WNC News & Events

ET seeker to speak at WNC on June 6

High-powered telescopes like the Hubble have given astronomers their first direct view of planets outside of our solar system. Dozens of planets circling distant stars have been found. The next obvious question is whether life exists on those planets.

Western Nevada College brings astronomer Dr. Seth Shostak to the Carson City campus to discuss "When Will We Find ET?" on Saturday, June 6, 8 p.m., at Marlette Hall in the Cedar Building. The public is welcome to use the college's telescopes at the Jack C. Davis Observatory after the talk at a free "star party."

Shostak is the senior astronomer at the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute, in Mountain View, Calif., and author of "Confessions of an Alien Hunter." He has an undergraduate degree in physics from Princeton University, and a doctorate in astronomy from the California Institute of Technology. For much of his career, Shostak conducted radio astronomy research on galaxies, and has published approximately 60 papers in professional journals.

While he believes the circumstances that created life on earth exist in other parts of the universe, Shostak discusses and debunks crop circle hoaxes, alien abductions and autopsies, and other myths that routinely grab headlines in conspiracy chat rooms and tabloid newspapers.

He has written several hundred popular magazine and Web articles on various topics in astronomy, technology, film and television. He lectures on astronomy and other subjects at Stanford and other venues in the Bay Area.

Western Nevada Astronomical Society members will have a chance to meet Shostak at the observatory at 6:30 p.m. prior to the lecture.

Looking ahead to fall classes and careers

Caps and gowns have barely been put away from Tuesday's graduation ceremony at WNC, but already students are registering for the fall semester that begins Aug. 31.

One popular course that is almost always filled to capacity is Lori Magnante's Human Development class. Although it is a Human Development and Family Studies course located within the Early Childhood Education degree program, the "Lifespan of Human Development" class is one that nurses, law enforcement and sociology students find useful.

"It's an intense course, excellent for any major where you have to work with people," Magnante said. "Many of my students say it should be required for all students because it provides great insight to human nature."

The course has been offered at WNC for seven years, and is transferable as a required course to the University of Nevada, Reno, where it is part of the education and Human Development and Family Studies curriculum.

"The class covers the three major areas of human development: Physical, cognitive, and social-emotional from conception to death," Magnante said. "It helps us to understand how and why we're going to develop as we do and what we'll be as adults."

Magnante uses a lot of group activities and hands-on class work as part of the course.

"We bring in children from infant to age 9 for activities so we can observe their cognitive development stages," Magnante said. "We do it in a party setting so they feel comfortable."

Students also will look at the family system and explore major challenges and developmental issues facing families today.

"Lifespan of Human Development" will be offered at the Carson City campus, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:30-3:45 p.m. Information: Lori Magnante, 445-4449.

Sign language course being taught is designed for teachers

Teachers who want to communicate better with their hearing impaired students may want to take an American Sign Language course being offered this fall in an after-school setting in Carson City.

Those taking the course will learn valuable functional sign language geared especially for the academic environment and can add a new dimension to teaching. Communicating simultaneously with students using visual, kinesthetic and auditory information enhances teaching. The course meets the Nevada Department of Education requirements for license recertification credits.

Two sections will be taught by Sandra Magness. One class will be offered at Fremont Elementary School on Mondays from 3-4:30 p.m. The second section will meet at Carson Middle School from 3-4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays.

Information: Cindy Frank, 445-4407.