u. 1- 1- u. Cl) 1-

The campus community biweekly March 18, 2004, vol. 4, no. 6 Going the mile

Rossman receives Revel steps down Feynman Prize as dean

George Rossman, professor of mineral­ Dean of Students and Ruddock Professor ogy and the divisional academic officer of Biology Jean-Paul Revel will step for Geological and Planetary Sciences, down from his administrative post in has been awarded the 2003-04 Richard P. June, Vice President for Student Affairs Feynman Prize for Excellence in Teach­ Margo Marshak wrote in a March 8 ing. Acting provost Ed Stolper presented e-mail memo. him with the award at the February 23 Making the announcement "with faculty meeting. great regret," Marshak wrote: "Profes­ The prize committee's recommenda­ sor Revel has provided able and gener­ tion of Rossman reads in part: "George ous leadership as Dean since September Rossman has been teaching with enthusi­ 1996. Over these past years, Professor asm and with superb results since he Revel has made an important difference joined the Caltech faculty in 1971 ... in the lives of our undergraduates for George's style of teaching exploits the whom he has such affection and con­ beautiful and beguiling qualities of miner­ cern. His advice, compassion, and guid­ als and their relationships to geological ance have been invaluable to students processes. He employs a series of mind­ see Revel, page 6 stretching demonstrations .. . He tells stories about minerals. He asks probing questions about their color, and then leads students to think in general about the "Bob," the Chevy Tahoe four-wheel drive that was Caltech's entry in Saturday's highly anticipated proper approach to scientific questions. A course in first DARPA autonomous vehicle race, is pictured at last week's qualifying trials with Engineering and [His] courses ... evolve each year, in the Applied Science division administrator Elliott Andrews (who, incidentally, retired on race day). Among the 15 entries, the farthest distance covered was seven miles; Bob navigated itself for a mile of the best tradition of didactic innovation." response rugged 142-mile desert course before becoming disabled. Professor Richard Murray will discuss the see Rossman, page 6 results of the contest in a Watson Lecture on Wednesday, March 31. As the victim lay on the floor of the Brown Gym classroom, a squad of emer­ gency workers huddled over him. Wield­ ing splints, bandages, and an oxygen tank, the four went to work. A megadollar grant funds a FBI charges student "Does everyone have their gloves on?" asked instructor Mark Stapf, who nanoscience institute with arson teaches a course for first responders to emergency situations. He nodded ap­ William Jensen Cottrell, a second-year provingly as he watched his students, Fred Kavli and the Kavli Foundation have and students worldwide; and to support Caltech graduate student in physics, was occasionally issuing a gentle reminder. awarded a $7.5 million grant to create a the cross-disciplinary community through taken into custody by agents from the Within five minutes, Alex Cervantes, a new institute at Caltech for research in significant infrastructure investment and Federal Bureau of Investigation on March Caltech security guard, playing the victim the emerging field of nanoscience. renewal. 9. Cottrell, 23, is suspected of involve­ of an accident who has sustained various Caltech's Kavli Nanoscience Institute Michael Roukes, Caltech professor of ment in incidents of arson and vandalism wounds, resembled a mummy. Thus (KNI) will be founded as a "lasting cen­ physics, applied physics, and bioengi­ that occurred last year at four San trussed, he was ready to be wheeled into ter dedicated to defining research fron­ neering, has been named the founding Gabriel Valley automobile dealerships. an ambulance. tiers and establishing new scientific director of the institute. "The primary The vandals targeted dealerships that "A first responder is basically an EMT directions in nanoscience," says David emphases of the KNI will be on nano­ feature sport utility vehicles, which are [emergency medical technician] without Baltimore, president of Caltech. "This biotechnology, which merges nanodevice denounced as gas-guzzling polluters by the transportation and ambulance issues; generous award allows us to solidify a engineering with the molecular and cellu­ environmental groups. but they get training in pretty much plan that we have been considering for lar machinery of living systems, and During the early morning of August 22, everything else," Stapf says. "They do some time-one based on our strengths nanophotonics, which employs new 2003, approximately 125 vehicles, primarily definitive care until other professional and on the future direction of science." materials technology and nanofabrica­ Hummers and SUVs, and one warehouse help arrives." Nanoscience, in its broadest defini­ tion processes to develop novel devices were either damaged by paint or set afire. Eleven members of the Caltech tion, involves the underlying physical such as optically active waveguides and According to reports, the vandals had community are taking part in this first­ principles that govern the function of microlasers," Roukes says. "Central to painted the words "Polluter," "I • Pollu­ responder course, meeting twice a week devices measuring less than a billionth both of these endeavors is large-scale tion" and "ELF" on the vehicles. The dam­ for three hours per session. The course of a meter. integration of nanosystems, which will age was estimated at $3.5 million. spans 10 weeks and includes 60 hours of The purpose of the KNI will be to be enabled by the new facilities that we ELF is an acronym for the Earth Lib­ instruction, many of those spent acting foster innovative research at the fron­ are constructing." eration Front, a group the FBI considers out various rescue scenarios. tiers of nanoscale science and engineer­ Caltech has had an ongoing interest to be dangerous ecoterrorists. This group Stapf-the coordinator of the Health ing with an emphasis on efforts to and presence in nanoscience and is not a Caltech student club nor is it Advocates, a Caltech course (PA 50) transcend traditional disciplinary bound­ nanotechnology-or the engineering of affiliated with the Institute in any way. designed to teach the basics of health aries; to create new research opportuni­ such devices-and, in fact, one of the see KNI, page 2 see FBI, page 2 see EMT, page 2 ties that will attract the best researchers 2 Caltech 336, March 18, 2004

