April 13, 2005

Volume 49 – Number 24 Wednesday – April 13, 2005 TechTalk S ERVING T HE M I T C OMMUNITY Telecom leader to speak at Commencement Denise Brehm comm holds nearly 1,400 patents of the arts,” said MIT President National Center for Urban School News Office and has more than 2,000 patents Susan Hockfield. “We are honored Transformation at SDSU. These pending; the San Diego-based and delighted that he is returning two institutions aim to make the company has been compared to MIT to inspire our graduates United States more competitive in Irwin M. Jacobs, a leader in to a think-tank with thousands and their families, and to share his math and science through improv- the wireless telecommunications of employees. Its digital wire- unique perspective on technology ing education in all grades, kinder- industry and a staunch advocate less communications technology and education.” garten through graduate school. for improving math and science (CDMA—Code Division Multiple Jacobs and his wife, Joan, have The Jacobs have made generous education in the United States, will Access) is among the most widely made significant contributions to contributions to the La Jolla Play- give the Commencement address used in the world. science and math education and house and the San Diego Sympho- at MIT’s graduation ceremony on “The extraordinary technologi- the arts through their philanthrop- ny as well. Friday, June 3. Jacobs is an MIT cal contributions of Irwin Jacobs ic work. The engineering school Their son, Gary, has taken on alumnus (S.M. 1957 and Sc.D. have transformed global telecom- at the University of California at the mantle of math and science 1959) and former faculty member munications. Dr. Jacobs’ career, San Diego is named after them— education as well. He was involved in electrical engineering (1959- which began with graduate study The Jacobs School of Engineer- in establishing and funding High 1966). and a first faculty position at MIT, ing—and last year, Qualcomm and Tech High, an innovative school in Jacobs is co-founder, chairman has changed countless lives, not the Jacobs made a $14.5 million San Diego where students spend and CEO of Qualcomm Inc. He only through invention and entre- gift to San Diego State University much of their time working on is known as an innovative entre- preneurship, but also through to establish the Qualcomm Insti- preneur and engineer who places remarkable support of secondary tute of Innovation and Educational See JACOBS high value on research. Qual- math and science education, and Success and to help launch the Page 6 Irwin M. Jacobs $20M project entrusts MIT with future of computing MIT has teamed up with Quanta Com- new interfaces and the exploration of new puter Inc. on a five-year, $20 million joint ways of managing and accessing informa- research project designed to change the tion. way people interact with technology. The partnership pairs the huge brain Project TParty, announced on Fri- trust of MIT with the practical skills of the day, April 8, will address the complexity world’s largest maker of laptop computers. of today’s computing landscape. Where- “We strongly believe that the best value as people currently have to maintain a for our research partners is achieved wide array of “smart” devices—from cell when we work together,” said Professor phones to computers to personal digi- Rodney Brooks, Director of the MIT Com- tal assistants—on their own, TParty is puter Science and Artificial Intelligence intended to move such work into the back- Laboratory (CSAIL), the MIT laboratory ground, making such computing tasks as that will house TParty. “Together Quan- upgrades and backups more or less invis- ta and CSAIL will establish a team and ible to the user. work toward a new world of self-organiz- MIT President Susan Hockfield coming devices that will make our lives more mented, “I am delighted that MIT and pleasant and productive.” Quanta are collaborating in this ambitious Mr. Barry Lam, Chairman and Chief initiative, which has tremendous implica- Executive Officer of Quanta, said at the tions for the future of personal computing. signing ceremony in Taipei, Taiwan: “We This partnership builds on MIT’s long tra- are very pleased to team up with the dition of technological innovation and cre- renowned research institution, MIT, to ative interaction with industry to address embark on a new IT trendsetting endeav- issues that are increasingly important to or. Combining the exceptional research all of us in the digital age.” resources of MIT with the world-lead- The work means creating the next gen- ing innovative design and manufacturing eration of platforms for computing and engine of Quanta, we are excited about the communication. TParty will require reen- prospects of bringing brand-new products gineering and an extension of the underly- and services to the world that will improve ing technical infrastructure, the creation of all of our lives and cultures.” Lacing up for 24,795-Smoot race Sarah H. Wright race from Hopkinton to Boston in which News Office 20,000 people will compete. “Smoot Smart,” named after the MIT measurement derived from an old frater- If you’re planning to attend the Boston nity prank, now contains dozens of stories Marathon on Monday, be sure to give a from MIT marathoners, from first-timers shout out to the many members of the to veterans, from students to alumni. MIT community participating in the race. Some first-timers, like Michelle Tiu, Thanks to “Smoot Smart,” MIT’s web a senior in management, were surprised site for members of the Institute commu- to be running at all. Tiu’s original intent was to support her friends. She would run PHOTO / DONNA COVENEY nity involved in the Marathon, you’ll know whose names to yell. alongside them for five miles, no more. Spring transforms campus “Smoot Smart” went live on March 30 But, true to the MIT spirit, she got and within days, MIT runners, fans and See MARATHON Biology senior Jerry Chao takes his studying out into the sunshine last week. family members had shared their enthusiasm for the 26.2-mile (or 24,795-Smoot) Page 6

NEWS RESEARCH ARTS

A MATTER OF INFLUENCE TIPPING THE SCALE DUO OF ‘DEMO’ MIT stars shine in Time magazine’s annual list of Astronomers revise the Torino scale for measuring Dramashop offers a double-edged production of most influential people. asteroid-impact risk. Tennesee Williams’ ‘Demolition Downtown.’ Page 2 Page 3 Page 7

