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Press Releases

Noble gases hitch a ride on hydrous minerals

The Ring Cycle: Amphibole’s lattice structure is made up of tetrahedral and octahedral structures linked together in a way that creates a series of rings. It’s those rings — A-sites — that could provide a home for otherwise finicky noble gases.
The six noble gases do not normally dissolve into minerals, leaving earth scientists to wonder how they are subducted back into the Earth. Researchers at Brown have discovered that the lattice structure of minerals such as amphibole provides a way. Better yet, the multiple isotopes of noble gases could help scientists track volatiles like water and carbon. (Distributed June 16, 2013)
Alpert Medical School

Primary care plan receives AMA grant

New support for community-based primary care: A five-year, $1-million grant from the American Medical Association will help the Alpert Medical School begin a novel M.D./Sc.M. program in primary care and population health in the fall of 2015.
As the Alpert Medical School moves ahead with plans for a new dual-degree program in medicine and population health, a new five-year grant from the American Medical Association helps advance the idea. The new program is to begin in the fall of 2015. (Distributed June 14, 2013)

Brown announces new child-care benefit

Beginning in September, Brown University will provide an annual child-care benefit of up $4,000 per household for eligible faculty, non-union staff, and graduate or medical students who are parents of children age 6 and younger. (Distributed June 12, 2013)

Mystery of the mutant polyomavirus

Mysterious mutants: Even if they are not the ones killing key brain cells, mutant JC polyomaviruses are up to some kind of no good. They are only found in the brains of people who become sick with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.
A new study shows that common mutant forms of the deadly JC polyomavirus are not responsible for the pathogen’s main attack, which causes a brain-damaging disease in immunocompromised patients called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. But that finding raises the ominous question of what the mutants might be up to instead. (Distributed June 11, 2013)

Cost-effective: HIV tests for all in India

A new study using a sophisticated statistical tool, has determined that providing universal HIV testing for India’s billion-plus population every five years would prove to be a cost-effective approach to managing the epidemic, even with more intensive testing for high-risk groups. Results appear in the journal PLoS One. (Distributed June 10, 2013)

Whitehouse, Langevin tour brain science labs

Virtually dramatic: William Warren discusses research involving virtual reality. Whitehouse and Langevin each spent time with virtual reality helmets.
U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin braved heavy rain Friday, June 7, 2013, to visit two high-tech brain science-related labs at Brown. (Distributed June 7, 2013)

Coming home: Rush Hawkins’ sword

For courage and gallantry: Detail from the Tiffany silver sword presented to Col. Rush Hawkins of the 9th New York Volunteers in May 1863. The sword, part of the AnnMary Brown Memorial established at Brown by Hawkins, was stolen from the University’s collections in 1977 or earlier.
Brown University received word Thursday, June 6, 2013, that the Civil War sword of Col. Rush Hawkins, reported stolen from the University’s collections in 1977, would begin its trip from Virginia back to campus. The U.S. District Court in Newport News, Va., ruled that Brown University is the lawful owner and ordered the sword’s return. (Distributed June 7, 2013)
Media Advisory

Congressmen to visit brain science labs

To observe two examples of brain science research at Brown, U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin will come to campus for an afternoon tour of two labs Friday, June 7. (Distributed June 6, 2013)
Evidence from a quiet MRI

Breastfeeding benefits babies’ brains

Support for the developing brain: MRI images, taken while children were asleep, showed that infants who were exclusively breastfed for at least three months had enhanced development in key parts of the brain compared to children who were fed formula or a combination of formula and breastmilk. Images show development of myelization by age, left to right.
A study using brain images from “quiet” MRI machines adds to the growing body of evidence that breastfeeding improves brain development in infants. Breastfeeding alone produced better brain development than a combination of breastfeeding and formula, which produced better development than formula alone. (Distributed June 6, 2013)
Media Advisory

Brown to host forum on racial profiling

Brown University will bring together community leaders for a forum on "Racial Profiling in Rhode Island" on Wednesday, June 5, 2013, at 6 p.m. in the Rites and Reason Theatre, Churchill House.  (Distributed June 4, 2013)
Coursera

Brown launches two free online courses

Virtual fieldwork: "Dirty Little Secret" students will participate virtually in digs around the world.
Brown University is launching the first two of three massive open online courses (MOOCs). With total enrollment topping 87,000, the courses, offered free of charge, will “open the door to sharing some of the best of what Brown has to offer.” (Distributed June 3, 2013)
Questions for Lundy Braun

Spirometry: A built-in ‘correction’ for race?

The spirometers doctors use to measure lung capacity automatically make “corrections” for the patient’s race. Lundy Braun, professor of medical science at Brown University, has led a systematic review of the research underlying race correction and found that race is rarely defined or skillfully considered. The work, reported in the European Respiratory Journal, raises timely questions about the role of race in medical research. (Distributed June 3, 2013)
Center for Environmental Studies

CES brings in new curriculum, leadership

Dov Sax: Director of the Center for Environmental Studies, effective July 1, 2013.
This summer the Center for Environmental Studies will take on a new director and associate director, and this fall it will debut a new curriculum. The changes are designed to enhance the cohesion and engagement of the center’s scholarly community, even as it continues to embrace a breadth of environmental interests. (Distributed May 31, 2013)
Questions for...

Wendy Schiller: 17th Amendment centennial

Friday, May 31, 2013, marks the 100th anniversary of the adoption of the 17th Amendment, which transferred control of Senate elections from state legislators to voters. Wendy Schiller, associate professor of political science, recently co-authored a paper published by the Brookings Institute, which argues that the amendment remains a “promise unfulfilled.” She spoke with Courtney Coelho about her findings.  (Distributed May 30, 2013)
Through July 19 at the Bell Gallery

Kelli Rae Adams: Breaking Even

Kelli Rae Adams: Mizaru, Kikazaru, Iwazaru: Unfired porcelain, dimensions variable (2010)
The David Winton Bell Gallery presents Breaking Even, an exhibition of new work by Providence-based artist Kelli Rae Adams, on view at the Cohen Gallery in the Granoff Center for the Creative Arts. The exhibition features an installation of thousands of clay and ceramic objects and jars of produce canned by the artist that examines the meaning of labor and value. (Distributed May 28, 2013)