June 1, 2006

Vol. 16, No. 45

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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James H. Garrett Jr. has been named head of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department. Garrett, who assumes his new role today (June 1), succeeds Chris T. Hendrickson, who has served as department head for the past 10 years. "Chris has done a spectacular job of positioning the department as a leader in the country. I am looking forward to working with Jim and the university administration to maintain the momentum of an already excellent department," said Pradeep Khosla, dean of the College of Engineering. "Jim's tireless commitment to excellence and outstanding research endeavors make him an excellent match for his new post."

—Garrett has served as associate dean for academic affairs in the College of Engineering since 2000 and has been a professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering since 1990. He is co-director of the newly formed Center for Sensed Critical Infrastructure Research (CenSCIR) that will perform enabling research aimed at delivering cost-effective, sensor-based monitoring systems for a broad range of critical infrastructure applications.These monitoring systems could be used for decaying bridges, oil and gas pipelines, unstable electric power grids, leaking water distribution systems, and ensuring the security of the university campus.

—Prior to creating CenSCIR, Garrett served for six years as the director of the Advanced Infrastructure Systems Lab at Carnegie Mellon's Institute for Complex Engineered Systems (ICES).

—In addition to his leading-edge research, Garrett has won numerous academic accolades, including the prestigious 2006 Computing in Civil Engineering Award for outstanding achievement in the use of computers in the practice of civil engineering from the American Society of Civil Engineers.

ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY CENTER MAKES LEARNING ECONOMICS FUN

Students at Carnegie Mellon's Entertainment Technology Center (ETC) have designed "Gamenomics," a fun, educational, multiplayer management simulation game that helps students learn basic economic concepts like those found in an introductory economics course. The game is geared toward college and university students.

—While Gamenomics is based on player interaction, it is beneficial as an educational tool because a professor can guide the students in understanding the economic principles involved. The professor can use an interface to manipulate the market economy so students can observe and interact with economic and business concepts. The game is designed for a class of five to 50 students and a professor.

—In the game, players buy factories, produce goods and compete with each other in a realistic market economy simulation. Players have to make difficult business decisions, such as which markets to enter, at what prices to buy and sell, and how many units to produce--all while dealing with cash flow problems, supply-chain bottlenecks and competition from other players. Further information: http://www.cmu.edu/PR/releases06/060525_etc.html

UNIVERSITY-SPONSORED HEALTH DAY SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 7

Student Health and Human Resources will host a daylong event promoting healthy living and wellness on June 7. "Pathways to Health/Healthy Solutions 2006" will offer a series of workshops and events designed to address ways to live healthy, stay healthy and learn more about specific health interests. The event will feature 13 sessions, ranging from how to start an exercise program to balancing work and personal life. Session participants can also attend a free luncheon headlined by keynote speaker Marilyn Brooks, WTAE-TV's health editor, who will speak on "Health in the 21st Century." (Due to limited seating, only session attendees will be able to attend the luncheon.) Further information: http://hr.web.cmu.edu/wellnessday.

NOMINATIONS REQUESTED FOR LIBRARY EXCELLENCE AWARD

The University Libraries invite members of the campus community to nominate library faculty or staff members for "excellence" in 2006. Award categories are customer satisfaction, productivity, library citizenship, forwarding instruction and research, and innovation. Winners gain campus recognition and receive cash awards. Nominations are due by June 9. The nomination form and library award policy/procedures are available at www.library.cmu.edu. Send completed nominations to Gabrielle Michalek, University Archives, or send email to gabrielle@cmu.edu.

KENNYWOOD PICNIC IS SATURDAY, JULY 8

Tickets for the annual Kennywood Picnic will be on sale at the University Center on the following dates and times: Thursday, June 29 and Friday, June 30: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Wednesday, July 5: 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.; Thursday, July 6: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Each employee must purchase his or her own ticket. Tickets are available only with Carnegie Mellon IDs at the following prices: One ride-all-day ticket (valid only on July 8) is $5 (each employee must purchase his or her own ticket); four additional tickets can be purchased at $12 each; and five additional tickets are $17 each.

NEWS BRIEF

—The School of Music will host the third International Dalcroze Conference, July 10 - 14, and the 31st Summer Dalcroze Eurhythmics Workshops, July 10 - 28. Both events will take place on campus. Further information: http://www.cmu.edu/PR/releases06/060525_dalcroze.html.

—Computing Services is discontinuing distribution and support of the Mulberry email client because Cyrusoft International Inc. (owner of Mulberry) has declared bankruptcy and no longer develops or maintains the Mulberry email client. As of June 30, Mulberry software will no longer be distributed on My Andrew or the Carnegie Mellon Web Portal. On Oct. 1, the Computing Services Help Center will discontinue support for Mulberry and as of Dec. 31 you will no longer be able to use Mulberry. Computing Services supports Webmail, Outlook (Windows), and Entourage (Mac) as alternative email clients for Windows and Mac users. Please direct any questions or comments to your departmental administrator or to the Computing Services Help Center at x8-HELP or advisor@andrew.cmu.edu.

PERSONAL MENTION

—Jeanne Baxtresser, the Vira I. Heinz University Professor of Flute in the School of Music, will receive the National Flute Association's (NFA) Lifetime Achievement Award at the NFA's 2006 convention Aug. 10 -13 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh. The Lifetime Achievement Award, the NFA's highest honor, recognizes flutists whose character and dedication to the art of playing the flute, combined with their lifetime accomplishments, have served as models of inspiration for generations of musicians. Further information: http://www.cmu.edu/PR/releases06/060525_baxtresser.html.

—Jonathan Aldrich, assistant professor in the School of Computer Sciences' Institute for Software Research International, recently won a National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award. Aldrich, who joined the faculty three years ago after earning a PhD. in computer science at the University of Washington, is part of an effort to develop formal techniques that document the intent of software engineers and provide automated analysis to determine if proposed software changes are compatible with the rest of the program. Aldrich's research, which will be aided by his award, seeks to accomplish this by using existing computer languages and tools. This "lightweight" modeling approach, he says, should increase both the flexibility of the technique and its accessibility to practicing software engineers.

—The recipients of the 2006 Tepper School Teaching Awards are: Undergraduate Business Administration Teaching Award: Maria Marta Ferreyra, assistant professor of economics; Undergraduate Economics Teaching Award: George-Levi Gayle, assistant professor of economics; MBA Teaching Award/George Leland Bach Award: Baohong Sun, associate professor of marketing.

—Ann Lupkowski Shoplik, a researcher in the field of gifted education and current director of the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Talented Elementary Students (C-MITES) Program recently delivered an online presentation entitled, "Developing Mathematical Talent: They Don't Have to Be Bored to Tears." The presentation focused on the foundation for building a program for math-talented students and provided information regarding assessing students' abilities and achievements. Shoplik shared details on matching curriculum to student needs, conducting evaluations to monitor progress and using long-term scope and sequence planning that keeps students engaged in learning. The training also offered ideas and tools for designing a challenging curriculum for mathematically talented students. To access the presentation, go to www.pagiftededucation.info.

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