Astronomy professor selected for MOSI post

St. Petersburg College astronomy professor Antonio Paris has been selected as director of space programs and planetarium for the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) in Tampa. Paris will be responsible for day-to-day operations of the planetarium, NASA's Mission: Moonbase, Starlab and MOSI's telescope program. He will serve as the on-air space science expert for MOSI and will provide lectures on space, astronomy and other topics of scientific interest. He will continue to lecture at St. Petersburg College.

Last day to apply for SPC scholarships

Feb. 27 is the last day to apply for summer scholarships through the St. Petersburg College Foundation. Each year, the foundation provides hundreds of scholarships to SPC students, made possible through private gifts from individuals, community groups and businesses. Students can apply by visiting spcollege.edu/foundation/instructions.htm.

USFSP professor lands Fulbright assignment

University of South Florida St. Petersburg professor Donny Smoak has been awarded a Fulbright Specialist Grant in environmental science at Shenyang Agricultural University in China. Smoak will head to China for three weeks in June to lecture and participate in a series of seminars on climate change and coastal wetlands.

"I welcome the opportunity to return to China," Smoak said. "There are great scientists there and interesting places to work." He said he hopes the visit will foster additional exchanges with Shenyang University, and that the development of an academic focus in this area could lead to USFSP students seeking advanced training in China.

"Fulbright assignments, one of the highest honors in higher education, underscore the excellence of the faculty at USFSP," said Han Reichgelt, regional vice chancellor of Academic Affairs. "Dr. Smoak's newest award reflects his dedication as a professor and researcher, and the significance of his contributions to the field."

Film festival winds up at Eckerd College

The 17th annual Visions of Nature/Voices of Nature Environmental Film Festival at Eckerd College ends this week with two screenings that are free and open to the public:

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College notebook: scholarships, films and new assignments for professors