Dalia Biswas: Harnessing the Power of Data
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The accelerating increase in computer processing power has opened exciting new possibilities for chemists.
At the forefront of these advancements at Whitman College is Associate Professor of Chemistry Dalia Biswas. In 2023, she accepted an invitation to join the Data Chemist Network (DCN) at the National Science Foundation (NSF) Center for Computer Assisted Synthesis at the University of Notre Dame.
As part of the network, Biswas will join a community of scientists across the country who share her interest in applying advanced computational tools to chemistry—and connect Whitman to a diverse and select group of partner institutions at an NSF-funded research center.
In her role at Whitman, Biswas is also helping students and her colleagues harness the power of computational tools to keep up with rapid changes in the sciences. As the lone computational chemist at Whitman, she stands at the forefront of a paradigm shift in how chemistry is taught and explored.
But it’s not only lessons in chemistry that are and will be changing dramatically, says Biswas.
“For chemists, computers help us manage our time and be more efficient. This is where the future of many fields is headed, not just chemistry.”
Read the full story, which also appears in the Winter 2024 issue of Whitman Magazine.
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Welcome New Staff Members
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Please join us in welcoming the following new Whitman employees who started in February:
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- Vivian Schimke, Human Resources Student Office Assistant
- Kaitlin Krause, Geology Technician
- Bob Angus, Student Activities Temporary Position
- Lindsay Tebeck, Collection Strategist Librarian, Head of Collection Strategies
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Two Music Department Concerts This Weekend
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The Fridays @ 4 Concert Series will continue with Visiting Assistant Professor of Music Tom Hicks on the piano on Friday, March 1 at 4 p.m. in Chism Recital Hall. The Music Department will also present a Jazz Faculty Concert on Saturday, March 2 at 7 p.m. in Chism Recital Hall. Both events are free and open to the public.
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Together24 Community Event on Saturday
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The entire community is invited to Together24 on Saturday, March 2 at 6:30 p.m. in the Reid Campus Center Young Ballroom. This free, family-friendly event will showcase artwork from local people who have been touched by addiction. This event hopes to decrease stigma and raise awareness around addiction, recovery and the connection to trauma. (Flyer attached.)
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Learn About Native Plant Landscaping on Monday
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Two representatives from the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) will present “Beautiful Survivors: Why and How We Use Native Plants in Our Landscaping” on Monday, March 4 at 7 p.m. in Maxey Auditorium. In this session, Cheryl Shippentower, CTUIR Plant Ecologist, and Gail Redberg, CTUIR Tribal Native Plant Nursery Manager, will share the values and benefits of incorporating native plants into your landscaping projects. (Flyer attached.) This event is sponsored by the departments of Biology and Environmental Studies, with support from the Community Engaged and Research Initiative at Whitman College.
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Reminder: New Campus Awards Nomination Form
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The Office of the President recently published a new consolidated nomination form to handle many of the annual campus awards for students, faculty and staff. Visit the new webpage to learn more about the different available awards and consider who you might like to nominate for one or more of them. Nominations for the current award cycle will be accepted through Friday, March 8. If you are the leader of an award committee and would like to have your award added to this form, please email awards@whitman.edu.
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Last week, activist Linda Sarsour presented the Power and Privilege Symposium keynote address. A video of the talk and photos from throughout week are now available online.
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Student Drop-In Hours with Trina Soske ’83: Working in the Culture of Amazon
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Baker Center, Osborne Commons
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Cleveland Commons, South Corner
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Reid Campus Center, Lobby
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Strategic Planning Feedback Session: Connecting Whitman, Walla Walla and the World
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Cleveland Commons, Lizzie Murr Conference Room
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Sherwood Athletic Center, Room 114
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Hall of Music, Chism Recital Hall
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Reid Campus Center, All Faiths Room
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Reid Campus Center, Room 209
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Harper Joy Theatre, Alexander Stage
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Harper Joy Theatre, Alexander Stage
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Olin Hall, Room 124 (RSVP)
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Reid Campus Center, All Faiths Room
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Reid Campus Center, Young Ballroom
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Hall of Music, Chism Recital Hall
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Harper Joy Theatre, Alexander Stage
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Olin Hall, Room 129 (RSVP)
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Harper Joy Theatre, Alexander Stage
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Would you like to share an event with campus? Submit the information to the Events Calendar.
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“Whitman Today” is produced by the Office of Communications and is emailed Monday through Friday to Whitman College staff, faculty and students.
All submissions are welcome! If you have accomplishments to celebrate, an event to publicize or other content to share with the Whitman community, email whitmantoday@whitman.edu. Submissions of 125 words or less are due by noon for the following day’s newsletter. Submissions may be edited and/or held for a later date according to space and editorial needs. Your submission also authorizes use on Whitman's social media unless otherwise specified.
Previous issues of Whitman Today are archived on our website.
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Find us on social media: @whitmancollege
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