IT ALL ADDS UP UNEARTHING EVOLUTION FEEL THE BEAT The Institute’s math team takes first prize in the Geologists dig up some answers to questions about Rambax MIT will present ‘A Spectacle of Senegalese annual Putnam competition. climate and evolution. Drumming, Dance and Wrestling.’ Page 5 Page 3 Page 7 PAGE 2 April 13, 2005 NEWS MIT Tech Talk Four earn place in Time DIGITALK: WHERE IT’S AT Change passwords online Sarah H. Wright tion,” by emphasizing the U.N.’s obligations to protecting IS&T recommends that News Office human rights; to meeting such new challenges as HIV/ members of the community AIDS and international terrorism, and to efficient use of practice good personal IT its resources. Among Annan’s peers in world influence, security by changing pass- Three men and one woman with ties to MIT were according to Time, are Bill Gates and Pope John Paul II. words regularly. IS&T among the 100 most influential people in the world last Lander, 48, is founding director of the Broad Institute recently released a web- year, according to Time magazine. of MIT and Harvard and a popu- based service to change “The Time 100: The 2004 Most lar professor of biology at MIT. A Kerberos passwords, Influential People in the World,” MacArthur “genius” award winner available from web.mit. which will appear on newsstands on in 1987, he achieved world renown edu/accounts/www/ Tuesday, April 19, cites Kofi Annan for his leadership role in the Human password.html. Kerbe- (S.M. 1972), secretary general Genome Project, which completed ros passwords are used of the United Nations and Nobel sequencing of the human genome to access @mit.edu email Peace Prize winner in 2001; Eric in 2003. Lander appears on the Time accounts, create MIT web Lander, professor of biology at MIT 100 list of “Scientists and Thinkers,” certificates, log into Athena or and founding director of the Broad which includes U.S. Supreme Court WinAthena, and access such web services as Tech- Institute; Carly Fiorina (S.M. 1989), Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and Time. former chairman and chief execu- Steven Pinker, former MIT profes- Changing passwords regularly limits the amount tive officer of Hewlett-Packard; and sor of psychology. Tim Berners-Lee, of time an intruder has to guess your current pass- Frank Gehry, the visionary architect Eric Lander Carly Fiorina CSAIL senior research scientist and word, while also limiting how long a compromised who designed MIT’s Ray and Maria inventor of the World Wide Web, password could be used. It is also important to select Stata Center for Computer, Informa- was a 1999 Time honoree in this cat- a good password: one that is easy for you to remem- tion and Intelligence Sciences. egory. ber, but that people who know you could not easily All four will be honored at a din- Fiorina, 51, served as chair- guess. Strategies include creating a long password ner party at the Time Warner Cen- man and chief executive officer of (at least eight characters), mixing numbers and punc- ter in New York City on April 19. Hewlett-Packard Co., from July 1999 tuation into uppercase and lowercase letters, and mis- The 2004 Time 100 profiles 84 to February 2005. A member of the spelling common words or phrases. men and 22 women who “shape MIT Corporation, Fiorina sits on IS&T User Accounts provides support to MIT world events,” according to the edi- the New York Stock Exchange and users who need to change passwords. Reach them at tors. Some, like George W. Bush, wields influence among such “Build- [email protected]. “came to their status by means of ers and Titans” as investment guru a very public possession of power.” Warren Buffet, media mogul Rupert Others, like Fidelity’s Abigail John- Murdoch and Apple CEO Steve Back it up with TSM son, are “rarely heard from in pub- Jobs, according to Time. Fiorina TSM is MIT’s enterprise data backup and restora- lic, but have a real influence on the Kofi Annan Frank Gehry was the 2000 MIT commencement tion software. Backing up the contents of your com- great events of our time.” Still oth- speaker. puter to a secure network server lets you restore ers on the list “affect our lives by their moral example,” Architect Gehry, 76, is the 1989 Pritzker Prize winner data in case of error or computer failure. such as Nelson Mandela, the Time editors note. known worldwide for his adventurous, often controversial TSM 5.2.3 for Windows and Macintosh includes Annan, 67, one of 22 “Leaders and Revolutionaries” on buildings such as the titanium-clad Guggenheim Museum minor bug fixes and, for the Macintosh, encryption the Time 100 list, became U.N. secretary general in 1997. in Bilbao, Spain. He joins producer Jerry Bruckheimer, and improved scheduled backups—two features The 2001 Nobel Committee described Annan’s U.N. lead- actor Sean Penn and Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling on already available to Windows users. With the TSM ership as “pre-eminent in bringing new life to the organiza- the influential “Artists and Entertainers” list for 2004. scheduler installed, scheduled backups will run whether or not the user is logged in. (Your computer does need to be turned on, though!) Encryption keeps your data secure during transmission over the network. If you opt to use encryption, it is critical that you keep a copy of the key (equivalent to a password) in a safe location, such as on removable media or another computer. Without the key, you won’t be able to restore your data. To learn more about this fee-based backup service, search with the keyword “backup” from the MIT home page. MIT hosts SAP conference MIT and SAP hosted the annual SAP Higher Education and Research User Group (HERUG) Conference at the Stata Center in March. The mission of the HERUG is to foster the development and more effective delivery of SAP functionality to the higher education and research community. Membership in the SAP HERUG is open to all degree-granting higher education and research institutions that are SAP customers with signed contracts for one or more R/2 or R/3 software modules. A full program of SAP topics was offered, as well as events to encourage attendees to network with colleagues from around the world. Eighteen sessions were held with 113 participants from 13 countries. For more information on the HERUG Conference, go to web.mit.edu/her/MIT05/. PHOTO / DONNA COVENEY Workers begin paving a section of Massachusetts Avenue between Vassar and Albany streets on Friday, April 8. Tech directions for higher ed The 2005 Horizon Report highlights six technology areas that may become very important to high- Facilities offers construction update er education over the next one to five years. These range from intelligent searching to augmented real- As part of the continuing recon- enough will be transplanted, the the next three weeks, the department ity. IS&T’s Phil Long, who contributed to the report, struction of Massachusetts Avenue, department reported. When the new reported. Vehicles will be restricted is the chair of the 2006 Horizon Project Board—a Roads Corp. is working this week to sidewalks are installed next fall, 100 to one lane at times during work collaboration between the New Media Centers, the remove 19 trees adjacent to the side- pin oak trees will be planted along hours, between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., but National Learning Infrastructure Initiative and Edu- walk, the Department of Facilities Massachusetts Avenue from Memo- a police officer will be on duty. cause. For a PDF version of the report, go to www. reported on April 11. rial Drive to Lafeyette Square. For more information on con- nmc.org/projects/. Many of the targeted trees have The project is not expected to struction on or around campus, visit suffered damage from trucks, road affect MIT trees or landscaping. the Department of Facilities web site Digitalk is compiled by Information Services and salt and years of being overshadowed Meanwhile, Vassar Street traffic at web.mit.edu/evolving/updates. Technology. by larger trees, trees that are healthy will be affected by utility work over shtml.

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Roger Donaghy MIT Tech Talk RESEARCH April 13, 2005 PAGE 3 Scale weighs in on risk of asteroid impact Elizabeth A. Thomson Some critics, however, said that the manager of NASA’s Near Earth Object Lincoln Near Earth Asteroid Research News Office original Torino scale was actually scaring Program Office, “The revisions in the project at MIT’s Lincoln Laboratory. people, “the opposite of what was intend- Torino Scale should go a long way toward “There’s no increase in the number of ed,” said Binzel. Hence the revisions. assuring the public that while we cannot asteroids out there or how frequently they Astronomers led by an MIT professor “For a newly discovered NEO, the always immediately rule out Earth impacts encounter our planet. What’s changed is have revised the scale used to assess the revised scale still ranks the impact haz- for recently discovered near-Earth objects, our awareness of them,” Binzel notes. threat of asteroids and comets colliding ard from 0 to 10, and the calculations that additional observations will almost certain- As a result, astronomers debated with Earth to better communicate those determine the hazard level are still exactly ly allow us to do so.” whether they should keep potential NEO risks with the public. the same,” Binzel said. The difference is The highest Torino level ever given an collisions secret or “be completely open The overall goal is to provide easy-to- that the wording for each category now asteroid was a 4 last December, with a 2 with what we know when we know it,” understand information to assuage con- better describes the attention or response percent chance of hitting Earth in 2029. Binzel said. The IAU working group, of cerns about a potential doomsday collision merited for each. And after extended tracking of the aster- which Binzel is secretary, resoundingly with our planet. For example, in the original scale NEOs oid’s orbit, it was reclassified to level 0, decided on the latter. The Torino scale, a risk-assessment of level 2-4 were described as “meriting effectively no chance of collision, “the out- The revised wording of the scale was system similar to the Richter scale used concern.” The revised scale describes come correctly emphasized by level 4 as published last fall in a chapter of “Mitiga- for earthquakes, was adopted by a work- objects with those rankings as “meriting being most likely,” Binzel said. tion of Hazardous Comets and Asteroids” ing group of the International Astronomi- attention by astronomers”—not necessar- “It is just a matter of the scale becoming (Cambridge University Press). The revi- cal Union (IAU) in 1999 at a meeting in ily the public. more well known and understood. Just as sions were undertaken through consulta- Torino, Italy. On the scale, zero means Equally important in the revisions, says there is little or no reason for public con- tion with astronomers worldwide for near- virtually no chance of collision, while 10 Binzel, “is the emphasis on how contin- cern over a magnitude 3 earthquake, there ly a year before being published. means certain global catastrophe. ued tracking of an object is almost always is little cause for public attention for NEO Binzel concludes that “the chance of “The idea was to create a simple sys- likely to reduce the hazard level to 0, once close encounters having low values on the something hitting the Earth and having a tem conveying clear, consistent informa- sufficient data are obtained.” The gen- Torino scale.” He notes that an object must major impact is very unlikely. But although tion about near-Earth objects [NEOs],” eral process of classifying NEO hazards reach level 8 on the scale before there is a unlikely, it is still not impossible. The only or asteroids and comets that appear to be is roughly analogous to hurricane fore- certainty of an impact capable of causing way to be certain of no asteroid impacts in heading toward the planet, said Richard casting. Predictions of a storm’s path are even localized destruction. the forecast is to keep looking.” Binzel, a professor in MIT’s Department updated as more and more tracking data The Torino scale was developed For more information on the revised of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sci- are collected. because astronomers are spotting more Torino scale go to: neo.jpl.nasa.gov/tori- ences and the creator of the scale. According to Dr. Donald K. Yeomans, and more NEOs through projects like the no_scale.html. Geologists’ find is evolutionary Cathryn M. Delude Special to the MIT News Office

