Princeton
university BulletinVolume 99, Number 5 November 9, 2009 Princeton partnership to explore evolution of cancer
H i l a r y Pa r k e r of pathology at the University of California-San Francisco. “It’s why rinceton physical scientists will we can’t deal with metastasis or drug partner with researchers at four resistance; it’s the thing that kills Pother institutions to explore the people. We’re addressing these impor- driving forces behind the evolution of tant questions — how does evolution cancer under a five-year, $15.2 mil- lead to metastasis and resistance, and lion award from the National Cancer how can we use evolution to skew the Institute. outcome in a different way?” The Princeton Physical Sciences- Research in the center hinges on the Oncology Center was launched Oct. 26 use of microfabrication techniques to as one of 12 centers in the institute’s create complex habitats that provide an new network of Physical Sciences- unprecedented ability to manipulate Oncology Centers. Collaborating with many variables at once and observe Princeton will be: the University of how cells respond, allowing the team California-San Francisco; the Johns to determine how different conditions Hopkins Hospital; the University of promote or inhibit rapid cancer evolu- California-Santa Cruz; and the Salk tion and tumor formation. Institute for Biological Studies in La The results they obtain will inform Jolla, Calif. the development of sophisticated
The center’s goal is to understand Denise Applewhite computer models that simulate tumor the explosive evolution of cancer growth and predict how and when Guillaume Lambert (left), a physics graduate student at Princeton, and Robert Austin, under stress at a deep theoretical and certain tumors might invade surround- principal investigator of the new Princeton Physical Sciences-Oncology Center and physics experimental level by leveraging the ing tissue. Data obtained from these professor, observe prostate cancer cells growing on a microhabitat in Jadwin Hall. strengths of an interdisciplinary team simulations will, in turn, suggest new of physicists, engineers, chemists, questions to ask and explore. biochemists and oncologists. Using living longer than they used to live, cancerous cell in the body, those that “One ambitious goal is the creation a physics-based approach, the team but in the end, the cancer wins most survive the stress of chemotherapy of an ‘in silico’ growing tumor, mean- intends to better grasp the rules or of the time. Our current ‘shock and and radiation often have undergone ing a realistic model on the computer, laws that govern how cancer evolves, awe’ approach to treatment may not be mutations that render them resistant to which could suggest new experi- which may one day inform entirely the best thing to do — we’re leaving traditional treatments, capable of rapid ments, test new hypotheses, predict new treatment approaches. behind small populations of highly reproduction and therefore exceedingly behavior in experimentally unobserv- “The mortality rates for many resistant cells.” dangerous. able situations, and be employed for cancers are flat to rising,” said Robert This course may, in turn, contrib- “The evolution of cancer is the early detection,” said team member Austin, the center’s principal inves- ute to the development of intractable Achilles’ heel of cancer treatment,” Salvatore Torquato, a professor in tigator and a Princeton professor cancer recurrences. Because it is said Thea Tlsty, the center’s co- of physics. “It’s true that people are nearly impossible to kill every single principal investigator and professor Continued on page 7 Giving voice to the voiceless Chen depicts life in poverty in early 20th-century China
Je n n i f e r Gr e e n s t e i n Al t m a n n government officials about said Chen has “brought a new per- life-threatening condi- spective and new evidence to bear on hen assistant professor Janet tions, even accusations of the social history of China during a Chen decided to write her dis- murder. They were writ- period of tremendous upheaval. She Wsertation on the experience of ten by hired scribes and uncovered sources that others had not poverty in early 20th-century China, literate Chinese people used before, and she used them in a fellow scholars warned her of the dif- who wound up homeless way that succeeded in giving voice to ficulties she would face. or impoverished in the otherwise voiceless people.” “Everyone said, ‘Poor people in chaotic atmosphere in China were illiterate,’” said Chen, China during the first half Loving the footnotes who was then in graduate school of the 20th century. The quest for primary-source at Yale University. “We don’t have The first letter she documents such as the letter with the historical records from them. You’re found, in the Shanghai thumbprints is what drove Chen, who going to have to study poverty from Municipal Archives, was has taught at Princeton since 2006, to the top down — from the govern- from a group of 30 people the field of history. ment’s perspective, the sociologists’ living in a Shanghai “I knew I wanted to be a historian perspective.” shantytown in 1947. They when I realized that I really like to read But Chen didn’t want to study only implored the government the footnotes,” she said. “I think foot- what bureaucrats had to say about to abandon a plan to tear notes are just as interesting as the text.” life in workhouses and shantytowns. down their straw huts. Chen, who has a joint appointment She wanted to know what the experi- The end of the letter had in history and East Asian studies, ence was like for those who lived it. a list of names, and beside resisted her parents’ efforts to get her She decided to travel to China and each one was a thumbprint to speak Chinese as a child. Born in see what she could find — tenaciously in red ink. Taiwan, Chen moved to California uncovering records and voices that “They were illiterate, with her family — she has five siblings reveal painful lost chapters in China’s but they had found one — when she was 6. social history. person to write this letter, “My dad would always holler at Searching through national and and they all testified with us kids to speak in Chinese, and we local archives in Beijing and Shanghai, their thumbs,” Chen said. Brian Wilson would all go silent,” she recalled. “It Chen discovered a trove of docu- David Howell, the Assistant Professor Janet Chen has uncovered records was the best way to get some peace ments — petitions to be set free from chair of the Department of poverty-stricken Chinese citizens that reveal painful workhouses, letters of complaint to of East Asian Studies, chapters in the country’s social history. Continued on page 8
