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Winter
2006 -- Vol. 60, No. 1
 HurriQuake nail, top invention
Civil engineering
alumnus Ed Sutt M ’96, PhD ’00, a fastening
engineer with Bostitch, has designed a nail that could save thousands
of lives and homes in a hurricane or earthquake. For that, Popular
Science magazine has named the HurriQuake nail its 2006 Innovation
of the Year.
Sutt took notice of a hurricane’s devastating effects when, as
a Clemson student, he visited the Caribbean following Hurricane Marilyn
in 1995. He noticed the fasteners, not the wood, had failed in house
after house.
Sutt created a prototype that would resist the nail head’s ripping
through sheathing, enable the shank to stay put in the frame during
high winds or earthquakes, and keep the midsection of the nail from
snapping when a house rocks back and forth under stress.
The HurriQuake nail is made of carbon-steel alloy and adds about $15
to the materials cost of a house. Testing shows it to have up to twice
the uplift capacity of standard nails.
The nail is available only in the coastal region from Texas to North
Carolina at construction supply stores. Bostitch, a subsidiary of The
Stanley Works, is adding new production lines to meet nationwide consumer
demand.
Top honor society
The Phi Beta Kappa
Society, America’s oldest and most prestigious
academic honor society, has selected Clemson for one of six new chapters
in recognition of the University’s excellence in liberal arts
and sciences.
“What this means to our students is that their Clemson degree
will have even more value,” says President Jim Barker. “What
it means to Clemson is that another of our 10-year goals has been achieved.
I believe Phi Beta Kappa and Clemson fit well together.”
A minimum requirement is that 10 percent of the teaching faculty in
arts and sciences must themselves be Phi Beta Kappa members. The selection
capped off a rigorous three-year process.
NSF research site
The National Science Foundation has selected the University as a research
site for the Center for Engineering Logistics and Distribution (CELDi),
an Industry/University Cooperative Research Center.
Clemson joins eight universities nationwide in developing integrated
solutions to logistics and supply chain problems. The work will enhance
the United States’ competitive edge in the world by producing
and delivering products into the marketplace more quickly and efficiently.
The selection has the potential to affect the flow of raw materials,
scheduling production and distributing finished goods for everything
from Homeland Security and disaster preparedness to automobile production
and distribution.
 As a CELDi university, Clemson receives at least $1 million over a
three-year period through industry projects and matching contributions.
The research site supports interdisciplinary research and is housed
in Clemson’s industrial engineering department. It’s a
component of a broader plan that includes an endowed chair in supply
chain optimization and logistics. The Research Centers for Economic
Excellence program, created by the S.C. Legislature, has approved $2
million for the chair at Clemson, and efforts are under way to secure
matching funds.
Pictured from left are Clemson graduate students Esengul Tayfur, Michael
Sawyer and Priya Devapriya working on an integrated logistics problem.
For more information, contact Bill Ferrell, Clemson CELDi director,
at (864) 656-2724 or fwillia@clemson.edu.
 Quest for
Parkinson’s
cure
The Michael J.
Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research has provided
$125,000 in supplemental funding to advance the promise of Clemson
professor Xuejun Wen’s quest for a cure.
Wen uses novel bioengineering technology in combination with dopamine
neurons derived from human stem cells. His lab specializes in inducing
human stem cells into different types of cells aimed at curing diseases
and injuries such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, diabetes,
heart and brain strokes, and spinal cord injuries.
He works at the Charleston branch of the Clemson bioengineering department
with the Clemson University-Medical University of South Carolina Bioengineering
Program and shares the latest award with Su-Chun Zhang, anatomy and
neurology professor at the University of Wisconsin.
Major hydrogen research
The U.S. Department of Energy is awarding $2 million to Clemson to
fund hydrogen research and development that may help change the way
we power the country.
The research project, headed by chemical and biomolecular engineering
chairman Jim Goodwin, will involve collaboration with the Savannah
River National Laboratory and John Deere on research directed at understanding
the effect of impurities in hydrogen and oxygen streams on the performance
of hydrogen fuel cells.