Figuring out what happened hundreds of millions of years ago requires some guesswork, and that lack of pre- cision plagues controversial theories about whether complex animals arose before or after the last global ice age, and whether sea ice actually did once cover even the trop- ics. Now MIT geologists have introduced more method to the madness, and in doing so have exciting new insights regarding ancient climate and early animals, and the link between the two. Their findings, which are crucial to models of both evolution and climate change, appeared in the April 1, 2005, issue of Science. Geologists believe that Earth experienced at least three global ice ages from 800 to 580 million years ago (mya) during the Neoproterozoic Era, at the end of the Precam- brian Age. In most places, evidence of the glaciations has disappeared, but traces remain in several areas with “cap carbonates,” thin layers of limestone containing distinc- tive ratios of carbon isotopes. “When the ice melts, the oceans rapidly precipitate carbonate, which appears in the sedimentary rock,” explains one of the geologists, Daniel Condon, a postdoctoral fellow in geology/geochemistry. “Cap carbonates are very unusual and restricted to glacial PHOTO / JUSTIN KNIGHT periods in the Neoproterozoic.” Professor James Gustave Speth, dean of Yale University’s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, addresses the Extreme fluctuations of this carbon signature in the crowd during the inaugural MIT Environmental Fellows Invitational Lecture on April 6. rock allow geologists to correlate time periods from continent to continent. But it’s also easy to make mistakes and align the wrong squiggles on the graph, Condon says, like mismatching buttons on a sweater. Speaker presses case for climate Such mismatching may have happened in China regarding the age of tiny fossil animal embryos. The over- lying rocks have a similar carbon spike to cap carbon- Nancy Stauffer meaningful way.” Indeed, the mainstream American press ates, so geologists assigned the rock to a 580 mya glacia- Laboratory for Energy and the Environment persists in portraying global change as controversial and tion. Then, using relative comparisons, they assumed the uncertain, he said. embryos were 600 million years old. There is now clear consensus among scientists that That age made many scientists uncomfortable, how- Global warming is real, dangerous and ignored at great Earth’s climate is being affected by the greenhouse ever, because it left a gaping 45 million years between the risk to the planet, a leading environmentalist told an audi- gases generated by human activities. “We’ve seen these age of the embryos and the appearance of larger, more ence of about 250 at last week’s inaugural MIT Environ- credible forecasts and credible warnings coming from complex animals in Russia, evidence of which was in rocks mental Fellows Invitational Lecture. the scientific community for the better part of three presumed to be 555 mya. “Evolution just doesn’t stand Professor James Gustave Speth, dean of Yale Universi- decades,” Speth said. “But the influence of all the good still for so long,” points out Condon’s advisor, Samuel A. ty’s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, urged science on policy and action has been puny compared Bowring, especially when a global ice age intervenes, as the scientific community to make its case to the public, with the need.” in this case. Bowring is a professor of geology/geochemis- which remains unconvinced of the crisis despite decades Noting MIT’s phenomenal capacity to help tackle this try in MIT’s Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Plan- of first-rate science and policy analysis, he said. critical global problem, Speth called for scientists at MIT etary Sciences. Condon and Bowring collaborated on their Temperatures at the Arctic are already climbing, and and elsewhere to actively engage in public policy debates paper with scientists from the Nanjing Institute of Geology there will be “irreparable damage in the decades ahead and issues. “Only the scientific community has the cred- and Paleontology in China. due to our negligence” in addressing climate change. U.S. ibility to take the climate issue to the public and to the The geologists suspected that the embryo ages were policy makers and citizens must be spurred into action, politicians,” he said. off, so they applied the zircon dating technology they had Speth said in his talk, “Some Say by Fire: Climate Change Given the lack of action at the federal level, he called for been fine-tuning, essentially adding centimeters to a meter and the American Response,” held Wednesday, April 6. building a broad network of civic, scientific, environmen- measuring stick. This method uses the rate of decay of “If I had a hundred million dollars,” Speth said, “I think tal, religious, business and other communities to demand uranium to lead in volcanic ash to calculate the absolute I’d put almost every penny of it into a public service adver- action and to take concrete steps to reduce emissions. age of rocks containing such ash. Then, the team headed tising campaign…because we’ve got to reach lots of peo- What can universities do? He recommended that they upstream of China’s Three Rivers Dam to the Yangtze ple quickly with this issue.” join together and commit to reducing their own emissions, Gorge. There, the Doushantuo rock formation has the Speth is a founder of the World Resources Institute, which are often significant. fortuitous and unusual combination of glacial deposits, co-founder of the Natural Resources Defense Council and As it happens, MIT is collaborating with the City of volcanic ash, and the fossil embryos. “Here we can date former advisor to Presidents Carter and Clinton. His lec- Cambridge to implement its Climate Protection Plan, the fossils directly,” Condon says, “and for the first time, ture was sponsored by the Laboratory for Energy and the which calls for a reduction of citywide greenhouse-gas we can accurately calibrate the relationship between gla- Environment. emissions to 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2010. To ciations and biology.” Climate-change research results and forecasts appear set an appropriate emissions-reduction goal, MIT recently Contrary to previous assumptions, the researchers repeatedly in the scientific literature—some information completed a detailed analysis of its emissions. For more “startling in its significance”—but Speth said good cli- information on MIT’s environmental commitment and See GEOLOGY mate science rarely reaches the public in a “forceful and activities, visit web.mit.edu/environment. Page 6 PAGE 4 April 13, 2005 NEWS MIT Tech Talk Series to explore modern religion

