September 28, 2006

Vol. 17, No. 12

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.

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Carnegie Mellon's Program for Research and Outreach on Gender Equity in Society (PROGRESS) has teamed up with the Girl Scouts-Trillium Council to create the "Win-Win" badge, which fourth- through sixth-grade Girl Scouts will earn after learning lifelong problem-solving and negotiation skills. Carnegie Mellon students will present the first program from 1 to 4 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 18 at the Heinz School. The program, which teaches negotiation as a valuable and constructive way to reach an agreement that satisfies all parties, is based on Linda Babcock's recent book with Sara Laschever, "Women Don't Ask: Negotiation and the Gender Divide." In the book, Babcock, the James M. Walton Professor of Economics in the Heinz School, describes her research on initiating negotiations and explores the societal factors that hold women back from asking for what they want.

—Further information: http://www.cmu.edu/cmnews/extra/060922_gs.html.

TEPPER SCHOOL RANKS THIRD AMONG NATION'S TOP B-SCHOOLS

The 2006 Wall Street Journal/Harris Interactive ranking of America's top business schools again ranked the Tepper School of Business third-best in the nation. In specialty categories, Tepper ranked first in operations management, second in information technology, fourth in finance and sixth in both entrepreneurship and general management, and seventh in strategy. The Tepper School also ranked ninth for recruiting minorities and for recruiting MBAs with high ethical standards. The poll was based on surveys completed by 4,125 corporate recruiters. The University of Michigan's Ross School of Business ranked first in the nation, followed by Dartmouth College's Tuck School of Business. For more, visit http://www.careerjournal.com/reports/bschool06.

2006 SIEBEL COMPUTER SCIENCE SCHOLARS ANNOUNCED

Five graduate students in the School of Computer Science (SCS) have been selected as Siebel Scholars for 2006-2007. Each year the Siebel Scholars program honors five of the most talented graduate students at SCS and at each of nine other leading computer science and business schools. Three of this year's recipients are studying for master's degrees: Michael Dille, computer science; Michael Heilman, language technologies; and Lucia de Lascurain Hinojosa, software engineering. Two are pursuing doctorate degrees: Pradeep Ravikumar, machine learning; and Adam Wierman, computer science. Each scholar receives $25,000 to defray tuition and expenses for the final year of graduate study. The program was established in 1999 by Tom Siebel, entrepreneur and founder of Siebel Systems, with the goal of nurturing the best and brightest graduate students in computer science and business. Further information: http://www.siebelscholars.com.

AVIAN FLU PANDEMIC PLANNING WEB SITE CREATED

As part of ongoing efforts to prepare the university community for a possible Avian Flu pandemic, the Environmental Health & Safety Department (EH&S) and the Student Health Service have created a Web site to help inform and engage students, faculty and staff in the planning process. The Web site details the planning and preparations in progress, provides a list of emergency resources both on and off campus, gives home-care tips for helping someone who has influenza and provides answers to some frequently asked questions about the Avian Flu. Questions or comments regarding campus preparations should be directed to Madelyn Miller, director of EH&S, at mmiller@andrew.cmu.edu or Anita Barkin, director of the Student Health Service, at ab4x@andrew.cmu.edu. To access the Avian Influenza and Pandemic Planning Web site, go to http://ehs-alert.fms.bap.cmu.edu/Occupational_Safety/PandemicPlanning.htm.

NEWS BRIEFS

—Associate Professor of Computer Science Seth Goldstein is co-presenting a class, lab and demonstrations of claytronics, the technology underlying Intel's work in Dynamic Physical Rendering (DPR), at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF) in San Francisco, Sept. 26 - 28. Claytronics, conceived by Goldstein and Associate Computer Science Professor Todd Mowry, director of Intel Research Pittsburgh, is made up of modules called catoms—for claytronic atoms—that integrate computing, sensing, actuation and locomotion mechanisms. An ensemble of claytronics catoms can be programmed to organize itself into the shape of an object and visually take on its appearance. Further information: http://www.cmu.edu/PR/releases06/060926_idf.html

—Psychology Professor David Klahr served on the National Research Council's Committee on Science Learning, which last week issued a report calling for major changes in how children in kindergarten through eighth grade learn science. The committee found that current standards for what students should know are too broad, and that science instruction is based on outdated theories of children's cognitive development. For more on this report, go to http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=11625.

