Five hundred dollars may seem a paltry sum for a crowdfunding effort these days. But the $500 being sought by University of Illinois Springfield researchers will be used for research that could save lives and thousands of dollars in treatment costs for those with Hepatitis C.
UIS researchers are for the first time using crowdfunding as a way to purchase rapid testing kits and other equipment needed to study Hepatitis C in the central Illinois homeless population.
Two professors want to test members of the homeless population in Springfield, Bloomington, Champaign, Decatur and Peoria to find the number of people infected with the virus and conduct genotype testing to look at transmission of the disease.
“We hope to limit the spread of Hepatitis C,” said Kanwal Alvarez, assistant professor of biology at UIS.”
Alvarez and Josiah Alamu, associate professor of public health, are leading the study along with Dr. Janak Koirala, chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. Several UIS students also are working on the research study.
The story was reported by The State Journal-Register on November 11, 2015.
Read the article online
Showing posts with label science. Show all posts
Showing posts with label science. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
UIS participates in Monarch butterfly challenge
Ecologists are reporting the monarch butterfly population in the United States is dwindling - down as much as 80 percent compared to just 30 years ago.
Tuesday morning, the UIS Biology Club planted a butterfly garden filled with milkweed and nectar plants near the Health and Science Building as part of the Monarch Challenge.
A UIS associate professor of biology says the challenge is simple, and everyone can do it.
"We're hoping that it'll really take off and if people can't put milkweed or nectar plants in their backyard, maybe they'll give $5 or $10 to Monarch Joint Venture and we can really help boost monarch populations," said Amy McEuen, UIS associate professor.
Once you have been challenged, you have five days to install monarch-friendly plants. If you don't, you're asked to donate to the Monarch Joint Venture organization.
The story was reported by WICS-TV 20 on May 12, 2015.
Watch the story online
Tuesday morning, the UIS Biology Club planted a butterfly garden filled with milkweed and nectar plants near the Health and Science Building as part of the Monarch Challenge.
A UIS associate professor of biology says the challenge is simple, and everyone can do it.
"We're hoping that it'll really take off and if people can't put milkweed or nectar plants in their backyard, maybe they'll give $5 or $10 to Monarch Joint Venture and we can really help boost monarch populations," said Amy McEuen, UIS associate professor.
Once you have been challenged, you have five days to install monarch-friendly plants. If you don't, you're asked to donate to the Monarch Joint Venture organization.
The story was reported by WICS-TV 20 on May 12, 2015.
Watch the story online
Friday, May 8, 2015
UIS students use park oil spill to teach conservation
A group of University of Illinois Springfield students were using last year's oil spill in Washington Park as a teaching tool Wednesday at the 24th annual Earth Stewardship Day.
More than 900 fourth-graders from across Sangamon County attended the event, which was held a the Illinois State Fairgrounds. The UIS students were among the many groups who presented 20-minute hands-on lessons for the kids.
"They are so enthusiastic," UIS junior Salina English said. "That's what's been so amazing about it. We don't want this day to end because it's been so amazing. These kids are so much smarter than people give them credit for. They want to learn, and they want to help in any way possible."
On Sept. 8, a fire tore through the Merlin 200,000 Mile Shop at 1430 Wabash Ave. During the fire, state-approved plastic containers of oil melted, which released 500 to 1,000 gallons of oil into the city's stormwater drain system.
The story was reported by The State Journal-Register on May 8, 2015.
Read the article online
More than 900 fourth-graders from across Sangamon County attended the event, which was held a the Illinois State Fairgrounds. The UIS students were among the many groups who presented 20-minute hands-on lessons for the kids.
"They are so enthusiastic," UIS junior Salina English said. "That's what's been so amazing about it. We don't want this day to end because it's been so amazing. These kids are so much smarter than people give them credit for. They want to learn, and they want to help in any way possible."
On Sept. 8, a fire tore through the Merlin 200,000 Mile Shop at 1430 Wabash Ave. During the fire, state-approved plastic containers of oil melted, which released 500 to 1,000 gallons of oil into the city's stormwater drain system.
The story was reported by The State Journal-Register on May 8, 2015.
Read the article online
Monday, April 13, 2015
UIS Star Parties give glimpse of the galaxy
Star gazers don't need to head out to the country away from the lights the next few weekends.