EMT, from page 1 KNl from page 1 care-teaches undergraduates many of Institute's most renowned researchers is these same rescue skills. credited with the origin of the concept. The first responders receive training in In 1959, Caltech physicist Richard NewsBriefs rescue cardiopulmonary resuscitation, Feynman gave a now-famous lecture taking vital signs (such as blood pres­ titled "There's Plenty of Room at the sure), treating shock, assisting with dia­ Bottom," in which he mapped out possi­ betic emergencies and seizures, and bilities for extremely small devices, con­ Pamela Bjorkman has been named the Max mitigating many other life-threatening sistent with the principles of quantum Delbruck Professor of Biology, effective April 1; this title replaces that of professor of biology. She conditions. They are also taught how to mechanics. Since that time, research at will continue as executive officer for biology and summarize a victim's status and convey it Caltech and other institutions has led to as a full investigator with the Howard Hughes to paramedics. discoveries that are bringing about a Medical Institute. A member of the Caltech faculty The first-responder course, which is in realization of Feynman's vision. since 1988, she received her BA from the Univer­ .In January 2000, President Bill Clinton sity of Oregon in 1978 and her PhD from Harvard a pilot phase, is a collaboration between in 1984. the Health Center and Staff Education visited Caltech and announced the and Career Development, which is a part launch of the "National Nanotechnology Serguei Denissov, Taussky-Todd Instructor in of Human Resources. In the event of a Initiative," which has since led to an Mathematics, has been selected to receive the local catastrophe that overwhelms city upsurge of activity nationally. A number Vasil A. Popov Prize in Approximation Theory. of universities and research institutions Established in honor of the late Professor Vasil A. rescue operations, trained technicians Popov of Bulgaria, the prize is awarded every three have to respond to the injured, says have embarked upon their own "nano" years to an outstanding young approximation Gregg Henderson, chief of Caltech Secu­ initiatives. theorist with at most six years of professional rity and Parking Services. The KNI will involve many research­ experience. This year's prize will be awarded in "All security personnel have first-aid ers, spanning five of Caltech's six aca­ May at the Eleventh International Conference in Chi "Chelsea" Chang '05, second from left, was demic divisions-biology; chemistry and Approximation Theory, in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. and CPR training, but we're looking to named winner of the Tech Express's first. karaoke The recipient of a PhD from Moscow State Univer­ take it to the next level," Henderson chemical engineering; engineering and contest for her rendition of Faith Hill's "Breathe." sity in 1999, Denissov came to Caltech in 2001 as a adds. "We wanted the training to enable applied science; geological and plan­ Pictured with her are judges (from left} Chris Bateman Research Instructor and was appointed etary sciences; and physics, mathemat­ Henderson of Graphic Resources and Mail security staff, who are usually the first Taussky-Todd Instructor in 2002. Services, Linda Bustos of Public Relations, and persons on site, to provide professional ics and astronomy. Its governing board Joe DeVito of the Tech Express. consists of faculty drawn from this com­ Joseph Kirschvink, professor of geobiology, care in the event of an emergency." He has been elected a fellow of the American Geo­ points out that it is logical for security munity. The KNI's facilities will include physical Union. The honor recognizes scientists officers, who patrol the campus day and centralized nanofabrication clean rooms, who have achieved eminence in the geophysical night, to be able to assume this role. a suite of "research incubation" labora­ Personals sciences and is bestowed on only a tenth of a Those taking the course represent a tories for highly interactive, cross-disci­ percent of the union's membership in any given plinary research projects; and offices year. A Caltech alum, Kirschvink earned his BS cross section of campus staff and stu­ Welcome to Caltech and MS degrees here, both in 1975. He received dents. Two of them, John Bender and and conference facilities. his PhD from Princeton in 1979 and joined Jessica Edwards, are resident associates; The nanofabrication facilities will Caltech's faculty in 1981 . one is a geology staff member; and eight include a nanofluidics foundry, state­ February are security staff, including Loren Kajitani, of-the-art nanolithography systems, Stephen Quake has been named the Thomas E. nanofabrication processing facilities, Mircea Badescu, postdoctoral scholar in JPL's and Doris Everhart Professor of Applied Physics manager of field security services. science and technology development section; and Physics, effective April 1; this title replaces "We learn to size up the victim, how to and laboratories for metrology, imaging, Jennifer Cruz, system engineer, Infrared Pro­ that of professor of applied physics and physics. examine them, how to talk to them, and and novel instrument development. cessing and Analysis Center; Keith Edelen, Quake received his BS and MS degrees from how to fit them with protective devices," An external advisory board of scien­ general manager, Dining Services; Carrie Stanford, both in 1991, and his DPhil from the tists, members of the business commu­ Randle and Amanda Whipple, both assistant Kajitani says. "We're also learning to take University of Oxford in 1994. He joined the nity and funding agencies, and Caltech animal lab technicians, biology; Carl Wilson, Caltech faculty in 1996. blood pressure, and there's lots of ban­ utility mechanic, Facilities Management. daging and splints." trustees will be appointed to provide Douglas Rees has been named the Roscoe At the end of the first-responder guidance to the KNI's governing board. March Gilkey Dickinson Professor of Chemistry, effective course, the final exam will include hands­ Based in Oxnard, California, the Kavli April1; this title replaces that of professor of on treatment of both routine and not Foundation was created in December Matthew Barnet, lab technician, chemistry chemistry. He will continue as executive officer immediately detectable injuries. 