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impact on Sustainability Energy contents Fall 2010 | Volume 52, No. 1

Impact on SUstainability

3 letter from the Dean 24 fostering New Ways to “Green”: Ponisseril Somasundaran 4 understanding Brown Carbon: V. Faye McNeill 26 Making Concrete “Green”: Christian Meyer 6 reevaluating the Hole in the Ozone: Lorenzo Polvani 27 raising the Roof: Huiming Yin 7 studying Earth’s Mantle and Crust: Marc Spiegelman 28 greening Infrastructure: Patricia Culligan 8 creating Artificial Trees: Klaus Lackner 30 characterizing Nanoparticles for Fuel Cells: 10 repairing the Microbial Nitrogen Cycle: Kartik Chandran Simon Billinge 11 recycling Carbon Dioxide for Energy: Marco Castaldi 31 peer Networking to Save Energy: John Taylor 12 Keeping Wind Turbines Turning: Elon J. Terrell 32 solving the Global Water Crisis: Upmanu Lall 14 producing Organic Photovoltaics: John Kymissis 34 using Nanomaterials for Solar Cells: Tony Heinz 15 storing Energy More Efficiently: Sanat Kumar 35 Making a Smarter Power Grid: Roger Anderson 16 engineering in the Developing World: Vijay Modi 36 sustaining the Environment: Peter Schlosser 18 predicting El Niño: Mark Cane 38 looking at Light: Richard Osgood 19 Modeling Monsoons: Adam Sobel 39 harvesting Energy via Nanomechanics: Xi Chen 20 capturing Carbon: Ah-Hyung (Alissa) Park 22 predicting Failure in Ice Shelves: Haim Waisman 23 understanding Extremes of Global Warming: Tuncel Yegulalp

40 new Global Reach for Sustainable Community Projects 42 seas by the Numbers 45 a New Goal: 150 by 150 46 columbia Engineering Around the World Comments, suggestions, or address changes may be mailed to: Dean of the School 48 commencement and Class Day Columbia University Feniosky Peña-Mora The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science 50 Welcoming New Students and Faculty Room 510, MC 4714 Editor: Margaret R. Kelly 51 alumni Notes 500 West 120th Street 67 program Notes: Graduate Alumni New York, NY 10027 Contributing Writers: Jeff Ballinger, Timothy Cross, Holly Evarts, Ken 71 in Memoriam Kostel, Peggy Maher, Elaine Ragland Phone: 212-854-2993 76 ivy Engineering Deans Meet Fax: 212-864-0104 Design and Art Direction: University Publications IBc giving Back: Armen Avanessians ’83; E-mail: [email protected] Samuel Y. Sheng ’51 Photography: Eileen Barroso, Columbia University Photography Read more about Columbia Engineering http://www.engineering.columbia.edu Columbia Engineering is published twice a year by: Columbia Engineering online at: engineering.columbia.edu Columbia University in the City of New York The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science 500 West 120th Street, MC 4714 New York, NY 10027 impact on sustainability

ustainability is sometimes defined as the capacity to endure. In our last issue that featured faculty research, we concentrated on the many ways that our professors are working in the field of health to Shelp the human body endure. This issue features many of our faculty who are working to help the planet endure. Their efforts span the areas that are of concern to all—water, climate, and energy.

One of our alumni, Mike Massimino ’84, has had the opportunity to view Earth from a unique perspective. As a NASA astronaut, and the first person to Twitter from outer space, he has shared his observations with the world: “viewing the Earth is a study of contrasts, beautiful colors of the planet, thin blue line of atmosphere, pure blackness of space.” Earth is truly beautiful when viewed from space, and we know that its health and its future are in our hands.

Our School’s history is inextricably linked to our planet. Indeed, we were founded in 1864 as the Columbia School of Mines. In the early years of our School, we, like others at that time, were more concerned about what the planet could yield for us—precious gems, minerals, and fossil fuels.

But even before the current emphasis on the importance of sustainability in all its forms, the School’s first dean realized that, for humans to endure, the resources upon which their lives depended also needed to be of a quality that would support life. Charles Frederick Chandler worked to bring clean water into New York City and instituted measures to keep the water supply potable.

In 1866, Chandler was approached by the Metropolitan Board of Health to investigate sanitary concerns that impacted the health of New York City. He continued his work for the Board of Health, becoming its first chemist, and, in 1873, he was appointed its president. In this capacity, he provided laws that protected both the health of New Yorkers and the health of the environment in which they lived, promoting laws and regulations that would curb the discharge of toxic gases and acids into sludge.

During the entire time he was monitoring the health and environment of New Yorkers, Chandler was mak- ing his mark as dean of the Columbia School of Mines, creating and leading a distinguished faculty from the School’s inception to 1897. Over the years, the School has been a leader in mining and metallurgy research and education, including pioneering work in mineral beneficiation, chemical thermodynamics, kinetics, and transport phenomena in mineral extraction and processing. “From orbit: Viewing Today we recognize our obligation to help our planet endure, and that obligation has become part of the the Earth is a study of mission of the School as we seek to educate socially responsible engineering and applied science leaders contrasts, beautiful whose work results in the betterment of the human condition, locally, nationally, and globally. colors of the planet, In the late 1990s, the School’s traditional programs in mining and mineral engineering were transformed to include environmental concerns for land and water resources. The Department of Earth and Environ- thin blue line of mental Engineering resulted and, as such, its faculty became an integral part of the new University-wide atmosphere, pure major initiative in Earth studies, the Columbia Earth Institute. blackness of space” Today, faculty in many different departments are tackling sustainability as a research focus, each working in his or her specialized area to help solve some of the most intractable problems that face our world —NASA Astronaut Michael J. Massimino ’84, today. I hope you will enjoy reading about them and their research, and are proud of the great impact that in a Tweet May 19, 2009 Columbia Engineering is making on the lives of many people around the world today.

Feniosky Peña-Mora Dean

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Understanding Brown Carbon V. Faye McNeill Chemical Engineering

As an undergraduate at the California Institute of Tech- nology, Faye McNeill gravitated to studying the chemistry of the atmosphere for a very personal reason. “The air pol- lution there was bad,” said McNeill, assistant professor of chemical engineering, of the air in Southern California. “I have asthma, so I’m always a little more aware of atmo- spheric composition just because of the way I feel.”

McNeill is particularly interested in how aerosols, Brown carbon also interacts very differently with small particles or droplets of liquid suspended in the atmosphere and environment than its inorganic the atmosphere, affect global climate. Because cousin black carbon, and its roles in atmospheric they are so small (typically 2 to 10,000 nm), gravity chemistry and climate are just beginning to be has little effect on aerosol particles and they can understood. For one thing, black carbon tends to remain airborne for several days in the lower atmo- absorb radiation across the visible spectrum, but sphere, longer in the stratosphere. Aerosols such as brown carbon preferentially absorbs shorter wave- the sulfur compounds and ash emitted by Mt. Pina- lengths of light and thus can influence the forma- tubo pushed down global average temperatures for tion of ground-level ozone—the “bad” kind that two to three years after it erupted in 1991. Other leads to McNeill’s asthma attacks. aerosols can absorb incoming solar radiation or long-wave radiation reflected from Earth’s surface, To fill in our understanding of these important at- resulting in a warming effect on climate. The range mospheric compounds, McNeill is examining the of direct and indirect, compounding and conflict- basic chemistry and physics behind the cloud- ing effects makes aerosols one of the biggest un- forming and light-absorbing characteristics of solved problems facing climate scientists. organic aerosols in the lab. She also works with other groups to integrate their piece of the cli- Aerosols also can have a wide range of chemical mate puzzle into the big picture, including climate compositions, which reflects their diverse origins. modelers who write the massive, computer-based McNeill and her team have recently focused on simulations that attempt to predict how individual understanding the sources and properties of light- parts of the environment interact to govern Earth’s absorbing organic material, or “brown carbon,” in climate. atmospheric aerosols. Brown carbon is often a by- product of the burning of biomass, but its exact “A big part of what we do is communicate the re- formation mechanism is poorly understood. It turns sults of our work to modelers,” said McNeill. “The out that, rather than just being emitted directly fundamental information we get in the lab will from a source such as a brush fire, brown carbon eventually find its way into better climate models.” can form through complex reactions in airborne at- And that is something that can help us all breathe mospheric particles. a little easier.

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Studying Earth’s Mantle and Crust Marc Spiegelman Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics

rowing up, Marc Spiegelman dreamed of do with all the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. tration, a problem that Spiegelman’s colleagues at one day being the next Jacques Cousteau. the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory are actively GThe only problem was he enjoyed hiking Spiegelman’s principal expertise involves applying investigating, entails injecting carbon dioxide into more than diving and he excelled at math and physics theories that describe the migration of magma and certain mineral formations found in many places rather than oceanography. Two summers spent work- fluids in the solid earth, and the behavior of solid around the world. ing as a ranger for the U.S. Forest Service and the materials under the immense heat and stress of the discovery that the planet often reveals its secret inner deep earth. His efforts are helping create a more Spiegelman’s ability to work between the worlds of workings through calculus sealed his future. general understanding of the interactions between observation and modeling may one day prove cru- solids and fluids in the mantle and crust. This work cial in understanding what happens when carbon Today, Spiegelman studies the interior of the planet has applications to understanding the behavior and dioxide under immense pressure reacts with mineral using the tools of a computational physicist—com- output of volcanoes around the globe like Eyjafjal- formations containing magnesium. Such reactions puter models and equations describing fluids and lajökull, the volcano in Iceland that erupted in early produce extreme heat, which cracks the rock, and solids deforming far beyond human eyes and time 2010 and shut down air travel over much of Eu- form solid magnesium carbonate, locking the car- scales. In combining his love of dry land with his rope for nearly one month. His work also provides bon dioxide away safely and permanently. interest in physics and math, Spiegelman treats insights into such problems such as the interactions the planet as one, big physics problem and, at the between reactive fluids and a variety of minerals It is this ability to model unobservable interactions same time, is helping advance understanding of found in the earth. between solids, fluids, and heat deep underground how Earth’s crust and mantle behave in tectonically that gives him a leg up on his old hero, Jacques active regions of the world—places dominated by His expertise is attracting attention from new circles Cousteau. Instead of a view into the depths of the volcanoes and earthquakes. More recently, he has because it turns out that one of the more promis- ocean, Spiegelman has been able to see through his Reevaluating the Hole in the Ozone begun considering a problem that has traditionally ing ideas for dealing with excess carbon emissions equations and models into deepest recesses of the attracted scientists with a more airy focus: what to involves the solid earth. Geological carbon seques- upper earth. Lorenzo Polvani Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics

e don’t hear much about the hole in poles to the equator. In the last few years, he has The effects of this cooling already appear to be af- Earth’s ozone layer these days, and for focused on understanding the effects that ozone fecting the location of the Southern Hemisphere’s Wgood reason. Collective international depletion, and its eventual recovery, has on Earth’s mid-latitude jet stream. Like its twin in the north, action has been successful in reversing a decades- climate. the southern jet stream is associated with the for- long deterioration of the protective layer in the mation and movement of weather patterns around stratosphere. The hole, which grows and shrinks Ozone—a molecule made up of three atoms of oxy- the globe. Cooling of the upper troposphere—the seasonally over Antarctica, is expected to close by gen—absorbs much of the sun’s UVB radiation. In highest part of the lower atmosphere—has been sometime midcentury. the mid-1980s, it was discovered that chlorofluo- connected to a shift of the southern mid-latitude jet rocarbons, a chemical used as aerosol propellants, stream toward the south by a few degrees. Now, however, models and observations of Earth’s were collecting in the stratosphere over Antarctica, atmosphere are showing that the ozone hole may be where they were very quickly breaking down the This shift has resulted in precipitation patterns having an effect on global climate patterns that may planet’s ozone. In 1987, world governments signed moving south as well, and in the tropical dry zones be masking the full impact of global warming. “The the Montreal Protocol to ban the manufacture and expanding. The evidence is not yet conclusive, but ozone hole has been ignored for the past decade as use of chlorofluorocarbons, and the success of the Australia’s lengthy drought may be the result of this a solved problem,” said Lorenzo Polvani. “But we’re agreement has been held up as a model for an even- rearrangement of Southern Hemisphere weather finding it has caused a great deal of the climate tual international climate treaty. patterns. If so, Polvani’s next task is to find out what change that’s been observed.” will happen as the ozone hole closes and the full Ozone warms the stratosphere when it absorbs UV brunt of global warming is felt throughout the at- Polvani, who holds appointments in the Department radiation. Its relative absence over Antarctica for the mosphere. of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics as well past 40 years has had a cooling effect on the upper as the Department of Earth and Environmental Sci- atmosphere over the South Pole that is as much as “These next couple of decades are going to be in- ences, has studied atmospheric dynamics from the ten times as strong as the warming effect associated teresting times,” said Polvani. “We’re going to see surface to the upper stratosphere and from both with increasing carbon dioxide concentrations. these climate changes play out in our lifetimes.”

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Creating ArtificialT rees Klaus Lackner Earth and Environmental Engineering

There are people who think outside the box. Then there are people like Klaus Lackner who throw the box away en- tirely when they think. While others argue over new ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Lackner has methods that will, as he puts it, “close the carbon loop” altogether.

“Stabilizing the concentration of carbon dioxide machines are like giant filters that trap the carbon in the air requires reducing carbon dioxide emis- dioxide that will be later freed and converted into sions to nearly zero,” Lackner said in testimony a liquid: syngas, synthetic gas that can be used as before the House Science and Technology Subcom- a fuelstock. Alternatively, it could be disposed of mittee on Energy and Environment recently. “Think through geologic and mineral sequestration. of pouring water into a cup: as long as you pour water into the cup, the water level in the cup goes Our reliance on liquid hydrocarbon fuels for up. It does not matter whether the maximum level transportation has led Lackner to search for afford- is one inch below the rim or one and a half inches able low-carbon production methods. In a nod to below the rim. In either case, you will eventually his work contemplating an auxon army, he and his have to stop pouring.” colleagues at the Lenfest Center for Sustainable Energy are looking for ways to apply the benefits of That sort of big-picture thinking is nothing new mass production to energy and fuels to drive down for the Ewing and J. Lamar Worzel Professor of costs. In addition, he is taking a serious look at Geophysics in the Department of Earth and Envi- solar power as a way to eliminate carbon emissions ronmental Engineering. His efforts to find system- from fuel production entirely and bring us closer scale solutions to humanity’s demand for energy to achieving a carbon-neutral society rather than set the stage for Lackner’s seminal conclusion in simply dealing with the effects of climate change 1999 that, to truly control carbon emissions, we as they occur by doing such things as blocking a would have to learn how to remove carbon dioxide portion of the sun’s radiation. directly from the air. The wind, he calculated, is vastly more efficient at transporting carbon dioxide “Imagine if we decided to solve our garbage to a collection device than it is as a means of gen- problem by putting houses on stilts and raising erating electricity. them a little every year,” said Lackner. “That’s what a lot of geoengineering amounts to, and that’s Now Lackner has taken his ideas one step further not a solution to the problem. A real solution will and is working with Global Research Technologies only come by completely rethinking the way we use to create artificial trees that will pull carbon dioxide carbon.” from the air, just as real trees do. His air capture

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Repairing the Microbial Nitrogen Cycle

Kartik Chandran Earth and Environmental Engineering

ot everyone can lay claim to having helped Ideally, household and industrial wastewater is quired to produce the substance themselves. found a new field of study or to having a treated to convert nitrogen-containing compounds unit of measurement named after them. to N . However, the EPA estimates that improper The obvious need for continued treatment of waste- N 2 Kartik Chandran can, but he tends not to. He is too treatment methods lead to the accidental release water coupled with increasing concerns over the im- busy studying the influence of nitrogen on global of 24,000 tons of nitrous oxide in the U.S. alone pacts of improper treatment have led to efforts by climate and the biosphere. each year. Chandran and others to launch the new field of azo- tomics, which examines the microbial structure and

As N2, nitrogen is a largely nonreactive, but cru- Nitric oxide is another byproduct of faulty or im- function of the global nitrogen cycle. In addition, cial, part of Earth’s atmosphere. As nitrous oxide proper wastewater treatment. In the atmosphere, it Chandran’s work has resulted in a new unit of mea-

