SPRING/SUMMER 2010

PUBLISHEDBYUSCCOLLEGEOFLETTERS,ARTS&SCIENCES

the POWER PROMISE of the &

What lies deep beneath the ocean floor? With a $25 million NSF grant, Katrina Edwards and her team are determined to find out.

ALSOINSIDE:ALSO INSIDE: Let There Be Light • The Science of Language (Na’vi, That Is) • A Global Lens • Mindful Giving E R O O M E I R U A L Y B O T O H P

12 | Trojanalities 59 | Faculty Bookplate Departments A Global Lens 60 | Class Notes Film director Taylor Hackford ’68 adds USC’s Asa V. Call Alumni 2 | From the Editors Dead Sea Scrolls image acts like a Achievement Award to his many 63 | In Memoriam flashlight, revealing the tiniest of honors. BY MIRA ZIMET From the Dean details — even a fleck of ink scraped 64 | In My Own Words 3 | off the top of a character. 55 | Trojans Give Back Redemptive Suffering BY PAMELA J. JOHNSON 4 | Campus News & Mindful Giving An unorthodox course of study with Events 10 | In the Spotlight With the generous support of David a beloved mentor allows one alumnus to begin his journey of healing. The Science of Language & Dana Dornsife and Joyce J. 7 | In the News Cammilleri, the Brain and Creativity BY DOUGLAS AYRES ’83 (Na’vi, That Is) Institute advances its groundbreaking 8 | In the Field From harmony (meoauniaea) to research. brainworm (eltungawng), Paul Let There Be Light Frommer Ph.D. ’81 creates a brand 57 | Faculty Notes Using Bruce Zuckerman’s technology new language for the film Avatar. and software, a click of the mouse on a BY SUSAN ANDREWS college.usc.edu Explore USC College’s Web site and video gallery for exciting new content. 40 | Los Angeles’ 8.8 Special Focus: SCIENCE Wake-up Call The Southern California | Cool Science | Chemistry Off the Earthquake Center says 13 27 the massive temblors in Donal Manahan’s course Charts Haiti and Chile should in Antarctica focuses on Cutting-edge instrumental facilities pave serve as a warning for integrative biology. Yes, the way for more innovative research. Angelenos. BY ALLISON DOYLE MPW ’11 there will be penguins. BY SUSAN ANDREWS BY PAMELA J. JOHNSON 43 | Seasons in the Sun 28 | Brains & Beauty 17 | Yeast Unleashed After the Station fire and flash flooding, The Brain and Creativity astronomer Edward Rhodes and one of his These one-celled fungi Institute directed by undergrads attempt to make it up Mt. are not only good for Antonio and Hanna Wilson to the 60-foot solar tower. making bread, beer and Damasio takes on hu- BY PAMELA J. JOHNSON whiskey.They’re also an mankind’s biggest neuro- important research tool in scientific questions with intellect and an 44 | Explosives, Black Holes the fight against cancer. BY PAMELA J. JOHNSON artistic soul. BY PAMELA J. JOHNSON & Dr. Who 20 | Fridays Are Happening Nick Warner’s scientific 31 | SCIENTISTS on the new curiosity was sparked at a With backup from some young age. Now he shares talented musicians, frontiers the same joy of discovery science takes center stage with students and television at the Natural History 32 | The Power & Promise viewers around the world. BY LAURIE MOORE Museum of Los Angeles of the Ocean County. BY MEGAN CHRISTOPHER MPW ’11 Do you know what lies deep, deep below 48 | A Real Tweet the ocean floor? With the support of a $25 22 | Crystal Clear million grant from the National Science Stuttering, Parkinson’s disease, Fragile X syndrome. The Lin Chen’s Eureka! Foundation, Katrina Edwards and her neural circuitry of songbirds moment leads to major team are determined to find out. holds one of the keys to breakthroughs in structural BY SUSAN ANDREWS understanding and repairing biology. BY SUSAN ANDREWS 36 | Exploring the vocal learning in humans. BY SUSAN ANDREWS In-between 24 | Mechanisms of Memory 50 | Of Plants, Flies & Men BY SUSAN ANDREWS Discoveries by Michel With the help of a small Baudry and Sohila Zadran 37 | Seizing the Day(light) flowering plant and a fruit bring 40 years of research BY LAURIE MOORE fly, Simon Tavaré is leading to a pinnacle. a team of researchers to BY LAURIE MOORE 38 | Finding the Right Mix advance our understanding BY EMILY CAVALCANTI of the genetic origins of human disease. 26 | There’s Nothing to Fear BY EMILY CAVALCANTI (It’s Just Science) 39 | Building the Nano The Loh Down on Science host reminds us World 54 | Image Is Everything that science belongs to everyone. So, let’s BY LAURIE MOORE Alan C. Nelson ’72 pioneers technology enjoy. BY SANDRA TSING LOH for the early detection of cervical and lung cancers. BY DAVID DORION MPW ’94 { Science Is All Around Us

pace: the final frontier. These are voyages EDITORS of the starship Enterprise. Its five-year EDITOR Susan Andrews mission: to explore strange new worlds, S MANAGINGEDITOR & DESIGNER to seek out new life and new civilizations, to Emily Cavalcanti SENIORWRITER & ASSISTANTEDITOR boldly go where no man has gone before. Pamela J. Johnson FROMTHE

{ These words began each episode of the original Star Trek series, creating a sense WEBEDITOR & WRITER Laurie Moore of adventure and excitement that continues to resonate with today’s viewers. NEWMEDIAPRODUCER Even those of us with humanities backgrounds may be Trekkies who, as children, Mira Zimet

assembled models of the USS Enterprise NCC-1701 under the radar of many of our COORDINATOR friends. Letitia Franklin In recent years, people have turned to CSI, Lost and other shows for a dose of USCCOLLEGEADMINISTRATION forensics or time travel. At times the scientific accuracy may be questionable, but Howard Gillman, Dean an increased interest in science often ensues among a diverse audience. Michael Quick, Executive Vice Dean And whether the new frontier turns out to be below the ocean’s crust or outer Academic Affairs space, proteins or genes, nanoscience or neuroscience, the collective knowledge of all Susan Andrews, Senior Associate Dean for Communication areas will, together, help solve many of the greatest problems known to humankind. Dani Byrd, Vice Dean for Faculty & Research The scientists you will read about in this issue have and will continue to have a Steven Lamy, Vice Dean for major impact on health, food, energy and the environment through their amazing Academic Programs and groundbreaking research. George Sanchez, Vice Dean for College Diversity Modern science is interdisciplinary in nature — a spectacular hybrid that com- Roger D. Stewart, Executive Associate Dean for Administration & Finance bines the latest technologies, producing more and better information. Richard Vargas, Senior Associate Dean Science defines centuries. What will define the 21st century? for Advancement Science is all around us — more now than ever and especially within USC College. USCCOLLEGEBOARDOFCOUNCILORS —Susan Andrews and Emily Cavalcanti, Office of College Communication Jana Waring Greer, Chair • Joan Abrahamson • Jay V. Berger • Robert D. Beyer • MaryLou Boone • Gregory Brakovich • Robin Broidy • Susan Casden • Richard Cook • James Corfman • Robert R. Dockson • Allen Gilbert • Patrick C. Haden • Gary Hooper • Janice Bryant Howroyd • George “Chip” Hughes • On the Cover Suzanne Nora Johnson • Stephen G. Johnson • David Y. Lee • Liam McGee • Philip Katrina Edwards was awarded a $25 million grant Morais • Robert Osher • Gerald Papazian • from the National Science Foundation to lead a Lawrence Piro • Alicia Smotherman • team of researchers in a new science and technol- Glenn A. Sonnenberg • Rosemary Tomich ogy center called the Center for Dark Energy USC College Magazine is published twice a year Biosphere Investigations. This is the second such by USC College of Letters, Arts & Sciences enterprise in USC College with the first being the Office of Communication at the University of Southern California. © 2010 USC College. The Southern California Earthquake Center. diverse opinions expressed in USC College Mag- azine do not necessarily represent the views of Read more on page 32. the editors, the College administration or USC.

KATRINA EDWARDS PHOTO BY PHIL CHANNING USC College Magazine welcomes comments OCEAN PHOTO BY PHILLIP COLLA from its readers. Send letters to [email protected] or USC College Magazine, c/o Letitia Franklin, 1050 Childs Way, RRI 116, Los Angeles, California 90089-2910.

2 | USC College Magazine PHOTOBYPHILCHANNING amlei nte ebro u vast our of member another Joyce Cammilleri, from gift A Cre- (BCI). and Institute Brain ativity the for building new a work on beginning are we support, their with College. the in Center Imaging roscience Neu- Cognitive Dornsife David and Dana the establish to gift lead the provided have also They 2005. in holders inau-gural the became Damasio Hanna and nio Anto- scientists brain pre-eminent which of College, the in chairs endowed two established Dana, wife, his and Dornsife David Trustee USC education, science of advancement the to dedication parents’ his Continuing building. Mudd G. Seeley the facilities, science vital College’s USC of one of construction the supported ously previ- having after Neu- Building Hedco rosciences the for donors lead the were science. of frontiers the explore students and faculty where College a created have we together, working how, of examples many of one is it universities. And research global top-tier of ranks the into cendency Chemistry. itself. institute the to and endowed professorship an to names their lending ally eventu- work, George’s of supporters and friends great became Loker Katherine and Donald particular, In scientific research. in leader world a became USC that ensuring to committed was Family G Science, of Frontiers the Exploring htwsloigfrsrn aut obidu h sciences. the up build to faculty strong for looking was that nti su,yuwl er bu how, about learn will you issue, this In Dornsife Ester and Harold 1989, In as- USC’s for milestone historic a was It in Prize Nobel the won George 1994, In Trojan larger the that knew also He erecniee S dnmcuniversity” “dynamic a USC considered George Institute. Research newly Hydrocarbon the formed of director scientific of and professor chemistry as 1977 in USC to came Olah eorge Together g.Drn h rn alddcto cere- dedication Hall Irani the During ogy. biol- computational and molecular of the field in time our of scientists greatest the of many houses that facility cutting-edge 118,000-square-foot, beautiful, a 2007, Hallin Irani R. Ray build helped College the College. the in headquartered Investigations Biosphere for Energy Center Dark a create to million $25 awarded has Foundation Science National leadership, the her of because that learn you will issue, this In Edwards. Katrina ogy, geomicrobiol- subseafloor and ocean deep in expertise with scientist young ented biology. marine in our group join outstanding to faculty world-class of hire cluster to a 2006 in us allowed strengths these and policy, and science environmental in 2008. March in Center the Boone opened proudly we dream this shared who others many of support ad- ditional the with and Catalina, on Leadership Environmental and Science for a Center creating of dreamed MaryLou, wife, his and Boone George late and The Wrigley. Bill Julie from gift a to thanks established was Studies Environmental for Wrigley Institute USC the 1997 in Island, Catalina on Center Science Marine Wrigley arts. visual the and performances cal musi- meetings, science for space the-art state-of a establish will which ditorium, au- new BCI’s support will Family, Trojan eeosspotr ftesine and sciences the of supporters Generous tal- highly a was hires new our Among leader a College the made support This K. Philip the of success the on Building oeflfrei l fnature. of all in force most powerful the — mind educated en- and an gaged of creativity and rigor the brates cele- and disciplines all across discovery and inquiry values which College, of USC mission broader the of inte- component an gral is Science College. the in today place taking research science amazing scholarship. interdisciplinary to and depth with breadth to commitment ple’s Sam- President of cornerstone the been has that ideal Renaissance the embodies George me, To politics. and litera- ture history, of mainly spoke we sur- prise, my To enjoyed. much very I which Economy Methanol The book, dis- latest to his prepared cuss was I met, first we When recipient. Prize Nobel one course!) (of and members neering Engi- of Academy National four fellows, Science of Advancement the for ciation Asso- American 27 members, Sciences of Academy National nine and fellows, Arts Sciences of Academy American 13 fac- are our ulty among that brag now can College million. to $71 percent 50 by funding we increased alone, have years five last the In mission. research our for funding external creased in- dramatically has College the ment, sciences.” biological and life the of age golden this in player key a remain will USC Irani, Ray as such people to “Thanks said, Sample B. Steven President USC mony NAH COLLEGE ANNA USC OF DEAN GILLMAN HOWARD oeyuejylann bu the about learning enjoy you hope I Olah. George to back me brings This the efforts collective our of Because state- Sample’s President to up Living . IGDEAN BING ’ eodOladGas: and Oil Beyond CHAIR S Wly 2006), (Wiley, pigSme 2010 Spring/Summer

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{ { { CAMPUS NEWS & EVENTS { 4 | S olg Magazine College USC xeine rsn rmthis from arising experiences student and programs ademic ac- the that expect “We College. the of dean Gillman, Howard professions,” said pre-health in interested undergraduates USC for experience ment advise- and academic standing out- truly a ensure will Medicine of School Keck the and lege Col- USC between partnership USC. of Medicine of School Keck the and College USC between partnership special a of result a as advising and ming program- undergraduate health pre- enhanced from benefit will soon students, pre-health future with along cohort, large This majors. pre-health as enroll College USC in students year S OLG N H EKSHO FMDCN FUCCET UNIQUE A CREATE USC OF MEDICINE RENOWN OF SCHOOL NATIONAL OF KECK THE PROGRAM AND COLLEGE USC Programs Pre-Health Enhances Partnership New Ti xiigadinnovative and exciting “This first- of percent 30 than More aeafw nadto,small addition, In few. a name to mentoring, peer and Spanish medical medicine, World Third writing, scientific methods, research medicine, in ethics careers, pre-health to duction intro- include might students pre-health to attractive highly counsel. tional addi- desiring others to sistance as- provide and potential their maximize to students forming top-per- encourage will efforts Such majors. pre-health of tion reten- and recruitment the tool in key a as serve will advising and programming academic ate professionals.”health of generation next the prepare and educate to how for model national a be will partnership r.W,i h et eevr lsdof—s tsinteresting it’s it.” so into — window off a closed see very to were West, the in We, era. OLCINO SOVIETICA OF COLLECTION INSTITUTE SENIOR Soviet the and history Russian in time fascinating very a “It’s . e ore htwudbe would that courses New undergradu- of expansion The AE REED HALEY ’ DIRECTOR S ( , LEFT EETYOEE H OLCIN OHSUDRRDAESTUDENTS UNDERGRADUATE HIS TO COLLECTIONS THE OPENED RECENTLY . ) ONBOWLT JOHN NCTLGN H NTTT O OENRSINCULTURE RUSSIAN MODERN FOR INSTITUTE THE CATALOGING ON dergraduates. un- pre-health for experience signature this implement and plan help will who Program, Advising and Academic cine Medi- of School USC College-Keck the of director the for way schools. both from faculty by on worked being are ideas innovative Other assignment. or choice their of physician clinical a shadow and research science basic in rience expe- firsthand gain service, nity commu- in participate students which in courses include ences offered. be will portunities op- pre-health to them introduce and community build that dents stu- first-year for sessions group ainlsac sunder is search national A experi- value-added Other , RFSO FSAI AGAE N IEAUE N THE AND LITERATURES AND LANGUAGES SLAVIC OF PROFESSOR pneddadprovocative.” and open-ended as question the about ing think- students get to way rific ter- a seemed art Public at USC? here system Greek the of ber mem- a student, pre-law a tant, assis- teaching a engineer, an to mean that does “What said. Jud- son Boyd right?’ it is but legal, human. be to means it what and discernment moral of value the understand students helping at aimed presentations multimedia and discussions panel seminars, lectures, exhibitions, coordinates institute The values. and ethics of questions larger the pondering while art the enjoy to nity commu- USC the wanted rector, statement. ethical an with art public of piece a produced each Art,” Contemporary in Practices Experimental Genres: “New course, Roski’s from Students January. in exhibition Right?”art It Is But Legal, Be May “It the organized Arts, Fine of School Roski USC the with collaboration in Ethics, and Humanities for RBSIPRATQUESTIONS IMPORTANT PROBES ETHICS AND FOR HUMANITIES INSTITUTE LEVAN THE BY ORGANIZED EXHIBITION ART AN Ethics of Art The y odJudson Boyd Lyn Teqeto,‘tmybe may ‘It question, “The di- institute Judson, Boyd Lyn Institute Levan College’s USC ’ FERRIS S . .

DOCTORPHOTOBYDIGITALPLANETDESIGN;L.BOYDJUDSONPHOTOBYPAMELAJ.JOHNSON;H.REEDPHOTOBYEMILYCAVALCANTI VISIT COLLEGE.USC.EDU/POLL FOR IN-DEPTH INFORMATION AND VIDEOS ON THE KEY ISSUES IN CALIFORNIA’S 2010 ELECTIONS. FOLLOW THE POLL ON @USCLATPOLL.

“We both recognized that the state was headed for a very interesting political year and that there was a need for a high-quality, statewide polling on political issues.”

LOS ANGELES TIMES MANAGING EDITOR DAVID LAUTER ON THE USC COLLEGE/LOS ANGELES TIMES POLL, A SERIES OF SIX STATEWIDE PUBLIC OPINION POLLS THAT BEGAN IN NOVEMBER 2009 AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA’S 2010 ELECTIONS FOR GOVERNOR AND U.S. SENATOR.

California Poet Laureate and Professor of English and Creative Writing Carol Muske-Dukes (left) with Get Lit Players Monique Mitchell, Ryan Jafar, Dario Serrano and Briauna Taylor

All Aboard the Magic Poetry Bus CALIFORNIA POET LAUREATE CAROL MUSKE-DUKES’ STATEWIDE POETRY PROJECT COMES TO USC. “When I’m cleaning The stars aligned for the The night was magical poets Gabrielle Calvocoressi a pair of shoes, I’ll Magic Poetry Bus on the thanks to the moving perform- and Tom Healy; and special think of the kid that evening of March 1. The Get ance of the Get Lit troupe. guests Stacy Keach and George Lit troupe, poets, professors and Led by Get Lit Executive Di- Wendt, made for an evening of pair will go to and celebrities reveled in poetry. rector and Founder of Get entertainment and an homage the joy they’ll get California Poet Laureate Lit/Words Ignite! Diane Luby to words well spent. since 2008, Professor of Eng- Lane and Artistic Director “We are raising funds to pub- out of it. And that lish and Creative Writing Carol Azure Antoinette, the close- lish and distribute the Magic feels amazing.” Muske-Dukes was asked by knit teen group performs their Poetry Bus Driver’s Guide [a Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to original works of poetry and handbook to the reading and GREG WOODBURN, A SOPHOMORE create a statewide poetry proj- great poems by the masters to writing of poetry], free to all HISTORY MAJOR, ON HIS NONPROFIT ect that unites communities. children in Los Angeles and California public schools,” SHARE OUR SOLES, WHICH HAS DO- Her answer was the Magic Po- other major cities. Muske-Dukes said. NATED NEARLY 5,000 PAIRS OF SHOES etry Bus (now The Magic Po- Get Lit members — Ryan IN THE UNITED STATES AND ABROAD. etry Bus/Get Lit following a Jafar, Monique Mitchell, Dario To contribute to this effort, please visit getlit.org. To learn more about WOODBURN WAS FEATURED AS ONE merger earlier this year). Serrano and Briauna Taylor — the Magic Poetry Bus/Get Lit visit OF PEOPLE MAGAZINE’S “HEROES Rather than a real bus, the recited the poem “The Shirt” magicpoetrybus.org AMONG US” IN ITS MARCH 8 ISSUE.

MAGICPOETRYBUSPHOTOBYMIRAZIMET;G.WOODBURNPHOTOCOURTESYOFWOODBURNFAMILYMagic Poetry Bus takes Cali- by Robert Pinsky. Exquisitely WOODBURN HAS ALSO BEEN SE- fornians on virtual rides that read poetry by USC College VIEWTHENLINE LECTED FOR THE LIBERTY MUTUAL Muske-Dukes likens to the faculty Cecilia Woloch, Dana VIDEO at RESPONSIBLE SCHOLARS PROGRAM. imagination. Goodyear and Muske-Dukes; college.usc.edu/poetrybus

Spring/Summer 2010 | 5 Obstetrician Delivered Flourishing Program MORETHANTWODECADESAFTERESTABLISHINGTROJANHEALTH VOLUNTEERS, DANIEL POTTER ’87 SPEAKS TO STUDENTS. 2010–11 RETHINKING THE HUMAN As a biology undergraduate in obstetrics and gynecology, also The College Commons, a brilliant se- USC College, Daniel Potter ’87 spoke at the event. ries of talks, seminars and events, con- wanted to become a doctor, but “JEP has taken what was a tinues to create waves in USC College. “Within every found it difficult to volunteer at beautiful small plant with flowers “It is unbelievably exciting to realize field of study, local clinics or hospitals to gain and turned it into a big beautiful how passionate faculty are about ideas firsthand experience. tree bearing fruit,” said Potter, a and to see our students rise to the level the idea of the “Half the time, you’d call to reproductive endocrinologist and of the programs,” said Hilary Schor, human is being volunteer and they wouldn’t medical director of the Hunting- professor of English, law and compara- know who you were and didn’t ton Reproductive Center in La- tive literature, and director of The Col- rethought know what to do with you,” Pot- guna Hills and Fullerton. “I’m so lege Commons. constantly, and ter said. “There was a market; appreciative of that.” The Fall 2010 program, “Rethinking students would benefit from vol- Potter, who earned his M.D. at the Human,” continues to challenge these are ques- unteerism and facilities would Keck School of Medicine of USC expectations by focusing on the way tions that can benefit from the help. So basi- in 1991, talked about how he de- the human is being reconceived in the cally, with Trojan Health Volun- cided to become an obstetrician 21st century. only be under- teers (THV), I put those two and gynecologist. “Artificial intelligence asks how stood through things together.” “I truly feel passionate about much of our humanity can be embod- Before graduating, Potter estab- what I do,” he said. “I feel privi- ied in machines; literature asks how we conversations lished THV, which thrives today leged to be able to help people define ourselves through stories; geron- across the under the auspices of the Col- achieve a dream and help them tology asks how long we will live and lege’s Joint Educational Project with this very personal and sensi- evolutionary biology where life begins. disciplines.” (JEP). Each academic year, ap- tive part of their life.” “Within every field of study, the idea proximately 160 student volun- Lew, who earned his M.D. at of the human is being rethought constantly, and these are questions teers provide support at area the Keck School in 1987, advised that can only be understood through conversations across the disci- clinics and hospitals, from trans- the students to stay in touch with plines,” Schor said. lating Spanish to English to help- USC after graduation. Among the visiting speakers will be P.W. Singer, author of Wired for ing doctors during examinations. “I hope that when all of you War: The Robotics Revolution and Conflict in the 21st Century (Penguin, During a recent visit to USC, graduate, you always stay con- 2009); animal science expert and memoirist Temple Grandin; and Potter spoke to a large group of nected to this university because Michael Ondaatje, author of The English Patient (McClelland and Stew- THV participants. Mitchell Lew, it will enhance your social and art, 1992). Programs will address creativity, violence, aging and death, an ’83 biology graduate in the professional network no matter and the human-animal divide, and ask the most provocative question College and now a doctor of what you do, ” Lew said. of all: “Are we being human yet?”

“I think what’s important about going to a Third World country is that you have to go with an open mind and an open heart, and you have to be willing to be challenged and experience new things.”

SHAIMAAABDELHAMID, A JUNIOR HISTORY MAJOR, ON HER EXPERIENCE ABROAD IN THE WEST AFRICAN COUNTRY OF MALI. IN DECEMBER, ABDELHAMID AND A GROUP OF USC COLLEGE STUDENTS TRAVELED TO THE VILLAGE OF SIKORO, WHERE THEY HELPED PLAN FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A BRIDGE AND WORKED IN THE COMMUNITY GARDEN. THE TRIP WAS THE BRAINCHILD OF POST-BACCALAUREATE PRE-MEDPROGRAMALUMNA LAURENCISZAK, WHO HAD STUDIED ABROAD IN MALI AND LEARNED THAT THE VILLAGERS WANTED TO BUILD A BRIDGE ACROSS AN AREA THAT FLOODED EVERY YEAR, CUTTINGTHEMOFFFROMTHEMIDDLESCHOOL, MARKET, ROAD AND HEALTH CENTER.

6 | USC College Magazine in the NEWS

“The entrepreneur creates a new product Faculty Opinion — it creates a new market; it creates a new • • • • LEADERS source of supply; it creates new manage- “The White House has con- ment. And it starts a new business. So they cluded that cultural trends in are the engines of economic growth throughout the world.” this country — namely the ‘Will and Grace-ification’ of American NAKE KAMRANY of economics in a Jan. 31 Voice of America interview about entrepreneurs. voters, whose exposure to gays and lesbians is much more wide- “It’s like having a vaccine. It’s a low dose of spread than in 1993 — make this something that you really don’t want to ex- an acceptable political risk.” DAN SCHNUR, director of the Jesse M. Unruh perience in real life, a way of experiencing Institute of Politics, in his Feb. 5 Washington Post op-ed on the politics of changing the U.S. something really awful about the human military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. condition from a safe distance.” “You can do better, Los Angeles. KAREN STERNHEIMER of sociology in an Associated Press story, published in the San Francisco You’ve heard it before: admon- Chronicle on Feb. 16, on why the Oscars often laud portrayals of villains. ishment from the lecture hall, pulpit or the pages of a book or “My team and I are thrilled to receive this ex- magazine. History matters.” traordinary opportunity to collaborate with sci- BILL DEVERELL, director of Huntington-USC Institute on California and the West, in his Feb. entists from around the globe as we pursue our 8 Los Angeles Magazine op-ed on looking to the past to move on to the future. ambitious educational and diversity goals.”

KATRINA EDWARDS of biological sciences and earth sciences in a Feb. 20 Xinhua News Agency “I dart across the sun-drenched (China) report on the new Center for Dark Energy Biosphere Investigations, which has been campus of the University of established at USC with a $25 million grant from the National Science Foundation. Southern California, where I’ve worked for the past 23 years, finding angles, zipping around “I think it is interesting that Monk’s music and through the slow-moving conveys joy and humor above all — there morass of students.” is a playfulness in all of his compositions MICHAEL MESSNER, professor of sociology and gender studies, in his Jan. 24 Chronicle of and in the way he improvised.” Higher Education op-ed on aging as a professor.

