November 20, 2008
Vol. 19, No. 20

In this issue:

• University's 2008 Strategic Plan Approved
• Tartans Run Away With Regional Title, Go on to Nationals
• ETC To Test Special Concept Before Building Virtual Worlds Show, Dec. 3
• Researchers Receive $10 Million Grant To Automate Farming Systems
• News Briefs
• Personal Mention
• Calendar Highlights

University's 2008 Strategic Plan Approved

At its October meeting, Carnegie Mellon's Board of Trustees approved the university's 2008 strategic plan. Based on a yearlong revision of the 1998 strategic plan, the new document focuses on the university's aims and aspirations across six themes or pillars: Research; Education; Regional Impact; Globalization and International Activities; Carnegie Mellon Community Success; and Finance and Infrastructure.  

Provost Mark S. Kamlet, who chaired the steering committee for this process, said that this plan "gives a sense of key priorities for the institution circa 2008: areas where we think there can be important future synergies among multiple units of the university; areas in which we feel Carnegie Mellon is especially well situated to make unique, impactful and world-class contributions; and areas where we believe that efforts to procure additional resources can be successful."

The plan is available to the university community at http://www.cmu.edu/strategic-plan.

Tartans Run Away With Regional Title, Go on to Nationals

Carnegie Mellon's men's cross-country team won the NCAA Division III Mideast Regional Championship last weekend and will now compete for the national title this Saturday in Hanover, Ind. The regional championship is the second for the Tartans, who last won the event in 1988. For the second consecutive year, senior Brian Harvey was the meet's overall winner, covering the 8K course at Waynesburg University in 25:10. Junior Dario Donatelli, son of Head Coach Dario Donatelli, was fourth overall, followed by senior Breck Fresen (sixth), sophomore J.P. Allera (13th) and senior Ryan Anderson (17th).

For more on the cross-country team:
http://www.cmu.edu/athletics/intercollegiate-sports/mens-teams/cross-country/index.html

ETC To Test Special Concept Before Building Virtual Worlds Show, Dec. 3

Carnegie Mellon's Entertainment Technology Center (ETC) presents its free, annual Building Virtual Worlds Show at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 3, in McConomy Auditorium, showcasing a collection of interactive virtual worlds created by interdisciplinary student teams. Each world was constructed as part of the Building Virtual Worlds course, founded by the late Randy Pausch and currently taught by renowned game design specialist Jesse Schell.

The fun will begin at 3:30 p.m., as ETC students take advantage of the long line that forms two hours before the show to test their concept called "Get In Line." A combination of videos and interactive videogames, Get In Line is designed both to heighten the experience of the Building Virtual Worlds show and encourage people to socialize in line. Using ordinary cell phones as controllers, people in the "queue-munity" will play videogames with others in line.

For more: http://www.cmu.edu/news/archive/2008/November/nov18_buildingvirtualworlds.shtml

Researchers Receive $10 Million Grant To Automate Farming Systems

Two groups of researchers at Carnegie Mellon's Robotics Institute have received a total of $10 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to build automated farming systems. One is for apple growers and one is for orange growers, but both are designed to improve fruit quality and lower production costs.

The Comprehensive Automation for Specialty Crops Program, led by Sanjiv Singh, research professor of robotics, received a four-year, $6 million grant to develop systems for the apple industry. The Integrated Automation for Sustainable Specialty Crop Farming Project, led by Tony Stentz and Herman Herman of the Robotics Institute's National Robotics Engineering Center, received a three-year, $4 million grant to develop systems for the citrus industry.

The systems use sensors to gather data about tree health and crop status. Robotic vehicles will be used to administer precise amounts of water or agricultural chemicals to specific areas or trees, and automate routine tasks such as mowing between tree rows.

For more: http://www.cmu.edu/news/archive/2008/November/nov19_fruitfarming.shtml

News Briefs

• President Jared Cohon will hold an open student office hour at 5 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 25. Interested students should contact G. Richard Tucker, interim dean of Student Affairs, at grtucker@andrew.cmu.edu.
• Parking & Transportation Services has announced the following schedule changes: the East Campus and Dithridge Street garages will close at 11 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 26 and re-open at 7 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 29; the Zebina Way lot on Winthrop Street will close at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 26 and re-open at 7 a.m., Monday, Dec. 1.
• Applications for Carnegie Mellon's Leadership Academy are due Monday, Dec. 1. The new program aims to prepare talented and dedicated staff to guide the university into the future by enhancing leadership, decision making and business management capabilities through an intensive, yearlong professional development program that combines classroom education and a hands-on capstone project. For more: http://www.cmu.edu/leadership-academy
• Carnegie Mellon's Women's Leadership Program is looking for students with leadership potential. The program stimulates critical thinking and problem-solving skills while cultivating networks with other women in the campus community. For more information, email Rowshan Palmer at rowhshan@andrew.cmu.edu. Nominations are due Nov. 25.
• For the first time, Carnegie Mellon teams took the top two places in the ACM-ICPC East Central North America Regional Programming Contest in Cincinnati on Nov. 1. The Tartans — computer science sophomores Tom Conerly and Alan Pierce and electrical and computer engineering senior Celestine Lau — completed seven of the eight problems in 1,287 minutes to take first place and move on to the World Finals April 22, 2009, in Stockholm, Sweden. The Dragons — computer science junior Daniel Schafer, computer science sophomore Yun "Stanley" Yeo and electrical and computer engineering freshman Si Young Oh — took second place by completing six of the problems in 730 minutes, 64 minutes faster than third place University of Waterloo. For more: http://www.cmu.edu/news/blog/2008/Fall/1,2-in-programming.shtml
• Pre-order J.K. Rowling's "The Tales of Beedle the Bard" from the Carnegie Mellon Bookstore and receive 30 percent off the list price. The hardcover edition will be available Thursday, Dec. 4. Pre-ordered books can be shipped UPS, picked up in store or delivered to your campus address. For more: http://bookstore.web.cmu.edu/home.aspx

