Carnegie Mellon University

The Piper

CMU Community News

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February 16, 2012

News Briefs

CMU Begins Teaching Professional Development Program in Rwanda

Carnegie Mellon University-Rwanda held its first professional development class on Tuesday. The class, "Introduction to Strategic Uses of Digital Information," is taught by Professor Michel Bézy. CMU-R, the first major higher education institution in the U.S. to offer graduate engineering degree programs in Rwanda, will begin teaching master's degree courses in information technology in August.

SEI, Housing and Dining Invite Community to SEI Café Grand Opening

Members of the CMU community are invited to join the SEI and Housing and Dining Services in the "Grand Opening"  and naming of the SEI Café on Wednesday, Feb. 22.  Food specials and giveaways will be available from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  The winner of the naming competition will be revealed at noon during the ribbon cutting festivities. The SEI Café is located on the first floor of the SEI building. Campus members can access the cafe by using the call button at the main doors.  The SEI Café is open to all members of the CMU community.

Reservations Due Today for CMWA Mardi Gras Lunch

The Carnegie Mellon Women's Association (CMWA) will have its annual Mardi Gras Lunch at noon on Tuesday, Feb. 21 in the Peter/Wright Rooms, University Center. The cost is $10 per person, which includes a traditional Mardi Gras lunch, dessert and beverage. Non-members and new members are welcome, and all funds go directly to the CMWA scholarship fund. Please RSVP to Krista Campbell at kcampell@cmu.edu by today (Feb. 16). For more information about the Women's Assocation, visit www.cmu.edu/cmwa/.

Students Could Win $20,000 for Innovative Sustainable Idea

Students with a great sustainable idea could win up to $20,000 by winning The Odebrecht Award for Sustainable Development. The award program is accepting entries from students in engineering fields, architecture, building and construction management, and chemistry. Whether related to efficient uses of sustainable materials, new chemical processes or new building techniques, projects should explore innovative practices, methods and ideas that can be implemented in a variety of real-world ventures. Entries will be judged on content, technical contribution, applicability, clarity/presentation and reasoning/depth. Entries are due May 31. Read more about the awards program at http://www.odebrechtaward.com/

Buggy Freeroll Practice Schedule Continues

Weekend buggy freeroll practices will continue through Sunday, April 15. Weather permitting, practices will take place from 6 to 8:50 a.m. on Saturdays and from 6 to 9 a.m. on Sundays. Tech Street, Frew Street and Schenley Drive will be closed to vehicular traffic from 5 to 9 a.m. on the following dates: Feb. 18, 19, 25; March 3, 4, 17, 18, 24, 25, 31; and April  1, 7, 8, 14, 15.

Nominations Sought for Student Employee of the Year Award

Nominations are now being accepted for the Student Employee of the Year (SEOTY) Award, sponsored by the Northeast Association of Student Employment Administrators (NEASEA) and the National Student Employment Association (NSEA). This is the 13th year that Carnegie Mellon is participating in the program, which recognizes the outstanding contributions of college students who work while attending college.  All student employees, undergraduate and graduate, are eligible. The application deadline is Feb. 20.

The nomination process and form are available online. Questions? Contact Pati Kravetz, Career & Professional Development Center, at pk13@andrew.cmu.edu.

Cultural Trust Offers Discounted Tickets to CMU Community

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is offering students, faculty and staff discounted tickets to several performances in January, February and March. They include:

  • PJO Pittsburgh vs. Philadelphia (Feb. 18 at the August Wilson Center);
  • Dance Works Rotterdam (Feb. 18 at the Byham);
  • Cirque Dreams Pop Goes the Rock (Feb. 21-26 at Heinz Hall);
  • Between a Ballad and a Blue (Feb. 24-25 at the August Wilson Center);
  • Bodiography Red Carpet Rollout (Feb. 24-25 at the Byham);
  • Distant Worlds: Music from Final Fantasy (Feb. 25 at the Benedum);
  • Armitage Gone! Dance in Three Theories (March 3 at the Byham);
  • Blues Brothers Revue (March 8 at the Byham); and
  • Dynamic Women of Dance (March 9-10 at the August Wilson Center).

To order tickets, go to http://www.trustarts.org and login using the promo code CMU1112 to receive the discount.

Special Dinner and Show packages, which include dinner at Lidia's, are available for the Feb. 9 performance of Billy Elliot. To order these packages go to http://www.trustarts.org/lidias

Internal Communications, Media Relations Win Awards

Internal Communications and Media Relations have been recognized by CUPRAP, The Association of Communicators in Education. The Piper's print edition has won a 2012 Gold CUPPIE Award for Excellence in the Print Publications/Newsletter category for the September 2011 issue, which carried the large banner headline PHENOMENAL for its lead story announcing William Dietrich's historic and transformational $265 million gift. Other stories in the first issue of the school year included President Obama's most recent visit to CMU; staff and student experiences working on "The Dark Knight" film; and stories about how CMU interacts with the communities in Pittsburgh and Silicon Valley.

In addition, Media Relations won a Silver CUPPIE Award in the Public Relations/Media Relations Campaign category for "Thought for Food," which highlighted professor Carey Morewedge's research that found repeatedly imagining indulging in a treat decreases the desire for it. Congratulations to Bruce Gerson and Heidi Opdyke for their work on The Piper, and Shilo Rea for "Thought For Food."

Sessions To Cover Responsible Conduct of Research

The Office of Research Integrity & Compliance is holding several sessions covering Responsible Conduct of Research. The schedule is as follows:

  • Feb. 15 
    Research Misconduct, 12-1 p.m., UC, Rangos 3
    Presenter: Ann Mathias, VP Research Integrity & Compliance
  • March 7
    Ethical Considerations in Research with Human Subjects, 12-1 p.m., UC, Connan Room
    Presenter: Professor Alex London, Philosophy
  • March 27
    International Research Issues & Considerations, 12-1 p.m., UC, Rangos 1
    Presenter: Sarah Belousov, Project Manager, Robotics Institute
  • April 4
    Who Owns Research Data? 12-1 p.m., UC, Connan Room
    Presenter: Faculty TBD
  • April 11
    Safeguarding Research Technology, 12-1 p.m., UC, Connan Room
    Presenter: FBI Special Agent TBD
  • May 1
    Conflict of Interest - New Rules, 12-1 p.m., UC, Connan Room
    Presenter: Ann Mathias, VP Research Integrity & Compliance

To register for any session go to  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/K2MQKHF

3-D Facial Study Seeks Participants

The Department of Oral Biology at the University of Pittsburgh is seeking individuals between the ages of 3 and 40 who are in good overall health for a study on the genetic basis of facial appearance. You or your child may be eligible if you are of 100 percent Caucasian ancestry, have not had facial plastic or reconstructive surgery, and have no history of facial birth defects in your family. Participants will have a 3-D photograph taken of their face, have hand and head measurements taken, and must provide a saliva sample and basic personal information. The procedures will take less than one half-hour. Participants will be compensated. For more information, call 1-866-681-7570 or e-mail faces3d@pitt.edu.