Volume 48, Number 1, Spring 2007 ENGINEERING VANDERBILT Cleaning the Past, Greening the Future A Vanderbilt-led multi-university team is tackling the nation’s nuclear waste issues.

uclear power might be “green power,” but only if nuclear Nwaste can be managed properly. Vanderbilt is leading a multi-univer- sity consortium in a major effort to improve the nation’s efforts to deal with include faculty nuclear waste safely and effectively. The members from consortium, originally formed to advise Rutgers University, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) University of Pittsburgh, on site remediation, its work and its stakeholders on ways to manage New York University, Robert Wood requires engineers and scien- 4 the nation’s defense-related nuclear Johnson Medical School, tists to understand the com- wastes, consists of engineers and scien- Howard University, plete life cycle of nuclear tists who have participated in efforts in University of Arizona power generation, weapons the last decade to clean up nuclear- and Oregon State production, and environmental weapons production sites and to dis- University. The team kicked off its col- impacts from nuclear weapons tests. pose of nuclear wastes safely. laborative effort with a meeting at Now these nuclear waste experts Vanderbilt in December. Expertise for Successful Solutions hope to leverage their knowledge to “CRESP has proven its capability and The consortium draws on the help the U.S. find safe ways to effec- usefulness to the nation in investigating expertise of facul- 6 tively manage nuclear waste from civil- and recommending solutions to nuclear ty in disciplines ian nuclear power as well. They see this waste risk-management challenges,” says such as engineering effort as critical if the nation is to David S. Kosson, Vanderbilt professor law, ecology, public health, accept expanded nuclear power-gener- and chairman of civil and environmen- health physics, policy and orga- ating capacities. tal engineering and co-principal investi- nizational dynamics. “We cannot move into the future of gator of CRESP. Vanderbilt will lead the organi- 8 expanded nuclear power generation “Now CRESP is focusing on helping zation into a new phase of develop- without cleaning up the legacy wastes the DOE to meet its most pressing chal- ment designed to improve the clarity of of the past,” says co-principal investi- lenges in nuclear remediation for the the technical standards for nuclear waste gator Charles W. Powers, Vanderbilt nation,” he says. management, based on experience IN THIS ISSUE professor of environmental engineer- developed earlier by CRESP to help ing. “We must first solve nuclear waste A $150 Billion Problem guide both nuclear weapons sites reme- 2 Going Global management issues that have plagued Powers notes that, even without diation and safe management of wastes defense and civilian nuclear waste nuclear power generation expansion produced by nuclear power plants. 3 New Hope for Cancer management programs.” plans, much remains to be done to “The proposed Global Nuclear The multi-university Consortium for handle the nuclear waste that already Energy Partnership raises additional 4 Helicopter Safety Risk Evaluation with Stakeholder has been created. Cleanup of the U.S. nuclear management issues,” Kosson Participation (CRESP) is being funded nuclear complex has already cost more says. “The DOE plan to reduce waste 5 “Smart” Spacecraft by a DOE cooperative agreement initial- than $70 billion, with future costs pro- management problems and to promote ly of $6 million per year for the next five jected to exceed $150 billion. On the nonproliferation through this partner- 6 Imaging Center Opens years. The group will continue to work civilian side, spent nuclear fuel is cur- ship depends in large measure on with DOE and its stakeholders on how rently stored in 39 states at some 122 spent fuel reprocessing, which presents 7 Driving Ambition to clean up legacy wastes from the sites, awaiting final disposition. Plans a variety of new challenges for nuclear nuclear arms race and extend its efforts to use Yucca Mountain in Nevada as waste management. 8 Images of WWII to help establish a solid technical foun- the national nuclear waste repository “There is great overlap technically dation for safe management of nuclear have been sidetracked by a variety of between the remediation of former waste from a wide range of sources. technical and political challenges, and nuclear weapons residuals and the Vanderbilt’s partners in CRESP despite nearly $6 billion spent to effective and safe management of develop the facility, no firm date has peaceful nuclear power operations, so DANIEL DUBOIS been set for completion. CRESP’s expertise will be made avail- Kosson delineates several issues that able to help integrate solutions for Vanderbilt faculty and CRESP are help- nuclear waste management.” ing the DOE address: safe and reliable The selection of Vanderbilt to lead management techniques and processes the consortium is based on the breadth for handling of nuclear wastes; remedi- and depth of expertise at the university ation of nuclear weapons complex in nuclear remediation. “Frank Parker sites; development of final-disposition is one of the world leaders in nuclear site plans for nuclear waste (Yucca energy and remediation and served as Mountain); optimizing the nuclear fuel head of radioactive waste disposal cycles of the future; and education and research for the International Atomic communication of nuclear waste issues Energy Agency,” says Kosson. “Jim to the public. Clarke is on the U.S. Nuclear CRESP has built a strong founda- Regulatory Commission Advisory tion from which to help DOE tackle Committee on Nuclear Waste. Mark these issues. Since 1995 CRESP has Abkowitz is on the president-appoint- been researching ways to advance cost- ed Nuclear Waste Technical Review effective cleanup of the nation’s nuclear Board. The list goes on and on.” Professors Charles Powers, left, and David Kosson are co-principal investigators on a five- —Vivian F. Cooper year, multimillion-dollar initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Energy to help the weapons-production waste sites and nation manage waste from civilian nuclear power sources. test facilities. Although CRESP focuses

