INSIDE Heinz grant funds healthy communities...... 2 Chancellor’s annual report to Pitt board...... 3 PittNewspaper of the University of PittsburghChronicle Volume IX • Number 26 • September 29, 2008 Pitt Cardiologist Barry London Receives NIH Pioneer Award and director of noninvasive cardiac imaging Pediatric Physical Illness.” and the Center for Ultrasound Molecular This year’s 15 other Pioneer Award Imaging and Therapeutics at the UPMC recipients are faculty researchers at the Cal- Cardiovascular Institute. ifornia Institute of Technology; Harvard, Villanueva and her colleagues at the Northwestern, Princeton, and Stanford center will develop an electrically sensi- universities; the Massachusetts Institute tive microbubble contrast agent, which is a of Technology; Santa Fe Institute; and the tiny, inert gaseous bubble University of Pennsyl- injected into the blood- vania. stream. When it is applied “Highly creative bio- “Highly creative to ultrasound imaging, the biomedical research, microbubble will visu- medical research, such as such as London plans alize electrical activity to conduct with his within the heart muscle. London plans to conduct well-deserved Pioneer “London’s concept of with his well-deserved Award, not only exem- using microbubbles to plifies the kind of great noninvasively see path- Pioneer Award, not only science that we value so ways of electrical conduc- much here at the Uni- tion in the beating heart exemplifies the kind of versity of Pittsburgh but is an ingenious idea,” also, in this case, holds Villanueva said. “This great science that we tremendous promise project truly embodies for clinical advances,” the spirit of the Pioneer value so much here at the said Arthur S. Levine, Award to support high- University of Pittsburgh senior vice chancellor impact, innovative work,” for the health sciences she added. If successful, but also, in this case, and dean of the School the research will then be of Medicine. “Devel- applied to humans. holds tremendous oping novel and inno- NIH Director Elias vative tools to study Barry London A. Zerhouni said the Pio- promise for clinical arrhythmias and better By Maureen McGaffin neer Awards, given to identify those patients scientists at any career advance.” who are at risk of unex- Barry London, the Harry S. Tack Pro- drugs currently exist. level, and New Innovator —Arthur S. Levine pected cardiac death fessor of Medicine and chief of the Division London and colleagues will develop Awards, aimed at early- holds the potential to of Cardiology in Pitt’s School of Medicine, two revolutionary techniques to image elec- career scientists, “are save countless lives.” was named one of 16 NIH (National Insti- trical activity in the heart. In the first proj- central elements of NIH efforts to encour- Arrhythmias are a major cause of tutes of Health) Director’s Pioneer Award ect, London will adapt the most common age and fund especially novel investigator- morbidity and mortality, with more than recipients at the 2008 Pioneer Award Sym- clinical imaging technique, which is two- initiated research, even if it might carry 250,000 people dying from sudden death posium on NIH’s Bethesda, Md., campus. dimensional echocardiography (ultrasound a greater than usual degree of risk of not each year in the United States. If successful, London is the first Pitt faculty member to imaging of the heart), to detect electrical succeeding.” both techniques will increase understand- receive the distinction. activity of the heart in real time. In the In 2007, Pitt assistant professor of psy- ing of arrhythmias, improve better identi- The award gives London, who also second project, London and his colleagues chiatry and pediatrics Eva M. Szigethy was fication of patients at risk for sudden death, is director of the UPMC Cardiovascular will develop a modified adult stem cell one of the 29 initial recipients of the NIH and guide therapeutic interventions. Thus, Institute, $2.5 million in direct costs from implant to detect nervous system activity Director’s New Innovation Awards, which identifying novel tools to study arrhythmias the NIH to conduct novel experiments affecting the heart. carry a $1.5 million grant in direct costs. in vivo and stratify arrhythmic risk would to better identify patients at high risk for He will collaborate with Flordeliza Her project was titled “Understanding and represent a major advance in cardiovascular sudden cardiac arrest, for which no reliable Villanueva, a Pitt professor of medicine Treating Neuropsychiatric Symptoms of care.

Pitt Researchers Find Stronger Evidence That Virus Causes Deadly Skin Cancer By Anita Srikameswaran

University of Pittsburgh scientists are part of a viral protein needed for the virus eliminate diseased cells, or the to touch or pressure. uncovering more evidence that a virus they to reproduce and infect other healthy cells, viral replication itself will lead In a paper published in recently discovered is explained senior investiga- to the death of the cancer cells. Science in January, Moore the cause of Merkel cell tor Patrick Moore, profes- Both of these possibilities pro- and his wife, Yuan Chang, carcinoma, an aggres- “MCV infects normal sor of microbiology and vide promising leads to find who codirects their lab, sive and deadly form of cells before they turn molecular genetics in Pitt’s better ways to kill Merkel cell reported their identifica- skin cancer. School of Medicine and cancer cells without harming tion of the virus and that it The findings, pub- into cancer cells. The director of the Molecular healthy tissues. could be found in 80 percent lished in an online edi- Virology Program at the Also, “this research shows of Merkel cell tumors. They cau- tion of the Proceedings virus could not have University of Pittsburgh evolution within tumors on a molecu- Patrick Moore tioned that although up to 16 percent of the National Acad- Cancer Institute. The virus lar level,” Moore said. “You can see of the population carries MCV, very emy of Sciences, put to infected a tumor after- then can spread only as the the specific molecular steps.” few will develop cancer. rest the possibility that cancer cells themselves The team’s current work could There is no treatment for Merkel cell polyoma- wards, because it can no multiply. account for such known risk MCV infection right now, but virus, or MCV, infects longer replicate. It looks Clearly, “MCV infects factors for Merkel cell carci- identifying the agent and tumors that already have normal cells before they noma as UV exposure and ion- understanding how it triggers formed. If that were the very much like MCV is turn into cancer cells,” izing radiation, which damage disease could lead to targeted case, the virus would Moore said. “The virus DNA and can lead to the viral interventions, Moore said. be a passenger rather the culprit that causes could not have infected a mutations. Coauthors of the study than the driver of the tumor afterwards, because Merkel cell cancers are rare, are Masahiro Shuda, Huichen disease. the disease.” it can no longer replicate. It occurring in about 1,500 Ameri- Feng, Hyun Jin Kwun, Ole Gjo- Experiments in —Patrick Moore looks very much like MCV cans annually. Half of patients who Yuan Chang erup, and Yuan Chang, all of the human tumors reveal is the culprit that causes the have advanced disease die within Molecular Virology Program at the that the cancer develops disease.” nine months of diagnosis, and two-thirds of University of Pittsburgh; and Steven T. in two steps: During infection, MCV inte- The researchers propose two possible them die within two years. The elderly and Rosen of Northwestern University. Fund- grates into host cell DNA and produces viral reasons why these mutations develop: If people with compromised immune systems ing for this research was provided by a proteins that promote cancer formation. viral replication continues, the immune are at greater risk of developing the cancer, grant from the University of Pittsburgh Tumors occur when a mutation removes system could recognize the intruder to which arises in skin nerve cells that respond EXPLORER fund.

