Photo by Thomas Oetzell, IdahoExposure.com

By Elisa Barney Smith

Boise State University’s 2013 Microgravity University team is gearing up for a nine-day adventure and experiment at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

The team will perform an experiment related to bone cell signaling aboard a microgravity aircraft. The plane produces periods of weightlessness for up to 25 seconds at a time by executing a series of approximately 30 roller coaster-like parabolas over the Gulf of Mexico. During the free falls, students gather data in the unique environment that mimics space.

The interdisciplinary research team represents several departments in the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business, Education and Engineering. They will study how gravitational forces affect calcium molecules in bone cells. This can provide insight that will help astronauts who endure long periods of weightlessness, as well as bed-ridden patients and people afflicted with osteoporosis here on Earth.

This is the third time Boise State will fly an experiment with this goal, delving deeper into the process each time. This year the team will see how Tereparitide, a pharmaceutical often prescribed for osteoporosis patients, affects cell signaling as the gravitational levels change.

This is the culmination of a year of work that has included proposal writing, apparatus design and building, experiment design and educational outreach. It will continue after the flight with data analysis, final report writing and, hopefully, a peer-reviewed technical article on the results the data provides.

This is the fifth consecutive year Boise State teams have participated in Microgravity University or its sister program SEED (Systems Engineering Educational Discovery), and the sixth Boise State team to go to NASA to fly a reduced-gravity experiment on the zero-G aircraft. The team was selected based on scientific merit and educational outreach potential from more than 30 proposals.

“The interdisciplinary aspect of this project is something that employers greatly value but that is difficult to do in a course setting,” said Elisa Barney Smith, lead faculty advisor and associate professor of electrical and computer engineering. “These students are putting in 15-20 hours per week on this project — more when deadlines are near. Some receive one credit for MicroGravity University, an engineering course created to give them official recognition, but others do it purely for the experience. And there is no guarantee that they will be one of the lucky ones who actually fly and experience microgravity.”

The experiment will be conducted May 31-June 8 during Flight Week at the Johnson Space Center. The Boise State team will be joined by peers from 13 other universities nationwide, including Purdue University, Rice University, University of Arizona, Virginia Tech and more. Boise State is scheduled to fly with teams from Oklahoma State, Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech. Follow their adventures on Twitter at NASA_RGEFP.

Four team members, including Nic Baughmann (business), Travis Baker (biology), Jim Pelton (computer science) and graduate student Matthew Dolan (electrical and computer engineering), will depart for Houston two days early to represent the team as invited speakers at the Bioastronautics Summer Institute organized by the National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI). Liliana Mellor is a current second-year postdoctoral fellow for NSBRI working with Julia Oxford (biology) on the effects of simulated microgravity in articular cartilage. Both have been invaluable faculty mentors this year.

They will be joined in Houston May 30 by Landon Nye (mechanical engineering), Kellen Mather (biology), Tara Smith (biology and biology education), Dan Lambert (computer science), Lindsey Catlin (research assistant for the Center for Orthopaedic and Biomechanics Research) and faculty advisor Barney Smith.

Essential to the team’s dynamic perspective are its additional members, including Libby Stewart (biology), Kevin Warburton (mechanical engineering), Roxanne Stone (mechanical engineering), Shaun Millard (biology) and Ashley Kelly (elementary education).

Boise State is very competitive in these NASA microgravity programs due to the track record set up by former faculty advisors Jim Browning, Sarah Haight, Robert Hay, Sondra Miller, Vidya Nandikolla and Don Plumlee, as well as continued advising from former NASA astronaut Barbara Morgan, Boise State’s distinguished educator in residence.

For more about the team and project, visit boisestatemicrogravity2013.blogspot.com. For a list of all selectees, project abstracts and links to other Microgravity University programs, see microgravityuniversity.jsc.nasa.gov/news/activeteams.cfm.

The program offers the highest quality training for today’s dancer during two weeks of intensive training in ballet, pointe, men’s class, pas de deux, jazz and modern. In addition, dancers work with cutting-edge choreographers in rehearsals of many dance genres including contemporary, jazz, hip hop, modern and ballet.

