Grad News Forum

Ryan McManus ’15 (second from left), Ed von Kuhn ’14 (third from left), Orion House residential coordinator Justin Fromer (center, blue shirt), Rob Lauzen ’15, fourth from right, and William Guinee ’15 (right) visit with Orion House residents.

Ron Bucca and Desmond Webster, Master of Arts in Liberal Studies students, cited in Dartmouth Now for work with Orion House.

When Rob Lauzen ’15 volunteered to visit the Orion House, a residential treatment facility serving males ages 11 to 19, he had no idea how he could connect with the residents. But that changed quickly.

“After our first visit, it wasn’t like we were doing community service,” he says. “It’s a lot of fun. We are just going, hanging out with some great kids, and trying to do a little bit of good.”

It seems to be working.

Nearly every week since October, a group of Dartmouth football players and graduate student military veterans have made the 40-minute drive south to Orion House in Newport, N.H. Orion House takes in underprivileged adolescent males who suffer from substance abuse, have family problems, and/or are dealing with emotional and behavioral issues.

It all began when Ron Bucca, a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MALS) student, heard about the not-for-profit from a friend. Shortly thereafter, Bucca, a U.S. Army Staff Sergeant, and other members of the Dartmouth Graduate Veterans Association traveled to the residential facility.

But after a few trips, Bucca thought Orion House residents might connect better with Dartmouth student-athletes: There would be less of an age gap between the residents, and the boys might have more in common with athletes, since nearly all the Orion House residents play sports. So Bucca approached classmate and football player Edward von Kuhn ’14 about volunteering at Orion House. Once football season ended, Von Kuhn and a crew of teammates joined the veterans on a trip to Orion House.

“When the football guys started coming,” Bucca says, “that’s when this really took off.”

For the full article go to the Dartmouth Now.

Photo by Eli Burakian

Graduates Mentoring Undergraduates: Ellen and Ramsa

Graduate student Ramsa Chaves Ulloa and undergraduate Ellen Irwin discuss lab work, fieldwork, mosquitos, and, most importantly, friendship, mentoring, and mutual development.

On Wednesday April 10^th, the Graduate Studies Office hosted the annual Graduate Poster Session. This event gives graduate students the opportunity to present their research to a wide audience. It also serves as the setting for the presentations of the Graduate Community Award, Faculty Mentoring Award, and four Poster Awards.

In a crammed Alumni Hall, graduate students congregated to share their knowledge and learn from their colleagues. Along with students, faculty, and members of the local community was President Carol Folt and the Dean of Graduate Studies F. Jon Kull.

Sadik Antwi-Boampong from the Chemistry Department explains his poster.

In total, four Poster Awards were given out.  A carefully chosen panel from different backgrounds and disciplines was selected to pick award winners. The judges’ criteria were wide-ranging: from how clear the posters were to the practical implications of the research. Students had just a few minutes to explain their work to the panel members. Speaking about selecting the winners, Assistant Dean of Graduate Studies Gary Hutchins noted: “It’s always tough because the quality of competitors is so high.” Hutchins continued, “This year we chose Marianna Kleyman because we were particularly impressed by how clearly she communicated her research.”

The Poster Award winners were:  Sadik Antwi-Boampong for his poster on the “Detection of Formaldehyde Vapor Using Conductive Polymer Films.” Antwi-Boampong is from the Department of Chemistry and advised by Joseph Belbruno. From the Department of Earth Sciences was John Gartner, advised by Carl Renshaw. His poster was on “Irene Landslides and Sedimentation in Vermont Rivers: Importance of Gradients in Transport Capacity.” Marianna Kleyman, from the Department of Biochemistry also won. She is advised by Duane Compton, and her poster was titled “STAG2 Regulates Kinetochore-Microtubule Attachments in Human Cells.” Alexander Schlegel, from the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences was the final winner. He is advised by Peter Tse and won for his poster “A Neural Network Supporting Mental Operations on Visual Imagery.”