2 • Pitt Chronicle • September 29, 2008 Heinz Endowments Funds Center for Healthy BrieflyNoted Environments and Communities at GSPH primary telescope for the first Allegheny Observatory and the third-largest telescope in the world when it was built. It enabled a number of early breakthroughs in astronomy, including visual proof that Saturn’s rings comprise orbiting particulate. As one of the world’s major centers for astro- nomical research, the observatory houses one of the oldest and largest collections of photographic plates of star fields; the collection began in 1914 and now boasts more than 110,000 images. Unlike regular observatory tours, the open house allows people to browse through these plates and take self-guided tours of the observatory’s research rooms. The observatory is located at 159 Riverview Ave., Riverview Park, North Side. Reservations are Conrad D. Volz uncovers an eagle’s nest along a local river. limited to six people per group and can be made by By Clare Collins calling the observatory at 412-321-2400 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. For more information, visit the In an effort to expand environmental equal partnership between traditionally Sculpture by Derry Sean observatory’s Web site at www.pitt.edu/~aobsvtry. public health efforts in Pitt’s Graduate trained experts and local residents. “We —Morgan Kelly School of Public Health (GSPH), the Heinz believe that it is vital to involve community Pitt Studio Arts Faculty to Endowments has awarded $200,000 to the members in research projects so that they Exhibit Work Oct. 1-Nov. 21 Pitt’s Katz School Unveils school’s Center for Healthy Environments have a stake in the health and well-being of State-of-the-Art Financial Lab and Communities (CHEC). The grant will their own communities,” said Volz. Pitt’s Department of Studio Arts will present its help support the Allegheny River Steward- In addition to the Allegheny River Stew- 2008 Faculty Exhibition Oct. 1 through Nov. 21 in Pitt’s Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of ship Project―a community- ardship Project, other Business has added a key tool to its experience-based based environmental health CHEC initiatives include the University Art Gallery, Frick Fine Arts Building. An project exploring water con- “One of the things we identifying environmen- opening reception will be held there from 4 to learning curriculum: a new state-of-the-art financial tamination in the Allegheny tal risk factors for high- 6 p.m. Oct. 1. laboratory. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the financial River, one of CHEC’s flag- strive to do within the preterm delivery rates, The exhibition offers the unique and diverse analysis lab, hosted by Pitt Provost and Senior Vice ship programs. low birth-weight rates, perspectives of 14 Pitt faculty Chancellor James V. Maher and Founded with ini- center is to help and high asthma rates artists whose work has earned John T. Delaney, dean of the tial funding by the Heinz individuals and in the Braddock-Rankin regional, national, and interna- Katz School and the College of Endowments in 2004, CHEC area of Pit tsbu rgh; tional recognition. Their art also Business Administration (CBA), works to conduct research on communities identify working with the Pitts- has been a major part of the will be held at 11:30 a.m. the relationship between burgh Public Schools to Pittsburgh art scene, included Oct. 3 on the second floor of the ecosystem and human the most important improve the health and Mervis Hall. An interactive health and to serve as a nutrition of students; and in exhibitions at the Carnegie resource for data, educa- environmental prob- conducting training with Museum of Art and the Mat- demonstration of the room’s tional materials, and general physicians on environ- tress Factory, among other city capabilities will follow the information on conservation lems they face and mental health issues. venues. Two of the exhibit- ceremony. and healthy and sustainable empower them to Other CHEC faculty ing artists are Guggenheim The $2.3 million, living. The renewed funding members include Robbie 3,000-square-foot lab features will allow CHEC to expand Foundation Fellows, and two Kenyan landscape by develop their own Ali and Ravi Sharma, a financial trading simulator, the geographical scope of the both assistant professors have been honored as “Artist K. Batista of the Year” with exhibitions at the stock tickers, tote display boards, Allegheny River Steward- action plans for healthy in Pitt’s Department of Pittsburgh Center for the Arts. 58 computer stations, live news feeds, and classroom ship Project into other areas living.” Behavioral and Com- Nine faculty members will offer Noon Gallery space. It provides students with real-time stock in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and munity Health Sciences, market data and access to faculty who are seasoned West Virginia, and to map —Conrad D. Volz and Charles Christian, Talks in the University Art Gallery. The schedule water pollution concentra- CHEC manager. For follows: in global financial markets. Courses, geared toward tions to better understand more information on Oct. 8—Lenore Thomas and Barbara Weiss- both CBA upperclassmen and Katz graduate students, health risks from environmental contami- CHEC, visit www.chec.pitt.edu. berger; will be tailored to give students a serious glimpse into nation. One of the largest and most innovative Oct. 22—Kenneth Batista and Michael Morrill; the world of financial markets. “One of the things we strive to do within independent philanthropic foundations in Nov. 05—Sean Derry, Anna Divinsky, and —Amanda Leff the center is to help individuals and com- the country, the Heinz Endowments awarded JoAnna Commandaros; and munities identify the most important envi- more than $84 million in grants in 2007. Nov. 19—Julie Stunden and Ann Hoffman. ronmental problems they face and empower More information is available at 412-648-2436 them to develop their own action plans for and www.studioarts.pitt.edu. healthy living,” said Conrad D. Volz, direc- tor of CHEC and an assistant professor in GSPH’s Department of Environmental and Pitt’s Allegheny Occupational Health. “We are extremely PittChronicle Observatory Open grateful to the Heinz Endowments for its Newspaper of the University of Pittsburgh House Set for Oct. 3 continued and sustaining support of this mission.” PUBLISHER Robert Hill Explore the heavens and a According to Volz, CHEC employs a ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER John Harvith historic scientific landmark during a 7 to participatory research model based on an EXECUTIVE EDITOR Linda K. Schmitmeyer 10 p.m. Oct. 3 open house at Pitt’s Allegheny EDITOR Jane-Ellen Robinet Observatory. The free event will allow groups to ART DIRECTOR Gary Cravener enter every half hour; reservations and tickets STAFF WRITERS Sharon S. Blake Oct. 1 Memorial Service John Fedele are required. Set for Late Pitt Professor Morgan Kelly During the open house, visitors can Amanda Leff freely roam the observatory and peer into Keiko McDonald Anthony M. Moore the night sky through the 30-inch Thaw A memorial service for the late Keiko I. Patricia Lomando White Refractor telescope—a 47-foot McDonald, author and University of Pittsburgh profes- CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Clare Collins telescope normally reserved for sor of Japanese literature and cinema, will be held at Maureen McGaffin research. In addition, members 3 p.m. Oct. 1 in Heinz Chapel. Amy Dugas Rose of the Amateur Astronomers McDonald, an avid angler, passed away Anita Srikameswaran Association of Pittsburgh will set Sept. 14 as a result of injuries suffered from a fall HAPPENINGS EDITOR Lauren O’Leary while fishing. The Pitt Chronicle is published throughout the year by up telescopes on the observatory University News and Magazines, University of Pittsburgh, lawn for the public. If the night is A memorial fund in McDonald’s name has 400 Craig Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, clear, guests can catch a close-up of Jupiter been established. Contributions can be sent to Matt Phone: 412-624-1033, Fax: 412-624-4895, through the 13-inch Fitz-Clark Refractor tele- Smith, Office of Institutional Advancement, 316B E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.chronicle.pitt.edu scope. Constructed in 1861, the Fitz-Clark was the Painting by Craig Hall, 200 S. Craig St., Pittsburgh, PA 15260. The University of Pittsburgh is an affirmative action, equal Barbara Weissberger Checks should be made payable to the University opportunity institution that does not discriminate upon any of Pittsburgh Keiko I. McDonald Memorial Fund. basis prohibited by law. September 29, 2008 • University of Pittsburgh • 3

