Take a look at some of the stories that showcased the university's impact in 2007.

Imagine a place where people develop technology to predict human responses to challenging situations; respond in significant ways to crises here and in cities all over the world; provide life-changing opportunities for neglected segments of our population; document culture and history; and conquer environmental threats to our very existence.

That place is San Diego State University, and it's all in a day's work for students, faculty and staff.

Twice a month, feature stories on the home page spotlight these minds that move the world and their research, teaching and community service.

We've chosen 10 stories from 2007 to highlight again. If you like these, check out our feature archives and read more. And watch for new stories in 2008. After 30 features, we've barely scratched the surface in revealing what makes the university a center of excitement, impact and discovery.

Groundbreaking technology that tracks eye movement and cognitive activity may be able to predict human responses to challenging situations — with significant applications to surgery, education, space travel, tactical warfare and homeland security. Full story

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Venice is disappearing by about one to three millimeters each year and experts from around the world, including SDSU's Rick Gersberg, are working to save the city from the fate of Atlantis. Full story

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For thousands of San Diegans, 2007 will be remembered as the year they lost their homes to wildfire. Others more fortunate will not soon forget the displacement and uncertainty of evacuation. San Diego State University faculty, staff and students played a significant role in responding to the crisis by providing food, shelter, volunteers, technological assistance and more. Full story

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The southernmost stretch of the San Andreas Fault is more than 150 years overdue for a large quake. SDSU seismologists are working to learn more about the major scenarios that a large quake is likely to produce, so Californians can prepare for the inevitable. Full story

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The Mexican immigrant experience, like the history of so many Chicano communities, can't be found in books. Rather, the history is told through art and stories shared from one generation to the next. SDSU faculty and students are documenting some of these stories to ensure their survival. Full story

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Laced with intrigue, the tale of the Dead Sea Scrolls illuminates Judeo-Christian tradition and offers fascinating insights into the faith, fears and daily activities of people living under Roman rule at the dawn of the Common Era. Twenty-seven of the 900 existing scrolls were on display in San Diego, as part of an exhibit curated by SDSU professor Risa Levitt Kohn. Full story

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Thanks to the popularity of the Harry Potter series, a new audience is exposed to the magical world of children's books, which long ago cast its spell on faculty in SDSU's National Center for the Study of Children's Literature. Full story

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SDSU teacher education program, which produces nearly two-thirds of the teachers in San Diego, focuses not only on subject content, but also on showing future teachers how to get through to students with different learning styles, create activities that will best convey lesson objectives, and manage a classroom. Full story

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Touring California's toughest incarceration facilities, including San Quentin, Folsom and Soledad prisons, provides hands-on experience for SDSU criminal justice majors and others interested in law, social work and related careers. It's part of a program developed by SDSU professor Paul Sutton to help young people understand the criminal justice system. Full story

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Though the threats to coral reefs are many — habitat destruction, global warming, pollution and overfishing, to name a few — they can all be traced to human activity. However, recent discoveries by SDSU researchers could turn the tide on coral decline. Full story

Related information

• The Eyes Have It
• Keeping Venice Afloat
• SDSU Responds
• The Big One
• Breaking the Silence
• Dead Sea Scrolls
• Potter Perspectives
• Beyond the Norm
• Time on the Inside
• Sea Change