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September 30, 2004 Vol. 15, No. 13
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.
ROBOTICS INSTITUTE CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY OCT. 11 - 14 Twenty-five years ago, the Robotics Institute opened its doors with a dream of ushering in a new age of thinking about robots. On Oct. 11 - 14, Carnegie Mellon will celebrate the 25th anniversary of its now world-famous Robotics Institute with a thought-provoking robotics extravaganza. The four-day event will provide a forum for the research, educational and business communities to explore and discuss the impact and future of robotics. —Post-pop artist and alumnus Burton Morris (A'86) has created a poster to commemorate the anniversary and will kick off the RI25 events with a poster signing from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 11, in the University Center (UC). A limited number of posters will be available free on a first-come, first-served basis to students who present their IDs. Faculty, staff, students and the public may purchase a poster for $15 at the Bookstore. The RI25 celebration will conclude with a concert by Laurie Anderson on Thursday, Oct. 14, at the Byham Theater downtown. Anderson, NASA's first artist-in-residence, incorporates robotics and leading-edge technology into her art and concerts. For more information, visit http://www.ri25.org EPP RECEIVES FUNDING TO STUDY CLIMATE-RELATED DECISION MAKING The Department of Engineering and Public Policy (EPP) will receive $6.9 million over the next five years from the National Science Foundation to study climate-related decision making. While most climate researchers promise to reduce uncertainty, Carnegie Mellon's new Climate Decision Making Center will begin its work by acknowledging that many uncertainties about future climate and the human actions that change it cannot be resolved ahead of time. The center will develop methods to support decision makers in the face of this "irreducible uncertainty." —"There is virtually universal agreement among the world's scientists that climate will change because of carbon dioxide that is released when we burn coal, oil and gas," said Granger Morgan, head of EPP, "but many of the details of the changes remain uncertain." Morgan, who will direct the new center, says it will focus on helping people and organizations use available but uncertain information to improve their decisions. Researchers from several other universities are also involved in the new center. —For more, visit http://www.cmu.edu/PR/releases04/040929_granger.html NOW'S YOUR CHANCE TO NOMINATE HONORARY DEGREE CANDIDATES What do Tom Ridge, Teresa Heinz Kerry, Paul O'Neill and Nobel Prize winners John Nash Jr. and John Pople have in common? They all hold honorary degrees from Carnegie Mellon. Now's your chance to nominate deserving candidates for this prestigious honor at Commencement 2005. —Nominees must be distinguished individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to society; represent prominent fields and values of Carnegie Mellon, particularly those that support work in the arts, humanities, and science and technology; have connections to the university (i.e. alumni, former faculty, friends or collaborators); and represent diversity and the university culture. —Although nomination forms should be received by the Honorary Degree Committee by Oct. 8, the committee urges nominators to send short descriptions of candidates prior to the deadline. Descriptions should be sent to University Professor Emeritus Guy Berry, head of the Honorary Degree Selection Committee, at gcberry@andrew.cmu.edu. Full nomination forms may be accessed and submitted via the Web at http://www.cmu.edu/advancement/honorary/onlineform.html. Previous nominations may be resubmitted for consideration. MICHAEL MOORE TO SPEAK ON CAMPUS OCT. 6 Michael Moore, director of the controversial films "Bowling for Columbine" and "Fahrenheit 9/11," will discuss youth votership, today's political climate and other current issues at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 6, on the Hamerschlag Mall. In case of rain, the lecture will be held at Carnegie Music Hall, 4400 Forbes Avenue. The lecture is part of Moore's 20-state, 60-city "Slacker Uprising Tour" designed to encourage non-voters--especially youth--to vote in the November presidential election. His goal is to have at least 56 percent of eligible voters participate in this year's election, setting a modern-day