Portland State Magazine Fall 2010

From a comic book expert THIS WINTER, aspiring graphic novelists have a rare chance to learn from the best of the best: Brian Michael Bendis. The Portland resident is one of the most successful and acclaimed comicbook writers in the country, with best-selling rides such as Ultimate Spider-Man and Daredevil. Bendis's class taps into a pool of students who are eager to break into Portland's bustling comics scene and learn how to use words and art to tell a story, a skill that's in high demand in an increasingly visual and digital world. In addition, Portland State aspires to become known for its graphic novel program. The University's Branford P. Millar Library gained national recognition in Working together A UNI VERS ITY CHEM IST, engineer, and botanist have joined forces in a groundbreaking study to see if placing solar panels on an ecoroof can help each run more efficiently. Professors Carl Wamser, David Sailor, and Todd Rosenstiel have installed Sedums coexist with solar panels in an experimental ecoroof on Science Building 2. 2008 when it acquired the only com– plete research collection of Dark Horse Comics anywhere. Dark Horse, the third-largest comics publisher in the United States, is based in the Portland suburb of Milwaukie, and its founder and executive vice president are Portland State graduates. Michele Glazer, direcror of Portland State's new Master of Fine Arts program, said the University has offered literature classes about graphic novels before. Bur Bendis's class is the first ro focus on writing graphic novels. "I don't see it as a one-shot thing at all," Glazer said. "Ir's an important thing that's influencing writing, not just locally. We're lucky ro be in the hub of it." 720-square-feet of ecoroof-soil, sedums, and other plants-partially shaded by 16, 175-watt solar panels on the south roof of Science Building 2. Combining ecoroofs and solar panels has traditionally been an either/or deci– sion, says Wamser. "Ir just doesn't occur ro people ro do multiple things with their roof, nor that plants and panels can be mutually beneficial." In addition to reducing srormwa- ter runoff, insulating a building, and creating wildlife habitat, ecoroofs cool ambient air, which is a plus for solar panels, explains Wamser. The silicon in phorovoltaic cells transmits electricity more efficiently at cooler temperatures resulting in higher output. Electricity PARK BLOCKS Joshua Williamson's The Life and Death of my First and Last art by J.C. (;rand, One Bueti Student Joshua Williamson learned about graphic novel story structure, drama, pacing, and dialogue in a class by Brian Michael Bendis, who is teaching again winter term. from the panels is being used in Science Building 2, which is undergoing an extensive remodel scheduled for comple– tion in March. The benefits roll the other way, too. The solar panels may provide an ideal, shaded environment for ecoroof vegeta– tion. Sedums are often chosen because they can handle summer's lack of rain. With shade, sedums and other plants might better thrive and provide superior cooling. The scientists will make available video of the plants and compile statistics on electricity output and soil and air temperature inro a database. Both will be available online for anyone willing ro consider creating a roof that does it all. ■ FALL 2010 PORTLA ND STATE MAGAZIN E 5