This Week, July 9 - 13, 2012
UNL team assists hunt for Higgs boson
Physicists at CERN laboratory in Switzerland announced July 4 that they have observed a new particle whose characteristics match the long-theorized Higgs boson particle, the central part of a hypothesis that could peel away the very fabric of the universe and influence the understanding of all matter.
For UNL's experimental high-energy physics team, the announcement was a significant moment in the group's decades-long collaboration in the hunt for the elusive subatomic particle, which has been dubbed by some observers as the "God Particle." Read more about this discovery in Today@UNL.
UExpertise directory available for faculty
Faculty at UNL have a new tool to help identify potential research collaborators across the University of Nebraska system and the nation.
"Research Nebraska," available online, is a web-based directory that enables users to search nationally for research collaborators and scientific experts. Faculty at UNL, University of Nebraska Medical Center and University of Nebraska at Omaha can use this tool to find potential research collaborators within or beyond the University of Nebraska system. Read more about this directory in Today@UNL.
HARDIN HALL AUDITORIUM, THU 3PM
Statistics seminar features Florida professor
Lauren McIntyre, a professor of molecular genetics and microbiology at the University of Florida, will lead a 3 p.m., July 12 statistics seminar in the Hardin Hall Auditorium. The seminar is free and open to the public. McIntyre will discuss "Tips and Tools: Analyzing Allele Specific Expressions Genome Wide."
McIntyre's lab is developing new methods to help analyze large amounts of data to better understand complex problems in genetics and evolution. Her work is largely concerned with whole systems of "omic" data from genomic to proteomic; the application of statistical theory across DNA, RNA and proteins; and modeling the relationships that result in phenotype.
Rep summer season continues with 'Heroes'
The Nebraska Repertory Theatre's new season continues July 12 with "Heroes." The Rep's summer season features three plays and a pair of one-night-only performances.
The three plays are "Jeeves Intervenes" by Margaret Raether, "Heroes" by Gerald Sibleyras, and "God of Carnage" by Yasmina Reza. The one-night-only performances, or Destinations series, are "R.I.P." and "One-Man Hamlet." Read more about these performances in Today@UNL.
UNL hosts Psychometric Society's annual conference
The Psychometric Society is holding its 77th annual conference at UNL through July 12. Pre-conference workshops started July 9, with the main program beginning today.
The Psychometric Society was founded in 1935. It is an international nonprofit professional organization devoted to the advancement of quantitative measurement practices in psychology, education, and the social sciences. The Society publishes the journal Psychometrika, which contains articles on the development of quantitative models of psychological phenomena, as well as statistical methods and mathematical techniques for the evaluation of psychological and educational data. Read more about this conference in Today@UNL.
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UNL in the national news: June 2012
National media outlets featured and cited UNL sources on a number of topics in the past month. See a full list of media appearances in Today@UNL.
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 in Today@UNL.
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.