Biomedical Civil and Environmental Mechanical Chemical Electrical Engineering and Computer Science The Globalization of Engineering Forecasting the Spread of Cancer A multidisciplinary effort offers new hope for predicting the growth of malignant tumors. Sid Banwart, senior vice president for the Human Services Divi- outside the U.S., we’re in the middle of a cultural transfor- sion at Caterpillar Inc., spoke to senior engineering students at a mation as a major company that is trying to be truly global. he physician clicks on a small tumors, but we can do so little. Why is Microenvironment of a Tumor microenvironment,” says Quaranta. design seminar last fall. This article is an excerpt from his One of my colleagues was born of Italian parents in Belgium, Sid Banwart was educated in Belgium, worked for Caterpillar in Brazil, in black dot on his computer screen. that?” asks Quaranta. “I think the rea- The team’s model is an initial effort. It The current model predicts that in remarks. An engineer himself, Banwart started working for France and in Switzerland, and is now running a major oper- T The dot—which represents about son is that we need additional tools, and is sophisticated enough to begin cap- mild environmental conditions—imag- Caterpillar in 1968 and has held engineering, supervisory and ation within Caterpillar in the U.S. He speaks five languages a thousand cancer cells—begins to those are the tools of mathematics.” turing tumor behavior without being ine a lush rainforest, says Quaranta— management posts at Caterpillar facilities in Illinois, Indiana and is truly a global citizen—and he’s an engineer. That’s “grow,” morphing into a mass with fin- The scientific team responsible for so complicated that computing power many cell types coexist and the tumor and in Mexico. He was first named a vice president in 1997. what the future is like. ger-like projections that looks like an creating this new computational model and running time for simulations shape is round with smooth edges, char- We view diversity broadly: Yes, it’s gender and ethnicity, but invasive tumor. includes core members Cummings; become limiting. The current model acteristic of a noninvasive tumor. Under Globalization and ’d like to challenge you today with an idea that may be it’s also international experience and cross-functional experi- This is more than a frighteningly Quaranta; Alissa Weaver, assistant pro- simulates about four months of tumor harsh environmental conditions—imag- uncomfortable: You will be competing not just in the United ence. We believe that bright people—and engineers certainly ugly projection. In the future it could fessor of cancer biology at Vanderbilt; growth in about eight hours. ine a desert—the most aggressive cell communications IStates but around the globe, because engineers are available fall into that category—have a lot to offer. We look for leaders, mean the difference between successful and Alexander Anderson, associate In the model, when cells divide they types dominate and the tumor shape everywhere these days. Everywhere. Lots of them. people who can lead in any function, not just in engineering. treatment and the euphemisti- has fingering, invasive pro- are changing the I can tell you from living in Mexico that Mexico, for one, is So how can you prepare for the future? First, I encourage cally termed “negative out- jections. In particular, the landscape of how graduating more engineers per capita than the U.S. If you can you to seek opportunities to work with people from different come” for the cancer patient. investigators found that they put ingeniero on your business card in Mexico, that’s a big deal. backgrounds. You can do that at a place like Vanderbilt. The Vanderbilt engineers can modulate the tumor’s we work. We’re all It’s a status job. In the U.S. the number of engineering grads is Second, work in teams. This is how you learn to communicate and physicians who developed degree of invasiveness by not keeping pace with the number of engineering jobs. And with others. Your ability to communicate is almost second to this powerful computer simula- changing a single condition: looking globally for what do you suppose the impact of that is? Large companies none in terms of your ability to be successful. Third, learn a tion anticipate that tools like oxygen concentration. talent. We’re creating like Caterpillar are beginning to develop engineering centers second language. Fourth, understand business. When an engi- this will be used to predict an The findings suggest that outside the United States. We’re importing engineers into the neer is involved on a team to design a product, it’s not all just individual tumor’s clinical pro- current chemotherapy more international U.S. who are educated in other countries. But we’re also work- pure design. You must meet constraints in cost, constraints in gression and help formulate approaches, which create a ing hard to help promote engineering as a career field in the time, constraints in function. If you don’t understand business, personalized treatment plans. harsh microenvironment in teams of engineers. U.S., and to enhance opportunities for women and minorities. you won’t be as relevant as someone else who does. The model was developed the tumor, may leave behind Globalization and communications are changing the land- Finally, seek educational experiences. In fact, demand them. by John R. Hall Professor of the most aggressive and scape of how we work. We’re all looking globally for talent. The real world is cross-functional, and you need some cross- Chemical Engineering Peter T. invasive tumor cells. And We’re creating more international teams of engineers. Did you functional experiences. Seek educational experiences that Cummings with Professor of there is anecdotal evidence, ever think you might be on a team with people who are work- demonstrate the implications of globalization and allow you to Cancer Biology Vito Quaranta. says Quaranta, to support ing in other countries? Or how about designing products in manage projects with other disciplines. They and their associates have the idea that changes to the one country for sale in another? With technical expertise being an integral part of creating worked for the past two years microenvironment result in There are still a few companies, like Caterpillar, where you growth in business today, engineers can find themselves to develop the mathematical a tumor with more or less can have several different careers inside the same company. We responsible for all different ages in the life cycle of a product. model for cancer invasion pow- invasive potential. Such have more than 11,000 engineers employed in 157 locations erful enough for this purpose. manipulations of the worldwide, but look at the areas they work in. Some serve the The result was published as an microenvironment could more traditional engineering functions, but others work in entirely theoretical paper in the offer new directions for can- logistics and marketing, and we have a few engineers like me journal Cell. If they are right, cer treatment, he says. SNAPSHOT OF CATERPILLAR: working in human resources. Half the marketing people we this approach represents a sea Next up for the group hire every year have degrees in engineering. Most of our design Headquartered in Peoria, Ill., Caterpillar Inc. is the world’s change in how biology is done. are in vitro and in vivo control is in the U.S., but we also have design control in Japan, largest manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, Actually, it’s not so different experiments designed to diesel and natural gas engines, and industrial gas turbines. France, Belgium, Brazil, India, the UK and China. We value from forecasting the weather. test, validate and refine the With annual revenues approaching $40 billion, Caterpillar “Today we can know pretty mathematical model. that global engineering experience. has 300 operations in 40 countries and sells its products in well that for the next few days, more than 200 countries. The company employs 90,000 Citizens of the World we’re going to expect good —Leigh MacMillan, Engineering Vanderbilt, the newsletter of the people worldwide, and its equipment dealerships employ an Vanderbilt University School of Engineering, is Because we’re an international company, because half our additional 100,000 people. weather or that there’s a storm for Exploration, Vanderbilt’s published in cooperation with the Office of on the way,” says Quaranta. “That’s professor of mathematics at the Uni- online research journal, Advancement Communications for alumni, par- sales are outside the U.S., and because half our people are randomly choose from a set of 100 ents of current students, faculty, and other the kind of predictive power we want versity of Dundee, working with a “phenotypes”—behaviors that result with Vivian F. Cooper friends of the School of Engineering. to generate with our model for highly interactive group of cancer biol- from distinct genetic characteristics. For Volume 48, Number 1, Spring 2007 cancer invasion.” ogists, bioengineers, imaging scientists, example, a cell might choose character- Kenneth F. Galloway, Dean computational biologists and mathe- istics that allow it to divide more quickly Art Overholser, Senior Associate Dean Virtual Predictions maticians. The development was sup- or to detach from its neighbors. The The model suggests Katy Brandt, Associate Dean for Administration Student Kudos The Vanderbilt team and colleagues at ported by funding from the National investigators set the environmental con- Dean’s Office: (615) 322-2762 the microenvironment David M. Bass, Associate Dean for Development the University of Dundee in Scotland Cancer Institute’s Integrative Cancer ditions, which include the oxygen and and Alumni Relations First Place for Computer Science Undergrads Engineering Posters Take Honors developed a computational model for Biology Program. nutrient concentrations and the land- (615) 343-8872 around tumor cells [email protected] A team of Vanderbilt computer science undergraduates Senior biomedical engineering student Erica Bozeman cancer invasion and described the “We have mathematics driving scape of connective tissue that sur- George Cook, Associate Dean for Research & took first place in one of the 10 site-based competitions won the first-place research award at the Tennessee Louis model in the Dec. 1, 2006, issue of Cell. experimentation,” says Quaranta. The rounds the cells. They were surprised to determines the Graduate Studies The model—a series of mathematical team will tailor its biological experi- find that the microenvironment around (615) 343-5032 of the annual Association for Computing Machinery Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation Undergraduate tumor’s ultimate [email protected] International Collegiate Programming Contest, Mid- Research Conference in November for her poster, “Devel- equations that drive computer simula- ments to test and validate the model. If the tumor determines both the tumor’s Burgess Mitchell, Assistant Dean for tions of tumor growth—suggests that the experimental data don’t fit the pre- shape and its composition. Student Services Central Region. Juniors Evan Makowski opment of an Adherence Diagnostic cellular makeup and (615) 322-2567 and Dan Smith and sophomore Roger Assay for the In-Vitro Analysis of Strepto- the microenvironment around tumor dictions from the model, either the “What we get is a picture of cells [email protected] Wu defeated 16 area collegiate teams at coccus Pneumoniae Surface Adhesin A cells determines the tumor’s ultimate experiments or the model needs to be that are evolving and growing within a invasive potential. Phillip B. Tucker, Interim Editor cellular makeup and invasive potential. corrected, he says. (615) 322-3989 the five-hour event, held Nov. 5, 2006, DANIEL DUBOIS (PsaA) Protein and the Human Cell [email protected] at Tennessee Technological University, Receptor E-cadherin.” The conference Today a tumor’s size and shape are “What is happening in biology is Vivian F. Cooper, Information Officer evaluated, but they can be poor indica- similar to trends seen in recent decades (615) 343-6314 by correctly solving six of the seven was held in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Boze- [email protected] problems in the shortest amount of man, who is from Decatur, Ga., is presi- tors of invasive potential; a very small in the physical sciences,” says Cum- SUSAN URMY Keith A. Wood, Designer time. The team also finished second in dent of the Vanderbilt collegiate section tumor, for example, can be highly inva- mings, who is an expert in computer Donna Pritchett, Art Director the region behind Northwestern Uni- of the Society of Women Engineers. sive. Even “molecular signatures”—pro- simulation. “Computational models Sid Banwart • Joanne L. Beckham • files of molecules that suggest how like this, in which complex behavior Emily Borders • Neil Brake • Vivian F. Cooper • versity, defeating 122 other teams. By Vanderbilt engineering graduate stu- Daniel Dubois • Mardy Fones • Steve Green • doing so, the Vanderbilt team is eligible dents were awarded first and second tumor cells will behave—are not emerges from computer simulations Leigh MacMillan • Cindy Thomsen • entirely predictive, adds Quaranta. grounded in understanding phenom- Jennifer Zehnder, Contributors to compete in the International World place in the 2006 Nanoscience and Finals this year in Japan. Nanotechnology Forum Poster Compe- “When a patient comes in with a ena at a smaller scale, have been a sta- Visit the School of Engineering on the Web: tumor,” he says, “we’d like to understand ple of chemistry, physics and related www.vuse.vanderbilt.edu Senior Matthew DeVries was tition for their presentations on campus Vanderbilt University Alumni Publications on responsible for team practices and Nov. 8. Chemical engineering student that particular tumor and the chances engineering disciplines for a long time. the Web: www.vanderbilt.edu/alumni/pubs.htm training, and electrical engineering and Christina Payne won first place for that metastasis is going to occur. Does In those disciplines the smaller scale is Please send news items and changes of address computer science lecturer Julie John- Erica Bozeman “Molecular Dynamics Simulation of a that patient need to be treated very the single atom or molecule. to the editor at: aggressively, or not so aggressively?” “In the case of the cancer invasion VU Station B 357703, 2301 Vanderbilt Place, son acted as the faculty team coach. Nanoscale Device for Fast Sequencing Nashville, TN 37235-7703 Another Vanderbilt team, consisting of DeVries, fresh- of DNA,” and materials science student Anuradha He and colleagues opted for a new model, the smaller scale is the single man Andrew Jallouk and senior Ari Wilson, finished Bulusu won second place for “Modeling of Thermoelec- approach: using the tools of mathemat- cell, for which our experimental collab- Vanderbilt University is committed to principles of Key members of the international research team are Alissa Weaver, Peter Cummings, equal opportunity and affirmative action. fourth at Tennessee Tech and 21st in the region. tric Properties of Nanofilms and Nanowires.” ics to tackle the complex problem of orators can measure many properties— cancer behavior. “Particularly in cancer how it moves, how it responds to its Alexander Anderson (telecommuting from the University of Dundee in Scotland), and Vito © 2007 Vanderbilt University Quaranta. Together they are developing a powerful new computer simulation of tumor biology, we know so much about environment, how it mutates.” growth that could set the stage for customized cancer treatment.

