Physical and Earth Sciences Newsletter Number 136 Friday October 28, 2011 There seems to be lull in the events happening around here. Of course, I have completely ignored Homecoming this weekend. Perhaps that is a bit unfair. After all, Karen Gregg was selected as the Outstanding Faculty / Staff Member of the Year as part of the Alumni of the Year Award winners this year at homecoming. She will be recognized at halftime of the game on Saturday. Karen is most certainly deserving of this recognition. For 19+ years she has been helping students to make certain they meet the graduation requirements and all the major requirements. I know that whenever I am uncertain about graduation regulations, I ask Karen. Perhaps what makes Karen special is that she does not just know and enforce the regulations, but she helps students to make certain they meet all the requirements. Instead of simply saying “No you can’t.” Karen says, “This is what you have to accomplish.” The difference might be subtle. The impact is overwhelming. So, congratulations, Karen. The recognition is well deserved. If football is not your cup-of-tea. There is astronomy, a children’s opera and the final game of the World Series this weekend—not to mention Halloween on Monday. Something for everyone. One final note: I would like to have a chemist volunteer to the College Fair (see below). (The geographers were quick to volunteer.) Please let me know if you can help out. -- Lou Department News Academic Majors and Minors College Fair Career Services and Academic Advisement will sponsor an Academic Majors & Minors College Fair. The purpose of the Academic Majors & Minors College Fair is to give students an opportunity to research majors and minors at one central location and time. Students will be able to ask questions and explore opportunities Jacksonville State University (JSU) academic departments have to offer. The Academic Fair is Thursday, November 3, 2011 in Leone Cole Auditorium from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Please let Lou know today (Friday 28 October) if you can help represent the Department.
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Physical and Earth Sciences Newsletter Number 136 Friday October 28, 2011 There seems to be lull in the events happening around here. Of course, I have completely ignored Homecoming this weekend. Perhaps that is a bit unfair. After all, Karen Gregg was selected as the Outstanding Faculty / Staff Member of the Year as part of the Alumni of the Year Award winners this year at homecoming. She will be recognized at halftime of the game on Saturday. Karen is most certainly deserving of this recognition. For 19+ years she has been helping students to make certain they meet the graduation requirements and all the major requirements. I know that whenever I am uncertain about graduation regulations, I ask Karen. Perhaps what makes Karen special is that she does not just know and enforce the regulations, but she helps students to make certain they meet all the requirements. Instead of simply saying “No you can’t.” Karen says, “This is what you have to accomplish.” The difference might be subtle. The impact is overwhelming. So, congratulations, Karen. The recognition is well deserved. If football is not your cup-of-tea. There is astronomy, a children’s opera and the final game of the World Series this weekend—not to mention Halloween on Monday. Something for everyone. One final note: I would like to have a chemist volunteer to the College Fair (see below). (The geographers were quick to volunteer.) Please let me know if you can help out. -- Lou
Department News Academic Majors and Minors College Fair Career Services and Academic Advisement will sponsor an Academic Majors & Minors College Fair. The purpose of the Academic Majors & Minors College Fair is to give students an opportunity to research majors and minors at one central location and time. Students will be able to ask questions and explore opportunities Jacksonville State University (JSU) academic departments have to offer. The Academic Fair is Thursday, November 3, 2011 in Leone Cole Auditorium from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Please let Lou know today (Friday 28 October) if you can help represent the Department.
Astronomy Weekend Presented by Little River Canyon Center and DeSoto State Park Join us for fun activities Friday night, all day Saturday and Saturday night for families who want to learn about nature and astronomy together. Jacksonville State University’s Astronomer Dr. Laura Weinkauf will present Campfire Talks on Friday and Saturday nights at DeSoto State Park and a solar system program at the Little River Canyon Center on Saturday. Campfire Talk: Canyon Constellations Learn more about the winter night sky with JSU astronomer Dr. Laura Weinkauf. Sky views dependent upon weather conditions. Friday, October 28, 2011 at DeSoto State Park Campfire Circle Time: 6:00 pm, Free Sundials & Shadows JSU astronomer, Dr. Laura Weinkauf, will teach children/families about the movement of the sun and how the earth relates to our big star as well as the other planets in our solar system. Saturday, October 29, 2011 at Little River Canyon Center 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm, Free Campfire Talk: Moons and Planets Learn more about the winter night sky with JSU astronomer Dr. Laura Weinkauf. Sky views dependent upon weather conditions. Saturday, October 29, 2011 at DeSoto State Park Campfire Circle 6:00 pm, Free University News Jacksonville Opera Theatre to Present 'Princess and the Pea' (REVISED DATES) Jacksonville Opera Theatre will present the children's musical The Princess and the Pea by Mary Carol Warwick, loosely based on the story by Hans Christian Anderson. Ritz Theatre, Gadsden – November 3 – 4 at 7 p.m.; November 6 at 3 p.m. Performance Center, Mason Hall, Jacksonville – November 10-11 at 7:30 p.m. Purchase tickets at 1-800-838-3006 or www.jacksonvilleopera.org Study Leave News
News from Nanded Deepavali or Diwali more popularly known as the festival of lights is celebrated between mid October and November. For Hindus it is one of most important festivals of the year. It is celebrated as a family holiday and it is tradition to have activities in the homes.. For those of Jain religion it marks the attainment of nirvana and is celebrated in families by performing traditional activities together in their homes. For Jains, Diwali marks the attainment of nirvana, or freedom from suffering. For most Hindu it is the union of one with the supreme being or God.
Diwali translates into "row of lamps" and involves the lighting of small clay lamps like a stupa filled with oil to signify the triumph of good over evil. During the celebration, the celebrants wear new clothes and share sweets and snacks with family and friends (sounds like a combination of Thanksgiving and Christmas). This festival starts with Dhanteras, the beginning of the Indian Financial or Fiscal Year. The second day of the festival is known as Naraka Chaturdas and is the day
of the vanquishing the demon, Naraka Naraka by the Lord Krishna and his wife. The third day is for the worship of Lakshmi, or the goddess of wealth and prosperity. The fourth day is the day the story of Bali going to the underworld (patala) and takes he reins of his new kingdom in the lower reaches of this region. On the fifth day, the day of Yama Dvitiya sisters invite their brothers to their homes. As in most things in India, Diwali has a variation from region to region but the essence of the celebration across the country is the same. There are festive fireworks, worship, lights, sharing of sweets and the ultimate purpose is to - rejoice in the Inner Light or to embrace the underlying reality of all things. Happy Diwali, Joe Top Ten List Top Ten Chemistry Reactions. These are probably things that all our chemistry students would enjoy seeing, not to mention the rest of the faculty:
1. Sodium and Water in Chlorine Gas 2. Magnesium and Dry Ice Reaction 3. Melted Potassium Chlorate and a Gummy Bear 4. Meissner Effect 5. Sodium Acetate Super Saturation 6. Superabsorbent Polymer 7. Floating on Sulfur Hexafluoride (or speaking after inhaling the stuff) 8. Superfluid Helium 9. Thermite and Liquid Nitrogen 10. Briggs-Rauscher Reaction
Contact Details If you have items of news or interest that you would like included in the Department of Physical and Earth Sciences newsletter, then contact Tracy Casey before noon on Thursdays at: [email protected] or phone (256) 782-5232.
