February 10, 2005

Vol. 15, No. 29

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.

2004 Editions are available online.

Previous editions are available online.

Carnegie Mellon's Red Team (http://www.redteamracing.org) has entered two driverless HUMMERS in the DARPA Grand Challenge, a 175-mile, winner-take-all desert race for robots, scheduled to take place Oct. 8, 2005. The first machine to reach the finish line within 10 hours wins a prize of $2 million. There is no second place.

—To compete, the two HUMMERS, named Sandstorm and H1ghlander, must first demonstrate their capability for success in the preliminaries. Red Team leader, Carnegie Mellon Robotics Professor William L. "Red" Whittaker, says that with each success, the team advances to the next level, "but failure at any level eliminates a team." In the inaugural 2004 Grand Challenge, Sandstorm beat the field by traveling 7.4 miles of the course.

—A key component of the 2005 contest is a five-minute competitive video prepared by each team to showcase its racing skills. Judges will use these videos to determine which applicants (there are more than 100 at this time) earn site visits from DARPA in May 2005. The results of those visits will determine the teams that will advance to the Grand Challenge qualifiers. Only 40 teams will advance to the September qualifiers, which include time trials. On race day, the final 20 competitors will leave the starting gates, but only one machine can win the $2 million.

—Further information: http://www.cmu.edu/PR/releases05/050208_redteam.html.

NEH AWARDS $500,000 GRANT TO HUMANITIES CENTER

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has awarded a $500,000 Challenge Grant to Carnegie Mellon's Humanities Center. The grant will be used to establish an endowment that will fund the center's work for years to come. Under the terms of the grant, the center will receive $500,000 from the NEH contingent on the center raising an additional $1.5 million by 2008. Income from the endowment will, among other things, fund research fellows who will bring new areas of expertise to humanities students, and support the humanities curriculum, interdisciplinary humanities research, and community and campus outreach. Further information: http://www.cmu.edu/PR/releases05/050209_humanities.html

ED SCHLESINGER APPOINTED HEAD OF ECE

Professor T.E. (Ed) Schlesinger has been named head of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department (ECE), effective Feb. 10. He succeeds Pradeep K. Khosla, who became dean of the College of Engineering last July.

—Schlesinger joined the Carnegie Mellon faculty in 1985 and was associate department head of ECE from 1996 to 2004. For the past decade, his research interests have spanned broad areas of technology in semiconductor and electro-optic materials, devices and systems. His work on optical and hybrid data storage systems has gained international recognition. Information: http://www.cmu.edu/PR/releases05/050207_schlesinger.html

GLORIA STEINEM TO DELIVER KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT MOSAIC CONFERENCE, FEB. 20

Activist and writer Gloria Steinem will deliver the keynote address at the MOSAIC Conference on Women's Issues, Sunday, Feb. 20. Now in its ninth year, the annual conference provides information, inspiration and support to women on campus through a daylong series of speakers and seminars. Steinem, arguably one of the most important voices of the modern feminist movement, will speak on "Feminism 101" at 10:30 a.m. in McConomy Auditorium, University Center. In her address, the Ms. Magazine co-founder, owner and editor will discuss workplace issues, the politics of gender and the economic power of the female and minority consumer market. She will explore how best to foster a national spirit of cooperation and continue the advancement of rights for all citizens. Following her talk, several Carnegie Mellon faculty and staff members will lead conference sessions. For a complete listing of the day's events and/or to register for MOSAIC, visit http://www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/mosaic/index.html.

NEWS BRIEFS

—President Jared L. Cohon will hold an open student office hour at 5 p.m., Monday, Feb. 14. Students interested in meeting with Dr. Cohon should contact Dean of Students Michael Murphy at mm1v@andrew.cmu.edu.

—Elizabeth Knight of Electrical and Computer Engineering reports that her request during the Holiday Season for members of the university community to fill a shoebox with small gifts for the women at the Pittsburgh Women's Shelter was an overwhelming success. 355 boxes were delivered to the following shelters: Bethlehem Haven, Battered Women's Shelter, Family Link, Miryanm's homeless shelter (all in downtown), the House of Hope and Debra House (Braddock), the Sisters Place (Clairton), the Womenplace/YWCA (McKeesport) and the Women's Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh (Oakland). Cash donations were also collected in some departments.

PERSONAL MENTION

—After 18 years at Carnegie Mellon, Alan W. Cramb will become dean of the College of Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on July 1. "We will miss his innovative leadership and his dedication to excellence during his long, successful career here at Carnegie Mellon's College of Engineering," said Pradeep Khosla, dean of CIT. Further information: official.cmu-news, Feb. 7.

CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS

—Friday, Feb. 11: Graduate Women's Gathering. "Women and Negotiation." Linda Babcock, professor of economics, Heinz School. Noon, Rangos 2. Lunch will be served. Register at http://gposerver.as.cmu.edu /registration/multiregis.html.

—Saturday, Feb. 12: School of Art Lecture Series. Jeremy Deller, artist. 5 p.m., McConomy Auditorium.

—Saturday, Feb. 12: The Carnegie Mellon Rowing Club will host "Valentine's Heart Attack" an indoor erg (rowing machine) race beginning at 1 p.m. The race will be held in Thistle Gym, and will include Pitt, Duquesne and Penn State. The race marks the club's first time hosting an indoor rowing event.

—Sunday, Feb. 13: Heinz School Distinguished Public Service Professor of Labor Studies and Public Policy Ben Fischer will discuss Social Security on the "Sunday Business Page" on KDKA-TV at 8:30 a.m., Sunday, Feb. 13. The segment's host will be Jon Delano, money & politics editor for KDKA-TV and adjunct professor of public policy at the Heinz School. Information: official.cmu-news, Feb. 8.

—Monday, Feb. 14: "Cavemen in the Factory: Economy, Biology, and American Industrial Evolution." Daniel Bender, University of Toronto. 4:30 p.m., Adamson Wing, 136A Baker Hall.

—Monday, Feb. 14: Graduate Support Programs' Professional Development Seminar. "Project Management: From Failures to Successes." Speakers: Richard Champney, engineering manager, General Dynamics Armament and Tactical Products; and Robert Kubacki, organizational behavior consultant. 1 p.m., Connan Room. Lunch will be served. To register, go to http://gposerver.as.cmu.edu/registration/multiregis.html

—Tuesday, Feb. 15: The Speak Your Mind Diversity Discussion and Dinner series continues with a discussion on "Living the Dream." Facilitator: Everett Tademy, director for Diversity and Equal Opportunity Services. 5 - 6:30 p.m., West Wing TV Room. Discussion will center on what Martin Luther King's legacy means to you and how you live it in your daily life. Dinner will be served. RSVP to Emily Half, ehalf@andrew.cmu.edu, 412-268-2075. Space is limited. Sponsored by the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs.

—Tuesday, Feb. 15: Department of Chemical Engineering Seminar. "Reducing Information Waste in Process Systems Engineering via Bayesian Statistics." Professor Bhavik R. Bakshi, The Ohio State University. 10:45 a.m., Doherty Hall 1112.

—Wednesday, Feb. 16: Peter Oundjian, music director of the Toronto Symphony, will lead the Carnegie Mellon Philharmonic concert at 8 p.m., Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland.

—Saturday, Feb. 19: School of Art Lecture Series. Robert Breer, animation artist. 2 p.m., Carnegie Museum of Art Lecture Hall.

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