The University of Illinois Springfield opened up its observatory on top of the Brookens Library roof Friday night for its popular Star Parties series.
The Star Parties, which are free and open to the public, will continue from 8 to 10 p.m. the next two Fridays, weather permitting.
About 25 people attended the first event Friday. Among those in attendance were Noel and Mike Fitzgibbon, along with their 8-year-old daughter, Sydney, and one of her friends.
The Rochester couple said they had never been to the observatory at UIS and thought it would be a good opportunity for their daughter to see firsthand the stars and planets she's learning about in the classroom.
"We thought it would be interesting and good for her education to get that hands-on experience," Noel Fitzgibbon said.
UIS astronomy professor John Martin said the Star Parties have been a tradition in Springfield since 1976.
They were started by UIS professer Charles Schweighauser and have continued nearly every year except for a brief hiatus in the mid-2000s, he said.
Star Parties were featured by The State Journal-Register on April 11, 2015.
Read the full article online
The University of Illinois Springfield opened up its observatory on top of the Brookens Library roof Friday night for its popular Star Parties series.
The Star Parties, which are free and open to the public, will continue from 8 to 10 p.m. the next two Fridays, weather permitting.
About 25 people attended the first event Friday. Among those in attendance were Noel and Mike Fitzgibbon, along with their 8-year-old daughter, Sydney, and one of her friends.
The Rochester couple said they had never been to the observatory at UIS and thought it would be a good opportunity for their daughter to see firsthand the stars and planets she's learning about in the classroom.
"We thought it would be interesting and good for her education to get that hands-on experience," Noel Fitzgibbon said.
UIS astronomy professor John Martin said the Star Parties have been a tradition in Springfield since 1976.
They were started by UIS professer Charles Schweighauser and have continued nearly every year except for a brief hiatus in the mid-2000s, he said.
Star Parties were featured by The State Journal-Register on April 11, 2015.
Read the full article online
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
UIS to host summer enrichment day camp program
Springfield officials have announced that the school will host a summer enrichment day camp program for students in first through sixth grades on June 22 through June 26.
The camp, titled "Camp Invention," will be held at the Founders & University Hall on the university's campus from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Camp Invention will focus on creativity and innovation, while helping build participants' teamwork, self-esteem, persistence, and goal-setting skills.
Participants will be encouraged to use their imagination in many ways that they normally don't get to, like coming up with creative solutions real-world challenges, building and taking apart different items, and exploring several kinds of technology.
Officials request that students be registered for this program by March 20. To register, visit www.campinvention.org.
For more information on this program, contact UIS Professor Bapat at (217) 206-7744.
This story was appeared on WAND Channel 17 on February 16, 2015.
Read the story online.
The camp, titled "Camp Invention," will be held at the Founders & University Hall on the university's campus from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Camp Invention will focus on creativity and innovation, while helping build participants' teamwork, self-esteem, persistence, and goal-setting skills.
Participants will be encouraged to use their imagination in many ways that they normally don't get to, like coming up with creative solutions real-world challenges, building and taking apart different items, and exploring several kinds of technology.
Officials request that students be registered for this program by March 20. To register, visit www.campinvention.org.
For more information on this program, contact UIS Professor Bapat at (217) 206-7744.
This story was appeared on WAND Channel 17 on February 16, 2015.
Read the story online.
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Most Interesting Person: Charles Schweighauser
“Talented” isn’t quite the word to describe Charles Schweighauser.
The highly accomplished local scientist has been retired since 2002, but the 78-year-old has a long list of career credits that continues to grow.
He began his career in 1963 as the founding director of the James S. McDonnell Planetarium in St. Louis. He joined the faculty of Sangamon State University (now University of Illinois Springfield) in 1974, when the school operated out of temporary buildings. He started his free-to-the-public Star Parties in 1977 and is proud of his efforts to make the parties accessible to people with disabilities.
He retired with the title professor emeritus of English and astronomy and physics at UIS and has published works on James Joyce and Ralph Waldo Emerson. After retirement, he taught for seven years, directed observatories and conducted research, he said.
“I remember looking through the telescopes as a young boy at Charlie’s Star Parties and wondering about our moon, solar system and Milky Way Galaxy,” said AJ Wacaser, a UIS student who had Schweighauser as his graduate adviser.