2008 REPORT OF CHANCELLOR MARK A. NORDENBERG Hard Work, High Achievement, and Immeasurable Impact This is the printed version of the report delivered by Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg at the June 27, 2008, annual meeting of the University of Pittsburgh Board of Trustees.

homas Edison once said, “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” That is a particularly telling observation, coming, as it did, from the “Wizard of Menlo Park.” Mr. Edison, of course, remains this country’s unquestioned champion when it Tcomes to innovation: the holder of nearly 1,100 patents; the creator of the first indus- trial research laboratory; the inventor of such products as the incandescent light bulb, the phonograph, and the motion picture projector, not to mention the voting booth, which, at least in some places, seems not to have been improved since his day; and the founder of the company that became General Electric. Decades later, in what we think of as the “age of innovation,” it is not unusual to hear the view expressed that there is a basic disconnect between the “blue-collar values” that made this region great and the “new- knowledge economy” that will provide the foundation for its future. Certainly, times have changed. But when you look at our home region’s earlier industrial history, the successes of corporations like Westinghouse Electric, U.S. Steel, PPG Industries, Alcoa, and H.J. Heinz were grounded not only in hard work but in smart work, tied to superior products and more efficient processes born through innovation. And today, even in a 21st-century institution of higher learning and research, which is fueled by its intellectual power, hard work never has gone out of style. Think, for example, about the compelling news from a single day that we celebrated just a few weeks ago. First, media outlets around the world high- HARRY GIGLIO lighted the work done Mark A. Nordenberg by a team of scientists led by Pitt Profes- ings, they are. But such by that work, last year we celebrated the already was a high ranking, in the inaugu- sor of Neurobiology advances do not just sud- fact that Pitt had climbed into the very ral 2000 study to the first cluster just six Andrew Schwartz. denly happen. Instead, highest cluster of the years later required that we The New York Times though Mr. Edison’s over- country’s top public improve our relative position began its front-page alls may have been con- research universities ...13 consecutive years with respect to 15 of this article with the fol- verted into lab coats, these in the annual assess- country’s finest universities, lowing description: important forms of progress ment The Top American in which each and every all formidable competitors “Two monkeys almost always are the result Research Universities, and all committed to moving with tiny sensors in of tens of thousands of hours published by the Center year has been markedly forward themselves. their brains have learned of effort, most often expended for Measuring Univer- better than the one that • And reaching the to control a mechanical arm by large numbers of people over sity Performance. That top cluster put us in very the course of many years. recognition was a source distinguished company, as with just their thoughts, using Thomas Edison preceded it. it to reach for and grab food and The work that enables Pitt to of special pride for a we joined just six other even to adjust for the continue moving forward number of reasons. top-ranked institutions— size and stickiness involves contributions of • The clustering Berkeley, Illinois, Michigan, of the morsels when Thomas Edison once said, countless types. Those con- done in this study is tied to objective mea- North Carolina, UCLA, and Wisconsin. necessary. ... tributions are made by com- sures across key areas of performance— Mindful of Irving Berlin’s admonition “[This] is the most “Opportunity is missed mitted members of our com- encompassing research, private support, that “the toughest thing about success is that striking demonstra- by most people because munity, dressed in whatever faculty, graduate and postgraduate pro- you’ve got to keep on being a success,” we tion to date of brain- attire is appropriate for their grams, and quality undergraduates—and were particularly heartened to learn, when machine interface it is dressed in overalls own institutional responsi- is not simply another subjective survey of this year’s The Top American Research Uni- technology. Scientists bilities. reputation. expect that technology and looks like work.” T he s t i l l-g r ow i ng • To climb from the fourth cluster, which Continued on page 4 will eventually allow record of success crafted at people with spinal the direction and with the cord injuries and other paralyzing conditions support of this board is an to gain more control over their lives.” enviable one: 13 consecutive Paired with that story was a report that years in which each and every The Top American The Top American another Pitt team, this one led by Hillman year has been markedly better Research Universities Research Universities Professor of Pediatric Immunology Massimo than the one that preceded it. Trucco and his colleague Professor of Pathol- That progress is the product The Center for Measuring University Performance The Center for Measuring University Performance ogy Nick Giannoukakis, had developed a of a well-developed ability to (December 2006) (December 2007) new vaccine approach that had prevented recognize and capitalize on a Top Cluster Top Cluster and even reversed new-onset cases of type 1 broad range of opportunities. Public Universities Public Universities diabetes in animals. That approach currently And both seizing opportuni- is being tested in humans in a Phase 1 clini- ties and meeting the chal- Berkeley Pitt Berkeley Pitt lenges that typically travel with them have cal trial that has been approved by the U.S. Illinois Illinois UCLA Food and Drug Administration. required creative thinking, high ambition, a UCLA We think of such developments as commitment to mission, and a real appetite Michigan Wisconsin Michigan Wisconsin “breakthroughs”—and in terms of their for hard work. North Carolina North Carolina advancement of scientific understand- In terms of overall progress forged 4 • Pitt Chronicle • September 29, 2008 Hard Work, High Achievement, and Immeasurable Impact Continued from page 3 versities report was released, that its highest cluster was unchanged. There was Pitt, again in the top-ranked group. Freshman Applications When you are in the highest group, Oakland Campus 22000 some might say that there is no room to rise. 22,000 But we know that we have room to improve 20000 20,000 20,639 on multiple fronts. To convey some sense of 18000 18,000 19,056 our ongoing quest for ever-higher levels of 16000 16,000 quality, I want to focus on three key topics 14000 14,000 today: the continuing climb of Pitt students, 12000 12,000 the growing stature and impact of Pitt fac- 10,000 ulty members, and the increasing impor- 10000 8000 8,000 tance of Pitt’s private benefactors. In doing 6,000 7,825 6000 so, I will share some additional numbers, 4,000 demonstrating both how far we have come 4000 2,000 and how our momentum continues to build. 2000 0 But I will spend even more time highlighting 0 1995 2007 2008 inspiring human examples.

