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The Magazine of Rice University INSIDE RICE SALLYPORT • THE MAGAZINE OF RICE UNIVERSITY • FALL 2003

2 Foreword Thinking • 3 Return Addressed • 4 Through the Sallyport

D epartments 38 Rice: The Next Century Campaign • 42 Rice Arts 47 On the Bookshelf • 49 Who's Who 52 Scoreboard • 53 Yesteryear

Did you get a flu shot 43 A unique class that 5last year? Then you'd explores the art and better get one this year. business ofprintmaking Michael Dean tells you transforms classic photos why. ofthe Rice campus into artistic prints.

A Rice innovation Aoh. 7makes the list ofthe 100 When corporate 10 A think tank with a most technologically ‘911. executives misbehave, difference, the Baker significant products of should consumers Institute for Public the year. shoulder some ofthe Policy marks 10 years of blame? distinguished service.

Want to know about 6the latest research in nanoscale science and technology? NanoFANS has the scoop. Creating a new 44department is the first step in elevating the role ofthe visual arts at Rice. 11 2 The Rice tennis team Npr courts victory.

Rice marine geologists uncover evidence of intense meteor strikes caused by a cokmal asteroid collision 500 million years ago. 12 When You Wish Upon a Star 21 The General Education Bridge Ever since she was a girl, Rice alumna and faculty Can a required course ever be fun? Innova- member Peggy Whitson wanted to go into space. tive courses and curriculum projects at Rice Last year, she served as the first-ever science officer reveal the pros of putting students in charge assigned to the International Space Station. of their general education.

by David D. Medina by Deborah J. Ausman

16 Room to Grow: The Lynn R. Lowrey Features 26 Class: Major Influences Arboretum In this chapter ofour ongoing series, several Rice already has a beautiful campus, and thanks to of our students talk about what influences the Lynn R. Lowrey Arboretum, it also will be one prompted them to choose their major areas of the region's most ecologically rich. of study.

by Maria Stalford by M. Yvonne Taylor

Fall '03 1 FOREWORD THINKING

Not long ago, I was talking to an older alum—one who graduated in the Rice Institute Rice Sallyport Fall 2003, Vol. 60, No. 1 days—and he made an interesting observation. Rice has always been an excellent school with high aspirations, he told me, but it is far better now than when he'd been a student—tougher to get Published by the Division of Public Affairs into and tougher to graduate from. That, coupled with 40 additional years of Rice's increasing Terry Shepard, vice president reputation as a world-class university, had added considerably to the prestige of his Rice degree. Editor Then, with a wry grin, he commented that he probably would not have gotten into Rice had Christopher Dow the admission and graduation requirements been as stringent then as they are now, and that he the coattails of graduates one-third his age. was, in essence, riding on Creative Director The truth is that, all too often, prestige lies in the eyes ofthe Jeff Cox beholder rather than in the intrinsic worth ofthat which is beheld. Rice, thankfully, has both intrinsic worth as well as prestige, but Art Director there was a time when the fledgling Rice, despite the ballyhoo Chuck Thurmon surrounding its inauguration, had to prove its worth when com- pared to more venerable institutions of higher learning. It did Editorial Staff ranks ofthose David D. Medina '83, senior editor and, because ofthat, rose in distinction to join the M. Yvonne Taylor, associate editor same institutions it once aspired to equal. Lindsay Dold, assistant editor Getting to the top takes a lot ofhard work and diligence. Stay- Lorrie Lampson, production coordinator ing there is perhaps more difficult, and Rice cannot rest on its laurels. Today there is incredibly intense competition among universities for all the elements that matter most in higher education: Design Staff Dean Mackey, senior designer excellent faculty,superior students,and ample funding for general operations,state-of-the-art facili- Jana Starr, designer ties, student assistance, and research. Maintaining—much less Tommy LaVergne, photographer Jeff Fitlow, assistant photographer increasing—each ofthese elements requires constant vigilance. Getting to the Faculty can be lured elsewhere, state-of-the-art facilities can technologies,and programs The Rice University Board be all too quickly eclipsed by new top takes a lot of of Trustees and research can cease to exist from lack offunding. All these E. William Barnett, chair; J. D. Bucky factors affect the decision ofsuperior students to choose Rice hard work and Allshouse; D. Kent Anderson; Teveia Rose Barnes; Alfredo Brener; Robert T. or go elsewhere. diligence. Staying Brockman; Albert Y. Chao; James W. The simple fact is that the value of a degree hinges in part Crownover;EdwardA. Dominguez; Bruce W. Dunlevie; James A. Elkins, III; Lynn on the reputation of the university that has granted it. Rice's there is perhaps Laverty Elsenhans; Karen 0. George; reputation can continue to rise,or, due to lack ofsupport—and Susanne Glasscock;K Terry Koonce;Cindy more difficult, and J. Lindsay; Michael R. Lynch; Robert R.. thus means—it can fall. And with those fluctuations goes the Maxfield; Burton J. McMurtry; Steven L. cachet that a Rice degree imparts to its alumni. Support can Rice cannot rest Miller; W. Bernard Pieper; Karen Hess forms,the mostobvious being funding.As a private Rogers; Marc Shapiro; William N. Sick; take various L. E. Simmons university, Rice must make its financial way among far-larger on its laurels. state supported schools in what is, as we all know, a difficult Administrative Officers Malcolm Gillis, president; Zenaido financial climate. But support also includes the less tangible, Camacho, vice president for Student such as participation in the Association of Rice Alumni, vol- Affairs, Dean W. Currie, vice president for Finance and Administration; Charles unteerism on behalf of the university, or simple advocacy. Henry,vice presidentand chiefinformation Indeed,all these forms ofsupport are crucialin these changing officer, Eric Johnson, vice president for evolution not only in technologies but in educational models Resource Development, Eugene Levy, times,for we are witnessing incredible provost, Terry Shepard, vice presidentfor and the needs and aspirations ofstudents, and Rice cannot allow the dynamic forward momentum Public Affairs,Scott W. Wise, vice president it has built over the past decade to falter. We must take up the dual challenges of forging ahead forInvestments and treasurer,AnnWright, vice presidentfor Enrollment, Richard A. and, at the same time, preparing the way for our own passage. And none of us should make the Zansitis,general counsel. mistake of believing that the facilities we are so proud oftoday will be state-of-the-art in 20 years, Sallyport is published by the Division of that current educational models will adequately represent the pedagogy ofthe future, or that new Public Affairs ofRice University and is sent directions in research can be predicted by contemporary standards. to university alumni,faculty, staff, graduate enough to students, parents of undergraduates, and Pride in and respect for Rice should be reason contribute to the university, as is friends of the university. preservation ofthe distinction ofa Rice degree. But mostimportant, perhaps, is that Rice,despite its modest size, is making a real difference in the world. I could cite numerous Sallyport articles Editorial Offices Office of Publications—MS 95 reporting on achievements made by members of the Rice community—from the scientific and P.O. Box 1892 technological to the social and cultural—but such a catalog would require an issue unto itself. Houston, Texas 77251-1892 Instead of dwelling on past achievements, I simply ask you to use your imagination to envision Fax:713-348-6751 Rice—and the accomplishments of its alumni, faculty, researchers, and students—in 20 years. E-mail:[email protected] Then I encourage you to discover what you can do to help make that vision a reality. Postmaster Send address changes to: Rice University Development Services—MS 80 P.O. Box 1892 Houston,TX 77251-1892

02003 RICE UNIVERSITY

2 Rice Sallyport *-•

Letters

The Real Kelly Niemann

In the write-upon Jeff Niemann in the summer issue, the woman pictured with Jeffmay indeed be his biggestfan, but she is not his mother. She is his cousin, Sherry Darby, whose husband,Glenn, ran track at Rice in the 1960s.Our apologies to the Niemamis. Here is Jeff, with his parents, Kelly and Steve.

past. Please be aware, however, that Will the Real Beer Bike Winners On the inside back cover of the summer students have been doing this for a Please Stand Up? Sallyport it is stated that "Will Rice was longtime. My daughter,Jill, surprised the first across the finish line" at Beer Bike. us on her Christmas visit home in 2001 Sallyportis the magazine ofRice Uni- Wrong, wrong, wrong. Martel was the with a very new,very short cut. Locks versity. How could you be so careless of Love was delighted, as red hair is clear winner and by a large margin. All of as to report incorrecdy who won 2003 hard to come by. A good friend of Beer Run? Martel College had its very the students in the above photo are Martel hers, Stephanie Moat, also donated first major victory on campus,and you College students. at the same time. These women have robbed us ofit. The least you can Arthur Few made the donation with no fanfare do is have a feature article on Martel's Master, Martel College and would probably be embarrassed victory in your next issue. ifany fuss were made.A well balanced Not happy at Martel. article,however, might include further Joan Few false—ask anyone who was there, The Others research into the frequency that dona- Master, Martel College or the Thresher staff, or everyone at tions to Locks of Love are made by Martel who was cheering when they I enjoyed your artide aboutTony Elam all Rice students. won. Will Rice did, however, decide and his games. Unfortunately,you got Rice students make other simple, It's not fair reporting that Will Rice to have another race the following the name ofone of his favorite games but meaningful contributions to the won Beer Bike, even though it was week which they titled the Will Rice wrong. It is Cosmic Encounter, not Houston community. I doubt if very Beer Run. We still won fair and Invitational Beer Bike. Everyone else Cosmic Encounters. My housemates many Rice students are content to square. Fix it. at Rice just called it Fake Beer Bike (one of whom coincidentally used to just study. Most go to Rice precisely James Walker because that's what it really is. That, work with Tony at IBM and game because they want challenges and Houston, Texas and you can't just have another race with him at CLAG) call it Cosmic new experiences. I believe you might because you didn't win the first one. Encounters to annoy me. find many more interesting ways Rice That's just stupid. Whether or not John S. Adair'89 students contribute to the community -chiefof a fellow Rice As the editor-in Will Rice won the race they planned Austin, Texas if you seek them out. Universitypublication,the Campanile for themselves is completely insignifi- Louise Bergman lack yearbook, I am horrified by the cant—not to mention the fact that Long Grove, Illinois ofjournalistic responsibility exhibited only two other colleges showed up Just a note: Lynn Elsenhans is cur- in the most recent issue of Sallyport. to their Waste of Everyone's Freak- rently on the Jones Graduate School The Beer Bike results, though they ing Time Invitational.So just because Board of Overseers, and your write- Thank you for the summer issue. I do may seem trivial to some,are very im- some people at Will Rice who were up makes it sound like she no longer not remember an issue with more in- portant to Rice students and alumni. dropped on their heads as babies de- is. Vicki Bretthaur is also on the JGS teresting articles, better graphics,and These results are not difficult facts cided to have another race doesn't Council of Overseers. Obviously, more information. It is the best yet. to find. Martel won the men's race make it valid. Recognize the winners we're proud of having them on our Judy Wingo at Beer Bike—plain and simple. My of Actual Real Beer Bike: Martel. council. Richardson, Texas photograph was also used in this issue, Will Thompson Debra Thomas and I do not wish to compromise my Martel College Director ofPublic Relations own journalistic integrity by having Jones Graduate School of I just read the summer issue of the my likeness appear alongside a faulty Management Sallyport. It's terrific—both layoutand article. Please send an apology to Our apologies to Martel College and content. Cheers to the staff. Martel College and all the recipients our readers. The error resulted from Susan Lieberman of your magazine. I appreciate the articles on students, Director, Leadership Rice a too Heidi Sherman -hurried reading of the results especially the various ways that they Martel College posted at http://www.rufrice.edu/ volunteer themselves and their time -program/beerbike/results.html which for others. The summer 2003 issue, which listed the winners of the alumni race It has come to my attention that I just received, has an article on the first and the men's race last. Sallyport reported that Will Rice donation ofhair to LocksofLove. You won Beer Bike/Run. This is clearly —Editor have featured other students in the

Fall '03 3 The Art of Separation 11111.

ofthe visual arts this new depart- The Department of Art and Art History is no more. But never department. One ment, which will fear, art lovers—in its stead stand two new departments: the problem the depart- include the Rice Department of Art History and the Department of Visual Arts. ments encountered, she Media Center, is the says, was that the two dis- first step in elevating the ciplines had grown too large to be role of the visual arts at Rice," managed together effectively. Art says Broker,"but equally impor- The split recognizes the different Naficy said he hopes each de- professors also have different needs tant is the creation of a new spirit teaching and research methods partment can now concentrate than art history professors, such as of camaraderie and dedication on and art historians. used by artists its efforts on developing its own dealing with heavy equipment and the part of each and every studio "Artists tend to be visual and con- local, national, and international chemicals, safety procedures, and faculty member and staff person. historians tend ceptual, while art identity to attract top students, adequate space for working. We hope to create an atmosphere to be analytical and discursive," says Gale Stokes, the Mary Gibbs Jones Professor of History and "From the enthusiasm that the change has already former dean ofhumanities. "Artists create space,line, color, and shape; stirred among the artists and historians, it is clear art historians analyze those cre- ations, placing them in context." that the sum of the two separate departments will The move will enhance each actually be greater than when they were together." department by making it more — Gale Stokes "effective, efficient, and respon- sive to student and faculty in- visitors, scholars, and artists. Each The division already has created of cooperative work and interac- structional and research needs," department also can develop more a new energy among the visual tion among all of our various art says Hamid Naficy, the Nina J. rigorous undergraduate and grad- artists, Broker says. When stu- disciplines, the kind ofcamarade- Cullinan Professor of Art History uate majors in its area, create closer dents returned in the fall, they felt rie that characterizes the best art and chair of the art history de- ties with local and national that they were studying and work- institutions." partment. Thelhange museum and arts com- ing in a real "art school." The The split does not signal the will not affect &rrent munities,increase mission of the visual arts depart- end of collaboration between art academic programs, interdisciplinary col- ment is to give students the best historians and artists and may even and no professors laborations, and opportunity to study painting, encourage more partnerships. will be added to promote its own in- sculpture, photography, drawing, "From the enthusiasm that the either depart- tellectual, program- design, filmmaking, and print- change has already stirred among ment. However, matic, and artistic making at the undergraduate lev- the artists and historians," Stokes the art historians, growth at Rice. el. In turn, this will create more says, "it is clear that the sum of who currently are The reorganization collaborations with the School the two separate departments will housed in Sewall Hall, will help define the goals of Architecture and the Houston actually be greater than when they will move their offices into of visual arts professors, says arts community. were together."• Herring Hall during the 2003-04 Karin Broker, professor and chair "We believe the creation of winter break. —Ellen Chang

"We believe the creation of this new department is the first step in elevating the role of the visual arts at Rice." —Kann Broker

4 Rice Sallyport THROUGH THE SALL‘r PORI

Will a Flu Shot This Year Make You More Susceptible Next Year?

Michael Deem was getting a flu shot a few years ago when the nurse warned him that he would be at greater risk for getting the flu the following winter if he failed to get next year's flu shot.

The offhand comment piqued organisms, known Deem's curiosity. An expert in as antigens. molecular and computational It is the job of biology, he couldn't reconcile the antibodies—pro- that it is a systemic problem nurse's comment with what he teins produced in when it would be that persists even if the model is knew about the human immune white blood cells—to e\C>° more advantageous adjusted so that the binding re- system. He knew that the effects recognize antigens and ei- \\A" \0 for the body to rely on gions on the antigen are smaller from vaccination last for years. In ther kill the invaders themselves its randomly created antibod- and even when the body is given addition, there were classic studies by binding to them or by recruit- ies than on the more numerous more time to recognize the dis- in immunology that proved that ing other immune cells to help "remembered" varieties. Take a ease. "Because the system tends repeated vaccination did not con- destroy the antigens. White blood fast-mutating virus like the flu, to go with what worked before, fer greater immunity. cells don't know the biochemical for example. It has several distinct we end up with a localization and "I asked my doctor about it, signature of each invader ahead areas where antibodies can bind, a reduction in diversity," Deem and of course, he knew nothing," of time, so they compensate with but each year, those may change. explains. In effect, the system Deem says. "So I asked the head volume and diversity. At any given If a person has four antibodies forgoes whole classes of random' ofimmunology at UCLA,and time, there are about 100 million that worked against one variety combinations that might actually she told me there was no reason antibodies in the human system, offlu, and he or she contracts work against the new mutant in for that to be true." Deem says. A significant portion another variety that has only two favor of tried-and-true varieties More curious than ever, Deem, of these are created using random similar binding areas, then his or that will not. who is the John W. Cox Professor segments of DNA so that they her immune system will be predis- Deem says the fivclings from of Bioengineering, undertook his can recognize different antigens, posed to make antibodies against the research could prove helpful own study of the literature and even those that the immune sys- only the two sites the varieties to vaccine designers and to those found what he was looking for—a tem has never encountered. have in common. Moreover, im- studying public health. Also, the phenomenon known as "original But the immune system pays mune systems will never learn to methodology used to study the antigenic sin." Though little- particular attention to diseases it recognize the two new binding system might also be applicable in known, the phenomenon turned has fought before and maintains signatures that are present on the other disciplines, such as ecology, out to be well-documented, not antibodies for those at about 100 new strain, choosing instead to go where researchers are attempting just in influenza but for a few times higher concentration than with what worked in prior cases. to study the long-term conse- other viruses, such as dengue fe- the randomly created varieties. Over time, as the disease mutates quences of reduction in diversity ver and AIDS. That's why vaccination works: more and more and has progres- of species. The precise reasons why people It prepares the immune system sively less in common with the What it means for those of you need regular vaccinations against to attack specific antigens by ac- original "remembered" variety, who have been getting flu shots in some viruses, like the flu, and tivating this recognition system, antibodies become ill-prepared to the past is that there is good rea- not against others, like polio, are allowing the body to maintain a recognize it. son to keep them up.• related to two different factors: high level of antibodies against a A computational model de- how fast the viruses mutate and specific disease it's in Deem's lab to dem- never actually veloped —Jade Boyd the way the immune system rec- contracted. onstrate exactly how original ognizes and targets the invading Original antigenic sin occurs antigenic sin operates indicates

Fall '03 5 THROUGH THE SALLYPORT

NanoFANS Support Small Science in a Big Field

Rice's Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology (CNST) has established a new affiliate program that allows off-campus supporters of nanoscience and nanotechnology to both materially support research at Rice and stay abreast of the latest developments at CNST.

