Ottoman and Turkish Studies Initiative launches

The initiative, a project of the Cornell Institute for European Studies, will provide a multidisciplinary platform for the study of the Ottoman Empire. Inaugural events begin March 14.

Intergroup Dialogue Project course wins Perkins Prize

The Intergroup Dialogue Project, a peer-facilitated course that seeks to raise awareness around social justice issues, won the 2014 annual James A. Perkins Prize for Interracial Understanding and Harmony.

Skorton sets priorities for next 15 months as president

A day after appearing in Washington, D.C., to be announced as the next secretary of the Smithsonian Institution in July 2015, President David Skorton was back on campus discussing his priorities at Cornell.

Panel will address Putin and crisis in Ukraine March 14

Political and foreign relations experts including Russian-American journalist Julia Ioffe will explore the crisis in Ukraine at a public panel discussion March 14 in Uris Auditorium.

Engineering, science grad programs ranked in top 10

Eight of Cornell’s graduate engineering fields, three computer science specialties and five other science areas were ranked in the top 10 in U.S. News and World Reports’ 2015 “Best Graduate Schools,” released March 11. Cornell Law School earned the top spot for its diverse student body.

Peck receives NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal

Mason Peck, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, who served as NASA’s chief technologist from January 2012 to December 2013, has received the agency’s Distinguished Public Service Medal.

President David Skorton to lead Smithsonian Institution

President David J. Skorton has been named the next secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, the world’s largest museum and research complex. He will continue all the duties and activities of his office at Cornell through June 30, 2015.

Barnard president to women: Avoid trap of perfection

Barnard College president Debora Spar brought a message to women in a March 6 campus talk: Don't focus on inward perfections.

Things to Do, March 7-14

Events this week include plays about love and sexuality, films about math and physics, Concerto Competition winners in concert, and a Community-Supported Agriculture Fair.