February 16, 2006

Vol. 16, No. 30

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)

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Carnegie Mellon professors Cristina H. Amon, Egon Balas, Manuel Blum, Pradeep K. Khosla and Krzysztof A. Matyjaszewski have been elected to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE). Membership in the NAE honors people who have made important contributions to engineering theory and practice and who have demonstrated unusual accomplishments in pioneering new and developing fields of technology. It is one of the highest professional distinctions an engineer can achieve. Carnegie Mellon's five inductees are the most of any institution this year.

—Amon, the Raymond J. Lane Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering and head of the Institute for Complex Engineered Systems, was elected for her advances in heat transfer and thermal design of portable electronics and her contributions to engineering education. Balas, University Professor of Industrial Administration and Applied Mathematics and Thomas Lord Professor of Operations Research at the Tepper School of Business, was elected for his contributions to integer programming and its applications to the scheduling and planning of industrial facilities. Blum, the Bruce Nelson Professor of Computer Science, was elected for contributions to abstract complexity theory, cryptographic protocols and the theory and applications of program checkers. Khosla, the Philip and Marsha Dowd Professor of Engineering and Robotics and dean of the College of Engineering, was elected for his contributions to the design and sensor-based control in robotic systems for the assembly of precision electronics, and for innovative leadership in engineering education. Matyjaszewski, the J.C. Warner Professor of Natural Sciences and director of the Center for Macromolecular Engineering, was elected for his work in expanding the capabilities of controlled/living polymerizations and developing ATRP, a robust catalytic process that allows precise, nanoscale control over the formation of polymers.

—For more on Carnegie Mellon's NAE members visit http://www.cmu.edu/cmnews/extra/060210_nae.html and https://www.cmu.edu/clips/nae.html.

UNIVERSITY SETS RECORD WITH MORE THAN 18,000 APPLICATIONS

Carnegie Mellon's Office of Undergraduate Admission recently announced that 18,493 applications were received for admission into the 2006-2007 academic year. This figure represents a 20 percent increase over last year's total and sets a new Carnegie Mellon record. An increase in applications was reported by each school and college within the university. To learn more about the Office of Undergraduate Admission, visit http://www.cmu.edu/admission or call 412-268-2082.

WASHINGTON, D.C. CONFERENCE ON CRISIS READINESS PLANNED FOR FEB. 28

Professor Granger Morgan, head of the Department of Engineering and Public Policy, will lead a Conference on Crisis Readiness on Tuesday, Feb. 28, in room 911 of the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C., to discuss ways to improve how the nation can better protect essential systems against natural disasters and terrorist attacks. The conference is sponsored by Carnegie Mellon.

—At the conference, university researchers will outline how best to detect and limit the impacts of chemical, biological and radiological attacks; how to make the electrical power system more secure; how to improve communication among first responders who often can't talk to each other because of incompatible radio systems; and how to make sure the public knows what is going on and has a role in key decision making.

—Conference speakers include Mel Bernstein of the Department of Homeland Security, and Norman P. Neureiter, former science technology adviser to the secretary of state. Other Carnegie Mellon professors speaking at the conference include Jay Apt, executive director of Carnegie Mellon's Electricity Industry Center at the Tepper School of Business and the Engineering and Public Policy Department; Baruch Fischhoff, Howard Heinz University Professor of Humanities and Social Sciences and Engineering and Public Policy; Jon Peha, professor of engineering and public policy and associate director of the Center for Wireless and Broadband Networks; Jeanne VanBriesen, professor of civil and environmental engineering and co-director of the new WaterQUEST Center for studying water quality in urban environmental systems; Liz Casman and Keith Florig from the engineering and public policy research staff; and several current Ph.D. students and recent Ph.D. graduates, including Matt Dombroski, now at Lawrence Livermore National Labs; and Henry Willis, a RAND Corp. researcher in risk analysis and visiting lecturer at Carnegie Mellon.

