International Photo Contest at IUPUI

Study Abroad students compete each year in a photo contest at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis. This photo by Alysia Schwartz won First Place for Cultural Adventure and was the Grand Prize Winner: "No Change, No Course! Election time in Jamaica". Other winners include Rebecca Cluck, Josie Frisinger, Romel Collins, Kimberly Watlers, Treva Mitchell, Christin Johnson, Kristina Moorhead, Courtney Harris, Sarah Bowens, Anna Adrizzone and Abhishek Dube. You can see all the winning photos here. More than 250 photographs were submitted by IUPUI students who participated in study abroad programs during the 2006-2007 academic year. IUPUI is unique in the variety of study abroad programs offered to suit many majors as well as its selection of short-term programs. Students in the Schools of Medicine, Law, Liberal Arts, Herron School of Art, Engineering and Technology, Dentistry, PE/TCEM, Business, Nursing, Education, Science, University College, Social Work, Informatics, General Studies (CLN), and the School of Public and Environmental Affairs studied in 35 different countries in 2005-2006.

Vietnam Motors Industry Lures Cummins

Columbus-based Cummins Inc. has signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a joint venture to produce on-highway diesel engines in Vietnam, according to Inside Indiana Business. Cummins will work with Vietnam Motors Industry Corp. Financial terms of the deal have not been set and no timetable for completing the joint venture agreement has been established.

Neil Jacobs at the Artsgarden

Gypsy, classical, Balkan and 12-string fingerstyle guitar are promised during the 12:15-1:15 p.m. performance Tuesday (2 October) of Neil Jacobs (pictured) in the Indianapolis Artsgarden, above the intersection of Washington and Illinois streets in downtown Indianapolis. A self-taught musician now living in Columbus, Ohio, Jacobs draws inspiration from his world travels and experiences, especially the Gypsy music of Eastern Europe and the Balkans. His critically acclaimed fourth CD, Secret Places, was released in 2005, and featured a collage of musical styles and textures reflecting his diverse background. Jacobs' performance is open to the public at no charge.

Hoosiers in Shanghai

The Indiana team has departed for the Special Olympics World Summer Games, set for 2-11 October in Shanghai, China.

Cambodian to Speak at Earlham

International human rights leader Arn Chorn-Pond (right) will be in Richmond this week share the story about how music saved his life and how it led him to help others recover from the trauma of war during Earlham College's first Artist and Lecture Series event of the semester, according to the Earlham news bureau. Chorn-Pond presents "Healing and Restoring Cambodia through the Arts" at 7 p.m. Tuesday (25 September) in Goddard Auditorium's Carpenter Hall. Tickets, available at the Runyan Center desk, are $10 for adults and $5 for seniors and students. Arn Chorn-Pond's life is featured in the documentary film The Flute Player and more recently in Where Elephants Weep, a Cambodian opera. This Artist and Lecture Series event is sponsored by the Kazue Fukuda Hawkins Endowed Fund.

Indy Schools Host Chinese Educators

Five educators from Dalian, China, visited Indianapolis last week to observe classes, meet students and staff in Washington Township (Marion County) public schools. Pioneered by Crooked Creek Elementary (where students take Chinese-themed classes once a week), the program has spread to Spring Mill Elementary, Greenbriar Elementary, Westlane Middle School and North Central High School. Each has a Chinese partner school (Crooked Creek has had a partnership with Wusilu primary school in Dalian for about seven years). Read more here, at least until The Indianapolis Star takes the link down!

International Copyright Law

A United Nations agency has recruited an Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis professor to do a study that could affect libraries and copyright laws around the world. The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has commissioned Kenneth Crews (right), the Samuel R. Rosen Professor of Law at IU School of Law-Indianapolis, located on the IUPUI campus, to conduct a worldwide study of copyright statutes related to libraries and library services, according to the IUPUI News Bureau. The study will encompass the laws of more than 180 countries that are members of WIPO, which is based in Geneva, Switzerland. A final report is due in March 2008. Crews's work should help identify policy issues that national governments may need to address in the near future. Professor Crews is director of the Copyright Management Center at IUPUI.

Hoosier Storytelling Festival

Indiana's diversity is highlighted during the annual Hoosier Storytelling Festival from 10-14 October at Military Park and the Indiana History Center. Featured storytellers include Cuban-American Carmen Agra Deedy (right) and Baba Jamal Koram (left), who tells African tales. Sponsored by Storytelling Arts, there's a complete schedule here.