The Continuing Climb of Pitt Students Average SAT Scores he external review commis- Oakland Campus 1300 sioned by this board in 1996 1300 explicitly concluded that our “average SAT scores and 1250 1250 1265 high school rankings of the 1248 entire undergraduate enter- 1200 1200 ing classes” were “disap- pointingly low compared to the Association 1150 1150 of American Universities cohort.” As a T 1100 result, we made attracting higher-achieving 1100 1110 undergraduates one of our highest priorities, 1050 and our continuing record of improvement— 1050 not only compared to our less-enviable posi- 1000 tion in the mid-1990s, but also to more recent 1000 1995 2007 2008 years, which were themselves a source of shared pride—has been remarkable. • In 1995, our baseline year, we attracted 7,825 applications for admission to the Freshmen in Top 10% undergraduate programs on the Oakland of High School Class campus. Last year, we received 19,056 50 50% applications, and this year, we are up to 50% 20,639. Because of the very different starting 48% points, it is hard to know whether the 164 40 40% percent increase since 1995 or the 8 percent HARRY GIGLIO HARRY increase in just the last year is more impres- 30 30% sive. But trend lines show that we increas- Pitt students in the William Pitt Union ingly have become an institution of choice within the critical population of potential careers in public service. 20 own academic agendas but also are regularly 20% students. And from our larger applicant • Both Todd Moyle, a University and visibly expressing their gratitude both 19% 10% pool, we have been able to attract better Honors College sophomore10 majoring in for the opportunities and for the supportive and better-credentialed stu- chemical engineering, and culture they have found here. dents. Charles Sleasman, a Univer- The most striking example was last 0% • In 1995, for example, sity Honors0 College junior fall’s student-sponsored I Love Pitt Day, 1995 2007 2008 our average SAT score was majoring in physics and math- something that none of us reasonably could 1110. Last year, it was 1248, ematics, were named Goldwa- have expected, even from a very happy and this year (though these ter scholars—this country’s student body. Later in the year, our students numbers may change some highest undergraduate honor sprang another surprise by naming their new National Award-Winning Students over the course of the summer), for students studying science social and recreational center in the William University of Pittsburgh, 1995 to present we stand at 1265. or engineering. Pitt Union Nordy’s • And in 1995, just 19 A n d p a s t Place. Rhodes Scholars percent of our freshmen had national scholarship Year after year, these The use of this 2 graduated in the top 10 percent winners continue accomplished high nickname from my 6 Marshall Scholars of their high school classes. Eleanor Ott (A&S ’08) to earn new forms own student days, Last year, that number had of recognition. This reborn in our cur- 5 Truman Scholars risen to 48 percent, and this spring, for example, school applicants rent student body, year, we currently stand at 50 Justin Chalker (A&S have become high- gives this designa- 4 Udall Scholars percent. ’06), who currently tion an apparent 1 Churchill Scholar Year after year, these is studying at Oxford achieving Pitt under- personal ring. But accomplished high school as a Rhodes scholar, it more accurately 3 Mellon Humanities Fellows applicants have become high- and Anna Quider graduates—one telling can be viewed as achieving Pitt undergradu- (A&S ’07), who cur- expressing appre- 3 1 Goldwater Scholars ates—one telling indication rently is studying at indication that we are ciation for the stu- that we are discharging our Cambridge as a Mar- dent-oriented com- most basic responsibility as shall scholar, both discharging our most mitment of Pitt’s an educational institution. won National Science basic responsibility as entire leadership national championship-bound “Mountain- In fact, our record as one of Charles Sleasman (A&S ’09) Foundation Gradu- team. Clearly, we eer Express” in a game that was nationally this country’s most consistent ate Research Fellow- an educational have moved a long televised from Morgantown, W.Va. producers of top-performing ships to support their way from the stu- • Our men’s basketball team, playing in undergraduates has become a doctoral studies. institution. dent culture of a what it affectionately describes as its second defining institutional quality, But it is not just dozen years ago, home, won the Big East tournament in a and we continue adding to it. those students earn- when Pitt under- decisive upset of a very good Georgetown • This year, for exam- ing high national honors who graduates were described by our external team at Madison Square Garden. ple, Eleanor Ott, a University are true achievers. Day after reviewers as inadequately credentialed, • Our women’s basketball team provided Honors College junior with a day, tens of thousands of Pitt underappreciated, and largely disengaged. us with a season full of thrills and advanced triple major in chemistry, his- students are crafting records One force that has helped generate this to the NCAA’s “Sweet 16” round for the first tory, and French, was one of of accomplishment as they closer sense of community is pride in Pitt time in Pitt history. just 65 students nationally to build the educational foun- athletics, a force that extends well beyond • And wrestler Keith Gavin completed a be named a Truman scholar, dation from which they will our student body. And recent months have remarkable 27-win undefeated season—the a highly competitive award Todd Moyle (ENGR ’11) pursue their dreams. Increas- given all Panther fans plenty to cheer first undefeated season for a Pitt wrestler targeted to college juniors with exceptional ingly, and to an extent that is heartwarming, about. leadership potential who are committed to our students not only are advancing their • Our football team derailed the Continued on page 5 September 29, 2008 • University of Pittsburgh • 5

2008 REPORT OF CHANCELLOR MARK A. NORDENBERG

Continued from page 4

research and W.K. Whiteford Professor of chemical and petroleum engineering; and Federal Science and Engineering Ching-Chung Li, professor of electrical and computer engineering and of computer Research and Development Obligations science, were elected fellows of the Ameri- National Science Foundation Ranking can Association for the Advancement of Fiscal Year 2005 Science; and • And Nuel Belnap, the Alan Ross 1. Johns Hopkins 9. Columbia Anderson Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, was elected a fellow of the 2. U. of Washington 10. Harvard American Academy of Arts and Sciences. 3. Penn 11. PITT This is the third consecutive year that a Pitt 4. UCLA 12. Washington U. philosopher has received this honor. Other high honors received by faculty 5. Michigan 13. UC-San Diego during the past year include the following: 6. Stanford 14. Wisconsin • Lee Antoinette Darville, professor of pediatrics and immunology, received one 7. UCSF 15. Ya l e of just 12 Individual Biomedical Research 8. Duke Awards from the Hartwell Foundation; • Toi Derricotte, professor of English, received both the Elizabeth Kray Award from Poets House and the Barnes & Noble Writers for Writers Award; • Professors William Klunk from the National Institutes of Health Funding Department of Psychiatry and Chester Mathis from the Department of Radiology (Educational Institutions and Affiliates) received the American Academy of Neu- Fiscal Year 2006 rology’s Potamkin Prize (also known as the “Nobel Prize of Neurology”) for their 1. Harvard 6. PITT pioneering work in the early diagnosis of 2. Johns Hopkins 7. UCLA Alzheimer’s disease; and 3. Penn 8. Duke • And Marcus Rediker, chair of the Department of History, received both the 4. UCSF 9. Michigan Merle Curti Award from the Organization 5. U. of Washington 10. Washington U. of American Historians and the George