(N2O), it is one of the strongest greenhouse gases. converts to nitrogen dioxide, a major component of sure, the Chandran number, which describes the As nitric oxide (NO), it plays a role in ozone deple- ground-level smog. It also has the surprising prop- propensity of microbes to produce nitrous oxide. tion and, at the molecular scale, in promoting re- erty of helping microorganisms “learn” to become sistance to antimicrobial products. Ironically, both resistant to the human immune system and, poten- “We are going to be dealing with wastewater treat- can be formed in the process of trying to improve tially, to antibiotics such as tetracycline. ment and nitrogen pollution for a long time,” said lives and prevent disease by treating wastewater. Chandran. “By improving understanding of the mo- The immune system and some antibiotics use nitric lecular mechanisms of the microbial nitrogen path- “We’d ideally like to convert everything to dinitro- oxide to combat pathogens in the human body. To ways and coupling that with new engineering tools, gen gas,” said Chandran, assistant professor in the counteract this, many microbes dose themselves we can tackle these issues in a better fashion than Department of Earth and Environmental Engineer- with low levels of nitric oxide in an effort to become we have been thus far.” ing. “But if we don’t engineer bioreactors well, acclimatized to its effects. By encountering nitric we’ll just end up impairing air quality and possibly oxide in the environment, pathogens can become creating robust microorganisms.” immune without having to expend the energy re- Recycling Carbon Dioxide for Energy Marco Castaldi Earth and Environmental Engineering

It seems almost anything can be recycled these to combat global warming focus on reducing the oxide generated during syngas production by pump- days. Soda bottles become clothes, rubber tires amount of carbon dioxide being emitted or, more ing it back into the reaction chamber. When he did, Iend up in paving materials. What if there was recently, on ways to remove the gas from the at- he discovered that the carbon dioxide reacted with another use for all the excess carbon dioxide that mosphere. Castaldi’s aim is to redirect a portion of steam to produce more heat. He also found that re- gets pumped into the atmosphere? Now there is. It those emissions to a useful purpose. placing about 30 percent of the steam with carbon can be used to make fuel. dioxide reduced water usage and converted almost Producing energy from biomass is generally done in all of the lignin to syngas, leaving behind only a car- Marco Castaldi, assistant professor of earth and en- one of two ways: by burning the material and us- bonless char. vironmental engineering and head of the Combus- ing the heat to spin a turbine or by extracting the tion and Catalysis Laboratory, focuses his research carbon and hydrogen in plant material and using it Castaldi estimates that if the biomass were used to on understanding the catalytic and noncatalytic to produce a hydrocarbon fuel. Of the two, the lat- replace 20 percent of existing demand for transpor- reactions that occur when carbon dioxide is intro- ter is more efficient and much less harmful to the tation fuels, 1.4 billion tons of carbon dioxide would duced into thermal conversion processes such as environment. Syngas, or synthesis gas, is produced be kept from the atmosphere. Incorporating carbon the gasification of coal. He recently developed and by heating biomass in a reaction vessel and inject- dioxide into the fuel-making process would increase tested a simple method for converting biomass to ing steam. It can be used as a stand-alone fuel or, as this to more than 1.8 billion tons—the same as re- fuel in which he added carbon dioxide to the pro- its name implies, to synthesize other chemicals and moving 308 million vehicles from the roads. cess. When he did, he found that he produced sig- fuels. The reaction is an energy- and water-intensive nificantly more fuel and less waste. process that can also leave behind large amounts of “This is what engineering does best,” said Castaldi, carbon in the form of unprocessed lignin. “developing processes that can extract value from Humans currently produce nearly 30 billion tons of unwanted materials—to help make the world a bet- carbon dioxide each year, almost all of which ends Five years ago, Castaldi began investigating what ter place.” up in the atmosphere. Most mitigation strategies would happen if he reused some of the carbon di-

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Keeping Wind Turbines Turning Elon J. Terrell Mechanical Engineering

Around the world, communities are increasingly utilizing wind power because it is a clean, sustainable source of re- newable energy, is fast to deploy, creates jobs, uses very little water, and is economically competitive. In fact, wind power is the fastest-growing source of energy production, having grown from zero production in the early 1980s to more than 120,000 megawatts (enough to power at least 100 million homes) worldwide as of 2008.

But as wind turbines are increasingly being in- as those used in wind turbines. A vital aspect of stalled, their power systems are being challenged his research is the combined modeling of the vari- by a number of issues, especially exposure to harsh ous physical interactions that take place within this operational and environmental conditions, as well interface, including lubricant fluid flow, particle as the effects of contamination from the environ- motion, particle-surface contact, and the resultant ment—their gearbox systems, in particular, often abrasive wear experienced by both surfaces. prematurely break down. To better understand the lubrication of contaminat- Elon J. Terrell, assistant professor in the Depart- ed geartrains, Terrell’s group is exploring the use of ment of Mechanical Engineering, is an expert in mesh-free particle methods, wherein the lubricant tribology, the science of friction, lubrication, and flow, the contacting surfaces, and the particles are wear within sliding and contacting interfaces. He all represented by virtual particles that interact uses analytical, numerical, and experimental tech- with one another and move dynamically with time. niques to analyze the interfacial interactions and These techniques are fairly new, having only been the wear between sliding surfaces in either dry slid- widely used for about 30 years. Although studies ing or lubricated contact. Since friction and wear have involved the use of these methods for fluid are challenges for devices that contain moving mechanics and solid mechanics, Terrell’s group is components, his research interests extend to sev- seeking to be the first to use them to integrally con- eral industries, including power generation, energy nect fluid mechanics, solid mechanics, and- par conversion, energy harvesting, MEMS (microelec- ticle dynamics into a single predictive simulation. tromechanical systems), and health sciences. His other research interests include the study of One of Terrell’s current projects is focused on the crack initiation, propagation, and agglomeration multiphysics analysis of contaminated cyclic roll- under low-amplitude cyclic loading, work that will ing-sliding contacts to gain a better physical un- help to better explain why the bases of gas turbine derstanding of the behavior of an interface between blades fail after a given amount of use. Terrell is two lubricated surfaces that are contaminated with also exploring the possibility of applying electro- solid particles and involved in cyclical rolling-sliding kinetics to thin film lubrication, a project that is contact. His primary testbed involves particulate mostly applicable to devices such as MEMS and contaminants in a lubricated gearbox system, such magnetic data storage devices.

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Storing Energy More Efficiently Sanat Kumar Chemical Engineering

he battery has long been the energy storage ment of Defense, making the move to electrified required. Kumar’s research is aimed at develop- device of choice. Despite such advance- systems much more practical, for example, for air- ing higher energy density dielectric materials that Tments as lithium-based and rechargeables, craft launchers on ships. Further, since we want to enable the fabrication of capacitors so that they however, limitations persist in life span, storage use plastics to make these capacitors, it will pro- can operate at temperatures above 150°C and can capacity and weight. So, how to build a better bat- vide considerable savings in weight, which is highly handle high-voltage and high-ripple current at fre- tery? The best choice may not be a battery at all. desirable from a fuel consumption point of view.” quencies over 20 kHz.

A growing number of researchers—including Sanat Technological advancements would have an These new materials would be used to power elec- Kumar, professor and chair of the Department of impact on transportation as well, Kumar says. tronics. At the same time, new technologies will Chemical Engineering—are working to make high- be developed for fabricating compact, high-voltage, energy capacitors (energy storage devices) become “Advanced low-voltage capacitors are needed high-current, high-repetition-rate capacitors that a viable replacement in electronics, hybrid cars, and to facilitate more power-efficient and compact deliver energy in sub-microseconds. electric power systems. portable electronic devices for communications, medical applications, and high-power electronics, “We will help to model the behavior of new materi- “Electrical energy is stored by a difference in charge while advanced high-voltage capacitors are need- als that the group will propose as new capacitors,” between two metal surfaces, but unlike a battery, ed for reactive compensation of electric power he said. “The goal is to design better capacitors capacitors are designed to release their energy very systems, energy storage, and distribution related from the ground up.” quickly,” he said. The objective is to design high- to the interfacing of renewable energy sources to energy capacitors, which would have a big impact the power grid,” said Kumar. The project is on a 10-year timeline, but Kumar on industry and the military. expects advancements will be made that can be Producing Organic Photovoltaics To meet the present and future demand, substan- incorporated into improving current capacitors in “Such an improvement in the state-of-the-art tial advances beyond the present state-of-the-art in the short term. would have a substantial impact on the Depart- dielectric materials and capacitor technology are Ioannis (John) Kymissis electrical engineering

ong before the Gulf oil spill and President economies. Distributed power generation through to improve efficiency, reduce processing costs, im- Obama’s call for new efforts to reduce U.S. photovoltaics can reduce the load on strained prove storage lifetime, and increase the operating Ldependence on oil, Columbia researchers distribution systems and provide power to remote lifetime of organic photovoltaic devices. were working to reduce our dependence on the locations where it may be cost-prohibitive or envi- world’s rapidly dwindling supply of fossil fuels by ronmentally problematic to run power lines. Kymissis believes that thin-film semiconductors, finding new ways to provide electricity that are with their ability to scale to large sizes, can solve a more economical, efficient, and accessible. The rate of photovoltaic production has been in- variety of sensing and power conversion problems. creasing rapidly—more than 50 percent per year— His group can fabricate systems that integrate a Ioannis (John) Kymissis, assistant professor in the but photovoltaics are still dwarfed by other sources variety of thin-film devices, including photovoltaics Department of Electrical Engineering, and his team of energy. Kymissis notes that photovoltaics pro- and organic photodetectors, organic field effect tran- are working on producing organic photovoltaics duced only 0.02 percent of the total energy used in sistors, piezoelectric polymer sensors, and organic that are easier and cheaper to manufacture than the United States last year: a new approach to pho- light-emitting diodes. These integrated devices can solar cells currently on the market. Photovoltaics tovoltaics is required to meet global energy needs. be used for applications in which electronics need have been around for more than 50 years. They to interface with large objects in the real world, such are currently used in a variety of applications, in- Photovoltaics can be part of a solution that insures as sensors that can measure sound and airflow over cluding powering remote equipment and recharg- a sustainable future, one with reduced energy in- an airplane wing. ing batteries in remotely deployed electronics. Of tensity and using new sources that are renewable even greater potential impact, however, could be and carbon-neutral. Kymissis’ team is involved in “It’s essential that we start working today to re- the broad deployment of photovoltaics for grid- improving the performance and processability of duce our dependence on finite energy resources to scale renewable power generation. In addition to photovoltaics using organic thin-film semiconductor insure a better standard of living for future genera- providing a clean source of renewable energy, such materials that are elementally abundant, inexpen- tions than we have today.” installations potentially present a number of grid- sive to synthesize, and straightforward to deposit level advantages in both advanced and developing in large installations. The team is working on how

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Engineering in the Developing World Vijay Modi Mechanical Engineering Vijay Modi is an engineer in search of problems. That is, he has changed the way he approaches engineering and, in the process, is helping address some seemingly minor challenges that, on further investigation, are extremely complex and can change the lives of a large portion of the world’s poor.

“Instead of starting with a particular skill I have the academic community and private sector alike. and trying to apply it, I’m trying to figure out what the interesting problems are and then seeing how “Engineering research carried out in academia has we can bring engineering to bear on them.” started to lose connection with the profession of engineering, which is about solving problems,” said Among those interesting problems are the suite of Modi, a professor in the Department of Mechanical challenges that people in places like sub-Saharan Engineering. “What historically separated science Africa face every day and that can mean life or and engineering was that science was about the death. Sometimes it can be something as simple pursuit of knowledge and engineering has been as creating an efficient, low-cost solar-powered about the pursuit of problems.” lighting system that enables people in rural vil- lages to do the things after sunset that others take The key, he has found, lies in assembling people for granted—like study or run a small shop. The with the skills he needs and a desire to apply them trouble is, without looking for problems, the an- to what, at first, might seem to be a problem not swers have not been forthcoming. traditionally associated with those skills. For ex- ample, in recent work to understand the problem By taking this bottom-up approach, Modi has dis- of local water access in Africa’s Sahel region, Modi covered that he can categorize the problems he assembled a team that included a remote sensing encounters into three groups: those he can make specialist, an expert on entrepreneurship and busi- an immediate impact on, those he has little hope ness, and a social scientist with experience under- of solving, and those he might be able to solve with standing people’s environmental decision-making. the help from the right people. It’s that last group of problems that has attracted his attention of late, Through his connections across the University, particularly the ones that the diversity of knowledge Modi has helped designed and test low-cost so- within the University can solve by developing tech- lutions to such developing-world problems as the nologies or systems that can be commercialized to need for a cleaner and more efficient cook stove to improve lives in remote and difficult places. help reduce the environmental impact of burning fuel wood and robust IT systems that allow access It wasn’t always that way. When Modi arrived at to information from remote agricultural villages. Columbia in 1986, he focused on fairly conventional “These are projects that are not typically driven by questions involving fluid flow and heat transfer. A large amounts of funding, but they occur in places meeting with Nicholas Themelis and exposure to that are in need of innovation,” said Modi. “The the work of the Earth Engineering Center soon refo- key is to figure out how to make innovation happen cused his priorities on more applied problems that, in a low-cost market.” as he describes it, have fallen through the cracks of

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Modeling Monsoons Adam Sobel Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics

dam Sobel once bought a plane ticket to the about how they vary. The monsoons are an atmo- in the so-called mixed layer that encompasses the city of Darwin in Australia’s tropical north spheric circulation pattern that develops in the top 10 to 50 meters of water, on the formation of Abased on a colleague’s weather prediction. tropics at fairly well-defined times of year. The active and break cycles. That in itself is nothing new, but the prediction sun warming Earth’s surface draws moisture from he followed was for the start of the monsoon rains ocean waters and forms the iconic, seasonal rains The atmospheric patterns that drive the monsoon— three weeks hence, a prediction that was virtually of South and Southeast Asia or sub-tropical Africa the Madden Julian Oscillation in particular—are unheard of just a decade earlier for the length of and South America. The people who live in these also responsible for spawning tropical storms in its foresight. When he got off the plane, no one was regions, particularly the rural poor, rely on the mon- distant ocean basins and may influence the forma- happier to see the sky open up and the rain begin soon rains to water crops and recharge aquifers. tion of El Niño and La Niña cycles in the western right on schedule. Pacific.A s a result, Sobel’s work may one day have When the monsoons are weak, drought and fam- an impact on people who live well beyond the reach “We had half a meter of rain in ten days,” said So- ine can result; if they come with too much gusto, of the monsoon rains. bel, who holds a dual appointment in the Depart- flooding and disease occur. The fine line between ment of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics life and death makes monsoon forecasting one of “We need a central theory that can be stated sim- and the Department of Earth and Environmental the most important topics within climate model- ply that explains the variations we see,” said So- Sciences. “It was exciting.” ing these days. Sobel is trying to develop models bel. “Weather prediction can look two weeks in to predict the variations within a monsoon season, the future, max. Climate models can give us the For more than one billion people, the seasonal known as “active” and “break” cycles, which have probability for a strong or weak monsoon a year in monsoons are both a life-giving annual event and a so far been beyond the ability of climate modeling. advance. This is in between. It’s kind of the Holy potential disaster. Although much is known about Recently, he helped demonstrate the central im- Grail right now.” Predicting El Niño how the monsoons occur, very little is understood portance of heat stored in the oceans, particularly Mark Cane Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics

ark Cane spent much of his early 20s regular progression of the seasons, no other phe- its formation early in the forecast window, by the protesting against the war in Vietnam nomenon influences Earth’s short-term climate as autumn of 1986, the predicted El Niño developed, Mand volunteering with the civil rights profoundly as ENSO. bringing its associated weather patterns to much movement in the South. He remains a social activ- of the globe. ist, but today he does so from his position as one of The Zebiak-Cane model showed a moderate El Niño the world’s top climate modelers. As science-based developing in late 1986. People in Peru, Australia, Most of Cane’s work since that time relates to the predictions of the weather a few days in advance and elsewhere still had vivid memories of the dev- impacts of human-induced climate change and were becoming routine, predicting the weather astating effects of the powerful El Niño that formed natural climate variability on people around the three or four months in advance was left to the in 1982 and 1983, so many scientists opposed world, such as a seminal paper studying the impli- likes of The Farmer’s Almanac. publishing forecasts they didn’t yet understand. cations of El Niño on maize yields in Zimbabwe. He has also created a highly successful master’s de- All that began to change in 1985 when Mark “People said, ‘What if you’re wrong?’” said Cane, gree program in Climate and Society that prepares Cane and his student, Steve Zebiak, published the G. Unger Vetlesen Professor of Earth and Cli- students to understand and cope with the impacts the results of a model they developed to predict mate Sciences and a professor in the Department of climate variability and climate change on society the movement of warm water across the tropical of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics and and the environment. Pacific Ocean in a cyclical phenomenon known as the Department of Earth and Environmental Sci- the El Niño Southern Oscillation, or ENSO. When ences. “I said, ‘What if we’re right and we don’t “Science should be more than just an academic it forms, El Niño’s meteorological reach spans the tell anyone?’” exercise,” said Cane. “We’re not just predicting globe, causing a well-known pattern of extreme this thing in the Pacific; we’re trying to predict all weather events. The 2009 El Niño, for example, Cane and Zebiak published their forecast in Na- these consequences around the world that people resulted in deep droughts in India and the Philip- ture in June of that year, which gave anyone who care about.” pines and deadly rains in Uganda. Aside from the cared to listen time to prepare. Despite a delay in

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Capturing Carbon Ah-Hyung (Alissa) Park Earth and Environmental Engineering

Ah-Hyung (Alissa) Park has been called the “Carbon Lady” for good reason. She is considered to be one of the leading experts in the many forms carbon takes as humans trans- form and move it through society and the environment, and her path-breaking work may very well help pave the way to a future in which society obtains energy from a wide range of sustainable sources and deals with its excess carbon in surprising ways.

