For immediate useJan. 21, 1998 -- No. 66

Anthropology, sociology and chemistry subjects of UNC-CH afternoon lectures

CHAPEL HILL -- Three outstanding faculty members at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will deliver free lectures for the “College Lights” series starting Feb. 10.

The afternoon lecture series allows members of the community to join faculty, alumni and friends of the UNC-CH College of Arts and Sciences.

Dr. Vincas Steponaitis, director of the research laboratories of archaeology and professor of anthropology, kicks off the semester Feb. 10 with “Uncovering 12,000 years of North Carolina History.” He will share findings from excavations around the state, drawing upon examples of bone, pottery and stone tools in the 5-million-piece N.C. Archaeological Collection. Steponaitis is president of the Society for American Archaeology.

On March 17, Dr. Judith Blau, Gillian T. Cell professor of sociology, will present “Race, Ethnicity and Class: The IQ Debate.” Blau will draw upon her study of American young adults, which demonstrates the impact of socioeconomic conditions on academic achievement. She also has examined differences in attitudes about family, cultural traditions, schooling and peers. She is a fellow in the university's Institute for the Arts and Humanities.

On April 14, Dr. Joseph DeSimone, Mary Ann Smith professor of chemistry and chemical engineering, will discuss “Moving Technology from the Laboratory into the Marketplace.” DeSimone is founder and chairman of MiCell Technologies, a UNC-CH-based start-up company that markets environmentally friendly solvents to the dry cleaning industry. In 1997, DeSimone's work in developing non-toxic processes for dry cleaning and plastics manufacturing garnered the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award, the N.C. Governor's Award and the UNC-CH Chancellor's Award.

Each lecture starts at 4 p.m. in the George Watts Hill Alumni Center off Stadium Drive. The series is sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences, the UNC General Alumni Association and the Arts and Sciences Foundation. Call (919) 962-3581 for more information.

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Arts and Sciences Contact: Speed Hallman (919) 962-2533

News Services Contact: Karen Stinneford (919) 962-2091