Faculty include Lauren Edson, Jenn Freeman, Marla Hansen, Benjamin Griffiths, Jason Hartley, Yurek Hansen, Chanel DaSilva, Gonzalo Valdez, Phyllis Affrunti, Jaime Moore, Lia Mrazek, Alison Ingelstrom and Kelli Brown.

The workshop culminates with two public performances at 7 p.m. June 21-22 in the Danny Peterson Theatre at the Morrison Center for the Performing Arts.

Summer DanceFest is for dancers age 12 and older with intermediate to advanced technique. To be accepted into the workshop, contact Marla Hansen at (208) 426-2568 or mhansen@boisestate.edu.

For more information, visit the DanceFest website.

Several of the founding members of Boise Mini Maker Faire, a do-it-yourself (DIY) festival happening in downtown Boise, are Boise State alumni.

Wendy Fox, BFA, ’00; Shannon Morgan, B.A. communication, ’11; Adrian Rothenbuhler, BSE electrical and computer engineering, ’11, and Jenny Kniss, B.A. Economics, ’06 and currently seeking a computer science degree; are four of six founding members of Boise Mini Maker Faire. Kniss and Rothenbuhler also are members of Boise State’s Greenspeed club.

Boise Mini Maker Faire is a two-day community showcase of invention, creativity and resourcefulness. Organizers say to expect “State Fair meets Burning Man meets Boise Saturday Market meets DefCon.”

“In a world where you can purchase most anything you want, inventing something, building things from scratch with your hands, and figuring out how things work is something that I’m very proud to be a part of,” Fox said. Her “TED-Style talk” presentation will focus on creating a community-run radio station and programming that “shapes the local sound-space.”

The first event of its kind was the East Bay Maker Faire in California in 2006; since then it has popped-up across the United States and globally in cities like Austin, New York and Tokyo. Described as a celebration of “the maker movement,” makers range from tech professionals and enthusiasts to crafters, educators, tinkerers, hobbyists, engineers, artists, science clubs, students, authors, foodies, farmers and commercial exhibitors, and are unlimited in age and gender.

The event will be held from noon-4 p.m. Saturday, May 25, at the Boise Public Library and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, May 26, at Discovery Center of Idaho. Programming at the library is free, but there are space restrictions so it is recommended that attendees arrive early. The cost for the Discovery Center will be the regular admission fee.

For more information visit boisemakerfaire.com.

Purchase tickets at the Taco Bell Arena Box Office, online at Manilow.com or IdahoTickets.com, at all Select-A-Seat outlets or by phone at 426-1766. Tickets start at just $19.99. For information on VIP tickets, visit www.barrymanilow.com.

Direct From Broadway follows a critically acclaimed sold-out run on New York’s Great White Way. Manilow, considered by many critics to be the top adult contemporary artist of all time, is bringing his hit-packed concert to cities around the nation. Don’t miss this unprecedented concert as Manilow performs songs from his massive catalog of hits, including “Mandy,” “I Write the Songs,” “Copacabana” and more.

Manilow’s unparalleled career encompasses virtually every arena of music, including performing, composing, arranging and producing. A Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, he has triumphed in every medium of entertainment.  With worldwide record sales exceeding 80 million, Manilow has produced 50 top 40 hits. He has produced, arranged, and released more than 40 albums over the course of his career and has written hundreds of songs and performed around the globe, thrilling millions of fans, winning a Grammy, two Emmys, a Tony Award and an Oscar nomination along the way.

Manilow is donating a Yamaha piano to launch a local instrument drive for the Boise School District. Anyone who donates a new or gently used musical instrument to Taco Bell Arena will receive two free tickets (valid for pre-selected seat locations) for Manilow’s concert.

Instruments may be dropped off at the Arena from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday until July 13.

Events are scheduled throughout the week to create goodwill among staff and increase morale. Come to one event or come to all and experience good times with the people who make Boise State great.

Registration for the Poker Run and Bowling Tournament end Friday, May 24.

Free Use of the Rec Center, Monday-Sunday, May 27-June 2

Free use of the Student Recreation Center will be provided all week (including the weekend) to Boise State staff with campus ID. Use the equipment, take a class, enjoy the indoor track and more.

