RESEARCH at RIT The Rochester Institute of Technology Research Report Spring/Summer 2014

SPOTLIGHT ON SCHOLARLY DISSEMINATION

www.rit.edu/research Welcome | A Letter from the Vice President for Research

RESEARCH at RIT Scholarly Dissemination

The Rochester Institute of Technology Research, scholarly activity, and the sharing of Research Report–Spring/Summer 2014 knowledge is why RIT is passionate about fostering the dissemination of scholarship. Executive Editor Ryne Raffaelle Vice President for Research and Associate Provost I once asked an annual signature festival Imagine RIT: esteemed professor Innovation and Creativity. More than Editor of mine, “When does 35,000 visitors get a firsthand look at Kelly Sorensen research become the university’s innovative and creative Director of Research Communications science?” He smiled endeavors. And RIT’s unique collections down on me benevo- are a draw for researchers around Design Director Jeff Arbegast lently and answered, the world. Art Director/Associate Director “When it is published.” Representing an institution that has University Publications Academic researchers prided itself in remaining at the forefront become pretty well acquainted with of new technologies for dissemination, Contributors the sentiment “the job is not done until and one that has an extremely diverse Rich Kiley, Senior Communication Specialist you disseminate the results.” How often portfolio of scholarship and unique University News have we repeated this same platitude to collections, we decided that it would Marcia Morphy, Senior Communication our students? be appropriate to dedicate this issue of Specialist, University News As an inspiration for the focus of Research at RIT to scholarly dissemina- Debbie Waltzer, Freelance Writer this particular issue of Research at RIT tion. I hope you will enjoy reading about magazine, Bruce Austin, Director of the depth and breadth of our activities. Contributing Photographers RIT Press, aptly put it, “The inspiration, Mark Benjamin, NTID Photographer motivation, indeed the reason for Best regards, Elizabeth Lamark, Photographer research, is discovery. And discovery Production Services, The Wallace Center without dissemination means the John Myers, Photographer knowledge gained by research remains A. Sue Weisler, Photographer private; if that outcome is the case, then Ryne Raffaelle University News the point of conducting the research Vice President for Research Marnie Soom, Design and Marketing has been missed. Research isn’t a selfish and Associate Provost Specialist, RIT Press endeavor or something pursued without regard to beneficiaries beyond oneself.” Office of Research Communications While few would argue about the 74 Lomb Memorial Drive necessity of subjecting one’s scholarly Rochester, NY 14623 585-475-5094 work to the scrutiny of others, how one E-mail: [email protected] goes about scholarly dissemination in this new age of electronic connectedness is currently a question with which many academics are grappling. The former Rochester Institute of Technology publishes Research at RIT. raging debates over “publish or perish” RIT does not discriminate. RIT promotes and values diversity within its workforce and provides equal opportunity to all qualified have morphed into a whole new realm. individuals regardless of race, color, creed, age, marital status, sex, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender RIT works closely with its faculty, expression, national origin, veteran status, or disability. staff, and students to disseminate their scholarship. The Wallace Center No. 13 facilitates research through its access to 13M-P1571-05/14-COH-JSA ©2014 Rochester Institute of Technology digital resources and open dissemination. All rights reserved The campus hosts symposiums and RIT’s

Spring/Summer 2014 Report Contents | Inside this Issue

Inside this Issue

Focus Areas 2 - 27

2 ‘Center’ for Academic Scholarship 18 Preserving All Types of Fine Print The Wallace Center, home to RIT RIT’s Cary Graphic Arts Collection Libraries, is a hub for learning and is one of the finest teaching libraries scholarship. Digital collections have in the world. Scholars and students led to a transformation of library have access to more than 45,000 collections and space and an expan- artifacts including rare books, type, sion of academic services. Research and printing presses. The collection’s is facilitated through instant access newest acquisition is the 19th century to digital resources, unique historical iron hand press, the Kelmscott/ collections, and open dissemin­ation Goudy Press. of RIT’s scholarship.

6 Next Chapter for RIT Press 24 Unlocking Your Imagination RIT’s award-winning publishing Imagine RIT: Innovation and house produces titles that include Creativity Festival is an annual event RIT disciplines and topical and showcasing the university’s innova- regionally related subjects. Learn tive and creative talents. The festival why authors seek out working with draws nearly 35,000 visitors annually. this successful academic press that Faculty, staff, and students make publishes scholarship across all valuable connections that open media platforms. doors to new opportunities.

12 Institute Serves as Preservation Research Awards and Honors 28 - 29 Expert to the World RIT’s faculty, staff, and students have The Image Permanence Institute received significant national and inter- (IPI) is a world leader in the develop- national recognition for their research ment, deployment, and dissemination in a host of fields. A summary of of sustainable practices for the preser- awards and honors is provided. vation of images and cultural property. Research libraries, museums, and historical collections rely on IPI as a valuable resource.

On the Cover Located on the second floor of The Wallace Center, glass-panoramic walls surround The Alexander S. Lawson Publishing Center, home to RIT Press. Typeface designer Hermann Zapf designed the typography adorning the glass. Cover photo by Elizabeth Lamark

Research at RIT 1 Facelift: The first floor of The Wallace Center, home to RIT’s library, underwent a transformation in 2013. To modernize the space and increase seating capacity, print collections were moved out.

Innovative Collaboration: Students working on group projects can easily share their ideas using the collaboration station located on the first floor of The Wallace Center. RIT’s ‘Center’

for Academic Scholarship by Kelly Sorensen

The library is a figurative and literal hub for learning on university campuses. RIT is no different. As scholarship has become more digital, RIT’s library, now part of The Wallace Center, has transformed to reflect the transition from print to digital.

From Library to Academic Center supporters of RIT. Archives moved to new space within the The building, located in the center of The Wallace Memorial Library was renovated building and the three libraries RIT’s campus, is named for Charles F. and erected during the initial phase of became known as RIT Libraries. Florence Murray Wallace. Mrs. Wallace construction when RIT moved to In 2009, a merger of academic units was a 1907 graduate of the university’s Henrietta from downtown Rochester. At on campus created The Wallace Center, Domestic Science Department. An that time, 1968, the student body totaled which now includes RIT Libraries, Faculty inventor and a chemist, Charles Wallace about 6,500 students. As enrollment grew Career Development Services, and RIT was one of the founders of Wallace and so did the need for more space. A fourth Production Services. Tiernan Inc., which invented the chlori- floor and a wraparound addition were This merger was representative of the nator that made public water safe to added to the library in 1991. At this time, changes occuring in academic libraries drink. The Wallaces were major financial the Cary Graphic Arts Collection and RIT due to the tremendous growth in digital

Spring/Summer 2014 Report Library Expansion: More space was needed as the number of RIT students enrolled continued to increase. In 1991, a fourth floor and a wraparound addition were added on to The Wallace Memorial Library.

Open-Access Journals: RIT publishes peer-reviewed open-access journals. The research is free for anyone to access.

publishing. RIT Libraries’ digital collec- In addition to some cosmetic touches Community Center relocated from tions now surpass its print holdings. of paint and carpeting, collections were the Student Alumni Union to The Hundreds of thousands of electronic moved to increase the seating area Wallace Center. journals and books are available globally, capacity on the first floor by 40 percent. Added Bower: “We wanted to 24/7, giving researchers instant access The renovated area reflects student input. bring these types of services into the to millions of research articles without “We came up with the themes of same facility. The idea was to create a having to leave their home, office, or lab. discovery, community, scholarship, and space that’s not just about the library, Discovery tools such as SUMMON, technology based on our interactions but about supporting academic success launched by RIT Libraries last fall, and with students as to how they view today’s for the students.” Google Scholar facilitate the discovery academic library,” said Shirley Bower, of authoritative information and research director of RIT Libraries. “These words Open-Access Journals can now be done in a fraction of the time. now define the functionality of the space The Scholarly Publishing Studio, which This ease of access is complemented by a throughout the first floor.” is located on the first floor of Wallace, human touch, as each RIT college has a To enhance students’ academic assists faculty in the dissemination of librarian with subject expertise who learning, a laptop “bar” was installed as their scholarship. provides instruction and specialized well as a new mediascape collaboration One of the ways in which it does this research assistance to students and faculty. station that allows students to work is by publishing several open-access In summer 2013, The Wallace Center together on projects and assignments by journals. RIT faculty members serve as underwent a physical transformation to sharing what’s on their laptop screens via the editors. The journals are international, reflect this change in the information a large flat-screen display. niche publications. There are currently landscape, evolving from a traditional As part of the transformation, The seven journals: Journal of Applied Science library housing print collections to a Writing Center and the RIT American & Engineering Technology, Journal of modern space for collaborative learning. Sign Language and Deaf Studies Environmental Sustainability, Journal

Research at RIT 3 Focus Area | RIT’s ‘Center’