The program, called NanoFANS— short for Friends Advancing Nano Science/Technology—offers a va- riety of membership levels aimed at groups as diverse as grade school students and business leaders. Using fossil meteorites and ancient limestone unearthed throughout recovered, and Sclunitz's group "Since CNST was formed in southern Sweden, marine geologists at Rice University have discovered found 50 of those. 1993, people outside the Rice com- that a colossal collision in the asteroid belt some 500 million years ago "It is true that we are lucky to be munity have asked how they could led to intense meteorite strikes over Earth's surface. looking in just the right get involved, either in helping us place—a layer oflithified sediments to further scientific research at the The research, which appeared graphic time capsule. that was forming on the sea floor nanoscale or to educate the public in the May 9 issue of Science, is The new study found a hun- immediately after this massive col- about the benefits and prospects for based on an analysis of fossil me- dred-fold increase in meteorite lision," Schmitz says. "But on the nanotechnology," says Wade Adams, teorites and limestone samples activity during the period of other hand, we would never have CNST director. "NanoFANS gives from five Swedish quarries located limestone formation over the en- started looking there in the first those folks a window on the CNST as much as 310 miles apart. tire 150,000-square-mile search place if the quarry workers hadn't research that's under way in the "We are doing astronomy, but area. In looking for unique ex- been finding the meteorites on a laboratories of more than 80 Rice instead oflooking up at the stars, traterrestrial forms of the mineral regular, yet still rare, basis." Until faculty members." we are looking down into All NanoFANS members receive the Earth," says lead re- a membership card, advance notice searcher Birger Schmitz, "We are doing astronomy, but of all CNST events, and an invita- who conducted his analy- instead of looking up at the stars, we tion to the annual CNST faculty/ sis during his tenure as staff/student outing. Upper-level the VViess Visiting Profes- are looking down into the Earth." members get additional benefits sor of Earth Science at —Birger Schmitz like reserved parking for events and Rice. Schmitz is profes- opportunities to sponsor events. sor of marine geology at Details and enrollment forms Goteborg University in Sweden. chromite that are found only in Schmitz's group started working are available online at http:// Meteorite activity on Earth meteorites from the L-chondrite with the quarry crew, the fossil- cnst.rice.edu.• is relatively uniform today, with breakup, Schmitz and his col- ized meteorites were considered —Jade Boyd an average of about one mete- leagues found that all the intact blemishes in the limestone and were orite per year falling every 7,700 fossil meteorites in the Swedish discarded. square miles. Some 20 percent limestone came from the breakup. Schmitz believes it is possible of the meteorites that reach Moreover, they found matching that similar concentrations offos- Earth today are remnants of a concentrations of silt and sand- silized meteorites and extrater- ) very large asteroid that plan- sized grains of extraterrestrial restrial chrotnite grains are present etary scientists refer to as the chromite in limestone from all five across the planet in limestone that • "L-chondrite parent body." quarries, indicating that meteorite formed during the period follow- This asteroid broke apart activity following the breakup was ing the asteroid breakup. He re- around 500 million years ago occurring at the same rate over cently received funding to look for in what scientists believe is the the entire area. evidence ofthis in China, and he largest collision that occurred The research helps explain why says there are South American sites in late solar-system history. The Schmitz and his colleagues at that also are favorable. breakup left its mark when lime- Goteborg have been able to col- The research was sponsored by stone forming from sea-bottom lect so many fossilized meteorites the National Geographic Society and sediments during a 2 million-year from a single quarry near Kin- the Swedish Research Council.• span about 480 million years ago nekulle, Sweden, over the past sealed intact meteorites, as well decade. Fossil meteorites embed- —Jade Boyd as trace minerals from disinte- ded in stratified rock are extreme- grated meteorites, in a litho- ly rare. Only 55 have ever been

6 Rice Sallyport THROUGH THE SALLYPOR1

Share(hard)ware part of the shared facilities of the John S. Dunn,Sr. Gulf Coast Con- Fluoronanotubes sortium for Magnetic Resonance. Top faculty in interdisciplinary Earn Prestigious While some 35 GCC researchers R&D Award fields like nanotechnology and are interested in high-field NMR bioinformatics increasingly research, there have been only two need expensive, high-powered high-field instruments in the entire Gulf-Coast equipment to do their jobs; it region. The addition of Rice's instrument and another can be the price of admission for at the University of Texas Medical competing at the highest levels Branch at Galveston will double of their fields. that capacity. Most SEA equipment is avail- One of Rice's newest weapons able only within the Rice commu- in the battle to attract and retain nity, however. This is advantageous these top faculty isn't a piece of in recruiting young faculty because equipment, however—it's a new it is much easier for junior faculty way of managing the instruments to get time on high-dollar instru- that are already here. ments at Rice than at larger state At Rice, the management and institutions. But Rice's small size maintenance ofresearch instru- makes for a Fluoronanotubes, a processed form of carbon nanotubes that opens real challenge in the ments historically has been han- area of cost recovery because there the door to hundreds of varieties of "designer" nanotubes, have been dled by academic departments. just aren't enough billable hours named one of the 100 most technologically significant products of the Rice's new Shared Equipment on the machines to cover the ris- year by R&D Magazine. Authority(SEA) grew out of a ing cost of maintenance. That's broadening awareness why SEA encour- that department-level ages external use of Conventional single-walled fluorination makes it easier to dis- management was ill- its instruments by carbon nanotubes(SVVNTs) are perse them evenly in polymers and "With the right suited for extremely industry and other hollow tubes of pure carbon that ceramic composites. level of funding, expensive instru- academic organiza- measure just one nanometer,or Those participating in Margrave's Rice could ments that are in tions. billionth of a meter,in diameter. fluoronanotube research include high demand by users do away with SEA is governed by They're excellent conductors of former doctoral student Edward T. across departments. internal user fees a 15-member faculty electricity and heat, can be electrical Mickelson, who carried out the first SEA now manages altogether." committee chaired semiconductors, and show tremen- synthesis and characterization of flu- some 20 instruments by Vicki Colvin, as- dous promise for use in advanced oronanotubes;former doctoral stu- that previously were —Vicki Colvin sociate professor of composites, sensor technology, fuel dents Ivana Chiang and Zhenning maintained by depart- chemistry and direc- cells, and molecular electronics. But Gu,who built upon Mickelson's ments in the Wiess tor of the Center for a major obstacle to fully exploiting work; Robert Hauge, distinguished School of Natural Biological and En- their properties is their tendency to faculty fellow; Richard E. Smalley, Sciences and George vironmental Nano- get tangled into knotted bundles. University Professor, the Gene and R. Brown School of technology. Colvin First prepared at Rice in the labo- Norman Hackerman Professor of Engineering. —) says that SEA is com- ratory of John Margrave, the E.D. Chemistry, and professor of physics; In addition to en- mitted to holding Butcher Professor of Chemistry,flu- Vakry Khabashesicu, faculty fellow; suring that all faculty have accL ees to their lowest possible oronanotubes have unique chemical Shyam Shulda, visiting professor to the big-ticket equipment that is level. Toward that end, the com- properties not found in pure carbon ofchemistry from Lamar Univer- increasingly needed to land com- mittee is working with the Office nanotubes. By attaching thousands sity; Gaelle Derrien, postdoctoral petitive research grants, SEA helps of Development to obtain en- offluorine atoms to the sides of research associate; graduate stu- to maximize the useful life span of dowed funds earmarked for instru- nanotubes, researchers dents Haiqing Peng, L,ei high-dollar instruments. For most ment stewardship. in Margrave's group cre- Zhang, and Yu Liu; and of these machines, Rice will spend "With the right level offunding, ated chemical "handles" undergraduate researchers an amount equal to the purchase Rice could do away with internal that allow chemists and Joel Stevens, Ian Tonics, price to keep them up-to-date user fees altogether," Colvin says. engineers to bind other Paul Reverdy, and Justin and operational over a 10-year life "That would give our faculty, par- molecules to their sides to Cratty. The research is cycle. ticularly our junior faculty, free create new materials. A sponsored by the Robert Some of the equipment will be access to instruments that they just Fluorinating nanotubes A. Welch Foundation available to researchers outside couldn't get, or would have to pay also makes it easier for and the Texas Advanced Rice. One example is a state- a lot for, at a bigger school. That scientists and engineers to exploit Technology Program. Assistance of-the-art 800 MHz nuclear would make Rice very attractive to their incredible strength. Although was provided by Carbon Nanotech- magnetic resonance(NMR) spec- innovative young researchers."• SVVNTs are 100 times stronger than nologies, Inc., Rice's Center for trometer purchased by the Gulf steel at one-sixth the weight, their Nanoscale Science and Technology, Coast Consortium(GCC) with a —Jade Boyd tendency to clump together inhib- and MarChem,Inc. • $750,000 grant from the John S. its their use in creating superstrong —Jade Boyd Dunn Research Foundation and composite materials. Research by a $1 million grant from the W.M. Margrave and others at Rice has Keck Foundation. It will become shown disentangling SWNTs via

Fall '03 7 THROUGH THE SALLYPORT

Charitable Remainder Unitrust:

A GIFT TO RICE THAT PAYS YOU BACK. Establishing a charitable remainder unitrust with Rice University offers you an opportunity to enjoy substantial financial and tax benefits while also making an important gift to Rice.

You AND THE UNIVERSITY CAN BOTH BENEFIT. FOR EXAMPLE A charitable trust may provide attractive opportunities: John and Jean Simon, both class of 1955 and retired, • Ensure and often increase income from selected assets wish to make a significant gift to Rice. They cannot • Obtain an immediate and often generous income tax make an outright gift of assets they need in their charitable deduction retirement so they establish a charitable remainder • Receive relieffrom capital gains taxes on highly unitrust with Rice. appreciated assets used to make the gift • Reduce onerous gift and estate taxes and probate costs • The Simons make an initial gift of $100,000 to • Make a significant gift to Rice fund the trust. • They receive a payout rate of5 percent, providing How IT WORKS a first-year income of $5,000. Future income will vary with trust value. of$100,000 to Rice is required to • A minimum gift • Their unitrust generates an immediate charitable Rice Trust Inc. as establish a charitable trust, with income tax deduction of $42,191. trusts are most often funded with trustee. Charitable • They designate that the unitrust ultimately bonds. However, gifts of real gifts ofcash, stocks, or establish funds dedicated to support the library closely held business may also be estate, artwork, or a and residential colleges. considered as funding sources and evaluated on an individual basis. LET US WORK WITH YOU. • A charitable unitrust makes payments based on a fixed percentage of the trust's total assets, revalued annually. The staff of the Office of Planned Giving will be happy Since the trust's assets may grow over time, the total to provide individual gift illustrations or information annual payment, though a fixed percentage, may grow about charitable trusts. Please feel free to contact us. over the years of the life of the trust.

Important Legislative Update The U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate are investigating issues concerning IRA rollovers for charitable purposes. For the latest information on the status of legislation and how it may affect charitable gifts, please check the Legislative Update on our website at http://giving.rice.edu/giving/legupdate.asp. Or call 713-348-4617 for an update.

RICE UNIVERSITY • THE OFFICE OF PLANNED GIVING MS 81 • P.O. Box 1892• Houston, Texas 77251-1892 Geri Jacobs, ChFC, CLU, Associate Director of Planned Giving • 713-348-4617• [email protected] 8 Rice Sallyport THROUGH THE SALLYPORT

Who Is Responsible?

Amid headlines of corporate misconduct, some experts say that sponsibility is to those harmed: the fact that the product had been customers, and not just executives or boards of directors, must take firm or individual who holds the commercially available for more copyright to the songs on the CD. than 17 years. "Our first reaction responsibility for the ethical behavior of companies. Ultimately, business owners, was that this was ridiculous," says managers, and board members Moser."We had manufactured a Duane Windsor, the Lynette S. legedly employed by the Burmese have to hold themselves to a whole bunch of stufflegally that Autrey Professor of Management government to operate the pipe- higher moral standard than do they suddenly said we couldn't in Rice's Jesse H. Jones Graduate line? consumers, says Windsor. "The sell." However,it became clear School of Management,is not so Windsor points out that most board has a crucial role to play that the patent was valid, and quick agree, for ethical and practi- customers would have no way of in determining the fundamental Moser and his colleagues disposed cal reasons. knowing exactly how their gas values of a company," he says. of all the parts that weren't al- In an article in a special issue was transported. In addition, of the Journal of Corporate Citi- almost any action a consumer zenship, "Stakeholder Responsi- would take, beyond simply not "We would be moving into a world bilities: Lessons for Managers," buying the product themselves, Windsor says it is "a dilution could be subject to criticism and in which everyone has unlimited of stakeholder theory to start legal challenges by others. "We spreading responsibility around would be moving into a world moral responsibility and has to consult versus keeping it with manage- in which everyone has unlimited ment." He makes a practical ar- moral responsibility and has to everyone before taking action." gument: Customers' actions often consult everyone before taking -Duane Windsor occur at a distance from the deci- action," Windsor says. sions made by management. On the other hand, the board "Based on those values, manage- ready in use. "It was a tough deci- Take the case of Unocal Cor- of directors and executive team ment is charged with formulating sion, and it felt unjust," he says. poration, an energy giant cur- at Unocal should have known and implementing strategy and This incident, along with oth- rently embroiled in a lawsuit that the Burmese government directing the operations of the ers in which he was forced to con- stemming from its passive invest- would use such methods to pro- company." sider ethics as well as the bottom ment in a pipeline partly tect its investment. If they Approaching business deci- line, prompted Moser to seek an owned by the govern- felt insulated because sions from a moral framework M.B.A. program that included ment of Burma. The they wouldn't actu- may even cost a firm, adds Wind- course work in business ethics. He military regime in ally be carrying out sor. Ken Moser, Rice M.B.A. found that at the Jones School. Burma is often any brutality, that '04, a former student of Wind- "I feel comfortable regarding my labeled by the would be a morally sor, headed a business unit that own decisions from an ethical U.S. government wrong rationaliza- manufactured parts for combus- perspective; however, given the and others as a tion, says Windsor. tion turbines. In one case, Moser recent meltdown of companies repressive dictator- To be sure, putting and his colleagues were working in the energy trading business, ship that allegedly has the onus in the execu- on a part that they manufactured in part due to apparent lapses in used rape, murder, and twee tive suite doesn't relieve in Europe, where the patent had ethical behavior, I felt ethics train- slave labor to secure its interests consumers of all responsibility expired, meaning that anyone was ing would be important going and investments—including the for making careful purchases. For free to use the design. Moser's forward," says Moser. "It's rel- pipeline at the center of the law- instance, a person who purchases team developed and launched evant to everything we do."• suit. Do consumers who purchase a CD with the knowledge that it their own product, at which point a product that is transported is stolen is acting immorally, and the company that had created the —Karen M. Kroll through this pipeline bear some probably illegally as well, Windsor original design obtained a patent responsibility for the methods al- says. The consumer's ethical re- in the United States—despite the

Fall '03 9 THROUGH THE SALLYPORT

Baker Institute Celebrates 10th Anniversary

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A decade ago, former secretary of state James A. Baker, Ill, elucidated building on October 20, 1994, ei- and existing collaborations. Health his vision for the new public policy institute that Rice was founding in ther in person or by video: Gerald policy, energy, space policy, Latin his name. It would be, he said, a bridge between the worlds of ideas Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald American relations, and the Middle Reagan, and George H. W. Bush. East have become principal areas and action. The United States government ofimportance for the institute. regularly calls on the expertise of Conferences and forums dealing In the relatively short time since, participation among undergradu- the institute on matters ranging with these topics regularly release the James A. Baker Institute for ate and graduate students, in both from energy to the war in Iraq and in-depth reports, which are avail- Public Policy has lived up to that research and leadership, as they conflict resolution in the Middle able at the institute's website: promise,joining the ranks oftop work alongside faculty, visiting East, and the institute has helped http: //bakerinstitute .org. think tanks three times its age. scholars, fellows, and guests from make Rice a main stop for national Success in such a short time was On October 17-19,institute government, business, and the and international leaders in gov- possible only because of the efforts staff and faculty, university of- news media. ernment, business, and academia. of hundreds of people and groups ficials, and distinguished visitors Veteran diplomat Edward P. Among the many notable public at Rice and in the community. celebrated the Baker Institute's Djerejian was recruited in 1994 to figures who have spoken at the Djerejian says he is "deeply grate- 10th anniversary with a series of serve as the institute's founding Baker Institute are Madeleine Al- ful" for all the support the institute events that began with a black-tie director. Djerejian served as U.S. bright, Kofi Annan,Yasser Arafat, has received from the university, its gala featuring a keynote address ambassador to the Syrian Arab George H. W. Bush, Gerald Ford, leadership, and its faculty and staff; by Vice President Richard Cheney. Republic from 1988 to 1991, as The spotlight turned, on Saturday assistant secretary of state for Near night, to a forum with national Eastern affairs during 1991-93, The United States government regularly calls on the news anchors Peter Jennings and and as ambassador to Israel in expertise of the institute on matters ranging from Jim Lehrer, chiefforeign affairs 1993. Richard Stoll, a professor energy to the war in Iraq and conflict resolution correspondent Andrea Mitchell, of political science who,in 1991, and former secretary of state James originated the idea of establishing in the Middle East, and the institute has helped A. Baker, III, who discussed the such an institute at Rice, became make Rice a main stop for national and international role of the media and public policy. the first associate director for aca- leaders in government, business, and academia. And a Sunday afternoon party for demic programs. Rice students under the tent in Baker Hall, which houses the front ofthe Baker Institute offered Baker Institute as well as Rice's Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Mikhail from individual, corporate, and one more chance to celebrate. economics and political science Gorbachev, Alan Greenspan, nonprofit supporters; and from the The Baker Institute was made a departments and the office of the Helmut Kohl, Nelson Mandela, dedicated Baker Institute staff. reality through the work of Rice's dean ofsocial sciences, was dedi- Vladimir Putin, and Janet Reno. "We now face the challenge of academic leadership and faculty, cated on October 15, 1997. The In addition to hosting globally bringing the institute forward into who created an interdisciplinary, building includes a satellite uplink recognized speakers, the Baker its next decade at an enhanced nonpartisan public policy institute that makes it possible to participate Institute organizes conferences level ofexcellence and ofcontinu- with a difference. Unlike mem- in video teleconferences around and forums in which experts ing to be on the cutting edge in bers of many public policy think the world and to conduct simulta- debate vital issues, ranging from the world of public policy." Djere- tanks, faculty associated with the neous webcasts. Its International global warming and tax reform jian adds with a smile,"Every time Baker Institute remain affiliated Conference Facility is equipped to to religion and home schooling. someone comes to me with a good with their own academic depart- handle simultaneous translation Many of the Baker Institute's pro- idea for a project, I have to find a ments while conducting research in three languages. Four former grams are designed to take advan- way to fund it." • and participating in programs at U.S. presidents took part in the tage ofthe particular strengths of the institute. Also, there is growing groundbreaking ceremony for the Rice University's faculty, location,

