CMU’S news SOURCE FOR FACULTY & STAFF 12/11 ISSUE

2 A n i ta B a r k i n S h a r e s H e a lt h C o n c e r n s o v e r M a r c e l l u s S h a l e D r i l l i n g

4 R u b i n , P e Ña R e c o g n i z e d as A r t i s t s Truckin’ to the Food Bank o f t h e Y e a r

6 G r ad u at e S t u d e n t C h r i s H a r r i s o n f i n ds E l e g a n t S o l u t i o n s t o E v e r yday e x p e r i e n c e s

7 K i r o n S k i n n e r P r o v i d e s R a r e o pp o r t u n i t i e s W i t h W o r l d L e ad e r s

CMU Partners With Chinese University Collaboration To Develop Graduate Engineering Programs

n Chriss Swaney Carnegie Mellon will extend its global reach to China, as the first private institution to offer graduate engineering degree programs with Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU). Carnegie Mellon and SYSU will establish a joint Institute of Engineering in Guangzhou, China, initially offering master’s and doctoral degrees in electrical and computing engineering beginning in

2013. SYSU is located in southern China in P hoto b y Bru c e Gerson Guangzhou along the Pearl River Delta, an C a r n e g i e M e l l o n ’ s 1 8 t h a n n u a l f o o d d r i v e , s p o n s o r e d b y S t a f f C o u n c i l , d o n a t e d 8 , 6 6 7 p o u n d s o f f o o d a n d $3,982.90 t o t h e G r e a t e r P i t t s b u r g h A r e a F o o d B a n k . T h e f o o d b a n k s t o r e s a n d distributes f o o d a n d C o n t i n u e d o n pa g e t h r e e h o u s e h o l d p r o d u c t s t o n e a r ly 3 5 0 c ha r i t a b l e a g e n c i e s i n s o u t h w e s t e r n P e n n s y l v a n i a . H e l p i n g t o l o a d t h e

t r u c k b e f o r e t r a v e l i n g t o t h e f o o d b a n k w e r e ( l - r ) E r i c a A n d e r s o n , M e l i s s a K a l e y , K a t i e L a m b r o u ( f o o d SEI Staffer d r i v e c o - c ha i r ) , N i c c o l e A t w e l l ( k n e e l i n g ) , M a r k B a n i s t e r , D e n i s C o a n a n d M a t t h e w F o r r e s t . N o t p i c - Goes Hollywood t u r e d i s C a r o l e P a n n o , f o o d d r i v e c o - c ha i r . In Pittsburgh President Cohon Attends White House Meeting

n Piper Staff success of the Open Learning Initia- open “gatekeeper” courses to help Carnegie Mellon President Jared L. tive (OLI) and launch the Community more community college students Cohon was called to the White House College Open Learning Initiative. achieve success. The White House Dec. 5 to attend a meeting with U.S. The grants are dedicated to has recognized OLI as a possible President Barack Obama and sev- creating a partnership with faculty model for gatekeeper courses that eral other university presidents and at an array of community colleges enable students to get into colleges. chancellors to discuss making college around the United States to create C o n t i n u e d o n pa g e t w e l v e more affordable for students. President Cohon was invited because of CMU’s expertise in devel- Jeff Balmert (center) is taking an oping online learning tools, including online classes that provide instructors unusual approach to break into the with real-time information about each film industry. Balmert has been a student’s progress. These courses are paid extra in seven major motion now being used in pilot programs in pictures since 2008, including “My statewide university systems in Bloody Valentine,” seen here. Read Maryland, New York and Texas. more about Balmert on page 9. In 2009, the university received $4 million in grants to build on the O n e Low Cost, High Expense? Barkin Shares Health Concerns Over Marcellus Shale Drilling

n Bruce Gerson when you mix nitrous oxide with volatile Anita Barkin is on a mission for public organic compounds and add sunlight. It’s health. happening in areas where there is a lot of That’s not surprising for Carnegie drilling. We only need to look at air qual- Mellon’s director of Health Services, but ity issues in areas where heavy drilling this effort stretches far beyond the univer- has occurred like Dallas-Fort Worth and sity’s Pittsburgh campus. And far below. Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to appreciate Barkin’s mission is to educate the the impact. public about the process and impacts of “We already have bad air in Western drilling into the Marcellus Shale for natu- Pennsylvania — we have one of the worst ral gas and to advocate for safeguards. asthma rates in the country — and this just Her message to the industry and govern- adds insult to injury,” Barkin said. ment officials is to slow down and weigh Technologies, such as a vapor recov- all of the factors involved. ery system, can mitigate the air pollution, While drilling companies and politi- Barkin says, but drilling companies are cians boast about the positive effects hesitant to use them and the DEP has not of drilling, such as the low-cost clean required them to do so. She says company energy it provides and the economic representatives have told her that it’s not a boost it gives to residents and commu- widely adopted practice in the industry be- nities, Barkin argues that the negative Bark i n o f A n i ta I m a g e c ourtesy cause “vapor recovery systems are costly.” T h e M a r c e l l u s S ha l e r e g i o n c o v e r s m o s t o f P e n n s y l v a n i a a n d pa r t s o f environmental and health impacts may s e v e r a l o t h e r n e i g h b o r i n g s t a t e s . far outweigh the positives. She notes Boom and Bust that the economic boost it fosters may be Commission in Harrisburg as a member cancer, birth defects, fertility problems With regard to the positive influence the exaggerated as well. of the Marcellus Shale Task Force in her and brain function problems. Marcellus Shale drilling has on people’s In a Learning & Development suburban community of Jefferson Hills. A recent study led by CMU Civil livelihoods, Barkin argues it’s temporary. session this semester titled “Health “I have had the opportunity to speak and Environmental Engineering Profes- “They move into an area, they take Concerns Related to Marcellus Shale with people who have been affected sor Jeanne VanBriesen, director of the the gas and they move out. This is not Drilling,” Barkin, who currently serves as by drilling ... and I was struck by their Center for Water Quality in Urban sustained growth; this is boom and bust,” president of the American College Health stories of what they were experiencing Environmental Systems, showed high she said. Association, discussed some of the nega- from a health perspective and what their levels of bromide in the Monongahela She also notes that property values tives, the need for a closer examination children were experiencing. River near a water treatment facility. may decline in drilling areas as a result of the impacts and greater regulation and “Unfortunately, since many of “The bromide combines with the of water and air pollution and as the oversight of the industry. the health complaints are nonspecific, chlorine and forms carcinogens,” Bar- quality of life is affected. “The more I learned, the more including nosebleeds, headaches, rashes kin explained. “This results in a direct concerned I became,” said Barkin, who and fatigue, the relationship between the negative impact to our drinking water Too Good To Be True? has testified before the Marcellus Shale complaints and drilling are sometimes but there is a lot of money involved Barkin says she’s in favor of low-cost, not immediately recognized or are dis- which is trumping the public good.” clean energy and a robust economy, but missed,” she said. Although earlier this year the feels the industry needs to be regulated Barkin says the drilling causes air state’s Department of Environmental and health factors need to be fully pollution and the “fracking” process, Protection (DEP) requested that drill- investigated. which injects water, sand and toxic ing companies stop sending residual “I don’t think there has been an chemicals into wells to allow the capture waste to municipal treatment plants, the adequate examination of the cost/benefit piper of natural gas, can result in water con- Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority of the drilling in terms of the total picture. 12/11 Issue tamination. A recent study by the EPA continues to find increasing bromide The industry is spending a lot of money P u b l ish e r found the presence of a cancer-causing levels in the Allegheny River as well. on a marketing campaign that presents Teresa Thomas compound used in fracking in the drilling as the answer to our dependence E d ito r M a n a gi n g E d ito r Wyoming aquifer in an area where a lot Low-lying Ozone on foreign oil, low unemployment, terror- Bruce Gerson Heidi Opdyke of drilling has occurred. Air pollution is another major concern. ism and other economic woes. Concerns W r it e r s Tiffany Benson Abby Simmons She also sights problems with the “Diesel engines run 24/7 while about negative impacts are minimized or Bruce Gerson Byron Spice water in Dimock, Pa., in Susquehanna they are fracking, there is evaporation dismissed, ” she said. Sylvia Leong Chriss Swaney Heidi Opdyke Teresa Thomas County, and findings of methane in wells of toxic gases from condensate tanks Barkin summed up her L&D session Susan Peterson Cora Wang around drilling sites by Duke University and the release of pollutants with flar- with a slide that read, “If it sounds too Shilo Rea researchers as reason for concern about ing. Low-lying ozone is very detrimen- good to be true; it is.” D e sig n e r Melissa Stoebe water contamination. tal to our lungs and that’s what’s created Communications Design and Photography Group Something’s in the Water P hotog r a ph y Ken Andreyo The toxic chemicals, which are used to Tim Kaulen lubricate and protect the drilling equip- Communications Design and Photography Group ment, along with salt and radioactive To contact The Piper staff, call 412-268- materials that return to the surface, even- 2900 or email [email protected]. tually end up in large wastewater pits. Carnegie Mellon University does not discriminate in admission, employment, or administration of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, handicap or Barkin cites incidents where water from disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, ancestry, belief, veteran status, or genetic information. these holding areas has caused ground Furthermore, Carnegie Mellon University does not discriminate and is required not to discriminate in violation of federal, state, or local laws or executive orders. surface contamination. Inquiries concerning the application of and compliance with this statement should be directed to the vice president for campus affairs, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Residual waste, the term used for Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, telephone 412-268-2056. Carnegie Mellon University publishes an annual campus security and fire safety report describing the university’s secu- water that returns to the surface from rity, alcohol and drug, sexual assault, and fire safety policies and containing statistics about the number and type of crimes drilling, has been sent to municipal treat- committed on the campus and the number and cause of fires in campus residence facilities during the preceding three ment plants that are unable to filter these years. You can obtain a copy by contacting the Carnegie Bark i n o f A n i ta I m a g e c ourtesy Mellon Police Department at 412-268-2323. The annual security and fire safety report is also available online at www.cmu.edu/police/annualreports. toxins. She says 43 percent of the chemi- W a s t e w a t e r , w h i c h o f t e n i n c l u d e s t o x i c c h e m i c a l s t ha t l u b r i c a t e d r i l l i n g Produced for Media Relations by The Communications Design and Photography Group, December 2011, 12-332. cals found in residual waste can disrupt e q u i p m e n t , o f t e n e n d s u p i n w a s t e w a t e r p i t s . B a r k i n c i t e s i n c i d e n t s w h e r e