Preservation Pros: RIT Archivists Jody Sidlauskas (left) and Becky Simmons acquire, preserve, Signed Stick: An autographed hockey stick catalog, and disseminate RIT’s historical records from art to photographs to historical papers. signed by the members of the 1982-83 championship team is part of the RIT Archives.

of Unified Statistic Techniques, Journal Scholar Works. Accessed via the same financial support from the National of Game Design and Development website as the open-access journals, Historical Publications and Records Education, RIThink: Multidisciplinary RIT Scholar Works preserves the work Commission. The finding aids provide Online Journal (comes out of Kosovo), of faculty and students, increasing its detailed descriptions of archival collec- Journal of Interactive Humanities, visibility and impact with widespread, tions and background information on and Journal of Science Education open dissemination. It features a complete the history and creators of the materials. for Students with Disabilities. repository of RIT theses as well as faculty The journals are double blind scholarly publications. Treasure Trove of Artifacts peer-reviewed, so throughout the So what’s in the archives? They contain screening process both the authors’ Uncovering and Sharing RIT’s History records from RIT dating back to its roots and reviewers’ names are not known. Unique collections are instrumental to as the Rochester Athenaeum, covering The journal’s editor determines the research, like those found in RIT Archives. everything from RIT’s presidents’ scope of the research and makes calls “Each piece of paper and photograph speeches, correspondence, and memos to for papers. Each journal has its own tells a story,” said Becky Simmons, activities from each of RIT’s departments. international editorial board comprising RIT Archivist. There are more than 200,000 images of up to 40 people. It’s the jobs of Simmons and Jody academics, people, and the campus from “The board members from around the Sidlauskas to learn the stories of RIT’s the 19th century to the present. And it’s world help garner interest in the journal, history and share them. a bevy of artifacts. Here are just a few obtain submissions, and give credibility The two archivists acquire, preserve, examples: oil paintings of three past RIT to the journal,” said Nick Paulus, manager catalog, and disseminate the university’s presidents done by Stanley Gordon; the of Scholarly Publishing. historical records from art to photographs pocket watch of Carl Lomb; copies of “Open-access journals are a growing to historical papers. every issue of Reporter magazine; a movement,” said Paulus. “It’s just a “When Jody and I started working in hockey stick signed by the RIT hockey different business model for scholarly the archives 11 years ago we had little team from the 1982-1983 NCAA Division journals. Anyone worldwide can access in the way of finding aids,” said Simmons. II hockey championship season; and the the research for free. The provost and “It was the first time RIT had a full-time original comic strip collections of political the university subsidize the cost to archivist in almost 15 years. All we had cartoonists John Scott Clubb and RIT publish the journals. The goal is not were lists of the boxes on the shelf. So it’s alumnus Elmer Messner, who penned to make money off the journals, but to been a process of digging into those boxes.” drawings for the Rochester newspapers. share our scholarship with the world.” They began organizing and describing Through the years, Simmons has Open access to RIT scholarship is also the contents and then created searchable purchased the artwork of early RIT the theme of RIT’s digital repository, RIT websites and finding aids thanks to faculty members like Ronald Pearson

4 Spring/Summer 2014 Report Focus Area | RIT’s ‘Center’

“Flower Power”: The iconic image taken by RIT photography alumnus Bernie Boston in 1967 of a Vietnam War protestor at a rally is part of the photographic collection that Boston donated to RIT. Historical Note: Letters and memos dating back to RIT’s roots are in the RIT Archives. In 1891, suffragist Susan B. Anthony wrote a letter to Ezra Andrews, president of the Board of Directors’ Rochester Athenaeum and Mechanics Institute, praising its decision to offer courses for and Alling Clements. Pearson enrolled “It’s a fascinating collection and repre- women as well as men, and for inviting in the School of American Craftsmen sentative of the caliber of the work of our women to sit on its board. after serving in World War II and taught photo school’s graduates,” said Simmons. metals classes part time while working full time as a studio artist. Clements, RIT/NTID Deaf Studies Archive a graduate of the Mechanics Institute, An ongoing initiative for RIT Archives joined the RIT faculty in 1921 and taught is the building of the RIT/NTID Deaf drawing classes. He was widely known Studies Archive. This collection includes for his oil and watercolor paintings. the NTID historical records (yearbooks, “I’m proud of the work that we have by newspaper clippings, documents, and our faculty members because they were photographs) and materials from the and continue to be an important part of TRIPOD school started by Academy the Rochester community,” said Simmons. Award-nominated filmmaker Megan Williams. Williams established the Snapshot of American History: elementary school in California in RIT/NTID Deaf Studies Archive: It’s one of Photojournalist Donates His Work 1982 for deaf educators and students the largest collections in the RIT Archives. Among the historical records are the film RIT alumnus and noted photojournalist following the birth of her deaf son. negatives from the 1974 dedication of Bernie Boston donated his entire photo- When TRIPOD closed, Williams donated NTID’s main academic building named in graphic body of work to the RIT Archive its archive to RIT. Also in the archive is honor of former U.S. President Lyndon B. Collections. Throughout his career as the the collection from NTID’s first faculty Johnson. President Johnson’s wife, Lady White House photographer for The Wash- member Robert Panara. It includes liter- Bird Johnson, visited NTID for the building dedication and naming. ington Star and The Los Angeles Times, ature, plays, and poetry highlighting Boston documented moments of national deaf characters and writers. significance, particularly the civil rights There are about 1,000 different collec- On the Web movement and the anti-Vietnam War tions within the RIT Archives. Simmons The Wallace Center movement. Boston’s iconic photo “Flower will always gladly accept donations and Wallacecenter.rit.edu Power,” one of the most requested images gather records as the university continues RIT Libraries in the Boston collection, captures a war to ‘write’ its history. library.rit.edu protestor placing flowers in the barrels of “The job changes with the times,” said RIT Scholar Works scholarworks.rit.edu soldiers’ rifles at a rally in 1967 outside Simmons. “We certainly aren’t done!” RIT Archive Collections the Pentagon. The photo was a runner-up archives.rit.edu for the Pulitzer Prize.

Research at RIT 5 Scholarly Publishing: Since 2001, RIT Press has published 80 titles to date with nine books on tap for 2014. David Pankow, former curator of Cary Graphic Arts Collection, was the visionary behind establishing a university press, adding to RIT’s rich tradition in printing and publishing.

The Next Chapter for RIT Press

by Marcia Morphy

RIT Press is an academic-focused publishing house for new and seasoned authors to share their peer-reviewed scholarship. Founded in 2001, the award-winning press is a member of the Association of American University Presses and publishes eight to 12 titles annually. Subjects include all RIT disciplines as well as topical and regionally Cover to cover, there’s a never-ending story behind RIT Press, related studies that promote public and since its inception 13 years ago, the university’s academic publishing house has an impressive back catalog of 80 books in understanding and enrich cultural life. inventory. Self-publishing a book in the digital age is like a roll of the dice—but there are plenty of advantages to working with an Take a Look Inside academic press. The books on its impressive roster all have a shelf life due to • Authors who might have never published before have the their venerable history, beauty of design, and tactility of the opportunity to share their research. All manuscripts are peer- page, as well as their scholarly merit and content quality. reviewed by similar experts in the field for quality and content. The Life and Letters of Kate Gleason; The New Medium of • The Press’ self-contained service offers the highest possible Print; Claude Bragdon and the Beautiful Necessity; From My design and production standards—professional editing, Seat on the Aisle: Movies and Memories, are just a few of the copyediting, indexing, custom design, and targeted marketing titles RIT Press has published. and promotion.

6 Spring/Summer 2014 Report Visual Identity: Visitors to the second floor of The Wallace Center can’t help but notice the striking Alexander S. Lawson Publishing Center, named in honor of RIT’s first Cary Professor. Home to RIT Press since 2007, the center’s glass wall panels—etched with famous quotations about books, design, and typography— were created by typeface designer Hermann Zapf.

