CAS in the Media | Washington State University

^{CAS in the Media} _{Arts and Sciences Media Headlines}

Microhabitats: Potential for oil cleanup, extraterrestrial life

August 11, 2014

Results from an environmental study of the world’s largest asphalt lake shine new light on how life on Earth can survive in even the most inhospitable environments.

Scientists already knew that microbes can thrive at the boundary where water and oil meet, but the discovery at Pitch Lake on the Caribbean island of Trinidad that they can live within the oil and were found to be actively degrading the oil opens up new possibilities for using them to clean up spills.

“We discovered that there are additional habitats where we have not looked at where life can occur and thrive,” says Dirk Schulze-Makuch, co-author of the study and a professor in the WSU School of the Environment.

The wiliness of these microbes suggests that life on other planets — at least at the microscopic level — may not be so far-fetched after all.

Read more about the research, results, and possibilities:

WSU News
Science Magazine
Discover Magazine
Nature
The Daily Galaxy
China Topix
The Times of India
Astrobiology.com
Mother Nature Network
Photos: Live Science

WSU Tri-Cities students hold charity costume walk

August 8, 2014

Students in the digital technology and culture (DTC) and fine arts programs at WSU Tri-Cities hosted a community walk to raise awareness and funds for My Friend’s Place, a local, nonprofit homeless shelter for at-risk youth.

Participants were encouraged to dress in costume and were treated to music and other festivities in Howard Amon Park.

Fine arts professors Doug Gast and Peter Christenson challenged their summer students to produce an event that artistically intervenes in the community at large while giving at-risk youth a voice.

“What is really exciting about this project is that we as students are able to use the skills we have learned in our summer courses and get involved in the community to have a positive impact,” said Joe Jensen, a DTC junior working on the event.

The skewed framing of an age-old conflict

August 7, 2014

Multiple studies on the bias of Western, and specifically American, media have been released in recent years, including one by WSU professor of English and researcher Susan Ross.

Her study, which examined more than a year’s worth of New York Times editorial coverage of the Israel-Palestine conflict, found most often Israelis were presented as victims and Palestinians as aggressors. Ross said she’s disappointed her study, now more than a decade old, is still largely accurate.

One explanation she offered is that this attitude was created in the United States during the past 70 years. Since the end of World War II, three generations of Americans have grown up with the belief that the preservation of Israel is all important, she said.

“It’s difficult to question Israeli practices or advocate for Palestinian causes,” Ross said.

WSU grad student wins highly competitive national scholarship

August 6, 2014

Graduate student Corinne Kane has received federal funding to study changes in coral fishes and their habitats, from shallow to deep waters. She intends to research the role deep-water coral reefs play in protecting fish and other dwellers of shallow-water reefs.

As one of three recipients of the Nancy Foster Scholarship from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Kane will receive an annual stipend of $30,000 and up to $12,000 annually as an education allowance. Additionally, recipients could see up to $10,000 to support a four- to six-week research collaboration at a NOAA facility.

“This extremely competitive program … nurtures development of the next generation of NOAA scientists,” said Daniel J. Basta, director of NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries.

NOAA received more than 200 applications for the scholarship.

Faculty member to explore culture, community via Fulbright

August 5, 2014

Peter Christenson works to connect his creative students at WSU Tri-Cities to like-minded members of the community. As a Fulbright award winner, he will apply this innovative approach in Scotland, as well.

An assistant professor in digital technology and culture and fine arts, he received a Core Fulbright Scholar Award; about 800 U.S. faculty and professionals earn this honor each year. He will spend seven months at the University of Dundee starting in January.

With students, faculty and staff, he will produce a video archive and multimedia exhibition about the diverse culture, traditions and stories of the region. The project will focus on new media art and exploring space—how to activate space, draw people into it and foster discussion.

Learn more about this creative and scholarly work