Sarah H. Wright The MIT Program in Human Rights of California, Santa Barbara, will analyze News Office and Justice sponsored the talk by Abu- “The Meaning of Religious Terrorism” on Odeh. April 28. “Around the world, there are now two Juergensmeyer’s most recent book, The dynamics of religion and its role competing forces for social change: one “Terror in the Mind of God: The Global in contemporary political and social life emanating from within religion and anoth- Rise of Religious Violence,” is based on will be explored in an MIT lecture series er emanating from within secular and lib- interviews with violent religious activists beginning tomorrow, April 14. eral ideals. Both promise utopias but often around the world, including individuals The series, “Religion in the 21st Cen- deliver nightmares. The real issue is this: convicted of the 1993 World Trade Center tury: Understanding the Dynamics and Are there elements within both forces who bombing, leaders of Hamas and abortion Impact of Change,” will offer four ses- could somehow come together and col- clinic bombers in the United States. sions of lectures and discussions on how laborate toward a more human and just On May 5, Gustav Neibuhr, associate the shifts among and within religions are world order? Are the two worldviews so professor of religion and the media at Syr- affecting the way many of us work, vote, incompatible? This seminar series will acuse University, will deliver a talk, “Reli- use technology and even live or die. shed some light on this question, which gion and the Media in the U.S.” Dean of the School of Humani- is crucial for the future of human rights,” Neibuhr worked as a religion reporter ties, Arts, and Social Sciences Philip S. said Balakrishnan Rajagopal, Ford Inter- at The New York Times and, prior to that, Khoury said, “The series couldn’t be national Associate Professor of Law and at the Washington Post, The Wall Street more timely, and the featured speakers Development and Director, MIT Program Journal, and the Atlanta Journal/Constitu- are well-known authorities on the impact on Human Rights and Justice. tion. PHOTO / DONNA COVENEY of religion and culture on politics, soci- On April 21, R. Scott Appleby, direc- The “Religion in the 21st Century” Julia Kurnik, left, and Shannon Nees ety, gender and the media, domestically tor of the Kroc Institute for International series was organized by the Technology worked together to create the ‘Women’s and globally.” Peace Studies at Notre Dame University, and Culture Forum at MIT with co-spon- Guide Around MIT.’ “Religion in the 21st Century” opens on will discuss “The Rise of Fundamentalism sorship by the Program in Human Rights April 14 with “Women’s Rights and Islam,” in the 20th Century.” and Justice at MIT, the School of Humani- a talk by Lama Abu-Odeh, associate profes- Appleby, a professor of history, is the ties, Arts, and Social Sciences and the sor of law at Georgetown University. Abu- editor of “Spokesmen for the Despised: Office of the Dean for Student Life. Students Odeh has taught courses in criminal law, Fundamentalist Leaders of the Middle All four “Religion in the 21st Century” comparative family law and Islamic law. East” (1997) and co-editor of the five-vol- sessions will be held at 7 p.m. in Building She has written widely on feminism and ume “The Fundamentalism Project” (1992- W11. The events are free, and registration Islam and is the author of a forthcoming 1995). is required. For more information, contact offer guide publication, “Modernizing Muslim Family Mark Juergensmeyer, director of Glob- Patricia Weinmann at 617-733-9515 or by Law: The Case of Egypt.” al and International Studies, University email, [email protected]. to women Sasha Brown NEWS YOU CAN USE News Office Tech Talk awards issue Tech Talk is gearing up for its annual When sophomore Shannon Nees and awards issue, which will be published June junior Julia Kurnik first came to MIT, they 1 to be available at Commencement. Please wished for a book that would detail all of submit information on your department’s the Institute’s many services and offer annual award winners by Tuesday, May 10, tips for women new to the area. Just a at 8 p.m. All submissions should be made couple years later, Kurnik and Nees have online at web.mit.edu/newsoffice/tt/ produced such a guide filled with humor, awards-issue.html. For more information, color and tons of useful information for contact Kathryn O’Neill at kathryno@mit. first-year female students. edu or 258-5401. The “Women’s Guide Around MIT” came out last week and was offered to high school students during campus pre- State of Institute Forum view weekend. The 30-page pink-and-pur- The Administrative Advisory Council ple booklet offers tips on everything from II is again sponsoring the popular State housing to health. Never preachy, the of the Institute Forum with MIT’s senior book has a humorous tone, a bit like an officers. The entire MIT community is older sister guiding her younger sibling. invited to attend the forum on Monday, “We wanted to highlight resources May 23. from 1 to 3 p.m. in Kresge that people did not know,” said Nees, who Auditorium. called it, “a cute approach to giving a lot of President Susan Hockfield, Provost important information.” Robert Brown and Executive Vice The idea came to them during the President John Curry are scheduled to annual Pan-Hellenic October retreat. “We speak and answer questions. were talking about vision,” said Kurnik, The council works to enhance and it occurred to her that what was need- communications and working relationships ed was a project that could help people on among central administrative offices a larger scale. and administrators in the academic One of the main goals for the booklet departments, research labs and centers. is that it will encourage women to look at In conjunction with the Offices of the MIT differently. “It is a good way to con- Executive Vice President and the Provost, vince people that there are opportunities ACII is planning an “Issues in Higher here,” said Kurnik, a humanities major. Education” lecture for administrative staff “We want them to see that is a good place to be held at the beginning of the 2005-06 for women to be.” academic year. Tufts University Professor Close to 20 writers contributed to the Sol Gittleman, who served Tufts as provost project, offering tips they believed would for more than two decades under three prove useful during a student’s first presidents, will be the featured speaker. months at MIT. For example, the book- For more information about AACII, visit let includes maps locating women’s rest- web.mit.edu/aacii/. rooms and emergency phones. There are also directions to major shopping areas. Blood drive slated Much of the information was hard earned PHOTO / AHSAN IQBAL (S.B. 1984) after years of experience at the Institute. The American Red Cross Team and Some of it was even new to the writers. Network at MIT is holding a blood drive Water, water everywhere “I am so excited to have the book now from noon to 6 p.m. today, tomorrow because now we will have all this informa- and Friday (April 13-16) at the Student Alumnus Ahsan Iqbal (S.B. 1984) was on hand April 2 to snap this picture of the MIT tion too,” said Kurnik with a laugh. Center’s La Sala de Puerto Rico. For more freshman lightweight crew team heading out to battle Army. Despite the pouring Both Nees and Kurnik agreed that information or to make an appointment, rain, the MIT team coached by Matthew Berean emerged victorious. women often have a different MIT experi- visit web.mit.edu/blood-drive/www/. ence from many men. “Sometimes it feels like you have to prove yourself, both to yourself and to other people,” said Nees, a chemical engineering major. Hillel reception celebrates 60 years at MIT Both women said that the Institute has been moving in a positive direction in the MIT Hillel has affected the lives of and current president of Tufts University richly exemplified by MIT’s Jewish com- past few years. Women now make up 43 thousands of Jewish students at MIT since and his wife, Adele Fleet Bacow (MCP munity, Hillel, and the Institute’s extensive percent of the undergraduate population it was established 60 years ago. So it was ’77). Lawrence Bacow is also a former student-life initiatives. according to the booklet, which offers a no surprise that Gray House was filled to member of MIT Hillel’s Board of Direc- MIT Hillel Director Miriam Rosenblum “history of women at MIT” on the back. overflowing on April 3 when President tors. added, “MIT is an incubator for society’s The booklet, sponsored by Admissions, Susan Hockfield and Dr. Thomas Byrne In their remarks, both Hockfield and future leaders in science and technol- the Academic Resource Center, Student hosted a reception in honor of MIT Hillel’s Bacow referred to how students and aca- ogy. It is MIT Hillel’s job to complement Life Programs and the Department of Ath- 60th anniversary. Guests included alumni demics live simultaneously in many com- and supplement this work by creating letics, Physical Education and Recreation and their families, students, and members munities–cultural, religious, academic–and informed, passionate Jewish leaders who (DAPER), will be updated each year, Nees of the faculty and staff. call them all home. Hockfield also spoke will take with them Jewish values and a said. “We especially want to get feedback. Co-chairing the celebration were Law- about how MIT’s “strong” education com- commitment to ‘tikkun olam,’ service to We will want suggestions. It would be nice rence Bacow, former chancellor of MIT bines so well with a “warm” community, as humanity.” to update it each year.” MIT Tech Talk PEOPLE April 13, 2005 PAGE 5 Adoption essays explore family ‘Matters’ Sarah H. Wright News Office

A village of children is raising new families, and “Adoption Matters,” a book of essays co-edited by Sally Haslanger, professor of linguistics and philosophy, portrays the ways that families formed through adoption are altering how we define “family,” “mother” and even, “love.” That village among us is 6 million strong—the current estimate of the number of adoptees in America–with 1.5 million under the age of 18. Most of those children live or have lived in new kinds of families–families inclusive of birth moth- ers and adoptive parents; families with international and racial diversity; single- parent families; and families where there are two moms or two dads. “Adoption Matters” (Cornell University Press), which came out this month, offers 13 essays that combine personal experience within these new families–the grow- ing village—with a feminist and philosophical framework through which to envision the implications of adoption for policy, culture and ideas about identity in the United States. Haslanger’s own experience dramatical- ly and movingly illustrates the book’s double purpose. Like most of the essayists, she is an adoptive mother and a philosopher. Haslanger and her husband, Steve Yablo, MIT professor of philosophy, are PHOTO / DONNA COVENEY both white; they adopted two black chil- Sally Haslanger, professor of linguistics and philosophy, shares a warm moment with her family—husband Steve Yablo and their two children, Zina, 8, and Isaac, 10. Haslanger was dren, Zina, left, and Isaac, both of whom are adopted. Haslanger recently co-edited ‘Adoption Matters,’ a book about adoption. present at Zina’s birth; Isaac joined their family when he was 4 weeks old. tion. Historically, “kith” has referred to the Haslanger and Yablo were chosen to be his birth grandparents for the first time former and “kin,” to the latter, they note, the adoptive parents by the birth mother Excerpt (we visited them for a long weekend), and they suggest adoption animates both (in Isaac’s case) and by the birth parents one of the most important trips of the in new ways. (in Zina’s case). “Their birth families are From “You Mixed?” an essay by Sally weekend was to the barbershop, where Charlotte Witt, Haslanger’s co-editor, tremendously supportive of us,” Haslanger Haslanger, MIT professor of linguistics we were introduced as family. includes an adopted daughter in her family. said. The resulting large, extended family and philosophy, in “Adoption Matters: The issue of girls’ hair is even more Witt, professor of philosophy and humani- has maintained mutual contact, including Philosophical and Feminist Essays” (Cor- laden and contested: a friend and mentor ties at the University of New Hampshire, visits back and forth among parents, sib- nell 2005). confided in me shortly after our daugh- explores the social and personal impact lings and grandparents (see excerpt). ter Zina joined our family that when she of narratives of family resemblance–“You Haslanger’s interest, she writes in her Sometimes, through parenting a child gave birth the second time and the doc- have Uncle Murray’s eyes!” “Heath women own essay, “You Mixed?” is in how racial of another race, one is drawn into cultural tor announced, “It’s a girl!” the very first should never drink!”–in her essay, “Family identity can be “disrupted and transformed.” rituals concerning the body. In the case thing that went through her mind was, Resemblances: Adoption, Personal identity Her own “racial identity has changed of White parents of Black children, the “Oh my gosh THREE heads of hair to and Genetic Essentialism.” tremendously through the experience most obvious are the rituals of caring for do each morning!” I had only the vagu- In “Being Adopted and Being a Philoso- of parenting Black children. … As I’ve hair and skin. I remember vividly our first est appreciation of what she meant until pher: Exploring Identity and the ‘Desire emphasized, I am not marked as of Afri- trip to a Black barbershop for Isaac’s first I found myself trying to comb out my to Know’ Differently,” essayist Kimberly can descent. But as a parent of children haircut, our anxiety at crossing an impor- sleeping (toddler) daughter’s hair to find Leighton reports her experience as who are, my day-to-day life is filled with tant color line. Having moved several myself two hours into it with her awake, an adopted child who, as a young adult, their physical being and social reality, and times since Isaac joined our family, each screaming, and me in tears. But I have sought–and located–her birth mother and by extension, the reality of their extended time we’ve had to negotiate the dynam- been guided and coached by friends and now includes her along with her parents families and their racial community. And ics of entering with him a predominantly acquaintances, by beauty store clerks, the as “family.” Leighton teaches philosophy their realities have in an important sense Black male space. And when Isaac met crowd at the barbershop, by Zina herself. at Cornell. become mine,” Haslanger writes. Other essays trace directly the contrast In conversation, she added that local between what’s considered “normal” for community culture has a role, too. “Zina Cambridge,” Haslanger said. the family as a social association and the families according to legal and social pol- has never been the only transracially The essays in “Adoption Matters” family viewed as a natural or biological icy and what is real life among contempo- adopted child in a school classroom in explore the “contrast and overlap between entity,” the editors write in their introduc- rary kith and kin.

