UH College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
Fall 2008
Geophysicists Finding Tomorrow’s Energy SolutionsRob Stewart once dreamed of launching into space. Now the former astronaut and renowned geophysicist could help launch the University of Houston into top-tier status.

Stewart, a prominent researcher who applies his geological expertise in fields as diverse as space exploration and archeology, is among a handful of recent geosciences faculty recruits who will transform UH into a world leader for energy research. These geophysicists – whose work could unlock new oil and gas deposits deep beneath the Earth’s surface – are at the forefront of a universitywide initiative to find tomorrow’s energy solutions.

UH President Renu Khator has identified energy research as one of the university’s top priorities. That is why Stewart, and two other leading geophysicists hired this year – Chris Liner and Evgeny Chesnokov – will be joined by four more in the near future. These and other new faculty positions are an enormous investment and will make UH a world leader in petroleum geology and geophysics. more
In This Issue
 
Beloved Math Professor’s Legacy Lives On
To the federal government’s top scientists, he was the go-to-guy for the most perplexing mathematical dilemmas. To countless University of Houston students who dreaded their math courses, he was a wise and thought-provoking educator who taught them they did not have to fear numbers. more
New Courses Help Pave Way for Video Game Careers
When Wesley Barta tells people what he does for a living, it rarely fails to elicit a "that’s so cool!"

Barta, a game development engineer and 2008 University of Houston computer science graduate, achieved what is perhaps every teenage boy’s dream job when he was hired in June by a Houston firm that works on some of the world’s most popular video games. more
Newly Named Cullen Professor Uses Mathematics to Benefit Heart Research
A University of Houston researcher who is bridging the fields of mathematics and biology has received one of the university's most prestigious recognitions. more