Princeton University Bulletin, May 24, 2010
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PRINCETON UNIVERSITY BULLETINVolume 99, Number 14 May 24, 2010 For valedictorian Karp, success is built upon teamwork K ITTA MAC P HERSON even if, scientifically speaking, one is flying solo, he said, it can be inspiring arly last fall Princeton’s class of to be working in a cauldron of discov- 2010 valedictorian David Karp ery such as Princeton. E was taking in a lecture by Profes- “You think of someone with a world- sor Alexander Smits on the daunting class mind like John Nash,” said Karp, science of turbulent flows as part of speaking of the Nobel laureate and a graduate-level engineering course. senior research mathematician in the Thinking ahead about the intimidat- Department of Mathematics who is ing problem sets he would have to a personal hero of his. “But even Dr. solve for the course, the straight-A stu- Nash, when he was working here in dent looked around the classroom and Princeton in the 1950s, doing the work was relieved by the sight of his friends. that would win him a Nobel Prize, was His eyes rested on the only other working in a community of astounding undergraduates in the class of 22, individuals, like (Professor of Math- Margaret Byron and Michael Papa- ematical Economics Emeritus) Harold george. They had discussed the course Kuhn. That had to be important to the previous spring and had decided him. Great minds build off each other.” to form “Team Undergrad,” a study Karp’s eyes light up when he talks group. Together, as Karp hoped, they about his passion for aerodynamic ultimately would attack the problem design. He gestures with his hands sets over the semester with great alac- when he describes the air flow over rity, gathering over several weeknights various shapes and how he would in the library of Charter Club, the eat- Brian Wilson like to improve the geometry to make ing club where Karp is an officer. Valedictorian David Karp has embraced teamwork and creative problem-solving in his path to things, as he said, “go really fast.” He What unfolded, for Karp, was one the top of the class. Some of his best experiences at Princeton came while studying with his loved doing his senior thesis on the of his best experiences at Princeton. peers in the library of Charter Club, the eating club where Karp is an officer, and while playing use of computer simulations to opti- “Working with these classmates intramural sports with his team, the Black Squirrels. mize the flow of air around a wing. reinforced what I have learned over the His adviser, Luigi Martinelli, an years about this place — that it is filled best graduate student in the course. certificates in applied and computa- associate professor of mechanical and with incredible people with a multi- He regards Karp as perhaps the best tional mathematics and in applications aerospace engineering, described the tude of talents,” he said. “It also struck student he has seen in his 29 years at of computing. His experience at work as “a very challenging project at me, though, how willing my friends Princeton. Princeton has left him with an appre- the intersection of aerodynamics and were to work together and help each “He has an almost playful approach ciation for the collaboration that he has computational engineering that is very other. I have learned that there is great to the task at hand, where he first enjoyed in his academic and social life, much a contemporary research issue in power in this.” masters the fundamental understand- and a deep gratitude for his family’s our field.” Karp’s path to the top of the class ing,” said Smits, the Eugene Higgins help in supporting him on his way The final objective of aerodynamics, — which will culminate with his vale- Professor of Mechanical and Aero- to Princeton and through his college Martinelli explained, is to determine dictory address at Commencement on space Engineering and department years, he said. shapes that interact optimally with Tuesday, June 1 — has been propelled chair. “Next he broadens the task substances such as air or water. In the by his embrace of teamwork and cre- and raises the bar, perhaps to make it Passion for aerodynamics 1990s, Martinelli’s research group ative problem-solving. interesting enough to create a genuine As a person whose dream is to at Princeton developed a novel and Ultimately Karp, who is majoring challenge, and then he overcomes this conduct pathbreaking research in powerful aerodynamics design tool for in mechanical and aerospace engi- challenge of his own making, often in aerodynamic design — be it space- flight conditions in which the air flow neering, aced Smits’ graduate course an elegantly simple way.” ships, high-speed aircraft or racecars is stationary, such as when an airliner and formed a lasting bond with his Karp has accumulated a 4.0 grade — Karp said it’s been wonderful to is moving at