Dr. Solomon Bililign, professor of physics and director of the NOAA-ISET Center at N.C. A&T, organized and chaired a session, “The Role of Physics in Geosciences: Earth and Atmospheric Physics and Climate Physics,” at the 80th annual meeting of the Southeastern Section of the American Physical Society in Bowling Green, Ky., Nov. 20–23. Broadly speaking, geosciences include atmospheric sciences (climate, weather, atmospheric chemistry and physics, meteorology), biogeosciences, global environmental change, hydrology, ocean sciences, natural hazard, planetary sciences, solar, physics, mineral and rock physics, seismology, tectonics, geochemistry and petrology. The session showed the central role physics plays in some of these areas and how physics departments can enhance enrollment by increasing applied areas in geosciences.

Dr. Goldie Byrd, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, has received the Women of Vision Award of Excellence in the category of Leadership in Higher Education Administration, Science and Research, from the Durham Alumnae Chapter of the Bennett College National Alumnae Association. The award is given to those whose dreams, vision and legacy nationally impact many and serve as a model for women and others around the world.

The chapter cited Byrd for excellence in teaching, leadership and research at the universities where she has served. She is a past recipient of the University of North Carolina Board of Governors Award for Teaching Excellence, the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring from President Barack Obama, and the Triad Business Journal Women in Business Award. In addition, the Alzheimer’s Association has recognized Byrd for her research in the genetics of Alzheimer’s disease in African Americans.

Dr. Manuel R. Reyes, professor of biological engineering, along with Ken C. Tangcalagan, Ma Elen Chiong-Javier, recently gave two presentations at De La Salle University in the Philippines: “Role of Vegetables and Fruits in Nutrition Security: Recommendations for Conservation Agriculture Production Systems” and “Gendered Benefits and Challenges of Conservation Agriculture; Implications for Smallholder Adoption in Developing Countries.”