April 24 Physics and astronomy, "Soft-Pulse Refocusing and Decoherence for Solid-State Quantum Computation," Leonid P. Pryadko, College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Riverside. 3:30 p.m., Jones Physical Science Center, Room 409.

April 24 Computer science and engineering, "Algorithmic Techniques Employed in the Detection and Characterization of Global Evolutionary Forces," Douglas Raiford, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Wright State University, 3:30-5 p.m., Swearingen Engineering Center, Conference Room, Room 3C02.

April 25 Human Resources, Administrative Professionals Conference, for administrative professionals and administrative support staff. Instructors will be Iwana Ridgill, an acclaimed speaker who provides training in customer service, professionalism, and self-motivation; and Merry Taylor, a private consultant. 8:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m., West Quad Learning Center. Cost is $45, which includes continental breakfast, lunch, and breaks. For more information, call Professional Development at 7-6578 or go to http://hr.sc.edu/conference.html.

April 25 Engineering, Biomedical Engineering Seminar, "Targeted Therapies for Pathology and Regeneration of Elastic Tissues," Naren Vyavahare, Hunter Endowed Chair and Professor, Department of Bioengineering, Clemson University, 2-3 p.m., Swearingen Engineering Building, Faculty Lounge.

April 25 Chemistry and biochemistry, "Nanostructural Design of Photocatalysts and Photoelectrochemical Cells," Thomas Mallouk, DuPont Professor of Materials Chemistry and Physics, Pennsylvania State University, 4 p.m., Jones Physical Center, Room 006. Refreshments at 3:45 p.m.

April 26 Library science, Latino Children's Literature Conference. "Connecting Cultures and Celebrating Cuentos." For more information, go to www.libsci.sc.edu/latinoconf/schedule.htm.

April 28 Professional Development, "GRANT: National Science Foundation," provides an overview of NSF proposal preparation and award administration using FastLane. Discussion will include policies, procedures, and regulations specific to NSF. A demonstration of FastLane is included. Instructors will be Jeff Tipton, Office of Sponsored Awards Management, and Nancy Bove, civil and environmental engineering. 9 a.m.-noon, Campus Room, Capstone. Free. For more information, call 7-6578 or go to http://hr.sc.edu/profdevp.html.

May 1 Physics and astronomy, "The Transition from Long to Short Distance Physics in Meson Electroproduction," Tanja Horn, Jefferson Laboratory, Newport News, Virginia. 3:30 p.m., Jones Physical Science Center, Room 409. Refreshments at 3:15 p.m.

May 5 Biological sciences, "Canopy Ecology," Margaret Lowman, professor of biology and environmental studies and director of environmental initiatives, New College of Florida, Sarasota, and author of award-winning 1999 book Life in the Treetops, 4 p.m., Coker Life Science, Room 005.

May 5 Computer science and engineering, "Genome Rearrangements: from Biological Problems to Combinatorial Algorithms (and back)," Max Alekseyev, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of California, San Diego, 3:30-5 p.m., 300 Main St., Room B213.

4/08