ROBIN D. G. KELLEY of American studies and ethnicity, and history in a March 1 Psychology Today Q&A “Pleistocene ice-age terminations about his book Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original (Free Press, 2009). are arguably among the most compelling examples of Earth’s “Neither anguish nor the elation that love dramatic climate variability.” LOWELL STOTT of earth sciences in his March 1 or art can bring about are devalued by un- Nature Geoscience op-ed on the cause of a rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels at derstanding some of the myriad biological the end of the last glacial period. processes that make them what they are.”

ANTONIO DAMASIO, David Dornsife Professor of Neuroscience and director of the Brain and Creativity Institute, was cited about the relationship between biological mechanisms and emotion on March 2 in the National Public Radio science and culture blog, 13.7. DEEPBIOSPHEREIMAGECOURTESYOFWOODSHOLEOCEANOGRAPHICINSTITUTION;T.MONKPHOTOBYROBERTBOLTON;D.SCHNURPHOTOBYSAMLIM;L.STOTTPHOTOBYDIETMARQUISTORF VISIT COLLEGE.USC.EDU/MEDIA-NEWS FOR MORE MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS.

Spring/Summer 2010 | 7 e all know what New Jersey is { famous for. The birthplace of Ol’ Bruce Zuckerman, professor of WBlue Eyes? Where Thomas Edison religion and linguistics, with invented the light bulb? Heaven help us, Dead Sea Scrolls fragments FIELD Jersey Shore? at St. Mark’s Syrian Orthodox Cathedral in Teaneck, N.J. Fuggedaboutit! The Garden State is home to one of the

IN THE greatest archaeological discoveries of modern { times. In 1949 — two years after their discov- ery in a Judaean desert cave — fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls found their way to New Jersey and eventually to an unassuming, red brick with white trim church in Teaneck. For six decades, the fragments had been locked inside the church’s vault. St. Mark’s Syrian Orthodox Cathedral and Dead Sea Scrolls officials knew it was time to call in the heavy hitters to document the 2,000- year-old manuscript. About 2,450 miles west, USC College’s Bruce Zuckerman got the call. A leading Dead Sea Scrolls scholar, Zuckerman was the first to record the New Jersey fragments dating around 100 B.C. using high-end digi- tal technology. In August 2009, he and other West Semitic Research Project (WSRP) members brought their advanced imaging BY PAMELA J. JOHNSON methods to the church and photographed the scrolls. Steven Fine of Yeshiva Univer- sity in New York collaborated with WSRP, part of an ongoing partnership between let there be light USC and Yeshiva. “Bruce Zuckerman’s team is the best and Using Bruce Zuckerman’s technology and software, a click of the mouse the most experienced in photographing an- cient texts,” Weston Fields, executive direc- on a Dead Sea Scrolls image acts like a flashlight, revealing the tiniest of tor of the Dead Sea Scrolls Foundation, said details — even a fleck of ink scraped off the top of a character. from Jerusalem. “He’s definitely the first person anyone would think to call within berg, associate director of WSRP.Lund- combinations of light and shadow. A click of Western scholarship.” berg’s husband, John Melzian, along with the mouse on an image acted like a flash- Inside his office at USC, Zuckerman, pro- Kenneth Zuckerman built the equipment light, revealing the tiniest of details. fessor of religion and linguistics, pulled up enabling them to apply the cutting-edge Shining their virtual “flashlight” on the some of the New Jersey Dead Sea Scrolls im- photographic methods, originally developed character, examining the texture of the skin, ages on his computer screen. Written in car- by the Hewlett-Packard Company. they concluded that a tiny bit of ink had bon-based ink on parchment (possibly from a “Technology like this has never been used flecked off the surface. At closer inspection, it goat), many of the ancient Hebrew letters on the Dead Sea Scrolls until now,” Bruce also appeared the scribe had slightly messed were indecipherable in conventional photos. Zuckerman said. “This New Jersey project up the ink stroke and made a correction. Founded in the early 1980s by Zucker- was the first [in which] we were able to “This technology gives us more informa- man and his brother, Kenneth, WSRP was apply our method to such large fragments.” tion than we ever thought was possible,” the first to use polynomial texture mapping Examining one fragment, part of a liturgi- Zuckerman said, adding that his students are (PTM) to photograph the Dead Sea Scrolls, cal prayer, the pair spotted a tiny fleck on also using the method to analyze the scrolls. in addition to the standard practice of taking the first character in the word Adonai (Lord). “The information about the skin and the ink color and infrared images. The PTM tech- They wondered whether the dot was parch- was unexpected. This gives us great hope for nology uses the data from images taken at ment over the character, or a tiny hole research of the future.” many different light angles to show the tex- scraped off the ink. Because the image had Leta Hunt of USC Libraries and her engi- ture of the fragments’ surface. been photographed from every conceivable neers developed the viewer software, based At his computer, Zuckerman examined a angle, the computer software program al- on work by Hewlett-Packard and other uni-

high-resolution image with Marilyn Lund- lowed them to see the fragment in many versities. WSRP’s more than 35,000 images PHOTOBYKENNETHZUCKERMAN

8 | USC College Magazine can be accessed through the InscriptiFact Database Application (InscriptiFact.com). In February, Zuckerman traveled to Milwau- kee, Wis., to deliver a lecture about the New Jer- sey Dead Sea Scrolls and WSRP’s advanced technology.The scrolls are on display at the Mil- waukee Public Museum through June 6. They were documented in connection with that event. “Most people know the Dead Sea Scrolls are displayed at the Shrine of the Book at the Is- rael Museum in Jerusalem,” Zuckerman said. “But I’ll bet most of the public has no idea that the 20th century’s greatest manuscript discovery is also in New Jersey.” How the scrolls ended up in the Diner Capi- tal of the World begins with a tale about three Bedouin shepherds searching the cliffs along Marilyn Lundberg and Bruce Zuckerman of the West Semitic Research Project (WSRP) the Dead Sea for a wayward goat in the spring stand behind the Tarantula, a contraption of 1947. Inside a dark cave, one of them dis- built by Kenneth Zuckerman in which covered several narrow jars with bowl-shaped dozens of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) go lids. Hoping for gold, he found bundles off during each shot of a revolving object. wrapped in cloth, greenish with age. He told The 1954 advertisement in The Wall Street the others there was no treasure. Journal offering Dead Sea Scrolls for sale. The young Bedouins had discovered the first “When Mar Samuel bought them, he seven manuscripts of the Dead Sea Scrolls, writ- thought they were interesting, but he didn’t ten about 100 years before the birth of Christ know what they were,” Zuckerman said, and 1,000 years older than the oldest-known explaining why he put them up for sale. “No one did.” Hebrew texts of the Bible. After hanging from a pole in a tent for awhile, the scrolls were sold for a small amount to a cobbler in Bethlehem. cal books in Hebrew and Aramaic: hymns, elements of the Twister. Lights are affixed The cobbler noticed that writing appeared prayers and other texts providing priceless in- throughout the seven-by-six foot gizmo. While on the skins when accidentally splashed with sights into the culture that brought forth Rab- lights turn on in succession, a camera shoots water. He took four of them to Mar Athanasius binic Judaism and Christianity. photos of an object balanced on a revolving Yeshue Samuel. A native of Syria, Samuel was After Samuel died in 1995 at 87, the frag- turntable in the center. the bishop at St. Mark’s Monastery in Jerusa- ments remained in the Syrian Orthodox arch- “This is humanities enabled by science, by lem and a collector of old manuscripts. diocese headquarters. Samuel himself might technology,” Zuckerman said. “As technology “When Mar Samuel bought them, he thought have been surprised at the technology being evolves, the line between humanities and sci- they were interesting, but he didn’t know what used to study these antiquities today. ence will continue to blur. It’s in this area es- they were,” Zuckerman said. “No one did.” Several offices in USC’s Ahmanson Center pecially that USC is leading the way.” I Samuel took them to scholars in Jerusalem are filled with the futuristic-looking machinery Visit the West Semitic Research Project online at who recognized their importance. He toured the Zuckerman’s team has created and uses to usc.edu/dept/LAS/wsrp. United States with his scrolls trying to sell them, photograph ancient inscriptions. One contrap- but couldn’t find a buyer so he placed an ad in tion, dubbed the Twister, takes photos of an The Wall Street Journal. Under miscellaneous for object perched on a turntable that revolves 360 sale, the scrolls were promoted as “an ideal gift degrees. Two other apparatuses nicknamed the to an educational or religious institution.” Big Dome and Little Dome look like large The scrolls sold for $250,000 to an interme- black top hats adorned with red, white and diary acting on Israel’s behalf. But Samuel — blue wires. When artifacts are placed inside, who used the money to help victims of the photos are taken with light-emitting diodes war in Palestine and finance the growth of the (LEDs) staged in various angles. Syrian Orthodox church in the U.S. — kept Another room holds the Tarantula, a bigger, some of the fragments. He brought them to more powerful version of the domes with New Jersey when he became the U.S. arch- bishop of the church. From 1949 to 1956, further searches yielded the remnants of about 900 scrolls in 11 Qum- ran caves. They included early copies of bibli- WALLSTREETJOURNALDIGITALIMAGECOURTESYOFJAMESE.TREVER;M.LUNDBERGANDB.ZUCKERMANPHOTOBYPAMELAJ.JOHNSON { “ tars are fascinating,” Paul Frommer enthused. “I recall many a New York Snight when as a child I stood out in a vacant lot bundled up against the cold, holding a star map and a flashlight covered SPOTLIGHT in red cellophane [red light interferes less with night vision], trying to pick out the constellations in the sky. And I could rattle IN THE off the names of the 20 brightest stars from { memory: Sirius, Canopus, Alpha Centauri, Vega, Arcturus, Capella, Rigel, and so on.” From age 8 until a junior in college, Frommer thought astronomy was his des- tiny. But he changed his path from astro- physics to math as an undergraduate and then to linguistics as a graduate student. “Linguistics can be quite technical and analytic, and mathematical to an extent,” he said. There is often a correlation be- tween quantitative and linguistic ability.” Now a professor of clinical management communication in USC Marshall School of Business, Frommer earned a Ph.D. in lin- guistics from USC College in 1981, with the internationally renowned linguist Bernard Comrie as his dissertation adviser. In the mid-’70s, Frommer taught English in Iran for a year while intensively study- ing Persian, which heavily influenced his dissertation topic: “Post-verbal Phenomena in Colloquial Persian Syntax.” In a remarkable turn of fate, Frommer’s lifelong love of astronomy coalesced with his passion for linguistics in the realm of space. He had received an e-mail for- warded to him by Professor of Linguistics Ed Finegan about Lightstorm Entertain- ment’s search for an expert to develop a new language for what would become James Cameron’s $400 million science fic- tion epic film, Avatar. Frommer answered the call, and the rest is Na’vi. Listening to the actors speak Na’vi, the THESCIENCEOF BY SUSAN ANDREWS audience probably doesn’t give a second thought to the imagination, training and hard work that went into its development. According to Frommer, it started with pho- netics and phonology. “The sound system language has to be all nailed down first, so that there (NA’VI, THAT IS) is consistency in the language,” he ex- plained. Early on he provided Cameron From harmony (meoauniaea) to brainworm with three “sound palettes” for Na’vi. (eltungawng), Paul Frommer Ph.D. ’81 creates “Cameron passed on the first two, but a brand new language for the film Avatar. liked the third very much,” he said. PHOTOBYMAXS.GERBER

10 | USC College Magazine Na’vi is composed of 20 consonants, seven in language throughout the world. “It would be percent wordier than English,” he said. How- vowels and four diphthongs. If Na’vi sounds to wonderful if Na’vi raised awareness of real en- ever, he noted that the constraint of time in a the listener as if it was derived from no particu- dangered languages. When a language dies, a movie often requires language translations to lar language family, then Frommer is pleased. whole way of viewing the world dies,” he said. be similar in syllable count. His goal was for this language to sound utterly Frommer met with the actors, four who Another challenge for Frommer was respond- new. He admits that there are Persian influences played native Na’vi speakers and three who ing on short notice to Cameron’s need for new in the grammar from the year he spent teaching played humans who learn it as a second lan- words on 12- to 13-hour days on the set. in Iran. There may also be some words reminis- guage, for one-on-one tutorials. “I created MP3s To coin a phrase, literally, about his Avatar cent of Bahasa Malaysia from a year in Malaysia and broke the language down by sentence, then experience, Frommer said: “Lu skxom asìltsan as a Peace Corps volunteer. by phrase, and then by words — similar to a lan- frato mì sìrey!” (It’s the opportunity of a life- “When you create a language, you experi- guage learning tape,” Frommer said. time!) I ence the joy of rolling sounds around in your The voices of the 10-foot blue creatures mouth, hearing unusual sounds, playing with from the planet Pandora who speak Na’vi the sounds and structural properties of lan- were not electronically altered in post-produc- guage — it’s a process that took about six tion to reflect their larger sized jaws, tongues

“When you create a language, you experience the joy of rolling sounds around in your mouth, hearing unusual sounds, playing with the sounds and structural properties of language.” months for the basics,” he said. His linguistic or air tubes. Frommer explained that passion and enthusiasm is undeniable as he Cameron’s desire was to have the Na’vi peo- In case you don’t get a describes the nuts and bolts of developing ple possess human-sounding voices. call from a Hollywood Na’vi. During the five years that Frommer has Cameron developed 30 of the first words of worked with Cameron, he has found him to be powerhouse: “extremely engaging, cordial, supportive and the language, including the word Na’vi. Most According to Professor of Lin- of the words he created were names of charac- very in tune to what is happening with Na’vi.” guistics and Vice Dean for Fac- ters and places. According to Frommer, Camer- Since Avatar’s 2009 release, Frommer has re- ulty and Research Dani Byrd, on had just returned from New Zealand, which ceived droves of e-mails from people around “An undergraduate major in lin- may be a reason there are several words that the world who want to know more about Na’vi guistics prepares a student to may sound Polynesian in origin. and how they can learn it. Only time will tell if have expert analytic, critical In addition to sound and vocabulary, lan- it takes on a life of its own like Star Trek’s thinking and logic skills, and it guages require morphological and syntactic Klingon, the gold standard in sci-fi languages. often combines this ability to rules. In English, for example, the word order The lexicon of Na’vi currently stands at ap- analyze with a scientific under- in a sentence is typically subject, verb and ob- proximately 1,000 words. The vocabulary will standing of human cognition, ject. In Na’vi, there exists a very free word expand in the future to meet not only the speech, and child development. order by virtue of a case system that allows needs of potential prequels or sequels but also “Linguistics graduates might, of those elements to permute in six ways. Also, of the growing community of Na’vi enthusi- course, go on to graduate adjectives may precede or follow a noun with- asts. In the interim, Frommer has developed school in linguistics, psychology, out a change in meaning. new words to emulate rough conversations philosophy or speech pathol- Na’vi contains some suffixes and prefixes, among army privates and to identify varying ogy, but alternatively they may but mainly infixes to inflect verbs, which take types of armor worn for the Avatar video find themselves well prepared a root and shove meaningful elements in the games. for such diverse opportunities middle. There is no agreement for person and A big challenge for Frommer was keeping as law school, domestic or for- number, unlike English and many other lan- the Na’vi lines roughly the same length as eign intelligence work, literacy guages. As far as tense goes, Frommer said their English equivalents. “English is a very pedagogy, or work in speech that Na’vi has five points on a timeline — gen- concise and compact language with a large and language technologies and

eral past, proximate past, present, proximate number of one syllable words. Though it is a ATTENTION LINGUISTICSartificial MAJORS intelligence.” future, and general future. crafted language, Na’vi is similar to many Frommer hopes Avatar generates an interest other natural languages in that it is 30 to 40

Spring/Summer 2010 | 11 Hackford’s first major success as a director

{ BY MIRA ZIMET was with An Officer and a Gentleman (1982). He went on to produce and direct numerous other films, including Dolores Claiborne a global (1995), Devil’s Advocate (1997) and Proof of lens Life (2000). In 2004, Hackford received an Academy Award nomination for directing Film director Taylor Hackford ’68 adds USC’s Asa V. Call Alumni Ray, a biopic on Ray Charles. TROJANALITIES Achievement Award to his many honors. Taylor believes his background in interna- { tional relations influences the films he makes. “I’m working class. My mother was a wait- he year was 1967. The Graduate Robert Padgett ’68, president of the USC ress and she raised me alone. So that was opened in movie theaters and The Alumni Association, “the award is only given my background,” Hackford said. “My films TDoors’ self-titled album debuted. in those years when the Alumni Association are always about working-class people, Despite student uprisings across the country, feels someone is truly deserving of the honor.” struggling within their system to get ahead, then USC student president, Taylor Hackford Hackford was surprised but delighted by to succeed in some way, shape or form.” ’68, described the university as an “ocean of the award. “To take my place with a group of Hackford is now hard at work on several tranquility.” He decided to shake things up. very illustrious alumni is thrilling,” he said. new films and is the current president of the “When I was student body president, I Past honorees of the Asa V.Call Award have Directors Guild of America. was very proud of my university and I loved been John Wayne, Neil Armstrong, musician “Feature film directors can come from any it, but I was also interested in drawing it Herb Alpert, past USC President Norman walk of life,” he said, “It’s my experience in into a new world, somewhat controversially Topping, and former Securities and Exchange life, in real life, that feeds my inspiration.” I at times.” Hackford said. Commission Chairman Christopher Cox. His first step was to affiliate the school Hackford came to USC in 1963 with an with the National Student Association as a interest in politics, but one class with leg- way to give students a voice. He went on to endary international relations professor initiate the first student evaluation of the Norman Fertig sealed the deal for him. faculty, start a cooperative bookstore, and “He just had the right spark to interest campaign for students to pay an activity fee me and I went into the world of interna- that allowed them to bring to campus the tional relations,” Hackford said. musicians and lecturers they, not necessarily After graduating with a major in interna- the administration, wanted to hear. tional relations, Hackford served in the

“When I look back on student politics, I Peace Corps in Bolivia. There, he learned PHOTOBYPHILCHANNING put actual power and teeth in student af- about the power of film by making small in- fairs,” he reflected. “There was an opportu- structional movies with a Super 8 camera. nity for the student government to do Upon returning to Los Angeles, Hackford something and provide services to the stu- capitalized on his USC connection at dent body, which they never did before.” KCET, a local PBS station, and secured a Upon graduation, Hackford received the job in the mail room. “It turned out to be Order of the Palm, the highest honor for my film school,” Hackford said. service and scholarship bestowed by USC He soon worked his way up to making on graduating seniors. documentary films. In 1979, a short film These contributions to his alma mater Hackford wrote and directed for the Chil- have not been forgotten. On April 24, at the dren’s Home Society, Teenage Father, earned 77th Annual Alumni Awards Gala, the USC him an Academy Award for Best Live-Action Alumni Association presented Hackford Short and was the beginning of his with its highest honor, the Asa V. Call distinguished film career. Alumni Achievement Award. According to

“Feature film directors can come from any walk of life. It’s my experience in life, in real life, that feeds my inspiration.”

VIEWTHENLINEVIDEO at college.usc.edu/hackford

12 | USC College Magazine Special Focus: SCIENCE Donal Manahan’s course in Antarctica focuses on integrative biology. Yes, there will be penguins. COOL BY PAMELA J. JOHNSON SCIENCE

t the bottom of the Earth — the planet’s coldest, driest, windiest place — the sky radiates a lavender-yellow hue in the midnight sun.

Whiter than milk, the blanket of ice seems infinite. Amid the Antarctic ice sheets, a mountain rises 6,000 feet near the summit of Mount Terror. This is Manahan Peak. “I was in Antarctica and someone said to me, ‘Did you know there was a Manahan who explored Antarctica before you? There’s a mountain called Manahan Peak,’ ” recalled Donal Manahan, professor of biological sciences in USC College. >> PHOTOBYCORNELIUSSULLIVAN,COURTESYOFDONALMANAHANANDTHEDAILYTROJAN

Spring/Summer 2010 | 13 Two students perched at the edge of Ross Island in Cape Evans peer out over a large iceberg trapped in a flat sheet of sea ice.

“I wanted to bring students out of the classrooms, out of the laboratories and take them on expeditions literally to the end of the world.

“I had to tell him, ‘Well, actually that was named after me.’ I’m very functioning of the whole organism. Participants are also exposed to an humbled by it. It’s really an honor.” array of Antarctic disciplines: atmospheric sciences, glaciology, chem- Manahan Peak is located in a famous part of Antarctica, near where istry and geology to name a few. Their team-oriented laboratory and Sir Ernest Shackleton started his trek toward the South Pole during the field-based projects probe how life adapts in extreme environments. Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration at the turn of the 20th century. “When you take people away from their home institutions and home But Manahan has added a new dimension to the work of early explor- departments, both physically and intellectually, they are much more ers who roughed the gigantic continent the size of Canada, North willing to work together across traditional boundaries,” said Irish-born America and Central America combined. His is the first formal graduate Manahan, also former director of the USC Wrigley Institute for Envi- training program held on the seventh continent that connects young ronmental Studies, housed in the College. scientists to the last great wilderness. “The concept of teamwork in graduate education is a central aspect “I wanted to bring students out of the classrooms, out of the laborato- of this training program.” ries,” Manahan said, “and take them on expeditions literally to the end To date, more than 200 faculty and students representing 30 nations of the world.” have participated. Of 400 applicants, 25 graduate students and postdoctoral In 2000, an international committee named the peak after Manahan fellows are chosen to make the journey each summer, a season in Antarc- for his contributions to research and education on the continent. He has tica when the sun never sets. A dozen professors and teaching assistants been the chief scientist on more than 20 expeditions. nationwide lead the scientific expeditions, with Manahan at the helm. In 1994, Manahan founded the National Science Foundation-spon- “We know there are vital connections between the largely uninhabit- sored International Graduate Training Course in Antarctic Marine Biol- able polar regions and the rest of our planet,” Manahan said. “My hope ogy, the first of its kind. is that we will raise the awareness of the importance of polar regions for The month-long course administered through USC College focuses the future of human society.” on integrative biology — the study of organisms from their genes to the Manahan’s own expertise is animal physiology. He explores how animals PHOTOBYSCOTTAPPLEBAUM

14 | USC College Magazine thrive in extremely cold temperatures. As a new assistant professor at USC, he began his first scientific explorations in Antarctica in the early ’80s. “What prompted me there in the first place was a simple idea,” Manahan said. “I wanted to study the large, cold biosphere on the Earth’s surface.” The cold biosphere consists of habitats as chilly as a refrigerator. It is a major environment on Earth, making up approximately 90 percent in volume of the living biosphere (including the deep ocean) above the Earth’s surface. “That’s what drew me to the cold.” He was in Antarctica in the mid-’80s when the ozone hole was first dis- covered. Atmospheric chemists had presented findings showing a very rapid decline of ozone over the Antarctic. The ozone layer in the upper stratosphere prevents ultraviolet light — which can cause skin cancer and damage plants and animals — from reaching the Earth’s surface. The depletion was attributed to chorine in the at- mosphere, mainly chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) used in aerosols, refrigeration coolants and electronic cleaning solvents. CFCs are mostly released over the United States, Japan, Europe and Russia but journey up into the stratosphere and distribute around the globe. The worst ozone depletion occurs in Antarctica be- cause its extremely low temperatures cause cloud for- mation in the relatively dry stratosphere. These polar clouds are composed of ice crystals that provide the surface for a multitude of reactions, many of which speed the degradation of ozone molecules. Fears of ozone reduction in the Northern Hemisphere have restricted the use of CFCs worldwide. During a lecture he attended in Antarctica, “I was falling off my chair in shock about how big the ozone depletion was and that they had discovered it was driven by human-made CFCs,” Manahan said. “A week later at USC, I told my undergraduate class, ‘I just returned from Antarctica and want to share this important information with you before the world knows about it,’ ” said Manahan, special adviser to USC College Dean Howard Gillman on enhancing undergraduate studies in natural sciences. Six months later, the ozone hole had become one of the decade’s biggest news stories. Now, a different problem has put Antarctica under the international spotlight. Scientists have found that the burning of fossil fuels during the past century has increased concentrations of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere, pre- venting heat from escaping to space — somewhat like the glass panels of a greenhouse. As concentrations of these gases continue to increase in the atmosphere, scientists say, the Earth’s temperature is climbing in a phenomenon

Top: David Ginsburg (left), a lecturer in USC College’s Environmental Stud- ies Program, and Robert Ellis, a Ph.D. student at the Plymouth Marine Labo- ratory in the United Kingdom, examine a starfish in the laboratory at McMurdo Station in Antarctica. Middle: Group members fish at an ice hole for specimens they will use in physiological studies conducted in the lab. Bottom: A Weddell seal pokes its head out of an icehole. Page 13: Donal Manahan of USC College poses before diving under the ice during one of his early Antarctic expeditions. STARFISHANDWEDDELLSEALPHOTOSBYJIMMYLEE;GROUPFISHINGPHOTOBYSCOTTAPPLEBAUM

