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The flying fox is an adorable doe-eyed bat with a dark side – it is the perfect vector for emerging infectious diseases from Asia. Susan Tsang, a PhD student in ecology and evolutionary biology at The City College of New York and the CUNY Graduate Center, turned to a revolutionary way to help fund her research into how this species spreads disease. Ms. Tsang wants to track how viruses can spread from flying foxes to humans by tracing the evolution and movements of bat populations. She sampled the genes of wild-caught flying foxes and planned to fill in the gaps with samples from museum

Each summer, tens of thousands of people camp in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert to create the countercultural phenomenon famously known as Burning Man, an arts festival named after its spectacular bonfire of a forty-foot tall wooden and neon sculpture of the “Man.” More than 50,000 faithful attendees establish “Black Rock City,” a temporary metropolis dedicated to community, art, “radical self-expression,” and a gift economy. Campers depart seven days later, having left no trace whatsoever. Several books have examined the history of the event, which originally started as a summer solstice bonfire

Mother and Daughter duo to make NY debut at Aaron Davis Hall “My Mother and Me,” starring mother and daughter jazz stars Melba Joyce and Carmen Bradford, will perform together for the first time in New York 7 p.m. Friday, December 16, in Aaron Davis Hall at The City College of New York. “You won’t want to miss these two extraordinary singers as they celebrate the season with jazzy tunes and holiday favorites,” said Gregory Shanck, managing director of Aaron Davis Hall. “Carmen Bradford was the featured vocalist with the legendary Count Basie Orchestra and has since performed with many jazz

Board on Infrastructure and the Constructed Environment Aims to Incorporate Disaster Resiliency Into Infrastructure Upgrade The United States’ lifeline infrastructure – its energy, water, transportation and telecommunications systems – has long been an issue of national concern. In addition to upgrading its aging systems, America today faces the challenges of peak oil, national security and disaster resiliency. Hillary Brown, FAIA, professor of architecture in The City College of New York’s Spitzer School of Architecture, was recently appointed for a three-year term to the National Academies’

Denise Hien’s Research Led Providers to Rethink Strategy for Helping Substance Abusers Affected by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder As many as three out of five substance abusers may also be affected by post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to researchers. Mental health professionals refer to such conditions as dual disorders. Dr. Denise Hien, professor of psychology at The City College of New York, has been on the cutting edge of treating these dual disorders. Her work has contributed to a revolution in how providers dealing with substance abuse treat such patients. “When I started

Aim to Increase Number of Hispanic, Low-Income Students Earning Degrees The City College of New York and two CUNY community colleges are partnering on a multifaceted initiative to attract more students to the STEM disciplines – especially Hispanics and low-income students – and help them earn their degrees. Producing more STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) graduates is critical to strengthening U.S. competitiveness in the global economy. The program, called the Alliance for Continuous Innovative Learning Environments in STEM (CILES) is funded through a five-year, $4

Division of Interdisciplinary Studies’ Elena Romero Pens Book, Organizes Events; To Speak on Topic December 2 at Center for Worker Education Hip-hop, a culture and music genre with roots in New York City’s black and Latino communities, has influenced everything from language to politics to dance to fashion. Not surprisingly, a hip-hop pedagogy is emerging in academia, as evidenced by a hip-hop think tank at New York University and the establishment of hip-hop archives at Harvard and Cornell. At The City College of New York, Elena Romero, communications coordinator, academic advisor and adjunct

The AIDS Memorial Quilt, an iconic symbol of the epidemic that has killed more than half a million Americans, will go on display at The City College of New York December 1 in observance of World AIDS Day. On loan from The NAMES Project Foundation in Atlanta, the quilt will hang in The Great Hall on the second floor of Shepard Hall, until December 2. Members of the public will be able to view it without charge 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on both days. City College is located at 138th Street and Convent Ave., Manhattan. “December 1 is World AIDS Day when the international community remembers those we have

Google “Morocco Courtyards and Gardens” and an eponymous book by Achva Stein, professor of landscape architecture in CCNY’s Spitzer’s School of Architecture, appears at the top of the list. Recently, Professor Stein had an opportunity to put her scholarship to work designing the Moroccan Courtyard for a new gallery at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Produced in a space that barely measures 20’ x 20’, the courtyard recreates the look of the courtyards found in Morocco that had been brought back from Andalusia in the 14th century. It is a critically acclaimed spot for contemplation and quiet

Professor Carnaval Attends White House Ceremony to Launch NSF Career-Life Balance Initiative A few years ago, Ana Carnaval was a postdoctoral researcher at University of California, Berkeley with one baby in her arms and another on the way. With grants to write, a “Science” paper in the works and her spouse living half a continent away most of the week, she literally had her hands full balancing the demands of career and family. Dr. Carnaval, now an assistant professor of biology at The City College of New York, considers herself lucky. Flexible grants and a supportive advisor allowed her to