Robert R. Taylor Network, Inc. 
LAIV Network Wire

Volume 1 Issue 1: April 2010
RRTN is proud to bring this e-publication to your desktop.  We are excited to present the first issue of LAIV Network Wire, a monthly compilation of what is new in the world of black culture in architecture, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (ASTEM).  Select the Forward email link at the end of the page to share this newsletter with your friends and colleagues. 
 
LAIV Network Wire
Black Culture in Architecture, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.


A monthly compilation by the Robert R. Taylor Network of current events on
black culture in architecture, science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

 
IN THIS ISSUE
 
*Architect Honored for Remarkable Achievements,
*Quake survivors rebuild dreams in Haiti tourist town
*Vanderbilt, Fisk collaborate to get more minorities science doctorates
*South Africa:  German Subsidiary Finds Empowerment Partner.
*Africa:  Minna to Have First Airport City in Africa
*For World Cup, South Africa's football crafts go industrial
*An Abiding Presence of Faith:  Protecting Harlem's African Burial Ground and Churches Under Threat, Part I
*Trailblazing Black Scientist Encourages Women to Follow Suit
*D.C. architect Paul Devrouax led the way for black firms
*Stunning Solar Powered Gateway Unveiled for Nigerian Capital
*Boston Regional F.I.R.S.T. Robotics Competition
*Townview student wins state Boys & Girls Clubs honor
*Exhibitions and Galleries:  Urban Africa - David Adjaye
*Extras!
*Obituaries


*Architect Honored for Remarkable Achievements
by Christopher Blank
(The Daily News, Memphis, March 24, 2010)
"Before St. Jude Children's Research Hospital became the sprawling complex of medical buildings in Uptown Memphis, the original facility was more modest, but no less important to the city's landscape. . ." Read More:MemphisDailyNews.com
 
 
*Quake survivors rebuild dreams in Haiti tourist town
by Andrew Gully
(AFP, March 25)
"JACMEL, Haiti (AFP) -- Among the cracked colonial houses and shattered dreams that litter the beautiful Haitian beach resort and carnival city of Jacmel, a resilient people dare to hope as they rebuild for the future." Read More:AFP
 
 
*Vanderbilt, Fisk collaborate to get more minorities science doctorates
(USA Today March 26, 2010)
"When Keivan Stassun arrived at Vanderbilt University's department of physics and astronomy in 2003 as an assistant professor, he saw neighboring, historically black Fisk University as an obvious collaborator. The two institutions are two miles apart in Nashville. " Read More: USAToday.com
 
 
*South Africa:  German Subsidiary Finds Empowerment Partner.
Artwell Dlamini
(ALLAfrica.com Business Day, March 24, 2010)
"Johannesburg - THYSSENKRUPP Engineering the local subsidiary of German industrial conglomerate ThyssenKrupp AG, yesterday formed a joint venture with black-owned engineering group PD Naidoo Associates (PDNA) in a merger valued at R400m." Read more: AllAfrica.com
 
 
*Africa:  Minna to Have First Airport City in Africa
by Nahimah Ajikanle Nurudeen
(AllAfrica.com March 30, 2010)
"Lagos -- Niger State is on the verge of making a landmark history in the African continent with location of the first aerotropolis in the state capital, Minna.
Unveiling the Master plan of the project, Mr. Tunde Fagbemi, managing director of Maevis Ltd, initiator of the project at the Niger State Government House over the weekend." Read More: AllAfrica.com
  
 
*For World Cup, South Africa's football crafts go industrial
by Cecile de Comarmond (AFP)
(March 22, 2010)
"JOHANNESBURG -- With reggae playing in the background, workers paint pictures of football players onto hardhats, transforming the mining gear into an essential South Africa football accessory the makarapa." Read More: Google.com 
 
 
*An Abiding Presence of Faith:  Protecting Harlem's African Burial Ground and Churches Under Threat, Part I
by Michael Henry Adams
(The Huffington Post, March 24, 2010)
..."Far downtown, in February, with pomp and fanfare, a new visitor's center opened near the 'Negro's Cemetery' rediscovered in 1991.  Active during the 17th and 18th centuries, it was the final resting place of tens of thousands of African slaves whose unpaid labor helped make New York the nation's great commercial capital...."  Read More: HuffingtonPost.com
  
 
*Boston Regional F.I.R.S.T. Robotics Competition
(NSBE-NEAE Announcements, March 25)
The weekend of March 26/27 saw the Boston Regional F.I.R.S.T. Robotics Competition.  Local Robotics teams including from Madison Park High School and the John D. O'Bryant High School competed at the BU's Agganis Arena. High school teams from all over the region worked together with professionals to solve engineering problems. On Saturday, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, attended lending high level support to efforts to increase student participation in science and engineering. The overall winners was a combined effort of Boston Latin School, Brookline High School, Quincy High School and Clinton High School. The next stage of the competition will be in Atlanta next month. Read and View More: BostonFirst.orgBoston.com, Robotics Competition 
 
 
*Townview student wins state Boys & Girls Clubs honor
(Dallas News.com, March 25, 2010)
'Shaw, a senior at Townview's School of Science and Engineering, has been named Boys & Girls Clubs of America's 2010 Youth of the Year for the state of Texas.
"I owe a great deal of my development and my confidence to my Boys & Girls Club," said Shaw, 17. "For this reason, I am honored to represent the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas and will do so proudly."'  Read More: DallasNews.com 
 
 
*Trailblazing Black Scientist Encourages Women to Follow Suit
"Radio host Michael Martin speaks with Shirley Jackson, president of Rennselaer Polytechnic Institute, and the two discuss being a woman in the male-dominated field.  Jackson is the first African-American woman to run a top research university." To Listen or Read More: WBUR.org 
 
 
*D.C. architect Paul Devrouax led the way for black firms
(Washington Post, March 28, 2010)
by Matt Schudel
"When Paul Devrouax was in the Army in 1968, he was sent from his post at Fort Meade into downtown Washington to quell the rioting after the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.  He patrolled the intersection of 14th and U streets NW, near the heated center of the unrest." Read More: WashingtonPost.com
 
 
*Stunning Solar Powered Gateway Unveiled for Nigerian Capital
(Inhabitat.com 3/26/10)
"This stunning solar-powered gateway will soon welcome visitors and residents to Abuja, Nigeria.  Evoking the shape of the traditional Nigerian bow harp, the design connects the new Abuja Airport to the city proper on the opposite side of the freeway and comes complete with green roofs, a giant solar canopy and bricks made from the local laterite clay.  Conceived by Ehrlich Architects, the design was recently crowned winner or an international competition to create a gateway for the capital city."
 Read More: Inhabitat.com 
 
 
*Exhibitions and Galleries
Urban Africa - David Adjaye
At the Design Museum,
Shad Thames
London SE1 2YD
[email protected]
(31 March - 5 September)
"One of the leading architects of his generation, David Adjaye has stepped out of his regular line of work to photograph and document key cities in Africa as part of an ongoing project to study new patterns of urbanism." Read More: DesignMuseum.org
 
*Extras!
Ever hear the phrase, "the real McCoy"?  Find out where that originates.
The Top Ten African American Inventors (for Grades 3-4)
Scholastic.com
List of 11 Great Black American Architects
ArchitectureAbout.com
 
 
*OBITUARIES
See The Directory of African-American Architects
http://blackarch.uc.edu/
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Sincerely,
Darian Hendricks, CEO
Robert R. Taylor Network, 
on behalf of RRTN Digital Newsroom
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