What’s United Way campaign kicks off Nov. 11 2 Perspective on: Lecture to honor Kyoto Prize winners 3 Freud and Mexico, via Vienna 8 inside? Courses empower budding entrepreneurs 6 Princeton 2 university Bulletin November 9, 2009 Annual United Way campaign kicks off Nov. 11 Spotlight
his fall, Princeton once again financially stable and independent; tions specialist in human resources, is will support the United Way of and improving health for seniors and the campaign coordinator. T Greater Mercer County’s annual people with disabilities. United Way “Each year the success of this cam- fundraising campaign. The Uni- programs are designed to create last- paign amazes me,” said Bartley. “The versity’s drive will take place from ing change by preventing problems dedication, generosity and warm spirit Wednesday, Nov. 11, through Wednes- from happening in the first place. of our employees, retirees and depart- day, Dec. 2. All donations will be distributed mental volunteers are a testament to the Last year, faculty, staff and retirees to United Way programs in Mercer spirit of Princeton. The funds donated contributed $221,195.72. These funds County or employees’ home commu- by the University’s community will helped the United Way to provide nities, or to other health and human continue to provide much-needed aid to relief to people in the local community. services agencies that are designated individuals and families in our area.” The theme for the 2009 United by individual donors. This year’s “In these hard economic times Way Campaign is “Live United.” This campus campaign is co-chaired by the United Way campaign is more year, United Way funding is based on David Dobkin, dean of the faculty, and important than ever, and the Prince- three focus areas: helping children and Lianne Sullivan-Crowley, vice presi- ton community plays a critical role,” youth achieve their potential through dent for human resources. Zia Bartley, added Sullivan-Crowley. “The gener- education; helping families become events management and communica- osity of Princeton’s staff and faculty demonstrates the strong ties we have to helping our local communities and exemplifies our commitment to service By the numbers during a time of need.” The University will contribute 15 Denise Applewhite cents per dollar for gifts made by Whig Hall — the home of the nation’s Accessible bathroom facilities were payroll deduction. For other types of Name: Margot Putukian. oldest collegiate political and debating installed, as were new card-access sys- donations, the University will contrib- society, the American Whig- tems, fire alarm systems and sprinklers. Position: Director of athletic medi- ute 10 cents per dollar. Cliosophic Society — recently under- Repairs also were done to the roof and cine for University Health Services. Donors can choose to make general went a major overhaul to modernize the exterior. Implementing this work Overseeing medical care for varsity or specific contributions. They can des- the building, which had not been proved challenging due to the solid student-athletes through Athletic ignate their donation to be distributed renovated in nearly 40 years. concrete construction Gwathmey used Medicine Services provided at Caldwell among all programs within the United The improve- in the 1972 renova- Fieldhouse, as well as helping in the Way of Greater Mercer County. With a ments focused tions of all floors. care of club and recreational athletes minimum contribution of $52, they can on the building’s This construction and other students at McCosh Health allocate it to a United Way agency in fire safety and method forced current Center. Providing individual care to their home community, to any specific accessibility designers to weave students, including pre-participation program supported by the United Way, features, bring- new systems work physical exams, routine medical care or to any eligible charitable health or ing them into around the nearly and treatment for sports-related ill- human care organization not supported compliance with impenetrable floor nesses and injuries. Traveling as the by the United Way. While the historic current codes. plate, retaining all team physician with the football team. focus of the United Way is on home The project was the reinforcing steel Providing home sideline coverage for communities, it also is possible to direct overseen by the and electric circuits men’s and women’s soccer, field hockey, gifts to agencies that provide health or Office of Design cast into that concrete men’s basketball, wrestling and men’s human care in other countries. and Construc- decades ago. Other lacrosse. As an incentive to give, the first 200 tion, which hired systems, including the employees and retirees who make a Quote: “I became interested in sports the architecture new heating system, medicine when I was a soccer player bypass these slabs donation can receive two free tickets to firm Farewell Brian Wilson the Princeton-Harvard men’s basket- at Yale. I enjoy attending Princeton Mills Gatsch of altogether. ball game in Jadwin Gymnasium at sporting events. The athletic medi- Princeton to design the renovations. In • Several aspects of the renovation 6 p.m. Saturday, March 6. cine staff (athletic trainers, physical September, the firm received a Pres- made the building more sustainable. Pledge cards were to be sent by cam- therapists, administrative assistant and ervation Merit Award from the New The lighting system and the heating, pus mail around Nov. 6. United Way other team physicians) are tremendous, Jersey chapter of the American Insti- ventilating and air conditioning system campaign volunteers will be available and the coaches here make you feel like tute of Architects for the Whig project. are computer-controlled, which saves within their departments to answer you’re part of the team.” Tours of the building will begin energy by using occupancy sensors to questions and provide additional at 10 a.m., and a ceremony marking turn off these systems, except for emer- Other interests: Working with the under- information. Those who have questions the renovations will be held at 11 a.m. gency lighting, when the building is 20 U.S. women’s soccer team and the or need another pledge card should Saturday, Nov. 14, followed by more unoccupied. A local hot water generation New Jersey women’s professional soccer contact their departmental campaign tours prior to the 1 p.m. Princeton-Yale system saves energy by heating water at team Sky Blue as a team physician. volunteer, visit