Ron Bucca and Marie Onakomaiya won the Graduate Community Award jointly. Bucca, a second year Master of Arts in Liberal Studies student, received his award for work as the Student Life Chair of the Graduate Student Council and as the Chair of the Dartmouth Graduate Veterans Association. Onakomaiya is a fourth year PhD student in the Department of Physiology and Neurobiology in the Program of Experimental and Molecular Medicine. She received her award for, amongst other endeavors, her work with the Graduate Relief Team.

Professor Kathryn Cottingham and Professor Robert Hawley were this year’s recipients of the Graduate Faculty Mentoring Award. This award is given by the Graduate Student Council for exceptional service to graduate students. The award is guided by graduate student nominations and reflects the hard work that both students and faculty put into graduate research at Dartmouth.

The combination of different awards adds to the poster session in that it illustrates the holistic nature of the Dartmouth graduate experience. World-class research goes hand in hand with graduate students’ relationship with the community and faculty.

Speaking on the event, Dean Kull remarked: “The poster session was really a fascinating event. It shows the diversity of disciplines of our graduate students as well as the hard work that goes into PhD and Master’s programs.”

The poster session provides the opportunity for graduate students to proudly demonstrate their research to a wide-ranging audience. It is a key date on the graduate students’ calendar.

“It really brings the graduate experience together,” says Kull.

by Dan Durcan

On Saturday, April 6^th, over 150 children and adults turned out for the very first Science Day at Dartmouth. F. Jon Kull, dean of Graduate Studies, dubbed Science Day, organized by Graduate Women in Science and Engineering (GWISE), a “great success.”

Anna Prescott and Aarathi Prasaad, PhD candidates in Psychological and Brain Sciences (PBS) and Computer Science respectively, organized the event with help from a small army of volunteers from across Graduate Studies. The aim of the event was to excite children about the sciences and being a scientist. Graduate students, being highly motivated scientists, were up to the challenge.

A graduate student walks a young person through a computer simulation.

Another motivation behind Science Day was to encourage female participation in the sciences.  Dartmouth graduate students have a reputation of challenging the “science is for boys” stereotype. Science Day was no exception. “Over 50% of women led activities or gave demonstrations,” says Prescott. Whilst men were not discouraged, the high interest of female scientists in the event showed young people that science is gender neutral.

GWISE set up 20 stations from the departments or programs in Earth Sciences, Environmental Studies, Physics and Astronomy, Mathematics, PBS, Computer Science, Neurology and Biological science departments. Activities gave the young people an introduction to each discipline. For example, representatives from the Department of Physics and Astronomy illustrated centrifugal forces with a bike wheel and a rotating chair.

PBS had a particularly popular station. Rachel Pizzie, a PhD candidate in the department, gave participating students a “lie detector test.” She gauged excitement by measuring how well skin conducts electricity. Our hands sweat more when we are surprised or shocked, sweaty hands conduct electricity better. Pizzie placed sensors on volunteers’ hands to measure increases or decreases of sweat. From this she could determine her volunteers’ excitement to questions, much like a polygraph test. The audience’s excitement level did not need such a test.

Many parents noted that they were unable to get to each station, not because there were too many stations, or that the stations were too far apart, but because their children were so engaged that they lingered at each demonstration and activity.

The day’s success was facilitated by the dedicated efforts of graduate students. One parent remarked: “the students were great at explaining their research to the kids, and they had an infectious enthusiasm for research.”

Over 50 graduate students took five or six hours out of their weekend to help. They set up demonstrations, they showed the visitors around the college and they dropped pizza off to their hungry colleagues. Furthermore, GWISE took sole responsibility for organizing and funding the event.

Prescott remarked on the success of the day “there’s just something special about visiting the labs and campus buildings. We really wanted to show kids what careers in science look like.” She continued, “Meeting with enthusiastic kids to tell them about what we study, why it’s cool, why it’s important, and why we love it is a great way to reinvigorate ourselves!”

GWISE is going to build on the success of Science Day 2013, to make Science Day 2014 reach out to even more children and young people.

“Encouraging others to get involved in science is one of the most rewarding experiences a young scientist can have,” says Prescott.

by Dan Durcan

Graduate Student Appreciation Week, commencing April 6, is an annual celebration of the contributions that graduate students bring to Dartmouth. The week combines a wide range of scholarly and social activities.