T w o the endocrine system and can lead to w a t e r f r o m t h e s e h o l d i n g a r e a s ha s c a u s e d g r o u n d s u r f a c e c o n t a m i n a t i o n . Low Cost, High Expense? Inspire Innovation: Asia 2011

Barkin Shares Health Concerns Over Marcellus Shale Drilling n Piper Staff Tepper School of Business Dean Rob- CMU President Jared L. Cohon inspired ert M. Dammon that included the silver not only alumni and parents on a recent anniversary celebration of a chapter and Asia-Pacific tour, but also the Guang- record numbers of nearly 500 participants dong Province in China. at events in Seoul, Tokyo, Hong Kong, A stop in Guangzhou, China, in- Beijing, Mumbai, Bangalore and New cluded signing an agreement establishing Delhi. a joint engineering institute with Sun Yat- In Tokyo, the Alumni Association’s sen University (SYSU) and a visit to the Japan Chapter celebrated its 25th anni- International Consultative Conference versary, with alumni, parents and friends. on the Future Economic Development The evening included an engaging panel (ICCFED) of Guangdong, held every two discussion about the Japanese and global years. He served as an economic adviser economies, hosted by CMU Trustee Yo- for ICCFED. shiaki Fujimori (TPR ’81), president and At SYSU, he told acting governor CEO of JS Group Corp. Zhu Xiaodan, senior officials and hun- Alumni, parents and friends joined dreds of students that universities could the Beijing alumni chapter for a special play a significant role in transforming evening of news and updates featuring the region. He pointed to the way CMU Cohon and distinguished alumnus and helped Pittsburgh. former faculty member Kai-Fu Lee “Guangdong is a manufacturing and (SCS ’88), chairman and CEO of Innova- economic center of China. As a province tion Works and former head of Google in the process of industry transformation, P hoto b y ??? China. to have high-valued products is very im- K a i - F u L e e ( s c s ’ 8 8 ) j o i n e d P r e s i d e n t J a r e d L . C o h o n a t a n e v e n t f o r In Seoul, more than 200 members

portant,” Cohon said in an interview with t h e B e i j i n g a l u m n i c hap t e r . of the CMU community gathered for an newsgd.com, the premier online English evening of news, updates and networking. news source in the province. “Education expertise and creative problem solving to prestigious Tsinghua Forum. He also met In his first visit to the region as dean, can produce innovation and universities the region.” with Ping Hao, China’s vice minister of Dammon discussed business school are the sources of innovation. Working At Tsinghua University, Cohon Education. updates in Seoul, Tokyo, Mumbai, with SYSU, we look forward to bringing delivered a keynote address about the Those were just a few of many Bangalore and New Delhi, meeting with CMU’s innovative style, technological hidden costs of energy at the university’s stops on a November tour for Cohon and hundreds of alumni, parents and friends.

