January 22, 2004

Vol. 14, No. 26

The "8 1/2 x 11 News" is published each week by the University Advancement Division. News of campus interest should be sent to one of the following editors:   Ed Delaney, 412-268-1609 (ed47@andrew.cmu.edu)
  Bruce Gerson, 412-268-1613 (bg02@andrew.cmu.edu)
  Susan Cribbs, 412-268-7521 (cribbs@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.

2003 Editions are available online.

Previous editions are available online.

President Jared L. Cohon, chair of the university's Diversity Advisory Council, began Carnegie Mellon's Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration this past Monday by presenting the progress the university has made in its efforts to increase diversity on campus. He stressed that a diverse university community enhances the intellectual development, growth and work of students, faculty, researchers and staff. Diverse backgrounds and perspectives produce enriched outcomes, making the university a better place to learn, work and live.

—Cohon reported that applications from underrepresented minority groups are on the rise, minority student enrollment has increased and the percentage of women in computer science and the sciences has increased dramatically over the past few years. He also noted that the university still has many problems areas, including a lack of women and minorities in key administrative and faculty positions. The Diversity Advisory Council's annual report is available on the Web at hr.web.cmu.edu/drg/overview/DACannualreport.pdf.

—Cohon also awarded the first "Barbara Lazarus Award for Culture and Climate" to the late Barbara Lazarus, who served as associate provost for Academic Affairs. Lazarus worked to increase educational opportunities for women in science and technology. Her husband, Marvin Sirbu, professor of engineering and public policy, accepted the award on her behalf, reminding those in attendance that "nothing happens until we start," which President Cohon agreed was a fitting sentiment for celebrating both Lazarus and Dr. King.

NEW COURSE FOCUSES ON SUCCESSFUL USE OF IDLE INDUSTRIAL SITES

Debra A. Lange, executive director of the Brownfield's Center in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, will explore, in a new academic course called "The Business of Brownfields," how idle and underused commercial and industrial sites will impact the Pittsburgh region.

—Lange, who has worked as a brownfields consultant for ongoing commercial projects in both Lebanon and the Czech Republic, said the new course is designed to use the region as a laboratory. "This course will help our students get more integrated into the community, and it will help them understand the real estate considerations inherent to brownfield development and the role of brownfields in economic development," she said.

—More than 40 students majoring in engineering, business and public policy began the course Jan. 13. The course will be divided into two parts: seven weeks of lecture and discussion, and seven weeks for case studies and projects. Some of the region's more notable success stories include the $243 million development of a former riverside slag dump into the Summerset housing development, and the $300 million development of the old USX Homestead Works into the Waterfront, a large shopping and entertainment complex in Homestead and Munhall.

AUSTRIAN MUSEUM PRAISES ETC'S "JAM-O-DRUM: CIRCLE MAZE"

The Entertainment Technology Center's (ETC) Jam-O-Drum: Circle Maze exhibit at the Ars Electronica Center in Linz, Austria, has been invited to become part of the museum's permanent collection of interactive media. Gerfried Stocker, director of the Ars Electronica Center, cites the Jam-O-Drum as one of the museum's most popular exhibits.

—ETC faculty member Tina Blaine directed the first phase of the Jam-O-Drum's creation at Interval Research in Palo Alto, Calif., in 1998, with the goal of bringing people together to participate in synergistic musical experiences. In the fall of 2000, interaction design for the Jam-O-Drum became part of the Entertainment Technology Center's project curriculum. ETC alumnus Clifton Forlines (A'99) conceived Circle Maze as a multiplayer interactive musical gaming experience that encourages communication and collaboration. Players' actions are detected via embedded sensors in an integrated tabletop surface to control game play, real-time computer graphics and musical interaction.

NEWS BRIEFS

—The Children's School thanks everyone who participated in the recent Mr. Rogers Neighborhood Sweater Drive. The school collected many sweaters, coats, gloves, gloves and hats, which will benefit the Pittsburgh community.

—The Department of Modern Languages has launched its first international film festival, "Crossing Borders," which runs through April. All films will be shown in McConomy Auditorium, University Center (UC). The next film in the series, "Chaos" (France, 2003), will be shown at 5 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 27. All films are in their original language with English subtitles. For a complete schedule, go to http://ml.hss.cmu.edu/ml/specialevents/films.html

—News clippings about Carnegie Mellon from Aug. 1, 2002 to the present are posted on http://www.cmu.edu/clips/

—The Residential Computing Consultant program, which provides onsite computing help to students living on campus, has expanded its hours and is now available from 6 to 9 p.m., Monday - Thursday.

—To learn more about the Independent 529 Plan, a new prepaid college tuition program that locks in tuition at today's prices, visit www.independent529plan.org or call 1-888-718-7878. The plan is a tax-advantaged way to help parents afford a private college education for their students. Carnegie Mellon is one of more than 200 private colleges and universities participating in the plan, named one of the "Best Products of 2003" by Business Week.

—The ETC's Panda3D Project, under the direction of Assistant Professor Jesse Schell, has received a $20,000 grant from IBM Eclipse Innovation 2004 for improvements to its user interface. Panda3D is a powerful game and simulation developed jointly by the ETC and the Walt Disney VR Studio.

PERSONAL MENTION

—James C. Hoe, assistant professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, has received a five-year National Science Foundation CAREER award entitled "Microarchitecture Considerations for Soft-Error Tolerance in Future Microprocessors." The award "recognizes and supports the early career-development activities of those teacher-scholars who are most likely to become the academic leaders of the 21st century."

—Kenya Dworkin, associate professor of Spanish, has been named a Distinguished Scholar for Spanish by the national office of The College Board.

—Graduate student Neill McDonald, Materials Science and Engineering, won second place in the 2004 Minerals, Metals and Materials Society's Outstanding Graduate Student Paper Award.

CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS

—Monday, Jan. 26: Lecture. "Filling a Vacuum: The University as Designer." Professor David Orr, chair of the Environmental Studies Program at Oberlin College. 6 p.m., McConomy Auditorium, UC. Co-sponsored by Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. Open to the public.

—Monday, Jan. 26: Cutting Edge Café Series. "Top 10 Reasons to Study Dark Energy." Astrophysicist Bob Nichol, associate professor, Physics Department. 4:30 p.m., Adamson Wing- Baker Hall 136A.

—Tuesday, Jan. 27: Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Symposium. "Promoting Urban Ecology, Park Stewardship and Sustainable Architecture within Pittsburgh's Historic City Parks." 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Rangos 1. Sponsored by the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy and the Vice Provost for Education. Lunch will be served. Scheduled events include presentations, a panel discussion and focus group discussions. Information: official.cmu-news, Jan. 19.

—Thursday, Jan 29: Women Supporting Women Mentoring Reception. 4:30 - 6 p.m, Class of 1987 Room, UC. Current and past mentors and mentees are invited.

—Tuesday, Feb. 3: H&SS Career Forum, sponsored by the H&SS Dean's Office and the Carnegie Mellon Career Center. 6 - 8 p.m. Rangos Hall, UC. Annual forum for alumni and employers about career paths and opportunities. Open to all Carnegie Mellon students. Further information: http://www.hss.cmu.edu/pds

—Friday, February 6: Mechanical Engineering Distinguished Seminar Series. "Automotive Research: Technical Trends and Challenges." Alan Taub, executive director, Science Laboratories, General Motors Research & Development. 10 a.m. - Noon, Scaife Hall 125.

—Through March 14: Exhibit: "Typographically Speaking: The Art of Matthew Carter." Regina Gouger Miller Gallery. At 3 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 25, Matthew Carter will speak in the gallery about his work.

-Back to the top-