Spring/Summer 2010 | 15 Because the sun never sets in Antarctica summers, the sky is illuminated after midnight. “In the middle of the night, clouds would often set in and give the sky a twilight look,” postdoctoral researcher Scott Applebaum said. known as global warming. “The most drastic thing you notice when diving in Antarctica is the Some regions of Antarctica have warmed sharply in recent years, caus- gigantism,” Ginsburg said. “Giant sponges, invertebrates — starfish the ing ice shelves to break and accelerating the sliding of glaciers. size of basketballs.” In the Arctic, experts say, the warming and loss of ice is a serious Scott Applebaum had one word after exiting the U.S. Air Force cargo threat to polar bears. In Antarctica, the number of Adelie penguins is plane from New Zealand on his first trip to Antarctica this year. plummeting in some regions. Scientists warn that many cold-adapted “Penguins!” species are at risk of extinction during this century. The postdoctoral researcher in Manahan’s laboratory and his team- “For today’s organisms, we’re trying to figure out who’s going to be mates were greeted with a waddle of emperor penguins at the remote able to handle tomorrow’s problems,” Manahan said. “So we’re trying to ice runway — surprising since penguins rarely stray so far inland. predict the winners and losers. In Antarctica, we have a natural labora- Applebaum never tired of the Adelie penguins with white rings tory where things are changing quickly.” around their eyes and the taller, bigger emperor penguins with bright Scientists warn climate change and the loss of Antarctic ice shelves yellow-orange patches around their ears. Penguins often waddled by will result in rising sea levels in other parts of the world. during outdoor research, but the scientists never interacted with them. “Changes there will affect the entire planet,” he said. “People hadn’t The Antarctic Treaty protects the flightless birds. before been thinking of global connectivity of the entire planet. The Seals were also a common sight. They sunbathed on slabs of ice and general public was saying, ‘I know things are changing in the North and often swam up the long ice holes used by divers and poked their heads out. South Pole, but is that going to really affect me in Los Angeles?’ And Some participants found it difficult to sleep in the perpetual daylight. the answer is yes.” But even that had its perks. After midnight, the sun was still up and the Near the U.S. Antarctic Program’s central base at McMurdo Station, sky gave off a spectacular glow. Manahan and his group oversee the collection of a wide variety of or- They spent much of their long days in the lab. ganisms — from microbes to fish. Another of Manahan’s teaching assistants was postdoc Jimmy Lee. He “We’re looking for universal principles when we study these organ- recalled visiting the hut where the British explorer Robert Falcon Scott isms,” Manahan said. “We hope to answer an important question, ‘Can stayed during his famous expeditions, his last ending in his death in 1912. life on this planet adapt quickly enough to the changes that are being “It was like stepping back 100 years in time,” Lee said. “It felt like induced by humans?’ ” the whole crew just stepped out and would return any minute. There For underwater collections, divers carry 100 pounds of gear and was a toothbrush still in its tin cup.” plunge into 12-foot tubes of cored ice leading to frigid waters teeming In addition, Manahan wants participants to become better versed in with life. Over the years, Manahan has made such dives himself. Now the realities of environmental policymaking. At McMurdo Station, they he lets students enjoy the experience. have opportunities to discuss issues with visiting legislators and their David Ginsburg, a lecturer in the College’s Environmental Studies senior staff. Program, participated in this past season’s Antarctica expedition for the “If scientists can’t affect environmental policy, then we’re not going fourth time. On his initial trip as Manahan’s Ph.D. student years ago, he to be able to make a significant difference,” Manahan said. “A big chal- took his first ice dive. lenge for the next generation of environmental scientists is how well “I was a mess,” Ginsburg recounted. “What was I thinking, a guy they are able to communicate with policymakers.” born and raised in Los Angeles, jumping into below-freezing water That is crucial as the Earth’s landscape faces a radical transformation. through a shoulder-width hole in the ice?” “The program introduces students to the part of the planet where Despite his angst, he relished collecting species, and has since experi- changes don’t yet directly impact humans,” he said. “But such things enced many successful dives. are coming our way.” I PHOTOBYSCOTTAPPLEBAUM

16 | USC College Magazine Susan Forsburg (center) holds petri dishes containing S. pombe inside her lab, with postdoctoral researcher Sarah Sabatinos (left) and Ph.D. student Pao-Chen Li. Yeast e s unl a hedBY PAMELA J. JOHNSON These one-celled fungi are not here is good reason Susan Forsburg’s only good for making bread, laboratory smells of sourdough. beer and whiskey. They’re also an important research tool in the The USC College biologist is among the most prominent fission yeast researchers in fight against cancer. the country. Inside her lab are hundreds of petri dishes containing cultures of Schizosaccharomyces pombe — a single-celled fungus Forsburg and her team use to study

PHOTOBYERICO’CONNELL DNA damage and mutation that in humans may lead to cancer.

Spring/Summer 2010 | 17 18 The blue labels all the DNA. The white bar is 15 microns. maintenance (MCM) helicase, which unwinds As theexpected, DNA for itfalls replication, at the boundary is marked in of green. the new DNA synthesis. This shows chromosomes photomicrograph stretched out from S. pombe easier to establish basic principles in simple model organisms. in human and yeast cells. Since human cells are so complicated, it is explaining that normal cell division is essential to healthy development about fission yeast research. During an interview, Forsburg elaborated, PombeNet is among the top results. The site answers myriad questions before seeinghowtheMercedesworks,” Forsburg tellstheaudience. mammalian cellaMercedesBenz. burg tellstheaudiencetoconsiderapombe mans have.” a crossbetweenhumansandplants. Pombe organism thatcananswerbasicresearchquestions. Ithinkofpombe the most common yeast microbiologists use to research cell division.rise as well as if made from baker’s yeast — or sulfur, akin to rotten eggs. It also can be used to bake, but the bread won’t isolated in1893fromEast African milletbeer. to highercells. Pombe cause itcanbeusedasageneticsystemtomodelprocessesthatapply pieces underneath.” brick inthewall. Butheorshewouldn’t beanywherewithoutallthe wall. And thepersonwhomakesnewsisscientistputslast “The waybasicscienceworksiseveryscientistputsabrickinthe and seekcuresforcancer. search willultimatelybeusedasthefoundationtoimprovetreatment nicians. “And itsmellsgood, too.” along withsixgraduatestudents, fiveundergraduates andthreetech- two postdoctoralresearcherswhoworkintheForsburg laboratory, has many ofthegenes humans have. answer basic researchquestions. ... Pombe “S. pombe | If you Google “We canlearnfromasimplepieceofmachinerylike alawnmower When givingpresentationsforthe American CancerSociety, Fors- “We’re theotheryeast,” Sabatinossaid. “S. pombe The fungus can be used for brewing, but the beer can taste and smell of Forsburg’s expertise—S.pombe “I don’t expectanythingIdotocurecancer,” Forsburg saidbluntly. Providing adeeperunderstandingofhowcellswork, Forsburg’s re- “It’s afriendly, fast, nontoxicorganism,” saidSarahSabatinos, oneof USC College Magazine S. pombe means beerinSwahili. The yeastwasoriginally , Forsburg’s award-winning Web site is agreatmodel organism thatcan — isdubbedamicro-mammalbe- has manyofthegeneshu- cell alawnmowerand Saccharomyces cerevisiae is agreatmodel — as cells. Newly synthesized DNA is labeled in red, and the mini-chromosome at theUniversityofCalifornia, Berkeley(herhometown), andPh.D. at She earnedherbachelor’s inmolecularbiologyandEnglishliterature was the scientist who transformed pombe their cell division cycle research. Nurse investigated the life cycleothy of Hunt, awarded the 2001 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for wood” andmadePombewood T-shirts forherstudents. Hollywood, shePhotoshoppedtheiconicwhiteletterstosay “Pombe- hangs aphotographofthefamousHollywoodsign. Butratherthan lating tohowchromosomesbehave.” basically proselytizetheuseofthissystemforstudyingproblemsre- are easytomanipulateinthelaboratory. genome instability.” model systemtotryunderstandthecellularmechanismsthatcreate leads todisruptionsingeneactivities. Sowe’reusingfissionyeastasa mosomes, theyhavetoomanyofone, notenoughofanother. This erly ordivideproperly. They breaktheirchromosomes, theylosechro- “Cells canstarttomakemoremistakes; theymaynotreplicateprop- pairing DNAcanresultincancer. require morethan1.5millionpagesoftext. Mistakesincopyingorre- sented inprintedwords, listingjustthefirstletterofeachbasewould measures 31/3feet. billion sequences. Iflaidend-to-end, theDNAinasinglehumancell human DNAmoleculeiscomprisedofchemicalbasesarrangedin3 point whenitdistributesitsDNAamongdaughtercells. Each sion: thestartofreplicationDNAinparentcellpriorto cancer orbirthdefects. Forsburg researchesacrucialpartofcelldivi- As apostdocatOxfordUniversity, Forsburg workedinNurse’s lab. On another wall is a photo of Sir Paul Nurse, Leland Hartwell and Tim- She showsheradvocacywithatouchofhumor. Onheroffice wall “I’m areallypassionateadvocatefortheorganism,” Forsburg said. “I S. pombe “A characteristicofcancercellsisgenomeinstability,” Forsburg said. The DNAofonecellcontainssomuchinformationthatifrepre- Scientists knowthatmalfunctionsduringcelldivisioncanleadto , discovering a key gene species that helps control cell division. He cells growquickly, betweentwoandfourhours, andthey S. pombe into a forefront model system. S.

IMAGE COURTESY OF S. FORSBURG These are S. pombe cells (left). The membranes (nucleus and cell periphery) are labeled in blue, the microtubules of the cytoskeleton are in red and the centromeres are in green. The image on the right shows S. pombe cells with a division defect. The chromosomes are labeled with histone green fluores- cent protein (GFP). Notice one cell in the middle has three nuclei; it has suffered a chromosome segregation defect and is losing several chromosomes.

the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Each day, she oversees students’ lab research. During a recent visit, When Forsburg returned to the United States in 1993 to become an as- the lab bustled with activity. sistant professor at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, Sabatinos is studying DNA replication, focusing on what occurs mid- Calif., she began receiving queries about pombe. She created pombe.net and way through the process when the replication fork structure is disturbed. has become the nation’s unofficial pombe spokesperson. “Does the fork complex stabilize or do components dissociate?” she At USC College since 2004, Forsburg has earned numerous honors, asked. including being named a fellow of the American Association for the Opening one of the many freezers, Sabatinos removed a vial of Advancement of Science, the Association for Women in Science and pombe. Using a toothpick, she smeared some frozen pombe on a plate the USC Center for Excellence in Research. She also received a USC- and placed the plate inside an incubator to “wake them up.” In three Mellon Award for Excellence in Mentoring. days, the yeast will form colonies to use in experiments. She is on the American Cancer Society’s Council for Extramural Sabatinos comes from Canada, where she earned her Ph.D. at the Uni- Grants and speaks to potential donors about her research. versity of Toronto. Forsburg created an opportunity for Sabatinos’ biologist “You may think that a talk about yeast research would be like watch- husband to become a microscopy expert after interviewing him separately. ing ice melt,” said Gail Berlant, director for distinguished giving at the “More than likely, I’d still be in Toronto if not for Susan,” Marc organization’s Los Angeles office. “But Susan makes people excited Green said. about what she does. Scientists like Susan are society’s true rock stars.” Pao-Chen Li, a fifth-year Ph.D. student, is researching the protein Forsburg is also well known for her work in USC’s Women in Science Swi6, a key component at the DNA’s centromere — the region in a and Engineering (WiSE), committed to increasing the success of women chromosome’s highly packed midpoint. She uses the lab’s DeltaVision in science. On WiSE’s advisory board, she also runs www.womenbio.net, a deconvolution microscope to make multi-colored fluorescent images Web site she started in 1997. and 3-D rotatable reconstructions of her research. From the images, She strives to help remove the barriers women face in the sciences. she makes movies she uses for research and teaching. “Those of us who are more senior and are in a position to effect Forsburg’s teaching assistant for two semesters, Li won USC’s 2008 change should do it,” Forsburg said. Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award. In addition to being a scientist, Forsburg is married with two “Pombe is an important research tool, but the main reason I chose stepchildren ages 20 and 18. She and her wife, Lisa Churchill, a grants this lab is because of Susan,” Li said. “For a Ph.D. student, good men- administrator, have a parrot and two cats at their San Diego home. toring is the most important thing.” Forsburg commutes daily by train and bus, using the three-hour trek Undergrads are also thriving in the Forsburg lab. Cara Bickers, a bi- each way to review and write papers and lectures on her laptop. ology junior, is searching for a specific gene that produces a protein A popular teacher, students from Forsburg’s advanced molecular bi- used in two different parts of a cell cycle. ology class recently rated her 4.96 out of 5. She also teaches the semi- “She’s tough,” Bickers said of Forsburg. “You just know she expects nar classes “Advanced Molecular Biology,” “Advanced Genetics quality work from you. She’s very good at pushing you forward.” I Through the Literature” and “Biology of Cancer.” VIEW THE NLINE VIDEO at college.usc.edu/decodingcancer IMAGES COURTESY OF S. FORSBURG

Spring/Summer 2010 | 19 FRIDAYS

With backup from some talented musicians, science takes center stage at the are happening Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. BY MEGAN CHRISTOPHER MPW ’11

science in the Department of Biological Sci- ombining science, music and a late night at the ences. When he was brought in to work on First Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Fridays in 2008, there were only a few weeks C before the start of the next series. With a limited might seem like a strange idea to some. But Michael amount of time to prepare, Quick applied a neu- roscience perspective to the theme, “The Age of Quick, executive vice dean in USC College and moder- Mammals,” and drafted speakers such as fellow ator of the museum’s First Fridays series, thinks, “Mu- USC College professor Antonio Damasio, direc- tor of the USC Brain and Creativity Institute. seums reaching out to unknown audiences is smart.” Last year’s theme was an even bigger hit, though Quick admits it was difficult to find a First Fridays runs from January to June on proached Quick in the hope that he could rec- fresh perspective on the 150th anniversary of the first Friday of every month, interweaving ommend someone who would assist in coor- The Origin of Species and 200th birthday of thematic presentations, up-and-coming indie dinating speakers for the science portion of Charles Darwin himself. Most of the lectures, bands, and food and drink for a relaxed evening the evening. no matter how diverse their original topics, that is part social mixer, part science talk. “I hate asking people for favors,” Quick said. funneled down to a debate on Darwinism ver- The series has seen a dramatic rise in atten- “So I volunteered myself.” sus creationism, and many of the experts in dance since program director Su Oh came on In addition to his position as executive vice the field had already done the lecture circuit board three years ago, the same time she ap- dean of the College, Quick is professor of neuro- as “everyone was doing Darwin.” PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM AND RYAN MILLER/CAPTURE IMAGING

20 | USC College Magazine Above: Between sets and lectures, visitors explore the Hall of Mammals. Left: Michael Quick, execu- are happening tive vice dean in the College, lends his scientific expertise as moderator of the Natural History Mu- seum of Los Angeles County’s First Fridays series. “The museum is the interface between science and the public,” Quick said, “and I just think that’s brilliant.”

That hasn’t prevented people from showing Once a theme is decided upon (this season is morous anecdote — such as First Fridays was se- up. First Fridays has become “a victim of its “Southern California Science”), Quick often lected as one of 13 “Best Places to Meet own success,” Quick said. One event during seeks out speakers online, such as Nate Lewis, Women” by Men’s Health magazine. After warm- the Darwin series was almost shut down by professor at the California Institute of Technol- ing up the crowd, he turns the microphone over the fire department for over-crowding. On av- ogy and expert on solar energy, then calls them, to the speaker. erage, there are 1,500 to 1,800 attendees dur- and tells them he’s looking for people to “give Quick is interested in brainstorming with ing the course of the night, and they aren’t just a talk you’d give to a freshman humanities or museum directors about integrating more pro- coming for the bands. The talks are so popular undeclared student.” grams with the College and its students. The that a second lecture had to be added to the The audience is mostly 18- to 30-year olds, museum, located on Exposition Boulevard, is program of each evening. but there is a healthy mix of families and just a short walk from USC’s University Park Quick attributes the growth of interest to “more experienced folks.” You don’t have to be a campus. At present USC College paleontolo- the longevity of the program, choosing topics genius to attend; moms and dads with no edu- gists work with paleontologists from the mu- that are relatable, and catering to audience cation beyond high school come with their seum, and some museum faculty teach in the participation by quickly opening up the floor children to learn and explore. College. to questions. One of his favorite past events “We try to communicate a little bit of cool “The museum is the interface between sci- was a lecture on elephant communication that science,” Quick said. ence and the public,” Quick said, “and I just was completely packed, and even prompted As moderator, Quick believes it’s his job to think that’s brilliant.” I questions from young children. keep the vibe casual. He might open with a hu-

M. QUICK PHOTO BY ERIC O’CONNELL;For EVENT PHOTO COURTESYmore OF THE NATURAL HISTORY informationMUSEUM AND RYAN MILLER/CAPTURE IMAGING on the Natural History Museum of L.A. County’s First Fridays series, visit nhm.org/site/activities-programs/first-fridays

Spring/Summer 2010 | 21 uning out the noise of fellow passengers and the inces- sant hum of the turbojet engine, Lin Chen pored vora- ciously over the pages of James Watson’s The Double Helix. The words and ideas flowed from the book’s pages, drowning out other considerations of how he would spend his life. Eureka! It was his moment of self-realization.

It sounds like the beginning of a science-fiction story — it’s not. It was the 1980s, but not George Orwell’s 1984. Chen knew without any trace of doubt that he would pursue the field of gene regulation and expression like Watson, Francis Crick and others before him. Chen, professor of biological sciences and chemistry in USC College since 2003, was en route from Beijing to Boston, where he would earn a Ph.D. in chemistry from Harvard University. Today Chen and his colleague Xiaojiang Chen, professor of biological sciences, have built two of the most successful structural and biomedical research laboratories in the United States. Their labs, supported by USC and competitive national research grants, have gained international prominence in cancer biology, immunology, cardiovascular biology and neurology. Researchers in their laboratories use X-ray crystallography and biophysical/biochemical meth- ods to analyze the molecular details of key proteins and their complexes in physiological and dis- ease processes. Lin Chen’s research is a hybrid of his education in chemistry and his appreciation and deep understanding of the structural intricacy of biology. “In my early career, I was consumed with ex- amining biology on the atomic level — what bio-molecules look like and how they function,” he said. “After six or seven years, I grew to appreciate the different disciplines and combined them together in my research.” After only 3 1/2 years at USC, Chen made a major breakthrough in the atomic structure of a protein involved in neuronal signaling called the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, or nAChR. For decades scientists have debated how signals pass from the outside to the inside of a cell through this protein. “This molecule is a key component for the central nervous system — for you and me talking, listening and moving,” Chen explained. Chen co-wrote a paper on these findings in Nature Neuroscience with Zuo-Zhong Wang, associate professor of cell and neurobiology at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. “I could not sleep all night when I realized how everything had all come together so nicely,” Chen said. “It was like the tale of the six men and the elephant and we had all felt various parts of it such as a leg or the trunk but could not tell the whole story.”

BY SUSAN ANDREWS

Lin Chen’s Eureka! moment leads to major breakthroughs in structural biology. CLEAR 22 | USC College Magazine cell know to send a signal announcing the thrilling sensation experi- enced by smokers. Structural biologist Raymond Stevens (Ph.D., chemistry, ’88) of the Scripps Research Institute called the study’s suggestion of a simple me- chanical role for sugar molecules attached to the surface of the receptor as nothing less than “a landmark accomplishment for the fields of struc- tural biology and neuronal cell signaling.” Chen said that study’s findings stand to impact the development of im- proved therapeutics for epilepsy, schizophrenia, depression and substance addiction. These new insights were advanced by X-ray crystallography that facilitated an intricate view of the molecular structure. The bottom line in specific fields of science is that a very important molecule is known to have a critical function. According to Chen, “These fields can benefit from breakthroughs made possible through high-resolution detail.” And in this case Chen said integrating structural biology with results accumulated by others in related fields worked splendidly. Now in 2010, the year that commemorates the 50th anniversary of a transformative event in science, the discovery of the first 3-D structure of a protein, Chen is on the verge of yet another major scientific break- through with a family of proteins called Myocyte Enhancer Factor-2, or MEF2. According to Chen, MEF2 possesses the ability to alter the expres- sion of genes and the structure of chromatin. He examines how these systems of genes function using an interdisciplinary approach by com- bining high-resolution structures and chemical design. “MEF2 is emerging as a potential therapeutic target for a number of human diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s diseases, autoimmune disorders and transplant rejection,” Chen said. A major effort is currently under way to design and screen inhibitors to bind MEF2 and block the recruitment of other molecules such as HDACs and p300 that are believed to be dysregulated in the aforemen- tioned diseases. Experimental results suggest that HDAC inhibitors may also help in treating heart failure and cancer. As a structural biologist, Chen searches for connections between what appear to be irrelevant pieces of information. “My work is not as in- Lin Chen, professor of biological sciences and chemistry, aligns a tensely focused as my biology colleagues who study one specific biolog- protein crystal on an X-ray diffractometer. He uses X-ray crystallography to analyze the molecular details of key proteins and their complexes in ical question. I provide a bridge and through interactions with my physiological and disease processes. colleagues I am able to catalyze interdisciplinary thinking,” he said. As an example of interdisciplinary collaboration, he cites that together Using atomic resolution structure, Chen discovered water molecules with Nicos Petasis, professor of chemistry, a chemical compound was buried inside the protein. This is a very unusual phenomenon since designed that modulates the MEF2 function. He then conferred with most proteins have a dry interior to maintain stability in aqueous solu- suite-mate Don Arnold, associate professor of biological sciences, re- tion. Through further evolution and biochemical analyses, Chen postu- garding the testing of the compound in cell culture. Two days later they lated that the wet interior of nAChR may have evolved to facilitate found that the chemical compound was indeed active in regulating protein conformation changes that are needed for signal transmission. synaptic structure in neurons, a result consistent with the proposed This hypothesis, while requiring further experimental testing, may hold roles of MEF2 in neuronal plasticity and learning and memory. true for a variety of other signaling proteins. “USC College has one of the best chemistry groups in the U.S. and Another surprising and exciting result from the high-resolution struc- the Keck School of Medicine of USC provides fertile ground to explore tural study is the sugar molecule revealed on the surface of nAChR. It numerous areas of strong research with implications to medical and turns out that sugar was more than icing on the cake. The studies by clinical development,” Chen said. Chen and Wang revealed that sugar serves as a flexible door or hinge Combined with his unique insight on a molecular detail level, Chen that opens and closes a gate in the cell membrane, demonstrating how is able to leverage vast amounts of existing biochemical and biomedical the signals pass from the outside to the inside of a cell. data for the direct benefit of society. Eureka! indeed — all this of great For example, when nicotine binds to a neuron, it is sugar that lets the import — in a job he considers unbelievably exciting and terrific fun. I PHOTO BY MAX S. GERBER

Spring/Summer 2010 | 23 Discoveries by Michel Baudry and Sohila Zadran bring 40 years of research to a pinnacle. MECHANISMS MemoryOF BY LAURIE MOORE

t’s not unusual in scientific For Michel Baudry, professor of biological sciences and biomedical engineering, and neuroscience graduate student Sohila Zadran, the Iresearch to have a hypothesis success was even sweeter because their breakthrough was instanta- disputed. But finally having neous and somewhat unexpected. By May 2008, when Zadran came to the College, Baudry had already visual evidence that basically spent 30 years researching the cellular mechanisms behind the learn- ing and memory process, exposing the connections between the vari- closes the books on decades of ous proteins, enzymes and synapses. But there were still connections scientific debate is an exceptional to make, steps to break down. Zadran had only been at the College for a few months, and by July and sweet success. “she’d practically solved it,” Baudry said.

