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The campus community biweekly December 9, 2004, vol. 4, no. 18 In memor1am• Caltech quadruples Internet speed

For the second consecutive year, the High Energy Physics Team, a group of physi­ cists, computer scientists, and network engineers, has won the Supercomputing Bandwidth Challenge with a sustained data transfer of 101 gigabits per second (Gbps) between Pittsburgh and Los An­ geles. This is more than four times faster than last year's record of 23.2 gigabits per second, which was set by the same team. The team hopes this new demon­ Palomar laser stration will encourage scientists and engineers in many sectors of society to points to future develop and deploy a new generation of revolutionary Internet applications. The Palomar Observatory's 200-inch The international team is led by Hale Telescope has been gathering light Caltech and includes partners from in­ from the depths of the universe for 55 stitutions throughout the world. The years. Now, it's beginning to send some group's "High-Speed TeraByte Transfers back with the help of Caltech, JPL, and for Physics" record data transfer speed University of Chicago astronomers, who is equivalent to downloading three full have created an artificial star by aiming a DVD movies per second, or tryansmitting 4-watt laser beam froll] t!:'_e telescope into all of the contents of the Library of Con­ the night sky. gress in 15 minutes, and it corresponds The beam is the first step in a program to approximately 5 percent of the rate at to expand the area of sky observed with which all forms of digital content were adaptive optics-a technique that allows produced on Earth during the test. astronomers to correct for fuzziness pro­ The new mark exceeded the sum of duced by Earth's moving atmosphere, the entire throughput marks submitted and to gain a view that often surpasses those of smaller space-based telescopes. Recognizing World AIDS Day, December 1, eight sections of the famed memorial quilt were on view in in the present and previous years by Brown Gym. Since 1987, the quilt has grown to over 45,000 panels that remember more than 88,000 other BWC entrants. The extraordinary Palomar astronomers currently can individuals lost to AIDS-including Caltech's own Bruce Kahl, former director of the Counseling Center. achieved bandwidth was made possible use adaptive optics only if a moderately Caltech Athletics and the Cultural Programming Group sponsored the display. in part through the use of the FAST TCP bright star is close enough to their object protocol developed by Caltech associate of interest; they then use the star as a professor of computer science and elec­ source by which to correct atmospheric Groundskeepers trical engineering Steven Low and his distortion. Now they can place an artificial Netlab team. guide star wherever they see fit by shining reap high praise The Bandwidth Challenge allowed the a narrow sodium laser beam up through scientists and engineers involved to pre­ the atmosphere. At an altitude of about 60 Visitors to Caltech often marvel at the view the globally distributed grid system miles, the beam makes a small amount of flora on campus, from the groves of soar­ that is now being developed in the Unit­ sodium gas glow, and the faint reflected ing eucalyptus to the grand lawns and ed States and Europe in preparation for light from the glow serves as a guide star. the graceful wisteria vines that seem to the next generation of high-energy phys­ "We have been steadily improving bloom all at once. The beauty of the or­ Physicist Robert ics experiments at CERN's Large Hadron adaptive optics using bright natural guide namental plants and trees that grow here Collider (LHC), scheduled to begin opera­ stars at Palomar," says Richard Dekany, Bacher dies is no accident. It is a result of the grounds­ tion in 2007. Physicists at the LHC will associate director of development for the keepers' careful and exacting attention, see Internet, page 6 Caltech Optical Observatories, and leader Renowned Caltech physicist Robert Fox and that attention is of such a high caliber of the adaptive-optics team. "As a result, Bacher, who headed experimental phys­ that Caltech recently won recognition by the system routinely corrects for atmo­ ics at the Los Alamos Laboratory during a national grounds management group. spheric distortions. Now we will be able the Manhattan Project, died Thursday, The Professional Grounds Manage­ to go to the next step." November 18, in Montecito, California. ment Society (PGMS) presented the In­ Murray to leave Palomar currently employs the world's He was 99. stitute with a coveted Green Star, giving E&AS chair fastest adaptive-optics system on the Affiliated with MIT's Radiation Labora­ Caltech a Grand Award in the university Hale Telescope, correcting for atmo­ tory when the Manhattan Project began, and college grounds category. spheric changes 2,000 times per second. Richard Murray, professor of mechani­ Bacher took a leave of absence to head "This particular award is very presti­ Caltech, JPL, and Cornell University sci­ cal engineering, will step down from the experimental physics division and, gious in the green industry," says Del my entists have used the system to discover his appointment as chair of the Division later, the bomb physics division. After the Emerson, a manager in Buildings and brown-dwarf companions to stars, study of Engineering and Applied Science in war he was one of the first members of Grounds who supervises some 30 staff the weather on a moon of Saturn, and May 2005. A search committee is being the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, and members. "They work from 6:30 in the see the shapes of asteroids. Achieving formed to name candidates for the post. served on the President's Science Advi­ morning to three in the afternoon. The adaptive-optics correction with the laser "I am sure you share our appreciation sory Committee during the Eisenhower campus looks so good because each one guide star is expected next year and for the excellent job he has done the past Administration. of them takes ownership. Whether it's will make the observatory just the third few years, both in leading the Division Bacher joined Caltech in 1949, three pouring down rain or it's 100 degrees worldwide to deploy such a system. and in contributing to the welfare of the years after Lee DuBridge, his close as­ outside, they're out there maintaining the Richard Ellis, Steele Family Professor Institute," Provost Paul Jennings wrote sociate at MIT, had become president. grounds." of Astronomy and director ofthe Caltech about Murray in a letter to the division's Bacher remained at Caltech for the rest And doing so is no small feat. The Optical Observatories, says, "This a ter­ faculty. Murray's term as division chair see Bacher, page 6 workers maintain all the landscaping as rific technical achievement which not only began in 2000. well as the sidewalks, the courtyards, the see Palomar, page 6 see Grounds award, page 6 • 2 Caltech 336, December 9, 2004