TERRY CLARK Washington Book Prize for his book The Tracy Cui (left), Pitt professor of bioengineering, and Mingui Sun (right), Pitt professor of neurological surgery, bioengineer- Slave Ship: A Human History. ing, and electrical engineering, collaborated to design two novel electrodes used to process signals that measure electrical New leaders were recruited to important activity in the brain. leadership positions within the University. Among the year’s highlights, for example, was chosen by the White House Office of were the formal installations Science and Technology Policy to receive a in 20 years—and claimed an NCAA cham- top 10 in total federal science of Jem Spectar as president of Presidential Early Career Award for Scien- pionship. and engineering research the University of Pittsburgh at tists and Engineers. This is widely consid- Of course, we also are proud of the good and development support Johnstown and Sharon Smith ered to be the highest honor bestowed by the citizenship and commitment to academics and into the top five in NIH as president of the University of federal government on scientists who still that sit at the heart of our athletics program. funding. And it is our inten- Pittsburgh at Greensburg. are in the early years of their careers. This past term, the Pitt Alumni Associa- tion to do both. Well-estab- • Two of just tion honored 305 student-athletes who had Embedded in our large lished faculty mem- 19 Howard Hughes earned grade point averages (GPAs) of 3.0 or annual research expendi- bers also rose to In terms of National Medical Institute higher during the preceding two semesters. tures—which should exceed positions of leader- Physician-Scientist That group included 21 student-athletes who $630 million this year—is ship nationally and Institutes of Health Early Career Awards had earned a perfect 4.0 GPA. support for very important internationally. For support attracted by were received by “Pitt initiatives. Included in this David Lewis example: people”—Yvonne The Growing Stature of Our Faculty year’s new federal grants, • David Geller, members of our Chan, an assistant to give just a few examples, the Richard L. Sim- professor in the Divi- hough their work is not were $8 million to lead the mons Professor of faculty, we moved into sion of Pulmonary, performed in arenas packed largest study ever of the Surgery, was chosen Allergy, and Critical with fans, when it comes to autoimmune disorder myo- as president-elect of sixth place nationally Care Medicine, and both national recognition sitis, $16 million to estab- the Society of Uni- Allan Tsung, who and work of global impact, lish an HIV research center, versity Surgeons; during the past year. currently is a resi- our faculty also had a cham- $4.75 million to launch a new • Patricia Kro- dent in the Depart- pionship-level year. This center on spinal cord injuries, both, dean of our ment of Surgery and is a group that not only sits at the heart of and $9.6 million to elevate School of Pharmacy, was elected who will join the faculty of our School of Tour educational mission, but also continues our autism research center chair of the Council of Deans Medicine in just a few days. to make very significant contributions to into an Autism Center of of the American Association of • Five very talented assistant profes- new knowledge through scholarship and Excellence. Susan Amara Colleges of Pharmacy; and sors—four from the Swanson School of research. Moving further away • Jeffrey Schwartz, profes- Engineering and one from the School of Arts Collectively and comparatively, this was from the numbers, the spe- sor of anthropology and of his- and Sciences—won very prestigious Faculty another great year in terms of the research cial forms of recognition won tory and philosophy of science, Early Career Development Program awards support attracted by members of our fac- by faculty members across was installed as president of the from the National Science Foundation. They ulty. The most recent comparative statistics the disciplines during the last World Academy of Art and are Tracy Cui from bioengineering, Di Gao released by the National Science Foundation year were very impressive. Science; from chemical and petroleum engineering, reveal that Pitt ranks 11th nationally in terms For example: • And Harvey White, from Rebecca Hwa from computer science, Lisa of total federal science and engineering • David Lewis, UPMC the faculty of the Graduate Weiland from mechanical engineering and research and development support. We sit Endowed Professor in Trans- School of Public and Interna- materials science, and Jun Yang from electri- just outside a top 10 that consists of Johns lational Neuroscience and tional Affairs, served as presi- cal and computer engineering. Hopkins, the University of Washington, director of our Translational dent of the American Society for • And Steven Little, assistant professor Penn, UCLA, Michigan, Stanford, the Uni- Neuroscience Program, was Ching-Chung Li Public Administration. of chemical engineering, received another versity of California at San Francisco, Duke, elected to membership in the As impressive as this record very high national honor, a 2008 Beckman Columbia, and Harvard. Institute of Medicine; of accomplishment by more Young Investigators Award from the Arnold In terms of National Institutes of Health • Isabel Beck, emeritus senior members of the faculty and Mabel Beckman Foundation, to support (NIH) support attracted by members of our professor of education and is—and I could add many other his innovative research. faculty, we moved into sixth place nation- senior scientist in our Learn- examples—one of the most I doubt that we ever have had a year in ally during the past year. The NIH top 10 ing Research and Develop- exciting things about the last which so many junior faculty members captured consists of Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Penn, ment Center, was elected year was the large number of such prestigious national awards. UCSF, the University of Washington, Pitt, to the National Academy of high honors won by more junior And, of course, we are doing everything UCLA, Duke, Michigan, and Washington Education; faculty on the basis of their dem- that we can to build not only the culture University in St. Louis. • Susan Amara, Thomas onstrated potential, showing but also the infrastructure to support our Obviously, we can be very proud to Detre Professor of Neuro- that the talent in our pipeline is award-winning researchers, whether junior be so well positioned in that distinguished science and chair of the exceptional. or senior. Among the very visible steps taken company. However, as you can see, we now Department of Neurobiol- Toi Derricotte • Pete Rubin, assistant pro- are poised to move even higher—into the ogy; George Klinzing, vice provost for fessor of plastic and reconstructive surgery, Continued on page 6 6 • Pitt Chronicle • September 29, 2008 Hard Work, High Achievement, and Immeasurable Impact Continued from page 5 to advance our collective research strength during the past year were the creation of Our goals, though, always have our Center for Vaccine Research, the Rich- ard King Mellon Foundation Institute for extended beyond building for Pediatric Research, and our new Center for Energy. today. Instead, particularly with At the same time, existing centers Pitt’s proud 221-year history to of academic excellence continued to dis- tinguish themselves. For example, our inform us, we understand that European Union Center was redesignated a European Union Center of Excellence we also are building for a far by the European Union Delegation of the European Commission. And just last year, more extended future. as you may recall, all four of our area studies centers—Asian, European, Latin Ameri- can, and Russian and East European—as organization’s 112-year history to receive well as our International Business Center its Bar Medal; the Philadelphia Bar Asso- were competitively redesignated National ciation presented him with its top award Resource Centers by the U.S. Department for distinguished service; and the Women’s of Education. Bar Association of Western Pennsylvania honored him with its Susan B. Anthony The Increasing Importance of Private Award for his efforts to promote equality in Support the legal profession. • Fellow Trustee Bill Strickland likes to e are pressing forward remind us that he enrolled in this University on this ambitious on academic probation but now holds both path even though, as an earned degree and an honorary doc- you all know, these torate from Pitt. Earlier in the year, right are very challeng- here on campus, he launched the release ing economic times. of his acclaimed autobiography, Make the Our longest-standing Impossible Possible: One Man’s Crusade competitive disadvantage has been the to Inspire Others to Dream Bigger and Wcomparatively low level of support pro- Achieve the Extraordinary, which became vided by Pennsylvania to its public research the five millionth book in our University universities that has lagged well behind Library System’s collection. At the same our peers. With a recommended increase time, Bill continued exporting his innova- to our appropriation of just slightly more tive and effective system of education, not than 1 percent in a year when the rec- only to other American cities, but also to ommended overall increase to the state locations abroad. budget is 4.2 percent, our assigned priority One of my favorite quotes comes from is low, and the outlook for state support in Henry Adams, who once said, “A teacher the next fiscal year is bleak. affects eternity; he can never tell where More recently, pressures on the federal his influence stops.” These three examples budget have affected the levels of support ALEXANDER DENMARSH prove that basic point, because the teachers available for university research—a trend A pioneer in the application of finite-element methods to engineering, John A. Swanson earned his PhD at Pitt in 1966. In of Steve Beering, Ralph Cappy, and Bill that is especially troublesome for an insti- 2004, he was awarded the John Fritz Medal, widely regarded as the highest honor in the engineering profession. This past Strickland could not possibly have pre- tution that is as research-intensive as Pitt. year, in recognition of his extraordinary generosity, Pitt’s School of Engineering was renamed the John A. Swanson School dicted the scope of their future influence Essentially, we are competing hard, and of Engineering. and impact. successfully, to capture an ever-larger share Those examples also suggest that we of a federal research “pie” that steadily is might broaden Mr. Adams’ statement to cap- being eroded through a significant loss of • The Bill & Melinda Gates Founda- right and underscore, in highly personal and ture the immense, but incalculable, impact its purchasing power. tion, which is not locally based and which very meaningful ways, the importance of of a major institution like the University of Of course, the University also is affected has not provided major support to Pitt in the our mission. Let me give just three examples Pittsburgh. Even if we cannot specifically by the more general problems plaguing the past, made two very large grants to us this from the past few months. predict each of its products, our national economy, including rapidly rising year, both tied to our new Center for Vaccine • Steve Beering became collective enterprise—devoted, utility charges, construction costs, and food Research: an $11.4 million grant to develop one of this country’s most as it is, to teaching, research, and prices, among many other things. To date, we new strategies to control tuberculosis and respected academic leaders public service—has been, and have been highly successful at avoiding the a $10 million grant to support a vaccine during his long and distin- will continue to be, an enormous specific problems that have plagued many modeling initiative. guished service as the presi- force for good. other fine institutions in the troubled capital • A $12 million bequest from an anony- dent of Purdue University. Your contributions as trust- markets. But our endowment certainly will mous individual donor has created a per- Steve, who also earned his ees, then, should trigger two not experience the levels of growth that manent endowment to provide scholarship undergraduate degree at Pitt, levels of well-deserved satisfac- we have seen in recent support for commuter stu- recently celebrated the 50th tion. Think, for example, about years. dents at the University of anniversary of his graduation the levels of quality that have This makes continu- One of my favorite Pittsburgh at Johnstown. from our medical school, as been achieved, the facilities that ing success in private • And, of course, the well as the 60th anniversary Steven C. Beering have been constructed, the cam- fundraising even more quotes comes from high point of the year was of his arrival in this country puses that have been beautified, critical. And while the the historic $41.3 million as a teenage immigrant. In the the communities that have been final tallies are not yet Henry Adams, who once gift made by fellow Trustee midst of all that celebrating, enriched, the extraordinary in, this year will have John Swanson to provide he also recently was reelected work that has been supported, been our best year ever said, “A teacher affects a broad and very flex- chair of the National Science and the countless lives that have in terms of total volun- eternity; he can never ible form of support to Board, a critical position in been touched. Measured purely tary support, individual the school that now bears the shaping of this country’s in terms of current impact, support, foundation sup- tell where his influence his name—the John A. science policy. this already is an exceptional port, and the total number Swanson School of Engi- • Our board chair, Ralph record. of donors. And just 20 stops.” neering. Cappy, who also earned two Our goals, though, always months after we burst Though the size of degrees at Pitt, brought have extended beyond building through the $1 billion his gift continues to defy nearly three decades of for today. Instead, particularly barrier, we now have passed the $1.25 billion comprehension, for those of us who know distinguished service as a Ralph J. Cappy with Pitt’s proud 221-year his- mark in our $2 billion capital campaign. John and have seen both his extraordinary member of the judiciary to an tory to inform us, we understand Examples of major gifts from the past generosity and his deep sense of commit- end when he stepped down that we also are building for a giving year underscore both the breadth and ment to Pitt, the fact that he would make such as chief justice of the Penn- far more extended future. In impact of recent contributions to Pitt. a surprising gift, if anyone was going to do sylvania Supreme Court. As doing so, we are driven by our • As I mentioned just moments ago, it, is not so surprising. And speaking more he left that position, honors shared belief that, if we can con- the Pittsburgh-based Richard King Mellon broadly, it also is not surprising that such came to him from virtually tinue to build our momentum— Foundation, one of this University’s most philanthropic leadership would come from every direction. From the by working hard, by working generous supporters over the course of many within the Board of Trustees, because this National Center for State smart, and, most importantly, years, made a $23 million gift to Pitt and board has played such a key role in leading Courts, he received the Harry by working together—for our Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, Pitt forward in virtually every way. L. Carrico Award for Judicial University and for the countless permitting us to create the new Richard King Certainly, the examples of high achieve- Innovation; the Pennsylvania people who will be touched by Mellon Foundation Institute for Pediatric ment and broad impact that have come from Bar Association made him our University, the best is yet Research. within this board are inspiring in their own just the ninth person in that William E. Strickland Jr. to come! September 29, 2008 • University of Pittsburgh • 7

