In just ten months after the FWC Scholarship General Meeting (February 2020) at the Faculty Center (see photos below), the world had entirely changed. Currently more than 435,000 people in the US have died from COVID-19 (Johns Hopkins University). FDA issues emergency authorization for first rapid at-home COVID-19 test. New York City's public school system, the nation's largest, will close as COVID-19 cases rise in the area. As I write this post, I am including a graphic depiction of the devastation the epidemic has had on our daily lives.
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| We face challenges related to social isolation, economic devastation, and COVID-19 cases at the rate of more than 435,000 infections daily |
No one could have predicted just 10 months ago, that we would be preparing to celebrate the 2020 Thanksgiving Holidays without family members in near lockdown. UCLA classes have been online since Fall 2020 quarter, and so are FWC's General Meetings. See a few photos from our 2nd General Meeting Webinar.
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Lori Bettison-Varga (top row, first from left), President and Director of the NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUMS OF Los Angeles County |
Detailed information about her and her presentation is published in our Nov/Dec 2020 UPDATE. She over-sees The Natural History Museum in Exposition Park, La Brea Part Pits and Museum in Hancock Park, and the William S. Hart Museum in Newhall.
On a positive side, 2020 academic year brought another Nobel Prize to UCLA. UCLA's Lauren B. Leichtman and Arthur E. Levine Professor of Astrophysics, Andrea Ghez, was awarded the 2020 Nobel Prize in physics.
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| Prof. Andrea Ghez (left) and Zorana Ercegovac, who nominated Prof. Ghez for the 2016 FWC Woman of Distinction |
I am very proud to have nominated Prof. Ghez for the FWC Woman of Distinction. She spoke enthusiastically about her research at the Spring General Meeting, and brought along several copies of her book YOU CAN BE A WOMAN ASTRONOMER.
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| Prof. Andrea Ghez displaying her book (co-authored withJ. Love Cohen) "captures the excitement of discovery and combines it with the awesome nature of the universe itself. Prof. Ghez autographed the copies which were distributed to the attendees. |
There are special events as well. Virginia Shabaik was honored with a special tea party, hosted by Marianne (second in the top row from left).
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| Virginia Shabaik (right), who has been with the UCLA's FWC since 1968 One of her daughters was with her (left). Marianne arranged a beautiful background with roses each placed in a uniquely displayed tea cup The event was well attended, with numerous stories and anecdotes :-) THANK YOU, VIRGINIA |
Our sections are active via zoom such as Play-reading, Music in Cultural Contexts, and Book Discussion.
Our December 2020 Music in Cultural Contexts Section was a very successful event and program.
We invited our sister section members including "bookies" and play readers to participate in the Digital HOLIDAY ALBUM 2020. We all (see above) cheered for a healthy and happy New Year 2021.
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| Book Section members discuss their November book All for Nothing by Walter Kempowski. Zorana Ercegovac leads the discussion From top left: Marjorie (zoom host), Zorana; middle: Jarka and Amelita; bottom row: Rochelle and Joy. Participated but not in the photo: Bette, Barbara R., & Norma Notice different backgrounds behind each participant. |
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| This is how IT USED TO BE, or during the pre-COVID-19 era photo, by Zorana |
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| ... and during the COVID-19 era Marjorie Friedlander hosts the zoom session "Bookies" are discussing works to be considered during 2020-2021 |
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| The cast in the Play-reading section, chaired by Rochelle Caballero We are presenting Anton Chekhov's play THE SEAGULL |
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| This photo shows HOW IT USED TO BE in one of our Music in Cultural Contexts Section, Chaired by Zorana Ercegovac Debby presents Stephen C. Foster --"the father of American music" |
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| Music in Cultural Contexts (Chaired by Zorana Ercegovac) introduced our Holiday Sing-Along gathering We have traditionally invited our sister section members, Play-readers |
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| Music Section October 2020 presentation via zoom Zorana Ercegovac, Presenter Rochelle Caballero, zoom hostess |
We hosted stellar undergraduate scholars and Kelsi Rutledge -- first year PhD student in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Here is the group photo of the 2019-2020 FWC Scholarship recipients.
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| From left: Ryan Chapman, Natalie Sarafian, Rosie Zhou, Amanda Hagen, Emma Leshan, Nikola Samardzic, Kelsi Rutledge, Darren Liou, and Lilia Diaz Photo credit: Zorana Ercegovac |
Each recipient briefly summarized his/her area of research, describing their current work and future plans. For example, Natalie plans to become a neurosurgeon; she is majoring in biology and studying ancient Near East and Egyptology. Emma is majoring in microbiology, immunology, and molecular genetics, with a minor in biomedical research. Guadalupe Martinez, not in the group photo above, investigates the role of immune cells in age-related cardiovascular disease. She has volunteered at UCLA, Cedars, and Kaiser Medical centers. Her professional goal is to become a pediatrician. Kelsi's PhD focuses on chemoreception and the hydrodynamics of fish olfaction and diversity in shape of fish noses.
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| Photo credit: Zorana Ercegovac |
Each recipient was hosted by an assigned FWC member, and here are a few photos pairing a recipient with his.her hostess.
Professor Claudia Kernan hosted Darren Liou.
Darren plays clarinet and piano, aiming to perform, educate, and inspire new generations in the art of classical music.
Rosie, below, is hosted by Diane Homsher.
Rosie is majoring in bioengineering, planning to obtain her PhD in biomedical engineering.
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| Photo credit: Zorana Ercegovac |
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| Photo credit: Zorana Ercegovac |
Lilia Diaz was hosted by Melissa Ward.
Lilia's interest is in improving fitness through diet and exercise. She plans to develop an online training program, and establish a physical therapy clinic with an associated gym and nutritional restaurant.
Nikola Samardzic, below, is senior undergraduate student in the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science. Nikola is majoring in Computer Science and Math.
He works as a National Science Foundation undergraduate researcher, studying computational limits of hardware accelerators. He plans to become a professor, researching computational theory of machine learning.
Ryan Chapman was hosted by Sandy Spolsky.
Ryan is third year in the College of Letter and Science.
He plans to attain a PhD in economics and work in data science.
The 2019-2020 FWC Scholarship
committee:
Jaroslava Wilcox, Chair
Barbara Crandal
Zorana Ercegovac
Joy Frank
Shirley Ho
Mary Territo
He works as a National Science Foundation undergraduate researcher, studying computational limits of hardware accelerators. He plans to become a professor, researching computational theory of machine learning.
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| Photo credit: Zorana Ercegovac |
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| Photo credit: Zorana Ercegovac |
Ryan Chapman was hosted by Sandy Spolsky.
Ryan is third year in the College of Letter and Science.
He plans to attain a PhD in economics and work in data science.
The 2019-2020 FWC Scholarship
committee:
Jaroslava Wilcox, Chair
Barbara Crandal
Zorana Ercegovac
Joy Frank
Shirley Ho
Mary Territo