• Due to its size, authors receive personalized attention from David Pankow, former curator of the Cary Graphic Arts a staff of four professionals: Director Bruce Austin, Managing Collection, initiated RIT Cary Graphic Arts Press in 2001 as an Editor Molly Cort, Design and Marketing Specialist Marnie experimental academic press that focused on titles about graphic Soom, and Business Manager Laura DiPonzio Heise. The Press communication, printing history, and bookmaking. Operating also employs outside contractors and student workers who under startup funding from the Provost’s office, The Wallace gain valuable training in the publishing field. Library and the Cary Collection, Cary Graphic Arts Press • And there’s longevity—all the books published at RIT Press released its first title Digital Book Design and Publishing. since 2001 have remained in print. In 2007, an additional imprint, RIT Press, was established to broaden the editorial content—embracing all disciplines at RIT History of RIT Press as well as community-based regional subjects and local history. Located in the striking Alexander S. Lawson Publishing As of 2013, all publications carry the imprint of RIT Press. Center that opened its doors in 2007, RIT Press is a highly visible, all-glass panoramic enclosure on the second floor “Print has not gone out of business . . .” of The Wallace Center. “We still publish printed books,” said Austin, who has been at the

Research at RIT 7 Focus Area | The Next Chapter for RIT Press

Letterpress History: Melbert B. Cary, Jr. and the Music and Culture: HAYDN, the online digital journal of the Haydn Society of North America, Press of the Woolly Whale received the AIGA 50 is an internationally distributed biannual publication edited by RIT professor Michael E. Ruhling. Books/50 Covers award in 2002. The hardcover The online digital journal is dedicated to the dissemination of all areas and methodologies of edition documents the work of “a man who research and performance of Joseph Haydn and his circle. loved books and loved the making of books.”

helm since May 2013. “RIT Press is a and comes with its own challenges. “We “RIT Press is a standout in my experi- full-service publisher, specializing in are a young publisher, and RIT Press is ence,” said Mulligan. “It provides a titles for niche academic audiences, fully conversant with contemporary collaborative environment of creative and trade editions for mass-market audi- publishing and distribution methods scholarly encouragement in which an ences, occasional limited editions including traditional print, print on author, whether first time or experienced, with unique aesthetic standards, demand, e-books, and enhanced e-books.” can realize the very best publication.” as well as gift items.” Pitoniak has written, co-written, According to Austin, RIT Press has two What the Authors Say contributed to, and/or edited 21 books. major pluses: It’s a “relatively youthful, Authors Therese Mulligan, administrative Several have been Amazon.com best- energetic, and nimble” publishing house, chair of RIT’s School of Photographic Arts sellers. which means authors receive prompt, and Sciences, and Scott Pitoniak, seasoned “RIT Press has a first-class team,” responsive, and personalized attention. journalist and sports columnist at Roch- Pitoniak said. “Being able to talk to your And second, unlike template-driven, ester Business Journal, have published with editor in person is a big plus, particularly self-publishing operations, all of the major and mid-sized publishers and both when you are running into the inevitable titles are custom designed. agree RIT Press delivers something roadblocks that occur during the Austin says every book is different special—the personal touch. researching and writing of a book.”

8 Spring/Summer 2014 Report Focus Area | The Next Chapter for RIT Press

Forty years later: Massimo Vignelli’s once-controversial map of the New York City subways is still one of the most famous and most hotly debated transit maps in the world, said Peter B. Lloyd, author of Vignelli: Transit Maps, published in Dec. 2012.

Juried Selection: RIT Press was among a group of academic presses that were selected by the Association of American University Presses jury as “the very best examples” of excellent book design. Two titles published in 2012 were chosen: The Scythe and the Rabbit: Simone de Colines and the Culture of the Book in Renaissance Paris and Vignelli: Transit Maps.

Talk to the Editor “Queries from authors have multiplied Series, edited by Dr. Gary Hoppenstand. Publishing a book typically takes 10 in recent months,” said Cort. The Press “One of our gems is HAYDN, the to 12 months before its completion. does not accept all submissions that are online digital journal of the Haydn As managing editor of RIT Press for the received, however. “Unlike a commercial Society of North America, edited by past six years, Cort maintains a one-on- press, which is all about the numbers and Michael E. Ruhling, professor of music one relationship with the author while what’s popular, an academic press looks and conductor of the RIT Orchestra,” juggling the schedules of freelance copy for unique, quality content that brings Cort said. “It has all the bells and whistles editors, proofreaders, and indexers— new research to life that wouldn’t neces- subscribers can expect. The internation- and the rewrites that ensue—while sarily have had a chance to get published.” ally distributed professional journal is keeping an eye on the printing schedule. Books chosen by RIT Press must also published by RIT Press twice a year and She said first-time authors are usually fill a market need, and to that end, Cort the sixth issue will be released this May.” concerned with editorial control and what says that RIT Press has met success with might change in terms of their writing. a diverse array of titles. From Design to Marketing “We tweak and hone the material but we The Press also developed seven series— Soom has spent the last 10 years working don’t necessarily manipulate the book including the recent series on popular on cover and interior book design for RIT into a different voice. culture, the Comics Studies Monograph Press. “One big advantage is our location

Research at RIT 9 Focus Area | The Next Chapter for RIT Press

within The Wallace Center,” she said. “We are surrounded by books, so I start with those points of reference for each new title.” Working with the text document and images, Soom drafts a sample chapter for review—concentrating on the trim size, typeface, and layout; the choice of paper stock; the inclusion and selection of illustrations, charts, and graphs; and even the color of the binding. “I have to consider whether this is a traditional type of book or it needs to be edgy or contemporary,” Soom explained. Based on the price of the book and overall production costs, DiPonzio Heise budgets a personalized marketing plan that embraces promotion, publicity, advertising, sales to chains such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble, book­ signings, and individual sales as well. “An added advantage is that many of our books are printed here at RIT. And we are our own distribution center, which means we package and fulfill customer orders on site.”

The Final Proof When looking at trends, Cort said readers still tend to enjoy high-quality books even though they are expensive to produce. “The book is an art form, a place holder in time,” she said. “Our customers enjoy the scent of a new book in their hands and appreciate the quality of paper that contains beautifully organized images. I don’t think this aspect of the book process will go away. Although we are a niche publisher, we are looking to become an innovative digital publisher.” Austin said disseminating the Personalized Attention: RIT Press is a streamlined operation with a staff of four (pictured left to right)— researcher’s scholarly contribution Bruce Austin, Molly Cort, Marnie Soom, and Laura DiPonzio Heise. The publishing team works with is key to the purpose of RIT Press. authors to coordinate the editing, design, layout, printing, and distribution of new publications. “We believe research information is to be shared, not hoarded. Part of our strategy is to seek strategic partnerships resource at RIT; we offer in-person, first- sentence elevator pitch. with cultural institutions and organi­ hand guidance on how to craft a proposal “That’s a good beginning; we will work zations that can provide content that can lead to issuing a contract for with you on the ending.” aligned with our interests in scholarly your book.” publishing across all media platforms.” What is Austin’s best advice to authors? Austin explained there are no multiple “I know you want to discuss the research On the Web layers of bureaucracy one needs to go and your book at great length, but you RIT Press through to have an informal chat about should be able to encapsulate your idea ritpress.rit.edu a book idea. “We are your publishing and its reader appeal in a one- or two-

10 Spring/Summer 2014 Report ScholarshipFocus Area | Exploring Activities the Heart

Global Resource for Design In addition to the archives, the center is The Vignelli Center for Design made up of offices, a small gallery, classrooms, Studies, which opened nearly and an exhibition space. The center hosts a four years ago on the RIT monthly Design Conversations Lecture Series campus, is a hub for design that has drawn international designers like education, scholarship, and Michael Bierut, Jeff Miller, Ken Carbone, research. The center is home and Robert Appleton, to name a few. Massimo Vignelli to the graphic and product Another popular program offering is an designs of renowned designers annual summer Master Designer Workshop Massimo and Lella Vignelli. Their archive in which young graphic design professionals includes an extensive collection of original can work alongside a master designer and source materials, along with many examples of RIT design faculty to learn more typography their finished work, including corporate identity and graphic design. campaigns, jewelry, silverware, and furniture. And from programming to publishing, one Students, researchers, professional of the center’s current projects is producing designers, and scholars have the chance a book on Massimo Vignelli’s sketches. to access and study the Vignellis’ work. “The book deconstructs some of “The Museum of Modern Art wanted our Massimo’s drawings, showing his thought collection, as did The National Museum of process,” said R. Roger Remington, RIT’s Design, but it would have been kept in a Vignelli Distinguished Professor of Design. storage space in the basement,” said Massimo “Massimo and Lella have always Vignelli Drawings: A Collection of Sketches for Book Vignelli. “Here at RIT, our archive is used for exemplified uncompromised excellence Design dissects how Massimo Vignelli designs and teaching students and scholars about the in their designs so we keep the bar high plans a book. The Vignelli Center for Design Stud- theory, history, and criticism of design. RIT in all that we do in the Vignelli Center, ies is producing the publication, which features 10 is a living, teaching institution and that’s whether it’s a lecture we host or working books Vignelli previously designed, including one the difference.” on a publication or website.” on the work of American architect Louis Kahn.

