News Releases
Princeton senior Henry Barmeier wins Rhodes Scholarship--UPDATED
Posted November 22, 2009; 08:35 a.m.
Princeton senior Henry Barmeier has been awarded a Rhodes Scholarship for graduate study at the University of Oxford.
'Connect' encourages black alumni to become more involved with Princeton
Posted November 20, 2009; 11:23 a.m.
A new alumni-led enterprise will involve black graduates more deeply in the life of Princeton University as leaders, volunteers and donors.
Ominsky named director of public safety
Posted November 18, 2009; 11:00 a.m.
Paul Ominsky, director of public safety at Mount Holyoke College, Smith College and Hampshire College, has been named director of public safety at Princeton University.
Center for African American Studies launches civic internship program
Posted November 16, 2009; 06:35 p.m.
The Center for African American Studies at Princeton University will launch a summer internship program to further research in race and public policy, allowing Princeton students to work with national organizations to confront issues of disparity in urban education.
Princeton takes significant steps toward achieving sustainability goals
Posted November 11, 2009; 10:00 a.m.
In its first report since adopting a Sustainability Plan in February 2008, Princeton University states that on-campus greenhouse gas emissions have decreased for the first time since the University's energy-efficient cogeneration plant was installed in 1996. While the decrease in carbon dioxide from July 2008 to July 2009 has been modest at nearly 1 percent, "it is a significant step in the right direction," according to the report, considering that the University added nearly 164,000 square feet to its physical plant during the same time period.
NCI awards $15.2 million to create Princeton Physical Sciences-Oncology Center
Posted October 26, 2009; 08:00 a.m.
Princeton University physical scientists will partner with researchers at four other institutions to explore the driving forces behind the evolution of cancer under a five-year, $15.2 million award from the National Cancer Institute.
Like humans, monkeys fall into the 'uncanny valley'
Posted October 13, 2009; 11:00 a.m.
Princeton University researchers have come up with a new twist on the mysterious visual phenomenon experienced by humans known as the "uncanny valley." The scientists have found that monkeys sense it too.
Princeton paleomagnetists put controversy to rest
Posted October 2, 2009; 11:03 a.m.
Princeton University scientists have shown that, in ancient times, the Earth's magnetic field was structured like the two-pole model of today, suggesting that the methods geoscientists use to reconstruct the geography of early land masses on the globe are accurate. The findings may lead to a better understanding of historical continental movement, which relates to changes in climate.
Tilghman provides update on University's budget outlook
Posted September 29, 2009; 10:00 a.m.
While the University's fiscal outlook has benefited from better than expected returns on its endowment and the implementation of cost-savings measures, Princeton will need to continue with its two-year plan of budget reductions to protect its core programs, according to President Shirley M. Tilghman.
Pilot of Amazon's Kindle e-reader launched with fall semester
Posted September 23, 2009; 12:00 p.m.
Readings on civil society, diplomacy in the Middle East and ancient Rome have made their way from traditional paper pages to the digital screen for an estimated 50 students who have enrolled in classes selected for Princeton University's pilot of the Amazon KindleDX electronic reader.
Sigman, Zoli win MacArthur 'genius grants'
Posted September 22, 2009; 12:00 a.m.
Daniel Sigman, a Princeton University biogeochemist who has conducted pioneering work exploring the large-scale systems that have supported life on the planet throughout the millennia, has been selected as a 2009 MacArthur Fellow. Also chosen was Theodore Zoli, a 1988 alumnus and a visiting lecturer in Princeton's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering since 2003. The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation announced that they are among 24 trailblazing artists, writers, scientists and others who each will receive a $500,000 no-strings-attached grant over a five-year period.
George Segal Papers shed light on life of artist
Posted September 21, 2009; 06:07 p.m.
Sixty-eight linear feet of business files, correspondence, preliminary sketches, drawing books, photographs and other materials from the late artist George Segal have been donated to the Princeton University Library.
New home for Fields Center, Community House a beacon for multicultural education and social opportunities
Posted September 17, 2009; 06:27 p.m.
When establishing their new home at 58 Prospect Ave., Princeton University's Fields Center and Community House staff decided to make it a beacon for multicultural education and social opportunities within the University campus and local community.
Gunn wins National Medal of Science
Posted September 17, 2009; 03:57 p.m.
James Gunn, the Eugene Higgins Professor of Astronomy at Princeton University, has been chosen to receive a National Medal of Science, the nation's highest scientific honor, for his sweeping contributions to modern stargazing, from theory to observation to gadget-building.
Negative public opinion an early warning signal for terrorism, Princeton professor says
Posted September 17, 2009; 02:00 p.m.
An analysis of public opinion polls and terrorist activity in 143 pairs of countries has shown for the first time that when people in one country hold negative views toward the leadership and policies of another, terrorist acts are more likely to be carried out.
Denitrification, its importance once diluted, may be back on top, Princeton-led team says
Posted September 2, 2009; 01:00 p.m.
After more than a decade of inquiry, a Princeton-led team of scientists has turned the tables on a long-standing controversy to re-establish an old truth about nitrogen mixing in the oceans.
Princeton team learns why some drugs pack such a punch
Posted August 20, 2009; 11:00 a.m.
By studying the intricate mechanisms at work in protein production, a Princeton-led team has discovered why certain kinds of antibiotics are so effective. In doing so, they also have discovered how one protein protects against cell death, shedding light on a natural cancer-fighting process.
Butler College Redevelopment Fact Sheet
Posted August 13, 2009; 09:00 a.m.
A list of facts about the Butler College project.
From top to bottom, Butler will be a living environmental laboratory
Posted August 13, 2009; 09:00 a.m.
When 283 Princeton undergraduates move into Butler College this September, they will be entering a 113,000-square-foot complex integrating sustainability features from top to bottom, including the green roofs on more than half of its buildings and a stormwater cistern that will collect and recycle rainwater to irrigate courtyard landscaping.
Princeton pair sets world record in packing puzzle
Posted August 12, 2009; 01:00 p.m.
Finding the best way to pack the greatest quantity of a specifically shaped object into a confined space may sound simple, yet it consistently has led to deep mathematical concepts and practical applications, such as improved computer security codes. Two Princeton University researchers have made a major advance in addressing a twist in the packing problem, jamming more tetrahedra -- solid figures with four triangular faces -- and other polyhedral solid objects than ever before into a space.
PPPL will receive $13.8 million in Recovery Act funding
Posted August 4, 2009; 04:17 p.m.
The U.S. Department of Energy's Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory will receive a two-year federal grant of $13.8 million as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
Annual Giving campaign raises $44.6 million
Posted July 7, 2009; 02:41 p.m.
The 2008-09 Annual Giving campaign raised $44,597,633 -- the third highest total in Princeton's history -- with 57.7 percent of undergraduate alumni participating. The results are notable for their strength and breadth across all of Princeton's constituencies: undergraduate alumni, graduate alumni, parents and friends.
Former Bush chief of staff Bolten to join Wilson School faculty
Posted July 7, 2009; 11:02 a.m.
Joshua Bolten, a White House chief of staff to President George W. Bush and a 1976 graduate of Princeton, will join the faculty of the University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs for the 2009-10 academic year.
New Princeton method may help allocate carbon emissions responsibility among nations
Posted July 6, 2009; 05:00 p.m.
Just months before world leaders are scheduled to meet to devise a new international treaty on climate change, a research team led by Princeton University scientists has developed a new way of dividing responsibility for carbon emissions among countries.
Research offers new insights, and a new angle, on high-temperature superconductivity
Posted June 29, 2009; 02:18 p.m.
A Princeton-led research team has revealed surprising information about how electron behavior influences the conduction of electricity in a class of high-temperature superconductors. An increased understanding of this mechanism could one day transform a number of technologies, including the transmission of electrical power.
Students selected for inaugural Bridge Year Program
Posted June 29, 2009; 09:00 a.m.
Twenty Princeton students will defer the start of their freshman year at Princeton this fall to spend a tuition-free enrichment period abroad focused on public service as the first participants in the University's Bridge Year Program.
Noted Princeton husband-and-wife team wins Kyoto Prize
Posted June 19, 2009; 03:00 a.m.
Princeton University's Peter and Rosemary Grant, whose legendary explorations on the bleak Galapagos island of Daphne Major over nearly four decades have produced an array of dazzling insights into evolutionary theory, have been named recipients of the Kyoto Prize.
