Personal Mention

Alfred Blumstein, the J. Erik Jonsson University Professor of Urban Systems and Operations Research, emeritus, at the Heinz College, is the 2016 recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Division of Developmental/Life-Course Criminology (DLC) of the American Society of Criminology. The award recognizes an individual who has a record of sustained and outstanding contributions to scholarly knowledge on developmental and life-course criminology. Blumstein is a renowned criminologist known for his analytical, data-driven research into violence, criminal careers and public policy. His work has investigated nearly every aspect of the criminal justice system, from modeling of criminal careers, sentencing and prison populations, to the impact of demographic trends and drug-enforcement policy analysis. His research and analytical approach has had great influence on criminal justice policies and practices in the United States. Blumstein will receive the award at the DLC’s annual meeting, Nov. 17 in New Orleans. Find out more.

Christopher Bettinger (left) and Krzysztof Matyjaszewski (right) are part of a team receiving a $3 million grant from the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency (DARPA) to develop vanishing drones and devices for the military and intelligence communities. The CMU researchers are designing special polymers for single-use parachutes that will disintegrate on demand in response to an electrical trigger. Such devices could help keep deployed personnel safe by delivering needed items, like small computers or medical supplies, without alerting others or allowing technology and materials to fall into hostile hands. Matyjaszewski, the J. C. Warner University Professor of Natural Sciences and Chemical Engineering, is working to tackle the problem at the molecular level. Bettinger, an associate professor of materials science and biomedical engineering, will focus on the materials science and manufacturing side of the problem. Find out more.