An image of neurons treated with estrogen that shows calpain activation in green. The red color indicates the

structural elements of the cells, called actin filaments, which are important for cell growth and movement. IMAGE COURTESY MICHEL BAUDRY

24 | USC College Magazine Zadran attempted a new imaging technique to come up with a way to visualize the activation Zadran, Baudry and their research team, in- that, on the first try, showed visual proof of the of calpain and find out what is activating it. One cluding the laboratory of Baudry’s long-term activation of calpain, a proteolytic enzyme vital of Zadran’s first forays into the research was to collaborator, Xiaoning Bi of Western University to the memory-making process. apply a technique called fluorescence resonance of Health Sciences, released two articles on The role of calpain in learning and memory energy transfer (FRET), which uses two fluo- their findings. The first, published in the has been disputed since Baudry was a postdoc- rescent probes that interact differently depend- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences toral fellow, and in an instant, his hypothesis ing on their distance. When calpain is activated (PNAS) in December 2009, described how es- had finally been supported. in a neuron, a fluorescent signal is produced. trogen’s effect on learning and memory occurs In 1973, University of Oslo researchers Tim- The results were immediate. through calpain. Their second paper, published othy Bliss and Terje Lømo discovered that “It was like lightning in a dish,” Zadran said. in The Journal of Neuroscience in January 2010, re- when neurons are stimulated a certain way, the “Everything worked, literally, the first time.” ports that brain-derived neurotrophic factor strength of neuronal synaptic connections Baudry and Zadran discovered that calpain is (BDNF) activates calpain in the brain. changes, a process they called long term po- The research done by Baudry, Zadran and tentiation (LTP). their predecessors is applicable to a wide range After graduating from the University of Paris of medical conditions, including cancer and with his Ph.D. in biochemistry, Baudry started Alzheimer’s disease. working for his postdoctoral adviser, Gary Researchers have hypothesized that the onset Lynch, at University of California, Irvine in of Alzheimer’s, especially in post-menopausal 1978. Lynch was one of the few scientists who women, results from lack of estrogen. Clinical thought LTP would make for interesting re- trials focusing on estrogen replacement therapy search. The team focused on the neurochem- were largely unsuccessful because the therapy istry of LTP, and they soon realized that the involved a combination of estrogen and the hor- features of LTP were similar to the features of mone progesterone, which cancels out estrogen the learning and memory process. benefits. When a memory is made, the brain is Sohila Zadran and Michel Baudry Current research is focusing on other ways to changed permanently because the process initiate estrogen-mediated benefits without changes the neuronal synapses — the bridge using estrogen itself, as use of estrogen alone between neurons that allows them to commu- can increase the risk of breast cancer. The re- nicate with one another. Likewise, LTP also “It was like lightning search done by Baudry and Zadran suggests changes the connections between neurons. Be- that it might be possible to bypass the receptor cause the two processes had the same outcome, in a dish. Everything level entirely and activate the MAP kinase, or Lynch and Baudry believed that LTP could worked, literally, find other ways to facilitate calpain activation, possibly be the cellular mechanism behind and therefore enhance the learning and mem- learning and memory. the first time. ory process without the use of estrogen. In 1984, Lynch and Baudry published a paper Zadran is currently studying the impact that in Science in which they theorized that the acti- calpain activation could have on cancer metasta- vation of the enzyme calpain was critical to the activated by a protein called MAP kinase, sis. She is also hard at work on her third paper formation of LTP, and therefore to learning and which regulates several types of cellular activi- that will focus on which protein calpain is acti- memory. ties. MAP kinase itself, they also found, is acti- vating, and how this activation results in actin Because the hypothesis was so novel, “the sci- vated by estrogen. polymerization. Zadran will graduate in spring entific community didn’t buy it,” Baudry said. So the team set up the beginning of the chain 2010, and she was recently accepted as a post- “Ever since, we’ve been struggling and fighting of events: Estrogen activates MAP kinase, doc at the California Institute of Technology. to get the hypothesis confirmed and accepted.” which activates calpain. The next step was Baudry will continue examining the series of In 1989, Baudry came to the College to con- proving that calpain is linked to LTP. events that lead up to LTP and learning and tinue his research. For the next two decades, he The factor that connects the two, they re- memory. His next step is to find the exact point and his team encountered setbacks and made vealed, is a process called actin polymerization, in the process that calpain is activating. great breakthroughs, but yet the question still re- which is the growth of actin filaments in the “After that, we’re going to say this is it, mained: Could someone actually prove that cal- dendritic spine, where the synaptic contact learning and memory are solved!” Baudry said, pain was a link in the memory-making process? takes place in the brain. half-joking. “Then we can move on to some- This brings us to 2008, when Zadran arrived “All this work fits well into the framework and thing else.” at the College. After graduating with her bach- provides a molecular explanation for how estro- Baudry knows that research is never finished, elor’s degree from the University of California, gen facilitates learning and memory,” Baudry even when a piece of the puzzle is put into Berkeley, Zadran started working in the lab said. “We now know the cascade of events that place. There will always be more discoveries to before the academic year began. takes place: estrogen to MAP kinase to calpain make, new methods to try, more dots to connect Baudry and his research team had been trying to actin polymerization to glutamate receptors.” in our understanding of human memory. I PHOTO BY LAURIE MOORE

Spring/Summer 2010 | 25 NOTHING I blame the fear I used to have I exclaimed, “We can use sci- of science on growing up with my ence!” THERE’S father, an excitable Shanghainese Because the bug was attracted to engineer with degrees in fields light, by turning off their bedroom like physics, applied physics and lamp and turning on the light in metallurgy. Oh, how his mood the hall, and then the light farther would lift, after dinner, as he down over the open window, we fetched pencils, erasers and were able to persuade the bug to fly scratch paper, setting the table for away without my having to flatten that evening’s science lesson. it with a newspaper. Never mind With such enthusiasm he’d that the reason my girls forbid me sketch out a problem, his pencil from killing bugs is that they be- swirling madly about the page, lieve that, if not for their mean rendering what appeared to be mother, said bugs will live forever, some sort of Dr. Seuss-like per- just like in A Bug’s Life! And per- petual motion machine. With a haps put on a funny circus show! final flourish would the pencil Ah well. One step at a time. I then stab across the bottom as am hoping my own girls never hit he’d eagerly ask: the wall with science “Is the charge posi- — or if they do, I tive or negative? Science is hope they’ll always Positive or nega- the very feel brave enough tive?” Knowing to ask stupid ques- that, while totally essence, tions. (Sample lost, I had a 50 per- question: “If the cent chance of movement Earth is rotating so TO guessing the cor- fast, why don’t we rect answer, I’d and just fly off?” Sample query uncertainly, answer ... Not so “Negative?” At language simple. Hence, which point my of the good question!) dad’s face would go With the belief red, veins would physical world that no mysteries pop out, and he’d are too basic, and no begin shouting, in around us. one should be dis- FEAR an instant rage: couraged from won- (IT’S JUST SCIENCE) BY SANDRA TSING LOH “Charge is POSITIVE! Charge is dering, we continue to produce POSITIVE!” And I would imme- our one-minute-of-science-a-day diately burst into tears. show, The Loh Down on Science, and HY, OH WHY, do average laypeople so fear We laugh about it now, mostly are developing The Loh Down on science? Is it some worrisome because it is 30 years later and I Science Live!, where audience association with the Nobel Prize, a now live in my own home far, far members can participate in a fun away. And yet, with the passage of science quiz and even ask Nobel gloomy hatch of dour bearded Swedish men in lab time, and now my own perspec- Prize laureates their own dumb coats? Is it the sharp sense memory of formalde- tive as a parent, I’ve also come to questions. hyde, recalling the wave of high school nausea appreciate the gift of my dad’s And why not? Science is the very upon being ordered to dissect a frog? Is it, quite sheer raw enthusiasm. Because essence, movement and language like him, I’ve come to believe of the physical world around us. simply, a terror of math? (Incoherently mumbles a that science truly can be fascinat- Science is driving, flying, running friend of mine, as to why he gave up his dream to ing and fun. and cooking. Science belongs to become a doctor: “Second year algebra! I hit the My girls are 7 and 9, and re- everyone. Let’s enjoy! I cently, upon getting into bed, wall ... hit the wall.” He then mimes rolling into a Sandra Tsing Loh is a lecturer in they began screaming because of the Master of Professional Writing fetal position and begins to shiver.) a flying bug. “Don’t be scared!” Program, based in USC College. PHOTO BY TATJANA LOH

26 | USC College Magazine CHEMISTRYBY SUSAN ANDREWS OFF THE CHARTS Remarkable Scientists and Outstanding Instrumental Facilities

reat scientists make great science hap- Health (NIH) combined with support from that having this equipment in the College has a pen. But clearly they need cutting- the College and the Provost’s Office resulted two-fold impact. NMR time is inexpensive at Gedge facilities for groundbreaking in a new suite of NMR spectrometers: 600, USC as compared to most research universities. scientific research. 500 and two 400 megahertz models. Therefore, students are encouraged to think out- And that’s what is happening in USC Col- “The department has outstanding research side of the box and test their innovative ideas. lege’s Department of Chemistry. faculty,” said Charles McKenna, chair of With better scientific tools, Williams’ group The vision of Executive Vice President and chemistry, “But they require advanced instru- has published two high-impact papers. One Provost C.L. Max Nikias as described in the mentation to stay competitive. These new was recently published in American Chemical USC Biomedical Nanoscience Initiative has NMR instruments provide essential, state-of- Society, a top journal for the chemical sciences. become a reality. It is called the Biomolecular the-art capabilities that are critical for our re- Another ongoing chemistry acquisition, and Small Molecule Nuclear Magnetic Reso- search performance. They will also assist us as which will have a profound impact in produc- nance (NMR) Facility — a place where mole- we continue to recruit the best new faculty in ing extraordinary molecular science at USC, is cule structures are studied on a scale of less years to come.” a $1 million pulse EPR-ENDOR spectrome- than a billionth of a meter. McKenna noted that the 600 MHz model ter to measure electron spin resonance. By External funding from the National Science will primarily be used to study biological mol- contrast, NMR spectrometers measure nuclear Foundation and the National Institutes of ecules such as proteins, while the other three spin resonance. are for research on small Funded by an NIH stimulus grant to the molecules. chemistry department with support from the “With the new NMR ca- College and Provost’s Office, this machine will pabilities that we have ac- permit chemists and biologists in the College quired during the past year, and the Keck School of Medicine of USC, and our scientists are able to at the California Institute of Technology to in- better see the structure of vestigate problems ranging from the molecular molecules containing hy- basis of virus infections and cardiovascular drogen, carbon, phospho- events to the function of DNA repair in cancer rus, fluorine and other and the mechanism of N2 fixation. atoms using highly sophis- Professors of chemistry Mark Thompson, ticated technology,” Richard Roberts, Kyung Jung and Peter Qin McKenna said. took the lead in joining McKenna and other In fact Travis Williams, faculty participants to contribute the time and assistant professor of chem- expertise required for the rigorous proposal istry, said: “USC is now writing process, which resulted in the four probably one of the best major government grants awarded to fund the USC College chemists Dr. Brian Conley, Xinping Wu, and Alejandra campuses in America to be new NMR and EPR instruments. I Aviles at work in a room of the newly equipped NMR facility (from an NMR spectroscopist.” right to left: the new 500 and 400 MHz NMR spectrometers, and an Williams also points out Above: EPR-ENDOR E580 console and magnet older 400 MHz instrument in the background). (left) and new NMR 600 MHz magnet (right)

Spring/Summer 2010 | 27 BY PAMELA J. JOHNSON AND ELIZABETH SEGAL RAI NS

The Brain and Creativity Institute AND directed by Antonio and Hanna Damasio takes on humankind’s eauty biggest neuroscientific questions with intellect and an artistic soul.

28 | USC College Magazine Mind first bloomed quietly

ound heady? It should. This is the introduction to a poem written by neuroscientist SAntonio Damasio of USC College. Based on his text, composer Bruce Adolphe wrote music for Self Comes to Mind, a three-movement concerto for a cello and nine percussion instruments.

Cellist Yo-Yo Ma performed, while swirling images of brain scans pro- figures of science. This fall, the renowned pianist Alfred Brendel will duced in Hanna Damasio’s laboratory served as a dramatic, interactive return to the BCI for a lecture on and performance of Beethoven. Part backdrop. A capacity audience of nearly 1,000 praised the performance, of the research institute’s mission is to bring the sciences into a broader which was followed by a colloquium featuring Ma, Adolphe and Antonio social space and promote a dialogue between the sciences and the arts. Damasio. “Scientists and artists are interested in answering important questions The concert in New York City combined text, music and giant images about humanity,” Antonio Damasio said. “Whether through science, of colorful brain activity to evoke the emergence of human consciousness. film, literature or music, we’re all engaged in the twin goals of under- Held at the American Museum of Natural History last May, the con- standing what makes humans tick and making human life better.” cert represented much of what the Brain and Creativity Institute (BCI) At the BCI, researchers have made remarkable strides toward that stands for, said Damasio, who directs the institute with his wife, Hanna objective. Damasio. Established in 2006, the institute’s research is providing a One recent breakthrough provides the very first glimpse into the neu- new look into the functioning of the human brain, uncovering the neu- rological foundation of admiration. Another reveals that the brain rological underpinnings for mental functions — from emotion and deci- processes compassion differently when it is confronted by physical pain sion-making to innovation and creativity. or mental pain. Humans respond almost instantly when seeing others in “We stand at a crossroads of medicine and social sciences,” said Antonio physical pain. They take six to eight seconds longer to respond to men- Damasio, David Dornsife Professor of Neuroscience, during an inter- tal pain of others. view. “We take questions posed by individuals and society and try to Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), find biological answers with the help of technology.” the research recently won the 2009 Cozzarelli Prize from the National By technology he means tools such as magnetic resonance imaging, or Academy of Sciences. MRI. Selected from more than 3,700 PNAS research articles, the annual “MRI provides us with a window into the structure and functions of award acknowledges recently published papers reflecting scientific ex- the brain, when the brain is involved in carrying out varied mental tasks cellence and originality. PNAS is the official journal of the United States — learning, remembering, reasoning, emoting,” said Hanna Damasio, a National Academy of Sciences. pioneer of brain imaging techniques and director of the Dana and The study was carried out by Mary Helen Immordino-Yang, assistant David Dornsife Cognitive Neuroscience Imaging Center. professor in the BCI and the USC Rossier School of Education; Andrea Hanna Damasio wrote the first atlas of the human brain based en- McColl, a Ph.D. student in the BCI; and Antonio and Hanna Damasio, tirely on computerized neuroimaging data. The 1995 book, Human Dana Dornsife Professor of Neuroscience and co-director of the BCI. Brain Anatomy in Computerized Images, a standard reference on the sub- Antonio is BCI’s director. ject, is in its second edition at Oxford University Press. Portuguese- Research surrounding fear, anger, happiness, surprise and disgust has born Antonio and Hanna grew up in Lisbon, where they met in medical been thoroughly covered. But in a PNAS commentary, Jonathan Haidt school. and James P. Morris, psychologists at the University of Virginia, lauded Although most of the BCI activity is concerned with discovering facts the BCI researchers for shedding light on admiration and compassion that can help solve medical and social problems, there is another part of — two of the most integral social emotions defining humanity. its agenda. The BCI often collaborates with artists on projects. Visits Now collaborating with Beijing Normal University, the BCI is extending from prominent musicians, theater directors and novelists have oc- this study across the Pacific with the aim of conducting a comparative, curred regularly joining a roster that already includes several notable cross-cultural study of social emotions in the United States and China.

Left: Yo-Yo Ma plays the cello to a composition by Bruce Adolphe based on a poem by Antonio Damasio. In the background is brain activity imagery produced PHOTO BY HIROYUKI ITO/THE inNEW YORK TIMES/REDUXHanna Damasio’s laboratory.

Spring/Summer 2010 | 29 “Scientists and artists are interested in answering important questions about humanity. Whether through science, film, literature or music, we’re all engaged in the twin goals of understanding what makes humans tick and making human life better. Hanna and Antonio Damasio lead the Brain and Creativity Institute, housed in USC College.

Under the Damasios’ leadership, the institute brings together re- the world. Translated into more than 30 languages, Descartes’ Error has searchers from a wide range of disciplines, including psychology, neuro- had a major influence in the sciences and in the arts. science, neurology, anthropology, economics, physics and engineering. His second book, The Feeling of What Happens: Body and Emotion in the Predictably there is a broad research portfolio. For example, one project Making of Consciousness (Harcourt, 2000) was named one of the 10 best examines childhood brain damage to understand the development of so- books of 2001 by The New York Times Book Review, a best book of the cial behavior, empathy and moral judgment. Another, at the other end of year at Publishers Weekly and Library Journal, and has 30 foreign editions. the spectrum, studies aging and addresses a major question: Does healthy Damasio’s most recent book, Looking for Spinoza: Joy, Sorrow, and the aging in the absence of Alzheimer’s disease impair one’s decision-making Feeling Brain, was published in 2003 by Harcourt. In it, Damasio probes ability? Spinoza’s philosophy and its foreshadowing of modern neurobiology. Still another is analyzing the brain circuits responsible for emotions and Damasio’s research at the BCI and the books that draw on it have feelings with the hope of leading to increased understanding and treat- only scratched the surface of possibilities. ment of depression. Two research groups within the BCI are studying de- “People call mind and consciousness enigmas, unsolvable mysteries,” cision making in the setting of drug addiction and economics. Damasio said. “Now, I have great respect, even reverence for mysteries, Breakthroughs are certain at the BCI, led by a man who had the forti- but the fact is that we are beginning to push back the wall of mystery. tude to challenge 17th-century French philosopher René Descartes’ Of course, behind that thinner wall we will find still another wall, but seminal statement, “I think therefore I am; or I am thinking, therefore I that is not a problem. The satisfaction of the scientist comes from the exist.” In Antonio Damasio’s 1994 international best-seller, Descartes’ pleasure of the search and the sense that progress is being made.” Error: Emotion, Reason, and the Human Brain (Penguin Books), he re- Human consciousness continues to evolve. As Damasio put it during phrases Descartes, asserting, “I feel, therefore I am.” the concert in New York: In the book, Damasio argues that the thinking mind isn’t all that makes us human. Signals from the body, as represented in the brain, Nature, ever blind, did not care play a critical role in the making of consciousness, and are a key to so- that a part of itself wanted to shape its future. cial cognition and decision making. The visceral reactions of the body, he said, provide a frame of reference for other neural processes that we And still it does not. experience in the mind. In many of our actions, split-second everyday We are allowed to rebel against indifference. decisions, and feelings of elation and misery, we use the body as a yard- We have a say. stick. “Consciousness is very often understood purely from a cognitive per- spective,” Damasio said. “But we are convinced that emotions and feel- Drama is not necessarily tragedy ings are central to the making of the conscious mind.” and this is not the end of the story. I In January, the French journal Sciences Humaines highlighted Descartes’ Error among the 20 books over the past 20 years to change our vision of PHOTO BY PHIL CHANNING

30 | USC College Magazine SCIENTISTS

ne scientist seeks a complete understanding of nanowire properties Owhile another designs a solar cell that boosts high efficiency. This is just one example of how researchers in the basic and applied sciences at USC work side-by-side to solve complex problems.

The National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering advocate such transdisciplinary collaboration and USC College faculty are already there. on Many of our outstanding scientists have joined forces with their colleagues in the USC Viterbi School of Engineering and beyond.

Katrina Edwards, Dave Caron, Mark Thompson, the Richard Roberts, and Grace Lu are just a few of these USC College researchers leading the way new in science’s new frontiers. frontiers PROFILES BY SUSAN ANDREWS, EMILY CAVALCANTI AND LAURIE MOORE

Spring/Summer 2010 | 31 POWERPROMISEthe

Do you know what lies deep, deep below the ocean floor? With the support of a $25 million grant from the National Science Foundation, Katrina Edwards and her team are determined to find out.

“ believe that this nation should commit itself to I achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the Earth.” These were the remarkable words spo- ken by President John F. Kennedy in 1961. They came true. In 1969, the Apollo 11 mis- sion landed on the moon and left behind this unforgettable statement: “Here men from the planet Earth first set foot upon the moon.” This was a heralded feat talked about around the globe. But yet, did we know much about what was happening right here on our own home planet? Very little indeed — particularly concerning our oceans. PHOTO BY PHIL CHANNING OCEAN POWERPROMISE of the BY SUSAN ANDREWS

What comes to mind when you think of the ocean? Perhaps a sweet breeze, a holiday on a luxury cruise liner or maybe you wonder if the “surf’s up.” But probably not science. “If you think about the bottom of the ocean, and that is a big if, you probably think of one of two settings: abyssal, wafting plains of sediments or smoking hot hydrothermal vents,” said Katrina Ed- wards, professor of biological sciences and earth sciences in USC College. “What lies in-between — hundreds of square kilometers in aerial extent, down kilometers below the ocean bottom, lies an ac- tive, living intraterrestrial ecosystem — this is what I think about al- most all of the time. “This is our space,” she said. “The deep biosphere is the new moon for this team of researchers. The series of expeditions that we are putting together are our Apollo missions, and this new center provides us with exactly the launch pad we need to accomplish our ambitious goals.” And now Edwards, a driven and entrepreneurial deep ocean and subseafloor geomicrobiologist, has put together an amazing group of international researchers to explore what lies beneath the ocean floor. She is leading the team on a coordinated mission of exploration and discovery of the subseafloor biosphere as a result of the establishment of the Center for Dark Energy Biosphere Investigations (C-DEBI). The C-DEBI, headquartered in USC College, is a new science and technology center funded through a highly competitive National Science Foundation (NSF) proposal process. Edwards believes the subseafloor is one of the greatest frontiers in science and exploration of planet Earth. “It’s shocking,” Edwards said, “You go below the very surface of the ocean and basically fall off the edge of our knowledge about this planet.” She added: “In the present day we know much, much more about space and the surface of other planetary bodies than we do about the inner space of our world.” >>

Spring/Summer 2010 | 33 KATRINA EDWARDS: “Our mission is to understand the extent, function, dynamics and implication for the existence of a deep biosphere on Earth.”

“Startlingly, but true,” she said, “we have poorer maps of the bottoms President and Provost C.L. Max Nikias said. “We have built a reputa- of the ocean than surfaces of other planets in our solar system.” tion for quality research that leverages our strengths in multidiscipli- Edwards believes the timing of the NSF grant is ideal. nary collaboration between our schools, other institutions and industry. “Given the maturity of the field and the significant advancement in “This highly competitive award demonstrates that Katrina Edwards, technology, this is an excellent time to establish the center,” she said. other College faculty and USC researchers are at the forefront of sci- “My team and I are thrilled to receive this extraordinary opportunity to ence in the exploration of the biosphere at the interface between the collaborate with scientists from around the globe as we pursue our am- deep ocean and the Earth’s crust.” bitious scientific, education and diversity goals.” Up until the 1960s the scientific community had mainly “Our mission is to understand the extent, function, dynamics focused on the geological aspects of the ocean. According to Edwards, and implication for the existence of a deep biosphere on Earth,” Ed- scientists were concentrating on big problems such as the original theo- wards said. The center’s research team will focus on that which is close ries of continental drift and plate tectonics. to the living — in an undead kind of capacity. “The organisms metabo- “Another driver then focused on sampling of the deep interior Earth lize very slowly; they are alive but not what we are used to thinking of — a boundary layer all over the globe referred to as the ‘moho.’ Scien- in terms of normal life forms.” tists could see it geophysically but didn’t know exactly what it was,” she The center’s researchers have a solid set of key scientific, educational said. Microbiology did not debut in deep ocean drilling until the ’80s and diversity goals to achieve in the next five years. Additionally, they when microbiologists managed to find their way to expeditions and ob- will advance the suite of scientific tools; train and educate a new and di- tain samples. verse generation of undergraduates, graduate students and postdoctoral “We now know that life exists to great depths within the Earth, we deep subseafloor biosphere researchers; and translate knowledge of the know that it is a huge portion of the biomass, but we cannot say what the deep subseafloor biosphere and ocean sciences to a broad and diverse consequences are for biogeochemical cycles, the carbon cycle, the nitro- community that includes K-12 children. gen cycle, the other elemental cycles and budgets,” she said. “Yet a big Edwards and her USC team will partner with several major research question remains: What are the consequences for the evolution of life?” universities and national laboratories to study the deep biosphere be- Edwards explained that most of the evolutionary studies that have neath the oceans. “We will focus on the marine realm because it is by been conducted in microbiology utilize lab microcosm studies. “But we far the biggest challenge in terms of potential habitat size,” she said. have not in the past been able to use the environment as our lab in the And big it is. A little-known fact is that nearly half of the total bio- same way that Darwin used the Galapagos Islands,” she said. mass on Earth may reside in sub-surface habitats that include mines, Edwards noted that scientists have had an extremely difficult time aquifers, soils on the continents, and sediments and rocks below the studying microbiology in the ocean because there is no physical labora- ocean floor. tory. This changed with the drilling of holes deep in the ocean floor that The deep biosphere, tens to hundreds of millions of years old, has two essentially have become permanent working laboratories. different systems that interact with each other but are themselves differ- She emphasized the need to fully understand the impact or conse- ent. The first is the sediment world of microbial communities that is con- quence of the deep biosphere. “For example, if we don’t understand trolled by the diffusion of molecules and chemical exchange with sur- the carbon cycle as it exists in the biosphere, we won’t understand the rounding water bodies. The second is often referred to as the “subseafloor carbon cycle in its complete form, which has significant consequence ocean.” There the rock is cracked and fractured, according to Edwards, for our understanding of fundamental problems that influence, for ex- “like a solidified sponge cake that has been dropped onto the floor, allow- ample, climate change,” she said. ing fluid to flow through the fissures and pores in the solid rock.” Deep biosphere researchers are doing something different than mi- This massive area is what Edwards and her research partners plan to ex- crobiologists who think on a local scale about microbial systems. “We plore in three main field projects at North Pond (mid-Atlantic), Juan de try to understand microbes in the context of chemical, physical, hydro- Fuca (a strait that connects to the Pacific Ocean) and South Pacific Gyre. logical and thermal regimes, and make long-term observations that She noted that staging, comparing and contrasting of experiments, in ad- allow you to study specific processes that are more of an earth system dition to setting up of long-term programs will take decades to complete. science type of construct within the life sciences,” Edwards said. “USC has a strong track record of success in winning these types of The history of the field dates back to as early as the 1930s and to one center excellence awards across the university,” USC Executive Vice of the grandfathers of oceanography, Claude ZoBell, who did collective

34 | USC College Magazine had both industrial and academic partners, but my field never actively engaged in ocean drilling that embraces the creative capacity of aca- demic partners.” Said Howard Gillman, dean of USC College: “We are proud to be the lead institution and home for the center and are committed to support- ing world-class, transformative research and entrepreneurial faculty who work collaboratively across disciplines and institutional boundaries to advance the frontiers of science and tackle the major issues of our time.” Edwards’ team will collaborate with Gaurav Sukhatme, associate pro- fessor of computer science in USC Viterbi. “Katrina did an amazing job putting together a fantastic group of the world’s best researchers to be part of the center,” Sukhatme said. Sukhatme’s first challenge will be to push deeper into the ocean. His robotic work has focused in the upper column (nothing below 100 feet), and robots only communicate when they are above the water. The sec- ond challenge is therefore to develop algorithms that program robots to communicate with each other for longer periods of time. “We will also collaborate with Ellis Meng, assistant professor of biomed- ical engineering in USC Viterbi, on microfluidics that provide important laboratory experimentation for our research cruises,” Edwards added. “This is the decade of the intraterrestrials — we have definitive, measurable deliverables that contribute to our knowledge of really big Katrina Edwards and fellow microbiologists complete a sampling in the questions: Is there a consequence for all that life down there, or is there mid-Atlantic aboard the German vessel RV Maria S. Merian. Last year Edwards and an international research team undertook a three-week none?” Edwards said. The answer will be the C-DEBI’s mission. expedition to a point about 20 degrees north and three miles above a lake of sediment on the sea floor known as North Pond. British poet Edward Young wrote, “In chambers deep, Where waters sleep, What unknown treasures pave the floor.” long coring in the mid-Pacific and conducted numerous studies on So the next time you feel the wind in your hair, the sun on your face, deep microbiology. “He was astounded and recorded that everywhere and the cool of the azure ocean water, take a moment to think about he looked he was able to find evidence for life,” Edwards said. “He hy- what is deep, deep below your feet. That is where Edwards and her pothesized the radiolysis [splitting] of water as a source of hydrogen team will be spending much of the next decade — drilling, coring, ex- that might be fueling communities. Several of ZoBell’s hypotheses are amining and comparing — to find answers that affect the future of life experiencing a rebirth today and are being directly pursued.” on our planet and perhaps beyond. I There was no deep drilling for scientific research when ZoBell was conducting his research in the ’30s. Deep sea drilling began in the ’60s. The funding for Katrina Edwards’ research comes from a $25 million grant The Ocean Drilling Program, now the Integrated Ocean Drilling Pro- from the National Science Foundation to develop a new science and tech- gram (IODP), started in the ’80s. nology enterprise called the Center for Dark Energy Biosphere Investiga- In 2010–11, the IODP will dedicate drilling time to sample this fron- tions (C-DEBI). Additional funding and infrastructure support is being provided by the Dean of the College and the Provost’s Office. tier habitat in three different areas and habitats: the Southern Pacific Ocean, a site off the Pacific Northwest of North America, and the mid- Partner universities and laboratories include University of Alaska Fairbanks; University of California, Santa Cruz; University of Hawaii at Manoa; Pacific Atlantic. The average depth of the ocean is about 4 kilometers or NW; University of Rhode Island; Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; roughly 2.5 miles. Japan Agency for Marine Earth Science Technology; Harvard University; and “These studies herald a dedicated effort by scientific ocean drilling the University of Bremen. to, in the future, study the limits of extreme life on Earth. This quest To learn more about the groundbreaking work of Edwards and her co-re- will also address the question of how life can evolve on terrestrial plan- searchers, visit darkenergybiosphere.org, the Dark Energy Biosphere Insti- ets,” said Hans Christian Larsen, IODP vice president. tute: Research Coordination Network. To view a blog maintained by Edwards during her February 2009 three-week In the past, working with engineers and other academics cruise in the mid-Atlantic, visit northpondexpedition.usc.edu. was primarily about emergency response, according to Edwards. “We PHOTO BY WIEBKE ZIEBIS

