Julian Trivino of Florida State University was elected to the National Kappa Omicron Nu Board of Directors at the Kappa Omicron Nu Leadership Institute and Undergraduate Research Conference in Nashville, TN, August 6-9, 2009.

Dr. Elizabeth Goldsmith, TCS Professor and Fulbright Scholar, gave the keynote address entitled “Reinventing Home Economics: Past, Present, and Implications for Educators and 21st Century Families” to 600 students, government officials, and professors attending the Brazilian Home Economics Association Meeting held in Fortaleza, Brazil in September. Goldsmith traced the origins of home economics from prehistoric times to written records to the early years in the United States under the leadership of Ellen Swallow Richards to current post modern times including worldwide population trends.

OXFORD, England — Instead of chasing after wide receivers in the N.F.L., Myron Rolle came here to chase ghosts around the ancient campus of the University of Oxford.

Spencer Olmstead, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Family and Child Sciences, was awarded the 2009 National Council on Family Relations (NCFR) Student Award. NCFR, founded in 1938, is dedicated to the development of family scholars from a variety of research backgrounds and interests. The award is given anually to a graduate student, nominated by a faculty member, who has been a member of NCFR for at least one year and whose work shows promise of significant contribution to family studies. Spencer will receive this award at the NCFR national conference held in San Francisco, California in November.

Girdhari (Gil) Sharma, a doctoral student working with Professor Shri Sathe in the Department of Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences, has garnered awards at several national meetings over the last year. In May 2009 his poster at the American Oil Chemists’ Society Annual meeting in Orlando was awarded 2nd place. In June of 2009, his research poster in the “Susan L. Hefle” graduate paper competition in the Toxicology & Safety Evaluation Division at the national meeting of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) was selected for 1st place honor. He had received third place in this same competition the previous year.

Shirin Hooshmand, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Nutrition, Food & Exercise Sciences, received fellowship from Sigma Delta Epsilon/Graduate Women in Science. This organization (www.gwis.org,), founded in 1921, is dedicated to advancing the participation and recognition of women in science and to fostering research through grants, awards, and fellowships. Hooshmand’s award, the Nell I. Mondy Fellowship, provides $8,333 for support of her pioneering study in the area of osteoarthritis, one of the top three health care problems of the developed world. She and her mentor, Dr. Bahram H. Arjmandi, NFES Department Chair and Margaret A. Sitton Professor, propose to investigate whether estrogen is involved in the progression of osteoarthritis (OA) and the production of proinflammatory molecules in the cartilage. They will also determine if selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) can inhibit cartilage deterioration and halt the progression of OA. Her findings in this area may eventually shed light into the etiology of OA and lead to the discovery of new agents to effectively prevent and/or treat OA.

The odds of contracting mad cow disease from banned or adulterated bovine protein lurking in raw or processed food for humans or meat-bone meal for livestock have declined over the past decade. So have the risks of purchasing fishy imposters billed as red snapper, ground beef that isn't all cow, or spoiled meat that doesn't look or smell bad ... yet.

Sheau Ching Chai, MS, doctoral candidate in the Florida State University Department of Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences, joined more than 80 other professors and graduate students from universities throughout the U.S. and around the world to participate in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) course, “Dietary Supplement Research Practicum 2009.” The Practicum was held on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland, June 1-5, 2009.

The United States is a graying nation with nearly 79 million baby boomers reaching their 61st birthday this year and subsequently by the year 2030 there will still be at least 71 million people who will be 65 years of age and older, suggesting that elderly care is a priority of the nation. The state of Florida currently ranks number one nationally for individuals 60 years and older, representing 23% of its population. Further, 9.2% of the state’s population is 75 years of age or older, ranking it third nationally in the number of centenarians only behind New York and California. Quality of life for aging Americans is a priority and new research is needed to elucidate mechanisms of the aging process. The Center for Advancing Exercise and Nutrition Research on Aging (CAENRA) provides a strong foundation for development of scientific research programs addressing aging related disorders amongst various populations.

Y-H. Peggy Hsieh recently received a grant from Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo K. of Japan to develop a rapid method for the detection of porcine fat. The two-year grant provides $216,000 in research funds plus $40,000 in consulting fees.

Dr. Maria Spicer, Dietetics Internship Director and Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences, recently received a $74,000 grant from the Allen Foundation in Midland, Michigan (http://www.allenfoundation.org). The Foundation awards grants to projects that benefit human nutrition in the areas of education, training, and research.

Join us for this "Jeopardy"-style competition in which teams of undergraduate students showcase their knowledge in categories commonly included in exercise science undergraduate curricula. Cheer on the team that represents your regional chapter. The event will be held Thursday, May 28 at 7:00pm in Metropolitan A of the Sheraton Seattle hotel.

The USDA has awarded Dr. Peggy Hsieh a grant of $280,000 over the next three years to develop a way to detect fish allergens and contaminants in raw or processed foods.

Florida State University professor is oft-quoted expert on inaugural history, menus