ASTR 016 Observational Astronomy
This course, meant for non-majors, will focus on the most basic aspects of astronomy and will be observing-intensive, taking full advantage of various telescopes housed on the Williams College observing deck. Topics to be covered will include the constellations and night sky in general, stars, planets, the moon, and the sun. Study of these topics will require a mix of both day and night class sessions during which students will be required to make observations at the telescopes. Student observations will be recorded in drawings, notes, and computer printouts of images.
Observing will take place on all class dates during which the sky is clear. On those days when the sky is cloudy, we will do in-class exercises or discuss topics in astronomy, such as the results from the Hubble Space Telescope and from solar eclipses.
BIOL 013 Diet, Exercise, and Metabolism
This course will consider some of the complex interactions between diet, exercise, and the body's metabolism. A partial list of the topics includes: how different types of food are used in the body; how training (exercise) influences metabolism; how metabolism influences performance; changes in metabolism during fasting and starvation; how drugs affect metabolism; and long-term considerations of diet and health.
CHEM 012 Science and Archaeology
The application of the natural sciences to archaeology and paleoanthropology is a relatively recent development, yet it is having a profound effect on these fields. A classic example, familiar to most people, is Carbon-14 dating. But as well as helping to determine how old an object is, scientific methods may tell the archaeologist where the object came from and how it was made, factors not only interesting in themselves, but useful in distinguishing genuine artifacts from forgeries. Chemistry also plays an important role in the conservation of antiquities.
CSCI 012 Databases: Making Order Out of Chaos
How can the IRS keep track of the earnings of all wage-earners in the U.S. and still have time to track down people who don't pay taxes? How can the ticket taker in the Dining Halls tell you within a few seconds whether you are eligible to eat? The answer to these questions is made possibly by the use of databases. Recent years have seen an explosion in the amount of information available electronically. As society moves more and more toward electronic storage and retrieval of data, how data gets stored and who has access to it will become increasingly pressing issues. These are concerns for the design and use of databases.
Students in this database course will learn about factors to consider in designing a database, including query languages, processing, and optimization as they impact issues such as the user- interface and database security. An important part of the course will be consideration of privacy issues and other social implications of the existence of massive databases.
FRSE 005 Changing Global Patterns
We are in the midst of a grand experiment - changing the composition of our atmosphere. How might the global ecosystem respond to these changes? We are all concerned about the answer to this basic question. The status of the environment has become and will continue to be a major issue to the world community for decades to come. A survey of the present climate, vegetation, and soil/water systems will provide us with the necessary baseline, and we will examine the socio- political context that has brought us to our current state. Through readings and discussions, we will look at all these systems in flux. As changes occur, who will flourish and who will bite the dust? Where will you be skiing in 2020? Predicting future scenarios forces us to look to the past in order to model that future. Numerous computer models still strive to understand the present climate systems while the geologic record tells us of ancient climatic reversals, some remarkably rapid and recent. We will close the month by speculating on the future.
MATH 015 The Comedy Writing Workshop
Have you ever attempted to get a laugh in front of a crowd? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to write comedy material or how comedy has evolved to where it is? Have you ever tried to do ad lib? If you answered 'yes' then this was the Winter Study course for you! In this new Winter Study over 30 student studied issues of comedy and what makes people laugh. Here students were creative and inventive in a slightly less traditional academic pursuit. Students wrote and edited original comedy material including monologues, short stories and skits. Although we studied the work of a number of famous radio and television comedians, contrasted and classified different styles in an attempt to connect them with current styles of comedy, we mainly concentrated on creating different forms of comedy. The class produced the very successful special comedy show: "The Williams Winter Comedy Hour" in late January to a crowd of over 200. The course also spawned a new comedy troupe on campus named Blue Tortilla.
PHYS 010 Light and Holography
This course examines the art and science of holography. It introduces modern optics at a level appropriate for a student majoring outside of the sciences, giving the necessary theoretical background in lectures and discussion. Students, most of whom have no prior college lab experience, will explore a variety of holographic techniques, from the basic transmission setup to a sophisticated copy technique in which one makes a hologram of a hologram to achieve an image that projects out from the photographic plate.