“The future of humanity depends on our ability to and storage technologies with those that synthesize use energy and materials with an eye toward envi- hydrogen and liquid fuels from coal, biomass, and ronmental sustainability,” said Park, Lenfest Junior municipal solid wastes, including nonrecyclable Professor in Applied Climate Science and associate plastics. director of the Lenfest Center for Sustainable En- ergy. “This will inevitably have to include efficient Today, Park is also working to advance efforts to extraction of energy and materials from fossil re- capture carbon dioxide from emissions and lock sources, biomass, and municipal solid wastes.” it away permanently and economically. To do this, she is exploring the use of nanoparticle ionic ma- Whether carbon takes the form of a lump of coal terials (NIMs), a new class of organic-inorganic hy- or a used plastic soda bottle, or becomes the end brid materials that consist of a hard nanoparticle result of carbon capture and sequestration, Park core surrounded by a functionalized corona. NIMs looks for methods to improve the ways that carbon are essentially solvent-free, particle-based fluids circulates through the industrial and environmen- that provide a large number of capture sites for

tal processes. “The reason we take so much carbon CO2. Since it has negligible vapor pressure, NIMs out of the ground is because of our needs for energy can be applied to various industrial processes with and materials,” said Park. “If we can find a way minimum environmental impacts. to keep the carbon circulating above ground while providing energy and materials, we won’t have to Once the carbon dioxide has been captured, Park take so much out of the ground.” is also looking at ways to safely and permanently dispose of it as mineral carbonates or to convert it More than seven gigatons of carbon produced by to other useful materials such as paper or plastic human activity around the world ends up in the fillers.T he key to achieving sustainability, she says, atmosphere each year, primarily in the form of the is to take a more expansive view of the systems that greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. Being able to man- process carbon. age our increasingly prominent role in the global carbon cycle is an important and innovative step “In the past, engineering has mainly focused on toward the sustainable future of our society. optimizing the individual unit of a process,” said Park. “Today, we need to look at the big picture One of the ways Park attempts to do this is to in- and add environmental sustainability to our equa- vestigate novel ways to integrate carbon capture tions.”

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Predicting Failure in Ice Shelves Haim Waisman Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics

he I-35 bridge collapse in Minneapolis and Antarctica. As the climate warms, water from In particular, he has been using his methods to in 2007 killed 13 people and resulted in melting ice seeps to the bottom of glaciers, allow- study how suspension bridge cables age. The main Tuntold economic disruption for the Upper ing them to slide more easily over bedrock and cables are made of thousands of wires clamped and Midwest. It also brought into stark relief a problem forming networks of cracks in ice shelves. Over the wound together. When a wire breaks, the loads it with the nation’s infrastructure that is, by its very course of about a month in 2002, 1,250 square carries are redistributed to neighboring wires. Un- nature, bound to get worse with time: it is old and miles of the Larsen B Ice Shelf in West Antarctica derstanding and predicting the fracture response getting older every day. shattered, sending icebergs into southern shipping of the entire cable involves taking into consider- lanes and permitting glaciers linked to the shelf to ation as many as 50,000 wires wound into a tightly For Haim Waisman, assistant professor in the speed up. Since then, several other shelves have compressed bundle more than two miles long and Department of Civil Engineering and Engineering collapsed, raising concerns that the massive ice requires a supercomputer. He has found that, when Mechanics, the aging infrastructure also highlights cap covering the continent is on the move, threat- a wire breaks, friction between the remaining wires a more general characteristic of any structure— ening sea-level rise around the world. can effectively transfer the strain throughout the everything breaks eventually. For that reason, cable bundle without compromising the entire Waisman is developing computational techniques Waisman is refining computational methods known bridge. That’s a relief for the millions of people who to help understand how and why things fall apart, as extended finite elements and multiscale model- daily cross the graceful but aging bridges that lead and how this may be predicted and prevented. ing to design high-strength, nano-composite mate- into and out of Manhattan. “Fractures govern our lives,” he said. “Everything rials that might one day shore up aging structures, is connected by fractures.” such as pipes and bridges, in corrosive environ- Understanding how things like ice shelves and ments. He also has developed a noninvasive meth- bridges break and fail is a necessary first step to Fractures also play a role in nature, and Waisman od of detecting fractures in things such as airplane understanding the inevitable, inexorable changes has recently turned his attention to a dramatic wings using measurements from only a few com- that are going on all around us all the time. example—the collapse of ice shelves in Greenland mon stress sensors. Understanding Extremes of Global Warming Tuncel Yegulalp Earth and Environmental Engineering

xtreme” is perhaps the last thing that ing. It was during that time he discovered “there tremes of climate, such as flooding and high winds, comes to mind when talking to Tuncel was more to the world than just uranium.” That that might arise in the wake of global warming. “E Yegulalp. “Orderly” and “soft-spoken” world included a graduate course in extreme value seem more appropriate. Nevertheless, the professor statistics—a class for which students had to be in- At the same time, Yegulalp is trying to help stave of mining in the Department of Earth and Environ- terviewed and handpicked by Gumbel in order to off the worst of those extreme events by applying mental Engineering was the last student of Colum- register. Yegulalp and another professor tried to use his expertise in geology, mining, and refinery sys- bia professor E. J. Gumbel, who helped found the extreme value analysis to develop a statistical model tems to projects focusing on geologic sequestration field of extreme value statistics. of large earthquakes, but gaps in the seismic record of carbon dioxide. The idea is that pumping carbon made it impossible to create accurate forecasts. dioxide into minerals such as serpentinite that con- Today, Yegulalp is a leading expert in the field, which tain magnesium will form magnesium carbonate, a is used to analyze and predict statistical outliers of Yegulalp eventually devised a new method to al- stable solid that will keep the greenhouse gas out of common events, such as large earthquakes and se- low for the data gaps, but it wasn’t until 1999 that the atmosphere permanently. The only problem, he vere floods, as well as the failure strength of rocks. he was able to verify his work. While on vacation says, is the sheer volume of the carbon dioxide we will In addition, his career has recently come full circle, in Turkey, he experienced the magnitude 7.6 Izmit eventually have to sequester and the large amount of returning him to the fields of mining and geology earthquake. Fortunately, he had brought with him a magnesium carbonate rock that will result. that originally brought him to Columbia, only this laptop with his earthquake forecasting model, and time he’s trying to figure out how to put something he found that the Izmit quake fit squarely into the “If we want to maintain coal as a major contributor into the ground—namely, carbon dioxide—rather range of what might be expected, given its magni- of energy, we’re going to have to mine at least 6 bil- than remove it. tude and the time since the region’s last large event. lion tons of rock per year and learn to dispose of an These days, Yegulalp is teaching extreme value even greater weight and volume of magnesium car- Yegulalp arrived at Columbia from his native Turkey methods to an entirely new group of students who bonate,” said Yegulalp. Spoken like someone with a in 1963 to continue his studies of uranium min- are interested in understanding and predicting ex- mind for extremes.

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Fostering News Ways to “Green” Ponisseril Somasundaran Earth and Environmental Engineering

Ask Ponisseril Somasundaran to say something in Hindi and he will jokingly beg ignorance aside from “a few com- mon bad words.” Ask him what he thinks “sustainability” means, though, and he will quote the Hindu tenet of ni- skam karma, or selfless action, that entails making sacri- fices today for the sake of the future.

A world leader in surfactant science, the LaVon masundaran’s approach has been to reduce the Duddleson Krumb Professor of Mineral Engineering amount of water in these products to lower the is best known for his groundbreaking contributions amount of packaging they require and the amount in the field of surfactant self-assembly at solid- of fuel needed to ship them—aspects not com- liquid interfaces and in solution. Somasundaran monly addressed in the identification and market- has used his expertise to take on problems as wide- ing of “green” products. He has applied a similar ranging as the enrichment of scarce mineral from water-saving approach to mineral processing and ultra-lean ores, to the impact of cigarette smoke on mine tailing treatment by developing chemicals lungs, to the behavior of nanoparticles. that require less water consumption, resulting in more efficient production of basic materials. His current mantra, however, is sustainability. “Sustainability has several different meanings,” he More recently, Somasundaran has begun to focus said. “It is like the four blind men describing an on agriculture, which is notorious for its enormous elephant.” In that Sufi tale, four blind men each demand for water. In many parts of the world, water disagree about the true nature of an elephant be- scarcity is a rapidly growing problem affecting mil- cause each feels a different part of the animal. lions of people. As a result, even a relatively mod- Like those men—but with his eyes wide open— est savings in agricultural water use could translate Somasundaran is approaching sustainability from to huge gains globally. He is exploring the use of several perspectives. cellulose nanoparticles, which naturally curl to trap droplets of water and which uncurl under certain “There is a fundamental disconnect in the sustain- conditions. He is trying to develop a targeted re- ability movement when it comes to consumer prod- lease mechanism to water just the roots of crops ucts,” he said. “An increasing number of people and only when the soil is too dry or when high tem- are choosing products based on third-party green peratures threaten crops. certification, but many of these labeling programs give little weight to the full scope of a product’s His next target may be the very notion of sustain- lifecycle, from manufacture and shipping, to use ability itself and the “carbon footprint.” Based on and disposal.” everything he has seen through his work, Somasun- daran is convinced that focusing solely on carbon An example is liquid soaps and detergents, which is far too narrow. “We need to broaden our notion contain large amounts of water to help improve of what is sustainable,” he said. Then, perhaps, we their viscosity and make them easy to use. So- will all be able to see the entire elephant.

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Making Concrete “Green” Christian Meyer Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics

ne of the world’s most important, versa- use postconsumer glass failed because of the alkali- sonable profit doing something, they won’t do it.” tile, and widely used building materials, silica reaction, which can lead to severe damage of But rather than simply using any waste materials Oconcrete, also leaves a huge environmen- the concrete. Meyer and his collaborators figured as ingredients of concrete, Meyer prefers to explore tal footprint. In the U.S. alone, the annual produc- out how to solve the problem using various cemen- how to add value to the various waste stream com- tion of more than 500 million tons averages about titious admixtures as partial substitutes for Port- ponents and find ways to make better, more useful two tons per man, woman, and child. In addition, land cement and since have shown how colored products while conserving natural resources. the annual production of Portland cement, a basic glass can be incorporated for stunning architectural ingredient of concrete, is estimated to cause the and decorative concrete applications, including Professor Meyer is also using his expertise in con-

release of one ton of CO2 into the atmosphere. The tiles and countertops. crete technology to explore ways to safeguard oil cement industry alone generates about 7 percent wells drilled deep into the ocean floor. He is work- of this greenhouse gas across the globe. He has added shredded Styrofoam to make light- ing on determining the properties of oil well ce- weight concrete that not only has strong insulating ment slurries that hydrate under the high pressures But, as Christian Meyer, professor of civil engi- and acoustic qualities but is also cheaper to trans- and temperatures downhole, because such proper- neering and engineering mechanics, has shown, port to sites. He is currently exploring using recy- ties are different from those of slurries that hydrate properly produced concrete is inherently an en- cled concrete as aggregate, noting that the U.S. under ambient conditions. He is hoping to develop vironmentally friendly material—if, as he puts it, generates about 150 million tons of construction novel cementitious materials with greatly improved “you use as much concrete with as little Portland waste annually and that concrete debris is more performance characteristics that will reinforce the cement as possible.” At the forefront of what he than 50 percent of that amount. cement slurry with appropriate types of fibers to calls the “greening of the concrete industry,” Meyer improve the fracture behavior and energy absorp- is focused on advancing the state of the art in con- Meyer says that a key challenge is to identify spe- tion capacity of the finished cement sheath.A spe- crete technology, covering the full spectrum of re- cial properties intrinsic to recycled materials that cially developed device to measure the properties search activities from basic science to commercial can be exploited and thereby generate added val- of slurries that hydrate under simulated downhole production. ue, as in the glass tiles his team has made. He conditions has undergone the first successful tests adds that the use of recycled materials in concrete in the Carleton Laboratory of the Civil Engineering Raising the Roof He has had great success using recycled materials is governed by economic factors: “The profit motive Department. in concrete, most notably, glass. Early attempts to is key—if people don’t think they can earn a rea- Huiming Yin Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics

f Huiming Yin has his way, solar panels will one design incorporates a functionally graded material prove the wear and durability of roads and other day all but disappear from view on rooftops— (FGM), a relatively new type of material made up paved surfaces using FGMs to prevent buckling Iand from a builder’s bottom line. Yin is working of two components that, instead of meeting in an and heat stress. The shingled roof, which is essen- on a prototype for an inexpensive photovoltaic (pv) abrupt transition, change gradually in composition tially another asphalt-covered surface, seemed like cell that produces both electricity and hot water. from one to the other. This allows designers to take the next obvious focus of Yin’s attention—particu- Integrating his new design into roofing materials advantage of the physical properties of both com- larly when that surface is forced into double duty may one day eliminate the need for both solar pan- ponents without having to create a physical bond as both a shelter and an energy producer. els and roofing shingles. between them—often the weakest point in any composite. Installing solar panels on an existing roof, he says, Sunlight spans a wide range of the electromagnetic is a quintessential civil engineering problem, one spectrum—from nearly 120 to 20,000 nanome- The FGM that Yin uses in his solar panels helps that involves structural dynamics, wind loading, ters— but the typical pv cell can convert only a nar- both draw heat from the base of the photovoltaic and heat dissipation. The next step is to fashion his row sliver of this to electricity. The rest is “wasted” cell and insulate the roof. Water-filled tubes em- cells into durable roofing elements that can take or converted to heat—the enemy of many pv cells. bedded in the thin FGM layer carry that heat away the place of shingles. In particular, the most inexpensive silicone-based to be used in the building. By cooling the cell, Yin cells virtually stop producing a current above 85º is aiming to improve the efficiency of existing sili- Yin envisions a day when any building will be able Celsius, but rooftop solar cells often reach tem- cone pv cells. to convert sunlight to electricity and hot water for peratures exceeding 100º Celsius, making them all less than the cost of a conventional roof. Until that but useless in most parts of the world. Yin, who recently won the National Science Foun- time, he will continue trying to change the world, dation’s CAREER Award honoring junior faculty, one rooftop at a time. “As civil engineers, we want to produce something came to Columbia in 2008. Prior to arriving, he that really changes people’s lives,” said Yin. Yin’s focused his research on devising new ways to im-

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Greening Infrastructure Patricia culligan Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics

If American infrastructure were a student project, it would barely pass muster. In 2009, the American Society of Civil Engineers gave the country’s water and sewage treatment, energy, and transportation backbone a barely passing grade of D, citing long-overdue maintenance and lack of much- needed upgrades.

