March 24, 2005

Vol. 15, No. 35

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 will award its $50,000 Dickson Prize in Science to Harvard University Professor George M. Whitesides at 4:30 p.m., Monday, March 28, in the Mellon Institute Auditorium. The Dickson Prize in Science is given annually to an individual who made the greatest strides in a scientific field in the past year. Whitesides is a pioneer in molecular self-assembly and using enzymes in large-scale organic syntheses. He also invented microcontact printing and is developing methods to make 3-D microstructures, techniques he calls "micro-origami" after the Japanese art of paper folding.

—During the prize ceremony, Whitesides will lecture on "Assumptions: If common assumptions about the modern world break down, then what could science and technology make happen?" The lecture is free and open to the public. A reception follows the lecture.

—Further information: http://www.cmu.edu/PR/releases05/050321_dickson.html

MADSEN, STUMP, PAJEWSKI TO RECEIVE EDUCATION AWARDS

Carnegie Mellon will honor the dedication and accomplishments of its faculty during the annual education awards ceremony at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, April 28, in Rangos Hall, University Center (UC). This year's recipients are Associate Teaching Professor of Philosophy Peter Madsen, Teaching Professor of Chemistry Karen Stump and Associate Director of the Information Systems Program Stephen Pajewski. Madsen, associate director of the Center for the Advancement of Applied Ethics, will receive the Doherty Award for Excellence in Education. Stump will receive the Ryan Award for Meritorious Teaching for her unusual devotion and effectiveness in teaching, and Pajewski will receive the Academic Advising Award for excellence in academic advising and mentoring.

— Doctoral students Victor Cohen (English) and Ipek Ozkaya (Architecture) are co-winners of the Graduate Student Teaching Award with Adam Weirman (Computer Science) receiving honorable mention.

CARNEGIE MELLON TEAM REDESIGNS DOMESTIC MAIL MANUAL

"How to" manuals are often the last resource people turn to when trying to find accurate directions to perform a task. They're hard to navigate, complicated and difficult to understand. But thanks to a three-year collaboration between the School of Design and the U.S. Postal Service, there's renewed hope for these instructional booklets.

—At the National Postal Forum in Nashville, Tenn., March 20-23, an interdisciplinary Carnegie Mellon team unveiled the newly redesigned "Domestic Mail Manual," which employs a user-centered design approach championed by the School of Design. The manual is the third USPS publication to be redesigned by the Carnegie Mellon team. "A Customer's Guide to Mailing" was published in 2002 and "A Guide to Mailing for Businesses and Organizations" appeared in 2003.

—The Domestic Mail Manual is a handy 7" x 9" booklet that is available at all local post offices and was mailed to residents and businesses across the United States. The user-friendly, 24-page guide includes simple shapes of mail, functional grids to delineate important information, easy-to-read fonts and colors that will assist customers on their mailing needs. Further information: http://www.cmu.edu/PR/releases05/050323_usps.html

NEWS BRIEFS

—The Girls, Math & Science Partnership (GMSP) and Family Communications Inc. have unveiled BrainCake.org, a Web site designed to give local girls an online community to foster their interest in the fields of math and science.Iinformation: http://www.cmu.edu/PR/releases05/050315_braincake.html.

—Staff Council's Kennywood Committee has announced that this year's Kennywood Picnic will be held on Saturday, July 9. Ticket pricing and sales dates will be available soon.

PERSONAL MENTION

—The U.S. Senate has confirmed President Bush's appointment of Kiron Skinner, an assistant professor of history and political science, to the National Security Education Board. The U.S. government created the National Security Education Board in 1991 to promote Americans' understanding of international affairs and foreign cultures, strengthen U.S. economic competiveness, and enhance international cooperation and security.

—Dawn Song, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering and computer science, has received a National Science Foundation CAREER Award for her research proposal, "Toward Exterminating Large Scale Internet Attacks." 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."

