm approaches, you get a betterand better idea of where it might make landfall,but you are never really certain,” he said. Elderd’sfindings support preparation for that uncertainty.Future outbreaks of contagious illnesses could berelatively small or quite large.

“With that in mind, we should protect the gen-eral populace against the large outbreaks thatcould have horrific consequences,” said Elderd.“When you develop a plan to protect people, youwant to hope for the best, but at the same time,be prepared for the worst. That’s what we’re try-ing to do – develop an idea of what each possiblescenario will look like, that way practitioners candevelop a plan accordingly.”

“People often wonder why we don’trespond to every contagious biological

threat with a mass vaccination plan, but in reality it’s just not a good idea.”

Elderd at work on his mostrecent disease transmissionresearch, which focuses onfall army worms and plant-induced defenses to such

outbreaks.

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GETTING

BACK TO

BROTH ER

TIME31

Wesley Shrum preparesto film a scene of“Brother Time” in Kenya.

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LSU sociologist Wesley Shrum journeys to Kenya toexplore the human catastrophe of the 2007-08 elec-tion riots … producing a documentary with a mythictale of violence and humanity.

While Africa is certainly no stranger to violence,the responce to the Kenyan Presidential electionsof 2007 came as a surprise. Political unrestevolved into outright and unmitigated violence,marring the relatively peaceful history of Kenya’seducated and mainly urban population. Duringallegations of voter manipulation and electionfraud, two of Kenya’s largest tribes, the Kalenjinand the Kikuyu, found themselves divided byanger, fueled by another tribe’s promises of powerand control.

Wesley Shrum, LSU professor of sociology, hadexperience dealing with human tragedy after Hur-ricane Katrina devastated the city of New Orleans.As a member of Team Louisiana, a team ofLouisiana scientists commissioned by the stategovernment to gather and document data rele-vant to the failure of the levees, he is intimatelyfamiliar with the impact of disaster on a popula-tion. For the past five years he has been docu-menting the effects of both the hurricane and itsaftermath for the Louisiana State Museum.

Although he has conducted fieldwork in Africafor years to learn more about the cultural land-scape there, he never imagined he would be mak-ing a movie about African politics. His interviewswith Kenyan scientists conducted over the spanof two decades took a radically different turn afterthe killings began – they were no longer studyingculture in hypotheticals. Theory had become alltoo real, and he felt that as a social scientist, itwas his duty to research and respond.

“In 2008, they could not talk about their re-search in a vacuum – the violence had justended,” said Shrum. “It was like Louisiana afterKatrina. An event consumes all your thoughtsand actions.” He had a difficult time dealing withthe emotional burden of Katrina. But Kenya wasdifferent. “The Louisiana hurricane was the worstthing I ever experienced or studied, until this,”said Shrum. “In Kenya, the deaths were from peo-ple killing each other because of their ethnicity.Katrina was tragic, but this was sickening.”

After compiling a number of interviews on

video, Shrum decided that the emotional depth ofthis conflict could only be expressed accuratelythrough ethnographic video. The result? “BrotherTime,” a full length documentary about the post-election violence. “It’s a difficult situation formost Americans to understand,” said Shrum. “Wedon’t have a culture of rigged elections; Kenyadoes. Even students do it for their elections – it’sexpected. So for this to break out into such anepidemic of violence was shocking. For me, therewas no other option but to make a film.”

The political environment in Kenya is alwayscomplicated, even during times of peace. Thecountry is home to more than 40 individualtribes, which generally get along well, althoughthere are undercurrents of animosity – but elec-tions are always tense. The explosive reaction tothe 2007 election was fueled by the Luos, whowere contesting for the presidency against theKikuyus. The Luos promised the Kalenjins theycould regain land in the Rift Valley, their tradi-tional home. Because of the perceived decades-long supremacy of the Kikuyus over other Kenyantribes, the proposal gained traction. The twojoined forces against the Kikuyus and the violencebegan in earnest. The fighting lasted for months,with more than 1,200 killed and even more in-jured and displaced.

To Shrum, one of the intriguing aspects of thesituation was the role that Kenyan universitiesand their students played in the revolt and ensu-ing violence. “Often the youth, and especiallyuniversity students, are the ones demonstratingin the streets,” he said. “You can look at the 2008presidential elections in the United States to seethe impact young voters had on the outcomethere.”

