Jacob A. MGill successfully defended his MS today. Jacob preformed his research in the Castellanos lab. The title of his dissertation was "Development of an Intracellular Infection Model and Integration of Diffusional Virus Effects into a Cellular Automata Simulation."

Anton J. Geisz, Jr. successfully defended his MS today. Anton preformed his research in the Good lab. The title of his dissertation was "Multivalent Sialtic Acid Polymers: A Novel Chemistry."

Ivan R. Kennedy, PhD DSc(Agric)
Director, SUNFix Centre for Nitrogen Fixation
Associate Dean (Research)
Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources,
University of Sydney, NSW Australia

DATE/TIME/LOCATION:
Monday, May 12 12:00PM, ITE Building, Rm 227

TITLE:
Biothermodynamics for sustainability: Revisiting entropy in the form of biological action directed by DNA

ABSTRACT:
The doctrine of increasing disorder usually said to be predicted by the 2nd Law has given entropy a needlessly bad press. A more positive view of entropy relates it to the physical property of action; entropy then acts as a capacity factor indicating the distribution of energy needed to sustain the current action at a level greater than Planck’s quantum of action characteristic of zero Kelvin. We can consider life as a set of purposive action processes, dependent for its maintenance on access to specific forms of stored action potential or free energy. In this overview (which will consider entropy in all three of its thermal, statistical and action aspects) the thesis that the DNA code-script provides highly selected information needed by living organisms to ensure their survival, by directing available energy towards specific actions, will be discussed.

The CBE departmental reception for our M.S. and Ph.D. graduating students, which
will be held at noon in ITE 456. The reception consists of a catered lunch, a champagne toast, and an assortment of additional entertaining activities. This event is to celebrate the accomplishments of our graduates. For pictures click here.

The UMBC College of Engineering and Information Technology (COEIT) invites those interested to a Pre-Commencement Breakfast and Awards Reception

Thursday May 22, 2008
8:30 to 10:30am
Engineering Building Atrium and LH5