Summer institutes target teachers, seventh-graders
Binghamton University will offer two summer programs designed to excite students and teachers about science, math and engineering. The Go Green Institute will offer 50 seventh-graders an intensive hands-on learning experience centered on the theme of a greener living environment, while the Big Ideas in Science Institute will focus on professional development for science teachers. Read more
Research on sequels offers insight on film franchises
Movie sequels don’t always do as well at the box office as the original, but they tend to do much better than non-sequels, according to a new study in the July Journal of Business Research. And timing is everything, according to the experts at Binghamton University and Florida Atlantic University: The shorter the period between releases, the better. Read more
Wu leads quest to expose hidden forces behind earthquakes
Binghamton’s Francis Wu is leading a project that could help scientists around the globe find subsurface faults and better understand how tectonic forces act to build mountains. This knowledge may ultimately enable scientists to predict earthquakes more reliably. Read more
Archaeologists uncover new clues, theories of prehistoric life
Thanks to a wealth of data they’ve uncovered in recent years, and new techniques for extracting meaning from their findings, researchers at Binghamton University are rewriting some of the most widely accepted theories about prehistoric life in New York state. Read more
Historian sifts census data to understand fertility decline
Using uniquely prepared and processed census data and his own specialized talents and training, demographic historian J. David Hacker is studying the early origins of America’s fertility decline. He is also turning back and rewriting some important pages of history by helping to clarify the forces and factors that fueled it. Read more
Researchers explore altruism’s unexpected ally — selfishness
Just as religions dwell upon the eternal battle between good and evil, angels and devils, evolutionary theorists dwell upon the eternal battle between altruistic and selfish behaviors in the Darwinian struggle for existence. In a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), evolutionary theorists at Binghamton University suggest that selfishness might not be such a villain after all. Read more
Parkinson’s researcher receives $1.33 million from NIH
A Binghamton University researcher will receive $1.33 million from the National Institutes of Health to support Parkinson’s disease research. Christopher Bishop, assistant professor of psychology, said his primary interest lies not only in the treatment of Parkinson’s but also in the side effects of treatment. Read more