CMU Partners With Chinese University C o n t i n u e d f r o m pa g e o n e

important economic and technology hub for all of 2011. SYSU is located about Carnegie Mellon’s engineering CMU’s relationship with China is of the Asia-Pacific region. 100 miles northeast of important trade faculty is well known for its research longstanding and there are nearly 500 “We are pleased to partner with Sun and economic centers like Hong Kong and education efforts. The program’s alumni in China. In 1919, the university Yat-sen University, which has a long his- and Macau, giving it access to one of the undergraduate and graduate programs granted its first Ph.D. in civil engineering tory as one of China’s finest institutions,” Asia-Pacific region’s most vital business both rank in the top 10 in the U.S., ac- to Mao Yisheng, one of the pre-eminent said CMU President Jared L. Cohon. hubs. cording to U.S. News and World Report, engineering minds of the 20th century. “Working with SYSU, we hope to usher “Our vision for the joint institute is and a recent Times Higher Education He designed two of China’s most famous in a new era of engineering education that it will educate leaders, develop in- survey placed CMU’s engineering college modern bridges — the Qiantang River in China. We look forward to bringing novative engineering education and lead among the top engineering programs in Bridge near Hangchow and the Yangtze CMU’s innovative style, technological China in enhancing engineering educa- the world. The college also hosts pro- River Bridge at Wuhan. He also led the expertise and creative problem solving to tion,” said Pradeep K. Khosla, the Dowd grams in Portugal and recently announced structural design of the Great Hall of the region.” University Professor and dean of the it would offer courses in Rwanda. the People in Beijing, and served as the “We selected CMU because its great College of Engineering. president of four universities in China. academic and research reputation fits nicely with south China’s vision of grow- ing its global IT and electronics com- panies, and training a critical mass of IT professionals with an innovative and entrepreneurship mindset,” said SYSU President Xu Ningsheng, one of China’s top physicists. The mission of the joint Institute of Engineering will be to deliver world- class education in engineering, perform cutting-edge research and development, and find solutions to real-world engineer- ing problems. Another goal is to help implement successful technology trans- fer to China-based industries, including helping move Chinese industries from mass-production to technology/innova- tion-based businesses. China’s economic performance is the envy of the Western world. It reported annual gross domestic product w e a r e m a k i n g a d i f f e r e n c e . C a r n e g i e M e l l o n U n i v e r s i t y i s o n t r a c k t o r e a c h t h e $ 1 b i l l i o n g o a l o f t h e growth of 9.1 percent in the third quarter I n s p i r e I n n o v a t i o n c a m pa i g n . T ha n k s i n pa r t t o t h e s u pp o r t o f t h e c m u c o m m u n i t y , t h e u n i v e r s i t y i s i n t h e of 2011 and the International Monetary h o m e s t r e t c h t o a c h i e v e t h i s h i s t o r i c m i l e s t o n e . V i s i t c m u . e d u / c a m pa i g n f o r t h e l a t e s t c a m pa i g n n e w s a n d

Fund has forecast growth of 9.5 percent p r o g r e s s , o r t o m a k e a g i f t t o d a y . P r o g r e s s s i n c e J u n e 1, 2011: $253,639,814. T h r e e Artists of the Year Rubin, Peña Recognized

n Tiffany Benson Carnegie Mellon has swept the 2011 honor,” Rubin said. Pittsburgh Center for the Arts (PCA) “It’s an opportunity to Artist of the Year awards with faculty show work that I have members Jon Rubin and John Pena been doing outside taking home Artist of the Year and of the city of Pitts- Emerging Artist of the Year, respectively. burgh, and work that It’s the third time in four years that I wouldn’t normally a member of the CMU community has get to share with my been named the PCA’s top artist. And friends, family and the second time since 2009 that both community here.” honorees are from CMU. In addition to A special exhibition showcasing the his creation of local extraordinary work of these artists will social-experiment- run through Jan. 22. turned restaurants Other CMU community members such as The Waffle who have been named PCA Artist of Shop and Conflict the Year include Susanne Slavick, the Kitchen, he was re- Andrew W. Mellon Professor of Art, cently commissioned in 2008, and Tim Kaulen, a university to create a public photographer, in 2009. piece for the 2012

bicentennial o f j on R u bi n P hoto c ourtesy An Eye on Humanity celebration in J o n R u b i n ’ s A r t i s t o f t h e Y e a r e x h i b i t i n c l u d e s a v i d e o p i e c e t i t l e d “ I ’ m N o t M e .” Jon Rubin, whose work explores social Columbus, Ohio. and political landscapes, has been ob- Rubin has works serving and interpreting human behavior published in several books and has two years that record a memorable daily ways, emulate it as well. By engaging across many artistic mediums since 1995. displayed at The San Francisco Museum experience. with the natural world in such a way, Of the four works on display at of Modern Art; The Center for Curato- Although separately the drawings I hope to create poetic and magical the PCA exhibit, his newest creation, rial Studies at Bard College; The Museo seem quite ordinary, using paper and moments that reveal the subtle relation- titled “HERETHEREHERE,” is one that Tamayo Arte Contemporaneo, Mexico; drawn in black and white, it is the time ships between humans and nature,” touches home. the The Rooseum, Sweden; The Mer- and dedication of drawing each picture Peña reflected. The project, a documentary-style cosul Bienial, Brazil; Internationale and capturing the moments every day A multidisciplinary scholar in his video, chronicles the walk from the PCA Kurzfilmtage Oberhausen, Germany; that transforms individual drawings into craft, Peña received his master’s degree to Rubin’s home, stopping along the and the Nemo Film Festival, Paris. the monumental value of the collective from Carnegie Mellon in 2008, then vis- 1.5-mile route into 50 of his neighbors’ work. ited Colombia on a Fulbright Fellowship homes for an inside look at the lives in Nature Writer Other works by Peña on display at and attended The Skowhegan School the community. John Peña, who recently focused his tal- the PCA include the video series “Natu- of Painting and Sculpture, The Fine His exhibit at the PCA takes a ent on video and drawing, finds his pas- ral Translations,” which uses human Arts Work Center and the Bemis Center personal look at his surroundings and sion in conscious reflection on outwardly bodies to replicate natural elements and for Contemporary Art. His works have displays work that Pittsburgh has not insignificant moments. His tendency to forces, and “The Untitled Cloud Series,” been exhibited at The Mattress Factory yet seen. Some of Rubin’s other art that look at and document everyday occur- which utilize sun and shadow move- Museum as well as the Kevin Kavana- can be viewed at the exhibit include the rences have resulted in projects such ments. ugh Gallery in Dublin, the Kate Werble video pieces “Present” and “I’m Not Me.” as “Daily Geology,” which includes “Through my artwork, I am trying Gallery in NYC and The Bumbershoot “This [recognition] is certainly an drawings he’s made everyday for the last to communicate with nature and in many Arts Festival in Seattle.

The Pittsburgh Center for the Arts Gallery at 6300 Fifth Ave. is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, and from noon to 5 p.m., Sunday. A $5 donation is suggested.

Since 2001, CMU has dominated the PCA Artist of the Year and Emerging Artist of the Year awards. Winners with university connections include:

Artist of the Year Emerging Artist 2001 Paul Glabicki of the Year 2002 Adrienne Heinrich 2002 Jeremy Boyle 2003 Diane Samuels 2003 George Magalios 2004 James Duesing 2006 Kim Beck 2005 Clayton Merrell 2009 Dylan Vitone 2008 Susanne Slavick 2011 John Peña 2009 Tim Kaulen

Courtesy o f John P eña Courtesy 2010 Brian Dean Richmond

J o h n P e ñ a ha s s p e n t t h e l a s t t w o y e a r s m a k i n g d a i ly d r a w i n g s t ha t 2011 Jon Rubin

F o u r r e c o r d a m e m o r a b l e m o m e n t . T h i s e x a m p l e w a s d r a w n o n J u n e 1 6 , 2 0 1 1 . Sustainability as a Way of Life New Faculty Space Practices School of Design’s Lessons n Cora Wang