Growing Body of Scholarly Work In addition to the compilation of citations, RIT’s fifth annual Faculty professors from each college are profiled Scholarship report highlighting in the report’s “featured faculty section” scholarship achievements for based on nominations from each dean. 2013 has just been released. The Wallace Center’s Scholarly Publishing The report and the accompany- Studio produces the report. The entire project—

Jeremy Haefner ing website showcase faculty graphics, photography, website development publications, scholarly presenta- and design—is all done internally. tions, exhibits, performances, and fellowships. “Not only does the report showcase the The number of submissions has grown scholarship that is done here at RIT, but it each year since the inaugural report in 2009. showcases the creativity and the technical More than 1,800 citations are represented in expertise of The Wallace Center,” said the latest report. The number of citations Nick Paulus, manager of Scholarly Publishing. has also steadily increased each year. The Faculty Scholarship report is just “We started this project knowing that it one of the ways the university illustrates would take several years to really get to a faculty’s engagement in research and point where we had a review that spoke scholarly endeavors. volumes of the research and scholarly activity “Our scholarly aspirations are really at RIT,” said Jeremy Haefner, RIT provost and compatible with our teaching mission,” Faculty Scholarship: The 2013 Faculty Scholar- senior vice president for Academic Affairs. said Haefner. “When students see faculty ship report and website spotlights faculty “I’m happy to report we have reached this ‘learning’ through their scholarly or creative publications, scholarly presentations, exhibits, point. The report, with so many submissions, work, the students see the value of continual performances, and fellowships. To view the has a terrific, professional look and feel. improvement through learning, and this report, go to http://rit.edu/xB4qw. We have a terrific story to tell of the is important to us as educators. Secondly, wonderful scholarship we do at RIT.” I believe that research, creative work, and To be considered for inclusion in the scholarly activity make substantial contributions new fields, the more exciting it is to be report, the scholarship must be peer-reviewed, to the intellectual life of a campus. The more part of campus. All great universities are published, and disseminated. The provost that our faculty are engaged in the discovery known for intellectual vibrancy and RIT and the deans set the criteria standards. of new ideas or the application of ideas to is no different!”

Research at RIT 11 Global Preservation Expert: More than a thousand institutions around the world— including research libraries such as the Inman E. Page Library on the Lincoln University campus in Missouri, along with museums, archives, and historical collections—employ the Image Permanence Institute’s technology and preservation management approaches.

12 Fall/Winter 2013-14 Report Focus Area | Preservation Expert to the World Institute Serves as

Preservation Expert to the World by Rich Kiley

It is fair to say that the Image Permanence Institute (IPI), nestled within its 7,000-square-foot facility inside Gannett Hall, is not nearly as renowned on the Rochester Institute of Technology campus as it is off it. Acknowledged as one of the world’s leaders in artifact preservation, IPI is recognized globally as one of the finest and best-equipped independent centers for testing imaging materials and for conducting preservation research.

‘Game Changer’ in the Cultural Heritage World Since its humble beginnings nearly 30 years ago as the RIT Photographic Preservation Lab—a small department within the College of Imaging Arts and Sciences—IPI today has evolved into a world leader in the development, deployment, and dissemination of sustainable practices for the preservation of images and cultural property. More than a thousand institutions around the world, including research libraries, museums, archives, and historical collections, employ IPI’s technology and preservation management approaches, relying on IPI for its sage advice and information. For these institutions, IPI has become a trusted and valuable resource, research partner, and service provider. “The research that IPI brings together in workshops and webinars is a game-changer in the cultural heritage world,” said Erin Blake, curator of art and special collections for the Smart Environmental Monitors: To help institutions offset the effects of Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C. “Everyone temp­erature, humidity, and other damaging factors, IPI provides clients with Preservation Environment Monitors (PEMs)—the only environmental monitor- with a responsibility for collections care needs to get the ing hardware designed specifically for use in cultural institutions. The message, and IPI has proven that they are very, very good PEM2® is a highly accurate data logger already in its second generation. at doing that. Long may they continue.” According to Jerry Podany, senior conservator of antiquities for the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, “IPI’s research and contributions in the area of collections and archives care are well offering of research, publications, educational activities, known throughout the preservation field.” products, and services that meet the ever-changing and “They have undertaken numerous solid wide-ranging needs from world-class institutions to the and well-thought-out research programs, corner library and the shoebox photo collector. nationally and inter­nationally, which One example is IPI’s wide range of topical webinars, which have resulted in useful tools and data for have been viewed in 47 countries around the world and in each those charged with conservation of cultural of the United States, according to Patricia Ford, project manager. heritage,” “Here at IPI we’ve always understood that preservation Decay’s Devastating Effects: Podany said. research is an applied discipline in which the laboratory is only Temperature and humidity are the IPI has the beginning, and technical papers are not the end of the task fundamental culprits behind achieved its before us,” said James Reilly, who has served as IPI’s director decay when it comes to a wide range of collection materials such success since its inception in 1985. “That is why we have tried at every as newsprint, which can become through a turn to publish and disseminate our findings and to create brittle over time due to poor meticulously publications and useful tools that serve the preservation and storage conditions. balanced education mission.”

Research at RIT 13 Focus Area | Preservation Expert to the World

Growing Team of Experts: Since its humble beginnings nearly 30 years ago, IPI has expanded its staff with research scientists, preservation specialists, and administrative personnel to become a world leader in the development, deployment, and dissemination of sustainable practices for the preservation of images and cultural property.

Fiercely devoted to scientific research and outreach. Over the past year, IPI of important tools for assessing and in preservation technology for library, has received more than $1.5 million in managing collection storage, and museum, and archives materials, IPI’s federal funding. IPI also benefits from display environments in museums, inaugural focus was the preservation longstanding contracts with important libraries, and archives. of photography, microfilm, cinema, institutions such as the Library of IPI has enhanced its six distinct and other forms of recorded information. Congress—affiliated with IPI for more websites and further developed a In the last decade, however, IPI has than 25 years—and the U.S. National wide variety of online tools to assist broadened its mission to include a Archives. research and education in support wide array of materials found in cultural According to Daniel Burge, senior of artifact preservation. institutions and focusing on the role research scientist, all of the research of the environment in preservation and lab work “would be useless if it Environmental Consulting Services management. weren’t converted into easy-to-under- Temperature and humidity are the funda- Support from federal and private stand-and-use publications and tools.” mental culprits behind decay when it foundations continues to be critical in Today, Reilly notes that IPI has comes to collection materials. To help the development and distribution of IPI’s expanded its staff to 17 people institutions offset their effects, IPI technology. The National Endowment comprising research scientists, provides its clients with Preservation for the Humanities (NEH), the Institute preservation specialists, and adminis- Environment Monitors (PEMs), the only of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), trative personnel. Over the years, environmental monitoring hardware and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation the research and field-testing focus designed specifically for use in cultural are the primary sources for funding has expanded through the development institutions. Already in its second gener-

14 Spring/Summer 2014 Report Focus Area | Preservation Expert to the World

eClimateNotebookTM DP3 Project Sustainable Preservation Practices www.eclimatenotebook.com www.dp3project.org www.ipisustainability.org eClimateNotebook™ is a Web-based environ- The DP3 Project (Digital Print Preservation The National Endowment for the Humanities mental data management system designed to Portal) is intended to help cultural institutions (NEH) has funded three programs of Sustain- help libraries, archives, and museums do more of all types and sizes preserve the digitally able Preservation Practices for Managing than simply collect and store data. Users can printed materials in their collections. Studies Storage Environments workshops and webinars manage the environment for preservation, analyze have been conducted on the effects of heat, allowing IPI to provide information and tools that the effect of temperature and relative humidity humidity, pollution, light, flood, handling, and enable project participants to make informed on their collection, and reduce the risk of decay. storage and display materials. decisions based on current research, reliable data, and a fact-based understanding of the relationship between environment and material decay. These presentations and additional education and reference materials are available on the IPI Sustainability website.

Tools of its Trade IPI’s research and field-testing focus has Graphics Atlas Dew Point Calculator expanded over the years through the www.graphicsatlas.org www.dpcalc.org development of tools for assessing and Graphics Atlas is an online resource that The Dew Point Calculator’s primary function managing collection storage and display envi- presents an object-based approach to examining is to express and visualize the relationship ronments in museums, libraries, and archives. and characterizing the materials and technologies between temperature, relative humidity, and In recent years, IPI has enhanced its six of prints and photographs. The site provides a dew point. An understanding of how these distinct websites and further developed a wide sophisticated framework of interactive imagery variables influence each other is essential to variety of online tools to assist research and and text to guide print observation and improving the preservation quality of collection education in support of artifact preservation. identification and to train the user’s eye. storage environments.

