Princeton University Bulletin, June 14, 2010
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PRINCETON UNIVERSITY BULLETINVolume 99, Number 15 June 14, 2010 Tilghman to graduates: Find common purpose to achieve change RUTH STEVENS Hall, she added, “Politics has never been for the faint of heart, and never n today’s environment of easy access more so than today. Everyone has taken to politically charged sound bites, sides, retreated to his or her respec- I President Tilghman urged graduates tive corner, and tuned into the cable to find common ground with others for networks where they will have their the civil discourse needed to bring about opinions confirmed, or logged into the change. Internet bloggers who reinforce rather “As I think about the world that than challenge those opinions.” you are about to enter, it seems to me Some national leaders are speaking that effecting change has never been out for a different approach, Tilghman harder,” she said June 1 in her annual said, citing former Congressman Jim Commencement address. “We are Leach, a 1964 Princeton alumnus and living in an increasingly polarized now the chair of the National Endow- world, in which discussion and debate ment for the Humanities. Leach has — those critical ingredients for creat- been on a nationwide tour calling for ing fertile ground for change — have civil discourse and expressing the become sharper and far more likely to dangers of polarization in the political result in impasse than in consensus.” sphere. Speaking to the crowd of 7,500 But all too often, Tilghman said, assembled on the front lawn of Nassau people look to the opinion that bolsters Denise Applewhite A group of classmates stands arm in arm as President Tilghman officially confers degrees at the University’s June 1 Commencement ceremony. their own views — including when it when our challenges seem so big and comes to media sources. “Whether you our politics seem so small, how will tune into Rachel Maddow and Keith you keep our democracy alive and Olbermann on the left or Glenn Beck vibrant; how will you keep it well in and Rush Limbaugh on the right, this century?” or look to Jon Stewart and Stephen Tilghman said, “One aspect of Colbert to simply laugh at it all,” she keeping democracy alive and well is said, “there is little doubt that the seeking common purpose and finding trend of framing national issues in the common ground with one another. language of black and white; either/or; Your Princeton education is intended good guys and bad guys has created to help you develop the character and a downward spiral in the tone of our habits of mind for you to do this. On political discourse.” our campus you have been exposed to Tilghman told the graduates that a rich smorgasbord of ideas, perspec- improving the discourse is crucial to tives and cultures, both inside and the future of this country. She noted outside the classroom. … You were that President Barack Obama, in his asked to acquire learning so that you Commencement address at the Uni- would have the intellectual founda- versity of Michigan earlier this spring, Denise Applewhite tion to engage with the great ideas asked graduates, “How will you keep Students celebrate after officially being designated as graduates at Commencement, with our democracy going? At a moment some tossing their caps into the air. Continued on page 8 Scientists discover the molecular heart of collective behavior K ITTA MAC P HERSON A group of scientists seeking the answer to the mystery of collective irds flock. Fish gather in schools. motion has found strong evidence point- Bees swarm. Even amoebae ing to a third possibility — collective B clump together in mystifyingly behavior can arise in cells that initially clever constellations. may not be moving at all, but are prod- Scientists have long wondered ded into action by an external agent such what is happening at the cellular and as a chemical. Research led by Thomas molecular level to bring about this Gregor, an assistant professor of phys- amazing coordination of so many indi- ics at Princeton, and Satoshi Sawai, a vidual animals, insects and organisms former postdoctoral fellow in the labora- into groups. It’s a choreography seen tory of Princeton biologist Edward Cox throughout nature from the large-scale and now at the University of Tokyo, has to the miniscule, with synchronized shown that food-deprived amoebae are movements as precise as the dance prodded into their coordinated clumping lineup of a Broadway musical. by the chemical cyclic adenosine mono- Is there a secret drum major, a leader phosphate (cAMP), effectively changing among the group setting the pace and the parameters of the cell environment. instigating participation? Or is it that The chemical is ubiquitous in nature, Photo illustration: Brian Wilson organisms and cells already are mov- aiding signaling within living