The School of Design wants to set a sustainable example. And it’s doing so with a new faculty common room that features sustainably produced ceramic tile floor, natural clay paint, a reclaimed barn oak table and nontoxic plywood bookshelves. “We wanted to create a space where the faculty and staff could come together in an informal/comfortable setting to discuss things,” said Terry Irwin, head of the School of Design. “Our new mission puts design for society and the environ- ment at the heart of everything we do; in other words, sustainability.” The space is designed and built by Day Shift, a Pittsburgh furniture design an g and production company founded by alumnus Justin Lacey (A’09) and his partner, Miriam Devlin. Its mission, to use sustainable, safe, reclaimed materials P hoto b y Cora W whenever possible, resonated with Irwin. J u s t i n L a c e y (A’09) a n d h i s pa r t n e r , M i r i a m D e v l i n , d e s i g n e d a n d b u i lt t h i s n e w r o o m f o r t h e S c h o o l o f D e s i g n fa c u lt y . “Sustainable cultures develop within spaces that enhance social interaction pen more in the future, and gradually stand the concept of sustainability and tion with faculty. The space is a perfect and that is what we were aiming for,” become a way of life. how important it is to everyday living. site for a cup of coffee and a couple of Irwin said. “We intentionally chose one “Something we designers can do is “The room is a practice of what the pages of reading. of our alumni to design and build it as the to influence people’s worldview,” said School of Design preaches; it is also an “I like sitting there, on the couch. embodiment of our teaching. We feel it Dan Boyarski, a professor and direc- experience Justin and Miriam provided It gives me a view of the whole room,” was a truly holistic approach to satisfying tor of alumni relations at the School of for us,” Boyarski said. “And a memo- Boyarski said. “I can also see outside multiple needs the school had.” Design. rable experience it is.” the courtyard door to the landscape and Lacey and Devlin started the project Boyarski said one of Irwin’s goals Since its opening a few months sky.” a year ago in what was once a spare in building the room is to gradually ago, the room has hosted a homecoming Afternoon sunlight comes in space at the back of a large studio. Their change the worldview of the faculty, the event for alumni and is being used for through that door and shines on the goal was to create a flexible space to students, and visitors so that they under- meetings, lectures, lunch and convera- leaves decorating the wall. serve as a conference room, lounge and library for faculty. “We wanted to create something good,” Lacey said. Hayes Appointed to National Student Poets Program To get a sense of what would work n Shilo Rea best for the faculty, they used miniature mock-ups and a full-scale cardboard pro- Award-winning poet and CMU English Professor Terrance Anna Deavere Smith, and choreographer and dancer totype. They also spent months research- Hayes has been chosen to serve as a panelist for President Bill T. Jones. In the 2011 literature class, Hayes joins ing sustainable, reclaimed, environmen- Barack Obama’s new National Student Poets Program former and current MacArthur Fellowship winners tally friendly materials to build some of (NSPP), the country’s highest honor for young poets pre- Campbell McGrath and A. E. Stallings. the furniture and other sustainable items senting original work. Hayes is one of four literary leaders “I’m in good company,” said Hayes, who is the USA from designers and manufacturers. who will judge students who received a National Scho- Zell Fellow, supported by Helen Zell of Chicago, IL. A couch was custom built in a lastic Art & Writing Award for poetry. Five high school “What’s most validating is that I submitted all new work.” warehouse in California; a cherry tree students will be selected to serve for a year as national Included in his submission entry was the recently re- stand was crafted by a modern furniture poetry ambassadors. leased “Who are the Tribes” chapbook from Pilot Books. company in North Carolina; the coffee “This is good exposure for CMU’s Creative Writ- Bound in a hand-stitched double pamphlet and only table, made out of an old-school pallet, ing Program to kids who are interested in writing,” said produced in a limited letterpress edition of 300, the book came from the basement of their shop Hayes, who won the 2010 National Book Award for contains Hayes’ illustrations and a single poem, broken which is a decommissioned firehouse; poetry. “Poetry seems to becoming more popular in high into 15 parts. and the credenza from a cabinet maker school, but there’s room to grow around what their sense Hayes hopes to use the USA Fellowship to spend in Minnesota. of it is — from slam to hip hop and the relationship be- the summer abroad and will continue to write “one poem The rooms design reflects nature. tween page and stage.” at a time.” Ceramic tile floor represents the earth; NSPP was created by the President’s Committee on Hayes joined the CMU faculty in 2001 and teaches barn oak table, the tree trunk; and white the Arts & Humanities, which is chaired by First Lady beginning and advanced poetry workshops in English. boxes of bookshelves were scattered Michelle Obama, and the Institute of Museum and Library He has written four books of poetry: “Lighthead,” which against the wall much like leaves through Services through a partnership with the Alliance for Young won the 2010 National Book Award for poetry; “Wind in which one can see parts of the sky. Every Artists & Writers. The winning student poets will receive a Box,” which was named one of the Best 100 Books of leaf is now filled with a new collection college scholarships and opportunities to present their 2006 by Publishers Weekly; “Hip Logic,” which won the of books about sustainability, selected by work at writing and poetry events. They also will be fea- National Poetry Series Open Competition and was a final- Irwin. tured at the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C. ist for the Los Angeles Times Book Award; and “Muscular A future project includes a display Hayes also has been selected as a 2011 United States Music,” which won the Kate Tufts Discovery Award. board that discusses sustainable issues. Artist (USA) Fellow in Literature. Each year, USA honors His other honors include two Pushcart Prizes, four Irwin says designers have to be more 50 of the nation’s finest artists with fellowship awards of “Best American Poetry” selections, a Whiting Writers responsible in the decisions they make $50,000. Previous USA Fellows include visual artist Kara Award, a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship regarding materials. It is not yet a com- Walker, poet Martín Espada, actress and playwright and a Guggenheim Fellowship. mon practice, but she hopes it will hap- F i v e Problem Solver CMU Scientists Graduate Student Finds Elegant Solutions in Everyday Experiences Develop Method

C h r i s H a r r i s o n ha s ha d o n e s u c - To Match Images c e s s a f t e r a n o t h e r d u r i n g h i s t i m e a s a P h . D . c a n d i d at e i n t h e H u m a n - Approach Mimics C o m p u t e r I n t e r a c t i o n I n s t i t u t e . Human Ability

Harrison on OmniTouch. “He is also not n Byron Spice afraid to try things out, and he works Computers can mimic the human ability fast. I remember leaving in the evening to find visually similar images, such as after talking to him and leaving him with photographs of a fountain in summer and several open questions, only to find him in winter, or a photograph and a paint- in the morning telling me: ‘This worked, ing of the same cathedral, by using a this didn’t and here is why.’ If you can technique that analyzes the uniqueness of answer questions with that clarity and images, say researchers at the School of that speed, you can accomplish great Computer Science. things.” The research team, led by Alexei Just where all the ideas come from, Efros, associate professor of computer Harrison can’t say exactly. science and robotics, and Abhinav Gupta, “It’s hard for me to describe,” he assistant research professor of robot- said. “It’s not a process. I don’t just sit ics, found that their surprisingly simple down, grab a cup of coffee, and start technique performed well on a number of thinking really hard. It’s not predictable. visual tasks that normally stump com- You have to be in the right environment, puters, including matching sketches of with the right people, with the right automobiles with photographs of cars. inspirations — for me, that place is Carnegie Mellon.” Most computerized methods for Several things seem to be important matching images — in contrast to image for him: searches based on keywords — focus on similarities in shapes, colors and compo- Taking things apart. sition. That approach has proven effec- “Almost everything in our world is de- tive for finding exact or very close image signed,” Harrison explained, and seeing matches and enabled successful applica- how things work can lead to ideas about tions such as Google Goggles. how to create new technology or recom- But those methods can fail miserably bine old technologies.