The Princeton University Bulletin (© 2009 The Trustees of Princeton University) is published semimonthly in September, Princeton Bulletin October, February, March, April and May, and monthly in November, December and June. This frequency coincides with the Deadline university academic year and excludes University breaks and exam weeks. The Bulletin is published by the Office of Communications, 22 Chambers St., Suite 201, Princeton, NJ 08542. A total of 15 issues will be published between September 2009 Because the Bulletin does not publish during www.princeton.edu/bulletin and June 2010. A publication schedule can be found at
small EEB department; not bad for a Lecture honors Kyoto Prize-winning Grants department less than 20 years old and with only 15 faculty.” K i t t a Ma c P h e r s o n Losos will be introduced by author to be presented to the Grants in Kyoto In their persistent study of birds Jonathan Weiner, the Maxwell M. during a week of ceremonies begin- popularly known as “Darwin’s rinceton scientists Peter and Geffen Professor of Medical and ning Nov. 9. finches,” the Grants have won Rosemary Grant, winners of this Scientific Journalism at the Colum- “It is a wonderful honor to be renown for recording evolution in Pyear’s Kyoto Prize for their pio- bia University Graduate School recognized in this way, and especially action and for extending Charles neering work in evolutionary biology, of Journalism. Weiner’s Pulitzer moving to know that we are the first Darwin’s theory of evolution by will be honored with a lecture by noted Prize-winning book, “The Beak of husband-and-wife team to be given natural selection. Working in the researcher Jonathan Losos at 6 p.m. the Finch,” brought the work of the the award in the 25-year history of Galápagos, the most celebrated place Friday, Dec. 4, in 10 Guyot Hall. Grants to light for most of the public. the Kyoto Prize,” Peter Grant said. in the study of evolution, they have Losos, a professor in Harvard Uni- Published in 1994, the book detailed “Moreover we are following in the conducted extensive surveys of the versity’s Department of Organismic the Grants’ arduous, annual stay in footsteps of our colleague (George finches that contributed to Darwin’s and Evolutionary Biology, will speak tents on Daphne Major, a desolate M. Moffett Professor of Biology) earth-shaking theory. volcanic island Simon Levin, who received the prize The Grants also plan to attend the 600 miles west four years ago, so we feel the occa- ninth annual Kyoto Prize Symposium of Ecuador. sion is cause for celebration of our in San Diego in April. There, since 1973, they have under- taken what was described More news on the Web in Weiner’s Visit the News at Princeton Web page at
Lecture: “Uncivil Society: 1989 and the Implosion of the Communist Establishment” Stephen Kotkin 4:30 p.m. Nov 10 Dodds Auditorium, Robertson Hall nassaunotes Kotkin upcoming Faculty meeting (University only) The East Asian Library 4:30 p.m. Nov. 9 exhibition “Luminous Faculty Room, Nassau Hall Veterans Day observance Worlds,” which runs through 8:30 a.m. Nov. 11 Jan. 22, features items from its seldom- University Chapel seen collection of shadow theater figures. The translucent rawhide figures, Senior thesis play: “My Fair Lady” from northeast China in the late Qing 8 p.m. Nov. 13-14 and 19-21 dynasty period, provide a window to Berlind Theatre popular entertainment of the time and Council of the Princeton University contemporary interpretations of religion, Community meeting (University only) literature and music. Here, a figure of a 4:30 p.m. Nov. 16 warrior rides a black tiger into battle; 101 McCormick Hall tigers appear frequently in the world and underworld in Chinese folklore. Mary Readings: Robert Stone, C.K. Williams Hirsch, a local resident and scholar, will 4:30 p.m. Nov. 18 give a talk on Chinese shadow theater Stewart Film Theater, 185 Nassau St. titled “1,001 Heads: Animating the Gauss Seminars: “On the Lost Universe and Mimicking the Neighbors” Manuscript” at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, in Abdelfattah Kilito, Muhammad V 202 Jones Hall. University 4:30 p.m. Nov. 17, 19 and 23 111 East Pyne Online: More information For more, visit
of the National Endowment for the Lecture explores Simulcast available for symposium Arts; renowned director Peter Sellars; Nobel laureate novelist and Princeton on the arts and the economic crisis professor emeritus Toni Morrison; and eclipse debate Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Paul Mul- simulcast location has been added in the doon, chair of the Lewis Center. about ‘Odyssey’ A for “The Arts and the Economic Stewart 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. The symposium was organized to Crisis,” a symposium hosted by the Film Nov. 14 bring together the perspectives and hysicist Marcelo Magnasco will Lewis Center for the Arts that will Theater, McCosh 10 insights of artists, artistic directors, Pdiscuss his research on whether bring together leading figures in the 185 Nas- Simulcast: Stewart Film arts administrators and advocates Homer describes a total solar eclipse arts world on Saturday, Nov. 14. sau St. Theater, 185 Nassau St. to increase understanding of issues in “The Odyssey” — the subject of Registration is closed for the event, Seating rooted in the nation’s economic and a longstanding debate among schol- which will run from 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 for the political systems that are confronting ars — at 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 30, in p.m. in McCosh 10, but unclaimed simulcast is free and open to the pub- those involved in the arts. McCosh 10. seats will be available on a first-come, lic, with no tickets required. In a lecture titled “Is an Eclipse first-served basis from a wait line Speakers will include: Academy Described in Homer’s ‘Odyssey’?” Online: More information before the start of each panel. The Award-winning actor Philip Seymour Magnasco will address the contro- symposium also will be simulcast Hoffman; Rocco Landesman, chair www.princeton.edu/arts/crisis versy over whether Homer refers to a 8 p.m. total solar eclipse Nov. 30 in the 20th book McCosh 10 international literary awards and was of the epic. Such Former U.N. peacekeeper Dallaire the subject of a feature film released an eclipse has in 2007. been calculated as having occurred to address conflict prevention Since his retirement from the in April 1178 B.C., around the esti- military, Dallaire has worked mated end of the Trojan War. But to increase public understand- omeo Dallaire, who headed the some scholars have dismissed the idea Dallaire, a retired ing of post-traumatic stress United Nations peacekeeping forces that Homer described it in his poem, R lieutenant-general in disorder. He also has been in Rwanda during the genocide in the which emerged centuries later. the Canadian army a visiting lecturer at several African