2 Engineering Vanderbilt Engineering Vanderbilt 3

Biomedical Civil and Environmental Mechanical Chemical Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Vanderbilt Helping to Ensure Helicopter Safety GIS Technology Helps Caribbean Islands in Transition

ll it took to rip the roof off Aloha Helicopter safety has become an their designs, more understanding is or more than 350 years, sugar was projects in St. Kitts when they were ning officer with the Ministry of member of the project team, the great-

Airlines Flight 243 in 1988 was the increasing concern in recent years needed about the characteristics and NEIL BRAKE king on the Caribbean islands of St. asked in October 2005 to do the prelim- Development early in his career. est challenge lay in coping with the A gradual corrosion around rivet because the number of emergency performance of these materials under F Kitts and Nevis. Changing global inary land-suitability study. The team “Better information leads to better absence of key data such as soil chem- holes that had, over time, created tiny medical-service helicopter accidents in various operating conditions, says economics, however, have ended sugar’s utilized valuable local knowledge from economic decisions,” says Daniel. istry while maximizing the GIS analysis. cracks in the Boeing 737’s fuselage. The the United States nearly doubled from Mahadevan, a professor of civil and reign, and a cadre of Vanderbilt Daniel (a national of St. Kitts and Toward that goal, the team collected “The islands’ dependence on rainfall as results were sudden—and fatal. the mid-1990s to 2004. Although most environmental engineering. engineering researchers is using Nevis), who served 11 years as a plan- hard-copy data from a variety of the only meaningful source of fresh The incident, which caused one of these accidents were caused by chal- “Lighter materials can translate into geographic information system (GIS) sources on the islands and input it into water limited the possible options for death, 65 injuries, and a traumatic lenging weather, difficult terrain condi- fuel economies,” he says, “but the indus- technology to help the islands map suit- the GIS database, combining it with a agricultural recommendations,” he says. open-air ride in an “airplane convert- tions and pilot error, the FAA wants to try needs more data on how these new able land for non-sugar agriculture. variety of weather, geographic, popula- Since the study’s completion, the