Fu 11-spectru m NewsBriefs honors for students Wei Lien Stephen Dang, Joseph Jewell, Media minute and Nathan Hodas, all currently or recent­ ly students at Caltech, have been honored with a spectrum of top scholarships and Caltech HR, health care awards. Also, this marks the first time profiled ever that a Rhodes and a Marshall schol­ arship have gone to students at Caltech Caltech associate vice president for human the same year. resources Tom Schmitt was featured in the No­ Dang, a senior in applied physics, has vember issue of Business Officer, published by NACUBO (the National Association of College been awarded the Marshall scholarship. and University Business Officers). The magazine As a Marshall Scholar, he will head for profiles the human resources staff's process in Cambridge University, England, next deciding to change the Institute's 2004 health­ September to continue his work in nano­ care plans due to rising costs. "We met with our science as he seeks two master of phi­ benefits committee and resolved to look at every option," Schmitt is quoted as saying. The article losophy degrees, one in nanoscience, the goes on to describe the staff's ensuing struggle other in nanotechnology management. to "balance costs and quality," and the negotia­ His particular interest is nanotechnologi­ tions that resulted in Caltech's switching from cal applications such as carbon nanotube Blue Cross to Health Net in 2004 and back again in devices. 2005. Yet the challenges of health-care costs are likely to continue in the years to come, Schmitt "I'm really excited about the opportu­ concludes. "In this field, everything changes. It's nity," he says. "The nanotechnology pro­ a never-ending job to stay on top of it." grams at Cambridge are the only ones of their kind in the world." As a youth leader and director of edu­ Hi-tech sight cational outreach for Mountain Movers Youth Ministries, Dang has been respon­ Wolfgang Fink, visiting associate in physics at Caltech, and a researcher at JPL and USC, says sible for a variety of classes, tutoring ses­ Chief Anthony Morales, right, of the Gabrieleno (Tongva) tribe-the original there is hope for blind people to see. A recent sions, and programs for inner-city L.A. inhabitants of the Los Angeles basin-and Native American activist Dee Dominguez Pasadena Star-News article about a lecture given youth. He has also been a writing consul­ spoke on campus about the proposed Playa Vista development near Marina del Rey by Fink discussed a system he developed with and its impact on a Tongva burial ground discovered on the site. Held in recognition tant at Caltech's Hixon Writing Center, a colleagues from Caltech and at USC's Biomimetic of Native American Heritage Month, the event was sponsored by the Cultural teaching assistant in applied physics, and MicroElectronic Systems center. The system uses Programming Group. a camera, an electrode implant, and a processing an associate editor of CURJ, Caltech's unit to send images from the retina to the brain. undergraduate research journal, plus he Six patients have undergone clinical testing, and is an accomplished classical pianist and though they see blurry black-and-white images jazz saxophonist. with 4 x 4 pixel resolution, Fink predicts tech­ Jewell, who received his BS in aero­ Personals Honors and awards nological advances within the next decade will improve the system. nautics and history, with honor, from Welcome to Caltech Frances Arnold, Dickinson Professor of Chemi­ Caltech last June, will attend Oxford Uni­ cal Engineering and Biochemistry, has been versity, England, next year as a Rhodes October elected to the Institute of Medicine (10M) of the Global warming as Scholar. Currently a grad student at the National Academy of Sciences. Candidates for University of Michigan, he will spend two Elizabeth Beck, resident associate, Campus Life. membership are "nominated for their profes­ Pandora's box sional achievement and commitment to service," years working on a master's degree at November according to the institute, and, "with their elec­ "Global warming resulting from increased car­ Oxford. A specialist in scramjet engines, tion, members make a commitment to devote a bon dioxide in the atmosphere is a major chal­ he plans to seek his PhD in aeronautics lenge facing modern society," said Yuk L. Yung, Nicolas Altounian, electrician's aide, Electrical significant amount of volunteer time as members at either Caltech or Michigan after he of 10M committees, which engage in a broad professor of planetary science, in an article that Shop; Jon Bergengren, visitor in planetary returns to the United States. sciences; Tony Chan, Oracle HR/payroll systems range of studies on health policy issues." Arnold appeared recently in the South China Morning The scholarship is "a great honor," lead analyst, Administrative Technology Center; received her BS from Princeton University in Post. Killer floods, like the one in the movie The Terrondus Chaney, JPL floating cook, Dining 1979 and her PhD from UC Berkeley in 1985. She Day After Tomorrow, could become a reality, he Jewell says. "I hope to generally soak up Services; postdoctoral scholars Jihong Cheng joined Caltech's faculty as an assistant professor said, if global warming intensifies. "When it gets the medieval atmosphere. I had a second warmer, the sea level rises, hurricane typhoons and DeMichael Chung, both in chemistry, Kieran in 1987, becoming professor in 1996 and Dickin­ major in medieval history at Caltech, so son Professor in 2000. become more intense and frequent, and mosqui­ Cleary, in JPL's gravitation and cosmology it will be pretty cool for me to study in research element, Avigdor Eldar, in biology, and toes extend their zone of activity," he said. England." Bernard Guest, in geology; Min Hubbard, data Shri Kulkarni, MacArthur Professor of Astronomy quality assessment analyst, space