February 28, 2002

Vol. 12, No. 32

The "8 1/2 x 11 News" is published each week by the Department of Public Relations. News of campus interest should be sent to
Ed Delaney, 412-268-1609 (ed47@andrew.cmu.edu) or Bruce Gerson, 412-268-1613 (bg02@andrew.cmu.edu). The newsletter is available on the official.cmu-news and cmu.misc.news bulletin boards.

Last year's editions are available online.

Previous editions are available online.

INNOVATION EXCHANGE: A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH TO TECH TRANSFER

Carnegie Mellon opened its Technology Transfer Office in 1993 to help researchers commercialize their innovations and start new companies. At the time it was one of a very few places where university entrepreneurs could go for help. The office has helped to spin off about 50 companies and has produced intellectual property licensing agreements with about 65 commercial firms.

—But times are changing in Pittsburgh and so is tech transfer at Carnegie Mellon. Pittsburgh has become a friendlier place for individuals seeking to bring new concepts to market and to start new companies. There are many more experienced entrepreneurs in the community and regional economic development organizations with the business acumen to advise and counsel.

—Spurred by the changing climate, Carnegie Mellon's University Research Council (URC), a committee of faculty and staff representing all colleges and schools and who have experience with commercialization, has crafted a new collaborative tech transfer approach called Innovation Exchange (www.cmu.edu/innovation). The URC is chaired by Vice Provost for Corporate Partnerships and Technology Development Christina Gabriel.

—"The most important thing about the new model is there's going to be a lot more collaboration, not just across campus, but with the Pittsburgh community," Gabriel said. "The decisions that the university makes about commercialization should be made with the advice of people who have experience in those specific industry sectors and in industry in general."

—In the new concept, the Technology Transfer Office will be called the Innovation Transfer Center (ITC) because "not everything commercializable is technology and innovations at Carnegie Mellon come from the arts and humanities as well," Gabriel said. "Our council was reminded that the River City Brass Band is just one example of a 'non-tech' Carnegie Mellon spin-off."

—Robert Wooldridge, former deputy director of the Technology Transfer Office, is director of the ITC. He will lead the restructuring of Carnegie Mellon's commercialization efforts so that they reflect the university's collaborative, problem-solving culture. He said the goal is to make commercialization "simple, clear and fast."

—Further information: www.cmu.edu andofficial.cmu-news.

COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS HONORS "EXCEPTIONAL" STAFF MEMBERS

The College of Fine Arts (CFA) held its annual staff awards ceremony on Tuesday, Feb. 26. "We are celebrating some exceptional staff members, as well as all of the staff contributions that have helped to make the college a success," said Martin Prekop, CFA dean.

—Karen Ferguson, administrative coordinator for the CFA Dean's Office, received the Excellence in Job Performance Award for producing quality work consistently and dependably.

Amy Stabenow, concert manager in School of Music, received the Citizenship Award for her exemplary citizenship and consistent dedication to the college.

Todd Brown, lighting technologist for the School of Drama, won the "Rookie Award." The award is given to a new staff person or current staff person in a new position who had a great rookie year, going above and beyond his new responsibilities with quality work and a positive attitude.

Dana Martinelli, lead visual designer on the Eventscope project team, won the Innovator Award for developing initiatives that improve school or college procedures and policies.

—Service Awards were also given to celebrate milestones in years of service. 32 Years: Hannelore Peterson, Drama 30 Years: Joseph Dicey, Design 25 Years: Gerald Dantry, Drama, Martha Harris, Dean's Office 22 Years: Judith Kampert, Architecture 21 Years: Elizabeth Fox, Dean's Office 13 Years: Marlene Speranza, Drama 12 Years: Jennifer Brodt, Studio For Creative Inquiry; Ben Carter, Drama 11 Years: Else Holter, Center for Building Performance and Diagnostics 10 Years: Cynthia Lammert, Art

