SCHEV names Martin outstanding faculty member
Civil engineering professor James R. Martin II (CE M.S.'87, Ph.D.) was selected as one of 11 State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) Outstanding Faculty.
Martin is a specialist in geotechnical and earthquake engineering. Recent projects include earthquake hazard studies, field studies on the site of the 1994 earthquake near Los Angeles, and development of computer-based multimedia lectures for classroom and tutorial use throughout the Southeast. In 1993 Martin received a National Science Foundation (NSF) Young Investigator Award.
Martin credits his success as a teacher to understanding student perspectives. "Because I wasn't always a star pupil, I can put things in terms that students who are a little slower on the uptake can understand."
In class, Martin varies techniques to meet the particular needs of each group. Some classes do better with traditional lecture methods, while others learn more from interactive discussion, he says. "Each class has its own frequency, and I have to tune in to see what they need."
Martin also serves as the assistant director of the NSF-sponsored Charles E. Minor Engineering Fellowship Program for Doctoral Studies for women, minorities, and students with disabilities.
Symposium honors Ferrari
To honor the late architecture professor Olivio Ferrari and mark the establishment of a new program in industrial design, the College of Architecture and Urban Studies hosted the "Olivio Ferrari Symposium: Architecture and Industrial Design" in April.
The event featured an exhibition of Ferrari's work, alumni presentations, and a keynote address by Spencer de Grey, a design partner of the London firm Sir Norman Foster and Partners. A book featuring testimonials and essays from students and colleagues of Ferrari accompanied the exhibit. The symposium focused on the realization of Ferrari's goal to develop a curriculum linking design and industry.
Ribbe honored for excellence in mineral science
Paul Ribbe, professor of mineralogy, has received the 1995 Schlumberger medal, the highest award by the Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland, for "excellence in mineral science and its applications." Ribbe, who served as editor of more than 30 volumes of graduate-level text and reference books, does research in silicate mineralogy and crystallography.
Niles named interim associate dean
Jerry Niles, head of the department of teaching and learning, has been appointed interim associate dean in the new College of Human Resources and Education. In this one-year position, Niles will represent education programs during the merger transition and will continue implementation of the approved education restructuring plan.
The merger of the College of Education and the College of Human Resources will become effective July 1, 1996, with the transition slated for completion by July 1, 1998. Under the merger plan, the College of Education will continue the process of restructuring it began in 1994.
Cairns honored in retirement
He has published more than 1,000 journal articles, books, book chapters, and other professional writings. His inventive mind is at work even when unpacking boxes - when he saw in the packaging materials the potential for a stream-monitoring system that he later invented and that is used around the world. He is known and consulted worldwide about environmental issues. He is the only member of the Virginia Tech faculty to be elected to the National Academy of Sciences while employed at the university.
He is John Cairns, University Distinguished Professor of Environmental Biology Emeritus and former director of the University Center for Environmental and Hazardous Materials Studies.
The biology department invited students, former students, and faculty members to a retirement event in Cairns' honor in March.
Early in his career, Cairns spent 17 years as field crew chief for a North American river survey crew. He credits his mentor from that time, Ruth Patrick, with teaching him how to acquire extramural funding. He has had at least four grants each year of his career, and presently has four active grants totaling more than $500,000.
Cairns came to Virginia Tech in 1968. He has performed research aimed at improving the quality of information used in making environmental decisions. He has been a pioneer in or made major contributions to critical areas including community ecology and recovery and restoration of damaged ecosystems. His most recent books have focused on these topics, as well as environmental literacy.
Cairns is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He was named a foreign member of the Linnean Society of London. He received the Life Achievement Award in Science from the Commonwealth of Virginia, the U.S. Presidential Commendation for Environmental Activities, and many other honors and awards.