EARTHQUAKE RESEARCH| REMEMBERING GARNET BALTIMORE| ALUMNI TRAVEL PROGRAM

Alumni Magazine~Winter 2005-06

THE FUTURE IS HERE PRESIDENT SHIRLEY ANN JACKSON MARKS THE FIRST FIVE YEARS OF THE RENSSELAER PLAN, PROMISING, “THE BEST IS YET TO COME.” SCULPTOR’S HANDS—Professor Larry Kagan ’68 joined the faculty at Rensselaer in 1972 to help establish an arts department. He’s been here ever since, as a sculptor teaching art to artists and engineers. Today, Rensselaer offers approximately 65 different arts courses a year. www.rpi.edu/magazine

VICE PRESIDENT FOR INSTITUTE ADVANCEMENT David Haviland ’64

MANAGING EDITOR Tracey Leibach

ALUMNI NEWS EDITOR Meg Gallien

ART DIRECTOR Diane Piester

FEATURES EDITOR Clorinda Valenti

WEB DESIGNER Prospect Park secured Garnet Baltimore’s fame as a landscape designer. See page 28. Jeffrey Caron

CONTRIBUTORS FEATURES Theresa Bourgeois Amber Cleveland 16 Rensselaer Plan Update Jason Gorss Five years on, The Rensselaer Plan continues to transform the Institute and Ellen Johnston Nancy Kelly lays the foundation for a renewed commitment to undergraduate education. Tiffany Lohwater Jessica Otitigbe

PHOTOGRAPHERS & 22 What Lies Beneath ILLUSTRATORS Rensselaer researchers are working with colleagues around the Stanley Blanchard Gary Gold world to plumb the depths of the causes and effects of earthquakes. Lonny Kalfus Mark McCarty Kris Qua 28 Honoring a Son of Troy ON THE COVER: Photo by Lonny Kalfus. When a street was named in September in honor of Garnet Douglass Baltimore, Class of 1881, the City of Troy and Rensselaer celebrated the life and legacy of a trailblazer.

DEPARTMENTS Rensselaer (ISSN 0898-1442) is pub- lished in Spring, Summer, Fall, and 4 President’s View 34 Staying Connected Winter by the Office of Communications, The Undergraduate Plan. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180-3590. Periodicals postage is 35 Calendar paid at Troy, N.Y., and additional mailing 5 Mail offices. 36 Class Notes Postmaster: send address changes to 6 At Rensselaer In Memoriam 55 Rensselaer, 110 Eighth Street, Troy, NY 12180-3590. Rensselaer Polytechnic Making a Difference 9 Institute is an equal opportunity/affirma- Rensselaer on the Move 11 56 One Last Thing tive action institution. Focus On: Kathy High 14 The Mathematics of Change. Opinions expressed in these pages do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors or the policies of the Institute. ©2005 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. M ARK

M Please let us know your new address. Update it electronically on C

C AlumServ, e-mail us at [email protected], or write to: Rensselaer ARTY Moving? Magazine, Office of Communications, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12180 or fax to (518) 276-3715. SNAPSHOT

2 RENSSELAER/WINTER 2005-06 “At the time of this game, the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Poll had recognized Ursinus College as the No. 1 team in the country,” says Coach Bridget LaNoir ’99. “With the odds stacked against us, we entered the game well aware of what we needed to accomplish. “It doesn’t happen everyday that everything comes together as you plan. We had experi- enced a difficult run this year with a stretch of inconsistent play. On this Monday in Octo- ber on the field against Ursinus, we glimpsed the light at the end of a tunnel that had been dark for so long. The players moved without fear, without hesitation. They stepped up their game and began to play at a level which both they and I knew was possible. “During games such as these, for just a moment, I take pride in my place on the sideline as their biggest fan. As a coach, you know the level at which each player on your squad is capable of on any given day. You work from day one to help each excel on and off the field in hopes of drawing out that potential from them. Although we lost the game, for the team to display this potential working as a single entity against an opponent who entered the game ranked No. 1 in the coun- try, our team was able to experi- ence success.”

RENSSELAER/WINTER 2005-06 3 PRESIDENT’S VIEW SHIRLEY ANN JACKSON, PH.D.

Raising the Level of Living and Learning The Rensselaer Plan reaffirms a core commitment to the undergraduate experience

HIS ISSUE OF RENSSELAER research with faculty Life, to increase the magazine marks the fifth and graduate students. diversity of our student Tanniversary of the launch of Today, about 30 percent body, the pool of appli- The Rensselaer Plan, which has take part in research cants to the Institute, guided the unprecedented trans- activities; the plan calls and our national visibil- formation of the Institute and pro- for an increase to 80 per- ity by building relation- pelled it to new heights of achieve- cent over the next five ships with a variety of ment and prominence (see page years. Hand in hand national “pipeline” pro- 16). While the plan is “evergreen” with this goal is the grams preparing stu- and evolving, it also serves as an focus on preparing stu- dents who might not impetus for even more ambitious dents to be global lead- otherwise attend college. initiatives. With a record of solid ers through increased This initiative is in the accomplishments under the plan in opportunities to study early stages of planning, research, programs, and facilities, at universities around study, and implementa- the focus now turns more sharply the world and to partic- tion. Given its far-reach- M on the overall undergraduate expe- ipate in international ARK ing goals, the support of

rience. co-ops and internships. M all members of the Rens- C With this in mind, we have The plan also builds C

ARTY selaer community is cru- launched a new initiative: The on the strides made by cial to its success. To Undergraduate Plan. This plan sig- the First-Year Experi- Junior Cassandra Kimsey and grad student Shaneen Rowe work move the plan forward, nals a major commitment to raise ence program, which together in Professor Jan Stegemann’s biomedical engineering lab Prabhat Hajela, vice in the Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies. the level of the undergraduate has made hundreds of provost and dean of experience at Rensselaer. Through Rensselaer students feel undergraduate educa- the manifold elements of the plan, part of this community from the ate and graduate students who play tion, is working across all portfolios we will strive to create a living and moment they arrive. Student reten- sports each year. Plans to upgrade to expand academic programs in learning environment to rival the tion and success begins in the crit- athletic facilities will focus on what targeted areas. Provost G.P. “Bud” best in the nation. Already through ical first year. Thus, the plan is called the East Campus Athlet- Peterson is working with deans, the implementation of The Rens- expands upon programs and activ- ic Village, which will include a new department chairs, center direc- selaer Plan, there have been sig- ities that ease the transition to uni- athletics support facility, an addi- tors, and faculty to ensure that the nificant changes at the Institute versity life, including enhanced tional artificial turf field, a basket- Institute has the capabilities to that have made the undergraduate and strengthened residential life ball arena, natatorium, and a field achieve the plan’s goals. Mean- experience livelier and more engag- programs, such as theme houses house for indoor sports, including while, Vice President for Student ing. The Undergraduate Plan will and affinity groups; academic Ear- indoor track and field. Life Eddie Ade Knowles is focusing build on this momentum as it will ly Warning System and Early Inter- Finally, we must focus on the on the myriad aspects of the student reach into myriad facets of the stu- vention teams to keep students on undergraduates of the future. It is experience. dent experience at Rensselaer. track and succeeding in their stud- clear that unless new groups of stu- With the mounting challenges of The plan encompasses academ- ies; and programs and services to dents—women, underrepresented the 21st century, we can do no less ics, student life, and all the ele- support student health, safety, and minorities, and students with dis- than to prepare our students fully ments to serve the undergradu- well-being. abilities—enter technological fields and broadly to lead in a complex, ates of the future. First, we are Athletics are an important com- in greater numbers, we will not technology-based global future. committed to offering challeng- ponent of the undergraduate expe- have enough engineers and scien- The Undergraduate Plan represents ing, engaging, and highly relevant rience addressed by the plan, as tists to continue our national capac- Rensselaer’s strong commitment academic programs which com- more and more Rensselaer is ity for innovation and discovery. to providing a world-class under- bine theory with hands-on experi- attracting talented and smart stu- The Undergraduate Plan is address- graduate experience that will con- ences. An exciting element of this dent-athletes. Moreover, the plan ing this and other elements of the tinue to attract talented and prom- will be an increased rate of partic- includes ambitious projects to serve “Quiet Crisis” by establishing a ising young people who will change ipation of undergraduates in the more than 5,000 undergradu- plan, led by the Division of Student the world.

4 RENSSELAER/WINTER 2005-06 MAIL [email protected]

Colorful Memories of Rensselaer

just read the article on Hurricane Response featured business ethics topics Richard Herbert ’83, presi- am a Rensselaer Class in two professional develop- I dent of Pantone Inc., the of 2004 alum and I ment workshops for the MBA leading developer of color meas- I wanted to say that it is students. Additionally, Al Eris- uring systems. This reminded me wonderful of Rensselaer to man of the Institute for Busi- of my own experiences with color allow the students of ness, Technology, and Ethics science at RPI. Louisiana to attend RPI free has joined the Lally School’s When I was a senior chemistry of charge. Out of all the Advisory Council. major, with a not-too-great GPA, other schools I’ve heard of I decided I needed some sort of and known, no other has Conservative Engineers puff chem course to bring my been so humanitarian in t may be the result of grades up. An introductory course nature and gracious to the unexplained counter- in Color Science taught by Profes- public. I have never been I intuition, but after 55 sor Fred Billmeyer seemed just in a place that provides a years I have observed how the class to take. I had survived his greater sense of community engineers have been contin- class in Polymer Science as a junior and a sincere interest in ually shooting themselves in and he seemed pretty easygoing, so making a positive impact on the foot. The comments of I signed up. I had no idea what the world. I am proud and the Hillary letters support my Color Science was. grateful to have been able to spend Lally Dean David Gautschi responds: point [MAIL, Fall 2005]. In 1948 Amazingly, the course proved four years of my life there. when I was a junior, a straw poll on hil Perry certainly has a one of the best I ever took, and campus was taken and over 80 CHRISTOPHER LEE WILLIAMS ’04 point in highlighting the certainly one of the most fasci- percent of the students and facul- Los Angeles, Calif. importance of ethics in busi- nating. Though I never worked in P ty supported Dewey against incum- ness, especially in light of recent the field, I still remember most of bent Harry Truman... we all know ethical lapses that have had sig- the precepts, and have always Ethics in Business? the result of that election. nificant unfavorable consequences been glad I took the class. was disappointed to see no After 54 years of industrial expe- for investors, consumers, and The late Professor Billmeyer (he mention of ethics in your rience I find that nothing has employees. Notwithstanding the died in 2004) brought to class sev- I reprint of the BusinessWeek changed and support is greatest significance of the widely reported eral key attributes, including a bril- article on the new MBA program. among my engineering friends for ethical lapses of top executives at liant mind and the experience that If all the recent business scandals the more conservative of our two a number of corporations, finan- came from literally inventing the have driven home any point, it’s parties, a party that is not afraid to cial services firms, and consultan- field. He really wrote the book and that U.S. business leaders are total- show that it is most interested in big cies, it would be misleading to paint we all couldn’t wait to see him ly lacking in ethics. They can’t see business, not engineers. all “U.S. business leaders” as being enter the class—but not for the anything but increasing their own I can arguably say that engi- “totally lacking in business ethics.” reason you might imagine. He was personal wealth. Perhaps most stay neering, the cost of education, pro- In fact, there are some business a living example of color science in within the law, but they care noth- fessional opportunities, and the use leaders who set examples that most action. A typical outfit might be a ing for their workers, communi- of engineers by the government of us should consider emulating. A plaid jacket, checkered shirt, ties, customers, or national well- has been on a steady downward good source of ethical icons in busi- striped pants, shoestring tie, argyle being. In the short term, they and spiral. That’s not to say I advocate ness is the Institute for Business, socks (different patterns for each a few other big shareholders get a one-party system, but let’s use Technology, and Ethics (ethix.org). foot), and a gigantic turquoise belt rich—in the long run, everyone our personal natural resources, i.e. Mr. Perry was justified to call our buckle as the centerpiece! We else suffers as their companies go brains and rational judgment, and attention to the lack of mention of often wrote down what he wore in down the tube. If I ran the circus, make the two parties compete with ethics in the remaking of the Lal- our notes, just to tell our disbe- I’d make a thorough indoctrination each other on our behalf. ly MBA program. In fact, it is a lieving friends. in ethical behavior part of every B- school curriculum! dimension on which the Lally NORMAN ZELVIN ’51 LAWSON FOWBLE ’77 School intends to establish dis- Eastchester, N.Y. East Worcester, N.Y. PHIL PERRY ’80 tinctive excellence. This fall, we Woodstock, N.Y.

