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September 14, 2006 Vol. 17, No. 10
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) 2001 Editions are available online. 2002 Editions are available online. 2003 Editions are available online. 2004 Editions are available online. 2005 Editions are available online. Previous editions are available online.
LUIS VON AHN NAMED TO POPULAR SCIENCE'S "BRILLIANT 10" Carnegie Mellon Assistant Professor of Computer Science Luis von Ahn has been named to Popular Science magazine's "Brilliant 10," the publication's annual listing of outstanding young scientists. Von Ahn was cited for his pioneering work on "human computation"—using clever online games to get humans to perform important tasks that still stump computers. His ESP Game, for example, produced keywords to describe images gleaned from the Web that lacked proper captions, thus improving Web image searches. The Peekaboom game produced a library of images that are being used to train computers to see better and a soon-to-be-released game will provide descriptions of images that could make the Internet more accessible to people who are visually impaired. von Ahn began his research on human computation as a graduate student in the School of Computer Science, working with University Professor Manuel Blum. He joined the Computer Science Department this summer after earning his master's and doctor's degrees at Carnegie Mellon in 2003 and 2005, respectively. For more on von Ahn, visit http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~biglou. NEW INSTITUTE WILL MANAGE DATA STORAGE FOR NEW SUPERCOMPUTERS Carnegie Mellon computer scientist Garth Gibson is leading the new Petascale Data Storage Institute, a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) funded initiative that aims to develop technology that will enable scientists to manage the torrent of data produced by—and fully exploit the power of—the coming generation of supercomputers, which will be capable of performing millions of billions of calculations per second. The new institute, funded by a five-year, $11 million grant from the DOE, will include computer scientists at Carnegie Mellon, the University of California at Santa Cruz and the University of Michigan, along with researchers at the DOE's Los Alamos, Oak Ridge, Lawrence Berkeley and Pacific Northwest national laboratories. —Increased computational power is necessary because scientists depend on computer modeling to simulate extremely complicated phenomena, such as global warming, earthquake motions, nuclear fusion and the global spread of disease. Further information: http://www.cmu.edu/PR/releases06/060907_pdsi.html. MCCULLOUGH'S PLEXTRONICS RECEIVES $13.1 MILLION IN VENTURE CAPITAL Plextronics, a Carnegie Mellon spin-off company founded by Mellon College of Science Dean Richard McCullough, recently received $13.1 million in venture capital funding and was named a runner-up in The Wall Street Journal's Innovation Awards, which lauds novel technologies ranging from medicine to semiconductors. Plextronics, recognized as the world leader in developing printable plastics that conduct electricity for use in novel screen displays and transistors, was established in 2002 to leverage the scientific breakthroughs made in McCullough's lab, including the discovery of inherently conducting plastics called regioregular polythiophenes (RRPs). RRP-based plastics conduct—rather then impede—electricity. Conducting plastics promise to be a major player in the coming years in a range of commercially important markets. Since their discovery, McCullough and his team have made a series of key advances, both in finding inexpensive methods to produce RRPs and in creating chemistries that enable their use in versatile settings. Further information: http://www.plextronics.com/press.aspx?view=77. NEW GRADUATE PROGRAM TO TRAIN CORPORATE INNOVATION LEADERS The College of Engineering has created a new graduate degree program designed to help corporations turn invention and creativity into shareholder wealth. Beginning in January 2007, engineering and technical professionals can earn a one-year interdisciplinary master of science degree in Engineering and Technology Innovation Management (E&TIM). "A new kind of business enterprise that leverages creative resources and global management skills is needed in today's competitive world," said Pradeep K. Khosla, dean of the College of Engineering. "Our program will be a model for unlocking innovation." E&TIM will equip students for meaningful careers as leaders in innovation and the strategic