Not only has Schweighauser inspired generations as an instructor and at his public presentations at UIS, he is also inspiring to all ages as an environmentalist. At his quarter-acre home in Pleasant Plains, Schweighauser has installed a dry lake with two dry rivers, a prairie path and an orchard.
Schweighauser was featured by The State Journal-Register on May 25, 2014.
Read the article online
The highly accomplished local scientist has been retired since 2002, but the 78-year-old has a long list of career credits that continues to grow.
He began his career in 1963 as the founding director of the James S. McDonnell Planetarium in St. Louis. He joined the faculty of Sangamon State University (now University of Illinois Springfield) in 1974, when the school operated out of temporary buildings. He started his free-to-the-public Star Parties in 1977 and is proud of his efforts to make the parties accessible to people with disabilities.
He retired with the title professor emeritus of English and astronomy and physics at UIS and has published works on James Joyce and Ralph Waldo Emerson. After retirement, he taught for seven years, directed observatories and conducted research, he said.
“I remember looking through the telescopes as a young boy at Charlie’s Star Parties and wondering about our moon, solar system and Milky Way Galaxy,” said AJ Wacaser, a UIS student who had Schweighauser as his graduate adviser.
Not only has Schweighauser inspired generations as an instructor and at his public presentations at UIS, he is also inspiring to all ages as an environmentalist. At his quarter-acre home in Pleasant Plains, Schweighauser has installed a dry lake with two dry rivers, a prairie path and an orchard.
Schweighauser was featured by The State Journal-Register on May 25, 2014.
Read the article online
Monday, April 7, 2014
Cloudy conditions cancel first UIS star party; more events set for April
Stargazers will be able to get a look at some of Earth’s celestial neighbors during upcoming Friday Night Star Parties at the University of Illinois Springfield.
The weekly parties were to start Friday night, but the first one had to be canceled because of cloudy conditions. Additional events are scheduled for April 11, 18 and 25 between 8 and 10 p.m. at the campus observatory on the roof of Brookens Library. The door for the observatory is on the southeast side of the library.
A typical star party begins with a presentation about galaxies, the sun and stars as people ascend the stairs to the observatory. On the roof observation deck, visitors can view the skies through telescopes and ask questions.
John Martin, associate professor of astronomy/physics at UIS, said that as long as the weather cooperates, Jupiter will be visible during all of April, and Mars will be visible at the end of the month.
Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, should be an interesting sight.
“Sometimes you can see the different-colored bands around its equator and atmosphere,” Martin said. “You can also see that it isn’t round. It’s oblate because it’s spinning so fast. You can also see that it has four bright moons.”
The event was featured by The State Journal-Register on April 5, 2014.
Read the article online
The weekly parties were to start Friday night, but the first one had to be canceled because of cloudy conditions. Additional events are scheduled for April 11, 18 and 25 between 8 and 10 p.m. at the campus observatory on the roof of Brookens Library. The door for the observatory is on the southeast side of the library.
A typical star party begins with a presentation about galaxies, the sun and stars as people ascend the stairs to the observatory. On the roof observation deck, visitors can view the skies through telescopes and ask questions.
John Martin, associate professor of astronomy/physics at UIS, said that as long as the weather cooperates, Jupiter will be visible during all of April, and Mars will be visible at the end of the month.
Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, should be an interesting sight.
“Sometimes you can see the different-colored bands around its equator and atmosphere,” Martin said. “You can also see that it isn’t round. It’s oblate because it’s spinning so fast. You can also see that it has four bright moons.”
The event was featured by The State Journal-Register on April 5, 2014.
Read the article online
Monday, March 10, 2014
Susan Koch: University experience reaches to Emiquon
The following is a portion of a column published in The State Journal-Register on March 9, 2014.
"Some of the most important opportunities that make up an exceptional university experience occur well beyond the classroom and the campus. For many students who attend the Springfield campus of the University of Illinois, some of the best of those opportunities happen about an hour northwest of Springfield near Havana—at Emiquon.
In 2007, The Nature Conservancy and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service identified this 7,000-acre stretch of land along the western bank of the Illinois River to transform it from farmland back to its natural state—a river floodplain. The intent was to re-establish the ecological diversity that had once sustained generations of plant and animal life. This remarkably successful project represents one of the first and largest river reclamation efforts anywhere in the world.
