Science And Technology

Alicia Robinson A political squabble in Washington, D.C. resulted in a windfall for Vanguard University, which will receive $1.3 million in federal funds to boost science and technology programs and help build a new science center. The school announced Monday it would get three grants, which would pay for design and construction drawings and equipment for a planned $9-million science center and the refurbishing of existing science facilities.

Those interested in the details of a proposed magnet school at Davis Elementary have been asked to attend one of four focus groups over the next couple of weeks. There will be groups at 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Nov. 6, at 7 p.m. Nov. 10, and at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 12., all at Davis Elementary School, 1050 Arlington Drive. Members of the public are encouraged to attend. The Newport-Mesa Unified School District Board of Education has held two study sessions on a proposed magnet school at Davis, which would change over for the 2009-10 school year.

UC Santa Barbara Dean of Environmental Science and Management Ernst von Weizsacker will discuss global warming Tuesday as part of the UCI’s ninth annual distinguished lecture series. Weizsacker’s talk, “The Climate Challenge: Answers from Technology, Business and Society,” will cover the world’s response to the global climate shift. He has served as policy director for the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development and was a member of the German parliament.

The Newport-Mesa Unified School District has launched a project to expand science and technology teaching at Eastbluff Elementary and help boost enrollment at the underpopulated Newport Beach school. By next spring, the school plans to have a new portable classroom reserved entirely for science. It also hopes to provide laptops for all fourth- and fifth-grade students. The school board approved the plan last month to help encourage intradistrict transfers to the school.

HUMBERTO CASPA Monique Molina is only 6 years old. She may not be as articulate as Edward James Olmos, or as funny as George Lopez, but she is more entertaining and charismatic than the two of them put together, and as talented as Jennifer Lopez. As soon as I walked into the Girls Inc. building on Anaheim Street in Costa Mesa, Monique stood up in front of me and extended her arms. With a gleeful face, she shook my hand. "Welcome to Girls Inc.," she said.

The California Science Center is a large museum in Los Angeles dedicated to inspiring scientific learning. In 1912, the State Exposition Building was opened where the California Science Center stands today. After World War II, the Exposition Building was remodeled to show people the importance of science and technology in everyday life. The name was later changed to the California Science Center, and it became a state-of-the-art building.   GETTING THERE Take the I-405 north.

Alicia Robinson California ranks near the bottom of the 50 states in wasteful federal spending, but Congress approved more than $3 million in local "pork barrel" projects, according to Citizens Against Government Waste. The Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit group on Wednesday released its annual "pig book," which catalogs what it sees as unnecessary congressional spending. Statewide, 2004 wasteful spending was listed at nearly $643 million, which averaged about $18.12 per person and ranked California 43rd nationwide in pork spending, the group said.

Newport Beach-based celebrity chef Jamie Gwen is set to front the third Flavors of Orange County dinner and fundraiser on behalf of the American Liver Foundation. The Fairmont Hotel in Newport Beach, formerly the Sutton Place, will be the setting for the Jan. 29 event, which will feature some of the finest dining in Orange County. The premise for the party is that a lineup of celebrity chefs will each prepare an incredible five-course dinner accompanied by the appropriate wine for a table of 12. In other words, everyone in the ballroom will be enjoying their own dining experience prepared by a particular chef.

Deirdre Newman Scientists are geeky. Science is not for me. Science doesn't offer many options. These are some of the myths scientists from UC Irvine tried to dispel last week at Costa Mesa High School as part of the school's annual Ask-a-Scientist night. More than 100 students came to mingle with marine biologists, zoologists, restoration ecologists and a variety of other UCI scientists. The forum enabled the students to ask questions about their science fair projects and general questions about the field of science.

Andrew Edwards The search for a new chancellor started Monday as University of California President Robert Dynes announced the formation of a 17-member advisory committee that will begin figuring out who should lead the UC Irvine campus. The committee is scheduled to meet behind closed doors Friday to talk with UC Irvine students, faculty, employees and community representatives. The move was made necessary with the official announcement Monday that Chancellor Ralph Cicerone, who has held UC Irvine's top position since 1998, will leave the university at the end of this school year to be the next president of the National Academy of Sciences.