RENSSELAER/WINTER 2005-06 5 ATRENSSELAER

RENSSELAER RESEARCH LIBRARIES Folsom Library Gets a Facelift

HIGH-TECH INFORMATION HUBS AND demands included installing infor- lighting system is operated by a campus planning and facilities a temperature-controlled LED mation hubs consisting of new Thermonitor program, which sens- design department, developed the lighting system are just a few of IBM computers and pop-up LAN es the temperature outdoors and overall project design wih input the renovations made to the main connectors for additional notebook produces a spectrum of subtly from faculty, students, and staff. floor of the Folsom Library so that computer use around six of the changing colors designed to make “We now have a space that, the space can better serve a new library’s original concrete columns the library inviting throughout the indeed, enables and supports an generation of Rensselaer’s tech- at varying heights to facilitate seasons. engaging experience for everyone savvy students. standing, sitting, and wheelchair Additional upgrades to the main in this community, and creates a “Our students today have adopt- access. Wireless LAN access is floor include an art wall featuring lively environment in which stu- ed new ways of accessing informa- available throughout the building. a Hobo-Dyer inverted map of the dents can learn, can do, and can tion and new ways of interacting New low-profile shelving and world imprinted with the Rensse- be,” said President Shirley Ann with it,” says Loretta Ebert, direc- mobile tables were also added, to laer phrase “Why not change the Jackson, during a dedication cere- tor of Rensselaer Research provide a flexible “learning labo- world?” in 21 languages and mony that took place on Dec. 1. Libraries. “Our challenge is to ratory” environment where stu- scripts, new carpeting, and a com- The renewal of the main floor of meet the new demands of today’s dents can work both individually pletely revamped Library Café. the Folsom Library represents the information seekers.” and collaboratively. Jorge Vidal ’91, project manag- first major refurbishment since Renovations to meet those A computer-controlled LED er and designer with Rensselaer’s the space opened in 1976.

6 RENSSELAER/WINTER 2005-06 7 2005-06 INTER /W ENSSELAER R Others at the Environment and “Hopefully the results of our study Zimmie was joined at the hearing by in a presentation to the Senate Com- mittee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. hearing echoed Zimmie’s Public Works comments, noting that until all the physical evidence has been collected and analyzed, engineers will not have a complete picture of what happened. will lead to a clear appreciation of what the les- and that happened in Katrina, sons learned from this event will lead to improved protection in the future, not just in the New Orleans area, but throughout the nation and around the world,” Zimmie told the committee. “The today is New Orleans, emphasis but we really have thousands of miles of levees in the United States.” several other panelists: Dan Hitchings, HOPE for the Force director of Task Army Corps of Engineers; Sher- U.S. wood Gagliano, president of Coastal Environments Inc.; Larry Roth, deputy director of the American executive Society of Civil Engineers; Joseph Suhayda, emeritus professor of engi- neering at Louisiana State University; at a professor and Robert Verchick, Loyola University Law School in New Orleans. A barge was blown inland and pushed atop a levee wall in East New Orleans. A barge was blown inland and pushed atop a levee wall in Zimmie spent a week in New Orleans “There one simple answer as is not

T IS CLEAR THAT THERE WERE MULTIPLE

to why the levees failed,” Zimmie said obser- in a prepared statement. “Field vations indicated various causes: over- topping of the levees, erosion, failure in foundation soils underlying the levees, seepage through the soils under the levees causing piping failures, and this is not a complete list.” team investigating as part of an expert levee failures in the aftermath of Hurri- The team, which was cane Katrina. grant funded by a special exploratory from the National Science Foundation, 2 released their preliminary report Nov. I causes for the levee failures in New Orleans, but researchers need to gather more data to better understand what they were and how to rebuild properly after the devastation caused by Hurri- according to testimony cane Katrina, Senate Com- the U.S. 17 before Nov. mittee on Environment and Public Zimmie, professor and Tom Works. acting chair of civil and environmental his offered engineering at Rensselaer, perspective on the degree to which the preliminary findings on the failure of the Gulf Coast levees are being incor- porated into the restoration of hurri- cane protection. Levee Failures Investigated Failures Levee CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING ENGINEERING CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL

R U B /UC S UNE ERKELEY TORESUND

KRIS QUA AND SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY , ENTREPRENEUR ,

Kamen received an honorary doctorate from He is founder of FIRST (For Inspiration and Inspiration He is founder of FIRST (For Kamen holds more than 150 U.S. and foreign Kamen discussed his passion for exciting the next Kamen discussed his passion

NVENTOR Rensselaer in 1996. Rensselaer advance of the lecture. displayed robots for Kamen and President Jackson in displayed robots for Kamen and President along with their student mentors from Rensselaer, teams involved in the FIRST Robotics Competitions, teams involved in the FIRST Robotics and national competitions. Four area high school and national competitions. Four in these regional dents participating middle school stu- high school and worked with area professors have laer students and eral years, Rensse- and for the past sev- since its inception, connected to FIRST Rensselaer has been Rensselaer and engineering. science, technology, to pursue careers in to inspire students the world, designed the U.S. and around competitions across annual robotics gy), which initiates ence and Technolo- providing R&D for major corporate clients. of Sci- Recognition development of internally generated inventions and Research & Development Corporation, focusing on the Research way™Human Transporter. Kamen now leads DEKA Kamen now way™Human Transporter. when he was a college undergraduate, and the Seg- when he was a college undergraduate, and the include the first wearable infusion pump, developed patents, many for medical devices. His inventions those around the globe who would most benefit from it. those around the globe who would most benefit focus on bringing water purification technology to focus on bringing water purification technology innovation that benefits society, and of his current and of his innovation that benefits society, school students. He also spoke of the importance of school students. He also creation of robotics competitions for middle and high creation of robotics competitions generation of scientists and engineers, including the generation of scientists tions, and their Rensselaer student mentors. tions, and their Rensselaer middle school students involved in robotics competi- middle school students of Faculty Achievement and met with high school and Achievement of Faculty world?” at Rensselaer’s annual Trustee Celebration annual Trustee world?” at Rensselaer’s delivered a lecture titled “Why not change the delivered a lecture titled I Dec. 1. He visited Rensselaer advocate Dean Kamen Visits Campus Visits CAMPUS LIFE CAMPUS Kamen Dean Inventor

MARK MCCARTY ATRENSSELAER

PRESIDENTIAL LECTURE SERIES IBM CEO Outlines Innovation Challenges

SAMUEL PALMISANO, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD This is an institution that asks, ‘Why and chief executive officer of the IBM Corpo- not change the world?’ What better ration, delivered a Presidential Lecture on partner for a company like IBM, “Innovation and Leadership in the 21st which for nearly a century has relied Century,” on Sept. 15 in the Center for on innovation not only to fuel our Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies. own success, but more importantly, In a ceremony prior to the lecture, Palmisano to contribute in meaningful ways to was awarded an honorary doctorate in the global society,” Palmisano said. humane letters from Rensselaer. Palmisano outlined the innova- “The act of honoring someone whose life tion challenges and opportunities and work serve as a role model benefits us, for the United States in the global because when we honor a person whom we marketplace, and he discussed the S admire, we reaffirm our high ideals for our- importance of embracing “a new TANLEY selves,” said President Jackson. “Using an model of innovation—one that is B ancient tradition to honor a man whose contri- open, collaborative, multidiscipli- LANCHARD butions help us to understand ourselves and nary, and global.” our world better creates a tangible link between “The opportunities are too our rich past and a promising future.” important, and the economic stakes Samuel Palmisano (center) and President Jackson are joined by IBM’s Palmisano spoke of the “longstanding part- are too high, for America to com- Nick Donofrio ’67, Linda Sanford ’75, and John Kelly III ’78. nership between IBM and RPI, a partnership promise its longstanding commit- that has enriched both of our organizations,” ment to innovation,” Palmisano and noted the number of alumni working at said. “In an era when commoditization hap- Neither can governments. Innovation requires IBM, including in leadership positions, and pens at unprecedented speed, innovation has all of us, working together as a society. If we the research partnerships that exist between become an economic and societal imperative. demonstrate that kind of collaborative leader- the two organizations. “But what truly unites And it is a collective responsibility—business ship, the opportunities are ours for the taking. IBM and RPI, I believe, are our shared values. cannot do it alone. Neither can universities. And the benefits will be ours to share.”

MINUTIA FILE

Comic Relief ©2005 G.B.T

THE RENSSELAER NAME IS OFTEN CITED IN NEWS- papers and journal articles. It’s not so often RUDEAU that Rensselaer appears in the funny pages. . R

In the Oct. 25 DOONESBURY comic strip, OF PERMISSION WITH EPRINTED Michael Doonesbury’s daughter Alex is talking with her parents about touring college campus- es. Alex, who “already holds five patents,” is interested in pursuing an engineering education. Her list includes “MIT, Cornell, Rensselaer— and Walden.”

In a statement relayed by Universal Press U Syndicate, DOONESBURY writer-artist Garry NIVERSAL Trudeau said he used Rensselaer “because it’s one of the premier institutes of technology.” P RESS He should know. Trudeau delivered the S 1986 Rensselaer Commencement address and YNDICATE received an honorary doctorate in engineering science.

8 RENSSELAER/WINTER 2005-06 ATRENSSELAER

MAKING A DIFFERENCE Magnifying Giving

TO ENCOURAGE PHILANTHROPY, A NUMBER OF COMPANIES offer employees the opportunity to increase the value of their charitable giving through corporate gift matching programs. One Rensselaer alumnus was surprised to learn just how much such a program can magnify the power of giving. John Hill Shaw III ’67 attended Rensselaer on a full-tuition scholarship, earning a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. He enjoyed a successful career with the Exxon Corporation, spending 20 years in Asia and retiring at age 55. “I believe that education is very important,” says Shaw, whose wife, Joanna, is a native of Malaysia. They provided for the education of three members of A depiction of 60 people viewed from above, each at the center of a circle that represents his field of vision. her family at universities in New Zealand and the United States. “It has been fulfilling,” he says, “to see the impact on their lives.” ELECTRICAL, COMPUTER, AND SYSTEMS ENGINEERING After hearing about THE RENSSELAER PLAN and its transformation of his alma mater in recent years, Shaw decided it was time to travel back to Troy to see Improving Terrain Maps for himself. He toured new facilities, met with faculty and students, and mingled with fellow Rensselaer alumni, including Ray Ash ’60. Ash, chairman of the A RENSSELAER RESEARCHER HAS BEEN “I will be researching and developing Patroon Scholars Program of the Rensselaer Annual awarded $845,000 in federal funding to three different terrain representations,” Fund, told Shaw about a great opportunity to support create improved computer representa- Franklin says. “I will also study some students. Through the Patroon Scholars Program, a tions of terrain on the surface of the Earth important applications of terrain data.” donor makes a commitment to support an individual and beyond. The research could have a One application is geared toward identify- student throughout his or her four years at Rensselaer. variety of both military and civilian appli- ing the best sites to position a group of sol- The news for Shaw, however, was that as a retiree cations, from strategically positioning sol- diers to allow them to see as much terrain of Exxon Corporation, he could take advantage of a diers to placing radio towers on the moon. as possible. Such a technology could also three-to-one match through the ExxonMobil Founda- “I’m studying better ways to compress have civilian uses, such as in placing cell tion’s Educational Matching Gift Program. He decided the massive amounts of terrain data now phone towers or locating visual nuisances that he couldn’t wait for his estate to help Rensselaer available from radar and laser scans of where they would be the least visible. students and so provided Patroon Scholar support for the Earth’s surface,” says W. Randolph “A far-out application for radio towers five undergraduate students for the next four years. Franklin, associate professor of electrical, would occur when the moon or Mars are Shaw enjoyed meeting them at the annual Celebration computer, and systems engineering and settled,” Franklin says. “Both have no of Student Support in December. principal investigator for the project, ionosphere to enable long-distance radio, “Just look at the numbers,” Shaw says. “I send RPI which is funded by the Defense and the moon has no stable satellite a check as a gift. I reduce my fed- Advanced Research Projects Agency. orbits for potential communication eral taxes, so I reduce Current methods often produce unac- satellites.” He suggests that my out-of-pocket cost. ExxonMobil ceptable terrain maps, giving rise to errors ground-based radio relays, visi- matches my gift that are clearly visible in any commercial ble to each other, could be the three-to-one, mapping product, Franklin says. For best way to communicate on and RPI example, one common mapping software these surfaces. receives an renders Niagara Falls as a gentle slope, Christian Vogt, M.S. amount for while another has 50-foot elevation con- ’04, from Liechtenstein, four times tours crossing a shoreline. and Col. Clark Ray, Ph.D. my own The program funding Franklin’s work ’94, assisted in gift. What exists because effective support for mili- the research. a deal!” tary operations requires better ways to Shaw says. represent Earth’s surface. A specific focus “I couldn’t is on the need to improve navigation of John Shaw ’67 with his afford NOT unmanned aerial vehicles. Patroon Scholars (pictured to do it.” left to right) Susan Remondi ’09, David Strott ’09, Michael Flynn ’09, Everett Bradford ’09, Sharon Vuong ’09. ATRENSSELAER

LALLY SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY Book Provides Product Innovation Insight