materials will perform over time. We are “GIS is a computer-based tool for DANIEL DUBOIS tion, development, community and team has observed St. Kitts’ use of their going to help develop that knowledge mapping and analyzing locations in agricultural information. They also recommendations. Under consideration More emergency medical-service helicop- base to guide rotorcraft design as well as ters fill the skies than ever before, includ- combination with factors such as weath- talked with government officials and are expansion of tourism, increased res- maintenance schedules.” ing those in Vanderbilt University Medical er, geography, soil, hydrology and topog- community groups. idential development, and serious con- Center’s LifeFlight fleet—and the FAA raphy,” says Edsel B. Daniel, research “In the process we assembled an sideration of pineapples, peanuts and wants to make sure pilots are given every Reliability Put to the Test safety advantage. assistant professor of civil and environ- important land-use layer [of informa- other fruit as cash crops. Mahadevan and his Vanderbilt team will mental engineering. He is team leader tion] and superimposed it to find where Meanwhile, the GIS data collection work with subcontractor Bell Helicopter materials, as well as how defects grow on a St. Kitts study funded by the land use would conflict,” explains for the land-suitability study may serve Textron Inc. of Fort Worth, Texas, to test in size. The company also will advise United Kingdom’s Department for Daniel. For instance, while a site might as the foundation for the islands’ the mettle of the materials used in heli- Vanderbilt researchers on useful and International Development (DFID). be ideal for grazing livestock, its prox- search for a new solid waste disposal copter components. “In addition to practical demonstration problems with “GIS data allows us to make recommen- imity to homes would be a barrier. Or site. “Accurate information is crucial to needing information about the materi- which to test the research. dations on the potential for new income while peanuts might be a good replace- making the right choices,” says Daniel. als, we need better understanding of “This research differs from most sources and land uses.” St. Kitts ceased ment crop for sugar cane, it’s not possi- “It’s exciting to be part of this process how the entire structure of a helicopter studies on helicopter-damage tolerance production of sugar for export in July ble to grow enough on the islands for it and to see how valuable information functions under a variety of perform- in that it will incorporate uncertainties 2005 after years of government support Professor Edsel Daniel, who grew up on a to be profitable. can be when it’s collected and dis- ance requirements,” says Mahadevan. in geometry, material behavior, mis- left the nation’s economy in the red. sugar-cane estate on St. Kitts in the According to Derek L. Bryant, a played in a way people can understand Caribbean, is leading a study of the The team’s first step will be to per- sion operations, and initial flaw distri- Vanderbilt researchers were already island’s land-use options now that sugar Vanderbilt research associate of civil and use it.” form controlled laboratory tests on new bution within the rotorcraft compo- working on and exploring new GIS production for export has ceased there. and environmental engineering and —Mardy Fones materials to get an idea about how and nents,” Mahadevan says. “As in the where cracks and other flaws might Aloha Airlines accident, sometimes materialize under various conditions. more than one flaw can interact, caus- This data will be leveraged to pre- ing catastrophic results.” dict the materials’ behavior throughout The computing methods to be used the life of the aircraft using various in the research have been utilized in a Making “Smart Systems” Even Smarter for Spacecraft DANIEL DUBOIS Professor Sankaran Mahadevan and his team of Vanderbilt researchers are helping the computer models, including computer variety of other risk and reliability appli- Federal Aviation Administration in its efforts to ensure helicopters against mechanical failure. simulation and probability software. cations for automotive, spacecraft and ecause no human pilots will guide running a printer. But with “smart sys- These and other computational tools aircraft components, but this is the first the aerial vehicles and autonomous tems,” computer scientists literally have ible” for the rest of the passengers, ensure that the equipment gives pilots will be used to determine how a heli- time they have been applied to helicop- B spacecraft of the future, the com- to think outside the box because the sparked two decades of national pro- every advantage. copter most likely would be affected by ter components and materials. In addi- puters flying them will have to be pretty computer must control mechanical sys- grams designed to make aging air- “The margin for error in flying a failures within various components. tion to providing a risk and reliability darned smart—maybe even a few orders tems that obey the laws of physics, as planes more reliable. helicopter, especially in rescue mis- “Finally, this information will guide foundation for helicopters, the research of magnitude smarter than the ones run- well as the man-made, mathematical Now the Vanderbilt School of sions, is very slim,” says the project’s us in recommending inspection and project will refine and expand the com- ning “smart” equipment these days. laws of computer science. Engineering is leading a new Federal principal investigator, Sankaran maintenance schedules,” Mahadevan puting methods, says Mahadevan. Vanderbilt engineering researchers Aviation Administration initiative to Mahadevan. “We want to make sure says. “The FAA wants to create the “In the past few years, our group has have kicked off a $5 million ground- Systems That Work Together apply and expand aging aircraft reliabili- helicopter pilots don’t have to deal optimal schedule of inspection and been successful in developing such breaking effort to develop the computer The underlying challenge is the need to ty techniques to helicopters. Although with equipment failure, such as metal maintenance to ensure against cata- models for complex fatigue and frac- software required to operate the next marry two complex disciplines that the project is focused on helicopters, fatigue, on top of the challenges of strophic failure without wasting ture, which have shown excellent per- generation of military and space vehi- diverged years ago, says Sztipanovits. researchers believe much of what is shifting winds, unseen obstacles like resources by redundant inspections.” formance for a wide variety of materials. cles safely and reliably. Physics, meet Computer Science. learned could be applied to other types power lines, and space limitations of Bell Helicopter Textron, which pro- The FAA project will build on this suc- The Vanderbilt Institute for Software But getting the right hand to know of aircraft. The five-year, $1.5 million maneuvering in tight spots.” duces a wide range of commercial and cess and will have a strong impact on Integrated Systems (ISIS) is heading up what the left hand is doing is profound- project kicked off with a meeting last As the aviation industry moves military helicopters, will contribute design methods and risk management.” a team that includes researchers from ly more difficult to do than it is to November in Atlantic City, N.J. toward using new, lighter materials in data about helicopter components and —Vivian F. Cooper the University of California-Berkeley, imagine, says Sztipanovits. ISIS began Stanford University and Carnegie tackling that challenge years ago by pio- Mellon University, along with several neering a variety of software systems Factoids: industry partners. The five-year project that enable disparate computing sys- VUSE in Science WatchTop 10 is funded by the Air Force Office of tems to work together smoothly and to Of the students currently Scientific Research. empower these computer systems to enrolled in the Vanderbilt anderbilt University School of impact score of 117. The first-ranked “The military has developed exciting grapple successfully—and safely—with School of Engineering, 27% Engineering is ranked among the institution was Yale, with 389 papers new aerospace technologies in recent physical systems. are women. Nationally, the V top 10 universities nationally as and a relative impact score of 181. years, but the increasing capability and Along the way ISIS developed long- number of women enrolled measured by the impact that their publi- The Science Watch Top 10 rankings complexity have also intensified the term collaborations with other univer- in engineering schools is cations have had on the field. cover 21 fields of university research, risks of failure in systems that absolute- sity pioneers in embedded systems, and only 17%. The rankings were published in the surveying publishing activities of ly require high levels of confidence and three of these partners are joining ISIS January/February issue of Thomson researchers from the top 100 federally reliability,” says Janos Sztipanovits, ISIS in this project. Scientific’s newsletter Science Watch and funded universities. director and E. Bronson Ingram The project includes four divisions of are based on a survey of research publi- “We are pleased with this recogni- Distinguished Professor of Engineering. research. The first involves development “Everyone talks about ‘smart sys- of embedded systems theory, in which DANIEL DUBOIS cations in the physical and social sci- tion,” says Vanderbilt Dean of Janos Sztipanovits, the E. Bronson Ingram Professor of Engineering, left, and Professor of ences between 2001 and 2005. It is the Engineering Kenneth F. Galloway. “Our tems’ technology, but it’s not safe much of the integration of computer Electrical Engineering Gabor Karsai are leading a nationwide team in the development of first time Vanderbilt engineering has faculty and students publish significant enough yet to risk the equipment and, science and physical science will be new military and spacecraft smart-systems software. appeared in Science Watch’s Top 10 list. papers, and the Science Watch ranking ultimately, the lives of people who will achieved. The second involves develop- The basis of the rankings is what recognizes both their productivity and depend on it.” ment of a software design and verifica- concludes Sztipanovits. “Commercial “Smart systems” Science Watch calls “citation impact,” the quality of their work.” The dean “Smart systems” technologies such tion approach that uses computer mod- computational tools now focus on only technologies are which is defined as the average number noted that the achievement is especially as control systems in airplanes, in auto- eling to coordinate and control comput- one aspect of the development cycle, of times that papers written by an insti- impressive in light of the fact that mobiles, in security systems and in cell er component software. The third and this piecemeal approach is not suf- called “embedded tution’s researchers are cited in papers Vanderbilt’s engineering school is rela- phones are called “embedded systems” emphasis works to eliminate ambiguity ficient for systems that require high published by other experts. This is con- tively small, with fewer than 100 faculty. because the computing apparatus is in the design process. The fourth part of degrees of confidence.”With the devel- systems” because the sidered to be a measure that does a integrated with physical equipment. the project creates experimental test opment of new software tools, com- computing apparatus good job of comparing the research In addition to the Science Watch honor, Before the advent of “smart sys- beds to validate the research in the con- mercial applications also will increase Vanderbilt recently ranked No. 23 in one of For the 2006–07 academic year, 66% quality of different-sized institutions. the principal national rankings of the value tems,” computer scientists did not have text of aerospace vehicles. in reliability. is integrated with of engineering students are receiving Vanderbilt School of Engineering of federal science and engineering research to consider the physical realities in soft- This research ultimately will benefit —Vivian F. Cooper grants awarded to faculty members, physical equipment. financial aid. ranked ninth in the engineering catego- according to an annual report by the ware designs, other than such require- private-sector embedded systems devel- ry, with 414 papers and a relative National Science Foundation. ments as lighting a computer screen or opment as well as military systems,

