November 3, 2005

Vol. 16, No. 18

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.

A team of students from Carnegie Mellon's Master of Entertainment Technology program are developing a videogame simulation to teach and encourage players to create peace. Players assume the role of the Palestinian president or the Israeli prime minister and take on the challenging task of maintaining peace in one of the world's most volatile places. Students Asi Burak, Eric Brown, Eric Keylor, Olive Lin, Tim Sweeney and Victoria Webb, in collaboration with faculty, are designing the videogame simulation, which will be available to the public in spring 2006. Information: http://www.etc.cmu.edu/projects/peacemaker/TheGame.htm.

TWO QRIO HUMANOID ROBOTS TO BECOME CAMPUS RESIDENTS

Two Sony QRIO humanoid robots will arrive at Carnegie Mellon Friday, Nov. 4, to take up residence in the lab of Computer Science Professor Manuela Veloso. She and her students are thrilled at the prospect of doing research in robotics and artificial intelligence with these remarkable robots created by Sony. Two QRIOs put on a demonstration for the university community last spring. The two-foot tall QRIO can function autonomously or be controlled from a computer. Using seven microphones around its head, two cameras behind its eyes, 38 custom motors and 12 sensors, QRIO can walk, talk, see, hear, express feelings, interact with others and even dance.

OPEN ENROLLMENT FOR 2006 BENEFITS HAS BEGUN

Open Enrollment for 2006 benefits has begun. See http://hr.web.cmu.edu/current/benefits/oe for links to information, help sheets and other resources that can assist you in making your decisions. Benefit Specialists will be available at 412-268-4747 or hrhelp@andrew.cmu.edu, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., seven days-a-week during the Open Enrollment period to answer your questions or email. In addition, a Health Benefits Presentation will be held at 5 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 8, in the UC Connan Room. Spouses/partners are welcome to attend. Enroll early!

STAFF COUNCIL'S ANNUAL FOOD DRIVE RESPONDS TO INCREASED NEEDS

The Carnegie Mellon Food Drive, sponsored by Staff Council, continues through Nov. 11. You are encouraged to donate non-perishable items to support the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. In addition to standard items like canned goods, peanut butter and cereal, the food bank also accepts donations of unopened personal items including laundry detergent, soap, shampoo and toilet paper. Monetary donations and grocery store gift cards are also appreciated. Drop boxes are available in buildings across campus. As part of the food drive, Staff Council will sponsor "Cans Across the Cut" from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 8. Donations will be accepted and placed along the Cut, with the goal of collecting enough items to extend the entire way across the Cut.

—"The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank has responded not only to our local needs, but also to the needs of people who have suffered the devastation of hurricanes Katrina and Rita," said Provost and Sr. Vice President Mark Kamlet. "As members of the Pittsburgh community, we should consider the needs of our friends and neighbors who lack basic resources like food and personal care products--the items we take for granted every day. I strongly encourage all Carnegie Mellon faculty, staff and students to take this opportunity to support those neighbors and friends now, when they need us most."

UNITED WAY CAMPAIGN HELPS PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY

Carnegie Mellon's United Way Campaign supports programs and services that help people in our community, such as the Jewish Community Center, Bloomfield Garfield Corporation, Pittsburgh Action Against Rape, the Center for Hearing and Deaf Services, Mercy Behavioral Health and Three Rivers Youth, Inc. You can contribute online at http://www.unitedwaypittsburgh.org/uwac/carnegiemellon or contact Courtney Bryant at cbryant@andrew for a paper form. Everyone who donates online by Nov. 18 will be entered to receive a $250 American Express Gift Card. Thus far,107 members of the Carnegie Mellon community have given more than $23,000.

PERSONAL MENTION

—Robert P. Strauss, professor of economics and public policy at the H. John Heinz III School of Public Policy and Management, has been awarded the 2005 Steven D. Gold Award for his contributions to public financial management in the field of intergovernmental relations and state and local finance.