10 Rice Sallyport THROUGH THE SALLYPORT

Rice Forms Relationships with Mexican Universities

Rice University recently expanded its international outreach efforts into Mexico,formalizing exchange programs with Tec de Monterrey Alumna: (Monterrey Tech) and Universidad de Monterrey (University of Cathryn Lankford Rodd Selman Monterrey, or UDEM). Year: 1978

While both are private universities, sity," Barrera says, noting that Major: they have different missions, and only 30 percent of the faculty Economics/History Rice's agreements reflect that hold doctorates. "Our relation- College: difference. ship with them has been one of Jones Monterrey Tech was founded stewardship. We try to provide an Profession: students in 1943 and received accreditation opportunity to produce Civic Volunteer from the Southern Association of for advanced degrees who can go Colleges and Schools(SACS) in back to their campus and become First Gift: the United States in 1951. With Ph.D. research faculty." $12.50 an enrollment of95,000 full- Rice's connection Years of Giving: time students on 29 campuses, with Monterrey Tech 23 the university offers 34 under- is more recent. The graduate, 51 master's, and six present agreement, doctoral programs. expected to be the UDEM is a younger, smaller first among many, will apply only university, founded in 1969 and to Rice's mechanical engineering accredited in 2001. It has 8,500 and materials science department "Rice students are students on a single campus and and Monterrey Tech's mechani- offers 23 academic programs for cal engineering department. undergraduates and 11 programs "Collaborations with Mon- interesting, funny, at the master's level. terrey Tech are crystallizing on The agreement with UDEM several fronts," says Rice presi- formalizes an unofficial exchange dent Malcolm Gillis. "Discus- and smart." program that has been in place for sions involving the Jones School several years and involves Rice's of Management and the Baker George R. Brown School ofEn- Institute for Public Policy are the gineering and Department of Me- centerpieces at present. Also, we chanical Engineering and Materials are discussing possibilities for fu- How I view Rice: Ambitious and noble, a Texas treasure Science and UDEM's School of ture interaction among Monter- Engineering. The plan is to eventu- rey Tech, Rice, and International When I think of Rice: I remember walking back to Jones one beautiful ally expand the program to include University Bremen." Friday afternoon. College windows were open, and I could hear laughter. computer science, architecture, Right now the agreement with But the main sound was somebody playing the solo guitar riff from humanities, and social sciences. Monterrey Tech is a preliminary "Stairway to Heaven." I thought, "I'm so happy to be here." The UDEM program has taken one signifying the intent to begin some time to develop. In 1990, a an official relationship. The details Why I give back to Rice: So many of my friends were at Rice on group of students from the uni- are being negotiated, and a more scholarships. It was the only way they could attend Rice. My life would versity came to Rice and invited formal signing will take place not be nearly as full if I had not met them. So, now that my husband, Rice to participate in their annual once those details are in place. Doug, and I are able to, we have established a scholarship to help other student-run conference. The fol- Jordan Konisky, vice provost deserving students. It's my responsibility to give back to Rice because Rice lowing year, Enrique Barrera, for research and graduate studies, gave me so much. associate professor of mechani- sees a lot of potential for both of cal engineering and materials these collaborative efforts. "I fre- How I have stayed connected: Next Century Campaign Major Gifts science, and Michael Carroll, quently get contacted by universi- Steering Committee, Annual Gifts vice chair, co-chair for reunion giving the Burton J. and Ann M. Mc- ties from all over the world who class of 1978, board member of the Friends of Fondren Library, and Murtry Professor of Engineer- want to develop ties with Rice," member of the Friends of the Rice Art Gallery ing in Mechanical Engineering Konislcy says. "But we are very and Computational and Applied selective because, unless there My gifts to Rice: Mathematics, brought a number is faculty-to-faculty interaction, of students to the conference. these things just don't work. You • Rodd/Selman Scholarship in Chemical Engineering The relationship regained mo- cannot implement this from the • Rice Annual Fund, including 25th reunion gift mentum in 1993, and today in- top; there has to be a common My husband and I are fortunate that Exxon Mobil matches our gifts 3-to-1. volves annual visits between the interest and a solid working re- universities; however, the student lationship. And that's what we Rice University • Office of Development • MS 81 • P.O. Box 1892 exchange has been one-way so far. have here."• Houston, Texas 77251-1892 • 713-348-4600 • givingibrice.edu "UDEM is a very young univer- —Margot Dimond

Fall '03 11

Peggy Whitson, who is an adjunct assistant professor in Rice's Depart- ment of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, had prepared for this moment ever since she was a kid. She studied biology and chemistry in college and received her Ph.D. in biochemistry from Rice University in 1985 before she spent six years training as an astronaut. At last she was chosen for the Expedition Five crew, along with Russian cosmonauts Valery Korzun and Sergei Treschev—destination:the International Space Station. Even more impressive,she had been named NASA's first-ever science officer to serve aboard the station.

When the time came to board the space shuttle Endeavor on June 7,2002,for Orlan—which means"eagle" in Russian—Whitson was hauled through space the flight to the International Space Station (SS), Whitson felt like a child by a mechanical arm operated by Korzum."He was flying me from one side of the station to the other. It was just me out there over nothing," Whitson again. She was so eager to go on the ride of her life that fear had no place in says. "I was about 40 feet away from the station and Earth was going below time," she says. her. "I was so excited to be flying in space for the first me. It's an incredible sensation offlying." When she first emerged at the end of the giant arm, darkness enveloped ._ exactly six and a halfseconds before takeoff,the main engines ignited, her. Then the sun came over the edge of the Earth, and she was bestowed AL and Whitson could feel the shuttle shaking. But that was nothing another breathtaking view. "It started offas only a thin, royal blue,curvilinear compared to the vibration that followed after the solid rocket boosters turned line," Whitson described."As the line thickened,the colors became richer and on. As the shuttle climbed, the gravity ofacceleration pushed her hard against mixed with burning reds and oranges. The sun hits the station first, and it goes her seat. "The pressure feels like two people sitting on your chest while you from being very dark to sepia colors,like some old photograph. When the sun are trying to breathe," she says. After reaching orbit, the fuel in the external reaches Earth, you first see the curved horizons and then it starts lighting up tanks had been expended,and the tank was released from the shuttle through the atmosphere in bright beautiful colors." a pyrotechnic that jolted the deck right un- Being on the space station must have re- derneath her feet. In less than eight and a half minded Whitson of the Iowa farm she grew minutes,the shuttle had traveled 200 miles and up on, where she not only made additions to had begun orbiting the earth. "It was quite a the house but had to cultivate a small garden. ride," she admits."I was there,and it still seems Asthe resident scientist,Whitson wasin charge unbelievable." of 21 experiments, which included growing Whitson was living her dream of flying in the first-ever soybean crop in space. The ex- space,and the dreamlike quality remained when periment was intended to see how the lack of she peered out the window and saw the world as gravity affects the chemical composition ofthe never before.Words seem insufficientto describe plant. NASA hopes to grow crops in space as her heavenly vision. food for the astronauts. "The soybean experi- "To say that my first sight ofthe earth from ment was a lot offun for me since my dad is a orbit was breathtaking or magnificent still seems farmer,"Whitson says."And it wasreally special such a paltry way to describe what I saw and for Valery and Sergei to see green stufffor the Whitson and fellow crew members at a preflight conference felt. My first impression was ofthe clarity ofmy first time in a month and a half." vision—not even air molecules got in the way of seeing what was ahead. It One of the primary goals of the science research aboard the /SS is to un- seemed as ifI could see an incredible distance. The next impression was ofthe derstand how to allow people to live in space for extended periods of time, richness ofthe colors that made up our planet and the atmosphere below. The Whitson explains."Ideally, we wantto understand how to send people to Mars colors were so vibrant that they seemed to have a previously unseen texture. and what we need to do with people to make sure that when they arrive, they I would liken the feeling to having someone turn on the lights after having will be able to function and work effectively." With that in mind,Whitson did lived in semidarkness for years." several studies on the human body,such as monitoring for kidney stones,which During her six months aboard the ISS-184 days, 22 hours, and 14 min- astronauts are at a greater risk offorming. A kidney stone is excruciating and utes, to be exact—Whitson conducted 21 experiments in human life sciences will incapacitate a crew member,and thus force the mission to be aborted. and microgravity sciences and on commercial products. She also worked as a Whitson also measured lung function, blood circulation, and bone loss. In builder, helping expand the station. Each crew that visits the /SS is responsible long space flights, astronauts tend to lose about one percent of bone mass a for adding another piece of the puzzle. The station has already grown from month, Whitson says, and some crew members have lost up to 20 percent in the size ofan efficiency apartment to that ofa three-bedroom house. Whitson the hips. Scientists have long known that exercise stimulates bone growth,so helped install the mobile base system, which serves as a platform for a robotic to reduce loss, a resistive exercise machine was installed on the /SS. arm.She also added a couple ofsegments to the truss. The truss structure will Another facility that was new to the /SS was the Microgravity Science eventually support almost an acre of solar panels to provide more power for Glovebox. This device includes an enclosed container with transparent sides the space station. When completed, the truss will stretch 356 feet. that has gloves sticking into it, allowing a scientist to work safely with haz- All that was very satisfying work. However, the most exciting part of her ardous materials. Whitson conducted two types of experiments with the duties was the space walk. Whitson ventured out into the wide-open darkness glovebox, one on superconductor crystals and another on melting charac- for four hours and 25 minutes to install six shields for the main service mod- teristics of succinyl/nitrile mixtures. Both used high-temperature furnaces ule to protect it from flying meteoroids. Donning a Russian space suit called to melt the materials.

14 Rice Sal lyport In some ways, working in the /SS was like another day at the office. At former farm girl went to the big city of Houston to earn her doctorate in 6 A.M. Greenwich mean time, Whitson's alarm clock would go off, and biochemistry at Rice University. "It was a huge cultural shock to move to the first thing she did was read any e-mails that the ground crew had sent Houston," she says. overnight. She then took a sponge bath, ate breakfast, and got ready for At Rice, Whitson did research in protein DNA interaction under the work. On some days she had to do maintenance or repair hardware. On guidance ofKathleen Matthews,professor ofbiochemistry and cell biology. others,she did what she liked best—conducting "Peggy undertook very complex and challenging the science experiments. experiments," says Matthews, now dean of the In the evening was the social hour, when all Wiess School of Natural Sciences. "Some stud- three crew members gathered for dinner and ies required that she spend 48 hours straight in talked about work,world politics,and just about the laboratory, taking measurements every two anything else. Dining in tnicrogravity wasn't dif- hours or so. Her Ph.D. work demonstrated that ficult, despite having to eat out of a bag. The this genetic regulator protein is able to form real problem was being on an eight-day rotation highly stable complexes with supercoiled DNA meal plan. "After a while the food gets kind of containing multiple operator sequences—one of boring," Whitson admits. Picante sauce quickly the first examples of DNA looping." became her favorite food. She ate a lot of re- Whitson's tenacity impressed many people hydrated macaroni and cheese, irradiated fajitas at Rice."Peggy was a dedicated and determined and barbecue brisket, and Russian canned foods graduate student,willing to explore new territory containing meats and vegetables. and to develop the experimental tools necessary," All was not work, however. Like other NASA Matthews says. "In short, she was terrific. Her employees, she had her days off, too. On the style as a graduate student anticipated her success Fourth of July, she took the time to entertain as an astronaut—bright, determined, willing to soybean crop—the first-ever grown in Whitson displays her take on challenges, and yet able to be an effec- the Houston ground crew by playing "Born in space. the USA" by Bruce Springsteen through the tive and engaging part ofa team. It is especially intercom. Whitson also convinced Korzun and fitting that she was the first science officer on Treschev to paint their faces with red,white, and the International Space Station." blue markers and appear on live video to wish When Whitson graduated from Rice in 1985 the ground people a happy Fourth. with a doctorate in biochemistry,she was deter- Whitson enjoyed other whimsical moments. mined to finish her dissertation by a certain date Baseball fans around the world saw her throw so that she could meet the application deadline the first pitch to open the 2003 World Series. for a job at NASA."I wanted to be able to write "Microgravity makes it a lot more challenging to on my application that I had a Ph.D.from Rice," throw the ball," she says,"especially if you want Whitson says.At NASA,she started as a biochemi- some accuracy." Whitson also cut the two cos- cal researcher but was quickly included in joint monauts' hair while they held a vacuum cleaner scientific investigations that NASAwasdoing with over their heads to keep the hair from floating the Russians. In 1989,she made her first trip to everywhere. Russia to conduct biomedical research and later In her spare time, Whitson talked to several served as the lead scientist ofthe joint program schoolsin such places as Connecticut and Hawaii between NASA and Russia's Mir space station. via a special communication system and through The space gym is a requirement for personnel aboard the /SS. She then served as co-chair ofthe U.S.—Russian ham radio operators who linked the astronaut Mission Science Working Group. In 1996, she to the students. "Those talks were very limited, began training as an astronaut. only about 10 minutes usually, but it was still a After spending six months in the space sta- lot offun to answer all the kids' questions. They tion, Whitson boarded the shuttle again for the were so excited and nervous." trip home. As she entered Earth's atmosphere Students frequently asked her why she be- and gravity returned,pressure built on her chest came an astronaut. Whitson replied that she was and burdened her limbs. "This camera that I inspired at a young age,and though the training had been carrying the previous six months had was very difficult at times,she never gave up on weighed nothing," she laughs, "and suddenly her dream."Ifyou're pursuing your dream,"she it had what seemed to be a huge weight. I was told them,"it's always worth it." like: Wow! This is so heavy." Whitson was born in south central Iowa in Whitson felt lousy during her first 24 hours the small town of Mount Ayr. Her parents were of being on solid ground."I really thought they two hardworking farmers who encouraged their could send me back, and I would be okay." Re- daughter to follow her dream. When she was adjusting to a mundane life wasn't easy. For nine years old, Whitson saw Neil Armstrong example,she had to figure out how much force to use in doing simple things like throwing a and Buzz Aldrin walk on the moon, and that Using virtual reality hardware, Whitson prepares for her space sparked her desire to fly among the stars. "I adventure. crumpled piece of paper into a wastebasket. "I thought walking on the moon would be a cool threw it and it landed at my feet." But then,she job," she says. When she graduated from Mount says,something clicked in her brain and told her Ayr Community High School in 1978,Whitson saw the first woman being she was back on Earth, and everything was fine. selected as astronaut, and that solidified her career choice. Everything she did from that point on was geared toward becoming an astronaut. "Would I do it again?" she asks. "In a heartbeat." She graduated from Iowa Wesleyan College in 1981 with a bachelor of science degree in biology and chemistry. From a small rural school, the