4 Engineering Vanderbilt Engineering Vanderbilt 5

Biomedical Civil and Environmental Mechanical Chemical Electrical Engineering and Computer Science $20 Million Imaging Center Opens Driving Ambition From cup holders to safe handling, it’s Mark Reuss’ job to create vehicles you’ll love. he university’s premier imaging mitters.” That’s important for studying research center has a new home addiction and determining the effects of T containing an array of powerful drugs in the brain. DANIEL DUBOIS or some people, cars are just a way the requirements for the people who “I really enjoy learning about differ- tools for biomedical research. The institute also employs other to get from point A to point B— actually fabricate the parts and pieces. ent cultures, different car markets, and

Dedication of the four-floor, $19.7 advanced imaging devices, including a F large radios on wheels. But to oth- The goal, of course, is to produce a the different capabilities of people in GENERAL MOTORS million Vanderbilt University Institute of 3-T whole body scanner, X-ray, ultra- ers, they are endlessly fascinating product that customers enjoy and will GM worldwide,” he says. “It wears you Imaging Science (VUIIS) took place in sound, PET and multi-slice CT. The machines that are constantly evolving want to buy again. out, but it’s fascinating.” November 2006. Dr. Harry Jacobson, small animal center contains a two-story with each new make and model. Mark But pleasing the car-buying public It only stands to reason that a person vice chancellor for health affairs, calls the scanner for the noninvasive study of Reuss, BE’86, definitely falls into this becomes more complicated with each who is into cars this much would also be 46,000-square-foot, glass-and-steel brain activity in live monkeys. category. passing year. These days customers not an excellent driver. Reuss is a certified building “the embodiment of what may Several biomedical and electrical Reuss joined General Motors’ Flint only have more vehicles to choose from, industry pool test driver for the famed be a world-changing place.” engineering professors are among the 85 Automotive Division in 1986 as an but they also have more options. And Nürburgring Nordschleife (North VUIIS is a leading international people working at VUIIS. More than half associate car development engineer for something as seemingly insignificant as Course) in northeast Germany, a feat research center for imaging applied to the institute’s 32 graduate students and powertrain calibration. He went on to a cup holder can actually carry quite a very few Americans have accomplished. medicine. In this shared resource for the several of its post-doctoral students are serve as total vehicle engineer for sev- bit of weight. It’s what the experts call “Nürburgring is called the most dif- whole university, researchers from tradi- biomedical or electrical engineers. eral models before being appointed the “human-vehicle interface.” ficult and challenging race course ever tionally separate disciplines of medicine, “Imaging is one of the fastest-grow- executive director for North American “How the machine interfaces with manufactured—13 miles with about engineering, physics, chemistry, comput- ing areas in biomedical engineering,” vehicle systems and architecture. In the human being is very important,” 125 turns. It was once home to For- ing, biology and the social sciences are says Gore. Three other biomedical engi- April 2006, Reuss was named executive says Reuss. “We’ve had a rapid shift in mula 1 races, but it was decided that it working together to better understand neering professors are also primary director for global vehicle integration, the marketplace over the last 10 years. was too dangerous,” says Reuss. illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, VUIIS faculty members: Associate Pro- safety and virtual vehicle development. The competition is extremely intense, The fortunes of the automotive brain disorders and many others. fessor Mark Does, director of the insti- It’s a complicated title befitting a com- and we have to earn the right for peo- industry rise and fall with regularity, The new facility, located adjacent to tute’s Center for Small Animal Imaging; plicated job. ple to buy our vehicles. The interface is and now GM is enjoying some hard- Medical Center North at the corner of Associate Professor Adam Anderson, “We engineer the parts and pieces where all those parts and pieces come earned success. Reuss, for one, is enjoy- Garland Avenue and 21st Avenue who focuses on magnetic resonance that go together to create what is really together to create something unique ing the ride. South, contains one of the world’s most imaging of the brain; and Associate Pro- the soul of a vehicle. How it sounds. and special.” “No other industry has the same powerful magnetic resonance imaging fessor Cynthia B. Paschal, who conducts How it rides and handles. How it steers intense competition and dynamic envi- (MRI) scanners. The $7 million, 7-Tesla cardiovascular research. and brakes,” explains Reuss. “All those On the Fast Track ronment—and it changes faster than scanner, built by Philips Medical Sys- “VUIIS gives engineering faculty the things are what’s called ‘vehicle integra- For a guy who loves cars, Reuss also any other industry around, except for Mark Reuss, BE’86, began his career with General Motors 14 years ago as a student tems, can generate images down to the opportunity to work with other leading tion.’” He also has responsibility for the must spend a lot of time on airplanes. software. It’s challenging, rewarding intern. Today he’s a top executive in the molecular level. (One Tesla is roughly researchers in a variety of disciplines to safety performance of the vehicles. He regularly travels to GM facilities in and very engaging.” company, with customer satisfaction as his priority: “We have to earn the right for 20,000 times the strength of the mag- make significant advances in medical And, ultimately, Reuss’ department sets Korea, Australia, India, Brazil and China. —Cindy Thomsen people to buy our vehicles,” he says. netic field of the earth.) imaging technology,” says School of The scanner enables researchers to Engineering Dean Kenneth F. Galloway. Once scattered around campus, researchers for the Vanderbilt Institute of Imaging Science perform more advanced magnetic reso- “The new building and equipment will are now housed together in a new, 46,000-square-foot facility. The Institute is directed by nance spectroscopy, says VUIIS Director unquestionably expedite the world-class John Gore, Chancellor’s University Professor and professor of biomedical engineering. John Gore. research and development already taking “MR spectroscopy produces bio- place in the institute.” awarded him its highest honor—the the top handful of centers in the world Faculty Notes chemical information from small vol- A graduate of the University of Lon- Gold Medal—for his pioneering work in for imaging research,” he says. “We umes within the body,” says Gore, don, Gore came to Vanderbilt in 2002 developing MRI technologies. intend to become world leaders in Peter T. Cummings, the John R. Hall Professor of Chemical Engineering, has Duco Jansen and Anita Mahadevan-Jansen, both associate professors of bio- Chancellor’s University Professor and from Yale University, bringing a core Gore says the new center will help imaging science and molecular imaging been appointed principal scientist for Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Center medical engineering, received a Chancellor’s Research Award at the Fall Faculty professor of biomedical engineering. group of more than a dozen scientists keep Vanderbilt at the forefront of imag- and new applications of imaging in for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS), which is designing and developing Assembly for their paper “Optical Stimulation of Neural Tissue in Vivo,” pub- “For example, in the brain you can with him. In 2004 the International Soci- ing science. medicine.” next-generation nanoscale materials. He will also continue to oversee the lished in Optics Letters. measure the levels of certain neurotrans- ety for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine “By every measure we are already in —Joanne L. Beckham CNMS Nanomaterials Theory Institute, which he has led since 2002. One of five U.S. Department of Energy nanoscale-science research centers, the CNMS G. Kane Jennings, associate professor of chemical engineering, received a allows scientists and engineers to collaborate to more quickly make nanoscience Chancellor’s Research Award at the Fall Faculty Assembly for his article “pH- discoveries and to develop ways to create new materials to be used in medicine, Responsive Copolymer Films by Surface-Catalyzed Growth,” published in the electronics, and a wide variety of industrial applications. Cummings has served Journal of the American Chemical Society. Behind-the-Scenes Banker as a joint faculty member of Oak Ridge National Laboratory since 1994. Charles Plosser has discovered the intersection of good business practices and engineering skill. K. Arthur Overholser, senior associate dean of engineering and professor of Douglas Fisher, associate professor of computer science and associate professor of biomedical and chemical engineering, was presented the Thomas Jefferson computer engineering, was presented the 2006 Chancellor’s Cup last October by Award during the Vanderbilt Fall Faculty Assembly. The award recognized his areer paths are hard to predict, as sits on the Federal Open Markets Com- made my appointment at the Federal Vanderbilt Chancellor Gordon Gee during a surprise ceremony in Fisher’s class- “distinguished service to Vanderbilt through extraordinary contributions as a “ they sometimes take unexpected mittee. During slivers of personal time, Reserve possible.” He also credits the room. The award is presented annually during Homecoming week to one faculty member of the faculty in the councils and government of the university,” Cturns,” says Charles I. Plosser, he and his wife of 30 years, Joann, travel. unstructured problem analysis that was member in recognition of his or her extraordinary contributions outside the class- according to the inscription on the goblet presented to him by Chancellor BE’70. In August 2006, Plosser’s career The couple has three grown children. part of his Vanderbilt engineering edu- room to foster relationships between undergraduate students and faculty. Fisher, Gordon Gee. Gee praised Overholser for his wisdom, skills of leadership, and path shifted from university dean and cation with giving him the tools to whose research area is artificial intelligence, received an engraved pewter cup along service to the entire university. college professor to president of the Econ 101 solve problems and analyze data on with the sterling Tiffany bowl engraved with the names of all Chancellor’s Cup Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. “Economics, in general, and monetary behalf of the Fed. recipients since 1963, which he will keep for a year. He also was presented a check Karl B. Schnelle Jr., professor of chemical and environmental engineering, The work of the 12 Fed banks policy, in particular, are mysterious to At heart, Plosser, a Birmingham, Ala., for $2,500 by Nashville Vanderbilt Club President Rod Freeman. received the 2006 Lyman A. Ripperton Environmental Educator Award in nationwide is diverse, esoteric and many people,” says Plosser, who earned native, is an educator. These days his recognition of inspirational teaching at the annual meeting of the Air and often transparent to most Americans, his M.B.A. at the University of Chicago. classroom is the nation, and helping Waste Management Association in New Orleans. says Plosser. Yet, it touches even mun- His interest in business was born of people understand what the Fed can and NEIL BRAKE dane aspects of personal finance. For working summer jobs with engineering can’t do is his passion. “It’s … believed M. Roger Webb, emeritus professor of civil engineering and a Vanderbilt engi- instance, the Fed clears billions of elec- firms where the intersection of good that Federal Reserve policy can be used neering faculty member for nearly 30 years, died Dec. 6, 2006, in Vero Beach, tronic and paper checks consumers business practices and engineering skill to address all manner of economic ills,” Fla. He joined the faculty in 1958 and went on to serve as registrar and associ- write daily. Says Plosser, “When con- was evident. After a brief stint with says Plosser, “from Hurricane Katrina to ate dean of the School of Engineering. He retired as acting dean of engineering sumers withdraw money from ATMs, Citicorp, he returned to Chicago for a trade balances with China. Yet, monetary in 1987. Although not an engineer by training, Webb was bestowed Eminent the Fed works behind the scenes to doctorate and spent the past 30 years policy is a very blunt instrument. It’s not Engineer status by the Tennessee chapter of Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor ensure transactions go smoothly. teaching and researching, most recently a magic elixir. society, for his outstanding work as an administrator and service to the School FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF PHILADELPHIA “In times of financial crisis, we work at the University of Rochester. “Economics is essentially the study of of Engineering. A native Nashvillian, Webb earned a bachelor of arts degree Charles Plosser, BE’70, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, to ensure stability in the financial mar- “I taught economics, statistics and how people use scarce resources to sat- from Peabody College in 1948. He served three years in the U.S. Navy’s hopes to help the public understand what kets through oversight of the banking finance to M.B.A. students. Teaching in isfy unlimited wants,” he says. “We do Construction Battalion in the Pacific during World War II before returning to the Fed can and can’t do: “Monetary industry and its ability to be a ‘lender of the business school kept me in touch not have all the resources we want, so we Peabody to earn his master’s degree in 1956. Survivors include his wife, policy is a very blunt instrument,” he says. “It’s not a magic elixir.” last resort’ during periods of financial with people and ideas outside acade- must make choices and, therefore, give Dorothy McGee Webb; two sons; a daughter-in-law; and three grandchildren. distress,” explains Plosser. “Case in point: mia,” says Plosser, who was dean at up something. Economists call this The Fed provided liquidity in the mar- Rochester for 10 years. “The combina- opportunity cost. Understanding oppor- kets after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.” tion of my training and research in tunity costs is essential to making good When not directing the Philadelphia macro- and monetary economics and everyday decisions.” Doug Fisher receives the 2006 Chancellor’s Cup in a surprise ceremony. Fed’s 1,100 employees, Plosser is a poli- the management experience acquired as —Mardy Fones cymaker who, like other Fed presidents, a dean provided me with the skills that

