Bill Nye will open Undergrad Research Forum

Research rules!

The Cornell Undergraduate Research Board (CURB) again is hosting its annual Undergraduate Research Forum in support of undergraduate research at Cornell -- this year on Wednesday, April 21. And to get things started with a bang, alumnus Bill Nye, the energetic and funny TV science educator and promoter, will be the opening speaker.

A student-run organization, CURB offers a variety of programs during the year aimed at strengthening and broadening undergraduate research opportunities. Each spring, the board showcases the hard work and excellent contributions of Cornell undergraduate researchers through the forum, during which young researchers present their work.

Bill Nye, the host of "Disney Presents Bill Nye, the Science Guy" and a 1977 graduate of Cornell's Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, will be the forum's convocation speaker at 5 p.m. in the David L. Call Alumni Auditorium of Kennedy Hall. The event is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. Because space in the auditorium is limited, the first tickets will go to students who are presenting posters or giving oral seminars during the forum. The remaining tickets will be available at the Willard Straight Hall ticket office.

As in past years, the CURB forum will consist of a variety of student presentations, including poster sessions and individual, student-run seminars throughout campus. Planned topics cover a wide range of research, from "Life Support System Development for Mars EVA Suits" to "The Influences of Soft Money on the Outcome of Federal Elections."

Programs and program information will be available at various locations on campus or by contacting the Academic Advising Center in 55 Goldwin Smith Hall, 255-5004, or by visiting the web sites http://www.rso.cornell.edu:8000/CURB/ or www.arts.cornell.edu/ur/index.htm.