Patricia Culligan believes she can begin to address contaminated groundwater. Since green roofs con- some of these inadequacies by changing the way tain a thin layer of porous media through which engineers design infrastructure. At the same time, water passes before being taken up by the plants or her work may help improve conditions for millions released, it was a natural segue to quantifying the around the world living in rapidly growing urban technology’s function and effect. slums who lack basic services. Her work also dovetails with a larger movement The massive, centralized infrastructure projects that to devise solutions that will improve living condi- are hallmarks of modern civil engineering in many tions for poor communities in developing countries ways define and enable modern society. But Cul- where fast-growing demands for services such as ligan would replace or augment these with smaller, sewage treatment far outstrip supply. In addition, more decentralized systems and facilities that can old wastewater treatment systems in places such as either meet the needs of a fast-growing population New York City are routinely overwhelmed by street or help take the strain off an existing, aging net- and building runoff, resulting in millions of gallons work. One way is studying the role of small-scale of raw sewage being dumped in local waterways. infrastructure projects by examining the effective- Green roofs may help absorb some of the runoff. ness of green roofs—flat roofs covered in a thin layer of vegetation—to cool buildings and reduce or Columbia has seven green roofs, many of which mitigate storm runoff that flows from buildings into Culligan and her colleagues have instrumented to overburdened water treatment facilities. study heat and fluid flows through the system. But the heart of the local green roof movement is the Despite their growing popularity, Culligan has South Bronx, where many neighborhoods, finding found that many arguments in favor of green roofs themselves politically isolated, have begun to look are lacking. for their own community-based solutions to such socially complex problems as environmental pollu- “A lot of the claims being made are simply not tion. For this reason, Culligan has made commu- proven,” said the professor of civil engineering and nity partnerships and interdisciplinary research the engineering mechanics. “If this is going to work, core of her approach. This is, she says, typical of there needs to be a scientific rationale behind it.” the role civil engineers have played in society since the field’s formation in the 18th century. Culligan began her career studying the transport of chemical and radioactive contaminants through “Our work is about giving people a better life,” said porous media such as soil, fractured rock, and Culligan. “It’s about helping society prosper.” ocean sediments, and later focused on mitigating

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Peer Networking to Save Energy

John Taylor Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics

ll that time people spent on Facebook and equivalent greenhouse gas emissions. Over the next two periods studied, participants in the network chatting with friends may one day help re- twenty years, that is expected to grow by nearly group used between 20 and 28 percent less energy A duce greenhouse gas emissions. Research one-third. Governments at all levels are looking for than the nonparticipating, nonnetworked building by John Taylor and his team has shown that net- ways to address the emissions problem. Many of occupants, and, at times, were using an average of works may hold one key to achieving—and main- these initiatives, however, focus on improving energy as much as 50 percent less than nonparticipants. taining—reductions in residential energy use in storage, transmission, and appliance efficiency. More importantly, the network group was able to densely populated urban areas. Taylor and his team decided to take another path keep their energy use down over a much longer and focus on the way people use energy and, more period. “Retrofitting existing buildings is definitely going to importantly, the way people reduce their energy be an important component of any plan to reduce consumption. Next, Taylor and an interdisciplinary group of col- urban energy consumption,” said Taylor, assistant laborators and students at Columbia are turning professor of civil engineering and engineering me- With a grant from the Earth Institute, Taylor and his their attention to the diffusion of energy conser- chanics. “But research has demonstrated there is team instrumented all 89 rooms of Watt Residence vation practices through occupant networks and a take-back effect where energy use can actually Hall with real-time energy-monitoring devices, de- are developing computational models to emulate increase after such measures are implemented and veloped a system to track and share energy-use and predict the impact of peer network–induced people return to their old behaviors.” information among members of peer networks, reductions in energy utilization in other buildings. and organized a series of experiments to examine “Buildings don’t use energy, people do” said Taylor. Buildings account for about 40 percent of total whether and how peer networks played a role in “To achieve the ambitious greenhouse gas emis- U.S. energy use, but in densely populated areas, reducing energy consumption. sion reductions being set by our local and national that number can double. In New York City in 2005, leaders, our results show that we need to look more for example, the built environment accounted for The results were surprising, even for an age in closely at exactly how networks and information nearly 80 percent of the 58.3 million tons of CO - which social networking seems ubiquitous. In the sharing influence energy consumption.” Characterizing Nanoparticles for 2

Fuel Cells Simon Billinge Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics

he solid oxide fuel cell, which runs on one-millionth of a millimeter in thickness. The mos National Laboratory in New Mexico, and the hydrogen and oxygen to produce water as properties of the metal change when they are so Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois. Texhaust, is seen as a promising technology small, and scientists have yet to fully character- of the future for transportation. These fuel cells are ize their properties. By determining the nanopar- In these accelerators, the nanoparticles of plati- now used on an experimental basis to power city ticle’s structure and properties—its electrical con- num circle at high energy, with the x-ray beam buses. But the fuel cells have proved unreliable ductivity, thermal conductivity, melting point, and providing data on the defraction patterns revealed because the nanoparticles of platinum that serve stiffness—scientists will be better able to predict a in the experiment. Billinge has made important as a catalyst for the chemical reaction sometimes fuel cell’s performance, based on what particular breakthroughs by developing novel Fourier trans- do not function optimally, which results in ineffi- nanoparticle is used as the catalyst. form methods to analyze the data. cient operation. To help provide a solution, Billinge is developing He also has worked on measuring the surface en- “Scientists want to exploit the nanoparticle in the new methods to characterize the structure of nano- ergy of the platinum catalyst. The surface atoms, device but still don’t know that particle’s basic particles, figuring out the arrangements of atoms like those on the meniscus of a water droplet, have properties,” said Simon Billinge, professor of ma- in particles that are made up of a few hundred to higher energy than those inside of the particle. terials science. “Sometimes it works, and some- a few thousand atoms. He uses intense x-ray and And it’s the surface area of the nanoparticles that times it doesn’t.” neutron-source technology, carrying out his re- provides the reactivity for the hydrogen and oxygen search in particle accelerators at the Brookhaven that come together to produce the energy that pro- These catalysts, nanoparticles of platinum, are National Laboratory in Long Island, the Los Ala- pels the vehicle.

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Solving the Global Water Crisis Upmanu Lall Earth and Environmental Engineering

The Journal of International Affairs might seem like an odd place for an engineer to publish, as Upmanu Lall recently did, but the Alan and Carol Silberstein Professor of En- gineering is used to addressing big questions with broad reach. Foremost in his mind these days: Will we run out of fresh water in the twenty-first century?

Since the 1980s, Lall has been focused on how the Journal of International Affairs. “In essence, society and water intersect. His interest began the global crisis is viewed as a collection of local when he moved to Texas from his native India in crises—whether they are related to access, pollu- order to study systems analysis and very quickly tion, or scarcity—for which there is a global policy got involved in one of the most complex systems in imperative. We rarely address the global elements the American West—water use. As part of his doc- of these individual problems.” toral thesis, Lall examined the state’s future energy and water demands, treating both as parts of one A key player that Lall has identified in the looming vast, interconnected system with often-conflicting water crisis is agriculture, which accounts for 70 parts. percent of global water use on average and more than 90 percent in arid regions. Lall thinks it would Today, Lall sees a looming global water crisis, but not be out of the question to triple the efficiency one that is overshadowed in some quarters by cli- of water use by improving irrigation systems and by mate change. The problem may arise from the fact changing the way farmers water their crops. But re- that the water crisis, as he sees it, is actually three maining true to his systems background, Lall does separate crises—one of access, one of pollution, not stop there. He also sees room for improving and one of scarcity—that do not lend themselves water use by improving food processing, storage, to simple solutions. Moreover, each is inexorably and delivery as a means of reducing the 30 to 40 linked to the others and to additionally intracta- percent crop loss that currently occurs in much of ble problems like climate change and population the developing world. growth. With one-third of the developing world expected to In response, Lall helped found the Columbia Wa- confront severe water shortages in this century, it ter Center in order to address climate risk man- is not a problem that the rest of the world, includ- agement, development and the environment, and ing engineers, can ignore or avoid. Instead, Lall food security across a range of temporal and spa- sees it as a problem that is particularly suited to an tial scales. “The possibility that North India may engineer’s mindset. “The goal of engineering is to run out of groundwater in a decade, leading to a develop solutions to societal problems,” said Lall. collapse of agriculture in India, is not viewed as a “This fits into the domain of engineering better global problem,” Lall and his co-authors wrote in than anything else.”

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Using Nanomaterials for Solar Cells Tony heinz Electrical Engineering

he amount of energy from the sun that falls may revolutionize both our understanding of energy- the one hand and, on the other hand, in directly to Earth far, far exceeds our demand for conversion processes and the practical production measuring the amount of light absorbed by such Tenergy. Sunlight would surely be of broad of electricity from sunlight. He and his group are tiny structures through the use of new laser-based use in today’s world if we could capture and con- exploring a fundamentally new type of energy- techniques. vert it into electricity sufficiently efficiently and conversion process, one in which a single absorbed economically. The conversion of light to electricity photon creates two or more electronic excitations in “This is very a exciting fundamental scientific issue is carried out in photovoltaic devices or, as they are a suitable nanostructured material. While this pro- that goes to the core of understanding how light in- known more commonly, solar cells. These devices cess, known as Multiple Exciton Generation (MEG), teracts with electrons in solids. At the same time, it are typically made from silicon. Silicon, the basis is intrinsically weak in conventional semiconduct- is a problem with the potential to have an important for electronic circuits, is in many ways an excellent ing materials, Heinz is convinced that it will work if impact on addressing the world’s needs for sustain- material. However, the basic properties of electrons the right materials—novel nanoscale materials—are able energy,” says Heinz. “As part of the Energy in silicon imply that more than two-thirds of the in- found. Frontier Research Center recently established at cident energy will necessarily end up as heat rather Columbia University with the support of the U.S. than as electricity. Is there a way to avoid this en- Heinz and his collaborators are making such Department of Energy, we have the good fortune of ergy loss and increase the efficiency of photovoltaic structures—individual nanoscale photovoltaic de- being able to pursue these fascinating questions. devices? vices based on carbon nanotubes and other tailored At Columbia, we also benefit from an excellent col- nanoscale materials—in which these ideas can be laborative research environment. This allows us to Tony Heinz, David M. Rickey Professor of Optical rigorously tested. He says that both the electrical bring together the diverse expertise in science and Communications in the Department of Electrical and optical measurements require experimental ad- engineering disciplines that is indispensible for Engineering, and professor of physics in the Gradu- vances. The program builds on recent progress by progress in attacking these demanding problems.” Making a Smarter Power Grid ate School of Arts and Sciences, is working with an his group and collaborators in extracting photogen– interdisciplinary team of colleagues on a project that erated charges from individual carbon nanotubes on Roger Anderson Center for Computational Learning Systems

he advancements ushered in by the digi- The ASC is an algorithm-based, machine learning Once the Smart Grid is implemented, Anderson tal age have touched nearly every area of system that will allow the Smart Grid to calculate, says, “Things will happen too fast for optimal de- Thuman existence in the world, from how on a minute-by-minute basis, the cheapest, most ef- cision making by humans—even from the highly people shop and navigate their vehicles to how they ficient and most reliable ways of delivering electric- skilled operators at Con Edison.” work and consume news and entertainment. How- ity to consumers. It also will allow the Smart Grid ever, complex power grids—which connect us with to anticipate and respond automatically to problem The Smart Grid will use Columbia-designed ASC many of these relatively new technologies—are still events, such as weather changes and equipment computer control to respond more quickly to power mostly stuck in the analog age. failures, in order to prevent power outages. surges and emergency outages so that power can be redistributed to where it’s needed, using photovolta- One man who wants to change that is senior research Columbia’s role is to produce the ASC for the New ics, wind, battery storage, and other green sources scientist Roger Anderson, the Con Edison Senior York City Smart Grid Demonstration Project, fund- from areas with less demand. Scholar at Columbia Engineering’s Center for Compu- ed by the federal Department of Energy (DOE), to tational Learning Systems. He and colleague Albert help build a smarter, more efficient, more resilient “The whole idea of the Smart Grid is to have enough Boulanger have developed a patented Adaptive Sto- national electric grid. computer intelligence so you can control [the grid] chastic Controller (ASC) technology that will be part better and make it more stable,” Anderson says. of Con Edison’s Smart Grid Demonstration Project. Last November, the DOE awarded Con Edison $45 million for its Secure Interoperable Open Such technology is also being developed in Europe “We are trying to make the electric grid smarter, Smart Grid Demonstration Project—one of sixteen and China, he says, and an international utility much more like the Internet, so that control systems projects selected nationwide. The New York Pub- working group has been established to share best- can route power to where people need it, when they lic Service Commission will provide additional practice ideas and technologies across the globe. need it, and from green sources as much as pos- matching funds to make it the largest Smart Grid sible,” says Anderson. Demonstration Project in America.

­­ 34 | ­­ columbia engineering­­ ­­ columbia engineering | 35 impact on sustainability impact on sustainability

Sustaining the Environment

Peter Schlosser Earth and Environmental Engineering

Any one of Peter Schlosser’s three jobs could be a full-time undertaking. First, he studies Earth’s hydrosphere, past and present climate, and human impact on the environment as Vinton Professor of Earth and Environmental Engineer- ing and professor of earth and environmental sciences.

Second, as senior staff scientist at Lamont-Doherty a key part of efforts to establish and expand the Earth Observatory, he is involved in an array of Earth Institute, an initiative that brings together large scientific programs that support such things faculty and students from throughout Columbia to as international polar research. Finally, he is the search for ways to foster sustainable development associate director and director of research at the as an academic discipline. Schlosser has been in- Earth Institute. tegral in guiding the Institute’s research agenda, which focuses on developing practical solutions to Rather than keeping them separate in his mind and the problems that humankind faces in designing a on his plate, however, he tackles all three by doing sustainable future. At the same time, he recently the exact opposite. “They all retain some distinct founded the Columbia Climate Center, a part of the character,” said Schlosser. “But in my daily life, Earth Institute that specifically addresses society’s they are all intertwined.” needs for strategies to mitigate and adapt to cli- mate change. Not only are they intertwined, but they also speak to the way Schlosser has always approached his “Whether we can turn the world from a non-sus- work. As an undergraduate student in his native tainable to a sustainable path has been on my Germany, he chose to study physics at a university mind a lot,” said Schlosser. “I don’t think we have with a long tradition and broadly based research a real answer yet, but the important thing is that we and teaching because, he said, he wanted to see can see a path forward that is supported by techno- science as a holistic part of the entire universi- logical innovation.” ty. Physics, he felt, gave him the opportunity to acquire a set of skills that would be useful for In addition, Schlosser sees the need—now more studying a wide range of scientific problems with than ever—for a greater emphasis to be placed on societal relevance. communicating the messages of science clearly and accurately to a public that is often charged He eventually ended up in environmental physics, with making difficult decisions about what policies in part because of a natural curiosity in the world to enact and how to allocate resources to achieve a around him. Since arriving at Columbia in 1989, sustainable future. Exactly how to do that is a dif- Schlosser has continued to feed his omnivorous ficult question, but one that he feels should be an- curiosity about his surroundings by fostering con- swerable if involvement from many different fields nections with faculty members from departments across campus can be achieved. across campus. “That, to me, is enough motivation to continue That broad perspective has helped him become working and to look for solutions.”