AWARDS AND HONORS MIT math team wins Putnam Sasha Brown ed States and Canada take the test, tackling Three MIT faculty members have received Guggenheim Fellowships for News Office “atypical” questions in the field of mathemat- 2005: Drazen Prelec, a professor in the Sloan School of Management; Madhu ics. The questions do not ask students to Sudan, a professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer know much more than calculus, algebra or Science; and Santosh Srinivas Vempala, an associate professor of mathemat- For the second year in a row, the MIT what Stanley calls, “sophomore math.” How- ics. The three are among 186 artists, scholars and scientists selected for this math team has finished first in the celebrated ever, the problems themselves are far from year’s awards out of more than 3,000 applicants to the John Simon Guggen- William Lowell Putnam intercollegiate math- simple. “The problems do require origi- heim Memorial Foundation. A total of $7,112,000 will be awarded to this year’s ematics competition. nal thoughts or ideas. There is no formula fellows. Guggenheim Fellows are appointed on the basis of distinguished Of the close to 4,000 college students from learned in a class that they can plug in,” Stan- achievement in the past and exceptional promise for future accomplishment. across the country and Canada who took the ley said. six-hour test, three of the top five students The test is so difficult that many of the The Center for Studies in Higher Education at the University of California came from MIT. Two of the three were on tests are returned to Putnam graders blank. has announced that Charles M. Vest, former president of MIT, will present the math team. With more than 100 student Worth a total of 120 points, the median score the Clark Kerr Lectures on the role of higher education in society. The lec- test-takers, MIT sent more students than any on the exam was a 0 this year, said Stanley. ture series was established in 2001 in honor of Clark Kerr, chief architect of other of the 515 colleges and universities that The highest score was 109. California’s master plan for higher education, who died in 2003. competed. The winning team’s score is a compilation In two programs at Berkeley and one at U.C. Santa Barbara, Vest will talk “We knew we had a very strong team,” said of the scores of the three members. The team about the dynamics of federal science and technology policymaking, and the co-coach Richard Stanley, the Norman Levin- members are generally chosen based on each role of three distinct constituents: the public, government and industry. CSHE son Professor of Applied Mathematics. The student’s score in previous years, said Stanley, Director Judson King said that Vest “possesses unique insight, due to his three-person team, composed of senior math- although there have been exceptions. Barton, combined public and private university backgrounds, and is an articulate and ematics majors Reid Barton and Emanuel Stoi- for example, first took the test as a freshman. highly effective spokesperson for higher education.” ca and junior mathematics major Daniel Kane, Since then, he has finished in the top five had two of the top five finishes. The third MIT each year. “We do typically have a very strong MIT is this year’s co-recipient of the American Chemical Society’s Division student, junior civil engineering major Vladi- team,” Stanley said. of Chemical Health and Safety 2005 College/University Award. This award mir Barzov, was not on the team. Both Kane Though there is a freshman seminar prep- was established by the American Chemical Society to recognize a college or and Barton have been part of the team in each aration course offered during the fall semes- university that has an outstanding and comprehensive laboratory health and of their years at MIT, Stanley said. ter, students usually opt to prepare on their safety program (undergraduate study only). Sharing the award with MIT The annual 12-question test, first admin- own, Stanley said. “There really is not much is the University of Nevada at Reno. This is the second time that MIT has istered in 1938, is typically given on the first time to prepare,” he said. received this award. In 1991, MIT’s Department of Chemistry was the award Saturday in December and the results are The MIT Department of Mathematics will recipient. This August, Lou Diberardinis, director of the Environment, Health announced toward the end of March. There receive an award of $25,000, and each team and Safety Office, will accept the award on behalf of the Institute at the Ameri- are two three-hour sections, one in the morn- member will receive $1,000. Also, the students can Chemical Society meeting in Washington, D.C. ing and one in the afternoon. who made it into the top five will each receive More than 3,500 students from the Unit- $2,500. “We are quite pleased,” Stanley said. PAGE 6 April 13, 2005 NEWS MIT Tech Talk Brush up on history MARATHON Continued from Page 1 day, and a time just to detach for a while,” he said. caught up in the Marathon challenge. Many MIT runners took up a double for Patriots Day “Soon the five miles became eight, which challenge, completing the grueling race quickly turned into 13. Eventually, since I itself and raising funds for charitable was training so much anyways, I got talked causes such as cancer research. For these Sarah H. Wright even in David McCullough’s massive ‘John into running the WHOLE thing,” Tiu said. marathoners, helping others has been the News Office Adams,’ ” Maier said. For Marathon veterans like Steve Bratt, fuel that keeps them running. Lowell, Massachusetts, just an hour chief operating officer for the World Wide Anita Villanueva, a doctoral student in north of Boston, played an instrumental Web Consortium, and Ed Steinfeld, associ- electrical engineering and computer sci- Believe it or not, Monday isn’t a holi- role in the industrial development of New ate professor of political science, running ence, is a first-time marathoner who “could day because of the Boston Marathon. It’s England, and Maier recommends two has become a way of life. barely run a half-mile” in her undergradu- Patriots Day, the day set aside to honor the books on the subject. “Women at Work: “My main inspiration is that I really ate years. She is running with Team in Battle of Lexington and Concord, which The Transformation of Work and Commu- enjoy running,” said Bratt, who has been Training; she has committed to raising began the Revolutionary War. nity in Lowell, Massachusetts, 1826-1860,” running for 33 years. “I enjoy being out- $2,500 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma So this weekend, why not bone up on by Thomas Dublin, is a “terrific book on doors (yes, even in the winter), fresh air, Society in memory of a family friend, age your American history? the country’s pioneering textile industry time for reflection, seeing out-of-the-way 12, who died of leukemia. Pauline Maier, William R Kenan Pro- and the first generation of female factory parts of places to which I travel.” That death “made me realize that this fessor of History, recommends the books operatives.” Steinfeld’s daily run is both a “habit sort of disease could strike anyone. The fact below about life in the young U.S.A.—a “Enterprising Elite: The Boston Associ- and a period of meditation—it’s usually the that I’m running to honor and remember little later than the Revolution, but in a ates and the World They Made,” by Rob- most peaceful and focused period of my those people who have suffered from leu- formative period. Maier is the author of ert F. Dalzell, examines the industry from kemia and to bring hope to people that are “American Scripture: Making the Declara- management’s side. currently battling this disease is what really tion of Independence” and “From Resis- For contrast, Maier also recommends has gotten me through all this training, and tance to Revolution: Colonial Radicals and “Bond of Iron Master and Slave at Buffalo I know that’s what’ll get me to the finish the Development of American Opposition Forge,” by Charles B. Dew, a “gem of a line in Copley Square,” Villanueva said. to Britain 1765 to 1776.” book about an antebellum Virginia iron- Villanueva also raises funds for charity Maier, who first picked the books for works that used slave labor, its Pennsylva- by making and selling soaps and candies. the November/December 2004 issue of nia-born owner and the enslaved men who Heath Holtz, a graduate student in American Heritage magazine, described worked there.” management, is running the marathon for the list as “idiosyncratic, favoring titles I Harriet Beecher Stowe’s 1852 fictional the Col. Daniel Marr Boys & Girls Club have read and loved, that seemed to work account of the “sinful institution of slav- of Dorchester, Mass. His main motivation well with my students or that my friends