7:30 p.m. Oct. 7, 1500 Posvar Hall, Pitt’s Lectures/Seminars/ Matthew B. Ridgway Center, the National Security Network, Pittsburgh Middle East Readings Institute, www.ridgway.pitt.edu. Happenings Reading by Maxine Hong Kingston, fiction and nonfiction writer, 8:30 p.m. Sept. 29, David Lawrence Hall, Miscellaneous Pittsburgh Contemporary Writers Series, Book Sale, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 29, 412-624-6506, www.english.pitt.edu. Assembly Room, William Pitt Union, University of Pittsburgh Book Center, “Taking Aim at Osteoarthritis: 412-648-1455. Report From the Front Line,” Con- stance R. Chu, the Albert B. Ferguson Jr. Health, Safety, and Security Day, Assistant Professor in Pitt’s Departments 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Sept. 30, Wil- of Bioengineering and Orthopedic Surgery liam Pitt Union Patio and Lawn, Pitt and director of the Cartilage Restora- Department of Environmental Health and tion Program , 4:30 p.m. Sept. 30, 2500 Safety and Staff Association Council, Posvar Hall, Provost’s Inaugural Lecture, 412-624-4236, [email protected]. 412-624-5750, www.provost.pitt.edu/ index.html. Fall 2008 Job/Internship Fair, noon-6 p.m. Oct. 1, Petersen Events Reading by Paula Bohince, poet Center, University of Pittsburgh, and author, 7 p.m. Sept. 30, Village 412-648-7130, www.careers.pitt.edu. Hall coffeehouse, Pitt-Greensburg, 2008-09 Written/Spoken Reading Series, RAD Day at Phipps Conservatory and 724-836-7481, [email protected], www.upg. Botanical Gardens, free admission, pitt.edu. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 2, One Schen- ley Park, Oakland, Allegheny County “Responsible Conduct of Research Regional Asset District RADical Days, for Emerging Investigators: Under- 412-622-6914, www.phipps.conservatory. standing Relations Between Aca- org. demia and Industry,” Barbara E. Barnes, assistant vice chancellor for RAD Day at Society for Contemporary continuing education in Pitt’s School of Craft, free admission, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Health Sciences, and Leland L. Glenna, Oct. 2, 2100 Smallman St., Strip District, professor of rural sociology at Penn State Allegheny County Regional Asset District University, 9 a.m.-noon Oct. 1, Connolly Three Kinds, 2008 RADical Days, www.contemporarycraft. Life on Mars, Ballroom, Alumni Hall, 2008 Preview org. Haegue Yang, Event for Postdoctoral Fellows and Grad- 55th Carnegie International, through uate Students, Pitt Office of Academic Celebrating Gandhi: The Man & His January 11, 2009 Career Development, 412-648-8486, Teachings, candlelight vigil, interfaith register at www.science2008.pitt.edu/ prayer, and talk by University of Notre specialevents.html. Dame professor David Cortright, 7 p.m. RAD Day at Carnegie Museums of Art Oct. 2, Heinz Chapel, Asian Studies and Natural History, free admission Steve Forbes, editor-in-chief of Forbes Center, 412-648-7370, www.ucis.pitt. and parking, noon- 5 p.m. Oct. 5, 4400 Magazine, 8 p.m. Oct. 1, Heinz Hall, 600 edu/asc/. Forbes Ave., Oakland, Allegheny County Penn Ave., Downtown, Robert Morris Regional Asset District’s RADical Days, University’s Pittsburgh Speakers Series, RAD Day at Pittsburgh Glass Center, 412-622-3131, www.cmoa.org, www. 412-392-4900, www.pittsburghspeakers- glassblowing demonstrations and art carnegiemnh.org. series.org. exhibitions, free admission, 10 a.m.- 9 p.m. Oct. 3, 5472 Penn Ave., Friend- “Building Resilience Through Socio- ship, Allegheny County Regional Asset Opera/Theater/ technical Systems: Early Tsunami District’s RADical Days, www.pitts- Detection for Sumatra, Indonesia,” brghglasscenter.org. Louise Comfort, Pitt professor of public Dance Accounting, Paul Glabicki, and international affairs, noon Oct. 2, RAD Day at Pittsburgh Filmmakers, The Iliad, theatrical performance by Pitt Department of Studio Arts Faculty Exhibition, October 1-November 21 4130 Posvar Hall, Pitt Asian Studies screening from Ann Arbor Film Festival, the Aquila Theater Company, 4 p.m. Center, Asia Over Lunch Lecture Series, free admission, 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Sept. 29, Byham Theater, 101 Sixth St., 412-648-7370, www.ucis.pitt.edu/asc. Oct. 3, 477 Melwood Ave., Oakland, Downtown, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Allegheny County Regional District’s 412-456-6666, www.pgharts.org. Concerts Carnegie Museum of Natural History, “Why Sociology Matters in Bioeth- RADical Days, www.pghfilmmakers.org. Insects, Ink, & Inklings: Illustrations by ics,” Linda J. Morrison, Duquesne Elie Kihonia & Wacongo Dance “President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band, Jane Hyland, through Nov. 1; Born of University professor of sociology and RAD Day at Attack Theater, free Company, musicians and dancers from 7:30 p.m. Oct. 2, Soldiers and Sailors Fire: The Life and Pottery of Margaret graduate center for social and public admission 8-11 p.m., free performances Congo perform ancestral songs and Memorial Hall and Museum, 4141 Tafoya, through Jan. 4, R.P. Simmons policy, noon Oct. 2, Room 113 Barco Law at 9 p.m. and 10 p.m., Oct. 3, 4805 dances of Central Africa, free lunch, Fifth Ave., Oakland, Soldiers and Sailors Family Gallery; Exploring the Arctic Building, Pitt’s Center for Bioethics and Penn Ave., Garfield, Allegheny County noon Oct. 1, Nordy’s Place, Lower Level, Military Band Concert Series; free admis- Seafloor: Photographs by Chris Linder, Health Law, Grand Rounds Fall 2008, Regional Asset District’s RADical Days, William Pitt Union, Artful Wednesdays, sion to museum 10 a.m.