' .

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The campus community biweekly February 8, 2001, vol. 1, no. 3 Program brings out Heat is on in artists in student power cr1s1s• • body In the midst of California's monumental Bandsaws buzz and sanders grind at any energy crunch, it's worth noting that Pasa­ given hour of the day in the student shop, dena-and Caltech-have thus far been a small corner of campus notable other­ largely unaffected. Given the Institute's wise only for a large hissing gas tank out­ current power arrangements with the city, side. That's where a group of Caltech together with its strategic planning and students are shaping metal, wood, and conservation efforts, the situation looks plastic into artworks under the guidance like it should remain fairly stable, accord­ of George Rhoads, Caltech's artist in resi­ ing to Bill Irwin, Caltech Physical Plant dence. director, and Reza Ohadi, associate direc­ An internationally renowned sculptor tor of campus operations. and painter from Ithaca, New York, With its own generators and long-term Rhoads accepted a six-week appointment contracts with out-of-state energy provid­ to work with 10 students on sculptures of ers, Pasadena meets most of its municipal their own design. Members of the lnsti- power needs without having to rely on see Artists, page 6 the troubled state power grid. And under its long-term contract with the city, Caltech receives favorable electric rates and uninterrupted power. .. Frontiers" marks Explains Irwin, "Our costs are mainly tied to natural gas prices, since the city's Pauling centennial generators are gas-powered turbines. So we experience some cost increases if the price of gas rises, but we aren't really af­ fected by the high prices and volatility we're hearing about." In addition, Caltech has its own cogenerator, producing about half of the campus's electricity needs. Charles Elachi, a 30-year veteran of JPL, ponders the job ahead as he prepares to take the helm May 1. Still, as the energy shortages look to become even more pronounced in the coming months-and as their effects be­ gin to ripple across the nation-no one in Elachi named JPL director California can afford to be careless or to Jill Perry take their current situation for granted. Even a self-sufficient municipal utility like Caltech president David Baltimore and astrophysics, he has led efforts to Pasadena's must occasionally buy power announced at a January 31 press confer­ create road maps of our exploration through the state grid when, for example, ence that Charles Elachi, PhD '71, has strategies decades into the future. He is its cogenerators break down or are taken been named the new director of the Jet both an effective administrator and a The only person ever to have won two off line for required maintenance inspec­ Propulsion Laboratory, effective May 1. visionary." unshared Nobel prizes was also one of tions. And with such a critical overall Caltech manages JPL for the National Elachi said he is honored to be en­ Caltech's own for more than four decades. shortage, every bit of conservation helps. Aeronautics and Space Administration. trusted with the position. "For the last 40 Linus Pauling, one of the most promi­ Gil Alexander, a Southern California Elachi has served in a variety of JPL years JPL has enjoyed a tradition of nent scientists of the 20th century, earned Edison spokesperson, was quoted on a research and management positions since excellence as a NASA center and division his PhD in chemistry and mathematical KFWB news broadcast as saying that cut­ 1971. He has headed the Space and Earth of Caltech, and I intend to continue that physics at the Institute in 1925. He was a back efforts by consumers saved as much Science Programs Directorate since 1994, tradition. My commitment is to continue member of the faculty from 1927 to 1964, as 2,000 megawatt hours during Stage 3 and has also been manager for radar the tradition of excellence and boldness in serving for 20 years as chair of the chem­ alerts-or enough to power two million development and leader of the radar exploring our solar system, understand­ istry and chemical engineering division. homes. remote-sensing team. ing the origin of galaxies, and applying In honor of what would have been his So despite Caltech's generally positive Baltimore said he believes Elachi that knowledge to better understanding 100th birthday this year, Caltech's Division outlook, Irwin says, "As good citizens, we "knows JPL better than anyone and will the changes on our own planet." of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering is want to do our part and conserve as much best be able to lead the Laboratory in the The new post brings Elachi full circle, presenting "Frontiers in Science: A Cen­ as we can." He and Ohadi urge the coming years. Charles has an extraordi­ as he recalled being inspired as an 11- tennial Celebration of Linus Pauling" on Caltech community to develop a conser­ nary record of accomplishment in his 30 year-old in Lebanon by JPL's launching of Friday, March 2, in Beckman Auditorium. vation mind-set, and they offer these years at JPL. He's a Caltech alumnus and Explorer 1-42 years ago to the day, he Open to the public, the day-long sympo­ guidelines for cutting down on unneces­ so knows the school well. He is an expert noted. "Maybe that's a good omen for sium features scientists who will explore sary power usage in labs and offices in remote sensing, and in recognition of me," he joked. Elachi went on to receive a topics reflecting his wide-ranging inter­ whenever possible: his work was one of the youngest mem­ BSc in physics from the University of ests. They will also remember Pauling, • Turn off lights that aren't in use or bers ever elected to the National Acad­ Grenoble, France, and the Dipl. lng in who died in 1994, as a friend and col­ that aren't essential, such as corridor emy of Engineering. He has long been a engineering from the Polytechnic Insti­ league. lights and desk lamps. leader of planetary exploration at JPL and tute, Grenoble, both in 1968. He earned a Linus Pauling received the 1954 Nobel • Set computers to "sleep" when not in is widely respected at the Laboratory. I PhD in electrical engineering from Caltech Prize in chemistry for his ground-breaking use, and shut them down at night. look forward to having a close working in 1971, as well as an MBA from USC in research on chemical bonding. When he • In wintertime, keep thermostats at 68 relationship with him." 1978 and a master's in geology from and an associate identified the cause of degrees, "the recommended tempera­ NASA Administrator Dan Goldin said, UCLA in 1983. sickle cell anemia as molecular, the sci­ ture," says Irwin. "In a Stage 3 power "Charles Elachi brings formidable talents He is perhaps best known for his role ence of molecular medicine was born, alert, we encourage lowering that by two to his new job, as both a scientist and a in the development of a series of imaging paving the way for the subsequent or three degrees." leader. In addition to already being radar systems for the Space Shuttle that growth of fields such as immunology and • Close doors and windows to keep in responsible for many of JPL's missions in allowed scientists to see through clouds see Pauling, page 6 see Power, page 2 solar system exploration, Earth sciences, see Elachi, page 6 2 Caltech 336, February 8, 2001 Career Day offers a smorgasbord of job , . NewsBriefs opportunities