Paxson named Woodrow Wilson School dean
Posted June 16, 2009; 11:00 a.m.
Christina Paxson, a Princeton faculty member since 1986 who is the Hughes-Rogers Professor of Economics and Public Affairs and chair of the Department of Economics, has been selected as dean of the University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. Her appointment is effective July 1.
Outreach programs encourage summer learning at Princeton
Posted June 12, 2009; 12:03 p.m.
Students of all ages and teachers from New Jersey and beyond will be engaged in a summer of learning on the Princeton campus, taking part in outreach programs on subjects ranging from American constitutional history to modern molecular biology and genetics.
Princeton University holds 262nd Commencement
Posted June 2, 2009; 01:39 p.m.
Princeton University awarded degrees to 1,128 undergraduates and 753 graduate students at its 262nd Commencement Tuesday, June 2.
Princeton awards five honorary degrees
Posted June 2, 2009; 01:33 p.m.
Princeton University awarded honorary degrees during Commencement exercises June 2 to five distinguished individuals for their contributions to civic engagement, performing arts, engineering and sustainability. Princeton President Shirley M. Tilghman awarded degrees to Ernesto Cortés Jr., an influential community organizer; Ruby Dee Davis, a renowned actor and civil rights activist; Irvin Glassman, a leading figure in combustion and energy research and Princeton's Robert H. Goddard Professor Emeritus of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering; Meryl Streep, an Academy Award-winning actor and advocate for women's rights; and Alice Waters, a celebrated chef and proponent of sustainable cuisine.
Four faculty members recognized for outstanding teaching
Posted June 2, 2009; 01:29 p.m.
Four Princeton faculty members received President's Awards for Distinguished Teaching at Commencement ceremonies June 2. They are: Mitchell Duneier, professor of sociology; Eddie Glaude, the William S. Tod Professor of Religion and African American Studies; Sharad Malik, the George Van Ness Lothrop Professor in Engineering and director of the Keller Center for Innovation in Engineering Education; and Valerie Smith, the Woodrow Wilson Professor of Literature and director of the Center for African American Studies.
2009 President's Commencement Remarks
Posted June 2, 2009; 01:23 p.m.
2009 Commencement Remarks delivered by President Shirley M. Tilghman.
2009 Valedictory Oration
Posted June 2, 2009; 01:09 p.m.
2009 Valedictory Oration delivered by Holger Staude.
2009 Latin Salutatory Oration
Posted June 2, 2009; 01:06 p.m.
2009 Latin Salutatory Oration delivered by Stephen Hammer.
Students recognized for service and achievement at Class Day
Posted June 1, 2009; 02:19 p.m.
Members of Princeton's class of 2009 gathered on Cannon Green Monday, June 1, to celebrate the conclusion of their undergraduate careers in a Class Day ceremony honoring their service and accomplishments.
2009 Baccalaureate Remarks
Posted May 31, 2009; 03:00 p.m.
Abridged Baccalaureate remarks by Gen. David Petraeus, as provided to the University.
Graduate students lauded as excellent teachers
Posted May 29, 2009; 10:00 a.m.
The Princeton Graduate School will present awards to six graduate students in recognition of their outstanding abilities as teachers. They will be honored at the Association of Princeton Graduate Alumni's Tribute to Teaching Reception on Saturday, May 30. Each winner will receive $1,000.
Princeton honors exceptional secondary school teachers
Posted May 28, 2009; 12:14 p.m.
Princeton University will honor four outstanding New Jersey secondary school teachers at its 2009 Commencement on Tuesday, June 2.
Valedictorian Staude shines in the classroom and on the stage
Posted May 26, 2009; 04:00 p.m.
On his first day of classes as a freshman, Holger Staude received an unexpected invitation. Florent Masse, the instructor of his advanced French course, took Staude aside after class and -- impressed with the German native's command of the language -- urged him to join the University's French theater workshop. Staude had never considered acting. Yet, just as he did in deciding to attend Princeton, he accepted the challenge and thrived.
Salutatorian embraces a life of service
Posted May 26, 2009; 04:00 p.m.
Stephen Hammer arrived at Princeton planning to focus his studies on contemporary public policy. But that changed when he read "On Duties" by the Roman statesman and orator Cicero in a political theory class. Cicero gave Hammer "an appreciation of the way Romans looked at morality," he said, a concept Hammer explored in greater depth after becoming a classics major.
Research team finds important role for junk DNA
Posted May 20, 2009; 12:08 p.m.
Scientists have called it "junk DNA." They have long been perplexed by these extensive strands of genetic material that dominate the genome but seem to lack specific functions. Why would nature force the genome to carry so much excess baggage? Now researchers from Princeton University and Indiana University who have been studying the genome of a pond organism have found that junk DNA may not be so junky after all.
Princeton University Commencement to be held June 2
Posted May 15, 2009; 02:34 p.m.
Members of the news media who wish to attend any of Princeton University's 2009 graduation ceremonies Sunday through Tuesday, May 31 to June 2, must contact the University's Office of Communications no later than 1 p.m. Friday, May 22, to request credentials.
Princeton team's analysis of flu virus could lead to better vaccines
Posted May 12, 2009; 02:39 p.m.
A team of Princeton University scientists may have found a better way to make a vaccine against the flu virus.
Internationally renowned artists appointed to head Lewis Center programs
Posted May 11, 2009; 02:00 p.m.
Susan Marshall has been named the first director of the Program in Dance and Joe Scanlan has been selected as the new director of the Program in Visual Arts in the University's Lewis Center for the Arts.
Princeton geoscientist offers new evidence that meteorite did not wipe out dinosaurs
Posted May 4, 2009; 10:00 a.m.
A Princeton University geoscientist who has stirred controversy with her studies challenging a popular theory that an asteroid wiped out the dinosaurs has compiled powerful new evidence asserting her position. Gerta Keller, whose studies of rock formations at many sites in the United States, Mexico and India have led her to conclude that volcanoes, not a vast meteorite, were the more likely culprits in the demise of the Earth's giant reptiles, is producing new data supporting her claim.
Princeton Grad School applications rise 10 percent
Posted May 1, 2009; 10:00 a.m.
Princeton's Graduate School admitted 1,068 of the 10,135 applicants who applied for the 2009-10 academic year, with the strength of the school's financial aid program contributing to a 10 percent increase in the number of students applying to master's and doctoral programs. The 10.5 percent overall admission rate is down from the 13 percent of applicants who were admitted from last year's pool of 9,238 applicants.
Eight students receive 2009 Spirit of Princeton Award
Posted April 27, 2009; 11:39 a.m.
Eight students have been named winners of the 2009 Spirit of Princeton Award, which honors Princeton University undergraduates for their positive contributions to campus life. The award recognizes students who have demonstrated a strong commitment to the undergraduate experience through contributions to student organizations, athletics, community service, religious life, residential life and the arts.
EPA Administrator Jackson to discuss economy's impact on environmental priorities
Posted April 27, 2009; 08:00 a.m.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson will speak on "Environmental Justice in the 21st Century, A Bipartisan Approach" in a lecture at 4:30 p.m. Friday, May 8, in Dodds Auditorium, Robertson Hall, on the Princeton University campus. Jackson, a 1986 alumna of Princeton's Graduate School, will explore the impact of the economic downturn on environmental priorities, the future of sustainability for urban youth and environmental justice.
Mexican health care program successful at reducing crippling health care costs
Posted April 7, 2009; 06:00 p.m.
In results from the largest health policy study of its kind, a Mexican health care program created in 2003 has been found effective in reducing crippling health care costs among poorer households. The results reflect the success of the Seguro Popular program, and arise from an evaluation conducted by researchers, including a Princeton University faculty member, in collaboration with researchers in Mexico.
Princeton makes offers to 9.79 percent of applicants; expands class and aid
Posted March 31, 2009; 07:00 p.m.
In keeping with the culmination of a five-year plan to expand the size of its student body, Princeton University has offered admission to 2,150, or 9.79 percent of the record 21,964 applicants for the class of 2013. The University plans to enroll its highest number of freshmen in history -- 1,300 students -- as the final stage of the expansion.
Volunteer firefighter pilot program to roll out
Posted March 30, 2009; 06:17 p.m.