2000 by Fred Kavli to advance science and chemical engineering; Richard Chomko, for chemistry and as a full investigator with the for the benefit of humanity and to pro­ assistant scientist, planetary sciences; Mona Howard Hughes Medical Institute. He received his Henderson and Stapf do not know if Delitsky, visitor in planetary science; BS from Yale in 1974 and PhD from Harvard in this course will be offered again. But if it mote public understanding of and sup­ postdoctoral scholars Seung-Yong Jung, in 1980, and joined Caltech's faculty in 1989. is, Henderson would like to see all of the port for scientists and their work. The chemistry, Sungjee Kim, in applied physics, and security officers and others who are regu­ foundation focuses its efforts on the Alexei Kopylov, in computer science; Alan Paul Sternberg has been named the Thomas larly on campus, such as members of areas of cosmology, life sciences (em­ Morrissett, research engineer, Caltech Optical Hunt Morgan Professor of Biology, effective April phasizing the nature and evolution of Observatories; Yasamin Mostofi, postdoctoral 1; this title replaces that of professor of biology. Facilities Maintenance, take the course. scholar in electrical engineering; Jeffery Olin, A member of the Caltech faculty since 1987, he "Those who take the course need to life and the human being), and nano­ board program/Chandler manager, Dining received his BA from Hampshire College in 1978 understand that it is a commitment of 60 technology (with initial emphasis on Services; Tammer Saleh, Southern California and his PhD from MIT in 1984. Sternberg is also hours of training," Henderson says. nanobiotechnology). Se ismic Network real-time administrator, Seismo­ an investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical "Once they are trained, they may be Fred Kavli is the founder, former logica l Laboratory; visitors Erik Severin, in Institute. Nobel Laureate Thomas Hunt Morgan chairman, and CEO of the Kavlico Cor­ chemistry, and Patrick Sunter, in geophysics. was the first chairman of Caltech's Division of called on to assist in a major emergency." Biology. Caltech community members who are poration. Based in Moorpark, California, interested in the first-responder course the company is one of the world's larg­ New positions Yuk Ling Yung, professor of planetary science, can send an e-mail to Henderson at est suppliers of sensors for aeronautics, has been elected a fellow of the American Geo­ [email protected]. automotive, and industrial applications. physical Union. The honor recognizes scientists Kavli led the firm to prominence before Sergey Shevchenko, a senior research fellow who have achieved eminence in the geophysical • in physics at Caltech, became a senior research sciences and is bestowed on only a tenth of a selling it in 2001, and he subsequently associate in physics effective February 1. He percent of the union's membership in any given established the Kavli Foundation and its received his BS from Moscow University in 1977 year. Yung received his BS from UC Berkeley in sister organization, the Kavli Operating and his PhD from the Institute of Theoretical and 1969 and his PhD from Harvard in 1974. After Institute, which supports research to coming to Caltech as a visiting associate in 1976, Experimental Physics in 1983, did work at Caltech benefit humanity. as a research fellow in 1992-93, and returned as he joined the faculty in 1977. FBI. from page 1 senior research fellow in 1997. For further information, visit the KNI Agents had visited Caltech earlier this website at http://kni.caltech.edu, or con­ year after tracing e-mails to a campus tact Professor Michael Roukes at Retirements Grad student receives new library computer. Thee-mails, sent to the [email protected]. Sandia fellowship Los Angeles Times, purported to be writ­ • ten by someone involved in the attacks. Elliott Andrews, administrator for the Division Graduate student McKell Carter has received The FBI maintains that the writer knew of Engineering and Applied Science, has retired the first award of a new fellowship that w ill be facts about the attacks that were not effective March 13 after 21 years at Caltech. given annually to select universities by Sandia released to the public. National Laboratory's Advanced Concepts Group On the day of Cottrell's arrest, Caltech (ACG}. The $50,000 engineering fellowship is issued a statement to staff and the media partially matched by Caltech funds and is renew­ Honors and awards able for an additional four years. Carter will that read in part: "We have been aware continue his work in the lab of Christof Koch, that the FBI has been pursuing its investi­ Troendle Professor of Cognitive and Behavioral gation of these incidents and the Institute David Anderson has been named the Roger W. Biology, professor of computation and neural has been cooperating fully. In doing so, Sperry Professor of Biology, effective April 1; this systems, and principal investigator for the project we have been mindful of the rights of our title replaces that of professor of biology. He in cognitive neuroscience. They will also collabo­ received his AB from Harvard in 1978 and his PhD rate with Caltech alum Gerold Yonas (PhD '66), student as well as our legal obligations. from Rockefeller University in 1983, and he joined vice president of the ACG; Peter Merkle, principal There should be no question, however, Caltech's faculty in 1986. He is also an investiga­ ACG contact; and researchers at University Col­ that these acts of vandalism are neither tor with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. lege London. The group will use fMRI (functional supported nor endorsed by Caltech and Nobel Laureate Roger Sperry was Hixon Profes­ magnetic resonance imaging) to examine and are directly contrary to our mission." sor of Psychobiology at Caltech from 1954 to compare human brain activity during variations 1984 and Board of Trustees Professor Emeritus of fear conditioning in which subjects are either • from 1984 until his death in 1994. unaware or aware of the stimuli that predict a shock. the acad em ic week at Ca It ec h is a printed version of selected events from the online m aster calendar. http://today.caltech.edu/calendar/. To publish events online, register as an event planner on the Caltech Today calendar. If unable to submit electronically, please ca ll (626) 395-3630. For f urther information or a schedule of deadlines, call (626) 395-3630, fa x (626) 449-2159, write 336 Calendar, 1-71 , California