Spring/Summer 2010 | 35 EXPLORING the H for Dark Energy Biosphere Investigations team. — fornia, Los Angeles, and are part of Katrina Edwards’ Center technology center begun in 2002 at the University of Cali- for Embedded Networking Sensing (CENS), a science and fix anyproblems, includingglobalclimatechange. added thatwehavetounderstandtheentireecosystem future tominimizecollateraldamage,” Caronsaid. He lion yearsoriginateandhowwecanmitigateeventsinthe how microbialcommunitiesthathaveexistedforfourbil- insignia collectdataasdeepintheocean340feet. solve scientificproblems,” Sukhatmesaid. basic researchtohelpscientistslikehimgetbetterdata and thenengineersroboticsystems. teams ofrobotsbydevelopingmathematicalalgorithms of computerscienceinUSC Viterbi. Sukhatme programs lection, hecollaborateswithGuaravSukhatme, professor ocean watersandendsinhislaboratory. To aidindatacol- toxin thatisproducedbycertainalgaewhentheybloom. moic acid, amajorculprit, isanaturallyoccurringmarine humans, marinemammalsandbirds,” hesaid. Do- vored intheenvironmentandthencausesproblemsfor come afoodsource. gle-celled microbesareactuallygoodandeventuallybe- harmful duetotoxinstheycanproduce, mostofthesin- ological sciences. how theecosystemfunctions,” saidCaron, professorofbi- stand microbialdiversityandhowitplaysoutintermsof essential components of virtually every aquatic food web. standing of algae and protozoa, groups of microbes that are Caron’s lab in USC College focuses on the thorough under- have been, literally, to the top and bottom of the world. Space Station to tick off on his life check-list. Then he will IN-BETWEEN Both Caron and Sukhatme are participants in the Center Programmed glidersofmetalandplasticsportingUSC “Dave andIhavecollaboratedforadecade. Iconduct Caron’s researchbeginsinboththedeepandcoastal “It worksfineuntiloneofthetoxicalgaebecomesfa- Although somephytoplanktonstudiedbyCaronare “The overarchingthemeofmylabistobetterunder- But most of his career has taken place in-between. “Among the fundamentalquestionswewanttoknowis tions. Yet, Dave Caron still has a visit to the years of accumulated time on cruise expedi- on the Alvin submarine and spent nearly three e’s been to the bottom of the ocean SA

PHOTOS BY MAX S. GERBER the DAY(LIGHT)

sing the sun’s energy to improve our quality of life is not a new idea. A rela- tively more recent development, however, is U converting solar radiation into electricity. From calculators to satellites, solar cells can be found in schools, businesses and cities across the globe. Despite the widespread use of solar energy, vast im- provements are still needed in the field, according to Mark Thompson, professor of chemistry and materials science in USC College. Thompson, who has studied solar cells for the past 20

SEIZING years, will spend the next five years developing materials to improve the efficiency of solar cells as part of a U.S. De- partment of Energy grant. The College and USC Viterbi were jointly awarded the $12.5 million grant, which resulted in the on-campus Cen- ter for Energy Nanoscience (CEN), of which Thompson is associate director. “CEN’s mission is to develop materials and processes for solid state lighting and solar energy con- version,” Thompson said. “The center arose out of long-standing collaborations between Viterbi and College faculty,” said P. Daniel Dap- kus, William M. Keck Professor of Engineering at USC Viterbi and director of the CEN. “Mark has been a key person in those collaborations for several years. His re- search is at the crossroads between fundamental chem- istry and device applications.” The unique goal of the center is to compare and analyze the properties of organic and inorganic solar devices. The former is less expensive to produce, yet also less efficient in energy management, while the latter performs better but has a higher price tag. One of the issues that Thompson, his team and re- searchers at USC Viterbi will explore is how to make solar cells better at collecting light. “The way it works now, we can collect all the light, but some of it gets wasted,” he said. According to Thompson, typically only 25 percent of the light collected in organic devices can be turned into electricity. Although their long-term objectives involve technologi- cal advances in the field, Thompson points out that in the coming years the team’s most important goal is to gain a complete understanding of the workings of solar devices. “We’re focused on developing the materials that will allow us to answer some really fundamental questions in these devices,” Thompson said. “We’re making technical advances by building a better understanding of the science.” —LM

Spring/Summer 2010 | 37 FINDING the A RIGHT MIX greater than the sum of the parts.” — useful end,” Roberts said. “The results are often much many different areas and puts them together toward some run tests for hundreds of different viruses or cancers. that could be deployed in a single chip to simultaneously This would allow Roberts to fashion hundreds of proteins would condense several cycles of purification down to one. of Electrical Engineering hope to craft technology that and University of California, Santa Barbara’s Department nia, Los Angeles’ Department of Medical Pharmacology Roberts and his fellow researchers in University of Califor- sign method to maximize a diagnostic device’s capabilities. Roberts is investigating ways to automate his protein de- Roadmap Transformative Research Projects Program, some kind of impact.” esting to try to use those in devices that actually have people who make stuff, in our case proteins, and it’s inter- Chemical Engineering and Materials Science. “There are istry and USC Viterbi’s Monk Family Department of joint appointment in the College’s Department of Chem- happening in biology today,” said Roberts, who holds a the device and Zhou on the nanosensor material. joins forces. Thompson focuses on the microfluidic part of lege and USC Viterbi, are among those with whom Roberts Chongwu Zhou, who hold joint appointments in the Col- tached to and a signal is emitted. Mark Thompson and it subtly changes the electrical properties of the wire it’s at- reagent attaches to a viral or cancer cell in a blood sample, croscale sensory device using the protein. When the mixture. that becomes the predominant component of the final cycles, the sequences are culled down to a single molecule virus strain to see which molecules stick. After six or seven mately 10 trillion protein sequences over a target such as a more than a decade ago. He pours a collection of approxi- help create such cutting-edge diagnostic technologies. “The core of much new science takes technologies from With the support of the National Institutes of Health’s “I think this kind of teamwork is characteristic of what’s Roberts’ engineering collaborators then construct a mi- Roberts designs proteins using a technique he invented Roberts partners with electrical engineers to of cancer markers and viral infections. Richard may be all a device needs to screen for hundreds tiny drop of blood. One day that EC

PHOTOS BY MAX S. GERBER the NANO WORLD

e can assume by its prefix that a nanometer is small — very small, in fact. One nanometer is equal to one billionth of W a meter. In comparison, a single human hair is about 50,000 nanometers wide, and a nanowire diameter is more than 1,000 times smaller than the width of a hair. Jia Grace Lu has spent the last four years researching nanowires in the College’s Department of Physics and As- tronomy. These wires can be used in everything from pho- todetectors to chemical sensors, with countless applications still awaiting discovery. In her lab, Lu constructs tightly-packed clusters of nanowires from metals or semiconductors. Some are formed in a disordered mass, like steel wool, and some are BUILDING vertically aligned like the bristles on a flat hair brush. While some types of nanostructures are solid, others are hollow, and both allow a flow of electric charge. Lu is researching the characteristics of these structures to gain a comprehensive understanding of their properties. “By studying fundamentals, we gain the potential to apply the technology to different devices,” she said. Nanowire sensor devices that Lu has worked on include an “electronic nose,” a compact, portable sensor that can be used by civilian or military personnel to identify toxic chemical gases. She is also developing a nanoscale pH probe, a wire that can be inserted into a living cell to measure and detect its in vivo functions. The wires have a high surface-to-volume ratio, which is one unique aspect that makes them so versatile. “Because the wires are so small, chemicals adsorbed on the surface have a significant effect on the conducting current inside,” Lu said. Lu is also helping to develop several types of nanowire- based solar cells for the Department of Energy-funded Center for Energy Nanoscience at USC. Working together with researchers from USC Viterbi and fellow College pro- fessors, Lu’s goal is to design sustainable and renewable solar cells that achieve high efficiency and low production cost. She is also using nanowire arrays to create a light- weight, flexible solar cell, which could be applied to plas- tics, fabrics and other substrates. According to Lu, the applications of nanotechnology are innumerable, and although they are small, these nanowires could soon be making big changes in the way we live. —LM

Spring/Summer 2010 | 39 LOS ANGELES’

“ e live in earthquake country and W every day is earthquake season.” This is Tom Jordan’s mantra. The director of the Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC) based in USC College notes that while residents elsewhere in the country brace for hurricane and tornado seasons, Californians must always be on guard for the state’s most common natural disaster. Thousands of earthquakes occur in Southern California each year, though most pass unnoticed except to seismologists and other scientists such as Jordan, University Professor and W.M. Keck Foundation Chair in Geological Sciences. The nation’s premier academic earthquake research organ- ization, SCEC unites seismologists and scientists from

WAKE-UP across the world. More than 600 scientists from 63 interna- Scientists at the Southern tional institutions collaborate to gather data, develop fore- California Earthquake Center casting models, and educate the public on earthquake housed in USC College say awareness and preparedness. the massive temblors in Haiti In the wake of the 7.0-magnitude earthquake in Haiti and and Chile should serve as a the 8.8-magnitude earthquake in Chile, the world has turned warning for Angelenos. to SCEC for answers.

BY ALLISON DOYLE MPW ’11 The largest earthquake preparedness drill in U.S. history is the Great Southern California ShakeOut, developed and headquartered at the Southern California Earthquake Center, based in USC College. Below, emergency workers tend to volunteers made to look like injured earthquake victims during a drill on University Park campus.

“The whole southern section of the San Andreas Fault is locked and loaded. ‘It’s ready to go.’

“Earthquakes are one of those things that people don’t realize are a is an annual event now used as a model for drills throughout the world. big threat until something like Haiti happens,” Jordan said. “Otherwise, The USC Annenberg School for Communication’s Norman Lear it’s in the back of their minds.” Center conducted a survey involving more than 3,000 ShakeOut partic- To Jordan and his team, the threat of temblors is ever present. And ipants. Of those surveyed, 12 percent described themselves as “very while the exact timing of the Haiti and Chile earthquakes could not well-prepared” for a large-scale earthquake, 56 percent were “some- have been predicted, the large magnitude and location of both quakes what prepared,” 26 percent were “fairly unprepared,” and 6 percent did not come as a complete surprise. were “totally unprepared.” Haiti has two active fault lines running through the country and Chile So why all the apathy? Jordan believes it’s because people haven’t ex- sits on an area known as the “ring of fire,” a system of active faults that perienced an earthquake on the scale of the predicted Big One. Earth- circles the Pacific Ocean and frequently experiences tremors. quakes Angelenos have felt, such as the 5.4-magnitude Chino Hills Southern California has its own notorious fault line: the San Andreas. quake in 2008, are not in the same realm as the one that may occur in Evidence suggests that on the southern San Andreas Fault, an earth- the next 30 years. quake 7.7 magnitude or larger occurs every 100 to 140 years. The last, a “After an earthquake like Chino Hills, everyone gets excited and 7.9-magnitude quake, occurred in 1857. wants to prepare for earthquakes because they felt one,” Jordan said. The question now is not if a large earthquake will hit Southern Cali- “Then they say that they’ve lived through an earthquake, and it wasn’t fornia in our lifetimes, but when. so bad. But these are seismologically insignificant events.” “The whole southern section of the San Andreas Fault is locked and Even the 6.7-magnitude Northridge earthquake in 1994 is not com- loaded,” Jordan said. “‘It’s ready to go.’” parable. Although 57 people were killed and the quake was reportedly One might think that the recent deadly quakes would encourage the costliest national disaster to hit the U.S. until Hurricane Katrina, more vigilance on the part of Angelenos, especially considering the dis- Jordan maintains, “In the budget of earthquakes, it was a drop in the asters’ direct effect on the United States. The Chilean earthquake re- bucket.” sulted in warnings of a tsunami in Hawaii and receding water lines in “Northridge had a 15-mile long fault. In the San Andreas, it might be Long Beach and Malibu. But in the end, the waves in Hawaii reached 200 miles or more that break in one earthquake.” only 3 feet, and the Southern California coast was unaffected. Despite an apparent laissez-faire attitude, more than 6.9 million par- That the U.S. escaped unscathed, combined with California’s recent pe- ticipated in the 2009 Great California ShakeOut, and more than 1.6 mil- riod of earthquake quiescence, have caused some to doubt the necessity lion have already signed up for the 2010 drill, scheduled for Oct. 21 at of preparing for a local quake. College student Aron Theising, a freshman 10:21 a.m. Eight central states are also considering a drill set for April majoring in economics, for example, admits that he has not prepared. 2011, in preparation for the bicentennial of the 1812 New Madrid “As far as the potential of having what happened in Chile with the 8.8 earthquakes. earthquake happen here, I don’t think it’s that significant of a concern,” The drill has been so successful it has expanded overseas. New Theising said. “I’m not too worried about earthquakes because I’ve Zealand practiced its own ShakeOut in 2009, and British Columbia will been in one and it’s not too terrifying.” participate in 2010. Theising’s sentiment is not unusual. According to data from the 2008 The ShakeOut is led by Mark Benthien, executive director of the Earth- Great Southern California ShakeOut, the largest earthquake drill in U.S. quake Country Alliance (ECA), an organization created by SCEC in 2003 history, few are ready. Organized by SCEC and its partners, the ShakeOut to share existing earthquake resources throughout California. PHOTOS BY DIETMAR QUISTORF

Spring/Summer 2010 | 41 Most people don’t know what actions to take during an earthquake, Ben- earthquakes in progress. thien said. The purpose of the ShakeOut is to help Californians prepare. “Weather is easier to observe,” Schorlemmer said. “You can measure “People need to practice ‘drop, cover and hold on’ at home, work and storms by measuring the previous weather conditions. But with earth- school,” said Benthien, SCEC’s director for communication, education and quakes, we can only measure the earthquake itself.” outreach. “Having actually done it in practice makes a big difference.” Earthquake prediction is a fundamental question of seismology, but be- SCEC’s mission not only involves educating and preparing the com- fore an early warning system can be developed, seismologists must fully munity. It is also developing an earthquake “prediction” model. understand the earthquake itself. That is one of SCEC’s main focuses. As of yet there is no silver bullet solution that can precisely indicate “We’re beginning to understand how earthquake probabilities change an impending earthquake. And Jordan believes there may never be. In- with time,” Jordan said. “These changes can be substantial in the short stead, he advocates a “brick-by-brick” approach, building a system like term — factors of 100 or more relative to the chances on an ordinary the one used in weather forecasting. day. With our current understanding, the daily forecasting probabilities “You don’t forecast the weather because you see some special cloud,” never get much higher than a percent or so. We can’t predict earth- Jordan said. “You forecast it because you understand how the atmos- quakes with high short-term probabilities. phere works, and you build a model.” “Still, the forecasting information can be useful. Think about how But earthquakes are incredibly difficult to understand. Just ask Dani- you react to red flag warnings during fire seasons. Although the chance jel Schorlemmer, assistant professor of research in earth sciences and of your home burning down is pretty small, you still take precautions. SCEC seismologist. Schorlemmer has developed a forecasting model The same should be true for earthquakes.” that aims to predict the approximate size and location of earthquakes, So when the Big One hits, will you be ready? I but the data-gathering process is tricky because it relies on observing

STEPS TO EARTHQUAKE SAFETY Developed by the Earthquake Country Alliance, here are recommendations for what to do before, during and after an earthquake. Visit earthquakecountry.info for more information.

PREPARE PROTECT 1. Secure it now! Reduce and/or eliminate hazards. 5. DROP, COVER, and HOLD ON! During an Secure televisions, computers, bookcases, furniture, pic- earthquake, drop to the floor, take cover under a ture frames, etc. so they won’t fall on you during an sturdy desk or table, and hold on to it firmly. Be earthquake. prepared to move with it until the shaking stops. 2. Make a plan. Create an emergency plan that includes RECOVER evacuation routes and reunion locations, out-of-state contacts, and where your emergency supplies are stored. 6. Check it out. Check for injuries and damages that need immediate attention. Know basic first 3. Make disaster kits. Every person in your home should have a aid and identify hazards such as damaged gas, kit stored in an accessible location at home, work/school and in their water, sewage and electrical lines. vehicle. Include snack food, water, flashlights, portable radios, batter- ies, a first aid kit, cash, extra medications, a whistle, and a fire extin- 7. Communicate and recover. Turn on your guisher. Store at least three gallons of water per person in your home. portable radio for information and safety advi- Water lines could be destroyed during a large-scale earthquake. sories. Remember your emergency plans. After- shocks may cause additional damage or items to 4. Is your place safe? Most houses are not as safe as they could be. Con- fall, so get to a safe location. Bring your disaster sider improving the structural integrity of your home. Look for inadequately supplies kit. 7braced first stories, unreinforced masonry and vulnerable pipes. Fix them now. “You’ll need water more than you’ll need food,” said Mark Benthien, executive director of Earthquake Country Alliance, an organization created by the Southern California Earthquake Center, housed in USC College. “Especially if it’s the summer and it’s hot. Water is not just for drinking, but for cleaning, sanitation and cooling.” VIEW THE NLINE VIDEO at college.usc.edu/shakeout

42 | USC College Magazine EHIND THE WHEEL of his Cadillac After the roads to Mt. Wilson initially reopened, they closed again in the winter after torrential rains SRX, Edward Rhodes slows to a stop and mudslides hit the Southern California burn areas. at Big Tujunga Canyon Road, where “This drive up the mountain used to be lush and a crew works on asphalt leading to the Mt. green,” says Rhodes surveying the fire-damaged Wilson Observatory. landscape that looks more like a desert than a forest. “There may be a point further along where they Edward Rhodes “We’ll find out right about here whether won’t let us up.” they’ll let us up the mountain,” says A pioneer in the field of solar physics, Rhodes Rhodes, professor of astronomy in USC College. began conducting research at Mt. Wilson’s 60-foot A crewman signals for him to go around the orange cones. tower in 1977, as a California Institute of Technology postdoctoral student. In 1984, and now a USC pro- Rhodes sighs with relief. After many attempts, he has finally fessor, Rhodes became the principal investigator of been given clearance to visit the observatory. He hasn’t done so projects at the 60-inch solar telescope, where among since the Station fire roared through the Angeles National Forest other things, daily white-light, megapixel images are in summer 2009, forcing evacuations, road closures and halting taken of the sun’s front hemisphere. The two-month shutdown was the first break in the research at the site’s 60-foot solar tower for two months. 25-year data-gathering. The entire observatory was in peril when the largest wildfire in L.A. County history burned through more than 160,000 acres. Flames came close, but did not reach the observatory atop the 5,800 peak in the San Gabriel Mountains. No smoke damage has been detected. Landmark scientific breakthroughs have occurred at the 102-year-old STEPS TO EARTHQUAKE SAFETY observatory. It is where astronomer Edwin Hubble discovered there were galaxies beyond the Milky Way in 1925. Years earlier, scientist George Ellery Hale built a 60-foot tower at Mt. Wilson and in June 1908 used it to become the first to detect the sun’s magnetic fields. The tower is where Rhodes conducts research with his students, col- lecting data and studying the sun’s internal structure. A helioseismologist, Rhodes examines the sun’s wave oscillations, similar to how seismologists monitor waves caused by earthquakes to learn about the Earth’s interior. Rhodes’ group has made its own discoveries. Using the Mt. Wilson Doppler imager, they pinpointed a region of the sun now called the solar subsurface shear layer — a layer just below the sun’s surface where gas moves slower than at mid-latitudes. In a NASA-sponsored project, they are transferring digital images collected since 1988 to USC computer disks, which are being converted to a format widely used in astronomical research exchanges around the world. That data is being Flames advance towards the historic Mt. Wilson Observatory during the Station fire that burned 160,000 acres. archived at Stanford University. On this foggy day, Rhodes has brought with him Taran Huffman, a physics senior working part-time at the 60-foot tower. “One of the benefits of going to USC was I knew that it operated a tower on Mt. Wilson,” Huffman says. “It’s been an excellent opportu- seasons nity for me as an undergraduate.” At the tower, Rhodes is greeted by Shawn Irish, a USC data analyst and daily operator of the 60-foot tower. While there, the trio examines negatives of the white-light images. One research goal is to help determine how much of changing solar activity is affecting the Earth’s climate. The sun can help gauge un- usual cold snaps and warming, although, Rhodes emphasizes, “only a fraction” of the current warming is due to solar activity changes. “We want to better predict what influence the changing level of activ- SUN I BY PAMELA J. JOHNSON ity in the sun might have on the Earth, not today, but in the future.”

E. RHODES PHOTO BY PAMELA J. JOHNSON; MT. WILSON PHOTO COURTESY OF UCLA DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY VIEW THE NLINE VIDEO at college.usc.edu/mtwilson

Spring/Summer 2010 | 43 PHOTO BY MAX S. GERBER Dr.Who Nick Warner’s scientific curiosity was sparked at a young age. Now he shares the same joy of discovery with students and television viewers around the world. EXPLOSIVES, BLACK HOLES Dr.Who BY LAURIE MOORE

ick Warner leans forward in his desk chair, Nhis arms outstretched, hands cupping the air in front of him as if protecting a small flame.

“When I was 15, I had something explode right here,” he says. For Warner, USC College professor of physics and astronomy, and mathematics, hands-on science is more than just a phrase. In this case, his hands took the brunt of an unexpected detonation between red phosphorous and potassium chlorate that he had combined in a matchbox.

Spring/Summer 2010 | 45 The resulting sound and shockwaves from the blast rendered him par- Warner conveys the same message to students in his general tially deaf for a few days and wrecked havoc upon his hands and arms. education astronomy class, “The Universe,” which he has been teach- “My hands felt like a stampede of cattle had gone across them,” ing for 15 years. One of his goals is to help his students appreciate that Warner says. science at its heart is question-driven. Spending 10 years of his childhood in the Australian bush provided And the subject matter he teaches fits right in. “Astronomy is the lots of space to learn about all the wonderful things he could do with quintessential basic science,” he says, “one whose primary motivating his hands, and what not to do. “Sometimes I’m amazed I didn’t hurt element is simply that you want to know the answer.” myself more,” he says. Warner hopes to teach a broad range of science through the subject of But when asked what first interested him in science, it’s exactly these astronomy. He cites planetary atmosphere as a good example of how experiences that swayed him — the physical, no-holds-barred, ques- one topic can bring many other disciplines together: The class might tion-driven curiosity of a young boy with a free afternoon and a chem- touch upon a planet’s gravity, temperature, chemical composition, the istry set. “One of those real chemistry sets,” he says. “I couldn’t quite planet’s past and future, and then segue into global warming. make gun powder at first, but it gave me a good start in that direction.” “It gives me a springboard to teach them that science is not this com- Warner recalls creating and setting off bombs and missiles with his two partmentalized thing,” he says. “It’s much more interdisciplinary.” brothers, and occasionally with the help of his engineer father, who once These classes represent a broad spectrum of the entire USC commu- helped the boys build a rocket-powered plane. “Of course, we didn’t tell nity, with student majors ranging from business to music. Although the him we were just going to shoot it down,” Warner says, laughing. majority of his students are not going to be scientists, Warner believes, Watching Warner describe these first forays into scientific experiments at some point in their lives they will be presented with scientific argu- — What happens if I set this on fire? — is like watching him as a child. ments, and will need to be able to evaluate them. His eyes widen, he grins, he gesticulates wildly at times. He’s in love “A lot of science is just common sense. In Australia, you don’t put with science. your hand where you can’t see it, because there are poisonous spiders,” In his down-time from blowing things up, he watched television and Warner says. “There are certain actions of survival, and you try and idolized Dr. Who, the time-traveling main character of the namesake teach students a skill set by which they can look at things and wonder: British television series. Is this nonsense? Does this feel right?” “I wanted to be Dr. Who,” Warner says. “I wanted to build a time His efforts to instill an appreciation for scientific methods and sub- machine, and it certainly shaped my career.” jects are more than welcomed by his students. Freshman history major Erica Robles is considering adding a minor in Although he didn’t build a time machine, the real outcome astronomy as a result of taking Warner’s course in Fall 2009. “Professor isn’t so different. “I studied Einstein’s theory of relativity, space and Warner’s class was an eye-opening experience for me,” she said. time; I got to work with Stephen Hawking, and I work on the quantum “Through the lecture and the accompanying lab we covered an im- structure of black holes,” he says. “What could be better?” mense range of material relevant to class and to life.” Hawking, the renowned theoretical physicist, was Warner’s thesis ad- Senior sociology major Drew Livingston was a student in Warner’s viser at the University of Cambridge, where Warner earned his Ph.D. in Spring 2009 class, and remembers his professor’s energy and devotion. physics and mathematics in 1982. The two men have remained in touch “Few educators literally break a sweat sprinting between chalkboards through the years, and Warner’s influence was instrumental in Hawk- writing out mathematical equations,” Livingston said. “The fact that he ing’s decision to give his sold-out black hole lecture at USC in March could be so excited about teaching an introductory astronomy class, one 2009 as part of The College Commons event series. he has undoubtedly taught many times over, showed that he really Before coming to the College in 1990, Warner taught at the Massachu- cares not only about the subject matter, but about our learning.” setts Institute of Technology. He has also served as a researcher at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Switzerland. USC College is not the only university setting where Warner His current research focuses on trying to resolve two established yet shares the joy of science. Fans of the ABC series Lost can watch Warner, conflicting theories in physics — general relativity and quantum me- as well as his College physics colleague Clifford Johnson, on the Season chanics. The best setting to understand these issues, he says, is a black 5 DVD extra “Lost University.” In the feature, the two professors, as hole, where matter is being reduced to its most fundamental con- well as California Institute of Technology physics professor Sean Car- stituents. He applies the newer and still-developing string theory to roll, talk about the theories of time and space in “Phy 101: Introductory better understand how to balance the two conflicting theories and dis- Physics of Time Travel.” cover insights into the nature of black holes. “It’s an audience of millions,” Warner says. “Not all will watch the ex- “The work I’m doing is fundamentally curiosity-driven,” Warner says. tras, but some will, and the ones who will have a predisposition to be “How do we re-model or understand a black hole and its interior struc- interested in scientific things.” ture and the whole nature of space and time using quantum mechanics “Also,” he adds, “as a recruitment tool to USC, it was a no-brainer!” and string theory?” Warner is often contacted by the entertainment industry to lend his ex- Warner admits that, at the end of the day, the driving force behind his pertise to various projects. One of his first was the 1985 PBS series Cre- research is always the same basic idea. “I just want to know the an- ation of the Universe, which was filmed while he was a postdoctoral scholar swer,” he says. “I have since I was about 7 years old.” at CalTech. Among other contributions, he was a panel member at the

46 | USC College Magazine Nick Warner (left) and his USC College physics colleague Clifford Johnson discuss the- ories of time and space in “Phy 101: Introductory Physics of Time Travel” on the Lost Season 5 DVD extra “Lost University.” Warner is often contacted by the entertain- ment industry to lend his ex- pertise to various projects.