ery,” “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” is the “most has been “the organization, kids and just and colleagues praise.” important novel, and perhaps the most finishing the marathon,” he said. Maier recommends several works important book, in American history,” Gaylee Saliba, in electrical engineer- about prominent historical figures. Maier notes. ing and computer science, shares that “Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary mix of generosity and excitement. Saliba Generation,” by Joseph J. Ellis, was “long A few more recommendations: is running the Marathon with her mother on the bestseller list and won the Pulitzer • “Harpers Ferry Armory and the New to raise money for CASA, a resource for Prize for all the right reasons: solid schol- Technology: The Challenge of Change,” abused and neglected children. arship, full of insight and written with a by Merritt Roe Smith, MIT’s Cutten Pro- “I’m really looking forward to the race! style leavened by Ellis’ un-intrusive sense fessor of the History of Technology. The crowd, the start line, the finish line, the of humor,” she said. • “American Reformers, 1815-1860,” by midpoint! I look forward to running Heart- Already read “Brothers”? Try Maier’s Ronald G. Walters. break Hill again. I’m going to miss the Mar- personal favorite, a book on Massachu- • “The Discovery of the Asylum: Social athon Day when it’s over.” said Saliba. setts’ native son, President John Adams. Order and Disorder in the New Republic,” To read more stories of MIT’s mara- Ellis’ “Passionate Sage: The Character of by David J. Rothman. PHOTO / ANITA VILLANUEVA thoners or to add your own, go to the John Adams,” captures the “endearingly • “Democracy in America,” by Alexis Doctoral student Anita Villanueva will be “Smoot Smart” web site at web.mit.edu/ crusty Adams in ways that are missing de Toqueville. running the Boston Marathon on Monday. marathon/. GEOLOGY JACOBS Continued from Page 3 also linked to changes in the global carbon Continued from Page 1 neering at UCSD in 1966, in part because cycle and in levels of oxygen, which set of the lower cost of housing in San Diego, found the carbon spike did not occur the stage for the evolutionary “explosion” group projects in science and engineering. he said. While teaching at MIT, he co- with the 580 glaciation. It was in fact of complex life in the Cambrian period. The school also places an emphasis on authored with Professor John Wozencraft much younger, around 551, the approxi- “Now we can apply this calibration arts. Using contributions from the Bill and “Principles of Communication Engineer- mate age of fossil animals found in Rus- using zircon dating to other places,” Con- Melinda Gates Foundation, Gary Jacobs ing,” a textbook in digital communications sia. Moreover, the embryos in China were don says. For instance, they found that cap is replicating that concept in other plac- still in use today. also younger, appearing not long before carbonates in China and Namibia in west- es, including at the New Bedford Global The recipient of numerous awards, the larger animals. “Our data probably ern Africa have virtually identical ages, Learning Charter School in New Bedford, Jacobs was honored with the 1992 Entre- make a lot of people feel more comfort- within 200,000 years. “The snowball Earth Mass., Irwin Jacobs’ hometown. preneur of the Year Award from the able because it compresses the gap in theory had predicted that sea ice would At the August 2004 announcement Institute of American Entrepreneurs, the time between the first appearance of the melt almost instantaneously around the of the gift to San Diego State University, National Medal of Technology in 1994, embryos and occurrences of more com- world, but no one has been able to prove Jacobs told the audience that his high the 1998 Medal of Achievement from the plete animals,” Bowring comments. it,” explains Bowring. “The fact that we school guidance counselor at New Bed- American Electronics Association, the What then caused the unusual carbon can date these cap carbonates on widely ford told him there was no future in sci- 1999 Ernst & Young Leadership Award spike in 551, if not a cap carbonate linked separated continents to the same time sup- ence and engineering. So, young Jacobs for Global Integration, the Bower Award to the melting of a global glacier? Accord- ports the model of rapid deglaciation on a enrolled in hotel management at Cornell, in Business Leadership from the Franklin ing to Bowring and Condon, the new ani- global scale.” Incidentally, the researchers although he switched to electrical engi- Institute in 2001, and election as fellow of mals did—by virtue of their guts. “We find also discovered that that deglaciation hap- neering and took the S.B. in 1956 before the American Academy of Arts and Sci- complex traces in rocks of this age, mark- pened around 635 mya, not the previously coming to MIT for graduate school. ences in 2001. ings that show wormlike movements, as estimated 600. Jacobs was on the MIT faculty from Jacobs announced last month that he if searching for food,” Bowring explains. In addition to clarifying how and when 1959-1966. He later co-founded Linkabit, will step down as CEO of Qualcomm on They hypothesize that those grazing ani- events in the ancient world unfolded, this the company credited with having created July 1, but remain as chairman. His son, mals, and similar ones swimming in the work bolsters the theory that atmospheric much of the digital communications indus- Paul, will become CEO. ocean, would have had guts, and would chemistry, climate and biology are strong- try through spinoffs, with Andrew Viterbi MIT’s 139th Commencement exer- have dropped fecal pellets to the ocean ly linked. Such synergy between geol- (S.B. 1956, S.M. 1957). The two sold Link- cises—the first for President Hockfield, floor, causing a carbon signature similar to ogy and biology that will help solidify the abit to M/A-Com and founded Qualcomm who took office in December 2004—will a cap carbonate. Since the carbon was no framework for the current debate about in 1985. be held in Killian Court on the morning of longer recycled in the shallow ocean, the global climate change in the modern Jacobs left MIT to become associate June 3. The ceremony will be televised on evolution of these animals was probably world. professor of computer science and engi- MIT Cable TV. CLASSIFIED ADS Positions Available Graduate Housing Opportunity Members of the MIT community may submit one classified ad each issue. Ads can be resub- HOUSING WANTED Positions Available for live-in Resident mitted, but not two weeks in a row. Ads should Gloucester: Victorian home. 2+ BR. Wrap around Summer UROP @ CSAIL- Want to work on cool Advisors for MIT’s Fraternities, Sororities, and be 30 words maximum; they will be edited. porch, off street parking, washer/dryer, cable TV. projects, have fun and get paid? www.csail.mit. Independent Living Groups. Applications are Submit by e-mail to [email protected] or mail Close to comm. rail, rt. 128. $3,000/July 1–30 edu or [email protected]. due by April 29, 2005, and are available online to Classifieds, Rm 11-400. Deadline is noon or $900/week. Melody at 978-282-9657 or at: http://web.mit.edu/slp/fsilgs/ra-application. Wednesday the week before publication. [email protected]. html. Description: A Resident Advisor is expected Martha’s Vineyard: 2 BR/1.5b outside of Oak STUDENT POSITIONS to serve as a mentor, guide, and resource for FOR SALE Bluffs with wraparound deck, outdoor shower, Positions for students with work study eligibility. students and to serve as a liaison between BBQ, sunny open interior, DW &W/D. Close to the chapter and the Dean’s Ofﬁce. The RA is 900 Watt ABI amp $300. (2) Sonic 215HT EV lagoon, tennis and bike trails. Reasonable. Nina Machine Science Inc. seeks CS/engineering expected to know and educate FSILG students PA cabs $400. Carvin FX1244 12 ch mixer w/ at [email protected]. mentors for middle or high school students. 1 about MIT policies, applicable Chapter and/or anvil rd case $300. Carvin FX1644 16 ch mixer day/week, after school, 2hrs/wk, $14/hr. 253- Fraternity/Sorority headquarters policies, and $300. Jeff at 253-8756 or 617-926-4661 or Summer sublet wanted: Studio or 1 BR want- 4973. common sense safety practices. Training is [email protected]. ed for the Aug., Sept. & poss. Oct. On campus provided. or near campus. Mature female, Admin. Staff SciPro seeks Program Coordinator. SciPro Remuneration: All Resident Assistants receive employee at MIT. Pam at 617-699-6893. builds science interest in 8th and 9th graders by free room and board. In addition, some enabling them to work with an MIT mentor on organizations may include a small stipend. VEHICLES Summer sublet wanted: mature, serious, non- science projects of their choice. Requirements: smoking Russian student. Speaks English, some Each Resident Advisor is furnished with a single 2000 Jetta GLS, silver. 