COOL TECHS: Bruce Margon, astronomy; Bill Winn, education; Scott Mah, communication technologies manager, C&C; and Gaetano Borriello, computer science and engineering, were featured presenters for the “Teach the Teachers” Summer Technology Institute, held at the UW Olympic Natural Resources Center in Forks over a four-week period. The institute has provided computer technology education to more than 140 K-12 teachers from the greater Seattle area. Margon, Winn, Mah and Borriello, presented on the topic of their expertise (dubbed the “Cool Technology” presentation) and related the topic to education application and impact. The institute was sponsored by a grant from QFC, and included the participation of Seattle Public Schools, Compaq Computers, Microsoft, the Alliance for Education, and the UW, as sponsors or partners.

MENTORING EXPERTS: The UW’s Women in Science and Engineering Center has developed the first comprehensive curriculum for training mentors in science and engineering, and has already received more than 200 requests for it from high schools, community colleges, corporations, non-profit organizations and government agencies. The center was honored for its mentoring activities at the recent Women in Engineering Program and Advocates Network national conference and has been nominated for a Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring. Center director is Suzanne Brainard.

KUDOS: Dan Schwartz, associate professor of chemical engineering, is among 83 young engineers selected to participate in the National Academy of Engineering’s Frontiers of Engineering symposium. The event brings together some of the nation’s top engineers between ages 30 and 45 to highlight leading-edge research and engineering developments . . . Forestry Professor James Agee was given the Outstanding Scientist Award by Northwest Science Magazine. The magazine said Agee’s “work over the past two decades has contributed extensively in the fields of public policy and regional environmental concerns.” . . . J. David Hawkins, professor of social work and director of the Social Development Research Group, was honored by the Washington Council on Crime and Delinquency (WCCD) with the Edith A. Lobe Award for Citizen Volunteerism. Hawkins’ research and service efforts focus on understanding and preventing child and adolescent health and behavior problems . . . Maria Root, associate professor of ethnic studies, was honored by the American Psychological Association for distinguished contributions to psychology in the public interest. ¶