The University is rolling out a pilot program in which staff members will serve as volunteers with the Princeton Fire Department during their work shifts.
Healy to leave post at end of academic year
Posted March 23, 2009; 06:00 a.m.
Steven J. Healy, director of public safety at Princeton University since 2003, will leave his position at the end of the academic year on June 30. The University plans to immediately launch a national search for his successor.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to keynote WWS colloquium
Posted March 17, 2009; 11:00 a.m.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will deliver the opening keynote address for the 2009 Princeton Colloquium on Public and International Affairs at 9:30 a.m. Friday, April 17, in the McCarter Theatre Center's Matthews Theatre on the Princeton University campus. The title of Ban's speech is "The Imperative for a New Multilateralism." The colloquium is hosted by the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs April 17-18.
Financial security, more than money alone, may be key to happiness, Princeton study says
Posted March 17, 2009; 10:00 a.m.
A study of the mental state of the modern American woman by a Princeton University psychologist has found a powerful link between concerns over financial security and satisfaction with one's life.
New digital library of Islamic manuscripts online
Posted March 16, 2009; 10:00 a.m.
Princeton University has placed a new digital library of 200 Islamic manuscripts online for scholars to consult and study.
Normal activities resume at Princeton after early-morning incident; posted Sat., March 7, 3:38 a.m.
Posted March 7, 2009; 03:38 a.m.
Princeton University's Department of Public Safety has confirmed that there is no threat to the campus following an investigation that ended with the location of a male student found with a non-functional firearm in the early morning hours of Saturday, March 7. Public Safety at 1:20 a.m. issued an "all clear" message to the campus community after first notifying students earlier in the morning of an unconfirmed report of a weapon on campus.
Frank Shoemaker, leading high-energy physicist, dies
Posted March 2, 2009; 11:59 a.m.
Frank Shoemaker, a leader in the development of high-energy particle accelerators during a highly revelatory era for physics and a founding member of the experimental particle physics group at Princeton, has died at age 86.
Conference will examine issues of race and real estate
Posted February 23, 2009; 01:23 p.m.
Issues related to race and home ownership will be examined at the "Race and Real Estate" conference scheduled for Thursday through Saturday, March 5-7, in various locations on campus. The event is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required.
Malaria parasite zeroes in on molecule to enhance its survival, team finds
Posted February 19, 2009; 11:55 a.m.
A team of researchers from Princeton University and the Drexel University College of Medicine has found that the parasite that causes malaria breaks down an important amino acid in its quest to adapt and thrive within the human body. By depleting this substance called arginine, the parasite may trigger a more critical and deadlier phase of the disease.
Quantum dance: Discovery led by Princeton researchers could revolutionize computing
Posted February 18, 2009; 12:32 p.m.
An international team of scientists, led by a Princeton University group, has observed an exciting and strange behavior in electrons' spin within a new material that could be harnessed to transform computing and electronics.
Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects selected to design new Andlinger Center
Posted February 11, 2009; 10:00 a.m.
Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects, a New York firm known for its careful attention to context, creative use of materials and innovative modernist work, has been chosen to design Princeton University's new Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment.
Walter Kauzmann, chemistry pioneer, dies at 92
Posted February 9, 2009; 12:53 p.m.
Walter Kauzmann, whose deep insights into the water-loathing properties of greasy molecules paved the way for the modern study of proteins, has died at age 92.
Symposium focuses on defining the black experience
Posted February 6, 2009; 01:16 p.m.
A symposium designed to highlight important developments and achievements of black people in America will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, at the Friend Center on the Princeton University campus. The event is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required by Thursday, Feb. 19. The event, titled "From the Middle Passage to the Oval Office: Defining the Black Experience," will feature talks on a range of issues facing the black community.
Kolligian selected to lead University Health Services
Posted February 2, 2009; 10:00 a.m.
John Kolligian, director of Counseling and Psychological Services in University Health Services (UHS) since 2004, has been named executive director of UHS, effective Feb. 2.
EPA presents clean construction workshop at Princeton, Feb. 2
Posted January 28, 2009; 03:32 p.m.
Princeton's Department of Facilities will host an Environmental Protection Agency workshop on Monday, Feb. 2, 2009, addressing clean construction options for colleges and universities. The workshop is focused on clean diesel technologies for existing construction equipment, and presenting funding opportunities and examples of successful diesel emissions reduction projects in the Northeast.
Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mullen to deliver policy address
Posted January 28, 2009; 03:20 p.m.
U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will deliver a major policy address titled "Global Trends and National Security" at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, in McCosh 10.
Trustees approve lowest fee package increase since 1966
Posted January 26, 2009; 10:00 a.m.
Princeton University trustees Jan. 24 approved the lowest percentage increase in undergraduate tuition and fees since 1966 -- 2.9 percent -- while also endorsing a 13 percent increase in the undergraduate scholarship budget to ensure that the rise in the fee package will not affect students on financial aid.
Steward named director of Princeton University Art Museum
Posted January 22, 2009; 12:00 p.m.
James Steward, a skilled arts administrator and a specialist in 18th- and 19th-century European art and culture, has been selected as director of the Princeton University Art Museum.
Princeton sets applications record for fifth year in a row
Posted January 22, 2009; 08:50 a.m.
Princeton University for the fifth consecutive year has set a record for students applying for admission, receiving 21,869 applications for the class of 2013. Over the past six years, the University has experienced a 60 percent increase in applications. The record-setting interest from student applicants comes as the University plans to enroll its highest number of freshmen in history.
Bridge Year participants to serve in Peru, Ghana, Serbia and India
Posted January 16, 2009; 11:00 a.m.
Administrators of Princeton University's new Bridge Year Program have selected three program partners and four locations around the world where students who have accepted an offer of admission to the University will spend a tuition-free enrichment period focused on public service.
DOE awards University PPPL contract
Posted January 15, 2009; 06:41 p.m.
The U.S. Department of Energy announced Jan. 15 that Princeton University has been awarded a five-year management and operating contract to continue managing the DOE's Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. The contract runs from April 1, 2009, to March 31, 2014, with a 60-day transition period beginning this month, and with a provision that permits the University to earn up to five additional years of management of the lab.
Astronomers from Princeton and Japan unite to explore the universe, near and far
Posted January 15, 2009; 03:00 a.m.
Scientists from Princeton University and the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) have agreed to collaborate over the next 10 years, using new instrumentation on the Hawaii-based Subaru Telescope to peer into hidden corners of the nearby universe and ferret out secrets from its distant past.
Team finds breast cancer gene linked to disease spread
Posted January 5, 2009; 12:00 p.m.
A team of researchers at Princeton University and The Cancer Institute of New Jersey has identified a long-sought gene that is fatefully switched on in 30 to 40 percent of all breast cancer patients, spreading the disease, resisting traditional chemotherapies and eventually leading to death.
Barnard receives Sachs Scholarship
Posted December 11, 2008; 11:10 a.m.
A senior with a keen interest in social justice has been named the recipient of the 2009 Daniel M. Sachs Class of 1960 Graduating Scholarship, one of the highest awards given to Princeton undergraduates. Alexander Barnard, a sociology major, plans to use the Sachs award to pursue a master's deree at the Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology at Worcester College at the University of Oxford.
Class of 1967 gives dorm to Butler College
Posted December 11, 2008; 10:07 a.m.
Members of Princeton's class of 1967 are honoring the spirit and loyalty of their class by giving the University a new dormitory: the Class of 1967 Hall in Butler College.
Understanding the Robertson v. Princeton settlement
Posted December 10, 2008; 09:00 a.m.
Presented here is a brief glossary of terms and case history to aid in understanding the Dec. 9, 2008, settlement agreement for the lawsuit that the Robertson family filed against Princeton University in 2002.
Settlement retains Princeton's control, use of Robertson funds
Posted December 10, 2008; 09:00 a.m.
Princeton University will have full control of the endowment associated with the Robertson Foundation and will continue to use the endowment to support the graduate program of the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs under a settlement agreement that ends the six-year-old lawsuit brought against the University by members of the Robertson family.
Sugar can be addictive, Princeton scientist says
Posted December 10, 2008; 06:00 a.m.
A Princeton University scientist will present new evidence today demonstrating that sugar can be an addictive substance, wielding its power over the brains of lab animals in a manner similar to many drugs of abuse.