In places like Kenya, a university student isoften the only highly educated person from his orher village. There, the status of “student” bringswith it immense respect, as it conjures images ofserious study, commitment and intelligence.Shrum believes Kenyan university students andofficials played a positive role in the cessation ofthe political upheaval, acting as catalysts of socialchange rather than pandering to the political urg-ings to take to the street.

However, as sociologically relevant as the situa-

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tion was, it wasn’t without inherent danger. ButShrum felt it was worth the risk. The National Sci-ence Foundation’s Political Science Divisionagreed, providing the resources for Shrum to con-tinue his study of scientists and educators inKenya, this time focusing on their experiencesduring the election.

“We never ask for support for a movie, just asan LSU researcher does not usually get federalfunds for writing a book or essay,” explainedShrum. “You get resources for doing research, butthe way you disseminate your work is up to you.”

Using qualitative methods and video ethno-graphic techniques, Shrum studied the role of

these institutions in the election and its after-math. “We began to shoot our interviews in laband field, and we couldn’t help seeing the broaderstory. It’s a mythic tale, if not biblical. A mantakes up bow and arrow against his neighbor –neighbors who have been friends, but from differ-ent ethnic groups,” he said. “That was the originof ‘Brother Time.’ The method of video ethnogra-phy allows us to create a dynamic document thatwill not only allow us to disseminate our findingsto students and professionals but to a broader au-dience, as well.”

Shrum believes that incorporating new methodsof data collection such as high quality video and

audio into sociological research along with moretraditional methods, such as surveys, interviewsand observations, enables researchers to tell thesociological story in a more balanced and thor-ough way. “It makes the whole thing more ap-proachable,” he said. “Now, you can show peoplein classrooms and lecture halls or even on theWeb, instead of relying solely on textbooks andlectures. It’s much more engaging. I hate to agreewith the old radical slogan, but sometimes I thinkanyone over 30 doesn’t get it.”

Although the film is suitable for all forms ofoutreach, Shrum is insistent that “Brother Time”isn’t solely for educational purposes – it’s also for

the people who went through the madness.“Most of our movies are just for presentationsand classes, but not this time. We have thatluxury as academics, to decide when some-thing needs a wider audience,” said Shrum.“This one is for the Kenyans. When peoplesaw the rough cut, they said, ‘you have toshow this before the next election, to preventit happening again’.”

The ethnographic video “Brother Time”seeks to visualize this murderous struggle ona human level by focusing on two main char-acters, a Kikuyu from the Rift Valley and hisKalenjin neighbor, who had become near-mortal enemies during the electoral violence.Shrum follows a Kikuyu through the cycle ofviolence.

“The main character says ‘As a Christian,we would say all men are brothers. But now… it’s not the brother time,’” said Shrum.

“When he said that, standing there where a lot ofthe killing took place, I felt a chill going up myspine.”

While Shrum knows the overall experience wasworthwhile and the outcome could be positive, itwasn’t an entirely positive experience. “I couldn’tsay documenting the trajectory of violence was a‘good’ research experience, but it was an invalu-able human experience,” he explained. “When Iwas editing the movie, it literally made me sick tomy stomach. You have to share that with a broadaudience.”

Shrum just received a major grant from the Na-tional Science Foundation to continue his work

Wesley Shrum frames ashot on location in Kenya.

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on new communication tech-nologies in developing areas.He hopes that his work on“Brother Time” eventuallyhelps Kenyans understand thatthey can break the cycle of vio-lence and resentment.

“I’m a cynic, but a hopefulone. You have to try your best.When we were filming in NewOrleans during the Super Bowl,there was an African Americanman dressed in full Drew Breesregalia. He said to me, ‘thepoliticians never brought peo-ple together, but the Saintsdid’,” said Shrum. “Maybe thisis the same. Kenyan politicianshave not done a great job, solet’s try a movie with a posi-tive message. Let’s get back tobrother time.”

noteworthy researchEight LSU researchers have been honored with the rank of “Fellow” by the American Association

for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) the world’s largest scientific organization. LSU ranks amongthe top 10 institutions in number of honorees, with only seven others having more fellows this year.

