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Randall McEntaffer, assistant professor of physics and astronomy, gives U.S. Representative Dave Loebsack a tour of his lab in the basement of Van Allen Hall on Tuesday. Loebsack visited to learn more about the impact NASA funding has at the UI. Photo by Tim Schoon. U.S. Representative Dave Loebsack of Iowa's 2nd Congressional District visited the University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Department of Physics and Astronomy March 18 for a roundtable discussion with faculty. Among the topics of discussion were the importance of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education and the impact of NASA funding on the university and the state of Iowa.

Jake McCoy, Ted Schulz, Randy McEntaffer, and James Tutt (left to right), watch data on a computer while they troubleshoot the electronics on a rocket payload that will launch into space from New Mexico later this year to study matter than can be seen only by diffracting x-ray light. Photos by Tim Schoon. Five-year NASA project will develop critical technologies for future missions Walk into the corner astronomy lab in the basement of Van Allen Hall, and you’ll likely hear a student spontaneously burst into song while creating preliminary computer aided designs for an upcoming NASA project proposal. Or, find a former-accountant-turned-astronomer designing circuit boards and routing cables through the colorfully exposed electronic guts of a rocket payload.

That's 19 clean sheets for the season so far!

Lethal poisonings from prescription painkillers down slightly, U.S. report says Heroin overdose deaths have skyrocketed in recent years, quadrupling since 2000, U.S. health officials reported Wednesday. At the same time, poisoning deaths related to painkiller abuse have leveled off, even dropping slightly in recent years, according to the report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prescription drug addicts are turning to heroin due to successful efforts to curb narcotic painkiller abuse, said Kelly Dunn, an assistant professor in the Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Dr. Chan Gunn is pictured.  Credit: Martin Dee The University of British Columbia (UBC)-- Dr. Chan Gunn, a pioneering Vancouver physician in the field of pain relief, is giving $5 million to the University of British Columbia for construction of a new building devoted to exercise and sport medicine teaching, research and patient care. The 13,480-square-foot building, to be named the Chan Gunn Pavilion, will be the new home for UBC’s sport and exercise medicine centre – one of the first academic sports medicine units in the world, and the first in Canada.

Dr. Ben Carson, a retired neurosurgeon and conservative sensation, is taking a couple of major steps toward a 2016 presidential bid, forming a political action committee and selecting a campaign chairman for a potential White House run. The 62-year-old Carson made the announcement Friday after two days of meetings in Florida, as reported first by The Washington Times.

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has secured a court order to freeze all accounts belonging to First Fidelity Health Insurance, a private mutual health insurance provider. It follows threats from customers of first fidelity health insurance to hit the courts to retrieve monies belonging to them after the company failed to pay claims presented to it. According to the NHIA the court order is to preserve the contributions of clients of first fidelity health insurance.

Several hundred students didn’t sleep Saturday night. They were hunched over laptops hacking. They didn’t gather to wreak havoc. Instead, they came together to build. More than 500 high school and college students from across the U.S., Mexico and Canada were given Saturday and into Sunday to build new technology such as apps and websites at HackDFW — the first major student hackathon competition in Dallas.

Calling all creative UW faculty, staff and students! This year's RecycleMania committee is hosting a Recycled Art Contest. Submit your creation by March 13 for a chance to win a $100 University Book Store gift card! Get more details at:  http://ow.ly/JTfV5  

Tehran - Iran could allow internet giants such as Google to operate in the Islamic republic if they respect its "cultural" rules, Fars news agency said on Sunday quoting a senior official. "We are not opposed to any of the entities operating in global markets who want to offer services in Iran," Deputy Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Nasrollah Jahangard told Fars. "We are ready to negotiate with them and if they accept our cultural rules and policies they can offer their services in Iran," he said. Jahangard said Iran is "also ready to provide Google or any other company with facilities" that could enable them to provide their services to the region.

Namibia President wins $5m Mo Ibrahim award The outgoing Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba has won the world’s most valuable individual award, the Mo Ibrahim prize for African leadership. The $5m (£3.2m) award is given each year to an elected leader who governed well, raised living standards and then left office.

Pix from World Health Organization (WHO)...

The presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the 2016 elections in Ghana, Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo yesterday led several thousands of party members and sympathisers to demonstrate over the erratic power supply in the country. The mammoth protest christened "Won Gbo" meaning we are dying, formed part of a series of demonstrations to hit the country in the passing months.

Dear USM Community, Communications play an important role in conveying the essence and value of an organization. As such, The University of Southern Mississippi has begun a comprehensive effort to refresh our institutional communications strategy. This Strategic Communication Initiative will include an examination of current communications materials and messaging across all platforms, provide multiple avenues for stakeholder input, and identify opportunities for greater effectiveness and consistency across units and locations.

John Eberhard , BA'66, LLB'69 President,  The Alumni Association of The University of Western Ontario The Alumni Association is currently looking for Western alumni to volunteer for their Board of Directors. To express your interest or to nominate an alumnus please  click here  to fill out a nomination form. If you have questions about the process, please email  Donna Swanson .

University of Colorado Boulder- The CU Parents Association (CUPA) offers scholarships to continuing or transfer CU-Boulder students who will be sophomores, juniors, or seniors for the 2015-16 academic year and have a minimum 3.5 overall GPA. It is based on academic excellence, extracurricular activities, and a personal essay. Advanced or challenging courses are desirable and full-time enrollment at CU-Boulder is required while receiving this scholarship (12 credit hours).

She grew up in Kenya under colonial rule, when women didn't get an education. Now in her 90s, Priscilla Sitienei is changing that, attending elementary school -- and inspiring a generation. She started five years ago as a kindergartner at a boarding school near Eldoret. She's in fourth grade today. "I had grandchildren and great-grandchildren who shunned school," she says by phone from Ndalat. "That made me mad. I decided I have to show them that education is important."

Justin Bieber, a singer with ever-changing style file...

South Africa's ambassador to Japan, Mohau Pheko, told the SABC on Friday she regrets saying she has a doctoral degree, when she does not. Pheko claimed she received her PhD from the American La Salle University in 2000. However, the university closed in 1996 when it emerged it was selling degrees and other academic qualifications via the internet, the broadcaster reported.

Victor Arden Barnard, an American pastor wanted for 59 counts of sexual assaults in Minnesota, was arrested by Brazilian authorities on Friday, the office of the governor for the State of Rio Grande do Norte said Saturday. The 53-year-old suspect was wanted by the Pine County, Minnesota, Sheriff's Office for allegedly sexually abusing two young girls who were members of his church, the U.S Marshals Service said.