A day-long series of lectures and demonstrations showcasing the Virtual Information Initiative sponsored by the Provost's office will be held May 14 in Davis Auditorium in the Schapiro Center for Engineering and Physical Science Research.

The event begins with at 8:30 A.M.

The Virtual Information Initiative is a component of the Provost's Strategic Initiative Program, which encourages University-wide steps toward new media-based teaching, learning and research.

The goal is to advance Columbia as a leading institution for the social applications of new media technology.

Seventeen programs will be presented, marking the first time these initiatives will be presented together.

Among them are:

• Demonstrations of how new media will transform fields including Journalism, Medicine, Architecture and Urban Planning;

• How the World Wide Web will enhance international scientific and business collaboration;

• Columbia's evolving digital library system;

• Models for new media-based instruction in Chemistry, Engineering, Earth Sciences, Health Sciences, Art History and Music.

The showcase will begin with remarks by Vice Provost Michael Crow and Associate Vice Provost Raphael Kasper. The topics for the day, beginning at 9:00 A.M., include: "Columbia Campus-Wide Information Infrastructure," "Digital Library System," "New Media and Telecommunications," "Educational Technologies," "Science, Math and Engineering Education," "Arts and Humanities Projects" and "New Integrating Themes."

Scheduled speakers include Carol Mandel of Columbia Libraries, John Pavlik of the Journalism School, Robert McClintock of Teachers College, Leonard Fine of chemistry and art historian Stephen Murray.

Columbia University Record -- May 10, 1996 -- Vol. 21, No. 26