Princeton-led team finds secret ingredient for the health of tropical rainforests
Posted December 9, 2008; 09:00 a.m.
A team of researchers led by Princeton University scientists has found for the first time that tropical rainforests, a vital part of the Earth's ecosystem, rely on the rare trace element molybdenum to capture the nitrogen fertilizer needed to support their wildly productive growth. Most of the nitrogen that supports the rapid, lush growth of rainforests comes from tiny bacteria that can turn nitrogen in the air into fertilizer in the soil.
Shih wins Marshall Scholarship
Posted December 3, 2008; 03:55 p.m.
Senior Michael Shih -- a major in the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs who is a nationally ranked debater -- is one of 40 American college students awarded 2009 Marshall Scholarships.
Sports professionals and students will convene at third annual sports symposium
Posted November 24, 2008; 01:01 p.m.
Sports business professionals, marketing executives, college athletic leaders and students will come together for the 2008 Princeton Sports Symposium at noon Friday, Dec. 5, in 101 Friend Center. The event is free and open to the public.
Three awarded Rhodes Scholarships; one selected for Mitchell award
Posted November 23, 2008; 10:45 p.m.
Princeton senior Stephen Hammer and two 2008 graduates, Scott Moore and Timothy Nunan, have been awarded Rhodes Scholarships for graduate study at the University of Oxford. They are among the 32 American college students who won the prestigious fellowships, which fund two or three years of study at Oxford. Princeton's three winners represented the most from any U.S. institution this year.
Holiday outreach initiatives planned
Posted November 19, 2008; 05:17 p.m.
Members of the University community will have the opportunity to share the holiday spirit through a series of community service initiatives and special events planned for December and January.
West to read from new book
Posted November 17, 2008; 06:11 p.m.
Cornel West, the Class of 1943 University Professor in the Center for African American Studies at Princeton, will read from his new book, "Hope on a Tightrope: Words and Wisdom," at 4:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 24, in the Prospect House Garden Room.
Prudent planning helps University deal with volatile economic conditions
Posted November 11, 2008; 03:30 p.m.
While Princeton is not immune from the effects of the nation's economic downturn, prudent long-term planning is helping University administrators meet the financial challenges and respond to additional needs for financial aid.
Vinnakota and Max to receive top alumni awards
Posted November 10, 2008; 10:00 a.m.
The University will present its top honors for alumni to Rajiv Vinnakota, co-founder of the nation's first urban boarding school for disadvantaged students, and Claire Max, an astrophysicist who has developed techniques to enable astronomers to more clearly observe the universe.
Evolution's new wrinkle: Proteins with cruise control provide new perspective
Posted November 10, 2008; 10:00 a.m.
A team of Princeton University scientists has discovered that chains of proteins found in most living organisms act like adaptive machines, possessing the ability to control their own evolution.
Diwali festival in chapel a first for campus Hindu community
Posted November 6, 2008; 12:48 p.m.
The University Chapel will host for the first time in its 80-year history an official celebration of the Hindu festival of Diwali at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8. Diwali is a harvest festival often considered to be the Hindu New Year and the most important holiday on the Hindu calendar. The event is free and open to the public.
Princeton hosts World Cultural Council awards
Posted October 30, 2008; 11:41 a.m.
Two leading scholars in the fields of education and science will be recognized Tuesday, Nov. 11, at the 25th annual award ceremony of the World Cultural Council. The ceremony will be hosted by Princeton University and is free and open to the public.
Tilghman named chair of association of research institutions
Posted October 21, 2008; 01:00 p.m.
Princeton University President Shirley M. Tilghman has been named chair of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a nonprofit organization representing 60 of the nation's leading public and private research universities, as well as two major universities in Canada.
Princeton Prize in Race Relations expands to 23 regions
Posted October 17, 2008; 01:29 p.m.
The Princeton Prize in Race Relations, an awards program for high school students who do outstanding work to advance the cause of race relations, will expand to 23 regions for the 2008-09 school year.
BP and Princeton renew partnership to tackle climate problem
Posted October 15, 2008; 10:00 a.m.
Energy company BP has committed to a five-year renewal of a joint research partnership with Princeton University that identifies ways of tackling the world's climate problem. It will support Princeton to at least its current level of funding for the years 2011 to 2015.
Princeton's Paul Krugman wins Nobel in economics
Posted October 13, 2008; 06:40 p.m.
Princeton economist Paul Krugman, acclaimed in his field for insights into international trade patterns that overturned longheld theories about the global economy before he rose to popular distinction as a media columnist and commentator, has been awarded the 2008 Nobel Prize in economics.
Justice Ginsburg to discuss court's 'lighter side' with provost Oct. 23--UPDATED
Posted October 10, 2008; 02:28 p.m.
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Princeton University's provost will discuss issues related to constitutional law in an event titled "A Conversation with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Princeton Provost Chris Eisgruber" at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23, in Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall.
Harvard, Princeton, U.Va. admissions teams take accessibility message on the road
Posted October 9, 2008; 03:35 p.m.
Next week, Harvard, Princeton and U.Va. will reprise and extend last year's successful joint admissions recruiting tour, again spotlighting the measures that make their institutions accessible for all academically qualified students, especially those from families with modest incomes. The admissions teams will recruit at 27 sites, up from 19 last year, extending their efforts to areas of the southwestern United States in addition to the regions visited last year — the Southeast, Midwest, West Coast and Northeast.
Nobel goes to former Princeton researcher for discovery made here
Posted October 8, 2008; 01:34 p.m.
Osamu Shimomura, who today was named a winner of the 2008 Nobel Prize in chemistry, will receive the award for a discovery he made while working at Princeton.
Toni Morrison to read from her new novel
Posted October 2, 2008; 08:10 p.m.
Award-winning novelist and Princeton Professor Toni Morrison will read from her newest novel, "A Mercy," at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, in Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall. The event is free and open to the public, but tickets are required, with ticketing beginning Oct. 6.
Sherrerd funds new building at intersection of engineering and social science
Posted September 29, 2008; 12:00 p.m.
A major donation to the University by the late John J.F. Sherrerd, a 1952 alumnus and longtime Princeton supporter, has funded construction of a building for emerging fields of study at the intersection of engineering and the social sciences. The building, to be named Sherrerd Hall, will provide a home for the Department of Operations Research and Financial Engineering (ORFE) and the Center for Information Technology Policy, two rapidly growing areas aimed at improving decision-making in business and government related to risk and information technology.
Princeton's newest building a study in light
Posted September 29, 2008; 12:00 p.m.
Dusk renders Sherrerd Hall invisible. Princeton's newest building, a deceptively simple glass cube nestled into the east side of campus, dissolves into the silhouette of nearby sycamore trees and the fiery clouds of a late summer sunset.
Arts complex design intended to embrace campus and community
Posted September 17, 2008; 05:00 p.m.
A major entry to the Princeton campus and community is being redesigned as a 21st-century portal with the door lodged firmly open. At an open house for the community Wednesday, Sept. 17, Steven Holl Architects unveiled concepts for the initial academic buildings in the new arts and transit neighborhood. In addition, Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners presented updated information on traffic circulation and other plans for the area near the intersection of Alexander Street and University Place.
Conversation with Cornel West, Phylicia Rashad set
Posted September 17, 2008; 02:06 p.m.
Princeton scholar Cornel West and award-winning actress Phylicia Rashad will discuss the African American intellectual tradition at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23, in Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall.
Best way to treat malaria: Avoid using same drug for everyone, scientists say
Posted September 5, 2008; 10:53 a.m.
A team of scientists employing a sophisticated computer model pioneered at Princeton University and Resources for the Future has found that many governments worldwide are recommending the wrong kind of malaria treatment.
A light bulb and a few chemicals: Scientists find a way to help make new reactions
Posted September 4, 2008; 02:00 p.m.
Princeton scientists have discovered a way of stimulating organic molecules that they expect will prompt researchers to create materials from new kinds of chemical reactions.
Architect Gehry seeks to inspire with Princeton's Lewis Library design
Posted September 3, 2008; 08:00 a.m.
The curtain of aluminum-glazed windows falling from the curved steel roofline that frames the Lewis Library is a reflection of the architect's homage to the beauty of the lines and curves he sees in everyday life. After almost four years of construction, the library brings together science libraries from across campus in a research and study space that is, according to the architect, intended to reflect the character of the people who will use it.