5 speed manual trans- creativity, enthusiasm, leadership, dedication, room in the chapter facility. Spanish. June–Aug. Room or studio close to vision, patience. $10/hr. 253-4973. mission, low mileage (41,330), great condition, subway (5-15 min. walk). goodfellow@rambler. Qualiﬁcations: A BA or BS and/or graduate well maintained (one owner). $9,000 (firm). ru. enrollment at an accredited institution are [email protected] or 617-253-0698. required. MIT Tech Talk ARTS April 13, 2005 PAGE 7 Dramashop heads ‘Downtown’ Lynn Heinemann movement seen through the haze of the landscape, this “experiment in live Office of the Arts American materialism. Military forces cinema” uses depth of field, point of view have taken over the government, a curfew and extended close-ups to heighten the has been imposed, and individuals of the impending catastrophe, Scheib said. “Count 10 in Arabic and try to run...” upper middle class have disappeared after The two versions of Dramashop’s “The That’s how playwright Tennessee being invited to a municipal abattoir. Amid Demolition Downtown” have the same set- Williams subtitled his one-act play “The the chaos, two families live in denial, try- ting, but the foreign language adaptation Demolition Downtown,” and that’s the ing to survive at whatever cost. takes place in the rubble of the first work’s starting point for Assistant Professor Jay The play shows the end of America as conclusion. “Williams predicted a violent Scheib’s direction of the upcoming Dra- we know it, with the systematic eradica- revolution and he predicted that upper- mashop production. tion of an entire class of society. middle-class America would have to lose,” Using two separate casts and staging But Scheib has taken the play further— said Scheib. the short play as a two-part drama, Scheib using language to expand this American The outcome may be bleak, but the presents the work first in English and then cautionary tale into global one. “Each actor play is “packed with Williams’ trademark in a mix of several languages. As the play built his own translation,” said Scheib, and wit and flaming humor, with one explosion is repeated with parts in Korean, Bengali, many consulted parents for language help. after another,” Scheib said. Oromo, Russian, Spanish, Lithuanian and “Part of MIT’s richness is the large per- “The Demolition Downtown” plays Cantonese, what at first appears to be an centage of students who are first-genera- April 21-23 and April 28-30 at 8 p.m. in PHOTO / BRIAN ROBISON “American problem” is revealed to be an tion Americans,” Scheib said. “This pro- Kresge Little Theater. Tickets are $8, $6 Assistant Professor Brian Robison will international one. duction really brings that fact home.” for MIT/Wellesley students; tickets to the perform the improvisational ‘Music in Written in 1971, three years after the Scheib has also created a video com- Thursday, April 21, preview performance Stacks’ at MIT’s Rosalind Denny Music assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., ponent for the production with physics are free. For more information or reserva- Library on Friday, April 15. “The Demolition Downtown” reflects the senior Nasruddin Abbas Nazerali. Using tions, call (617) 253-2908 or visit web.mit. harsh realities of a white-hot civil rights three live-feed video signals that distort edu/jscheib/www/. Music library hosts concerts The normally quiet, studious atmosphere of the Rosalind Denny Music Library (Room 14E-109) will be transformed twice this month as the library becomes the site of live concerts featuring works from its rich collection. On Friday, April 15, at noon, the library will host an improvisational performance by Assistant Professor Brian Robison of a work he’s calling “Music in Stacks.” Audience members will be invited to select scores from the shelves of the library; Robi- son will then incorporate elements of the chosen music into a polyphonic mosaic of musical styles that could range from medieval chant to Mozart to Miles Davis, which he’ll perform on electric guitar and phrase sampler. The following Friday, April 22, at noon, MIT undergraduates will perform violin music chosen from the extensive collection of Stephen Pro- kopoff. Donated to the Music Library in 2001 by Lois Craig, Prokopoff’s widow and former associate dean of MIT’s School of Architecture, this col- PHOTO / DONGYU ZHAO lection contains approximately 2,680 Resident artist and master Senegalese drummer Lamine Touré choreographed ‘Mbappat: A Spectacle of Senegalese Drumming, Dance scores from the 18th century onward and Wrestling,’ to be performed Sunday, April 24. with special emphasis on 20th century music. The concert will feature Serge Pro- kofieff’s “Sonata opus 115 for violin solo” by sophomore Sophie Rapoport Rambax catches the rhythm of wrestling on violin; Ernst Krenek’s “Trio for Vio- Rambax MIT, an ensemble dedicated to Senegal today, Tang says. Each wrestler’s Touré. The show will also feature several lin, Clarinet and Piano” by freshman learning the sabar drum and dance tradi- entry into the arena is accompanied by guest artists from Senegal and from the Brian Kardon on violin, junior Daniel tion of the Wolof people of Senegal, West much pomp and circumstance, singing Boston area, with drumming provided by Steele on clarinet and senior Kai Fung Africa, will present “Mbappat: A Spectacle and drumming, and various mystical rit- Rambax MIT. on piano; Oedoen Partos’ “Yiskor” by of Senegalese Drumming, Dance and uals are performed to help the wrestler The name “rambax” (pronounced graduate student Andrew McPherson, Wrestling” on Sunday, April 24, at 3 p.m. in win. “rahm-bach”) is a vocal mnemonic for a on viola; and Zoltan Kodaly’s “Duo for Kresge Auditorium. MIT’s mbappat will consist of two signature sabar rhythm. Founded in 2001 Violin and Cello” by junior Jacqueline According to Rambax’s co-director, match-ups, one “lightweight” and one and co-directed by Touré and Tang, Ram- O’Connor on violin and sophomore Assistant Professor Patricia Tang, “mbap- “heavyweight” event. Rambax, Tang says, bax is a 15-member troupe of students Sunny Wicks on cello. pat” is the Wolof word for a drumming/ will perform a stylized, more theatrical and other members of the MIT commu- For more information on these dancing/wrestling event. Senegalese version of a mbappat, with choreography nity. For more information, visit web.mit. concerts, call (617) 253-5636. wrestling dates back many centuries and and artistic direction by resident artist edu/rambax/ or e-mail Professor Tang at remains an extremely popular sport in and master Senegalese drummer Lamine [email protected]. Jazzy birthday planned for Pomeroy Herb Pomeroy was just 33 and already a nation- 1993-99; composer, arranger and trumpeter Ever- ally known soloist, bandleader and teacher when ett Longstreth, who directed the MIT Concert he was asked to direct MIT’s jazz ensemble in Jazz Band for 32 years; and musician and film com- the spring of 1963. He said he found the existing poser Jamshied Sharifi (S.B. 1983), who led the ensemble “very, very bad” and considered leaving. ensemble from 1985 to 1993. But instead, he said to the musicians, “Let’s roll up The concert will feature the world premiere our sleeves and get to work.” of “The Quiet Words of the Wise” by Sharifi and That decision proved a boon for the Institute. performances by the MIT Alumni Jazz Band, led During Pomeroy’s 22 years at MIT, he transformed by Pomeroy and Longstreth, who will also guest MIT’s Festival Jazz Ensemble (FJE) into a top- conduct the FJE. notch, award-winning group. With Louis Armstrong as inspiration, Pomeroy The celebration of Pomeroy’s legacy will contin- chose the trumpet as his instrument. By age 25, ue on Saturday, April 23, as he returns to MIT for he had performed with Charlie Parker, toured with a performance on the occasion of his 75th birth- Stan Kenton and Lionel Hampton and recorded day, “Herb at 75: Celebrating Jazz at MIT.” The with Serge Chaloff. Since that time, Pomeroy has concert, featuring the FJE under the direction of become known as a “musician’s musician,” a lead- Lecturer Frederick Harris with alumni conductors er in big band jazz and an improviser of uncom- and musicians begins at 8 p.m. in Kresge Audito- mon stature. He was also on the faculty of the rium. Admission is $5. Berklee College of Music for 41 years. Conductors for this special evening include “Talkin’ Jazz at MIT,” a discussion with MIT’s PHOTO / THOMAS MAXISCH James O’Dell, an educator, conductor and tubist past and present jazz directors, moderated by Herb Pomeroy performs at MIT last April. The jazz leader will be honored who served as music director of the FJE from Mark Harvey, will precede the concert at 7 p.m. with a birthday concert on Saturday, April 23, in Kresge Auditorium. PAGE 8 April 13, 2005 CALENDAR MIT Tech Talk