COMPANIES IN TODAY’S MARKETPLACE FACE INCREASING pressure to churn out new products more rapidly and less expensively. To alleviate some of the stress, efforts are being made to streamline and restructure the tradi- A NYUAN tional new-product development process. In his new book, PRODUCT INNOVATION: LEADING CHANGE THROUGH C AO INTEGRATING PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT (Cambridge Uni- versity Press, November 2005), David Rainey defines Buckled carbon nanotubes under compression. and discusses a comprehensive framework for overhaul- ing the product development process in complex and NANOTECHNOLOGY challenging business environments. Rainey, who is chair and associate professor of the Hartford Department of the Lally School of Manage- Nanotubes Form “Super Springs” ment and Technology, writes the book from an integrat- ed product development (IPD) perspective, linking all aspects of marketing, costing, and manufacturing into CARBON NANOTUBES HAVE ENTICED thor of the paper. the development process. researchers since their discovery in 1991, Carbon nanotubes are made from The IPD perspective is the prevailing structure used offering an impressive combination of graphitelike carbon, where the atoms are for product innovation in high strength and low weight. Now a arranged like a rolled-up tube of chicken most large corporations. new study suggests that they also act like wire. Ajayan and a team of researchers It calls for the simulta- “super-compressible” springs, opening at the University of Hawaii at Manoa neous development of the door to foamlike materials for just and the University of Florida subjected new products and about any application where strength films of vertically aligned nanotubes to a processes using cross- and flexibility are needed, from dispos- battery of tests, demonstrating their functional teams that able coffee cups to the exterior of the impressive strength and resilience. are strategically space shuttle. “These nanotubes can be squeezed to aligned with the The research, which is reported in the less than 15 percent of their normal needs of customers, stakeholders, sup- Nov. 25 issue of the journal Science, lengths by buckling and folding them- ply networks, and shows that films of aligned multiwalled selves like springs,” says lead author the business carbon nanotubes can act like a layer of Anyuan Cao, who did much of the work enterprise. mattress springs, flexing and rebounding as a postdoctoral researcher in Ajayan’s The first part in response to a force. But unlike a mat- lab and is now assistant professor of of Rainey’s book tress, which can sag and lose its springi- mechanical engineering at the Universi- covers product ness, these nanotube foams maintain ty of Hawaii at Manoa. “After every cycle innovation, their resilience even after thousands of of compression, the nanotubes unfold strategic logic, compression cycles. and recover, producing a strong cushion- and the new product develop- In foams that exist today, strength and ing effect.” ment process. Part two deals with establishing a flexibility are opposing properties: as one The thickness of the nanotube foams foundation for new ideas on a conceptual level, all the goes up, the other must go down. With decreased slightly after several hundred way from the idea generation phase to the pre-commer- carbon nanotubes, no such tradeoff exists. cycles, but then quickly stabilized and cialization and launch phase. “Carbon nanotubes display an excep- remained constant, even up to 10,000 Rainey has more than 30 years of experience and tional combination of strength, flexibili- cycles. When compared with conven- leadership in industry and academia. He is an interna- ty, and low density, making them attrac- tional foams designed to sustain large tionally renowned authority on global enterprise man- tive and interesting materials for produc- strains, nanotube foams recovered very agement, sustainable development, technological entre- ing strong, ultra-light foam-like struc- quickly and exhibited higher compressive preneurship, and product innovation. tures,” says Pulickel Ajayan, the Henry strength, according to the researchers. Burlage Professor of Materials Science Throughout the entire experiments, the and Engineering at Rensselaer and coau- foams did not fracture, tear, or collapse.

10 RENSSELAER/WINTER 2005-06 ATRENSSELAER

RENSSELAER ON THE MOVE Research Roundup

NIH Supports Cheminformatics Research Rensselaer has been selected as one of six universi- ties nationwide to be awarded a two-year, nearly $1 million planning grant from the National Insti- tutes of Health (NIH). The grant will provide a foundation for the development of a center for cheminformatics research. The Rensselaer Exploratory Center for Cheminformatics Research (RECCR) will bring together an interdisciplinary research team to seek improved understanding of The Cochran football dynasty: (l-r) Evan, Chris, Andy, Coach Joe King, Grant, Dan, and Flynn. the relationships between chemical structure and function for use in biotechnology applications.

HAWK TALK Testing the Power of Polymer Membranes Rensselaer researchers have started a new funda- Football Family Dynasty mental research project on the component that is often referred to as the heart of the fuel cell—the polymer membrane. COME FROM BEHIND VICTORY OVER Chris, a defensive lineman, led the A - - The Rensselaer team developed a new polymer St. John Fisher in the ECAC Northwest Engineers with five sacks during his junior membrane that may facilitate hydrogen separation, Championship Bowl marked the end of year. Dan played for a year on the junior purification, and transport at high temperatures, the 2005 football season for Coach Joe varsity team. according to Brian Benicewicz, professor of chem- King’s Engineers. With the close of the Two of Rensselaer’s best wide- istry and chemical biology at Rensselaer who is the winning (8-2) season also came the end of receivers, Evan and Flynn, are both team principal investigator for the project. The new poly- a 15-year-long football dynasty. record-holders. Evan scored a team-high mer membrane is now being tested for potential use Senior linebacker and team captain 15 touchdowns in 2001 and holds the in proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell and Grant Cochran ’06 played his final game team’s career touchdown record at 28. hydrogen applications. The project is funded by a as an Engineer during the ECAC Cham- Flynn also holds multiple records includ- projected three-year, $900,000 grant from the U.S. pionship. He is the last of six Cochran ing single-season and career records in Department of Energy. brothers who have consecutively played both receptions and yards. football for Joe King at Rensselaer. Grant, a four-year starter, two-year Improved Prediction of Bone Fracture Risk Since 1990, at least one Cochran captain, and Academic All American, brother has been listed on the football ranked second on the team in terms of A team of researchers led by Rensselaer has been awarded a five-year, $1.2 million grant from the team’s roster. Andy Cochran ’95 received tackles. National Institutes of Health (NIH) to work on an academic scholarship and came to “They were all different,” said Coach improving the prediction of bone fracture risk by Rensselaer to play football, study engi- King in an interview with the Albany developing a new way to measure bone quality. Times Union. “Some were offensive line- neering, and join the Navy ROTC in Recent studies have shown that current bone mass 1990. Chris ’98 and Dan ’98 followed in men. Some were defensive linemen. index tests are not a reliable means of predicting their brother’s footsteps soon after. Next Some were receivers. They came in all fracture risk. Deepak Vashishth, assistant professor Evan ’02, Flynn ’04, and Grant came to shapes and sizes. But one thing they all of biomedical engineering at Rensselaer and princi- Rensselaer to study and play football. had in common was they wanted to find a pal investigator of the research project, suggests Although the brothers were alike in way to win.” determining the quality of the bone, not simply the their academic and athletic choices, they Last summer Grant was married to his quantity of the bone mass, can improve the predic- were individuals on the football field, wife, Alene. The wedding reception was tion of fracture in the elderly and osteoporotic popu- playing different positions at different lev- held on ’86 Field, where—fittingly—the lation. Research in his lab focuses on identifying, els of skill. brothers and even Coach King played establishing, and reversing the effects of age and dia- Andy, a linebacker, played in six games football. betes-related bone fragility. Studies involve the modi- and served as assistant coach after gradu- fication of proteins in bone and their influence on ating from Rensselaer. bone fracture.

RENSSELAER/WINTER 2005-06 11 STUDENT LIFE Giving Back

THE 2004-2005 ACADEMIC YEAR WAS A REMARK- able one for Rensselaer’s Student Life community service initiatives. Reports from various con- stituencies contributed to a year-end total of 12,003 volunteer hours, 32,234 federal work study community service hours, and $38,939 raised in programs sponsored by Student Life groups. The figures as of June 30, 2005, follow. “I enjoy working with Habitat simply because it’s a really fun way to make a big impact,” says Professor Neil Rolnick founded the electronic arts series iEAR Presents in 1985. Johanna Wogaman, president of Rensselaer’s Habitat for Humanity student chapter. “There’s the practical side of just learning construction FROM THE ARCHIVES techniques, simple home repairs, building sched- ules, material purchasing, etc. On top of learning 20 Years of Electronic Arts all those skills, you’re able to not only build a house but create a home for a family in need. Being in college, as much as you might want to IN 1985 PROFESSOR NEIL ROLNICK, THEN the fall 1988 season. Lucier made history help, it can be hard to donate money through the director of iEAR Studios, founded iEAR when he used amplified brain waves to semester. Habitat is a really easy opportunity for Presents, a series of public performances, drive the instruments in one of his compo- students to take a day, half a day, or a few hours exhibitions, and lectures that feature pio- sitions. At Rensselaer he performed musi- and just work.” neering and emerging artists who explore cal compositions developed from the stud- the boundaries of electronic art. In ies of acoustics, electronics, and physics. Community Service Contributions November the series celebrated its 20th Ed Emshwiller, an influential figure in by Rensselaer Students for 2004-2005 anniversary. the experimental film movement and one Total Community Service Hours 44,237 Created to enhance the education of of the first people to work with computer Volunteer Hours 12,003 students enrolled in the integrated elec- animation, visited Rensselaer during the Community Service Work Study Hours 32,234 tronic arts at Rensselaer (iEAR) program 1986-87 season of iEAR Presents. He Money Raised $38,939 during its earliest years, the series added presented Sunstone, a groundbreaking Pints of Blood Donated 584 depth to the computer music, animation, 3-D computer work that showcased his Computers Installed 24 and video art courses that were taught in breakthroughs in the development of an Bags of Toiletries Donated 2 large, lecture-style classrooms. Atten- electronic language to articulate three- Pounds of Food Collected 22,090 dance at iEAR Presents events became dimensional space. Bins of Clothing Collected 21 mandatory for all electronic arts students. Video installation artist Kathy High Big Boxes of Toys for Tots Collected 5 “iEAR Presents was created to act as a came to iEAR Presents in March 1988 Basket of Holiday Food Donated 1 venue where significant artists in their and exhibited Not Black & White, a video Tutoring Sessions 1,258 field could come to Rensselaer and not and domestic installation that explored Registration for Football Camp Donated 1 only perform, but also interact with our social issues surrounding femininity, students,” says Rolnick. “There is no bet- including eating disorders and the notion ter way to teach our electronic arts stu- that females are the less dominant sex. dents than to let them experience the She also exhibited Romance of the Monk, a world’s leading performers and their art multimedia installation that used three firsthand.” videotapes, six audio tracks, and sculptur- Since there was no single space on cam- al, photographic, and drawing elements. pus dedicated to the arts program, early In 2002 Kathy High returned to Rens- iEAR performances were held in a black- selaer as associate professor of video and box theater in the basement of the Darrin new media. Today she serves as chair of Communications Center, at the Rensse- the arts department (see page 14), which laer Chapel + Cultural Center, and even is still home to iEAR Presents. Over the in empty storefronts in downtown Troy. past two decades the series has featured Early performers included Alvin Lucier, the work of nearly 100 electronic artists. a pioneer of electronic music who opened

12 RENSSELAER/WINTER 2005-06 ATRENSSELAER

NATIONAL MEDIA ATTENTION Rensselaer in the News

RENSSELAER’S RESEARCH AND PEOPLE CONTINUE TO garner national media attention. The November issue of FORTUNE SMALL BUSINESS magazine featured a full-page photo of Rensselaer alumni and students John Blackburn, Tom Rossi, and Ryan O’Donnell. The trio garnered an honorable men-

56WEST: UTOPIA earned first place in the Global House 2005 International Design Competition. tion in the publication’s student startup competition for their company, BullEx, which offers a safe and clean solution to fire extinguisher training. After previous coverage in THE NEW YORK TIMES ARCHITECTURE and VOICE OF AMERICA, the collaboration between Pulickel Ajayan, the Henry Student Designs Go Global Burlage Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, and scientists at the University of

TWO TEAMS OF FIFTH-YEAR ARCHITECTURE 56West: Utopia. M

ICHAEL Akron continues to attract students at Rensselaer garnered top hon- NOMAD, designed by Priyanka Mara attention. Their research proj- ors—first and third place overall—in the of New Hartford, N.Y., Moniera Buck of C ect to mimic the sticky feet of OGLIANTRY Global House 2005 International Design Brooklyn, N.Y., and Brian Janeczko of the gecko lizard recently Competition, selected from among more Garden City, N.Y., won third place, and a appeared in the October issue than 250 entries from 44 countries. prize of $500. The group proposed a of SMALLTIMES magazine. Hosted by Arquitectum, an enterprise reconfigurable housing unit, designed for IEEE SPECTRUM included dedicated to the organization of architec- nomadic users, made up of telescoping Rensselaer’s Gulf Coast Scholars Program for stu- tural contests, the tubes that could dents displaced by Hurricane Katrina in an Oct. 31 Global House be shifted, pushed, story about how technically oriented schools have competition chal- and pulled, pro- responded to recent disasters. Rensselaer President lenged professional viding users with a Shirley Ann Jackson noted: “You want to do as much architects and high level of flexi- as you can, but you also want to be able to deliver on architecture stu- bility within a what you promise.” dents ages 28 and small amount of Two winners of the Change the World Challenge, an under to create a space. idea competition funded by a $1 million gift from house that best “Once again Sean O’Sullivan ’85, were featured in their hometown represents the values of contemporary Rensselaer students have demonstrated newspapers. The DESMOINES REGISTER carried a story global society and that can exist on any their capacity as global thinkers, creating about Casey O’Donnell, a Ph.D. student whose “Virtu- site, anywhere in the world. architectural designs that have the al DJ” program teaches students how to manipulate mathematical equations. The SPRINGFIELD (Mass.) Stephanie Cramer of Castleton, N.Y., potential to enhance living environ- REPUBLICAN wrote a piece about Brendan Kavanagh, a and Ryan Salvas of Old Saybrook, Conn., ments, and improve the human condition senior who designed a way to send a signal to a car’s saw an opportunity to incorporate hous- on a universal scale. I applaud them for taillights when the brakes are applied forcefully. ing into the bridges, sign trusses, and on their creativity and for this achieve- THE SCIENTIST magazine highlighted a Rensselaer and off ramps associated with highways. ment,” said Alan Balfour, dean of archi- team’s approach to predicting how proteins separate Their proposal involved using highway tecture. based solely on their chemical structure. The team was sign trusses as a structure for houses that This is the eighth year Rensselaer stu- led by Curt Breneman, professor of chemistry and would be suspended over the roadways. dents have been selected as finalists in chemical biology, and Steven Cramer, professor of K RIS The team was awarded first place and a international professional competitions, chemical and biological engineering. Q

UA prize of $2,000 for their design, titled according to Balfour.

