This Week, May 28 - June 1, 2012
Conference: Blue Water, Green Water, continues today
Examples of how water use can be managed successfully to feed a growing world population can be found in locations as diverse as Nebraska and India, but there's no one-size-fits-all solution to the challenges ahead, said Robert Lenton, director of the Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Institute, Wednesday.
The conference continues today and concludes Friday; 530 attendees from 26 countries are discussing food and future water requirements for the world. More information about the Wednesday's events are available on the Water for Food website.
Thursday lectures and discussions will be streamed live. A full schedule and more information is available at the Water for Food conference website.
Drive begins to raise $5M for new vet diagnostic center
Fundraising is under way to come up with UNL's $5 million share of the cost of building a new Veterinary Diagnostic Center. During the 2012 session, the Nebraska Legislature approved, and Gov. Dave Heineman signed, legislation to build a new center. Total project cost is $55 million, of which $5 million is to come from private or other funds. The $50 million will be appropriated over 10 years in financial bonds.
The state funding will be allocated only if the university successfully raises its $5 million share. The need for a new center is acute, said Ronnie Green, Harlan vice chancellor of UNL's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources and NU vice president. Read more about this drive in Today@UNL.
Juried show focused on contemporary Native American art
The Great Plains Art Museum will present "Contemporary Indigeneity: The New Art of the Great Plains," an exhibition opening June 1 that focues on contemporary Native American art.
Twenty-six artists had their artwork accepted by jury out of almost 130 submissions. Artists adhered to the criteria of their artwork expressing some element of North American indigenous culture in the Great Plains region. With no media restrictions, the accepted works span a broad range of innovative as well as traditional materials. Read more about this show in Today@UNL.
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Security breach may have included employee data
On Wednesday night, May 23, a security breach of the Nebraska Student Information System, the university-wide student information system, was detected. NeSIS contains Social Security numbers and date of birth for all employees. When the initial announcement was made Friday evening, it was unclear that employee data was included.
At this time, we have no direct evidence that this information was downloaded and we have no reports of identity theft stemming from this breach. We are working with an outside security firm to help analyze the level of risk of personal information being misappropriated and to make recommendations for any additional safeguards that are needed. Read more details and find other resources about this security incident at the Nebraska.edu website.
Evolutionary adventure opens at Morrill Hall
On May 30, the University of Nebraska State Museum opened "Charlie and Kiwi's Evolutionary Adventure." The new exhibit features an engaging story, displays and activities that introduce visitors to the basics of evolution, seen through the eyes of Charlie, a boy who is writing a report about his favorite bird — the kiwi. The exhibit will be on display through Sept. 14, in Morrill Hall.
"Charlie and Kiwi's Evolutionary Adventure" includes evidence that dinosaurs are the ancestors of modern birds. Visitors can trace the slight differences between living birds of the same species by examining the colors, shapes and sizes of their beaks, legs and feet. They will join Charlie as he travels back in time to the age of dinosaurs to discover the kiwi's ancestors and evidence for natural selection. The adventure unfolds in an intimate theater on a giant digital storybook screen, while an interactive component allows visitors to speed up time so they can see the evolution of birds with their own eyes.
UNL launches Nebraska App
UNL has launched the Nebraska App, a suite of mobile applications that makes essential university resources available on mobile devices. Students can check grades, access course content and browse the course catalog. They can access the public directory and get in touch instantly, keep tabs on Husker sports, find places on the campus map, stay informed with the latest campus news, watch videos, and even listen to podcasts of popular lectures in iTunesU.
"UNL is moving services to the where the students are in terms of devices and network access"," said Mark Askren, Chief Information Officer. "Students now have a much more powerful connection to UNL via their mobile device." Read more about Nebraska App in Today@UNL.