Graduate students work hard.  Each one knows late nights and early mornings. However, all being said, you will have to look hard to find the graduate student who does not think this is all worthwhile. Graduate students’ dedication to their research and to the education of undergraduates is an invaluable contribution to Dartmouth. The research undertaken in both our PhD and Master’s programs, in both arts and sciences, reinforces Dartmouth as a world-class educational institution. TA-ships see graduate students burning the midnight oil, grading papers and then taking time away from their own work to spend time with students. Those who have done it know how much students benefit from the support of a TA, as a mentor and a role model. Despite the heavy workload and stressful life, graduate student’s community outreach and volunteer work is award-renowned, both in the local community and abroad.

Preparations for the poster session in Alumni Hall on Wednesday 10th April, 5pm-7:30pm.

So every year by the time it gets to spring term, some appreciation is due.

The idea for Graduate Appreciation Week came from the National Association of Graduate-Professional Students (NAGPS). In 1993, NAGPS established Graduate-Professional Student Appreciation Week (GPSAW) as a mechanism to support and appreciate graduate and professional students. Dartmouth proudly sponsors this decade-long tradition.

F. Jon Kull, dean of Graduate Studies, commented on Graduate Appreciation Week:

“I really think it is crucial for the work of graduate students at Dartmouth to be highlighted and appreciated. Being a graduate student is a fantastic thing; it shows a true dedication to learning and advancing in a field or discipline. Dartmouth as an institution is fortunate to have so many enthusiastic and talented graduate students. Their contribution is felt everyday.”

The full range of events can be found here. Keep an eye out for the Graduate Poster Session. The Poster Session displays the best of graduate student talent. There you will see the range of research undertaken and all the hard work paying off. President Carol L. Folt will announce the winners of the Graduate Faculty Mentoring Award at the session. In short, the poster session really brings together many aspects of the graduate student experience.

“Graduate Appreciation Week gives the wider community the opportunity to take stock of their valuable contributions,” says Kull, “The schedule of events shows students they are valued, and the poster session allows their work to be displayed. The poster session is a great opportunity to learn more about Dartmouth Graduate Studies and some of the fantastic things achieved here.”

After the poster session is Pub Night at Molly’s Restaurant and Bar—we all need a break once in a while.

For more information about some of the achievements of Dartmouth’s graduate students, keep posted to the Grad News Forum and our Facebook and Twitter streams.

by Dan Durcan

On Saturday, May 11, members of the Graduate Relief Team will participate in the Dartmouth/Hanover/Lebanon Relay for Life event through the American Cancer Society. Relay for Life is the world’s largest fundraising effort to create a world with more birthdays by eliminating cancer from our lives.

The event held at Dartmouth is just one of over 5,000 events held in the United States, and the United States is just one of 20 participating countries. Each year, participants raise over $3.5 million dollars to be used in support of the American Cancer Society’s mission goals: patient support, prevention, research, and detection/treatment. Through these fundraising efforts, the American Cancer Society has been able to build Hope Lodge facilities across the country to provide free accommodations to patients and caregivers, develop the Road to Recovery program to provide free transportation to patients, and provide unbiased information to constituents 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to help in making informed decisions about cancer treatments.

Like all Relay for Life events, the Dartmouth/Hanover/Lebanon event will have several key moments to recognize the goals of Relay for Life. There will be a Survivor’s Lap, the first lap at every event, to celebrate the strength of the survivors and their caregivers. The Luminaria will be lit in a candlelight ceremony later in the night to remember those who fought cancer in the past and support those who are battling it now. And finally, there will be a Fight Back Ceremony to inspire all Relayers to continue their effort to raise money and awareness and to remind everyone of why we Relay.

Amanda Balboni, Stela Celaj, and Andrew DeCastro at Leverone Field House during last year’s Relay for Life.

