Volume XWIl, Issue 21
Educating Women To Excel
March 23, 2005
ON THE
INSIDE:
Chorale
Concert
Page 2
Peace Rally
Page 3
Feminist
Majority
Page 4
Retail Review
Page 6
Movie Review
Page 7
Classifieds
Page 8
Meredith hosts NCAS meeting
WEDNESDAY
Isolated Thunderstorms
High 65/ Low 45
THURSDAY
Partly Cloudy
High 67/Low 43
FRIDAY
Isolated Thunderstorms
High 69/ Low 53
SATURDAY
Showers
High 74/ Low 51
SUNDAY
Showers
High 67/ Low 41
MONDAY
Partly Cloudy
High Low 34
TUESDAY
Partly Cloudy
High 64/ Low 42
PIPER PETROCELU
Contributing Writer
Meredith College hosted
the annual meeting of the
North Carolina Academy of
Science (NCAS) last week
end, March 19, 2005. The
event was a collaborative
effort between Meredith
College, the NCAS, North
Carolina State University,
the Collegiate Academy of
the North Carolina Academy
of Science for undergraduate
research, and the Museum of
Natural Sciences. Esteemed
scientists Lynn Margulis and
Robert Higgins celebrated
the research of students in
science. On Saturday, Mar
gulis spoke at North Carolina
State University on the Gaia
Hypothesis and the intercon
nectedness all the systems on
earth.. Higgins is an interna
tionally renowned authority
on microscopic invertebrates
found in marine sediments.
The events at the Museum of
Natural Science celebrated
his enormous contributions
to the scientific community,
especially his discovery of
a new phylum, Loricifera.
Saturday’s events in the
Science and Math Build
ing offered students an op
portunity to showcase their
research, and to participate
in poster sessions and lec
tures. Meredith student Lau
ren Thie presented the latest
results of her research work
with Dr Larry. Grimes on
mosquitoes. Students from
Guilford College, UNC
NCAS members greeted
Meredith students, faculty at the
Pembroke, Warren Wilson
College, and Norht Carolina
State University also partici
pated in the event. Students
from Guilford College pre
sented their research on poor
communities whose resi
dents breathe significantly
photo courtesy of Wendy Gem
event on Saturday.
dirtier air than those in more
affluent communities. Stu
dents also presented research
findings on how quickly
life becomes impaired dur
ing new construction and
development projects.
Swab, Gem create sustainable NCAS meeting
PIPER PETROCELU
Contributing Writer
For the first time in its his
tory, the NCAS meeting was
sustainability driven. Dr.
Janice Swab, Biology pro
fessor, and student Wendy
Gem merged the latest cut
ting edge technologies and
the forces of nature to make
the meeting environmentally
smart and sound. Invitations
and programs traditionally
printed fof campus events
use pounds of paper, acres
of trees, and gallons of toxic
chemicals. The paper Swab
and Gem used for their
program was tree-free and
was made from sugar cane.
What guests saw at refresh
ment tables throughout the
Science and Math Building
photo courtesy of Wendy Gem
Examples of biodegradable, recycled paper products at NCAS on Saturday.
looked like conventional
paper plates, cups, and nap
kins. The forks, knives and
glasses appeared to be made
of plastic. However, guests
and students were taking
home the “plasticware” as
souvenirs. All items were
biodegradable and com
postable. Rather than using
fossil fuels from the petro
leum industry, these natu
ral-plastic cups were made
from sugar cane. The nap
kins were made from recy
cled paper, and the spoons,
knives and forks were
made entirely from com.
If given the choice, people
want to live their lives in
ways that are kind to the
earth. People have been
looking to the scientific
community to discover new
technologies that allow us
to live with all of life’s con
veniences, without compro
mising the environment.