—Fresh from field work in the Atacama Desert in Chile, Alan Waggoner, director of the Molecular Biosensor and Imaging Center, will visit Café Scientifique Pittsburgh at 7 p.m., Monday, Nov. 7 at the Penn Brewery on the North Side to talk about the Atacama team's latest attempts to detect life in the driest place on Earth. Using robotic rovers and novel chemical sensing techniques, the Atacama Team is trying to verify the presence of life in places where they suspect it exists but remains invisible to the naked eye. This work is a prelude to looking for life on other planets like Mars, and it could lead to improved methods that might be incorporated into future space missions.

—CombineNet Inc., led by Chairman and Chief Technology Officer Tuomas Sandholm, an associate professor in the Computer Science Department, has been recognized as the fastest growing, most innovative IT company in southwest Pennsylvania by the Pittsburgh Technology Council. For more, visit http://www.combinenet.com.

—Christopher Fitz is the new resident district manager for the Parkhurst food service group on campus, responsible for all Parkhurst-operated and supervised food service units and Carnegie Mellon Catering Services. A graduate of the Pennsylvania Institute of Culinary Arts, Fitz was executive chef at Carnegie Mellon from 1998 to 2001 before managing Parkhurst operations at Chatham and St. Vincent colleges.

—Professor of Architecture Vivian Loftness has been named one of 25 Environmental Champions for 2005 by Environ Design for her national leadership on the Board of the US Green Building Council, Turner's Sustainability Advisory Board, and as this year's Chair of the AIA Committee on the Environment.

—Michelle Goodstein, a doctoral student in computer science, and Vanessa Schweizer, a doctoral student in engineering and public policy, have earned a Clare Booth Luce Fellowship, which promotes the advancement of American women through higher education in the sciences, engineering and mathematics.

—Patricia Clifford, director of Campus Services, has been named one of the "Top 20 Women to Watch" in the college store industry by the National Association of College Stores. Clifford was praised as "one who builds relationships with customers, vendors and the community." The professional trade association represents more than 3,100 college stores in the U.S. and Canada, and 34 international countries.

CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS

—Nov. 3 - 30: Asian Heritage Month. The schedule of events is posted on official.cmu-news, Oct. 28.

—Nov. 3 - 5: The International Festival. Further information: http://www.cmu.edu/cmnews/extra/051102_if.html.

—Monday, Nov. 7: Kickoff party for "The Great Global Sustainability Challenge." Sarosh Kumana (TPR '77) is challenging interdisciplinary teams to use their skills and imagination in finding innovative ways to preserve the planet. Kumana will present the contest rules and lunch will be provided. "Challenge" is co-sponsored by the Steinbrenner Institute for Environmental Education and Research.

—Monday, Nov. 7: Women@SCS Distinguished Lecture. "Beyond Mice and Menus," Barbara J. Grosz, Higgins Professor of Natural Sciences, Harvard University. 4:15 p.m., Wean Hall 7500.

—Monday, Nov. 7: The University Lecture Series presents a "Last Lecture" by Professor Baruch Fischhoff. 4:30 p.m., Adamson Wing, Baker Hall. Fischhoff, a Howard Heinz University Professor of Humanities and Social Sciences, will present "Passing Through: The Effect of Decision Sciences on Life's Big Questions."

—Wednesday, Nov. 9: Interuniversity Graduate Students of Color Speaker/Dinner Series. "Cultural Competency: Acceptance, Tolerance, Conflict Management." Speakers: Consuella Lewis (Pitt) and a panel of grads. Dinner will be served. William Pitt Student Union Building (corner of Bigelow Blvd. and Fifth Avenue), University of Pittsburgh campus. To register, go to: http://www.cmu.edu/adm/gpo.

—Thursday, Nov. 10: Thursday Seminar Series on Nanotechnology. "Frontiers at the Biology/Materials Science Interface." Morley Stone, Air Force Research Laboratory, Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Defense Sciences Office. Co-sponsored by Center for Nano-enabled Device and Energy Technologies, ICES and ECE. 4 - 5 p.m., Scaife Auditorium, Room 125. Refreshments at 3:30 p.m.

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