nation Magnasco, a professor and head and former mem- Canadian and American in 1994, will of the Laboratory of Mathematical ber of the Canadian Dallaire universities, and has written on deliver a lecture Physics at Rockefeller University, 4:30 p.m. Senate, is the author conflict resolution, humanitarian titled “Conflict will describe his efforts with col- Nov. 9 of “Shake Hands With assistance and human rights. Prevention or leagues to analyze astronomical Dodds Auditorium, the Devil: The Failure The event is sponsored by the Peacekeeping?” references in “The Odyssey” and to Robertson Hall of Humanity in Rwanda.” The Woodrow Wilson School of Public at 4:30 p.m. search for dates matching the astro- account of his service as force com- and International Affairs, the Fund for Monday, Nov. 9, nomical phenomena they probably mander of the U.N. Assistance Mission Canadian Studies and the University in Dodds Auditorium, Robertson Hall. for Rwanda has garnered numerous describe. Using three astronomical Center for Human Values. references in the epic, the researchers explored all possible dates from 1250 to 1115 B.C., trying to match these phenomena in the order and manner that Homer’s text describes. In that Four iPhone application developers to tell their stories period, a single date closely matches our entrepreneurs will talk about ranging from one that allows iPhone Innovation in the phenomena — April 16, 1178 5:30 p.m. B.C. — leading these researchers to Ftheir experiences creating commu- users to exchange contact information Engineering Nov. 12 nication, gaming, social networking by bumping their Education, speculate that Homer is referring to Friend Center that specific eclipse. and health applications for the iPhone phones together Jumpstart Auditorium during a panel discussion at 5:30 p.m. to another than New Jersey The talk is designated as a Louis Thursday, Nov. 12, in the Friend helps diabet- Angel Network Clark Vanuxem Lecture sponsored by Center Auditorium. ics track and and Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP. the University Public Lecture Series The event will explore what control their A reception will follow in the Friend and the Department of Molecular types of applications are popular, blood sugar. Center Atrium. Biology. how a developer gets started and The event what business models can increase is sponsored the chances of success. The pan- by the Keller Online: More information Online: More information elists have developed applications Center for commons.princeton.edu/kellercenter lectures.princeton.edu Princeton November 9, 2009 university Bulletin 5
Calendarlinks Nov. 9–Dec. 13 For broader listings of campus public events: Public Events Calendar Massey delivers President’s Lecture on immigration reform
Online: More information Brian Wilson
Frank Wojciechowski www.princeton.edu/~triangle David Wilcove, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology and public affairs, will discuss his book “No Way Home: The Decline of the World’s Pianist Brendel to discuss ‘Character in Music’ Great Animal Migrations” at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8, in 138 Lewis Library.
enowned pianist Alfred Bren- member of the Vienna Philharmonic Center for McCarter Theatre Rdel will speak on “Character in and has performed with almost every the Arts,
H i l a r y Pa r k e r stemmed from his own nonprofit work. During time off from Princeton in his he laboratory course taking place sophomore year, Sunassee founded in the basement of Princeton’s the Young Volunteers Association in T Friend Center is not a traditional his native country to promote civic one — in lieu of microscopes, there engagement, and last summer he are discussions of microfinance, and interned at the Ashoka global office in students seek to create not chemical Washington, D.C. changes, but social ones. “We have in Professor Bloom a very “A Collaboratory for Social Entre- articulate, experienced and passionate preneurship,” which provides an guide and mentor for this class, which opportunity for undergraduate and in itself is not only an incubator for graduate students to design and entrepreneurial and innovative ideas develop social change organizations, is but also a laboratory — to borrow taught by Gordon Bloom, the Dean’s Professor Bloom’s terminology — to Visiting Professor in Entrepreneurship execute the idea,” he said. in the Keller Center for Innovation in Engineering school freshman Eden Engineering Education. Some 75 stu- Full was still in high school when she dents are diving into 20 projects that invented a system for rotating solar target some of the largest challenges panels to face the sun without using facing society today, including poverty, Frank Wojciechowski electricity. She founded a venture, disease, security and energy. Visiting professor Gordon Bloom (center) talks with seniors Fatu Conteh (left) and Kate Hsih Roseicollis Technologies, to advance The course, nicknamed the “SE during a session of “A Collaboratory for Social Entrepreneurship,” in which students are the use of the invention to promote Lab,” was conceived by Bloom during designing and developing organizations to tackle some of society’s biggest challenges. sustainable energy collection in his time on the Stanford University developing areas. In the SE Lab, Full faculty. He then taught it at Har- sis of the problems addressed and packed classroom. “I think, for our is working with four other students to vard University’s Kennedy School of social value created by four pioneers class, this is a good thing. And I think, create a business model for implement- Government before he came to the of social entrepreneurship, including for the world, this is a good thing. “ ing the invention in Indonesia. Keller Center at Princeton. Through- Nobel Peace Prize-winner Muham- Creating opportunities is exactly “In class, we are studying about a out the semester, students explore mad Yunus, the father of microfinance, what the students, drawn from 16 lot of other social enterprises and what the theoretical framework of social and Bill Drayton, founder of Ashoka: majors and varied personal back- makes them successful,” said Full. entrepreneurship through readings, Innovators for the Public. grounds, are doing in their projects. “What I have found to be very inter- discussions, case studies and guest lec- “We’re not talking about oppor- Veda Sunassee, a senior major- esting is that we are actually applying tures, while developing their own plans. tunity discovery, but opportunity ing in politics who is from Mauritius these models to our own projects. Most, One morning in late September, creation, which implies that you’re — a tiny island nation in the Indian Bloom led the students in an analy- really in control,” Bloom said to the Ocean — said his interest in the class Continued on page 7