astrophysics; and Planetary Science, has been chosen as this Jewell has been to Germany on a Ernest Carl Johanson, assistant network security year's Marker Lecturer at Pennsylvania State La Belle looks back Caltech-sponsored trip. Other travels analyst, ITS Infrastructure; George Lee, research University. He will give three lectures: on cosmic include a trip aboard NASA's infamous explosions ("Gamma-Ray Bursts and More"). associate, computer science; postdoctoral The December 3 issue of the Chronicle of Higher "vomit comet," the specially fitted jet­ scholars Zhuo Li and Axel Lindner, both in space interferometry ("Planets and Parallaxes Education profiles several women in academia, liner used to prepare astronauts for biology; Maria Lopez, senior administrative and More"), and millisecond pulsars ("Extreme including Professor of English Jenijoy La Belle. secretary, Health/Counseling Center; postdoctoral Physics, Extreme Matter, and More"). Kulkarni "Women in Higher Education: Where Are They the weightless conditions of space. At scholars Vlad Manea, in geophysics, Eric Matson, received his MS from the Indian Institute of Tech­ Now?" follows up a 1970 Chronicle article on Caltech, he was involved in student in environmental science and engineering, Claus nology in 1978 and his PhD from UC Berkeley in the status of female scholars; while most faced government and played timpani for the 1983. He came to Caltech as a Millikan Research Mogensen, in JPL's experimental science group, "both overt and subtle discrimination," worked Institute's concert band and symphony and Zoltan Novak, in chemistry; Sylvia Ramirez, Fellow in 1985, became assistant professor in on small campuses, and were paid less than men, orchestra. custodian, Facilities Management; Yvette 1987, professor in 1992, and MacArthur Profes­ some such as La Belle were succeeding. Then Santana, human resources administrator, Dining sor in 2001. He served as executive officer for Caltech's first female professor, she would also Hodas, who is working on his PhD in Services; Marie-Odile Stotzer, programmer, astronomy 1997-2000. become the first tenured woman-but not with­ physics at Caltech, has been selected by Seismology Lab; Tadao Takada, postdoctoral out a long struggle. Denied tenure twice in the the American Physical Society (APS) to Anneila Sargent, professor of astronomy and scholar in chemistry; Leopoldo Villanueva, mid-1970s, even with an arbitrator ruling in her receive its 2004 Leroy Apker Award for utility mechanic, Facilities Management; Victoria director of the Owens Valley Radio Observatory, favor, she filed a grievance with the U.S. Equal achievement in undergraduate physics. Wakefield, host, Dining Services; Haiqing Wang, has been invited to be the 2005 Oort Professor at Employment Opportunity Commission in 1977. postdoctoral scholar in biology; Masanori Leiden University, the Netherlands; she will give The commission ruled for her and also charged He comes to Caltech from Williams Col­ Yoshida, visitor in chemistry; Ying Zhou, the Oort Lecture in April and then will visit for Caltech with discriminating against female fac­ lege, where he graduated this year with postdoctoral scholar in geophysics. approximately a month in the summer. A gradu­ ulty. After settling with the Institute, she finally a bachelor's degree in physics with high­ ate of the University of Edinburgh who received received tenure two years later. In the earlier est honors, and received the Howard P. January her PhD from Caltech in 1977, Sargent has served article, La Belle had said, "In general, it seems to Stabler Prize in Physics. as a member of the Institute's research faculty me that women have equal opportunity. As far Angelike Stathopoulos will join Caltech as as­ or professional staff ever since, being appointed as the rest of it is concerned, I like to have men The Apker Award, which one recipient sistant professor of biology, effective January professor in 1998 and director of the Owens Val­ open doors for me. I'm not about to throw away has declared "is like winning the Heisman 8. Noted for her innovative research in the area ley Radio Observatory that same year. She also my eyelashes or lingerie." Looking back from her Trophy for physics students," requires served as director of the Interferometry Science of molecular genetics of development, she has vantage point in 2004, she admits, "I was un­ that finalists give a half-hour oral presen­ used bioinformatic approaches to revise current Center from 2000 to 2003. aware of the very real problems for women." She tation-" a rigorous examination"-at APS knowledge of Drosophila development and has has tried ever since to help other women seeking published in what are considered the most selec­ Nai-Chang Yeh, professor of physics, has been tenure, and says Caltech's administration today is headquarters. tive biology journals. She received her BA from elected a fellow of the American Physical Society, "very concerned and sensitive." Hodas's senior thesis was on "The UC Berkeley in 1992 and her PhD from Stanford with her citation reading: "For her contributions stacked or freely jointed chain: a single­ to the understanding of cuprate superconduc­ University in 1998. stranded stacking in nucleic acids." The tors, vortex dynamics and phase transitions of extreme type-11 superconductors, and physical APS also recognized his work toward cre­ properties of ferromagnetic perovskite oxides." ating a fast RNA binding algorithm and She received her BS from National Taiwan Uni­ his multilane traffic simulation project. versity in 1983 and her PhD from MIT in 1988, and she joined Caltech the following year as assistant • professor. She was appointed professor in 1997. the academic week at Ca Itech 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 call (626) 395-3630. For f urther 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].