P hoto b y Tim K au l en when applied across photographs taken in different seasons, under different lighting n Byron Spice Travel. conditions or in different media. In 2004, Chris Harrison was bushwhack- content based on a person’s distance Americans often assume they can have The collaborators hypothesized that ing across East Africa’s Serengeti plains, from the screen; it has since been com- the latest technology. But as the Seren- it is the unique aspects of an image, in seemingly beyond the bounds of civiliza- mercialized by the QoLT Foundry. That geti experience indicates, the developing relation to other images being analyzed, world sometimes provides a glimpse of tion, when he came upon a Maasai man was followed by a variety of innovative that sets it apart. It is those elements that the future by being unencumbered by swathed in red, his long hair in warrior methods for controlling mobile devices should be used to match it with similar and leapfrogging entire generations of braids, armed with a customary six-foot with taps or gestures, enabling 3D tele- images. technology. spear. conferencing and designing touchscreens On the pixel level, a photo of a To Harrison’s surprise, the man that can deform into physical controls. Be artistic. garden statue in the summer or fall will greeted him in English. The culture Most recently, he presented four look very different than the same statue shock was complete when the man papers at the prestigious ACM Sympo- Harrison has taken CMU courses in photographed in winter, said Abhinav removed a cell phone from his robes to sium on User Interface Software and sculptural welding and glass blowing, Shrivastava, a master’s degree student in share photos of his family. Technology. Two were technologies and regularly takes advantage of the robotics. But the statue’s unique aspects welding shop in Doherty Hall when he of the statue will carry over from a sum- needs a break from research. “Y o u h av e to b e i n th e r ight e n v i r o n m e n t , w ith th e r ight mer image to a winter image, or from a “I love working with my hands, photo to a sketch. p e op l e , w ith th e r ight i n spi r atio n s — f o r m e , th at p l a c e such as ceramics,” he said. In a photo of a person in front of the is C a r n e gi e M e l l o n .” — C h r is H a r r iso n , P h .D. st u d e n t Location, location, location. Arc de Triomphe in Paris, for instance,

Harrison finds inspiration in the HCII’s the person likely is similar to people in DevLab, a workshop in Newell-Simon “He had a more sophisticated phone he developed as an intern at Microsoft other photos and thus would be given Hall where students assemble do-it- than I did,” recalled Harrison, now a Research — OmniTouch, a Kinect-based little weight. The Arc itself, however, yourself gadgets alongside next-gen fifth-year Ph.D. student in the Human- system that turns almost any surface would be given greater weight because technologies. Computer Interaction Institute. into a touchscreen, and PocketTouch, few photos include anything like it. “It’s a great funky space, decorated Harrison, who has visited more than a means of controlling touchscreens Future work includes using the with things students have hacked and 50 countries to date, says that learning through fabric, such as a pocket. technique to enhance object detection for personalized,” he said. “My house in the often surprising ways that people in Two others were TapSense, which computer vision and investigating ways Friendship is the same way. It’s a big, old other lands use technology stokes his uses acoustics to discern the differ- to speed up the computationally intensive Victorian that me and three other CMU own creativity. ence between taps of the finger tip, pad, matching process. Ph.D. students have fixed up.” But travel is just one of the factors nail or knuckle on a touchscreen, and a Tomasz Malisiewicz, a former Ph.D. For Harrison, whose career ambi- that he believes contributes to his prodi- method that capitalizes on optical distor- student who is now a post-doctoral fel- tions lean toward academic research, gious creative output since arriving at the tion inherent in cheap LCD monitors to low at MIT, also was a member of the human-computer interaction has proven HCII in 2007. create messages that can be seen when research team. This work was supported to be an apt field for someone who’s The list of inventions and visualiza- viewers are at oblique angles. by the Computer Science Department’s been tinkering from an early age. tions that he has worked on began in his “He has a good instinct for ideas Center for Computational Thinking, the “It’s neat because it’s not only com- first two weeks at CMU with Lean and that are simple, but solve big problems,” Office of Naval Research and Google. puter science,” he explained, “but also Zoom, a technology for automatically said Hrvoje Benko, a researcher at lets you dig in with your hands.” adjusting the magnification of on-screen Microsoft Research who worked with S i x Students Enjoy Rare Opportunities With World Leaders n Shilo Rea Have you ever wanted to ask a presiden- tial candidate a question? Not just a typical campaign question on plans to create jobs or the economy, but a specific question on anything that you’d like? Kiron Skinner’s students — interna- tional relations and politics majors, inno- vation, entrepreneurship, and economic development minors, and the research associates of the Center for International Relations and Politics (CIRP) — had exactly that opportunity four times over, with special question and answer ses- sions with former Speaker of the House and current presidential candidate Newt Gingrich, former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and two former con- gresswomen. “It was a huge honor to have four world leaders, whose policy decisions have had an impact on our lives and the F o r m e r S e c r e ta r y o f D e f e n s e D o n a l d R u m s f e l d a n s w e r e d world, take time out of their extremely s t u d e n t s ’ q u e s t i o n s o v e r S k y p e i n t h e P o s n e r C e n t e r . busy schedules to talk with our stu- dents,” said Skinner, associate profes- also spent two and a half days visiting tain things — they are sor of social and decision sciences and with Skinner’s students as part of the so vicious. It discour- director of CIRP. Congress to Campus Program. They ages people from even The special events began with spoke about how they came to be mem- thinking about running Gingrich Skyping into Skinner’s Deci- bers of the House of Representatives — for office,” Kelly said. sion Processes in American Political Byron because her candidate husband The whirlwind Institutions class. Hot on the campaign unexpectedly died and Kelly because events ended with trail, Gingrich talked to the students for she was not satisfied with her district’s Rumsfeld using Skype 45 minutes about everything from candidate options — and running for to answer questions Medicare fraud to his foreign policy and serving in office. from Skinner’s students, plans for North Korea and South Korea “There is so much adverse public- graduate students in and intellectual property issues. ity out there on the government, so this the master’s in Infor- Kavita Varadarajan (DC ’14), an is a way of trying to encourage young mation Technology international relations major, asked people to be interested in public office,” Strategy Program, and

Gingrich about how he plans to promote said Byron, who’s signature legislation Winchester Thurston P hotos b y K en A ndreyo bipartisanship and cooperation if involved heath care for military fami- high school students. F o r m e r congresswomen B e v e r ly B y r o n ( D - m d ) ( r i g h t ) a n d S u e K e l ly ( R - n y ) v i s i t e d a s pa r t o f elected. lies. The often controversial t h e C o n g r e s s t o C a m p u s P r o g r a m . “He talked about what he would do Kelly, who served on committees Rumsfeld, who served and how important it is, but I’m not sure focusing on banking and medical laws, four different presidential administra- feels privileged to have done, Rumsfeld how feasible his plans are,” Varadarajan continued, “We’re adding our perspec- tions — Nixon, Ford, Reagan and G. W. offered advice on how to be an effective said. “Overall, he seems very knowl- tive on what the job is really about — Bush — candidly answered questions senior government official. edgeable, and it was an amazing experi- the challenges and the fun.” ranging from rating the Obama admin- “Lead by persuasion,” he said. ence — given that it’s such a competi- According to both women, the istration and defense budget issues to “Experience is an enormous advantage, tive campaign and every minute of his biggest challenge in politics today is China and the current GOP presidential and so is getting other people’s perspec- time is so valuable.” getting qualified people to consider run- candidates. tives, finding the very best people for Former congresswomen Beverly ning for office. They blame the media. Reflecting on his nearly five de- each assignment and setting priorities.” Byron (D-MD) and Sue Kelly (R-NY) “The way the press describes cer- cades of public service, something he

