A Sampling of Clips for September 17^th, 2009

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

Interest in Algae's Oil Prospects is Growing
Los Angeles Times, Sept. 17 – Firms and scientists are racing to figure out how best to separate the oil produced in the organisms for biofuel. The San Diego area has become a hotbed for these efforts that are drawing investors.
To many, algae is little more than pond scum, a nuisance to swimmers and a frustration to boaters. But to a growing community of scientists and investors in Southern California, there is oil locked in all that slimy stuff, and several dozen companies are racing to try to figure how best to unleash it and produce an affordable biofuel. (Quotes Steve A. Kay, who is dean of biological sciences at UCSD) More

Meet Our Team Of Experts
Forbes, Sept. 16 – The search for America's Most Promising Companies was very intense, chocked with sanity checks and grounded in the kind of real-world analysis performed by professional investors. To help with the vetting process, our partner The Venture Alliance called on a bevy of industry experts, listed below, to evaluate candidates' product plans and such. (All experts signed nondisclosure agreements.) We thank them for their efforts. (Mentions Julie Pressman, Ph.D.: Pressman has a B.A. in chemistry from the Johns Hopkins University, and a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences from UCSD). More

See-For-Yourself Exhibit Lays Bare Dementia's Toll
San Diego Union-Tribune, Sept. 17 – For Nicole Payne, her father's dementia emerged slowly and from afar. It began 2½ years ago when Timothy Soto was living in Texas. He lost his job because his company said he wasn't doing the work. He was late. He forgot things. He wasn't all there. (Quotes Dr. Paul Aisen, director of the Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study at UCSD) More

Teaching Cutting-Edge Science in San Diego Classrooms
KPBS, Sept. 16 -- UCSD and the San Diego Unified School District are working together to broaden the teaching of science. The goal is to provide hands-on science training to help educate the next generation of environmental leaders. The program pairs nine graduate students from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography with high school science teachers. More

Protests Over Fees, Cuts Disrupt UC Board Session
San Diego Union-Tribune, Sept. 17 -- University of California campus police yesterday handcuffed and removed about a dozen demonstrators who interrupted and refused to leave a UC board of regents meeting where officials pushed a plan for steep tuition increases. (Quotes Peter Benesch, a senior at UCSD) More

Find Could Aid in Response Predictions
Del Mar Times, Sept. 16 -- A molecular signature that helps account for the aggressive behavior of some cancers may also predict the likelihood of successful treatment with a particular anti-cancer drug. Researchers at the UCSD Moores Cancer Center report the discovery of a surface receptor on certain tumor cells that can activate a key enzyme making a tumor more aggressive. More

The Geography of Jazz
The San Diego Weekly Reader, Sept. 16 -- EWQ keyboardist Michael Cassedy is the son of Steven Cassedy, a UCSD professor who is also an accomplished pianist. Cassedy, who grew up in Del Mar and graduated from the Bishop’s School in La Jolla in 1998, acknowledged his dad as “my first piano teacher, and I still take classical lessons from him when we’re both in the same city.” More

How To Avoid Overeating At Holiday Dinner
WFSB, Sept. 17 -- Worried about overeating during the holiday? While this is a common concern, you don't have to give in to negative thinking and start planning your post-holiday diet. There are a few effective strategies that you can use to enjoy a guilt-free holiday dinner without gaining a single pound. Find an Accountability Partner: An accountability partner can be an invaluable source of support and encouragement when trying to manage one's weight. The results of a study at Harvard Medical School and at UCSD revealed that people have a tremendous amount of influence on one another when it comes to weight loss and gain. More

UCSD Names Women's Water Polo Coach
La Jolla Light, Sept. 16 -- Brad Kreutzkamp, an associate head coach with the UCSD men's water polo team for the last three years, has been named the head coach of the women's program, Director of Athletics Earl W. Edwards announced last week. Kreutzkamp replaces Larry Sanders, who resigned in June after 10 years with the program. More

UCSD Extension Enrollment Up 10 Percent
San Diego News Network, Sept. 16 -- Enrollment in UCSD’s extended studies programs was up 10 percent last year, an increase university officials Wednesday attributed to the down economy. According to UCSD, enrollment is increasing because job seekers, unable to find work in their preferred fields, are going back to school to get experience in other areas. More

Top Picks from SignOnSanDiego.com's Entertainment Wire
San Diego Union-Tribune, Sept. 17 -- The Killers: Part of the latest crop of rock bands whose members were weaned on 1980s New Wave, The Killers, performing Friday at Viejas Arena (SDSU Campus), formed in Vegas in late 2002 and swiftly got music industry insiders buzzing about their synth-infused garage-rock sound. This will be The Killers' first San Diego concert since UCSD grad Ray Suen joined the Las Vegas-based quartet last year as a full-time touring member on keyboards, guitar, violin and backing vocals. More

Ceremony Marks Groundbreaking for Scripps Institution Projects
La Jolla Light, Sept. 16 -- A ceremony on Tuesday marked the start of construction on two research buildings at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography that were paid for in part with federal economic stimulus dollars. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke, who was there for the ceremony, said, "Today, we break ground on not one, but two state-of-the-art facilities dedicated to furthering our knowledge of oceans and marine life. This investment will help create and support jobs and add to our storehouse of knowledge about climate and our marine environment." More

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