August 29, 2002

Vol. 13, No. 8

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.

Carnegie Mellon students taking the course in "Mobile Robot Development" this fall will build a prototype robot capable of exploring and mapping all kinds of abandoned mines.

—Mines are vulnerable to flooding and accidents because complete, accurate maps for many of them do not exist. Flooding, roof fall, rotted timbers and environmental factors make old mines unsafe for people but they offer an excellent opportunity to use robots, said William L. "Red" Whittaker, Fredkin Research Professor in the Robotics Institute, and a veteran developer of mobile robots for hazardous environments.

—Whittaker is teaching "Mobile Robot Development" with Robotics Institute Systems Scientist Scott Thayer. They have recruited students from various disciplines, including mechanical, electrical and civil engineering, robotics, computer science and human-computer interaction. The students will work as a team to develop a robot capable of exploring and evaluating the boundaries and conditions similar to those that may have contributed to the recent Quecreek accident where nine miners were trapped for three days.

—According to the Conservation Journal, "Tens of thousands, perhaps even hundreds of thousands, of abandoned mines exist today in the United States. Not even the Bureau of Mines knows the exact number, because federal recording of mining claims was not required until 1976."

COHON COMPLETES TERM AS CHAIR OF NUCLEAR WASTE REVIEW BOARD

—President Jared L. Cohon has completed his term as chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board (NWTRB) on which he served for seven years.

—In 1995, President Clinton appointed Cohon to the NWTRB, an independent federal agency that evaluates the Department of Energy's (DOE) scientific and technical analyses for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel. Two years later, Clinton selected Cohon to chair the board. During Cohon's tenure, the board focused on the proposed high-level waste repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. Last February, President George W. Bush recommended the Yucca Mountain site and Congress approved it this summer.

—Under Cohon's leadership, the board urged the DOE to develop quantitative estimates regarding the uncertainty of a repository's projected performance over 10,000 years, to improve its understanding of how packages containing radioactive waste might corrode, to evaluate alternative repository designs, and to develop further independent evidence that would increase understanding of the performance of a potential repository at Yucca Mountain.

—A highlight of Cohon's term as chairman was the board's widely quoted January 2002 report to Congress that helped policymakers understand the scientific and technical issues as they considered the President's recommendation to move forward with Yucca Mountain.

— Although his term on the NWTRB has ended, Cohon's service to the nation will continue with an expanded focus. In June, President Bush appointed him to the Homeland Security Advisory Council.

PROFESSOR'S DOCUMENTARY TO BE BROADCAST ON WQED-TV

—Graduate School of Industrial Administration Professor Paul S. Goodman was so impressed with the ingenuity and lack of technology of the dabbawallas‹or box persons‹of Mumbai, India, that he has produced a documentary about them that will be broadcast on WQED-TV at 4 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 8. "They have developed an extremely complex and highly reliable system of work with none of the technology or practices that the industrial world thinks is necessary. It is a compelling example of what we in developed countries can learn from other countries," Goodman said.

—Every day, more than 100,000 lunches are moved by 4,000 people called dabbawallas in Mumbai, previously known as Bombay, a city of more than 16 million residents. Many workers in India choose to comply with strict dietary guidelines dictated by their religion. Because the dietary guidelines are critical, Mumbai's workers trust only those they know to prepare the food they eat. The dabbas, cylindrical metal lunch boxes, are picked up at homes in the suburbs of Mumbai, sorted and transported by bicycle, cart and train and delivered to places of work.

STAFF COUNCIL BOOK FAIR AT MELLON INSTITUTE, SEPT. 3 - 4

Staff Council is hosting a book fair from 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 3 and Wednesday, Sept. 4 in the Mellon Institute lobby. The fair offers a wide variety of bestsellers, children's books, cookbooks and special interest books at discounted prices. Cash, checks, MasterCard/Visa, Discover and American Express cards will be accepted.

SAVORING OUR WORLD: A CARNEGIE MELLON MULTICULTURAL COOKBOOK

The Office of the Dean of Student Affairs has compiled a multicultural cookbook that includes cultural and familial recipes from students, faculty and staff. The book may be purchased for $5. Proceeds from the sale will be donated to Oxfam, an international organization seeking lasting solutions to poverty, hunger and social injustice around the world. Additional donations will be appreciated. To order a book, contact Emily Half, Office of the Dean of Student Affairs, ehalf@andrew.cmu.edu or 412-268-2075.

NEWS BRIEFS

—The Carnegie Mellon Federal Credit Union is offering a Computer Loan Sale during September. The maximum loan amount is $5,000 at 7.50% for a 30-month term. Purchase a new computer at this rate or pay off computer purchases financed with credit cards or at other institutions. The rate is effective from Sept. 1 - 30. Pre-approved loans are good for 30 days from the date of application. Obtain a loan application on the Web at www.andrew.cmu.edu/org/cmu-cu

PERSONAL MENTION

—The university's Andrew Carnegie Society has named Marilyn A. Posner (HS'68) as its new president. She assumed the post at the philanthropic organization on July 1. Membership in the Andrew Carnegie Society is open to alumni and friends of the university who contributed $1,000 or more to the university during the fiscal year. More than 1,000 individuals participate each year.

—Barbara B. Smith, assistant vice president for Human Resources, was recently elected Eastern Region Board Chair of the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources. The association serves Human Resource professionals in approximately 1,700 colleges and universities in the United States by promoting the effective management and development of human resources in higher education.

—Richard McCullough, dean of the Mellon College of Science, is the recipient of the 2002 American Chemical Society (ACS) Akron (Ohio) Section Award. This award is given to scientists and engineers under 45 years of age working in any branch of chemistry and residing within a 300 mile radius of Akron, who "demonstrate exceptional promise for making significant contributions to chemical science."

CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS

—Friday, Aug. 30: Mechanical Engineering Seminar. "Nonlinear Dynamics in Atomic Force Microscopy - Its Implications and Opportunities." Arvind Raman, assistant professor, School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University. 2:45 p.m., Scaife Hall 125.

—Thursday, Sept. 5: The Herbert Toor Chemical Industry Lecture. Richard Gross, VP of R&D Dow Chemical. 4 p.m., Singleton Room. Gross has become effectively the major spokesperson for research in the chemical industry. He is currently chair of the Council for Chemical Research where he led the effort in producing a report on the economic value of research in the chemical industry.

—Friday, Sept. 6: Mechanical Engineering Seminar. "Reducing Adhesion in Surface Micromachined MEMS Structures Using Pulsed Lasers." Leslie M. Phinney, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 2:45 p.m., Scaife Hall 125.

—Saturday, Sept. 7: Professional Development Seminar. Sponsored by the Graduate Programs Office. 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., Rangos 3, University Center. Buffet lunch included. Information: official.cmu-news, Aug. 27.

—Monday, Sept. 9: The College of Engineering will host a panel featuring national and local journalists who penned their experiences covering the attacks on America in a new book, "Running Toward Danger: Stories Behind the Breaking News of 9/11." The book documents the challenges journalists overcame to report the story. Free and open to the public. 4 - 6 p.m., Singleton Room, Roberts Engineering Hall. This event will kick off a series of campus events in remembrance of Sept. 11. Check next week's newsletter for details.

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