Recognizing that the reclamation would be a unique opportunity, University of Illinois Springfield biology professor Dr. Michael Lemke, whose research focuses on freshwater ecosystems, proposed that UIS partner with the Nature Conservancy to establish a field station at Emiquon to study and document this immense experiment. Today, Lemke serves as director of the field station, and thanks to his leadership and the involvement of many other UIS faculty, staff and supporters, the UIS Therkildsen Field Station has become a thriving, year-round, interdisciplinary teaching and research facility that has hosted hundreds of scientists, teachers, students and interested visitors."
Read the full column online
"Some of the most important opportunities that make up an exceptional university experience occur well beyond the classroom and the campus. For many students who attend the Springfield campus of the University of Illinois, some of the best of those opportunities happen about an hour northwest of Springfield near Havana—at Emiquon.
In 2007, The Nature Conservancy and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service identified this 7,000-acre stretch of land along the western bank of the Illinois River to transform it from farmland back to its natural state—a river floodplain. The intent was to re-establish the ecological diversity that had once sustained generations of plant and animal life. This remarkably successful project represents one of the first and largest river reclamation efforts anywhere in the world.
Recognizing that the reclamation would be a unique opportunity, University of Illinois Springfield biology professor Dr. Michael Lemke, whose research focuses on freshwater ecosystems, proposed that UIS partner with the Nature Conservancy to establish a field station at Emiquon to study and document this immense experiment. Today, Lemke serves as director of the field station, and thanks to his leadership and the involvement of many other UIS faculty, staff and supporters, the UIS Therkildsen Field Station has become a thriving, year-round, interdisciplinary teaching and research facility that has hosted hundreds of scientists, teachers, students and interested visitors."
Read the full column online
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Visiting Japanese students learn science at UIS
Sixteen students from Ashikaga, Japan are in Springfield this week learning about science. These students are taking part in a super science project lead by faculty at the University of Illinois Springfield.
The students are from Ashikaga Boys High School. Along with the students were four faculty members. They learned about all sorts of things like aquatic ecology, biology, food web concepts, and water analysis.
"The people in America are very good," said Kazuaki Kobuna, Ashikaga High School principal. "They are very kind to us. They are open minded. So, students are having fun studying here."
The students will be in Springfield until Thursday. Ashikaga, Japan is the sister city to Springfield, and is more than 12,000 miles away.
The story was reported by WICS-TV 20 on July 17, 2013.
Watch the story online
The students are from Ashikaga Boys High School. Along with the students were four faculty members. They learned about all sorts of things like aquatic ecology, biology, food web concepts, and water analysis.
"The people in America are very good," said Kazuaki Kobuna, Ashikaga High School principal. "They are very kind to us. They are open minded. So, students are having fun studying here."
The students will be in Springfield until Thursday. Ashikaga, Japan is the sister city to Springfield, and is more than 12,000 miles away.
The story was reported by WICS-TV 20 on July 17, 2013.
Watch the story online
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
UIS professor tests new chemistry app for the iPad
Organic chemistry relies a lot on the drawing of chemical formulas, which is now easier and more accessible than before with the ChemDraw app.
It's designed after a computer program that has been around for nearly 30 years.
Layne Morsch, a professor of chemistry, said the new app version of the program is transforming the classroom.
"What I have seen over the years in teaching organic chemistry is that when I give problems for students to do, about half the students try them, and about half of them just sit and wait," Morsch said. "Now since they have to send me their results as they're working on them, every student is working on the problems and it helps them to see if they know what they're doing or whether they don't understand what they're doing."
The app can be found in the iTunes App Store for anyone to check out. The designers hope it will change the way students study chemistry.
The story was featured by WICS-TV 20 on July 16, 2013.
Watch the story online
Monday, July 15, 2013
Illinois wants ospreys to call it home
Five osprey chicks from Langley Air Force Base in West Virginia arrived in Illinois on Wednesday night, the first step in an eight-year program to re-establish nesting ospreys in the state.
The osprey is a fish-eating hawk that is listed as endangered in Illinois.
Young birds are loyal to the places where they were raised, often returning as adults to nest.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources wants to take advantage of that tendency by placing young in a specially designed nest box at Anderson Lake southwest of Havana.