Terry M. Bricker, Moreland Family Professor in the College of Sciences

Barry Dellinger, Patrick F. Taylor Chair for the Environmental Impact of Hazardous Waste

Jonathan P. Dowling, Hearne Research Chair in Theoretical Physics

Brooks B. Ellwood, Robey H. Clark Distinguished Professor of Geology and Geophysics

Mark S. Hafner, DeSoto Parish Alumni Chapter Alumni Professor of Biological Sciences and curator of mammals at LSU’s Museum of Natural Sciences

Kevin M. Smith, LSU Foundation James C. Bolton Professor of Chemistry

Steven A. Soper, Dr. William L. and Patricia H. Senn Jr. Endowed Professor of Chemistry

Kalliat T. Valsaraj, Charles and Hilda Roddey Professor and Department Chair of Chemical Engineering.

“...we couldn’t helpseeing the broaderstory. It’s a mythic

tale, if not biblical.”

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LSU’s Kelly Rusch has developed an automated con-tinuous rotifer culture system that could help the U.S.maintain internal fisheries production – and poten-tially decrease the nation’s trade deficit.

Fish is a healthy, lean source of protein. Fattyfish, including salmon, mackerel, herring, laketrout, sardines and albacore tuna, are rich inOmega 3 fatty acids, making them a highly desir-able staple for health-conscious people. TheAmerican Heart Association, or AHA, recom-mends eating fish, especially fatty fish, at leasttwice a week. But since the majority of theworld’s natural fisheries have reached or even sur-passed sustainable harvest limits, traditional fish-ing methods are often no longer feasible, leavinga gap in the supply chain.

Aquaculture production, or breeding and rais-ing fish in a controlled environment, is a rapidlygrowing industry geared toward addressing supplyand demand. But under existing conditions, theamount of product developed in these fisheries issimply not enough for everyone to meet the AHArecommendations.

“Seafood is the second largest U.S. trade deficitnext to petroleum. We currently import 80 per-

cent of our seafood, while domes-tic aquaculture production sup-plies approximately 5 percent,”said Kelly Rusch, LSU professor ofcivil and environmental engineer-ing. “Our current annual seafoodtrade deficit is more than $9 bil-lion annually.” Rusch began re-searching zooplankton andmicroalgae in the 1980s, with theintention of promoting and devel-oping growth in the aquacultureindustry. “In order to successfullyand positively impact the growthand production of a species, youhave to start at the base of thefood chain,” said Rusch. “Andcontrolling the base often entailsdeveloping a more effective cultur-ing process.”

Aquaculture production facesnumerous technical complications. Developing amore efficient method of feeding some marinefish larvae is a significant concern. Many com-mercially important fish produce larvae withgapes, or mouths, too small to eat processed dryfoods or even the typical food base of large zoo-plankton such as brine shrimp. To increase pro-duction, food development for these larvae needsto become easier for the farmers. Microscopic zoo-plankton, including rotifers, provide a viable solu-tion. The only problem is a lack of availability ofthe sheer number necessary to support a hatchery.

“Fish larvae have a high metabolism and needlots of nutrition to gain weight and grow,” saidRusch. “Since the mouths of many marine larvaeare too small for commercial fish food, rotifers,which are smaller than the diameter of one strandof hair, are the only way to feed these larvae untilthey reach the next stage of development. Untilthen, a hatchery would require literally billions ofrotifers a day.”

In response to the enormous need and lack ofsupply, Rusch, along with a team of graduate stu-dents, developed a prototype automated continu-ous rotifer culture system focused on the cultureand breeding s- and ss-type rotifers, the smallest

36

FishFood

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The automated continuous rotifer system developedby LSU’s Kelly Rusch allows the zooplankton population

to remain stable despite continuous harvests.37

types available. This system is considered a break-through since there is currently no commercialsource of these rotifers available in the UnitedStates.