Institute of Tec hnology, Pasadena, CA 91125, or e- mail [email protected].

March 22-28, 2004 1- u.

Monday, March 22 Wednesday, March 24 Thursday, March 25

Quick Review for Electronic Theses Quick Review for Electronic Theses Geometry and Topology Seminar Sherman Fairchild Library, multimedia Sherman Fairchild Library, multimedia 257 Sloan, 10:30 a.m.- " Rapid Decay conference room, 11 a.m.-Caltech re­ conference room, 11 a.m .-Caltech re­ and Relatively Hyperbolic Groups," quires that theses be submitted in both quires that theses be submitted in both Professor Indira Chatterji, department paper and electronic versions. This pre­ paper and electronic versions. This pre­ of mathematics, Cornell. Information: sentation will offer a brief overview of sentation will offer a brief overview of www.its.caltech.edu/-manning/ techniques useful in the production and techniques useful in the production and topseminar.htm. publication of electronic theses. The publication of electronic theses. The session will include tips on formatting, session will include tips on formatting, Caltech Library System Presents: intellectual-property considerations, intellectual-property considerations, Patents turning paper to pixels, creating PDFs, turning paper to pixels, creating PDFs, Sherman Fairchild Library, multimedia how to submit a thesis, and availability how to submit a thesis, and availability conference room, 2 to 3:30 p.m.-This (who can see it and when) issues. Infor­ (who can see it and when) issues. Infor­ session will provide a quick review of mation: http://library.caltech.edu/ mation: http://library.caltech.edu/ the patenting process, searching for learn i ng/defau lt.htm. learn i ng/defau it. htm. patents and patent equivalents, legal status issues, and current awareness General Biology Seminar The Beckman pH Meter: Landmark techniques. Information: http://library. 119 Kerckhoff, 4 p.m.-" Stem Cells and Celebration ca ltech .ed u/1earn i ng/defa u it. htm. Leukemia Stem Cells," lrv Weissman, Beckman Institute auditorium, 2 to department of pathology, Stanford 4 p.m.-The development and impact Biochemistry Seminar University. of the Beckman pH meter is being recog­ 147 Noyes, Sturdivant Lecture Hall, nized by the American Chemical Society 4 p.m.-"Fiash-Freezing in Structural as a National Historic Chemical Land­ Biology: It's Cool but Is It Kosher?", Pro­ mark. Major speakers will include John fesso r Brian Matthews, How ard Hughes Roberts, Institute Professor of Chemistry, Medical Institute and Institute of Molecu­ Tuesday, March 23 Emeritus, Caltech, and Gerald Gallwas lar Biology, University of Oregon. of the Beckman Foundation and Arnold Beckman Institute Seminar Series Thackray of the Chemical Heritage Beckman Institute auditorium, 10:30 a.m. Foundation. A reception will follow to noon-" Flow Cytometry and Fluores­ the ceremony. cence-Activated Cell Sorting at Caltech: Friday, March 26 Multiparameter Power," Ellen Rothenberg, Organic Chemistry Seminar professor of biology and director of the 147 Noyes, Sturdivant Lecture Hall, Thesis Seminar Flow Cytometry I Cell Sorting Facility. 4 p.m.- " Designer Solvents for Organic 100 Broad Center, 10 a.m.- " Fundamen­ Refreshments, 10 a.m. Information: Synthesis and Catalysis," Professor tal Aspects of DNA-Mediated Charge 395-2791 or www.beckmaninstitute. Istvan T. Horvath, department of chemi­ Transport," Tashica Williams, graduate caltech. edu/seminars200304.html. cal technology and environmental chem­ student in chemistry, Caltech. istry, Eotvos University, Hungary. Quick Review for Electronic Theses Sherman Fairchild Library, multimedia conference room, 11 a.m.-Caltech re­ quires that theses be submitted in both paper and electronic versions. This pre­ sentation will offer a brief overview of techniques useful in the production and publication of electronic theses. The session will include tips on formatting, intellectua !-property considerations, turning paper to pixels, creating PDFs, how to submit a thesis, and availability (who can see it and when) issues. Infor­ mation: http://library.caltech.edu/ learn ing/defau it. htm.

General Biology Seminar 234 Kerckhoff, 4 p.m.- " Stem Cells and Allorecognition in Chordates and Protochordates," lrv Weissman, depart­ ment of pathology, Stanford University. the acad em ic week at Ca I tech is a printed version of selected events from the online master calendar. http://today.caltech.edu/calendar/. To publish events online, register as an event planner on the Caltech Today calendar. If unable to submit electronically, please ca ll (626) 395·3630. For further information or a schedule of deadlines, call (626) 395-3630, fax (626) 449-2159, write 336 Calendar, 1-71, California

Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, or e-mail [email protected].

March 29-April 4, 2004

1- u.

