A Sampling of Clips for April 30^th, 2009

* UCSD faculty and staff may obtain a copy of an article by e-mailing the University Communications Office

San Diego, Silicon Valley of Algae Innovation?
Reuters, April 30 -- Does the San Diego region have what it takes to become the Silicon Valley of algae innovation? San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, along with scientists and administrators from UCSD and the local Scripps Research Institute, seem to think so. They announced plans this week to build up a broad public-private effort to develop transportation fuels from algae, primarily through the recently created San Diego Center for Algae Biotechnology. More

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San Diego News Network

Sustainability and Crop Engineering
The New York Times, April 28 -- The use of corn, cotton, and soybean crops that are genetically modified to be resistant to certain pests or herbicides is already widespread in many parts of the world, so all the big issues were on the table — including whether genetically modified crops are “sustainable.” Maarten Chrispeels, an expert in molecular agriculture at UCSD, began his keynote address by addressing that question. More

The Stimulus China Needs
The Wall Street Journal, Opinion, April 30 -- China's economy has apparently bounced back from the horror of the fourth quarter of 2008, when broad swathes of industry stuttered to a sudden halt. The hills are now alive with the sound of even more building than usual. Indeed, some have called it the most successful stimulus package in history. (Co-written by Susan Shirk, director of the University of California Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation at UCSD) More

Cross Eyes
CBS, The Doctors, April 29 -- Madelyn, barely a year-old, suffers from strabismus, a misalignment of the eyes. In her case, her eyes are crossed extremely, a condition known as esotropia. Pediatric ophthalmologist Dr. David Granet from UCSD performs corrective eye surgery on Madelyn. More

What's New on the List and in Publishing
USA Today, April 30 -- David Baldacci opens up about his timely new thriller about a kidnapping in the White House; Dave Cullen's non-fiction book about Columbine is selling well, even after Oprah cancels a show about the story; and Kenneth Grahame's classic children's fable enjoys new life. (Mentions Seth Lerer, UCSD’s dean of Arts and Humanities, who edited the latest edition of Grahame’s “The Wind in the Willows”) More

Local Centers, Biotech
to Share $36 Million in Stem Cell Study Grants
San Diego Union-Tribune, April 30 -- Four San Diego research institutes and a private biotechnology company will receive $36.12 million in grants from the state stem cell institute, with this latest money being directed at translating basic research into clinical therapies. Grants include $5.2 million to UCSD’s Yang Xu for investigating how induced pluripotent stem cells – patient-specific embryonic-like stem cells created from a patient's skin cell – can become more feasible for human therapies by eliminating the risk of tumors. More

Staring Down
the Double-Barrel Climate Shotgun
Huffington Post, April 29 -- Surprises in the climate system can very quickly make global warming a whole lot worse than predicted. Scientists have known that one such surprise could come from a sudden release of methane, from wetlands or marine clathrates frozen on the ocean bottom, or both. Thanks to a new paper, we probably know which barrel of that double-barrel shotgun to worry about first. (Mentions research by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography) More

Disease Detectives on Front Line of Battle
San Diego Union-Tribune, April 30 -- Nurse Carol Roach and her colleagues at the county Health and Human Services headquarters in downtown San Diego are serving on the front line of the nation's battle against swine flu. (Quotes Dr. Joshua Fierer, a professor of medicine at UCSD) More

UC Leader to Urge 9.3% Fee
Increase, Fears Funding Cuts
San Diego Union-Tribune, April 30 – University of California President Mark Yudof said yesterday that he will recommend a 9.3 percent student fee increase next week, but he added that federal aid and tax credits will cover the additional costs for most students. (Mentions UCSD, where the UC Regents will meet next week) More

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Los Angeles Times

A Close-Quarters Alarm
San Diego Union-Tribune, April 30 – With the first confirmed case of swine flu in the military at Twentynine Palms and a suspected case at San Diego State University, concerns are rising on campuses and other places where people live or work in close proximity. Officials at UCSD and the University of San Diego have posted swine flu information and prevention tips on their Web sites. More

Race to the Beginning of Time
Voice of San Diego, April 27 -- Several crates containing what will be one of the most powerful radio telescopes in the world are now en route from Bergamo, Italy to the Port of Long Beach. Its ultimate destination is the Atacama Desert in Chile, one of the driest places on earth, and one of the best for astronomical observations. The telescope will be fully functional in about a year. And when that time comes UCSD cosmologist Brian Keating and his colleagues will have the inside track in the race to become the first to discover what happened in the first billionth of a billionth of a billionth of a second after the universe was formed. More

Legend of the Hall
Riviera Magazine, April 2009 -- Now in his 90s, Cyril Harris has just completed his swan song and final gift to the musical world: the Conrad Prebys Concert Hall. The 400-seat crown jewel of UCSD’s new $53 million Music Center is named for the Point Loma developer who donated $6 million to complete the project (and $9 million total to the Center). More (PDF)

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