December 13, 2004-January 16,2005

1- Cl) Cl)

Monday, December 13 Thursday, December 16 Monday, January 1 0 Inorganic-Electrochemistry Seminar 153 Noyes, Sturdivant Lecture Hall, Thesis Seminar Caltech Library System Presents: Geological and Planetary Sciences 4 p.m.-" Recent Chemistry of High 100 Broad Center, 1 p.m.-"Peptide Chemical Structure Searching Seminar Oxidation State Molybdenum and Modulators of G Protein Signaling," Sherman Fairchild Library, multimedia 155 Arms, Robert Sharp Lecture Hall, Tungsten Complexes That Contain a W illiam Ja, g raduate student in chemis­ conference room, 2 to 3:30 p.m.-Learn 4 p.m.-"Submarine Bioalteration of Multiple Metal-Carbon Bond," Richard R. try, Caltech. to search with chemical structures Volcanic Glasses by Metal-Oxidizing Schrock, Keyes Professor of Chemistry, (both drawn and with templates) for Bacteria," Alexis Templeton, NSF MIT. property data and chemical reactions Postdoctoral Fellow, Marine Biology Tuesday, December 14 in Beilstein, Gmelin, SciFinder Scholar, Research Division, Scripps Institution and the Combined Chemical Dictionary. of Oceanography. Thursday, January 13 Thesis Seminar Information: http://library.caltech.edu/ 151 Cre llin, 11 a.m.-"Photophysical learning/default.htm. High Energy Physics Seminar Biochemistry/Bioorganic Seminar Properties of Protonated Aromatic 469 Lauritsen, 4 p.m.- "The Strong 147 Noyes, Sturdivant Lecture Hall, Hydrocarbons," Vadym Kapinus, CP Problem, Naturalness, and Extra 4 p.m.-" Mechanistic Enzymology of g ra duate student in chemistry, Caltech. Friday, December 24 Dimensions," Matthew Schwartz, DNA Repair, " Professor Gregory L. postdoctoral scholar, department of Verdine, department of chemistry and Caltech Library System Presents: Christmas holiday physics, UC Berkeley. Information: www. chemical biology, Harvard. Chemical Structure Searching thea ry.ca Itech .ed u/peop le/ca rol/sem ina r. Sh erman Fairchild Library, multimedia html. Chemical Engineering Seminar conference room, noon to 1:30 p.m .­ Friday, December 31 106 Spalding Lab, Hartley Memorial Lea rn t o search w ith chemical structures Applied Mathematics Colloquium Seminar Room, 4 p.m.- " New Biology (both drawn and with templates) for New Year's holiday 101 Guggenheim Lab, Lees-Kubota with Simple Polymers," Professor Den­ property data and chemical reactions Lecture Hall, 4:15 p.m.-Topic to nis Discher, chemical and biomolecular in Beilstein, Gmelin, SciFinder Scholar, be announced. Dr. Oleg Schilling, engineering department, University of Pennsylvania. Refreshme-nts, 113 Spald­ and the Combined Chemical Di ctionary. Wednesday, January 5 AX Division, Lawrence Li vermore ing Lab, 3:30p.m. Information: www. Inf ormation: http://library.ca ltech.ed u/ Laboratory. lea rn ing/default.htm. Environmental Science and che.caltech.edu/calendar/seminars.html. Engineering Seminar Physics Research Conference Carnegie Observatories Colloquium 142 Keck, 3:40 to 5 p.m.-"The Role Tuesday, January 11 201 E. Bridge, 4 p.m.-"Eiectrons in One Series of Cell Surface Macromolecules on W illiam T. Golden Auditorium, 813 Santa Bacterial Adhesion and Transport Chemical Physics Seminar Dimension: Spin-Charge Separation and Barbara Street, 3:30 to 5 p.m.- " The in Aquatic Environments," Sharon 147 Noyes, Sturdivant Lecture Hall, Localization," Amir Yacoby, professor of physics, Weizmann Institute of Ro le of Starbursts in the Evolution of Walker, assistant professor, chemical 2 p.m.-"From Three Dimensions Science, Israel. Refreshments, 114 E. Gala xies," Professor Betsy Barton, and environmental engineering, UC to Two: Biology and Chemistry at Bridge, 3:45 p.m. department of physics and astronomy, Riverside. Information: www.ese.caltech. Interfaces," Professor Milan Mrksich, UC Irvine. Refreshments, 3:30p.m . edu/seminars/index.html. chemistry department, University of Chicago. Ulric B. and Evelyn L. Bray Seminar Friday, January 14 in Political Economy Thursday, January 6 Swift Lecture 25 Baxt er, 4 p.m.-"Pol itical Equili bria 22 Gates Annex, 4 p.m.-" Catalytic Chemical Physics Seminar 147 Noyes, Sturdivant Lecture Hall, and Smooth Elections," No rman DNA World Conference Reduction of Dinitrogen at Room 4 p.m.-Topic to be announced. Schofiel d, Taussig Professor of Political Broad Center, Rock Seminar Room, Temperature at a Single Molybdenum Eco nomy, Washington University in St. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.- "Engineering a DNA Center," Richard R. Schrock, Keyes Professor Gerard Meijer, Fritz-Haber­ lnstitut der Max-Pianck-Gesellschaft. Louis. World" will explore the possibility of Professor of Chemistry, MIT. engineering sophisticated molecular lnorganic-Organometallics Seminar General Biology Seminar systems in which all major functional 151 Crellin, 4 p.m.-" Anion Effects in 11 9 Kerckhoff, 4 p.m.-"Regulation of roles are played by nucleic acids. Wednesday, January 12 Hematopoiesis by Cytokine Receptors Continues through January 8. Regis­ Ziegler-Natta Polymerization," Steven Baldwin, graduate student in chemistry, and M icro RNAs," Harvey Lodish, tration (by December 13): www.cbcd. Control and Dynamical Systems Caltech. Whitehead Inst itute, MIT. caltech.edu/dnaworld/index.html. Seminar Location to be announced, 11 a.m .­ Physics Research Conference " Piecewise-Holonomic Mechanics, German Language Film Series Wednesday, December 15 201 E. Bridge, 4 p.m.- "The Geography Hybrid Dynamical Systems, and Baxter Lecture Hall, 7:30to 10 p.m.-The of Extra Dimensions," Sergei Gukov, Escaping Cockroaches," Professor Ph ilip Inheritors (1984), Austria. Directed and cowritten by Walter Bannert. English Thesis Seminar Clay Mathematics Institute Long- Holmes, department of mechanical subtitles. 106 Spa lding Lab, Hartley Memorial Term Prize Fellow, Harvard University. and aerospace engineering, Princeton Seminar Room, 1 p.m.- "Structure, Refreshments, 114 E. Bridge, 3:45p.m. University. Check CDS website for Dynamics, and Properties of Arti­ location. Information: www.cds.caltech. ficial Prot ein Hydrogels Assembled edu/research/seminars/seminar.cgi. Through Coiled-Coil Domains," Wei Friday, January 7 Shen, grad uate student in chemical Control and Dynamical Systems enginee ring, Caltech. lnorganic-Organometallics Seminar Seminar 151 Crellin, 4 p.m.-" Development Location to be announced, 1:30 p.m.­ of Inorganic Sensors for Biological "The Response Dynamics of Neural Applications," Karn Sorasaenee, Oscillator Populations," Professor Jeff postdoctoral scholar in chemistry, Moehlis, department of mechanical and Caltech. environmental engineering, UC Santa Barbara. Check CDS website for location. Information: www.cds.ca ltech .ed u/ research/seminars/semi nar.cg i. CampusEvents

