November 9, 2006
Vol. 17, No. 18

In this issue:

• "Smart People" Movie is Filming on Campus
• Carnegie Mellon Joins Oak Ridge Institute for Science, Education
• Faculty/Staff Open Enrollment Ends at 5 p.m., Nov. 10
• Don't Worry, Be Happy: It's Healthier, Psychologist Says
• Project Olympus Receives Heinz Endowments Grant
• News Briefs
• Personal Mention
• Calendar Highlights

"Smart People" Movie is Filming on Campus

"Smart People," a major motion picture starring Dennis Quaid as an eccentric Carnegie Mellon English professor and Sarah Jessica Parker as the former student he falls in love with, began filming on campus Nov. 6 in Baker Hall. The filming schedule will continue through Nov. 15 at various campus locations, including Hamburg Hall (Nov. 9), Hunt Library (Nov. 10), the Wean/Porter/Hamerschlag parking area (Nov. 10), Skibo Gymnasium and Donner Hall (Nov. 13 - 14), and Doherty Hall (Nov. 15). Film crews will return to Hunt Library to conclude their work on campus Dec. 5. The actual filming dates are subject to change and hours of set-up and teardown will be needed. Parking and traffic will be limited on Frew Street through Wednesday, Nov. 15 and on Margaret Morrison Street from Nov. 13 to Nov. 15.

Further information: http://www.cmu.edu/news/archive/nov.-3---smart-people-filming.shtml

Carnegie Mellon Joins Oak Ridge Institute for Science, Education

Carnegie Mellon has been selected to join the Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU), a not-for-profit consortium of 115 major research colleges and universities that manages and operates the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORIS) on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy. The ORIS in Oak Ridge, Tenn., focuses on scientific initiatives to research health risks from occupational hazards, assesses environmental cleanup, responds to radiation medical emergencies, supports national security and emergency preparedness and educates the next generation of scientists. John Nemeth, vice president for partnership development at ORAU, met with administrators and professors to officially induct Carnegie Mellon into the consortium on Nov. 8. During his stay he toured the Intelligent Workplace, Carnegie Mellon's Solar House, the Quality of Life Technology Engineering Research Center, the Field Robotics Center and Physics Department laboratories. Nemeth has been working with Judy Hallinen, director of Carnegie Mellon's Gelfand Center for Service Learning and Outreach, and the Vice Provost for Education to explore collaboration in K - 12 science and engineering education.

Faculty/Staff Open Enrollment Ends at 5 p.m., Nov. 10

The Open Enrollment period for 2007 benefits is almost over. All changes must be made by 5 p.m., Friday, Nov. 10 through HR Connection at http://hr.web.cmu.edu/resources/hrconnect/. If you do not enroll, your 2006 benefits will be carried over into 2007 and all changes to your monthly contributions and benefits plan will apply. Open Enrollment is your only opportunity to make benefit changes during the year unless you experience a qualifying status change.

Don't Worry, Be Happy: It's Healthier, Psychologist Says

Happiness and other positive emotions play an even more important role in health than previously thought, according to a study published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine by Carnegie Mellon Psychology Professor Sheldon Cohen. This recent study confirms the results of a landmark 2004 paper in which Cohen and his colleagues found that people who are happy, lively, calm or exhibit other positive emotions are less likely to become ill when they are exposed to a cold virus than those who report few of these emotions. In that study, Cohen found that when they do come down with a cold, happy people report fewer symptoms than would be expected from objective measures of their illness. Cohen's study is at www.psychosomaticmedicine.org/.

Project Olympus Receives Heinz Endowments Grant

The Heinz Endowments has awarded $400,000 to the School of Computer Science to launch Project Olympus, a new initiative to chart exciting directions for the next generation of computing. The project, directed by Distinguished Career Professor of Computer Science Lenore Blum, is designed to bring the university's researchers together with innovators at major technology companies in the Pittsburgh area, such as Seagate, Google, Microsoft, Apple and Intel. "We expect to not only produce new science and technologies but to also move those discoveries into local companies or new spin-offs for commercial development," Blum said. "We're convinced that the ideas hatched here can also be brought to fruition here, so the talented students who graduate from our universities can pursue careers in our region.