RENSSELAER/WINTER 2005-06 13 FOCUSON:

Kathy High: Bridging the Arts and Sciences

ARTS DEPARTMENT CHAIR KATHY studying,” says High. “I wanted tation of an international exchange the center as a public venue that High was drawn to Rensselaer by to teach at a university that had program. High expects to establish integrates science and technology the opportunity to connect art with educational focuses stretching far a visual arts student and faculty into the arts to increase awareness the world beyond it. For more than beyond the arts, allowing me to exchange program with the Hong and understanding of biotechnolo- 20 years she has done just that, extract pieces of the research, the Kong Arts Center and the City gy and other science and technolo- through documentaries, experi- scientific, the technical world and University of Hong Kong, and an gy-based disciplines. Similar cen- mental videos, sculptures, and incorporate them into my art electronic music exchange pro- ters exist in other countries, but are multimedia installations shown world. The strength of the engi- gram with the Central Conservato- relatively uncommon in the United around the world. High’s work also neering and science programs ry of Music and Peking University States, according to High. has put the spotlight on social really attracted me to Rensselaer.” in Beijing. “I see the Living Art Center as issues related to women’s health, Currently High is finalizing the In the future, High would like a place where people—all people, medical ethics, and advances in department’s new Ph.D. program to develop a “Living Art Center” not just scientists—can feel science and technology. in electronic arts. “Everybody’s at Rensselaer, which would involved and participate in the “I love teaching art, but for me really ready for it,” she says. collaborate with the Center for advances made in biotechnology,” it’s more fulfilling to teach the dis- “We’d like to admit our first Biotechnology and Interdiscipli- says High. “Science advances cipline at a university where it’s students by fall 2006.” nary Studies on projects bridging extremely quickly. Art gives people not the only subject students are Also under way is the implemen- the arts and sciences. She envisions the opportunity to stop and look at both the risks and the rewards of these advances.” The growing arts department is based in the renovated West Hall, part of the envisioned “arts corri- dor” along Eighth Street that will include the Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC) when it opens in 2008. “I see EMPAC as an invaluable resource for our arts department and for our students,” High says. “I think the international connec- tion that EMPAC will bring to Rensselaer is only going to enhance our students’ educational experience—it’s going to be a great resource for them.” High is active in the arts scene beyond campus as founder and editor of FELIX: A JOURNAL OF MEDIA ARTS AND COMMUNICATION, a publication geared toward alter- native film and video makers that she started in 1991. The newest volume of FELIX, a print publica- tion and DVD titled TOOLS: ANA- LOGUES AND INTERSECTIONS, will focus on the intersections between early video art and new media art practices. A curated festival of “old” and new media works will be held at Rensselaer in the spring of 2007, to celebrate its release. High credits her fellow profes- sors for the increased prominence of the program. “The faculty— each one of them—brings their unique strengths to our department and to our students,” she says. “They are the foundation of the

M arts program; I am simply building ARK on top of that foundation.” M C C ARTY MILESTONES

JOHN WEN has been on the fundamental aspects of fluid engineering, has received the 2005 through excellence in the creation appointed new mechanics and mass transport Military Communications Confer- and management of large SRC- director of the involved in the modulation of ence Technical Achievement Award sponsored multi-university and Center for mammalian cell function. from the Institute of Electrical and multidisciplinary collaborative Automation Electronics Engineers. The award programs. Lu was recognized for Technologies and JAN STEGEMANN, is given in recognition of sustained his work as past director of Rensse- Systems (CATS). assistant profes- contributions to military communi- laer’s Center for Advanced Inter- Wen brings extensive experience sor of biomedical cations. connect Science and Technology. in robotics to the newly renamed engineering, was center, which matches Rensselaer awarded the Rita G.P. “BUD” PETER- STEPHEN DERBY, research with targeted industrial Schaffer Young SON, provost, has associate profes- applications ranging from manu- Investigator been honored sor of mechani- facturing and microsystems assem- Award at the Biomedical Engineer- with an interna- cal, aerospace, bly to the automation of medical ing Society annual meeting. As part tional award for and nuclear engi- systems. Wen earned a bachelor’s of the award, Stegemann delivered his commitment neering and co- degree from McGill University a plenary lecture on current to science educa- director of the in 1979, a master’s from the research in his group. tion. The Frank J. Malina Astro- Flexible Manufacturing Center, University of Illinois at Urbana- nautics Medal, presented yearly by won the best paper award in the Champaign in 1981, and a doctor- PETER COLLOPY ’71 has been the International Astronautics Material Handling Engineering ate from Rensselaer in 1985, all appointed director of environmen- Federation, is given to an educator Division at the ASME Internation- in electrical engineering. He joined tal health and safety. He has more who has demonstrated excellence al Mechanical Engineering Con- the Rensselaer faculty in 1988, and than 30 years of experience in in promoting the study of astronau- gress and Exposition Nov. 5-11. was named a fellow of the Institute health physics and environmental tics and related space sciences. A The paper, which was co-authored of Electrical and Electronics Engi- health and safety in both industry fellow of both the American Soci- by Bernhard Bringmann ’02, a for- neers in 2001. and academe, and is board certi- ety of Mechanical Engineers and mer master’s student at Rensse- fied as a health physicist and the American Institute of Aeronau- laer, discussed a novel method for CHRISTOPHER DAVEY, lead environ- industrial hygienist. Collopy tics and Astronautics, Peterson has stacking mixed case lot pallet mental specialist, has received the earned both master’s and bache- written more than 125 refereed loads on top of one another. 2005 Pillars of Rensselaer Award, lor’s degrees in environmental journal articles and holds nine the highest honor Rensselaer gives engineering from Rensselaer. patents. STEVEN ROECKER, professor of earth to a staff member. The Pillars and environmental sciences, Award is presented annually to a MICHAEL SHUR, the Patricia W. and ANGEL GARCIA, sen- recently received a medal from the staff member who understands the C. Sheldon Roberts ’48 Chaired ior constellation U.S. Civilian Research & Develop- Institute’s mission and history, has Professor in Solid State Electronics chaired professor ment Foundation in recognition of been a role model for other at Rensselaer, has been elected a in biocomputa- his support in developing interna- employees, has showed concern for fellow of the American Association tion and bioinfor- tional science and technology col- students and their welfare, has for the Advancement of Science matics and pro- laborations. Roecker has served as added to the human dimension of (AAAS). Shur is one of 376 newly fessor of physics, an adviser to the funding agency on the school, and who has played an elected fellows recognized for their will be presented the 2006 Edward science in central Asia, primarily active role in his or her home com- efforts to advance science applica- A. Bouchet Award by the Ameri- in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, munity. tions that are deemed scientifically can Physical Society (APS) at the and served on a number of review or socially distinguished, according 2006 APS March Meeting. The panels (see article, page 16). NATACHA DEPAOLA to AAAS. Shur is director of Rens- award recognizes Garcia’s contri- has been appoint- selaer’s Center for Broadband Data butions to the understanding of the FRANK SPEAR, professor and chair ed chair of the Transport Science and Technology. role of water in the dynamics and of earth and environmental sci- Department of folding of proteins through com- ences, has been named the 2007 Biomedical Engi- MICHAEL TENTNOWSKI has been puter simulations. Dana Medal recipient by the Min- neering. A mem- appointed director of the Rensse- eralogical Society of America. The ber of the Rensse- laer Incubator, one of the first uni- TOH-MING LU, the Ray Palmer Baker medal is intended to recognize a laer faculty since 1994, DePaola versity-based incubators in the Distinguished Professor of Physics, mid-career individual’s continued received a National Science Foun- country. Tentnowski has had more was presented the first-ever Semi- outstanding scientific contributions dation Faculty Early Career Devel- than a decade of experience in conductor Research Corporation through original research in the opment Award in 1996 and is a small business and entrepreneur- (SRC) Faculty Leadership Award mineralogical sciences. Spear’s member of the Biomedical Engi- ship development in the academic at the TECHCON 2005 meeting in research is focused on developing neering Society, American Society and business arena. Tentnowski Portland, Ore. The award was cre- new techniques to read the history of Mechanical Engineers, Ameri- received a bachelor’s degree in ated by the SRC Board of Direc- of the Earth through metamorphic can Society for Cell Biology, accounting, and an MBA from the tors and seeks to recognize individ- rocks, constructing pressure- American Association for the University of Montana, Missoula. uals who have demonstrated out- temperature-time histories used to Advancement of Science, and standing leadership in addressing interpret tectonic evolution. American Society for Engineering GARY SAULNIER, associate professor the most important problems fac- Education. Her research focuses of electrical, computer, and systems ing the semiconductor industry

RENSSELAER/WINTER 2005-06 15 “The transitions so evident in all facets of life, learning, research, scholarship, all across our campuses, are signs of an intellectual vigor and vibrant activity. As we renew our commitment to our roots—the very premises upon which Rensselaer was founded—we are marking a transition from

a storied past to a breathtaking future.”—President Shirley Ann Jackson

PLAN FOR SUCCESS

Five years on, The Rensselaer Plan continues to transform the Institute and lays the foundation for a renewed commitment to undergraduate education.

This year marks the fifth anniversary of the launch of The Rensselaer Plan. A strategic blueprint for the future, the plan put Rensselaer on the road to its most significant and far-reaching transformation in more than a cen- tury, with the goal to raise the Institute to the level of a “top-tier technological research university with global reach and global impact.” The results have been wide-ranging, reaching into almost every aspect of life at the Institute. Under the plan, Rensselaer already has made its mark nationally and globally in the targeted areas of information technology, nan- otechnology, and biotechnology. The Institute has recruited some of the most talented and distinguished facul- ty in the world. Research awards have more than doubled, from $37 million to $80 million, and the number of doctoral students has increased. Student quality and diversity is on the rise as well. More than $400 million has been poured into new construction and renovations of facilities for research, teaching, and student life. A renewed commitment to undergraduate education has sparked the recent introduction of the Undergraduate Plan, to strengthen the overall undergraduate experience at Rensselaer. Meanwhile, the parallel transformation of Rensselaer at Hartford continues. The refocusing of the Education for Working Professionals program, which is based at Hartford and includes distance components, involves the reshaping of course offerings and the strengthening of ties to business and industry. To support these and other initiatives, the Institute publicly launched its largest fund-raising campaign in its history, Renaissance at Rensselaer: The Campaign for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.BY JODI ACKERMAN FRANK ALFUS K ONNY

16 RENSSELAER/WINTER 2005-06 L

Shirley Ann Jackson came to Rensselaer in 1999 with the belief that, Since then, Rensselaer has developed its own embodiment of Rensselaer’s commitment to cre- based on its history, the Institute had niche in biotechnology by combining research ate an atmosphere for transformational research in the biological sciences with engineering and endeavors that will generate new models for the potential to change the world. information technology. The result has been an interdisciplinary research at the university.” “Rensselaer is an educational institution whose explosion of new research, education, and tech- In addition to biotechnology and information mission sits at the very heart of what has changed nology commercialization that has fostered col- technology, Rensselaer is pushing the frontiers the world for the last 100 years. Namely, it is a laboration and innovation across all disciplines. of knowledge in other strategic research areas, university centered around science and engi- “The Rensselaer Plan has given us the focus, including nanotechnology and advanced mate- neering,” Jackson says. “Many of the great dis- vision, and investment necessary to put the uni- rials, microelectronics, and modeling and simu- coveries, inventions, and innovations of the last versity back on the map with respect to ground- lation of complex systems, among others. century have completely transformed this coun- breaking research and leadership,” says “Discovery and innovation are critical to solv- try multiple times, and have made it the pre-emi- Omkaram “Om” Nalamasu, vice president for ing important problems facing humanity today, nent global leader that it is. If you look at those research. and multidisciplinary inquiry at new interfaces who have been connected to Rensselaer, they From developing new methods to rapidly syn- of any number of disciplines is imperative,” Nala- are people who have done just that in their time. thesize and screen new potential drugs to creat- masu says. “For instance, we are looking at That gives us a tradition to build upon.” ing a living heart wall patch to treat congestive biotechnology and nanotechnology as impor- The plan has propelled Rensselaer to promi- heart failure, Rensselaer faculty are increasing- tant new toolboxes to work on crucial energy nence in critical areas, including health, safety ly being recognized for their work, attracting issues.” and security, the environment, and energy secu- great interest—and funding—from government rity, among others. Innovation and discovery in and the private sector. DRIVING THE RESEARCH RENAISSANCE these largely have grown from the plan’s strate- The Center for Biotechnology and Interdis- Expanding the research enterprise required the gic research focus on one of the Institute’s sig- ciplinary Studies, which opened in September university to make a significant investment in a nificant strengths, information technology, and 2004, lies at the heart of the plan’s transforma- critical mass of faculty to not only create the on an area in which Rensselaer was relatively tional research initiative. The 218,000-square- strength needed in focal areas, but to build up unknown until recently—biotechnology. foot center houses faculty and researchers related areas in engineering, the sciences, and In her inaugural address, Jackson challenged engaged in interdisciplinary research. Its core the arts. In the past five years, 150 new faculty the Rensselaer community to take the bold step research facilities contain laboratories for molec- members have been hired, 73 of them in entire- of investing in biotechnology, an area that, she ular biology, analytical biochemistry, microbiol- ly new positions. said, “holds out great promise and great value to ogy, imaging, histology, tissue and cell culture, Several of these new faculty members are part humanity.” proteomics, and scientific computing and visu- of the plan’s strategy to create “constellations” “[I]n the 21st century, genomics, combina- alization. as a means to build new research programs from torics, and their marriage with information “This center is a cornerstone in realizing The the ground up. Each constellation is focused on technology will impact the human condition Rensselaer Plan’s top priority of increasing the specific research programs and comprises a mul- as strongly as quantum science did in the 20th university’s research portfolio exponentially tidisciplinary mix of senior and junior faculty, century,” Jackson said in her address. “This is while improving the quality of education and postdocs, and graduate students. a field whose impact is so great, so full of prom- expanding the Institute’s prominence and glob- Last year, Rensselaer completed the Future ise, so well-suited to Rensselaer, that we simply al impact,” says the center’s director, Robert Chips Constellation, which focuses on innova- must drive our stake into the ground of this new Palazzo, a world-recognized cell and molecular tions in materials and devices and in solid state frontier.” biologist. “The building itself is the physical and smart lighting, and extends to applications