—Benjamin Reilly, professor of history at Carnegie Mellon in Qatar, has authored "Tropical Surge, A History of Ambition and Disaster on the Florida Shore." The book tells the dramatic battle between human ambition and reality of the West Indian hurricanes in south Florida from 1831 to 1935. The book will be published by Pineapple Press this May.

—Psychology Professor James Staszewski has received the Commander's Award for Public Service from the commanding general of Fort Leonard Wood, a U.S. Army post in Missouri, for his work to improve the ability of soldiers to detect land mines. Further information: http://www.cmu.edu/PR/releases05/050316_army.html.

—The Carnegie Mellon men's cross-country team has earned Academic All-American honors from the NCAA Cross Country Coaches Association. The 22 runners on the men's team combined to earn a 3.55 GPA, placing them second among Division III teams. Six student-athletes earned individual honors: seniors Ethan Coffey, Chris Carroll and Aaron Beaber; junior Nick End; and sophomores Geoff Misek and Mike Bridenbaugh.

—Senior Chris Pearson won two national championships to lead the Carnegie Mellon men's swimming team to a 6th place finish at the NCAA Division III Championships at Hope College in Holland, Mich., March 18 - 20. Pearson captured the national crown in the 200-yard butterfly (1:49.56) and the 200-yard freestyle (1:38.67), giving him three NCAA titles in the last two years. He was one of six Tartans to earn All-America honors at the meet. The Tartans' 400 freestyle relay team of Pearson, Dave Krzeminski, Mike Bailey and Evan Powell placed second with a time of 3:03.14, and the 800 freestyle relay team of Kevin Paavola, Brian Hunter, Bailey and Pearson finished fourth in 6:49.34. Krzeminski placed fourth in the 200 butterfly and Hunter placed eighth in the 200 breaststroke.

—Senior Electrical and Computer Engineering major Gary Feigenbaum has been selected to the 2005 United States Maccabiah Rowing Team. The team will compete at the 17th World Maccabiah Games this July in Israel. "With teamwork, perseverance and competitive action, Gary has worked hard in order to seek opportunities and earn his national selection. I am proud of Gary's continued leadership and excellence with his crew team here at Carnegie Mellon," said Crew Coach Donald Webber-Plank.

—The College of Humanities and Social Sciences has awarded its 2005 Outstanding Service Awards to Natalie Taylor, History Department administrator; Vickie Makel, office manager and special projects coordinator, English Department; and Rosemarie Commisso, assistant business manager, Philosophy Department. Each will receive $500.

CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS

—Monday, March 28: Carnegie Mellon Web Forum. A Web strategy and information session open to representatives of academic and administrativedepartments, and student and campus organizations. 9 a.m. - noon, Rangos 1, UC. Further information: http://www.cmu.edu/webforum/

—Monday, March 28: University Lecture Series. "Visions as a Source of Modernism in Hungarian Art." Katalin Keserü, professor of art history at Eövös Loránd University in Budapest. 4:30 p.m., Adamson Wing, Baker Hall.

—Monday, March 28: Laura Waldron (HS'87) will speak at 4:30 p.m. at the Schmitt Creative Writing Center, Baker Hall 260, about her career in publishing. Sponsored by Carnegie Mellon's Creative Writing program.

—Tuesday, March 29: Graduate Women's Gathering. "The Work/Family Dance: It Takes How Many to Tango?" Speakers: Jon Cagan, professor of mechanical engineering, and Laurie Weingart, professor of organizational behavior, Tepper School of Business. 12:15 p.m., Connan Room, UC. Lunch will be served. To register, go to http://gposerver.as.cmu.edu/registration/multiregis.html.

—Thursday, March 31: Chemical Engineering Seminar. "The Role of Biomass in America's Energy Future." Lee Lynd, Thayer School of Engineering, Dartmouth College. 10:45 a.m., Doherty Hall 1112.

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