cells Research by Thomas Gregor, an assistant professor of physics at Princeton, and others is ing rhythmically but independently and regulating activities like protein shedding light on the molecular basis of collective behavior, seen throughout nature from and then find themselves provoked into birds to fish to amoebae. harmony by an external beat? Continued on page 6 What’s Thirteen faculty transfer to emeritus status 3 Fourth annual ‘Art of Mauzerall pursues dual focus on environment 4 Science’ exhibition on view 7 inside? Anthropologist Rouse aims for social justice 10 PRINCETON 2 UNIVERSITY BULLETIN June 14, 2010 ment economics in the economics Spotlight Lewis, economist and former department and graduate courses on economic development policy in the Wilson School. Wilson School dean, dies Lewis’ most recent books include “The World Bank: Its First Half R EBECCA ANDERSON demic career and his public service. Century,” published in 1997 and writ- He also had a fascination for India that ten with Devesh Kapur and Richard ohn Lewis, a development inspired his scholarship. Webb; and “India’s Political Economy: economist and former dean of “John Lewis was a fine public policy Governance and Reform,” published in J Princeton’s Woodrow Wilson analyst, always a gentleman, courteous 1995. He also is the author of “Busi- School of Public and International and friendly,” said Henry Bienen, for- ness Conditions Analysis,” “Quiet Affairs, died of natural causes on mer dean of the Wilson School and the Crisis in India: Economic Develop- May 19 at the Stonebridge retirement James S. McDonnell Distinguished ment and American Policy,” “Wanted community in Montgomery, N.J. He Professor of Politics and International in India: A Relevant Radicalism,” and was 89. A public memorial service will Affairs Emeritus. “He led the Wood- “World Bank in Pakistan: A Review of be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 27, at row Wilson School well and made the Relationship 1960-84.” Prospect House. many contributions to the study of “I am terribly sorry to lose John With the India. I will miss him.” Lewis,” said Stanley Katz, lecturer University since Lewis was a strong advocate of with the rank of professor in public and 1969, Lewis American aid to developing countries, international affairs. “He was a man first served a believing that aid was a necessary who was not only gracious, but pro- five-year term element of foreign policy. On several foundly knowledgeable about the role of as dean of the occasions he took leave from the Uni- America and international affairs, and Wilson School versity to advise the U.S. government of course particularly all relations with and continued and international organizations on India and India’s role in the world. He Brian Wilson on the faculty economic aid policies. was a man of great sophistication and Name: John Jameson. as a professor of As dean of the Wilson School, Lewis he was one of the calmest and collected economics and instituted the joint four-year MPA/ and most gentle people I ever knew. I Position: Webmaster in the Office of Communications. Responsible for the Lewis international JD program, which combines the always felt I was in touch with great- affairs until study of law and public affairs. He ness when I dealt with him. I regret development and operations of the transferring to emeritus status in also made concerted efforts to support losing him very much.” core website and strategic University 1991. He was known for his work on racial diversity in the school’s student In lieu of flowers, contributions projects. Building websites for cam- development economics and foreign body. As a faculty member, he taught may be made in Lewis’ memory to pus offices, departments, initiatives, aid, a passion that shaped his aca- undergraduate courses on develop- Pratham, a nongovernmental organi- programs and task forces. Serving as zation that works to provide quality the office’s computer support person education to the underprivileged and as the liaison with the Office of Read the full obituary at <www.princeton.edu/main/news>. children of India. Donations may be Information Technology. View or share comments on a blog intended to honor Lewis’ life and legacy at sent to Pratham USA, 9703 Richmond <blogs.princeton.edu/memorial/2010/05/john-lewis.html>. Quote: “I like living in Princeton a Ave., Suite 102, Houston, TX 77042. lot. I graduated from the University in 2004 and stuck around. With my wife, Lucy, who graduated in 2006, I bought a little fixer-upper in town, ton in 1984 and holds a J.D. from the which we’re renovating. This spring Eight named to Board of Trustees University of Virginia School of Law. I’m spending most of my time plant- She has served as president of the ing raspberries, blueberries and Princeton Alumni Association of New blackberries.” rinceton has named eight new and a Ph.D.