|
C. Cybele Raver discusses her aspirations as Vanderbilt’s new provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs
C. Cybele Raver, an esteemed developmental psychologist and higher education leader, began her tenure as Vanderbilt’s provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs on July 1. She also joins the faculty as a Cornelius Vanderbilt Chair and professor of psychology and human development at Peabody College of education and human development. Raver most recently served as deputy provost at New York University, and she previously held faculty positions at University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy and at Cornell University’s Department of Human Development. She holds a Ph.D. and a master’s in developmental psychology from Yale University and a bachelor’s from Harvard University. MORE
| |
FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH
| |
Vanderbilt graduate students address legislators to advocate for NSF funding
Two graduate students from Vanderbilt’s School of Engineering and one from the School of Medicine Basic Sciences recently addressed legislators in Washington, D.C., virtually, sharing stories about the important role funding from the National Science Foundation has played in their research and training. With guidance from Vanderbilt’s Office of Federal Relations, Lucinda Pastora, a Ph.D. student in chemical and biomolecular engineering; Jacob Hope, a Ph.D. student in biomedical engineering; and Jason Hughes, a Ph.D. student in molecular physiology and biophysics—all recipients of NSF Graduate Research Fellowships—participated in the annual advocacy day on Capitol Hill in tandem with the Coalition for National Science Funding. MORE
| |
$2.5 million NASA project will develop and test safety management for ‘air taxis’
Vanderbilt engineers are part of a NASA-funded, multi-institution effort to develop safety systems for a mode of transportation that doesn’t exist yet—small, commercial, autonomous planes that move people by air between locations in large, crowded cities. Autonomous, or self-piloted, airplanes must communicate with each other. They must respond to hazards, from weather to equipment malfunction to “uncooperative” other aircraft to prevent collisions and crashes. And all this must unfold in real time, in defined corridors separate from existing air traffic routes but without continuous air control support on the ground. To that end, the $2.5 million, three-year project, will develop and test the foundations of safety management for advanced urban air mobility. It is hoped these eVTOLs, or electric takeoff and landing aircraft, will reduce fossil fuel consumption and traffic congestion. MORE
| |
Research Snapshot: Astrophysicists prepare for age of multimessenger astronomy; build galaxy catalog to study black holes
Led by postdoctoral fellow researcher Maria Charisi, a team of international researchers known as the NANOGrav collaboration has created a catalog of 45,000 galaxies to detect gravitational waves created by pairs of black holes known as binaries. Using pulsars—the most precise clocks of the sky—a galactic scale detector dubbed a pulsar timing array and infrared data from across the sky, Charisi used the catalog to input hypothetical binaries to measure differences in the masses of the two black holes or their distance from each other within a galaxy. This is the first time that pulsar timing array data has been explored with the accompanying galaxy catalog. By calculating the limits of black hole binaries in nearby galaxies, Charisi, Stephen Taylor, assistant professor of physics and astronomy, and their international colleagues are preparing for an age of multimessenger astronomy. [This work is supported by the National Science Foundation.] MORE
| |
Survey in Haiti shows democratic attitudes can persist in countries with weak governance, even during pandemic
Research by Vanderbilt’s Latin American Public Opinion Lab found that in Haiti, the COVID-19 pandemic rallied support for the incumbent administration, even though the public’s commitment to it and to democracy itself was weak before the pandemic. Other LAPOP surveys have found that commitment to the most fundamental tenet of democracy—regular elections—has been wavering. The COVID-19 pandemic occurred during that shift, which could have created fertile conditions for decreased support for democracy in a country like Haiti, where there is high corruption and weak rule of law. They found that considering the pandemic first modestly boosted responses that indicated presidential approval and intentions to vote for the incumbent president. This result shows that a rally effect can occur even in the most unlikely of places—an unstable context in which the president is struggling to maintain order and support. [LAPOP is supported in part by the United States Agency for International Development.] MORE
| |
Tightening vehicle emissions standards resulted in higher rates of automaker non-compliance, new research shows
