December 13, 2007
Vol. 18, No. 22
In this issue:
ABSIC, Intelligent Workplace Celebrate Anniversaries
Carnegie Mellon's Advanced Building Systems Integration Consortium (ABSIC) celebrated its 20th anniversary and the Robert L. Preger Intelligent Workplace (IW) celebrated its 10th anniversary with a two-day conference this week (Dec. 11-12). The conference focused on the future of energy generation and the built environment, with a special emphasis on energy conservation, renewable energy and its impact on health and productivity.
"Both ABSIC and the IW have received support from more than 70 companies and governmental agencies worldwide," said Architecture Professor Volker Hartkopf. "The IW has proven to be a phenomenal change agent, spawning energy and environmentally effective buildings globally in China, Korea, France, Germany and in North America. The IW continues to be an inspiration for our students as well."
Formed in 1987, ABSIC is the first private-public partnership in the building industry that brings together academia, industry and government to address the enormous impact buildings have on the environment. In fact, buildings are responsible for up to 40 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, according to the IW Web site. Researchers from Carnegie Mellon and other organizations team with industry and government to ensure that their research is put into practice and that models like the IW, a "living laboratory," can be realized.
Further information: http://www.cmu.edu/news/archive/2007/December/dec7_iwanniversary.shtml
Students To Participate in "Nationwide Science Experiment"
Beginning next fall, a group of Carnegie Mellon students will be among the first freshmen to take a nationwide genomics course in which they will conduct authentic research and possibly impact human health and the environment.
The Mellon College of Science's Department of Biological Sciences was one of 12 programs selected by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) to be part of the Phage Genomics Research Initiative, the first major effort from HHMI's Science Education Alliance (SEA). The course, which HHMI is calling a "nationwide science experiment," intends to teach college students how to approach science problems creatively, while encouraging them to pursue further study and careers in science.
According to HHMI, a number of studies have shown that students rank undergraduate research experiences as the most important factor in deciding whether or not to pursue graduate studies or a career in science. Most undergraduates conduct research during their junior or senior year, or during summer programs, but the SEA program will catch them early. The HHMI also hopes that the SEA program will help students select majors.
Jonathan Jarvik and
Javier Lopez, associate professors of biological sciences, will lead the course at Carnegie Mellon.
"This new course will give freshmen at Carnegie Mellon the opportunity to do important research early in their college careers, " Jarvik said. "Their efforts will surely yield interesting new data, and may very well lead to new insights into the most fundamental biological questions, which is exciting to us both as teachers and as scientists."
Further information:
http://www.cmu.edu/news/archive/2007/December/dec12_HHMISEA.shtml
United Way Campaign Extended Through December
There's still time to give to this year's United Way Campaign, which supports many local and regional programs and social services that help people in the community. Some of the organizations that the United Way supports include the Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Pa., Pittsburgh Action Against Rape, the Center for Hearing and Deaf Services, Mercy Behavioral Health, the Jewish Community Center and Three Rivers Youth, Inc. to name a few. Faculty and staff may donate online at
http://www.unitedwaypittsburgh.org/carnegiemellon or contact
Courtney Bryant at
cbryant@andrew.cmu.edu for a paper form.
Nominations Sought for the Barbara Lazarus Award
The university is seeking nominations for the Barbara Lazarus Award for Culture and Climate, which is presented annually to an individual or group that has demonstrated extraordinary leadership and made substantial contributions to improving the culture and climate in the Carnegie Mellon community. A nomination form can be found online at:
http://hr.web.cmu.edu/forms/eos/LazarusAwardNomination.doc. Questions about the award or the nomination process should be sent to
Everett Tademy at
et19@andrew.cmu.edu. Completed nominations should also be sent to Tademy at Whitfield Hall 200 or by email. The nomination deadline is Friday, Dec. 28.
News Briefs
- Reminder: In the event of severe weather, members of the university community should tune in to KDKA-TV, WTAE-TV, WPXI-TV, Fox 53, KDKA-Radio (1020 AM) or KQV-Radio (1410 AM) for official university announcements regarding delays, cancellation of classes and/or office closings. Unless otherwise noted, the cancellation of classes will include evening classes at the Heinz School and the Tepper School of Business. Announcements will also be recorded on the Carnegie Mellon main switchboard (412-268-2000) and posted on the Web (http://www.cmu.edu), Web Portal (my.cmu.edu) and the official.cmu-news and cmu.misc.news bulletin boards. Unless an official notification is issued, the university will maintain normal operations.
- In addition to reading the weekly 8.5 x 11 News, the campus community can keep up-to-date with campus news by reading the official.cmu-news and cmu.misc.news bulletin boards as well as Carnegie Mellon Headlines on the Web Portal at my.cmu.edu. You can also access Carnegie Mellon Headlines from the University Calendar Web page at http://my.cmu.edu/site/events. For directions on how to subscribe to the boards, contact the Help Center at 412-268-4357.
- As in previous years, Desktop Support will be operating with reduced staff and reduced operating hours during the holiday season. Between Dec. 26, and Jan. 1, the following coverage schedule will apply: Emergency Service Only: Dec. 26, 27, 28 - DSP will offer emergency coverage only. Closed: Dec. 24, 25, 31, and Jan. 1 - Official University Holidays. Resume Normal Coverage: Wednesday Jan. 2. For a complete 2007 Computing Services Holiday Schedule, visit: http://www.cmu.edu/computing/news/status/holiday07.html
Personal Mention
- After 33 years at Carnegie Mellon, Edmund Delaney, editor of the 8.5 x 11 News, has announced his retirement, effective Dec. 31. Delaney joined the media relations staff in 1974 and covered the College of Humanities and Social Sciences while also editing the university's alumni magazine. In the early to mid-1980s, he established a computer bulletin board, the "official.cmu-news," which was used to communicate with the university community. In 1988, he began the weekly campus newsletter called the "8.5 x 11 News," a very popular and well-read communications vehicle for the past 19 years.
- Carnegie Mellon has awarded the Anna Loomis McCandless Professorship to Bahar Biller, assistant professor of manufacturing and operations management in the Tepper School of Business, and the Estella Loomis McCandless Professorship to Brooke Feeney, an associate professor of psychology in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. The professorships are given every three years to two junior faculty members who have shown great promise. Information: http://www.cmu.edu/news/archive/2007/December/dec5_mccandless.shtml
- First-year H&SS student Spencer C. Huff recently completed his Eagle Scout project by interviewing 17 U.S. veterans, from World War II through the Iraq War, and collecting their experiences in a video and audio montage that was submitted to the Library of Congress. Among the veterans Huff interviewed were two Bataan Death March survivors, a veteran of Iwo Jima, a Navajo code talker, and the last living Buffalo Soldier — a nickname given to soldiers in the Army's all-black regiments, which were formed in the 19th Century and served through World War II, after which the Army was desegregated. Huff plans to major in Creative Writing.
Calendar Highlights
- Through Friday, Dec. 21: The Regina Gouger Miller Gallery presents paintings, sculptures and multi-media explorations by Patricia Maurides, Michelle Stitzlein and Julie Stunden. Further information: http://millergallery.cfa.cmu.edu/
- Due to the holidays, the next 8.5 x 11 News will be published on Jan. 10, 2008.