ation, the PEM2® is a highly accurate uncertain as to the potential longevity Climate Change temperature and humidity data logger of newer submissions to their collections. Spurring New Research designed for use with eClimateNotebook™ According to Burge, DP3 provides Global climate change is expected to — IPI’s Web-based environmental data users with the means to compare aspects result in more frequent and severe natural analysis software and reporting tool that of newer technologies in relation to major disasters. Recently, IPI received a National informs users how the environment is deterioration issues so they can integrate Leadership Grant award from IMLS to affecting the long-term preservation of the information into an overview that help in the creation of disaster prevention their collections. offers practical advice. response and recovery plans for modern The proliferation of digital technology Graphics Atlas, another online resource, inkjet prints in museum collections. is providing IPI with additional focus presents an object-based approach for the Despite the large numbers of inkjet- areas relating to preservation. With identification and characterization of prints printed documents, photographs, and support from The Andrew W. Mellon and photographs. The site encompasses other art materials within museum collec- Foundation and IMLS, IPI initiated the traditional printmaking, photo­ tions, museum personnel are typically Digital Print Preservation Portal, known mechanical, photographic, and digital unaware of the makeup of inkjet materials informally as DP3. The website is print processes that are user-explored or how to care for them—including how designed as a resource to explore aspects through interactive imagery and text. to prevent or respond to damage caused of digital printing and publishing. Since IPI takes advantage of social media by natural disasters such as floods or inkjet, dye diffusion thermal transfer, and by allowing people to sign up for an other unintended exposures to water. digital electrophotography are relatively “interesting picture of the week” email “Many inkjet prints are considerably newer technologies, many archivists are or “like” IPI’s Facebook page. more sensitive to water damage than

15 Focus Area | Preservation Expert to the World Student Research Symposiums

Preventing Decay in Film: The National Endowment for the Humanities Understanding Damaging Effects: A new IPI study will simulate the effects recently provided funding to IPI for a project that will create an educa- of summer dampness and winter dryness on library materials inside a tional website called FilmCare.org, which is designed to prevent film chamber exposing materials to a wide variety of damaging conditions. decay and develop best practices for preserving film materials in museums, archives, libraries, and other repositories.

traditional prints,” said Burge, who is website called FilmCare.org that Future of Preservation leading the research. “We began this will include an easy-to-implement Continues to Evolve two-year project at the end of last year, decision-making tool for preserving IPI is continually evolving its laboratory and it is designed to help museums all types and formats of film materials. research and field consulting practice in develop best practices to help in the This resource will provide a compre- sustainable environmental management. recovery and preservation of modern hensive synthesis of several decades Inside the laboratory, IPI is exploring inkjet prints in their collections.” of scientific research and experience how rates of thermal and moisture Burge noted that with climate in the field of film preservation, equilibration can be used to lower energy change resulting in a greater number highlighting the need for defining consumption and protect objects from of severe events such as Hurricane Sandy sustainable approaches to film care, uncontrolled adverse conditions. Beyond in 2012, “this research is as timely and and facilitating the process of imple- the laboratory, it is helping teach institu- important as ever.” menting best-fit preservation strategies tions how to use less energy through for a wide variety of real-life situations. controlled shutdowns of mechanical “Despite the growing move toward systems, altering seasonal set points, digital formats, photographic film reducing airflows, and reducing outside collections still are an important source air quantities. of information for the humanities, and “One thing is abundantly clear—the Preserving Film Collections if properly cared for, these valuable path forward for sustainable environ- for the Future records will be available to researchers mental management is cross disciplinary IPI was recognized with a Technical and digitization programs far into the in nature, including collection care and Achievement Award from the Academy future,” said Reilly. facilities management, and, of course, of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in FilmCare.org, expected to launch people,” said Reilly. 1998 and has a long history of providing in January 2015, will be available as preservation tools for the Hollywood a standalone tool for self-education film community and independent film at no charge. IPI is developing the On the Web archives. The NEH recently provided content, architecture, and functions Image Permanence Institute www.imagepermanenceinstitute.org funds to IPI for an education and training of FilmCare.org as well as programming Graphics Atlas project designed to develop best practices the application. Results will be dissemi- www.graphicsatlas.org for preserving film materials in museums, nated to the field through a series of eClimateNotebook™ archives, libraries, and other repositories. webinars and presentations and will www.eclimatenotebook.com The project will create an educational be posted on various distribution lists.

16 Spring/Summer 2014 Report Student ResearchFocus Area | Public Symposiums Safety

Graduate Research Symposium will feel more connected.” In an effort to continue to As part of this year’s symposium, the Office build a greater sense of of Graduate Studies created RIT Doctoral community around its graduate Dissertation Awards. programs, RIT’s Office of Matt Ganter, a sustainability doctoral student, Graduate Studies hosted its and Ray Ptucha, a computing and information first Graduate Education Week sciences doctoral candidate, were this year’s Matt Ganter in April, culminating with a recipients. Each received a $500 award. juried student art exhibition Ganter’s dissertation focuses on carbon and the sixth annual Graduate nanotube enhanced electrodes to improve Research and Creativity electrochemical performance while investigating Symposium. The week also the end-of-life options for recycling nanomateri- included a number of workshops als from lithium ion batteries. Ptucha’s research Ray Ptucha and lectures on topics ranging is on the development of new mathematical from graduate advising to techniques to help computers better recognize mentoring to thesis preparation. and interpret human faces and human gestures. Juried Exhibition: This cast glass piece created The symposium drew participation from Criteria for the award included quality of the by first-year School for American Crafts graduate more than 100 graduate students across research and writing, impact of the dissertation student Hyesook Choi was among the selected the university. Master’s level students from as measured by peer-reviewed publications, pieces showcased at the exhibition Convergence as part of Graduate Education Week in April. the University of Rochester, Cornell, and conference papers, and awards. the College at Brockport also participated. More than a dozen selected works were Awards were given for best poster and oral on exhibit at the RIT Gallery as part of the presentation. complementary art exhibition, Convergence. welcome to submit work for consideration, “The annual Graduate Research Symposium Various mediums from 3D to 2D artwork to but the majority of the entries are typically is one of the ways we are pushing to create films were submitted. This year’s jurors were from our MFA students,” said Robin Cass, a graduate culture here at RIT,” said Hector metal sculptor and School for American associate dean in the College of Imaging Flores, dean of RIT’s Graduate Studies. “The Crafts artist-in-residence Albert Paley; R. Arts and Sciences. “It’s wonderful to see university needs to build a stronger graduate Roger Remington, the Massimo and Lella our graduate students in the creative fields culture that goes well beyond each of RIT’s Vignelli Distinguished Professor of Design; and given the recognition they deserve. The arts individual colleges. When we start building Sarah Lentini, past president and CEO of the and design are such an important part of bridges between the colleges the students Arts and Cultural Council for Greater Rochester. what makes the RIT graduate community and faculty engaged in graduate scholarship “Graduate students of any major are balanced and vibrant.”

Undergraduate Research Symposium guarantees an informed audience capable RIT’s annual Undergraduate of understanding a technical presentation. Research Symposium is a The lightly moderated question-and-answer signature event that began period following the talk is similar to what more than 20 years ago. takes place at national meetings, and allows It’s grown in scope with the students to experience unstructured inquiry number of participants and that so often leads to new ideas.” Scott Franklin attendees continuing to climb Organizers want students to experience each year, drawing students from all of RIT’s what it’s like to present at a professional colleges and institutes. Alumni and members conference without having to worry about of the Rochester community attend each year. travel and conference and lodging expenses Structured like a professional research that are typically associated with professional conference, oral presentations and posters technical conferences. The symposium is are broken up thematically. Presentation free for presenters and attendees. Last year’s themes in recent years have included biomedi- conference moved off the RIT campus to the Student scholarship: The annual Undergraduate­ cal and life sciences, energy and sustainability, RIT Inn and Conference Center. Research Symposium will be held in August chemistry and material science, modeling and The next symposium will be held Friday, 2014. The conference is structured like a simulations, imaging and optics, and social August 8, 2014, at the conference center. professional research conference with oral pre- sentations and posters divided up by themes. sciences and humanities. To be considered for participation, students, “Talks and posters follow scientific norms under the guidance of faculty mentors, submit and accepted guidelines in length, structure, abstracts to be reviewed by a program commit- the breadth of scholarship that takes place at and tone,” said Scott Franklin, professor in tee. Research interests among students run RIT. Where else can you go from a talk on the RIT’s School of Physics and Astronomy and the gamut and represent the university’s physics of haystacks to a social network analy- the symposium’s organizing committee chair. right- and left-brain thinkers. sis of students on social media and finish with “By grouping talks by theme, the conference Added Franklin: “The symposium captures one on cognitive psychology or eye-tracking?”

Research at RIT 17

Press Restoration: The 123-year-old Kelmscott/Goudy Albion iron hand press will be fully operational at RIT after a cleaning and fine-tuning. Assistant Cary Curator Amelia Hugill-Fontanel (right) is leading the press’ refurbishing and reassembly. She along with Jason Stryker, (bottom right) and student employee, Derek Joyce, assemble the tympan frame. Pictured on the back wall is a painting of the press’ original owner, publisher William Morris.

