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A paper co-authored by Stephen Wu, “The Search for Economics Talent: Doctoral Completion and Research Productivity,” was one of the key research sources referenced in a Jan. 9 story in InsideHigherEd.com. Titled “Defining What Makes an Economist,” the article discussed what factors might play a role in predicting student success in ultimately completing a Ph.D. in economics, publishing and landing a tenure-track job at a top-20 program.

Associate Professor of Economics Ann Owen participated in two sessions at the American Economic Association's annual meeting in Chicago during the first week of January.

Professor of Psychology Jonathan Vaughan presented a paper, “PsySquash X: A Utility Program for Analyzing PsyScope Data Files,” on November 16, 2006 at the Society for Computers in Psychology. The paper’s co-authors were Associate Professor of Psychology Penny Yee, Assistant Professor of Psychology Jennifer Borton and Virginia Vaughan. Jonathan Vaughan serves as an elected member of the society’s steering committee.

William R. Kenan Professor of Government Cheng Li was quoted in an article in the January/February 2007 issue of Foreign Affairs magazine. The article, titled “The Faces of Chinese Power,” was written by David M. Lampton, dean of faculty and director of China studies at Johns Hopkins University. The article addresses the importance of assessing the growing power of China accurately.

Anthropology professor Douglas Raybeck was included in a segment on NPR’s Morning Edition on Thursday, Dec. 28. The piece was focused on New Year’s resolutions, and Raybeck reviewed the earliest reliable records of them. He discussed Romans vows that included resolutions similar to ours, to quit drinking and to “improve their bodies,” for example. He also related how they, too, may have been subject to failure in their efforts.

Hamilton will name the Annex, the multipurpose facility adjoining the Beinecke Student Activities Village, the Patricia and Winton Tolles Pavilion in honor of the former long-time dean and his wife. The ceremony officially celebrating the rededication will occur at 4:30 p.m., on June 1 during Reunion Weekend.

Hamilton College has announced the creation of the Richard W. Couper (RWC) Press named in honor of the late Richard W. Couper’44, an alumnus and life trustee of Hamilton and benefactor of the Burke Library. Couper also served as a former president and CEO of the New York Public Library, president of the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation and deputy commissioner of higher education with the New York State Education Department.

The Al Biles Virtual Quintet will present a jazz improvisation on Thursday, Nov. 16, at 4:15 p.m. in the Red Pit. This quintet is comprised of a single performer, Al Biles on trumpet, and his computer program, GenJam, which handles the bass, drum kit, and other instruments. GenJam (short for “Genetic Jammer”) doesn’t simply provide a musical backdrop - it is a computer program that implements an evolutionary computation technique that enables it to learn how to improvise jazz solos. GenJam trades fours or eights by listening to the notes and chord progressions on Biles’s trumpet and constructs its own solo based on the tunes played by Biles. The program will include a brief discussion of the technology behind GenJam. This performance is free and open to the public.

Jonah Goldberg, editor-at-large with the National Review Online, will present a lecture titled "The Case for Conservatism" on Tuesday, Nov. 14, at 7:30 p.m. in the Fillius Events Barn. The event is hosted by the Hamilton College Republicans.

Rand Carter, professor of art history, spoke at the International Network for the Traditional Building, Architecture and Urbanism conference in Venice from Nov. 2 to 5.  The theme of the conference was "The Venice Charter Revisited.”