Lewis Library fact sheet
Posted September 3, 2008; 08:00 a.m.
The new Lewis Library at Princeton University opens in time for the start of the academic year on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008. Designed by Frank Gehry, the multi-story, 87,000-square-foot science library combines many of the University's science collections and technology spaces, and also includes study, research and classroom space.
Interactive sustainability open house set for Sept. 17
Posted August 29, 2008; 11:19 a.m.
An open house intended to present in one venue an overview of the many sustainability efforts at Princeton University is planned for 3 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17, on the 100 level of the Frist Campus Center.
Exhibition illustrates Greek cultural history through books
Posted August 27, 2008; 08:46 a.m.
Some of the Princeton University Library's greatest treasures will be on display in a fall exhibition that traces the long cultural history of the Greeks. "The Greek Book From Papyrus to Printing" will focus on the Greek book as a physical object and a repository of Western civilization over three millennia. The exhibition will be on view from Monday, Sept. 8, through Sunday, Dec. 7, in the Main Gallery of Firestone Library.
U.S. publications recognize Princeton as a top university
Posted August 22, 2008; 06:00 a.m.
Princeton again has been recognized this year on national college ranking lists as a top university for its quality of education and leadership in financial aid.
Ainslie chosen as vice president for finance and treasurer
Posted August 8, 2008; 01:00 p.m.
Carolyn Ainslie, an accomplished financial management executive, has been selected as vice president for finance and treasurer at Princeton University. Her appointment is effective Oct. 1.
Whom do we fear or trust? Faces instantly guide us, scientists say
Posted August 5, 2008; 09:57 a.m.
A pair of Princeton psychology researchers has developed a computer program that allows scientists to analyze better than ever before what it is about certain human faces that makes them look either trustworthy or fearsome. In doing so, they have also found that the program allows them to construct computer-generated faces that display the most trustworthy or dominant faces possible. Such work could have implications for those who care what effect their faces may have upon a beholder, from salespeople to criminal defendants, the researchers said.
'From Diploma to Diplomat': Princeton exhibition honors John Foster Dulles
Posted August 1, 2008; 11:18 a.m.
"John Foster Dulles: From Diploma to Diplomat," a new exhibition at the Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library, celebrates the centennial of John Foster Dulles' graduation from Princeton University in 1908 with a chronicle of his diplomatic career and his influence on U.S. foreign policy. The exhibition opens Monday, Aug. 11, and runs through Friday, Jan. 30.
Hindu and Muslim life coordinators named
Posted July 31, 2008; 10:49 a.m.
The Office of Religious Life has appointed coordinators for Hindu and Muslim life as part of efforts to enhance support for Princeton students from a variety of backgrounds. Vineet Chander has been named coordinator of Hindu life, a newly created position, and Sohaib Sultan has been appointed coordinator of Muslim life, both effective Aug. 15.
Scientists spy an electron dance in a magnetic field
Posted July 25, 2008; 04:57 p.m.
A team of scientists led by researchers from Princeton University has discovered a new way that electrons behave in materials. The discovery could lead to new kinds of electronic devices.
Michael S. Mahoney, historian of science and devoted faculty member, dies
Posted July 25, 2008; 04:03 p.m.
Michael S. Mahoney, who earned his Ph.D. from Princeton and then dedicated his 40-year academic career in the history of science to the University, died Wednesday, July 23, at the University Medical Center at Princeton. The 69-year-old professor of history did not recover from cardiac arrest suffered Friday, July 18, during his regular swim at Dillon Pool on campus.
Prager to lead DOE's Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory
Posted July 18, 2008; 01:00 p.m.
Stewart Prager, director of the Madison Symmetric Torus experiment at the University of Wisconsin and an internationally recognized leader in the field of fusion energy research, has been named director of the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), effective this fall.
Creation of international 'bridge year' program endorsed
Posted July 15, 2008; 08:00 a.m.
A working group appointed by Princeton President Shirley M. Tilghman has endorsed the creation of an international "bridge year" program for newly admitted undergraduates and has recommended that the University launch a pilot program with 20 students as early as fall 2009.
Steve Slaby, pioneer in interdisciplinary engineering education, dies
Posted July 11, 2008; 02:00 p.m.
Interdisciplinary scholar and educator Steve Slaby, an expert in descriptive geometry, engineering graphics and the impact of technology on society, died July 5. He was 86.
Annual Giving campaign raises record-breaking $54.1 million
Posted July 9, 2008; 08:00 a.m.
The 2007-08 Annual Giving campaign raised $54,109,304, with 59.2 percent of undergraduate alumni participating. This historic achievement -- Princeton's first-ever Annual Giving campaign in excess of $50 million, and $5 million more than last year's previous record -- represents strong performances across Princeton's broad range of constituencies, including major Reunion classes, non-major Reunion classes, graduate alumni and parents.
Grant launches Tikvah Project on Jewish Thought
Posted July 7, 2008; 11:00 a.m.
A $4.5 million grant to Princeton University from the Tikvah Fund will help to strengthen undergraduate interest in Jewish thought and bring Jewish history and ideas into dialogue with other historical, philosophical and theological traditions.
International business leader Gerhard R. Andlinger makes $100 million gift to transform energy and environment research at Princeton
Posted July 1, 2008; 02:00 a.m.
Gerhard R. (Gerry) Andlinger, an alumnus and noted international business executive, has made a gift to Princeton University to accelerate research on effective and sustainable solutions to problems of energy and the environment. Princeton will use the gift, which will total $100 million, to create the Gerhard R. Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment within the School of Engineering and Applied Science.
Sustainability projects funded through High Meadows gift
Posted June 16, 2008; 08:00 a.m.
The first round of initiatives has been funded under the auspices of the research, education and civic engagement section of the University's new Sustainability Plan.
Princeton selected by NOAA for climate research program
Posted June 12, 2008; 10:00 a.m.
After a competitive review process, Princeton University's Cooperative Institute for Climate Science has been selected as a collaborative research partner by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Outreach programs encourage summer learning at Princeton
Posted June 12, 2008; 10:00 a.m.
Students of all ages and teachers from New Jersey and beyond will be engaged in a summer of learning on the Princeton campus, taking part in outreach programs on subjects ranging from basic computer skills to advanced scientific research. The following list offers a look at some of the University's educational outreach programs taking place this summer.
Gilbert Hunt, probability expert, dies at 92
Posted June 9, 2008; 10:19 a.m.
Gilbert Hunt, a professor emeritus of mathematics at Princeton University and one of the world's recognized authorities in the fields of probability theory and analysis, has died. He was 92.
Princeton University holds 261st Commencement
Posted June 3, 2008; 01:49 p.m.
Princeton University awarded degrees to 1,125 undergraduates and 743 graduate students at its 261st Commencement Tuesday, June 3.
Princeton awards five honorary degrees
Posted June 3, 2008; 01:46 p.m.
Princeton University awarded honorary degrees during Commencement exercises June 3 to five distinguished individuals for their contributions to humanitarian efforts, music and entertainment, political theory, science and medicine, literature and higher learning. Princeton President Shirley M. Tilghman awarded degrees to Quincy Jones, an inspirational creative artist and entertainment industry executive; George Kateb, an influential political theorist and Princeton's William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Politics Emeritus; Mary-Claire King, a pioneering geneticist whose work extends to human rights; Haruki Murakami, a celebrated and innovative author; and John Waterbury, a university president and Princeton's William Stewart Tod Professor of Politics and International Affairs Emeritus.
Four faculty members recognized for outstanding teaching
Posted June 3, 2008; 01:42 p.m.
Four Princeton faculty members received President's Awards for Distinguished Teaching at Commencement ceremonies June 3. They are: Bonnie Bassler, the Squibb Professor in Molecular Biology; Pablo Debenedetti, the Class of 1950 Professor in Engineering and Applied Science; Marie Griffith, professor of religion; and Nicole Shelton, associate professor of psychology.
2008 President's Commencement Remarks
Posted June 3, 2008; 01:34 p.m.
2008 Commencement Remarks delivered by President Shirley M. Tilghman.
2008 Valedictory Oration
Posted June 3, 2008; 01:22 p.m.
2008 Valedictory Oration delivered by Zachary Squire.
2008 Latin Salutatory Oration
Posted June 3, 2008; 01:19 p.m.