Caltech vows to check sex bias All dressed up with your new degree, but Marking a significant gain for female faculty on nowhere to go? No worries. Caltech's an­ campus, Caltech has recently joined eight of the nual Career Day will offer more than 100 country's top universities in an effort to identify companies and organizations from which the barriers that women face in the academic fields of science and engineering, and take steps to pick and choose that perfect job. This to eradicate those roadblocks. year's event takes place on Thursday, Feb­ Caltech president David Baltimore, Professor ruary 15, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30p.m. at of Astronomy Anneila Sargent, and Hanisch Brown Gym. Career Day is geared toward Memorial Professor and Professor of Chemistry students from undergraduate to PhD lev­ Jackie Barton were among those in attendance at the January 29 meeting at MIT, where university els, as well as postdocs, but is open to the presidents, provosts, and faculty promised to work entire Caltech community. toward "equity and full participation" of female "We strongly encourage students to faculty. To that end, they will invite female faculty submit their resumes," said Jonie members to analyze annual reports on salaries, Watanabe Tsuji of the Career Develop­ resources, and hiring practices at their respective institutions. ment Center, which sponsors the event. Said Barton of the meeting, "It was remarkable As is customary, those who bring re­ that this group could come together not just to sumes will be entered in a drawing. "In acknowledge the problem, but also to sincerely the past, door prizes have ranged from T­ commit to finding solutions. It may be just a be­ shirts and briefcases to DVD players and ginning, but it was impressive." Sargent added, "A highlight for me was David Baltimore's remark Palm Pilots," she said. to the other presidents at the meeting: 'If you were As of press time, a record 105 organi­ married to my wife, you'd have known there was a zations had signed up to attend. Compa­ problem before today."' nies attending for the first time will The impetus for this move is a detailed, five­ include Yahoo, the Navy Officers Pro­ year analysis of bias at MIT that female faculty submitted two years ago. It led to MIT's admission gram, and the Federal Aviation Adminis­ that it had unintentionally discriminated against tration, along with familiar names such as women. The institute received a million-dollar JPL, Intel, Microsoft, Lucent, and the grant from the Ford Foundation to promote similar Lawrence Livermore and MIT Lincoln efforts at other universities. Issues at hand include laboratories. diversity in faculty hiring, the equitable distribu­ tion of compensation and resources, and policies Other organizations taking part will of­ that unfairly penalize women with families. fer more nontraditional career options for The other participating institutions are Yale, Pasadena City Council member Sid Tyler, left, and President Baltimore bulldoze their way through the science and technology graduates. These Stanford, Princeton, Harvard, the University of groundbreaking ceremony for Fire Station 34, at Holliston Avenue and Del Mar Boulevard, on January 30. include the Peace Corps, investment Pennsylvania, the University of Michigan, and the banking firm Goldman Sachs, and law University of California. The consortium members have pledged to report each campus's progress in firms Christie, Parker & Hale and Fish & The instrument will measure 72 inches in di­ addressing the problem in the coming year. Neave. The latter two companies reflect a Honors and awards ameter, making it the largest telescope east of the rapidly expanding outgrowth of the tech­ Rockies, said Louis Friedman, executive director of nology boom in recent years: the need for Clarence Allen, professor of geology and geo­ the society. Members raised $350,000 to build the Professor helps plan "Decade of specialists in intellectual property and physics, emeritus, has been selected to receive the scope. Behavior" patent law. 2001 George W. Hausner Medal, awarded at the Named the Optical SETI Telescope, the instru­ A member of t he Ca ltech facu lty is participating in Fo r more information about Career annual Earthquake Engineering Research Institute ment will search the northern sky for brief pulses the Decade of Behavior, a project that seeks to meeting, February 9, in Monterey, California. The of light that might signal a distant, alien civiliza­ meet the health, safety, and education challenges Day, contact the Career Development award recognizes his "sustained and significant tion. It will be operational in early 2002. that face society. The decade in question runs Center at ext. 6361 or [email protected], contributions to earthquake safety." The telescope marks a revolution for SETI from the year 2000 through 2010. or Jonie Watanabe Tsuji at joniew@its. search methods, which track radio and microwave Charles Plott, the Harkness Professor of Eco­ caltech.edu. Tom Apostol, professor of mathematics, emeri­ signals that suffuse the universe. Computers are nomics and Political Science, is one of 16 distin­ tus, has been elected a corresponding member of used to detect patterns in the noise. guished behavioral and social scientists serving • the Academy of Athens. The academy is the most The Planetary Society was founded in 1980 by on the national advisory committee that provides prestigious scientific organization in Greece. Bruce Murray, professor of planetary science and leadership for this initiative. geology, and astronomer Carl Sagan. The Decade of Behavior's goals include trans­ Power, from page 1 Sunil Golwala, Millikan Postdoctoral Scholar, has lating research findings into the public-policy heat during the winter. In summertime, received the American Physical Society's arena and recruiting new scholars into the behav­ closing doors, windows, and blinds will Mitsuyoshi Tanaka Dissertation Award in Experi­ Voting debacle inspires scrutiny ioral and social science disciplines. Further infor­ keep cool air from escaping. mental Particle Physics "for his versatile and ex­ A New York Times article published January 28 mation about the Decade of Behavior is available • Avoid using space heaters and (in tensive contributions to the detectors, hardware, reported that the recent presidential election de­ at the Web site www.decadeofbehavior.org. electronics, software, and analysis of the results of bacle has spurred a myriad of inquiries, debates, summer) window air-conditioning units. the Cryogenic Dark Matter Search (CDMS) experi­ and even election technology trade shows. The "These use a lot of power and are very ment." gist of all this activity is the search for improve­ inefficient," Irwin notes. ments to the nation's voting system. One of the Ohadi and Irwin are also drafting an Sossina Haile, assistant professor of materials investigations it highlighted is Caltech's partner­ OASIS urges aid science, has been selected to receive the American ship with MIT. energy plan for campus, in the unlikely Ceramic Society's 2001 Robert L. Coble Award for "The equipment is out there, and it works great for India earthquake event that matters take a turn for the Young Scholars. "This award recognizes an out­ -if there are no voters and no candidates," worse. This scenario would involve shut­ standing scientist who is conducting research in quipped Thomas Palfrey, Caltech professor of The devastating earthquake that hit western ting down certain buildings, such as the academia, industry or a government-funded labo­ political science and economics, and a leader in India on January 26 has killed as many as athletic center, libraries, and some admin­ ratory." the joint effort. The two institutes are evaluating 30,000 people and displaced countless oth­ istrative offices, in order to allow essential the existing voting practices in place and will de­ ers, the Los Angeles Times reported on Tracy Johnson, postdoctoral scholar in biology, operations to keep functioning. velop proposals for improvement. February 5. The campus Organization of the will be honored at the Roy Campanella Humanitar­ Associated Students of the Indian Subconti­ With Caltech's power needs continuing ian Award Dinner, on March 29 at the Pasadena nent is mobilizing contributions from the to increase each year, Physical Plant is Hilton Hotel. The award honors "outstanding lead­ Science battles illicit diamond trade Caltech community, and the collected funds ers who have distinguished themselves in their also looking at ways to manage long-term Sierra Leone, Angola, and the Congo are will be forwarded to the American Red fields." energy usage and costs. In progress are blessed with some of the richest mines for jew­ Cross. Contributions can be sent to OASIS proposals whose recommendations in­ elry-quality diamonds. They are also three of the at the following address: most politically volatile regions on the planet, OASIS clude retrofitting offices with energy-effi­ making diamonds an easily smuggled commodity c/o Swaminathan Krishnan cient lights; adding a second cogenerator Media minute used to finance deadly civil wars. Caltech, Mail Code 104-44 on campus; and building a thermal en­ Human rights groups are calling for boycotts of Pasadena, CA 91125 ergy storage plant, which chills water at so-called "conflict diamonds" that originate from Checks should be made payable to the SETI goes optical night for use in air-conditioning systems these nations, reported the San Jose Mercury American Red Cross International Response The Pasadena-based Planetary Society, an or­ News January 30. The problem lies in uncovering Fund, with India Earthquake Relief noted in during the day. ganization that promotes space exploration, has the origins of African gems. the Memo field. Ohadi says that UC San Diego, UC Riv­ begun construction of a telescope in Massachu­ Research led by George Rossman, Caltech The relief organization can also be setts that will further the search for extraterrestrial erside, and the City of Hope are using professor of mineralogy, could help discover the reached directly at (800) HELP-NOW in intelligence, the Associated Press reported on these types of plants, and that USC is con­ likely provenance of such stones. Tiny pockets of English or (800) 257-7575 in Spanish. The January 23. sidering one as well. He describes the dirt that are found on all diamonds contain hydro­ Web site address is www.redcross.org. gen and deuterium isotopes, which could be used Donations are tax deductible. system's many advantages: "Producing to detect variations in the soil produced by chilled water at night shifts the load from changes in latitude and climate. These indicators day to night, as it's cheaper and uses less could be the tell-tale signs of any questionable electricity to run the chillers during off­ diamond's origins. peak hours. This shift would help the city and state, as well as Caltech, and the sys­ tem is nonpolluting as well. That's the beauty of it." • the acad em ic week at ca It ec h is a printed version of selected events from the online @Caltech calendar, http://atcaltech.caltech.edu/calendar/. To publish events online, register as an event planner on the @Caltech calendar. If unable to submit electronically,