Tartan Ball in Lafayette

The Lafayette Tartan Ball: An Evening of Music, Dinner & Dancing begins with a cash bar at 6 p.m. Saturday (3 November), followed at 6:30 p.m. by dinner and an evening of Scottish Country Dancing. All this takes place at Duncan Hall, 619 Ferry Street, Lafayette, and it's sponsored by Fountain Trust Pipe Band.

Jayne White, 765:294-4405, has more information. There'll be entertainment by the Fountain Trust Pipe Band (of course) plus The Whole Nine Yards Scottish Country Dancers, fiddler Deb Shebish and guitarist Johnandrew Bellner. Formal attire, highland attire or business attire is requested. Tickets are $40 per person before 15 October, and $45 per person if postmarked after 15 October. Tickets are limited to the first 160 registrants, and will be sent in the mail. No tickets will be sold at the door.

Humboldt Award Goes to Dr. Meyer

Hans-Otto Meyer (left), professor of physics at Indiana University Bloomington, has received a Humboldt Research Award in recognition of lifetime achievements in research, reports the Indiana University News Bureau.

The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation in Germany annually honors up to 100 internationally renowned scientists and scholars from abroad. Each awardee receives $80,000 and is invited to carry out research projects of his or her choice in cooperation with colleagues in Germany.

Born in Basel, Switzerland, Meyer was educated at the University of Basel, from which he received a Ph.D. degree in 1970. After postdoctoral and visiting appointments at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, the Los Alamos Meson Physics Facility, the University of Washington at Seattle, and the University of Basel, he joined the IU physics faculty in 1978.

Closing Day of Indy's Irish Fest 2007

Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month

It's National Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month, which (for reasons known only to the federal government) is 15 September-15 October. Check the calendar for lots of activities, including many on college campuses around the Hoosier state.

Fiesta Indianapolis is Saturday

The 27th annual Fiesta Indianapolis takes place from noon to midnight Saturday (15 September) on the American Legion Mall in downtown Indianapolis. Sponsored by La Plaza, it features a Parade of Flags, the latest Latin beats both for entertainment and for dancing, arts & crafts, a children's area, information booths and an "unprecedented number of Latin American food booths"! Best of all, admission is free. For more information, contact Miriam Acevedo Davis, 317:890-3292 ext. 40.

Across the Border and Back Again

"Across the Border and Back Again: the History of Emigration and Return Migration in Jalisco, Mexico," is the title of a presentation by Michael Snodgrass (right), associate professor of history, Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis. The free program, from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Friday (14 September) in Cavanaugh Hall 508, Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis, 425 University Boulevard, Indianapolis, is part of the IUPUI 2007-2008 Sabbatical Speaker Series.

The western state of Jalisco is the birthplace of such quintessential and iconic Mexican traditions as mariachi music, tequila, and rodeo cowboys (charros). It also one of the greatest producers of a more controversial and consequential phenomenon: emigrants to the United States. Indeed, since the first great wave of emigrants left in the l920s, Jalisco and its neighboring states in central-western Mexico have sent the majority of migrants north. Learn more about the historical roots of emigration and its contemporary consequences for rural and urban Jalisco.

A Bit of Trinidad & Tobago in Lawrenceburg

A Caribbean rum maker hoping to grow its U.S. business could add a couple hundred jobs to a Lawrenceburg distillery that had been shutting down, according to a report in the Indianapolis Business Journal. Angostura plans to add marketing, logistics and packaging operations to a former Seagram Co. distillery it bought earlier this year from Pernod Ricard. The company, based in Trinidad and Tobago, also will add a North American headquarters to the 160-year-old distillery. CL Financial is the parent company of Angostura Limited, which operates distilleries in Scotland and France and controls the rum market in Trinidad and Tobago. The Lawrenceburg distillery was built in 1847.

Indy's Irish Fest

Military Park in downtown Indianapolis will be especially green this weekend during the 12th annual Irish Fest. The fun starts Friday (14 September) with opening ceremonies at 5 p.m., and continues Saturday (15 September) and ends about 7 p.m. on Sunday (16 September) Along with Celtic musicians and other entertainment on four stages, there'll be a 5K run, sheep herding demonstrations by border collies, rugby and soccer jamborees, a parade of the clans and the 4th annual running of the Kilted Mile.

