Drs. Cramer, Hood, Lorence participate in symposium Dr. Carole Cramer, ABI, Dr. Elizabeth Hood, Agriculture, and Dr. Argelia Lorence, Plant Metabolic Engineering, recently participated in a symposium on biofuels and plant-produced products at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Worcester, Mass. The symposium is a collaborative effort between ASU’s Arkansas Biosciences Institute and WPI’s Bioengineering Institute and Department of Biology and Biotechnology. The symposium at WPI was the brainchild of Dr. Pam Weathers, former Judd Hill Endowed Chair in Agricultural Biotechnology, at ASU for the last two years. Dr. Weathers has now returned to WPI as a professor of biology and biotechnology. The symposium will showcase new opportunities which have been developed between ASU’s research in agriculture and human health, and WPI, where engineering and biology relate to plant-produced products and biofuels. Topics include the latest research on cellulosic ethanol, therapeutics produced from tobacco root, and other plant-based research programs aimed at improving human health and the environment. For details, including media updates on symposium coverage, see the NewsPage release. Dr. Wilkerson Freeman curates historic photo exhibition Dr. Sarah Wilkerson Freeman, History, has curated and  launched “Portraits of Canal Street,” an exhibition of more than 50 historic photographs by fashion and portrait photographer Jack Robinson, at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel, 500 Canal Street, New Orleans, La. The official opening reception for the show is Thursday, Oct. 30, from 5-7 p.m. The exhibition runs through Sunday, January 18, 2009. The exhibition is free and open to the public. Part of this installation hangs in the Sheraton’s windows on Canal Street, giving viewers the sense of walking back in time. The photographs depict New Orleans street scenes circa 1950, taken by the Mississippi-born Robinson, an internationally recognized fashion and portrait photographer for Vogue magazine. Dr. Wilkerson Freeman received exclusive access to Robinson’s materials from the Jack Robinson Archive and Gallery in Memphis. Her first world premiere of Robinson's work, “Capturing Southern Bohemia: Jack Robinson’s New Orleans photographs 1950-1955,” was mounted at the Newcomb Art Gallery in April, 2006, and was the first exhibition held there when the gallery reopened after Hurricane Katrina. For details, and an example of Robinson's work, see the NewsPage release. Small Business Development Center changes its name The Arkansas Small Business Development Center, the state’s largest and most comprehensive business assistance program, has a new name—Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center (ASBTDC). The change was announced at a press conference Tuesday, Oct. 28, in the rotunda of the Fowler Center on the Arkansas State University campus. The ASU Small Business Development Center is now the ASU SBTDC. ASU vice chancellor for Academic Affairs and Research Dr. G. Daniel Howard, College of Business dean Dr. Len Frey, executive director of the ASU Delta Center for Economic Development Alan McVey, ASU SBTDC director Herb Lawrence and other ASBTDC officials were on hand for the announcement. The name change underscores the program’s commitment to helping Arkansas science and technology entrepreneurs pursue new ideas and to helping all types of small businesses apply technology. The center earned special technology accreditation from the National Association of Small Business Development Centers late last year. Of 63 SBDCs across the country, Arkansas was just the fifth to receive the technology designation. For details, For additional information, contact Herb Lawrence, ext. 3517 or see the NewsPage release. ASU University Singers to perform in concert Correction: The Department of Music at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro will present the ASU University Singers in concert on November 2 at 3 p.m. in Riceland Hall, Fowler Center. For details, call ext. 2094, or see the NewsPage release. Back to the top