“The work I’m doing is fundamentally curiosity-driven. How do we re-model or understand a black hole and its interior structure and the whole nature of space and time using quantum mechanics and string theory?

2008 Sloan Film Summit “From Geek to Chic,” was involved in a mu- scientists, you usually get a far more clinical or analytical response, even seum design in Taiwan, and is currently working with space artist Adolf in very emotional circumstances. This can create these incredible disso- Schaller on a documentary about black holes. “Any time an opportunity nances, which make for interesting storytelling.” comes up, I try to participate,” Warner says. Warner notes that television has recently changed the public percep- His requests from the entertainment world have doubled since the Na- tion of scientists in a positive way. In the ’70s and ’80s, there were shows tional Academy of Sciences created the Science and Entertainment Ex- like Star Trek, “where the scientist was the guy with the funny ears who change. This program connects industry representatives with scientists didn’t like women” and other sci-fi shows that portrayed scientists as when an expert opinion is needed. geeky, often-ignored sidekicks who weren’t the focus of the plot. But before Warner gets involved in a script or documentary, he asks Today, House, Bones, CSI and Numb3rs are driven by science and have himself, “Is it going to make me look like an idiot? Will it have a net scientists as main characters. “TV has really embraced science,” Warner positive benefit for me, my field and for USC?” says. “You want people to see science as a really neat and cool thing to If the answers are “no” and “yes,” not the other way around, Warner do. Anything that does this is brilliant, as far as I’m concerned.” will devote his time to a project. The commitment is worthwhile be- According to Warner, being curious, asking questions, and taking cause it allows him to simply get people excited about science. He also pleasure in simply knowing an answer is what science is all about. “Lit- wants to help the entertainment industry create scientist characters tle kids get that immediately, mucking around with stuff to figure out who are portrayed correctly and shown as positive role models. how it works,” he says. “One of my pet peeves is scientists who turn up on TV wearing white “But somewhere along the line, we tend to lose that,” Warner says. “It lab coats, with German accents,” Warner says. often has to do with the fact that we have to earn a living. Somewhere, Real scientists aren’t like that. In many ways, Warner says, they’re just somehow, that joy can get lost.” like everybody else, except they have a different way of analyzing things. Warner’s goal is to rekindle that joy, one student and television viewer “Scientists have all the wonderful emotional and irrational behaviors at a time. I that come with being fully human,” he says. “But if you engage them as PHOTO COURTESY OF BUENA VISTA HOME ENTERTAINMENT AND LOST SEASON 5 BLU-RAY™ DISC. ©ABC STUDIOS

Spring/Summer 2010 | 47 A REAL BY SUSAN ANDREWS

oud and lively singers, some liken the involves a group of neurons in the basal ganglia called the LMAN core. The focus of Bottjer’s new work, in the journal Nature Neuroscience, is a Lsound of finches to toy trumpets — newly identified pathway that involves neurons that surround the LMAN core — a region called the LMAN shell. Bottjer explained that ka-ching, beep-beep, oi, a-ha, or da-de-da! the LMAN shell was serendipitously detected years ago by Frank Both male and female zebra finches sound off in chattering trills and Johnson, a postdoctoral scholar who worked in her lab and is now a fac- calls. However, it is only the male of the species that sings. The father ulty member at Florida State University. passes along his song to his sons primarily for mating purposes — the “Both songbirds and humans have to hear and evaluate the match be- song is used to court discerning females. Unlike the nightingale male, tween auditory feedback of their own vocal utterances and the target or who boasts a rich repertoire of 300 love songs, the zebra finch only has template of the sound,” Bottjer said. “Over time and practice, we and one song that’s between five and nine syllables. they get better. When the babble turns into words or songs, the brain is As in humans, the vocal learning of songbirds is based on first memo- saying ‘good match!’ We think it is likely that this neural circuit is help- rizing vocal sounds from an adult male tutor (i.e., the father in zebra ing with this process.” finches). Then the feedback of self-produced vocalizations is used to In her study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, the new fine-tune until the output matches the neural memory of those sounds LMAN shell pathway was surgically lesioned; however the damage did — essentially what begins as babble turns into understandable language. not induce immediate disruption to vocal behavior. Instead there was a According to Sarah Bottjer, professor of biological sciences and psy- profound effect on vocal learning. Specifically, said Bottjer, the young chology in USC College, songbirds are a great model system for under- songbirds did not produce a good vocal match to the song of their tu- standing vocal learning because they can be investigated in ways that tors. The songbirds also never developed a stable temporal sequence. cannot be achieved in humans. For example, instead of singing A, B, C, D, they sang several different Mammals and birds have comparable specialized forebrain regions for vo- sequences (such as C, D, B, A; D, B, C, A and A, C, D, B). calizing — songs for birds and speech for humans. The neural circuits that The LMAN shell pathway might also be important for integrating underlie vocal learning in songbirds fall into one of two functional categories: different sensory modalities. Socialization in both birds and humans is a basic motor pathway for vocal production, and a pathway through the basal very important for vocal learning. Birds, like humans, benefit from so- ganglia in juveniles for motor performance and cognition. The basal ganglia cial interactions and thus do not learn well from tape recordings of vocal circuit is located in the part of the brain that when becoming dysfunctional sounds. If they don’t see and interact with their tutors or even see plas- in humans causes Parkinson’s, Huntington’s and other diseases. tic models of their tutors, young birds don’t learn to vocalize very well. “For vocal learning in juvenile songbirds that basal ganglia circuit has This may also extend to motivational cues from the tutor. a special function that is very important in the initial phases of vocal “The applied value of research in this area beyond Parkinson’s and learning, but we have not been able to ascribe specific functions to dif- Huntington’s diseases is pivotal in learning how normal vocal learning ferent parts of that neural circuit until now,” Bottjer said. “As is true is carried out and how speech is acquired,” Bottjer explained. “This and with both songbirds and humans, there is a critical juncture when we future research will assist in treating stuttering and other disorders of need to hear certain types of auditory experiences early in develop- vocal communication. Stuttering affects 1 percent of the population, ment if we are ever going to have a completely normal sequence of ac- and diseases such as autism, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and Fragile X quisition of vocal communication.” syndrome all have major effects on the ability to communicate vocally.” Bottjer and other neuroscientists studying vocal learning in songbirds Bottjer would like to investigate the activity of individual neurons as have found that if the basal ganglia neural circuit is damaged during the birds are producing the vocal behavior, hearing what they produced, early vocal learning, acquisition of vocal communication is completely and observing and recording their learning and practicing behaviors. disrupted. But if disruption to the circuit occurs later on in adulthood, it “We will also look for cross-talk between pathways — integration and has no obvious effect. Once songbirds have learned and acquired nor- information sharing that is occurring between the parallel circuits in the mal vocal communication, it is no longer affected by damage to that basal ganglia as we expect there to be,” she said. pathway — they are by adulthood “hardwired.” Complex learned behavior and dissecting the underlying neural cir- What Bottjer has discovered in her latest study is that the basal gan- cuitry and the function of each pathway is a formidable job. glia pathway turns out to have two parallel circuits, rather than a single “Not just my lab but all of the labs in the aggregate working on this neural circuit as previously thought. have made amazing progress in beginning to really understand the spe- I One pathway in the basal ganglia necessary for vocal learning in birds cific functions of all of these different neural circuits,” Bottjer said. PHOTO BY ERIC O’CONNELL

48 | USC College Magazine Stuttering, Parkinson’s disease, Fragile X syndrome. The neural circuitry of songbirds holds one of the keys to understanding and repairing vocal learning in humans. TWEET

Sarah Bottjer, professor of biological sciences and psychology, discovered in her latest study that the basal ganglia pathway in zebra finches has two parallel circuits, rather than a single neural circuit as previously thought.

Spring/Summer 2010 | 49 of PLANTS,

FLIES

MENand

With the help of a small flowering plant and a fruit fly, Simon Tavaré is leading a team of researchers to advance our understanding of the genetic origins of human disease. BY EMILY CAVALCANTI torrent of fluorescent light rushes out advancing human health through genetic research. Since 2001, the CEGS program has funded 10 centers nationally, including those at Aonto the cement floor as Marie- Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, Stanford University, Yale Stanislas Remigereau opens the door to University and the California Institute of Technology. The goal of each center is to assemble interdisciplinary teams dedicated to making criti- the growth chamber. Inside are hundreds cal advances in genomic research. of small plants precisely arranged in black From 2003 to 2008, under the direction of University Professor Michael Waterman, the CEGS at USC focused on the human genome trays that flank both walls up to the ceil- and understanding the structure of its haplotypes, the common strings of DNA that are passed through generations. ing. Some are sprouts that have just The typical human genome is composed of two sets of threadlike pierced through the soil’s surface, while DNA-containing structures called chromosomes, one set inherited from the mother and the other from the father. With the completion of the others have formed rosettes of green or Human Genome Project in 2003 and the ability to identify mutations in purplish leaves. A number of plants have DNA, researchers now have a set of tools that make it possible to find the genetic contributions to common diseases. One approach to identi- long thin stems with tiny white flowers fying genes involved in human disease is genome-wide association and are enclosed in tall plastic cylinders. studies. This relatively new statistical method seeks to correlate the occurrence “Look. This one reminds me of a Christmas tree,” she says over the of variations at the DNA level (mutations) with differences in a pheno- incessant drone of the chamber’s cooling system. typic trait (a diseased state in humans, or the general appearance of each Remigereau, a postdoctoral research associate in USC College, notes fly or plant). Association methods allow researchers rapidly to scan the the variety of appearances even among plants at similar stages of genome for small variations, called single nucleotide polymorphisms or growth. Rosette size, flowering time, branch number and bud size — SNPs (pronounced “snips”), that occur more frequently in people with a these are physical manifestations or phenotypes of the plant’s genetic particular disease than in people without the disease. Scientists then use blueprint or genotype. While each plant’s genes provide the potential data gathered through association studies, which can examine hundreds for the development of these physical characteristics, this is often af- of thousands of SNPs at the same time, to pinpoint genes that may con- fected by interactions with other genes and with the environment. tribute to a person’s risk of developing a certain disease. In other words, genes, which control the plant’s hereditary informa- tion, are a starting point for determining its structure and function. However, the route to the expression of those observable traits is highly complex, involving many interacting biochemical pathways that are yet to be fully explained. Enter a team of scientists led by USC College’s Simon Tavaré. With the support of a $12.1 million, five-year grant renewal from the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), Tavaré and his colleagues are working to develop an intellectual framework, together with computational and statistical analysis tools, for illuminating the route from genotype to phenotype. Along with Arabidopsis thaliana, the small flowering plants Remigereau introduced, the other model organism that anchors their investigation is Drosophila melanogaster, a fruit fly. “DNA is common to all organisms,” said Tavaré, holder of the George and Louise Kawamoto Chair in Biological Sciences, and research pro- fessor of biological sciences and mathematics. “So what you learn about its action in one organism in principle can be applied to others and that’s the aim here. We’re trying to understand methods with which you might tease apart how you get from genotype to phenotype in Arabidop- sis and Drosophila with the expectation that those same methods should work to figure out phenotypes such as disease states in humans.” From molecular biologists to computer scientists and genetic epi- demiologists to mathematicians, a wide range of researchers from the College and the Keck School of Medicine of USC have joined Tavaré to draw a coherent, unified picture of how different genetic variants fit together and ultimately reveal the origins of human disease.

In addition to serving as the principal investigator of the Center of Excellence The Center of Excellence in Genomic Science (CEGS) at in Genomic Science at USC, statistician-biologist Simon Tavaré and his group USC was established in 2003 with an $18.7 million grant from the are also developing computational “tracking” methods to automate the PHOTO BY PHIL CHANNING NHGRI, the arm of the National Institutes of Health dedicated to observation of Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) behavior.

Spring/Summer 2010 | 51 During the first five years of the CEGS grant, Waterman, who is also phenotypes in Arabidopsis. Among them is flowering time, which is USC Associates Chair in Natural Sciences and professor of biological sci- most indicative of the plant’s overall adaptation to climate and environ- ences, computer science and mathematics in the College, and his collab- mental conditions in general. orators helped pioneer improved techniques for conducting association “Arabidopsis is arguably the best model organism for dissecting the studies that are now commonly used by the biological community. genotype-phenotype map,” Nordborg said. “It naturally exists as inbred With the CEGS grant renewal, Tavaré and his colleagues are building lines that are genetically adapted to a wide variety of environments, and upon these advances with some novel experimental approaches. Rather can readily be grown in large numbers under controlled conditions. than focusing on single SNPs, recently developed technologies will “By 2014, we hope to have identified the major determinants of flow- now enable them to sequence whole genomes and find all the positions ering time variation in Arabidopsis as well as have a good overall picture at which any two individuals differ in their DNA sequences. The group of how these variants, together with the environment, lead to variation is also measuring intermediate phenotypes, such as the expression of at the phenotypic level.” each individual gene in specific tissues, to refine association tests and Drosophila has been used as a model organism in genetics for more scale them up to the whole genome level. than 100 years and its genome sequence was first reported in 2000. With In Drosophila, they are using previously identified DNA sequences to 13,700 genes, Drosophila has homologues for many genes known to be create genetically identical model organisms that allow them to more involved with human disease, including cancer. directly observe what happens to phenotypes under differing condi- Professor of Biological Sciences Sergey Nuzhdin, Gabilan Assistant tions. Since Arabidopsis is a naturally inbred species with each plant Professor of Biological Sciences Michelle Arbeitman and Professor of producing an offspring with an identical genetic make-up, researchers Biological Sciences John Tower have joined forces to probe such phe- are able to track exactly which changes in the plant’s physical appear- notypes as aging and courtship behavior in Drosophila and discover how ance are responses to different climates. each presents under different conditions. Tavaré’s lab is also developing “Understanding how you get from genotype to phenotype is arguably computational “tracking” methods to automate the observation process. one of the biggest problems in biology at the moment and will probably “We are starting to understand which regulatory polymorphisms con- remain so for a long time,” Tavaré said. “Because an enormous amount tribute to the differences in transcription among individuals,” Nuzhdin is known about the genetics of these two model organisms, I think we said of the group’s progress thus far. “Flies are an important model or- have an advantage over trying to do this directly in humans.” ganism to look for insights as their regulatory polymorphisms segregate independently of one another in natural fly populations, while in hu- Arabidopsis and Drosophila are an ideal fit for these studies mans these polymorphisms are organized into linkage-disequilibrium primarily due to the size of their genomes and because they share a blocks and causal polymorphisms are nearly impossible to identify. number of genes in common with humans that are known to be linked “Together John and Michelle’s labs along with mine, in close collabo- to disease. ration with our colleagues in computational biology and at the Keck In 2000, Arabidopsis was the first flowering plant genome to be se- School, are now beginning to apply our approaches to the whole quenced and it contains about 25,500 genes, which is close to the lower genome at the same time.” estimates for the number of genes in the human genome. Approxi- mately 100 Arabidopsis genes are similar to disease-causing genes in Experimental results from each group will be combined with humans, including the genes for breast cancer and cystic fibrosis. sequence data generated by the USC Epigenome Center located in the Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Magnus Nordborg and his USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. The nation’s first such center, team including Remigereau and Richard Clark, assistant professor of bi- established in 2007 and directed by Professor Peter Laird, is a state-of-the- ology at the University of Utah, are looking at roughly 150 different art genomics laboratory with expansive, dedicated bioinformatics facilities. PHOTOS BY MAX S. GERBER

52 | USC College Magazine Far left: Postdoctoral researcher Marie-Stanislas Remigereau and third-year molecular biology doctoral student Pei Zhang discuss Arabidopsis thaliana that are cultivated in two growth chambers in the basement of Ray R. Irani Hall.

Middle: Professor of Biological Sciences John Tower uses a stereo microscope to score genetic markers in Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly).

Left: Professor of Biological Sciences Sergey Nuzhdin ( center) and members of his lab — Bradley Main, Mar- garet Sherriffs, Yu Huang (of Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Magnus Nordborg’s lab), Julia Saltz, Courtney Fjeldsted, and Maren Friesen — investigate genetic variation.

Next, quantitative analyses of the resulting data will be performed by Associate Professor of Biological Sciences and Computer Science Ting Chen, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences Liang Chen, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences Andrew Smith, Professor of Biological Sciences Fengzhu Sun, and Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Xianghong Jasmine Zhou. Together this team of computational biologists will develop novel, ef- ficient algorithms that will allow them to scan enormous amounts of se- quencing data generated through the Epigenome Center and better identify the possible SNPs or genetic variant sets that are responsible for the phenotypic expressions observed in Arabidopsis and Drosophila. Steven Finkel, deputy director of the Center of Excellence in Genomic Science at USC and director of its Minority Action Plan, with molecular and computational “One of the biggest challenges we face is improving and enforcing biology doctoral students Lorraine Provencio and Eduardo Ayala statistical methods of quality control such as accounting for false posi- tives,” Liang Chen said. “In an effort to best enforce quality control, we THECENTEROFEXCELLENCEINGENOMICSCIENCE consider intermediate phenotypes, which although not directly related provide extra information about the path from genotype to phenotype.” MINORITY ACTION PLAN Once these new methods for understanding the genotype-to-pheno- ot only does the Center of @ USC type map have been developed in the first three years of the grant, NExcellence in Genomic Science Tavaré and his USC College colleagues will partner with preventive (CEGS) at USC carry out its research mission, it also adminis- medicine faculty members at the Keck School to investigate how these ters an National Institutes of Health-funded Minority Action techniques might be applied to existing human cancer studies. Plan (MAP), which provides education and training about basic research in the life sciences to under-represented minorities. Keck School’s Paul Marjoram, Kimberly Siegmund and David Conti “Many students don’t know what it’s like to be a scientist,” said point out that while phenotypes might be different across organisms, Steven Finkel, associate professor of biological sciences as well they are often measured on the same scale, so techniques developed for as deputy director of the CEGS at USC and director of its MAP one organism’s phenotype can be applied to the analysis of another. program. “So the goal of our program is to give, particularly un- “There is the real prospect that using the model systems in CEGS dergraduates, the opportunity to conduct high-quality research under the mentorship of a faculty member as well as guide stu- will help us refine and verify methods we develop for analyzing human dents through their educational and career transitions.” data,” Marjoram said. “This gives us the experience we need to more The CEGS at USC, which initially began in 2003, runs three successfully apply them to human data and more accurately interpret programs: an academic-year research program for undergrads these new results when looking at colon cancer data, for example.” called the Genomics Research Experience for Undergraduates Marjoram and his colleagues plan to begin by applying their findings (GREU); a summer version of GREU, which includes a journal club and seminar series; and the Genomics Graduate Scholars to the Colon Cancer Family Registry, which is supported by National (GGS) program, which provides stipends for minority graduate Cancer Institute and to date includes data and biospecimens for more students working in laboratories in the biological sciences. than 30,000 subjects from multiple institutes. Approximately $1.5 million of the CEGS grant renewal is di- “The answers to many questions are written in our DNA,” he said. rected to the MAP program at USC. This generous funding cur- “Our hope is to develop methods that allow us to uncover as many of rently supports the highest number of participants yet: 19 undergrads and seven doctoral students. these answers as we can, as quickly as we can.” I

S. NUZHDIN LAB PHOTO BY MAXVIEW S. GERBER; MAP PROGRAM PHOTO BY LAURIE MOORETHE NLINE VIDEO at college.usc.edu/cegsrenewal

Spring/Summer 2010 | 53 BY DAVID DORION MPW ’94 Prevalent on campus during sputum cytology is the detection Nelson’s time at USC was the de- of cancer cells as well as cells that velopment of early detection may become cancerous. methods for breast cancer. Nelson “The morphological signature of saw how electrostatic imaging, each precancerous cell corresponds created by passing a beam to the point in time before true IMAGE through a patient that strikes an cancer is expected to develop,” electrostatically charged plate, Nelson said. “This information can IS could reveal micro-calcifications be used to risk profile the patient, EVERYTHING that might represent cancer. Sub- thus allowing for personalized sequently, Nelson created the Au- therapeutic management.” toPap, an automated system that Like the AutoPap, the Cell-CT detects cervical cancer through uses automated methods, render- image analysis of Pap smear ing accuracies in excess of 90 per- slides. cent, eclipsing the more conven- First used in 1996, the AutoPap tional and subjective manual was noted for its speed and accu- method of lung cancer screening. racy against false-negatives when Secondly, the automation abilities detecting abnor- of both the Au- mal smears. In toPap and the fact, because of “My work at Cell-CT provide its high accuracy, results that are re- major health in- USC gave me peatable. stitutions such as “These tech- Kaiser Perma- many of the nologies do help nente now use drive toward a re- the AutoPap. tools that duction in cancer Nelson then contributed deaths,” Nelson turned his atten- said. “The key is- tion to the early fundamentally sues then become detection of lung physician adoption cancer. In 2001, to the scientific and patient com- URING THE COURSE of his career, Alan C. he founded Vi- creativity that pliance.” Nelson ’72 has acquired more than 100 sionGate, and Soon, Nelson through the com- I so enjoy.” hopes to develop technology patents and pioneered 3-D pany developed technology that imaging techniques for the detection of cancer. 3-D imaging can detect cancer These breakthroughs represent significant steps technology called the Cell-CT on a pre-symptomatic level, where toward cancer prevention and improved detection. platform. a person is diagnosed long before This scanning system, which symptoms arise and when preven- Nelson cautions, however, that the war against identifies lung cancer at the cellu- tative methods can be effective. cancer is far from over. lar level, produces high-resolution But while he is a scientist with 3-D representations from inside advanced ideas and methods, Nelson’s research focuses on at USC are what continue to in- the lungs. After capturing 500 im- Nelson remains a realist. The Au- early detection of cervical and spire him. ages around a single intact cell, toPap and Cell-CT platforms rep- lung cancers. He began to de- “My work at USC gave me the platform computes the 3-D resent no semblance of a cure for velop his idea for 3-D cell imag- many of the tools that contributed structure of the cell’s internal cancer, but they are a significant ing while a student in USC fundamentally to the scientific anatomy, then analyzes its likeli- step toward prevention. In a war College, where he pursued a creativity that I so enjoy,” he said. hood of being abnormal. waged through individual battles, bachelor’s in physics. After gradu- “My research adviser, Professor Nelson explained that the cells Nelson’s work provides one more ating from the College and earn- Darrell Judge, was a true inspira- lining the inner surface of the fighting chance. I lungs are shed in large numbers ing a Ph.D. in biophysics from the tion for technical creativity. My David Dorion is a 1994 graduate of University of California, Berkeley, entrepreneurial life began in his into sputum that can be checked the Master of Professional Writing Nelson still finds that his studies laboratory at USC.” for abnormality. The advantage of Program. PHOTO COURTESY OF ALAN C. NELSON

54 | USC College Magazine { MINDFUL TROJANS

With the generous support of David & Dana BACK GIVE Dornsife and Joyce J. Cammilleri, the Brain and Creativity Institute advances its ground- breaking research.