please cal l (626) 395-3630. Calendar deadline for the weeks of February 26 and March 5 is Friday, February 9, at 9 a.m. For further information call

, (626) 395-3630, fa x (626) 449-2159, write 336 Calendar, 1-71, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, or e-mail [email protected].

February 12-18,2001

~ u. Events in roman type are open to the public Events in italic type are open to the Caltech community only

Monday, February 12 Tuesday, February 13 Wednesday, February 14 Friday, February 16

Control and Dynamical Systems Caltech Library System Presents Astronomy Colloquium Fluid Mechanics Film Series Seminar Sherman Fairchild Library, multimedia 155 Arms, Robert Sharp Lecture Hall, 306 Firestone, 1 p.m.-"Fiow Instabili­ 102 Steele, 11 a.m.-Topic to be conference room, noon to 1:30 p.m.­ 4 p.m.-Topic to be announced. Doug Lin, ties," prepared by Professor Erik Mollo­ announced. Joao Hespanha, assistant "Structure Searching Quick Review." professor of astronomy and astrophysics, Christensen, MIT. professor of electrical engineering, USC. Comparisons of Beilstein with the CCD UC Santa Cruz. and SciFinder Scholar. Registration: http:// Fluid Mechanics Seminar Aeronautics Seminar library.caltech.edu/learning/form.htm. Environmental Engineering Science 101 Guggenheim Laboratory, 3 p.m .­ 101 Guggenheim Laboratory, 1 p.m.­ and Global Environmental Science "lnterfacial Fluid Mechanics in Micro­ "NASA Breakthrough Propulsion Physics Computation and Neural Systems Seminar geometries," G. M . Homsy, department Project," Dr. Marc G. Millis, NASA Glenn Seminar 142 Keck, 4 p.m.-"The Regulation of of mechanical engineering, UC Santa Bar­ Research Center. 24 Beckman Labs, 2 p.m.-"Pheromones, Biofilm Development: The Impact of bara. Information: www.galcit.caltech.edu/ Behavior, and the Vomeronasal System Environmental Signals on the Formation Seminars/Fiuids/CurrentFiuids/index.html. Geological and Planetary Sciences of the Mouse," Dr. Timothy Holy, depart­ of Bacterial Communities," George A. Seminar ment of molecular and cellular biology, O'Toole, assistant professor of microbiol­ lnorganic-Organometallics Seminar 155 Arms, Robert Sharp Lecture Hall, Harvard. Refreshments. ogy, Dartmouth Medical School. Refresh­ 151 Crellin, 4 p.m.-"Reactivity of Ruthe­ 4 p.m.-"Progress in Fault Mechanics: ments, 3:45 p.m. nium-Based Olefin Metathesis Catalysts 1990-2000," Christopher Scholz, profes­ Carnegie Observatories Colloquium Coordinated with N-Heterocyclic Carbene sor of applied physics and applied math­ Series Geology Club Seminar Ligands," Tina Trnka, graduate student in ematics, Lamont-Doherty Earth Obser­ William T. Golden Auditorium, 813 Santa 151 Arms, Buwalda Room, 4 p.m.-"The chemistry, Caltech. vatory. Refreshments, 151 Arms, 3:45p.m . Barbara Street, 4 p.m.-"The Pixon Role of Transform Continental Margins Method: Extracting All Available Infor­ in Major Crustal Growth Episodes," Pro­ Biomedical Engineering 0.1 Seminar Inorganic-Electrochemistry Seminar mation from Your Imaging Data," Dr. fessor Jonathan Patchett, department of Series 147 Noyes, Sturdivant Lecture Hall, Rick Puetter, research physicist, Center geosciences, University of Arizona. Infor­ Baxter Lecture Hall, 4 p.m .-" Integrated 4 p.m.- " Functionalization of Group( IV) for Astrophysics and Space Sciences, mation: www.gps.caltech.edu/seminars/ Microfluidics for Lab-on-a-Chip, " Yu­ Semiconductors through Organometallic UC San Diego. Information: 577-1122. geoclub/geoclub.html. Chong Tai, professor of electrical engi­ Chemistry," Jillian M. Buriak, assistant neering, Caltech. Information: www.its. professor, department of chemistry, Chemical Physics Seminar William Bennett Munro Memorial caltech.edu/- koonin/0_1 semi nars.html. Purdue University, West Lafayette, 147 Noyes, Sturdivant Lecture Hall, Seminar/Caltech-Huntington Indiana. 4 p.m.-" Molecular Anions: A Wealth Committee for the Humanities Caltech/JPL Association for of Important, Uncharacterized Systems," Judy Library, 110 Baxter, 4 p.m.-"Fiefs, Gravitational-Wave Research Seminar Molecular, Cellular, and Henry F. Schaefer Ill, Graham Perdue Vassals, and Professional Law: Why the Series Developmental Biology Seminar Professor of Chemistry, University of Feudalism Debate Is Not Over," Dr. Von Karman Auditorium, JPL, 4 p.m.­ 119 Kerckhoff, 4 p.m.-"lmportation Georgia. Magnus Ryan, lecturer in late medieval "The LIG0-1 Gravitational-Wave Detec­ and Editing of tRNA in Mitochondria of studies, Warburg Institute, London. tors," Stan Whitcomb, LIGO detector Leishmania," Professor Larry Simpson, General Biology Seminar Refreshments. group leader and member of the profes­ department of microbiology, immunol­ 119 Kerckhoff, 4 p.m.-"Finding Disease­ sional staff, Caltech. ogy, and molecular genetics, UCLA. Associated Genes by Whole Genome Neurobiology Seminar Scans in a Population of Healthy People," 24 Beckman Labs, 4 p.m.-"lmmunologi­ William Bennett Munro Memorial Solid State Sciences Seminar Series Charles Cantor, Chief Scientific Officer, cal Approaches to Promote Axon Regen­ Seminar (SI\5) Sequenom, Inc., San Diego. eration in the Injured Mammalia Spinal 25 Baxter, 4 p.m.-"Three Approaches to 102 Steele, 4 p.m.-"Physics of 'Which Cord," Sam David, Montreal General Hos­ Causal Reasoning," Jim Joyce, associate Layer?' Uncertainty," Steven M. Girvin, William Bennett Munro Memorial pital of McGill University, Canada. professor of philosophy, University of professor of physics, Indiana University, Seminar Michigan. Refreshments. Bloomington. Refreshments, Watson 25 Baxter, 4 p.m.-"The Construction of foyer, 3:45p.m. Information: www.its. Blackness in U.S. Science Fiction and ca ltech .ed u/ - s5. Horror Film," Richard Yarborough, Center Thursday, February 15 for African American Studies, UCLA, and associate professor of English, UCLA. Pre­ Biochemistry Seminar sented in conjunction with "The Future of 147 Noyes, Sturdivant Lecture Hall, the Universe" Science Fiction Film Festi­ 4 p.m.-"Dual Function Proteins: How val. Refreshments. Information: 395-4220. Do the Copper Amine Oxidases Make Their Own Cofactor?", Judith P. Klinman, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, UC Berkeley.

Science, Ethics, and Public Policy Seminar 25 Baxter, 4 p.m.-"Einstein's Enemies: German Antirelativists, 1914-1920," David Rowe, professor for the history of mathematics and science, Mainz Univer­ sity, Germany, and senior fellow, Dibner Institute, MIT. Refreshments.

• the acad em ic week at ca It ec h is a printed version of selected events from the online @Caltech calendar, http://atcaltech.caltech.edu/calendar/. To publish events online, register as an event planner on the @Caltech calendar. If unable to submit electronically, please ca ll (626) 395-3630. Calendar deadline for the weeks of February 26 and March 5 is Friday, February 9, at 9 a.m. For further information call

~26) 395-3630, fax (626) 449-2 159, w rite 336 Calendar, 1-71 , California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, or e-mail [email protected].