18 RENSSELAER/WINTER 2005-06 “The Rensselaer Plan has given us the focus, vision, and investment necessary to put the university back on the map with respect to groundbreaking research and leadership,” says Omkaram “Om” Nalamasu, vice president for research.

such as sensing, communications, biotechnolo- zation, simulation, animation, haptics, acoustics, OUTWARD SIGNS OF PROGRESS gy, and energy conservation. The Institute has and more. When Peter Baldwin ’06, president of the Rens- developed seven constellations, including mul- In the summer of 2002, Goebel joined Rens- selaer Union, was a freshman three years ago, a tiscale computation, and functional tissue engi- selaer to begin developing comprehensive pro- parking lot stretched between the Playhouse and neering and regenerative medicine. gramming for EMPAC even before construction Academy Hall on 15th Street. Baldwin also began. Previously the director of the Institute noticed the abandoned building that once WHERE THE ARTS MEET TECHNOLOGY for Music and Acoustics, which he founded at housed a T-shirt shop in the midst of rundown As Rensselaer embarked on new areas of scien- the Center for Art and Media in Karlsruhe, Ger- houses and sidewalks where 15th Street meets tific research under the plan, it also blazed a trail many, Goebel has brought to Rensselaer his College Avenue. at the intersection of the arts, media, and tech- experience as composer, producer, and mentor of “As far as I was concerned, the south side of nology with the introduction of the Experi- intermedia art and interdisciplinary research. campus ended at the Armory. College Avenue mental Media and Performing Arts Center A number of EMPAC performances have seemed to be anything but a part of the college,” (EMPAC), a unique building and program to already taken place. In September, the midpoint says Baldwin, who is completing a dual major in link the arts with leading-edge research and per- between the groundbreaking and opening was mechanical engineering and economics. formance across the disciplines. marked with “EMPAC 360: On Site+Sound,” The north side of campus didn’t fare much “Rensselaer combines innovation and success an event held at sunset that included aerial better. “When I was a freshman, I can remember in research and education with an equally sophis- dance, music, live visuals, and fireworks enjoyed visiting my friends’ dorms that still appeared to ticated and demanding cultural environment. by an audience of 2,000 spectators from the Troy be like Army barracks. The entire landscape of This is what EMPAC will build upon,” says campus and the surrounding community. Freshman Hill left much to be desired,” Baldwin EMPAC Director Johannes Goebel. “EMPAC EMPAC will anchor what is becoming an arts says. “But, that was then and the Rensselaer of will provide programs and a place where artists, corridor along Eighth Street on the western side today is not what it was three years ago.” students, and faculty from a wide spectrum of of the campus. It is joined by the highly Today, the intersection Baldwin remembers disciplines can convene, exchange, collaborate, acclaimed arts department, which is housed in as a no-man’s land is a new gateway to the south watch, listen, think, create, and allow themselves the newly renovated West Hall. EMPAC draws side of the campus, with new walkways and light- be to challenged.” heavily from the department’s leadership posi- ing. The extensively renovated Academy Hall In September 2003, the university broke tion in the electronic arts. The department now serves as a student service center. The Insti- ground for the $141 million building that is ris- boasts some of the university’s fastest-growing tute also transformed an empty T-shirt shop into ing on the southwestern corner of the Rensse- programs and has attracted a highly diverse, a lively coffeehouse, Java++, where students laer campus. Construction is well under way internationally recognized faculty whose work can get a cappuccino, eat organic, and take for the 206,000-square-foot building, with the is regularly viewed and heard around the world. advantage of wireless Internet access. In fact, grand-opening festival planned for September In fact, the department’s iEAR (Integrated the Troy campus is replete with new and reno- 2008. Electronics Arts at Rensselaer) graduate pro- vated cafes in the Darrin Communications Cen- EMPAC will house a 1,200-seat concert hall gram that has been promoting leading-edge art ter, the Folsom Library, and other locations, with and a 400-seat theater. It also will have a 3,500- for 20 years, and the successful EMAC (elec- future plans for expanded dining options in the square-foot black-box studio optimized for the- tronic media, arts, and communication) under- Union. ater, dance, and visual presentations. EMPAC graduate program convinced Jackson that Indeed, under The Rensselaer Plan, a whole will incorporate acoustical properties, artistic Rensselaer had the foundation and the vision to new physical campus has sprung up with new lighting, and technologically adaptable per- establish an experimental arts center that would and renovated facilities serving all aspects of the formance spaces to support research in visuali- be unique in the world. university community.

RENSSELAER/WINTER 2005-06 19 In addition to construction of the Center for Hajela, vice provost and dean of undergradu- Rensselaer faculty. Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies and ate education. Strengthening the student-advisement sys- EMPAC, Rensselaer has invested millions of With this in mind, Rensselaer is developing tem is another focus. To support this effort, a dollars in new and renovated freshman resi- one of its most ambitious initiatives for the new position has been created for an associate dence halls that are becoming places of living immediate future: the Undergraduate Plan. dean for academic advising, assessment, and and learning. Barton Hall, completed in 2000, The initiative will build upon Rensselaer’s special programs in the Office of Undergradu- was the first new residence hall built on cam- innovative experiential approaches to educa- ate Education. pus since 1977. The investment extends to tion. Living and learning communities, which The Undergraduate Plan will build upon Stu- improved housing for graduate students as well, provide opportunities for groups of students who dent Life’s well-established First-Year Experi- including the renovation of abandoned buildings share common academic interests, are among ence (FYE) program and services. FYE, now in along Peoples Avenue and other areas near programs being developed under the umbrella its fourth year, welcomes new students with a campus. of the plan. full schedule of orientation events, parent and The plan calls for more opportunities for family programs, and social, cultural, and edu- THE BEST IS YET TO COME undergraduates to participate in research with cational activities. “What we have accomplished at Rensselaer in faculty and graduate students. It sets a goal for “We want to help students become part of the past five years is remarkable,” Jackson says. research participation to nearly triple in the next this community, discover their interests and “While The Rensselaer Plan is a document of five years, with up to 80 percent of students their passions, and form friendships and social which we all can be proud, it is the people of actively taking part in research activities. connections with their peers, from the moment Rensselaer who have made the promise of it a “Our undergraduate programs must go hand- they first step onto campus,” says Eddie Ade reality. What is more, our success is gaining for in-hand with what is being done at the gradu- Knowles, vice president for student life. Rensselaer a national reputation as a model for ate level because the most contemporary, A new FYE program this year is “Tuesday academic transformation.” forward-looking education one can expect hap- Night Toolbox,” which offers programming and And, “as the song says, ‘the best is yet to pens when teaching is informed by research,” events that focus on topics of concern to new come,’ ” she adds. says Hajela, who is working across all portfolios students, such as healthy living, academic sup- The next major initiative is the Undergrad- to expand undergraduate academic programs. port, and career development. Student Life also uate Plan, which will build on The Rensselaer “Such expanded research efforts will also is focusing on strengthening student support Plan’s commitment to develop a world-class encourage entrepreneurship and contribute to and counseling well beyond the orientation peri- undergraduate experience. The Institute’s grow- building mentoring relationships between fac- od. For example, the early intervention program ing faculty, expanding facilities, and model pro- ulty and students.” involves a new role of “class dean,” named for grams are attracting ever more outstanding Another goal of the Undergraduate Plan is each class after the freshman year. These deans students. Average freshman SAT scores have to provide an international experience for every lead a team that provides support for and out- increased 60 points in recent years. The under- undergraduate student. In preparing students reach to the class, addressing concerns to help graduate program has received the highest rank- to be good global citizens, comfortable in a mul- students stay on track. ing in years from U.S.News & World Report— ticultural environment, Rensselaer will provide For years, Jackson has warned that the Unit- 43rd, up from 46th last year. enhanced and new opportunities for students ed States faces a shortage of scientists and engi- “If we are to continue to attract the very best to study abroad at universities around the neers, which could cause a decline in America’s and brightest, we must focus on elevating our world. In addition, the plan will increase offer- economic leadership. She calls this phenomenon programs and expanding opportunities for ings in international co-op and internship expe- the “quiet crisis.” our undergraduate students,” says Prabhat riences and summer overseas semesters led by “Unless we begin, now, to attract new groups

20 RENSSELAER/WINTER 2005-06 A renewed committment to undergrad- uate education has sparked the recent introduction of the Undergraduate Plan, to strengthen the overall undergraduate experience at Rensselaer.

of students, including women, underrepresent- also serve as a centralized location for all the the campaign in September 2004. In recogni- ed groups, and students with disabilities into athletics offices. Also part of the plan is to build tion of this gift, Rensselaer will name EMPAC science and engineering, we will not have an athletics support center that will have sports in his honor. In addition, the Rensselaer Alum- enough scientists and engineers to maintain our medicine and weight training facilities as well ni Association has made its largest-ever gift national capacity for innovation and discovery, as multipurpose conference rooms, concessions, commitment of $300,000 to support the expan- which undergirds our economy,” she says. and lounges. sion of athletics facilities. To address this issue as an integral part of the In addition, during the first phase of the plan Undergraduate Plan, the Division of Student the Houston Field House will be expanded to THE NEW FACE OF RENSSELAER Life is increasing diversity, the applicant pool, accommodate offices for women’s and men’s ice What will the Institute look like when the goals and national visibility for the Institute by cre- hockey as well as to provide room for athletics of The Rensselaer Plan are achieved? ating internal pipeline programs, and building training facilities to support both programs. The “There is no one ‘look’ in the future because relationships with national pipeline programs first phase of this all-encompassing project is if we are stagnant then we are not making the that focus on preparing students who might not expected to begin next summer. contributions that we intend to make,” Jack- otherwise go to college. Later phases will include a 50-meter natato- son says. One recently established internal pipeline rium, a track-and-field facility with inside ten- Jackson intended the plan to be “ever- program is the Rensselaer Presidential Schol- nis courts, and eight outside tennis courts. green”—a living document continually evolv- ars, a six-week national summer program to ing and challenging the Institute to reach attract talented high-school seniors. Beginning SUPPORTING THE RENAISSANCE greater heights. next summer, up to 30 seniors from around the To support the vision of The Rensselaer Plan, the For example, early discussions referred to country will take a credit-bearing course in sci- Institute publicly launched its largest capital EMPAC as the “electronic media and per- ence or engineering with a research component campaign in its history with a goal of raising forming arts center,” but as the understanding in biotechnology, information technology, engi- $1 billion by the end of 2008. of the center evolved, “electronic” was neering, or another science. The campaign, titled Renaissance at Rensse- replaced with “experimental” to include new laer: The Campaign for Rensselaer Polytechnic domains of exploration in the nexus of the arts FIELDS OF DREAMS Institute, has raised more than $660 million to and technology. The Undergraduate Plan also encompasses the date—more than three times the amount The Institute also has invested heavily in far-reaching expansion of athletics facilities. raised in the last campaign that ended almost emerging disciplines that did not exist just a few “Athletics is a key element of the Under- 10 years ago. years ago, such as terahertz science and nano- graduate Plan, and creating new and better The campaign’s nucleus phase began in 2000. electronics. Rensselaer faculty are pioneers in sports facilities for students is a high priority,” Less than a year later, the university received a these exciting new areas of science that hold Knowles says. “When you consider that more landmark $360 million gift from an anonymous enormous potential in biomedical imaging, than 4,000 Rensselaer students play varsity, donor. The largest unrestricted gift on record, genetics diagnostics, and microelectronics. club, and intramural sports each year, you can see the donation constituted a powerful endorse- “We have been opportunistic as we’ve gone,” our need for the update and expansion.” ment of the transformational goals of the plan. Jackson says. “But these things still derive from Plans are being developed to build a new East Several alumni since have made their own a fundamental desire to build out from strengths Campus Athletic Village, a complex of build- significant contributions, including Rensselaer we have had all along.” ings and spaces that will include a new football alumnus and Trustee Curtis Priem ’82, who field with a 7,500-seat stadium, and a basket- pledged an unrestricted gift of $40 million to ball gymnasium with seating for 2,000 that will Rensselaer on the day of the public launch of

RENSSELAER/WINTER 2005-06 21 Earthquake researchers (clock- wise from top left) Rob McCaffrey, Steve Roecker, Tarek Abdoun, and Ricardo Dobry in Rensselaer’s 150 g-ton geotechnical centrifuge facility located in the basement of the Jonsson Engineering Center.