A new study focused on the auto industry finds that tightening emissions standards not only fails to curtail on-road emissions, but actually increases the likelihood of non-compliance by automakers. . . . . [R]esearchers confirm the relationship between increased threshold-based regulations and non-compliance in the auto industry. The study also found higher non-compliance rates in automakers facing greater substitution pressure from competitors, as well as those with less advanced emissions control technology. According to the researchers, the non-compliance stems from conflicting interests and external forces that impact automakers’ strategic approach. Economically, automakers have little financial incentive to abide by the tight emissions standards. The most common ways to meet emissions thresholds are to install expensive catalytic converters or reduce the weight or horsepower of the vehicle. Price and safety are at the top of a car buyer’s consideration list. MORE
| |
Vanderbilt faculty examines 60 years of research, illuminates key trends in discrimination and diversity in the workplace
A new Vanderbilt-led study has highlighted trends in research on discrimination and diversity in the workplace over the past 60 years. In a comprehensive review of articles published in Human Resource Management, Professor of Management María del Carmen Triana and a team of researchers examined how research into diversity in the workplace has morphed over time and provided suggestions for human resource managers. The researchers found that sex and race are the demographics that have been examined the most by human resource research, while religion has been examined the least. Moreover, the number of studies examining lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer employees in the workplace has grown quickly in the past 10 years. MORE
| |
Susan Wente to be honored in Vanderbilt Trailblazers portrait series
Susan R. Wente, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, will be the next member of the university community to be celebrated through the Vanderbilt Trailblazers portrait series, which recognizes individuals who have broken barriers and made a positive impact at the university and in society at large. Wente’s portrait will be unveiled in the Trailblazer gallery in Kirkland Hall during Reunion weekend in October. Wente is the first woman to serve as Vanderbilt’s provost, the first woman to lead the university as interim chancellor and the first woman to chair the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology. She holds a Cornelius Vanderbilt Chair and has a distinguished 19-year career at Vanderbilt as a university leader and scientist. She will become the first female president of Wake Forest University on July 1, 2021. MORE
| |
Alumnus honored for courageous vote for women’s rights
An early 20th-century Vanderbilt alumnus and Tennessee lawmaker, who stepped up at a crucial time during the women’s rights movement, now has a special tribute, thanks to another Vanderbilt alumnus. A historical marker celebrating Banks Turner, BA’1910, was installed at the entrance to Yorkville Cemetery in Gibson County, Tennessee, on June 25. Turner was a freshman state representative in 1920 when he cast three decisive votes to prevent the state legislature from tabling the 19th Amendment, which would have effectively killed the national law that gave many American women the right to vote. John P. Williams, JD’72, of Nashville was instrumental in having the marker for Turner installed. Though most Southern states were adamantly opposed to the amendment, on Aug. 18, 1920, the Tennessee General Assembly passed the ratification resolution for the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, crossing the threshold of three-fourths of states needed. MORE
| |
VandyBoys gave Commodore Nation a season to remember
Please join us in congratulating Tim Corbin and the VandyBoys on a remarkable season that concluded with a College World Series that none of us will soon forget. Though we all hoped to see the team complete their journey with a championship, these student-athletes accomplished so much this year. Even when down to the final strike of their final out against Stanford last week, they reminded us what a commitment to excellence and to each other means. A season that began in front of nearly empty stands—out of necessity due to the pandemic—ultimately brought us together and made our One Vanderbilt community even stronger. It has only been a decade since Vanderbilt first appeared in the College World Series, but Omaha has now become a regular stop for this team—as well as for fans and alumni. This is a testament to the hard work, dedication and vision of Coach Corbin and his team. In making more World Series appearances than almost any other program in that decade, the VandyBoys showed us what is possible. MORE
| |
|
Follow the Office of Federal Relations on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube!
| |
VUbrief summarizes Vanderbilt news items to inform our Congressional community of developments at the university. Visit our website for past issues of VUbrief. Vanderbilt University Office of Federal Relations (202) 216-4361
| |
|
|
|
|