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News Briefs: May 9, 2008

(Download Image) Photo by Bob Hirschfeld/NEWSLINE Sung-Mo Kang
 

UC Merced’s Chancellor Kang opens Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with tribute to Asian scientists and inventors

Sung-Mo "Steve" Kang, the second chancellor of the University of California at Merced visited the Lab Monday to kick off Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

During his presentation, "Unfolding the Legacy of Asian Pacific Americans," he highlighted the many contributions of Asian Americans, including such scientists and inventors as Ellison Onizuka, a Japanese American astronaut who was killed in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986; Flossie Wong-Staal, a Chinese American woman and molecular biologist who identified HIV as the virus that causes AIDS; and Tuan Vo Dinh of Vietnam, who invented an optical life-saving device.

Kang, born and raised in South Korea, has a bachelor’s, master's, and doctorate degree in electrical engineering. He said he often is asked how he went from electrical engineering to leading a university. "I went from working on the inter-connection of microchips to connecting people. We can only function together if we make a connection with people — bring together people of different backgrounds," Kang said.

UC Merced is just three years old. Although Kang refers to it as a "baby campus," the student population is notably diverse and growing. This year, some 90 students will graduate. Next year, it is expected that more than 500 will earn degrees.

For students and faculty alike, UC Merced offers a unique opportunity to come and create something, Kang added.

There is a strong connection between UC Merced and LLNL. Several adjunct faculty are from the Lab. "The link with the Lab is very important. It is a great partnership that we wish to continue," Kang said.

Kang became the second chancellor of UC Merced on March 1, 2007. Kang earned a scholarship to a university in the United States and became the first in his family to attend college. He earned his bachelor of science degree, graduating summa cum laude, from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, N.J.; his master's of science from the State University of New York at Buffalo; and his doctorate from UC Berkeley.

The talk was sponsored by the Global Security Principal Directorate and the Asian Pacific American Council (APAC).

Access portals to be installed at East Gate and East Avenue/Vasco entrances

Construction of double-door access portals for pedestrians is scheduled to begin Saturday, May 10, at the East Gate and East Avenue/Vasco Road entrances to the Laboratory.

The access portals, scheduled to go into operation in July, will improve safety for pedestrians and security police officers working at the entrances to the Laboratory. The portal at the west end of the East Avenue corridor, which will serve both Sandia and the Laboratory, will have separate badge readers for LLNL and Sandia employees.

During construction, employees are reminded to obey road signs and indicators and to watch out for construction workers in the area. For more information, contact George Kan, 3-6502, or 925-784-3683.

May 9, 2008