Fall '03 15 Photography by Tommy LaVergne THE LYNN R. LOWREY ARBORETUM

ARIA TALFO A dedicated mentor and an informal RICE UNIVERSITY IS ALREADY DISTINGUISHED FOR HAVING ONE OF THE COUNTRY teacher to many in the plant community, Lynn Lowrey was MOST THANKS TO BEAUTIFUL UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES. THE LYNN R. LOWRE legendary for his contagious passion ARBORETUM, THE CAMPUS IS ALSO SET TO BECOME ONE OF THE REGION'S MOS for plants. Lowrey's curiosity about ECOLOGICALLY RICH. ONLY THE THIRD ARBORETUM IN TEXAS TO BE ESTABLISHED the natural world was unbounded and ON A UNIVERSITY CAMPUS, THE LOWREY ARBORETUM WILL SERVE AS A RESOURCE FO his knowledge nearly encyclopedic. TEACHING AND RESEARCH AS WELL AS MAKING THE CAMPUS EVEN MORE CONGENIAL. "You could go on a field trip for a day," THE IDEA FOR THE LOWREY ARBORETUM WAS BORN WHEN A GROUP, LED son-in-law Mike Anderson says, "and it was like taking a whole semester of DAUGHTER PATSY ANDERSON AND HER BY LYNN LOWREY'S HUSBAND, MIKE, horticulture!" ALONG WITH LOWREY'S FRIEND CHARLES TAPLEY '54, FORMED A COMMITTEE T Friends say that Lowrey's expertise BRAINSTORM ABOUT POSSIBLE TRIBUTES TO LOWREY (1917-1997) AND HIS IMPACT was, in fact, so great that consulting ON THE HORTICULTURAL COMMUNITY IN TEXAS AND BEYOND. THEY DECIDED THERE him for information about a particular COULD BE NO BETTER WAY TO HONOR HIM THAN BY CONTINUING HIS LEGACY OE plant was almost like consulting the plant itself. "If PROMOTING THE APPRECIATION AND STUDY OF NATIVE PLANTS. EVEN THOUG you liked a tree and met Lynn Lowrey," joked Tapley, "it LOWREY HIMSELF DID NOT HAVE FORMAL CONNECTIONS TO RICE, THE COMMITTE was like meeting the tree, only better, TURNED TO RICE AS A HOST FOR THE ARBORETUM BECAUSE OF THE UNIVERSITY'S since a plant can't talk about itself. SPECIAL ABILITY TO MAINTAIN, DEVELOP, AND BENEFIT FROM THE ARBORETUM FAR His knowledge about individual plants INTO THE FUTURE. SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY FOR THE PROJECT HAS BEEN and trees led you to a place where you REMARKABLE, WITH MORE THAN HALF A MILLION DOLLARS ALREADY RAISED IN GIFTS wanted to know even more." AND PLEDGES. Lowrey's enthusiasm and expertise attracted a wide and diverse following. Thr,ARBORETUM BEGAN TO TAKE ROOT ON CAMPUS AT A CEREMONIAL TREE He welcomed anyone—young or old, PLANTING IN MARCH 1999. THE PLANTING OF TWO WHITE OAKS, TWO FRINGE expert or novice, scientist or backyard 14ELS, AND A SWAMP CHESTNUT TREE NEAR THE TRACK STADIUM INAUGURATED THE gardener—who was curious, and he ARBORETUM'S LIVING MEMORIAL TO LYNN LOWREY. WHILE ARBORETUM PLANTINGS nurtured passing interests in plants AND DEVELOPMENTS WERE ORIGINALLY INTENDED TO REMAIN CLUSTERED IN THIS AREA into abiding passions. Even in his 70s, NORTHWEST OF THE INTERSECTION OF MAIN STREET AND UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD, he loved to tromp around for hours on research trips with companions 40 PLANS FOR THE ARBORETUM HAVE GROWN TO INCORPORATE THE ENTIRE years his junior. "He could get along CAMPUS. RATHER THAN ESTABLISHING A PRESERVE SET APART FROM THE with young folks or old folks, it didn't REST OF THE UNIVERSITY, THE ARBORETUM WILL BE INCORPORATED, matter," Tapley recalls. "It AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, INTO ALL FUTURE LANDSCAPE PLANNING FO was the common UNIVERSITY BUILDING AND CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT. ENHANCING A AREAS OF CAMPUS WITH AN INFUSION OF DIVERSE AND FLOURISHING PLANT LIFE, THE ARBORETUM'S VISUALLY PLEASING, CAREFULLY PLANNED LANDSCAPING WILL BE ANALOGOUS TO THE VARIED B COORDINATED ARCHITECTURE OF THE CAMPUS'S BUILDINGS. THE ARBORETUM'S PLANTINGS OF WOODY PLANTS NATIVE TO TEXAS, THE GULF COAST OF THE UNITED STATES, AND NORTHERN MEXICO WILL MAKE THE CAMPUS AN EVEN MORE LUSH AND ATTRACTIVE NATURAL SETTING, BUT THE BENEFITS TO RICE WILL EXTEND FAR BEYOND AESTHETIC APPEAL. "THE ARBORETUM WILL REMIND US TO ATTEND MORE TO THE PLANTS IN OUR ENVIRONMENT AND THEIR IMPORTANCE IN THE OVERALL ECOLOGY," OBSERVES KATHLEEN MATTHEWS, bond with plants that counted." Though Lowrey received a bachelor's degree in horticulture from Louisiana State University in 1940, he acquired DEAN OF THE WIESS SCHOOL OF NATURAL SCIENCES. "BECAUSE PLANTS ARE his knowledge of plants largely through CRUCIAL TO LIFE ON EARTH, UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATING THEIR ROLE constant reading, observation, and experimentation on his own. After serving IN THEIR ENVIRONMENT WHETHER FOR BEAUTY OR PLEASURE, FOR DIVERSITY in the army for four years during World OF SPECIES, OR FOR FOOD-IS AN IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION OF THE LYNN R. War II. Lowrey dedicated his life to the LOWREY ARBORETUM AT RICE." study and cultivation of plants, opening his RICE HAS A GREAT REPUTATION IN A NUMBER OF FIELDS, NOTES TAPLEY, first nursery in 1957. "Every minute of the AND THE ARBORETUM SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDS THAT RANGE. "IT PUTS THE waking day, he was thinking about plants, UNIVERSITY IN ANOTHER FIELD THAT IS BOTH AMAZING AND HUMANE," HE SAYS. reading about plants, and going on field "AMAZING trips," Anderson remembers. "He always IN TERMS OF WHAT WE MIGHT LEARN FROM IT, AND HUMANE FROM wanted to go off to the woods and look for WHAT IT CAN DO PSYCHOLOGICALLY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY." something new. He'd be reading about PROFESSORS AND STUDENTS a plant, and he'd WILL NEED ONLY STEP OUT THEIR want to go find it." DOORS OR LOG ONTO THE LOWREY Lowrey was ARBORETUM'S NEW WEBSIT the leading pioneer of the native plants TO ACCESS THE ARBORETUM'S movement in Texas, TREMENDOUS RESOURCES AS long before talk of TOOL FOR TEACHING, LEARNING, biodiversity became AND RESEARCH. STUDENTS IN fashionable. Both at THE PLANT DIVERSITY CLASS the several nurseries TAUGHT BY PROFESSOR he owned and during OF his tenures as an ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY expert grower at other BIOLOGY PAUL HARCOMBE nurseries, Lowrey HAVE BEEN CONDUCTING A was an advocate SURVEY TO IDENTIFY AND for the propagation RECORD VINES, SHRUBS, AND of the naturally rich TREES THROUGHOUT THE plant life native to the region. While other CAMPUS. THIS INFORMATION landscapers eagerly IS CURRENTLY BEING COMPILED satisfied customers' MAP OF PLANT LIFE ON CAMPUS, WHICH WILL BE demands for the most popular and stylish AVAILABLE ON THE ARBORETUM'S WEBSITE AT HTTP://ARBORETUM.FLICE.EDU. species from abroad, Lowrey followed his WORKING TO IDENTIFY AND DOCUMENT CAMPUS PLANT LIFE HAS BEEN curiosity on regular expeditions throughout AN INVALUABLE LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR HARCOMBE'S STUDENTS. "FOR A Texas and northern Mexico, tirelessly combing the wild areas for unusual and STUDENT TRYING TO LEARN THE NAMES OF THINGS," HARCOMBE EXPLAINS, underrepresented species to collect and "THERE'S NO SUBSTITUTE FOR SEEING A LIVE PLANT. CONNECTING ABSTRACT cultivate. Lowrey's interest in native plants SUBJECT MATTER TO PHYSICAL OBjECTS THAT STUDENTS CAN SEE AND TOUCH made his landscaping methods considerably HELPS THEM TO INTERNALIZE AND REMEMBER THE CONCEPTS WE DISCUSS IN more time-intensive than those of many THE CLASSROOM." of his peers. because rather than simply THE CLASS HAS OPENED STUDENTS' EYES TO THE RICHNESS OF NATURE IN purchasing plants readily available on the market, Lowrey would have to first locate in THEIR MIDST-A LESSON THAT STUDENTS WILL TAKE WITH THEM FAR BEYOND the wilderness and then patiently grow to THEIR DAYS AT RICE. "I'M AMAZED AT HOW MANY STUDENTS INDICATED THAT salable size most of the plants he used. THEY HADN'T PAID ANY ATTENTION TO THE PLANTS BEFORE," HARCOMBE Through his self-directed studies, SAID. "BUT AFTER TAKING THE CLASS, THEY NOTICED THINGS WHENEVER THEY Lowrey became an exceptionally well- WERE OUT WALKING, AND THEY EXPRESS A REAL SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT versed general horticulturist as well as one IN BEING ABLE TO IDENTIFY COMMON THINGS THEY SEE." MAKING DETAILED of the world's foremost experts on plants native to the southwestern United States INFORMATION ABOUT THE ARBORETUM ACCESSIBLE ON THE WEBSITE WILL and northern Mexico. In fact, foreign visitors PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL TO FEEL THE SAME JOY OF EXPLORATION to the National Arboretum in Washington, AND DISCOVERY THAT HARCOMBE'S STUDENTS EXPERIENCED. D.C., often were advised to make Texas part of their travel plans just so they could chat with Lowrey about the region's flora. Lowrey's service to his colleagues in the plant community and to the environment earned him many honors. including a special award from the Native Plant Society of Texas for almost single-handedly rescuing the Texas pistache (Pistacia texana) from extinction. The Texas pistache is just one of several species that continue to propagate and flourish because of Lowrey's efforts. A poignant final chapter of Lowrey's legacy was his integral involvement in research on the Chinese happy tree (Camptotheca acuminata). In the last years of his life, a surge of interest in research on the cancer- fighting properties of Camptotheca meant that the trees were in short supply. Lowrey was called in as an expert to advise on the growth and cultivation of the trees. Soon after, Lowrey and the nursery owned by Patsy and Mike Anderson donated 600 healthy Camptotheca trees to a hospital and cancer research organization. In addition to sharing his expertise about the tree's growth and care with the researchers, Lowrey worked hard to raise funds and forge interpersonal connections that would aid in this research. As a tribute to his dedication, a rare Camptotheca species, first found by a team of researchers on an expedition to China, was named after him—Camptotheca lowreyana. Lowrey was later to take the experimental medication Camptothecin in his own battle with cancer. Lowrey's dedication to cancer research was just one of countless examples that friends and admirers cite of his remarkable generosity toward both plants and people. Lowrey's love of the plant world was so deep that he wished to share it at every opportunity, frequently making gifts of plants to friends and customers. "He never ,made a lot of money," Tapley recalls, "because when you went out to his nursery and were admiring these young trees, he would hand them to you, and when it came time to pay, there was no paying! If you liked it, it was yours. He would have gone across the state, found a seed, brought it back, planted it, and grown it for you. It was truly a gift." Though his expertise was continually sought from around the world, friends say that Lowrey always considered himself an amateur. Quiet and unassuming, Lowrey often was described as a quintessential Southern gentleman. Tapley THE ARBORETUM'S POTENTIAL AS A TEACHING TOOL IS NOT LIMITED T recalls Lowrey's impeccable forbearance THE SCIENCES. IN PARTICULAR, AS HARCOMBE POINTS OUT, THE ARBORETU in his constant role as teacher and mentor. "WILL CREATE HABITATS AND SETTINGS THAT WILL MAKE IT EASIER TO ILLUSTRAT "When we first began to unravel the HOW NATURE CONTRIBUTES TO A SENSE OF PLACE." IT WILL PROVIDE A HANDS richness of our ecology," Tapley says, "there is so much to it, and I found myself asking a ON MODEL RELEVANT TO DISCUSSIONS OF ARCHITECTURE, URBAN PLANNIN lot of questions. Because of Lynn's generous AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, AMONG OTHER FIELDS, AND, IN THIS WA way, he wouldn't allow himself to think that THE ARBORETUM IS PARTICULARLY WELL SUITED TO RICE AND THE UNIVERSITY'S I was bothering him, though looking back, I EMPHASIS ON INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION. "THIS TYPE OF RESOURCE was bothering him! But I learned a lot from CAN BRING TOGETHER FOLKS INTERESTED IN DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE him, and I was indeed very grateful for his ARBORETUM ACROSS MULTIPLE DISCIPLINES," being so generous." MATTHEWS EXPLAINS. "IN Years before Camptotheca lonfreyana, LARGER INSTITUTION, BARRIERS TO SUCH INTERACTIONS ARE OFTEN MUC botanists wanted to name another rare HIGHER." plant, a species of legume found in THE ARBORETUM PROJECT ALSO WIL Mexico, after Lowrey. When Lowrey was ESTABLISH THE LOWREY COLLECTIO unbending in his AT FONDREN LIBRARY. IT IS refusal of the honor, the plant was eventually TESTAMENT TO LYNN LOWREY' named Myrospermum GREAT IMPACT ON THE PLAN sousanam after another COMMUNITY THAT FOUR OF TH horticulturist. No doubt VOLUMES IN THE COLLECTIO the proposition of the Lynn ARE DEDICATED TO HIM. R. Lowrey Arboretum at Rice would run against the same dogged humility. "Of course, he would have been the first person to say, 'You're not going to put my name on it,— Anderson chuckles. "He would have been so mad!" Although Lowrey likely would have been displeased that the new arboretum bears his name, he would have been delighted by the educational opportunities it will provide horticulturists of the future— professional and amateur alike. Each time he opened a new plant nursery, he would say, "I'm going to make this place a showplace. People are going to come from all over the country to see my plants," recalls Anderson. Now that dream is coming true at Rice on a scale Lowrey might never have imagined. By Deborah J Ausman

Can a required course ever be fun? Innovative courses and curriculum projects at Rice reveal the pros of putting students in charge of their general education. GENERAL EDUCATION. DISTRIBUTION. FOUNDATION. material, faculty have been able to think creatively about the best way to Whatever you call those courses that tell students in one make their subject areas more appealing to nonmajors—or to ensure that their majors are exposed to discipline how other disciplines work, chances are that ideas that may help them become leaders in their fields when they graduate. students are calling them something else: a waste of time. The result is a troop of interesting bridge courses and curriculum pro- grams that are broadening the Rice undergraduate experience—and that o one doubts the value of a broad-based education. That's could never be described as a waste of time. why students attend liberal arts institutions like Rice—they want the chance to think outside the box that is their ma- The Sole Survivor:, Humanities 101/102 Njor field of study. But general education is challenging, not just to take, but to teach and to implement within a university's Alums who took the NSCI and SOCI foundation courses are not course requirements. surprised to learn of their demise."There was nothing in NSCI that It's easy to lose sight of the goal of general education, explains John inspired me to try harder, and the fact that I'd already been over the Hutchinson, vice president ofstudent affairs and a veteran of many Rice curriculum committees. Rice began a 20-year general education experi- material in greater detail than was offered there made it horrifically ment in the late 1980s when it instituted core foundation courses in the boring," complains Karin Kross, a 1996 English grad. humanities(HUMA), social sciences(SOCI), and natural sciences and engineering (NSCI). Then the squabbles began. Ask faculty members So why has the humanities foundation course survived? For one, what Rice undergraduates should know in order to graduate, and "you HUMA 101/102 never pretended to provide a foundation in every- quickly have a list that is longer than anything anyone could pos- thing about the humanities. Even though students read texts gen- sibly take—even if they took nothing but general education erally considered important, the course focuses on skills, on courses," Hutchinson says. "And when you make everyone imparting an understanding of rhetoric, textual analysis, and take one specific course, it fails because too many people writing. Hutchinson describes HUMA as creating an ex- don't want to be there." perience, while its NSCI and SOCI counterparts focused Rice abandoned the foundation requirement in 1995, on "exposure." taking away the lesson that general education isn't about The HUMA experience goes beyond skills. Even dur- the subject matter, but about intellectual growth. The ing its heyday in the early 1990s, enrollment was capped texts read in Humanities 101,the only original foundation at around 25 students per section, making it the only small- course still taught at Rice, are simply a backdrop for learning group course a science or engineering major would take fresh- how to analyze texts critically and construct logical arguments. Jowl man year. Elisa Verratti '94, who took the Big Three(MATH Science and engineering courses for social science and humanities majors 101, CHEM 101, and PHYS 101), HUMA,and SOCI in 1989-90, do best when they reveal the rigorous trial and error and real-world ap- admits she "really enjoyed HUMA. Dr. Zammito [the John Antony Weir plication of the scientific method. Think of general education as a bridge Professor of History and history department chair] was great, and it was a between disciplines—a bridge that is built through engaging, eager pro- small class. SOCI was too broad, too boring, and too huge." fessors and an innovative approach to the subject matter. As Verratti observes, HUMA's professors are another key to the experi- "Students want to walk out of these courses feeling like they have a ence. Lucky freshmen find themselves interpreting the crazy chalkboard deeper understanding of the issues and an ability to tackle tougher—or of circles, arrows, and scrawl generated during the dynamic lectures of different—intellectual challenges than before they took the course," award-winning English professor Dennis Huston. Huston, who has Hutchinson says. "When they come out on the other side, students will taught the HUMA course since its inception, admits that one benefit have the confidence and ability to look at a problem and say 'I can figure of not having "17 sections of HUMA is that now we have nothing but that out,' because they've done it before." good teachers and,sometimes, better than good teachers." Rice's current general education strategy puts students squarely in The word gets around. "I've heard wonderfiil things about Dennis Hus- charge. Undergrads must take 12 hours of course work from two depart- ton, and they proved true this semester," says Sarah Baxter, a premed biology ments within each of the three disciplinary groups. Beyond that, students major who enrolled in HUMA as a senior. She was told it was required. It decide what to take. It's a flexible system that "makes material acces- wasn't, yet Baxter remained. "I was enjoying it too much to drop it." sible," Hutchinson says. And without the burden of teaching "required" The texts, too, prove a compelling draw. Though the reading changes

22 Rice Sallyport "When you make everyone take one specific course, it fails because too many people don't want to be there."

—John Hutchinson

from semester to semester, the emphasis is always great works in West- "If I went in and just started giving lectures about control theory, I ern philosophy and literature. The relaxation of the general education know most of the students wouldn't care," Young states. "Instead, I talk requirements has spawned other humanities courses covering Greek, briefly about control problems and different approaches they could take medieval, and Asian civilization and more esoteric topics like the rep- with their robots. I know that eventually, the stu- resentation of the self in art and literature. Even so, at least six sec- dents are going to ask,'Why won't this thing tions HUMA 101 and 102 are still offered each semester. Lauren follow a straight line?' That's when they Vanderlip, a freshman planning to double major in sociology get motivated to drill down to the and religious studies, calls the reading hard and demanding, details." but reveals,"I love how the works that we read are appli- Young notes that each student cable and representative of humanity today." follows a different path through Times being what they are, the fall 2002 reading the material, depending on the list included The Qur'an. And because the course is expertise of the team and his or no longer required, professors have more freedom her individual interests. Some to vary the texts between sections. "For the last five )may focus on mechanics,some years, folks were finishing up with Dante's Inferno," on programming, and others Huston explains. "But the last thing I need is a on algorithms or strategy. As bunch of people in the Last Circle on the last day of was overheard during one lab class, so I did Chaucer." practice session: "I'm a com- puter science major. .. I don't If You Build It...: The Lego Lab have to deal with real-world appli- cations!" Mess around with Legos four hours each week. Build Being an engineer doesn't give you a an autonomous robot to specffications. Unleash your leg up, according to Gary Printy, a junior creation against rival competitors and let the blocks electrical engineering major whose team con- structed 2002's winning robot, Disco Stu. "What we fall where they may. All this, and earn four Group Ill do as electrical engineers really doesn't apply to the prob- distribution credits. lem in the class—building a robot," he says. "This course is really about the basics of solving a problem." Introduction to That's ELEC 201, Engineering Design, Lectures cover an array of specific technical details associ- a.k.a. the Lego Lab. The course takes its inspiration from sev- 33''ce ated with the robots, as well as more general information on the -oriented courses taught at other eral robot universities, including a business ofengineering. Students discuss ethics cases and analyze the les- elective contest offered midterm, optional at MIT. But while these sons to be learned from high-profile engineering failures—"Beyond the engineers and scientists, courses are geared to ELEC 201 targets non- ones they are experiencing themselves in the lab," Young chuckles. engineers. Interdisciplinary student teams are charged to build a robot Most teams are happy just to build a robot that works. "We're go- that will accomplish a given task better than competitors' robots. The ing over to the other side of the board and hoping that the other one 2002 contest, for instance, required a robot to navigate a ping-pong- doesn't," explained one 2002 team. Ultimately, this aim wasn't trivial, sized, slightly sloped table to collect more balls in one minute than its as the most frequent outcome in competition was a tangled robot mess. problem compels opponent. Solving the students to learn and apply Disco Stu lost one bout this way, but ultimately won through the reliable engineering design principles. execution of a straightforward program. professor of electrical and James Young, computer engineering, "People told me this was the most fun class at Rice," says Stephanie Clark, succeeds where says that the Lego Lab other Group III distribution a studio art major who served on the Disco Stu team with Printy and Tiffany the way it courses struggle because of conveys the material. A typi- Truss, a freshman deciding between mechanical and electrical engineering. course cal science or engineering starts at the bottom with facts and "At first, I had absolutely no idea what we were supposed to do. But I was formulas; these details are then built up to create concepts. The Lego able to contribute. I'm proud. I understand what's happening now." Lab, however, starts with the concept—the competitive game. To at- tack the problem, students must actively seek out the details.