-6 p.m. as part of through Jan. 25; 4400 Forbes Ave., 412-647-5700, www.pitt.edu/~bioethic. www.attacktheatre.com/buildex.html. PITT ARTS, 412-624-4498, www.pittarts. Allegheny County Regional Asset District Oakland, 412-622-3131, www.carnegi- pitt.edu. RADical Days 2008, 412-621-4253, emnh.org. “Basaltic Volcanoes—Surface to RAD Day at Bulgarian Cultural www.soldiersandsailorshall.org. Source—and Ties to Risk Assess- Center, free admission, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Magic Tree House: The Musical, Silver Eye Center for Photography, ment,” Greg Valentine, SUNY Buffalo Oct. 4, 449-451 W. Eighth Ave., West through Oct. 4, Byham Theater, The Americas, Lilly Abreu, soprano; Eloquent Eggs & Disintegrating Dice: professor of geology, 4 p.m. Oct. 2, 203 Homestead, Allegheny County Regional 101 Sixth St., Downtown, Pittsburgh Tangueros De Ley, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 4, Frick Photographs by Rosamond Purcell, Thaw Hall, Pitt Department of Geology Asset District’s RADical Days, www. Cultural Trust, 412-456-6666, www. Fine Arts Auditorium, Pitt’s Center for through Nov. 29, 1015 E. Carson St., and Planetary Science, Fall 2008 Collo- bmnecc.org. pgharts.org. Latin American Studies, 412-648-7394, South Side, 412-431-1810, www.silver- quium Series, www.geology.pitt.edu. www.ucis.pitt.edu/clas. eye.org. RAD Day at the National Aviary, free Wicked, musical, through Oct. 5, Ben- “Slavery: An Old Crime in the New admission, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 4, Allegh- edum Center, 719 Liberty Ave., Down- Over the Rainbow-Linda Eder Sings American Jewish Museum, Love/ Global Economy,” Benjamin E. Skinner, eny Commons West, off Arch Street, town, PNC Broadway Across America, Judy Garland’s Songbook, Linda Eder, Fences/Nests Projects by Ally Reeves, author, and Kevin Bales, Roehampton North Side, Allegheny County Regional 412-456-6666, www.broadwayacrossa- vocals, Oct. 2-5, Heinz Hall, 600 Penn through Dec. 15, 5738 Forbes Ave., University professor of sociology, 6 p.m. Asset District’s RADical Days, www. merica.com. Ave., Downtown, Pittsburgh Symphony Squirrel Hill, 412-521-8011, www.jccpgh. Oct. 2, 107 Barco Law Building, Global aviary.org. Orchestra, 412-392-4200, www.pitts- org/museum.asp. Issues Lectures Series, 412-624-2918, Radio Golf by August Wilson, through burghsymphony.org. www.globalsolutionspgh.org. RAD Day at Frick Art & Historical Nov. 2, Pittsburgh Public Theater, 621 Andy Warhol Museum, 1958, through Center, free admission, tours, and family Penn Ave., Downtown, 412-316-1600, Jan. 11, 117 Sandusky St., Northside, Pittsburgh in Words, literary readings activities, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 5, 7227 www.ppt.org. Exhibitions 412-237-8300, www.warhol.org. about Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 2, WYEP Reynolds St., Point Breeze, Allegheny Community Broadcast Center, 67 Bedford County Regional Asset District’s RADical The Wonder Bread Years by Pat Hazell, Frick Fine Arts, Department of Studio Mattress Factory, Inner & Outer Space, Square, South Side, Pittsburgh Arts and Days, www.thefrickpittsburgh.org. indefinite-run special engagement, Arts Faculty Exhibition, Oct. 1- through Jan. 11, 500 Sampsonia Way, Lectures, American Shorts Reading Lester Hamburg Studio Theatre at City Nov. 21, University Art Gallery, Frick North Side, 412-231-3169, www.mattress. Series, 412-622-8866, www.pittsburghlec- RAD Day at Pittsburgh Center for Theatre, 1300 Bingham St., South Side, Fine Arts Building, Pitt’s School of Arts org. tures.org. the Arts, free admission, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., 412-431-2489, www.citytheatrecompany. and Sciences, 412-648-2430, www.studio- “Clay Olympics,” 1-4 p.m. Oct. 5, 6300 org. arts.pitt.edu. Linda Sue Park, author, 10:30 a.m. Fifth Ave., Shadyside, Allegheny County Films Oct. 4, Carnegie Library Lecture Hall, Regional Asset District’s RADical Days, Cultural District Gallery Crawl, 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland, Pittsburgh www.thefrickpittsburgh.org. Pitt PhD Dissertation 5:30 p.m. Oct. 3, throughout the Cultural Daddy and Papa (2002), directed by Arts and Lectures, Black, White, & Read District, Downtown, 412-456-6666, www. John Symons, 4:30 p.m. Oct. 1, Danforth All Over Series, 412-622-8866, www. RAD Day at the Andy Warhol Defenses pgharts.org. Room, University Center, Carnegie pittsburghlectures.org. Museum, free admission, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mellon University, Pittsburgh Consor- Oct. 5, 117 Sandusky St., North Side, Heather Hensler, Graduate School of Frick Art & Historical Center, A Pan- tium for Adoption Studies, Pitt’s School Edwidge Danticat, author, 7:30 p.m. Allegheny County Regional Asset Dis- Public Health, “Studies of Human Herpes- orama of Pittsburgh: Nineteenth-Century of Arts and Sciences, www.english.pitt. Oct. 6, Carnegie Music Hall, 4400 Forbes trict’s RADical Days, www.carnegiemu- virus-8 Interactions With Dendritic Cells,” Printed Views, through Oct. 5, 7227 edu. Ave., Oakland, Drue Heinz Lecture Series, seums.org. 9:30 a.m. Sept. 30, Room 109 Parran Hall. Reynolds St., Squirrel Hill, 412-371-0600, 412-624-4187, www.pittsburghlectures. www.frickart.org. Valentin (2002), directed by Alejandro org. RAD Day at Children’s Museum of Melinda R. Bolar, School of Educa- Agresti, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 1, Frick Fine Arts Pittsburgh, free admission, noon-5 p.m. tion, “Effects of Training Status, Exercise Carnegie Museum of Art, Abstract Art Auditorium, Latin American Film Series, “Global Public-Private Partnerships Oct. 5, 10 Children’s Way, North Side, Made, and Intensity on Differentiated Rat- Before 1950: Watercolors, Drawings, Pitt’s Center for Latin American Studies, for Risk Management Improves Allegheny County Regional Asset District ings of Perceived Exertion,” 1 p.m. Prints and Photographs, through Oct. amigoscinelatinoamericano08@blogspot. Security for All and Need to Become RADical Days, www.pittsburghkids.org. Oct. 2, Conference Room, Petersen 18; 55th Carnegie International, through com, [email protected]. the Norm, Not the Exception,” Scott Events Center. Jan. 11; Worlds Away: New Suburban E. McHugh, Wal-Mart’s vice president for RAD Day at the Mattress Factory, Landscapes, through Jan. 18; 4400 Honey and Clover (2006), directed by global asset protection and security, 3 p.m. free admission, noon- 5 p.m. Oct. 5, 500 Eileen St. John, School of Education, Forbes Ave., Oakland, 412-622-3131, Kenichi Kasai, 7 p.m. Oct. 3, McCo- Oct. 6, Room 528 Alumni Hall, registra- Sampsonia Way, North Side, Allegheny “Cognitive Tutoring Systems: A Look at www.cmoa.org. nomy Hall, Carnegie Mellon University, tion recommended by Oct. 3, register at County Regional Asset District’s RADical How the Utilization of an Audio Support Japanese Film Festival, Pitt’s Department 412-624-8291, www.cnp.pitt.edu/seminar. Days, www.mattress.org. System Impacts the World Problem Solv- Westmoreland Museum of Ameri- of East Asian Languages and Literatures, ing Skills of Struggling Readers,” 1 p.m. can Art, Painting in the United States, www.ucis.pitt.edu. “Iran in the New Middle East,” Ray Oct. 3, 5140 Posvar Hall. through Oct. 19, 221 N. Main St., Takeyh, Council on Foreign Relations Greensburg, 724-837-1500 ext. 33, www. senior fellow on the Middle East, wmuseumaa.org.