Monday, March 29 Plasma Seminar Friday, April 2 125 Steele, 4 p.m.-" New Results from Information Sciences and Solar Prominence Simulation Experi­ Condensed Matter Physics Seminar Technology Seminar ment," Shreekrishna Tripathi, post­ 107 Downs Lab, noon-Topic to be 070 Moore, 2 p.m.- Topic to be an­ doctoral scholar in engineering and announced. Professor Stephan Haas, nounced. Am in Saberi, College of Com­ applied science, Caltech. department of physics and astronomy, puting, Georgia Institute of Technology. USC. Information: http://netlab.caltech .edu/ Earnest C. Watson Lecture Series seminar. Beckman Auditorium, 8 p.m.-"Team Fluid Mechanics Seminar Caltech: Racing to Win the DARPA Grand 101 Guggenheim Lab, Lees-Kubota Norman Davidson Lecture Challenge," Richard Murray, professor of Lecture Hall, 3 p.m.-Topic to be 119 Kerckhoff, 4 p.m.-Topic to be an­ mechanical engineering, Caltech. Caltech announced. Ralf Deiterding, post­ nounced. Professor Michael Snyder, undergraduates have worked since the doctoral scholar, Center for Advanced department of molecular, cellular, and spring of 2003 to modify a 1996 Chevy Computing Research, Caltech. Informa­ developmental biology, Yale. Tahoe named "Bob" to compete in the tion: www.galcit.ca ltech.edu/Seminars/ March 13th competition. In this talk, Flu ids/Cu rrentFI u ids/index. html. Geological and Planetary Sciences Murray will describe Team Caltech's ef­ Seminar forts and the results of the competition. William and Myrtle Harris 155 Arms, Robert Sharp Lecture Hall, Distinguished Lecture in Science 4 p.m.-"Zircon as a Window into the and Civilization Early History of the Earth, " Bruce 25 Baxter, 4 p.m.-" Human Dissection Watson, professor of science, Rensselaer and Vivisection: Science, Religion, and Polytechnic Institute. Thursday, April 1 Politics in Ancient Greece," Heinrich von Staden, professor of classics and history High Energy Physics Seminar Quick Overview of Information of science, Institute for Advanced Study, 469 Lauritsen, 4 p.m.-Topic to be an- Resources Princeton University. Refreshments. nounced. Zoltan Ligeti, Lawrence Berke- Sherman Fairchild Library, multimedia ley National Laboratory. Information: conference room, 2 to 3:30 p.m.-Learn lnorganic-Organometallics Seminar www.theory.caltech.edu/people/helen/ the most effective ways to use library 151 Crellin, 4 p.m.-"The Coordination seminar1.html. services and resources. This session is Chemistry of "[BP)NiX" Platforms," designed especially for graduate stu­ Cora MacBeth, senior research fellow dents, postdocs, and research staff, but in chemistry, Caltech. all are welcome. No reservations are required. Information: http://library. Tuesday, March 30 ca ltec h.ed u/1earning /default. htm.

General Biology Seminar Biophysics Lecture 119 Kerckhoff, 4 p.m.-Topic to be 153 Noyes, Sturdivant Lecture Hall, announced. Professor George Daley, 4 p.m .-" Protein Interactions in Amy­ department of biological chemistry loids and Prions," Professor DavidS. and molecular pharmacology, Harvard Eisenberg, department of chemistry and Medical School. biochemistry, UCLA.

Chemical Engineering Series 106 Spalding Lab, Hartley Memorial Seminar Room, 4 p.m.-"Self-Assembled Wednesday, March 31 Silica Nanoparticles and the Growth Mechanisms of High-Silica Zeolites," Mathematical Physics Seminar Professor Raul Lobo, department of 351 Sloan, noon-" Dynamics of Quasi­ chemical engineering, University of periodic Schrodinger Cocycles and Ap­ Delaware. Refreshments, 113 Spalding plications," Artur Avila, CNRS-Laboratoire Lab, 3:30p.m . de Probabilites, Universite Pierre et Marie Curie. Information: www.math.caltech. Physics Research Conference edu/events/mathphys.html. 201 E. Bridge, 4 p.m.-" Unveiling a Supermassive Black Hole at the Center Information Science and of Our Galaxy," Professor Andrea Ghez, Technology Seminar department of physics and astronomy, 74 Jorgensen, 4 p.m .- Topic to be UCLA. Refreshments, 114 E. Bridge, announced. Professor Eddie Kohler, 3:45p.m. computer science, UCLA. Caltech 336, March 18,2004 5 CampusEvents

Monday, March 22 Saturday, March 27 Friday, April 2

Baby Furniture and Household Equipment Track and Field Women's Club Welcoming Coffee Posing for Poe 234 S. Catalina, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.-Loans Northridge Invitational, at Cal State Northridge, Winnett lounge, 9 to 10:30 a.m.-An opportunity of kitchen and household necessities and baby 10 a.m. to meet new friends, welcome newcomers, and furniture are made to members of the Caltech learn more about the Caltech Women's Club. community. Information: 584-9773. Available Baseball Information: Carol Andersen, (818) 790-8175 or today by appointment only; call 395-6174. at Simpson College, doubleheader, 11 a.m. [email protected].

