From: Subject: UW News Stories for Dec. 16, 2004 Date: Fri, 10 Jun 2005 16:39:55 -0600 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/news/2004/december/uwnews16.htm X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.2180 UW News Stories for Dec. 16, 2004

12/16/2004
UW News Service -- Stories included in this=20 transmission

1- STUDY DEMONSTRATES WHY ECOLOGISTS NEED TO = CONSIDER=20 ECONOMICS
2- UW ART MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS TO END WEDNESDAY
3- THE = VALUE OF=20 INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE

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STUDY = DEMONSTRATES WHY ECOLOGISTS NEED TO CONSIDER ECONOMICS

Dec. 16, 2004 -- A study on the nation's exotic species problem, = which=20 reveals that economic activities of humans play a role in the = distribution of=20 exotic plants, may push ecologists and economists to work together.

"The problem is that exotic species have large economic and = environmental=20 costs," says Brad Taylor, a doctoral degree candidate in ecology in the=20 University of Wyoming College of Arts and Sciences Department of Zoology = and=20 Physiology. "They are transforming native ecosystems. Modifying some of = our=20 economic activities may help solve the problem or at least slow the = spread of=20 exotics."
Taylor, along with Rebecca Irwin, an assistant professor at = Dartmouth College, published a study that connects ecology, economics, = and human=20 population to the distribution of exotic plants. Their findings are = published in=20 the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States = of=20 America (PNAS), one of the world's most cited multi-disciplinary = scientific=20 journals. The authors say that the connection "provides a framework for=20 understanding the distribution of exotic plants in the United States and = other=20 nations."

The findings suggest that per capita economic activity has a strong = direct=20 positive effect on the number of exotic plants in the 50 U.S. states, = and that=20 human population size is indirectly related to the number of exotics. = The=20 article, titled "Linking Economic Activities to the Distribution of = Exotic=20 Plants," first appeared online in the Dec. 9 PNAS Early Edition and will = be=20 published in print Dec. 21.
Noting that studies are needed to = identify=20 factors that potentially may be linked to the distribution of exotic = plants,=20 Irwin says, "Economic activity is the one factor we chose to highlight, = although=20 it is not the only factor."

"We hope the public and elected officials will pay attention to this = message=20 in order to preserve biodiversity and ecosystem function," adds = Taylor.

The researchers use the economic activity of real estate development = in their=20 test models. They say real estate activity includes land-use change and = the=20 introduction of new exotic species.

Examples of this economic activity related to the establishment and = spread of=20 exotic plants are the disturbance of natural landscapes through = construction,=20 and landscaping of property.

"The research provides evidence that human behaviors matter in terms = of=20 effects we have on the environment," says Taylor. "If we modify some of = those=20 human behaviors, such as how we develop and manage land, then we may = reduce the=20 degree of environmental change resulting from those behaviors. The = message is=20 not gloom and doom, there are potential solutions.

"Yet, ecologists need to determine how economics fits into ecological = systems=20 and vice versa. The notion that human activities impact the environment = is not=20 new, however, more work is needed related to understanding how = ecological and=20 economic factors, plus human population size, affect our most pressing=20 environmental issues.

"It is satisfying to work on a project that potentially has = implications for=20 solving an environmental problem," Taylor says. "Interdisciplinary = thinking is=20 the key."

PNAS is published by the National Academy of Sciences. For more = information,=20 visit the Web site at www.pnas.org/ =

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UW ART MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS = TO END=20 WEDNESDAY

Dec. 16, 2004 -- Wednesday, Dec. 22, will be the last day to view = fall=20 exhibitions on display at the University of Wyoming Art Museum.

The museum, located in the Centennial Complex at 2111 Willett Drive, = will be=20 open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. through Dec. 22, and then = will be=20 closed through Feb. 23.

Exhibitions that will end Wednesday include "Afterburn: Willie Cole = selected=20 works 1997-2003"; "Selections from the African Art Collection of the UW = Art=20 Museum"; "Sport, Science and Nameless Delights: Nabokov's Wyoming = Butterflies";=20 Rosamond Purcell: Deception, Fate, and Rotten Luck -- Dice from the = Ricky Jay=20 Collection"; and "European Perspective: Selected Works from the = Permanent=20 Collection."

