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GREENSBORO — The city sure has been having some unexpected weather lately. By next fall, N.C. A&T students might just be able to explain it.

For the first time, in fall 2008 N.C. A&T will offer an undergraduate degree in atmospheric sciences and meteorology. It's only the second meteorology program at a historically black college in the country.

The degree program is part of A&T's Interdisciplinary Scientific Environmental Technology Cooperative Science Center, which was founded in 2006 with a $12.5 million NOAA grant.

The center is a joint effort between A&T, seven partner colleges and NOAA to help recruit more minority students to atmospheric studies.
"The purpose of this program is to increase the number of under-represented minorities among NOAA scientists," said Solomon Bililign, center director.

The program will accept about 20 students its first semester. NOAA scholarships are available for qualified students.

Bililign expects the program to offer several concentrations, including broadcast meteorology.

Students in the program will get the chance to conduct research with top atmospheric scientists across the country, in hopes of luring the undergraduates to pursue graduate degrees in those fields.

"It's really creating a pipeline between the high school and the Ph.D. program," Bililign said.

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In a world of astronomical gas prices, lots of people are jumping on the alternative fuel bandwagon.

Now, A&T and UNCG professors will study the economics of a North Carolina biofuel industry, thanks to a $132,000 grant from the state.

The project was one of four projects to receive UNC system research and development grants in Greensboro. The projects were chosen because they could lead to new jobs in the state.

"You can see they will have impact on job creation in the foreseeable future," said Rosemary Wander, UNCG associate provost for research and private/public sector partnerships.

The A&T and UNCG team will study North Carolina farm products with their grant.

They will try to estimate how much crop residue — stuff such as leftover corn stalks — might be available to turn into biofuels, said Mark Burkey, A&T professor and economist who is part of the research team.

Using that information, they could determine the best place to put processing plants.

Other local professors will also play a role in the research projects, working with other state universities. At UNCG, Nadja Cech will study the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties in echinacea with a $364,000 grant.

Yousef Haik, a UNCG professor in the Center for Research Excellence in Nanobiosceinces, will help develop a device to detect human allergens using saliva samples as part of a $200,000 project.

Parke Rublee, from the UNCG biology department, will look at ways to monitor water quality through looking at the DNA of plants, Wander said. The work will be done with the help of a $292,000 grant.

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Four local residents have been elected to the Greensboro College board of trustees.

The new board members are T. Richard Beard, a 2003 graduate; Pamela Medlin, president of the staffing company Key Resources; MacArthur Sims, president of the East Market Street Development Corp.; and Russellene "Rusty" Angel, who oversees a private charitable foundation.
The trustees will serve a 4-year term.

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The spring semester is alive and kicking, so get educated with these free, public events:

l Today is Founders Day at Greensboro College. Students, alumni and friends of the college are invited to the Gail Brower Huggins Performance Center at 11:30 a.m. for convocation, a special ceremony for seniors and faculty awards.

Everyone is invited to the Green Hill Cemetery at 1 p.m., when college President Craven Williams will place a wreath on the grave of the Rev. Peter Doub, West Market Street United Methodist Church founder.

l The asteroid 2007 WD5 will swing past Mars later this month. Learn all about it from the Guilford College astronomy department at 7 p.m. Jan. 27 at the Joseph Bryan Jr. Auditorium in the Frank Family Science Center. Tours and viewing at the Cline Observatory to follow.

l Famous high school football coach Herman Boone will speak at 7 p.m. Jan. 29 at Guilford College in the Sternberger Auditorium.

Boone's experience as the coach of the newly integrated T.C. Williams High School football team was immortalized in the 2000 film "Remember the Titans." The lecture is free and open to the public.

l Quaker Lobbyist Joe Volk will present his lecture, "My Journey to Iran: Practicing Hope in an Age of Fear," at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 31 at New Garden Friends Meeting.

Contact Amanda Lehmert at 373-7075 or amanda.lehmert@news-record.com