11/21/09

Earlier this week I traveled with Walt Willett to Kuwait for the Dasman Conference on the Approaches to Preventing Chronic Diseases.  I was on my best behavior at meals sitting next to Walt.  A long trip but a worthwhile conference and great opportunity to see and hear about the work being done at the Dasman Center.  Enjoyed the opportunity to speak with friend and colleague, Kazem Behbehani who is Director of the Center.  Also met up with John Evans on efforts in Kuwait and Cyprus.
 
Enjoyed the EER get together at the Boston Beer Works Thursday night.  Lots of fun to see everyone after hours.  Almost arrived too late for food and beer, which I was looking forward to after my trip to Kuwait.  Only blueberry beer left. I don't like things floating in my beer.  However the students and fellows made sure I had beer and snacks. Thanks!
 
Shane Snyder and his wife Erin are in town for the Whittenberger lecture and house hunting.  As I mentioned last week Shane is our new Associate Professor of Aquatic Science.  Hope you had a chance to meet Shane's and hear his talk today "Formation, Identification, and Mitigation of emerging Disinfection Byproducts".
 
Congratulations to Christina Hemphill who attended the ISES conference in Minneapolis last week and was awarded 3rd place in the student poster competition. This is particularly noteworthy as it was Christina's first poster submission!  The title was Identification of pesticide residue sources in low-income African-American households using positive matrix factorization.

Condolences to Jeff Fredberg whose mother passed away last week.  Our thoughts are with you Jeff.
 
Simone Vinati and Andrea Zelioli visited from Italy this week to assist Phil Demokritou set up new lab equipment.  This was a critical step and great progress to completing Phil's new lab and beginning his nanoparticle research.
 
Please note that Barbara Zuckerman has relocated to room 1304A and can now be reached at 432-2109.
 
Hope to see everyone at the Whittenberger Symposium and lecture Monday starting at 1:30 at the Martin Conference Center on Avenue Louis Pasteur!  Until then have a great weekend.
 
Doug