cruise speed. Karp’s classmates. Smits noted that Karp point average and 29 A’s and A+’s. learn firsthand how useful teamwork outdistanced everyone except for the In addition to his major, he will earn can be in solving big problems. And, Continued on page 6 Task force issues report on University and eating clubs n a report issued May 3, the University’s Task representations of information about Force on Relationships between the University the clubs; academic life and community I and the Eating Clubs reaffirms the important service; and relationships between the role the clubs play at Princeton and offers recom- University and the clubs. mendations for enhancing the positive contributions The 23-page report, which is avail- the clubs can make to social life on campus for all able online, is the result of nearly seven undergraduate students. The task force also offers months of work by the task force, which recommendations to address a number of concerns was established last fall by President and challenges that are described in the report, and Tilghman and then-Undergraduate to strengthen relationships between the clubs and the Student Government President Connor University. Diemand-Yauman, a member of the class The task force provides a brief history and some of 2010. The task force is made up of 18 Read the full text of the report at <www.princeton.edu/reports/2010/ectf/>. basic facts and figures about the clubs before pre- members of the University community, senting findings and recommendations in eight key including Diemand-Yauman and seven areas for consideration by the University and the other undergraduates, as well as alumni, faculty and next few weeks and continuing into next year in the clubs. These include: alcohol and safety; financial staff. It is chaired by Vice President and Secretary clubs, on campus, between the clubs and the Univer- aid and cost; the “bicker” member selection process; Robert Durkee. sity, and with a broad range of students and alumni,” the role of fraternities and sororities; exclusivity, “We hope that our report will stimulate an inclusiveness and diversity; communications and informed and wide-ranging conversation over the Continued on page 7 What’s Princeton in Africa program marks 10 years 3 Andlinger Center Gifted analyst of history to be salutatorian 6 plans blend technical, aesthetic goals 2 inside? Researchers develop relief technologies for Haiti 8 PRINCETON 2 UNIVERSITY BULLETIN May 24, 2010 Andlinger Center plans blend technical, Spotlight aesthetic goals for new energy research hub STEVEN SCHULTZ vice president. “Williams/Tsien have masonry brick and glass — that meet a taken a strength of Princeton’s historic range of needs, from highly specialized rchitects for Princeton’s And- campus — that open spaces are as labs to classroom and meeting spaces. linger Center for Energy and the important as buildings — and incorpo- The lab with the most demanding A Environment have completed rated this theme into the engineering technical requirements will be located initial plans for laboratory, classroom neighborhood.” next to the Engineering Quadrangle’s and garden spaces that support the The gardens give the site a “poros- A Wing. That building will include center’s mission while creating an ity” or openness that invites people to laboratories where the amount of inviting new presence at the eastern enter, meet and collaborate, said Ron airborne dust is reduced 1,000-fold, a edge of campus. McCoy, University architect. “Within requirement for much nanotechnology The design provides for special- the building you’ll always be moving research. ized facilities for research related to from garden to garden, from light to It also will contain imaging labs sustainable energy use and produc- light,” McCoy said. for examining materials at the atomic tion. With a network of gardens and Going beyond technical consid- level. Microscopes operating at that connections to existing buildings, the erations is part of the University’s scale require an ultra-low vibration new spaces are designed to enhance vision for the Andlinger Center, said environment, because even the small- the engineering neighborhood while H. Vincent Poor, dean of the School of est rumble from the street would meeting high standards for sustainable Engineering and Applied Science. shake objects so much they could not construction. “Engineering in general and energy be properly observed. To achieve such Denise Applewhite The plans, developed by the archi- research in particular stand at the low vibration, those labs must be built intersection of many disciplines,” tectural firm of Tod Williams Billie directly on top of bedrock, which Name: Kim Napolitano. Tsien Architects of New York, call for Poor said. “They address problems means placing those facilities below 127,000 square feet of new construc- that have technological components, the natural grade level.