Women's Tennis Track and Field at Whitworth College, 2 p.m. CA/NV State Meet, at Fresno State, 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 23 Men's Tennis Men's Tennis Preschool Playgroup vs. Cal Lutheran University, 3 p.m. at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, 2 p.m. Tournament Park, 10 a.m. to noon-Song and storytime, crafts and free play for toddlers and Steve Gillette and Cindy Mangsen Baseball preschoolers (from walking to age 4) . Informa­ Beckman Institute auditorium, 8 p.m.-Gillette at Pomona-Pitzer, 2:30 p.m. tion: 793-4099 or [email protected]. and Mangsen are songwriters, vocalists, and musicians who use their low-key charm and Caltech Tai Chi Club Caltech Tai Chi Club humor to blend together original contemporary See Tuesday, March 23, for details. Winnett lounge, 7 p.m.-Meets Tuesdays and songs with traditional pieces. They perform at Fridays weekly. Sessions are free. Information: Caltech every other year. Tickets and information: Acting Company in Murder by Poe Three members of the Acting Company cast www.its.caltech.edu/-taichi. 395-4652, 1 (888) 2CALTECH, or events@caltech. Beckman Auditorium, 8 p.m.-Murder By Poe devious gazes in the upcoming production of edu. Individuals with a disability: 395-4688 (voice) mixes four Edgar Allan Poe tales into a psycho­ Murder Poe, to be performed at Beckman or 395-3700 (TDD). Visit the Folk Music Society at logical and supernatural brew. This performance By Auditorium on Friday, April 2. http://www.folkmusic.caltech.edu. honors Jerry Willis, Caltech Public Events' found­ Wednesday, March 24 ing director. It runs approximately 80 minutes with no intermission. Tickets and information: Baby Furniture and Household Equipment 395-4652, 1 (888) 2CALTECH, or events@caltech. 234 S. Catalina, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.-Loans Sunday, March 28 edu. Individuals with a disability: 395-4688 (voice) of kitchen and household necessities and baby or 395-3700 (TDD). Visit Public Events at www. 18 years of pure furniture are made to members of the Caltech Women's Tennis events.caltech.edu. community. Information: 584-9773. at Mills College, 11 a.m. Mozart Wednesdays in the Park Skeptics Society Lecture Tournament Park, 10 a.m. to noon-Every Baxter Lecture Hall, 2 p.m.- " Upright: The Evo­ Saturday, April 3 Once again signaling the arrival of Wednesday there's conversation and coffee for lutionary Key to Becoming Human," Dr. Craig spring, Caltech student musicians will parents and caregivers, and playtime and snacks Stanford, codirector, Jane Goodall Primate Track and Field present the traditional and popular All­ for children. Information: 403-7163 or ktclark@ Research Center, and professor of biological CA/NV State Meet, at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, caltech.edu . anthropology, USC. Donation is $8 for nonmem­ 10 a.m. Continues Sunday. Mozart Concert, to take place on Satur­ bers and non-Caltech students. Free to the day, April 3, at 8 p.m. in Ramo Audi­ Women's Tennis Caltech/JPL community. Tickets and information: Women's Tennis torium. The performance will be repeated vs. MIT, 3 p.m. 794-3119 or [email protected]. Visit the at Cal Lutheran University, 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 4, at 3:30p.m. at the Skeptics Society at www.skeptic.com. Book Altadena Community Church, 943 East Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour signing to follow the lecture. Baseball Ramo Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.-Get a taste of vs. Pomona-Pitzer, at Pasadena High School, Altadena Drive, at the corner of Lake mountain adventure from around the world. doubleheader, 11 a.m. Avenue. Both performances are free and The 2004 lineup includes films from Canada, the open to the public. United States, Poland, Norway, Slovakia, the Monday, March 29 All-Mozart Concert Conducted by Donald Caldwell, the United Kingdom, Europe, and Australia. Spon­ Ramo Auditorium, 8 p.m.-The program will program will open with the Flute Con­ sored by the Caltech Alpine Club and the Outland Baby Furniture and Household Equipment feature the Flute Concerto no. 1 in G Major, K. 313; Mountain Shop. Fee: $10 in advance; $12 at the See Monday, March 22, for details. the Quartet for Piano and Strings no. 1 in G Minor, certo no. 1 in G Major, K. 313, performed door; $5 for students. Tickets and information: K. 478; the Ave Verum Corpus in D Major, K. 618; by soloist Kirsten Welge '04 and a cham­ 395-4652, 1 (888) 2CALTECH, or events@caltech. and "Vesperae Solennes de Confessore," K. 339. ber orchestra. A foursome comprising edu. Individuals with a disability: 395-4688 (voice) Admission is free. alum Isaac See '03, violin; student Sean or 395-3700 (TDD). Visit Public Events at www. Tuesday, March 30 Hardesty '04, viola; graduate student events.caltech.edu . Preschool Playgroup John Keith, cello; and graduate student See Tuesday, March 23, for details. Sunday, April 4 Victor Kam, piano, will perform the Quar­ tet for Piano and Strings no. 1 in G Minor, Thursday, March 25 TheatreworksUSA: Ramona Quimby Men's Tennis K. 478. Lastly, the Caltech Chamber Sing­ Beckman Auditorium, 10 a.m. and noon­ Alumni/Faculty Match, 2 p.m. ers and a chamber orchestra will present Women's Tennis Ramona, an exasperating but lovable third­ v s. Cornell College, 9 a.m.; vs. University of Puget grader, has delighted young readers for the last Women's Tennis the composer's Ave Verum Corpus in D Sound, noon. 40 years through the books of Newbery Award­ Alumni/Faculty Match, 2 p.m. Major, K. 618, and "Vesperae Solennes winning writer Beverly Cleary. Now, she comes to de Confessore," K. 339. Caltech Architectural Tours life in this presentation by TheatreworksUSA, All-Mozart Concert According to Caldwell, the program Athenaeum, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.-Meet in the America's largest and most prolific professional Altadena Community Church, 943 E. Altadena will have something for everyone, with entry hall of the Athenaeum. Led by members of not-for-profit theater for young and family audi­ Drive, Altadena, 3 p.m.-The program w ill feature the Caltech Architectural Tour Service. Reserva­ ences. Tickets: TheatreworksUSA, (BOO) 497-5007. the Flute Concerto no. 1 in G Major, K. 313; the a range of genre and style, emotion and tions: Susan Lee, 395-6327 or [email protected]. Quartet for Piano and Strings no. 1 in G Minor, mood. "The concerto is a buoyant feast Caltech Tai Chi Club K. 478; the Ave Verum Corpus in D Major, K. 618; of melody and invention, despite Mozart's Men's Tennis See Tuesday, March 23, for details. and " Vesperae Solennes de Confessore," K. 339. apparent dislike for the flute," he says. vs. University of Puget Sound, noon. Admission is free. "The quartet, which was labeled unplay­