Graduate students from the University of Illinois Springfield will monitor the birds, leaving food and keeping the area clean until they are old enough to leave the nest.
The process is known as hacking, a falconry term for gradual release.
When the birds are ready to fly, the doors of the hack box will be opened so the young ospreys can test their wings.
Students also will attach radio transmitters so they can keep track of their movements.
The story was featured in The State Journal-Register on July 14, 2013.
Read the article online
The osprey is a fish-eating hawk that is listed as endangered in Illinois.
Young birds are loyal to the places where they were raised, often returning as adults to nest.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources wants to take advantage of that tendency by placing young in a specially designed nest box at Anderson Lake southwest of Havana.
Graduate students from the University of Illinois Springfield will monitor the birds, leaving food and keeping the area clean until they are old enough to leave the nest.
The process is known as hacking, a falconry term for gradual release.
When the birds are ready to fly, the doors of the hack box will be opened so the young ospreys can test their wings.
Students also will attach radio transmitters so they can keep track of their movements.
The story was featured in The State Journal-Register on July 14, 2013.
Read the article online
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Walk and talk global change
Given this year’s flooding — and once-in-a-hundred-years storms that are happening semi-regularly — perhaps it’s worth considering the impact of global change via Emiquon.
So this month’s Nature Trek “walk and talk” science series explores the prairie restoration project at Emiquon with an emphasis on the impacts of recent floods. The session begins with discussion at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 18, at Therkildsen Field Station at Emiquon. Then it continues with a walk through the tallgrass prairie to take a look firsthand.
Speakers are Amy McEuen, associate professor in the biology department at University of Illinois Springfield, and Michael Wiant, Director of Dickson Mounds Museum.
Nature Trek is held on the third Thursday of each month from April through September. It is free, for all ages, and no registration is required. But participants are encouraged to dress appropriately for both hiking and the weather.
The story was featured by the Peoria Journal Star on July 9, 2013.
Read the story online
So this month’s Nature Trek “walk and talk” science series explores the prairie restoration project at Emiquon with an emphasis on the impacts of recent floods. The session begins with discussion at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 18, at Therkildsen Field Station at Emiquon. Then it continues with a walk through the tallgrass prairie to take a look firsthand.
Speakers are Amy McEuen, associate professor in the biology department at University of Illinois Springfield, and Michael Wiant, Director of Dickson Mounds Museum.
Nature Trek is held on the third Thursday of each month from April through September. It is free, for all ages, and no registration is required. But participants are encouraged to dress appropriately for both hiking and the weather.
The story was featured by the Peoria Journal Star on July 9, 2013.
Read the story online
Monday, June 3, 2013
UIS professor gets out of this world opportunity
One UIS professor is getting a chance to put his stamp on history.
Astronomy and physics associate professor John Martin will join scientists from around the world to study the massive Eta Carinae star using the Hubble Space Telescope.
This is a huge opportunity for Martin. He will embark on learning more about a star bigger than the sun.
"We have a baseline of data for this star going back 10 to 15 years with the Hubble Space Telescope," Martin said. "This is the first time in three years we've been awarded time to do this, so we get to follow up basically on what it's been doing."
Martin and his team expect to receive data from the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore over the next two years.
The story was featured by WICS-TV 20 on May 31, 2013.
Watch the story online
Astronomy and physics associate professor John Martin will join scientists from around the world to study the massive Eta Carinae star using the Hubble Space Telescope.
This is a huge opportunity for Martin. He will embark on learning more about a star bigger than the sun.
"We have a baseline of data for this star going back 10 to 15 years with the Hubble Space Telescope," Martin said. "This is the first time in three years we've been awarded time to do this, so we get to follow up basically on what it's been doing."
Martin and his team expect to receive data from the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore over the next two years.
The story was featured by WICS-TV 20 on May 31, 2013.
Watch the story online
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Professor John Martin part of Springfield stargazing event
Join Lincoln Memorial Garden in an evening of stargazing on Friday, May 3. Dr. John Martin from the University of Illinois Springfield’s Astronomy and Physics program will kick off the agenda with an hour talk about planets, meteors and meteorites that can be seen in the night sky.
There will be an opportunity to gaze through a telescope, thanks to Sangamon Astronomical Society members. Bad weather would postpone the program until Sunday, May 5. Questions as to whether the program is postponed should be made between 3-4 p.m. via phone to the garden.