­­ 36 | ­­ columbia engineering­­ ­­ columbia engineering | 37 impact on sustainability impact on sustainability

Harvesting Energy via Nanomechanics Xi Chen Earth and Environmental Engineering

very day around the world, an enormous provides an ideal platform for energy conversion Chen envisions that the integration of such a sys- amount of energy is wasted during power that yields unprecedented performance. tem into existing power plants would be relatively Egeneration. The efficiency of fossil fuel pow- simple, requiring no major change, and the nano- er plants in the U.S. alone is about 40 percent and Since only liquids may fully access and take ad- composite would generate “recovered” power as that of solar panels 25 percent (already close to vantage of the surface area of nanoporous mate- inexpensively as several cents per watt. He is cur- their theoretical upper limits), with the majority of rials, Chen has coupled nanoporous solids and rently in talking stages with several companies for the chemical and solar energies lost as low-grade functional liquids to create a multifunctional nano- implementing this technique. heat. While scientists work on producing low-cost, composite. efficient “clean” energy, 70 percent of the U.S. Xi Chen is also looking ahead, “not so far into the still relies on traditional carbon-based power and it “Depending on the combination of the solid matrix and future,” he says, to multifunctional nanocompos- is clear that, over the next few decades, we will still liquid filler, the thermomechanical and electrochemi- ite materials that could have broad, almost mind- have to live with these traditional energy sources. cal processes amplified by the large surface area may boggling impacts: things like self-powered liquid enable high-efficiency energy conversion among me- armor that not only protects soldiers but also al- One researcher who may have found a way to har- chanical, thermal, and electrical energies,” he said. leviates their battery needs, impact/blast-resistant vest some of this lost energy through nanomechan- skin for vehicles or aircraft whose shape will also ics is Xi Chen, associate professor in the Depart- For example, the nanocomposite can simultane- morph to perform optimized functions, self- and ment of Earth and Environmental Engineering. He ously harvest electricity from the ambient low-grade wirelessly powered sensors, among others. With is working with nanoporous materials, including heat and/or mechanical motions that are otherwise these wide potential applications in aerospace, nanoporous carbon, silica, and zeolite, materials wasted or even damaging (such as machine vibra- military, national security, and consumer areas, Xi that are readily available and low-cost, to convert tion that can cause fatigue). Significant power Chen is at the frontier of generating building blocks ambient thermal or mechanical energy to electric- output—many times higher than other energy- of intelligent materials for a smarter and more sus- Looking at Light ity. The ultra-large specific pore surface area (mil- harvesting materials—has already been success- tainable planet. lions of times larger than their bulk counterparts) fully demonstrated by his group. Richard Osgood electrical engineering

ometimes, to solve big problems, you have need to know more about the fundamentals that The trouble is, Graetzel cells are only about 7 to to think small. Richard Osgood thinks very limit the efficiency of charge transfer.” 10 percent efficient, meaning that, at best, only Ssmall. One of the biggest energy questions one out of ten free electrons produces a current. today is how to make solar cells more efficient and He and his team use ultrashort bursts of laser Osgood and others would like to improve on this, more affordable. This is particularly important for light to watch individual molecules of titanium but the reasons why one electron is captured and the billion or so people who live in poverty and, in dioxide accept or reject electrons. They also have another is not remain elusive. By firing extremely most cases, entirely off the grid. made some of the first studies of titanium dioxide short (10–15 femtosecond) bursts of laser light nanoparticles using the atomic-level resolution of at a titanium dioxide crystal and simultaneously Osgood and the other members of the Surface a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) to under- watching with an STM, Osgood and his team are Group in his Research Laboratory for Fundamental stand how these novel structures can be used to nearing the ability to observe individual electrons and Applied Science study the basic processes that improve solar cells. being taken up or rejected by the crystal matrix. allow some materials to convert light to electricity. It is a phenomenon that makes photovoltaic cells Titanium dioxide is of particular interest because it The rise of far-reaching, basic science studies like and fuel cells possible and that lies at the founda- is used in Graetzel cells, a type of low-cost photo- his—that span physics, chemistry, and engineer- tion of many hopes for a more sustainable future. voltaic cell that is easy to manufacture from readily ing—gives Osgood hope that, by focusing on the But for all its promise, the process is surprisingly available materials. Most low-cost cells are sensi- small stuff, answers to the big questions are not not well understood. tive to only a narrow band of sunlight. The Graet- far off. “The world is changing in the way things zel cell, however, contains a layer of organic dye are done,” he said. “The number of people doing “This is a very basic question we’re trying to ad- that produces free electrons from a wide spectrum interdisciplinary work is growing every day. It’s an dress,” said Osgood, Higgins Professor of Electri- of sunlight, much like chlorophyll does in plants. exciting time.” cal Engineering and a professor in the Department These electrons are then taken up by the titanium of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics. “We dioxide semiconductor to produce a current.

­­ 38 | ­­ columbia engineering­­ ­­ columbia engineering | 39 in a comprehensive design, but we realized that students wanted tangible projects; they wanted to New Global Reach for Sustainable build something.” First-Year Design Projects, 2010–2011 Now, each project requires students to identify pressing local needs, design a technological solu- tion, then build and test it. As part of their training, all students must master a suite of design Solar still Community Projects software and demonstrate the ability to integrate complex calculations into their projects. “If it doesn’t feature design-build-test, it won’t be a first-year project,” says McGourty. Biodigester Solar oven The challenge is to develop solutions that are culturally appropriate, economically feasible, and environmentally sustainable. That means both the materials and tools used must be accessible and Solar water heater olumbia Engineering’s First-Year Design Course is going global, giving students the opportu- affordable to local residents. So students have to research inexpensive materials (which are often Biosand water filter nity to build upon the program’s stateside success to work on numerous sustainability projects used, discarded, or recycled) that are readily available within their target community. Deliverables Caround the globe. In addition to pursuing ongoing projects in New York City, students will be able will include do-it-yourself guides that will be fully accessible to target communities. Silver colloidial water filter to work on sustainability projects in communities in Ghana, South Africa, Haiti, and Guatemala. Rainwater harvesting system “We hope students appreciate the impact that low-cost, practical solutions can have,” says Promiti “Our students are being trained to become global engineers and leaders; providing the opportunity for Dutta, a member of the instructional team. Gray water system students to think about design in a global context at the very start of their engineering education is a truly Water pump excellent augmentation,” says Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics Professor Patricia Culligan. “We expect that teams will develop projects that cost about $25 to $50 to build,” says Greg Van Kirk, the School’s social entrepreneur in residence and another member of the instructional team. Drip irrigation system Originally a straightforward modeling class for incoming students, the course has evolved into an innova- Moreover, he says, the students must come up with designs that can be built, maintained, and po- Wind turbine tive design course integrating community-based learning, with students working actively on real projects tentially sold on a local level at an affordable price. “We hope that the student teams will be able to in the community. The course cuts across academic departments, combining technical and professional develop solutions that could be manufactured or produced at scale by local individuals.” Improved cook stove training with social awareness. “This format gives students real-world experience right at the start of their Technologically feasible undergraduate educations and helps them understand the social implications of engineering design,” Van Kirk, who is an Ashoka Fellow with wide experience with international social entrepreneurs says Senior Vice-Dean Mort Friedman. and innovators, is the “client representative” for teams working on global projects. He connects refrigerator students with local social entrepreneurs and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to help orga- Solar light/cell phone charger Sustainability offers just the sort of interdisciplinary problem space that works perfectly for students. nize projects based on their assessment of local needs. “Our goal is to create a widely accessible, The global communities face enormous economic and environmental challenges, especially in the areas updatable, web-based library of practical and impactful DIY sustainability solutions that will help Brick making machine of energy, water, and waste. Just like in the New York City version, students learn engineering design by people at the base of the socioeconomic pyramid,” he says. Seed press working in teams on real projects for clients in the community, often community-based organizations or local social innovators. Students can choose both the communities they will work with and the projects At the end of the semester, students, instructional staff, and clients will vote on the best technology Sheller they take on. projects in each class. These will be made available, free of charge, on a Columbia website. Microhydropower

The new focus on environmental and economic sustainability also dovetails with the course’s emphasis The enhanced format is a win-win for students and the community. Students gain technical skills Rooftop gardens on hands-on learning. “We knew we were doing an excellent job of training in design, but we came to while providing real solutions for at-risk communities in New York City and in the developing world. Composting toilets realize that we weren’t fully addressing the full range of student interest,” says Senior Associate Dean And clients get access to simple, easy-to-build designs that are practical, culturally appropriate, Jack McGourty, who leads the course’s instructional team. “Many, even most, of our projects culminated and sustainable. “Green” building materials

­­ 40 | engineering news­­ ­­ columbia engineering | 41 1864705201013%1687811864168201013%168444312010 SEAS BY THE NUMBERS

SEAS Undergraduate Applications Selectivity Rate for First-Year Classes Number of Applications for Graduate Programs PhD Acceptance Rate

6,000 50% 5,000 50 30 28% 4,431 5,130 4,154 5,000 25 4,000 40 4,232 4,000 20% 19% 20 18% 3,000 30 27% 27% 3,113 2,439 3,000 2,332 15 13% 2,000 20 2,187 2,000 1,673 10 1,351 14% 13% 1,000 10 1,000 5

0 0 0 0 2000 2005 2009 2010 1995 2000 2005 2009 2010 1996 2000 2005 2010 1995 2009 1996 2000 2005 2009 2010

Average SAT Scores for SEAS Admitted Classes Top Industries for Undergraduates Mean GRE Quantitative Scores of Number of PhD and MS Students New Entrants in Doctoral Program

1,217 781 1,200 1,174 1600 Financial Services 38.7% 780 777 773 PhD 1495 Consulting Services 15.1% 1,000 1487 766 770 MS 1500 1480 Computer (Hardware, Software, Internet, Systems) 13.0% 1445 705 760 759 800 Engineering 10.9% 667 1400 750 647 1373 Education 3.3% 600 582 Research 3.2% 740 499 1300 423 Construction / Mining 2.2% 730 400 327 275 Manufacturing and Production 2.2% 720 1200 200 Military 2.2% 710 Others 9.2% 0 700 0 2009 2010* 1995 2000 2005 2009 2010 1996 2000 2005 2009 2010 1996 2000 2005 *projected

­­ 42 | engineering news­­ ­­ columbia engineering | 43 164impact2010 on sustainability13%16844318252010

SEAS BY THE NUMBERS A New Goal s the 2010-2011 school year opens, the Columbia Engineering community is beginning to talk about plans for how the engineering family will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the founding of the ASchool of Engineering and Applied Science. In addition to high-profile lectures, alumni gather- ings and other events, Dean Feniosky Peña-Mora is also leading the engineering community in an effort to encourage unprecedented investment in our engineering faculty, students, departments and facilities. The dean has announced that planning is underway for Columbia Engineering to have raise $150 million by the end of 2014, the year of the 150 th anniversary of the founding of the School of Mines at Columbia SEAS Faculty Growth 1995–2010 PhD Students per Faculty University.

5 This effort builds on The Columbia Campaign, launched in 2006, which had raised over $100 million for 200 faculty, programs, students, and facilities in engineering as of July 1, 2010. The 150 by 150 effort would extend the School of Engineering’s original campaign goal of raising $125 million by the end of 2011. Re- 168 4.2 150 markably, in the last twelve months alone the School of Engineering has successfully raised over $25 million 164 4.07 4 3.88 for endowed faculty positions, despite the continuing sluggishness of the global economy. “Many alumni 150 by 150 are in a process of winnowing down the number of causes they are choosing to support in this economy,” said Associate Dean for Advancement Peggy Maher. “So the trend we are witnessing demonstrates that our 115 3 2.82 alumni believe the School of Engineering and Applied Science is a truly essential institution worthy of their continued investment. This seems especially true as all sectors of our economy become increasingly reliant 100 96 2.39 on technically proficient leaders and managers.” 2 Based on this track record of success, Dean Peña-Mora believes The Columbia Campaign for Engineer- ing could achieve an ambitious target of raising $150 million by the end of 2014 in order to mark the 50 sesquicentennial anniversary of the School. To maximize the impact of this initiative, the dean has targeted 1 150 student-centered needs as the focus for this phase of the campaign for engineering. “We seek to educate the Columbia Engineering students in our classrooms today need to become the leaders in their fields for the next generation,” said Dean Peña-Mora. “So I am proposing that we set our sights on investing in them by 0 0 committing to raise $50 million for student support and programs over the next three years. In this way, we 1995 2000 2005 2009 2010 1996 2000 2005 2009 2010 can say that Columbia Engineering will achieve ‘150 by 150’ to consolidate our strengths and ensure another century and a half of engineering excellence.”

This proposed plan comes at a time of growing momentum at Columbia. Overall, through The Columbia Campaign, donors have given more than $3.7 billion to date for students, faculty, and programs across the University. Research Expenditures

$120 Millions $110,794K $150M

$100 Millions $92,937K $120M

$80 Millions $74,990K $90M Target $60 Millions Actual

$39,581K $60M $40 Millions $29,240K

$20 Millions $30M

0 0 1996 2000 2005 2008 2009 FY’05 FY’06 FY’07 FY’08 FY’09 FY’10 FY’11 2011* 2014*

* end of calendar year

­­ 44 | ­­ columbia engineering­­ ­­ columbia engineering | 45 Columbia Engineering Around the World

s part of the University’s global initiatives effort and in recognition of the important There were many highlights on the trip. In China, the dean stopped in Beijing, Shanghai, and role that alumni and friends from Asia have played in the history of Columbia, Engi- Hangzhou to discuss international research collaborations with top universities and corpora- Aneering Dean Feniosky Peña-Mora, Columbia College Dean Michele Moody-Adams, tions. In Bangkok, he met with The Prime Minster of Thailand to explore educational partner- and other senior administrators from Columbia visited Asia in June for a series of alumni, ships between Columbia Engineering and Thailand. In Shanghai, Donglei Zhou ’00 hosted parent, and student gatherings. Receptions were held in Hong Kong, Seoul, and Bangkok a dinner for Chinese alumni who were Fu Foundation Scholars. In Seoul, Parents Council bringing together over 450 Columbians to meet the Dean on his first official visit to Asia. The member Seung Hoon Lee and Sun Kee Chung P’13 hosted a dinner for parents of current incoming undergraduate students in each city were also officially welcomed to the Columbia students, where Dean Peña-Mora spoke of the need to increase the connection of interna- family. tional parents.

The Debian Project, an organization which is Dean Feniosky Peña-Mora, third from right, was Chatchai Piyasombatkul ’86, P’11, ’13, a Regina and John Lee ’81, right, parents Dean Feniosky Peña-Mora, center, behind the free Debian GNU/Linux operat- an invited presenter at the FUNGLODE Sym- member of the School’s Board of Visitors, left, of Andrew Lee ’13, left, met the dean joined Columbia Professor of Chemi- ing system (Debian, for short), held its 11th posium on disaster preparedness conducted joined Dean Peña-Mora, center, and Prime for lunch in Seoul, South Korea, and cal Engineering Jingyue Ju, right, and international conference at Columbia in August this summer in the Dominican Republic. The Minister of Thailand Abhisit Vejjajiva in the also attended a dinner for parents of Jing Cheng, left, a research partner at in cooperation with the Department of Computer dean, whose expertise is in managing large-scale Government House in Bangkok to discuss current Engineering students. Tsinghua University in Beijing, outside Science. It marks the first time the conference projects and disaster management, spoke to educational partnerships between Columbia the lab where they are engaged in collab- has been held in the U.S., and it was attended by more than 100 engineering professionals and Engineering and Thailand. Prime Minister orative research. Professor Ju, the prin- more than 300 software developers from around government officials on ways to train, deploy, and Vejjajiva presented Dean Peña-Mora with a cipal investigator, is also head of DNA the world. (The tartan seen in the kilts and ties utilize first responders as well as manage the depiction of the royal barge as a memento to sequencing and chemical biology at the is “Debian,” a unique plaid contained in the disaster recovery cycle, including damage as- mark the occasion of their meeting. Judith P. Sulzberger, M.D. Columbia Ge- Scottish Tartan World Registry.) Photo by Aigars sessment, restoration of services, and temporary nome Center. He is a leader in the global Manhinovs shelter. Shown in the photo above are, from l. to race to develop the $1,000 genome r., Federico Cuello, Permanent Ambassador of platform for personalized medicine. the Dominican Republic to the United Nations; Valerie Julliand, United Nations Representative to the Dominican Republic; Dean Peña-Mora; and Marco Herrera, Executive Director of Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (FUNGLODE), an organization founded by Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernández.

