The Chronicle T h e i n d e p e n d e n t d a i ly at D u k e U n i v e r s i t y
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Students to face ‘Grand Challenges’
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTH YEAR, Issue 14
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Tread the quad, cross the world
Senior runs for Trinity Heights post
New Pratt program adds social focus to curriculum
Neighbors say off-East relations are improving
by Sadhna Gupta
by Ian Rapoport
Engineering students now have an opportunity to graduate with distinction for addressing one of the 14 grand challenges identified by the National Academy of Engineering. The Grand Challenge Scholars program, a new initiative by the Pratt School of Engineering, is designed to expand the engineering curriculum to include social, ethical and environmental awareness of major engineering problems in the world, according to the program’s Web site. “This program is a tremendous opportunity for Pratt to show national leadership in the engineering field by taking one of the strengths of the Pratt school—its interdisciplinary curriculum—and tie it to one of the major opportunities for engineering, which is addressing the grand challenges,” Pratt Dean Tom Katsouleas said. Earlier last year, the NAE identified 14 societal problems that could be alleviated with the help of engineers to improve living standards. In response, Duke, the University of Southern California and Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering near Boston, Mass. hosted the Grand
Loud, unruly and disruptive parties have made the Trinity Heights neighborhood just off East Campus the scene of much tension between Duke students and long-term residents. But with relations improving and a Duke student running in the elections Saturday for the Trinity Heights Neighborhood Association’s board of directors, there is hope that relations between Duke students and their neighbors can improve. David Hershey, a senior living in Trinity Heights, hopes to become the second Duke student in two years to be named a member of the board. If elected this weekend, he wants to solidify the precedent of Duke students getting involved in Trinity Heights and show that students really want to be a part of the neighborhood, not just party there. “I am doing this because I want to be a part of my neighborhood as a Duke student, and so that more Duke students in the future will do that too and not just
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Two students gather around the carbon footprint display on Main West Quadrangle Tuesday afternoon. The exhibit was organized as a part of Purple’s Environmental Awareness Day.
See election on page 4
New neuroscience major gains popularity by Ray Koh
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Chronicle file photo
Engineering students who participate in the Grand Challenges Scholars program will tackle social problems discussed at last March’s NAE Grand Challenges Summit (pictured above).
Academic administrators hope that students with an intimate interest in the brain have found their niche with the new neuroscience major. This Fall marks the first time that undergraduates will be able to pursue a bachelor of arts or a bachelor of science degree in neuroscience after the Arts and Sciences Council approved the program in April. Neuroscience is attracting many students who are interested in the specific discipline, particularly those on a pre-medicine track, said Christina Williams, chair of the department of psychology and neuroscience. Twenty one students have already declared their major in neuroscience—mostly juniors and seniors who have switched from other majors, Williams said. “We fully expect that number to grow as sophomores begin to declare majors next semester,” she added. In addition, she noted that the academic interest survey for the Class of 2013 found that approximately 9 percent of incoming students in the Trinity College of Arts and Sciences selected neuroscience as their first or second academic interest. Sophomore Aubrey Rho said she was originally interested in psychology but switched to neuroscience because she “wanted a more scientific approach to the study of brain.” Although neuroscience does not have its own department,
ONTHERECORD
“By anyone’s reckoning, there is a very obvious problem with deer overpopulation”
—Professor Norman Christensen on Duke Forest’s deer population. See story page 3
the program draws from a number of other disciplines—including biology, biomedical engineering and philosophy. It is administered with the help of the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences. The DIBS provides administrative staff, infrastructure and a place where those interested in neuroscience can seek help, Williams said. The Institute has also been holding information sessions to give advice on the curriculum and its structure, according to its Web site. Williams wrote in an e-mail that new labs, seminars and capstones will also be available starting as early as Spring 2010. The gateway course, “Biological Basis of Behavior,” will be offered beginning next summer. Many private research universities, large public schools and liberal arts institutions have adopted neuroscience majors in the past decade, said Leonard White, associate director of undergraduate studies in neuroscience. Sophomore Kate Pepper said she is interested in declaring the neuroscience major. “Because neuroscience is growing quickly and gaining more support, I think there will be many opportunities like research,” Pepper said. Duke was one of the first schools to create a neuroscience program for undergraduates, Williams noted. The University has had a certificate degree program for almost 20 years. In ad-
Volleyball: Enter the Rams Duke takes on its toughest opponent yet, Colorado State, Wednesday in Cameron, PAGE 7
See neuroscience on page 5
Madagascar travel ban lifted, Page 3