Her system is based on a bioreactor. It beginswith an original “batch” of rotifers being intro-duced to the system. Computer software monitorsand controls dissolved oxygen, temperature, pHand microalgal feed levels and harvest frequency,allowing the system to maintain a stable environ-ment for the zooplankton. Because their repro-ductive rate is relatively high, the system canalmost constantly harvest a predetermined num-ber of rotifers, dramatically increasing availability.Continuous production of these zooplanktontranslates into a more constant source of foodthat will help the hatcheries produce more fish ina shorter amount of time. And because it is auto-mated, the rotifers are continually produced with-out human supervision.

Rusch is currently working with AquacultureSystems Technologies, or AST, LLC in New Or-leans, La., to adapt the rotifer system into a com-mercially viable product. The company specializesin aquaculture technology development, fabrica-tion and marketing and has already receivedfunding from the National Science Foundation’sSmall Business Innovation and Research grant di-vision for this system. This will allow them to fi-

nalize design concepts, perfect the science andstandardize production of the system.

“Because currently available commercial prod-ucts rely on batch cultures, meaning that they de-pend on breeding one large ‘barrel’ of rotifers at atime, they fall into a sort of boom and bust sce-nario,” said Paul Hightower, research biologist atAST. “But that puts your hatchery in the very pre-carious position of facing a crash in rotifer num-bers. To put it very simply, these are delicatecreatures that are very susceptible to bacteria. Thecontinuous rotifer production system eliminatesthis variability because the computer measurespopulation inside the tank and constantly con-trols it through harvesting.”

LSU, through its Office of Intellectual Property,Commercialization and Development, recentlyentered into an agreement granting to AST for alimited time the exclusive rights to negotiate a li-cense to the technology. Through AST’s scientificprocess, the system will undergo some significantchanges. “We’re looking for the most cost-effec-tive way to develop and commercialize Dr.Rusch’s technology,” said Hightower.

Rusch is pleased with the progress so far. “It’snice to see your research go from idea to finalconcept,” she said. “After spending more than 20years on research in this field, it’s very fulfilling tosee your ideas culminate in such a tangible way.”

A microscopic imageof the rotifers bred in

Rusch’s system.

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AshesFromthePast

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Associate Professor Huiming Bao of LSU’s De-partment of Geology & Geophysics recently pub-lished in the journal Nature, furthering theknowledge about volcanic eruptions in the pastwith the hope that this understanding might helpus prepare for future events. His research focusedon massive volcanic eruptions and their atmos-pheric consequences in North America 20 to 40million years ago.

“Past volcanic eruptions have had significantimpacts on the environment,” said Bao. “We hu-mans have witnessed various impacts of volcaniceruptions like the 1991 Mount Pinatubo and themore recent Icelandic one. The physical aspect ofthe impacts such as explosion or ash plumes isoften short-lived, but the chemical consequenceof its emitted massive gases can have a long-last-ing effect on global climate.”

The Nature paper, titled “Massive Volcanic SO2Oxidation and Sulfate Aerosol Deposition inCenozoic North America,” details research intothe past history of volcanic eruption and associ-ated atmospheric chemistry in North America.Using computer models and geologic data, Baoand his colleagues, Shocai Yu of the Environmen-tal Protection Agency and Daniel Tong of the Na-tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,were able to simulate the sulfur gas oxidationchemistry and atmospheric condition of thenorthern high plains region of North Americalong before human activities began to signifi-cantly impact the air quality.

Yu and Tong contributed to the three-dimen-sional atmospheric sulphur chemistry and trans-port model simulating the atmosphericconditions necessary for the observed sulfate iso-tope data preserved in rock records. Bao collectedand analyzed the geologic data, a process that in-volved data collection from volcanic ash beds inScotts Bluff National Monument in Nebraska andadjacent areas in South Dakota and Wyoming.

According to Bao, the most important volcanicgas, as far as atmospheric implications go, is sul-fur dioxide, or SO2, which is oxidized to sulfate inthe atmosphere. Bao and his colleagues discov-ered that many of the volcanic ash beds they sam-pled are rich in sulfates with distinct stableisotope signatures that can describe which oxida-

Katy Jenkins, one ofBao’s former students,samples volcanic ashin western Nebraskaduring a research trip.

Katie Howell, anotherpast student,examines a volcanicash bed at Scotts BluffNational Monument.