­­ 46 | ­­ columbia engineering ­­ columbia engineering | 47 Commencement and Class Day

have a long shared history and are actually praised Professor Venkataraman’s role in Alumnus Daniel Schiavello ’75, ’76, pres- Columbia education.” His final words of intimately connected in that both disci- student lives as a supporter, adviser, and ident of the Columbia Engineering Alumni advice were, “don’t worry too much about plines work to build a better world,” said mentor. Association, presented Distinguished Fac- mistakes and failures.” After all, he con- Dr. Brandt-Rauf. ulty Teaching Awards to Rocco A. Servedio cluded, “compared to me, you’re golden More than 40,000 people braved pouring In contrast to the rain of Commencement, Souleymane Kachani, associate professor and Yannis P. Tsividis. Professor Servedio, —I just publicly predicted the end of the Commencementrain on May 18, 2010, to attend the 256th Classthe SEAS Class Day onDay May 16, 2010, A member of the national board of direc- of industrial engineering and operations an associate professor of computer sci- world in two years.” Commencement of Columbia University. enjoyed beautiful weather. Alumnus and tors of Engineers Without Borders, Dr. Research, received the 2010 Janette and ence, specializes in theoretical computer President Bollinger’s announcement that Professor Emeritus Paul Brandt-Rauf gave Brandt-Rauf emphasized the need to con- Armen Avanessians Diversity Award. The science, particularly computational learn- Salutatorian Rodney Chang received the he was exercising his executive power the keynote speech and congratulated fam- sider “engineering as a profession and the School instituted this award to recognize ing theory and computational complexity William A. Hadley Award in Mechanical to cut short the ceremony was met with ily members, faculty, and the graduating engineer as an agent of social justice.” Cit- those faculty members who encourage theory. Professor Tsividis is the Charles Engineering for character, scholarship, enthusiastic applause. Citing an old saying class. Dean of the School of Public Health ing Albert Einstein, he argued that a “new women and men from diverse back- Batchelor Professor of Electrical Engineer- and service. He likened Columbia to the that rain on Commencement guarantees a at the University of Illinois at Chicago, level of thinking” is required to solve the grounds to become part of the academic ing and is a previous recipient of the New York City subways: “it provides an fabulous life, the president joked that this Dr. Brandt-Rauf described his personal problems caused by our technologically ad- community of engineering education. Distinguished Faculty Teaching Award. He infinite number of places to take our and a Columbia degree “should be guaran- journey from engineering to public health vanced society. “This old level of thinking University Trustee and Board of Visitors and his students are responsible for such academic, economic, and social lives. It’s tee enough.” He still took the opportunity while collecting “lots of degrees”: he holds has made a world that is profoundly tech- Chair Emeritus Armen Avanessians, and innovations as precision device modeling a great crossroads, but … there is no lack to remind the new graduates of their legacy the BS, MS, and EngScD in chemical nologically efficient in a way that is equally his wife Janette, created an endowment to and novel circuit building blocks, new of guidance.” as Columbians, and their duty to lead pub- engineering from SEAS; and the MD, MPH, profoundly unjust and unsustainable,” fund this award in perpetuity. techniques for analog and mixed-signal lic discourse and reject intolerance. and DrPH from the Medical Center. said Dr. Brandt-Rauf. Engineers, who have processing, self-correcting chips, and Other students honored with awards specialized skills in problem-solving, he The third faculty award, The Rodriguez switched-capacitor network theory. included: Sara Yee, Scholar Athlete Dean Feniosky Peña-Mora, representing However, Dr. Brandt-Rauf added, “I still suggests, should lead the way. Professional Family Junior Faculty Development Award; Austin Brauser, the George Vincent the Faculty of The Fu Foundation School use much of what I learned here in engi- responsibility, he concluded, “is not just Award, was given to Elon Terrell, assistant Valedictorian Seth Davidovits, winner Wendell Memorial Medal; and Heather of Engineering and Applied Science for his neering every day. That’s because much about knowing but about caring.” professor of mechanical engineering. This of the Illig Medal, added a light note Lee, Student Activities Award. Campus first Columbia Commencement, praised of the improvement in the health of the award was established by two alumni, to the celebrations by joking that the Life Leadership Awards were presented the candidates for degrees as “socially public has been achieved and is still being Dean Peña-Mora presented three awards Ana Rodriguez ’86, ’88, and her brother, world would end in the year 2012. He to Frances Jeffrey-Coker, Sherwin David responsible engineering and applied sci- achieved through engineering solutions.” to celebrate outstanding faculty members. Marcos Rodriguez ’83, to support the ad- reminded his class to “take time to smell Shahraray, and Jack Yuan. Whitney Green, ence leaders whose work will result in the He cited the example of George Soper, an Latha Venkataraman, assistant professor of vancement of junior faculty in our School. the flowers, make sure your loved ones outgoing president of the Engineer- betterment of the human condition, locally, 1899 PhD graduate of the Henry Krumb Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics, Professor Terrell is pursuing research know how you feel about them, pursue ing Student Council, received both the nationally, and globally.” He noted that School of Mines at Columbia, who worked received the Kim Award for Faculty Involve- interests in the field of thermal-fluid your dreams with the vigor of someone Charles Kandel Medal and the Costantino they continue to fulfill one of the original on the Typhoid Mary epidemic in New ment. Established in 2000 by Edward and sciences, focusing on hydrodynamic lubri- who knows there’s not a minute to lose.” Colombo Outstanding Leadership Service missions of Kings College in 1754: to pro- York City in 1907 and was instrumental Carole Kim, this award honors a fac- cation, surface engineering, and contact He recommended that they should value Award. Stephanie Hwang was awarded the vide “everything useful for the Comfort, the in combining engineering and medical ulty member who is not only an excellent mechanics as applied to MEMS devices, what they have in themselves: “the skills, Thomas “Pop” Harrington Medal. Convenience and the Elegance of Life.” knowledge into the new discipline of public teacher but also shows a special, personal energy systems, biomedical devices, and knowledge, and friendships we have health. “So engineering and public health commitment to students. Dean Peña-Mora sustainable manufacturing. gained these past four years through our

­­ 48 | ­­ columbia engineering ­­ columbia engineering | 49 Program Welcoming New Students and Faculty Notes Class Notes Reunions alumni notes:

nobleman where The Leopard was filmed, and class notes: undergraduate alumni we were given a great private tour by the mistress of the house.We also visited Dubrovnik (another disappointment) and Split in Croatia.Overall, the trip around Italy was interesting, but the

he beginning of the new academic year promised lectures on the places we were to visit 1942 by our trip planner, Exploritis, were non-existent brought a new entering class of eager and exuberant students, who were each welcomed by Dean Class Correspondent: and the ship’s management and food left a lot to Feniosky Peña-Mora with a handshake and a beanie Arthur Graham at be desired (unlike the food in Venice). proclaiming them members of the Class of 2014, the [email protected] “We ended up with four great days exploring School’s 150th anniversary class. The beanie tradition Venice, where we had been before, staying in a Twas reinstituted last year and is now a new tradition for Arthur Graham writes, “On May 29th, we left lovely hotel in the Castello district. Except for each incoming class. This year’s beanie was designed by for a three week trip to Italy. Starting in Rome, San Marco Square, which was packed with tour- a member of last year’s entering class, Tim Qin ‘13. The we stayed at a hotel near the Trevi Fountain. We ists, the rest of Venice was fine. We flew home dean also welcomed five new junior faculty members. visited the Forum and the Coliseum, among from Venice thru Rome. The weather on the trip Shown here with the dean are, from l. to r., Assistant other places. Rome was packed with tourists, un- was warm but bearable with only a little rain in Professors Van Ahn Truong, IEOR; Xi Chen, Computer like on some of our other trips, and the Trevi col- Venice which did not slow us down. A great trip!” Science; Vanessa Ortiz, Chemical Engineering; Dean lected at least six heavy bags of coins every day! Bill Patterson worked for many happy years at Peña-Mora; Kristin Myer, Mechanical Engineering; and We picked up our ship, the Aegean Odyssey, well the Procter and Gamble Company in Cincin- Vineet Goyal, IEOR. appointed with only three hundred passengers, nati.He and his lovely wife Margaret had three children, and he has five grandchildren. Margaret Bernie Queneau ’33, ’32CC and his wife Esther celebrate at the port of Civitavecchia and sailed down the Reunion at the Russian Tea Room. west coast of Italy, ending up in Venice. died in 2003 after suffering from Alzheimer’s “Our stops included Sorrento, Pompeii, and for many years. In June of 2004, Bill married Herculaneum (which was better restored than Gabriele Alverson. They enjoy attending the the- Pompeii and gave us a better picture of the ater and symphony in Cincinnati, watching the 1939 grandeur of the homes in those two cities). Other wildlife in their yard, visiting Bill’s children, and places we visited included Amalfi, and Paestum, spending several weeks each summer in Door Saul Ricklin writes, “Engineering students today a major Greco-Roman city (Jason and the Argo- County, Wis. arrive with lap tops and Apps. In 1935, I was nauts). We also visited six cities in Sicily, which required to arrive with a slide rule and a drafting has probably more Greek ruins than Greece and set, items probably unrecognizable to today’s at one time had more Greeks living there than students. A forgotten virtue of the slide rule in Greece. Of all the cities, we liked Syracuse 1943 was that it could be read to only three or four the best, although the Valley of the Temples in significant figures, while today’s calculators may Agrigento was exciting.Palermo was a disappoint- Frank Brandt writes, “This is an appeal to give a false sense of significance with the endless ment, as it was filthy and crowded. In Palermo, members of the engineering Class of 1943 to sequence of digits they can spin out.” we did visit the palace owned by an Italian write and tell what they are doing. At this many

­­ 50 | engineering news­­ ­­ columbia engineering | 51 to all humans about this fact. “Columbia, with its forward looking approach to earth system science and a vast array of research groups in all aspects of earth science and engineering, has a unique opportunity to create an educational program at both undergraduate and graduate levels that can break the barriers of disciplines, departments, colleges, and even in memoriam institutions. Dissertations, projects, and scholarly activities can be designed in clusters to achieve end-to-end solutions for water, human health, agriculture, and so on. This is more my own with its Great Teacher Award in 1987, when he science at SEAS and an undergraduate student opinion of what Columbia can and must do, faculty was cited for the “elegance and precision” of his of Professor Nowick’s, credits him with recruit- rather than a note on my own accomplishments teaching. In 1991, he was named Henry Marion ing her back to the School to teach. “My present since my Ph.D. in Engineering. Arthur S. Nowick PhD ’50, Howe Professor Howe Professor of Metallurgy. research deals with nano-ceria, the same material Mechanical Engineering Luncheon at Reunion Weekend Emeritus of Metallurgy in the Henry Krumb During his career at Columbia Engineering, that I worked on in his lab as an undergraduate School of Mines, died July 20, 2010, in Newport Professor Nowick received numerous awards and some 30 years ago. He was a great teacher, friend, old earrings brought from Russia 18 years ago, metallurgical engineering Beach, Calif., at the age of 86. A faculty member honors, including the Achievement Award from scientist, and colleague to so very many of us.” and my daughter’s old gym leotard went into of Columbia SEAS for more than three decades, the American Society for Metals (1963), the A. Irving P. Herman, Professor of Applied Physics the work. It turned out to be such a fun project. Ram Athreya MS ’71, PE ’72 writes, “After he retired in 1993. Frank Golick Lectureship from the University and Chair of the Department of Applied Physics Since most of the materials used were recycled B Tech at IIT Bombay, I received the MS in Dr. Nowick’s research was in the fields of ma- of Missouri, Rolla (1970), and the Gold Medal and Applied Mathematics, recalls his interac- from something, I could clearly say, “Check, Metallurgy and Materials Science from Columbia terials science and solid-state physics, and he was from the 9th International Conference on Inter- tions: “When I arrived at Columbia in 1986, Art Mate, Recycle!” in 1971, and the professional degree in Metal- internationally known as a pioneer in the fields nal Friction and Ultrasonic Attenuation in Solids Nowick was one of the clear leaders in the ma- lurgical Engineering in 1972. Later I returned of internal friction, anelastaticity, and crystal (1989). terials science effort. He also led the Committee to India and was very much associated with the defects. His 1972 book, Anelastic Relaxation in In 1994, he was the recipient of the David on Solid State Science and Engineering, which mechanical engineering steel wire industry here. I retired from Tata Steel Crystalline Solids, co-authored with B.S. Berry, is Turnbull Lectureship, which is bestowed by the bound together the efforts in several departments Wire Division in 2007 at a senior level as Head still considered the Materials Research Society in recognition of on campus. Since then, solid state and materi- als physics has been flourishing at Columbia, in Jie Xu MS ’06, PhD ’10 is now an assistant of Quality coordination Tata Steel is the world’s definitive work in career contributions to fundamental understand- part due to Art’s interdepartmental leadership. professor in Mechanical Engineering at Wash- 5th largest steel company in the world today . At the field. In 1995, ing of the science of materials. The award cited I interacted with him many times in this effort, ington State University Vancouver. His research, the moment I am Technical Advisor to a medium he published his “pioneering work in anelastic and dielectric and always found him to be a wise and very kind which falls into the area of interfacial science and sized steel wire company called Aradhya Steel Crystal Proper- behavior in fast ion conductors, and in amor- person.” microfluidic engineering, seeks to create revolu- Wires Pvt. Ltd.” ties via Group phous alloys,” his “profound contributions to the Irina Kalish’s children, with the chess pieces she made Richard Osgood, Higgins Professor of for them out of recycled materials tionary micro/nano systems to address pressing Theory, a new understanding of grain boundary motion, mor- Electrical Engineering and Professor of Applied problems involving health, energy and environ- approach using phological stability, the structure of surfaces and Physics, wrote, “When I joined Columbia, he ment. For more information, go to his personal group theory and, interfaces, and flow and diffusion as stochastic phenomena,” and “his excellence in teaching and was carrying out beautiful experiments showing the book, Joseph Had a Little Overcoat). website: www.jiexu.info. in particular, the writing.” His Turnbull Award Lecture, entitled the physics of ion-mediated conductivity in glass. “In the beginning I thought to make this out Raghu Murtugudde PhD ’94 writes, “I method of sym- The Golden Age of Crystal Defects, elucidated the He also managed to hold together the vision of papier mâché, but I learned it was a pretty came to Columbia Engineering from Texas with metry coordinates. Dr. Nowick also was one of emergence of an understanding of crystal defects of Columbia’s commitment to high-quality, messy business, and I wanted my kids to partici- an odd arrangement, having an advisor from the first researchers in the field of bioengineering. and explained his seminal contributions and physics-based materials science. He gathered in pate in the process. And then I saw numerous Mechanical Engineering and being funded by He demonstrated piezoelectricity in moist bone, those of his collaborators. others through his creation and management plotter cores wasted at work and Eureka - this a climate scientist from the Lamont Doherty paving the way for the use of electrical stimula- Professor Nowick was a Fellow of the Metal- of the Solid-State Science and Engineering was my main building material. I walked miles Earth Observatory. I was supposed to work on tion for bone healing. lurgical Society of the American Institute of Interdepartmental Committee, which contained and miles for several months, collecting used up numerical methods for ocean models. I finished A native of Brooklyn, he received his BA Mining, Mineral and Metallurgical Engineers Electrical Engineering, Physics, Applied Physics, paper rolls. Miraculously, they came in two sizes a PhD in Mechanical Engineering and spent a degree in 1943 from Brooklyn College, and (AIME), and was also a Fellow of the American and Chemistry members. Irving Herman and I and colors: white plastic and cardboard. Then considerable amount of time at LDEO for three MA and PhD degrees from Columbia Graduate Physical Society. He was the author of more than maintain this intellectual program to this date. I bought several rolls of black and white crepe years. Instead of pursuing a career in engineer- Ram Athreya (far right) and his family at his daughter’s School of Arts and Sciences in 1950. He began wedding 200 publications and graduated more than 30 Since then, Columbia’s materials science program paper. I wrapped the cardboard cores with black ing, I ended up at NASA-GSFC working more his career as a research scientist for the National PhD students, including members of the faculty has grown and prospered, and Art deserves all of paper and left white as is. I used white and black on ocean modeling which eventually led to Earth Advisory Committee for Aeronautics from 1943 at leading universities, such as MIT, Georgia our thanks for the original inspiration and love of crepe paper to decorate hats for the pieces. Even System Science. Since being a faculty at the Uni- to 1945, and was an instructor at the Institute Tech, Boston University, and Lehigh, and re- materials physics.” caps from the plotter paper went into work. The versity of Maryland, I have managed to connect for the Study of Metals and the University of search laboratories, such as IBM. Professor Nowick is survived by his wife, Joan, pawns came first, followed by the figures one by the ocean and the atmosphere to everything from Chicago from 1949 to 1951. In 1951, he joined Harry Tuller ’66, ’67, ’73, Professor of and four sons, Jon; Steven ’79GSAS, a professor one. But what would I use for eyes and ears and phytoplankton to tuna to human health and Yale University as an assistant professor, rising to Materials Science and Engineering at MIT and of computer science at Columbia Engineering noses? The solution was packaging peanuts with sustainable agriculture. the rank of associate professor in 1954. one of Professor Nowick’s doctoral students at and chair of the Computer Engineering Program; a touch of sharpie, colored in with the markers. “My experiences with regional earth system In 1957, he became manager of metallurgy Columbia, wrote “. . . nearly 40 years later, I still Alan, and James ’85CC, a professor of chemistry My kids, mom, husband and a babysitter - every- prediction have convinced me that this is the Send my news research at the new IBM Research Center in appreciate his influence on my academic training, at UC Irvine. body helped! The hardest thing was to figure out absolute essential aspect of all education for the to Yorktown Heights, where he earned several my research and my teaching. He was a wonder- how to make horses. I saw an old Kleenex box future. I have reported my views on an article patents involving applications of materials to ful role model. What is more, I can honestly say and voilà - it looked just like the funny snout of entitled “Earth System Science and the 2nd Co- [email protected] electronic devices. That same year, he joined that my present career path, as faculty member at a horse. Add a cap from the paper core, a couple pernican Revolution: The Educational Impera- Columbia Engineering as an adjunct professor. before MIT, was directly due to his advice and support.” of packaging peanuts, several sheets of paper tive,” published in Current Science. The point He was appointed full professor in 1966. He was twisted by the scissors and it was done! The most really is that every single human being affects the 11 honored by the Society of Columbia Graduates Siu-Wai Chan ’80, professor of materials fun was making the queens, of course. Even my functioning of the planet by simply being, and it January 15, 20 is time to provide a minimum level of awareness