6 Engineering Vanderbilt Engineering Vanderbilt 7

Vanderbilt University School of Engineering Images of War

logging through snow and mud, eating K-rations skills, spectator battles for the public, and historical in the dark, and being shot at (albeit with blanks) displays and demonstrations of artifacts and equip- S isn’t everyone’s idea of a good time. But for engi- ment from the WWII era. neering professor Joel Barnett and his fellow World War His most exciting experience came during a tactical II reenactors, it’s a passion. event when his unit was trying to slip through the Barnett is one of several hundred World War II woods around a group of “German soldiers.” reenactors in Middle Tennessee. His unit, which “We were sure we had out-flanked them,” he says. includes both civilians and active-duty and retired “But we had miscalculated and exited the woods right soldiers, is affiliated with the 101st Airborne in front of them. They opened fire and we were Division’s museum in Clarksville, Tenn. doomed. That experience taught me that a soldier’s fate Each day as more and more veterans of the “good depended both on skill and a little bit of luck.” war” pass away, memories of the conflict die with The most poignant moment for this son of a WWII them. World War II reenactors seek to preserve the veteran came during a historical presentation where he war’s history, educate themselves and others, and have met a former soldier from his father’s old unit. fun doing it. “My dad died in the late 1970s, and there were a “Reenactors take it seriously,” Barnett says. lot of things that I never got around to asking,” he A lifelong student of history (he teaches a course on says. “Hearing some of the fine details that I didn’t the history of technology to engineering freshmen each know, like the name of the ship they sailed on and a year) and a 30-year photography enthusiast, Barnett city-by-city itinerary as they went across Europe, was portrays a combat photographer during reenactments. a great experience.” He uses three vintage cameras that he bought on eBay: By day, Barnett, a 1993 Vanderbilt engineering a large Speed Graphic flash camera, a small Signal Ph.D. graduate, is associate professor of the practice Corps WWII issue Kodak, and a German Leica made in of engineering in the mechanical engineering depart- 1936. And he bears an uncanny physical resemblance to ment. He leads the senior design program, in which famed Iwo Jima photographer Joe Rosenthal. students work on “real-world” design projects in “Reenacting has taught me how difficult it was for cross-departmental teams. those photographers to get the pictures we see in his- Before joining the faculty in 1997, Barnett served tory books,” Barnett says. “The cameras were not auto- as president of Mid-South Engineering Inc. and was matic in any respect. They had to manually set the involved in research collaborations with NASA and focus, the shutter speed and everything else, and then the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Professor Joel Barnett portrays a combat photographer get the picture while someone was shooting at them.” (DARPA). His research interests include weld pool during World War II reenactments. A 30-year photography dynamics, welding automation, and nano-particle enthusiast, Barnett owns several vintage cameras from the Unfriendly Fire behavior in fluid environments. war era. Barnett’s unit stages several different types of reenact- —Joanne L. Beckham ments: tactical events in which they practice military