in the process, is coordinating the those proposals had to be an interna- Student-initiated course shapes competition with the Keller Center tional project, reflecting his view that for Innovation in Engineering Educa- some of the greatest challenges are in tion, the Pace Center, the Princeton fostering environmentally sustainable environmental business ideas Environmental Institute and the economic growth in the developing student-led Princeton Entrepreneur- world. ship Club. “The expectation is that whatever Us h m a Pa t e l are willing to do the legwork to find With that reward as an additional business they develop, it must make a a professor and a critical mass of stu- inspiration, van der Vink is leading tangible contribution to environmental ince childhood, junior Jason dents for the course. his students through the intricacies stewardship and provide measurable Baum has been aware of environ- “A growing number of Princeton of developing business plans that will humanitarian benefits. It’s supportive Smental issues, switching off lights students are deeply interested in attract investors. “My goal is to create of the University’s [informal] motto of when leaving a room and turning off environmental issues and, much to my 22 business plans that the class of ‘in the nation’s service and in the ser- the water while brushing his teeth. delight, they do not hesitate to come 1976 and private investors will see as vice of all nations,’” said van der Vink, He arrived at Princeton with an forward with interesting suggestions irresistible business opportunities,” he who received his Ph.D. in geosciences interest in one day starting his own for courses,” said Wilcove, who has said. from Princeton in 1983 and has been environmental company. To prepare, joint appointments in the Department “We’re doing this in two steps. a visiting lecturer in that department he looked for a course in environmental of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology What are the guiding principles of an since 1991. entrepreneurship but found that it was and the Woodrow Wilson School of environmental company, and how does He balances that idealism with absent from the curriculum. Now, after Public and International Affairs. “If one actually launch and run a busi- realism. The students’ business plans a year of planning with the Program the students are that eager to learn ness?” he said. must show how they will make their in Environmental Studies and lecturer about a subject, we try to be as sup- Van der Vink, who heads an business financially profitable and sus- and entrepreneur Gregory van der portive as possible.” international environmental consult- tainable within three years. Students Vink, Baum is among the 22 students Working with van der Vink, Baum ing and development company called must describe how they will manage taking the seminar “Environmental was responsible for creating a syllabus Terrametrics LLC, had the students Entrepreneurship” this fall. and sample reading list that matched begin with three proposals. One of Continued on page 7 “The first day, I just couldn’t believe the academic rigor of a 300-level it as I looked around the room. We course. During that process, Baum got right into gear that day, and we’re researched graduate-level business making serious progress,” said Baum, courses at other academic institutions. an economics major pursuing a cer- The existence of numerous business tificate in environmental studies. “It’s plan competitions on and off campus something I greatly value and appre- also motivated Baum, so the focus of ciate about Princeton. If you want the class is that each student must to learn about something and have develop a professional, ready-to-pitch substance behind it, you can make it business plan as his or her final project. happen.” Baum, who also is president of the All students are allowed to submit a student group Princeton Environmen- request for a student-initiated course tal Action, wanted the class to offer to the Office of the Dean of the College “not just an exam that you turn in and with the support of a department or forget about but a finished product program. Baum learned of the option that ... could be a business and make a his freshman year when taking a difference in the world.” student-initiated course on reporting By coincidence, a group of Prince- on environmental issues. “Environ- ton alumni with a similar goal came mental Entrepreneurship” is the fourth forward. The class of 1976’s Spirit of student-initiated course within the Service ’76 group is raising $20,000 Program in Environmental Studies in award money for a campuswide since fall 2006. “green” business plan competition Professor David Wilcove, director in February, which van der Vink Brian Wilson of the environmental studies program, announced on the first day of class. Junior Jason Baum (left) channeled his passion for environment issues into a new student- said the program’s faculty and staff The Spirit of Service ’76, which also initiated course “Environmental Entreprenuership,” which is taught by lecturer and members enjoy helping students who will offer mentoring by alumni later entrepreneur Gregory van der Vink. Princeton November 9, 2009 university Bulletin 7
range of different conditions, including resentations of human tissue, the engineering and the director of the Cancer gradients of temperature and resource microhabitats in development will be Center for Biomolecular Science and Continued from page 1 availability. far more complex than the currently Engineering, and Nader Pourmand, “A tumor is a heterogeneous thing existing chips. One key challenge to an assistant professor of biomolecular with many different metapopulations address will be optimizing the use engineering, both of the University the Department of Chemistry, the of cells inside it,” Austin said. “We’re of biological matrices on the chips to of California-Santa Cruz; Robert Princeton Institute for the Science trying to represent the biological make them extremely favorable for the Getzenberg, the director of research and Technology of Materials, and environment of a tumor and hopefully growth of mammalian cells, trigger- of the James Buchanan Brady the Princeton Center for Theoretical understand the rules by which a tumor ing rapid evolution in a relatively short Urological Institute at the Johns Science. “As you go back and forth to evolves.” Hopkins Hospi- refine the experiments and the theo- Experiments tal; and Beverly retical models, you’re coming to a real will be conducted Emerson, a understanding of cancer. And that is at Princeton using