February 19-25, 2001

1- u. Cl) Events in roman type are open to the public Events in italic type are open to the Caltech community only

Monday, February 19 Wednesday, February 21 Friday, February 23 Reading between

Presidents' Day Astronomy Colloquium Fluid Mechanics Film Series the lumps Institute Holiday 155 Arms, Robert Sharp Lecture Hall, 306 Firestone, 1 p.m.-"Boundary Layer 4 p.m .-" Probing the Large-Scale Struc­ Control," prepared by Professor David Although phrenology-the Victorian belief 20th Annual Western States ture of the Universe: Early Results from Hazen, Princeton University. that characteristics of a person's personal­ Mathematical Physics Meeting the Sloan Digital Sky Survey," Joshua ity and mental abilities were detectable in 151 Sloan, 9 a.m . to 5 p.m .-For a list Frieman, professor, department of as­ Fluid Mechanics Seminar the lumps and bumps on the skull-has since been discredited, the practice is not of speakers and topics, see www.math. tronomy and astrophysics, University of 101 Guggenheim Laboratory, 3 p.m.- without its merits in research circles. Mea­ caltech.edu/events/wsmp01.html. Fee: Chicago, and head, theoretical astrophys­ " Boundary Layer Resolved Measure­ $10 (graduate students free). Information: ics group, Fermi National Accelerator ments of Unsteady Separation," suring the lumps and bumps on a planet's surfaces, for instance, can reveal many of 395-3744 or [email protected]. Laboratory. Manooch Koochesfahani, associate professor of mechanical engineering, its secrets. Such is the focus of this month's Astronomy Colloquium Environmental Engineering Science Michigan State University. Information: Earnest C. Watson lecture. "Planetary 106 Robinson, 4 p.m.-"Formation of and Global Environmental Science www.galcit.caltech.edu/Seminars/Fiuids/ Massive Stars," Thomas Henning, pro­ Seminar CurrentFiuids/index.html. Phrenology: The Lumps and Bumps of the Earth" is a synopsis of the work of fessor of astrophysics, Friedrich Schiller 142 Keck, 4 p.m.-"The Role of the Michael Kobrick, a research scientist at ," University, Jena, Germany. Oceans as a Sink for Anthropogenic C02 Biomedical Engineering 0.1 Seminar Nicolas Gruber, assistant professor of Series JPL. The lecture occurs on Wednesday, biogeochemistry, UCLA. Refreshments, Baxter Lecture Hall, 4 p.m.-"Gene February 21, at 8 p.m. at Beckman Audito­ 3:45p.m. Therapy: Trials and Triumphs," Profes­ rium. Tuesday, February 20 sor lnder M . Verma, Laboratory of Genet­ Utilizing maps created during the space shuttle 2000 space Geology Club Seminar ics, Salk Institute. Information: www.cco. Endeavors fl ight, Kobrick can divine the powerful ef­ Chemical Physics Seminar 151 Arms, Buwalda Room, 4 p.m .- " Ab­ ca ltech.edu/-koonin/0_1seminars.html. fects that our planet's topogra phy exerts. 153 Noyes, Sturdivant Lecture Hall, stracted Models for Arctic Environments: The shapes and formations on Earth's 2 p.m.-"First Principles Reaction Dy­ Ice-Wedge Networks and Thaw-Lake Te r­ lnorganic-Organometallics Seminar crust either control or influence such fac­ na mics on Ground and Excited Electronic rain," Brad Werner, associate professor 151 Crellin, 4 p.m.-"Understanding the tors as climate, wind patterns, and the States, " Todd Martinez, assistant profes­ of oceanography, UC San Diego. Infor­ Mechanism of Charge Flow in Dye-Sensi­ flow of subsurface water. In turn, these sor of chemistry, University of Illinois, mation: www.gps.caltech.edu/seminars/ tized Titanium Dioxide Based Solar Cells," factors exert an overarching influence on Urbana-Champaign. geoclub/geoclub.html. Elizabeth Mayo, graduate student in human civilizations. chemistry, Caltech. Kobrick will discuss the topographic Carnegie Observatories Colloquium Earnest C. Watson Lecture Series maps and the story regarding how they William T. Golden Auditorium, 813 Santa Beckman Auditorium, 8 p.m.-" Pianetary William Bennett Munro Memorial were produced, including the role that Barbara Street, 4 p.m.-"The Sloan Digital Phrenology: The Lumps and Bumps of the Seminar radar interferometry played during Sky Survey: Status and Science," Daniel Earth," Michael Kobrick, research scien­ Judy Library, 110 Baxter, 4 p.m.-"AII Endeavors flight. The data can generate Eisenstein, assistant professor, depart­ tist, JPL. Information: 395-4652, 1 (888) Numbers Great and Small," Professor computer-ready digital elevation maps of ment of astronomy, University of Arizona. 2CALTECH, or [email protected]. Indi­ Philip Ehrlich, department of philosophy, 80 percent of Earth's land mass-from the Information: 577 -1122. viduals with a disability: 395-4688 (voice) Ohio University. Refreshments. southernmost tip of South America all the or 395-3700 (TDD). Visit Public Events at way to Greenland. www.events.caltech.edu. See related ar­ Von Karman Lecture Series He will also demonstrate some of the ticle on right. Pasadena City College, 1570 E. Colorado, uses for digital maps and describe how the Forum (south of Colorado on Bonnie), the mission was conceived, how radar 7 p.m .-"Fire and Ice: Exploring Extreme interferometry mapped the ground right Environments in Space," presented by through the clouds, and how the military Thursday, February 22 Frank Carsey, research scientist, JPL. got involved in creating the maps. Admission is free. Information: (818) This event is free and open to the pub­ Ulric B. and Evelyn L. Bray Seminar 354-0112 or www.jpl.nasa.gov/lecture/. lic. No tickets or reservations are required. 25 Baxter, 4 p.m.-" Organization and In­ For more information, call 395-4652 or centives in the Age of Sail," Christopher 1 (888) 2CALTECH , e-mail events@ Thornberg, visiting professor of econom­ caltech.edu, or visit the Caltech Public ics, the Anderson School of Management, Events Web site at www.events. UCLA. Refreshments. caltech.edu. Individuals with a disability can call 395-4688 (voice) or 395-3700 Civil Engineering Seminar (TDD). 206 Thomas, 4 p.m.-"Structural Pathol­ ogy of the Murrah Building Bombing," John D. Osteraas, principal engineer, Exponent Failure Analysis Associates, Menlo Park. Refreshments, 210 Thomas, 3:45p.m .

