March 11, 2004

Vol. 14, No. 33

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.

Carnegie Mellon's Red Team and Sandstorm, its autonomous robotic racer, have qualified for Saturday's $1 million DARPA Grand Challenge. Sandstorm was the only robotic vehicle to complete the 1.36-mile obstacle course in first-round qualifiers at the California Speedway in Fontana, Calif. Each of the 20 entries has two chances to complete the course. Second-round qualifiers are to be held today, Thursday, March 11.

—The Grand Challenge, which begins at 6:30 a.m., Saturday, March 13, is a 210-mile off- and on-road race through the rugged Mojave Desert, from Barstow, Calif., to Primm, Nevada (near Las Vegas). Once the race begins no human intervention is allowed.

—To make it more difficult, the actual racecourse will be announced just two hours before race time. Once the course, a series of waypoints or checkpoints, is revealed, Red Team leader William "Red" Whittaker said his team will employ "an army of computing" to determine and send the best route to Sandstorm. The robot completing the course in 10 hours or less will win the $1 million cash prize.

—While some experts doubt the Grand Challenge can be completed this year, the Red Team and Sandstorm have been touted as top contenders in Scientific American, Popular Science and Wired. Further info: www.cmu.edu and www.redteamracing.org

CELL BIOLOGIST TO RECEIVE CARNEGIE MELLON'S DICKSON PRIZE

Carnegie Mellon will award its prestigious Dickson Prize in Science to Marc W. Kirschner, a pioneering cell biologist on Tuesday, March 30. The Dickson Prize is given annually to an individual judged by Carnegie Mellon as making the greatest strides in a scientific field in the past year.

—Since the early 1970s, Kirschner's groundbreaking research has contributed to understanding of the cell cycle and the complex set of biochemical events that must be orchestrated perfectly as the cell prepares for, executes and completes cell division. His ongoing research investigates the regulation of the cell cycle, the role the cytoskeleton plays in cell form and structure, and the mechanisms that control and regulate vertebrate embryo development.

—Kirschner, chair of the newly established Department of Systems Biology at Harvard Medical School, was the founding chair of the Department of Cell Biology and a founder of Harvard's Institute for Chemistry and Cell Biology.

—The ceremony will take place at 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 30, in McConomy Auditorium, University Center (UC). Following the ceremony, Kirschner will discuss how external signals modify the internal cell cycle.

SPRING 2004 "SAFEZONE" TRAINING SESSIONS ANNOUNCED

SafeZone, sponsored by the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs, is a network of allies committed to providing a safe and affirming environment for all at Carnegie Mellon, including anyone dealing with issues of sexual orientation and gender identity. All members of the campus community—students, faculty and staff—straight and gay are invited to join the network. To become a member, you are asked to participate in a three-hour orientation session. After the training you will receive a SafeZone sign to display at your work or living space showing your support of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons. Training sessions: Friday, March 19: 3 - 6 p.m., Dowd Room, UC; Saturday, April 10: 11:45 a.m. - 3 p.m., Danforth Lounge, UC.

PA. STUDENTS GATHER HERE FOR INTERCOLLEGIATE BAND FESTIVAL

More than 100 student musicians from colleges and universities across Pennsylvania will be on campus March 12 - 14 as part of this year's Pennsylvania Intercollegiate Band Festival. The students will prepare for a gala concert at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 14, at the Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland. Free admission. The festival's guest conductor is Richard Strange, professor emeritus from Arizona State University and director of Carnegie Mellon's Kiltie Band from 1960 to 1963.

NEWS BRIEFS

—Carnegie Mellon alumnus Jeffrey Walch (BSA '02) presented the lecture "Sunlight Reduces Need for Pain Medication" to the American Psychosomatic Society last week and received the American Psychosomatic Society Scholar Award for excellence in research. USA Today printed an article about Walch's research project. It is available at www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20040303/5972671s.htm

—"Tender Bodies," a computer-animated short by Associate Professor of Art James Duesing, will open the Outstanding Short Films from International Festivals program at the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) at the Gramercy Theatre on March 22. This is Duesing's fifth animation to screen at MOMA in New York City. "Tender Bodies" imagines a world of genetically altered animated characters created with sophisticated animation that Duesing says play on basic human emotions and fears. See www.cmu.edu for more on the School of Art's spring season in New York City.

PERSONAL MENTION

—David Klahr, professor of psychology, is among an elite group of researchers and educators who will be speaking Tuesday, March 16, during the U.S. Department of Education's Science Summit in Washington, D.C. The summit is part of Excellence in Science, Technology and Mathematics Education Week and will explore how to improve public engagement, expand teacher knowledge and develop a research agenda to improve science education.

—Michael Braxton has joined the Annual Giving staff as the new Andrew Carnegie Society (ACS) gift officer. He worked as an attorney in the Pittsburgh area from 1993 to 2002 and is a member of the Allegheny County, American and National Bar Associations.

—Krzysztof Matyjaszewski, the J.C. Warner Professor of Chemistry, will receive the 2004 Cooperative Research Award in Polymer Science and Engineering from the American Chemical Society at its annual meeting, March 28 - April 1, in Anaheim, Calif. Information: www.cmu.edu/PR/releases04/040309_polymer.html.

—Steve Brockmann, an associate professor of German, has been elected to the executive committee of the German Studies Association, the major professional society for German literary and cultural studies.

—Anne Green, an associate teaching professor of German, has been elected president of the American Association of Teachers of German.

CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS

—Wednesday, March 17: Concert. Festival of Women Composers. Carnegie Mellon Contemporary Ensemble. Walter Morales, conductor. 8 p.m., Kresge Recital Hall.

—Wednesday, March 17: School of Art Lecture Series. Yolanda Lopez, artist and activist. Lopez is a distinguished American artist and activist in the Chicano Art Movement. Her work deconstructs cultural stereotypes of Chicanos and the institutions that propagate them. 5 p.m., McConomy Auditorium, UC.

—Thursday, March 18: School of Art Lecture Series. William Popel, visual/performance/theater artist and educator who makes culture out of contraries. 5 p.m., McConomy Auditorium, UC.

—Thursday, March 18: SEI—Mellon Institute Blood Drive. 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., SEI Training Rooms B & C. Further information: official.cmu-news, March 4.

—Friday, March 19: Concert. Festival of Women Composers. Carnegie Mellon Wind Ensemble, IUP Chamber Singers, Woodwind Quintet, Chorale, Dance Theater, Percussion Ensemble, Orchestra, Wind Ensemble. 8 p.m., Carnegie Music Hall, Oakland. Ticket info: 412-268-2383.

—Saturday, March 20: Concert. Festival of Women Composers. Robert Page, conductor. 2:30 p.m., Nave of the Church of the Ascension. 4729 Ellsworth Ave. Corner of Ellsorth and Neville.

—Monday, March 22: Lecture. "An Execution in the Family—Learning from the Rosenberg Case." Robert Meeropol, younger son of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, who were convicted in 1951 of conspiracy to commit espionage and sentenced to death, will discuss what he perceives as the similarities between America under McCarthyism and after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Sponsored by the Office of the Vice Provost for Education and the Humanities & Social Sciences Dean's Office. 7:30 p.m., Gregg Hall (Porter Hall 100). Free.

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