Rensselaer campus regulars may not be aware of it, but earthquakes frequently surge through the base- ment of the J. Erik Jonsson Engineering Center. Pro- ducing a powerful shaking sensation, these seismic events have taken a considerable toll, leaving behind a trail of broken pipes, damaged pilings, and other serious structural problems.

Rensselaer researchers are working with colleagues around the world to plumb the depths of the causes and effects of earthquakes. Not to worry, though. These “earthquakes” are actu- ally scale-model simulations, generated by civil engi- neers in Rensselaer’s recently redeveloped Geotech- nical Centrifuge Center, part of the George E. Brown Jr. Network for Earthquake Engineering Simula- tion (NEES), a nationwide academic research con- sortium. The tests often use Rensselaer’s centrifuge, an imposing device with a mechanical arm that can swing model structures around at 250 miles per hour, exerting forces real buildings would face only at catas- trophic moments. “We cannot wait 20 or 30 years for an earth- quake to occur,” says Ricardo Dobry, professor of civil and environmental engineering and director of the Geotechnical Centrifuge Center. “This allows us to test structures and full systems.” Recent catas- trophic natural disasters—particularly the Decem- ber 2004 earthquake and tsunami originating in Sumatra and the earthquake in Pakistan and India in October, which have killed tens of thousands— WHAT LIES underscore the importance of research in these areas.

By Peter Dizikes ARTY C C BENEATH M ARK

22 RENSSELAER/WINTER 2005-06 M RENSSELAER/WINTER 2005-06 23 the Himalaya mountain range and the recent Kashmir earthquake. Tectonic plates do not always meet in this precise fashion, however. When a plate largely supporting an ocean meets a continent-bearing plate, the heavier oceanic plate tends to dive underneath its neighbor, in the process called subduction. And sometimes plates scrape past one another in a lateral motion, as is the case with the San Andreas Fault in California. Whatever the precise movement, a single earthquake

S represents the release of tension that accumulates along TEVE a fault, where plates move in fits and starts. “It’s like a R OECKER spring getting loaded,” says Rob McCaffrey, professor of geophysics, who has helped pioneer the use of Glob- al Positioning System (GPS) technology to measure the movements of plates. “The number-one question is how hile Troy, like all of New York state, rarely expe- much of the fault will go at one time,” McCaffrey adds. riences significant seismic activity, Rensselaer “That determines the magnitude of the earthquake and is a hive of research activity on the subject. Insti- the duration of its shaking.” tute researchers stand at the leading edge of In geologic time, spanning billions of years, an indi- Wstudying both the causes and the effects of earthquakes, vidual earthquake is a tiny, incremental event. In human examining everything from the physical construction terms, however, as Dobry notes, major earthquakes are of fault zones to the safe construction of buildings in infrequent (although small ones happen every day those zones. around the globe). Yet that is only one reason engineers The Geotechnical Centrifuge Center is just one node need to generate their own steady stream of data through Professor Steve Roecker is part of earthquake research at Rensselaer. Institute earth simulated quakes. of a team of researchers study- scientists have fanned out across the globe to perform “With earthquakes, another big problem is, you never ing the Tien Shan mountains in significant fieldwork for years, studying faults and earth- know when or where they’re going to happen,” says Central Asia, considered a geo- quake activity from Kyrgyzstan to California and from Tarek Abdoun, assistant professor of civil engineering logic puzzle because they exist Indonesia to Oregon. Rensselaer research on earth- and associate director of Rensselaer’s centrifuge cen- not at the edge of a tectonic quakes also engenders interdisciplinary projects: engi- ter. “Whenever you put instruments in a certain area, plate, but in the middle of one. neers work with computer scientists, and geophysicists earthquakes never happen there. But for us, as engi- collaborate with mathematicians. Earthquakes may be The house, above, sits at the neers, to be able to understand a certain phenomenon an age-old problem, but the research methods used to base of tilted strata. and design for it, you need to know what is happening. understand them are distinctly new. With a centrifuge, you have instrumentation, you can recreate the event, you learn a lot, and now you can improve the design and the foundation of buildings.” Rensselaer earth scientists have fanned The sheer scale of the planet means researchers still are just beginning to collect earthquake data in many out across the globe to perform significant places. In the 1980s, McCaffrey was among the first sci- entists to use GPS measurements in Indonesia, the site fieldwork for years, studying faults and of last year’s catastrophic earthquake. Today, much of McCaffrey’s work involves “measuring the buildup of earthquake activity from Kyrgyzstan to the energy right now” in complex fault systems in order to develop a detailed picture of fault activity and, even- California and from Indonesia to Oregon. tually, a better sense of which fault segments might be most prone to move in a given period. Specific earthquake predictions remain an elusive I FEEL THE EARTH MOVE… goal. The outlines of tectonic plates might look simple Earthquakes are a product of the motion of the plan- on a world map, but the view from the ground is anoth- et’s tectonic plates—the 20 or so large segments of the er matter. Within a fault zone itself, tectonic plates do Earth’s crust slowly moving around the globe—which not just neatly collide or grind past one another, but are responsible for the ongoing rearrangement of the can shatter into smaller pieces, like a fractured eggshell. world we see. A head-on collision between tectonic The more scientists measure subduction zones, the more plates, which has happened at the edge of the Indian they realize how complicated they can be—especially in subcontinent, can produce spectacular features such as places like Sumatra.

24 RENSSELAER/WINTER 2005-06 Rensselaer researchers and OECKER

R students are part of a project called “San Andreas Fault TEVE S Observatory at Depth,” which aims to reveal what substances “It’s not just a simple subduction,” says McCaffrey, works of seismometers—sensitive measuring devices— enable plates to slip and slide who over the years has become something of a special- and records the speed of the waves generated by earth- past one another. Pictured at left ist in such regions, including Oceania and the Pacific quakes. For a geophysicist, this data reveals much about is Aaron Fitts, who earned a B.S. Northwest of the United States. “What New Zealand the materials lying underground. High-temperature in applied physics in 2005. and Cascadia and Sumatra have in common is that the rocks, for instance, slow down earthquake waves. Recent upper plate in the system is breaking apart and forming technological advances now allow small seismometers To study the Earth’s insides, these little plates that are moving around indepen- to pick up waves originating far away. “We’re able to researchers set up networks of dently.” Oregon, for example, sits on a small plate rotat- make some nice pictures just by setting up instruments seismometers—sensitive mea- ing clockwise relative to the rest of the United States. and waiting for an earthquake to happen anywhere in suring devices—and record the Such intricacies make charting the mechanics of a fault the world,” says Roecker. speed of the waves generated zone much more difficult. For the Tien Shan project, those pictures may involve by earthquakes. the Earth’s mantle, the viscous layer underneath the JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH crust that ranges roughly 20 to 2,000 miles below the The challenges inherent to earthquake research do not Earth’s surface—a distance almost impossible to reach daunt Rensselaer researchers. “The fact that the Earth with today’s technology. By contrast, in California, is complicated, well, that’s what you have to deal with,” Roecker is part of a project called the “San Andreas says Steve Roecker, professor of earth and environ- Fault Observatory at Depth,” an attempt to drill just a mental sciences. Roecker is undertaking multiple pro- couple of miles into the Earth’s surface. Scheduled for jects designed to help reveal, case by case, what sub- completion in 2006, it aims to reveal what substances stances lie underneath faults, and how these materials enable plates to slip and slide past one another (under- relate to their motion. ground water is a prime suspect). Roecker spent the summer of 2005 in Kyrgyzstan, Roecker’s efforts to turn the data into maps of the studying the Tien Shan mountains—considered a geo- Earth’s interior, at any depth, are often conducted with logic puzzle because they exist not at the edge of a tec- colleagues at Rensselaer’s Inverse Problems Center, tonic plate but in the middle of one, the Eurasia Plate. including mathematicians Margaret Cheney and Joyce “The real mystery is why there are mountains there at McLaughlin, who have years of relevant experience all,” Roecker says. It’s possible that there could be a from analogous areas like medical imaging. “They have large fault covered up by the mountains, or a series of a very fundamental understanding of these techniques,” smaller fractures near the Earth’s surface that act like says Roecker. Ultimately, he says, “the idea is to try to miniature plate boundaries. connect the stuff at the surface, like mountain-build- To study the Earth’s insides, Roecker sets up net- ing, with the forces driving it beneath the surface.”

RENSSELAER/WINTER 2005-06 25 26 RENSSELAER/WINTER 2005-06 nderstanding the composition of the Earth in a ing an increasingly pervasive way of gathering data. fault zone also happens to be where geophysicists Abdoun has developed a wireless sensor that can be low- and civil engineers find common ground. The ered into the ground and has initiated a California-based ground a building stands on has an enormous project along with Caltrans, the state transit agency, tak- impactU on the stability of that structure. In an earth- ing real-time ground movement measurements near high- quake, soft areas like landfill often undergo the phe- ways. Eventually, Dobry says, there will be “hundreds of nomenon of “liquefaction,” the Jello-like shaking that thousands” of sensors in use, on the ground and in “the dramatically increases the chances of a building collapse. constructed environment—buildings, bridges, pipes, Thus, when engineers in the centrifuge center con- structures. When an earthquake happens, we will get duct tests, they both expose a structure to a powerful data from the real world.” force and examine how that structure will react in cer- For now, the increasingly networked nature of engi- tain ground conditions. neering research compensates for what researchers have Consider pilings under a building, or pipes running yet to learn. At Rensselaer they are participating in a through the ground. Near the surface, the Earth cre- novel computer-simulation project, testing a bridge with ates little stress. But further down, the stress increases. faculty at two other NEES universities. The bridge’s The centrifuge can mimic those stresses—either as a deck is being tested at Lehigh University, its piers at the Professor Rob McCaffrey has catastrophic event or an accumulation of stress over University of Illinois, and the foundations at Rensse- helped pioneer the use of Global time—and tell engineers if their structures will pass laer, with the results shared via the NEES supercom- Positioning System (GPS) tech- muster. puter in San Diego. nology to measure the move- A typical test in the Rensselaer centrifuge might have Rensselaer researchers also are conducting NSF-fund- ments of plates. Today, much a length of pipe embedded in a mix of soil, on a tray ed tests jointly with engineers from Cornell of “critical of McCaffrey’s work involves fixed to the whirling arm of the machine. The pipe will lifelines” such as pipes during quakes. The Cornell “measuring the buildup of the be heavily wired with sensors transmitting information researchers can produce ruptures on full-scale pipes in energy right now” in complex for analysis. “The interaction between the soil resist- a large testing facility in Ithaca, but Rensselaer’s cen- fault systems in order to develop ing and the building pushing in, that’s what creates the trifuge, because of its smaller scale, can subject model a detailed picture of fault activity. actual response,” says Abdoun. pipes to a greater relative range of forces. The result is At left, one of his assistants sets Indeed, the roots of the center go back to soil studies a combination of data otherwise unavailable to a single up the GPS equipment at Ohme Dobry and Thomas Zimmie, professor of civil engineer- group of experts. Gardens, just north of ing, started pursuing in the 1970s. In the late 1980s, Beyond NEES, Rensselaer engineers are using their Wenatchee, Wash. Rensselaer acquired the centrifuge. A decade later, shake table to share test data with researchers in Japan, spurred on by the National Science Foundation (NSF), who use the world’s largest shake table in a warehouse- a new idea in earthquake research took hold: Forming sized facility. And along with the flow of data comes a NEES as a network of linked labs. “The information rev- flow of people: Visiting researchers at the centrifuge this olution was in full swing, and the emphasis changed,” says Dobry. “Instead of upgrading a bunch of separate earth engineering centers around the country, the idea “As engineers, to be able to understand a became to build an integrated national laboratory.” Backed by NSF funding for refurbishment—includ- certain phenomenon and design for it, you ing $5 million over the next five years—the upgraded center, along with the rest of NEES, opened in the fall need to know what is happening. With a of 2004. The center is replete with intriguing-looking equipment, in addition to the centrifuge, including a centrifuge, you have instrumentation, you can “shake table,” a rectangular metal frame with segmented walls that can replicate seismic effects; a related octag- recreate the event, and now you can improve onal tool the staff call “the slinky;” a robot on the cen- trifuge that alters models while swinging around in mid- the design and the foundation of buildings.” experiment; and a videoconferencing center. The staff includes computer specialists and a variety of engineers. academic year will include two experts from the “As we build things in the center, we’re interacting Advanced Institute of Science and Technology in Korea. with mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, robot- This globalization of research seems a natural devel- ic engineers, and information technologists,” says Dobry. opment in the study of a global phenomenon, with “It’s the definition of interdisciplinary research.” experts in geographically disparate regions, from Japan to Chile to Australia, and other earthquake-prone areas. GOING GLOBAL Meanwhile, in Troy, where research rolls on, residents Dobry believes information technology will change earth- do not have to worry much about earthquakes—even

A quake research profoundly, with remote sensors becom- when they are in the Jonsson Engineering Center. NI T IKKU

RENSSELAER/WINTER 2005-06 27

When a street was named in September in honor of Garnet Douglass Baltimore,Class of 1881, the City of Troy and Rensselaer celebrated the life and legacy of a trailblazer. Honoring aSon of Troy

