Campus News

Editors: Spelling of Brion in the fourth paragraph is cq. University of Colorado at Boulder researchers have identified neural signals in the brain that could lead to a better understanding of conditions like obsessive-compulsive disorder and Parkinson's disease. The signals, pinpointed by the CU-Boulder team, predict whether people are biased to learn more from positive than negative outcomes of their decisions, according to Michael Frank, a research associate in the psychology department and lead author of the study.

Note to Editors: Images of the research sites are available by contacting Jim Scott at (303) 492-3114 or jim.scott@colorado.edu . The National Science Foundation has awarded a University of Colorado at Boulder research group $1.75 million to identify and analyze a potpourri of microbes new to science that are residing in the harsh, cold climate of Colorado's high mountains.

The University of Colorado at Boulder and the city of Boulder have developed several programs -- on campus and off -- over the last two decades to help ensure the safety of university students, and campus officials want students to learn about them. Emergency phone kiosks, improved campus lighting and a variety of programs have been put in place to help keep the CU-Boulder campus safe.

As many children head back to school or start school for the first time, some parents also learn that all may not be right with their child's ability to concentrate and learn. One of the first questions from these parents is whether or not their child has attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, according to University of Colorado at Boulder research associate Nomita Chhabildas.

MEDIA-PHOTO ADVISORY While transfer students began moving in on Monday, Aug. 15, most incoming University of Colorado at Boulder freshmen will move into campus residence halls on Tuesday, Aug. 16, starting at 8 a.m. and Thursday, Aug. 18, starting at 9 a.m. Each residence hall has a staggered move-in schedule to ease traffic congestion.

The University of Colorado at Boulder School of Law has announced the appointment of Mark Squillace as director of the Natural Resources Law Center. Squillace comes to CU from the University of Toledo College of Law where he was the Charles Fornoff Professor of Law and Values. He replaces acting director Sarah Krakow, an associate professor of natural resources and American Indian law at CU.

Before they begin classes, new students at the University of Colorado at Boulder will participate in a variety of fun and information-packed activities starting Aug. 15 including biking and hiking tours, a "Global Jam" carnival and concert. The activities are planned to allow students a chance to get acquainted with the campus and surrounding community before fall semester begins Aug. 22. The activities are in addition to the usual array of orientation sessions that cover the details of class registration, policies and student services at each college.

Note to Editors: Contents embargoed until 12:01 a.m. EDT on Aug. 9. Color images of the research site are available by contacting Jim Scott. An experiment in a dry Antarctic stream channel has shown that a carpet of freeze-dried microbes that lay dormant for two decades sprang to life one day after water was diverted into it, said a University of Colorado at Boulder researcher.

The loss of only two pets during Hurricane Charley last year shows the nation is making progress in protecting pets and farm animals during natural disasters and other emergencies, according to a University of Colorado at Boulder sociology professor. Many improvements have been made since approximately 1,000 healthy dogs and cats had to be euthanized after Hurricane Andrew struck Florida in 1992 because there was no space to house them, said Leslie Irvine, CU-Boulder sociology professor. More than 3 million pets and farm animals died in Hurricane Floyd in 1999.

Note to Editors: Janelle Knox is currently working in Washington, D.C., but is reachable at the cell phone number listed above. She will not be returning to Colorado before leaving for England in September. A photo of Knox is available by contacting Mike Liguori at CU News Services, (303) 492-3117. A $300,000 graduate scholarship has been awarded to Janelle Knox, a Cortez, Colo., native who graduated summa cum laude from the University of Colorado at Boulder last year with three majors and a black belt in kung fu.