S k i n n e r J oi n s G i n g r i c h ’ s C a mpa ig n

Kiron Skinner, associate professor of social time, presidential candidates need to tell is now used in political science courses at and decision sciences and director of voters how they will manage the continuing leading research universities. CMU’s Center for International Relations conflicts, insurgencies and terrorist activities In a recent profile by BlackAmericaWeb. and Politics, has been tapped by Republican and how they will ensure that the U.S. safely com, Bueno de Mesquita, a professor of presidential candidate Newt Gingrich to exits conflicts,” she said. politics at New York University and a senior advise him on matters of national security Skinner serves on the Chief of Naval fellow at the Hoover Institution, praised and foreign policy. Skinner attended the GOP Operations (CNO) Executive Panel and is a Skinner. presidential debate on Nov. 22 in Washington, member of the Council on Foreign Relations. “Whether working for a Democrat or a D.C., as part of Gingrich’s campaign team. From 2001-2007, she was a member of the Republican, she’s someone who ought to be Skinner, a renowned expert in U.S. Defense Department’s Defense Policy in some president’s senior advisory team, international relations, U.S. foreign policy and Board as an adviser on the wars in Iraq and either as secretary of state, or as a national political strategy, feels that every American Afghanistan. security adviser, or director of intelligence,” voter needs to know what the presidential She is the co-author, along with political he said. “I have no trouble seeing her hopefuls will do on major national security scientists Serhiy Kudelia, Bruce Bueno de in a second Obama administration or a issues, but notes that they have not detailed Mesquita and Condoleezza Rice, of “The Gingrich administration or a Mitt Romney their plans to this point. Strategy of Campaigning: Lessons from administration. She would be good for the “Since the U.S. is currently in war Ronald Reagan and Boris Yeltsin,” which country.”

S e v e n Class Aids First Responders in Silicon Valley

n Sylvia Leong This year, Collins worked with Sean ideas and encourage the students,” is creating. Collins said DMI affiliates First responders have so much to do in Lanthier, a 31-year veteran firefighter Collins said. also can use the information to create so little time. and paramedic, who is starting a com- Students visited fire stations in open source solutions to other To gather information during an pany to create technologies tailored for California and other states. They went emergency medical service problems. emergency, they often have to rely on first responders. He presented his idea to on numerous emergency responder Some of the applied research was pencil and paper and making phone Martin Griss, director of CMU Silicon calls, ate dinner at firehouses and asked displayed and discussed at Pacific calls to pass that information along. Valley and associate dean of the College questions. Endeavor 2011 in Singapore, where The system can be very slow and prone of Engineering, and other attendants at “They got out of their normal emergency responders and international to errors. the weekly DMI meeting. Each Monday classroom experience in conducting the humanitarian groups from more than 20 “In an emergency situation, time is experts meet to bounce ideas back and interviews,” she said. “We used a highly Asia-Pacific countries met. CMU Silicon critical,” said Patricia Collins, an assis- forth for about two hours. interdisciplinary approach to gather and Valley is the only non-military academic tant professor of the practice at CMU’s “I think Martin Griss really has validate the requirements.” institution involved in Pacific Endeavor Silicon Valley campus. something going on here,” Lanthier “I think they liked the idea that and was represented by Griss and DMI Collins wants to help with mobile said. “It’s a big issue for how to combine there was a potential for real life-saving. member Patrick Lanthier, Sean’s brother. software technology. Her class, Require- the worlds of technology, communica- I kept saying to them this could actually The course is offered in the spring, ments Engineering, worked to under- tion, education, firefighters and first save lives,” Lanthier said. “They took and Collins said the upcoming version stand emergency medical service needs. responders.” that to heart and it was a good motivator. will work on a similar focus. “Each year we pick a topic and they Lanthier said firefighters often still “Patricia has been incredible in how “The students just got so excited,” investigate,” Collins said. “I teamed rely on push-to-talk radios during emer- involved she is with her students, and Collins said. with our Disaster Management Initia- gencies, which have limited capabilities. she filled the gap for me in a lot of the Collins recently delivered a paper tive (DMI) to create a project for our He is working to create a coat for fire- problems I was addressing” Lanthier on the way the class approached the students that met the very real needs of fighters with a smartphone adapted for said. “Her solid input, honesty and problem at the second annual ICST first responders in disaster situations. rugged conditions attached to the wrist. integrity have been incredible.” Conference on Wireless Mobile The result was quite a success for the “Lanthier happens to have a lot of The data that was collected is now Communication and Health Care in stakeholders, as well as for the students.” ideas in this area. He was particularly being used by the DMI to inform deci- Kos, Greece, where she also co-chaired eager to have a venue to talk about these sions about technologies that the DMI a session.

Education City Hosts Inaugural Campus Conversation

n Qatar and Pittsburgh Piper Staff gathering of elders for the purpose of Mellon Qatar. Qatar Foundation Sus- that we could give to the community,” Professor Robert Cavalier has a simple discussing issues of importance to the tainability Education was a co-sponsor said Layal Al-Alami, a CMU student idea when it comes to learning: “We local community, these “deliberative of the event, and David Gray, postdoc- majoring in business administration. think better when we think together.” forums” could also serve as a form of toral teaching fellow of philosophy, and Conkley, added, “My conservation Cavalier, co-director of CMU’s political consultation. April Conkley, adjunct assistant teach- biology students liked the fact that they Program for Deliberative Democracy, “Our model of a campus conversa- ing professor of biology, co-organized were interacting with students from recently helped organize Education tion adds other features like expert pan- the event. other Education City universities and City’s first Campus Conversation in els and pre- and post-surveys,” Cavalier “One of the most meaningful discussing elements of change that could Qatar. The event focused on how global said. “But what most excited me was the aspects of the Campus Conversation be implemented on our campus. It was climate change might affect future fact that we did not have to come from program is how it promotes engagement not just role play but they were actu- generations and Qatar’s food security. the outside to ‘teach’ any of this. The within one’s own community,” Duffy ally acting as stakeholders to help make Students explored the link between students immediately took to the task, said. “Ultimately we want to foster a decisions.” climate change and food sustainability, and the results of their discussions will sense of agency in our students, so that The Division of Student Affairs asking how issues like loss of agricul- also have a degree of consulting power.” they can go out into their respective hopes to utilize the Campus Conversa- tural lands and depletion of fish might Cavalier teamed up with the univer- communities and make a positive tions model in the future to address be addressed. sity’s Division of Students Affairs and difference.” questions and issues that are important According to Cavalier, Campus other professors to offer the program, Following a discussion period, to students, both within Carnegie Mellon Conversations builds upon a deliberative which attracted more than 100 students students split into groups of 10, and Qatar and the broader Education City practice that is already part of Qatar’s from five of the six Education City uni- each posed questions and ideas to an community. culture: the “majlis.” Traditionally a versities in Doha, said Jill Duffy, student expert panel. “We are really interested to see development coordinator at Carnegie The panel, moderated by Steff how students want to make an impact, Gaulter, senior meteorologist at Al as this can guide future programs,” said Jazeera English, included Fedaa Ali, Christopher Silva, sustainability educa- chief researcher at the Qatar Environ- tion coordinator for Qatar Foundation. ment and Energy Research Institute; Pittsburgh Campus Coordinator of Patrick Linke, professor of chemical Student Affairs Joanna Dickert, who engineering at Texas A&M University worked to pilot another Campus at Qatar; Mari Luomi, a postdoctoral Conversation in Doha for CMU students fellow at Georgetown University’s in spring 2009, was impressed. Center for International and Regional “I was struck by the degree the Studies; Marouf Tirad Mahmoud of students seemed to be engaged in the Vodafone Qatar; and Robert Wirsing, format,” she said. “The quality of the a visiting professor at Georgetown discussions and questions that came University’s School of Foreign Service out of the small groups reflected an in Qatar. intellectual curiosity and desire to come Making sustainability trendy, to a deeper understanding of issues buying up foreign land and conserving related to food security in Qatar.” water — especially in a country that “The students were excited about subsidizes utility bills — were among the program and have suggestions for ourtesy o f Carne gi e Me ll on Qatar P hoto c ourtesy the issues raised by students. future conversations, so I think we’ll be E d u c a t i o n C i t y s t u d e n t s pa r t i c i pa t e i n a d i s c u s s i o n f o c u s e d o n h o w “We thought about establishing an seeing more Campus Conversations in g l o b a l c l i m a t e c ha n g e m i g h t a f f e c t f u t u r e g e n e r a t i o n s a n d Q a t a r ’ s E ight f o o d s e c u r i t y . Education City farm to grow produce the future,” Duffy said. Lecture Spotlight: Martin Luther King Jr. Day Keynote Challenges Audiences To Find “The Courage To Lead” n Abby Simmons