management of technology, according to Eden Fisher, executive director of E&TIM. Further information: http://www.cmu.edu/PR/releases06/060906_etmi.html NEWS BRIEFS —In honor of National Constitution Day (Sept. 17), the University Libraries will display one of four existing first editions of the Bill of Rights from 1 to 4 p.m., Sept. 11 - 15 in the Posner Center. On permanent loan to the university from the Posner family, the 1792 document was distributed by Thomas Jefferson to governors of the 14 states and is a vital component of U.S. history. A reception in honor of National Constitution Day will be held at 4:30 p.m., Sept. 14 in the Posner Center. —The Children's School is selling a coupon savings book for adults and children called KidStuff. The book features coupons for stores, such as Sears, Dicks Sporting Goods, Bed, Bath and Beyond, Ikea and Circuit City, as well as for museums and restaurants. To order a book, send a $25 check, made payable to the Children's School, to Jean Simpson at the Children's School, Margaret Morrison Carnegie Hall. You can stop by to see the book at The Children's School between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. The fundraiser ends Friday, Sept. 29. PERSONAL MENTION —Hershel Markovitz, professor emeritus, Department of Chemistry, died in August in Jerusalem. Markovitz joined the Mellon Institute in 1949. He served as chairman of the American Physical Society's Division of High Polymer Physics and president of the Society of Rheology, which awarded him the Bingham Medal in 1967 to honor his seminal research in rheology. In 1982, he received the Mellon College of Science Julius Ashkin Teaching Award. He retired from Carnegie Mellon in 1986. —Carnegie Mellon neuroscientist Nathan Urban has received a $979,000 grant as part of a joint National Institute of Mental Health and National Science Foundation program to elucidate how cellular and molecular changes in neurons lead to their synchronized firing. Ultimately, this work is critical to understanding brain disorders, such as schizophrenia, which are thought to involve disruption of neuronal synchronization. Further information: http://www.cmu.edu/PR/releases06/060906_urban.html. —Chemistry Professor Eckard Münck has won the 2007 Alfred Bader Award from the American Chemical Society (ACS) for "outstanding contributions to bioinorganic chemistry." He will receive the award at the ACS meeting this March in Chicago. Münck is being recognized for his pioneering work on the biophysical properties of metalloproteins, which include important enzymes that catalyze reactions essential to life. Further information: http://www.cmu.edu/PR/releases06/060911_munck.html. CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS —Sept. 14 - Dec. 20: Hunt Institute Exhibit. Selection of recently acquired artworks, ranging from the 17th century to the present, depicts plants on paper and vellum and provides an overview of collections in the Hunt Institute Art Department. Fifth Floor, Hunt Library. Hours: 9 a.m. - noon, 1 - 5 p.m., Monday - Friday; 1 - 4 p.m., Sunday. Free and open to the public. —Friday, Sept. 15: Carnegie Mellon will host a memorial service at 4:30 p.m. in the College of Fine Arts' Kresge Theatre to remember alumni, family and friends lost in the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001.The service will include performances by alumnus Billy Porter (A'91) and Gary Kline, associate teaching professor of voice in the School of Drama. Also participating will be Drama School students, and faculty members Don Wadsworth and Tony McKay. The service is open to the university community. —Saturday, Sept. 16: Memorial service for the late Otto "Toby" Davis, co-founder of the Heinz School who died on May 9 in Florida while awaiting a liver transplant. 3:30 p.m., McConomy Auditorium. The service will be broadcast on the Web at http://www.cmu.edu/memorials/toby_davis. —Monday, Sept. 18: University Lecture Series. "Understanding Conditions in Iraq—A Firsthand Perspective." Robert Behrman, first lieutenant, U.S. Army Reserve, and EPP doctoral student. 4:30 p.m., Adamson Wing, Baker Hall. Behrman will discuss the situation in Iraq based on his experience there from June 2005 to April 2006. —Wednesday, Sept. 20: Discussion on the design of Faculty Course Evaluations and methods of delivering them. 5 - 8:30 p.m., Porter Hall 100. Faculty and students welcome. A reception will follow the service in the Schatz Dining Room. Information: http://caae.phil.cmu.edu/cc/polls/sep06/index.html. |
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