The manager of academic outreach: A role of consequence to university survival and growth

University managers of academic outreach need more than commitment, experience, and administrative ability to ensure effective delivery of outreach programming and services. They also need outstanding skills in communication, persuasion, and negotiation to win and maintain active faculty/administrator support for outreach activities. Failure to generate such support will make it impossible for outreach managers to deliver effectively and consistently on the promise and implications of the outreach concept.     

DISTANCE STUDY IN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY: FERNUNIVERSITAT‐GESAMTHOCHSCHULE IN HAGEN

Distance higher education is one of the characteristic features of changes in the structures of higher education, which took place when demand for study places could not be met by the traditional “non‐distance” institutions of higher education. Further development of this forms is of great interest, especially in view of the tasks and problems facing contemporary and future higher education

In this context, we present below the article written for “Higher Education in Europe” by Dr. Klaus‐Dieter Grunwald from the Federal Ministry of Education and Science, Bonn, which present development and functioning of distance study in Federal Republic of Germany on the example of the Fernuniversität‐Gesamthochschule in Hagen.     

Sila-substitution — a useful strategy for drug design?

Sila-substitution (C/Si-exchange) of drugs is one of the approaches currently used in the search for new biologically active organosilicon compounds. Replacement of specific carbon atoms in drugs by silicon results in changes in chemical and physicochemical properties as well as in the structure. As a consequence, the biological properties, such as pharmacological potency and selectivity and toxicity, may be influenced. Systematic sila-substitution seems to be a useful and efficient strategy in drug design and should be regarded as a complementary tool for the development of new drugs.     

Phytochrome and chloroplast development

The regular development of plants depends upon their correct interpretation of photosignals from the environment. The most important sensor pigment involved in this process is the chromoprotein phytochrome. This article reviews the role of phytochrome with particular reference to experiments carried out with seedlings of the mustard plant (Sinapis alba L.).     

Astronomical broadsheets and their scientific significance

For more than three centuries broadsheets were an important means of quickly disseminating and commenting on the news of the day. They depicted a wide range of events of historical significance, including some of the more striking celestial phenomena such as the appearance of comets. Those that survive often do no more than repeat knowledge that can readily be gained from conventional sources but some have proved of direct value in making astronomical computations and deductions.