professor in what we’d ultimately like to do.” both bacterial cells, the Regulatory The experimental microhabitats, which form bio- Biology Labo- being developed jointly between the films analogous to ratory at the labs of Austin and James Sturm, a pro- human tissue that Salk Institute fessor of electrical engineering and the can be used as model for Biological director of the Princeton Institute for systems, and human Studies. the Science and Technology of Materi- cancer cell lines. The The other als, are constructed on chips of silicon research team cur- centers in the or polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), a rently is developing National Cancer silicon-based plastic. Featuring a series technologies to make Institute’s new of wells just 10 to 100 microns in size the microscopes fully network will (a human hair is roughly 100 microns controllable remotely, be based at in diameter), the devices allow for the allowing team Denise Applewhite Arizona State growth of distinct but interconnected members at partner From left, electrical engineering graduate student Kevin Loutherback, postdoctoral research University, populations of cells. Ultrasmall chan- institutions to con- associate Liyu Liu, physics graduate students David Liao and Guillaume Lambert, and Cornell Uni- nels link the compartments together, duct experiments and postdoctoral research fellow Andre Estevez-Torres discuss their research in Web-based meetings versity, the H. providing avenues for cells in differ- obtain real-time data with scientists at partner institutions in the Princeton Physical Sciences-Oncology Center. Lee Moffitt ent communities to move and interact via the Web. Cancer Center with one another. A given chip might The Princeton Physical Sciences- period of time. This process also may & Research Institute, Johns Hop- contain tens to hundreds of intercon- Oncology Center’s research will build require the development of novel three- kins University, the Massachusetts nected wells, each capable of housing on previous experiments by Austin and dimensional fabrication techniques. Institute of Technology, Memorial hundreds of cells. his collaborators using a silicon micro- Additional members of the research Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, A series of pumps and valves on habitat to study the evolution of E. coli team include David Botstein, the Northwestern University, the Scripps the chips will enable the delivery of bacteria. The research team already is director of Princeton’s Lewis-Sigler Research Institute, the University of a variety of mechanical and chemical culturing prostate cancer cells on sili- Institute for Integrative Genomics, California-Berkeley, the University of stressors, such as extreme pressure con and PDMS chips, using pumps and who will lead the center’s out- Southern California and the Univer- or chemotherapeutic agents, to differ- valves to refresh the growth medium. reach and education efforts; David sity of Texas Health Science Center at ent populations of cells living under a To create the most realistic rep- Haussler, a professor of biomolecular Houston.
many parts of the University. He In encouraging students who are students love to be innovative. After Social also is connecting students to alumni eager to effect change, Bloom also my own sense of frustration due to seeks to promote changes in higher Continued from page 6 through an environmental initiative lack of support in launching differ- with the class of 1976 and a social education. ent projects, I vowed I would try to entrepreneurs competition sponsored “My own personal experience was provide opportunities for students to if not all, of these projects formed in the by the classes of 1956 and 1981. Reach- that universities were pretty tradi- have ways to turn their visions into class will probably end up launching, ing beyond Princeton, Bloom and tional places and it was difficult to reality.” and it is truly amazing to see so many his students have brought in guest be innovative there,” he said. “And Bloom, who is at Princeton for the unique ideas get off the ground.” speakers, including Iqbal Quadir, the 2009-10 academic year, is the third Other projects range from a founder of GrameenPhone in Bangla- holder of the Dean’s Visiting Profes- garbage-to-methane energy venture in desh and the Massachusetts Institute Gordon Bloom, the Dean’s Visiting sorship in Entrepreneurship, which a Karachi, Pakistan, slum to an educa- of Technology’s Legatum Center for Professor in Entrepreneurship in was inaugurated in 2007. His interest tion innovation effort in Colombia. A Development and Entrepreneurship, the Keller Center for Innovation in in entrepreneurship is informed by his and Harold Rosen, the founder of the own work in the private and nonprofit number of projects focus on improving Engineering Education, will deliver a human health, including an AIDS and Grassroots Business Fund, a World sectors in the United States, Europe breast cancer initiative in Kenya and a Bank spinoff that supports business lecture on “Social Entrepreneurship: and Asia as CEO of a medical tech- mobile phone-enabled malaria infor- enterprises in developing nations. A Rising Generation Changing the nology company and an international mation system in Tanzania. In one SE Lab project, Bloom has World” at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. strategy consultant. “I love the diversity in our class,” Full joined with Wole Soboyejo, professor 19 in Room 104, 58 Prospect Ave. Bloom praised the Keller Center for said. “There are students taking eco- of mechanical and aerospace engi- its focus on social entrepreneurship nomics, engineering, molecular biology neering, to co-advise four Woodrow Students from Bloom’s and initiative to develop leaders in an and so many other disciplines. Yet we Wilson School of Public and Inter- class, “A Collaboratory for increasingly technological world. all come together to form these plans to national Affairs graduate students “It’s part of a big wave of interest in tackle some of the world’s largest issues.” conducting a water filtration project in Social Entrepreneurship,” also universities in making research and Bloom said this process of students Nigeria. The students also are investi- will present their entrepreneurial teaching relevant to global problem- joining forces echoes Princeton’s gating possible pilots of the system in endeavors during the lecture, which solving,” he said. “My strong belief is Grand Challenges Program for energy, their countries of origin — Pakistan, is sponsored by the Keller Center. that the students are the engine — just development and health, which links India, Mexico and El Salvador. give them opportunity.”