Poker Run, Wednesday, May 29
The popular Poker Run returns from noon to 1 p.m. Are you good at figuring out clues? This free event will test your knowledge of campus departments. All staff who register will receive an email at 11:45 a.m. on Wednesday, May 29, with clues to 12 campus locations. Visit each site between noon and 1 p.m. to receive a single card. You only have one hour to identify and visit as many locations as you can to gather as many cards as possible. Then determine the best poker hand you can make with your cards and come to the ice cream social on Friday, May 31, to turn in your cards and see if you have won. Cards cannot be traded with other staff members and all cards will be marked to ensure they come from different locations.

To register, send an email to KathleenTuck@boisestate.edu with the subject line “Poker Run registration” by May 24.

Bowling Tournament, Thursday, May 30

Pull together a team of four for the annual Bowling Tournament from 11 a.m.-noon or noon-1 p.m. at the Student Union Games Center. Cost is $2 per person for game and shoes ($8 per team). Click here to register and send payment to Mail Stop 1355 or drop it off at the Housing Office located in Chaffee Hall by May 24. Win a prize and bragging rights.

Ice Cream Social and Volunteer Event, Friday, May 31

Enjoy ice cream and socialize with fellow staff from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on the Student Union Patio. Winners of the Poker Run and Bowling Tournament will be announced, and staff are invited to drop off unwanted cell phones and other small electronic devices to benefit the Ronald McDonald House. Other drop off locations will be available across campus throughout Staff Week.

During spring semester 2013, the eCampus Center piloted a new professional development seminar for Boise State faculty — the eCampus Teaching Online Seminar. This six-week seminar was for faculty currently teaching an online course or preparing to teach a previously developed online course. In this seminar, faculty explored the teaching strategies and tools to successfully teach an online course.

The seminar was taught by Jen Black and Kim Carter-Cram, two Boise State faculty experienced in teaching online courses. Five faculty participated in the first offering of this seminar: Amanda Patchin, ENGL 210; Stephanie Spevak-Aldrich, SOC 101; Soheila Eghbali, MATH 108/143; Lisa Kleiman, BUSCOM 201; and Yajun Liu, MHLTHSCI 552.

The eCampus Center also offered the 12-week eCampus Course Design and Development Seminar during spring semester. This new seminar format combined design and development work into one semester, instead of the two semesters used previously.

Ten Boise State faculty, working with eCampus Center instructional design consultants, created the following online courses: Thad Welch, ENGR 100; Krishna Pakala, ENGR 320/ME 302; Mandy McDaniel, MATH 123; Ross Burkhart, POLS 298; Mike Touchton, POLS 398; Scott Yenor, POLS 440; Stewart Gardner, POLS 446; Kathy Tidwell, SOCWRK 408; Pam Strohfus, NURS 601 and 604; and Kathy Reavy, NURS 620.

For more information visit ecampus.boisestate.edu.

The enchanting Irish musical ensemble Celtic Woman will perform at the Morrison Center at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 6.

Tickets are $38.50-$99 and are available now at the Morrison Center Box Office, at all Select-a-Seat outlets, online at IdahoTickets.com or by calling 426-1110.

Celtic Woman combines the talents of four gifted Irish women — vocalists Chloë Agnew, Lisa Lambe and Susan McFadden, and violinist Máiréad Nesbitt — whose dazzling performances combine the sounds and sensibility of Irish traditional music with memorable original compositions and contemporary pop standards. The group recently was named Billboard Magazine’s No. 1 World Music Artist.

The tour boasts an electrifying new stage production and the return of such enduring fan favorites as “You Raise Me Up,” “Orinoco Flow” and “Amazing Grace.” Celtic Woman is backed by a full band, six-member choir, bagpiper Anthony Byrne and championship Irish dancer Craig Ashurst.

Since its formation in 2004, Celtic Woman has emerged as both a spectacular commercial success and a global cultural phenomenon. The group’s uplifting mix of timeless tradition and contemporary craft has transcended national and cultural borders to touch the hearts of a devoted international fan base, who’ve embraced Celtic Woman’s hugely successful Public Television specials and made their CDs and DVDs into multi-platinum best-sellers. The group’s albums have sold more than 7 million copies around the world. Like all of their albums, Celtic Woman’s two 2012 releases, the acclaimed “Believe” CD/DVD and the holiday-themed CD “Home For Christmas,” both debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s World Music chart, marking eight consecutive chart-topping albums for the group.