PSYC 010 Stereotypes in the Media: Explicit and Implicit Messages
The images and messages presented by the media not only reflect but also help shape who we are and what we believe. Among the messages that are transmitted from the media are those concerning stereotypes of and prejudices toward various groups of people (e.g., based on race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, etc.). These messages are sometimes explicit, as in a film about racial conflict, but they are often more implicit, as in the stereotyped depictions of women in a TV commercial. This course will examine both explicit and implicit messages embedded in the media. Regarding the explicit messages, we will watch and discuss several films that are concerned with issues of stereotypes and prejudice. Regarding the implicit messages, students will plan and conduct studies that are designed to examine some of the hidden messages that the media (e.g., television, print advertising, newspaper stories) are offering that are likely to create, perpetuate, or revise various stereotypes and prejudices. A written report of the research findings is required.
During the initial part of the course, the class will meet to go over background material and methodological issues and to watch and discuss films. During the middle part of the course, students will conduct the research and meet with the instructor individually or in small groups. During the last section of the course, the class will meet to watch and discuss films and to discuss the results of the studies.
In a real sense, the programs of the Bronfman Science Center lie at the heart of the Science Division. It is here that we carryout such vital functions as the coordination of grant proposals to federal agencies and private foundations, the distribution of more than $150,000 of research funds annually, and the allocation of increasingly precious space within the science division. The faculty and student research projects and summer research opportunities supported by internal divisional funds, as well as those supported by external grants, are detailed below and in the various departmental reports.
In 1993-94, individual Williams College science faculty received over $1,000,000 from active federal grants alone to purchase equipment and to support student-faculty research projects.
The summer is a relaxed, yet concentrated time without competing course work to interrupt the collaborative efforts between students and faculty. In addition to the research experience and an annual science division picnic, Bronfman sponsors a weekly Tuesday luncheon that features a lecture by one of the faculty on current research. Summer is truly one of the most enjoyable seasons in Williamstown.
1994 Summer Science Students and Their Faculty Advisors
Full or partial federal, foundation and alumni support for summer student stipends was provided by the following sources:
The Program ran for five weeks during July and August of 1994. Students took classes in chemistry (including a major laboratory component), mathematics and English (literature and expository writing). Although not replicas of Williams' academic year offerings, the Summer Science Program classes are taught at a college level, thus introducing participants to the rigors and demands of college academics.
In addition to regular classes, students participated in biology and geology in-the-field experiments. The students engaged in a variety of extracurricular activities, including the Williamstown Theater Festival, and a day trip to Boston. They also participated in many of the activities of the Williams science students who were on campus doing research in the sciences.
Since the first Summer Science Program in 1987, over 90 minority students have participated. Enthusiasm for the Program has been high. Participants have appreciated the opportunity to study at Williams in the summer. Their academic year experiences have, as a result of the Program, been successful and many of the students have continued their studies in science or mathematics. A significant number of participants have returned later as summer research students in science and mathematics, as tutors for the Summer Science Program or they have secured positions elsewhere in science research institutes. Overall, approximately 90% of the 1987 through 1990 SSP participants have graduated from Williams College. Nearly 50% have continued on to graduate programs in science, medical schools or science related positions. Those students who have left science related activities bring to their careers a strong background in science and mathematics.
Professor Olga R. Beaver continued to direct the Program and to teach the mathematics component. Professor Charles M. Lovett taught the chemistry classes, Professor David P. Richardson conducted the laboratory sessions, and Professor David L. Smith taught the English sessions. Also, Adrienne Wootters lectured in the mathematics component. Dr. Michael Payne led the students in discussions of goals, data management, and approaches to college life. The excellent tutors for the Program in 1994 were Andrea Patten '95 (SSP-'91), Rich Cordero '96 (SSP-'92) and Jean Raphael '97 (SSP-'93). Several former SSP students were on campus in the summer to do research and contributed much to the spirit of the 1994 Program: Jebrell Glover '95, Adrian Rossi '95, Krystal Williams '96, Frank Rosado '96, Vy Bui '97 and Lauren Araiza '97. Williams alumnae, Kristina Broadhurst '92 and Sara Diaz '93 were mainstays and major sources of support for both the Program and the Director.