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tion pathways they went through on the way tobecoming sulfate aerosol. Aerosolized sulfate canaffect radiation balance, biologic productivity, thehigh altitude ozone layer and short- and long-term climate change. When the sulfate aerosol isdense or long-lasting and the depositional condi-tion is right, the sulfate aerosol can be preservedin rock records.

To explain the geologic data gathered, the re-search team did extensive testing and found thatfor these sulfates to form, it is important to havean initial alkaline cloudwater pH condition. Thisatmospheric condition, however, rarely existstoday since post-industrial revolution waste out-put ensures a near-constant state of cloudwateracidity. Another possibility, as Bao and his co-au-thors mentioned, is that the alkaline dust fromroof rocks ejected by explosive volcanic eruptionsmay have played a role in determining the initialsulfur gas oxidation pathway. The idea can nowbe tested by real-time satellite data on active vol-canic plumes.

“These sulfate aerosol deposition events wereso intense that the sulfate on the ground or smallponds reached saturation and gypsum mineralformed,” Bao said. He pointed out that the closestanalog event is perhaps the 1783 Laki eruptionsof Iceland and the subsequent “dry fogs” in conti-nental Europe. “That event devastated Iceland’scattle population. People with lung problems suf-fered the worst. In North America, the next year’swinter was the longest and one of the coldest onrecord. The Mississippi River froze at New Or-leans. The French Revolution in 1789 may havebeen triggered by the poverty and famine causedby the eruption, as some have suggested.”

Although these more recent volcanic eruptionshad widespread and significant repercussions, theancient and explosive eruptions that Bao studieswere much more intense and sulfur rich thananyone has ever experienced or recorded.

“It is important to note that the volcanic erup-tions we experienced in the past thousands of yearsare nothing compared to some of the eruptionsthat occurred in the past 40 million years in west-ern North America, either in the level of power orthe amount of SO2 spewed,” said Bao. But thatdoesn’t mean that eruptions of such magnitudecan’t happen today. In fact, geologists know there’salmost certainly a major volcanic eruption in ourfuture. The next Yellowstone eruption, whichmany believe is already overdue, may equal or sur-pass the intensity of these past super-eruptions.

“What we reported in our Nature paper is thatthere were many massive volcanic SO2 emissionsand dense sulfate aerosol events in the northernHigh Plains of North America in the past,” saidBao. “We show that in the past the sulfate aerosolformed in a very different way than today, indi-cating a difference in the past atmospheric condi-tion or something peculiar with these explosiveeruptions in the west.”

Having found a new way to look into the linkbetween Earth’s past volcanism and climatechange, Bao is now trying to extend this ap-proach even further to the distant past, particu-larly focusing on a time when a mass extinctioncoincided with the global impact of volcanic ac-tivity. “People have not previously looked at therock record the way our team does,” said Bao.“Now that we know what we’re looking for, theremight be new stories to tell soon.”

“The French Revolution in 1789 mayhave been triggered by the poverty and

famine caused by the eruption...”

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Neila Donovan is working to develop unique testingmethods for early identification of speech and hearingproblems in older adults … problems that could bewarning signs of serious illnesses.

As the Baby Boomers enter retirement age, de-veloping methods to identify potential healthconcerns before they turn into problems becomesmore urgent. Communication issues, such as theability to speak clearly and hear well, are particu-larly difficult to identify in aging adults becausethese changes happen over long periods of timeand are imperceptible to the person in question.However, it is often the aspects of embarrassmentand denial that make it even more difficult to di-agnose.

“The majority of people over 65 [years of age]have some degree of hearing loss,” said NeilaDonovan, assistant professor in LSU’s Departmentof Communication Sciences and Disorders, an in-vestigator in the LSU Life Course and Aging Cen-

ter for Research and director of the Communica-tion Outcomes Research Laboratory. “It’s ourhope to identify early communication problemsin order to help older people maintain independ-ence and a better quality of life.”

Donovan is working to develop a questionnaireusing computer adaptive testing, similar to theGraduate Records Examination and other com-puter-based testing that increases or decreases thedifficulty of each question based on the test-taker’s success with each previous query. When itis completed, Donovan foresees it being used athealth screening and at regular doctor’s visits be-cause it will be easy and quick to complete. Thegoal is to relieve the burden of time and expensethat long tests take and give caregivers and pa-tients the opportunity to report their own percep-tions. If a questionnaire is quick and easy tocomplete that also increases the likelihood thatthose in need of assistance would get it.