Fall '03 23 "I'm always amused by the reaction people have to the Cain Project. Everybody tends to focus on just one aspect of what it does, but in reality, it operates across many areas."

—John Polking

Communication in Context: The Cain Project from semester to semester. Similarly, when plans for the new bioengineering major began, Most scientists and engineers know that their careers will require faculty consulted with the Cain Project from the outset to integrate them to write and speak about what they do. But they don't realize how communications activities into the course work. Lab courses require technical poster development, technical memos accompany the se- important it will be to their jobs: how many e-mails they will send, pre- nior design project, and group projects undertaken in each year of sentations they will give, and papers and grants they will write. course work mandate oral presentations. Even so, when one of the program's first graduates returned to speak to bioengineering sopho- Unfortunately, it shows. "Our candidacy exam used to require our mores about her new career, she surprised Ann Saterbak, a lecturer students to write a grant, and often we couldn't get around to evalu- in bioengineering and director of laboratory instruction. "She ating the science because the writing was so poor," says Kate Beck- wished she'd taken more advantage of opportunities to improve her ingham, professor of biochemistry and cell biology. Her department writing and presentation skills," Saterbak reports. "Even our ramped solved the problem by instituting a grant-writing course and working up curriculum wasn't enough." with the Cain Project, an innovative curriculum program that empha- The Cain Project also works outside of existing curricula, develop- sizes the integration of communication activities into existing scientific ing and delivering targeted courses such as thesis writing workshops course work. and the aforementioned biochemistry and cell biology grant writing In the four years since a grant from chemistry financier Gordon course. Students also can receive individual coaching from Cain Proj- Cain established the program, the Cain Project has supported more ect staff. than 46 courses, assisted hundreds of graduate students in writing "I'm always amused by the reaction people have to the Cain Proj- their theses and creating scientific posters, and helped build commu- ect," says Polking. "Everybody tends to focus on just one aspect of nication-intensive curricula for a new major in bioengineering. More what it does, but in reality, it operates across many areas." importantly, it's turning Rice science and engineering grads into more savvy communicators without adding a single required course That's not IT: Comp 200 to their schedule. That's because most Cain Project activities simply add a commu- Just because you can play around in Windows or set up a server nication element to traditional science and engineering assignments, says Linda Driskill, professor of English and director of the Cain doesn't mean you know anything about computer science. Which is Project. With a class they are already taking, students may be asked why COMP 200 exists. Its goal is to introduce self-proclaimed computer to write a technical report on laboratory findings, develop a technical geeks as well as the simply curious to the science behind the ma- poster to describe research results, or deliver a presentation to dem- chines that have changed the world. onstrate their understanding of a scientific concept. "The assignments support the learning already occurring in the course, while simultane- Distribution courses in science and engineering (Group III), of ously offering the chance to teach students how to structure an argu- which COMP 200 is a member, are doubly challenged, says ment, organize their evidence, and make a convincing case to Kathy Matthews, dean of the Wiess School of Natural Sci- a third party in either oral or written form," Driskill says. ences. Besides the interest barrier that all distribution For instance, the Cain Project lets John Policing, pro- courses ask students to surmount, Group III courses fessor of mathematics and a Cain Project board mem- add a knowledge barrier in the form of background ber, demonstrate that math is about more than solving training and prerequisite courses. Students without equations by rote. Four years ago, Policing began re- this knowledge can succeed, but do they want to try— quiring the more than 250 students in MATH 211 to particularly in courses like MATH 101, CHEM 101, or complete projects that apply the mathematical methods PHYS 101, where the primary goal is to provide foun- encountered in homework to larger-scale problems. He c‘ dational training for science and engineering majors? asks the class to solve the project problem and write up the .10\\<`R Whimsically titled Computer Science for Poets, COMP answer in a technical report. Cain Project staff helped Policing de- 200 addresses this double challenge. It targets students toying velop Web-based student instructions on writing reports and a grad- with the idea of studying the principles of computation rather than ing rubric for teaching assistants that maintains grading consistency how to use or program hardware and software. Within the computer

24 Rice Sallyport science curriculum, it sits between COMP 100, which teaches how manage intellectual property, budgets, and people out of necessity. to use hardware and software in a business setting, and Comp 210, The CHEM 750/751 series is his response—an attempt to prepare an introduction to programming that is required for all computer Rice scientists to manage and lead, whether they are running academic science majors."COMP 100 has the wrong emphasis" for the com- labs or working in industry. putationally curious, explains Nick Collins, a lecturer in the Chem 750 grounds scientists in core business subjects like computer science department. "And COMP 210 was eat- accounting, organizational theory, and strategic and project ing their lunch." management, while also introducing matters pertinent to COMP 200 focuses on the development and applica- scientific commercialization, such as patent issues. The tion of the algorithms that drive computers. The first material is kept hands on and relevant. For instance, a third of COMP 200 mirrors COMP 210, providing competitive marketing game introduced in 2002 re- definitions and examples of common algorithmic func- quires student teams to pit strategic marketing plans tions. But the rest of the course delves into how these against one another in a computerized simulation. functions are applied. In a class late in the 2002 fall se- More realism is in store for students who take CHEM mester, Collins displayed raw machine code on an overhead 1119,'`c°c‘751, which hinges on shepherding an emerging technology, et4 screen and asked students to translate it. By the end of the N^6` chosen by the course faculty, into a hypothetical marketplace. lecture, students were finding "illegal instructions" in the code— Students study patent portfolios, conduct market research, and eval- the gremlins at the root of the infamous Windows "blue screen of uate competitive products. It's the exercise that counts, though some death." ideas do take off—in 1999, one student group got as far as licensing Leslie Sage, a junior majoring in art and cognitive science, was put discussions after presenting its commercialization concept before the off by COMP 210's intense focus on programming skills She ap- Rice Alliance. preciated the chance to take a course more suited to her interests. CHEM 750 and 751 have been taught for five years, but in 2002, "COMP 200 gives a background in programming but also touches the courses extended their reach, becoming part of the new Profes- on computational theory, algorithms, logic, and the machines them- sional Master's Program in the Wiess School of Natural Sciences. Stu- selves," she says. "It allowed me a broader understanding of issues dents in this program receive both technical and business training in more useful to my education than a foundation class for a student energy exploration, nanoscale physics, and environmental analysis and majoring in computer science." decision making. CHEM 750 serves as a required first semester intro- duction to business practice; CHEM 751 can be taken as an elective Taking Care of Business: CHEM 750/751 anytime during the program. Mariyah Poonawala, a junior majoring in electrical engineering, Increasingly, scientific discovery drives industrial innovation. Scien- calls CHEM 750 "more practical" than taking full-semester business tists, though, are often rather clueless about what drives business. courses in subjects like accounting or marketing. "This class is ideal for engineering students who are looking for overview," she says. "It Two courses developed and managed by cross-disciplinary faculty presented me with a starting point as well as with directions on where from chemistry, mechanical engineering and materials science, and I can learn more about the different aspects of managing a company." the Jones School provide a quick dose of management acumen to give upper-level undergraduates and graduate students a leg up when they These and other general education courses truly are pointers. They enter the corporate world. connect familiar and unfamiliar material and suggest new courses that students can take. They can even lead students to major or minor in CHEM 750, Management for Science and Engineering, and CHEM the subject. And they prove that once you cross the bridge, there's no 751, New Venture Creation for Science and Engineering, were con- you'll head next. ceived by Andrew Barron, the Charles W. Duncan—Welch Professor telling where of Chemistry, and Michael Heeley, an assistant professor of strategic management at the Jones School. Barron admits that he's never taken a business course. Rather, as a research group leader and founder of Houston-based start up Nanotec Filtration, Inc., he's learned how to

Fall '03 25 - 1.11■•••••••.

1/1,11\\'

MAJOR INFLUENCES

"So, what do you want to be when ' e you grow up?" It's a question most of us have been asked since we began articulating semi-coherent syllables. Some people seem to know from birth what they want to do with their lives. Others go through a few fits and starts before figuring it out—even beginning college without quite knowing in which direction to head. Fortunately for Rice students, there's room here for both. Students at Rice don't have to declare a major until the beginning of their junior year. Also, Rice students have the option of double or triple majoring, giving them a flexible and diverse interdisciplinary education that will serve them well in the future. And since studies have shown that a large number of American adults change careers four to five times in their lives, today's English and philosophy major just may be tomorrow's architect. In this issue of Class,we'llfollow Catherine,Jennine, Marc, Adaba, Aaliya, and Alessandra along the way as they choose and pursue their major areas of study.

by M. Yvonne Taylor Photographs by Tommy Lavergne L and Jeff Fitlow

26 Rice Sallyport Kinesiolog) seems like an easy that allowed her to become fairly in kinesiology and psychology,so I am match for varsity volleyball player fluent in Spanish. With the help of sure there are more influential classes Catherine DuPont. After all, her af- one of her volleyball coaches, Cath- to come now that I am done with my finity for sports and physical fitness erine had the chance to travel to intro classes, math, and sciences. is readily apparent. But Catherine's Argentina mice during her summers "I am pretty certain that I am interests also have led her to pursue at Rice to work on her volleyball going to take these majors and go the opportunity to diversify her degree skills while being immersed in a on to graduate school for physical by choosing more than one major. Spanish-speaking environment. therapy," Catherine adds. am really "I always knew I wanted to do "Now," she says. "I have dropped interested in the rehabilitative medi- something in the healthcare or Spanish as a major, although I have a cine that's associated with hospitals medical field." says Catherine, -but pretty good grasp on speaking it and more than I am with athletics. Again, it wasn't until I got to Rice and actually hope to continue to take some classes in physical therapy there are tons of started checking some stuff out that in the future. Last year, I took an intro avenues to pursue, so I am hoping I realized how diverse that field is. I to psychology class and realized—yes, to get some experience this sum- decided as a freshman to focus on in an intro class—that I was really mer at the Texas Medical Center." being a kinesiology major, and I also interested in this area. I added that focused on a Spanish major. I added as a major last year. and I am really the Spanish because I had a Nision enjming the classes that I have taken of being fluent in both Spanish and so far. No classes have changed the English since that offered an advantage direction of my study, but some have in my home state of Florida as well really reinforced my decision," sh as in Texas." says. "One class I am in right now, But Catherine quickly received social psychology, is really amazing. opportunities outside the classroom Dr. Mikki Ilebl is the only profess° that I am happy to get up for at 8 A.M. Another class that I really enjoyed was a motor skills and learning class taught hy Dr. Bruce Etnyre. Both these classes were influential to me because the: were directly applicable to my life. What I am learning in class I see in both psychological and physical day- to-day events. Experiencing what lam learning is so neat to me,and becaus it relates to my actual life,learning it is really interesting.lam excited to final- ly be taking these upper-level classes

DECLARED MAJORS: KINESIOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY

Fall '03 27 If you recall last year's feature about out there that to go to med school a teachers and career services advisors. public policy, sociology of medicine, Jennine, she lamented the fact that student should be a biology major. I took this course mysophomore year, etc. And since policy studies is only a she had yet to figure out her major. "So I registered for the premed so!had to decide a major and quickly. half major, I needed another major. I This year, Jennipe is no longer clue- prerequisites here at Rice and then "Nancy and I had a meeting one then looked at the courses and found less about what she plans to focus took classes in other major areas afternoon,and within an hour,!had a that there were majors in which the on. "I came to Rice with the intent to find what I was interested in. I major!We discussed my interests and classes crossed. So, I finally decided of taking premed prerequisites and took psychology, sociology, English, what she thought I should do based on policy studies and sociology and was very unclear as to what my Japanese,university classes,etc. Each on what she knew about me and saw turned in my major declaration major would be. I was interested week I would change my mind about on paper. She actually told me that, paper the week before it was due. in natural sciences and engineering, what major I wanted to pursue, and I truthfully, after getting to know me "So far, I do not regret my deci- but I didn't rule out social sciences would look into the requirements for and seeing what my extracurricular sion. I love my teachers and classes. and humanities majors because of my the major and the different classes activities were, she thought I should My major is something that really experiences at Brown University. I at- available. It wasn't until I enrolled be a party planner! We discussed my interests me and makes me happy, tended a summer program at Brown in the Career and Life Services class love for planning and organizing and it's acceptable for med school. called 'So you think you want to be a OM 2121—which I would recom- events and my love for medicine and I have yet to lock down a particular doctor?' The program allowed me to mend to everyone who is lost!—that decided that maybe I should be a hos- career path, and I have kept my explore the various fields of medicine gotsome real help,"explains Jennine. pital administrator. Then we took the options open: I can become a physi- and gave me a greater understanding "In HUMA, we took personality and General Announcements catalog and cian, physical therapist, nurse prac- of whatit takes to become a doctor and interest tests that told us what our discussed every major in there. While titioner, or hospital administrator!" what to expect. Medical schools these strengths were and suggested pos- looking, I discovered policy studies days are looking for well-rounded in- sible careers. I also received much- in healthcare management. I really dividuals who have a life outside of needed advice and assistance from liked all the courses required for this 4 medicine. There is a misconception Nancy Laidlaw and Jackie Bing, my major. It includes medical ethics and C DECLARED MAJORS: POLICY STUDIES AND SOCIOLOGY

28 Rice Sallyport Fall '03 29 Marc has always enjoyed science. and drug design, which at the time I the research at the SouthWest Mac- And for most of his life prior to col- believed were the best ways to ben- romolecular Symposium, which was lege. Marc, like Jennine, wanted to efit mankind." Since Marc zeroed held in The Woodlands. "The guests be a doctor. "I guess I felt that loving in on that idea, he has been almost at the symposium have the option of biology as much as I did meant that I single-minded in his studies,knowing presenting a poster of their work," should become a doctor. But at some exactly why he came to Rice and pur- Marc explains. "And during the ses- point the idea of being a doctor lost suing it with relentless enthusiasm. sions, the presenters put their post- its appeal. I began to consider doc- "At Rice I knew there were good op- ers up on the wall, and other people tors to be more like mechanics,fixing portunities for undergrads to work in are able to walk around and ask the same problem over and over, so I labs, and I wanted to start as soon as I questions. It's just like the Rice Un- became really interested in genetics could. Being a natural science division dergraduate Research Symposium." major, I had Dr. Yousif Shamoo as my Marc knows he'll definitely go on advisor,and I found the research in his to graduate school.Although he hasn't lab interesting, so I asked to join his decided which school he might attend, lab the summer after freshman year. he's considering Berkeley because he Dr.Shamoo's lab is doing research on knows "there is really good research protein RNA interactions and protein going on there." When asked if his DNA interactions during S phase of mi- work at Rice has helped shaped his tosis, which is when DNA is replicated. focus, Marc replies, "Well, being in He's hoping that if we understand the Shamoo's lab for such a long time mechanism and we can fix problemsin now, I'm only thinking about crystal- genes and in proteins and understand lography. But I'll probably get the exactly what could go wrong, then it opportunity to see some other things could be used in cancer research." and meet other people before I have Marc's current research in Dr. to make a decision." He adds, "The Shamoo's lab differsfrom the majority time I've spent with the grad students of work being done there in that it in the lab has been the most enriching focuses on directed molecular evolu- time of my life. And I know now that tion. But his research gave him and I could spend the rest of my life in graduate student Rafael Counago the a research lab. I don't know of any- opportunity to present a poster on thing else that I could enjoy as much."

DECLARED MAJOR: BIOCHEMISTRY

30 Rice Sallyport Fall '03 31 .I1Alb... "Well, I'm a French major," says while,and I really liked the language, for McCann-Erickson back in Kenya. Adaba, a little sheepishly. What's the and since!was going to be taking the They are a big advertising company, reason for her half-embarrassed re- classes anyway, why not major in it?! and I had a lot of fun there. I am sponse? "I came in as an economics like French very much,and the teach- thinking of going in that direction." major, but that really didn't work out ers are cool. One semester, I took Her mom has finally taken her for me. I had to explain to my mom, three languages at one time.!got good daughter's choice of major in stride. and she was just like, `Ohhhh-k-ay," grades in my Russian class,and! had But what about graduate school? Adaba says, mimicking her mother's promised my mom that I would take "Well, that's another thing I had to hesitance and resignation. Adaba's Spanish until I graduated. And," she explain to her, but she's taking it mom graduated from the Jones adds, with a grin,"I can't really back well. She really wants me to stay in Graduate School of Management down on that. But three languages the U.S. and go to school and work at and really wanted her daughter to at one time . . ." she sighs, sound- the same time, but I don't know how follow in her footsteps. "I work at ing more than a little exasperated. I'm going to do that," Adaba sighs the Jones School," Adaba says, "and This semester,the vice president of again. "I told her that! wanted to go I like it, but, well, no,I don't want to the Rice African Student Association back to Paris for graduate school. I major in that. ... I don't mind having is taking three French courses and love Paris, and it's like my second a desk," she explains, "but I want to one Spanish class, in which one of home." And though Mom may relent, have a job where I'm not just in an her classmates says, "She's kicking she has asked one concession."Mom office all year 'round, you know?" everyone's butt!" "I just like com- said that if I go, I have to go to Le Adaba, who spent several years in munication in general," explains Sorbonne, which is very famous." France in boarding schools,chose her Adaba. "And I'm not really sure major at the end of herfreshman year. exactly what I'm going to do, but! "I realized that I was in France for a like PR a lot. This summer I worked

DECLARED MAJOR: FRENCH

32 Rice Sallyport Fall '03 33 English and biology may seem too ter topics like illness and suffering." long run because general knowledge dissimilar to consider majoring in Aaliya also is grateful that she was is crucial. Coming to terms with the both, but not for Aaliya, who plans able to double major at Rice, which fact that I could not possibly Study to go on to medical school."Person- gives her the educational scope she everything at Rice," says the junior, ally," she explains,"I feel that having believes she needs for her future."As who visited 18 schools before de- two majors almost at extremes of the far as biology, honestly, I kind of fell ciding to come to Rice, "I chose spectrum really balances me. When into it. I came to Rice thinking that to focus on English and biology I I want to be critical, I open up an there's no way I want to be a biology came to a final decision about my English text, and when I feel like be- major. There are so many stereotypes majors during my sophomore year ing more objective in understanding and stigmas associated mith a label like and have been content ever since." things, I take out my biology books. that, and I wanted to stay away from Aaliya believes that her double ma- And as a side note,!think that the study those, but then I realized that I kept jor will definitely benefit her when she ofliterature is the foundation ofmedi- coming back to biology. I kept want- goes on to medical school,where, she cal humanities. I mean, if you read ing to take biology classes to balance says,1 assure you, my English degree the works of William Carlos Williams out my mind because I was spending will come in handy.Doctors have to be or Chekhov, you're bound to encoun- so much time reading and writing. articulate speakers and skilled writers And I guess I was drawn to English too. I'd like to be one of those physi- because I love reading, and I have a cians who has a capacity for inde- wild imagination,so fiction,especially, pendent critical thinking and qualities provides an outlet for me. As far as like originality as well as creativity" the poetry goes, that's something I've She credits Dr. Zen Camacho, vice always wanted to explore seriously presidentfor student affairs, with hav- in my education. That's my notion ing a tremendous influence on her of art, and the way I see it, art really path. "I think I learn more from one applies to life because it's a way to conversation with him than I learn awaken your feelings.It really human- in an entire week of class," she ex- izes people, and that's a great thing." plains. "His advice and wisdom tend So it was during Aaliya's freshman to focus more on the big picture of year that she decided to major in both life and how to live it successfully I fields ofstudy. realized that choosing just really respect him and what he one specific field would not fulfill my says. He hasn't encouraged me to intellectual and educational interests seek a particular course of study: and goals. I felt that a broad educa- instead, he stresses that whatever tion would be more beneficial in the I choose to do I should do well."