turnout record. Tickets for the event are available at the UC Information Desk, but are required for the rain site only. Moore's visit is sponsored by the Activities Board. NEWS BRIEFS The university celebrated the spirit of teamwork and dedication of its staff members at the 10th annual Andy Awards ceremony on Monday, Sept. 27. Roy Beebe, gardener in Facilities Management Services, received the Dedication Award and Michelle Wirtz, administrative coordinator for the Heinz School's Master of Public Management and Master of Educational Technology Management programs, won the award for Enthusiasm. Darlene Covington-Davis, graduate program coordinator in the School of Architecture, was presented with the award for Culture and Rita Motor, principal software engineer for Administrative Computing and Information Services, received the Citizenship Award. Larry Powell, manager of disability resources, won the Innovation Award. For more, see http://www.cmu.edu/cmnews/extra/040927_andyawards.html PERSONAL MENTION Hoda Moustapha, a Ph.D. candidate in the School of Architecture, will exhibit her contemporary Arabic calligraphy in the UC Art Gallery Oct. 4 - 15. In May, Moustapha received the Akram Midani Award for Promoting International Understanding through her calligraphic art. Terry Collins, the Thomas Lord Professor of Chemistry, has received the 2004 Pittsburgh Award from the American Chemical Society's Pittsburgh Section. The award "recognizes contributions toward increasing chemical knowledge, promoting industry, benefiting humanity or advancing the Pittsburgh Section." Collins is noted for his scientific contributions to green chemistry, his dedication to education and his public advocacy for use of green chemistry to achieve a sustainable civilization. Barbara Johnstone, professor of rhetoric and linguistics, has received a $64,000 grant from the National Science Foundation for her work on the Pittsburgh Speech and Society Project. The project, a collaboration between Carnegie Mellon and the University of Pittsburgh, studies the distinctive dialect spoken by Pittsburgh residents and how speech patterns in Pittsburgh's neighborhoods shape local identity. Entertainment Technology Center Co-Director Donald Marinelli was an invited speaker at the Forum for the Future of Higher Education earlier this month at the Aspen Institute in Aspen, Colo. Marinelli's speech was titled, "When Worlds Converge: On the Coming Supernova of Entertainment and Education Technologies." Pipe Band director and bagpipe instructor Alasdair Gillies won the Highland Society of London Gold Medal at the Northern Meeting in Inverness, Scotland. The victory qualifies Gillies to compete with the world's top 10 pipers in the Glenfiddich World Championship on Oct. 30 in Blair Atholl, Scotland. He is a former Glenfiddich champion. Leonardo Balada, professor of composition in the School of Music, has been chosen as an American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers (ASCAP) Award recipient. Awards are based on the unique prestige value of each writer's catalogue of original compositions, as well as recent performances in areas not surveyed by society. Doctoral students Bahareh Behkam (mechanical engineering) and Christine Scotti (biomedical engineering) were awarded 2004 Dowd-Institute for Complex Engineering Systems (ICES) fellowships based on the innovative and multidisciplinary nature of their projects. Bahareh investigates "Novel Biomimetic and Hybrid Propulsion Systems for Miniature Medical Swimming Robots." Scotti's project is titled "Endovascular Graft Design for Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms." CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS Oct. 2 - 3: Carnegie Mellon's Emergency Medical Service Basic First Aid (Oct. 2) and CPR (Oct. 3) classes. Each class runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Wean Hall 5403. Cost is $10 per class and must be paid by cash or check. RSVP to cmuems@andrew.cmu.edu Wednesday, Oct. 6: Graduate Support Programs Professional Development Seminar. Janet Stocks, assistant vice provost for education, will present "Grant Writing Overview: Engineering and Humanities Grants." 1 p.m., Connan Room, UC. Register at http://gposerver.as.cmu.edu/registration/multiregis.html.
Friday, Oct. 8: Graduate Women's Gathering. 12:15 p.m., McKenna/Peter/Wright, UC. Lunch and live music provided. Register at http://gposerver.as.cmu.edu/registration/multiregis.html.
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