Marie Onakomaiya, a member of both the 2012 and 2013 Relay for Life Graduate Relief Teams, described her experience at last year’s event as “amazing.”  She added, ”I think the event showed, in the best way possible, the support and strength within our community to fight back and never give up in trying to overcome the far-reaching effects of cancer. I was especially moved by the Luminaria ceremony where we remembered and honored those who were battling or were lost to cancer.”

Last year, the members of the Graduate Relief Team (Adina Fischer, Amanda Balboni, Andrew DeCastro, Anna Hatch, Fadzai Chinyengetere, Lan Guo, Lisa Marie Mustachio, Marie Onakomaiya, Sondra Downey and Stela Celaj) were able to raise over $1,700 for the Relay for Life event, and with $1,235 raised so far, we are well on our way to surpassing that amount this year.

If you are interested in joining the Relay for Life Graduate Relief Team or supporting our fundraising efforts with a donation, please visit our webpage and look out for future fundraisers happening on campus!

by Erin O’Malley

In late October 2012, Hurricane Sandy ravaged the east coast, bringing severe damage to several states. New York was hit especially hard. The hurricane created billions of dollars in damage, destroyed thousands of homes, and caused 72 deaths, 48 of which were New York inhabitants.  The outpouring of support immediately following Sandy was impressive. The dedication some groups have shown, remaining in the effected area for months and dedicating themselves to those hit hardest, is moving.

Occupy Sandy is one of these groups. Occupy Sandy was organized as a relief effort by members of Occupy Wall Street to help the victims of the hurricane. The group has broken into teams, which cover different effected areas.

On March 14, four Dartmouth graduate students, Daniel Jantos, Ron Bucca, and Zach Williams, all students in the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies program, and Amanda Balboni, a student in the Program in Experimental and Molecular Medicine, traveled down to Staten Island to volunteer with the Yellow Team of Occupy Sandy and provide relief to the hurricane victims.

Over St. Patrick’s Day weekend, the group helped rebuild a home that had been destroyed by the hurricane. The family that lived in the home consisted of a mother, father, two children, and a baby boy, born just a few months after the hurricane hit. The family had recently re-finished their basement to make room for their new addition. The water level had reached three feet on the first floor, completely submerging the basement and destroying almost all of the family’s appliances and possessions. The graduate students worked throughout the weekend to re-insulate the house and put up sheetrock, so that the family could soon move into their home and out of the apartment they are paying for in addition to their mortgage payments. The father worked with the team of graduate students, and remarked that he is thankful for the health and safety of his family, and for his brother’s family, who lives down the street from him and whose home was also destroyed by the storm. This man had neighbors who had lost their lives in the hurricane and was grateful to have only lost his possessions. Numerous volunteers have come from all over the country to team up with Occupy Sandy and provide much needed relief to these families.

Unfortunately, there is still much damage to be repaired from the hurricane. The recovery effort is just getting started. If you would like to volunteer in areas that were affected by Sandy, or would like to donate money, please visit the Occupy Sandy site.

by Amanda Balboni

photos by Zach Williams

The Hanover Inn at Dartmouth, known as “Dartmouth’s front door,” will complete the last phase of its renovation next week with the opening of the Inn’s new restaurant, PINE.

“We are delighted to open the doors to PINE, which will offer the Dartmouth and Upper Valley communities a diverse menu featuring local American cuisine and showcasing farm-to-table concepts with the freshest local ingredients,” says Joe Mellia, general manager of the Inn.

PINE, which opens March 18, 2013, will initially serve dinner only. It will eventually serve lunch and dinner seven days a week, as well as Sunday brunch. Lunch will be offered starting April 15. The restaurant can accommodate 122 guests, and will feature meats and produce from Upper Valley farms. PINE will be overseen by chef-restaurateur Michael Schlow and award-winning chef Justin Dain.

For the full article go to Dartmouth Now.

photo by Eli Burakian ’00

The mountains outside of Petit Drouin.

Back in October of 2012, Ron Bucca, a Dartmouth Graduate student and Army veteran, traveled to Haiti with a desire to listen and learn. A month later, Bucca came back with a simple conclusion about international aid efforts in the tiny country.

“We just need to listen. So many good resources go to waste because plans are made too far from the communities they’re intended to help.”