3 DECLARED MAJORS: ENGLISH AND B OLOGY

34 Rice Sallyport

The abilityto create an interdisciplin- quite different, their majors allow sandra is working on making her own an academic Christian civic and ary approach to her education was them the flexibility to pursue their focus within her majors."What! think cultural leadership seminar, which something that Alessandra intended to special interests."Sociology seemed I'd like to do before graduate or law she describes as "really intense." "I take advantage ofas early as herfresh- to be a great way to take ideas from school is take a year and do some worked with some amazing people in man year. "I went through all these all my classes and see how they sort of independent research on how the bioethics department ofthe Family different ideas about what I wanted influence the way people organize policy, politics, and communication Research Council," she explains. "I to do and how I could encapsulate and understand themselves," Ales- all influence one another. I'd like to did amazing things and met amazing that in a major. Then I realized that sandra says. "I wanted to combine a do that and study something in either people.. . . Oh, and going to Oxford a major basically isn't going to sell departmental major with the policy South America or the Middle East." on an Honors Fellowship with the me or explain me to anybody, so I studies track in order to keep my- And Alessandra has supplemented Intercollegiate Studies Institute thought I should just pick what I self aware of how those ideas end her sociology and policy studies focus this summer was really cool too!" liked. I was really interested in an up taking form, whether in policy or with the languages and outside oppor- Alessandra pauses, "Maybe it's interdisciplinary approach because politics, and to learn how to analyze tunities she knows will help her in the not always a good thing to have so I think every subject is important their real consequences. Also,within future. "Every semester I've tried to many interests and know that there and should give to and take from both departments I have great advi- take courses that would strengthen are so many ways to learn, but I do others—especially since I'm a so- sors who are very happy to listen to my skills in Spanish, develop my feel that by choosing these fields of cial science—humanities person." me in order to understand a little bit skills in French, and dabble a little in study, even more perspectives and Like Jennine, Alessandra settled of why I'm interested in what I study, a few other things." Alessandra also opportunities have opened for me." on sociology and policy studies. so they know how to guide me." With spent a month at the White House Even though their career paths are her advisor Dr. Don Ostdiek, Ales- this summer, then three months at

DECLARED MAJORS: SOCIOLOGY AND POLICY STUDIES

36 Rice Sallyport Rice prides itself on its interdisciplinary ap- proach to both educa- tion and research—and with good reason. As our Class group demon- strates, a broad education is not only desirable to students, but it expands their intellectual and pro- fessional horizons. The programs at Rice, the choices of majors, the close relationships that undergraduates develop with professors and grad- uate students, as well as the opportunities for re- search and internships add to the excitement these young people feel about their education and their futures. But most important, it seems, it's just plain fun to study everything you love.

The next installment of Class will befeatured in spring 2004.

Fall '03 37 RICE THE NEXT CENTURY CAMPAIGN

)

Ben Mayberry' First gift: $25.00 Years of giv

i

38 Rice Sallyport RICE THE NEXT CENTURY CAMPAIGN

The Strength of Partners: Alumni and Students Focus on the Jones School

Ben Mayberry, donor, and Tanay Shah, M.B.A. scholarship recipient

A St. Augustine grass farmer and a jazz aficionado—what Jones School Partners showcases the Jaws School could they possibly have to talk about? Plenty, if they're Ben Mayberry and Tanay Shah. •Founded in 1996 to communicate with Jones School alumni and raise money for the school. A scholarship was established that supports Ben, a Rice alumnus three times over—bachelor's degrees in mathematical several students pursuing M.B.A. science in'73 and accounting in'74 and a master's in accounting in'76—and degrees at the Jones School. " When Gil Whitaker Tanay,a current M.B.A.student—share a keen interest in the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of •In 2002, together with Dean Gil arrived at the Jones Management. Following a successful career in the information technology industry, Whitaker, the Partners redefined School, he announced Ben now spends much of his time walking 550 acres of St. Augustine grass its goals and restructured as an plans he a few had in Crosby, Texas—an investment he manages with his partner in Winston affiliates group and established for the school: double Sage Partners. Ben is also a regular on the Rice campus—stopping in Valhalla the Jones School Partners Thought the enrollment and the occasionally, taking an Irish history course through Continuing Studies, and Leadership Series. faculty, construct a new actively promoting the excellence of the Jones School. •Each series partners a leader from Tanay, a Northwestern building, and expand University economics graduate who enjoys the business community with a taking in jazz performances, is currently in his second year of the Jones university expert to present current the executive education School M.B A. finance program—a program he says "absolutely" has met business ideas with academic program. Less than a year his expectations. research and thought. later, he had all of these Ben has stayed involved with Rice as a volunteer and a donor. With his •Goal: double the Partners plans in motion. And five wife, Kay,he has established the Ben and Kay Mayberry Endowed Scholarship membership from 75 to 150 in the for students in the Jones School. He also is one ofthe founding members of years later, the school next two years. Partners do not need the Jones School Partners,a group established to raise awareness ofthe Jones is in an exceptional, to be Rice alumni. In fact, half of School within the business community. facility. I call it the the Partners board members are not new Tanay is a recipient of a scholarship established by the Jones School Rice alumni. reinvention of the Jones Partners. When he recently met Ben,Tanay told him the scholarship was"very School." instrumental" in choosing Rice for his graduate work."The scholarship has •For more information, contact Maya allowed me to focus more on school since the costs are covered." VVhy did he Houston, director of development, Ben Mayberry '73 choose Rice? "I thought a smaller program with an excellent student—faculty Jones School, at 713-348-6145 or ratio would better prepare me and encourage a deeper level oflearning. The [email protected]. program has exceeded my expectations. It's outstanding." Ben was pleased to see in Tanay the high caliber ofexcellence expected of Jones School Partners Scholarship students. "The Jones School attracts a great mix of students," says Ben. "And they get better every year. That's RICE one of the reasons the reputation of the Jones School continues to rise. By promoting the school through the activities of the Partners—and under the impressive direction of Dean Gil Whitaker—it will continue to excel."

Fall '03 39 RICE THE NEXT CENTURY CAMPAIGN

J

Jerrol Springer '60 First gift: $25.00 Years of giving: 35

40 Rice Sallyport RICE THE NEXT CENTURY CAMPAIGN

Team Effort Pays Off for Players, Past and Present

Jerrol Springer, far left, is pictured with fellow pitchers from the 1959-60 Owls lineup. Next to Jerrol, from left to right, are Paul Timme, Bill Donaldson, Jim Brock, and Weldon McFarland.

Sustaining Excellence in "We used to go over to Autry Court to change. We didn't Rice Baseball have a locker room when I played baseball at Rice." The Rice Baseball program has set the following priorities to sustain its high level of excellence:

Jerrol Springer '60 has great memories of his days as a Rice pitcher, even • Increased seating at Reckling without a locker room. He played ball all four years, including three on the Park. Expand to accommodate Jerrol and Pam Springer varsity team, with teammates he calls "great guys"—Dick Kristinik, Jerry 5,000 fans. with Coach Graham Sims, Jim Fox, Lynwood Stallings, brothers Freddie and Bobby Burns, Jim • Indoor, climate-controlled pitching Brock, Bill Donaldson, Weldon McFarland, Don Erskine, Biff Perdue, Wayne Graham is a Jerry and hitting areas. Ensure that Epstein, Jerry Abernathy, and Paul Timme."We had a very good team and teaching and learning cycles brilliant baseball man. I won over 60 percent of our games." are not interrupted by inclement here knew when he got Jerrol also has great regard for a UT player who went on to a pro weather. that he would draw the career before becoming a baseball coach—Wayne Graham.When Jerrollearned • New field. Replace Cameron Field players. And he did. that Wayne was joining Rice as head coach, he told him, "Whatever I can right with a modern playing surface do to help you, let me know." Wayne did exactly that. "At our first meeting, We have exceptional and drainage system to ensure he said he needed a major league batting cage. I told him I'd take care ofit. young men playing this playability and the safety of the I didn't know what anything like that cost, but I handled it anyway," Jerrol players. sport." says with a chuckle. Jerrol's support of Wayne and the baseball team has remained strong. • Endowed starting positions. Jerrol Springer '60 In fact, when Wayne asked Jerrol to help finish Reckling Park, Jerrol and his Provide scholarships for 11 wife, Pam,funded the players' locker room, an impressive and comfortable starting players. facility. • Endowed operating fund. Ensure He also drew his friend Don Riddle into the Rice fold. Don played that funds are available to cover third base for Baylor when Jerrol pitched for Rice. Interestingly, today Don operating costs, including travel, and his wife, Jenny, are Jerrol and Pam's neighbors and good friends. "Even recruitment, and equipment. though he didn't go to Rice, Don said he would help. He and Jenny paid to build the visitors' locker room and established two scholarships, one in For information, contact Mike Wayne's name and the other in mine." Pratapas, associate athletic director for Jerrol not only thinlcs highly of his playing days but also of the development, at 713-348-4622 or education he received. There was no question that the players were expected [email protected]. to do well in class. "Our coach told us,'You're here to do the school work. We already know you're good athletes.' And if we didn't, we were off the team." He credits that discipline for his professional success and is pleased that high standards are expected oftoday's athletes also. "That's what makes Rice exceptional," he says.

Fall '03 41 Fort Discomfort

Rice Gallery's first fall exhibit, "The Re-creation of Fort Discomfort," is like someplace the Blues Brothers might have played. Lights flash, and a an epic art installation cum clubhouse by Jesse Bercowetz and Matt bunch of guitars are stored inside. Audio feedback hums throughout the exhibit, mixed with an oceanic roar and a patter that unsettlingly calls to Bua, two New York-based artists and long-time collaborators. mind gunfire. A low-ceilinged side hall, entered through a weighted swinging door To reali7e their unwieldy and over-the-top 30—something version guarded by a passed-out clown mannequin, has walls lined with gold of a childhood hideout, they rented a 27-foot truck, filled it up with just lame. One sports Halloween masks spookily lit from below with flash- about everything in their Brooklyn studio, and hit the road for Houston. lights, and the other is embed- Along the way, they collected even more stuff. "Fort Discomfort" is a ded with an oddball collection—a show about haphazard, goofball construction and creative impulses run This is the bunch of knots, a giant hairball, a wild and unchecked. It also blends nostalgia for the unfettered joys of super-fort you variety ofteeth both real and fake, childhood with the angst of adulthood. reminding one of a roadside mu- Like all artists invited to do installations at Rice Gallery, Bercowetz and would have seum in a gas station parking lot. Bua were given free rein ofthe space. This is the super-fort you would Crawling through a hole in another have built as a kid if you had adult's ability to accumulate junk—and your built as a kid wall, you enter a dark den with two parents would have let you. Imagine a 10-year-old given a truck to haul if you had biohazard suits hanging on the stufffrom dumpsters, heavy trash day piles, and garage sales. But this is wall and a millennial stockpile of a thing you would never build as an adult because, by the time you can adult's ability Pop-Ice boxes. Copies of Workers realize those childhood delusions of grandeur, you don't care about them to accumulate World newspaper are stacked in the anymore. Bercowetz and Bua are an exception. corner. It's the August 28, 2003, The glass wall of the gallery was selectively blacked out with paint, junk—and your issue, the headline reading "More leaving lookout windows. An unwieldy, almost cubist construction of Than a Power Failure, Capitalist cardboard and tape was created to house the gallery attendant. The art- parents would Greed Short-Circuits Grid." In a ists were inspired by the thematically shaped ticket booths in amusement have let you. back room, a bank of monitors play parks—structures made like a Flintstone-style house or a tiny log cabin. TV reruns from a '70s childhood— Inside the gallery a ratty wicker headboard and footboard stand on end Land ofthe Lost, Godzilla, the Six like twin pillars marking the fort entrance. A tiny, handmade cardboard Million Dollar Man. Viewing them replica of U-haul perches here—a memento to the Brooklyn—Houston in the cramped, bunker-like space, odyssey. An inverted picket fence stretches over the entry like the gate to you wonder: Are they escapist nos- a medieval castle. The exterior walls ofthe fort are cribbed together using talgia or news reports of a prehis- everything from cardboard to old futon frames to wooden 1" x 4"s. toric parallel universe replete with Past the gateway, the frenetic hodgepodge accelerates. There is a cur- giant dinosaurs and superhuman bionic men? tain of dangling strips of multicolored Pop-Ice packages, a silver Mylar In the installation, you feel the artists' yearning to return to the wall, and a gurgling water feature crafted from a clear plastic sweater bin. boundless optimism and creativity of childhood. But the environment is Electrical cords and PVC pipe snake everywhere. A Plexiglas platform cut with unsettling, Road Warrioresque undertones. There is the sense leads to a giant tower, high in the corner of the room. It is composed of that something horrible has happened and people are cribbing together a layers of cardboard, Styrofoam, and other debris—all painted a gloopy shelter as well as a life from the remnants of the outside world. "Fort Dis- white. More PVC pipe disappears into popcorn buckets stuck on the side, comfort" manages to remind us of what we loved as a kids as well as what making it look like a prop engine from a low-low budget Star Wars clone. we fear as adults. Old mattresses arc overhead in the fort's courtyard, creating an inac- cessible bridge/triumphal arch. There is a stage fenced with chicken wire, —Kelly Klaasmeyer

42 Rice Sallyport void Artful Impressions

Visitors drifted into the Print Karin Broker, chair of the Visual Arts and the Department Sifuentes, a junior triple majoring History."We had $4,300 in arts, mathematics, and computer Palace, blinked the bright Department of Visual Arts, has of Art taught printmaking at Rice since to start," Broker says,"but we and applied mathematics. Broker afternoon sunshine out of 1980. Knowing that there is far knew we wouldn't have outside was assisted by adjunct lecturer their eyes, and joined the more to artistic printmaking than support after this first class." The Heather Logan. Their task during bustling movement inside. simply running copies off a press, only way that Broker could make the course of the spring semester she wanted to give students a feel the class an ongoing endeavor was would be to collaboratively create a In one corner, lively con- for the entire process. Her idea to sell the prints to raise money series of prints and market them was a new class titled Collabora- to continue. She decided to use by semester's end. It would be a versation rose from the tive Printmaking. "But I couldn't images of the Rice campus challenge because not all the group clustered around a just stand up there and talk about because there would students were art ma- table spread with the hors how to do it," she explains. be a ready collec- jors, and only Askins d'oeuvres requisite for any "The students actually had to go tors' market for and Sage had ex- art opening. In another, a through all the steps involved those images perience in print- quieter handful watched a in printmaking, from inception within the Rice making. student demonstrate the through marketing. The idea is community. "First, we had process of making an artis- to give them an opportunity to Six students to organize the tic print. But the center of actually work collaboratively in a signed up for class in such a profession." the room showed the most The facilities of the Print activity as guests lined up in Palace—the Rice printmaking table to view front of a long classroom—were easily up to the the object of this particu- task. "We have an amazing room lar opening: A University here," Broker says, waving around "I couldn't just stand up there and talk about how to do it. Dedicated, a series of 13 at the presses and other equip- The students actually had to go through all the steps involved in photogravure prints depict- ment. "It was made to do pro- printmaking,from inception through marketing." ing classic images ofthe Rice duction printing. You couldn't do —Karin Broker University campus. Howev- that at a lot of places." The real er, this was not just any art problem was funding because the expense of creating a opening, which generally commer- the class: Angel Askins, a junior way that the students could take cially viable series of prints was signifies an end—a finish- majoring in studio art; Sarah over and it would be their proj- beyond the normal budget for a Bethea, a sophomore double ect," Logan says. "Then we had ing of a discreet group of regular printmaking class. majoring in arts and anthropol- to show them technically how to works or the conclusion of Broker applied for and re- ogy; Janica Day, a senior major- produce it." phase. Like com- an artistic ceived a teaching grant through ing in religious studies; Gretchen mencement, which was just the Brown Foundation and funds Raff, a senior double majoring in The students began by deciding weeks away, this art opening from the Jerome J. Segal Endow- mathematics and computer and to name their press the Rice Uni- was a beginning, as well as a ment in the Department of Art applied mathematics; Leslie Sage, versity Print Palace Press. They summation. and Art History, which has since a junior double majoring in arts also did research on print shops divided into the Department of and cognitive sciences; and Josef around the country. Early in the

Fall '03 43 AR TS

semester, Broker brought in sev- images they would print. Because else but Rice. But the students Then it was time to produce eral guest speakers, including they wanted to work from high- did a very good job of selecting, the prints. The photogravure pro- Carolyn Chadwick, an expert in quality images of the campus, and that was the hard part. I pret- cess, which dates to the 1850s, hand bookbinding, and Texas art- they contacted university pho- ty much let them go with what initially enabled publishers to re- ist Luis Jimenez. "Luis has done tographer Tommy LaVergne, they wanted. I never told them produce photographs in books, a lot of prints," says who provided them which ones were my favorites." magazines, and newspapers. A Sifuentes,"and he with about 200 After choosing a 1913 pho- printing press—artistic or com- talked about the photographs. tograph of Lovett Hall by E. W. mercial—cannot print the con- print process "We didn't Irish as a starting place, the stu- tinuous blending and shading of from an artist's want to do dents then selected an additional tones found in a photograph, so standpoint. Tommy the 12 photographs by LaVergne. for printing purposes, a photo- Then we went Rice Univer- "Any image with a lot of detail graphic image is exposed onto to Flatbed sity photogra- lends itself to photogravure," the printing plate through a fine Press, a corn- pher," Broker Broker says. "We went after screen, breaking the image into

"The really neat part about this process from a photographer's standpoint is that a lot of these shots are very difficult to print. You'd have to spend the entire day dodging and burning to get on paper exactly what's on the negative. But here, what's on the negative is what you get, and that's really amazing."

