Science and Technology

For the University at Buffalo Department of Geology, "hands-on" in a lab apparently isn't hands-on enough. That's why excavators are drilling four, 50-foot wells on the North (Amherst) Campus so that students can learn about hydrogeology -- the study of how water and other liquids, such as pollutants, move through the shallow subsurface -- up close and personal.

The University at Buffalo has established a new, multidisciplinary institute to conduct research designed to harness the power of light in a broad spectrum of applications and potential products, ranging from telecommunications to cancer therapy.

Mention the nation's most damaging natural disasters and most people probably think of earthquakes and floods. Wind probably isn't even on the list. But it should be, according to Michael Gaus, Ph.D., University at Buffalo professor of civil, structural and environmental engineering and president of the American Association of Wind Engineering, since the most vulnerable structures are low-rise buildings, such as residences.

As the millennium nears, the hype surrounding Y2K -- or the Year 2000 -- seems to have died down. But Lewis Mandell, dean of the University at Buffalo School of Management, says it may be that we're already in the eye of the Y2K storm, and the damage won't be apparent until the arrival of the new year has blown over.

The University at Buffalo and IBM Corp., the world's largest computer manufacturer, have signed a memorandum of understanding in which the two parties will collaborate on research and development of new technologies, education, training and placement of UB students, and delivery of educational services and business systems.

The work of a faculty member in the School of Architecture and Planning at the University at Buffalo to create a virtual teaching tool has attracted the attention of Apple Computer, Inc.

The complicated process of revitalizing Western New York's many brownfields could be enhanced and accelerated significantly through the formation of a new, nonprofit organization designed to facilitate such projects, according to a report by a new University at Buffalo group, the Brownfield Action Project (BAP).

New degree programs related to issues and research on the human aspects of information transfer are being developed by the School of Information Studies (SIS) at the University at Buffalo. The school was formed July 1 when the School of Information and Library Studies (SILS) changed its name and merged with the Department of Communication.

Gov. George E. Pataki was the guest of honor Oct. 26 at the grand-opening ceremonies of the University at Buffalo's Center for Computational Research, one of the nation's leading supercomputing centers.

William Minniefield's determination to convince the African-American community that organ donation is a good and necessary thing has resulted in a major grant award to the University at Buffalo and the regional transplant agency to accomplish that goal.