Motivated by a compelling need to make a difference in alternative energy, Eric Hunter pursued a bachelor’s degree in physics at Temple. Along the way, he became involved in dark matter research in the lab of Physics Professor C. J. Martoff, which led to a U.S. Department of Energy fellowship at Italy’s Gran Sasso National Laboratory, one of the world’s leading dark matter detection facilities.

Hosted by the College of Science and Technology (CST) Saturday as part of Alumni Weekend, TEDxTempleU explored how scientists investigate the world, embrace uncertainty and discover new knowledge.

Temple University freshmen Damara McDowell and Cindy Zhang have been selected as recipients of Comcast's Gustave G. Amsterdam Leadership Award, which honors students who graduated from a Philadelphia high school and are continuing their education at a Philadelphia college or university.

College of Science and Technology Interim Dean Michael Klein has been elected as an honorary fellow of Trinity College, a college of the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.

On Friday, Temple earth and environmental science faculty and graduate students explored areas along a New Jersey beachfront to uncover the geological signature of Superstorm Sandy recorded in the layers of sand. The researchers examined washovers and other geological features for deposits of light and heavy minerals in the sand as evidence of the wave surges that caused so much destruction.

A $475,000 U.S. Department of Defense grant will enable the purchase of a scanning electron microscope, the third major piece of microscopy equipment acquired by Temple researchers in the past three years.