Undergraduate Research Symposium

Working on an interesting research project? Apply to take part in the Twelfth Annual UW Undergraduate Research Symposium on Friday, May 15th from noon to 5PM.

The Symposium offers a wonderful forum to gain experience presenting work and to engage in scholarly discussion with peers and faculty. Last year, over 650 undergraduates presented at this event and we expect this year's celebration of undergraduate scholarship and faculty mentoring to be bigger than ever.

Detailed information and an electronic application form may be found on the Undergraduate Research Program website at http://exp.washington.edu/urp/symp.

Students must apply to present their work; applications are due Friday, February 20th, 2009. All disciplines, including performing arts, are welcome.

Inauguration Music

"Air and Simple Gifts" by John Williams

Performed by Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, Gabriele Montero and Anthony McGill.

Cold Case: The Sound of Carbon for Yo-Yo Ma?

"When the cellist Yo-Yo Ma takes to the inaugural stage on Tuesday, the instrument he will have may take music enthusiasts by surprise. Black, with a single-piece body, neck and peg box, and with no scroll at the top, the cello is a high-tech carbon-fiber instrument designed to withstand the cold."

For the full article, see the New York Times.

5 Ways the Cellphone Will Change How You Listen to Music

"The portable music revolution has only been with us for a few years, but we may already be on the cusp of the another paradigm shift: With smartphones becoming commoditized -- and with so many excellent music apps being designed for them -- it's becoming viable to leave your MP3 player at home and tune into the cloud."

For the full article, please see Wired

Photo by samantha celera.

Library Research Award for Undergraduates

The University Libraries awards annual prizes for outstanding undergraduate library research in any discipline. As many as ten top prizes may awarded in two categories: 1. freshmen, sophomores, and juniors ($750 each), and 2. senior ($1,000 each). Student winners, faculty sponsors, and guests will be honored at a reception on June 9, 2009.

Eligibility: To be eligible to win, individuals or teams must:

• be University of Washington undergraduates at any class level and in any discipline.
• have completed a research project for credit at the University of Washington in Spring Quarter 2008 through Spring Quarter 2009.
• agree to display the research project in the library and to submit it to the UW digital repository

Application Procedure: Applications must include the following:

• final version of the research project. Projects in all media are encouraged.
• bibliography or other appropriate listing of sources consulted.
• 150 word abstract of the project.
• 750-1,000 word reflective essay describing research strategies and use of library resources.
• letter of support from the supervising faculty member.

Selection Criteria: Panels of librarians and faculty members review all applications. Submissions are evaluated on how well they demonstrate:

• Unusual depth or breadth in the use of library resources and collections, including but not limited to, printed resources, databases, primary resources, and materials in all media.
• Exceptional ability to locate, select, evaluate, and synthesize library resources and to use them in the creation of a project in any media that shows originality and/or has the potential to lead to original research in the future.
• Evidence of significant personal learning in the methods of research and inquiry.

The application deadline is 5pm, May 18, 2009. For applications and information, consult www.lib.washington.edu/researchaward; or email libaward@u.washington.edu.

How Jazz Helped Hasten the Civil-Rights Movement

"Martin Luther King's Birthday, Jazz at Lincoln Center and the Rockefeller Foundation, also focusing on the next day's presidential inauguration, will present at Kennedy Center 'A Celebration of America.' Headlining the cast are Sandra Day O'Connor and Wynton Marsalis. As Jazz at Lincoln Center declares, Dr. King called jazz 'America's triumphant music,' and the presence of Mr. Marsalis is to 'illustrate that American democracy and America's music share the same tenets and embody the same potential for change, hope and renewal.'"

For the full article, please see the Wall Street Journal.

Photo by photolupi.

Philharmonic Plans Trip to Vietnam

"On the heels of its attention-grabbing trip to North Korea last February, the New York Philharmonic is planning another high-profile visit for next season: to Vietnam. The stop, part of an Asian tour in October, will be a splashy opening to Alan Gilbert’s tenure as the orchestra’s new music director."

For the full article please see the New York Times.