The event is free, but reservations are required. Donations are always welcome.
The event was featured by the Illinois Times on May 2, 2013.
Read the story online
There will be an opportunity to gaze through a telescope, thanks to Sangamon Astronomical Society members. Bad weather would postpone the program until Sunday, May 5. Questions as to whether the program is postponed should be made between 3-4 p.m. via phone to the garden.
The event is free, but reservations are required. Donations are always welcome.
The event was featured by the Illinois Times on May 2, 2013.
Read the story online
Monday, April 15, 2013
First Nature Trek to feature wild turkeys
Alan Harn definitely is talking turkey, whether or not anyone actually sees one.
Wild turkeys are the topic for the first Nature Trek, a collaborative project between Dickson Mounds State Museum and the University of Illinois at Springfield's Therkildsen Field Station at Emiquon. As the museum's assistant curator for anthropology, Harn is the inaugural speaker in a series which will take place on the third Thursday of the month, spring through summer. It's a challenging choice, given wily wild turkey history.
"They're the most elusive gamebird - the most elusive game - in America," Harn says.
Apparently, that didn't help them much with our pioneer ancestors. Once-abundant turkeys disappeared from Illinois by 1910, thanks to a combination of overhunting and cleared forest lands. But in 1959, the birds were re-introduced to the Shawnee Forest in southern Illinois, unexpectedly thriving in the mix of cropland and wooded areas which remains. There are an estimated 135,000 wild turkeys in the state now.
The event was featured by the Peoria Journal Star on April 15, 2013.
Read the article online
Wild turkeys are the topic for the first Nature Trek, a collaborative project between Dickson Mounds State Museum and the University of Illinois at Springfield's Therkildsen Field Station at Emiquon. As the museum's assistant curator for anthropology, Harn is the inaugural speaker in a series which will take place on the third Thursday of the month, spring through summer. It's a challenging choice, given wily wild turkey history.
"They're the most elusive gamebird - the most elusive game - in America," Harn says.
Apparently, that didn't help them much with our pioneer ancestors. Once-abundant turkeys disappeared from Illinois by 1910, thanks to a combination of overhunting and cleared forest lands. But in 1959, the birds were re-introduced to the Shawnee Forest in southern Illinois, unexpectedly thriving in the mix of cropland and wooded areas which remains. There are an estimated 135,000 wild turkeys in the state now.
The event was featured by the Peoria Journal Star on April 15, 2013.
Read the article online
Friday, March 15, 2013
Exploring the night sky; there's a universe just outside
For hundreds and thousands of years, people have looked to the night sky and wondered about our place in the heavens.
Today, people who want to begin exploring and learning about the cosmos don’t have to do anything much different than our ancestors did.
“With your eye you can see the constellations,” said John Martin, associate professor of astronomy and physics at the University of Illinois Springfield. “On summer nights, it’s fun just to lay on your back and see four to five meteors an hour — even without a meteor shower going on.”
“Anyone who hasn’t should look at the moon through a pair of binoculars or even under a dark sky,” Martin said. “In a good dark place, you can start cruising around looking at different stars and parts of the sky.”
For those looking for a guided tour of the night sky, UIS host Star Parties that resume on Friday nights in April.
Martin was featured by The State Journal-Register on March 15, 2013.
Read the story online
Today, people who want to begin exploring and learning about the cosmos don’t have to do anything much different than our ancestors did.
“With your eye you can see the constellations,” said John Martin, associate professor of astronomy and physics at the University of Illinois Springfield. “On summer nights, it’s fun just to lay on your back and see four to five meteors an hour — even without a meteor shower going on.”
“Anyone who hasn’t should look at the moon through a pair of binoculars or even under a dark sky,” Martin said. “In a good dark place, you can start cruising around looking at different stars and parts of the sky.”
For those looking for a guided tour of the night sky, UIS host Star Parties that resume on Friday nights in April.
Martin was featured by The State Journal-Register on March 15, 2013.
Read the story online
Monday, January 14, 2013
At Issue: Science behind Emiquon Preserve
Michael Lemke, UIS biology professor and director of the Therkildsen Field Station at Emiquon recently appeared on the WTVP-TV (PBS) Peoria program "At Issue".
Lemke discussed the scientific research taking place at Emiquon and the partnership with The Nature Conservancy and Dickson Mounds Museum.