Further information: http://www.cmu.edu/news/archive/nov.-6---project-olympus.shtml

News Briefs

• Carnegie Mellon's annual United Way campaign is under way and runs through Dec. 1. The United Way supports programs and services that help people in our community, including the Jewish Community Center, Boys and Girls Clubs of Western PA and Pittsburgh Action Against Rape. For a complete list of partner agencies, contact Courtney Bryant at cbryant@andrew.cmu.edu. Help those in need by returning your pledge card or by donating online at www.unitedwaypittsburgh.org/carnegiemellon.
• The Scholastic Book Fair will be held at the Children's School from noon to 3:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 17. It features traditional children's favorites and new works by popular authors and illustrators. Parents (and readers of all ages) will find many books that will interest them, too. The Book Fair helps the Children's School promote literacy while raising money for the school.    
• The Carnegie Mellon Alumni Association is accepting nominations for the 2007 Alumni Awards. Each year the Alumni Association honors alumni, students and faculty who have given outstanding service to the university, and alumni who have achieved exceptional success in their chosen professions. The award categories include Student Service, Faculty Service, Young Alumni, Achievement, Distinguished Achievement, Service and Distinguished Service. Descriptions of each award category, lists of previous award recipients and the nomination form are at www.alumni.cmu.edu/each_other/awards/awards.html. Nomination packets may be submitted via email (celinec@cmu.edu), fax (412-268-7239) or campus mail (Office of Alumni Relations, PPG 6, 14th Floor, Attention: Alumni Awards Committee). Questions may be directed to Céline Carraux at 412-268-7048. Nomination deadline is Dec. 31.
• The Operations Management Club at the Tepper School of Business has joined with the school's Latin American Business Club to host the 11th annual International Case Competition, Nov. 10 - 11 at the Tepper School. Teams from the top business schools will vie for the $10,000 first prize. Second place wins $5,000 and third place takes $2,500. Further information: http://www.cmu.edu/news/archive/title.shtml.

Personal Mention

• The Tartan Online (www.thetartan.org), created by Marshall Roch, recently won a 2006 Associated Collegiate Press Online Pacemaker Award, the most prestigious award in the country for online college news sites. The Tartan's forum editor, Marshall Roy, won third place in the Editorial category of the Story of the Year competition.
• Michelle Porter, manager of Parking and Transportation Services, will appear on ABC-TV's "20/20" on Friday, Nov. 10, in a segment on working mothers. The program will air locally at 10 p.m. on WTAE-TV.

Calendar Highlights

• Thursday, Nov. 9: SCS author presentation and book signing. Chip Walter, adjunct professor, Department of English, and author of "Thumbs, Toes and Tears--And Other Traits That Make Us Human." 4 p.m., Wean Hall 7500. His work as a science journalist has included several award-winning documentaries for PBS.
  
• Friday, Nov. 10: Educator and diplomat Kishore Mahbubani discusses the prospects for Asia in the 21st century and the impact of this rising global power on the Western world. 12:15 - 1:15 p.m., Hamburg Hall 1001. Mahbubani has had a distinguished career in the Singapore Foreign Service with postings in Cambodia, Malaysia, Washington, D.C., and New York, where he served two stints as Singapore's ambassador to the UN and as president of the UN Security Council. Lunch will be served.
• Monday, Nov. 13: "Bridging the Technological Divide in Guatemala: A Tale of Community-Building, Mud, Chickens and the Internet." Randall Shea and Juana Perez, volunteers, San Carlos Foundation; and Jeff Taylor, founder of Monster.com. 4:30 p.m., Adamson Wing, Baker Hall 136A.
  
• Wednesday, Nov. 15: Lecture. "Israel and Palestine: Is Peace Possible?" Moshe Ma'oz, visiting professor, Robert Morris University. 7 p.m., Porter Hall 100. Wednesday,
• Nov. 15: President Cohon will hold an open student office hour at 4 p.m. Students interested in meeting with the president should contact Jennifer Church, dean of Student Affairs, jcdg@andrew.cmu.edu.