Several Costa Mesa schools are now plugged into a $428,400 federal grant to teach science writing and technology skills to local students. The federal Enhancing Education Through Technology grant was given to the district through the state, after a highly competitive process. The district’s grant application received full funding, district spokeswoman Laura Boss said, a rare achievement for any district. “Our application was rated the No. 1-received submission in our region,” district Educational Technology Services Director Steven Glyer said.

Those interested in the details of a proposed magnet school at Davis Elementary have been asked to attend one of four focus groups over the next couple of weeks. There will be groups at 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Nov. 6, at 7 p.m. Nov. 10, and at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 12., all at Davis Elementary School, 1050 Arlington Drive. Members of the public are encouraged to attend. The Newport-Mesa Unified School District Board of Education has held two study sessions on a proposed magnet school at Davis, which would change over for the 2009-10 school year.

The California Science Center is a large museum in Los Angeles dedicated to inspiring scientific learning. In 1912, the State Exposition Building was opened where the California Science Center stands today. After World War II, the Exposition Building was remodeled to show people the importance of science and technology in everyday life. The name was later changed to the California Science Center, and it became a state-of-the-art building.   GETTING THERE Take the I-405 north.

UC Santa Barbara Dean of Environmental Science and Management Ernst von Weizsacker will discuss global warming Tuesday as part of the UCI’s ninth annual distinguished lecture series. Weizsacker’s talk, “The Climate Challenge: Answers from Technology, Business and Society,” will cover the world’s response to the global climate shift. He has served as policy director for the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development and was a member of the German parliament.

Newport Beach-based celebrity chef Jamie Gwen is set to front the third Flavors of Orange County dinner and fundraiser on behalf of the American Liver Foundation. The Fairmont Hotel in Newport Beach, formerly the Sutton Place, will be the setting for the Jan. 29 event, which will feature some of the finest dining in Orange County. The premise for the party is that a lineup of celebrity chefs will each prepare an incredible five-course dinner accompanied by the appropriate wine for a table of 12. In other words, everyone in the ballroom will be enjoying their own dining experience prepared by a particular chef.

The Newport-Mesa Unified School District has launched a project to expand science and technology teaching at Eastbluff Elementary and help boost enrollment at the underpopulated Newport Beach school. By next spring, the school plans to have a new portable classroom reserved entirely for science. It also hopes to provide laptops for all fourth- and fifth-grade students. The school board approved the plan last month to help encourage intradistrict transfers to the school.

HUMBERTO CASPA Monique Molina is only 6 years old. She may not be as articulate as Edward James Olmos, or as funny as George Lopez, but she is more entertaining and charismatic than the two of them put together, and as talented as Jennifer Lopez. As soon as I walked into the Girls Inc. building on Anaheim Street in Costa Mesa, Monique stood up in front of me and extended her arms. With a gleeful face, she shook my hand. "Welcome to Girls Inc.," she said.

Andrew Edwards The search for a new chancellor started Monday as University of California President Robert Dynes announced the formation of a 17-member advisory committee that will begin figuring out who should lead the UC Irvine campus. The committee is scheduled to meet behind closed doors Friday to talk with UC Irvine students, faculty, employees and community representatives. The move was made necessary with the official announcement Monday that Chancellor Ralph Cicerone, who has held UC Irvine's top position since 1998, will leave the university at the end of this school year to be the next president of the National Academy of Sciences.

Marisa O'Neil Inventor, scientist, philanthropist and Renaissance man Arnold Beckman, whose name graces buildings at universities throughout the country, died Tuesday at the age of 104. The longtime Corona del Mar resident donated more than $400 million for scientific research and education, including nearly $15 million to the UCI laser institute, which bears his name. He made his fortune when he sold his company, Beckman Instruments, after years of inventing innovative scientific instruments, which garnered him 14 patents and national medals for science and technology.

Alicia Robinson California ranks near the bottom of the 50 states in wasteful federal spending, but Congress approved more than $3 million in local "pork barrel" projects, according to Citizens Against Government Waste. The Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit group on Wednesday released its annual "pig book," which catalogs what it sees as unnecessary congressional spending. Statewide, 2004 wasteful spending was listed at nearly $643 million, which averaged about $18.12 per person and ranked California 43rd nationwide in pork spending, the group said.