DANIEL DUBOIS The Energy of Light

Replacing inefficient fluorescent, halogen and incandescent lighting with solid-state lighting by the use of light-emitting diodes would signifi- cantly reduce the amount of energy needed for lighting and thereby reduce carbon emissions. Sharon Weiss, assistant professor of electrical engineering, and her associates are taking a new approach to developing light-emitting diodes TIONS based on the introduction of light-emitting col- loidal nanocrystals into a porous silicon matrix. A Silicon-based light-emitting diodes could be pro- duced using conventional silicon processing techniques, potentially at low cost and high throughput. Here Professor Weiss is performing photoluminescence measurements to character- ize the performance of the hybrid porous sili- con/light-emitting nanocrystal devices. INNOV

Vanderbilt University School of Engineering Nonprofit Org. VU Station B #357703 U.S. Postage 2301 Vanderbilt Place PAID Nashville, TN 37235-7703 Nashville, TN Permit No. 1460 ENGINEERING VANDERBILT

A Reason to Celebrate DAVID CRENSHAW DAVID

n the first event of its kind, more than 300 alumni, parents and friends turned out for the 2006 Engineering Celebration Dinner in October at the Loews Van- Iderbilt Hotel. Hosted by Dean Kenneth Galloway and the Engineering Alumni Council, the event was held in conjunction with Reunion Weekend and was a celebration of engi- neering alumni and members of the Vanderbilt School of Engineering Academy of DAVID CRENSHAW Distinguished Alumni. The gala represented a record turnout for a School of Engineering event. Highlighting the evening was Dean Galloway’s presentation of the Distinguished

DAVID CRENSHAW Alumnus Award to two accomplished friends of the School of Engineering: William B. Akers, BE’47, and Fred J. Cassetty Jr., BE’60. As distinguished alumni, both gentle- men became members of the School of Engineering Academy of Distinguished Alumni. Earlier in the spring, James A. Johnson, BE’63, PhD’72, was inducted into the Academy, marking the first time the honor has been bestowed upon three indi- viduals in the same year. Two students provided musical entertainment during the cocktail hour of the Celebration Dinner, including Matt Belsante, who is a senior engineering science and economics major. The evening closed with remarks from biomedical engi- neering senior Dani Shuck, who thanked alumni for the examples they have set for current students. Our Highest Honor

n 2006, three outstanding individuals were inducted into the School of Engi- James A. Johnson, BE’63, PhD’72 neering Academy of Distinguished Alumni. Members of the Academy represent Jim Johnson, originally of Huntsville, Ala., earned his bachelor’s and doctor of phi- Ithe School of Engineering’s most accomplished alumni. The honor recognizes losophy degrees in civil engineering at Vanderbilt in 1963 and 1972, respectively. He distinguished achievement, significant service, excellent character, and a reputation started his professional engineering career with Turner Collie & Braden in that reflects well on the engineering school. Selections are made by a committee Houston, where he still lives, in 1970. His experience includes the planning and comprising representatives from the Executive Committee of the Engineering design of airports and aviation facilities, highways and bridges, and community Alumni Council, faculty of the School of Engineering, and the Office of Develop- development projects in the United States, ment and Alumni Relations. Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. In 1989 he moved to

DAVID LUND Kellogg Brown & Root, where he has helped William B. Akers, BE’47 develop the firm’s civil engineering business. He A lifelong Nashvillian, Bill Akers graduated from the School of Engineering in 1947 is currently director of program management for with a degree in civil engineering. It was his second bachelor’s degree. Although he the firm’s government and infrastructure unit. began his undergraduate studies at Vanderbilt, World War II interrupted his educa- Johnson served in the U.S. Army in Panama, tion and he entered the U.S. Navy. The navy Paraguay, Ecuador, Bolivia and Vietnam. For his sent him to the University of Oklahoma, service he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal where he earned a bachelor’s degree in civil with two oak leaf clusters, Air Medal, Army engineering, then to Cornell University DAVID CRENSHAW Commendation Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Midshipmen’s School, and finally to the and Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry Unit Citation. Pacific, where Akers was a member of the He also has served the School of Engineering Task Force for Operation Crossroads at in various capacities. He is past president of the At a ceremony last spring in his Bikini for the atom-bomb test in June 1946. home city of Houston, Jim Johnson Engineering Alumni Council and has served on Upon separation from the navy, Akers accepted the Distinguished Alumnus the Committee of Visitors and on the External Award from Dean Kenneth Galloway. returned to Vanderbilt to complete the Advisory Committee of the Department of Civil Bill Akers accepts the Distinguished degree he had started. He then went to the and Environmental Engineering. Johnson represents the School of Engineering on Alumnus Award from Dean Kenneth Galloway. In the mid-1970s Akers chaired Massachusetts Institute of Technology to the Vanderbilt Alumni Association Board of Directors. the fundraising campaign that essentially earn his master’s degree in civil engineering. saved the School of Engineering from After a brief stint as an engineer for the financial collapse. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Akers found- ed Asphalt Products Co., a paving materials manufacturer. He and his brother, Clark THE ACADEMY OF DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI Akers, founded the Globe Co., a highway contractor, in 1956. They later founded the Parent Co. Inc., a general contractor. Akers retired in 1981. 1969 Vaughn Mansfield, BE’33, ME’45 † 1992 Robert E. Smith Jr., BE’51 In addition to his professional achievements, Akers has served the School of 1974 John H. DeWitt Jr., E’28 † 1993 George O. Trabue Jr., BE’55 1975 H. Fort Flowers, BE’12, ME’15 † 1994 Lawrence A.Wilson, BE’57 Engineering in numerous ways. In the mid-1970s, he was asked to organize the engi- 1976 William H.Armistead, BE’37, 1995 Bailey P. Robinson III, BE’66 neering alumni and to chair a national fundraising campaign for the school. The MS’38, PhD’41 † 1996 H. Roy Slaymaker, BE’50 campaign, in essence, saved the School of Engineering, which was in dire financial 1978 Bruce D. Henderson, BE’37 † 1998 H. Lee Buchanan III, BE’71, MS’72 straits at the time. He also has participated in building campaigns and efforts to create 1979 Frank K. Pittman, BE’36, MS’37 † 1999 Dennis C. Bottorff, BE’66 scholarships for undergraduate students. 1980 Wilbur F. Creighton Jr., BE’29 † 2000 William W. Featheringill, BE’64 1981 Daniel B. Barge Jr., BE’43 † 2001 Monroe J. Carell Jr., BE’59 Fred J. Cassetty Jr., BE’60 1982 George W. Hardigg, BE’43 † 2002 L. Hall Hardaway Jr., BE’57 1983 John R. Hall, BE’55 2003 Howell E. Adams Jr., BE’53 Also a lifelong Nashvillian, Fred Cassetty 1984 Jere S. Cave Jr., BE’36 † 2004 Gerry G. Hull, BE’64