Personal Mention

• Scientific American recently published an article by Lorrie Cranor, associate professor in the Institute for Software Research and the Engineering & Public Policy Department, titled "Can Phishing be Foiled? Understanding the human factors that make people vulnerable to online criminals can improve both security training and technology." For the full article, visit http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=how-to-foil-phishing-scams.
• Terry Collins, the Thomas Lord Professor of Chemistry, has been named an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand. Head of the Institute for Green Oxidation Chemistry at the Mellon College of Science, Collins is credited with creating a new class of oxidation catalysts with the potential for enormous, positive impact on the environment. These catalysts are the result of decades of Collins's work to develop green processes for industry.
• Eric Anderson, associate professor in the School of Design, will become president of the Board of Directors and Education Council of the Industrial Designers Society of America in January 2009. For more: http://www.cmu.edu/news/archive/2008/November/nov11_idsa.shtml
• Mechanical Engineering Professor Jonathan Cagan has received the George Tallman and Florence Barrett Ladd Professorship in Engineering. Cagan co-founded and co-directs the Masters in Product Development Program and the Center for Product Strategy and Innovation.
• Mechanical Engineering Professor Kenji Shimada has received the Theodore Ahrens Professorship in Engineering. Shimada's research interests include computational engineering and robotics, reverse engineering, factory robotics and computer assisted surgery.
• Discover magazine's December cover story features the "50 Best Brains in Science" and the editors have included Luis von Ahn, assistant professor of computer science. For more: http://www.cmu.edu/news/blog/2008/Fall/von-ahn-among-best-brains.shtml
• Architecture Professor Khee Poh Lam has been named to the board of directors of the Energy Foundation, a partnership of major donors that aims to advance energy efficiency and renewable energy primarily in the U.S. and China. For more: http://www.cmu.edu/homepage/environment/2008/fall/khee-poh-lam.shtml
• Gregg B. Franklin, professor of physics at Carnegie Mellon's Mellon College of Science (MCS), has been named head of the Department of Physics. He succeeds Fred Gilman, who served as department head from 1999 until he was appointed dean of MCS in April 2008. Franklin joined the Carnegie Mellon faculty in 1984, and has served as MCS's associate dean for Faculty and Graduate Affairs since 2002. For more: http://www.cmu.edu/news/archive/2008/November/nov17_franklinphysics.shtml
• Carnegie Mellon's Dan Hefley, 18, was recently selected to play goalie on the U.S. National Under 20 Paralympic Sled Hockey Team that will compete Nov. 21-24 in Sacramento, Calif. Members of this prestigious hockey team will have the opportunity for selection to the U.S. Paralympic Hockey Team that will go to the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, B.C. For more: http://www.cmu.edu/news/archive/2008/November/nov10_paralympicteam.shtml

Calendar Highlights

• Saturday, Nov. 22: Carnegie Mellon Jazz Ensembles. 3 p.m., Alumni Concert Hall. David Pellow directs. Free admission. For more: http://music.cmu.edu
• Monday, Nov. 24: President Jared Cohon's "Address to Staff" on the state of the university. Noon-1 p.m., McConomy Auditorium, University Center (UC). Presented by Staff Council.
• Monday, Nov. 24: "Journeys" Lecture Series. 4:30 p.m., Adamson Wing, 136A Baker Hall. Gloriana St. Clair, dean of University Libraries, presents "My Reading and Writing Life."
• Monday, Nov. 24: Thanksgiving Celebration. 6 p.m., Rangos 1 and 2, UC. Student Development presents a traditional Thanksgiving meal for the campus community as part of Spiritual Development Month. Meal cost is $9.50.
• Monday, Nov. 24: CityLive: An Innovation Contest. 6:30 p.m., New Hazlett Theater. Winners will be announced and finalists in the contest will be featured, several of which have Carnegie Mellon connections. The presentation is followed by a reception. Please RSVP to rsvp@citylivepgh.org. For more: http://www.universitypartnership.com/
• Monday, Nov. 24: All University Orchestra Concert. 8 p.m., Carnegie Music Hall. Free admission. The concert features music by Beethoven, Bach and Gabrieli. For more: http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/~auo
• Wednesday, Dec. 3: "Law and Popular Culture Film Series." 6:30 p.m., Porter Hall 100. The Pre-Law Program presents "My Cousin Vinny," followed by a discussion led by actors, writers, students and legal professionals.
• Thursday, Dec. 4: 25th Annual Kiltie Band Holiday Concert. 5:30 p.m., Kirr Commons, UC. Refreshments will be served.
• Saturday, Dec. 6: Madrigal Dinner. Reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7:30 p.m., Rangos Ballroom, UC. Entertainment includes Carnegie Mellon Choir students under the direction of Robert Page. Chemistry Professor Karen Stump will perform "chemical magic." For more information, call 412-268-4886 or 412-268-2107.
• For more events, visit http://my.cmu.edu/site/events.