Baseball Coleman Chamber Concert able by its critics, broods in G minor, the at Cal State Monterey Bay, 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 31 Beckman Auditorium, 3:30 p.m.- The Eroica Trio composer's selected key for drama and will perform works by Beethoven, Shostakovich, passion," but it " concludes brilliantly in Baby Furniture and Household Equipment and Dvorak. Tickets and information: 395-4652, G major." See Wednesday, March 24, for details. 1 (888) 2CALTECH, or [email protected]. Indi­ He describes the choral selections as Friday, March 26 viduals with a disability: 395-4688 (voice) or Wednesdays in the Park 395-3700 (TDD) . Visit Public Events at www. varying from Mozart's "sparkling choral Caltech Tai Chi Club See Wednesday, March 24, for details. events.caltech.edu. declamation of the Psalm texts and the See Tuesday, March 23, for details. inclusion of one of his most truly sublime Bloodborne Pathogens soprano solos" to "pure beauty of sound 118 Keith Spalding Building, 3 p.m.-This course, and emotion in the Ave Verum," which designed for individuals who are exposed to blood or other potentially infectious agents, presents he dubs one of Mozart's "last and great­ information on preventing exposure to bloodborne est miniatures." pathogens, including hepatitis Band human • immunodeficiency viruses. Requires registration; call 395-6727 or e-mail [email protected]. 6 Caltech 336, March 18, 2004

Rossman, from page 1 Revel, from page 1 The citation also notes Rossman's part watch him trying to get students excited and to me personally," she added. in introducing and funding field trips to about the field, and not just stuffing infor­ "Since my arrival on campus, I have Marathon men su ch places as Alaska, Greece, Turkey, mation into their brains." greatly appreciated and relied on his and women South Africa, and Brazil that would other­ In 1971, Rossman earned his PhD, wisdom, experience, and knowledge of wise not be easily accessible to students, joined the Caltech faculty as an instruc­ Caltech." and that "'Best professor at Caltech,' or tor, and quickly became an assistant Revel says, "It's been a lot of fun to be 'Best mentor at Caltech,' is a frequent professor. He rose to associate professor in the position and interacting with stu­ distinction applied to George. " in 1977 and full professor in 1983. Since dents in a way I never had a chance to as Made possible by an endowment from 1999, he has served as academic officer a professor. Then, I had my little baili­ lone and Robert E. Paradise and contribu­ for the division, and in 2001 he was wick-teaching, having a few students in t ions from Mr. and Mrs. William H. Hurt, awarded the Dana Medal by the Mineral­ my lab. But as dean, I got to know many the Feynman Prize-a cash award of ogical Society of America. different students, coming from different $3,500 and an equivalent raise in the • houses and with different problems. It w inner's salary-is awarded each year to has been very interesting and enjoyable. a professor who demonstrates "unusual " I hope I was able to help a few of ability, creativity, and innovation in un­ them. That's a good feeling to have." He dergraduate and graduate classroom or adds with a chuckle, "I also got to learn laboratory teaching." Astronomer J. more about Caltech-after 30 years, that's Rossman, whose courses include Ge not such a bad thing." In addition, early