Admission and parking are always free. For more information, visit=20 http://www.uwyo.edu/artmuseum.

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THE=20 VALUE OF INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE
By Philip L. Dubois
President, = University=20 of Wyoming

This fall, the University of Wyoming experienced a 7.7 percent = increase in=20 the enrollment of international students, a marked contrast to the 2.4 = percent=20 decline at universities nationwide.

Although this is good news for internationalizing the university, = these gains=20 are offset by other sobering news. Only 2 percent of UW students study = abroad=20 for any length of time or gain what can truly be called international=20 competence. Why should we care?

Immigrants to the United States have long contributed to our economy = and=20 society. For example, some of America's current leading-edge = corporations were=20 started by foreign-born, American-educated students, such as Google = co-founder=20 Sergey Brin and Hotmail co-founder Sabeer Bhatia. In fact, according to = the=20 Harvard Business Review, foreign-owned companies and foreign-born = inventors=20 account for nearly half of all patents issued in the United States.

Here at UW, important energy research is being conducted by faculty = members=20 and research scientists from countries including China, Poland, India, = and the=20 United Kingdom. Other international members of the faculty also = contribute to=20 our teaching, research, and service missions. Many came to the United = States for=20 all or some of their higher education.

Clearly, we benefit from the experience and perspective of = international=20 students who come to study in the United States, but it's also important = for=20 Wyoming students to prepare themselves for careers affected by the = global=20 economy. Wyoming has given this nation many accomplished, globally = adept,=20 political and business leaders. But the world has changed quickly since = 9/11,=20 and our students must be prepared to engage not only with countries that = are=20 familiar to most of us, but also those that until recently were just = place names=20 on a map. This is an area where -- according to a recent survey of UW = students=20 -- we have much room for improvement.

The survey demonstrated a startling disconnect between students' = abstract=20 ideas about the value of international education and how they translate = those=20 ideas into action.

-- 86.2 percent of UW students studied a foreign language in high = school,=20 but only 31.3 percent continue or begin to study one at UW;
-- When = it=20 comes to global competitiveness, 73 percent of the UW students = surveyed said=20 language study is important or very important for a job, but 55.6 = percent said=20 it should not be required;
-- 85.8 percent said study of foreign = cultures=20 and knowledge of the world are important or very important for a job, = but less=20 than half said it should not be a required part of a college = curriculum;=20 and
-- 10.4 percent say they plan to study abroad while at UW, but = only 2=20 percent do.

Students who have engaged in an international experience or become = more=20 fluent in a foreign language say they find it enormously valuable for = their=20 personal and professional growth. So, why don't more UW students take = advantage=20 of these opportunities? The two reasons most frequently cited by = students are=20 that they think it will delay graduation or is too expensive. Both are=20 misconceptions.

The UW International Programs office is a one-stop shop for students=20 interested in study abroad, facilitating international education in a = host of=20 European countries, South and Central America, Asia, Africa, Australia = and New=20 Zealand. Exchange advisors help find the best match for a student's = academic and=20 cultural interests, assist the student in selecting course options, and, = when=20 necessary, petition the appropriate academic departments for UW course=20 equivalencies and credit. It's that easy, and students stay on track for = timely=20 graduation.

Numerous scholarships are available for students interested in study = abroad,=20 including five established and funded at UW and nine national programs = in which=20 UW participates. Many UW students find that the financial aid that eases = the=20 cost of their education in Laramie can be applied toward an = international=20 educational experience, including nations where foreign language skills = can be=20 honed sufficiently for a lifetime.

Our goal during the next five years is to double the number of = students=20 engaged in international study. We have the structures in place to help = students=20 participate in an international experience once they get to UW, but it = will take=20 the help of public school teachers, counselors, and parents, who = recognize that=20 national interests and students' goals meet in study abroad. To advance = the=20 nation's security and economic interests, UW students must move from a = mere=20 appreciation of the importance of an international education to an = active=20 involvement in building their global competence.

It's time for us all to connect our students to the new realities of = global=20 interconnectedness, for their own sake and for the sake of our=20 nation.