This funding is part of $100 million used to fund 25 hydrogen projects
that support the Advanced Energy Initiative to reduce U.S. dependence
on foreign sources of energy through new clean energy technologies.
Clemson is one of four universities across the country to receive the
competitive award, along with such corporations as 3M and national
laboratories, such as Los Alamos and Oak Ridge.
 Flyin’ Tigers — the
best!
Clemson’s
Air Force ROTC Detachment
770 has earned the Right of Line Award
as the most outstanding midsized Air Force ROTC detachment in the
nation. The annual award goes to the top small, medium and large
detachments.
Clemson’s Air Force ROTC also has been home to Arnold Air Society
national headquarters honorary cadet service organization for two consecutive
years and has been recognized by the Air Force Association as the Outstanding
AFROTC Detachment in South Carolina for the last three years.
Pictured at the trophy presentation during Military Appreciation Day
are Clemson Trustee Bill Hendrix, Cadet Peter Boardman and Col. Lance
Young, detachment commander.
Stopping anthrax
Picture a spider web coated with sugar. But instead of luring in unsuspecting
creatures, this spider web pulls in deadly anthrax spores, rendering
them harmless.
Clemson chemist Ya-Ping Sun and his research team have developed such
a countermeasure strategy to weaponized anthrax, a biological agent
used by a perpetrator who killed five Americans in 2001. The Clemson
team’s findings were published in the Journal of the American
Chemical Society in September (vol. 128).
Anthrax spores are covered with carbohydrates used to communicate with
or attract other biological species. The Clemson team used carbon nanotubes
as a platform for displaying sugar molecules to attract the anthrax
spores. When sugar-coated, the carbon nanotubes bind with the anthrax
spores, creating clusters too large to be inhaled, stopping their infection
and destruction.
The new method holds potential for first responders to contain anthrax
in an office or mailroom setting using a water-based gel, foam or aerosol
spray, and it may have application on the battlefield in larger quantities.
The National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Agriculture
funded the study.
‘Hard
Scramble’ beauty
Benefactor Margaret Hebard Lloyd has given Hard Scramble, a beautiful,
unspoiled 853-acre tract of land along the Wateree River in Kershaw
County, and a generous endowment to Clemson for environmental stewardship.
Hard Scramble and Clemson’s Sandhill Research and Education Center
in Columbia, only 20 miles apart, are closely connected in topography,
flora, fauna and land resources. The gift broadens Clemson’s
ability to involve and educate citizens about the wise use of natural
resources and opportunities for environmental sustainability.
Development of a small portion of the Hard Scramble property will be
devoted to an initiative dealing with residential green building and
an environmental education center that highlights our connections with
nature.
 First CU-ICAR fellowship
Automation Engineering
Corp. (AEC) has given the first endowed graduate fellowship in the
Center for Automotive Design and Development at the
Clemson University
International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR).
The $100,000 endowment will support graduate students working toward
degrees at the new Carroll A. Campbell Jr. Graduate Engineering Center
on the CU-ICAR campus in Greenville.
“Automation Engineering has enjoyed a tremendous amount of success
in the Upstate thanks to economic growth the area has enjoyed the last
20 plus years. CU-ICAR will push that economic growth to an even higher
level,” says Gary Foster, AEC president. “To be part
of that success and to be able to contribute to the education of the
brightest engineering students in the country was something we couldn’t
pass up.”
Automation Engineering Corp.’s commitment of $100,000 will be
matched by the state, under legislation establishing the Research Centers
of Economic Excellence, to generate a total of $200,000 in endowment
funds.
Up close and astrophysical
Deep space just
got a little closer for Clemson astrophysics students. A Curry Foundation
grant of $100,000 will give Clemson faculty and students time on
the Kitt Peak National Observatory’s 4-meter
Mayall telescope in Arizona.
The grant provides approximately one-third of the $290,000 cost for
33 nights. The agreement was made for three years through the National
Optical Astronomical Observatory, funded through the National Science
Foundation. It also allows Clemson to trade its Mayall time for access
to other telescopes in the U.S. system around the world.
