Notables

Geza Hrazdina, professor of biochemistry in the department of food science and technology at Cornell's New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, has been elected a full member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (HAS). HAS has been governing science in Hungary since 1825. The association has 214 ordinary members and 86 corresponding members. Recently the academy decided to open its membership to approximately 300 scientists of Hungarian origin who had established themselves as leaders in their fields outside of the country. Hrazdina has been with Cornell at the Agricultural Experiment Station since 1966. In his research program, he uses modern biochemical and molecular tools to investigate the physiology of fruit ripening, aromatic metabolism and alternative strategies to chemical sprays in selected crops.

Ithaca's Sciencenter board of trustees has announced the creation of a special endowment fund in honor of Charlie Trautmann, the center's executive director. Trautmann has been executive director of the Sciencenter for 12 years and also serves as an adjunct professor of engineering at Cornell. "Charlie has worked so hard to help make the Sciencenter what it is today," said Ilma Levine, board chair," it's a pleasure to give something back in his name."

The goal of the fund is $50,000. As of early January, 75 people already had made gifts to the fund. In addition, the center's board of trustees has declared that the museum's new addition will be named in honor of Trautmann after he retires from the Sciencenter. Anyone wishing to contribute to the fund should contact Mary Helen Cathles at the Sciencenter, 272-0600.