It might seem simplistic, but for a country facing so many challenges, simplicity can be a boon. Haiti has received an incredible amount of international aid money – over three billion dollars have poured in since the earthquake in 2010  – and yet it remains the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.  For opponents of international relief, these statistics act as validation for pessimistic ideas like “over-dependence.” For Bucca, they suggest something else.

“It seems like the mainstream model for aid is really top-down. Theories are hatched in major institutions, researched in far-away med schools and labs, and polished in high-level meetings. Then they’re packaged for export to a place that doesn’t remotely resemble the places they were born in. Without input or feedback from the population that will use the items, things such as maintenance, practicality, or cultural nuances are ignored and make the aid ineffective.”

So, Bucca used $1,000 in personal and research funding to travel to the island nation this fall with a simple question.

“I just wanted to ask – ‘What do you need help with?’ and ‘How can we help?’”

Bucca worked with the Children’s Nutrition Program (CNP), a small non-profit based in Léogâne. Much of CNP’s staff is Haitian, and the group is committed to finding solutions with a “from Haitians, for Haitians” model.  CNP helped Bucca find a translator and locate two rural villages – areas that have been particularly passed over by relief efforts – where he might be able to find answers for his questions.

A villager in Petit Drouin poses with the cell phone amplifier.

Bucca and his translator hiked into the mountains to Petit Drouin and Guiran. For most of the population in theses villages, Bucca was the first foreigner, or “blan,” they’d ever met. He gathered demographic information and tried to assess local feelings on relief efforts. He wanted to create a picture of the Haitian perception of international relief, so as to alert would-be change agents to some cultural obstacles they might face. He also wanted to see how rural Haitians were interacting with the modern world.

“I was amazed. This far out, almost 85% percent of families owned or had direct access to a cellphone. But they had to walk hours to get any service.”

So, Bucca purchased and installed a portable cell phone amplifier in the village, at the home of the monitrice – a community health worker. As a result, the villagers will have increased access to medical information, and can get immediate answers to their medical questions. In addition, the reduction in travel time for the monitrice, will allow her to administer preventive medicine and monitor additional patients.  For a remote village hours away from the nearest hospital, this kind of instantaneous access may make a major difference in overall health and wellbeing.

After completing work in the first two villages, Bucca left the mountains and headed to Petit Harpon, a slightly less remote village closer to the center of Léogâne. Again, Bucca sat with villagers to see what they thought would help them break out of cyclical poverty and limited opportunity. He realized they had access to the Internet, but lacked the hardware or computer skills to utilize it.

“They recognized that they didn’t have the chance to learn any modern skills. They felt left out – the children would be stuck subsistence farming, because they lacked these skills and the resources required to obtain them.”

So, Bucca found a computer teacher who could commute to the village school to teach the young people in Petit Harpon the computer skills that could get them a higher-paying job in the city. Computer fluency, Bucca notes, also carries with it a compounding potentiality. Social media sites may well allow a previously voiceless population to speak up and be heard – and to interact with relief agents and communicate their needs without an intermediary.

“A lot of people have reservations about relief. They don’t trust their government and they are wary of outsiders. Letting them in on the conversation might be a good way to change that.”

Bucca presents a poster at “Haiti and Dartmouth at the Crossroads” symposium.

Now Bucca is back in Hanover, advocating for an aid model that pays close attention to the needs and wants of the effected populations. He presented his work at a poster session organized for the “Haiti and Dartmouth at the Crossroads” symposium last week.

The computer teacher is still traveling to Petit Harpon twice a week, instructing students in how to use Microsoft Office, how to conduct research on the Internet, and how to make use of various social media tools. Bucca is soliciting donations of computing equipment – computers, printers, batteries, software (especially copies of Microsoft Office), and webcams – from any person or department who might have equipment that’s no longer in use. Bucca can be reached through his Dartmouth email address – Ronald.L.Bucca.GR@dartmouth.edu.

“Every little bit helps,” he reminds us. “And it’s nice that we’re rendering a service that was asked for. This is what the people in Petit Harpon think will help them. I think that’s a good place to start.”

by Zach Williams