Through the Seneca-based Curry Foundation, more than $300,000 has been
donated to the astrophysics program at Clemson. In addition, Charles
Curry has endowed three fellowships for outstanding graduate student
researchers in astrophysics over the past three years.
Cleaning up
Oil and water
don’t
mix. As a result, vegetable-based oil could be the answer to contaminant
cleanup.
Clemson researchers led by geologist Larry Murdock, with the Savannah
River National Laboratory, are testing vegetable oil as a way to prevent
contaminants from getting into groundwater aquifers. The method could
help clean up chlorinated solvents, which are among the most common
groundwater contaminants caused by industry. The study at the U.S.
Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site is funded through
the S.C. Universities Research and Education Foundation.
Vegetable oil, injected through hydraulic fractures 20 to 30 feet into
the ground, draws in oil-based contaminants that have leaked from pipes
or tanks. If mixed with water, the contaminants separate as droplets,
with small amounts dissolving into the water and making it hazardous.
But, if another oil is introduced, the contaminants steer clear of
the water, drawn instead to the edible oil source.
In addition, some microbes in the ground subsurface will degrade solvents.
The edible oils create the right conditions for those kinds of microbes
to flourish. Therefore, the oil can both trap and destroy contaminants
underground.
‘Organic’ bottles
Nutraceutical and pharmaceutical companies may soon use organic bottles
to ship their dietary supplements. Clemson researcher Danny Roberts,
assistant to the vice president for Public
Service and Agriculture,
has developed a new container using environmentally friendly fibrous
plants such as kenaf, flax and cotton.
These composites use no petroleum, take less energy to produce, are
derived from renewable resources and are 100 percent biodegradable
and recyclable.
The natural fibers are combined with polylactic acid, derived from
corn. Inhibitory agents rich in naturally occurring antioxidants and
antimicrobial properties are added to protect against degradation of
materials inside the bottles.
Gaia Herbs Inc., a nutraceutical company in Brevard, N.C., has provided
significant research funding to the Institute for Nutraceutical Research
at Clemson. Roberts collaborated on this research with Dave Gangemi,
director of the institute, and scientists from Germany, France, Cotton
Inc., Delta and Pine Land, Clemson’s Pee Dee Research and Education
Center and other Clemson personnel.
National sweep!
Three Clemson
graphic communications graduate students swept the TAPPI 2006 Student
Design Competition. TAPPI is the world’s largest
professional association serving the pulp, paper, converting and packaging
industries.
The students — Wade Beard, Zak Nicholas and Griffin Hockswender — each
conceived, designed, created, mounted printing plates and manufactured
a “box” that was definitely “thinking outside the
box.”
Their projects provided opportunities to reach new creative limits
and investigate the capabilities of a Bobst flexographic printing press,
a Martin press, prepress software such as Score!, and other equipment
such as a Datatech sample table. In the process, they created quality-finished
products and demonstrate the diverse capabilities of direct-printed
corrugated, flexographic printing and metallic and scented inks.
In the TAPPI competition, Beard’s box robot took first place.
Nicholas’ box guitar, designed as a mailing piece to hold brochures
and electronic media, took second. Their entries also won the BCM Ink’s
Werner Sattler Award. Hockswender’s box boat won third place.
The winning
entries were printed at Clemson’s Printing
and Converting Research Center in Pendleton.
 Project Middle Passage
The nationally
recognized Call Me
MISTER® program, which recruits
African American men to become S.C. elementary school teachers, will
delve into new territory with an initiative to mentor African American
boys in middle school. Call Me MISTER is based at Clemson and administered
through 10 campuses in South Carolina.
Through a $99,800 grant from the Lumina Foundation for Education’s
McCabe Fund, the program is launching Project Middle Passage early
this year among a select group of middle schools in Pickens, Oconee,
Anderson and Greenville counties.
