Dr. Nick Bacon, assistant professor in the department of sport science, presented at the Collaborative Learning and Unlimited Excellence (CLUE) conference on April 4 at Murray State University. Bacon presented a practical and applied research presentation on Optimizing Your Running Economy. He also served on a panel discussion with physical therapists, nutritionists, and other exercise physiologists with regard to Current Trends in Exercise Science and Rehabilitation.

Dr. Steve Murphree, professor of biology and entomologist, was quoted in a recent article in Discovery News.  The article is titled “The Cicadas Are Coming …Hungry?” and it discusses how to select the best cicadas for human consumption during the coming Brood II cicada swarm. Dr. Murphree gives tips on how to catch the tastiest cicadas and provides  information of cicada cookbooks.  Click here to read the article.

Brian Howell, a senior majoring in computer science, presented “Application of Music Analysis Algorithms to Interactive Music Synthesis” with David Halpern of Columbia University and Dr. Robert Keller of Harvey Mudd College at The Improvising Brain Symposium at Georgia State University (GSU) in Atlanta on April 7 through 9. The Improvising Brain is a symposium and concert event that will bring together researchers and musicians to explore music, improvisation, and related brain processes. It is sponsored by the GSU School of Music, the GSU Neuroscience Institute and the Center for Collaborative and International Arts. The paper resulted from work done at a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Brian attended last summer on Intelligent Music Software at Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, Calif.

Clancy Smith, instructor of philosophy, recently presented a paper entitled “Terrifying Vistas of Reality: Lovecraft’s Influence on Deleuze and Postmodernism” at the American Cultural Association’s annual conference in Washington, D.C. in March. The purpose of the conference was to draw from a wide range of philosophers and socio-political thinkers and demonstrate their ongoing influence in contemporary media and popular culture.

In addition, Smith presented “A Way Forward: A Re-examination of the Work of C.S. Peirce in a Culture of Paralysis” at the 2013 U.S. Literatures and Cultures Consortium in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  The purpose of the conference was to draw upon an interdisciplinary range of writers, novelists and philosophers to offer creative solutions to Congressional stagnation and propose a way forward.

Dr. Cynthia Bisson, instructor of history, served as the Ginza Marketplace Committee Chairman for the Cherry Blossom Festival of Nashville, an annual festival which celebrates the wonderful relationship between the US and Japan. Bisson has acted as the Ginza Marketplace Committee Chair and a member of the Working Committee for the festival since 2010. The Ginza Marketplace is an area dedicated to vendors who sell Japan themed and Japanese products ranging from Kimono to origami jewelry. (image – cindy_bisson.jpg)

Religion Professor Mark McEntire’s new book, Portraits of a Mature God:  Choices in Old Testament Theology, was released this month. On April 3, the School of Religion sponsored a book launch convocation event with the title “The Story of a Book:  My Life at Belmont and the Writing of Portraits of a Mature God.” On April 9, McEntire gave the Spring Lecture at Chapman Seminary in Oakland City, Ind. His lecture, “The God at the End of the Story:  Oberserving the Development of the Divine Character in the Old Testament,”  was a synthesis of the first and last chapters of the book.

Blue Like Jazz, a movie co-written and directed by Belmont Adjunct Instructor Steve Taylor, won a Wilbur Award for Feature Film at the 2013 Wilbur Award ceremonies April 6. Blue Like Jazz, released in 2012 by Roadside Attractions and Lionsgate Entertainment, joins last year’s winner The Help and previous Wilbur Award winners such as Schindler’s List, Dead Man Walking, Amazing Grace and The Green Mile.

Presented by the Religion Communicators Council (RCC), the Wilbur Awards honor excellence by individuals in media—print and online journalism, book publishing, broadcasting and motion pictures—in communicating religious issues, values and themes during 2012. Other winners at Saturday night’s ceremony included CBS-TV, CNN, the Oprah Winfrey Network, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp, The Christian Science Monitor, The Huffington Post and Simon & Schuster Inc.

Based on the New York Times Best Seller by Donald Miller and adapted for the screen by Miller, Taylor and Ben Pearson, Blue Like Jazz had its World Premiere in March, 2012 at the South-By-Southwest Film Festival and was released in theaters nationwide the following month. It’s since been released internationally and continues to garner worldwide acclaim, including being named one of Paste magazine’s Top Movies of 2012. It will premiere this summer on HBO Europe.

Taylor is currently teaching the class “Producing Film for the Entertainment Industry” in the entertainment industry studies program.