Environmental research; Pathfinder group performs key Mauna Kea fieldwork

By Tony Fitzpatrick

With autumn leaves falling fast, junior Laurel Griggs is thinking of Hawaii as she works on a computer model on the fourth floor of McDonnell Hall.

Working under the supervision of Raymond E. Arvidson, Ph.D., the James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor and chair of the earth and planetary sciences department in Arts & Sciences, Griggs, nine other Pathfinder students, a graduate student and a staff member of Arvidson's lab recently explored the Mauna Kea Ice Age Natural Area Reserve on Hawaii's Big Island.

Pathfinder is a program in the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics in Arts & Sciences --also available to engineering students --designed to help shape the academic careers of approximately 15 of the University's incoming freshmen with a deep interest in the environment. These students choose majors in the division or in the School of Engineering and Applied Science; they also work in the Pathfinder program, conducting rigorous environmental fieldwork and examining research topics from environmental sustainability perspectives.

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Older adults' contributions researched by GWB

By Ann Nicholson

As the U.S. population shifts toward an increasing number of elderly citizens creating a "longevity revolution," faculty members and researchers in the George Warren Brown School of Social Work (GWB) are heading up policy and research agendas aimed at recognizing and promoting older adults' contributions to society.

In addition to recent research reports and national conference presentations, Nancy Morrow-Howell, Ph.D., associate professor; James Hinterlong, research associate; and Michael W. Sherraden, Ph.D., the Benjamin E. Youngdahl Professor of Social Development and director of GWB's Center for Social Development (CSD), co-edited the newly released book "Productive Aging: Concepts and Challenges."

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Shelters get food via sophomore's program

Even in a country like the United States, where so many live prosperous lives and have more than needed, thousands go to bed hungry every night. Sophomore Arash Sabet recognized that and decided to do something about it.

Sabet, a biomedical engineering major from St. Louis, started thinking about food distribution very shortly after he arrived on campus last year.

"I was in Center Court (in Wohl Student Center), and I noticed there was a lot of food left over at the end of the night," Sabet said. "I happened to be there late and wondered what they were going to do with the food."

So Sabet decided to find out. He talked to the chef on duty, who said the food would be thrown away.

"I told him I would like to get a program going," Sabet said. And he did.

New tax law improves retirement plan limits

Due to a new tax law, faculty and staff will be able to contribute more to the University's 403(b) retirement plan beginning Jan. 1.

The new bill is officially known as the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001. This law includes the following improvements in employee contribution limits for calendar year 2002:

¥ All employees will be able to contribute 100 percent of their compensation up to $11,000 on a pre-tax basis.

¥ All employees age 50 and older will be able to contribute 100 percent of their compensation up to $12,000 on a pre-tax basis.