10 (Frontiers in Geological and Planetary Beverley Oke dies on in his term he began writing a weekly Athenaeum cook Frank Tang hands out water to Sciences), Ge 114 (Mineralogy), and Ge column for the California Tech student runners at mile 21 of the Los Angeles Marathon 214 (Spectroscopy of Minerals), says, Professor of Astronomy, Emeritus, John newspaper that he very much enjoyed, on Sunday, March 7. Captained by Athenaeum " Getting this prize is something I very and that became one of the many things food and beverage director Jorge Alvarado, who Beverley Oke, noted for the design and has staffed a water station for the past eight much appreciate. I very much enjoy students appreciated about him. construction of astronomical instruments years, the nearly 70 Caltech and JPL volunteers teaching and find the topic interesting, so and for his work on various astrophysical Galen Loram '05, president of the also cheered on Ath general manager Crystal it's easy to get excited." Adding to that phenomena, died Tuesday, March 2, at Associated Students of the California Thomas and staff member Jose Bejar, and JPL's excitement are Caltech's high-caliber his home in Victoria, British Columbia. He Institute of Technology, recently mourned Kamal Oudrhiri. students, who he says "are vibrant . .. was 75. Revel's imminent departure in his own never let you stagnate. They are very A native of Sault Sainte Marie, Tech column. Lauding the dean's dedica­ positively stimulating." Ontario, Oke earned his bachelor's and tion to what is supposed to be a part­ He finds minerals themselves " intrin­ master's degrees from the University of time job, he noted that the search sically interesting" because their study Toronto in 1949 and 1950, respectively, committee for Revel's replacement had crosses such fields as chemistry, solid­ and his doctorate from Princeton Univer­ "a big pair of shoes to fill." state physics, materials science, indus­ sity in 1953. A Caltech faculty member For Revel, however, after serving as t ri al technology, and earth history, even from 1958 until his retirement in 1992, he dean for almost eight years, "A certain " into the realm of anthropology, archae­ also served as associate director of the time comes when you decide there are ology, and pigments in art. Minerals are Hale Observatories from 1970 to 1978. other things you need to do." In this intimately intertwined in almost all as­ Oke's scientific work covered wide case, he is excited about returning to his pects of human history and science as areas of astronomical spectroscopy, from research, which has largely remained on we understand them." white dwarfs to active galactic nuclei, hold while he devoted his time and en­ Calling his fascination with minerals clusters of galaxies, and supernovae. ergy to administrative duties. " an avocation as well as a profession," However, he is perhaps best known for A cell biologist, Revel specializes in Rossman says it all began in grade devising and building unique instru­ using the electron microscope and atomic school when a friend gave him some force microscope to view molecular struc­ ments for Caltech's Palomar Observatory Meanwhile, back at the ranch, a group of 38 beautifully colored mineral samples. and the 200-inch Hale Telescope, and tures . In particular, he would like to return students, postdocs, staff, and faculty set a " Some were like glass, " he recalls, " and I later for the Keck Observatory. to studying what is known as the " gap "world record" on the Caltech track in a relay wondered, how could minerals be so His major accomplishments at junction,'' a specialized structure between against t he L.A. Marat hon elit e runners. Beginning at the same time the marathoners left clear and transparent? I asked my teach­ Palomar include the multichannel spec­ two cells that lie so close together, they the starting line, the group averaged 67.2 ers questions, and needless to say, they look as though they are touching. The trophotometer, the double spectrograph, seconds per lap for 105.5 laps, with a total time didn't give very satisfactory answers." So and the 4-shooter camera, which he built structure is referred to as a gap junction­ of 1:58:08-besting the marathon world record he decided to seek answers on his own, with James Gunn and James Westphal. a term he considers " an oxymoron"­ by more than five minutes. Pictured is Teddy Vu and, still in grade school, he set up a lab At the Keck Observatory he was the because of the fact that, when two such '04 handing off to Tamara Becher '04. in his parents' bast:)ment. There he principal investigator, with Caltech as­ cells are viewed under an electron micro­ learned to make his own chemicals, also tronomy professor Judith Cohen, for the scope, they appear to have a gap between receiving some donated by a local col­ low-resolution imaging spectrograph, them. However, the structure is actually lege, and used them to study his beloved which produced many of the 10-meter the means by which small molecules pass A search committee to name Revel's minerals. telescopes' early successes. from one cell to the other, and it plays a successor has been convened. Chaired by After receiving his BS from Wisconsin In retirement, Oke continued to work crucial role in such biological functions as Professor John Hall, the committee com­ State University in 1966, he came to at the Dominion Astrophysical Observa­ keeping the heart synchronized. Revel prises Professors Catherine Jurca, Ken Caltech as a graduate student under tory, in Victoria, and was designing an wants to look at the most primitive multi­ Libbrecht, and David Stevenson; Barbara Harry Gray, to whom Rossman gives "a imaging spectrometer for the proposed cellular organisms, such as slime mold, to Green, associate dean; Candace Rypisi, lot of credit" in inspiring him to teach Thirty-Meter Telescope when he died. try to capture the earliest appearance of director of the Women's Center; and un­ more creatively. "[Gray] put me into an He is survived by his wife, Nancy; two the gap junction in their cells. dergraduates Elizabeth Felnagle, Michael interesting TA [teaching assistant] posi­ sons; and two daughters. Revel earned his BSc from the Univer­ Priolo, and Katherine Richardson. Stu­ tion of organizing and presenting demon­ • sity of Strasbourg, in his native France, in dents and other Caltech community mem­ strations to the Chem 1 class. I would 1949, and his PhD from Harvard in 1957. bers may contact any committee member He joined Caltech as a professor of biol­ with suggestions regarding the appoint­ ogy in 1971, becoming Ruddock Profes­ ment. sor seven years later. • Caltech 336 ... "' "' ...... "' "' ...

The campus community biweekly California Institute of Technology March 18, 2004, vol. 4, no. 6 Pasadena, California 91125

Editor: Daryn Kobata ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED (626) 395-6240; daryn@ca ltech.edu Assistant Editor: Javier Marquez (626) 395-6624; jmarquez@ caltech.edu Ca lendar Administrator: Debbie Bradbury (626) 395-3630; debbieb@caltec h.edu Graphic Artist: Doug Cummings Ph otographer: Bob Paz Publis hed by t he Office of Public Relations