12:21 p.m., Dec. 5, 2008----UD in the News is a roundup of recent news items about the University of Delaware, its faculty, students, staff and alumni.

Gerald Kauffman, professor of watershed policy and director of the UD Institute of Public Administration's Water Resources Agency, was quoted in a Dec. 5 Philadelphia Inquirer story about a report on the health of the Delaware basin by the Delaware River and Bay Commission.

Maria Velasquez, a sophomore and member of the board of the HOLA student organization at UD, was featured in a Dec. 3 News Journal story about her efforts to raise funds to participate in the American Youth Understanding Diabetes Abroad program in Bolivia during the winter.

Joseph Pika, James R. Soles Professor of Political Science and International Relations, was quoted in a Dec. 2 Gannett News Service story about the role of vice president-elect Joe Biden, a University alumnus, in the new administration. Pika said he believes Biden “is going to be playing an important role in foreign policy.” Pika also was quoted in a Dec. 3 News Journal story about former New Castle County executive Tom Gordon.

George (Bud) Malone, a University of Delaware Cooperative Extension specialist, was quoted in a Dec. 2 News Journal story about a Chapter 11 filing by chicken producer Pilgrim's Pride Corp. Malone told the newspaper that high prices for feed have created “very stiff economic challenges” in the poultry industry.

Gordon Johnson, extension agent IV in the Cooperative Extension Service, was cited in a Dec. 2 Cape Gazette story and in a Nov. 22 Salisbury (Md.) Daily Times story about a Delaware Organic Food and Farming Association workshop held at the University's Carvel Center in Georgetown.

The University of Delaware-led Extreme 2008 Deep-Sea Adventure was featured in a Dec. 2 story in the Portland (Maine) Current, as students at Scarborough Middle School placed a “phone call to the deep,” communicating with scientists aboard the Alvin submersible.

Muqtedar Khan, associate professor of political science and international relations, wrote about the carnage in Mumbai, India, inflicted by terrorists in the Dec. 1 Guest Voices section of the Washington Post's On Faith blog.

Charles Elson, Edgar S. Woolard Jr. Chair and director of the John L. Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance, was quoted in a Dec. 1 Charlotte (N.C.) News and Observer story about lucrative pay among chief executive officers in the Carolinas region. High pay could be moderating in coming months, with Elson telling the newspaper, "I think pressure on boards will be intense this year. The issue has finally hit the wall, given performance and public outrage."

James Butkiewicz, professor of economics, was quoted in a Dec. 1 News Journal story about problems on Wall Street. He also was quoted in a Nov. 27 Arizona Republic story about the lessons of the Great Depression. “The Depression had depth and breadth,” he told the newspaper, adding, “It hit everybody, or nearly everybody.”

Darcy Reisman, assistant professor of physical therapy, was featured in a December Ivanhoe Broadcast News Discoveries and Breakthroughs Inside Science story about her research into the retraining of the brain after a stroke.

Willett Kempton, associate professor of marine and Earth studies, was quoted in a Nov. 30 News Journal story about the potential for wind power to renew manufacturing.

Mike Koplove, the former University of Delaware pitcher who earned a bronze medal as part of the USA baseball team at the Beijing Olympics Games, signed with the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies, it was reported in the Nov. 29 News Journal.

Robin Morgan, dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and Lou Hirsh, director of admissions, were cited in a Nov. 28 Cape Gazette story about a meeting with Southern Delaware guidance counselors that included information about the UD Commitment to Delawareans.

Mark Barteau, senior vice provost, Robert L. Pigford Professor of Chemical Engineering and director of the University of Delaware Energy Institute, and James Butkiewicz, professor of economics, were quoted in a Nov. 27 News Journal story about the importance of appointments by president-elect Barack Obama in the fields of economics and energy.

Paul Quinn, professor of psychology, was cited in the Nov. 25 Science News for work on spatial abilities of young children.

Burnaby Munson, C. Eugene Bennett Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, was featured in a Nov. 25 Newark Post story after being named the 2008 outstanding older worker for Delaware.

Kyungsoo Yoo, assistant professor of plant and soil science, was featured in a Nov. 24 ScienceDaily story about research on earthworms and forest sustainability.

Sue Snider, professor of animal and food sciences, and Gordon Johnson, extension agent IV in the Cooperative Extension Service, were quoted in a Nov. 23 News Journal story about sweet potatoes. "I recommend sweet potatoes to small growers frequently. They are easy to grow -- they can grow in the worst soil -- and require minimum care apart from weeding,” Johnson told the newspaper.

Kara Maki, a doctoral student in the College of Arts and Sciences, and Richard Braun, professor of mathematical sciences, were cited in a Nov. 20 LiveScience story about their research into the physics of teardrops. "The reason why we're interested in studying this is because it's a highly dynamical system," Maki said. "If we can try to understand and gain insight into tear film dynamics, we can aim at trying to find better treatments for dry eye."

Miriam Pomilio of the Delaware Geological Survey was quoted in a Nov. 20 News Journal story about spatial orientation for students. "I think it's important to kids to realize how geospatial technology is in every walk of life," Pomilio told the newspaper. "Everything is spatially oriented, where you go, how you get there. Even the person who delivers your pizza is spatially oriented."

Yan Jin, professor of soil physics, and John Xiao, professor of physics and astronomy, were cited in a Nov. 20 Environmental Protection Web site story about their research on plants and nanoparticles.

Steven Sidebotham, professor of history, was cited in a Nov. 16 Hindu Times article about an international seminar on the Pattanam excavations in India. Sidebotham presented a paper at the seminar.

Marc Birtwistle, a doctoral student in the Department of Chemical Engineering, and Ryan Snyder, an alumnus, were quoted in the November issue of the national publication Chemical Engineering Progress about their views on the future of chemical engineering.