MIT EVENT HIGHLIGHTS APRIL 13–17

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY April 13 April 14 April 15 April 16 April 17

Science/ Performance Architecture/ Humanities “The Body” “Crosstalk— “Music in MIT Press “Phase II: Technology Planning Works by art- Why E- Stacks” Bookstore Visualizing ists and engi- Learning Composition Loading Dock Physics: neers who have Projects Tend by Assistant Sale Transforming designed new technolo- to Fail” Professor Brian Robison Tons of books will be Science Learning at gies to see, record and Professor Shigeru that can only be per- on sale at drastically MIT” Music Exhibit Reading Special transform live movement. Miyagawa’s Crosstalk formed in a music library. reduced prices—up to An insider’s view of how Interest 10 a.m.–5 p.m. MIT seminar on educational Noon. Room 14E-109. 90 percent off the origi- MIT is redesigning the Museum. 253-4444. change. 2 p.m. Room 253-5686. nal retail price. April 16 way it teaches phys- 56-114. 253-0115. and 17. 10 a.m.–7 p.m. ics. Noon–5 p.m. MIT 2nd Student “A Feminist Building E38. 253-5249. Museum. 253-4444. Mural Project “Global Water Toolkit for Business/ Film Sports Featured Deadline Crisis: Myth or Thinking Re- Varsity Varsity Men’s Money Event All submissions Reality?” productively” Softball vs. Tennis vs. must be original two- Annual John R. Talk by Claudia Harvard JV Williams dimensional creations. Freeman Lecture. 6 p.m. Castaneda. Noon. Room (Double- College Winning design will be Wong Auditorium. 452- E51-275. RSVP 253- header) 1 p.m. du Pont Tennis reproduced as a high- 3022. 4062. Noon. Briggs Field. 258- Courts. 258-5265. quality wall-sized print to 5265. be displayed in the Stata HTC Forum Advanced International Center. By 5 p.m. Room “Conceptual Music MIT Ballroom Folk Dancing E15-205. Art and Performance Spring Dance (participatory) Architecture” Student Evening of 8 p.m. Lobdell Artist Behind talk by Nana Last, Rice Recital social dancing Dining Hall. 253-FOLK. the Desk University. 6:30 p.m. Lindy Blackburn (G), including ballroom and Jazz musician Room 32-124. 258-8438. piano. Works of Bach, latin dances, along with Bob Toabe, Chopin, Haydn and favorites such as salsa, instructor at DAPER. “Brain Rachmaninoff. 5 p.m. hustle and merengue. Noon. Killian Hall. 253- Development Killian Hall. 253-9800. 8 p.m. Sala de Puerto 9821. in Healthy, Rico. 686-0823. Hyperactive, MIT Chamber “The Argu- and Psychotic Chorus mentative Children” William Cutter, Indian” 2005 Scolnick Prize music direc- ILLUSTRATION COURTESY / HART NAUTICAL COLLECTIONS Talk by Nobel winner, Dr. Judith tor. 8 p.m. Kresge Laureate, Harvard Rapoport gives annual Auditorium. 253-9800. ‘Object Lessons: A Submarine LNG Tanker’ economics professor Neuroscience Lecture. In a talk about Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) submarine Amartya Sen about his 4 p.m. Room E25-111. tankers, Kurt Hasselbalch will present technical new book. 7 p.m. Room 452-2507. brochures and models produced in the 1970s. No 34-101. 258-6745. submarine tankers were ever built, but Hasselbalch will raise again the concept of using very large nuclear or conventionally powered submarines to deliver natural gas via direct routes beneath the Arctic ice cover. Go Online! For complete events listings, see the MIT Events Calendar at: http://events.mit.edu. Go Online! Ofﬁce of the Arts website at: http://web.mit.edu/arts/ofﬁce.

EDITOR’S CHOICE

“WOMEN’S RIGHTS “COMPANY” “THE DEMOLITION AND ISLAM” Apr. 14 Apr. 14 DOWNTOWN” Apr. 21 First program in a four-part Musical Theatre Guild Dramashop produces series on religion in the 21st Building W-11 production of Stephen Kresge Little Tennessee Williams play. Kresge Little century. 253-0108. Main Dining Room Sondheim’s musical. $10, $8 Theater Assistant Professor Jay Theatre MIT. Apr. 14–16, 8 p.m. 253- 7 p.m. 8 p.m. Scheib directs. $8, $6 MIT. 8 p.m. 6294. Apr. 21–23, 28–30. 253-2908.

MIT EVENT HIGHLIGHTS APRIL 18–24

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY April 18 April 19 April 20 April 21 April 22 April 23 April 24 PATRIOTS DAY “Figuring out “The Future of Charles L. 3rd Annual Varsity Sailing - MIT Chamber Also known the 1811-1812 Warfare: Have Miller Memorial Prokopoff Priddy Trophy Music Society as Marathon Earthquakes of the Classic Lecture Violin Concert 9 a.m. Charles Student Recital Monday. It’s a the Mississippi Principles of Talk by MIT undergrad- River. 258-5265. Complete piano holiday either way. Valley” Warfare Changed, or Do James Champy of uate students perform quartets of Johannes Talk by Conevery They Still Apply?” Perot Systems, Inc, “In violin music chosen from “COLLISION- Brahms. 3 p.m. Killian MIT Anime Valencius. Noon. Room Talk by Geoffrey Wawro, Charlie’s Vision: The the extensive collection seven, Chance” Hall. 253-9800. Club Cosplay E56-100. 253-6989. Professor of Strategic Future of Engineering of Stephen Prokopoff. The sev- Workshop Studies at US Naval War at MIT.” 4 p.m. Bartos Noon. Room 14E-109. enth event in “Mbappat: A Last-minute Brains and College in Newport, R.I. Theater. 253-9756. 253-5686. Collision Collective’s Spectacle of anime Boston costume Machines Noon. Building E38, 6th popular series will display Senegalese help. Noon. Building Seminar Series Floor Conference Room. Development Advanced work by artists from MIT Drumming, W20, steps and mezza- Talk by Donald 253-7529. & Democracy: Music and beyond who use Dance and Wrestling” nine lounge. A. Glaser of Berkeley The Human Performance new technologies in their Artist-in-Residence called, “What Can We Information Rights Crisis in Student Recital work. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Lamine Touré and Trivia Night at See, How Do We See Technology for Nepal Daniel Stein on the flute Stata Center Gallery. 452- Assistant Professor the Thirsty Ear It, and Why Do We Sustainable Talk by Professor William with Debbie Emery on the 2852. Patricia Tang, artistic Every Monday See Things that Aren’t Development Fisher of Clark University. piano and Mary Farbood directors. 3 p.m. Kresge is Trivia Night. There?” Noon. Room Professor Nazli Choucri 5:30 p.m. Room 10-485. playing harpsichord for Herb at 75: Auditorium. 253-9800. Must be 21, proper ID E25-401. 253-0551. talks on sustainable 258-7614. the music of Bartok, Celebrating required. 10 p.m. The development. 1 p.m. Boismortier, Martin, and Jazz at MIT MITHAS Thirsty Ear Pub. “Who Wants Room 9-151. 452-3022. “Fierce Kennedy. 5 p.m. Killian Features the Concert: Democracy Forever 5” Hall. 253-9800. world premiere of “The North-South in the Arab Advanced Show features Quiet Words of the Wise” Jugalbandi World?” Music the best drag Introduction to by Jamshied Sharifi, and Presented by MITHAS Talk by Dr. Fawwaz Performance performers (queens and Chenrezig performances by the MIT (MIT Heritage of South Traboulsi of the Lebanese Student Recital kings) from the Boston Bardor Tulku Alumni Jazz Band. $5. 8 Asia). Tickets available at American University in Mahni Ghorashi plays the area, as well as MIT stu- Rinpoche p.m. Kresge Auditorium. the door. $20, MIT stu- Beirut. 4:30 p.m. Room works of Chopin. 5 p.m. dents, staff and faculty. 7 will introduce us to the 253-9800. dents free. 4 p.m. Wong E51-095. 253-8961. Killian Hall. 253-9800. p.m. Sala de Puerto Rico. Buddhist concepts Auditorium. 258-7971. of compassion and Student Recital Chenrezig. 7 p.m. Room International Pianist Bogdan 4-237. 324-6030. Folk Dancing Fedeles play- (participatory) ing the works 8 p.m. Lobdell of Beethoven, Brahms, Dining Hall. 253-FOLK. Debussy. 8 p.m. Killian Hall. 253-9800.