18 Fall/Winter 2013-14 Report Focus Area | Preserving All Types of Fine Print

Preserving All Types of Fine Print by Marcia Morphy

Whether it’s rare books, manuscripts, typography, graphic design, bookbinding, or printing, RIT’s Cary Graphic Arts Collection—building on the special collections of Melbert B. Cary, Jr.—is one of the finest teaching libraries in the world.

In the Beginning… down when turning a page. The written word always has, and continues to have, the There’s no need to wear gloves strongest impact and presence in the rare and irreplaceable in most cases—clean, dry hands gems housed in RIT’s Cary Graphic Arts Collection. are all that’s necessary.” The library-within-a-library is located on the second floor of The Wallace Center, and amid the carefully labeled books A True Man of Letters and boxes is a treasure trove of antiquities on the history and The collection’s namesake, Melbert practice of printing, with more than 45,000 artifacts and B. Cary, Jr. (1892-1941), imported hundreds of primary source archives—and still growing. European metal type fonts into the Many pieces resemble objets d’art. U.S., and as a sideline, ran a small Melbert B. Cary, Jr.: The Cary Collection is There’s an eighth century scroll, a Sumerian cuneiform private press, Press of the Woolly named after the New York tablet from 2100 B.C., two leaves from a Gutenberg Bible Whale. An avid collector, he City businessman and printed ca. 1456, alphabet stones carved with depictions of assembled a library with 2,300 prominent figure in the the Roman alphabet—and a room filled with 19th and 20th volumes on printing history and fields of typography and century historic, heavy-duty printing presses and type. the graphic arts. private printing during the twentieth century. The collection even owns the first After his death, the collection Apple Newton tablet from 1993 and remained in family hands until the the first Kindle. Mixing with the old late 1960s, when Alexander Lawson, and the new is the recently acquired then a professor in RIT’s School 19th century iron hand press, the of Print Media, now known Kelmscott/Goudy Albion, which as the School of has put a worldwide spotlight on Media Sciences, the entire Cary Collection. noticed in an The artifacts are preserved obituary that behind locked doors, yet all visitors Cary’s wife, are welcome. Nestled under climate- Mary Flagler controlled conditions of 68 degrees Cary, had Cary Curator: Steven and 50 percent relative humidity, recently died. Galbraith has expertise even the most ancient and revered (Lawson later in rare books, exhibitions and outreach. In the relics can be viewed up close— became the first above photo, he is holding and touched. Melbert B. Cary, Apple’s Newton Tablet, the Cary Curator Steven Galbraith, Jr. Professor in company’s first commer- who joined RIT in 2011 from Graphic Arts, cial tablet computer the Folger Shakespeare Library in a post he held launched in the early 90s. The tablet is part Washington, D.C., said his primary until retirement of the Cary Collection. responsibility is to balance access in 1977.) and preservation. “Our oldest printed complete book is from 1470, Johannes Marchesinus’ Mammotrectus super Bibliam, and the paper used was not made from wood pulp, but linen rag. If you keep Gutenberg Bible Leaf: Cary curators use leaves it in a moderate climate, it will last for generations to come. from the Gutenberg Bible “So we teach visitors how to cradle a book to take stress off when teaching classes on the binding and structure of the book. We tell them to slow the history of printing.

Research at RIT 19 Focus Area | Preserving all Types of Fine Print

Illuminated Alphabet: A stained glass panel by calligrapher Julian Waters was designed Artifacts All Around: RIT’s Cary as the room’s focal In addition to some point when the Cary 45,000 books, the Graphic Arts Collection moved to collection holds The Wallace Center sculptural artworks, Collection in 1991. paintings, and A Welcoming Space: printing technology The Cary main reading artifacts. room is host to classes, student researchers, scholars, lectures, and other programming.

“He was eager to bring the collection Cary Graphic Design Archive to RIT, and based on the strengths of our The Cary Graphic Design Archive is printing and design programs, thought under the administrative care of the Cary it would be beneficial to students and Collection, and came to RIT in 1984 scholars,” said Cary Assistant Curator through the vision of R. Roger Remington, Amelia Hugill-Fontanel (’02, School Vignelli Professor of Design in the College of Print Media). of Imaging Arts and Sciences at RIT. In 1969, the Cary Collection was The collection documents and preserves donated to RIT by the Mary Flagler the work of some 40 American graphic Cary Charitable Trust. First housed in designers from the 1920s to 1950s. Booth Hall, the collection was relocated “Researchers from all over the world to The Wallace Center in 1991. come to examine the collections of iconic David Pankow, former curator of designers as Saul Bass, Alexey Brodovitch, the Cary Collection from 1983 until Will Burtin, Bradbury Thompson, and his retirement in 2012, was the pivotal others,” said Kari Horowicz, RIT fine arts force in growing the collection into a Archives of Modern Masters of and photography librarian and manager nationally recognized graphic arts Graphic Design: The Cary Graphic of the Graphic Design Archive. “These Design Archive contains the resource. One of Pankow’s landmark collections serve as catalysts for learning design collections of more than 40 acquisitions was the Bernard C. American graphic design pioneers and scholarship for students Middleton Collection of Books on such as Will Burtin, Lester Beall, and researchers.” Bookbinding, one of the most complete and Saul Bass. The Archive frequently lends signif- collections of its kind in the world. icant visual artifacts to museums, both

20 Spring/Summer 2014 Report Focus Area | Preserving all Types of Fine Print

Exhibitions: Cary curators produce three exhibitions per Thriving Facility: year on topics The Lowenthal drawn from its Memorial Press Room extensive holdings and Weiss Reading on the history of Room round out the the graphic arts. publicly accessible spaces in the Cary. Archival storage vaults complete the facility.

national and international, and the collec- Papercone Corp., and alumnus of RIT’s Europe who are offering advice with tions are actively used in RIT classrooms. School of Printing Management and the restoration, and are anticipating “They are wonderful teaching tools Sciences, now known as the School of a fall reception to christen its installation because we have original artwork from Media Sciences. here at RIT,” she said. the designer, sketchbooks, sculptures, “This press was always on our radar The press was manufactured overseas architectural models, and source materials because we wanted it to be used as a in the Hammersmith district of London, that document the designers’ working working press, not have it sit idle,” said and during the time frame from 1891 to lives,” said Horowicz. Galbraith. “We knew it would make a 1898, produced 53 books, totaling some remarkable addition to our collection 18,000 copies. “Its claim to fame is that it New Kid on the Printing Block especially because it would be a was used by the founder of the Arts and The newly acquired Kelmscott/Goudy homecoming—it was once owned by Crafts Movement, designer William Press, the Albion No. 6551, is the current Melbert B. Cary, Jr., from 1932 to 1941.” Morris, to print Chaucer’s works,” said star to join the Arthur M. Lowenthal Unfortunately antique printing presses Hugill-Fontanel. Memorial Pressroom and its collection don’t come with an operating manual and “It has family here. We have a striking of 15 historical presses and more than a set of instructions for assembly. Weighing copy of the Kelmscott Chaucer in our 1,500 fonts of wood and metal type. in at approximately 3,000 pounds, the collection—considered one of the most The renowned press, manufactured muscular looking antiquity arrived in beautiful books ever made. And we have by Hopkinson & Cope in 1891, sold for early January “in pieces” and, under the an oil painting by Robert A. Thom—part of $233,000 on Dec. 6 at Christie’s auction supervision of Hugill-Fontanel, is being our Kimberly Clark Graphic Communica- house. The purchase was made possible partially refurbished before assembly. tions Through the Ages Series, ca. 1968-71 by the generous support of Brooks Bower, “We’ve received a huge response from —where you can see Morris working with RIT trustee, chief executive officer of printing experts across the country and his staff at this same Albion press.”

Research at RIT 21 Focus Area | Preserving All Types of Fine Print

Famous Funnies: RIT alumnus Stephen Neil The Kelmscott Chaucer: Cary Professor Alexander Lawson acquired William Morris’ edition of Cooper donated his collection of 202 comic The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer for the library around 1972 as an exemplar of outstanding books to the Cary Collection. The comics fine press printing. The book was printed on the Kelmscott/Goudy Albion press. provide a unique glimpse into American culture in April 1956.