giving {

AVID AND DANA DORNSIFE thrilled with what is happen- Dcontinue a family legacy of giving to ing and the accomplishments USC and USC College’s neuroscience pro- of the center.” gram with a lead gift of $6 million for the The Dornsife legacy began new Brain and Creativity Institute (BCI) with David’s parents, Harold building. This follows a lead gift of $8 mil- and Ester, who were active lion directed to the Dana and David Dorn- USC alumni and generous sife Cognitive Neuroscience Imaging supporters of their alma mater. Center. Cumulatively the Dornsife family In time, they passed the torch has gifted more than $21 million in support to their son David, who earned of neuroscience in the College. his bachelor’s in business ad- The new BCI building will encompass ministration from USC in approximately 12,000 square feet and be 1965. According to Dornsife, David and Dana Dornsife designed by renowned architect Michael his father Harold arrived at the Maltzan, who was a lead architect during the design of the world-famous Walt Dis- ney Concert Hall under the direction of “The Dornsifes’ investment of their family’s Frank Gehry. The facility will feature a state-of-the-art auditorium designed to ac- name, and their vision for what this research commodate lectures, demonstrations and world-class performances. center will accomplish, are legacies that will Additional features of the Brain and Cre- last for generations.” ativity Institute building will include a suite devoted to a conference center and executive and staff offices and laboratory university with nothing in his pocket. “My and educational breakthroughs that will im- space for faculty and students. The new dad was awarded a basketball scholarship prove human health and well-being,” USC building will enable the BCI team to be and was given help in securing a job,” he President Steven B. Sample said. “The housed in a central location where their said. “He believed that his subsequent suc- Dornsifes’ investment of their family’s mission can be accomplished: using neuro- cess was a result of his USC education and name, and their vision for what this research science to promote health, well being and believed that it was important to give back.” center will accomplish, are legacies that will creativity, with groundbreaking research in Dornsife’s mother Ester, a pre-med major last for generations.” The vision and gen- early brain development, aging, education in the College, maintained a lifelong inter- erosity of the Dornsife family has helped to and learning, emotions and consciousness. est in the medical field, and, in particular, propel neuroscience into one of the Col- Previous philanthropic support from the its neuroscience program. David and his lege’s strongest and most extensive research Dornsifes in the form of endowed chairs wife Dana, along with his sister Dody Jern- areas. As one of the fastest growing majors and an imaging center proved instrumental stedt, endowed the Ester Dornsife Chair in in the university, the field of neuroscience is in the College’s successful recruitment of Biological Sciences (1998) and the Harold integral to its growing prominence as a pre- two distinguished neuroscientists, Antonio Dornsife Neurosciences Chair (2000) in mier research institution. and Hanna Damasio. “I view the BCI USC College, as well as the Harold Dorn- Dana Dornsife is effusive about the BCI, building as an opportunity to move the BCI sife Section in USC’s Galen Center (2005). the Damasios and the new building. “We are forward and advance the groundbreaking “A vital academic and research tool, this honored to participate in the development of work of Antonio and Hanna Damasio and new facility will serve as an interdisciplinary a literal ‘brain trust’ in the College,” she said. their staff,” David Dornsife said. “We are catalyst for important scientific, medical, >> continued on page 56 PHOTO BY STEVE COHN

Spring/Summer 2010 | 55 MINDFUL giving CONTINUED “I’m excited to help further research that will impact countless lives and hopefully reduce human suffering on a macro level.”

our research activities and allow us to will impact countless lives and hopefully re- carry out projects that otherwise duce human suffering on a macro level.” could not get off the ground.” Cammilleri looks at giving to USC as a way USC College Dean Howard Gillman to invest in her community and in local talent. echoed the sentiment. “Consider the unique environment USC Joyce J. Cammilleri “Mrs. Cammilleri’s extraordinary provides — ongoing cutting-edge research, the gift not only helps ensure that world- best of medical care and a long history of serv- class brain research will continue at ice to the community,” she said. “Just knowing OYCE J. CAMMILLERI believes in fitness the BCI,” Gillman said, “but also that the new we have a place like this, which is so accessi- Jnot only for the body but also for the brain. facility will include an outstanding teaching ble to so many, offers a sense of security and The owner of World Gym International has and performance space that embodies the hope.” I given $2 million to support the Brain and Cre- spirit of the work conducted there in the fields ativity Institute (BCI), housed in USC College. of creativity and the mind.” “I haven’t forgotten how many people be- The youngest of seven children from a farm- Dornsife gift story continued from page 55 lieved in me and in my vision and invested ing community in rural South Dakota, Cam- their time, talent and money into my dreams,” milleri was a schoolteacher for two decades, “The progressiveness of the research and Cammilleri said. “I feel an obligation to make beginning her career in a one-room school- most importantly the caliber of the students that same contribution to others, and with re- house. She eventually made her way to teach- and postdocs it attracts are a reflection of the search, dreams are unlimited.” ing elementary school in Southern California. high standards we’ve come to expect at USC.” Cammilleri’s gift will support brain research With the arrival of her three children — in- “USC College is deeply indebted to the and the construction of a new facility on the cluding twins — she became a full-time Dornsifes for their extraordinary vision and University Park campus for the BCI, led by mother. Once her children were in school, she unwavering support,” USC College Dean Antonio Damasio and his wife, Hanna. In and her husband created JOICO Laboratories, Howard Gillman said. “Their philanthropy has recognition of her philanthropy, an auditorium a well-known hair care product company. made a huge impact on both the College and in the new BCI facility will be named the When JOICO was sold in 2001, Cammilleri the university and will do so for decades to Joyce J. Cammilleri Auditorium. realized she was in the position to begin sup- come.” Founded in 2006, the BCI researches the un- porting important causes. According to Antonio Damasio, David Dorn- derpinnings of the brain’s functions — from For the past two years, Cammilleri has also sife Professor of Neuroscience, the action of emotion and decision-making to innovation donated to the Keck School of Medicine of donors such as the Dornsifes is essential to and creativity. Researchers use the newest USC and USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer create great universities and research. “The technology in brain imaging and their fresh in- Center. Dornsifes are the best of philanthropists. They sights to probe how the human brain functions “I believe USC has the unique capability of are generous, they are committed to an ideal, at the level of systems, cells and molecules. bringing the results of their research to patients and they know precisely what they want to Understanding the neurological basis of faster than any other institution,” she said. achieve” Damasio said. mental phenomena is indispensable for both She praised USC for its camaraderie among Through the Hedco Foundation, the Dorn- medical and social progress, the Damasios said. doctors, scientists and staff. sife family’s legacy has helped create the They were elated with the donation. “All successful ventures rely upon open Hedco Neurosciences Building, the Hedco “Mrs. Cammilleri’s gift will have a major im- communication and teamwork,” she said. “I Auditorium, and the Hedco Petroleum and pact on the activities of the Brain and Creativ- love the way that USC is structured; there are Chemical Molecular Biology Laboratories. ity Institute,” said Antonio Damasio, David so many ongoing projects that cross over into David Dornsife is chairman and CEO of the Dornsife Professor of Neuroscience, and pro- other areas of research. There is a great sense Herrick Corporation and a USC trustee. Dana fessor of psychology and neurology. “First, the of collaboration and teamwork.” Dornsife is the founder and president of the new auditorium will become a place where sci- Upon meeting the Damasios and their dis- Lazarex Cancer Foundation — a nonprofit ence, music and the visual arts can come to- tinguished team, Cammilleri knew the best that provides financial assistance to defray the gether for everyone to enjoy and learn. was yet to come from the BCI. costs associated with patient participation in “Second, the gift will have great impact on “I’m excited to help further research that FDA clinical trials. I PHOTO BY HC VAN URFALIAN

56 | USC College Magazine and the Human Brain (Penguin Books, 1994) was named one of the “20 Books That Changed Our Vision of the World” in the past two decades by the French Faculty Notes journal Science Humaines. LYNN SWARTZ DODD, lecturer in religion USC COLLEGE FACULTY HONORS & ACHIEVEMENTS and curator of the Archaeology Re- search Center, received her second award to use the synchrotron beam at Argonne National Laboratory and con- duct research on ancient artifacts. TOP HONORS LINDA DUGUAY, director of the USC Sea Thompson JODY AGIUS VALLEJO, assistant professor in fruit flies. Grant program, research associate pro- of sociology, was featured in Investment fessor of biological sciences and director Receives Life JAY BARTROFF, assistant professor of Advisor magazine’s February cover story mathematics, was interviewed by of research for the USC Wrigley Insti- titled “Invest Globally, Advise Locally.” Achievement ESPN for a story about “The Mathe- tute for Environmental Studies, has been selected to participate in a Na- DAVID ALBERTSON, assistant professor of matics Behind the NCAA Basketball Award religion, has been awarded a National Tournament Brackets.” tional Science Foundation workshop in RICHARD F. THOMPSON, Univer- Endowment for the Humanities’ En- China to discuss a foundation-supported MICHEL BAUDRY, professor of biological during Questions Grant, which will ocean science education project and its sity Professor and William M. sciences and biomedical engineering, fund a new undergraduate course in possible application to outreach efforts Keck Professor of Psychology has received an honorary doctorate de- Spring 2011 on the power of visual im- by Chinese scientists and educators. and Biological Sciences, has re- gree from the University of Provence/ ages in religious texts. ceived the American Psycho- Aix-Marseille. KATRINA EDWARDS, professor of biologi- cal sciences and earth sciences, has logical Foundation’s Gold ARAVIND ASOK, assistant professor of JOHN E. BOWLT, professor of Slavic lan- mathematics, has been awarded a fed- been elected to the American Acad- Medal Award for Life Achieve- guages and literatures, and director of eral stimulus grant by the National emy of Microbiology. ment in the Science of Psychol- the Institute of Modern Russian Cul- Science Foundation to continue his re- ogy. The award recognizes a ture, has been awarded a Fulbright ANGE-MARIE HANCOCK, associate profes- search on the developing area of ho- distinguished career and endur- Follow-on grant for his research on the sor of political science, has been motopy theory of algebraic varieties. ing contribution to advancing Russian artist Léon Bakst. named lead editor of Palgrave- Macmillan’s Politics of Intersectionality psychological science. OSCAR APARICIO, associate professor of ANDREW CURTIS, visiting associate pro- biological sciences, has received a fed- book series and has been named to the One of the leading behavioral fessor of geography, gave a talk on haz- eral stimulus grant from the National Community Program Board of the neuroscientists in the world, ards and disasters at a National Institute of General Medical Sciences, Liberty Hill Foundation. Thompson has spent his career Academies research meeting on link- which will enable him to further his researching the physical basis of ing social science data and environ- PEGGY KAMUF, Marion Frances Cheva- research on DNA replication. mental data for climate change. lier Professor of French, and professor memory — how humans learn of comparative literature and English, MICHELLE ARBEITMAN, Gabilan Assistant and remember. In 2002, he be- ANTONIO DAMASIO, David Dornsife Pro- Professor of Biological Sciences, has re- had an interview and two essays pub- came the first to identify and fessor of Neuroscience, professor of psy- ceived a federal stimulus grant from lished in the journal Mosaic’s feature au- map the neural circuits respon- chology and neurology, and director of thor issue “Featuring Peggy Kamuf.” the National Institute of General Med- sible for classical conditioning. the USC Brain and Creativity Institute, ical Sciences to advance the under- received a Doctor Honoris Causa from ROBIN D. G. KELLEY, professor of Ameri- standing of the molecular genetics of the University of Leiden. His book can studies and ethnicity, and history, reproductive behaviors and physiology standing member of the world trade Descartes’ Error: Emotion, Reason, had his book Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of An American Original community in Southern California who (Free Press, 2009) selected by The New has contributed to the advancement of York Times Book Review as one of its world trade and international relations.

“100 Notable Books of 2009.” Kelley ZHONG-LIN LU, holder of the William M. also delivered the inaugural Harold Keck Chair in Cognitive Neuroscience, Vyvyan Harmsworth Lecture at the and professor of psychology and bio- University of Oxford in November. medical engineering, has been appointed MALCOLM KLEIN, professor emeritus of associate editor for Psychological Review.

sociology, has been appointed chair of MARK MARINO, assistant professor of the Evaluation Advisory Committee writing, and an undergraduate stu- for Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Vil- TOP HONORS dent’s independent project brought to- laraigosa’s Gang Reduction and Youth gether top experts, thought leaders Azizian Named Fulbright Scholar Development Program. and practitioners in the rising field of KAREN LANG, associate professor of art the social history of computer pro- ALLEN AZIZIAN, adjunct assistant professor of psychology, has been history, has been appointed editor of gramming in an online conference. The Art Bulletin. selected as a Fulbright Scholar for 2009–10. One of three USC fac- JAMES MCHUGH, assistant professor of ulty members to receive this prestigious award, Azizian is spending ABRAHAM LOWENTHAL, Robert F. Erburu religion, has been appointed a Society the year in Armenia studying cognitive deficits in patients with Professor of Ethics, Globalization and Fellow at the Cornell Society for the schizophrenia. “Scholars and students who are committed to posi- Development, and professor of interna- Humanities to pursue his research on tive change will find the Fulbright experience in Armenia a lifetime tional relations, received the Los Ange- “Transporting Scents: The Cosmopoli- opportunity,” Azizian said. “Personally, I consider the Fulbright les Chamber of Commerce’s Stanley T. tan Aesthetics of Smell in South Asia.” scholarship the most significant achievement of my career.” Olafson Award, which honors an out- >> continued on page 58 A. AZIZIAN PHOTO COURTESY OF A. AZIZIAN; R. THOMPSON PHOTO BY PHIL CHANNING

Spring/Summer 2010 | 57 TANIA MODLESKI, Florence R. Scott Pro- 2009 Los Angeles Times Book Prize his- Under the direction of WILLIAM lish, and American studies and eth- { fessor of English and professor of tory category for Golden Dreams: Califor- DEVERELL, professor of history, the nicity, received an award for faculty- English, was presented with the Ex- nia in an Age of Abundance, 1950–1963 HUNTINGTON-USC INSTITUTE ON CALIFORNIA to-faculty mentoring. MICHEL BAUDRY, cellence in Arts & Letters Award from (Oxford University Press, 2009). AND THE WEST has received a $204,465 professor of biological sciences and the Alumni Association of the State grant from the National Science biomedical engineering, HAGIT BORER, NOTES “Neural Correlates of Admiration and University of New York at Albany. Foundation to support a project titled professor of linguistics, MACARENA Compassion,” written by ANTONIO “Archive for the History of Southern GOMEZ BARRIS, assistant professor of SUSAN MONTGOMERY, professor of DAMASIO, David Dornsife Professor of California Aerospace.” sociology, and American studies and mathematics, has been selected by the Neuroscience and director of the ethnicity, PATRICK JAMES, professor of

ACULTY Association for Women in Mathemat- USC Brain and Creativity Institute Headquartered in USC College’s De-

F international relations and director of ics to be the 2011 Noether Lecturer, (BCI); HANNA DAMASIO, Dana Dornsife partment of American Studies and { the Center for International Studies, honoring women who have made fun- Professor of Neuroscience, director of Ethnicity, AMERICAN QUARTERLY’s Sep- and SUSAN MCCABE, professor of Eng- damental and sustained contributions the Dana and David Dornsife Cogni- tember 2008 special issue titled “Na- lish, won USC-Mellon Mentoring to the mathematical sciences. tive Neuroscience Imaging Center, tion and Migration Past and Future” Awards for mentoring graduate stu- and co-director of the BCI; MARY won the Council of Editors of JOHN POLLINI, professor of art history dents. BRIAN BAUCOM of psychology, HELEN IMMORDINO-YANG, assistant pro- Learned Journals 2009 Award for Best and history, was selected as the Ar- MARGARET ROSENTHAL, professor of fessor in the BCI and the USC Special Issue. PIERRETTE HONDAGNEU- chaeological Institute of America’s Italian, comparative literature, and Rossier School of Education; and SOTELO, professor of sociology, served Martha Sharp Joukowsky Lecturer. English, and LELAND SAITO, associate Andre McColl, a doctoral student in as one of the issue’s guest editors. He will give 12 lectures at universi- professor of sociology, and American the BCI, was selected by the Proceed- ties across the country. THE CENTER FOR RELIGION AND CIVIC studies and ethnicity, won USC- ings of the National Academy of Sciences CULTURE is funding research in 23 Mellon Mentoring Awards for men- SURYA PRAKASH, George A. and Judith editorial board to receive the Coz- countries on one of the world’s fastest toring undergraduates. A. Olah Nobel Laureate Chair in Hy- zarelli Prize for an exceptional paper growing religious movements: charis- drocarbon Chemistry, and professor of published in 2009. matic and Pentecostal Christianity. Haynes Foundation chemistry, has been awarded the DANIEL LIDAR, associate professor of Grants totaling $3.5 million will be Faculty Fellowships CRSI Medal from the Chemical Re- chemistry and electrical engineering, awarded to five centers, and another ANDREW CURTIS, visiting associate pro- search Society of India (CRSI). The and PAOLO ZANARDI, associate professor 16 individual scholars and their teams, fessor of geography, MANUEL PASTOR, medal is conferred on chemists of In- of physics, were named among Science to conduct research in Asia, Africa, professor of geography, and Ameri- dian origin working outside India and Watch’s top 20 authors in the field of Latin America, or the former Soviet can studies and ethnicity, VANESSA who have contributed extensively in quantum computers. In addition, a Union. The USC research initiative is SCHWARTZ, professor of history, JEFFEREY the promotion of chemical research. paper by Lidar made the list of the supported by a grant from the John SELLERS, associate professor of political DAVID ROMÁN, professor of English, top 20 most cited papers in the field Templeton Foundation. science, and VERONICA TERRIQUEZ, assis- and American studies and ethnicity, in the past two years and Zanardi’s tant professor of sociology, have been and senior English major Zachary paper made the top 20 list for the University Honors selected for John Randolph Haynes Wolf published a critical review of most cited papers in the past 10 years. HANNA REISLER, Lloyd Armstrong Jr. and Dora Haynes Foundation Fac- the Rodgers and Hammerstein musi- Chair for Science and Engineering, ulty Fellowships. The fellowships XIAOJIANG CHEN, professor of biologi- cal South Pacific in Theatre Journal. and professor of chemistry, earned the are awarded by the foundation on an cal sciences and chemistry, MYRON Provost’s Mentoring Award. ELIZ annual basis to social sciences faculty MARY SAROTTE, professor of interna- GOODMAN, professor of biological sci- SANASARIAN, professor of political sci- members teaching at any university tional relations, has won the Society ences and chemistry, and their co-au- ence, and STEPHAN HAAS, professor of or four-year college in the five- for Historians of American Foreign thors had their paper, “A Structural physics and astronomy, received the county Southern California region. Relations’ 2010 Robert H. Ferrell Model for Deoxycytidine Deamination USC Associates Award for Excellence Prize for her book 1989: The Struggle Mechanisms of the HIV-1 Inactivation in Teaching. PRIYA VASHISHTA, professor 2009 College Holiday Reception to Create Post-Cold War Europe Enzyme APOBEC3G,” selected as a of computer science, materials science and Awards Ceremony (Princeton University Press, 2009). Journal of Biological Chemistry “Paper of and physics, received the USC Associ- Faculty members were honored at the Sarotte has also been asked to help the Week.” This distinction is given to ates Award for Creativity in Research 2009 College Holiday Reception and select the new editor of Foreign Af- the top 1 percent of manuscripts the and Scholarship. MARK IRWIN, assistant Award Ceremony held in December. fairs this summer. journal reviews in significance and professor of English, CAROLYN MALONE, General Education Teaching Awards overall importance from the more than KEVIN STARR, University Professor and professor of art history and history, were presented to DAVID ALBERTSON of 6,600 published each year. professor of history, was a finalist in the PETER MANCALL, professor of history and religion; DEBORAH HARKNESS of history; anthropology, and ANDREI MARMOR, CHARLES MCKENNA of chemistry; JOHN Maurice Jones Jr. Professor of Law and MONTEROSSO of psychology; and MARK professor of philosophy, were selected SCHROEDER of philosophy. The Ad- USC Taps Leading for Phi Kappa Phi Faculty Recognition vanced Writing Teaching Award went Awards. to CALEY O’DWYER FEAGIN of the Writing Interdisciplinary Program. EMILY ANDERSON of English Scholar USC-Mellon Mentoring Awards was selected for the Albert S. Supported by a grant from the An- Raubenheimer Outstanding Junior drew W. Mellon Foundation and ad- Faculty Award, and VANESSA SCHWARTZ MATHEW D. MCCUBBINS, a nation- ministered by the USC Center for of history, SCOTT SOAMES of philosophy ally recognized interdisciplinary Excellence in Teaching, the USC- and MICHAEL WATERMAN of biological scholar formerly at the University of California, San Diego, joined Mellon Mentoring Awards honor in- sciences, mathematics and computer USC’s faculty in January as Provost Professor. McCubbins will dividual faculty for helping build a science for the Albert S. Rauben- share appointments at USC College, the USC Marshall School of supportive academic environment at heimer Outstanding Faculty Awards. Business and the USC Gould School of Law. He has been visit- USC through faculty-to-faculty and ing professor of law at USC since 2006 and is co-director of the faculty-to-student mentoring. JOHN USC-Caltech Center for the Study of Law and Politics. CARLOS ROWE, USC Associates Chair in Humanities and professor of Eng-

58 | USC College Magazine faculty BOOKPLATE

Confronting Modernity in Between Arab and White PALGRAVE MACMILLAN / David Noncognitivism in Ethics Fin-de-Siécle France Race and Ethnicity in the Early Syrian Lloyd, professor of English, and MARK SCHROEDER English doctoral student Peter D. Bodies, Minds and Gender American Diaspora ROUTLEDGE / Beginning with a gen- O’Neill have assembled a collection EDITED BY ELINOR ACCAMPO AND eral introduction to metaethics, Asso- SARAH GUALTIERI of essays that explore the connec- CHRISTOPHER E. FORTH ciate Professor of Philosophy Mark UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESS / tions that have defined the “Black Schroeder escorts the reader through PALGRAVE MACMILLAN / Elinor Ac- Sarah Gualtieri, associate professor of and Green Atlantic” in culture, poli- a tour of both the philosophical prob- campo, professor of history, and her history, and American studies and eth- tics, race and labor. lems which noncognitivism seeks to co-editor reassess the Third Repub- nicity, focuses on the first wave of lic as the first long-term successful solve and the deep problems that it Arab immigration and settlement in Saint-Bénigne in Dijon Around French experiment with a demo- faces. the U.S. in the years before WWII and the Year 1000, “A Church More cratic republic. continues the story up to the present . Wondrous Than Those of All Less Rightly Said Natural History of Oregon Gaul” Scandals and Readers in Sixteenth- Beyond the Turnstile A Political, Liturgical and Theological GERALD BAKUS Century France Making the Case for Museums and Interpretation LULU / Gerald Bakus, professor of bi- Sustainable Values ANTÓNIA SZABARI ological sciences, has designed this BY CAROLYN M. MALONE EDITED BY SELMA HOLO AND STANFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS / By fo- guide for tourists, travelers and stu- BREPOLS / In this interdisciplinary MARI-TERE ALVAREZ cusing on popular pamphlets along dents who are spending a brief time study, Carolyn M. Malone, professor with more canonical works, Assis- in Oregon and would like to explore ALTAMIRA PRESS / Selma Holo, direc- of art history and history, interprets tor of the USC Fisher Museum of Art tant Professor of French and Italian, the state’s natural highlights. the meaning and significance of the and Comparative Literature Antónia and professor of art history, and Mari- unusual design of the excavated Tere Alvarez (Ph.D, art history, ’03) Szabari shows that 16th-century Extra Dimensions in Space abbey church of Saint-Bénigne in provide museum leaders with a set of French satirists did not simply re- and Time Dijon (1001–1018) within its cul- nounce the moral ideal of elite, hu- criteria for evaluating the success of tural context. ITZHAK BARS AND JOHN TERNING their museums and propose a set of manist scholarship but rather SPRINGER / Itzhak Bars, professor of transmitted and manipulated that sustainable values that can help mu- Measuring Democracy physics and astronomy, and his co-au- seums preserve themselves and ad- scholarship according to their ideo- A Bridge between Scholarship and thor cover the latest theories in theo- vance their social mission. logical needs. retical physics and cosmology. In Politics GERARDO L. MUNCK particular, Bars discusses his theory The Black and Green Atlantic on Two-Time physics at a mostly de- Cross-Currents of the African and Irish THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY scriptive level accessible to science Diasporas PRESS / Gerardo L. Munck, professor enthusiasts with little background in of international relations, assesses the physics. EDITED BY DAVID LLOYD AND methods used to measure democra- PETER D. O’NEILL cies’ promises to bring order to the debate in academia and in practice.

Spring/Summer 2010 | 59 Monologue (Book Surge, 2007), per- formed in “Truth and Confidences: An Evening of Cabaret” at the Mbar Café in Hollywood, Calif.

SUSAN M. GILL (B.A., history, ’80) was appointed by California Gov. Class Notes Arnold Schwarzenegger to a judge- ALUMNI OF USC COLLEGE OF LETTERS, ARTS & SCIENCES ship with the Kern County Superior Court.