and seniors majoring in subjects from company in Liberia, an organic candy The course is helping senior Chan- Environmental philosophy to politics and from math company, a car-sharing service in dler Clay plan her future running an Continued from page 6 to history. Van der Vink draws on this Brasilia and a construction materi- environmentally sustainable event- diversity by encouraging group discus- als disposal and recycling service. In planning business. Clay, an economics sions and requiring that each student the lively discussions that followed, major pursuing a certificate in envi- risk and other potential cultural and distribute his or her assignments to other students offered comments on ronmental studies, has enjoyed how political barriers to their project. To every other member of class each week weaknesses and potential improve- the class emphasizes creativity and give students some insight into the — a type of peer review. ments. Along the way, van der Vink original thought. funding side of the equation, van der “The work exponentially improves interjected with questions about the “We are essentially making our Vink is inviting several venture capi- over the course of the semester because project’s costs, revenue sources and own curriculum, because our only talists and international investment everyone takes the best ideas from competitors; he also offered insights assignments are to improve upon our specialists to the class for question- the week before and advances them in and humorous anecdotes from his business plans,” she said. “I am get- and-answer sessions. their own way. The best paper each own experience on alternate business ting a lot of great feedback from my “There are many creative ideas week becomes the bar above which all models and current trends in green classmates on how to improve it, but I [among the students]. Now the dif- the other papers must begin the next building and green thinking. am mostly looking forward to putting ficult part begins — taking those ideas week,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot of skills I can it into practice.” and turning them into realistic, finan- In one recent session, van der Vink apply to a lot of places,” said junior Since the class began, Baum has cially viable projects,” he said. “How surprised his class with an impromptu Julie Phillips, an ecology and evo- returned to his regular role as a do you access tribal lands in the Sahel? competition, giving each student 90 lutionary biology major pursuing a student, researching ventures such as How do you hire, train and manage seconds to pitch their businesses and certificate in environmental studies. wetlands reclamation consulting and 200 people in Burkina Faso?” allowing students to vote on the win- “We’re all working toward applying landfill gas reuse. The students, who were selected ning proposal. to the fund being offered by the class “It’s interesting to see what I created by application to the course, have In another session, each student of 1976, so it’s pretty realistic. We’re and now to take a step back and just responded enthusiastically. The gave a more detailed presentation of aiming for something that could really be a part of the group,” he said. “I’m group includes sophomores, juniors a potential project, such as a latex happen.” happy with that.” Princeton 8 university Bulletin November 9, 2009
what strikes me most Perspective on: is to think that Freud altered the course of history without weap- Freud and Mexico, ons, money or power; all he had were ideas and words. It was his via Vienna passionate relation to “the life of the mind,” Name: Rubén Gallo as Hannah Arendt Title: Associate professor of Spanish and Portuguese languages called it, that changed and cultures, director of the Program in Latin American Studies the world — and it was all done from Scholarly focus: A scholar of modern Spanish America, Gallo is a desk in this very the author of “Freud’s Mexico: Into the Wilds of Psychoanalysis,” apartment. forthcoming from MIT Press, which explores Freud’s relation to Mexico. His other publications in English include “Mexican What is a typical day Modernity: The Avant-Garde and the Technological Revolution,” like for you in Vienna? which won the Katherine Singer Kovacs Prize in 2005, and “New I have a quick Tendencies in Mexican Art.” breakfast in my apart- Interview conducted by Karin Dienst ment, where from my
Courtesy of Sigmund Freud Foundation window I can see the Stefansdom, Vienna’s Gallo is the 2009 Fulbright-Freud Visit- Freud in Russia, Freud in France, even 1938, Mexico was the only country to cathedral. I then head to the National ing Lecturer in Psychoanalysis and is one about Freud in Argentina called present a formal protest at the Society Library, located in a section of the spending the fall in Vienna as a guest of “Freud in the Pampas,” but there of Nations against the Nazi annexation Hofburg, the Imperial Palace, where the Sigmund Freud Foundation, located was virtually nothing about Freud in of Austria, the event that led to Freud’s I read and write for most of the day at Berggasse 19, where Freud lived for Mexico, so I decided it would make a exile. To commemorate this expression — this is the beauty of a sabbatical 47 years before emigrating to London good book project. of solidarity, Vienna named one of its year. In the evenings I usually attend after the 1938 annexation of Austria by squares “Mexikoplatz” after the end of lectures at the university or at the Nazi Germany. Gallo has an office in Has living in Vienna helped you under- the war. Sigmund Freud Museum; the last talk the room that was once the bedroom of stand Freud’s relationship to Mexico? Living in Vienna has helped me to I heard was by an economist who did Minna Bernays, Freud’s sister-in-law. Absolutely! Not many people real- understand the relations between these a psychoanalytic study of “Overcon- In addition to conducting research at the ize that the histories of Austria and two cultures, and it inspired me to fidence and the Financial Markets.” Sigmund Freud Museum, he is giving a Mexico have been intertwined for write a chapter called “Freud’s Mexi- And a few times a week I have dinner series of lectures on Freud’s relation to more than 500 years, and that the two can Vienna,” where I document all the at one of Vienna’s famous cafés, like Mexico and teaching a seminar at the countries have had a complex — and “Mexican” places Freud would have the Landtman, or go to a concert