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Show Wednesday, January 21, 2009 ir THE SIGNPOST BUSINESS & SCIENCE 2009: National year for astronomy The Ott Planetarium presents a wide variety of shows and events to celebrate the new year By Shaela Grange correspondent I The Signpost "There are occasions when you know something that no one else in the universe knows," said Weber State University senior Charla Boom."This could be potentially earth-shattering news and you are the only person who knows it." Boom's scientific enthusiasm held the attention of audience members as they ushered in the new 2009 theme at last week's planetarium show. Boom said she was excited to pronounce this year as the International Year of Astronomy. "We have some big events coming up in celebration of the 400th year since Galileo pointed his telescope to the sky," Boom said. "We hope students will spread the word and come out to these great activities." Weekly shows will continue to run regularly at the Ott Planetarium, with topics centered around the International Year of Astronomy. "This is a topic I'ye always been interested in," said WSU alumnus Mike Hodgson, "and I really enjoyed learning about exoplanets," The Ott Planetarium will host several events throughout the semester, including an image unveiling of never- before-seen artwork from NASA, taken by Hubble, Chandra and Spitzer space telescopes; a presentation by Sean Raymond, a world leading expert in solar system formation; a celebration of moon landing featuring NASA workers and a realistic mock moon landing; and a children's carnival described by Boom as, "Pure mayhem and so much fun." Boom's husband John, who also works at the planetarium, seemed equally excited as he discussed some of the significant leaps students working at the planetarium have taken. "We had an undergraduate student discover a star that no one else knew about," John said. "This is something that everyone can be a part of." Charla agreed. "Anyone can do it (astronomy) on any level," she said. "Regardless of your individual interests, you can always find a way to participate in it. We want people of all interests to come out, invite friends, and enjoy science." Also new this semester is an opportunity for students to view Planetarium shows without dipping into their pocket change. In an effort to give back to the community, workers at the Ott will accept a can of food in place of cash for admittance into shows. All cans will be donated to the Utah Food Bank. With this new opportunity, sophomore SOURCE: SXC.HU Jake Wall's description of the Ott making, "A good cheap date," became even more accurate. "This way I can afford to splurge and buy us some ice cream afterward," Wall joked. Events for the National Year of Astronomy are often free of charge and always open to the public. They will be hosted in the Lind Lecture Building and Ott Planetarium. Prices, information about upcoming events, show times and reservation opportunities, is available online at www.weber.edu/planetarium. Comment on this story at wsusignpost.com. Upcoming events February 27: 7:00 p.m.: LL 125/126: Image unveiling. 7:30 p.m.: LL125/126: Dr. Sean Raymond's presentation on solar system formation. 8:30 p.m.: Ogden Astronomical Society joins WSU for an observation and Q&A about telescopes. Make yourself marketable Tips from pros on how to land your first job after graduation By Brianna Davis correspondent i The Signpost -' ',<•"-• '.••'''.'*'•'"'•?,•j'-''t?~-H SOURCE: SXC.HU Living under the smog Stay healthy under the blanket of haze on the Wasatch Front "People who suffer from these conditions need to stay inside as much as possible," Aldous said. The weather hasbeenseasonably "Being out in the junky air may mild at the 6,000-foot level, but aggravate their conditions." Aldous also said students who 1,500 feet below the smog, at the valley floor, the weather has been suffer from respiratory elements beautiful, especially for those who need to consult with their physician to find treatment options. love the Utah winter inversions. "There might be an underlying AccordingtotheUtahDepartment of-Environmental Quality, inversions' effect that is causing the problems trap a dense layer of cold air under that need to be addressed," Aldous a layer of warm air. Inversions act said. "Your physician will be able much like a lid, trapping pollutants to order the tests and treat the within the cold air near the valley problems." Andy Morgan, a Weber State floor. The Wasatch Front valleys University student and respiratory and their surrounding mountains act much like a pot, holding the technician at Praxair Healthcare, air in the valleys. The longer the said that when Ogden sees a really inversion lasts, the stronger the bad inversion, people struggle. pollutants concentrate within it. "We (Praxair) see an increase in Visibility often deteriorates well in oxygen orders as well as nebulizers." advance of harmful concentrations Morgan said. "People really struggle of pollutants. trying to breathe all the garbage that Lori Aldous, registered is in the air." respiratory therapist at McKay-Dee Morgan also said he delivers more Hospital in Ogden, said inversions cylinder tanks during inversion can be particularly bad for those times due to the customers needing suffering from respiratory elements an increase in oxygen flow. such as asthma, emphysema, The Department of influenza and bronchitis. Environmental Quality reported By Ned Wallis correspondent I The Signpost that along the Wasatch Front, 60 percent of paniculate matter and 70 percent of carbon monoxide emissions come from vehicles. Industrial sources account for 70 percent of sulfur dioxide emissions, with vehicles accounting for the remaining 30 percent. On the flip side, above it all, the weather is beautiful especially for those enjoying a day at one of Utah's ski resorts. "The weather is beautiful up here in Morgan Valley," said Robert Herrmann, avid skier and Mountain Green native. "I avoid traveling to Ogden when I can - it is night and day how much better the air is up here." Herrmann also said the snow at Snowbasin has been great and the sky has been crystal clear. "When the air quality gets this bad it is always nice to get away," Herrmann said. "I can really feel the difference in the quality of air and it makes it that much more beautiful." Comment on this story at wsusignpost.com. As spring approaches, graduating students are starting to think about what happens next. While there is a sense of excitement, there is also a concern about what the job market holds for new graduates in this troubled economy. Constant talk of layoffs and budget cuts mean fewer job openings and increased competition for positions. However, opportunities are out there for Weber State University students who prepare themselves. Brian Davis, a marketing professor at WSU, said there are three key areas that are helpful for students to focus on when preparing for a career: Conceptual skills, interpersonal skills and technical skills. "Conceptual skills are important to employers because they want to know that you can see the big picture and find ways to contribute to the overall goals of the business," Davis said. "Interpersonal skills also play a large role in succeeding in the workplace because employers want to hire people who are great at building and maintaining relationships with coworkers and customers. Technical skills are also important because employers need people who have the necessary expertise to take ideas and communicate them in tangible ways." One of the ways students can prepare while at the university is by building strong relationships with faculty members. This is especially relevant given the relationships that faculty membershave with employers in the area. Pat Wheeler, WSU coordinator of recruitment and development for the^ Goddard School of Business and Economics, had some advice for students who want SOURCE: SXC.HU to take the next steps in making themselves marketable in the career world. "I see myself as the liaison between the student and the employer/' Wheeler said. "I'm their link to the corporate world, and if I'm impressed with a student, I will pass that information along to employers." She said businesses will often call her directly for recommendations of students when looking to fill positions. Wheeler also emphasized the importance of students being proactive when looking for jobs. "Employers are busy trying to maintain their businesses and they don't have time to look through 700 resume's online," she said.'As such, students need to make an effort to tailor their resume to the position they want." Employers are interested in the candidate best fitted for the job. If students take the time to learn about the company they want to work for and do the necessary research, they are much more likely to make an impression. Many WSU students have taken this advice and put it into action. WSU accounting senior and business student, senator James Davis, said he is currently experiencing the benefits of sharpening his skills and getting to know a company before submitting a resume*. He has been hired as a paid intern at Flying J, and said he is confident that his preparation was crucial to obtaining the position. "Ididalot of researchon Flying J and their subsidiaries before interviewing," Davis said. "That helped me tremendously in the interview because I was able to speak knowledgably about the company and demonstrate an active interest in the work thev do." Comment on this story at wsusignpost.com. |
