November 6, 2003

Vol. 14, No. 18

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.

2001 Editions are available online.

2002 Editions are available online.

Previous editions are available online.

NASA has selected a proposal by Carnegie Mellon Physics Professor Richard E. Griffiths to use X-ray telescopes in a mission to measure the dark energy that makes up most of the universe. Griffiths' proposal, "The Dark Universe Observatory" (DUO), is one of five candidate missions approved for NASA's Explorer Program of lower cost, highly focused, rapid-development scientific spacecraft.

—NASA intends to select two of the five proposals by fall 2004 for full development as Small Explorer missions. The two missions developed for flight will be launched in 2007 and 2008. The selected proposals were judged to have the best science value among 36 submitted to NASA in February 2003. Each proposal will receive $450,000 to conduct a five-month implementation feasibility study. Further information: official.cmu-news@andrew, Nov. 5.

CARNEGIE MELLON, SRI LANKA FORM INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PARTNERSHIP

The university has agreed to work with the government of Sri Lanka to develop and deploy a program of information and communication technology. Carnegie Mellon will partner with Sri Lanka's Ministry of Economic Reform, Science and Technology to launch initial Technology Peace Corps projects applicable to Sri Lanka. The Technology Peace Corps is a program envisioned by Carnegie Mellon to study how technology can be applied to developing countries.

—"Given the rapid progress of worldwide information connectivity and growing international economic integration, we believe a partnership with Sri Lanka will offer ongoing benefits for both of us. Our expertise in information and communications technologies can make helpful contributions as Sri Lanka develops its own efforts in these areas, and our students and faculty will enjoy working with creative collaborators whose culture and traditions are different from our own," Provost Mark Kamlet said.

—Sri Lanka, with a population of about 20 million, is an independent island republic in the Indian Ocean, off the southeastern tip of the Indian subcontinent.

—Further information: www.cmu.edu/PR/releases03/031104_srilanka.html

INFORMATION SESSIONS SCHEDULED FOR FIFTH YEAR SCHOLARS PROGRAM

Student Affairs has announced that Fifth Year Scholar information sessions will be held at 5 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 11, and Wednesday, Nov. 12, in the University Center's Dowd Room. The program offers an opportunity for a small number of exceptional students (juniors and fourth-year architecture students) who have contributed in outstanding ways to the academic and extracurricular life of the university to remain at Carnegie Mellon for one full year following the completion of their normal course of study. They are supported by free tuition and a scholarship grant. Students interested in being Fifth Year Scholars should attend. Further information: www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/fifth

NEWS BRIEFS

— Staff Council's Annual Report is posted on its Website, www.cmu.edu/staff-council/AnnRpt/AnnRpt2002-2003.pdf

—The university's Center for School Outreach has been approved as a provider of Act 48 professional development hours by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. (Act 48 requires all Pennsylvania educators holding Pennsylvania public school certification to participate in ongoing professional education.) This status will allow the center to upload data to the state certification database for all programs Carnegie Mellon offers to teachers. If you are the director or coordinator of an initiative that offers workshops or institutes for teachers and would like to offer Act 48 credit to your participants, contact Judy Hallinen at 8-1498 to learn about the process that must be completed to meet the Department of Education requirements.

PERSONAL MENTION

—The Human Resources (HR) Department, led by Associate Vice President Barbara Smith, recently received the Technology Award at the national conference of the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources. The award recognized HR Connection, a self-service Internet tool that allows employees to access and make changes to personal data and enroll in benefit programs, as a unique, leading-edge HR technology application. Other team members are Lisa Zamperini, manager of Information Technology; Gemma Green, managerof Total Compesation; and Rick Smereczniak, director of Total Compensation.

—Hubert Aaronson, the R.F. Mehl University Professor Emeritus of Materials Science and Engineering, will receive the William Hume-Rohtery Award presented by The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society at its March 2004 annual meeting in Charlotte, N.C. This award is presented annually to an outstanding scientific leader for exceptional scholarly contributions to the science of alloys.

—Golan Levin, who will join the School of Art faculty in spring 2004, is exhibiting in "Beyond Pages" at the Wood Street Galleries, Nov. 14 - Jan. 3. The exhibit presents installations inviting user participation.

—Elaine A. King, professor of art history/theory, presented a paper entitled "Voice & Vision—Where Have They Gone? To Art School My Friends," at the School of the Visual Arts (SVA) conference last month in New York City. The SVA has invited King to organize the plenary panel session that will focus on art and artists in central Europe for the 2005 conference.

—Ruth Hammond has resigned as assistant editor of Carnegie Mellon Magazine to become editor of the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies in Washington, D.C. The association (www.aan.org) is the trade organization for 123 free weekly papers around the country, such as the Village Voice, Chicago Reader and San Francisco Bay Guardian. Hammond's last day at Carnegie Mellon will be Nov. 12.

—Thaddeus B. Massalski, emeritus professor of materials science & engineering and physics, received the Losana Gold Medal and gave the opening lecture at the Congress of the Italian Institute of Metals in Milan, Italy. In October, he visited Japan and lectured on "The Complex World of Plutonium Science" during the Japan Society of Metals' annual meeting.

—At the recent rowing regatta at the Occoquan Reservoir in Fairfax, Va., Carnegie Mellon's Varsity Women's Lightweight 8+ placed first with a time of 17:19, defeating Alexandria Rowing, Duquesne University and Susquehanna University. The team members are: Coxswain, Rebecca Ivory; Rowers, Vanessa Gerber, Emily Mackay, Audria Stubna, Megan Swanson, Rachael Stutzman, Rosemary Lapka, Caitlin McLean and Ronette Killcrece.

—Richard Dore, senior, Computer Science Department, was one of the highest ranking individual contestants in the Sixty-Third William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition. The results were published in "The Mathematical Association of America," October 2003.

CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS

—Friday, Nov. 7: Carnegie Mellon University Day at Heinz Hall. A celebration of the many years of collaboration between The Pittsburgh Symphony and Carnegie Mellon. 6:45 p.m., Heinz Hall. Ticket order forms are available at the University Center Information Desk.

—Friday, Nov. 7: Mechanical Engineering Distinguished Seminar Series. "Observations of New Particle Formation and Growth Rates in the Atmosphere." Peter McMurry, Mechanical Engineering Chair, University of Minnesota. 10 a.m. - Noon, Scaife Hall 125.

—Sunday, Nov. 9: Carnegie Mellon Jazz Vocal Ensemble. 8 p.m., Alumni Concert Hall. Free.

—Monday, Nov. 10: Lecture. "Robotics Rebirth." Joseph Engelberger. 2 p.m., Newell-Simon Hall 3305. See official. cmu-news, Nov. 4.

—Monday, Nov. 10: Carnegie Mellon Student Composers Concert. 8 p.m. Kresge Recital Hall. Free.

—Friday, Nov. 14: Last day for the benefits Open Enrollment period. Make your benefits election online through the Human Resources Web site.

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