­­ 70 | engineering news­­ ­­ columbia engineering | 71 Prof. William R. “Bill” Spillers ’61 died on ballroom dancing. He was a member of Vesper Diana and Miriam. made to Hospice of Lancaster County, 685 Good He was a lifetime member and elder of Nas- to German immigrants Carl Max George Pirner April 22, 2010, at age 74, from injuries sustained Country Club, a Paul Harris Fellow of the Lowell Drive, P.O. Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604-4125 sau Presbyterian Church, where he was an avid and Ottilie Margarite Emma Nagel Pirner. He at- in a tragic fall. Dr. Spillers had a 49-year career Rotary Club, competed for the New York Ath- Glenn C. Randa, 82, a resident of Willow Street, or to the Steeple Fund at Highland Presbyterian participant and organizer of adult education tended De Vilbiss High School in Toledo, Ohio, as distinguished professor of civil engineering letic Club, and also had been a member of Allen Penn., died July 5, 2010, of cancer. He was born Church, 500 E. Roseville Road, Lancaster, Pa. classes aimed at bridging the chasm between where he met his wife of 53 years, Marilyn Mae at Columbia University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Harbor Yacht Club on Cape Cod. He leaves his in Chicago on December 10, 1927, but grew up science and theology. His other interests included Hahn, on a New Years Eve blind date. In 1949, Institute, and most recently New Jersey Institute wife of 29 years, Jean Mansfield McCaffery; six in Elizabeth, N.J. In 1945, he graduated from tennis, bridge and camping. He is survived by he was named All-City Quarterback and played of Technology, where he was department chair- children, Rosemary, Matthew, Regina, and Jo- Thomas Jefferson High School in Elizabeth, and his beloved wife Eugenia, his son David and in the Ohio North/South game. His education man from 1990 seph McCaffery, Celia Eslampour and Ann Marie in graduated from Columbia with BS (1948) 1949 daughter-in-law, his daughter Ellen, and his continued at Columbia University, where he to 1998. He was a Sessler; four step children, Jon, Peter, Tacie, and and MS (1950) degrees in electrical engineer- Jeremiah Robert Dineen, of Yorktown Heights, grandson Christopher. He will be remembered received two degrees: a Bachelor of Arts and a structural engineer Steven Mansfield; eleven grandchildren, ten step ing. Thereafter, he earned an EE degree from N.Y., died on July 25, 2010, at home. He was a for his dedication to his family, joy in travel and Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering. with an international grandchildren, two great grandchildren, and his Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a degree 1943 graduate of Montgomery High School and exploration, skill at tinkering and invention, He lettered four years in football at Columbia. reputation in areas of close friend and relative, Maureen Power-Koch. recognizing additional classroom and research a 1949 civil engineering graduate of Columbia delightful humor and imagination, and love of After graduation he was commissioned as a computer applications experience beyond the master’s degree. Mr. Engineering. During his career, he worked in engineering, history and science. Second Lieutenant in The Marine Corps where to structures, design Randa’s entire professional career of 35 years was water works, construction and management. He he served as an Infantry Platoon Leader and Rifle theory and fabric spent with IBM. He worked for IBM’s Federal retired as Director of the Westchester County Company Commander. He completed his service structures. He had 1948 Systems Division in Owego, N.Y.; Gaithersburg, Water Agency in 1984. He is survived by his in 1958 as a Captain. written extensively in Md.; and Manassas, Va.; designing computers Mr. Pirner worked in a variety of engineering Prof. William R. “Bill” David Novick (MS ’54) died on March 10, devoted wife of 60 years, Natalie (Quick) at 1954 Spillers ’61 these areas, with well 2010, from an apparent heart attack, at the and peripheral equipment for various agencies home; his sister Gertrude, of Yorktown Heights; Vincent J. Krocinski (MS), died peacefully at positions in both the food and petro-chemical over 120 published ar- age of 83. Born on May 14, 1926, Mr. Novick of the United States Government. His projects his daughters, Dr. Anita Ferreri and Katleen home in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., on July 7, 2010. industries over 40 years. He retired as Vice Presi- ticles and nine books, including the first edition received his BS in civil engineering in 1948 and included systems for the B-52 bomber, Titan Dineen-Carey; his daughter-in-law Patricia Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., he graduated from dent of Projects for S&B Engineers in Houston, of Introduction to Structures. MS in 1954 from Columbia. He was a practicing missile, ships, and submarines. Dineen; seven grandchildren; and three great- both Stratford High School in Stratford and Tex., where he worked for over 18 years. He Dr. Spillers was a Guggenheim Fellow in 1968 civil engineer from 1948 until he retired in 1993. Soon after he joined IBM, he interrupted grandchildren. Bullard Havens Technical School in Bridgeport. and his family moved to Humble, Tex., in 1971. and NSF Fellow in 1975. He is survived by his In 1956, a job with a New York City firm led his career for service in the United States Army Mr. Dineen was predeceased by his beloved Mr. Krocinski worked as a wood pattern He served on the Forest Cove Property Owners wife, Joy; sister, Elaine; daughter, Sarah and her to relocation to Chicago after the firm was select- during the Korean war. After completing Officer son, Jeremiah Robert Dineen III, in February, maker before serving in the US Navy, where Association as President for six years. He was a husband, Thomas Fidd; sons, William and Lars, ed as a major soils consultant for the Illinois Toll Candidate School at Fort Riley, Kan., he served 2009. He was a proud and involved father and he achieved the rank of Naval Air Cadet in football official for over 20 years, active in the and two grandchildren. Donations in memory of Highway. When the firm decided not to keep an two and a half years in the Signal Corps. While grandfather. The highlight of each year was fam- World War II. After the war and his honorable First Marine Division Association and involved Dr. Spillers can be made to his favorite charity, office in Chicago, he founded Westenhoff and stationed at Fort Monmouth, N.J., he married ily tailgating at Columbia football games. In lieu discharge, he returned from military service on various church boards. He was a charter Breast Cancer Network of Strength. The Home Novick in 1960. Mr. Novick’s engineering career Ruth Klawunn, whom he had known since child- of flower, please make contributions in memory to Stratford and earned a bachelor’s degree in member of Kingwood Country Club, a 39-year Page has a button near top right to “Donate included planning, design and management of hood. At his death, they had been married for of Jeremiah Dineen, to Columbia University mechanical engineering from the University of member of Holy Comforter Lutheran Church, Now.” major infrastructure projects including highways, 58 years. School of Engineering and Applied Science, 530 Bridgeport. He received his master of science and was active both in the Forest Cove Choraliers bridges, rail and rail transit systems, airports, In addition to his wife Ruth, he is survived Mudd Building, MC 4718, 500 W. 120th Street, degree from Columbia. and Forest Cove Singers. Mr. Pirner’s biggest joy waterfront structures, buildings and industrial by three sons and their wives, Richard and Betty New York, NY 10027. He was a licensed professional engineer and in life was his family. He is preceded in death by yards; and heavy involvement in underground Randa of St. Louis, Mo.; Bob Randa and Patton a member of the American Society of Mechani- his parents, Carl and Ottilie Pirner, and his sister, alumni engineering. Conner of Bethesda, Md.; David and Lorelei Jules Louis Dussourd (MS in Mechanical cal Engineers. Mr. Krocinski was employed at Charlotte Pirner. He is survived by his wife, Mr. Novick joined Parsons Brinckerhoff Randa of Sherborn, Mass.; and a daughter and Engineering), died on April 3, 2010, at his home Sikorsky Aircraft in Stratford and served in Marilyn Mae Hahn Pirner; his daughters, Debo- in 1981, eventually retiring as Senior Vice- her husband, Beth and Philip Manns of Forest, in Stonebridge at Montgomery in Skillman, N.J. the research and development department for rah Lynn Pirner, Pamela Mae Pirner Bergeland, 1943 President. While with the firm, he was project Va. Glenn is survived by eight grandchildren: He was 85. Born in Woodside, N.Y., he was many years. He was an assistant professor in the Karen Marie Pirner Braaten, and Sandra Kay director for the $500 million Frankford Elevated Brooke and Scott Randa; Ben, Frank, and transplanted as an infant to the Zurich area of Mechanical Engineering Department at Vermont Pirner Atwood; and son, Max Richard Pirner, Francis McCaffery died March 21, 2010, from Reconstruction Project in Philadelphia. This five Glenna Manns; and Nate, Sam, and Lucy Randa. Switzerland and then to France, where he gradu- Technical College in Randolph Center, Vt. He Jr.; along with 18 grandchildren and 5 great- cancer of the bone and prostate. He was born in mile reconstruction of an elevated rail transit He also is survived by a twin sister and her hus- ated from the Lycée Champolion in Grenoble. also worked for DeLaval Turbines in Trenton, grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters, New York City on April 15, 1921, graduating system under traffic was the largest project of its band, Shirley and Walter Gorny of Willow Valley During World War II, after the Allied invasion N.J., and Green Fan Company in Beacon, N.Y., Carolyn Penland and Susan Wiechman. from Evander Childs High School in the Bronx kind constructed up to that time. Retirement Community. of North Africa and subsequent Nazi occupation before joining IBM in 1983, where he served in in 1939, where he was awarded the outstanding A past national director of the American So- Glenn loved to sail. While living in the of Vichy France, he escaped across the Pyrenees the marketing department, retiring in 1990. student athlete medal. Frank went on to Colum- ciety of Civil Engineers, he was named Chicago Washington, DC area, the family sailed on the to Spain and back to the US in 1943. There he A member of St. Mary’s Church in Pough- bia College on an athletic scholarship, graduat- Civil Engineer of the year and was awarded the Chesapeake Bay and at Deep Creek Lake, Md., graduated in mechanical engineering from the keepsie, he also was a member of the Poughkeep- ing in 1943 as a mechanical engineer. He won where they had a cabin. Glenn retired in 1985 to 1957 John I. Parcel-Leif J. Sverdrup Civil Engineering City College of New York in 1947. He then sie Tennis Club, where he enjoyed playing tennis Dr. Alan Noel Miller (‘56CC, ‘58BUS) passed many medals, both in high school and college, Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia and continued Management Award in 1998. He held Profes- taught mechanical engineering at City College for many years. He was a member of the Center away on Aug. 20, at the age of 76, after a short in the high and low hurdles and the high jump. to sail there. During retirement, he was actively sional and Structural Engineering licenses in while working on a Master’s degree from Colum- for Lifetime Studies at Marist College and also battle with pancreatic cancer. Dr. Miller was In 1938-1939 he was the New York City 120 involved in designing and building several homes Illinois and was certified in mediation by the bia University, which he completed in 1949. enjoyed playing golf. He is survived by his wife, married for 37 years to Libby Shana Halpern yard high hurdles champion and in 1940 he set a and in serving on the building committee for American Arbitration Association. Mr. Dussourd’s first industrial job took him Regina, at home; a brother-in-law, Dr. Joseph Miller, PhD. He was a captain in the Special record high in hurdles that stood for 18 years. Trinity Ecumenical Parish in Moneta, Va., where After retiring from active engineering practice, to Fort Worth, Tex., where he worked as a senior F. Andrews and his wife, Carol of Trumbull; a Forces, training Green Berets, and had careers in After college graduation, Mr. McCaffery he was an elder. He was a member of the board Mr. Novick served as Adjunct Professor at propulsion engineer for Convair and where he niece, Catherine Andrews; and great-nephews, engineering, business, and medicine. worked on the Manhattan Project (atom bomb) of directors and chairman of the directions com- Northwestern University, where he directed met Eugenia Chappell, whom he married in Jack and Joe Baillie, all of Trumbull. Memorial Dr. Miller was devoted to Columbia, and to and later on in the Birdseye Division of General mittee for the annual Smith Mountain Charity research on the life-cycle cost of bridges. He was 1953 after an idyllic romance. After completing donations may be made to Hospice, 374 Violet sponsoring higher education through mentoring Foods Corp. In 1954, he and his partner, Edward Home Tour. a guest lecturer at the University of Florida- his Sc.D. at MIT in 1954, he joined AiResearch Ave., Poughkeepsie, NY; or to The Children’s and scholarship programs. He wrote Class News Maher, established the Commodore Foods He was a member of the Lions Club and Gainsville and at Lehigh University. He was also in Los Angeles and Phoenix. There he designed Home, 10 Children’s Way, Poughkeepsie, NY for his Columbia College Class of 1956, and Company with plants in Lowell and Westford, served for four years as secretary. His other a practitioner-in-residence at the University of and developed the compressor for the company’s 12601; or to a charity of your choice. his classmates called him “the Class Act.” Other Mass. Commodore foods processed fish sticks for interests included reading, traveling, and golf. Illinois at Urbana/Champaign and at Carnegie first main propulsion engine for helicopters and favorite activities included cigar smoking, stock private label companies such as Safeway Stores. In 2004, he and his wife moved to the Willow Mellon University. small aircraft. In 1963, he moved to Princeton, watching, and wine collecting. Mr. McCaffery had designed the machine to Valley Retirement Community outside Lancaster, Mr. Novick was a member of the 1754 Society N.J., to become assistant director and depart- He is survived by his partner, Helene Ruddy, make fish sticks.T he company was sold in 1979. Pa. While at Willow Valley, Glenn enjoyed golf, and a member of the SEAS Board of Visitors. He ment head of Ingersoll Rand Research, Inc., a his mother Iris Miller, his daughter and son-in- Mr. McCaffery’s three passions in life were ski- bridge, and the community’s camera club. He 1955 leaves behind his wife Minna S. Novick; daugh- position he held until 1986, when he founded Max Richard Pirner, Sr. (’54 CC) lost his battle law, Elisa Miller and Greg Griffin, his daughter, ing in the United States and Europe, cruising off was a member of Highland Presbyterian Church. ters Martha Kelley, Linda Novick and Emily Jules L. Dussourd and Associates to consult with with pancreatic cancer on May 9, 2010, at the Jennifer van Voorst van Beest, his sister and the coast of Maine in his 36’ boat Serendib, and Contributions in Mr. Randa’s memory may be Novick; and grandchildren Lily, Sarah, Rachel, aerospace and industrial companies. age of 77. He was born on December 8, 1932, brother-in-law, Barbara and Maurice Kupritz, his