EDEN HALL FOUNDATION TO SUPPORT INNOVATION SEED FUND

Carnegie Mellon has been awarded a generous grant from the Eden Hall Foundation, which will be used to launch an Innovation Seed Fund. Modeled after a research seed fund program the university implemented in 1999 to support priorities from the strategic plan, the Innovation Seed Fund will provide initial funding to researchers whose projects are too new or unconventional to attract traditional sources of outside funding. Researchers from throughout the university will be eligible to apply, with preference given to interdisciplinary projects. You can learn more about the Innovation Seed Fund by visiting the website at http://synergy.as.cmu.edu/seedfund

RESERVATIONS FOR PRESIDENT'S PARTY DUE BY MARCH 1

Invitations to this year's President's Party on Saturday, March 9, in the University Center, have been mailed to all faculty and staff. The cost is $19.50 per person and includes entertainment, dancing, food and beverage, and games. Reservations must be prepaid by check or payroll deduction by March 1. Reservations may be made by returning the RSVP card. Contact the Office of Special Events at 8-5052 with questions.

"SMALL RESEARCH GRANTS" AWARDED TO GRADS ACROSS THE UNIVERSITY

Graduate Small Project Help (GUSH) funding, administered by the Graduate Programs Office, helps graduate students reach their full potential. The $500 awards are to be used against costs incurred in the completion of projects required for thesis and dissertation work. To apply, go to www.cmu.edu/adm/apaa/gpo and link to "support for graduate students." This year's awardees are posted on official.cmu-news, Feb. 27.

FUNDING HELPS STUDENTS ATTEND CONFERENCES IN THEIR FIELD

Graduate Student Association's (GSA) Graduate Student Conference Funding has been established to enable more Carnegie Mellon graduate students to make presentations at key conferences/exhibitions in their fields. The most recent GSA awardees are posted on official.cmu-news, Feb. 27.

PERSONAL MENTION

—Michael Domach, professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, is one of three invited lecturers from the U.S., Germany and Japan who will present a talk on metabolic engineering in Korea at the Biochemical Engineering in 21st Century conference organized by the Korean Institute of Chemical Engineering on April 26.

—Ignacio Grossmann, head of the Chemical Engineering Department, has been invited to speak at the 18th Annual Aston Cary Lecture at the Georgia Institute of Technology on March 20 & 21. Grossmann's lectures are "Modeling and Computational Challenges in the Planning and Scheduling of Process Systems" and "Logic-Based Modeling and Solution for Discrete/Continuous Problems in Process Systems Engineering."

—The School of Design annually honors an outstanding designer or design educator with the Nierenberg Chair of Design, a prestigious temporary post. This year's winner is Patrick Jordan, vice president and head of design at Symbian, who will teach Creating Pleasurable Products. His book, "Designing Pleasurable Products," is considered the standard text for affective design. The Nierenberg Chair was established through a gift by Theodore D. Nierenberg, one of the founders of Dansk International Designs.

—Allan H. Meltzer, professor of political economy at the Graduate School of Industrial Administration, recently received the Distinguished Fellow award from the American Economic Association Executive Committee.

CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS

—Friday, March 1: Mechanical Engineering Seminar. "Solve the Right Problem." K. W. Hanson, technical manager (retired), Lucent Technologies, Bell Labs. 2:45 p.m., Scaife Hall Auditorium.

—Tuesday, March 5: Students from the School of Music's Graduate Opera program perform Leonard Bernstein's "Trouble in Tahiti" with the Contemporary Ensemble. 8 p.m., Kresge Recital Hall. Free.

—Tuesday, March 5: Blood Drive. 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Connan Room, University Center (UC). Giving blood is safe and simple. The entire donation process takes approximately one hour.

—Wednesday, March 6: Cancer Support Group brown bag lunch. Noon ­ 1 p.m., Caffee Room, UC. All cancer survivors are invited to attend. Further information: Margie Hinebaugh (8-2161), Anne Humphreys (8-3420), Mari Alice McShane (8-7834) or Linda Plazinski (8-5290).

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