Curiouser and Curiouser how superheroes defy, follow, and create create something new. The Cary curators acknowledge there societal norms.” Galbraith cites working with RIT are some unusual items included in the One of the collection’s most curious graphic design students who were historical collection. pieces, said Hugill-Fontanel, is a plaster designing text for iPad and tablet “Think of comic books like Archie, cast of type designer Frederic W. Goudy’s computers. He found one student strug- The Lone Ranger, Nancy and Sluggo, hand, affectionately called “the paw” gling because she was wondering whether and Uncle $crooge,” said Galbraith by staff. to use page numbers in the design. with a laugh. “RIT alumnus Stephen “One professor at RIT believed ‘the “We had this great conversation about Neil Cooper, owner of Sybille Gallery paw’ was cursed, so anyone who touched the artifacts we had on view because in in Manhattan, donated his synchronized it would get bad luck. It’s still on most the early 1500s books didn’t have page collection of 202 comic books that were visitors’ list of things to see in the Cary numbers,” explained Galbraith. “And she on candy store racks and newsstands in Collection.” looked at me with this great sense of relief April 1956. to learn that page numbers are only about “The comics provide a comprehensive The Arc of Learning 500 years old. It made a huge difference in window into graphic design and printing One of the library’s central obligations how she approached her design.” technology as well as an anthropological is to be a hub for students and scholars— Hugill-Fontanel reminds students that study of popular culture in mid-20th a crossroads for students and scholars printing is the antecedent to terminology century America—where we look at to utilize everything old in an effort to used everyday in the fields of typesetting

22 Spring/Summer 2014 Report Focus Area | Preserving All Types of Fine Print

Type Collections The Cary is home to some 1,500 fonts of metal and wood type for letterpress printing.

Collaborative Crew: Wallace Center Facilities Coordinator Thanh Hoang and Senior Manager of Circulation and Facilities Jason Stryker have been instrumental Image courtesy of Christie’s The Kelmscott/Goudy Albion press: Celebrated as the machine in reassembling The that printed some of the most beautiful books of the Arts and Kelmscott/Goudy Crafts Movement. Albion press.

and graphic design. technology sea,” but can certainly always have a lasting place in our world.” “Leading, a printing term where you coexist within the digital age. Hugill-Fontanel agrees, and says the actually have a piece of lead that goes in “That’s one of the lessons when collection is a fusion of the future and between the lines of type in a paragraph— looking at the history of printing,” the past. is called line spacing in Microsoft Word.” he said. “In Europe when Gutenberg “The RIT Cary Collection is really on And there’s the familiar term, “Mind attempts printing and printing becomes par with some renowned libraries in the your p’s and q’s.” a dominant way of disseminating infor- country. I’d like to think Melbert and “With printing, everything is mation, it doesn’t destroy manuscript Mary Flagler Cary would be pleased with backward,” explained Hugill-Fontanel. (written by hand) production; it changes how it’s grown. There’s incredible history “You have to have wrong-reading type it. Like when television first came out, at our doorstep, and it’s a privilege to be in order to print right-reading letters on we wondered what would happen to a part of it.” a page. So a p backwards looks just like radio. Both survived. a q—it’s very easy to mix them up when “There is something wonderfully you are typesetting.” physical about taking a rare book off On the Web the shelf, holding it in your hands and Cary Graphic Arts Collection http://cary.rit.edu Each Technology Learns from the Past thumbing through the pages, marveling Graphic Design Archive Galbraith says the collection is like “a at the printing process, the innovative http://design.rit.edu humanist island in the middle of this design, or special binding. Print will

Research at RIT 23 Connecting with crowds: Nearly 35,000 visitors converge on the RIT campus every May for the Imagine RIT: Innovation and Creativity Festival. Faculty, staff and students showcase their innovative and artistic endeavors.

Unlocking Your Imagination by Debbie Waltzer

It is a celebration like no other. Imagine RIT: Innovation and Creativity Festival, a one-day event now in its seventh year, celebrates the marriage of right- and left- brain activities across RIT—and engages a crowd of 35,000 attendees to boot.

Connecting with the Community of the university. Held on campus on the first “Imagine RIT is an interactive way for visitors to Saturday in May—rain, snow, or immerse themselves into all that the university has to shine—Imagine RIT is a showcase offer,” said Barry Culhane, executive assistant to the of more than 400 student, faculty, president, who serves as festival chairman. “We are proud and staff exhibits, live perfor- year after year to showcase the breadth of innovation and mances, and research projects. creativity among our faculty, staff, and students. The festival But this is not just a show and is truly a platform upon which we can illustrate why RIT is tell. Participants, including Rochester and upstate New York consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report among residents as well as prospective students and their families, the nation’s leading comprehensive universities and the get hands-on experience with RIT’s breadth of technical and second largest producer of undergraduate degrees in science, artistic offerings. RIT President Bill Destler brought the idea technology, engineering, and mathematics among all U.S. for the festival to campus when he arrived in 2007, having private universities.” supported a similar event at University of Maryland. And throughout the festival’s history, exhibitors have made Organizers say Imagine RIT has changed people’s perception significant connections with corporate and research contacts.

24 Spring/Summer 2014 Report Focus Area | Unlocking Your Imagination

Award-Winning Technology: Three RIT students from the B. Thomas Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences created Open Video Chat, an open-source program for low-cost XO laptops that enables users to communicate via American Sign Language. Justin Lewis, Fran Rogers, and Taylor Rose (pictured above)— won a technology award from Digital Rochester after a festival visitor nominated them.

Video Chat Program Earns Award Power of Emotion: Dr. Caroline Easton illustrates with a boy the facial As undergraduate students in the B. Thomas Golisano College muscles involved in the expression of the emotion disgust. The boy is of Computing and Information Sciences in 2011, Justin Lewis, trying to practice showing this emotion by interacting with a computer Fran Rogers and Taylor Rose wanted to help deaf and hard- program (Noldus FaceReader) that maps the muscles of his face and of-hearing children from developing countries have an easier gives feedback about the accuracy of emotion displayed. time of communicating with their peers around the world. So the trio created Open Video Chat, an open-source program for low-cost XO laptops that enables users to commu- nicate via American Sign Language. Hundreds of people Virtual Reality Tool Aids Clients in Therapy stopped by their exhibit during the festival to use the software Substance addiction and intimate partner violence are and to play educational computer games created by the students. challenging behaviors to change. RIT forensic clinical Impressed by their innovation, an attendee nominated Lewis, psychologist Dr. Caroline Easton, along with professors Rogers, and Rose for special recognition by Digital Rochester, a Richard Doolittle, Jim Perkins, and Glen Hintz and medical local professional organization. A few months later, they learned illustration graduate students Alan Gesek and Ray Szigeti, they had won a coveted Student Achievement Award from the turned to technology as a way of encouraging perpetrators organization during its 2011 GREAT (Greater Rochester Excel- of these behaviors to modify their actions. lence and Achievements in Technology) Awards ceremony. Thus was born “Al-Virt,” an animated coach who explains “We were thrilled,” said Lewis, who earned his bachelor’s the deleterious effects of drugs and alcohol on the brain, degree in computer science and now is a programmer for via an interactive video. The team also created a smartphone Dealer.com in Burlington, Vt. “Imagine RIT gave us an oppor- app that helps people manage their anger in constructive tunity to help others and be a part of a very special day.” ways versus committing aggressive acts.

Research at RIT 25 Focus Area | Unlocking Your Imagination

Creating Fun Sound Effects: Festival visitors get ‘hands-on experience’ creating sound effects for an animated film in RIT’s School of Film and Animation. Scan the QR code to watch the animation with the created sound effects of a cartoon character fighting Video Technology to Train Future Members of Workforce: Simon Ting a pimple on his forehead. (center), an instructional developer at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, shows Imagine RIT visitors how video technology is being used to help deaf and hard-of-hearing students prepare for jobs.

Presented during Imagine RIT in 2013, In 2012, visitors had the chance to successes, including alumni who’ve the work has attracted a significant amount create the sounds of a popping pimple landed sound careers with “Saturday of attention, including an opportunity to to show how sound effects are created Night Live,” Warner Bros., and Maryland present at a forum during New York Gov. for films. Using props such as squishy Public Television. Andrew Cuomo’s State-of-the-State spaghetti and balloons, kids and their “Imagine RIT helps us communicate address as well as appearances on National parents recorded the noises while the connection between creativity and Public Radio and local media outlets. watching a cartoon character negotiate technology that is such an integral part “Research shows that 85 percent of his troublesome forehead. of this field,” Sluberski added. “Many folks substance abusers and intimate partner The production techniques that festival who stop by during the festival turn into violence perpetrators own smartphones -goers used are typically executed in future students.” and computers,” said Easton, who holds a Foley Sound Studio, which is part of a doctoral degree in psychology from RIT’s School of Film and Animation’s Resource for Schools Educating University of Connecticut. “We think that sound facilities. Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Students this project, along with further study, will “The visitors love it,” said Sluberski, Linda Gottermeier, associate professor and show clients the negative consequences of a 15-year lecturer in RIT’s School of Film rehabilitative audiologist, and Simon Ting, their behaviors via engaging technology.” and Animation and former senior audio instructional developer, both at RIT’s technologist for the local PBS television National Technical Institute for the Deaf, Magic of Moviemaking station. “We get a smile and a laugh.” know the benefits of video technology for Through Imagine RIT, Dave Sluberski Plenty of prospective students and their students who are deaf or hard of hearing. demonstrates the fun that can be had parents stop by the exhibit to learn more At Imagine RIT in 2013, they demon- for people involved in the fields of film about the film and animation industries. strated the use of video in the job-seeking and animation. Attendees learn about graduates’ process. NTID students Kensie Channon