“The burden of completing long tests and ques-tionnaires by self-reporting – or reporting by care-givers – is incredible. We want to lighten thatburden while at the same time help to alert thoseolder patients or their caregivers to potentialproblems as early as possible,” said Donovan.“Many people don’t think of communication dis-orders as particularly debilitating, but they reallycan be devastating.”

There’s also a misperception that all communi-cation problems in older people are an irreversiblepart of the aging process. While some loss of com-municative effectiveness is to be expected as oneages, extreme cases or rapidly diminishing facul-ties could be an indication that there’s somethingwrong. In fact, many neurodegenerative diseasessuch as Parkinson’s disease and Amyotrophic Lat-eral Sclerosis, or ALS, list difficulty in speaking asone of the first noticeable warning symptoms.

TheArt ofAging

“Many people don’t think ofcommunication disorders as particularly debilitating, but theyreally can be devastating.”

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One of the most fearedcommon diseases affect-ing older people in oursociety today, Parkin-son’s disease has nocure; however, surgical,pharmacological and re-habilitative treatmentoptions are improvingthe quality of life forpeople with the disease.

The movement disorder is degenerative, and mayresult in difficulty controlling the muscles usedfor moving arms and legs and also for producingspeech. Earlier diagnosis of Parkinson’s diseasegenerally leads to a better prognosis, but sincesymptoms may go unnoticed or unreported fordecades, this is problematic, to say the least.

Donovan, the recent recipient of a grant fromthe Louisiana Board of Regents that might justchange the way communication issues are identi-fied for older people, extended her dissertationwork on standardizing of communication effec-tiveness surveys to the next level. And she hopesthat in the near future, people with Parkinson’swill benefit from her work, as will those withoutthe disease.

“Our research is focused on a two-fold solution.How do you help people maintain their inde-pendence and keep working, either with normalor above average communication issues or withthe onset of a disease like Parkinson’s?” she said.

With a team of students, post-doctoral fellowsand community volunteers, Donovan started withthe existing communicative effectiveness survey,consisting of eight very general items, such as howeffective one feels while talking in a car. Using in-formation collected and analyzed from more than30 hours of interviews with older people with andwithout Parkinson’s, the research team increasedthe survey to include 30 items that were more spe-cific, for example, effectiveness felt having a con-versation while being a passenger in a car.

“Having a large number of items that go fromthe most basic to the most complex will allow usto differentiate between older people who havechanges because of typical aging from those whoare experiencing significant difficulty communi-cating,” she said. “The National Institutes ofHealth have invested millions of dollars into com-puter adaptive testing self-report questionnaireslike mine. There’s obviously a great capacity forbenefit there. However, it just hasn’t gained mo-mentum in our field yet. I’m hopeful that it willdo so as we are able to demonstrate a positive im-pact on lives of people with Parkinson’s disease.”

Donovan’s survey, when it is completed, will bethe only computer adaptive test targeted specifi-cally to identify communication problems inolder individuals with and without Parkinson’sdisease. “We feel very confident about this effort,”said Donovan. “The response so far has been verypositive, and we’re working very hard toward thegoal of really helping people identify potentialproblems while they’re still treatable.”

noteworthy research· LSU physicists T. Gregory Guzik’s and John P. Wefel’s article in Nature, titled “An excess of

cosmic ray electrons at energies of 300-800 GeV,” was ranked among the 50 most cited highenergy physics article of 2009 by the SPIRES database.

· Brooks Ellwood received the Medal of Science from the Vietnam Academy of Sciences andTechnology in May 2010.

· Janna Oetting received a $1.8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to studyessential tools for language development specifically targeted to Louisiana dialects.

· Heather McKillop and Karen McKee from LSU’s Department of Geography and Anthropol-ogy, with Harry Roberts from the university’s Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sci-ences, have received funding from the National Science Foundation to carry out threeseasons of interdisciplinary archaeological fieldwork on the Maya salt industry in Belize.