Project Middle Passage will heighten awareness of future academic and
career opportunities for students by working with schools, parents,
local colleges, social services agencies and individuals. There are
150 men currently enrolled in the Call Me MISTER program and 20 already
teaching in S.C. classrooms. For more information, contact Roy Jones,
director, at royj@clemson.edu or
(864) 656-7915.
Summer Odyssey for kids
Camp
Odyssey at the University’s Outdoor Lab is a popular one-week
residential camp for children between the ages of 6-12. This year’s
camp, July 8-14, offers children fun, challenging and educational group
activities with other campers and program leaders. Activities include
hiking, fishing, canoeing, swimming, arts and crafts, outdoor games,
campfire programs, overnight camping trips and more. Cost is $445 per
child with a discount given to additional children from the same family.
Sign up early. For more information and an application, call (864)
646-7502, email cuolcamps-L@clemson.edu.
 Ray
Ray’s amazing
story
Clemson student
athlete Ray Ray McElrathbey’s family story swept
the national media last year when he was granted custody of his 12-year-old
brother, Fahmarr.
He gained help through an NCAA ruling that let assistant coaches’ wives
give Fahmarr rides to school and help care for him. The NCAA has also
allowed the establishment of a fund for Fahmarr through First Citizens
Bank in Clemson.
The Clemson wide receiver’s story caught national attention because
of hardships he’s overcome to earn a football scholarship at
the Division I level and to take on guardianship in addition to all
his responsibilities as a student athlete.
His story was featured in Sports Illustrated, The New York Times,
Philadelphia Inquirer, USA Today and on ESPN.com, ESPN’s “College Gameday,” “Oprah” and
other venues. In addition, he was named the Person of the Week by “ABC
World News Tonight.” His latest national recognition came in
December when he received the Keith Jackson Award of Excellence at
the Cingular ESPN All-America show and when he received the 2006 FedEx
Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award.
Throughout the swirl of publicity and the new stresses fame has added,
McElrathbey has remained appreciative, unassuming and responsible.
He’s been an outstanding representative of Tiger athletics and
the Clemson Family.
Hey
active, older adults!
Looking for some
adventure in your life? Try Camp Again this fall at the University’s Outdoor
Laboratory on the shores of Lake Hartwell. It’s a fun week
filled with trips to scenic areas, boating, nature walks, fishing,
apple picking, historical tours, talent shows, campfires and other
great programs. Cost includes meals, lodging and activities for five
days and four nights of adventure. The 2007 camps will be held Sept.
24-28, Oct. 1-5 and Oct. 22-26. Apply early. For more information,
call (864) 646-7502, email conrad@clemson.edu or
write Camp Again, Lehotsky Hall, Box 340735, Clemson, SC 29634-0735.
 Groovy Tiger
Band
Alumni and fans
of Tiger Band can relive special moments from long ago performances
with “Pass in Review,” a
history of Tiger Band halftime shows from the 1960s through the 1990s
on three DVDs.
“Volume One” of “Pass in Review” documents
the band from the early 1960s through the 1970s. The video contains
scenes of the band’s gathering at the Clemson railroad station
for its first trip to a bowl game — the 1959 Bluebonnet Bowl — and
performances under the direction of John Butler, Bruce Cook and James
Copenhaver.
Proceeds from the DVD will support band scholarships. To purchase “Volume
One” DVD ($20 + $5 for S&H), contact the band office at (864)
656-3380. Send mail orders to Clemson University Band, 119 Brooks Center,
Clemson SC, 29634-0534 or go to www.clemson.edu/CUTBA. “Volume
Two” (the 1980s) and “Volume Three” (the 1990s) should
become available later in 2007.
Simply the Best
Highest global recognition
Chemistry professor Darryl DesMarteau received
in Paris the prestigious Moissan Prize for 2006 for his achievements
in fluorine chemistry. The prize, the highest global recognition in
the field of fluorine chemistry, is awarded every three years at an
international symposium. DesMarteau’s recent research has focused
on development of membranes for fuel cells. That technology, which
currently provides energy for the space shuttle, is being developed
for automobiles and stationary power plants.
