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March 4, 2004 Vol. 14, No. 32
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) 2001 Editions are available online. 2002 Editions are available online. 2003 Editions are available online. Previous editions are available online.
RED TEAM, SANDSTORM AIM TO QUALIFY FOR GRAND CHALLENGE Carnegie Mellon's Red Team and its autonomous robotic vehicle, Sandstorm, will attempt to qualify next week for the DARPA Grand Challenge, a 210-mile unmanned, off-road race for robots through the Mojave Desert. The race on Saturday, March 13, will begin in Barstow, Calif., and end near Las Vegas. The team that completes the course—a series of waypoints will be announced just two hours before race time—in 10 hours or less wins a $1 million cash prize. —Qualification inspection and demonstration trials will take place at the California Speedway in Fontana, Calif., March 8-12. Sandstorm, a 1986 HMMWV equipped with the fastest computers and best electronics in the world, is vying for a place among a maximum of 20 competitors that ultimately will take the field in this unique contest. Information: www.cmu.edu/ and redteamracing.org/ —ABC World News is expected to feature the Red Team this weekend with an interview with team leader William "Red" Whittaker and footage of Sandstorm in action. The story could air at 6 p.m. Saturday or Sunday. GARRETT APPOINTED ACTING DEAN OF CIT Professor James Garrett has been appointed acting dean of the College of Engineering, effective April 1. Garrett, who has been the college's associate dean for academic affairs since 2000, will fill in for John Anderson, who is stepping down as dean to become provost and vice president at Case Western Reserve University. Garrett received his bachelor's, master's and doctor's degrees from Carnegie Mellon. From 1987 to 1990, he was an assistant professor at the University of Illinois. In 1991 he returned to Carnegie Mellon as an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering. —Garrett has won numerous awards for his work in computer-aided engineering, including the ASCE Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering Best Paper Award for 2001. "His own strengths in research and education and his familiarity with CIT and the university through his administrative work make him a superb individual for acting dean," said Provost Mark Kamlet. NEW SENSOR DETECTS COMPUTER HARD DRIVE FAILURES Carnegie Mellon researchers have designed a new heat-sensitive sensor to detect computer hard drive failures. The Carnegie Mellon Critter Temperature Sensor, which attaches to a user's desktop computer, is being deployed across campus to monitor the working environment of university computers, according to Michael Bigrigg, a project scientist for the Institute for Complex Engineered Systems. "Essentially what we are trying to do is save the life of the computer hard drive. Hard drives get hot and the sensor is designed to pick up the slightest temperature variation," Bigrigg said. He added that the new sensor will help researchers understand wasted energy. —Although industry analysts report that the average lifespan of a computer hard drive is 600,000 hours (or 3.1 years), Carnegie Mellon researchers predict that the device may be able to extend the lifespan of a computer hard drive and save users time and money by sensing how much daily heat a hard drive endures. PLSG, CARNEGIE MELLON ATTRACT INTERNATIONALLY RESPECTED RESEARCHERS The Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse (PLSG), Carnegie Mellon and the University of Pittsburgh have announced that the PLSG Stars program has helped to attract 11 leading life sciences researchers and their teams to local campuses in 2003. The PLSG Stars program provided $5.6 million in funding to support the recruitment and retention of several accomplished scientists and their teams, and to support programs that leverage university research strengths. PLSG funds have helped to attract the following individuals to Carnegie Mellon: computational biologists Ziv Bar-Joseph and Chris Langmead, cell biologist Christina Lee and computational chemist Maria Kurnikova. — Bar is developing computational models that can be used to investigate cellular processes, determine appropriate drug targets and minimize side effects of potential drugs. Kurnikova specializes in computer simulations of molecules that will aid the development of drugs for a variety of diseases and the design of nanoscale biosensors for medical applications. Langmead's research of algorithms accelerates critical steps in determining and modeling protein structures and their dynamics, thereby facilitating faster and better techniques for drug design. Lee, who completed post-docs at Harvard and Carnegie Mellon, studies