Celtic Woman recently made their soap opera debut as featured guests in multiple episodes of the CBS daytime drama “The Bold and the Beautiful.”

Having sold nearly 3 million concert tickets worldwide, Celtic Woman has won a dedicated and loyal audience in America, where their elaborately staged, visually stunning concert tours consistently draw sellout crowds. Singing songs of love, loss, hope and inspiration, Celtic Woman celebrates the emotional resonance of Ireland’s centuries-old musical and cultural heritage while taking advantage of the limitless options of state-of-the-art production. The result is a breathtaking musical and theatrical experience to be enjoyed by multiple generations of concertgoers.

In addition, 14 disabled military veterans will be inducted as the newest Wyakin Warriors at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 30, during the third annual induction ceremony. The ceremony will take place on the steps of the Idaho Statehouse.

Boise State has partnered with the Wyakin Warrior Foundation to provide severely wounded veterans a full, four-year scholarship and an opportunity to transition from the military to an academic environment where they can thrive.

The Wyakin Warrior Foundation provides a comprehensive education, mentoring, professional development, networking and job placement program for severely wounded and injured veterans. Program participants attend Boise State University or the College of Western Idaho.

Inductees are:

Mischa Brady, from Boise, served as an Infantryman in the Marine Corps. He earned an associate’s degree in history from the College of Western Idaho and currently is seeking a bachelor’s degree in history at Boise State.

Craig Cornwall, from Eastern Washington State and raised in Boise, served in the Navy, completing basic underwater demolitions training before his injury. He is pursuing a master’s degree in mechanical engineering focusing on robotics and mechatronics at Boise State.

Jeromy Cross, from Crescent City, Calif., served in the Air Force in public affairs and as a combat cameraman. He currently is seeking a bachelor’s degree in social work at Boise State.

Eric Danielson, from Hermiston, Ore., grew up in the state of Washington. He served as a combat flight medic in the Army. He is pursuing a master’s degree in social work from Boise State.

Ian Freeman, from Carson City, Nev., served as a combat engineer in the Army. He is seeking a bachelor’s degree in history and social studies at Boise State.

Eugene Hicks, from Quincy, Calif., served as an Infantryman in the Marine Corps and Army. He is a graduate student in the School of Social Work at the University of Southern California.

David Hofer, from Stockton, Calif., served in Special Operations in the Army. He is seeking a bachelor’s degree in biology.

David Maxwell, from Tacoma, Wash., served as an infantryman in the Marine Corps. He is seeking a degree from Northwest Nazarene University to become a vocational rehabilitation counselor.

Malcolm McKay, from Temple, Texas, served as an infantryman in the Marine Corps. He is pursuing a degree in criminal justice from Boise State.

Thomas Montgomery was born in Seoul, South Korea, and adopted and raised in Boise. He served as a cavalry scout in the Army. He is seeking a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at Boise State.

Jacob Thacker, from Boise, served as an infantryman in the Marine Corps. He is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in education at Boise State.

Brandon Woodard, from Sylva, S.C.., served as an infantryman in the Army. He is seeking a bachelor’s degree in history at Boise State and eventually a law degree.

Aaron Woods, from Corona, Calif., served as an infantryman and helicopter mechanic in the Army. He is seeking a bachelor’s degree in computer science at Boise State.

Drew was one of 600,000 students nationwide to compete in an investment simulation called The Stock Market Game. About 20,000 students also wrote an essay in the Stock Market Game’s national writing competition called InvestWrite.

The mission of the Idaho Council on Economic Education provides is to increase economic and financial literacy statewide. Teachers are encouraged to offer students the opportunity to participate in both of these programs in classrooms ranging from fourth grade through high school.

For his third-place finish, Drew received a mini-notebook computer, a classroom pizza party and a plaque.  His school received a trophy and his teacher Danny Herdegen received a gift card and a subscription to the Wall Street Journal.

The Idaho Council on Economic Education, manager of the Stock Market Game, the International Economic Summit and other educational programs in finance and economics, was formed in 1972 by a group of business leaders, bankers and university professors who wanted to increase economic and financial literacy among Idaho’s youth.

The Idaho Council is hosted by the College of Business and Economics and the College of Education at Boise State. For more information, visit www.econidaho.org, and for more information about participating in the Stock Market Game, contact Leon Maynard, president, at 426-1810.