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Making a Difference Every Day, Everywhere
We are finding better ways to teach science to kids in urban environments—through the Center for Learning Technologies in Urban Schools. Louis Gomez, Aon Professor in Learning Sciences at the School of Education and Social Policy, is showing how hands–on experience and technology are the best tools for learning about science. His mission at LeTUS, the Center for Learning Technologies in Urban Schools, is to make the necessary resources and curricula available for urban high school students to study biology, the environment, health, and physics. Gomez has received support in 2003 from the Aon Foundation and many others. We are working to educate South Africans about HIV/AIDS—through the expansion of Medill’s Teaching Media program. In 2003 the Medill School of Journalism expanded Teaching Media, its junior–year nationwide internship program, to include placements in South Africa. With the support of the Alphawood Foundation, students reported on HIV/AIDS while working at newspapers in Cape Town and Johannesburg. “Working in South Africa forced me to reflect upon why it is that we practice journalism the way we do, rather than simply teaching me the mechanics,” says Lauren Taiclet (Medill 04). The program has received additional support from the Scripps Howard Foundation, the Doran Family Foundation, Jim Pearre (Medill 64) and Diane De Rocher, and others, and has expanded to include a post in India. We are working to improve the welfare system—through the New Hope Project. Greg Duncan, Edwina S. Tarry Professor of Education at the School of Education and Social Policy, released his latest evaluation of The New Hope Project. The multi-year study in conjunction with the Institute for Policy Research and MDRC assessed the effects of welfare reform on low–income workers and their families. We’re teaching more about global cultures—through cross-school courses like Arts of Japan. In cross-school courses and public symposia, Arts of Japan featured several Japanese art forms, including ikebana (flower arranging), theater, and the tea ceremony. This event, held in conjunction with the Center for Global Culture and Communication, was supported by gifts from the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Foundation and the School of Communication Dean’s Fund (an unrestricted fund), and others. We’re contributing to knowledge about the human genome—through the Chemistry of Life Processes Institute. Northwestern faculty–researchers from a variety of disciplines are behind the growing Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, which is promoting scientific collaboration to advance discoveries in pharmaceuticals, genetics, nanotechnology, and other fields. Support from former faculty member Dr. John Corcoran and others will help further this ambitious endeavor. We’re encouraging fresh perspectives in art and music—through programs like the Visiting Artist Series. Visiting artists offer students a fresh perspective on the art of being a musician. A 2003 pledge from Ruth Dunbar Davee (G 37, G 42) will establish the Evelyn Dunbar Visiting Artist Series, which will allow students to attend master classes with internationally recognized visiting performers. These artists will also hold public performances at the School of Music. We’re leading the charge to investigate wrongful execution—through the Center on Wrongful Convictions. In 2003 Northwestern students and faculty played a key role in the blanket clemency that was granted to Illinois prisoners on death row. With gifts from the Arie and Ida Crown Memorial and others, the Center on Wrongful Convictions is pushing for the next wave of reforms. We are working to find a cure for AIDS—through the Fred and Norman A. Drucker Virology Research Laboratories. The Fred and Norman A. Drucker Virology Research Laboratories, supported by the Drucker Family Foundation through the Midwest AIDS Foundation, will advance the work of the Division of Infectious Diseases. Using a floor of laboratories in the new Robert H. Lurie Medical Research Center of Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine researchers will continue their charge against HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases. We continue to fight cancer—through the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center. At The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, every cancer survivor has a unique story of triumph. For Allan Ackerman, his own victory has provided new opportunities to give back. Last year, he launched a fundraising drive to support cancer research, which culminated when Ackerman, his wife, and his son completed the Chicago Marathon, each for the first time. Ackerman donated all proceeds to the Cancer Center, where he received his treatment. His gifts, like other annual contributions, help support all aspects of this facility, from research to patient care. We are developing new ways for medical teams to work collaboratively—through the Life Sciences Pavilion. The four-story, 174,000-square-foot Arthur and Gladys Pancoe–Evanston Northwestern Healthcare Life Sciences Pavilion was designed to foster teamwork across disciplines and to strengthen the cooperative partnerships between the University, Evanston Northwestern Healthcare, and other institutions. Central to the facility is the 105-seat Abbott Laboratories Auditorium, a “smart” classroom with complete videoconferencing capabilities, made possible with a 2003 pledge from Abbott Labs. We are inspired to find new approaches to distance education—through courses like Engineering Analysis. McCormick and Knowledge Dynamics have teamed up to test an alternative to traditional classroom learning. With the support of James (McC 45) and Margie Krebs (SESP 50) and others, Engineering Analysis 3 (EA3) classes are now piloting new technology that allows students to take courses online and to learn at their own pace. |
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