—Tommy LaVergne

mercial printmaking company in insists. "We wanted to do Tom- things that were dramatic—shots thousands of tiny dots of varying Austin, and they talked about it my the artist." that you wouldn't typically find size. The resulting image is called from the printmaker's standpoint, LaVergne came in a couple of somewhere else. Some were really a halftone. Look at any printed so we could see both sides of the times a week during the selection easy to decide on,like the one of photograph through a magnifying same process." process. "We often had a whole Lovett Hall, but others weren't glass, and you will see the highly "Studying the economics of series of images that were very so clear-cut, and the students had regular pattern of dots. printmaking was an eye-opener," similar," he says, "like four differ- to vote." After they settled on the The tonal qualities inherent in says Askins, who has worked with ent sets of the fronts of buildings 13 images, they named the series photogravure also lend themselves Broker for four semesters and or buildings with trees or some A University Dedicated. "They to reproduction of photographic plans to become a master printer. with students. We decided not to called it that," Broker says, "be- images for artistic purposes. But "Flatbed Press said they ran in the use students because we wanted cause those were the words on while the artistic photogravure red for the first 10 years that they the prints to be timeless. There the invitations to people from all process remains traditional, some were open, and I began to won- are certain images, like the col- over the world to attend the Rice ofits elements have experienced der what was I getting into." umn with the spires in the back- dedication ceremony in 1912." technological advances through Next, the students selected the ground, that could be nowhere the years. Originally, photogra-

44 Rice Sallyport "After they settled on the 13 images, they named the series A University Dedicated. They called it that because those were the words on the invitations to people from all over the world to attend the Rice dedication ceremony in 1912."

—Karin Broker

vure images were etched with tive. But here, what's on the neg- prints. That's a lot of paper to cut. or signature brand,impressed on acid into copper printing plates. ative is what you get, and that's Everybody had jobs." the prints. Today, photosensitive emulsions really amazing." "I became a paper handling No one quite remembers how allow a completely photographic Once the plates were made, specialist," says Day. "You'd be John Boles got involved in writ- process in creating the plates. the printing process itself was a amazed at how many little jobs ing the introduction, but it was The class also took advantage busy time."We spent about four there are that have to be per- probably inevitable—Boles is not ofinnovations in digital imaging weeks coming in at eight o'clock formed exactly right to make the only the William Pettus Hobby to create the film positives that in the morning and working right process work. When we printed, Professor of Southern History but were used to expose the print- through noon," says press op- my major job was soaking and the premier authority on the his- ing plates. Gil Daoust of Digital erator Askins. "But once you get drying paper. Each sheet costs tory of Rice University. One ver- Printmaking Solutions scanned rolling on prints, you don't notice $3.00, so you can't afford too sion goes like this: The students the images to create digital half the time." many mistakes. You had to be on were discussing who might be the tones of much higher resolution "Angel and Leslie had taken your A-game every day." best person to write the introduc- than are possible when using tra- printmaking before, so they Another aspect the students tion, and LaVergne suggested

"We spent about four weeks coming in at eight o'clock in the morning and working right through noon. But once you get rolling on prints, you don't notice the time."

—Angel Askins

ditional photographic methods. worked with had to deal Boles. "I can get him," Day piped Also, the tiny dots in the digital Heather and with was pack- up, and indeed, she had a direct images are randomized rather me on the aging. They line to Boles because she is en- than ranked in regular rows, al- actual print- constructed gaged to his son, Matt. lowing more precise control over ing," says Bro- the gift boxes "I came over and talked to the tonal values of the reproduced ker. "The other and portfolios. the students about Lovett and image. students had no "Getting the fab- the opening of Rice," Boles says. "The really neat part about prior knowledge, but ric right was a job in "We looked through all the pho- this process from a photogra- there were so many other itself," Broker says. "We tographs and wrote down the pher's standpoint," LaVergne jobs to be done. We actually went to the bookstore to match themes that jumped out. The says, "is that a lot of these shots printed about 350 sheets of pa- the Rice gray and blue, and we students wanted just enough for are very difficult to print. You'd per, and it had to be cut to 16" x had to order the ribbon to tie the just one page, so I had to work have to spend the entire day 20" from larger sheets. Also, we portfolios from Japan." The stu- to capture those themes in such a dodging and burning to get on needed thousands and thousands dents even chose the typography short space." paper exactly what's on the nega- of sheets of newsprint to dry the and designed the little chop mark, In the end, the students had

Fall '03 45 ART

produced a total of20 copies of my shoulders to take it out there had questions, we could answer, money from this goes into our each print. Seven sets were put and actually make the sell," Day because we learned the process next project." into the handmade gift boxes, says. "Sally recommended vari- as we went through it. And there "This class will continue," Si- seven sets were bound in portfoli- ous people we should go talk to was no falsity there, because we fuentes says confidently. "Even os, and the rest of the prints were to presell prints before the open- were really proud of it. We'd if we don't sell any more prints, to be sold individually. One boxed ing. We presented our project never done anything like this be- the next class will be starting with set was given to the university and and gave our little pitch, and we fore. In fact, no one in the nation more than twice the funding that one to LaVergne, Boles received were really successful. We sold all had ever done anything like this we started with." prints, and all the students earned but one box ahead of time. But before at the undergraduate level. proof prints. people work is what I enjoy, and We're the only undergraduate The sales of the prints ensure "It took the students a while to that the Collaborative Printmak- get a grip on what they were do- ing class will continue beyond this ing," says Logan,"but when we year. Broker envisions a session finished, they were really proud. every other semester. She'd also I think it was a little unusual in like to increase the number of that they aren't normally asked to students from six to eight to help shoulder this kind of responsibil- spread out the workload. ity If one of them didn't show up "We're learning as we go," during the production, someone Broker says. "There are programs else had to take up the slack. Or like this elsewhere for graduate sometimes, they'd go in and call students but not for undergradu- them and tell them,'Get here!' It ates, and you can see why. It's a was fun to watch how they han- lot of work—but I've always felt dled all that." The collaborative print making class, left to right: Josef Sifuentes, Leslie Sage, Tommy that Rice students could do it." LaVergne, Sarah Bethea, Janica Day, Karin Broker, Heather Logan, Gretchen Raff, Angel The next class will work with Askins, and John Boles To prepare for selling the prints, photos by well-known photogra- pher and Rice professor of visual the class listened to Sally Reyn- since I'm not an art major, I felt print shop in the nation. It just art Geoff Winningham. After olds talk about meeting people, I could handle taking it out and came through naturally when we that, Broker may get a photog- writing letters, and other aspects doing that kind of work. We all showed people, and then they got rapher from off campus."We of marketing art. Reynolds, an found our niche." very excited just seeing it." always want the subject to be instructor and promotion coor- One of Day and Sifuentes's The individual prints are priced Rice," she says. "Since this was dinator for Rice's Cain Project most daunting sales calls was a at $150, the portfolios at $1,700, the first class, we kept it classic in Engineering and Professional presentation to the Rice Board and the boxed sets at $2,500. Rice, but we'll want a different Communications, spent 22 years of Trustees, but that didn't faze "We've already made $10,000 take every time."• as an art dealer, consultant, and Sifuentes. "I wasn't worried be- from the presold four box sets," cause the product is gorgeous," says Broker. "We'll continue to curator before coming to Rice. —Christopher Dow Day and Sifuentes agreed to Sifuentes says. "As soon as we sell the prints at our annual print handle the marketing. "Sud- opened up the portfolio, it did sale. We set up a special fund denly it was all on Josef's and all the talking for us. If people just for this class, and all the

46 Rice Sallyport ON THE BOOKSHELF

Prescription for a Jackson spends some time on Healthy Planet the CFC issue because he believes that the outcome—international agreement to control and finally Booknotes Bad news about the environment ban CFCs—"offers considerable sometimes seems so pervasive promise for the handling offuture After the City, by Lars Lerup, dean of Rice's School of Architecture that a natural tendency for some of global environmental problems.' (MIT Press, 2000) us is simply to ignore the problems The three reasons, he says, that Apartheid's Landscape and Ideas: A Scorched Soul, by Alan Schwerin and hope they'll go away. banning CFCs worked were the compelling scientific evidence that '89, associate professor and director of Cross-Cultural Studies and Perspectives at Monmouth University (University of Rochester Press, They won't, says Rob Jackson CFCs damaged the ozone, the ob- 2001). '83 in The Earth Remains Forever: vious threat CFCs pose to human presence of a tech- Generations at a Crossroads(Uni- health, and the Black Jack Point, by Jeff Abbott '85(Signet, 2002) versity of Texas Press, 2002). But nologically feasible solution. He Jackson isn't just another bearer also explains why none of us alive The Cancer Breakthrough You've Never Heard Of, by Richard A. of more bad tidings. Instead, he today are likely to see the ozone Evans, M.D.'67 (Texas Cancer Center, 2000) hole finally close for good. shows how recent responses to Crossing Boundaries: Essays on the Ethical Status of Mysticism, Citing numerous examples of potential environmental tragedies edited by Jeffrey J. Kripal, the Lynette Autry Associate Professor of corporate, government, and in- can provide models—and hope— Religious Studies at Rice, and G. William Barnard (Seven Bridges ternational efforts to ameliorate for the future. Press, 2002) The book outlines a number environmental ills, Jackson holds of dilemmas that plague human- out hope that hu- Dracula, by Bram Stoker, an authoritative edition edited by John Paul kind—overpopula- mans will adopt a Riquelme '68, professor of English at Boston University (Bedford/St. tion, biological and reasoned stance of Martin's, 2002) ecological diversity, stewardship over The Grammar of Causation and Interpersonal Manipulation, edited by ozone depletion, the natural world. Masayoshi Shibatani, the Deedee McMurtry Professor of Humanities and global warming, At the same time, at Rice (J. Benjamins, 2002) among others—many Jackson believes of which will contin- that we are at a Imperial Fault Lines: Christianity and Colonial Power in India, ue to become more critical juncture, 1818-1940, by Jeffrey Cox '70, professor of history at the University complex as we face an where decisions of Iowa (Stanford University Press, 2002) evermore populous fu- today—or lack of ture. To make matters them—can and Mitigating the Earthquake Hazard, by Anestis Veletsos, the Brown worse, these problems will have momen- & Root Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Rice often have compound tous effects in (University of Patras, Greece, 2002) years to come."It causes, some of which A Monte Carlo Primer: A Practical Approach to Radiation Transport, takes more than may not be obvious by Stephen A Dupree '64, and Stanley K. Fraley (Kluwer Acacemic/ idealism and a spirit of at first glance. For ex- Plenum Publishers, 2002) ample, after Jackson cites cooperation to succeed," he writes. possible environmental reasons "The hard work, creativity, and sac- Neither Lady nor Slave: Working Women in the Old South, edited by for increases in melanoma in the rifice needed to solve today's prob- Michele Gillespie '83, associate professor of history at Wake Forest U.S. from 1974 to 1986,includ- lems can come from each ofus." University, and Susanna Defino (University of North Carolina Press, ing ozone depletion, he points Jackson, who earned a B.S. 2002) out that large population shifts in chemical engineering from Pyramid Algorithms, by Ron Goldman, professor of computer science from the rustbelt to the sunbelt Rice, is an associate professor in at Rice (Elsevier Science, 2002) occurred during the same time— the Department of Biology and not simply stronger sunshine but the Nicholas School of the En- Revelation, a science fiction novel by Carol Berg '70(Roc, 20011 more people out in it. vironment and Earth Sciences at An environmental scientist, Duke University and is director Storms in Space, a text for the general reader, by John W. Freeman, Jackson approaches his subject of Duke's Program in Ecology professor emeritus of astronomy and space physics at Rice University from a rationalist viewpoint, but and its new Environmental Stable (Cambridge University Press, 20011 Isotope Laboratory. In 1999, even though the book is peppered The Syriac Apocalypse of Daniel, by Matthias Henze, assistant he was one of 19 scientists hon- with statistics, it never bogs down professor of religious studies at Rice (Tubingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2001) in data. He keeps things lively by ored at the White House with a playing incidents and sequences Presidential Early Career Award Tolkien the Medievalist, edited by Jane Chance, professor of English of discoveries as narrative rather in Science and Engineering from at Rice (Routledge Ltd., 2002) than exposition. The exposure of the National Science Foundation. Unprincipled Virtue: An Inquiry into Moral Agency, by Nomy Arpaly, chloroflurocarbons(CFCs) as a About six years ago, Jackson es- assistant professor of philosophy at Rice (Oxford University Press, major culprit in ozone depletion tablished the Janus Scholarship at 2002) reads a bit like the treatment for Rice, an annual student award that a fact-based enviro-thriller, com- encourages research from multiple plete with an international cast of perspectives into environmental eminent scientists and policymak- issues.• ers, with the fate of the world in —Christopher Dow the balance.

Fall '03 47 H ()OK K

Memoiries, Memoiries

The memoir, as a literary form, may be several hundred years old, but Joyce Pounds Hardy '67 has writ- it remains a favorite of contemporary writers. Perhaps that's because ten a memoir Surviving Aunt Ruth of the nature of the memoir and the stormy times we inhabit. Unlike (lstBooks Library, 2002) at the autobiographers and diarists, who are concerned primarily with other end ofthe spectrum. While it their own lives as subject matter, memoirists usually describe their may not be set amid a major histori- cal observations of or roles within historical events, cultural movements, conflict like World War II, it is a tale no less tumultuous. Subtitled Vignettes ofa Caregiver's Struggles or or social interactions both great and small. Two recent memoirs from How to Keep Laughing When You Want to Cry, it is the story of how Har- Rice alums aptly demonstrate this range. dy cared for her sole-surviving aunt during the woman's declining years. "Everyone has an Aunt Ruth," Hardy writes. "Everyone at some point The first is The Way It Was:A World War II Memoir(lstBooks Library, in his life will become his brother's keeper—either out oflove or duty or 2001) by Jim Hargrove '43. Hargrove's education at Rice and his fledg- both, and if you're lucky the love outlasts the duty." ling marriage were interrupted by World War II, and like most young Certainly Hardy had to face the duty first. "The Aunt Ruth of my men of the time, he was called to military service. Hargrove did not fight childhood had become old and crotchety, strange and unpredictable, not on the front lines—as he puts it, "This is not a hero's story. It is simply at all the happy, fun-loving aunt of my memories." Some of Aunt Ruth's

"The Aunt Ruth of my childhood had become old and crotchety, strange and unpredictable, not at all the happy, fun-loving aunt of my memories." —Joyce Pounds Hardy

the story of one soldier's war." He started out in an antiaircraft unit but, erratic behavior is embarrassing for Hardy, such as when she leans out because of his linguistic skills, was soon transferred to military intelli- of car windows to curse other drivers. But there is a lot offunny stuff gence, where he helped translate interrogations of prisoners of war. in these pages. For example, Aunt Ruth would loudly proclaim to just Most memoirs of war concern battle and the conditions surround- about anybody that Hardy was the first woman president of Rice Uni- ing it. Hargrove's book, instead, is a look at what was happening behind versity and had become the governor of Texas. "She had left out a few the scenes in the U.S. and in various locales where he was stationed in important words," Hardy writes, "like the first woman president in sev- Europe. Some of this includes the minutiae of life in and travel through enty-five years of Rice's ALUMNI ASSOCIATION,and a governor on formerly occupied territory and the rough-and-ready accommodations Rice University's BOARD OF GOVERNORS,not the State of Texas." that Hargrove's unit often put up with. Along the way are a few inter- There is a lot of poignancy too. "She tested my faith, my sense of hu- rogations, but Hargrove focuses principally on his surroundings and the mor, and every survival skill I knew, plus every prayer I could muster," people he met and dealt with—military and civilian alike—as his unit fol- Hardy writes. "In the end with laughter as my strongest ally, I discovered lowed the front into the heart of Germany. that love is more powerful than pride and much more satising."•

—Christopher Dow

48 Rice Sallyport •0, HO S WHO

— Susanne Glasscock — Edward A. Dominguez — Edward Djerejian — Charles Henry — Naomi Halas — Pol D. Spanos In the News — Jennifer West — Emmanuelle Boubour Schuler — Glenn Goodrich — Choong-seop Lee — Kerry Keck — Sylvia Louie — Kimberly M'Carver