26 Spring/Summer 2014 Report Focus Area | Unlocking Your Imagination

Research Draws Attention and Job: Karyn Bower, expected to graduate in May 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, landed a full-time job with the Monroe County Crime Analysis Center after conducting a survey at Imagine RIT about crime perceptions.

and Joseph Valdez had the chance to Festival Survey Helped Secure Job race and several media outlets reported conduct mock job interviews, prepare Little did undergraduate student on the research conclusions as well. and present video résumés, and make Karyn Bower imagine that a survey Moreover, Bower included the study business presentations about prototype she would conduct during her junior on her résumé, which helped her land companies that they have created. year might help her land full-time her current position as a crime research “The purpose of this project is to employment after graduation. analyst for the Monroe County Crime rehearse real-life business opportunities Such was the case, however, when Analysis Center. She started working and professional interactions through Bower, a criminal justice major from at the center in February 2014 while the medium of video,” explained Bloomsburg, Pa., asked visitors to her taking four classes to complete her Gottermeier, noting that three NTID exhibit about their perceptions of crime undergraduate degree in May 2014. researchers, Donna Lange, Myra Pelz, in Rochester and throughout the United “I thoroughly enjoyed being a part and Gary Long, are looking at ways to States. Nearly 300 individuals completed of Imagine RIT,” she said. “It was all include this technology on the website the six-question survey, and their results new to me and led to some fascinating (www.deaftec.org) for their National were telling. conversations with people. The project Science Foundation Center, DeafTEC. “Most people drastically overestimated taught me a lot about people’s perceptions The Center provides resources to the murder rate in Rochester, while of local and national crime.” improve the access to technological drastically underestimating the murder education and employment for deaf rate nationwide,” she said. and hard-of-hearing students. Immediately, others took notice of “In addition, these tools can be Bower’s findings, as presented in a On the Web Imagine RIT Festival beneficial to NTID alumni who are 29-page research paper. The study was www.rit.edu/imagine looking for new career opportunities.” cited during the 2013 Rochester mayoral

Research at RIT 27 Faculty Awards and Achievements Research Awards

and Honors by Kelly Sorensen

RIT values the research contributions of its faculty, staff, and students. Below are some members of the RIT community who have received recent international, national, and university recognition.

Wei Le and Linwei Wang, professors in the B. Thomas Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences, CAREER are recipients of Faculty Awards Early Career Development (CAREER) Awards from the National Science Foundation. The CAREER Program is an NSF-wide activity that supports junior faculty who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars The “Arborloo” Team through outstanding research, excellent education and the The second project, “Implementing Practical integration of education and Pico-hydropower,” will support campus sustain- research within the context of the mission ability initiatives through a feasibility study of of their organizations. Le will develop program implementing a micro-hydropower system analyses to address quality assurance problems within RIT’s Golisano Institute for Sustainability related to reliable software releases, diagnosing building. The team is composed of assistant failures in changes and effectively patching multiple versions of software. Wang’s research aims to improve non-invasive and personalized medicine by integrating computer simulations into data-driven learning.

Teams of faculty and student researchers from the Kate Gleason College of Engineering and the Golisano Institute for Sustainability received Environmental Protection Agency grants EPA through the 2013 EPA’s People, Prosperity and the Planet phase I grant program. The projects The “Implementing Practical Pico-hydropower” Team Awards were featured at the National Sustainable Design Expo in Washington, D.C., in April. The first award was given for the project professor Gabrielle Gaustad and architectural “The Development of an Improved ‘Arborloo’ graduate students Matt Burke, Kate Krueger, to Promote Sanitation in Rural Environments.” J.D. Harper, Bridget Carney, Adam Stoker, Brian Thorn and Sarah Brownell, faculty Sergey Selyuzhitskiy, and Andrew Sinko. members in the College of Engineering, are leading a team that will design a simple, inexpensive toilet that can easily be built and installed in remote locations using local labor.

28 Spring/Summer 2014 Report Faculty Awards and Achievements National and International Recognition

Irshad Altheimer, Gregory Halpern, Gino Santaguida, assistant professor of assistant professor in the fourth-year industrial criminal justice, earned School of Photographic design student, took first a distinguished W.E.B. Arts and Sciences, has prize and won $2,000 DuBois Fellowship for won a prestigious fellow- at the RIT Tiger Tank his work related to ship from The John competition for his understanding and Simon Guggenheim product concept to reducing dispute-related Memorial Foundation. stop nosebleeds. He violence. The fellowship offers academic Halpern has published three books of demonstrated a nonworking prototype researchers the opportunity to elevate photographs. The Fellowship supports that could be opened with one hand, independently generated research and individuals in mid-career “who have placed to the nose and a small tissue ideas to the level of national discussion. already demonstrated exceptional would be inserted in the nostril, with capacity for productive scholarship or standard chemicals that are currently Stefi Baum, director exceptional creative ability in the arts.” on the market. of RIT’s Chester F. Carlson Center for Kara Maki, assistant Hao Shi, a 2013 graduate Imaging Science, has professor in the School of RIT’s physics program, been named to a leader- of Mathematical was chosen as a recipient ship position in the Sciences, was invited of the American Physical American Association to participate at the Society’s LeRoy Apker for the Advancement 5th Indo-American Award. The premier of Science. She was elected chair-elect Frontiers of Science national award recog- of the society’s Section on Astronomy. symposium in April nizes outstanding 2013 in Agra, India. The symposium is achievement in physics by an undergrad- Burak Baylav, a micro- co-sponsored by the Indo-U.S. Science uate student in the United States. Shi was systems engineering and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) and honored for his undergraduate research in Ph.D. student, won a the U.S. National Academy of Sciences theoretical quantum and optical physics, “Best in Session” award and is the premier activity for distin- and cites his work on “Torsional Optome- at TECHCON 2013. guished young scientists. Maki presented chanics: A Dialogue Between Spinning He presented research a poster on her research in collaboration Photons and Twisting Oscillators.” on a new processing with David Ross on modeling the technique with viable mechanics of the contact lens. Saugata Sinha, a Ph.D. implications for the semiconductor student in RIT’s Chester industry. Baylav’s recognition was for Brett Morris, a second- F. Carlson Center for the “Impact of Pupil Plane Filtering year game design and Imaging Science, won on Mask Roughness Transfer.” development student, best paper at the 2013 won the first-ever Game IEEE Western New York Zack Fitzsimmons, Innovators Scholarship Image Processing Work- a computing and infor- from GSN Games, the shop for his work on mation sciences Ph.D. social, mobile, and online detecting thyroid cancer. He presented student, won a Graduate games division of Game the paper “Differentiation Between Malig- Research Fellowship Show Network. The $2,500 scholarship is nant and Normal Human Thyroid Tissue from the National given to a university student pursuing a Using Frequency Analysis of Multispec- Science Foundation degree leading to a career in the games tral Photoacoustic Images.” (NSF). Fitzsimmons industry. receives a three-year, $32,000 stipend About This Section to pursue his research in computational This listing is a sample of awards and honors that have been received by RIT faculty, staff, social choice, specifically the difficulty and students over the past year. For more of strategic attacks on elections. information, go to www.rit.edu/news.

Research at RIT 29 Rochester Institute of Technology 125 Lomb Memorial Drive Rochester, NY 14623-5608 www.rit.edu/research

rit.edu/corporate  CONNECT RESEARCH RECRUIT

to RIT’s key corporate opportunities for your talented RIT students and partnership groups products and systems alumni to work for you

Interested in company partnerships at RIT? Start here. RIT’s Corporate Gateway is the online starting point for reaching corporate partnership groups within RIT. Whether you want to find the best co-op student or graduate to fill a post at your company, leverage RIT’s unique skills through joint research projects, or connect with RIT faculty or alumni to further your business goals, the Corporate Gateway will start you on the right path.

Visit rit.edu/corporate today to connect your company to RIT.

Rochester Institute of Technology is Contact Information inter­nationally recognized for academic To learn more about research opportunities on leadership in computing, engineering, campus, contact us directly or through the RIT imaging technology, sustainability, and fine research website at www.rit.edu/research. and applied arts, in addition to unparalleled support services for deaf and hard-of- Ryne Raffaelle hearing students. Vice President for Research For two decades, U.S. News & World Report and Associate Provost has ranked RIT among the nation’s leading 585-475-2055 comprehensive universities. RIT is featured in [email protected] The Princeton Review’s 2014 edition of The Best 378 Colleges as well as its 2014 Guide to 332 Kelly Sorensen Green Colleges. The Fiske Guide to Colleges 2014 Director of Research Communications describes RIT as “strong in anything related to 585-475-5094 10% postconsumer waste fiber computing, art and design, and engineering.” [email protected]