When Garnet Douglass Baltimore quietly celebrated his 84th birthday in April 1943, the Troy Record published an article lauding the distinguished civil engineer and landscape archi- tect as “one of the best known residents of Troy.” ❦ Three years later his death was front-page news, and the Times Record followed up his lengthy obituary with an editorial eulogizing this first citizen of Troy who, born into a family of barbers, and grandson of a slave, became in 1881 the first African- American graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He then built his accomplished engineering career around the city that was his lifetime home.❦ “There are citizens who become so valuable that race, religion, ancestry or any other divisive attribute is merged in the standard of service,” wrote the Record. “Garnet D. Baltimore is not thought of in Troy by any nar- rower conception than that of Trojan. He was born here, educated here, practiced here, served the public here, died here. He represented Troy; he helped to develop it; he bet on

it from birth to death.” BY MEG GALLIEN

RENSSELAER/WINTER 2005-06 29 he sentiments of his contempo- Daggs. “And that a grandchild went on and fin- raries were echoed in September ished college.” when the City of Troy renamed Peter Baltimore had christened his son in honor in his honor a section of the of two towering figures in the anti-slavery move- street on which Baltimore was born, lived for many ment, Henry Highland Garnet and Frederick Dou- Tyears, and died. At a ceremony announcing the glass. Peter was a pupil of abolitionist minister Gar- Editorial from The Times Record, Tnaming of Eighth Street between Federal and Ferry net, who from 1840 to 1848 was minister of the first Troy, N.Y., Thursday Evening, Streets “Garnet Douglass Baltimore Street,” Mayor African-American church established in Troy, the June 13, 1946 Harry Tutunjian said Baltimore was “one of the Liberty Street Presbyterian Church. Peter also asso- Garnet D. Baltimore. first believers that the City of Troy was a jewel that ciated with Frederick Douglass, black mathemati- A great student of racial relation- should be cherished by all those who live in upstate cian Charles Reason, and Underground Railroad ships once said that the problem was New York.” activist Robert Purvis. to build up character to such a point The section of Eighth Street chosen to bear Bal- Troy attracted such notables because it was host that observers would “forget the timore’s name ends at the foot of Prospect Park, to many state and national conventions for African color for the man.” There are citizens which secured Baltimore’s fame as a landscape Americans. Troy also was an important stop for who become so valuable that race, designer. runaway slaves on the Underground Railroad. In religion, ancestry or any other divi- Jannie Gibson Daggs, a descendent of Baltimore’s a well-known incident in 1860 involving the arrest sive attribute is merged in the stan- who lives in Cohoes, N.Y., and attended the cere- of escaped slave Charles Nalle, Peter Baltimore and dard of service. mony, says she is happy that Baltimore, who also his brother, William, were central figures in the Garnet D. Baltimore is not thought was recently inducted into the Rensselaer Alum- large crowd that helped Nalle get away. of in Troy by any narrower conception ni Hall of Fame, is finally being recognized in a very William Baltimore, Garnet’s uncle, also was well- than that of Trojan. He was born here, public way. known and respected in Troy. According to his educated here, practiced here, served “The street was more than I ever dreamed of,” 1877 obituary in the Troy Daily Times, he served the public here, died here. He repre- says Daggs, who has been researching Baltimore “in various representative offices for the colored sented Troy; he helped to develop it; through published sources as well as stories hand- people of this state, including the presidency of he bet on it from birth to death. ed down through the family. Daggs’s great-grand- their state conventions and membership of impor- There was a time when he was in mother Annie Baltimore was a cousin of Garnet tant committees. His counsel was sought by them the thick of municipal affairs. He was Baltimore. as a cool-headed and true-hearted man.” architectural engineer at Oakwood “He was the first one in the family to go to col- But for all the activity among the African-Amer- Cemetery. He laid out Prospect Park. lege,” she says. “This was important. There is a lot ican community in Troy, in which his father and He was probably the greatest surveyor of pride.” uncle played prominent roles, Garnet himself seems of the city’s history. People have not not to have been involved. He graduated from the yet forgotten this part of his career. Family and Community Roots Troy Academy in 1877 along with the sons of Troy’s But the present generation will Garnet Douglass Baltimore was born April 15, 1859, most successful citizens, graduated from Rensse- remember him better when, on the in a cottage at 162 Eighth Street, the same address laer in 1881 with a degree in civil engineering, and sunny side of life, perhaps in its later he occupied at the time of his death. pursued a lifelong career as an engineer. afternoon, he walked the street, He was the son of Peter F. Baltimore and Caro- “Garnet always stuck to the business of his pro- speaking to very nearly everyone he line Newcomb Baltimore. Peter was a larger-than-life fession,” says Daggs. “I don’t think he saw a black passed, stopping for a friendly chat figure in Troy in the 19th century. He carried on the and white world. I think he saw a world of people.” along the curbside. He was as much family trade, that of barber, at an establishment of Troy as the monument—or the known as the Veranda, on First Street. It was Elegant Nature ancient elm at State Street and Fifth described in Peter’s obituary as “a high-class tonso- Baltimore took on a wide variety of engineering Avenue. Until it adjusts itself to the rial resort and it was used as a gathering place for the assignments—building bridges, railroads, canals and swinging pendulum of time and pass- most prominent citizens of Troy.” Peter was a respect- waterways, designing cemeteries and, most notably, es on to the affairs of another day ed and well-liked citizen who “exercised through his creating Prospect Park in Troy. He was a noted sur- many a Trojan will find himself some- personality a wide influence in this vicinity.” veyor and consulting engineer throughout his career. what lost without him. Garnet grew up mingling among this clientele, According to newspaper accounts, Baltimore says Daggs. “He was accustomed to conversation. started his first job the day after graduation from He learned the gift of gab from his father, his uncles, Rensselaer when he was appointed assistant engi- and went on to school and did what he could do.” neer on construction of the Albany and Greenbush Garnet Baltimore, according to his father’s 1913 Bridge, between Albany and Rensselaer. He then obituary, was the grandson of Samuel Baltimore, a was engaged in several assignments with the Sandy slave who fought in the Revolutionary War. When Hill, Granville & Rutland, and Greenwich & John- Samuel’s owner refused to honor an agreement sonville railroads. promising freedom to slaves who fought in the war, For eight years he was employed by the state Samuel fled north. department of public works. It was in this capaci- “To think that you come from a slave,” says ty that he made notable accomplishments in his

30 RENSSELAER/WINTER 2005-06 AtProspect Park, Baltimore created a circular landscape with winding roads and pathways, gardens, tennis courts, a pond, and a scenic overlook, made out of red cedar in an Adirondack style, on the western edge of the plateau… The park was described at its completion as 84 acres of elegant nature.

RENSSELAER/WINTER 2005-06 31 work with New York state waterways. After serv- he remained convinced that the most important ing as assistant engineer and surveyor on the Erie goal in designing a park was to enhance the land- Canal, Baltimore was put in charge of the Shin- scape’s natural assets. necock and Peconic Canal on Long Island. To provide for “the refreshment of the bodies His most renowned work with canals came in and souls of great numbers of people,” he wrote, it Garnet D. Baltimore 1884, when he supervised the extension of the is desirable to “follow as far as possible the dictates Lecture Series Oswego Canal lock known as the “mud lock.” Con- of poetic and artistic feeling for breadth of compo- The Garnet Baltimore Lecture Series fronted with quicksand on the site, Baltimore sition and picturesqueness of detail.” was established at Rensselaer in 1991 devised a system of cement testing that became a He concluded: “It is a law of nature, which must to focus on issues of equality and cultur- standard for the state. The state engineer’s report not be forgotten, that satisfying beauty springs from al diversity. The 2005 lecture was deliv- noted: “Although the masonry was built in sec- fitness or adaptation to purpose, much more sure- ered by Sylvester James Gates Jr., direc- tions, and the character of the material so soft that ly and directly than from added ornament or the tor of the Center for String and Particle bearing piles, 20 feet in length, often floated out of most careful imitation.” Theory at the University of Maryland at place, no settlement sufficient to show a crack in At Prospect Park, Baltimore created a circular College Park, who spoke on “Thoughts the cement could be found, the quicksand being landscape with winding roads and pathways, gar- for a Third Millennial United States.” so confined that a solid foundation was formed.” dens, tennis courts, a pond, and a scenic overlook, The focus of Baltimore’s work returned to Troy made out of red cedar in an Adirondack style, on 1991 Johnetta Cole in 1891 when he was hired as assistant engineer for the western edge of the plateau. A playground pro- President, Spelman College the city’s Public Improvement Commission. Three vided areas to play croquet and other sports, and a 1992 H. Patrick Swygert years later he became assistant city engineer, and in sand court, where children could dig with spades President, University at Albany, SUNY 1906 he was named engineer for the city’s Depart- and shovels. The park was described at its com- ment of Parks. pletion as 84 acres of elegant nature. 1993 Sharon E. Sutton It was in 1903, when he was appointed landscape Baltimore’s long career included cemetery design, Associate Professor, University of Michigan engineer for the public park system at a salary of including Troy’s Forest Park Cemetery (which sub- $2,000 a year, that Baltimore was engaged to draw sequently suffered bankruptcy and was unable to 1994 Col. Charles Bolden up plans for the park on what was then known as complete his plans), Graceland Cemetery in Albany, Astronaut, NASA Warren Hill. Today this prized asset of Troy, trans- and cemeteries in Hoosick Falls, Glens Falls, and 1995 Freeman Hrabowski formed by Baltimore into the popular Prospect Park, Amsterdam. He was a consulting engineer at Troy’s President, University of Maryland stands as testament to the blossoming of Baltimore’s impressive Oakwood Cemetery for 30 years. Balti- talents as a landscape engineer. more is buried at Oakwood, along with his parents, 1996 H. Carl McCall The City of Troy purchased the lands for the three siblings, and his wife, Mary Lane, about whom New York State Comptroller park from the Warren estate for $110,000. In the very little is known. He had no children. 1997 Shirley Ann Jackson 1700s, Samuel Wilson, the meat supplier who In his later years he made surveys and maps for Chair, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory became known as “Uncle Sam,” settled there and attorneys of scenes of accidents and crimes, and Commission opened a brickyard and slaughterhouse. A centu- testified in court about those measurements. The 1998 Yvonne D. Cagle ry later, prominent Troy families, the Warrens and Times Record hailed Baltimore as “probably the Astronaut, NASA the Vails, had built homes on the site. The 84-acre greatest surveyor of the city’s history.” plot included an impressive 25-mile panorama of There is little evidence that Baltimore suffered 1999 Glegg L. Watson the Hudson Valley. Baltimore’s charge was to cre- discrimination. Accept for one incident in which Xerox Corp. ate a public park for use by people of all ages. someone tried unsuccessfully to have him removed 2000 Shirley Malcom “It is the calling and duty of the Landscape Engi- from a position by changing the job qualifications, Directorate for Education and Human neer to devise ways of arranging land and its accom- Daggs is aware of none. Resources Program of the AAAS panying landscape so that whatever the particular “This man has never been discriminated upon,” 2001 Neil de Grasse Tyson purpose in view may be, the result shall be as thor- she says. “He was well into his job with the city of Frederick P. Rose Director, Hayden oughly beautiful as possible,” wrote Baltimore in Troy before anybody tried to ruffle his feathers.” Planetarium, American Museum of his July 10, 1903, Report of The Landscape Engineer With the street dedication and Baltimore’s induc- Natural History On the Examination of the Parks Systems of Var- tion into the Rensselaer Hall of Fame that same ious Municipalities. weekend in September, Daggs sees a future for her 2002 Eugene M. DeLoatch The report was the result of an ambitious tour illustrious ancestor as a role model not only for Rens- Dean, School of Engineering, Morgan State University Baltimore made in preparation for his work in Troy selaer students, but for the local youth. of several model parks, including Central Park in “This comes at a time when the children of Troy 2003 Morris H. Morgan III New York City, the Bronx Zoological Gardens, need someone to look up to,” says Daggs, who accept- Dean, School of Engineering Prospect Park in Brooklyn, and parks in New ed the Hall of Fame award on behalf of the many & Technology, Hampton University Haven, Hartford, Providence, and Boston. family members attending the ceremony. “There’s 2004 Julian M. Earls He noted that the attractions found in the parks Frederick Douglass, who was a great man, and Mar- Director, Glenn Research Center, NASA outside of their landscape beauty included music, tin Luther King, who was a great man, but they boating, tennis, croquet, swings, sand courts, and weren’t Trojans. Now when these kids go by that

even the agreeable presence of gray squirrels. But street sign, they will know about Garnet Baltimore.” ARTY C C M ARK

32 RENSSELAER/WINTER 2005-06 M Baltimore remained convinced that the most important goal in designing a park was to enhance the landscape’s natural assets. STAYINGCONNECTED

RAA VISA CARD The popular Rensselaer credit card pro- gram has a new provider—U.S. Bank. The card offers competitive rates and services, carries the image of the Heffner Alumni House, and supports the programs of the RAA. Visit www.alumni.rpi.edu or call (800) 853-5576 ext. 8385 for info.

