Natural Sciences News and Features
David Taylor helps local first responders recognize plants to avoid
September 8, 2017
By Steven Krolak (NEW ALBANY, Ind.)–Whether chasing a suspect or rescuing a hiker with a broken leg, first responders from law enforcement and other agencies frequently find themselves off the beaten track, in woods, marshes, swamps and other unpaved ecosystems. It occurred to Anna Ries that they might need to know what plants are out ...
Eclipse was teachable moment for natural science faculty
August 29, 2017
By Steven Krolak (NEW ALBANY, Ind.)—Last Monday, students, faculty and staff gathered at McCullogh Plaza and elsewhere on campus to witness the solar eclipse. It was unusual, thrilling, awe-inspiring, moving, weird and more. For members of the School of Natural Sciences, the eclipse wasn’t just fun in the partial sun, but a great way to ...
Campus sustainability star Robin Frederick helps TARC go green
August 16, 2017
By Steven Krolak (NEW ALBANY, Ind.)—Dynamo. It’s a word you often hear when the topic turns to Robin Frederick, a senior from Mt. Olivet, Ky. majoring in human and environmental geography. But if Frederick is in the room, the topic quickly turns to sustainability. In the course of her career at IU Southeast, Frederick has ...
Math and Writing Boot Camps prep freshmen for success
August 8, 2017
By Steven Krolak (NEW ALBANY, Ind.)—Fall in! Basic training is taking place this week at IU Southeast. Instead of pull-ups, sit-ups, climbing walls, obstacle courses and mud, these “boot camps” are focused on math and writing. Incoming freshmen from across the disciplines are taking part in workshops designed to test their command of basic skills ...
Subhranil De defies gravity — sort of
July 31, 2017
By Steven Krolak (NEW ALBANY, Ind.)—Subhranil De, associate professor of physics at IU Southeast, can defy gravity. Sort of. In a 2016 paper published in the European Journal of Physics, he devised a mathematical model to enable a cylinder to roll up a hill, accelerating toward the top and then decelerating as it rolled down ...
Namibia is latest adventure for Field Biology
July 24, 2017
By Steven Krolak (NEW ALBANY, Ind.)—Giraffes. Cobras. Rhinos. Scorpions. No Wi-Fi. Worms for dinner. Welcome to Namibia! This past spring, Field Biology students joined Drs. Omar Attum, associate professor of biology and Beth Rueschhoff, assistant professor of biology, on a journey to this nation of natural wonders in southwestern Africa. Namibia is situated between South ...
Kyle Forinash applies physics to environmental issues in new book
July 13, 2017
By Steven Krolak (NEW ALBANY, Ind.)—The timing couldn’t be better for the appearance of Physics and the Environment, the new book by Kyle Forinash III, professor of physics at IU Southeast. While humanity suffers through another hottest year on record, glacial and polar melt accelerates, biodiversity craters and storms increase in number and ferocity, policymakers ...
IU Southeast faculty members receive IU Trustees Teaching Awards for classroom excellence
June 2, 2017
By Steven Krolak (NEW ALBANY, Ind.)—Seven IU Southeast faculty have received IU Trustees Teaching Awards for the 2016 calendar year. The IU Trustees Teaching Awards were first awarded in 2000-2001 to recognize and enhance excellent teaching, especially at the undergraduate level. The awards are open to tenured and tenure-track faculty, as well as full-time lecturers ...