The interview aired on January 3, 2013.
Watch the program online
Lemke discussed the scientific research taking place at Emiquon and the partnership with The Nature Conservancy and Dickson Mounds Museum.
The interview aired on January 3, 2013.
Watch the program online
Monday, December 17, 2012
The healing power of real Christmas trees?
There is one good aspect a real tree has, that an artificial tree doesn't have. It deals with smell. Pine trees have compounds that can have positive effects on the human body.
"Particularly, the leaves," Lucia Vazquez, a biology professor at UIS, said. "They produce a variety of compounds, that when mixed together, emit a scent that we like."
So how can those compounds found in pine trees, like your real Christmas tree, impact you?
"The way scent is processed in our brains, it overlaps the area in the brain with emotions," Vazquez said. "That is why smelling something makes us feel good. You will also have associations with smells and memories."
It's a sign of the season. It's a sign of cheer. The choice of real versus artificial, we'll leave up to you. But if you have real, enjoy the scent, and take in the good vibes.
"It can make you feel good," Vazquez said. "Absolutely. It can have a positive effect on your emotions."
Vazquez was featured by WICS-TV on December 14, 2012.
Watch the story online
"Particularly, the leaves," Lucia Vazquez, a biology professor at UIS, said. "They produce a variety of compounds, that when mixed together, emit a scent that we like."
So how can those compounds found in pine trees, like your real Christmas tree, impact you?
"The way scent is processed in our brains, it overlaps the area in the brain with emotions," Vazquez said. "That is why smelling something makes us feel good. You will also have associations with smells and memories."
It's a sign of the season. It's a sign of cheer. The choice of real versus artificial, we'll leave up to you. But if you have real, enjoy the scent, and take in the good vibes.
"It can make you feel good," Vazquez said. "Absolutely. It can have a positive effect on your emotions."
Vazquez was featured by WICS-TV on December 14, 2012.
Watch the story online
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Astronomy teacher: Exploring space has benefits
Space connects people living today to every human being in history, said John Martin, astronomy professor at University of Illinois - Springfield. The night sky is one of the few things human beings have in common.
“I hesitate to say it’s something ingrained in us, but it’s definitely a common cultural thread to have an interest in astronomy,” Martin said.
Martin worked with NASA directly, funded by a grant to work on the Hubble space telescope. Through the course of his work, he faced concerns that funding be scrapped, but many people pulled together to save it.
“It grabbed people’s imagination and became a part of popular culture,” he said. “It touched a lot more people than you would expect.”
Martin was featured in an August 13, 2012, article in the Jacksonville Journal-Courier.
Read the article online
“I hesitate to say it’s something ingrained in us, but it’s definitely a common cultural thread to have an interest in astronomy,” Martin said.
Martin worked with NASA directly, funded by a grant to work on the Hubble space telescope. Through the course of his work, he faced concerns that funding be scrapped, but many people pulled together to save it.
“It grabbed people’s imagination and became a part of popular culture,” he said. “It touched a lot more people than you would expect.”
Martin was featured in an August 13, 2012, article in the Jacksonville Journal-Courier.
Read the article online
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Emiquon science lecture set Sunday at Field Station
The next installment of the Emiquon Partners Science Lecture Series will begin at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 13. This presentation is titled "Not Just Pretty Flowers: Restoration in the Age of Global Change."
Amy McEuen is an associate professor in the Biology Department at University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) where she teaches courses in ecology, environmental biology, and statistics.
She holds a PhD in terrestrial ecology and a master of science degree in wildlife ecology from the University of Michigan. Her expertise is in conservation biology, focusing on plant communities. She and her students have been studying the tallgrass prairie restoration that began at Emiquon in 2007.
The event was featured in an May 9, 2012, edition of the Canton Daily Ledger.
Read the article online
Amy McEuen is an associate professor in the Biology Department at University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) where she teaches courses in ecology, environmental biology, and statistics.
She holds a PhD in terrestrial ecology and a master of science degree in wildlife ecology from the University of Michigan. Her expertise is in conservation biology, focusing on plant communities. She and her students have been studying the tallgrass prairie restoration that began at Emiquon in 2007.
The event was featured in an May 9, 2012, edition of the Canton Daily Ledger.
Read the article online
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