Tuesday, December 14 Friday, December 24 Thursday, January 13 Ongoing events

Making the Transition to leadership for Christmas holiday Techniques for Identifying and Correcting Supervisors and Nonsupervisors Mistakes in Written Communication Tuesdays Brown Gym classroom, 8:30a.m . to 12:30 p.m.­ Credit Union Closure Brown Gym classroom, 8:30a.m. to 4 p.m.­ This course, designed for new and potential All branches of the Caltech Employees Federal This one-day program is designed for those Preschool Playgroup supervisors, focuses on basic management skills. Credit Union will be closed in observance of the whose job requires them to identify and Tournament Park, 10 a.m. to noon-Song and Information and registration: 395-8055 or diane. Christmas holiday. correct errors in their writing or the writing of storytime, crafts and free play for toddlers and [email protected]. others. Emphasis will be placed on developing preschoolers (from walking to age 4). Informa­ the ability to use proofreading techniques tion: 584-0970 or [email protected]. Amnesty International letter Writing Friday, December 31 and marks; identify common typographical Athenaeum Rathskeller, 7:30 p.m.-Caltech/ and character errors; and find and correct CIT Knitters Group Meeting grammatical, punctuation, and spelling errors. 256 Mudd Laboratory, South, noon-All levels of Pasadena AI Group 22 will host an informal New Year's holiday meeting to write letters on human-rights Additional emphasis is placed on the finer knitters and related handcrafters are welcome. points of proofreading and editing. Registration: We make items for others and ourselves. Infor­ abuses around the world. All are welcome. Credit Union Closure 395-8055 or [email protected]. mation: 395-6905. Refreshments. Information: (818) 354-4461 or All branches of the Caltech Employees Federal [email protected]. Visit our website at Credit Union will be closed in observance of the Caltech Baby Furniture and Household Caltech Shorinji Kempo Club www.its.caltech.edu/-aigp22. New Year's holiday. Equipment Brown Gymnasium, 7 p.m.-Learn effective self­ 234 S. Catalina, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.-Loans of defense and martial arts. Sessions are free. No kitchen and household necessities and baby experience required. Wear comfortable clothing. Wednesday, December 15 Thursday, January 6 furniture are made to members of the Caltech and JPL communities. No appointment is necessary. Caltech Tai Chi Club Haven House Holiday Gift Collection Caltech Baby Furniture and Household Information: 584-9773 or [email protected]. Winnett lounge, 7 p.m.-Meets Tuesdays and Bring new, unwrapped gifts-nonviolent toys, Equipment Fridays weekly. Sessions are free. Information: and new clothing for the mothers-or checks 234 S. Catalina, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.-Loans of www.its.caltech.edu/-taichi. made out to Haven House, to a collection box in kitchen and household necessities and baby Sunday, January 16 one of the following locations by December 15: furniture are made to members of the Caltech and 184 Alles, 238 Baxter, 216 Beckman Behavioral JPL communities. No appointment is necessary. Amnesty International Book Discussion Biology, 114 Broad Center, 157 Crellin, 271 S. Information: 584-9773 or [email protected]. Wednesdays Chester, 101 Keith Spaulding, 650 S. Wilson Ave. Group Cash gifts may be sent to S. Koceski, MC 216-76. Vroman's Bookstore, 695 E. Colorado Boulevard, Wednesdays in the Park second floor, 6:30 p.m .- This month's book has Tournament Park, 10 a.m. to noon-Every Asbestos Awareness Training Sunday, January 9 not yet been determined. All are welcome. Spon­ Wednesday there's conversation and coffee for 118 Keith Spalding Building, 8:30a.m.-This sored by Caltech/Pasadena AI Group 22. Visit parents and caregivers, and playtime and snacks course is designed to enhance employee Skeptics Society lecture Group 22 at www.its.caltech.edu/-aigp22. for children. Stop by and make new friends awareness of asbestos and its potential health Baxter Lecture Hall, 2 p.m.-"Collapse! How from around the world. Information: 793-2535 or hazards, as well as to provide guidelines for Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed," Dr. Jared [email protected]. safely working around asbestos-containing Diamond, professor of geography, UCLA. Donation materials. The Institute procedures for identifying is $8 for nonmembers and non-Caltech students. and managing asbestos-containing building Free to the Caltech/JPL community. Tickets and Thursdays materials will also be discussed. Registration: information: 794-3119 or [email protected]. Public Events information 395-6727 or [email protected]. A book signing will follow the lecture. Caltech Shorinji Kempo Club and tickets Brown Gymnasium, 7 p.m.-Learn effective self­ defense and martial arts. Sessions are free. No Thursday, December 16 Tuesday, January 11 395-4652, 1 (888) 2CALTECH, or events@ experience required. Wear comfortable clothing. caltech.edu. Individuals with a disability: Caltech Tai Chi Club Caltech Baby Furniture and Household Amnesty International letter Writing 395-4688 (voice) or 395-3700 (TDD). Visit Winnett lounge, 7 p.m.-Meets Tuesdays and Equipment Athenaeum Rathskeller, 7:30 p.m.-Caltech/ Public Events at www.events.caltech.edu. Fridays weekly. Sessions are free. Information: 234 S. Catalina, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.-Loans of Pasadena AI Group 22 will host an informal www.its.caltech.edu/-taichi. kitchen and household necessities and baby meeting to write letters on human-rights furniture are made to members of the Caltech and abuses around the world. All are welcome. JPL communities. No appointment is necessary. Refreshments. Information: (818) 354-4461 or Information: 584-9773 or [email protected]. [email protected]. Visit our website at www.its.caltech.edu/-aigp22. Sundays