PERSONAL MENTION

—In recognition of his lifelong commitment to the iron and steel industry, and for his exceptional contributions to the fundamental knowledge of iron and steelmaking and to the development of new steelmaking technologies, U.S. Steel University Professor of Materials Science and Engineering Richard J. Fruehan, has been selected by the Board of Directors of the Association for Iron and Steel Technology (AIST) as an honorary member of the American Institute of Mining, Metalurgical and Petroleum Engineers (AIME). AIME honorary membership is one of the highest honors that the institute can bestow on an individual.

—Lisa Kirchner, director of marketing and public relations for Carnegie Mellon in Qatar, will leave her post at the end of this semester. Kirchner has been responsible for implementing the university brand and developing all aspects of the marketing and communications program in a region where Carnegie Mellon was relatively unknown. "I'm honored to have been part of this project and so pleased with the team in place to carry on our Advancement efforts in the Gulf," she said.

—Carnegie Mellon Emeritus Life Trustee Raymond John ("Jack") Wean Jr. died Sept. 15 in Palm Beach, Fla., at the age of 85. Wean was a former president, CEO and chairman of the board for Wean Incorporated. He was also chairman of the Raymond John Wean Foundation in Warren, Ohio, a private charitable foundation established in 1949 that has supported a wide range of educational organizations, including Carnegie Mellon. Wean Hall was named to honor the Wean family and the foundation's support of the university. Further information: http://www.cmu.edu/cmnews/extra/060922_wean.html

CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS

—Monday, Oct. 2: Mumia Abu-Jamal (activist, journalist, deathrow prisoner) and Staughton Lynd (activist historian and lawyer) will lead a discussion entitled "In the Shadow of John Brown: Toward a Renewed Interracial Radicalism." 8 p.m., Baker Hall, Adamson Wing. Lynd will appear in person; Mumia will speak from deathrow via CD. Further information: demarest@andrew.cmu.edu.

—Tuesday, Oct. 3: The College of Engineering and the Institute for Complex Engineered Systems will showcase the research of the 2005 and 2006 Dowd-ICES fellows. The fellowships are supported by an endowment from Philip L. Dowd (E'63) and Marsha Dowd. 3 - 5 p.m., Singleton Room, Roberts Hall.

—Tuesday, Oct. 3: Design Lecture Series. Martin Wattenberg, "Mapping the Invisible." 5 p.m., McConomy Auditorium. Wattenberg is known for his information-based digital artwork as well as his scientific and applied work in information visualization.

—Wednesday, Oct. 4: Jim Osborn, executive director of the Quality of Life Technology Center, and Ronald J. Placone, director of Learning and Development and the Carnegie Mellon Interactive Theatre Company, will speak at the 53rd Annual Governor's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities Conference, Radisson Hotel Pittsburgh Green Tree. Cost: $95. Register at http://www.dli.state.pa.us/landi/cwp/view.asp?a=3&q=234482.

—Thursday, Oct. 5: Staff Council Open Forum on Health Care Benefits. Noon to 1 p.m., Peter McKenna Room, second floor, University Center. Associate Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Barbara Smith and Benefits Specialist Lori Bell will answer questions concerning current Health Care Benefits and upcoming health care benefits changes. Please bring questions, written or verbal, to the forum.

—Oct. 5 - 6: "Science 2006: Feel the Power." Students and faculty are invited to attend the University of Pittsburgh's sixth annual showcase of science and technology in Alumni Hall, across from the Cathedral of Learning. Free and open to the public. Further information: http://www.science2006.pitt.edu/

—Friday, Oct. 6: The Center for Africanamerican Urban Studies and the Economy (CAUSE) presents Matthew C. Whitaker, associate professor of history at Arizona State University, who will speak on "Race Work: The Rise of Civil Rights in the Urban West." H&SS Auditorium, Baker Hall A53. Free and open to the public.

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