2008 Latin Salutatory Oration delivered by James Morrison.
Students honored for achievement and service at Class Day
Posted June 2, 2008; 12:23 p.m.
Members of Princeton's class of 2008 gathered on Cannon Green Monday, June 2, to celebrate the conclusion of their undergraduate careers in a Class Day ceremony honoring their service and accomplishments.
Graduate students lauded as excellent teachers
Posted May 30, 2008; 10:00 p.m.
The Princeton Graduate School has given awards to six graduate students in recognition of their outstanding abilities as teachers. The annual Association of Princeton Graduate Alumni Teaching Awards are sponsored by the graduate alumni and are selected by the Graduate School administration. The five 2008 winners are Abigail Heald and Briallen Hopper, both of the English department, Patrick Murphy of the electrical engineering department, Mary Steffel of the psychology department and James L. Wilson of the politics department.
Princeton honors outstanding secondary school teachers
Posted May 29, 2008; 09:57 a.m.
Princeton University will honor four exceptional New Jersey secondary school teachers at its 2008 Commencement on Tuesday, June 3. This year's honorees are Michelle Di Giovanni, Clinton Township Middle School, Clinton; Elsa Matos, Science Park High School, Newark; Justin Smith, Cherokee High School South, Marlton; and Sara Solberg, McNair Academic High School, Jersey City.
Grounded in classics, valedictorian Squire excels in many fields
Posted May 27, 2008; 10:07 a.m.
Princeton senior Zachary Squire was first drawn to the field of classics by a fascination, shared by many youngsters, with Greek and Roman mythology. That early interest eventually grew into a broader appreciation of the study of ancient civilizations. While Squire found outlets for his varied interests within Princeton's classics department, he also excelled in courses across the University -- charting a well-rounded path to becoming valedictorian of the class of 2008. Squire will deliver the valedictory address at Princeton's Commencement ceremony on June 3.
Chemical engineer's love of Latin leads to salutatorian selection
Posted May 27, 2008; 09:48 a.m.
As a chemical engineering major, James Morrison has earned the top ranking in the department and a reputation among his professors as one of the most impressive students they have taught at Princeton. But it is Morrison's love of Latin that will be highlighted at Princeton's Commencement ceremony on June 3, when he will deliver the traditional Latin address as the salutatorian of the class of 2008.
Press kit for supernova discovery now available
Posted May 21, 2008; 06:10 p.m.
The press kit containing images and press releases related to Princeton scientist Alicia Soderberg and her colleagues becoming the first astronomers to witness the explosion of a star is now available online.
Seeing stars: Princeton University scientists witness once-in-a-lifetime event
Posted May 21, 2008; 01:00 p.m.
When she peered into the screen of her computer one day in January, Alicia Soderberg was supposed to see a small, dull glowing smudge in one corner, the evidence of a month-old supernova that would help her better understand the mystery of these huge exploding stars. Instead, she and her Princeton University colleague Edo Berger became the first astronomers to catch a star in the act of exploding. The once-in-a-lifetime event, described in a paper published in the May 22 issue of Nature, has transfixed the worldwide astronomical community.
Media advisory: Princeton Commencement to be held June 3
Posted May 14, 2008; 12:44 p.m.
Members of the news media who wish to attend any of Princeton University's 2008 graduation ceremonies Sunday through Tuesday, June 1-3, must contact the University's Office of Communications no later than 3 p.m. Friday, May 23, to request credentials.
What's bugging locusts? It could be they're hungry -- for each other
Posted May 8, 2008; 12:17 p.m.
Since ancient times, locust plagues have been viewed as one of the most spectacular events in nature. In seemingly spontaneous fashion, as many as 10 billion critters can suddenly swarm the air and carpet the ground, blazing destructive paths that bring starvation and economic ruin. What makes them do it? A team of scientists led by Iain Couzin of Princeton University and including colleagues at the University of Oxford and the University of Sydney believes it may finally have an answer to this enduring mystery.
World premiere of Westergaard's 'Alice' set
Posted May 7, 2008; 10:37 a.m.
A cast of seven will play 38 roles. Twelve English handbells, along with a few whistles, tambourines, drums and other percussion paraphernalia, will make up the orchestra. A projection system will create the special effects needed for the vastly changing size of the set. The world premiere of "Alice in Wonderland" is set for 8 p.m. Thursday, May 22, in Richardson Auditorium of Alexander Hall at Princeton University. At 8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, June 3-4, the opera will be performed at the Peter Jay Sharp Theater in Symphony Space, Broadway at 95th Street in New York.
Princeton University survey finds 'pain gap'
Posted May 1, 2008; 07:00 p.m.
A novel study that attempts to paint the most accurate and detailed description yet of how Americans experience pain has found that a significant portion of the population -- 28 percent -- are in pain at any given moment and those with less education and lower income spend more of their time in pain. Those in pain are less likely to work or socialize with others and are more inclined to watch television than the pain-free.
Ron McCoy named University architect
Posted May 1, 2008; 07:00 a.m.
Ron McCoy, a Princeton graduate alumnus who has worked for the past 27 years as an architect and educator, has been selected as the new University architect.
Symposium focuses on race relations
Posted April 24, 2008; 02:00 p.m.
Projects recognized by the Princeton Prize in Race Relations -- which honors high school students' efforts to improve race relations in their schools or communities -- will be presented at a symposium set for 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, May 3, in Dodds Auditorium, Robertson Hall, on the Princeton University campus. The event is free and open to the public.
Princeton scientists discover exotic quantum state of matter
Posted April 24, 2008; 12:54 p.m.
A team of scientists from Princeton University has found that one of the most intriguing phenomena in condensed-matter physics -- known as the quantum Hall effect -- can occur in nature in a way that no one has ever before seen.
Conference caps yearlong environmental justice initiative
Posted April 21, 2008; 08:10 a.m.
A conference on environmental justice scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, April 28-29, will cap a yearlong collaboration between the Princeton Environmental Institute and the Center for African American Studies that has enabled Princeton students and scholars to thoroughly explore the topic. The conference, "A Different Shade of Green: Race, Place and Environmental Justice," is scheduled for 4:30 to 6 p.m. April 28 in McCosh 50 and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 29 in the Frist Campus Center Multipurpose Rooms.
Researchers map the math in music
Posted April 17, 2008; 02:00 p.m.
The connection between music and mathematics has fascinated scholars for centuries. Now, three music professors – Clifton Callender at Florida State University, Ian Quinn at Yale University and Dmitri Tymoczko at Princeton University -- have devised a new way of analyzing and categorizing music that takes advantage of the deep, complex mathematics they see enmeshed in its very fabric.
Leading physicist John Wheeler dies at age 96
Posted April 14, 2008; 05:40 p.m.
John Archibald Wheeler, a legend in physics who coined the term "black hole" and whose myriad scientific contributions figured in many of the research advances of the 20th century, has died. Wheeler, the Joseph Henry Professor of Physics Emeritus, at Princeton University, was 96. He succumbed to pneumonia on Sunday, April 13, at his home in Hightstown, N.J.
Conference examines campus security
Posted April 10, 2008; 11:26 p.m.
Marking the one-year anniversary of the fatal shootings at Virginia Tech, public safety professionals will explore progress and continuing questions related to campus security in a conference set for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, April 18, in Dodds Auditorium, Robertson Hall.
Where's the glue? Scientists find a surprise when they look for what binds in superconductivity
Posted April 10, 2008; 02:00 p.m.
Provocative results yielded by two years of experiments carried out at Princeton University have a group of scientists saying that high-temperature superconductivity does not hinge on a magical glue binding electrons together. The secret to superconductivity, they say, may rest instead on the ability of electrons to take advantage of their natural repulsion in a complex situation.
Keller gift of $25 million to support innovation in engineering education
Posted April 7, 2008; 08:48 a.m.
Recognizing an international need for leaders who can harness technology to solve societal problems, alumnus and innovator in education Dennis J. Keller and his wife, Constance Templeton Keller, have given Princeton University $25 million to strengthen links between engineering and the liberal arts.
Spring farmers' market set for April 15-May 20
Posted April 4, 2008; 10:44 a.m.
Following a successful debut in the fall, the campus farmers' market at Firestone Plaza will return this spring for six weeks, open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays from April 15 through May 20.