Caltech Shorinji Kempo Friday, December 17 Braun Athletic Center, aerobics room, 3:30 Wednesday, January 12 p.m.-Learn effective self-defense and martial Argentine Tango: All-Night Milonga arts. Sessions are free. No experience required. Winnett lounge, 10:45 p.m. to 5 a.m.-Our all­ Bloodborne Pathogens Wear comfortable clothing. night Argentine Tango dance party will follow 118 Keith Spalding Building, noon-This course, a performance of Moti's "Love, Loss, Lust, designed for individuals who are exposed to and a Tango," an original dance production blood or other potentially infectious agents, to be performed at Barnsdall Gallery Theatre. presents information on preventing exposure Free lessons will take place from 10:45 to to bloodborne pathogens, including hepatitis B 11:30 p.m. Cost: $5 for students, $7 for others. and human immunodeficiency viruses. Requires Refreshments. Fresh waffles will be served registration; call 395-6727 or e-mail safety. at 3 a.m. Information: www.its.caltech.edu/ [email protected]. - ballroom/events.html. Information about the perform a nee: http://o rga n icta ngo. i nfo/1ove. htm.

Sunday, December 19

Amnesty International Book Discussion Group 187 S. Catalina Ave., unit 2, 6:30p.m.- This month's book is The Day the Leader Was Killed, by Naguib Mahfouz. All are welcome. Sponsored by Caltech/Pasadena AI Group 22. Visit Group 22 at www.its.caltech.edu/-aigp22. Caltech 336, December 9, 2004 5