Pitt Chronicle University News and Magazines University of Pittsburgh 400 Craig Hall 200 South Craig Street Pittsburgh, PA 15260

8 • Pitt Chronicle • September 29, 2008

Pitt’s Science 2008 Program to Highlight Contemporary Research, New Technology By Amy Dugas Rose

Science 2008, Pitt’s annual showcase of science and technology, will feature key- “One of the truly remarkable note lectures by four of the nation’s leading scientists and highlight current research aspects of this annual event is its by Pitt and Carnegie Mellon University cross-campus appeal to students, researchers as well as scientists working in local industries. researchers, and faculty from The two-day program will be held Oct. 2 and 3 in Alumni Hall. Admission is free diverse programs in the sciences, and open to the public, but registration is required, either on site at the event or in engineering, medicine, the other advance at www.science2008.pitt.edu. “We have a duty to harness the scien- health sciences, and computation.” tific advances entrusted to us by previous —James V. Maher generations and to further develop them for our own benefit as well as for those who will some of the latest and most innovative sci- follow us,” said Arthur S. Levine, senior vice ence being explored by Pitt and Carnegie chancellor for the health sciences and dean Mellon researchers. The topics include of the School of Medicine. “This is our time nanoscience and nanosafety, immunology, and our chance to make a difference.” and stem cells in development and in cancer, Science 2008 will feature, in addition among many others. to the keynote speakers, presentations by more than 50 researchers from Pitt, Carnegie Science at Work Sessions Mellon, and local industry; a showcase of In collaboration with scientists work- new technology developed by Pitt research- ing in local industry, Science 2008 also ers that is available for licensing; research will feature sessions on various topics poster sessions; a professional development with scientists and researchers from IBM, workshop for early-career scientists; and Innovation Works, Pittsburgh Life Sciences other events. Greenhouse, Renal Solutions, Vivisimo, and “One of the truly remarkable aspects of Intel Research. this annual event is its cross-campus appeal On our watch 02 03 to students, researchers, and faculty from Thursday October + Friday October diverse programs in the sciences, engineer- ing, medicine, the other health sciences, PUBLICATION NOTICE The next edition of and computation,” said James V. Maher, Pitt Chronicle will be published Oct. 6. Pitt provost and senior vice chancellor. cess: From Basic Mechanism to Human Unfolded Protein Response: How the Endo- Items for publication in the newspaper’s “In addition, this program is a tremendous Disease,” 11 a.m. Oct. 2, Randy W. Schek- plasmic Reticulum Talks to the Nucleus,” Happenings calendar (see page 7) should opportunity to welcome our colleagues from man, a Lasker Award-winning cell and 11 a.m. Oct. 3, Peter Walter, professor and be received six working days prior to Carnegie Mellon and other local universities, developmental biologist at the University of chair of biochemistry and biophysics at the the desired publication date. Happenings as well as scientists working in local indus- California, Berkeley. University of California, San Francisco. items should include the following infor- try, to come and share ideas and common The Provost Lecture, “Bridging the The Klaus Hofmann Lecture, “Two mation: title of the event, name and title of interests.” Scales: Connecting Computer Simulations Views of Brain Function,” 4 p.m. Oct. 3, speaker(s), date, time, location, sponsor(s), and a phone number and Web site for addi- The full program of events for Sci- of Molecular Phenomena to the Problems of Marcus E. Raichle, a professor of radiol- tional information. Items may be e-mailed ence 2008 can be found online at www.sci- the Real World,” 4 p.m. Oct. 2, Gregory A. ogy, neurology, neurobiology, biomedical to [email protected], faxed to 412-624-4895, ence2008.pitt.edu. Highlights follow. Voth, Distinguished Professor of Chemistry engineering, and psychology at Washington or sent by campus mail to 422 Craig Hall. and director of the Center for Biophysical University in St. Louis. For more information, call 412-624-4238 or Plenary Lectures Modeling and Simulation at the University e-mail [email protected]. The 2008 Dickson Prize in Medicine of Utah. Spotlight Sessions Lecture, “Dissecting the Secretion Pro- The 2008 Mellon Lecture, “The Twelve spotlight sessions will feature