PAUL KREKORIAN (B.A., political sci- SHARE YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND MILESTONES WITH USC COLLEGE ALUMNI BY SENDING YOUR CLASS ence, ’81) was elected to the Los Angeles City Council for the second NOTE TO: USC COLLEGE MAGAZINE, C/O LETITIA FRANKLIN, 1050 CHILDS WAY, RRI 116, LOS ANGELES, district. CALIFORNIA 90089-2910 OR [email protected]. PLEASE MAKE SURE TO INCLUDE YOUR FULL NAME (INCLUDING MAIDEN NAME) AND CLASS YEAR ALONG WITH YOUR UPDATES, ANNOUNCEMENTS AND PETER PAK (B.A., international rela- PHOTOS. YOUR CLASS NOTE WILL BE EDITED FOR CONTENT AND LENGTH. tions, ’85) was appointed marketing director of Lexon Technologies, Inc., a manufacturer of recycled and directing Mega Beasts: T-Rex of toner for laser printers, fax and mul- 1940s 1970s the Deep for the Discovery Channel. tifunction copiers. JOSEPH A. WAPNER (B.A., philosophy, DANIEL CARMONA (B.A., psychology, This is the 11th Telly Award Evash- CHRISTINE PARKER (MPW, ’83) has ’41; L.L.B., ’48), the presiding judge ’72) is the founder and owner of wick has received. He previously joined the Redlands Shakespeare in television’s The People’s Court from Cerro Vista Farms in Cerro, N.M., won Tellys in the categories of writ- Festival as dramaturge. 1981 to 1993, received the 2,392nd which specializes in organic crops. ing, directing, producing and per- star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame forming. WITNEY W. SCHNEIDMAN (Ph.D., in- three days before his 90th birthday. RANDEE DAY (B.A., international re- lations, ’70) has been named acting ternational relations, ’87) gave the Wapner was appointed to the Los An- CAMILLA “CAMMY” LESLIE (B.A., in- inaugural Senator Ted Kennedy geles Municipal Court in 1961 and chief executive officer of DHT ternational relations, ’72) joined the Memorial lecture at the University the Los Angeles County Superior Holdings, Inc. and DHT Maritime, real estate firm Teles Properties of Pretoria in South Africa. Court in 1963. After The People’s Court, Inc. Newport Beach. Wapner went on to host Judge Wap- WILLIAM T. EVASHWICK (B.A., philos- MICHAEL WASSERMAN (B.A., psy- DENNIS MULHAUPT (B.A., interna- ner’s Animal Court on Animal Planet. chology, ’80), a former city council- ophy, ’75) has been recognized with tional relations, ’77) was nominated to man and mayor of Los Gatos, Calif., a National Telly Award for writing the Broadcasting Board of Governors was the guest speaker at a meeting by President Barack Obama. of the West Valley Republican LEONARD PITTS JR. (B.A., English, Women Federated. ’77) was selected by the Detroit Pub- JOSEPH WILLIAMS (B.A., English, lic Library to kick off its “Detroit ’82) had an article published in the Reads! One Book, One Community St. Louis Post-Dispatch, where he is a Program” with his first novel Before I film critic, about Distinguished Forget (Agate Bolden, 2009). Pitts Professor of English T.C. Boyle, his won the Pulitzer Prize in 2004 for his former writing teacher. nationally syndicated Miami Herald column. CLASS NOTABLE 1990s ANDY ABRAHAMS WILSON (M.A., vi- OMID NOHADANI (Ph.D., physics, ’05) , a physicist and leader in 1980s sual anthropology, ’91) discussed his LINDA BURTON (B.S., gerontology, the field of robust optimization, has joined the faculty at Purdue Uni- award-winning documentary, Under ’78; Ph.D., sociology, ’85), the James versity as assistant professor. Our Skin, and corruption in the B. Duke Professor of Sociology at At the forefront of the relatively new field of robust optimization, a Lyme Disease medical community Duke University, presented at the modeling methodology that uses computational tools to address opti- at 142 Throckmorton Theatre in 2010 Council on Contemporary mization problems in which the data is uncertain, Nohadani con- Mill Valley, Calif. Under Our Skin Families Conference, “Families as ducted his postdoctoral research at the Massachusetts Institute of made this year’s Academy Awards They Really Are: How Do We Use Technology and Harvard Medical School. The field’s real world appli- “short list” for best documentary. cations could prevent bridges from collapsing due to errors. What We Know,” in Rock Island, “For the particular kind of research I wanted to do, USC was the Ill., April 16–17. RICHARD D. BUCKLEY JR. (B.A., eco- best choice,” he said. “And because of the family atmosphere, I nomics, ’92) joined law firm Arent FRANK CATALANO (MPW, ’84), au- quickly felt at home. It became my scientific home.” Fox LLP’s automotive practice as a thor of White Knight Black Night partner.

(Book Surge, 2010) and Art of the PHOTO COURTESY OF O. NOHADANI

60 | USC College Magazine NICOLE FLIER (B.A., political science, Combat Ship USS Independence CLASS NOTABLE ’92) recently launched her own con- (LCS-2) to the fleet. sulting firm, Flier Consulting, which specializes in business development, RYAN JORDAN (B.A., history, ’00) marketing, public relations and spe- joined GWWO’s architectural staff cial events. With 19 years of exten- and is currently a member of the de- sive construction industry sign team for a major expansion to experience, Flier’s client roster is Garrett Park Elementary School in predominantly in the construc- Montgomery County, Md. Jordan tion/design field, but extends to also serves on the Lecture Series other trades and industries. The firm Committee for the Baltimore Chap- is based in Boca Raton, Fla., with ter of the American Institute of Ar- clients throughout South Florida. chitects and as a Neighborhood Design Center volunteer. MELANIE NATASHA HENRY (B.A., po- litical science, ’99) has joined interna- HOOMAN KAZEMI (B.A., interna- tional law firm Crowell & Moring tional relations, ’04) was named 2009 LLP’s Los Angeles office as a litigator. California Trial Lawyer of the Year in recognition of his impressive trial At first glance, KRISTEN “KRISTY” CAVINDER (B.A., neuro- RICHARD HONG (B.A., international record. Kazemi received his Juris science, ’09) may appear to be your typical pageant queen. At 21, the relations, ’91) joined Los Angeles- Doctor degree from Loyola Law Orange County native has a radiant smile, fluid grace, and the natural based law firm Rutter Hobbs & School, Los Angeles in 2007 and confidence of someone who knows that others are watching. Davidoff, Inc. as a partner. currently serves as a deputy public Cavinder is a seasoned ballet dancer, director of her high school chil- defender in Los Angeles County. He dren’s ministry, and Miss California 2009. And on January 30, she was the RICHARD C. MORENO (B.A., political is a faculty lecturer in USC College’s first runner-up out of 14,000 contestants at the Miss America pageant. science, ’94) was appointed a senior Department of Political Science, in Yet donning the famed tiara was only a recent ambition of this neu- partner of civil litigation firm which he co-teaches “Trial Advo- roscience, pre-med alumna who wants to be a pediatric heart surgeon. Murchison & Cumming, LLP. cacy: Theory and Practice” and is a Cavinder’s love science began in high school and has grown ever since. JIM PRINDLE (B.A., political science, coach of the undergraduate mock Cavinder wants to attend medical school, and pageants seemed an ’90), is a Libertarian candidate for trial team. easy way to pay for her degree. U.S. House of Representatives, 4th “I grew up as a ballerina so dancing came easily to me,” Cavinder DONNA K. LEE (B.A., international re- said. “I figured I’d walk around on a stage in an evening gown and a Congressional District in Texas. lations, ’01) was one of 10 Ernst & swimsuit and earn some money for school. I had no idea that two and Young professionals selected for the JO SCOTT-COE (B.A., English, ’91) a half years later, I would be competing for Miss America.” Ernst & Young Corporate Responsi- will publish a memoir, Teacher at The Miss America contestants must have a personal platform, a tal- bility Fellows Program. Point Blank: Confronting Sexuality, Vi- ent and are rigorously interviewed on current events at the national olence, and Secrets in a Suburban CHRISTINA WEISS BENNISON (B.A., and international levels . While the emphases are beauty and poise, the School, with San Francisco’s Aunt psychology, ’00; M.A., communica- contestants are not all one-dimensional beauty queens. Lute Books in September 2010. tion management, ’06) was named “We’re real girls working in our communities and promoting our director of clinical outreach and mar- platforms,” said Cavinder, whose platform was championing Make-A- keting by Mirasol Eating Disorder Wish Foundation. “Yes, we wear gowns and bathing suits, but we’re 2000s Recovery Centers. also intelligent women who want to make a difference.” PATRICK KEARY-JEREL COLBERT (B.A., USC College helped Cavinder fulfill her dreams by giving her an sociology, ’06) was named the opportunity to study both medicine and dance, participate in various spokesman for Be Great, a national Marriages organizations such as the USC Repertory Dance Company, join a Boys & Girls Club campaign. Col- JENNIFER MCCARD (B.A., environ- sorority, and volunteer for the Joint Educational Project. She was able bert, an alumnus of the club’s Port mental studies, ’06) and ALEX PE- to take stimulating classes such as “The Biological Basis of Neurologi- Hueneme, Calif., branch, is a free TERSON (B.A., international relations, cal Diseases” with Michael Quick, professor of biological sciences and agent with the NFL who has played ’05) were married on Sept. 6, 2009, in executive vice dean of academic affairs in the College, which helped for the Denver Broncos, Seattle Girdwood, Alaska. McCard was for- strengthen her love for medicine. Her alma mater, she said, also Seahawks, Detroit Lions and merly employed by the Kenai Water- helped her prepare for the pageants. Florida Tuskers. shed Forum as a watershed scientist, “USC had everything to offer me to make me a great candidate for Miss California,” Cavinder said. “The level and standard of education JUSTIN L. GUERNSEY (B.S., biology, and Peterson is employed by the is so much higher than other universities. It has really pushed me to ’06) received the title of Plank Owner U.S. Foreign Service at the U.S. Em- excel and has helped me become a more well-rounded person.” in recognition of his contribution to bassy in Kigali, Rwanda. What’s next for Miss California? the delivery of the newest Littoral >> continued on page 62 “Taking the MCAT,” Cavinder said referring to the medical admis- sion exam. “My pageant career is almost over. [She is Miss California until June.] My goal now is going back to school so I can put my NOTE: Listings for the “Class Notes” and “In Memoriam” sections were compiled based on scholarship money to good use.” —Allison Doyle MPW ’11 submissions from alumni and College departments as well as published notices from various PHOTO BY ZIMBIO, INC. media outlets.

Spring/Summer 2010 | 61 California { alumni Community College Track & BOOKPLATE Field Hall of Champions NOTES BY LARRY KNUTH TELL US ABOUT YOUR NEW BOOK LK PUBLICATIONS / Former USC USC COLLEGE MAGAZINE, CLASS coach Larry Knuth (M.S., education,

{ 1050 CHILDS WAY, RRI 116, ’69; M.A., journalism, ’74) profiles LOS ANGELES, CA 90089-2910 more than 100 track and field Olympians and World Champions, MAGAZINE@COLLEGE USC EDU . . including dozens of former Trojans, who came through California’s com- munity college system. Woman on a The Paradoxes of Targeted Killing Shaky Bridge the American Self-Defense, Pre- Technology and emption, and the War the American BY MILLICENT Presidency on Terrorism Way of War Since BORGES ACCARDI BY MICHAEL A. 1945 FINISHING LINE GENOVESE AND BY THOMAS B. HUNTER PRESS / Millicent THOMAS E. CRONIN BOOKSURGE / BY THOMAS G. MAHNKEN Borges Accardi OXFORD UNIVER- Thomas B. Hunter (MPW, ’93) offers SITY PRESS / (B.A., English and COLUMBIA UNIVER- 16 poems, which one reviewer notes Arguing that presidential power can American literature, ’93), adjunct SITY PRESS / In his “blaze with passion, outrage, wis- best be understood as a series of professor of terrorism and counter- latest book, Thomas G. Mahnken dom, wit, grief, and love.” paradoxes, Michael A. Genovese terrorism at Henley-Putnam Univer- (B.A., international relations, ’87), (Ph.D., political science, ’79) and sity, analyzes the tactic of targeted explores the relationship between Color Your Life his co-author examine presidential killing, assessing its role, efficacy, technology and the organizational Happy politics. and appropriateness. culture of the U.S. armed services Create the Success, since World War II. Abundance and Inner Americans in Joy You Deserve Paris Life and Death BY FLORA MORRIS Mark Twain’s BROWN Under Nazi Occupation BCH / Flora Morris Other Woman Brown (B.A., English, ’66; M.A., BY CHARLES GLASS The Hidden Story of His education, ’69; Ph.D., education, PENGUIN / Charles Final Years ’78) provides practical activities and Glass (B.A., philoso- personal examples that demonstrate phy, ’73) looks to the American expa- BY LAURA SKANDERA TROMBLEY the achievements possible when triate experience of Nazi-occupied people improve their attitudes and Paris to reveal a forgotten history of KNOPF / Despite prioritize what is really important. the greatest generation. many Mark Twain biographies, no one Masculine, A Call to has ever determined Feminine, and Colors Fully Human exactly what took Developmental Paths BY JOHN J. GOBBELL place during those through the Adult PRESIDIO PRESS / final years after the death of Twain’s wife of 34 years and how John J. Gobbell Years those experiences affected Twain, personally and professionally. (B.A., English, ’60) BY RICHARD W. COAN offers a rousing Laura Skandera Trombley (Ph.D., English, ’89) is presi- AUTHORHOUSE / dramatization of dent of Pitzer College, a member of The Claremont Col- Richard W. Coan (Ph.D., psychology, the largest naval battle of World leges, and the preeminent Twain scholar at work today. ’55) discusses the 13 different modes War II —Leyte Gulf. Trombley went in search of the one woman whom she sus- of being that have been considered pected had played the largest role in Twain’s life during either masculine or feminine. Heart With Wings those final years. Until the dramatic breakup of their rela- I Told Me So BY LISA HITCHCOCK tionship, Twain spent the bulk of his last six years in the Self-Deception and ROSEDOG BOOKS / company of Isabel Lyon, who was responsible for overseeing the Christian Life Lisa Hitchcock his schedule and finances as well as nursing him through (B.A., psychology, several illnesses. BY GREGG A. TEN ’76) details the tri- ELSHOF als and tribulations Now, in Mark Twain’s Other Woman, after 16 years of research, EERDMANS / Gregg of living with her uncovering never-before-read papers and personal letters, A. Ten Elshof daughter Nadia in their country Trombley tells the full story through Lyon’s meticulous daily (Ph.D., philosophy, home. journals, which are the only extant detailed record of Twain’s ’00) discusses self-deception and of- last years and were overlooked by Twain’s previous biographers. fers an explanation for its recent neg- lect in Christian thought. PHOTO COURTESY OF L. SKANDERA TROMBLEY

62 | USC College Magazine search chemist for Dow Chemi- les area; the Eugene Johnson Art Geological Scientists, Houston

cal in Pittsburg, CA; after early Gallery at Bethel was named in Geological Society, West Texas {

Stephen E. retirement from Dow, he be- his honor; Bethel awards the Geological Society, and Rocky IN came a professor of chemistry at Janet Wingblade-Johnson Schol- Mountain Association of Geolo- MEMORIAM Toulmin Azusa Pacific College, now arship, founded and funded by gists; co-wrote scientific chil- Azusa Pacific University. Johnson is memory of his first dren’s books with his late wife, THEBRITISH-BORN wife; founded the national organi- Joan Lowery Nixon; wrote young PAUL D. FLEISCHAUER (Ph.D., UNIVERSITYPROFESSOR zation Christians in Visual Arts. adult western, The Long Way West, chemistry, ’68), El Segundo, EMERITUS WAS A which won the Western Heritage CA (10/07/09) at age 67; FRANCES JEAN KLEIN (B.S. Wrangler Award. RENOWNEDETHICAL worked for the Aerospace Cor- bacteriology and chemistry, ’45),

PHILOSOPHER poration in El Segundo, retir- Modesto, CA (12/13/09) at age WILLIAM EDWARD PORTER { ing after 35 years as principal 85; mother, homemaker and (B.A., international relations, ’58), Stephen Edelston Toulmin, University Professor scientist/director in 2004; re- widow of Hughson-based med- Sacramento, CA (02/09/10) at ceived the corporation’s 1991 ical pioneer Paul E. Klein MD; age 77; owned Schapp-Brenner Emeritus and one of the most influential ethical Trustees’ Award, the highest world traveler; volunteer at the Tire Co. for more than a philosophers of the latter half of the 20th century, corporate honor earned for his Modesto Community Hospice decade; went on to work as a has died. He was 87. pioneering work in the area of in the ’80s; played the marimba; leasing agent and began invest- Toulmin, the Henry R. Luce Professor for the Cen- tribology; praised for his tech- had a pilot’s license and took ing in residential and commer- ter for Multiethnic and Transnational Studies in USC nical and managerial abilities. her children and their friends cial enterprises; was active in on flights around the Central the revitalization of Old Sacra- College, died Dec. 4 at USC University Hospital. BENJAMIN FRUCHTER, (M.A., Valley. mento; purchased and redevel- Spanning nearly six decades, Toulmin’s research psychology, ’46; Ph.D., psy- oped an historic downtown chology, ’48), Austin, TX LLOYD T. LORBEER (B.S., focused on moral reasoning analyses. His most influ- Sacramento building that now (11/2009) at age 95; joined the chemistry, ’63), Scottsdale, AZ ential work was the Toulmin Model of Argumenta- houses several thriving busi- University of Texas at Austin (03/05/10) at age 87; a captain in tion. In it, he identified six elements of a persuasive nesses; served in the U.S. Army Department of Educational the U.S. Army stationed on the stationed in Korea in the early argument: claim, grounds, arrant, backing, qualifier Psychology in 1949 and re- front lines in Korea where he ’50s. and rebuttal. mained a professor until retir- was awarded the Bronze Star In his seminal book, The Uses of Argument (Cam- ing in 1994; publications for heroism; had a general med- PETER THEOBALD (M.A., urban bridge University Press, 1958), he investigates the include about 100 research pa- ical practice in L.A., and then planning and economics, ’76), flaws of traditional logic. Arguing against the ab- pers and two widely used text- became a medical director with Cincinnati, OH (10/22/09) at solute truth advocated in Plato’s idealized formal books of research methods; Lockheed Aircraft; went on to age 58; president and CEO of supervised 30 doctoral students become the Phoenix Western Access Business Development logic, Toulmin said that truth can be relative. Histori- and served on many doctoral Electric Plant medical director and Finance in Liberty Town- cal and cultural contexts, he said, must be taken into committees; was a fellow of and manager; was also a drafts- ship, Butler County, Ohio; consideration. four divisions of the American man and published author. played a key role in the efforts Toulmin purported that many of the standard prin- Psychological Association, a of St. James of the Valley JAMES K. MEADOR (B.S., member and past president of Church in Wyoming to help its ciples of universal truth advocates cannot be applied physics, ’61), Las Vegas, NV the Southwestern Psychologi- sister parish in Jardines de to day-to-day life in the real world. (10/26/09) at age 78; worked as cal Association and founding Colon, El Salvador; his efforts In 1997, the National Endowment for the Human- an electrical engineer for more member of the Society for helped provide scholarships for than 30 years; served in the ities selected Toulmin for the Jefferson Lecture, the Multivariate Behavior Re- the children in the Salvadoran U.S. Air Force during the Ko- U.S. government’s highest honor for achievement in search; enlisted in the U.S. parish and build a library; fluent rean War; lived in Las Vegas for the humanities. Army Air Force during WWII. in Spanish and made many 16 years, relocating from Simi philanthropic trips to Latin “Stephen was one of the most accomplished schol- ORVILLE H. HARSCH (B.A., Valley. American countries. ars ever to be associated with the University of Slavic languages and literatures, EARL H. MILLER (B.S., biology, Southern California,” USC College Dean Howard ’48; M.A., psychology, ’51), At- ’52), Ojai, CA (02/20/10) at age Gillman said of Toulmin, who joined USC in 1993. lanta, GA (10/31/09) at age 88; a 88; board-certified as a clinical prominent psychologist in the “His work influenced debates in meta-philosophy, laboratory bioanalyst; owned field for more than 50 years; the philosophy of science, communication, human- and operated medic al laborato- was the first to receive a Ph.D. ism, modernity, and ethics. Many of us learned from ries in Los Angeles for several in clinical psychology from the decades; served in the U.S. him what it meant to be a scholar.” University of Georgia and the Coast Guard during WWII; was seventh licensed psychologist an avid fisherman and golfer; in Georgia; volunteered for the was a member of the Ojai Val- JOSEPH R. ABRAHAMSON UCSD’s Department of Judaic Navy during WWII; was a vocal ley Inn Country Club; was a (M.S., physiology, ’51), San Studies, an active member of supporter of civil rights; worked 20-year resident of Ojai and na- Diego, CA (03/07/10) at age 82; The Churchill Society and a as a counselor at the tive of Texas. earned M.D. from Stanford founding supporter of the Milledgeville State Hospital School of Medicine; until his Mainly Mozart Festival in San and state juvenile prison sys- HERSHELL “NICK” H. NIXON retirement in 1993 practiced for Diego. tem prior to starting a private (B.S., geology, ’52), Houston, TX four decades as a pathologist at practice. (03/08/10) at 86; joined the Navy DAVID ALLEN ELLIS (M.S., Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in during WWII serving aboard the chemistry, ’48; Ph.D., chemistry, EUGENE JOHNSON (B.A., phi- Los Angeles, Scripps Clinic in USS Pokomoke, a seaplane tender, ’50), Oklahoma City, OK losophy, ’47), Green Valley, AZ La Jolla, Calif., and Physicians the USS Iowa, a battleship, and (03/05/10) at age 92; worked in a (01/24/10) at age 88; the first art and Surgeons Hospital in San the USS Topeka, a light cruiser; an weather bureau in Alaska; en- teacher at Bethel University in Diego; associate clinical profes- exploration petroleum geologist, listed in the U.S. Army Air Arden Hills, MN, who in 1948 sor at the University of Califor- he was a member of the Ameri- Corps, where he worked in founded its art department in the nia, San Diego School of can Association of Petroleum Ge- weather intelligence in India basement of a seminary building; Medicine; founding member of ologists, American Professional during WWII; worked as a re- served as pastor in the Los Ange- PHOTO COURTESY OF DONNA TOULMIN

Spring/Summer 2010 | 63 {

WORDS Redemptive Suffering IN MY OWN { An unorthodox course of study with a beloved mentor allows one alumnus to begin his journey of healing.

n the morning of February 20, 2006, I received a call from my father at 8 a.m. It was a holiday, President’s Day. My father could not speak. He sounded in shock. And he was only able to stutter a few words and my name for about a minute: “Dylan … accident …” I threw the phone down.

I knew something terrible had happened. video that recorded some of my experiences ence that was much larger than myself. I was I knew one of my boys had died. since Dylan’s death. We both realized it was stepping outside the box of my upper-middle The sheer terror shook every bone in my an unorthodox plan of study, but a standard class life just as I had done when I entered my body. The worst fear a parent can have had reading course seemed removed from my first, black Pentecostal church in South L.A. just happened. Dylan, my 15-year-old son, reality. When I think back on what USC taught had been ejected while sleeping in the back Not too long after Dylan’s death I sought me, it was not simply a curriculum oriented seat of the car — not wearing his seat belt. solitude in a silent monastery in the desert of around assigned readings. It was taking ad- Dylan breathed his last breath on a cold New Mexico. With the guidance of a com- vantage of an incredibly rich cultural environ- winter morning while holding the hand of munity of Benedictine monks I began to ment in one of the world’s great metropolitan my best friend. They were on their way to sort out the deep pain in my soul. This was regions. And it was faculty members, such as Mammoth to ski. a strange environment for me, but not too Professor Miller, who encouraged me to ven- Just two days before the accident I took different, in an odd way, from the black ture beyond the ivory tower, in my current Dylan and our three other children to Los Pentecostal churches that I had studied in pursuit for meaning as well as in my entire Angeles for the weekend to show them my Professor Miller’s sociology of religion personal and professional life. favorite places while attending USC in the course many years earlier. While Pente- I am still on a journey of healing, while at ’80s. Little did I know at the time that I costals and Benedictine monks are com- the same time trying to help others in need would be going back to USC as part of my pletely different in their style of worship, — which, in itself, is healing. I continue to journey of healing. they both exemplify potential pathways to spend time in various monastic settings, Two years after the accident I was having self-transcending experiences. seeking peace, pursuing insights that will a difficult time emotionally and physically. I Rather than practice qualitative research reframe the tragedy of losing a son. took a leave from our family business, Ayres skills, as was the requirement in my religion If there is an irony regarding my return to Hotels, to venture into a deeper internal course years ago, I dove into life in the USC, it is that I found out while doing my healing process, which I shared with Profes- monastery as a fully immersed participant: project with Professor Miller that, indeed, I al- sor Donald Miller, with whom I had studied chanting the psalms seven times a day, chop- ready had enough credits to graduate in 1983. as a religion major. For 31 years I had been ping wood for the chapel’s fireplace, and But this opportunity to reflect on my personal bothered by not finishing my degree at spending time in contemplation and solitude. journey with a former mentor has been in- USC; I lacked a single course. It was a completely different rhythm of life valuable. There is more than one meaning to After talking with Don about my family’s from the work schedule in the family busi- being a member of the Trojan Family. I loss, he suggested that I do a four-unit di- ness, where I was traveling constantly and in- rected study that would focus on my griev- volved in managing large construction DOUGLAS AYRES (B.A., religion, ’83), of the ing process. I would document this exper- projects. At the monastery, I was learning to Ayres Hotels of Southern California, resides in ience through writing and preparation of a listen to an inner voice, connecting to a pres- Orange County with his family. PHOTO COURTESY OF D. AYRES

64 | USC College Magazine A Gift that Gives AND GIVES BACK TO YOU For annual income you may want to consider a USC Charitable Remainder Trust. Faye Pipkin B.S.’56 and Professor Emeritus of Earth Sciences Bernard Pipkin B.S.’53, M.S.’56 support USC College as estate donors. Learn Why... The Charitable Remainder Trust is so Popular Tommy Trojan, age 70, wants to make a gift to USC College using appreciated securities, and he would also like to increase his annual earnings. He decides to create a Charitable Remainder Unitrust. Choosing to give stocks that have a low dividend yield will maximize Tommy’s improved annual income. For a contribution of $300,000 he will receive 5% of the Unitrust’s value each year, which is $15,000 in the first year. And there are further advantages. Tommy will receive an immediate federal income tax deduction that he can carry over for up to five years He also avoids his upfront capital gains tax. In addition, Tommy will save on estate taxes without paying a gift tax. After Tommy’s lifetime, his spouse may continue to receive trust income for life, after which the remaining assets are given to USC College. Along with an improved cash flow, Tommy also receives the satisfaction of supporting the important scholarship and research conducted in USC College. Good for You, Good for USC College

To leave a Bequest to USC College in your Will or Trust, please use the following language: “I hereby give to the College of Letters, Arts & Sciences at the University of Southern California, a California nonprofit corporation with its principal place of business at Los Angeles, California: The sum of $ XXX or the following described property (XXX) or XX percent of my estate.”

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For young scientists studying integrative biology in Antarctica, summer takes on a whole new meaning. PHOTOBYMICHAELMOORE