LL. Cl) Cl) 1- 1- Cl) 1- The campus community biweekly February 21, 2002, vol. 2, no. 4 Shall we dance? Microlaser delivers macropower Caltech applied physicists have demon­ strated an ultrasmall Raman laser that is 1,000 times more efficient than previous devices. The device could have signifi­ cant applications for telecommunications and other areas where compact, highly efficient, and tunable lasers are desirable. Reporting in the February 7 issue of Nature, Professor of Applied Physics Kerry Vahala and graduate students Sean Caltech molecular Spillane and Tobias Kippenberg describe biologist Davidson their progress in making the tiny device, which incorporates a small spherical glass passes away bead and a stretched fiber-optic wire. The laser is especially efficient because of the Norman Davidson, whose ground­ way it stores light inside the microsphere, breaking work in molecular biology at or resonator, as well as the manner in Caltech led to a better understanding of which the optical wire permits efficient the genetic blueprint of life, died at Hun­ coupling of light into the sphere. tington Hospital in Pasadena on February According to Vahala, the light wraps 14 after a brief illness. He was 85. around the sphere in a ring orbit and Davidson was Caltech's Chandler subsequently intensifies over hundreds Professor of Chemical Biology, Emeritus; of thousands of orbits, resulting in he had been a faculty member since extreme concentration of optical power 1946. He took emeritus status in 1986, within the sphere. In this way, very weak but served as executive officer for biol­ signals applied to the sphere from the ogy from 1989 to 1997 and remained fiber-optic wire can build to enormous active in research until his death. intensities within the sphere itself. "It was with the deepest personal At these higher power levels, the Abby Fietzer and Steven Verschoor of the Occidental Folk and Historic Dance Troupe whirled their regret that I heard of the death of Norman way across Dabney Lounge at the recent Viennese Waltz Night. The annual event is also cosponsored physics within the sphere enters a non­ Davidson," said Caltech president David by the Caltech Ballroom Dance Club and Caltech-Occidental Orchestra. see Micro/aser, page 6 Baltimore. "Norman was a friend long before the prospect of my being president of Caltech arose, and he symbolized for Caltech searches for 85 years old and going strong me the essence of the Institute. "His movement into biology from a development officer background in chemistry allowed him to What Institute organization has brought She notes that the Y's programs-the play a special role in the development of The recent announcement of Jerry such luminaries as Martin Luther King, Jr., majority of which are still entirely stu­ molecular biology. He saw imaginative Nunnally's departure from the vice presi­ and Supreme Court Justice William 0. dent-initiated and led-have continued ways that structural understanding could dency for development and alumni rela­ Douglas to campus? Inspired Robert to impact generations of students and illuminate functional questions. He tions has prompted the formation of a Millikan to bequeath the bulk of his estate alums, as its founders envisioned years trained some of the finest and most committee that will begin an immediate to it? Can claim Frank Capra as an alum? ago. Last year's annual report, for in­ imaginative people in the field. And he search for his successor. And does everything from involving stu­ stance, brought to the Y's current staff a was deeply loved by all with whom he Chaired by Bill Jenkins, Caltech's execu­ dents in community service to serving variety of fond reminiscences from alums came in contact because of his unalloyed tive vice president for administration, the them home-cooked chili during finals? of theY ExComm, the student executive see Davidson, page 2 committee includes Peter Dervan, Bren That would be the Caltech Y, of course. committee, some of those alums hailing Professor of Chemistry, Sandra Ell, treasurer TheY has come a long way since its mod­ back to the 1930s. A number of Y and and chief investment officer, Jean Grinols, est beginning in 1916, when a group of other Caltech alums have also returned administrator for the Division of Geological students decided to form a Young Men's to serve on the board of directors, includ- and Planetary Sciences, John Ledyard, chair Christian Association at Throop College of see Caltech \'; page 6 Kirschvink wins of the Division of the Humanities and Social Technology. As the organization celebrates Feynman Prize Sciences, Bob O'Rourke, vice president for its 85th birthday this year, it is no longer a public relations and interim vice president part of the national YMCA, but is an