Caltech 101 Grants fund a range of research

Elemental iron, Fe(O), also known as Caltech's II prehistory" Large grant, small-scale research zero-valent iron, has been shown to effec­ tively mitigate a wide range of environmen­ One November day in 1891, 35 students The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation tal contaminants. Fe(O) can be delivered to walked through the doors of the Wooster has awarded $25.4 million to Caltech to the subsurface environment by the injec­ Block (now part of Pasadena's Green establish the Nanoscale Systems Initia­ tion of Fe(O) nanoparticles. The study will Hotel) and attended the first classes of tive (NSI). Part of a $300 million commit­ compare particles in different size classes Throop University. Founded by Amos G. ment made in 2001, the grant will support to determine whether nanoparticles show Throop, an aging Chicago politician and a promising new research avenue-the enhanced reactivity in reducing organic Universalist minister, Throop was the only Share the love this creation of extremely tiny devices that will substrates based on their size when surface area institution to offer industrial training boost, and in some cases displace, today's area effects are accounted for. to elementary-school- through college­ season state-of-the-art electronic systems. If nanoparticle size is found to increase aged boys and girls. According to Caltech professor of phys­ effectiveness, the finding will significantly After a year, Throop's board of trustees Along with family gatherings, office par­ ics, applied physics, and bioengineering influence the use of Fe(O) materials in envi­ began to reconsider the school's mis- ties, and merriment, the holidays also are Michael Roukes, founding director of NSI, ronmental remediation, as well as provide sion. They renamed it Throop Polytechnic a time to remember those who are less the funding significantly augments work insight into the fundamental chemical prop­ Institute, moved it to new quarters, and fortunate. As is traditional, the Institute already at the forefront of nanoscience. erties of nanoparticles in these applications. expanded its program to encompass a has several opportunities for generous In January 2000, President Clinton visited Ultimately, the study seeks to help provide grammar and high school, a teacher­ Techers to lend a hand. Caltech to announce the launch ofthe viable, cost-effective commercial technolo­ training program, even a business school. Friday, December 10, is the deadline to National Nanotechnology Initiative, which gies for remediating such contaminants as Thanks to imaginative recruitment ploys­ return Angel gifts to Human Resources. has since led to an upsurge of research chlorinated solvents, nitrates, pesticides, including Rose Parade floats and Mando­ Affiliated with the Foothill Unity Center in activity among major U.S. institutions. The chemical byproducts, and other industrial or lin and Guitar Club tours-the Institute by Monrovia, the Angel program provides Kavli Nanoscience Institute was founded at inorganic contaminants. 1906 boasted 530 students, 23 of whom holiday gifts for low-income children in the Caltech this year with a $7.5 million grant. were working toward bachelor's degrees San Gabriel Valley. Please bring unwrapped Caltech's presence in nanoscience (the in the College of Science and Technology. gifts in bags, with angels attached to the study of the function of devices measur­ The emergence of the modern Caltech, outside, to Human Resources, 399 South ing less than a billionth of a meter) and Observing the roiling earth however, was still 15 years away. Holliston Avenue. nanotechnology (the engineering of such Adapted from "Caltech 101," a series If you missed your chance to be an an­ devices) began with famed physicist The 1960s theory of plate tectonics rocked that ran in the Pasadena Star-News. For gel, the biology division is sponsoring a Richard Feynman, who originated the geology's world by stating that the litho­ more tidbits on Caltech's history, culture, gift drive through Wednesday, December concept. His 1959 lecture, "There's Plenty sphere-the first 60 miles or so of our current research, and more, visit http:// 15, for Haven House, a local shelter for of Room at the Bottom," mapped out planet-is divided into about a dozen rigid today.caltech.edu and click on Caltech battered women and children. Founded possibilities for extremely small devices, plates that crawl along at rates of a few 101 at the lower right. in 1964, Haven House provides a safe using quantum mechanics. centimeters each year. Although the theory • refuge from domestic violence, as well as Caltech's two strong suits, Roukes says, explains the lithosphere's large-scale defor­ counseling, follow-up support, and public are nanobiotechnology, which merges mation over millions of years, says Caltech education and advocacy. nanodevice engineering with the molecular professor of geology Jean-Philippe Avouac, Donations of new, unwrapped, nonvio­ and cellular machinery of living systems, it doesn't account for the forces behind the lent toys; new clothing for mothers; and and nanophotonics, which employs new plates' movement, nor later contradictory VVanted:feedback checks or cash will help the shelter con­ materials technology and fabrication pro­ findings, e.g., that plates are not perfectly tinue providing services. Gift drop boxes cesses to develop novel nanodevices such rigid after all. on community are located at 184 Alles, 238 Baxter, 216 as optically active waveguides and micro­ Now, with a $13,254,000 grant from Beckman Laboratories, 114 Broad Center, lasers. The grant will assist with renovating the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, What are your thoughts on the meaning 157 Crellin, 263 South Chester Avenue (Fi­ and creating lab space, staffing, operations, Caltech has established the Tectonic Obser­ of community here on campus? The di­ nancial Services), 101 Keith Spalding, and and state-of-the-art equipment to allow vatory, which Avouac directs. Its goal is to versity statement subcommittee, whose 650 South Wilson Avenue (Central Plant). Caltech to further its work in those areas. provide new knowledge of the deformation mission is to "initiate discussion and Checks (made out to Haven House) or of the earth's crust, whether over a span of increase awareness about the value and cash gifts may be sent to Sandra Koceski, tens of seconds (a typical earthquake length) meaning of diversity at Caltech," is invit­ MC 216-76, or brought to 216 Beckman Size does matter-in reducing or tens of millions of years. Laboratories. For more information, e-mail Observatory scientists will study tec­ ing community members to give their pollution input on a recently drafted statement of [email protected] or call ext. 6806. tonic plate boundaries-where most earth­ Finally, the 10,000 Books for Ethiopia quakes, volcanoes, and other major earth community for the Institute, as well as to When it comes to reducing the harmful drive, to help stock a new library in Addis processes occur-in Taiwan, Sumatra, discuss ways that these core values can impacts of environmental pollution, size Ababa, has been extended through Friday, Central America, and North America to be brought to life on campus. does matter ... at least, that's the theory December 17. Needed are used college­ try to understand the cause of occasional The committee is looking to "capture that Janet Hering and Richard Flagan, level textbooks (no novels, please) in sci­ sharp changes in plate speed and direction; the many different voices represented on Caltech professors of environmental sci­ ence, leadership, management, psychology, the physical parameters controlling earth­ campus" by holding focus groups during ence and engineering, will be testing. business, social sciences, education, and quake timing, location, and size; and other the month of January. Community mem­ With a $120,000 grant from the Camille engineering, as well as Pentium II or better puzzles. bers interested in participating may send and Henry Dreyfus Foundation's 2004 computers. Drop books off at the Alumni The grant will be used to acquire tech­ an e-mail to [email protected] with Postdoctoral Program in Environmental House, 345 South Hill Avenue, or the nologies for measuring deformation and their name, e-mail address, extension, Chemistry, Hering and Flagan will recruit Caltech Y, now located west of the Athenae­ imaging the earth's interior, including seis­ and whether they are faculty, undergrad­ a postdoctoral scientist to help them ex­ um tennis courts in building 62. Contact Jer­ mometers, space-based GPS, satellite im­ uate, grad student, postdoc, or staff. amine strategies for reducing pollutants ry Houser at ext. 6747 or jhouser@caltech. ages, and geochemical "fingerprinting" of Also indicate any preference for a in aquatic ecosystems. specialized focus group (those without a edu with any questions. rocks. preference will be assigned to a general • • group): male undergraduate and gradu­ ate students; female undergraduate and Construction is graduate students; multicultural (African rolling along on the American, Latino, Native American, Pacif­ new underground parking garage, ic Islander); Asian American community; More card with a mountain international community; lesbian, gay, services online of dirt waiting bisexual, and transgender community; to be repacked faculty; or staff. The deadline to respond around and atop Card Services has added more features to is December 31. the concrete its new deposit and account management walls. located on • website. Caltech cardholders may now California Boulevard request replacements for expired, mal­ adjacent to the functioning, or lost cards at www.caltech­ Keith Spalding building, the 700- card.com. They may also pay online using space structure will SmartCash, personal account, or PTA, and open for use in early have their cards sent to them via campus 2005, crowned with mail the same day. To encourage custom­ a new athletic field. ers to use these new tools, Card Services has changed its hours from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday. Located in the Caltech Bookstore, the office can be reached at [email protected], ext. 6169, or www.caltechcard.com . • 6 Caltech 336, December 9, 2004