Too Many Choices, Too Little Time!

Start cutting back on the calories in preparation for next weekend's splurge. It's the weekend with Indy's Irish Fest, Fiesta and the French Market in Indianapolis plus an Oktoberfest in Terre Haute, a Festival Latino in Bloomington and the Trail of Courage Living History Festival harkening back to the days that the French and English set up camp alongside Native Americans in the area that became Rochester. Check the international calendar for details on these events.

In addition, 15 September-15 October is National Hispanic/Latino Heritage Month, so there's lots on the calendar with that theme.

Indy Goes to Greece for the Weekend

Opa! It's time for the 34th annual Greek Festival at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 4011 North Pennsylvania Street, Indianapolis. Hours are 4-11 p.m. today (7 September) and noon-11 p.m. tomorrow (8 September). Entertainment includes The Fabulous Grecian Keys, the Holy Trinity Hellenic Dance Troupes, Kalamatianos and Tsamikos. On the menu are souvlaki, gyros, spanakopita, calamari, loukoumades and galaktoboureko, Enjoy the music and dance, but don't forget some extra baklava to take home!

Festival Latino at IU

Latino culture will be celebrated with food, live music, dancing, interactive activities and more during the 10th annual Festival Latino at Indiana University Bloomington, reports the IU News Bureau.

The outdoor festival will take place from 1-6 p.m. on Saturday (15 September) in Dunn Meadow, located at the corner of Seventh Street and Indiana Avenue in Bloomington. IU's Latino Cultural Center, La Casa, is the main sponsor for the event, which is free and open to the public. Festival Latino is one of many events scheduled during National Hispanic Heritage Month (15 September-15 October). For more information, call La Casa, 812:855-0174.

German Executives Stop in Plymouth

German executives from Zentis North America will visit their new North American manufacturing facility in Plymouth on Thursday (6 September), according to Inside INdiana Business. The company's first North American facility processes fruit to sell to yogurt and ice cream manufacturers.

Forum to Feature Foreign Films

Purdue University's Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures is offering movie lovers a trio of international cinema through the 2007 World Film Forum. All three events will take place at 5 p.m. at the West Lafayette Public Library, 208 West Columbia Street, West Lafayette. Doors open at 4:30 p.m.

The forums will take place tomorrow (5 September), 17 October and 7 November, featuring films from Japan, Italy and China, said Silvia Oliveira, an assistant professor of Portuguese and Spanish. All the films, which are free and open to the public, have English subtitles, and Purdue professors will introduce the films and lead a discussion after them.

The movies and speakers are:

* Tomorrow - Kazumi Hatasa, a professor of Japanese, will present "Face of Jizo" (Chichi to Kuraseba, 2004). The film, directed by Kazuo Kuroki, is about a young librarian who struggles with survivor's guilt three years after the atomic blast destroyed Hiroshima.

* 17 October - Elena Coda, an assistant professor of Italian, will present "Excellent Cadavers" (In Un Altro Paese, 2005). This documentary, directed by Marco Turco, tells the story of the big mafia trial that resulted in the 1992 assassinations of the first Sicilian prosecutors to take on the mafia and win. The film explores the current relationship between the mafia and Italian politics.

* 7 November - Weijie Song, an assistant professor of Chinese, will present "To Live" (Huozhe, 1994). This film, by award-winning director Zhang Yimou, covers the experiences of a small family that loses its wealth in the 1940s to the 1970s.

Latino Coalition Conference Thursday

"Working Together for a Life without Violence" is a conference sponsored by the Latino Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday (6 September) in the Sheraton Hotel, 31 West Ohio Street, Indianapolis. See registration form for more details.

Keynote speaker for the event will be María del Rocío García Gaytán (left), President of the National Institute of Women of Mexico, and Lydia Cacho Ribeiro, Mexico's leading defender of children's and women's rights, who was named a HERO by the U.S. Department of State for her work to protect trafficked and abused women children.

Indy's Oktoberfest Season is Already Underway!

For live music, good German food and beverages, entertainment, carnival rides and more, head to German Park, 8600 South Meridian Street, Indianapolis, for the German American Klub's annual Oktoberfest!

Hours are 4 p.m. to midnight today (1 September), tomorrow (2 September) and again next weekend -- both 7 and 8 September. For more information, call 317:888-6940. Details are sketchy, but, what the heck! There's bound to be beer.....