New Topics New College presents "Deepwater Horizon: What Happened, Why and Where Do We Go From Here?" It's been little more than a year since the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. What really happened, and why? How do we minimize future risks? New College Associate Professor of Political Science Frank Alcock, recently returned from a Senior Fulbright fellowship in New Zealand where he studied that country's climate policies, will discuss the technical and ecological dimensions of the disaster, the regulatory context that allowed it to happen and the broader implications for offshore drilling activity and U. S. energy policy.

The Optical Spectroscopy and Nano-Materials Lab at New College of Florida opens on January 6, 2012. New College professors Mariana Sendova, Pat McDonald and Steve Shipman will give presentations in physical science, math and chemistry beginning at 5:30 pm. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 6:30 pm, followed by a walk-through of the lab. For more information, contact Jeanne Viviani at jviviani@ncf.edu or call (941) 487-4649.