Fall 2014 Newsletter
Greetings from Dean Bailey
Because the College of Science & Mathematics is all about our students, we focus on teaching and research. This combination gives students a great Learn by Doing experience. We had more than 200 students participate in student-faculty research projects during the summer — a record number for the college.
College and University News
Faculty Members Receive Distinguished Teaching Award
Pat Fidopiastis, a biology professor, and Camille O'Bryant (pictured), a kinesiology professor, received the Cal Poly Distinguished Teaching Award for 2014-15. The universitywide award honors tenured faculty members who demonstrate excellence in teaching, innovative instructional approaches, and concern for individual student success, among other criteria.
Silicon Valley Entrepreneur, Investor and Engineer Named Honored Alumnus
Mike Abbott (B.S., Biochemistry, 1994) is this year's honored alumnus for the College of Science & Mathematics. Abbott joined venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers in 2011 and focuses on investments in the firm's digital practice. He helps entrepreneurs in the social, mobile and cloud computing sectors rapidly scale up teams and ventures.
Read more about the honored alumnus
Newcomers and Retirements
The college welcomed a number of new faculty and staff members and said goodbye to some who have served the university well.
Read more about new faculty and staff members
Real-World Research
More than 200 Students Spend Summer Doing Research
Thanks to a generous donation, more than 200 students from all seven undergraduate majors in the College of Science & Mathematics participated in real-world research projects with faculty mentors this summer. This was almost three times the size of the summer research program in previous years.
Read more about summer research
Chemistry Students Compute Ways to Stop Viruses
"Computational characterization of molecular interactions" isn't a phrase you hear every day, but someday, it might keep you from getting sick. Chemistry Professor Ashley McDonald and her students are using computers to study HIV in hopes of learning how to stop the virus from reproducing.
Read more about computational chemistry
Statistics Students Take Infrared Video of the Moon
Cal Poly statistics students may have been the first in the world to take thermal, infrared, digital video of the moon from Earth's surface. Flir Systems Inc. donated an infrared video camera that students connected to a telescope. They then took the telescope system to White Mountain Research Center near Bishop, Calif., and spent the month of August recording the surface temperature of the moon.
Read more about the infrared moon video
Biology Students Do Hands-On Genetic Research
Biology Professor Sandi Clement is a huge fan of messenger RNA (mRNA), which means the students in her lab Learn by Doing hands-on genetic research that might contribute to future treatments of autoimmune disorders.
Read more about the genetics research
Today's Students
Cal Poly Alpha Chi Sigma Chemistry Fraternity Wins Best National Chapter Award
Cal Poly's chapter of the co-ed chemistry fraternity Alpha Chi Sigma was honored with the T. Dale Stewart award for best chapter nationwide for 2012-14. Given every two years, the award is based on the quantity and quality of events the chapter participates in and sponsors.
Alumni News
Kinesiology Alumnus Leads Women's Youth National Water Polo Team to Victory
Cal Poly alumnus Andrew Silva (B.A., Political Science, 2002; M.S., Kinesiology, 2010) picked up a gold medal last summer — as a coach. He helped lead the USA Women's Youth National Water Polo team to a first place finish in the 2014 Union Americana de Natacion Junior Pan American Championship.
Read more about Silva and the team
New Alumni Chapters Form in East Bay and Hawaii
New alumni chapters recently formed in the East Bay and Hawaii. Have fun, meet new people, and stay connected to Cal Poly by getting involved with your local chapter. Check the Alumni Relations website for the contact information for a chapter near you and the alumni event calendar.