­­ 72 | engineering news­­ ­­ columbia engineering | 73 sister and brother-in-law, Mona and Lee Berg, his staff there from 1973-1996, and co-founded Entertainment, and others. “What I consider to be her signature piece ing School Alumni Association, and on the A firm believer in the importance of educa- grandchildren, Zachary and Elana Griffin, Elijah their Climate Project. His early research focused Prof. Longman writes of her: “I consider her was Dancer Crossing that started with slides SEAS Board of Visitors. tion for everyone, he encouraged employees to and Isaac van Voorst van Beest and many other on the impact of greenhouse gases and suspended an amazing woman, someone who went after of road signs and a pile of plastic on the stage. Mrs. Heffner was an astute business woman further their education by enrolling in college close relatives and friends. His family suggests particulate matter on the climate, which led to her passions, someone who thought big, thought After a while you noticed that the plastic with a daring drive and keen sense of purpose and graduate school for which the company that contributions be made in his memory to the his role as a consultant for federal agencies and way out of the box, and had copious amounts was inflating. And then you notice there are and loyalty. She upheld these characteristics paid. He also instituted a scholarship program Columbia College Class of 1956/Alan N. Miller the White House administrations of Nixon, of drive and enthusiasm. When she died it was people dancing inside. Eventually they tear not only in the work place but also in every for employees’ children. Dr. Kurtz leaves his Scholarship fund. Carter, Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Clinton, a particularly good time in her career. She had a their way out. The road signs evolved, includ- aspect of her life. She single-handedly man- beloved wife, Nora, his daughters Sandy and George W. Bush and Obama. very supportive group of dancers, she had been ing unusual signs like ‘Tribal Parking Only,’ to aged her family real estate company, I. Reiss Jennifer, son John, brothers Ronald and Ste- He received the American Association for awarded a residency that gave her a place to amusing signs like ‘Opportunity Next Right’ and Son, and made it a successful business phen, seven grandchildren and many devoted the Advancement of Science Award for Public rehearse regularly, always a dream of hers, and (a city name) or ‘North Pole Next Left’, but venture. She was also the vice president of the friends. Contributions in his memory may 1961 Understanding of Science and Technology in she had many irons in the fire. Maybe six weeks also included disturbing signs like ‘Combat Reiss Foundation. be made to: Columbia University c/o The Richard M. Genke died Friday, May 14, 2010, 1991 for “furthering public understanding of ago was an evening performance in Brooklyn, the Vehicle Crossing’ or a series of single words She was a lifelong friend of Columbia Anthony D. Kurtz Fund for Startup Projects at Riverview Medical Center of Red Bank, N.J., environmental science and its implications for week before last she presented a paper at a UN like ‘must,’ ‘prohibited,’ ‘danger’ or ‘don’t pass Engineering, where she and her husband es- in the General Area of Solid State Materials. at the age of 78. Born in Suring, Wis., he lived public policy through writing, lecturing, and conference on dance and other topics in Doha this point after dark.’ And ending with a sign tablished the Heffner Hydrologic Lab and the in Boonton, N.J., prior to moving to Colts Neck working with professional societies, government Qatar, and plans were in the works for her com- from the Rocky Mountains up at 12000ft Heffner Family Biomedical Imaging Labora- 48 years ago. Mr. Genke received a Bachelor of institutions, and the media.” In 1992, he was pany to attend a dance festival in Sweden. elevation, ‘fragile world ahead.’ tory. She was also the proud mother of Amy Science Degree from the University of Wiscon- named a MacArthur Fellow, and in 2003, he was “Like many people in the dance world, she “She did a video piece with Prof. Osama ’02BC, MS ‘04SW (Amy’s husband is Mark other deaths sin, Madison, and a Master’s Degree in electrical awarded the National Conservation Achievement knew at age four she wanted to dance, but danc- Khatib of Stanford University. He had created Lokhin ’08BUS), Lisa ’06CC, and Sanford engineering from Columbia University. Award from the National Wildlife Federation ing lessons seemed too expensive for her family. for the International Conference on Robot- Heffner ’09BUS. reported Mr. Genke began his career as an electrical with his wife Terry Root, also a Senior Fellow at She majored in chemistry as an undergraduate, ics and Automation 2000 a video of 50 years She leaves behind her husband Edward engineer with Bell Labs and ended it with the US the Woods Institute for the Environment. That something that pleased her father. After complet- of robots using short segments of different Heffner; her children Amy Lokhin, Sanford, Army, Fort Monmouth. Mr. Genke was an active same year he also received the Edward T. Law ing the degree she went to Geneva Switzerland research and industrial robots through the and Lisa Heffner; her granddaughter Alice; We also have learned of the passing of the fol- member of Luther Memorial Lutheran Church Roe Award from the Society of Conservation and started ballet lessons, got a gold medal of years, with the motions timed to ballet music. her sister Roberta Miller; and her brother lowing alumni: serving in many capacities, including a choir Biology. some kind, and shortly was a professional dancer Marilynn superimposed a real ballet dancer Marvin Reiss. member. His hobbies were cooking and wood- Dr. Schneider was a lead author among scien- in the Geneva ballet company. Later she was a doing some of the actual movements associ- Dr. Oscar Bessio ’35 working. He enjoyed the theater and all kinds tists on the United Nations’ Intergovernmental professional dancer for the ballet company in ated with the famous music, and somehow Dr. Anthony Kurtz, Chief Scientist, CEO Joseph Grillo’36, ’37, ’36CC of music, especially old time country western. Panel on Climate Change, which shared the Strasbourg, France. After some dance accidents coexisting and interacting with the machines. and founder of Kulite Semiconductor William C. Oberkirk ’36, ’35CC Surviving are his wife, Mary Dorsey Genke; three 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with former Vice Presi- she came to New York City to do modern dance It is a funny and entertaining work, last shown Products, Inc., died on February 9, 2010, Rupert Vittinghoff ’38 sons, Paul Genke, Vero Beach, Florida, Joseph dent Al Gore. He also served as editor-in-chief of (normally ballet dancers build up their bodies for in March in Portugal. You can go see it if at the age of 80. Dr. Kurtz was the son of Joseph Statsinger ’40, ’47, ’39CC Genke, Freehold Township, and James Genke, the Encyclopedia of Climate and Weather. He was the special tasks of ballet starting at some very you are interested, it is in the Lincoln Center the late Jacob and Claire Kurtz. He founded Waldemar R. Hertwig ’42, ’43, ’42CC Colts Neck; a daughter, Elizabeth Richardson, author or co-author of over 400 scientific papers, young age, instead of starting after a BS). performance art collection. Kulite Semiconductor Products, Inc. in 1959. Robert J. Bergemann Jr. ’43, ’44CC Montclair; and ten grandchildren. proceedings, edited books and book chapters. “Simultaneously she did an MS degree in “Another aspect of her life was her work for Under his leadership the company, based in Kenneth G. Englar ’43, ’44CC Chemical Engineering at Columbia doing a the American Dance Guild as president for a Leonia, N.J., has become a world leader in the Herbert S. Hall ’43,’43CC thesis on blood coagulation with Prof. Harry number of years and board member for many transducer field. Dr. Kurtz received his under- Louis J. Joblove ’43 Gregor, and then did experiments on lung more years, putting on dance festivals, orga- graduate and doctoral degrees in physics from William M. Webb ’43, ’49, ’43CC 1972 surfactants with Prof. Somasundaran, and con- nizing panel discussions, editing publications, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He Leo J. Faneuf Jr. ’45, ’49 1966 tinued to work on understanding the blood co- and serving as a visionary. To quote the cur- held more than 200 patents, including some Marvin A. Schlaff ’46,’48CC, ’62IA Dr. Stephen H. Schneider (PhD ’71) died on Marilynn Danitz-Longman (MS in Chemi- agulation mechanism with Dr. George Wilner of rent president of the Guild, Gloria McLean, of the earliest for tiny pressure sensors micro Dr. Herbert H. Jacobs ’47, ’55 July 19 while flying from a scientific meeting cal Engineering), beloved wife of Prof. Richard the Columbia Medical School and then of Jewish ‘She poured a huge amount of creative energy, machined from silicon. Sol E. Cooper ’48 in Stockholm, Sweden, apparently of a heart Longman, passed away unexpectedly on May 24 Hospital in St. Louis. I believe she published two service, dedication and plain hard work into Under his leadership, Kulite developed rela- Robert W. Graf ’48, ’44CC attack. He was 65. Dr. Schneider was the Melvin of a heart attack. Known in the professional dance papers: one in the International Journal of Clini- the Guild. Her contributions are many - orga- tionships sponsoring research with a number Peter B. Nalle ’49 and Joan Lane Professor for Interdisciplinary world as Marilynn Danitz, she was the founder cal and Experimental Pathology, and one in the nizing the annual conferences, film showings, of universities including MIT, Technion in Charles F. Carr ’50 Environmental Studies and a senior fellow in the of the dance/performance art company High International Journal of Colloid Chemistry. writing newsletters and articles, editing Ameri- Israel, Oxford University in England, New John J. Maher ’50 Woods Institute for the Environment at Stanford Frequency Wavelengths, and President Ex Officio “Then she returned to dance, and over time can Dance.’ She co-edited a book, Branching Jersey Institute of Technology, and Columbia Norman Karger ’51, ’52 University. of the American Dance Guild, the national orga- created her company High Frequency Wave- Out: Oral Histories of Six National Dance Or- University where he was an adjunct Professor. William F. Glimm Jr. ’53 Born in New York City in 1945, Dr. Sch- nization for the dance professional. Highlights of lengths, Inc. (with a 501(c)3 charities registra- ganizations, which was published by the guild, He created the Anthony D. Kurtz Fund for Ernest P. Zseleczky ’53, ’58 neider grew up on Long Island. His lifelong her career include receiving the Outstanding Dance tion). She was known for creating stunning and makes interesting reading for anyone who research and material technology at MIT, the Saul Berman ’54 fascination with science and engineering brought Theater Work Of The Year award (Dance Brew), multi-media effects with dance. She did collabo- knew anything about the dance world in New Jacob Kurtz Memorial Fund for outstanding F. William Coster ’54 him to Columbia, where he studied mechanical the Choreography of Distinction Award (National ration with the beat poet and Columbia alumnus York in the 1950s and 1960s. Again to quote students in metallurgy, and the Anthony D. Seymour Griss ’55 engineering as an undergraduate, and mechani- Ballet Association), Best Choreography Award Allan Ginsberg. It was first a performance and the current president, ‘I speak for all of us here Kurtz Fund for research in solid state electron- Murray Hilibrand ’55, ’54CC cal engineering and nuclear plasma physics for Nominee (11th International Ballet Competition, then made into a video art work with the help of at the Guild when I say that her spirit - in all ics and physics at Columbia. Henry J. Mandl ’59 his PhD under the tutelage of Prof. C. K. Chu. Varna, Bulgaria), the Jacob’s Pillow Creative Artist a national residency, and shown at many places its magnificent eccentricities and unstoppable Dr. Kurtz was a pioneer in the use of ultra- Seymour Levine ’62 While a student at Columbia, he served on the Residency, the Real Art Ways National Residency, including the festival in Denver “Beats and Other vision - will be sorely missed.’” miniature, solid-state semiconductor pressure Dr. Ming C. Chen ’65 newly formed University Senate, which he cred- the firstAbrons Art Center Field Residency, the Far Rebel Angels” in honor of Allan Ginsburg. sensors for high frequency measurements. Edward J. Dankowski ’66 ited with teaching him to look at both sides of a Space Residency and the Cave Art Space Residency. “She did a series of works with photographer Much of his work was devoted to the develop- Ethan F. Harris ’67, ’70 problem. Attending the first Earth Day in 1970 Ms. Danitz served as advisor on cultural policy Jerry Uelsmann, one of the most collected art ment of ultra high temperature and high James C. Martin ’68 focused his attention and intellectual curiosity on to the President of Poland; as curriculum advi- photographers in the world, who started many friends natural frequency silicon MEMS transducers. Dr. Bruce A. Metz ’69 climate change, a topic which would dominate sor to the Director of Education of the Polish years ago doing surrealist combinations of images He also invented an SOI dielectrically isolated Borys A. Sumyk ’74 Linda Reiss Heffner died peacefully on Janu- his life and career for the rest of his life. Government; to the directors of the five national with multiple enlargers, doing things that can piezoresistance sensor for extremely high Dr. Philip J. Brendel ’76 ary 16, 2010, at the age of 60, with her family After Columbia, Dr. Schneider worked as a conservatories of Poland; to Tainan College of Arts be done and are done so much easier now on a temperature measurements, such as encoun- Mishael Maduakolam ’77 by her side after a long and courageous battle. post-doctoral fellow at the Goddard Institute for and Technology, Taiwan; and as juror for the Inter- computer. Every photography museum with a tered in gas turbine and internal combustion Scott W. Andersen ’82 Linda was the devoted wife of Edward Hef- Space Studies, before going onto a post-doctoral national Festival of Modern Choreography, Belarus. substantial collection will have him represented, engines. He was inducted into the Inven- Alexander A. DiIorio ’83 fner ’68, who has served as a member of the fellowship at the National Center for Atmospher- Her biography has appeared in Marquis’ Who’s Who including the Museum of Modern Art. These tor’s Hall of Fame and was a member of the Vinod Sharan ’93 Board of Managers of the Columbia Engineer- ic Research. He was a member of the scientific In America, Who’s Who In The World, Who’s Who In were very beautiful and serene works. National Academy of Engineers. Richard J. Ng ’06

­­ 74 | engineering news­­ ­­ columbia engineering | 75 Ivy Engineering Deans Meet

Armen Avanessians Samuel Y. Sheng

University Trustee Armen Avanessians ’83, chair of the Columbia Campaign for Engineering and longtime donor to the University, has played an integral part in the School’s growth over the past decade. Last year, he created a fund to provide a 1:1 Giving Back: match for major gifts to support endowed chairs and professorships in engineering. By aiming to interest other alumni in supporting engineering faculty, Mr. Avanessians and his family have greatly amplified the awareness of Columbia Engineering faculty as the heart of this world-class engineering school. In his own words, Mr. Avanessians Armen Avanessians sees himself “helping Columbia Engineering take a significant step forward to fulfill its MS ’83 IEOR potential as one of the world’s leading engineering institutions.” In response to the Avanessians matching grant, the family of Samuel Y. Sheng ’51 stepped forward to honor their father by establishing a professorship in his memory. The Family of Mr. Sheng, a graduate of the master’s program in the Department of Chemical Engi- olumbia Engineering and Dean Feniosky Peña-Mora hosted the deans of engineering from neering, enjoyed a long and successful career in real estate development. Throughout the other seven Ivy League schools as they gathered to discuss the value of an Ivy League his career, he was heavily involved in philanthropy, generously supporting ophthalmol- Cengineering education and ways in which the schools can collaborate for mutual benefit. Samuel Y. Sheng ogy research and undergraduate financial aid at Columbia. A scholarship in his honor The meeting was organized by Dean Peña-Mora and Dartmouth Engineering Dean Joseph Helble, was established in 2007 to provide critical financial support for talented students who with cooperation and consensus of all the deans. The day-long event gave the deans an opportunity would otherwise be unable to pursue a Columbia Engineering degree. to become more familiar with each other’s schools. MA ’51 Chemical Engineering To honor both his memory and his commitment to the School, Mr. Sheng’s daughter The discussion on areas in which the Ivy engineering schools could collaborate was led by Harvard Engineering Dean Cherry A. Murray. The second major initiative of the meeting, defining what Jean, his son Kent, and his daughter-in-law Lauren ’76 established the Samuel Y. Sheng makes an Ivy engineering education and what differentiates it from engineering education at other Professorship, matching their families’ support with funds drawn from the Avanes- institutions, was led by Dean Helble of Dartmouth. The deans agreed that the group should meet sians match. The Samuel Y. Sheng Chair will support Columbia Engineering faculty annually and so have scheduled the second meeting at Harvard’s School of Engineering and Applied pursuing research in the fast-developing field of biomedical engineering. “We wanted Sciences, hosted by Dean Murray. to honor Sam in a meaningful way, while supporting an institution that has had such a significant impact in all our lives. Armen’s generous match has made this joint effort Shown here during a tour of the Columbia campus are: back row, from l. to r., Eduardo D. even more rewarding,” says Lauren Wong Sheng, a member of the School’s Board of Glandt, Dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Pennsylvania; Visitors. H. Vincent Poor, Dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science at Princeton University; Lance R. Collins, Joseph Silbert Dean of Engineering at Cornell University; and Cherry A. Murray, In honoring their respective parents, the Avanessians and Sheng families have come to- Dean of the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences; front row, from l. to r., Rod Clifton, gether to ensure the future of the School. Their mutual passion for academic excellence Interim Dean of Engineering at Brown University; Joseph J. Helble, Dean of the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College; T. Kyle Vanderlick, Dean of Engineering at Yale University; and and exceptional faculty leadership will leave a lasting legacy at the School of Engineer- Feniosky Peña-Mora, Dean of The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science at ing and Applied Science. Columbia University.

­­ 76 | engineering news­­ Columbia University in the City of New York Non-Profit Org. The Fu Foundation U.S. Postage School of Engineering and Applied Science PAID 500 West 120th Street, Mail Code 4714 N READING MA New York, NY 10027 Permit No. 121