Von Karman Lecture Series von Karman Auditorium, JPL, 7 p.m.­ "Fire and Ice: Exploring Extreme Environ­ ments in Space," presented by Frank Carsey, research scientist, JPL. Admis­ sion is free. Information: (818) 354-0112 or www.jpl.nasa.gov/lecture.

• Caltech 336, February 8, 2001 5 ._ CampusEvents

Monday, February 12 Friday, February 16 Monday, February 19 Saturday, February 24

Badminton Badminton Presidents' Day Men's and Women's Fencing Brown Gymnasium, 9:30 a.m. to noon-Bring Brown Gymnasium, 9:30a.m. to noon-Bring your Institute Holiday Dual meets, vs. Cal State Fullerton and UC San your own racket. Information: 355-6158. own racket. Information: 355-6158. Diego, 10 a.m. Ballroom Dance Club Baby Furniture and Household Equipment Baby Furniture and Household Equipment Winnett lounge, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.-Hustle for be­ Men's and Women's Track and Field Pool Pool ginners. Second of four weekly classes. No partner at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, 10 a.m. 234 S. Catalina, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.-Loans of 234 S. Catalina, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.-Loans of or experience required. $4 per class for Caltech kitchen and household necessities and baby furni­ kitchen and household necessities and baby furni­ undergraduates, $6 for others. Refreshments. In­ Baseball ture are made to members of the Caltech commu­ ture are made to members of the Caltech commu­ formation: 791-3103 or www.its. caltech .edu/-ball­ vs. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, doubleheader, nity. Information: 584-9773. nity. Information: 584-9773. room/index.html. 11 a.m.

Ballroom Dance Club Baseball Men's Basketball Ballet Dance Class Winnett lounge, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.-Hustle for be­ at University of Redlands, 2:30 to 5 p.m. at University of Redlands, 7:30p.m. Braun Athletic Center, aerobics room, 1 to 4 p.m.­ ginners. Four-week class. No partner or experi­ A free ballet class, sponsored by the Caltech ence required. $4 per class for Caltech Othello Ballroom Mini Dance Party Dance Troupe. Beginners: 1 to 2 p.m. Interme­ undergraduates, $6 for others. Refreshments. In­ Ramo Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.-Theater Arts at Winnett lounge, 9 to 11 p.m.-Open dancing; diate: 2 to 3 p.m. Advanced: 3 to 4 p.m. No special formation: 791-3103 or www.its.caltech.edu/-ball­ Caltech presents the play by William Shakespeare. make requests or bring your own music. Refresh­ clothing or shoes are required for the beginners' room/index.html. Tickets and information: 395-4652, 1 (888) ments. No admission charge and no partner class. Open to all adult members of the Caltech 2CALTECH, or [email protected]. Individuals needed. Information: 791-3103 or www.its. community. Information: 395-2508 or troupe@ Ballroom Mini Dance Party with a disability: 395-4688 (voice) or 395-3700 caltech.edu/-ballroom/index.html. caltech.edu. Winnett lounge, 9 to 11 p.m.- Open dancing; (TDD). Visit Public Events at www.events. make requests or bring your own music. Refresh­ caltech.edu. Brad Sturtevant Memorial ments. No admission charge and no partner Tuesday, February 20 Dabney Lounge, 1 to 3 p.m.-A program of re­ needed. Information: 791-3103 or www.its. Odadaa! membrance and celebration of Brad caltech.edu/-ballroom/index.html. Beckman Auditorium, 8 p.m.-This dynamic Caltech/MIT Enterprise Forum Sturtevant's life and career at Caltech. Infor­ group of musicians and dancers from Ghana cre­ Registration, networking, and dinner, Chandler mation: 395-4426. ates a strong sense of traditional African commu­ dining hall, 5:30p.m.; program, Baxter Lecture Tuesday, February 13 nity through percussion, rich vocals, high-energy Hall, 7 to 9 p.m.-"The ASP Marketplace: Where Othello dance, and lush costumes. Tickets and informa­ Are the Opportunities for the Entrepreneur?" Ramo Auditorium, 7:30p.m.-Theater Arts at Credit Union Annual Meeting tion: 395-4652, 1 (888) 2CALTECH, or Cost is $35 ($10 for students); Caltech students Caltech presents the play by William Shakespeare. Beckman Auditorium, 5:30 p.m.-Join us for our [email protected]. Individuals with a disability: and faculty, free. Preregistration and prepay­ Tickets and information: 395-4652, 1 (888) 51st annual shareholders' meeting. Refreshments, 395-4688 (voice) or 395-3700 (TDD). Visit Public ment are required. Information: 395-3916, 2CALTECH, or [email protected]. Individuals 5 p.m. Drawing and prizes. Information: (818) Events at www.events.caltech.edu. [email protected], or www.caltech.edu/ with a disability: 395-4688 (voice) or 395-3700 952-4444, ext. 220; or [email protected]. entforum. (TDD) . Visit Public Events at www.events. caltech.edu. "The Future of the Universe" Science Fic­ Saturday, February 17 tion Film Festival Wednesday, February 21 Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Cario Beckman Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.-The movie The Caltech V Volunteer Project-Union Station Beckman Auditorium, 8 p.m.-The all-male en­ Day the Earth Stood Still, followed by a panel dis­ 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.-Caltech Y volunteers will help Baby Furniture and ·Household Equipment semble performs parodies of the classical cussion. Admission is free. Information: 395-4652, prepare and serve meals for homeless men, Pool ballet and modern dance repertoire. Tickets and 1 (888) 2CALTECH, or [email protected]. Indi­ women, and children at the Union Station 234 S. Catalina, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.-Loans of information: 395-4652, 1 (888) 2CALTECH, or viduals with a disability: 395-4688 (voice) or 395- shelter in Pasadena. Information: 395-3180, kitchen and household necessities and baby furni­ [email protected]. Individuals with a disability: 3700 (TDD). Visit Public Events at [email protected], or www.y.caltech.edu/volun­ ture are made to members of the Caltech commu­ 395-4688 (voice) or 395-3700 (TDD). Visit Public www.events.caltech.edu. teer/. nity. Information: 584-9773. Events at www.events.caltech.e du.