JOIN RAA BOARD AND COMMITTEES Do you want to have an impact on cam- pus? Do you have ideas about alumni programs and services? Then get involved with the Rensselaer Alumni Association

The ancient mountains of the Guilin area in south China. (RAA). The RAA board, working with the Alumni Relations Office, meets three times per year in Troy, and serves as the Worldwide Travel Program Visits China voice of alumni to the campus. Nomina- tions to serve on next year’s board and committees are now being accepted. Send A GROUP OF 39 U.S. ALUMNI AND THEIR GUESTS that their fur is rough and coarse and feels like a brief statement of support to Joyce Kelly learned firsthand about the global reach of stroking a doormat.” Martin at [email protected] by Feb. 10, or Rensselaer during a recent trip to China with Another highlight was a reception in Beijing call (518) 276-6208. the Rensselaer Alumni Association (RAA) where 20 members of the new China Alumni Worldwide Travel Program. Chapter met with U.S. travelers. Many chapter RAA SEEKS NOMINATIONS In October, alumni visited Xi’an, Shanghai, members graduated from a specialized MBA FOR VOLUNTEER AWARDS Hong Kong, and many other fascinating desti- program in the Lally School, and have now Each year, hundreds of nations. “In a phrase, the China trip was assumed leading roles in both government and alumni volunteer for Rens- beyond superlatives in almost every respect— industry. Guobin Zhao ’99, founder of Guobin the trip of a lifetime,” says Basil Whiting ’60. American English Learning Center, acted as selaer. Nominations are being sought to recognize these dedicated individuals through the RAA awards pro- gram. Awards include:

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD—Rec- ognizes distinguished service by alumni or non-alumni to Rensselaer, to a profes- sion, to the nation, or to humanity.

ALBERT FOX DEMERS MEDAL—Estab- lished to recognize and stimulate interest Travelers visited big cities and remote country- host and master of ceremonies. “It was a in the welfare of the Institute by alumni sides, touring museums, restaurants, shops, wonderful opportunity to swap RPI stories or non-alumni. factories, and experiencing for themselves the and for us to learn from some of those who ALUMNI KEY AWARD—Recognizes out- Chinese people and the culture. were making the China miracle happen,” says standing service supporting the advance- “It seems everything is under construction RAA President Bob Forman ’61. ment of Rensselaer, by alumni or non- for the 2008 Olympics,” Whiting says. “We The RAA’s Worldwide Travel Program alumni. endlessly walked Tiananmen Square, the For- offers many opportunities to bring together bidden City, the Ming Tombs, and the Great alumni from around the world. To learn more, RAA TEACHING AWARD—Recognizes Wall, and visited a freshwater pearl jewelry fac- contact Michael Wellner ’64 at CaptMike46@ current faculty members for outstanding tory where our guide opened a huge freshwater aol.com or call the alumni office at (518) 276- teaching techniques, contributions to the clam to find almost two dozen pearls inside!” 6205. For information on international alumni campus experience, and commitment to One of the trip’s highlights was the stop in chapters, contact Dawn Chen at students. Chongqing. “We explored this bustling city at [email protected] or (518) 276-6099. Submit a nomination at www.alumni.rpi. the western terminus of the new Yangtze lake,” Whiting has compiled a trip memoir with edu/awardsnomination.asp by Feb. 10 Whiting says. “We saw five pandas at the zoo, photos and vivid descriptions. To read the or write to Laura Bedford O’Donnell, and some of us actually patted one. One entire story and see the pictures, go to Alumni Relations, 1301 Peoples Ave., expects them to be fluffy; actually, I can testify www.alumni.rpi.edu/travel.html. Troy, NY 12180-3500.

34 RENSSELAER/WINTER 2005-06 EVENTSCALENDAR

FEBRUARY Alumnae Hockey Weekend. Watch School of Architecture 75th Anniver- School of Architecture 75th Anniversary 18 the former women’s hockey players 29 sary Lecture Series. Guest speaker 1Lecture Series. Guest speaker will be take to the ice in the Houston Field House. will be Steven Ehrlich ’68. Greene Building James Bradburn ’66. Greene Building This free event will begin at 11 a.m., prior Gallery, 6 p.m. Contact Dale Masten at Gallery, 6 p.m. Contact Dale Masten at to the Division I women’s game against [email protected] or at (518) 276-6478. [email protected] or (518) 276-6478. Quinnipiac at 4 p.m. APRIL MARCH Big Red Freakout Ice House. Enjoy a ”Rensselaer on the Road.” Lally School 11 pre-game dinner, have your face paint- School of Architecture 75th Anniversary 6 Dean David Gautschi will discuss the ed, and get psyched for the 29th Big Red 1Lecture Series. Peter Gorman ’67 will ongoing Renaissance at Rensselaer with Freakout hockey game against Brown. Tick- present “Designing Luxury Hotels and Dallas-area alumni. Contact Susan Haight ets to the sold-out game are available for Urban Mixed-Use Complexes.” Greene at [email protected] or (518) 276-6042. Ice House attendees. Register at www.alumni. Building Gallery, 6 p.m. Contact Dale Mas- rpi.edu/hockey or contact Peter Pedone at ten at [email protected] or (518) 276-6478. School of Architecture 75th [email protected] or (518) 276-6061. 12 Anniversary Lecture Series. Hugh Alumnae Basketball Weekend. Former School of Architecture 75th Anniver- Hochberg ’67 will present “Where Architec- women’s basketball players will play at 8 sary Lecture Series. Richard Rittel- ture Is Headed.” Greene Building Gallery, 11 a.m. in the Robison Gym, followed by the mann ’60 will present “The Future of the 6 p.m. Contact Dale Masten at masted@ varsity game vs. Hamilton. During halftime Profession.” Greene Building Gallery, 6 p.m. rpi.edu or (518) 276-6478. of the varsity game, former players will be Contact Dale Masten at [email protected] or introduced and a special ceremony recogniz- (518) 276-6478. Reception for Rensselaer Alumni at ing the 2001 UCAA Championship Team 13 the Chicago Biotechnology Industry will be held. Contact Coach John Greene at “Global Impact of the Renaissance Association Annual Convention. Contact [email protected] or (518) 276-8037. 16 at Rensselaer.” President Jackson Geoff Seber at [email protected] or (518) will discuss highlights of the ongoing 276-2324. Alumni Hockey Weekend. Watch former Renaissance at Rensselaer with Delaware men’s hockey players take to the ice in the Valley area alumni. Contact Susan Haight, ”Rensselaer on the Road.” Engi- Houston Field House. This free event begins [email protected], (518) 276-6042. at noon. Contact Peter Pedone at 25neering School Dean Alan Cramb [email protected] or (518) 276-6061. will discuss the ongoing Renaissance at School of Architecture 75th Rensselaer with Detroit-area alumni. 22 Anniversary Lecture Series. Peter Contact Susan Haight at [email protected] 50 Year Club luncheon at the High- Bohlin ’58 will present “The Nature of or (518) 276-6042. 15 land Beach Holiday Inn, Florida. Circumstance.” Greene Building Gallery, Guest speaker will be Frank Devine ’43, 6 p.m. Contact Dale Masten at masted@ MAY former ambassador to El Salvador. Contact rpi.edu or (518) 276-6478. Laura Bedford O’Donnell at [email protected] ”Rensselaer on the Road.” Lally or (518) 276-3757 for information. San Jose Games Developer Confer- 10 School Dean David Gautschi will dis- 23 ence (GDC) Reception for Rensselaer cuss the ongoing Renaissance at Rensselaer 50 Year Club luncheon at Michael’s Alumni. All interested alumni are welcome. with Atlanta-area alumni. Contact Susan 16 on East, Sarasota, Florida. Guest For more information, contact Geoff Seber Haight, [email protected] or (518) 276-6042. speaker will be Rensselaer history book at [email protected] or (518) 276-2324. author Carl Westerdahl. Contact Laura 200th Commencement. Harkness Bedford O’Donnell at [email protected] or 20 Field, Troy campus. www.rpi.edu/ (518) 276-3757 for information. academics/commencement/

RENSSELAER/WINTER 2005-06 35 WRITE TO US! ONELAST THING… We welcome contributions to “One Last Thing.” Send personal essays of 750 words or less to [email protected].

The Mathematics of Change

Reflections on a lifetime at Rensselaer | BY DAVID HAVILAND ’64

ASMY45 YEARS AT RPI COMES TO bled in six years—and they lives and saving lives with an end, it is fitting that I recall my are taking on many of the their research and teach- first days on campus. key challenges of our times. ing. The digital platform is I arrived from a small town but Average scores of entering hosting an extraordinary with vivid images of universities and students have increased convergence of science, the academic life: musty buildings, dramatically in six years. technology, visualization, clever professors, and studies of The Institute has initiated art, and performance. wondrous things. My very first class nearly $500 million in new For my part, I am proud filled the bill: Prof. Dis Maly was construction and renova- to have served my alma slight of build, covered with chalk tion, and has raised more mater as professor, dean, dust, and wreathed in pipe smoke. than $660 million. and vice president during Pleasant but somewhat distracted, Among colleges and uni- the formative years of some he delivered lectures that were droll versities, this represents ex- of these initiatives, and es- but laced with wit. His eyes sparkled traordinary—no, titanic— pecially during the past six and danced when he spoke of Cal- change. Within the rubric years when so many won- culus: The Mathematics of Change. of The Rensselaer Plan, every derful changes have come Calculus was exciting and bold, part of the Institute has to full blossom in the fertile something new and different for a placed bets and is achieving environment provided by confident freshman who had prided startling results. The Rensselaer Plan. himself on All Things Mathemati- My own school, Archi- Those many years ago, cal in high school. This math course tecture, has undergone The Mathematics of Change required a new alphabet—Greek— dramatic growth in the past brought me to a fork in the adding to its mystique. And, it was six years. Undergraduate road at RPI. Following Yogi not that difficult. My first bi-week- enrollment has grown to Berra’s advice, I took it! For ly quiz proved it: A. I was rolling. nearly 300, and there are the past four-and-a-half The Greek alphabet gave way to 65 graduate students. The decades, I have lived The more complicated stuff: functions, Lighting Research Center is the percent (compared to 68 percent Mathematics of Change, as Rens- and then limits. My next two quiz world’s best. The school has 10 years ago). selaer Polytechnic Institute has grades: B and C. Then came differ- opened graduate programs in light- Rensselaer has moved boldly grown from a small, lean and mean entiation and Quiz #4: F. ing, acoustics, and building con- into the life sciences and biotech- engineering school in upstate New It was clear that I was going to servation, and is offering a newly nology. If I had known that, I would York into a top national techno- have to come to terms with The approved Ph.D. in architectural have listened more attentively to logical research university. I feel I Mathematics of Change, or my col- sciences. Prof. Faigenbaum in Chemistry I, have thrived in this environment, lege career was going to be serious- The undergraduate student ex- or tried harder to get those Satur- and I owe it all to an extraordinary ly foreshortened. I had two choic- perience has changed dramatically day morning chemistry lab exper- professor named Dis Maly. es: dig deep and figure it out, or go as well. Academic programs, while iments to work! home in shame. In retrospect, there rigorous as ever, place a premium We’ve moved, too, into the arts. David Haviland, a was no choice. I pulled it out. on student initiative, teamwork, and Here we architects had opportuni- member of the Class Fast forward 45 years. I am still innovation. Mobile computing al- ty—and also Prof. George Rickey, of 1964, has three heavily involved with The Mathe- lows students to work anywhere and an outstanding teacher who was be- Rensselaer degrees matics of Change. everywhere. Clubs, organizations, coming America’s leading kinetic and has served his Consider the Rensselaer of 2005. sports, and community service pro- sculptor. His sculpture, Six Random alma mater as professor, dean of ar- In the past six years, it has hired vide ubiquitous opportunities for Lines Excentric, stands in front of the chitecture (1980-1990), vice president 150 new faculty, and in areas un- initiative and accomplishment. We Greene Building today. for student life (1993-2000), and vice heard of when I sat in Carnegie 02, see the results in the math: Fresh- Life sciences and the arts are big president for institute advancement Prof. Maly’s dusty classroom. The man to sophomore persistence rates bets for RPI in the 21st century, and (2000-2005). This column literally is faculty received $80 million in re- are in the 91-93 percent range, and big changes are already under way. his “last word” as he retired Dec. 31, search awards—more than dou- the six-year graduation rate is at 81 Faculty members are both changing 2005.

56 RENSSELAER/WINTER 2005-06 Inspiring Tomorrow’s Leaders

A renaissance is under way at Rensselaer. Our world-class faculty, state-of-the-art research facilities, and dynamic campus environment attract top students from around the world. Recently admitted classes have been among the highest quality in Rensselaer’s history, with record numbers of women, minorities, and Rensselaer Medalists.

> Quality Students—Average freshman SAT scores have increased 60 points in the last six years. > Creative Curriculum—The undergraduate program received the highest ranking in years from U.S.News & World Report— 43rd, up from 46th last year. > Commitment to Teaching—Reduced faculty/student ratio from 17:1 to 14:1.

Join us on this remarkable journey. Call (518) 276-2566 to visit the campus and see for yourself, or visit us online at rpi.edu/campaign to learn more about Renaissance at Rensselaer: The Campaign for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. ONE WORD FROM YOU CAN CHANGE HER LIFE... 110 8th St., Troy, NY 12180-3590 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

“RENSSELAER”

She’s one of the best. Strong in math and science. Involved and active. Very bright. But does she know all of her options? Recommend Rensselaer. A top-tier technological university with broad degree paths. A supportive, intimate atmosphere. A place where she will learn—how she can change the world. Call Rensselaer Admissions at (518) 276-6216. Visit http://admissions.rpi.edu/oneword to request an information packet and application fee waiver—spread the word.