how cells normally make and release proteins and how changes in a cell's environment affect this activity. Her research is critical to improving the understanding and treatment of human diseases ranging from cystic fibrosis to cancer. NEWS BRIEFS —The first issue of "The Heinz School Review," a student-run policy and management online journal for provocative projects and research, is available at journal.heinz.cmu.edu/ The issue includes an interview with Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google Inc.; viewpoints for and against the Clear Skies Act; an article on development and human capital; a review of Linda Babcock's and Sara Laschever's book, "Women Don't Ask;" and a discussion with the Heinz School's founding dean, William Cooper. —Procurement Services has announced the selection of Carlson Wagonlit Travel and their local agency Underwood Travel Associates as a Preferred Travel Supplier. Carlson offers one of the largest networks of global offices in the travel industry with a local presence. Carlson travel services include full travel agency services, group booking services, travel Web page, customer service guarantee and 24-hour emergency center. Further information: offical.cmu-news, March 3. PERSONAL MENTION —Student Affairs has announced that the 2004 Student Commencement Speaker is Paul Pinto, a senior music composition major in the College of Fine Arts. His speech is tentatively entitled, "What comes next? How we view and are viewed after Carnegie Mellon." Pinto has been accepted into the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow, Scotland, where he will study for his Masters In Music Composition under James Macmillan. —Dan Rehak, professor of civil and environmental engineering and technical director for the Learning Systems Architecture Lab, has been named Learning Technologies Architect for the MedBiquitous Technical Steering Committee. He will provide strategic technical direction to the MedBiquitous Consortium, an organization that is creating a technology blueprint for the professional medical education community, including a Sharable Content Object Reference Model profile for medical education. Information: www.medbiq.org/ —Nina Pasini, senior instructional designer for the Learning Systems Architecture Lab, was a featured presenter at the Advanced Distributed Learning Initiative's International Plugfest Conference in Zurich, Switzerland. She spoke about Instructional Systems Design and how to incorporate the Sharable Content Object Reference Model for effective learning. Bill Blackmon, systems architect for the Learning Systems Architecture Lab, also presented the LMS Handler project, a set of Web services that allow Learning Management Systems to communicate with each other or with a virtual university using a standard protocol. —David S. Kaufer, professor of English and rhetoric, has been reappointed to another five-year term as head of the Department of English. Kaufer has been head of the English Department since 1994. —Dahlia Liebovich (HS'03) has been appointed projects manager/community liaison for the Center for the Arts in Society, a multidisciplinary research and education center that brings together scholars from the humanities, social sciences and arts who are interested in studies of culture and society, and the history and production of the arts. It is a collaboration between the College of Fine Arts and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. —Deborah Lange, executive director of the university's Brownfields Center, has been appointed the executive director of Carnegie Mellon's new Steinbrenner Institute for Environmental Education and Research. —Melinda (Mindi) Finnegan, a midshipman in the university's Naval ROTC and a junior in the Department of Economics, was named University Athletic Association Diver of the Year for winning the one- and three-meter events at the league championship meet. She will compete in the NCAA Division III Championships this month. CANLENDAR HIGHLIGHTS —Monday, March 8: Graduate students are invited to explore a variety of scientific career opportunities at the Mellon College of Science's Ph.D. Career Discussion Panel. 1:30 - 3 p.m., Connan Room, UC. Recent Ph.D. alumni in biological sciences, chemistry and physics employed in industry or government labs will offer career insights. A networking social with refreshments follows. Information: Renee Starek, 8-2064 or rstarek@andrew.cmu.edu. —Tuesday, March 9: Human Resources Leadership Symposium. 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Check-in at the University Center, Wean Commons starting at 7:45 a.m. Prior to the symposium, download session handouts at hr.web.cmu.edu/Leadership/session.htm |
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