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Editors: Reporters and photographers are welcome to attend this event, which is not open to the public. University of ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ President Elizabeth Hoffman will address students enrolled in the ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥-Boulder Minority Arts and Sciences Program at an awards ceremony on Feb. 9 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the British Studies Center in Norlin Library. The event is to recognize the community of 93 undergraduate students for collectively achieving a 3.2 grade-point average last semester.

The world's great leaders have many traits in common, including being inspirational, compassionate, ethical and courageous. But few were born leaders - they had to learn those skills. Students at the University of ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ at Boulder interested in becoming effective leaders while working toward their chosen degrees can now do so through a new leadership program.

Recent discoveries about the universe and its evolution will be the topic of "The Big Bang," a live show at the University of ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ at Boulder's Fiske Planetarium on Friday, Feb. 16, and Tuesday, Feb. 20, at 7:30 p.m. ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥-Boulder Professor Andrew Hamilton will take the planetarium audience on a trip back in time to learn about the "big bang" and how the Milky Way and its stars were formed. The term big bang refers to the theory that the universe began at a single point in space and has been expanding ever since.

The University of ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ at Boulder's journal of Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research has been ranked the No. 1 geography journal in the world for its impact and citation by the prestigious Institute of Scientific Information. The ranking is for the journal's 1999 publications, which are the latest rankings released by the Washington, D.C., based institute, according to ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥-Boulder's Kathleen Salzberg, managing editor of the journal.

Teachers and students from elementary and middle schools along the Front Range will descend on the University of ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ at Boulder Feb. 6 to become forensic scientists for a day. The 105 students and 21 teachers from 12 different schools will participate in a series of hands-on workshops at the Coors Events/Conference Center designed by ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥'s Science Explorers. "The purpose is to give teachers and students in fifth through eighth grades a day of hands-on science, and to hopefully make science fun for them," said Lannie Hagan, Science Explorers coordinator.

The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Resource Center at the University of ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ at Boulder announced the winners of its second annual Ally of the Year Awards, presented to campus activists and allies who advocate for the GLBT community. According to Beverly Tuel, director of the center, a second "Ally of the Year" award was presented this year because of the number of outstanding nominations.

NEWS TIP SHEET University of ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ at Boulder alumna and NASA astronaut Marsha Ivins is slated to make her fifth journey into space on Feb. 7, when NASA's space shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to blast off from Cape Kennedy, Fla. Set for launch at 8:11 a.m. MST, Atlantis and its six-person crew will attach the U.S. laboratory module, Destiny, to the International Space Station. Destiny is the first lab to be delivered to the International Space Station and marks the beginning of the 2001 space science odyssey for the station and the Expedition One crew now on board.

Five University of ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ at Boulder students were awarded Center for Education and Career Transition Scholarships for the spring 2001 semester. The scholarships are given in three categories: undergraduate women, graduate women, and students over 30 years of age. Students who receive the undergraduate and graduate awards must maintain a 3.5 grade point average. Applicants for the over 30 award must maintain a 3.0 grade point average.

Calendar Item Fiske Planetarium at the University of ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ at Boulder will explore the red planet during "Mars Quest," Friday, Feb. 9, at 7:30 p.m. at the planetarium. The pre-recorded show examines the history of humankindÂ’s exploration of Mars, glancing in at the planet from space and exploring its surface. The show also delves into the question of life on Mars.

The James E. de Castro Chair in New Media has been endowed at the University of ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥ at Boulder's School of Journalism and Mass Communication with a gift of $1.5 million from James E. de Castro. It is the school's first endowed chair and one of the first of its kind in the nation. A ÃÛÌÇÖ±²¥-Boulder alumnus, de Castro is president and chief executive officer of Ultimate Inc., a startup company that provides access to sports and entertainment events through online and mainstream partnerships.