Bacher, from page 1 Internet, from page 1 of his career, serving as chair of Phys­ search for the Higgs particles thought to Caltech's ics, Mathematics, and Astronomy from be responsible for mass in the universe groundskeepers recently won an 1949 to 1962, and as Caltech provost and for supersymmetry and other fun­ honor for the from 1962 to 1969 and vice president and damentally new phenomena bearing on general excellence provost from 1969 to 1970. He became the nature of matter and space-time, in of their work and emeritus in 1976. an energy range made accessible by the landscaping from the Institute Professor of Theoretical Phys­ LHC for the first time. Professional Grounds Management ics, Emeritus, Robert Christy, who also While the SC2004 100+ Gbps demon­ Society. About 77 worked on the Manhattan Project, said stration required a major effort by the acres of the campus that next to Robert Andrews Millikan, teams, their sponsors, and partnerships are tended year­ Bacher was the person most important to with major international research and round by 30 workers. the Institute's early reputation in physics education network organizations, it is Milton Olander Ill, a grounds supervisor, and astronomy. "He was responsible for expected that networking on this scale holds the plaque, building Caltech physics after the war, in support of the largest science projects which will hang in and for making Caltech physics what it is (such as the LHC) will be commonplace the Campus Planning today," Christy said. within the next three to five years. building. Born August 31, 1905, in Ohio, Bacher • earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan in 1926 and his doctorate in 1930. He first came to Caltech in 1930 as a National Research Council Fellow, then held postdoctoral Palomar, from page 1 positions at MIT and the University of opens up a bold and exciting scientific Grounds award, from page 1 which are planted with seasonal flowers at least four times a year. The 3,300 campus Michigan before joining the Columbia future for the venerable 200-inch telescope, parking lots, and the ponds-a sizable trees include jacarandas with their clusters University faculty in 1934. Moving to but also demonstrates the next step on a 77 acres of the 126-acre campus. of lilac flowers; silk floss trees with their Cornell University in 1935, he became a path toward future large telescopes such "All the workers are dedicated and thorny trunks, pink blossoms, and large professor of physics and director of the as the Thirty-Meter Telescope." Such next­ really enjoy working at Caltech, and this pods; cassia trees with their yellow bunches Laboratory of Nuclear Studies; from 1940 generation instruments, he notes, will re­ is reflected in the campus," says Milton of blooms; tipuanas and their gold hibiscus­ to 1945, he was also affiliated with MIT's quire similar sodium-laser adaptive optics. Olander Ill, the grounds supervisor. He like flowers; and olive trees with their soft Radiation Laboratory and the Manhattan Also on the Caltech team are Viswa went to North Carolina in November to green leaves and dark fruit. Project. Velur, Rich Goeden, Bob Weber, and Khanh receive the plaque at the PGMS awards About 100 olive trees grow here, and At Caltech, Bacher shaped the pro­ Bui; the JPL Palomar team comprises lead­ ceremony and to attend landscaping they sometimes provide the groundskeep­ gram in high-energy physics, then a er Mitchell Troy, Gary Brack, Steve Guiwits, seminars. ers with a thorny problem, as the oil from burgeoning field, and was credited with Dean Palmer, Jennifer Roberts, Fang Shi, Olander has been tilling the soil at the trees' fruit can stain the concrete. bringing Richard Feynman and Murray Thang Trinh, Tuan Truong, and Kent Wal­ Caltech for 22 years and remembers "We treat them to control the fruit with a Geii-Mann to campus. He also initiated lace. Professor Edward Kibblewhite, Uni­ when Caltech last won the same honor. suppressant, and people sometimes complain the radio-astronomy program by creating versity of Chicago, built the project's laser, "The last time we won was in 1985," that we are working with chemicals," Emer­ the Owens Valley Radio Observatory, to and Palomar's Andrew Pickles, Robert he says, adding that the Institute received son says. "But the chemicals that we use on this day one of the leading facilities of its Thicksten, and Hal Petrie oversaw its instal­ the further distinction of having a picture campus are the most environmentally friend­ kind. lation, supported by Merle Sweet, John of Bechtel Mall on the cover of Landscape ly. We are inspected monthly and submit Winner of the1946 President's Medal Henning, and Steve Einer. Funding comes Management Magazine, the society's publi­ reports to the state agricultural department." for Merit, Bacher was a former president from the Gordon and Betty Moore Founda­ cation. The editors included an article on the Although measures are taken to control of the American Physical Society and of tion, the Oschin Family Foundation, and general excellence of Caltech's grounds. harmful pests, the campus is home to ur­ the International Union of Pure and Ap­ the National Science Foundation Center for Like all successful professionals, the ban wildlife, she adds, including parrots plied Physics. In addition, he was a U.S. Adaptive Optics. grounds workers make their job look that feast in the trees, an egret that returns delegate to the nuclear-test-ban negotia­ • easy, but the health and beauty of the to the ponds every year, opossums and tions in 1958, and a member of various campus foliage and trees is the result of raccoons, and an untold number of squir­ committees for the State Department, year-round labor. rels. A crow returns to a nest near Parsons­ Department of Defense, and National Every season brings with it a new Gates every year to hatch her eggs and Academy of Sciences. set of tasks, and every species of grass, fledge the baby crows, she says. The ponds Bacher's wife of 64 years, Jean Dow 2005 Institute shrub, flower, and tree has its specific support turtles, fish, crayfish, and frogs. Bacher, died in 1994. He is survived by a requirements, including feeding, trim­ The coming year will present the grounds son, Andrew; a daughter, Martha Eaton; holidays ming, and maintenance schedules, Emer­ keepers with the return ofthe north athletic and two grandchildren. son says. Then there are the challenges Martin Luther field, a vast emerald expanse of turf that will • Monday, January 17 posed by visitors to the campus. cap the subterranean parking structure on King Day "One of our biggest challenges is the California Boulevard. Monday, February 21 President's Day high number of campus events, such as "We are going to grow Bermuda grass Monday, May 30 Memorial Day Seminar Day and Commencement," she on 16 inches of soil. We've got to make sure 336 holiday breather Friday, July 1 Floating holiday says. "We have to delay our irrigation the irrigation is installed properly, and that Monday, July 4 Independence Day schedules and make sure that everything This Caltech 336 issue will be the last of it's got proper drainage," Emerson says. Monday, September 5 Labor Day is perfect. And we deal with student the calendar year. We' ll take a few weeks' "It's on a major street and a lot of people Thursday and Friday, pranks, such as Ditch Day." That yearly break before the next issue, which pub­ will see if there's a brown spot." November 24-25 Thanksgiving event sees groups of exuberant under­ lishes January 13. The 336 staff wishes As for the recent award, it will be displayed Friday, December 23 Floating holiday class students traipsing across every everyone a safe and happy holiday sea­ in a public place for all to see, Olander says. Monday, December 26 Christmas corner of the campus, collecting clues left son. "The plaque will hang in the lobby of the Friday, December 30 Floating holiday behind by ditching seniors. Campus Planning building, right next to the Caltech is host to a surprising variety other one," he says. of plants in addition to those that add color to the courtyards and flowerbeds, •

CaltechU) U) 336.... U) U) ......

The campus community biweekly California Institute of Technology December 9, 2004, vol. 4, no. 18 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