Photo of Neila Donovan working inthe LSU Speech-Language-HearingClinic courtesy of The Daily Reveille

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LSUDistinguished Research Masters

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Since 1972, LSU has awarded the prestigioustitle of Distinguished Research Master to membersof faculty with a long-term record of truly distin-guished research and scholarship while at the uni-versity. As LSU continued to grow, the award wasexpanded in 1996 to include researchers in twocategories: engineering, science and technology;and the arts, humanities and social sciences. Therecipients are chosen by the Council on Researchfrom nominees proposed from the universitycommunity. The career award provides an annual-ized salary supplement as well as the UniversityMedal.

This year, LSU named Sumanta Acharya andNina Lam the 2009 Distinguished Research Mas-ters.

Sumanta Acharya, a graduate of the Univer-sity of Minnesota, joined the LSU faculty in 1987and holds the L. R. Daniel professorship and theFritz and Francis M. Blumer professorship in theDepartment of Mechanical Engineering. He is thefounding director of the Center for Turbine Inno-vation and Energy Research, which focuses on en-ergy generation and propulsion research.

During his 27-year career at LSU, Acharya hasdeveloped multifaceted, continuously funded, na-tionally and internationally recognized research

programs covering the areas of heat transfer, com-bustion, fluid mechanics and scientific computa-tion. His diverse scholarly contributions includenearly 150 refereed journal articles, most of whichappear in top-tier journals of his field, where he isrecognized as a leader. He has also presented ex-tensively in national and international confer-ences with more than 200 refereed papers.

Acharya’s research sponsorship portfolio, near-ing $25 million dollars during his LSU career,reads as the “who-is-who” of federal fundingagencies and includes major efforts in the area ofgas turbines and computational fluid dynamics.He has developed the necessary infrastructure andhas successfully transitioned his research to im-pact gas-turbine industry internationally.

“Addressing problems relevant to industry isvery important in engineering research and hashigh potential impact on economic develop-ment,” said Interim Department Chair DimitrisNikitopoulos. “His accomplishments in this areaare indicative of Professor Acharya’s abilities be-yond the academic norm, which he has amply ex-ceeded.”

Nina Lam, professor in LSU’s Department ofEnvironmental Sciences, came to LSU in 1985.Lam is a renowned expert and leader in Geo-

graphic Information Systems, or GIS,remote sensing, spatial analysis andenvironmental and public health.Lam’s research spans continents anddecades, in both methodological andapplied domains.

Her earliest, award-winning work onspatial interpolation provided a newand comprehensive framework for in-terpolating and integrating variousspatial data and has helped in defin-ing modern-day analytical cartogra-phy and GIS.

Lam’s subsequent work on fractalsand scale, including her influentialbook “Fractals in Geography,” hasgenerated many new applications andfollowers in the field. She developedthe software Image Characterizationand Modeling System as part of herNASA-funded projects, to provide in-

2009 DistinguishedResearch Master

Sumanta Acharya assistsstudents in his lab.

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GreetingsFrom Interim Vice Chancellor of Research & Economic Development Doris Carver . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Reporting Back:Q&A with John HamiltonLSU’s Provost discusses his newest award-winning book, “Journalism’s Roving Eye: A History of American Foreign Reporting”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Shaking Things UpJuan Lorenzo uses seismography to evaluate New Orleans levees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Annual Report 2009-2010A look at LSU’s research productivity over the year . . .AR2

New Frontiers of Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .AR3

Radical News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .AR4

A Tale of Two Fishes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .AR5

LSU RainmakersA selection of LSU’s top faculty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

A Model PandemicBret Elderd discusses statistical modeling of pandemics and the impact on public health . . . . . . .26

Getting Back to Brother TimeWesley Shrum looks at the violence following the Kenyan elections of 2008 . . . . . . . . . . .31

Fish FoodKelly Rusch develops a system to help the commercial fish farming industry . . . . . . . . . . . . .36

Ashes From the PastHuiming Bao studies ancient volcanic eruptions and their impact on climate . . . . . . . . . . . .38

The Art of AgingNeila Donovan works to develop unique testing tools to identify hearing and speech issues in older adults . . . .41