at the University of Vienna. at times traumatic — relationship. encountered during his daily walks in Philharmonic. It was a Hapsburg King, Charles V, the city. How did a scholar of modern Spanish who ruled Spain during the Conquest Do you expect to teach about this work America become interested in Freud? of Mexico in the 1520s, and many What is it like to work in Berggasse 19? when you return to Princeton? For the past three years I have been of the Aztec treasures taken by the It is an extremely moving experi- Yes! I already have a few ideas for writing a book on Freud and Mexico. Spaniards made their way to Vienna, ence. The first time I entered the courses. One will be “Freud at Large,” Part of it is about the reception of where they can still be seen today. doorway and walked up the stairs to a seminar devoted to the readings of Freud. Who was reading Freud in the And in the 19th century, during one Freud’s apartment, I thought to myself: Freud offered by artists and writers in 1920s? How were books like “Totem of the most surreal episodes of his- This is the birthplace of so many ideas Latin America. The other will focus on and Taboo” read by Mexican poets and tory, another Austrian, Maximilian that transformed the world. So much the literary and artistic representation artists? Part of it is about Freud’s view von Hapsburg, the younger brother of of 20th-century culture — the talk- of the execution of Maximilian. Mexi- of Mexico. Freud collected Mexican Kaiser Franz Josef, became emperor of ing cure, surrealism, the films of Luis can novelists have been fascinated by antiquities, read Mexican books —in Mexico. He was shot by a firing squad Buñuel, our approach to the study of this episode since the 19th century, and Spanish — and corresponded with in 1867 — a scene that was painted by literature at Princeton, everything there is a vast corpus of novels, plays, Mexican disciples. Surprisingly, no Manet — despite pleas to the Mexican down to the humor of New Yorker poems, paintings — even an opera — one had explored this intriguing government by figures including Vic- cartoons —trace their origin to this that tells us much about the relationship relationship. There are books about tor Hugo and Queen Victoria. And in modest apartment in Berggasse. And between literature and history.
as an English instructor in Guang- and the Communist Revolution. into workhouses, even if they were Chen zhou at a medical school and a military “Janet explores very important disabled or otherwise unable to work, Continued from page 1 hospital run by the People’s Liberation aspects of the social and cultural his- Chen said. The conditions in the work- Army. She taught at Yale for one semes- tory of modern China in her work and houses could be dismal — food was and quiet around the house.” ter after completing her Ph.D. and then in her teaching,” said William Jordan, often scarce, diseases spread quickly But as a freshman at Williams Col- joined the Princeton faculty. the chair of the history department and allegations of abuse were com- lege in 1990, one year after the killing Chen currently teaches “China, and the Dayton-Stockton Professor mon. Several letters spoke of alleged of protesters in Tiananmen Square, 1850 to the Present,” an introduc- of History. “She offers our students murders at workhouses, prompting Chen was drawn to a history course tion to the history of modern China extraordinary insights into modern investigations by authorities. Chinese culture and society, based not Finding testimonials about the only on her historical research but also circumstances in the workhouses on her experience” of teaching and required following the trail of a cor- doing archival research in China. respondence or incident. Because the Sophomore Angela Park, who is government changed so often in China taking Chen’s undergraduate course during this period, Chen had to track this semester, said Chen shares with down records in several archives, the class “a lot of interesting stories but she enjoyed the detective work. that are not easily found in history When she discovered letters com- textbooks, and they make history more plaining about workhouse conditions, lively and tangible.” she tracked ensuing investigations In Chen’s course two years ago on by finding police reports, newspaper “Research in Modern Chinese His- accounts and reports by local govern- tory,” she offered “practical guidance ment officials. — for research and writing grant “These records were scattered all applications — for students who were across China,” Chen said. “But there new to the field,” said graduate student were many more than you would James Bonk. “She gave assignments expect.” that challenged us to think beyond Chen’s next project centers on the some of the analytical and temporal social history of Mandarin, which is categories that have shaped the field of based on the northern Beijing dialect modern Chinese history.” and was adopted as the “national lan- guage” in both China and Taiwan. Chen
Brian Wilson Understanding the ‘crime’ of poverty is interested in exploring how school- Chen, who currently is teaching an undergraduate course on Chinese history from 1850 to Chen’s dissertation research forms teachers taught a language they didn’t the present, was drawn to Chinese studies during her own college days after the killing of the basis for her first book, “Guilty speak themselves, how they approxi- protestors in Tiananmen Square. of Indigence,” which she currently is mated sounds for Mandarin when it finishing. The book, a history of the wasn’t yet the lingua franca, and what on China. “There was a real sense of for undergraduates, which is similar experience of poverty in early 20th- effects learning a new common language discovery for me,” she said. After that, to the course at Williams that drew century China, explores the birth of had on local communities. In addition to Chen focused her studies on Chinese her to the field. Her class for gradu- the workhouse and the criminalization archival research, Chen plans to examine history and in 1994, after earning her ate students covers theoretical debates of poverty in Beijing and Shanghai. radio broadcasts, the first Chinese mov- bachelor’s degree, she went to mainland and empirical questions about topics in Anti-vagrancy laws meant that beg- ies with sound and other aural sources China on a teaching fellowship, serving 20th-century China such as urban life gars and homeless people were thrown for her research.