A Sampling of Clips for July 10^th, 2009

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

Robot Learns to Smile and Frown
Scientist Live, July 9 -- A hyper-realistic Einstein robot at UCSD has learned to smile and make facial expressions through a process of self-guided learning. The UCSD researchers used machine learning to "empower" their robot to learn to make realistic facial expressions. More

Paralyzed with 7-14 Days to Decide on a Test
Voice of San Diego, July 8 -- In January 2009, Geron, a biotechnology company located in Menlo Park, California, got FDA clearance to inject spinal cells derived from human embryonic stem cells into paralyzed patients. This is the first time a stem cell based therapy will be assessed objectively -- that is, as part of a clinical trial -- in human beings. As early as this summer, eight to ten patients with spinal cord injury will be selected to participate. This trial raises ethical concerns and UCSD philosopher Mary Devereaux led discussions about them at The Fleet Center and at the UCSD Medical School. More

Peer Program Brings Diabetes
Education to Community
North County Times, July 8 – Racheal Araujo is one of five diabetes peer educators employed by Project Dulce, a diabetes management program with locations throughout San Diego County and Temecula. (Mentions research by UCSD) More

UCSD Surfer Wins National Championship
La Jolla Light, July 8 -- Marty Weinstein, who will be a senior at UCSD this fall, won the NSAA men's college championship on June 17 at Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point. His score of 13.75 put him well ahead of second-place Ben Powell from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. More

UC San Diego Profs Come Up
with Budget Fixer: Close UC Merced
Merced Sun-Star, July 9-- UC Merced is the target of a group of 23 San Diego professors who have proposed the University of California shutter the campus to save money. The proposal was written as a letter to leaders at the UCSD campus and University Office of the President. The letter was sent anonymously to the Sun-Star on Wednesday afternoon. More

San Diego’s Internet Entrepreneurs
Find New Income Streams
San Diego News Network, July 8 -- Karen Santhanam has a full-time job at the UCSD as an administrative analyst. But she recently started an online business selling safe baby products. More

What’s Wrong with Family Visitors?
San Diego Reader, Opinion, July` 8 -- As interviews reveal, conservatives and liberals alike believe that San Diego’s grand design to build up downtown while neglecting other areas has failed dismally: cleaning up and restoring parks and beaches, for example, would bring tourists and also boost residents’ quality of life. (Quotes UCSD political scientist Steve Erie) More

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