2009 Distinguished Research MastersSumanta Acharya and Nina Lam receive the 2009 Distinguished Research Master awards . . . . . . .43

in this issue

Leading the WayHow LSU and its faculty reacted to the Deepwater Horizon Disaster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

LSU Receives Grant for Oil ResearchBP gives LSU $5 million for oil spill-related research . . .4

Endangered TraditionsJames Catano and Carolyn Ware document the vanishing culture of Croatian oyster farming families on the coast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Finding a Pearl of WisdomKenneth Brown studies the potential impact of oil on oysters in their natural environment . . . . . . . .7

Spreading the WordLSU scientists inform the public about the oil spill . . . .9

Taking the StandDean of LSU’s School of the Coast & Environmenttestifies before the House of Representatives . . . . . . .10

Stressful TimesTroy Blanchard and Matthew Lee survey coastal residents for health issues related to the oil spill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Bacterial SolutionsJohn Pardue works with oil-eating microbes to develop new clean-up solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

NSF Recognizes LSU Oil-Related Research Several LSU researchers receive NSF Rapid Response Grants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

FEATURES

SPEC

IAL SECTION

When Oil Meets Water: An overview of LSU’s response to the Gulf Coast Disaster

187 AR8 43 45

novative tools to measure environ-mental conditions of the Earth’s sur-face. The software, which is a productcumulating from her basic research onfractals, wavelets and other relatedspatial indices, has been accessed byresearchers throughout the world.

In the early 1980s, Lam’s study oncancer mortality patterns in China re-vealed the unusual clustered patternsand identified possible links betweenenvironmental conditions and can-cers. Her research on the spread ofHIV/AIDS in the United States was thefirst to confirm a national trend ofHIV/AIDS spread in rural America.This pioneering research received na-tional attention. Lam’s current re-search focuses on developing modelsto understand business return deci-sions in New Orleans after HurricaneKatrina and to measure communityresilience.

Lam has published one book, 56 refereed bookchapters and journal articles and has served as theprincipal or co-principal investigator of 30 exter-nal grants. She has mentored 14 doctoral and 23master’s students. She has served on numerousnational and international advisory panels andjournal editorial boards such as the National Re-search Council; the National Science Foundation,or NSF; the National Institutes of Health; andNASA, and was an NSF program director. In 2004,Lam was honored with an Outstanding Contribu-tions in Remote Sensing Award by the Remote

Sensing Specialty Group of the Association ofAmerican Geographers. In 2006, she was selectedfor an LSU Distinguished Faculty Award and in2008 was named as an LSU Rainmaker.

Lam presented a public lecture during the awardceremony in May 2010, entitled “From Disease toDisaster: Geospatial Analysis for EnvironmentalDecision Making.” Lam is considered an intellec-tual leader and a truly distinguished research mas-ter by leading research collaboration, developingresearch initiatives, mentoring graduate studentsand providing expert/professional services to thecommunity.

noteworthy researchThe Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences celebrated its 40th anniversary this year.

Fact and Figures:

245 masters and 179 doctoral degrees have been awarded through 2009.

The current faculty of 27 has published more than 1,400 scientific articles and has a solid record of achievement in many areas including wetlands, deltaic processes, fisheries and the Dead Zone.

As the only oceanography department in the state, it offers the right mix of teaching, research and service to the people of Louisiana.

Nina Lam, LSU 2009Distinguished ResearchMaster, giving apresentation in acceptanceof the award.

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1O F F I C E O F R E S E A R C H & E C O N O M I C D E V E L O P M E N T | F A L L 2 0 1 0

Earth Scan Lab

Louisiana State University

130 David Boyd Hall • Baton Rouge, LA 70803

Non-Profit Org.U. S. PostagePAID

Permit No. 733Baton Rouge, LA 70803

about the artistDavid Achee is an LSU undergraduate studentmajoring in graphic design. His piece, “Pelicans”,was a final selection in the Great Oil Leak of 2010Poster Project, an art show designed to assist GulfCoast fishermen.

“With this poster, I wanted to draw attention to thespill with a very stark image that would catchpeople’s attention immediately.”

For more information on the CommunityFoundation of Acadiana or to support its effortstoward protecting the coastline, visitwww.cfacadiana.org.

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