Bernard Franklin, a friend of Martin W h at : M a r t i n L u t h e r K i n g J r . D ay K e y n o t e Luther King Jr.’s family, will reflect A dd r e ss on the qualities that set the civil rights leader apart in his keynote address, titled W h o : B e r n a r d F r a n k l i n “The Courage To Lead,” during CMU’s 2012 MLK Day celebration. W h e n : 5 p . m ., M o n day , J a n . 16 Franklin’s address, accompanied W h e r e : R a n g o s H a l l , U n i v e r s i t y C e n t e r by CMU student speakers, concludes an afternoon of programs honoring King’s legacy. The event will begin at 5 p.m., As an undergraduate, Franklin be- 20-year initiative funded by the Ewing Monday, Jan. 16 — the first day of the came the first black student ever elected Marion Kauffman Foundation to guide spring semester — in Rangos Hall, president of Kansas State University’s and support urban Kansas City seventh University Center. Student Government Association. He graders through high school and college. As president of Delta Upsilon o f Bernard Frank li n P hoto c ourtesy B e r n a r d F r a n k l i n w a s a f r i e n d o f made history by becoming the young- Franklin was a fellow for the Study

International Fraternity, Franklin has a M a r t i n L u t h e r K i n g J r .’ s f a m i ly . est person ever appointed to the Kansas of the United States Presidency and connection to the 21 members of CMU’s State Board of Regents at age 24 and the served on an advisory commission to Delta Upsilon colony and more than 800 sultant, educator and community leader. youngest chair of the board at age 28. President Jimmy Carter’s administration living alumni of the fraternity’s Carnegie “We’re looking to host a private In the years that followed, Franklin has with Martin Luther King III and other Chapter, founded in 1917. reception with Dr. Franklin after his held senior positions in higher education, prominent African-Americans. “Some of the women of the Panhel- talk, which will be open to the men of nonprofit organizations and the telecom- He also served as a chaplain and lenic Council and men of the Interfra- DU as well as those interested in joining munications and banking industries. professional counseling team member ternity Council (IFC) saw Dr. Franklin the colony in the spring,” Chen said. Franklin served in a variety of for the National Football League’s Kan- speak at the Association of Fraternal Franklin plans to share stories about student affairs positions at the University sas City Chiefs. Leadership and Values Conference,” said King’s life he gathered from his per- of South Alabama; Rollins College in In addition to his speaking engage- Monica McGee, coordinator for fraterni- sonal relationship with the civil rights Winter Park, Fla.; and his alma mater. ments and fraternity leadership, Franklin ty and sorority life. “When we got back leader’s family. This friendship began He also was president of Metropolitan is a consultant to his church, Redeemer to campus, the IFC decided to approach when Franklin’s brother was Martin Community College-Penn Valley in Fellowship; assistant to the vice presi- the organizers of MLK Day to see if they Luther King III’s roommate at Kansas City, Mo. dent at Kansas State University; chair- could sponsor Dr. Franklin’s address.” Moorehouse College in Atlanta. Franklin was vice president and man of the board for the Satchel Paige Jonathan Chen, president of CMU’s In addition, he will reflect on his urban director of the National Center for Foundation; and a member of Kansas Delta Upsilon colony, is excited to meet personal commitment to being a role Fathering, as well as executive director City’s Google Fiber Innovation Team. his fraternity’s leader, who is also a con- model. of the Kauffman Scholars, a $70 million,

Extra, Extra! Read All About Him SEI Staffer and ETC Graduate Goes Hollywood in Pittsburgh n Bruce Gerson Jeff Balmert is taking an unusual ap- master’s degree from the Entertainment proach to break into the film industry. Technology Center (ETC) in May 2011. The document production special- “I thought if I can at least get on the set ist at the Software Engineering Institute of movies it might be a good way to is working in front of the camera to get meet people behind the scenes.” behind the scenes. And he has. A client of the Nancy Mosser Playing a police officer — one of Casting agency, Balmert has been a paid only six extras — in “The Next Three extra in seven major motion pictures Days” starring Russell Crowe, he had since 2008. His most recent roles were the opportunity to work with director as a fan of the Gotham Rogues in “The Paul Haggis, who won Academy Awards Dark Knight Rises” and as a witness to for his screenwriting of “Million Dollar

V i e w som e o f B a l m e rt ’ s m u ltim e d i a w o r k o n l i n e at w w w . b a l m e rtm e d i a . c om /. a crime scene near PNC Park in “One Baby” and “Crash.” Balmert worked Shot” starring Tom Cruise. with Haggis during a scene in which he B a l m e r t ( f o u r t h f r o m l e f t ) w a s o n e o f a ha n d f u l o f e x t r a s i n “ T h e N e x t While he sees acting as a “really rushes into Crowe’s home to make an T h r e e D a y s , ” w h i c h s t a r r e d R u s s e l l C r o w e ( c e n t e r ) . fun thing to do,” the talented multime- arrest. dia producer’s goal is to help make the “He actually took me aside and couldn’t have been a nicer guy. He was them and seeming them operate the movie magic happen. showed me on the monitor what looks very nice to all of us,” Balmert added. IMAX camera to catch fan reaction,” “My dream is to work on the good and what doesn’t. I was just an In “The Dark Knight Rises” he he said. production side of feature films — in extra, but to have an Oscar-winning di- worked with Director Christopher Nolan In addition to “The Next Three production or post-production, edit- rector actually direct you in a scene was and Cinematographer Wally Pfister. Days,” “The Dark Knight Rises” and ing, directing, producing, something in really neat. “It was awesome sitting in the front that realm,” said Balmert, who earned a “Russell Crowe was great. He row at Heinz Field, interacting with C o n t i n u e d o n pa g e e l e v e n N i n e ETC Donates Kiosk to Madeira Hospital