International award for osteo research
Karen Burg, one of the University’s leading researchers in bioengineering,
received the AO (Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen)
Research Foundation’s inaugural research fund prize for her work
in tissue-engineered bone replacement systems. The AO Foundation is
recognized worldwide for its pioneering work and training in osteosynthesis.
Burg’s research involved the development of a composite tissue-engineered
replacement system, designed for application to bone defects in order
to promote tissue repair.
AF Young Investigator
The Air Force Office of Scientific Research is
awarding Clemson materials science and engineering professor Jian Luo
approximately $300,000 as part of its new Young Investigator Research
Program. He and 20 other top scientists and engineers will share an
estimated $6.3 million in grants as part of the program. Luo studies
nanometer-thick, quasi-liquid films that can critically impact the
fabrication and high-temperature performance of aerospace materials.
All-America Tigers
Football student athlete Gaines Adams had a stellar
senior year. His honors include first-team All-America defensive end
(Associated Press, Walter Camp Foundation, The Sporting News, American
Football Coaches Association, Football Writers Association, Rivals.com,
SI.com). He’s
the first Clemson unanimous All-American since Terry Kinard in 1982
and just the second in Clemson history. He was also named ACC Defensive
Player of the Year, semifinalist for the Lombardi Award and finalist
for the Nagurski and Hendricks awards.
Teammate Nathan Bennett was named a third-team AP All-America offensive
guard. Clemson running back C.J. Spiller was named a first-team freshman
All-American by The Sporting News, Rivals.com and Scout.com. Jacoby
Ford was named a second-team freshman All-America kick returner by
Rivals.com and Scout.com.
Communication excellence
Dixie Goswami M ’67, Strom Thurmond Institute senior scholar
and English professor emerita, is co-recipient of the Rigo Award from
the Special Interest Group on Design of Communication. The national
award celebrates an individual’s lifetime contribution to the
field of communication design. Goswami has many accomplishments
in the field of writing education including the Richard Riley Award
from the S.C. Council of Teachers of English.
IT leader
James Bottum, Clemson’s chief information officer and vice provost
for computing and information technology, has been named one of Computerworld’s
Premier 100 IT Leaders for 2007. The honor includes 100 IT executives
who have led their organizations by mentoring and motivating employees,
envisioning innovative solutions to business challenges and effectively
managing and executing IT strategies. Bottum is also a member of the
National Science Foundation’s Advisory Committee on Cyberinfrastructure.
Outstanding Learning Center
Clemson’s Academic Success
Center received the
2006 National College Learning Center Association’s Frank L.
Christ Outstanding Learning Center Award for the four-year college
category. It was also named the Outstanding Supplemental Instruction
Program during the International Conference on Supplemental Instruction.
The center provides tutoring, additional instruction and a variety
of academic skills workshops. For more information, go to www.clemson.edu/asc.
ITE international award
The University’s student chapter of the Institute
of Transportation Engineers (ITE) won the ITE 2006 Student Chapter
Award. ITE is an international educational and scientific association
with members in 92 countries. Among other activities, the Clemson chapter
participated in Hurricane Katrina disaster relief with a trip to Gulfport,
Miss. Students repaired and replaced traffic signs, fixed traffic signals,
distributed food and toys, and helped residents with repairs and debris
removal.
Among the best in computing
Computer science Ph.D. student Jay Edward Steele is
one of only 14 graduate students worldwide to receive a 2006-2007 NVIDIA
Fellowship Award. NVIDIA is a leader in advancing programmable graphics
processors, computing and consumer electronics, and mobile devices.
Top ornithologist
Biological sciences professor emeritus Sidney Gauthreaux,
a leading researcher in bird migration and radar ornithology, received
the William Brewster Memorial Award for 2006 from the American Ornithologists’ Union
(AOU). The honor is given to the author or co-authors of the most meritorious
body of work on birds of the Western Hemisphere published during the
10 calendar years preceding an AOU meeting.
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