Research shows taller, healthier Americans earn more
A college education and a set of specialized skills can earn a person more in today’s job market. But will a little extra height lead to a larger paycheck? Georgia State University economist Inas Rashad, who studies health and labor economics, says about 10 centimeters in height can add $1,800 to $2,000 to a man’s salary, and $891 to $2,242 to a woman’s. Height also appears to be correlated with increased obesity but a reduction in cholesterol in men, and a reduction in cholesterol and diabetes in women. But while there’s little adults can do about their height, Rashad says there’s “even more reason to be aware of childhood nutrition” which can affect a child’s growth and, subsequently their earning potential. In addition, she says, we should be aware of potential employer discrimination based on height. Rashad’s study is expected to be published in an upcoming edition of Economics and Human Biology. To speak with Rashad, contact Michael Davis at (404) 413-1361 or mdavis6@gsu.edu.

You can’t say (expletive) on television!
With the Supreme Court soon to decide whether or not to hear the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) appeal that it violated federal law with its expletives policy, the ultimate question becomes whether the government should be able to police what’s on the tube. “It’s a tough one,” says Georgia State communications professor and attorney Greg Lisby. “Because broadcasters have fewer rights because they use a limited, publicly-owned resource – the airwaves.” But broadcast continues to push the boundaries of verbal and sexual content. Lisby says that unlike cable and print, broadcasting is the only media beholden to the government to do their job. “Only broadcasting is treated this way,” he says. Further, for the court to rule in favor of broadcasting would mean that “they would have to reject almost a century of precedent.” To speak with Lisby, contact William Inman at (404) 413-1355 or winman@gsu.edu.

Researcher finds key to West Nile infection
Scientists now have a better understanding of how the West Nile Virus RNA bonds with cell protein and replicates itself, thanks to research by a Georgia State University doctoral student. The finding of William Davis, who earned his Ph.D. and now holds a post-doctoral position at Georgia State, recently earned a spotlight position in the Journal of Virology. For more information, contact Van Jensen at (404) 413-1357 or vjensen@gsu.edu.

Speedy Internet2: Needed in K-12 Schools?
What happens when you put ultra high-speed Internet2, a bandwidth typically only available to top-tier research universities, into public schools? Stephen Harmon, chair of learning technologies for Georgia State’s College of Education, is trying to answer that question by studying an Internet2 test pilot in Barrow County schools. In December, the school system will become one of the first in the nation to go live with Internet2, a network that allows universities and researchers to share large amounts of data. Barrow County schools plan to use the connection to enhance learning with high-definition video feeds, creating interactive lessons on topics such as research of an underwater reef. But it is unclear what possibilities exist beyond that, Harmon said. Harmon is available to talk further about the project, its potential and possible drawbacks. To speak with him, contact Elizabeth Babiarz at (404) 413-1356 or lbabiarz@gsu.edu.

Professor seeks to model fires
As the last of the severe wild fires in California are being extinguished, Xiaolin Hu, an assistant professor of computer science at Georgia State, is developing a system to use real-time data to create computer simulations of forest fires. Those simulations eventually could predict the behavior of fires and help firefighters in combating the blazes. For more information, contact Van Jensen at 404-413-1357 or vjensen@gsu.edu.

Happenings at Georgia State University

Grand opening of transformed Georgia State Library
Georgia State will hold a grand opening ceremony at 11 a.m. Nov. 15 to celebrate the completion of the library transformation project, a $23 million renovation of two buildings at the heart of campus. The library now has more resources, the latest technology, a variety of study spaces, improved services and a welcoming environment. Georgia State President Carl V. Patton will speak at the ceremony, which will be held on the 2nd floor of Library South, 100 Decatur St. For more information, e-mail nblake@gsu.edu or call 404-413-2707.

Big History
David Christian, the San Diego State University history professor whose philosophy of history, called “Big History,” looks at human events from the beginning of the universe to the present time, will speak at 4 p.m. Nov. 1 at Georgia State’s Troy Moore Library, 939 General Classroom Building. Christian will deliver his lecture, “Across a Crowded Room: History and the Sciences after the Chronometric Revolution,” at the 2007-2008 World History and Somers Lecture.

Rights of the child
The Georgia State University College of Law’s Center for Health, Law & Society will play host Nov. 16 to the National Briefing Day on the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child, a comprehensive international treaty aimed at ensuring the well-being of the world’s children. The program will explore the treaty’s widespread global support and the United States’ reluctance to sign on. Speakers also will discuss the treaty’s relevance to Georgia children. The event is scheduled for noon in the Senate Salon of the Georgia State Student Center. The event is free and open to the public, but RSVPs are requested by Nov. 9. For more information, visit http://law.gsu.edu/clhs/index/news_and_events/center_news/article?id=268

Georgia State Leads is a publication from the Department of University Relations. For more information about the publication or to sign up to receive Georgia State Leads, contact Andria Simmons at 404/651-3579 or asimmons2@gsu.edu.

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