Princeton makes offers to 9.25 percent of applicants in 'most selective' admission process
Posted April 2, 2008; 02:00 a.m.
Princeton University has offered admission to 1,976 students, or 9.25 percent of the record 21,369 applicants for the class of 2012. This marked the fourth consecutive year that the University set a record for the number of undergraduate applications received, even as the students were the first to apply using a single application deadline.
Robert F. Goheen, 16th president of Princeton, dies at age 88; service set for April 27
Posted March 31, 2008; 05:19 p.m.
Robert F. Goheen, president of Princeton University from 1957 to 1972 during a period of transformative growth and change, died of heart failure Monday, March 31, at the University Medical Center at Princeton. He was 88.
Robert Fagles, celebrated translator of ancient epics, dies at age 74
Posted March 28, 2008; 11:47 a.m.
Robert Fagles, renowned translator of Greek classics, died March 26 in Princeton of prostate cancer. He was 74. Fagles, the Arthur Marks '19 Professor of Comparative Literature Emeritus at Princeton University, was widely acclaimed for his popular translations of Homer's "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey," both of which became best-sellers.
Ant guts could pave the way for better drugs
Posted March 25, 2008; 02:18 p.m.
Scientists have discovered two key proteins that guide one of the two groups of pathogenic bacteria to make their hardy outer shells -- their defense against the world.
University to begin radon testing protocol in April
Posted March 24, 2008; 12:55 p.m.
As part of a new schedule for radon testing, the University in April will begin measuring radon levels in the basement and below-grade levels of all its administrative buildings on campus and all University-owned housing. Testing is expected to take place over the next year, and building occupants will be notified of the assessment schedule for their building in advance of testing.
Satellite reveals treasure trove of data, including evidence for early universe neutrinos
Posted March 7, 2008; 05:21 p.m.
A NASA satellite built in partnership with Princeton scientists has uncovered evidence that a sea of neutrinos -- almost weightless elementary particles that zip around at nearly the speed of light -- permeates the universe. The discovery, announced March 7 by NASA, is part of a treasure trove of findings gleaned from five years of data collected by the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP).
Ralph Nader to speak on democracy
Posted March 7, 2008; 09:28 a.m.
Consumer activist and Princeton alumnus Ralph Nader will deliver a lecture on democracy at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 8, in McCosh 50 on the Princeton University campus. The speech is being co-sponsored by the Arab Society of Princeton and Princeton Justice Project student groups. The event is free and open to the public.
First look: Princeton researchers peek into deepest recesses of human brain
Posted February 28, 2008; 02:00 p.m.
A team of scientists from Princeton University has devised a new experimental technique that produces some of the best functional images ever taken of the human brainstem, the most primitive area of the brain.
Attack on computer memory reveals vulnerability of widely used security systems
Posted February 21, 2008; 11:42 a.m.
A team of academic, industry and independent researchers has demonstrated a new class of computer attacks that compromise the contents of "secure" memory systems, particularly in laptops. The attacks overcome a broad set of security measures called "disk encryption," which are meant to secure information stored in a computer's permanent memory. The researchers cracked several widely used technologies, including Microsoft's BitLocker, Apple's FileVault and Linux's dm-crypt, and described the attacks in a paper and video published on the Web Feb. 21.
Plan sets aggressive goals for Princeton sustainability efforts
Posted February 21, 2008; 06:00 a.m.
Princeton University has committed to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 as part of a comprehensive Sustainability Plan that sets ambitious goals in the areas of greenhouse gas emissions reduction, resource conservation, and research, education and civic engagement.
MacArthur grant supports Princeton Laptop Orchestra initiatives
Posted February 21, 2008; 01:00 a.m.
The Princeton Laptop Orchestra is one of 17 winners of the Digital Media and Learning Competition, which awards funds to projects that use digital media in an innovative way for formal and informal learning.
Princeton unveils most comprehensive campus plan in its history
Posted February 18, 2008; 09:39 p.m.
For more than two years, a team of architects, landscape architects and planners at Princeton University has labored to complete the most comprehensive planning initiative in the institution's history. The result is a plan that establishes strategies to guide campus development for the next decade and beyond, focused on maintaining a "walkable" campus that grows with a goal of environmentally sustainable development, even as the campus plans for more than 2 million gross square feet of construction by 2016.
Tilghman names working group to explore creation of international 'bridge year' program
Posted February 18, 2008; 09:00 p.m.
Princeton President Shirley M. Tilghman has appointed a working group to explore the creation of a "bridge year" program that would allow newly admitted undergraduates to spend a year of public service abroad before beginning their freshman year. The program would enable students to pursue a tuition-free, pre-collegiate enrichment year outside their home country with support from the University.
Jordan's King Abdullah to speak
Posted February 15, 2008; 12:00 p.m.
King Abdullah II, the reigning monarch of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, will deliver a policy address at Princeton University at noon Friday, Feb. 29, sponsored by Princeton's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. The event will take place in Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall, and is free and open to the public.
$4 million gift will strengthen jazz program
Posted February 15, 2008; 10:00 a.m.
A $4 million gift from Anthony H.P. Lee, a member of the class of 1979, will enhance the study and performance of jazz at Princeton, significantly expanding the University's ability to support performances and develop innovative research and teaching in this uniquely American and broadly influential art form.
Princeton sets applications record for fourth year in a row--UPDATED
Posted January 28, 2008; 04:10 p.m.
For the fourth consecutive year, Princeton University set a record for students applying for admission, receiving 21,262 applications for the class of 2012 (updated Jan. 28). The number of applicants represents a 12 percent increase over last year's record of 18,942 applications for the class of 2011 and comes even as Princeton marks the completion of its first application cycle after ending its early decision admission option.
Trustees approve fee increase, funding for key initiatives
Posted January 26, 2008; 12:26 p.m.
Princeton University trustees Jan. 26 approved the lowest percentage increase in student fees since 2001-02 -- 3.9 percent -- while also approving an almost 7 percent increase in the undergraduate scholarship budget to ensure that the increase in fees will not affect any student on financial aid. For students not on financial aid, the trustees sought to keep the rate of increase consistent with the expected rate of increase in the incomes of these students' families.
Six named 2008 Scholars in the Nation's Service
Posted January 23, 2008; 09:00 a.m.
The University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs has selected six students to be the 2008 cohort of Scholars in the Nation's Service, chosen from a pool of Princeton juniors interested in pursuing careers in the U.S. federal government.
Moscato discusses Princeton's leadership in shifting financial aid landscape
Posted January 22, 2008; 10:00 a.m.
Despite the recent publicity about changes in financial aid, there still remain misconceptions about college affordability and the differences among aid programs. Princeton's Director of Financial Aid Robin Moscato answers questions about the changing face of financial aid and Princeton's role in shaping its evolution.
Brochure provides highlights of 10-year Campus Plan
Posted January 17, 2008; 10:00 a.m.
Members of the University community now can get a look at highlights of the final version of the Campus Plan. The comprehensive strategy to guide development through 2016 and beyond was produced over the last two years following thorough analysis of the 380-acre campus by a team of experts and significant involvement by stakeholders.
Steven Holl Architects chosen to design arts buildings
Posted January 17, 2008; 10:00 a.m.
Steven Holl Architects, an award-winning firm with extensive experience in the arts, has been selected to design the initial academic buildings for Princeton University's new arts and transit neighborhood.
Princeton sets applications record for fourth year in a row
Posted January 15, 2008; 04:00 p.m.
For the fourth consecutive year, Princeton University set a record for students applying for admission, receiving 20,118 applications for the class of 2012. The number of applicants represents a 6 percent increase over last year's record of 18,942 applications for the class of 2011 and comes even as Princeton marks the completion of its first application cycle after ending its early decision admission option.
New route for heredity bypasses DNA
Posted January 4, 2008; 10:41 a.m.
A group of scientists in Princeton's Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology has uncovered a new biological mechanism that could provide a clearer window into a cell's inner workings.
PPPL Director Goldston to step down, search begins for successor
Posted December 13, 2007; 11:30 a.m.
After more than 10 years at the helm of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), Robert Goldston has announced he will step down as director to focus on a broad range of domestic and international fusion energy initiatives. The University immediately will launch an international search for a new director, whose appointment will become part of Princeton's proposal when it competes for a new contract to continue managing the lab.
