Media Contact: Sue Nichols, University Relations, (517) 353-8942, nichols@msu.edu

The American Association for the Advancement of Science annual meeting, Feb. 16-20 in St. Louis, is an international science and technology extravaganza, with a range and impact that generates extensive news coverage and influences science conference organizers around the world.

Eight Michigan State University professors — from agricultural economics to zoology — will be presenting and participating.

News releases are embargoed and will be posted at the time of presentation:

• Peggy Ostrom, zoology professor — “New Approaches to Paleontological Investigation — Defining the Limits of Biomolecular Survival: Approaches and Perspectives”

Dinosaurs seem bigger than life – big bones, big mysteries. So it's a delicious irony that the next big answers about dinosaurs may come from small – very small – remains...

• Jack Harkema, University Distinguished Professor of pathobiology and diagnostic investigations — “Nanoparticle-Induced Injury and Remodeling of Nasal Airway Epithelium”

  The nose, usually the first line of defense against inhaled airborne particles that could damage the lungs, may itself be susceptible to the dangers of extremely small particles, called nanoparticles, which are less than 100 nanometers in size. One nanometer is one-billionth of a meter....

• Dan Bronstein, professor of community, agriculture, recreation, and resource studies — “Adaptive Environmental Management: The Valles Caldera Experience”

  Having a say in how the government manages nearby federal lands makes sense to both local residents and federal officials. But the devil is in the details of how this local input is gathered...

• Scott Swinton, professor of agricultural economics, and Frank Lupi, associate professor of agricultural economics and fisheries and wildlife — “Harvesting Ecosystem Services from Agriculture — Cost-Effective Ecosystem Service Production fro Row-Crop Agriculture”

  When people hear the word "agriculture," most think of food. But the benefits of agriculture are much more than farm fresh corn or dairy products. Now scientists are investigating how farmers can manage their land to offer everyone more environmental benefits, and whether farmers could be paid for providing these benefits...

• Tom Dietz, professor of sociology and of crop and soil sciences; director of the Environmental Science and Policy Program; associate dean in the colleges of Social Science, Agriculture and Natural Resources, and Natural Science — “Risk and Society”

What sounds like the opening line of a joke — “what do a melting polar cap and a suicide bomber have in common?” — is actually at the center of how society understands and responds better to risk...

• Anil Jain, University Distinguished Professor of computer and electrical engineering — “Strengthening the Scientific Basis of Biometric Identification and Authentication — Biometrics: Applications, Challenges and Opportunities?”

  Two things are certain about biometrics: It is the hot buzzword in identity management for convenience and protection from terrorists and identity thieves – and it's not foolproof.

• Jennifer Olson, visiting assistant professor of g eography — “Space Matters! Spatial Dimensions of Complex Interactions Between People and the Natural Environment — Multiscale Analysis of the Linkages Between Human and Biophysical Processes”

  The landscape is changing in East Africa, and quickly. A migrating and growing population, emerging economies and an increase in agricultural production are leaving their mark on the region's environment...