UCSD News

A Sampling of Clips for
February 8^th, 2007

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

Leon J. Thal, Neurologist Who Led Study for Alzheimer’s Drugs, Dies at 62
The New York Times, Feb. 8 -- Leon J. Thal, a leading researcher on drugs to treat Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, died on Saturday in a plane crash near Borrego Springs, Calif. He was 62. He had been chairman of the neurosciences department at UCSD since 1993. More

Business Titan Stunned During Robbery
Forbes, Feb. 8 -- A phony deliveryman shocked billionaire Ernest Rady with a stun gun and bound him, his wife and a housekeeper with duct tape before making off with a few hundred dollars in cash, police said Wednesday. Rady helped found Rady School of Management at UCSD in 2004 with a $30 million donation. More

Similar story in
Business Week
San Diego Union-Tribune

Talking About North Korea Again
Marketplace, Feb. 8 -- The on-again, off-again talks over North Korea and nukes are on again with renewed signs of optimism. Namely that Washington may unfreeze bank assets of Pyongyang leaders if they're ready to talk disarmament. Susan Shirk of UCSD thinks the financial pinch is working. Click here to listen to the program. More

Climate Skeptics Switch Focus to Economics
Nature, Feb. 7 -- Reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change are held out as a model of consensus science. But outside the IPCC process there remains a dwindling band of climate skeptics, those who argue that global warming is not linked to human activity and that it would be rash to take drastic action to cut carbon emissions. (Quotes Naomi Oreskes, a geologist and science historian at UCSD) More

A Bright Light in the Cancer Fight
Globe and Mail, Canada, Feb. 7 -- New research into vitamin D makes the sunshine vitamin an even brighter light in cancer prevention. Two meta-analyses at UCSD -- the latest in a growing body of evidence touting the benefits of the vitamin -- have found that increasing daily intake of vitamin D could prevent the development of breast cancer by as much as half and that of colorectal cancer by nearly two-thirds. More

Encinitas Actor Enjoys the Realism of his Title Role in 'Brooklyn Boy'
North County Times, Feb. 7 -- Encinitas actor James Newcomb says he's reveling in the chance to play the title character of a conflicted Jewish novelist in San Diego Repertory Theatre's local premiere of "Brooklyn Boy." But it's not because of the meatiness of the role, or the character's similarities to his own life. Newcomb is a UCSD stage combat professor who lives in Encinitas with his wife, fellow UCSD acting teacher/voice coach Ursula Meyer. More

Bilbray Courts Dems on Immigration Reform
North County Times, Feb. 7 -- In his new role as chairman of the Republican-dominated Immigration Reform Caucus, U.S. Rep. Brian Bilbray said Wednesday that he plans to reach across the aisle to Democratic lawmakers to address the issue of illegal immigration. (Quotes UCSD professor of immigration studies Wayne Cornelius) More

A Subdivision Off the Old Block
Voice of San Diego, Feb. 8 -- With neighborhoods named Cabrillo and Kensington, it's quite plain what muse Del Sur master developer Fred Maas invoked when dreaming up a sales pitch for this 3,050-home planned community north of State Route 56 -- old-school San Diego neighborhoods. (Quotes Mirle Rabinowitz Bussell, an urban studies and planning professor at UCSD) More

San Diego Center Helps Red Cross in Florida Recovery Effort
The San Diego Daily Transcript, Feb. 7, 2007 -- The San Diego Supercomputer Center at UCSD is helping the American Red Cross in its effort to reconnect families following the devastating tornados that struck Florida last Friday. More

No Small Matter
Manufacturing.net, Feb. 8 -- As traditional manufacturing in America limps along, many wonder what will help keep the industry, and the nation, competitive in the 21st century. One answer: nanotechnology. (Quotes Thomas Roemer, Assistant Professor of Innovation, Technology and Operations Management at UCSD’s Rady School of Management) More