Coalition to propose strategic plan addressing high-risk alcohol use
Posted November 28, 2007; 10:50 a.m.
A University-wide coalition is being formed to address high-risk alcohol use among undergraduates as a health, well-being and educational issue. The coalition, made up mostly of students but also including faculty and staff, will gather information from a variety of sources over the next few months and produce a draft comprehensive strategic plan by May 2008.
Princeton scientists break cholera's lines of communication
Posted November 14, 2007; 01:00 p.m.
A team of Princeton scientists has discovered a key mechanism in how bacteria communicate with each other, a pivotal breakthrough that could lead to treatments for cholera and other bacterial diseases. The mechanism is a chemical that cholera bacteria use for transmitting messages to each other, known as CAI-1, and has been isolated in the lab of molecular biologist Bonnie Bassler. Her team has shown that the chemical also can be used to disrupt the communication that exists among the bacteria, potentially halting the disease's progress. The discovery could lead to an entirely new class of antibiotics.
Princeton names Center for the Arts after donor Lewis
Posted November 9, 2007; 03:00 p.m.
Princeton University on Thursday, Nov. 8, named its new arts center the Peter B. Lewis Center for the Arts in recognition of the $101 million gift Lewis pledged last year to support the University's major arts initiative.
Princeton officially launches comprehensive campaign to raise $1.75 billion
Posted November 9, 2007; 06:00 a.m.
Aspiring to sustain and expand its excellence in teaching and research, and to increase the University's impact on a changing world, Princeton leaders will officially launch a comprehensive fundraising campaign on Friday, Nov. 9, to raise $1.75 billion over the next five years.
Princeton University Art Museum and Italy sign agreement over antiquities
Posted October 30, 2007; 01:00 p.m.
The Princeton University Art Museum and Italian cultural authorities on Oct. 30 signed an agreement that resolves the ownership of 15 works of art in the museum's collection. The signing took place in Rome.
Harvard, Princeton, U.Va. admissions deans tour with accessibility message
Posted October 30, 2007; 10:00 a.m.
The deans of admission for Harvard, Princeton and the University of Virginia will team up next month for a recruiting tour that will focus on efforts to make their institutions more accessible for all families, especially those with modest incomes. The deans also will explain the impact of decisions last year to end early admissions practices at the three schools.
Princeton University Art Museum and Italy to sign agreement over antiquities
Posted October 26, 2007; 03:30 p.m.
The Princeton University Art Museum and Italian cultural authorities on Oct. 30 will sign an agreement that resolves the ownership of 15 works of art in the museum's collection. The signing will take place in Rome.
Selected excerpts posted from preliminary rulings
Posted October 25, 2007; 05:52 p.m.
The following excerpts are from the decisions issued by New Jersey Superior Court Judge Neil Shuster in ruling on the pretrial motions in the lawsuit regarding the Robertson Foundation that was brought against Princeton University by several members of the Robertson family in July 2002.
Judge issues preliminary rulings in Robertson Foundation lawsuit
Posted October 25, 2007; 03:50 p.m.
New Jersey Superior Court Judge Neil Shuster today issued rulings on seven pretrial motions in the lawsuit brought against Princeton University by several members of the Robertson family in July 2002. His seven rulings totaled 355 pages.
To determine election outcomes, study says snap judgments are sufficient
Posted October 22, 2007; 05:00 p.m.
A split-second glance at two candidates' faces is often enough to determine which one will win an election, according to a Princeton University study.
Brain cell growth diminishes long before old age strikes, animal study shows
Posted October 15, 2007; 05:00 p.m.
Even early in adulthood, aging begins to slow the mind's growth -- but it does not have to stop it altogether, suggest Princeton neuroscientists who are studying the brains of adult monkeys.
Nobel winner from institute is Princeton visiting lecturer
Posted October 15, 2007; 09:41 a.m.
Eric Maskin, one of three economists selected Oct. 15 to receive the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, has a Princeton University connection.
Green skies: Engineer's work may reduce jet travel's role in global warming
Posted September 13, 2007; 10:10 a.m.
Princeton Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Fred Dryer has a lofty goal: end the nation's reliance on oil for jet travel. With potentially major benefits for energy security and the environment riding upon his success, Dryer is advancing the fundamental knowledge of jet fuels while developing practical, innovative energy sources.
Charles Berry, economist and 'dedicated University citizen,' dies at age 77
Posted September 5, 2007; 12:32 p.m.
Charles Berry, who touched the lives of thousands of students as a teacher of economics and as a residential college master at the University, died Sept. 2 at home in Princeton of complications from cancer. He was 77.
Princeton celebrates Whitman College opening with lecture, dedication Sept. 26-27
Posted September 4, 2007; 06:21 p.m.
The University plans to mark the opening of Whitman College with a public lecture by design architect Demetri Porphyrios Wednesday, Sept. 26, followed by a dedication ceremony for the campus community Thursday, Sept. 27. An open house is planned for Wednesday, Oct. 10, for members of the campus community interested in touring Whitman College .
Princeton scientists confirm long-held theory about source of sunshine
Posted August 20, 2007; 05:00 a.m.
Scientists are a step closer to understanding sunshine. A monumental experiment buried deep beneath the mountains of Italy has provided Princeton physicists with a clearer understanding of the sun's heart -- and of a mysterious class of subatomic particles born there.
Construction of Roberts Stadium for soccer begins
Posted August 1, 2007; 09:00 a.m.
Princeton University has begun construction of a new, state-of-the-art soccer stadium, made possible through a recent $8.4 million fundraising effort by alumni and friends of Princeton soccer. The new facility, slated to open for the 2008 season, will be named Roberts Stadium in honor of Thomas S. Roberts, a member of the class of 1985 and a former record-holding goalkeeper on the men's soccer team. He and his wife, Kristen, were the leading donors to the project.
Annual Giving campaign raises $49 million
Posted July 10, 2007; 08:00 a.m.
The 2006-07 Annual Giving campaign raised $49,040,759 -- the highest total in Princeton's history -- with 58.5 percent of undergraduate alumni participating. This achievement represents strong performances across Princeton's broad range of constituencies, including major Reunion classes, non-major Reunion classes, graduate alumni and parents.
Former Senator Frist to join Wilson School faculty
Posted June 19, 2007; 09:00 a.m.
Dr. Bill Frist, former U.S. senator from Tennessee, Senate majority leader and a Princeton University alumnus, will join the faculty of Princeton's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs this fall.
Pioneering seismologist Tony Dahlen dies
Posted June 11, 2007; 03:31 p.m.
Francis Anthony (Tony) Dahlen, a Princeton professor of geosciences who was widely considered the top theoretical seismologist in his field, died of cancer June 3 at the University Medical Center at Princeton. He was 64.
Outreach programs encourage summer learning at Princeton
Posted June 11, 2007; 12:10 p.m.
Students of all ages and teachers from New Jersey and beyond will be engaged in a summer of learning on the Princeton campus, taking part in outreach programs on subjects ranging from basic computer skills to advanced scientific research.
$30 million gift establishes McDonnell Center for Systems Neuroscience
Posted June 8, 2007; 09:00 a.m.
James S. McDonnell III and John F. McDonnell have joined with the JSM Charitable Trust to make a $30 million gift to Princeton University to establish the McDonnell Center for Systems Neuroscience.
Princeton University holds 260th Commencement
Posted June 5, 2007; 01:30 p.m.
Princeton University awarded degrees to 1,127 undergraduates and 716 graduate students at its 260th Commencement Tuesday, June 5.
Princeton awards seven honorary degrees
Posted June 5, 2007; 01:26 p.m.
Princeton University awarded honorary degrees during Commencement exercises June 5 to seven distinguished individuals for their contributions to humanitarian efforts and athletic achievements, aerospace and public service, science, literature, medicine, history and the arts. Princeton President Shirley M. Tilghman awarded degrees to Muhammad Ali, the legendary boxer and humanitarian; Norman Augustine, the former chief executive officer and chairman of the aerospace giant Lockheed Martin Corp.; Elizabeth Blackburn, a pioneering molecular biologist; Robert Fagles, a celebrated literary translator and Princeton's Arthur Marks '19 Professor of Comparative Literature Emeritus; LaSalle Leffall Jr., a leading cancer surgeon and researcher; Fritz Stern, a renowned historian of modern Germany; and Twyla Tharp, an award-winning choreographer and director.