The SSP is now becoming a "family tradition.". Last year Kristina Broadhurst's sister, Karyna Broadhurst '97 became the first sibling of an SSP-er to participate, while participant Jean Raphael '97 is brother of SSP 1992 tutor Jenny Raphael '93. As noted above, Jean will himself be a tutor this summer. This summer welcomed Nyesha Hinds '98, sister of Nikki Hinds '95 (SSP-'91).
The Summer Science Program has been principally funded by Williams College as part of the institution's commitment to encourage women and minorities in the sciences. From 1987 to 1990, follow-up activities during the academic year were also supported by a GTE Focus Grant for Minorities. In 1991, SSP received additional funding from a five-year biological sciences award from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. This grant contributed support for several SSP components, including the biology laboratories, travel to Boston, the support lectures of Dr. Payne, and for a modest increase of students. Special thanks go to the many science faculty and students of Williams College who, during both the summer as well as the academic year, have taken time to encourage the successes of the Program and its students.
During the 1992-93 academic year, our club sponsored two speakers in its annual Sigma Xi Research Lecture series. In October, Professor Heather Williams, Department of Biology presented lectures titled, "Bird Song: The Perfect Problems, Part I: Learning to Communicate" and "Part II: Differences Hemispheric and Sexual." In April, Professor Duane Bailey, Department of Computer Science, presented lectures titled, "Growing Massively Parallel Programs" and "Supporting Patterned Communication in Parallel Programs." Both sets of lectures were interesting and informative and receptions were held to honor each speaker.
Once again our Sigma Xi Club cosponsored a Math/Science Event to honor the seventh and eighth grade winners of regional science fairs. On May 14, approximately 100 students came to the campus for a morning of activities and presentations. These students represented the following schools: Hoosac Middle, Notre Dame Middle, Conte Middle, Nessacus Middle, Berkshire Country Day, St. Stanislaus, Reid Middle, Mt. Greylock Regional., and Pine Cobble.
Professor Frank Morgan of the Department of Mathematics began the Math/Science Event program with his very popular "Soap Bubble Geometry Contest." Afterwards the students were divided into eleven groups and attended the presentations and activities. These included: Professor Lee Park, Department of Chemistry, "Polymers Everywhere-From Slime to Soda Bottles;" Professor Victor Hill, Department of Mathematics, "Story Problems in History and in Fact;" Professor Larry Kaplan, Department of Chemistry, "Forensic Chemistry;" Professor Bud Wobus, Geology Department, "Seeing Through Stone;" Professor Andy Koch, Department of Chemistry, "Hands on Chemistry;" Professor Ed Burger, Mathematics Department, "Making Conjectures and Proving Them Hands-On in Geometry;" Professor Duane Bailey, Department of Computer Science, "Parallel Computers;" and Ms. MaryEllen Groccia-Ellison and Mr. Bo-Yi Yang, Psychology Department, "Brain, Memory, and Learning."
In addition, Ms. Karen Gloria, of the Department of Astronomy, coordinated assistants in demonstrating the telescope facility with "Eyes on the Sky;" Electron Microscopy Technician Ms. Nancy Piatczyc demonstrated the electron microscope; and Center for Environmental Studies Technical Assistant Ms. Sandy Brown performed "Water Chemistry Experiments." After the presentations, the participants enjoyed a pizza lunch courtesy of Specialty Minerals, Inc. Each participant was given a liquid crystal thermometer/paper weight with the logo of the Consortium for the Improvement of Math and Science Teaching (CIMST). In addition to the Sigma Xi Club, the entire program was cosponsored by the CIMST, director Gus Leibowitz of North Adams State College, Specialty Minerals, Inc., coordinated by Mr. Butch Parrott, and GE Plastics, Inc., coordinated by Mr. Bruce Farren and Mr. Dan Adamas.
The Sigma Xi Club also sponsored a High School Science Award for a student at Mount Greylock Regional High School in recognition of a high level of motivation and accomplishment in science courses. This year, the award was made to David Sussman.
One of the primary purposes of Sigma Xi is to recognize graduating science students who have demonstrated exceptional ability and promise for further contributions to the advancement of scientific research. These students are elected as associate Members of Sigma Xi and are inducted into the Society at a ceremony during Class Day on Commencement Weekend. A detailed description of their research projects is presented elsewhere in this Report. The Associate Members from the class of 1994 are:
Associate Sigma Xi Members from the Class of 1994