NEWS BRIEFS

—President Cohon will hold an open student office hour at 4 p.m., Monday, Feb. 20. Students interested in meeting with the president should contact Jennifer Church, dean of Student Affairs, at jcdg@andrew.cmu.edu.

—Carnegie Mellon's Robot Hall of Fame will hold its 2006 induction ceremony at the 3rd annual Robo Business Conference and Exposition, the international business development event for mobile robotics and intelligent systems, at the Sheraton Station Square, June 20 - 21. The Web site is at http://www.robobusiness2006.com/

—After deciding to affiliate with a national women's organization, Carnegie Mellon's Zeta Psi Sigma sorority has joined Alpha Chi Omega. Jamie Moroco, a biological sciences major and president of Zeta Psi Sigma, said the chapter will officially begin its new affiliation on March 1.

—Graduate Student Service Award nominations are due Friday, Feb. 24. The award recognizes a graduate student who has advanced the interests of Carnegie Mellon graduate students, improved the quality of life for graduate students on campus and/or contributed to the larger academic community. Nomination details are at http://www.cmu.edu/teaching/eberlycenter/awards/. Contact Suzie Laurich-McIntyre, grad-ed@cmu.edu, x8-7307, with questions.

PERSONAL MENTION

—The American Psychosomatic Society will honor Sheldon Cohen, the Robert E. Doherty Professor of Psychology, with its Patricia R. Barchas Award in Sociophysiology at the society's annual conference March 1 - 4 in Denver. Cohen's research focuses on the impact of emotions, stress and social factors on physical health.

—A group of Carnegie Mellon researchers, led by Mechanical Engineering Professor Burak Ozdoganlar has received a $416,499 National Science Foundation/Major Research Instrumentation grant for state-of-the-art instrumentation for precise three-dimensional measurements of dynamic motions of nano-, micro-, and meso-scale systems.

—Ramayya Krishnan, the William W. and Ruth F. Cooper Professor of Management Science and Information Systems, has been elected president of the Information Systems Society of the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS), a 12,000 member society representing professionals in the fields of Operations Research and Management Sciences.

—Andrew Pueschel, marketing project manager for the College of Engineering Dean's Office and the Information Networking Institute, will host the Pittsburgh Amateur DanceSport Championships on March 11. This nationally sanctioned event will highlight the talents of athletes from the region and across the U.S. Further information: http://www.pittsburghdancesport.com.

—San Francisco real estate developer Sarosh Kumana (MSIA '77) has donated a sculpture in honor of John R. Thorne (MSIA '52), the David T. and Lindsay J. Morgenthaler Emeritus Professor of Entrepreneurship at the Tepper School. The bronze statue created by Colorado artist Bobbie Carlyle, titled "Self-Made Man," was presented during the Donald H. Jones Center for Entrepreneurship's Advisory Board meeting on Feb. 10. It will be housed in Posner Hall. Further information: http://www.cmu.edu/PR/releases06/060216_thorne.html.

CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS

—Sunday, Feb. 19: The Society of Women Engineers and other organizations on campus are teaming up for a Family Carnival for students of all ages to learn about science and engineering. The carnival will take place from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., in the University Center's Rangos Ballroom. The carnival, for students and their families, will include engineering and science activities and hands-on demonstrations, such as building structures and making bouncy balls. There will also be lots of prizes, snacks, and some live entertainment.

—Monday, Feb. 20: The University Lecture Series presents "The PeaceMaker Project," a video game simulation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict designed to promote peace. 4:30 p.m., Adamson Wing, Baker Hall.

—Tuesday, Feb. 28: The Speak Your Mind Diversity Discussion and Dinner series. "Image, Identity, Camera--African Americans and American Film." 4:30 - 6 p.m., New House TV Lounge. (Note that this session begins earlier than the traditional session.) Students can share ideas about how meaning is produced through the "lenses" or what is seen, what it signifies, who sees it, and who produces it. Film clips will be shown and dinner served. To reserve your place for this free discussion/dinner, contact Emily Half, ehalf@andrew.cmu.edu, 412-268-2075. Sponsored by the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs.

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