inde­ Professor of Geobiology Joseph for development and alumni relations, and pendent, nonprofit service organization Kirschvink has been awarded the 2002 Caltech trustee Wally Weisman. officially affiliated with Caltech. It has, Richard P. Feynman Prize for Excellence "This superb committee will play a key however, continued to take to new levels in Teaching "for his innovative teaching role in finding and selecting the best can­ the original vision of its founders "to en­ style and outstanding mentorship, which didates and then help convince the candi­ rich student life; to enable students to learn have inspired a generation of Caltech dates about the many positive attributes about themselves and their place in the students," Provost Steve Koonin has of Caltech and Pasadena," Jenkins said. world community through increased so­ announced. The quest for candidates was assigned cial, ethical, and cultural awareness; and to When asked about his reaction, to Gary Posner, a recruiter with Witt/ address unmet student needs." Kirschvink said, "I was stocked and Kiefer, a firm that specializes in searches As Athena Castro, who joined theY shunned!" and then broke into laughter. for senior personnel and executives at staff in 1997 and became executive direc­ Being a Caltech alum (BS '75, MS '75), he institutions of higher education. tor in 2000, observes, "Eighty-five years believes, contributes to his classroom Given that Caltech's ambitious capital is a long time, but as I reflect on its his­ tory, theY and its mission really haven't The Caltech Y staff, from left: Molly Hood, rapport. "I was an undergrad here-1 campaign has advanced into the plan­ Athena Castro, Diana Salazar, Greg Fletcher, and see VP search, page 6 changed since the beginning." Armida McGill. see Kirschvink, page 2 2 Caltech 336, February 21,2002 Davidson. from page 1 commitment to pushing the frontiers of understanding. "Caltech is diminished by the loss of NewsBriefs this great man who, undaunted by infir­ mity, almost to the end drove himself around the campus in his cart, asking questions, making suggestions, and still fully contributing to the institution to which he had given so much of his life," Baltimore said. Born in 1916, Davidson earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry at the University of Chicago in 1937, and another bachelor of science degree at the Univer­ sity of Oxford in 1939 as a Rhodes Scholar. Caltech's most recent Feynman Prize winner, In 1941 he completed his doctorate in circa mid-1970s, before he launched his chemistry at the University of Chicago. professorial career. During the war he worked for the National Defense Research Committee Kirschvink, from page 1 Project at USC, and for the Division of know the capabilities of the students," he War Research at Columbia University and said. In addition, undergrads enjoy the the University of Chicago. From 1943 to hands-on nature of his lab classes; for 1945, he worked on the University of many of them, it's the first real research Chicago's Plutonium Project. opportunity they've received. After the war, Davidson joined the Perhaps more telling, though, as to Caltech faculty as a chemistry instructor. why his class enrollments keep growing is He became a full professor in 1957, exec­ his view ofthe learning process. "It's a utive officer for chemistry in 1967, and chance to have fun with science," he said. Chandler Professor of Chemical Biology " Science should be enjoyable. " At the in 1982. same time, he makes sure things remain Davidson was known in the scientific challenging: "Students like to compete, community for his innovative methods and so do 1." in bridging the gap between the physical Koonin said that the many under­ and biological sciences. He pioneered graduate and graduate students who take new methods in physical chemistry and Kirschvink's classes are "inspired by his electron microscopy, the latter proving unabashed enthusiasm for the Earth especially useful for genetic mapping sciences, embraced by his sincerity and dedication to education, and challenged New NA~A admi~istrator Sean O'Keefe (left) recently made his first official visit to JPL and Caltech. and exploring the information properties Along w1~h ~PL director Charles Elachi and Tom Gavin, he toured the lab of Valerie Thomas, JPL's of DNA and RNA. by the depth and breadth of his knowl­ X2000 av1omcs electronics manager. O'Keefe later attended an Athenaeum reception with Elachi and In 1996, when he was awarded the edge." The courses blend science funda­ three past JPL directors: William Pickering, Bruce Murray, and Ed Stone. National Medal of Science by President mentals with state-of-the-art research Clinton, the White House cited him "for and opportunities for field work in the breakthroughs