Baseball Jazz Dance Class Wednesday, February 14 vs. University of Redlands, doubleheader, 11 a.m. Braun Athletic Center, aerobics room, 9 p.m.-A Sunday, February 25 to 5 p.m. free jazz dance class for beginners, sponsored by Baby Furniture and Household Equipment the Caltech Dance Troupe. No special clothing or Othello Pool Men's and Women's Track and Field shoes are required. Open to all adult members of Ramo Auditorium, 2 p.m.-Theater Arts at Caltech 234 S. Catalina, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.-Loans of Caltech Invitational, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. the Caltech community. Information: 395-2508 or presents the play by William Shakespeare. Tickets kitchen and household necessities and baby furni­ [email protected]. and information: 395-4652, 1 (888) 2CALTECH, or ture are made to members of the Caltech commu­ Ballet Dance Class [email protected]. Individuals with a disability: nity. Information: 584-9773. Braun Athletic Center, aerobics room, 1 to 4 p.m.­ 395-4688 (voice) or 395-3700 (TDD). Visit Public A free ballet class, sponsored by the Caltech Thursday, February 22 Events at www.events.caltech.edu. Men's Basketball Dance Troupe. Beginners: 1 to 2 p.m. Interme­ vs. La Verne, 7:30 p.m. diate: 2 to 3 p.m. Advanced: 3 to 4 p.m. No special Caltech Campus Architectural Tour clothing or shoes are required for the beginners' Athenaeum, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.-Meet in the class. Open to all adult members of the Caltech entry hall of the Athenaeum. Led by a Caltech Thursday, February 15 community. Information: 395-2508 or troupe@ Women's Club docent. Reservations: Susan Lee, caltech.edu. 395-6327 or [email protected]. Men's and Women's SCIAC Swimming at Cerritos Olympic Swim Center, 10 a.m. to Love Sucks IV Concert Men's Basketball 10 p.m. Avery dining hall, 4 to 6:30 p.m.-Begun in 1998, vs. Occidental, 7:30p.m. Love Sucks is a "cynical, fun, and entertaining Career Day 2001 backlash against all the cloying commercialism Brown Gymnasium, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.-Meet that leads up to and surrounds Valentine's Day, Friday, February 23 with company representatives. Bring copies of right down to the dead roses." Groups participat­ your resume and make a connection. Information: ing in this all a cappella fest are Brandeis Badminton [email protected] or 395-6361. VoiceMale; Caltech's Ecphonema, Out of Context, Brown Gymnasium, 9:30a.m. to noon-Bring and Treble Makers; UC San Diego Tritones; USC your own racket. Information: 355-6158. Sirens; and USC SoCal VoCals. Admission is free. Baby Furniture and Household Equipment Men's Basketball Pool vs. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, 7:30p.m. 234 S. Catalina, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.-Loans of kitchen and household necessities and baby furni­ Othello ture are made to members of the Caltech commu­ nity. Information: 584-9773. Ramo Auditorium, 7:30p.m.-Theater Arts at Odadaa! will bring the drum and dance of Ghana Caltech presents the play by William Shakespeare. to Beckman Auditorium on Friday, February 16. Tickets and information: 395-4652, 1 (888) Baseball 2CALTECH, or [email protected]. Individuals at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, 2:30 p.m. with a disability: 395-4688 (voice) or 395-3700 (TDD). Visit Public Events at www.events. Othello caltech.edu. Ramo Auditorium, 7:30p.m.-Theater Arts at Caltech presents the play by William Shakespeare. Tickets and information: 395-4652, 1 (888) 2CALTECH, or [email protected]. Individuals Sunday, February 18 with a disability: 395-4688 (voice) or 395-3700 (TDD). Visit Public Events at www.events. Othello caltech.edu. Ramo Auditorium, 2 p.m.-Theater Arts at Caltech presents the play by William Shakespeare. Tickets Armchair Adventure Series and information: 395-4652, 1 (888) 2CALTECH, or Beckman Auditorium, 8 p.m.-South African Sa­ [email protected]. Individuals with a disability: fari, narrated by John Wilson. Tickets and informa­ 395-4688 (voice) or 395-3700 (TDD). Visit Public tion: 395-4652, 1 (888) 2CALTECH, or Events at www.events.caltech.edu. [email protected]. Individuals with a disability: 395-4688 (voice) or 395-3700 (TDD). Visit Public Events at www.events.caltech.edu. 6 Caltech 336, February 8, 2001