graduated from Vanderbilt in 1960 with a DAVID CRENSHAW 1985 Eugene E.Pentecost, BE’50 2005 David F. Dyer, BE’71 degree in electrical engineering. His father’s 1986 Thomas L. Yount Jr., BE’52 2006 William B. Akers, BE’47 unexpected death just before Cassetty’s 1987 H. Eugene McBrayer, BE’54 2006 Fred J. Cassetty Jr., BE’60 1988 J. Lawrence Wilson, BE’58 2006 James A. Johnson, BE’63, PhD’72 graduation forced him into the coal busi- 1989 Robert L. Bibb Jr., BE’43 † ness that had been in his family for three 1990 John A.Warren, BE’48 † Deceased generations. He led the Cassetty Coal Co. 1991 Lester H. Smith Jr., BE’54 through mergers, acquisitions and new marketing strategies during the ensuing “The engineering curriculum gave me the discipline and experience I needed to recog- years. Today the Alley Cassetty Coal Co. nize, focus on, and solve the problems mines and sells coal domestically, and that occur in every business,” said Fred DAVID CRENSHAW Cassetty as he accepted the Distinguished exports coal all over the world. Alumnus Award. “This education has In 1971 Cassetty purchased the Capitol proven invaluable to me.” Building Supply Co., which he grew from a local company to a regional firm with 12 offices throughout the southeastern United States. He founded the Alley Cassetty Trucking Co. in 1972 to help meet his own trucking needs and eventually expanded its services to haul for other companies. In 1980 he purchased a truck repair service that developed into the Alley Cassetty Truck Center, which sells and services Western Star, Mitsubishi and Ottawa trucks. These companies were merged into the Alley Cassetty Co. Inc., of which Cassetty serves as chairman and chief executive officer. Thirteen members of the School of Engineering’s Academy of Distinguished Alumni attended the 2006 Engineering Celebration Dinner: (left to right) Howell Adams, Bailey Cassetty also has served the Vanderbilt School of Engineering in a variety of ways, Robinson, Fred Cassetty, Jim Johnson, Tom Yount, Gene Pentecost, Bill Akers, Roy from participating in the Engineering Alumni Council and the Featheringill Hall Slaymaker, Monroe Carell, Hall Hardaway, Bob Smith, David Dyer and Lester Smith. building campaign to establishing a scholarship fund. One Good Turn Deserves Another

ike most Vanderbilt students, Bruce Evans, BE’81, needed some financial help to through when he served as fundraising chair for the Class of 1981’s 25th Reunion. get the education required to make his way in the world. The university recog- With a class fundraising goal of $2 million, the Evanses ensured half the victory with L nized that the School of Engineering freshman from Huntington, W.Va., showed a $1 million gift from their family’s foundation to endow the Bruce and Bridgitt great promise and awarded him the James W. Stewart Jr. Honor Scholarship, which Evans, Class of 1981, Honor Scholarship in Engineering. enabled him to earn his degree in 1981 with a double “Merit-based honor scholarships help Vanderbilt major in mechanical engineering and economics. and the School of Engineering recruit the best stu- “The Vanderbilt School of Engineering and the dents with the highest potential,” says Evans. “And Stewart Scholarship gave me my start in life, and I’m over the long term, hopefully those scholarship recipi- grateful for that,” says Evans. “You tend to look back at ents will go on to do great things and create their own the people who were there and gave you your first resources so they can give back to Vanderbilt in chance, and think kindly of them for having given you return.” (A timely example of such reciprocation is Bill that first chance.” Akers, BE’47, who was inducted into the School of After graduation Evans went to work in Louisville, Engineering Academy of Distinguished Alumni in Ky., as a mainframe computer salesman for IBM, an 2006. He was influential in securing the gift from opportunity he also credits to Vanderbilt because of the James W. Stewart, BE’49, that established the honor engineering school’s relationship with the company scholarship Evans received when he came to and its recruiters. Ironically, IBM introduced its per- Vanderbilt. That scholarship transformed the School’s sonal computer on Evans’ second day on the job, and ability to attract students and greatly affected its finan- mainframes became increasingly difficult to sell. In cial turnaround.) 1984 Evans left IBM and moved to Boston to enter With Evans at the helm, the Class of 1981 not only Harvard Business School. There he earned his M.B.A. met its $2 million Reunion goal but surpassed it con- in 1986 and met his future wife, Bridgitt, whom he siderably, for a total raised of $3.45 million—an all- married in 1987. time record for any 25th Reunion class. In fact, it’s the In 1986 he joined the Boston office of Summit fifth highest amount ever raised by a Reunion class of Partners, which today is a leading private equity and any year. venture capital firm with 150 employees and offices in Evans says he feels good about supporting the Bruce Evans, BE’81, and Bridgitt Evans endowed an honor schol- Boston, London and Palo Alto, Calif. Evans is now a arship in engineering through their family’s foundation in 2006. As School of Engineering because of all the opportunities managing partner of the firm. fundraising chair for his 25th Reunion last year, Bruce helped his for success Vanderbilt provided him. “An engineering Evans has always maintained active connections class reach record levels in giving. degree provides a very useful background for many with Vanderbilt. He’s a former member of the things, including business endeavors. The thought Engineering Alumni Council and has been a Lewis Society member since 1995. He processes and problem-solving skills I developed are two of the most important has Lifetime Sustaining Membership in the Vanderbilt Alumni Association and has things I took from my mechanical engineering days. been a non-trustee member of the Vanderbilt Board of Trust’s Investment Committee “But the first opportunity I was given was the Stewart Honor Scholarship—and I since 1998. wanted to help provide that same opportunity for someone else.” It was last year, however, that Evans’ philosophy of leadership by example came —Phillip B. Tucker

A New Tax-Saving Opportunity—but act soon. It’s only for a limited time! Make a gift to Vanderbilt from your IRA. Under the new Pension Protection Act of tunity, and the rule applies only for tax years 2006 and 2007. You may give up to 2006, you’ll avoid paying taxes on amounts transferred directly (“rolled over”) $100,000 per year from your IRA, but the rollover may not be used for dues, tick- from your IRA to Vanderbilt University. Under the old law, all withdrawals from ets or dinners. The new rollovers satisfy your Required Minimum Distribution. To an IRA were included in taxable income. But act soon—this opportunity expires find out more, please contact Vanderbilt’s Office of Planned Giving staff at at the end of 2007. You must be at least age 70 1/2 to take advantage of this oppor- 615/343-3113, 888/758-1999 or [email protected]. Give. And Receive. Support the School of Engineering and bolster your retirement savings with the VU Flexible Gift Annuity. The VU Flexible Gift Annuity allows Engineering alumni and friends to make a gift now, when you need an income tax deduction, and receive income for life at a future date that you choose.

Details of a $10,000 Single-Life Flexible Gift Annuity:

Age at funding* 55 60

Immediate tax deduction $4,961.10 $4,554.30

Payout rate at age 65 9.9% ($990) 7.7% ($770)

Payout rate at age 70 13.8% ($1,380) 10.7% ($1,070)

Payout rate at age 75 19.5% ($1,950) 15.1% ($1,510)

*Minimum age of 55. Payouts as of February 2007.

Benefits: • fixed income for life for one or two beneficiaries starting at a future date • immediate income tax deduction • capital gains tax savings if appreciated property is used to fund the gift • annuity payments are partially tax-free For a personalized no-obligation illustration, please contact our Planned Giving staff at 615/343-3113, 888/758-1999 or [email protected].