Two Join Rice Board of Trustees Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the American Blood Centers, and Henry Awarded Fulbright Senior volunteering at St. Mark's the American Red Cross. Specialists Grant Houston businesswoman and and Palmer volunteer Susanne Glasscock and School, St. John's School, Charles Henry, vice president and Church, Harris County distinguished Texas physician Dr. Memorial chief information officer at Rice, Heritage Society, and the Fish Baker Institute's Djerejian to Chair Edward A. Dominguez, both was awarded a Fulbright Senior Organization at Texas A8c1v1 Federal Advisory Group Rice alumni, have been named to Specialists grant in library science University. the university's board of trustees Edward Djerejian, director of to lecture in New Zealand this Dominguez'82, specializes in for four-year terms that began the James A. Baker III Institute past summer. Through public lec- internal medicine and infectious July 1. for Public Policy, will chair a new tures and private meetings at the diseases at his practice in Tyler, Glasscock '62, who earned a group to advise the U.S. admin- National Library of New Zealand, Texas. A native of San Antonio, bachelor's degree in economics, istration on public diplomacy ap- the Humanities Society of New he earned a bachelor's degree served as vice president of Texas proaches and programs related to Zealand, the Ministry of Culture, in biochemistry from Rice and Aromatics until her retirement in the Arab and Muslim world. various universities, and other lo- a medical degree from Baylor 2000. She has been a member of The advisory group, assembled cations, Henry shared his insights College of Medicine in 1986. the Association of Rice Alumni at the request of Congress, will on the emerging phenomenon of During his stay in Houston, (ARA) board, the Shepherd comprise 10 to 12 members with digital libraries and their potential Dominguez was a resident and re- Society advisory board and gov- expertise in public diplomacy, impact on teaching and research search fellow in infectious diseases erning council, and the Rice public relations, the media, and and the organization of higher at Baylor and chief medical resi- University fund council. Other the Arab and Muslim regions of education. Henry also received a dent at Veterans Affairs Medical committee participation includes the world. It will study the effi- Fulbright grant in the 1980s to Center. While living in Omaha, the Leadership Committee at cacy of the Department of State's conduct research in comparative Nebraska, he was on the faculty the James A. Baker III Institute public diplomacy efforts in this re- literature in Vienna, Austria. at the University of Nebraska for Public Policy, the National gion, recommend new ideas and Medical Center and served on Endowment for the Humanities the initiatives, and report its findings staff at several hospitals. Professorship Committee, and to Congress this fall. Halas Earns DOD's Prestigious Dominguez, who will be an the Founder's Club Committee. A leading expert on the com- Innovator Award alumni trustee nominated by the She was vice president of special plex political, security, economic, The Department of Defense ARA,served a three-year term on events for Friends of Fondren religious, and ethnic issues of the Breast Cancer Research Program the ARA board and was its presi- Library and chaired the library Middle East, Djerejian has played has chosen Rice's Naomi Halas to dent in 1999-2000. He was the gala in 1999. key roles in the Arab—Israeli peace receive the prestigious Innovator alumni association regional group She and her husband, Mel'61, process, the U.S.-led coalition Award for ongoing research into leader in Omaha and has chaired are Rice Associates and mem- against Saddam Hussein's inva- novel ways to use nanotechnol- both the ARA nominations and bers of the Lovett and William sion of Kuwait in 1991,success- ogy to diagnose and treat breast honors committees. He has Marsh Rice societies. Together, ful efforts to end the civil war cancer. The award includes a served more than 10 years as an they have funded six scholar- in Lebanon, the release of U.S. four-year, $3-million grant, which alumni interviewer of prospective ships and are supporters of the hostages in Lebanon, and the Halas will use to develop new students and has been an alumni School of Continuing Studies. establishment of collective and noninvasive methods of detecting mentor to Rice students. In 2001, Glasscock is active in the wider bilateral security arrangements in and eradicating tumors. Dominguez spearheaded the Houston community as well, the Persian Gulf. Halas, the Stanley C. Moore "Gift of Life" blood drive in his serving as a member of the Bayou Professor in Electrical and area in cooperation with the ARA, Bend advisory committee for the

Fall '03 49 WHO'S WHO

Computer Engineering and pro- Only slightly larger than mol- Spanos joined Rice in 1984 is co-developing with nanoshell fessor of chemistry, is the inventor ecules, nanoshells consist of a and has held the L.B. Ryon chair inventor Naomi Halas include of metal nanoshells, a novel type nonconducting core covered since 1988. He has written more photothermal treatments for can- of nanoparticle with "tunable" by a thin metal shell. By chang- than 250 papers and written cer, implantable photo-activated optical properties. ing the thickness of the shell, or edited 17 books on dynam- drug-delivery systems, light-ac- The Innovator Award is ad- Halas's team can precisely tune ics and vibrations of elastic or tivated "tissue-welding" tech- ministered by the Department of a nanoshell's electric and optical rigid structural and mechanical nology for wound closure, and Defense Breast Cancer Research properties. Halas and West have systems. Currently, he directs a method for conducting rapid Program. First presented in 2001, successfully attached proteins to a group of 16 graduate stu- whole-blood immunoassays. the award is explicitly designed the surface of nanoshells—includ- dents sponsored by the National West's research in tissue en- to encourage the most creative ing proteins that bind only with Science Foundation (NSF), gineering involves the develop- individuals in all areas of research tumor cells. Since the shells can the Department of Energy, the ment of bioengineered arteries to pursue innovative and novel be "tuned" to react to near-in- Office of Naval Research, and that can be used to combat heart approaches that may significantly frared light, which passes harm- industrial firms. disease and problems that arise contribute to the conquest of lessly through the body, they His numerous previous after angioplasty. She has devel- breast cancer. can be used as tumor-seeking honors include the NSF's oped biodegradable materials that "Dr. Halas's nanoshell technol- nanopartides. After they are in- Presidential Young Investigator can be used as templates to grow ogy offers just that kind ofop- jected into the patient, a doctor Award, the Alexander von new blood vessels. West also is portunity," said Col. Kenneth A. would shine a low-power light Humboldt Senior Research developing polymers that can be Bertram, director ofthe congres- at the patient. The nanoshells Prize, and membership in the applied to the interior surface of sionally directed Medical Research would give off a signal in re- National Academy of Greece. arteries and release nitric oxide, Programs of the U.S. Army sponse, and any place there was a a clot-reducing agent that helps Medical Research and Materiel tumor, the doctor would "see" a blood vessels heal. Command."The team she has cluster of nanoshells. By increas- West Named Among 100 Top assembled to develop it is an im- ing the power of the laser, the Innovators pressive, multidisciplinary group doctor could heat the nanoshells Jennifer West, associate professor Schuler Named Among 100 Key Women in Energy that includes physicists, biologists, just enough to destroy the tumor in bioengineering and chemical and engineers." without harming healthy tissue. engineering, has been named one For her research in energy, The research team includes of the world's 100 Top Young Emmanuelle Boubour Schuler, Jennifer West, associate professor Innovators by Technology Review, a postdoctoral research associate in bioengineering and chemical Engineering's Spanos Wins ASCE's MIT's magazine ofinnovation. in chemistry, recently was named von Karman Medal engineering; Rebekah Drezek, as- The annual list recognizes among RaderEnergy's 100 "Key sistant professor in bioengineering Pol D. Spanos, the Lewis B. individuals under age 35 whose Women in Energy—Americas," a and electrical and computer en- Ryon Professor of Mechanical innovative work in technology distinction that celebrates women gineering; and Renata Pasqualini, Engineering and Civil has a profound impact on to- who have made exceptional con- associate professor of genitouri- Engineering, has been awarded day's world. Nominees are rec- tributions to their company or nary medical oncology and cancer the prestigious Theodore von ognized for their contributions country or to the energy market- biology at M.D. Anderson Cancer Karman Medal from the American in transforming the nature of place. Center. Society of Civil Engineers. The technology in industries such as Boubour was one of only 10 "Wonderful technological ad- medal is given annually for distin- biotechnology, computing, en- women recognized in the cat- vances have allowed doctors today guished achievements in engineer- ergy, medicine, manufacturing, egory of"innovation/creativity" to detect breast cancer sooner ing mechanics that are applicable nanotechnology, telecommuni- for her research into ways that and treat it more effectively, to any branch of civil engineering. cations, and transportation. nanotechnology can assist in and yet 40,000 women died in Spanos is the youngest re- West is internationally recog- the framing of solutions for cur- the United States last year from cipient of this prestigious award, nized for research in two cut- rent and future energy needs. breast cancer, and another 1 mil- which was established in 1960. ting-edge areas of bioengineering: RaderEnergy, a Houston-based lion aren't even aware they have He was recognized for his con- nanotechnology and tissue engi- energy consultancy, created the it," said Halas. "Nanoshells offer tributions to innovative analytical neering. In nanotechnology, she honors program to recognize a completely new technological and numerical tools for studying is studying several noninvasive excellence in individual perfor- approach that we hope will make a wide spectrum of civil engineer- medical applications for metal mance among women in the en- breast cancer easier to diagnose, ing systems that exhibit nonlinear nanoshells, ultrasmall spheres ergy industry. less painful to treat, and ultimate- behavior and are subject to deter- with unique optical properties. "The future of energy is small," ly, more survivable." ministic and stochastic loads. Nanophotonic applications West Boubour says. "Typically, we

50 Rice Sallyport M 11111111... ff OW 1,11•1.11MIN

think of energy in terms ofsome- Notre Dame, his master's in community. It uses a yearlong adventure, each participant was thing big, like a huge new discov- physics from Western Illinois leadership program to develop presented with a certificate signed ery of oil reserves in some remote University, and a bachelor's in local leaders' skills. Each year, 20 by all the class members and facili- part of the world. However, we electrical engineering from Seoul to 25 community leaders from all tators. Each certificate had a note know that given the present rate National University. Lee joined sectors are chosen to participate on the back from a small group of of energy consumption, even Rice after serving two years as a in the program after a rigorous classmates. these new finds will be unlikely research assistant professor in phys- selection process. Louie said after Their message to Louie: "So pe- to get us past the next 50 years. ics at the University of Houston. she was invited to apply, William tite, yet so strong. In her quiet de- Advances in materials, particularly Parsons, department chair and as- termined manner,she conquered at the nanoscale, might allow us sociate professor of religious stud- the mountain and our hearts." to find new and better ways to Keck Receives Shapiro Award for ies, supported her decision to go harvest energy from wind, oceans, Innovative Work at Fondren Library forward. Staff Song Bird and the Earth's crust and to Kerry Keck's multiple efforts The program year begins with make energy transmission more to improve services at Fondren an orientation, followed by a Kimberly M'Carver, a staff assis- efficient. There is no doubt that Library have been acknowledged weeklong wilderness experience tant in the economics department, nanotechnology will offer new with this year's Shapiro Library during which members face the is wowing critics across the nation opportunities to provide abun- Staff Innovation Award. The challenge of scaling a mountain. with her CD, Cross the Danger dant, cheap, and renewable en- award pays tribute to a Fondren This year, Louie and her class- Line. "M'Carver is such a sweet, ergy for this new century." Library staff member who has mates went to the Flying L Ranch heart-grabbing singer and accom- developed an innovative program in Glenwood, Washington. After plished songwriter," wrote Daniel to provide library services at Rice spending a day on a 40-foot-high Gerwetz of the Boston Herald. CNST Awards Two J. Evans or has shown exemplary service to ropes course, the group embarked "Her new Cross the Danger Line is Attwell—Welch Postdoctoral the university community. The re- on the one-day mountain climb Fellowships simply one of the finest Americana cipient receives a cash award and a followed by a day of reflection. albums of2001." M'Carver said Rice University and its Center plaque. Among Keck's many con- On "solo day," each person spent she had been touring extensively for Nanoscale Science and tributions were introducing the four hours alone thinking about until last fall promoting the CD Technology(CNST) recently concept of a "collection manage- the previous days' impact. but took a break to spend more announced the award of J. Evans ment and development council," "I never thought I would time with her husband and dogs Attwell—Welch Postdoctoral forming a steering committee for climb a mountain," she says. and to work up new material. Fellowships to Glenn Goodrich electronic resources, and develop- "The trip strengthened my power and Choong-seop Lee. ing distribution management pro- of self-belief and encouraged me The two-year fellowships en- cedures and tools. to use my intuition and go with Martel Chef Earns Chef de Cuisine able preeminent young scholars to the flow even though the unex- Certification work with dozens of leading na- pected is just around the corner." Martel servery managing chef noscientists at Rice. The fellowship Religious Studies' Sylvia Louie In addition to personal growth, Chris Shepley has earned a pres- program was established in 1998 Joins Ranks with Local Leaders Louie said the group developed tigious chef de cuisine certifica- by the Welch Foundation in honor a deep trust and respect for one As a board member for several tion from the American Culinary of J. Evans Attwell to attract the another. These skills will be neces- community organizations, Sylvia Federation, joining South Servery best Ph.D. recipients in nanosd- sary to collaborate on the com- Louie recently was accepted into managing chef Roger Ellchouri, ence and nanoengineering. munity project that each class the Houston/Gulf Coast Chapter who received his chef de cuisine Goodrich earned his doctorate must organize next. ofthe American Leadership certification in December 2002. in chemistry from Pennsylvania At the program's conclusion Forum (ALF). Shepley said the certification is a State University and bachelor's in April, Louie and her class- "Acceptance into the ALF was product of wanting to learn more degrees in chemistry and comput- mates will graduate and become an affumation of what I've been about the career he has chosen. "It er science from the University of senior fellows. They'll join Class doing to give back to the com- puts you at a higher level," he says. Iowa. He has served as a research X's Stephen Klineberg, profes- munity," says Louie, the senior "It's a group that really cares about assistant at Penn State since 1998, sor of sociology, and Class XIII's department coordinator of reli- what they do and strives to learn conducting original research in Colleen Morimoto, assistant to gious studies. "I was absolutely what's going on in bioas- the provost. "I feel so honored to the industry."• nanoparticle-amplified ecstatic." and DNA-based assembly of be rubbing shoulders with them says The ALF was founded in 1981 —Reported by B. J. Almond, Jade nanostructures. and representing Rice at the same to offer a new leadership model Boyd, Margot Dimond, Jennifer Evans, earned his doctorate in time," Louie says. Lindsey Fielder, Trish Leggett Lee for those in the forefront of the physics from the University of At the end of the wilderness

Fall '03 51 SCOREBOARD

—Rimer Rice Tops School -Nismilppr Record in Academic All-Americans i•emiitioiliotiktiatti -- - , (.: • •1i lut t-„,„; „; The 2002-03 season was memorable not only for the Owls' College World Series victory but The Other Boys for the number of Rice athletes of Spring who made the top academic lists.

The men's track and field team was named the top academic team by the United States Track and Field Coaches Association. To qualify for the honor, teams must have a cumulative grade point aver- age of at least 3.000, and the Rice team led all Division I universities, with a cumulative grade point av- English trio leads Rice tennis to doubles pair wins or loses on their deservingly named the national erage of 3.320. Rice also had two new heights own—as at Wimbledon or the U.S. doubles team ofthe year by the individuals among the nation's top Open. From late January to May, ITA. In singles play, Richard com- 25: Academic All-American Adam Redding Park looms over Jake college tennis is more like the Davis piled an impressive record of27- Davis, who posted a 4.018 GPA Hess Tennis Stadium, which means Cup,as each team plays a series of 12. Not to be outdone, William in economics and kinesiology, and that Rice's tennis teams almost matches against other schools. tallied a 27-6 mark and advanced Erik Mazza, who graduated this literally play in the shadow oftheir Collegiate tennis also recognizes to the round of 16 at the NCAA past spring with a 3.610 GPA in baseball colleagues. Indeed, many multiple championship events. For singles championships. Freshman political science and managerial Rice baseball fans take a shortcut singles players and doubles pairs, and fellow Englishman Robert studies. through the tennis center on their the Intercollegiate Tennis Associa- Searle burst onto the national In addition, 10 Rice students re- way to the diamond. Next time, tion (ITA) holds the All-American scene in September by winning ceived CoSIDA/Verizon Academic they may want to slow down and Championships in October and the the singles title at the Virginia All-America honors for 2002-03— take a look. The 2002-03 men's National Indoor Championships in Invitational en route to a 28-6 the highest number of Rice student tennis team turned in a remark- January. In May,the NCAA holds a overall record. All three were athletes to receive this honor in a able year, bringing home a national 64-team tournament to determine ranked among the top 30 players single year. They are: championship in doubles, third- a national team champion,followed in the nation at season's end. place finishes in two other national by separate championship tourna- Rice similarly excelled in team First Team tournaments, and a sterling record ments in singles and doubles. competition, winning seven dual • Adam Davis, men's track as a team. In 2002-03,the Barkers domi- matches in a row and racking up and field Just as a trio ofstarting pitchers nated college doubles, winning the an impressive 19-6 regular season Second Team paved the way for Rice's baseball National Indoor Championship record, earning the Owls a berth • Allison Beckford, women's championship, the tennis team was in November, the first national in the NCAA team tournament for track and field led by three stand-out players: ju- men's doubles title in Rice history. the second time in three years. • Alice Falaiye, women's track niors Richard and William Barker, In fact, the Barkers lost only two As a team, Rice finished the year and field identical twins hailing from Solihull matches all year, both in national ranked 33rd in the nation, with a • Wade Townsend, baseball in the English Midlands; and fresh- semifinals: a tiebreaker at the All- 20-8 record. The Owls dominated man Robert Searle,from the Lon- American Championships and a Western Athletic Conference hon- Third Team don suburb of Orpington. gut-wrenching 7-6/7-5 decision ors, with Richard Barker named • Richard Barker, men's tennis College tennis has two distinct to an Illinois pair at the NCAA Player ofthe Year, Searle named • William Barker, men's tennis seasons. From September to Janu- doubles championships. Freshman of the Year, and head • Jeff Blackinton, baseball ary, Rice players participate in a With a national title, two semifi- coach Ron Smarr recognized as • Catherine DuPont, volleyball series ofindividual tournaments nal finishes, and a phenomenal 38-2 the WAC's Coach of the Year.• • Amanda Felder, women's track in which each singles player or overall record, the Barkers were and field —George W. Webb III • Vincent Sinisi, baseball

In past years, the highest number ofstudent athletes recognized was four—in both 1995-96 and 1998-99. Twenty-one student This fall, Coca-Cola recognized the Owls' College World athletes made the CoSIDA/ Series win with a commemorative six-pack of glass bottles. Verizon Academic All-District VI list in 2002-03. This also is a school record.• rm.sun. 0.1111 NO cf.:. •

52 Rice Sallyport YESTERYEAR

Rice has never been a large school, but that doesn't mean enrollments haven't risen steadily over the years Fifty-nine students enrolled when Rice opened its doors in 1912, although by the time that class graduated in 1916, 18 more students had joined, making the first graduating class number 77 By 1952, undergraduate enrollment was 1,304, and that grew to 2,740 in the next fifty years. While the university now holds freshman admissions steady at about 650, Rice remains a first choice for many of today's top high school students This year already, more than 500 students have sent in early applications—a school record. Nonprofit Organization Rice University U.S. Postage Sallyport PAID Publications Office—MS 95 rAmPus MAIL Permit #7549 P.O. Box 1892 MR MICHAEL CHARLES UESSELS Houston, Texas 77251-1892 MS-44 Houston, Texas FON1JP04 LIBRARY

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In November, President Bush invit the Rice baseball team to a White House reception to honor the Owls' College World Series victory. Joining the team for the celebration were President and Mrs. Gillis.

Photo by Tommy LaVergne