Elachi, from page 1 Artists, from page 1 blanketing Earth. These systems even tute Art Committee selected the students penetrate the top layer of soil in arid based on their experience in sculpting regions, revealing hints of what lies below and their interest in creating art. '-ihe surface. Rhoads specializes in what are called Elachi served as principal investigator audiokinetic sculptures, and true to that on numerous NASA research and devel­ description, sound and movement are es­ opment studies and flight projects. He is sential elements in his pieces. Some of currently the team leader of the Cassini his best-known public works are three- to Titan radar experiment and a coinves­ five-story rolling ball sculptures with pun­ tigator on the Rosetta Comet Nucleus filled names like Lalaballoosa, Watchama­ Sounder Experiment. He is the author of ballit, and Sweet Morning Love Tower. To three textbooks on remote sensing and the casual observer, they look like large more than 200 publications on topics such perpetual-motion machines. In fact, they as space and planetary exploration, wave are vertical labyrinths. propagation and scattering, electromag­ By using motors, as well as gravity and netic theory, lasers, and integrated optics. the energy stored in springs, billiard balls He has taught Introduction to the Physics are sent scurrying up and down ramps, of Remote Sensing at Caltech since 1982. winding their way down spirals and He replaces current JPL director chutes and corkscrews, clicking and clack­ Edward Stone, who will return to full-time ing and ringing bells along the way. Once teaching and research at Caltech, where they reach the end, a motorized lift carries he has taught since 1967. The David them back to the top. All this activity takes Student Jordan Miller, in protective gear and welder's mask, prepares to work on his sculpture in the student shop. Morrisroe Professor of Physics, Stone has place behind clear Plexiglas, which pro­ been widely regarded as an energetic and tects the sculpture while allowing viewers Pauling, from page 1 thoughtful leader at JPL. to follow all the action. ability and their expertise with mechanical applied genetics. His discovery of the Named director in January 1991, Stone At Caltech, the students' sculptures are things." alpha helix in 1948 was crucial to later has led the laboratory during a decade in built on a more modest scale but do not Marcelle Toor, Rhoads's wife and an work on the structure of proteins and which it undertook the management of lack for imagination, intricacy, or com­ artist herself, said that what impressed DNA, and his books, The Nature of the dozens of missions exploring the solar plexity of design. her was the students' enthusiasm. Chemical Bond and General Chemistry, system, Earth sciences, and astrophysics. "For the students, anything goes," "It seems like the students were really revolutionized the teaching of chemistry. Highlights of that time include Galileo's Rhoads said. "They're doing a whole vari­ hungry to do some art, and they've come Over the years, however, his vocal op­ five-year orbital mission to Jupiter and ety of work: some are doing wind-driven up with some good ideas," she said. position to nuclear weapons testing­ the launch of Cassini to Saturn, as well as works and others are doing motorized "They are using scrap material-really, viewed at the time as unpatriotic and a new generation of Earth-sciences machine-type things." whatever they can get their hands on." potentially damaging to national secu­ satellites such as TOPEX/Poseidon and Jordan Miller, a junior majoring in en­ Rhoads's presence here marks the rity-led to increasing disapproval from SeaWinds, and the Mars Pathfinder gineering and applied science, has fash­ possible revival of the artist residency some Caltech administrators and trustees. landing in 1997. ioned a device out of copper and steel program that, until about 25 years ago, After Pauling's antinuclear efforts gar­ Both Baltimore and Goldin praised tubing and ball bearings. When com­ occasionally brought local artists onto nered him the 1962 Nobel Peace Prize, he Stone for leading JPL with great distinc­ pleted, a light bulb will be housed inside campus to teach and work with the stu­ decided to leave the Institute. tion during the past 10 years. "Ed is a per­ two nested mesh spheres. A small motor dents. "Although the politics ofthe early son of high integrity, unflagging energy, will rotate the spheres in opposite direc­ "President Baltimore is strongly inter­ 1960s were such that Professor Pauling and deep commitment to the Laboratory tions, and the result will be ripples and ested in the arts," said Robert Rosenstone, came to feel he should leave Caltech, it's and its goals," said Baltimore. "It has waves, visual effects called moire pat­ professor of history and chair of the Insti­ clear that his decision to resign came with been a great pleasure for me to work with terns. Light from the bulb will cast inter­ tute Art Committee, which selected regrets on all sides," said David Tirrell, him as JPL director, and I look forward to esting shadows on the surrounding walls. Rhoads and chose the students. "For two current chair of the chemistry and chemi­ having him back on the Caltech campus Miller has worked in metal sculptures, or three years, the committee has been cal engineering division. "The Institute full time." photography, and painting, and his work wanting to start a resident program and the Division of Chemistry and Chemi­ Goldin said, "Over the past decade, Ed has been shown at San Francisco's de again." cal Engineering worked hard to maintain Stone led JPL from managing a handful Young Museum. He estimates having in­ He added that, as far as he can remem­ ties to Professor Pauling after his depar­ of large projects to overseeing dozens of vested about 100 hours in his piece and ber, art instruction has always been a part ture, and the centennial marks the latest new, smaller exploration missions. A says he is pleased to be working with of campus life. Workshops in ceramics, in a series of Caltech events celebrating great deal of what we know about the so­ Rhoads. drawing and painting, though not a for­ his invaluable contributions to chemistry lar system has been a result, directly or "He's very mellow and happy to have mal part of the curriculum, have always and to the Institute." indirectly, of Ed's work. It's been my students do what interests them," Miller been very popular with a subset of stu­ Tirrell will serve as an opening speaker honor to work with Ed Stone in revolu­ said. "He's managed to collect a diversity dents, he said. for the program and chair its morning tionizing the way JPL does business, be­ of ideas. He's also left us to be self-moti­ "The reason we want artists in resi­ session. Other speakers will include cause JPL is the most important vated on our own projects." dence is because it adds to the students' Pauling's fellow Nobel laureates Ahmed organization in the field of astrophysics Rhoads spends every morning at the general education by broadening their Zewail, Caltech's Pauling Professor of and planetary science." shop, trading ideas and helping the stu­ horizons," he added. "Art brings another Chemistry; Elias Corey of Harvard; and (Note: A video broadcast of the press dents find solutions to the problems they dimension of the human experience." Charles Townes of UC Berkeley; as well as conference can be viewed on the Web at encounter. He's found that many times Although Rhoads's stay here ends next Richard Lerner of the Scripps Research www.caltech.edu/events/elachi.html.) the students come up with their own cre­ week, few of the sculptures will be com­ Institute; Jack Dunitz of the Swiss Federal • ative answers. pleted by then. Nonetheless, an "open Institute of Technology; Thomas Steitz "Some of them have a background in shop day," during which the campus from Yale; and Alexander Rich of MIT. art, and all are students here, so of course community can tour the shop and view For more information on the Pauling they have a background in engineering," the works in progress, is being discussed, Centennial, contact the CCE Division Rhoads said. "I'm surprised and im­ said Denise Nelson Nash, director of Office at 395-6024, or visit the Web site at pressed at the quality of their inventive Caltech's Office of Public Events. http://chemistry.caltech.edu/pauling.html. • • Caltech 336 ... ., ., ... ., ., ...

The campus community biweekly California Institute of Technology February 8, 2001, vol. 1, no. 3 Pasadena, California 91125

Editor: Daryn Kobata ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED (626) 395-6240; [email protected] Assistant Editor: Javier Marquez (626) 395-6624; [email protected] Calendar Administrator: Debbie Bradbury (626) 395-3630; [email protected] Graphic Artist: Doug Cummings Photographer: Bob Paz Published by the Office of Public Relations