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HEADLINERS

BEING STRICT WITH SALVIA

Tom Prisinzano, associate professor of medicinal chemistry, was quoted in a recent Newsweek article about Salvia. There has been much debate about how to regulate the herb, which can have both medicinal benefits and hallucinogenic effects. The article states, "He points out that '[similar] substances have been shown to have beneficial effects, in the treatment of pain, depression and, ironically, substance abuse. Condemning the drug to Schedule I status (the same class as heroin or cannabis), as some legislators have suggested, would make it virtually impossible for the medical community to obtain for research.' "

WHY SO FEW WOMEN?

Joshua Rosenbloom, associate vice provost for research and graduate studies, was featured in a recent Boston Globe article about the gender gap in science jobs. Rosenbloom has surveyed hundreds of professionals in information technology, a field in which women are largely underrepresented. His findings show that fewer women in the field is due more to personal preference than other factors. Rosenbloom accepts that the fact that more men than women choose to work in IT may be perceived as a stereotype. "It sounds like stereotypes," he said in the article, "but these stereotypes have a germ of truth."

CRYSTAL SKULL CREDIBILITY

John Hoopes, associate professor of anthropology, was quoted in a recent Lawrence Journal-World article about the historical background of the relic at the center of the newest Indiana Jones movie. "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" features the famous fictional archaeologist chasing down the title artifact. "I think it's wonderful that an archaeologist is the center of this series of adventure movies because I think it brings more people to archaeology and gets them more interested in what archaeologists actually do," Hoopes said. "However, it's entertainment, it's Hollywood, and Indiana Jones has about as much to do with scientific archaeology as Star Wars does with NASA or the Hubble telescope."

RESEARCH MATTERS:

Recent graduate Erik Nelson, a cognitive psychology major, conducted research into why people engage in dangerous, behavior such as talking on a cell phone or sending text messages while driving. Every respondent in Nelson's survey admitted to driving while talking on a cell phone, and 72 percent admitted to sending text messages while driving. "Many people understand that talking while driving is a risky behavior. However, they still do it," Nelson said. "People tend to believe that their conversations are a little more important than they are." For more, or to listen to the original broadcast, visit www.researchmatters.ku.edu.