The need to help kids on the road to innovative way while waiting to be seen The K.I.C.K. at the university will a quick recovery translates in every by a doctor. The goal was to alleviate be used as a development platform to language. the stress and anxiety produced when create unique animation, games, puzzles The Entertainment Technology visiting an emergency room. and other interactive content. Center (ETC) recently donated two The team designed an original K.I.C.K.’s — Kids Interactive Creation touchscreen and software suite, and the Text contributed by Michelle Macau Kiosks — to the Madeira Interactive outcome proved so successful that upon Technologies Institute of the Univer- graduation, the team created Electric sidade da Madeira. One is installed at Owl Studios, a start-up company in the Hospital Dr. Nélio Mendonça in Pittsburgh and an ETC spin-off. Similar Funchal, and the other is at the Universi- kiosks can now be found in hospitals dade da Madeira for the Master in Enter- across three continents and 27 states. tainment Technology (MET) Program. During a ceremony at the hospital The K.I.C.K. was developed by in Funchal, Michelle Macau, a visiting a team of ETC students working with faculty member for the ETC, gave a the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh in demonstration of the various content on 2006. The project created an experience the K.I.C.K. to engage children and parents in an P hoto b y antón i o edro D ías Go m es

“ Post: A Fable” Wins Best Book Award

n Shilo Rea English Professor Hilary Masters’ latest novel, “Post: A Fable,” has won a In a starred-review for “Booklist,” associate USABookNews.com Best Books 2011 Award. editor Donna Seaman wrote, “In a whirl of historic fact, USABookNews.com, the premier online magazine and review website for erotic mayhem, and comic suspense, Masters ingeniously connects mainstream and independent publishing houses, announced winners in more than the bloodlust that drove the once sky-filling passenger pigeon into extinction 140 categories covering print, e-books and audio books. Masters’ “Post: A Fable” with endangered forms of culture and love in an uproarious and wise inquiry won the literary fiction category. into why we destroy what awes and sustains us.” In his 10th novel and 17th book, Masters used the passenger pigeon plight Masters also writes essays and works of fiction, including a story in the as the central metaphor. Before their extinction in 1914, when the passenger recently published crime book “Pittsburgh Noir” and the memoir “Last Stands: pigeons migrated, the sky would darken for an entire day. Even as late as 1866, Notes from Memory.” His work has received the Balch Prize for Fiction and the an estimated 3.5 billion birds flocked south, only to be hunted and trapped out of Monroe Spears Prize for the Essay, and has been published in Best American existence a few decades later. It is part-mystery, part-environmental elegy and Essays, Best American Short Stories and the Pushcart Prize Anthologies. In futuristic tale about ruining things that we love. 2003, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences presented Masters with its Award for Literature.

N e w s B r i e f s Swim Challenge Date Industrial Design and The Tepper School’s national ranking is up Set for Feb. 26 Architecture Programs four spots from the previous ranking in 2009, and up 21 spots from its No. 24 ranking in Resources Available To Carnegie Mellon’s swimming teams are host- Rated Among Best 2007. Help Shed Winter Weight ing the 16th annual 1,650-yard swim challenge Carnegie Mellon’s undergraduate industrial In individual component scores, the school fundraiser on Sunday, Feb. 26. The entry fee design program is ranked third in the nation Thinking of losing some pounds or making a ranked No. 2 in student satisfaction — up one is $25 and all proceeds benefit CMU’s men’s — tied with Rochester Institute of Technology lifestyle change as a New Year’s resolution? spot from 2009 — and No. 12 in academic and women’s swimming and diving teams. and Syracuse University — and its industrial Check out the Healthy Campus website, quality — up from No. 42 previously. For the Entries are due Feb. 10. For an entry form, design graduate program ranks ninth in Design www.cmu.edu/healthy-campus/, for resources. second time in a row, the Tepper School also contact Jimmy Goldman at 412-683-0856 or Intelligence’s 2012 ratings of America’s Best The Healthy Campus website includes earned straight “As” for teaching quality (A), [email protected]. Architecture and Design Schools. In specialty information about free exercise classes for caliber of classmates (A+) and curriculum (A+). categories the programs ranked first in research faculty and staff from 5:15 – 6 p.m. Monday Mentor Program and theory — tied with Arizona State University through Thursdays, and yoga classes at noon on Heinz Dean Earns Applications Due Dec. 22 (ASU) and Illinois Institute of Design — third in Mondays, all at Whitfield Hall, 143 N. Craig St. INFORMS Fellow Award cross-disciplinary teamwork and fifth in com- Additional resources include information Since 1994, CMU’s Women Supporting munication — tied with Auburn University, Heinz College Dean Ramayya Krishnan, the about Weight Watchers, quitting smoking, Women mentor program has matched more College for Creative Studies and Pratt Institute. William W. and Ruth F. Cooper Professor of preventative health programs and safety and than 300 women mentors with those who In a dean’s survey, the undergraduate pro- Management Science and Information Sys- security. wish to be mentored. Mentor relationships gram ranked fourth — tied with ASU, Savannah tems, has received the Institute for Operations center on professional interests and aspira- College of Art and Design, and University of Research and the Management Sciences Open Field Entrepreneurs tions, including but not limited to, career Louisiana at Lafayette. Deans said they admired (INFORMS) Information Systems Society Fund Open for Business advancement, educational opportunities and the program for its focus on interdisciplinary Distinguished Fellow Award in recognition of job-related issues. The Open Field Entrepreneurs Fund (OFEF), design, industry partnerships and integration of his intellectual contributions to the information To apply for this volunteer program either which provides early-stage business financing design and thinking. systems discipline. as a mentor or a mentee, fill out the informa- to Carnegie Mellon alumni who have gradu- Design Intelligence ranked the undergradu- His current research projects investigate risk tion sheet at www.cmu.edu/hr/learning/forms/ ated in the last five years, is now accepting ate architecture program 11th, tied with USC. management in business process design and restrict/wswmentor.pdf and send it to Pattye applications. in information security, social network analysis Stragar at [email protected] or UC 146A Flip video camera creator and CMU alum- in settings ranging from call data records to by Dec. 22. Tepper School Part-Time nus Jonathan Kaplan, his wife Marci Glazer, knowledge sharing communities, consumer For more information on the program, visit MBA Program Ranked No. 3 and classmate and bitly CEO Peter Stern behavior in e-business settings, and the design www.cmu.edu/hr/learning/ProgramsEvents/ The Tepper School of Business’ part-time MBA provided the generous gift to start the fund, of policies that take into account the competing wmp.html. program was ranked No. 3 nationally and No. with the goal of making Carnegie Mellon a needs of promoting data access and protecting 1 in the Mid-Atlantic region by Bloomberg destination of choice for young entrepreneurs. privacy. BusinessWeek. Applications will be accepted until Jan. 31. To learn more and apply online, visit www.cmu.edu/open-field. T e n Fonseca Elected President of Mathematics Society n Jocelyn Duffy “Irene’s election as the president Fonseca also directs the Partnerships Irene Fonseca, the Mellon College of of SIAM reaffirms what we have long for International Research and Education Science Professor, has been elected known — that she is a leader in her field, (PIRE) project, a five-year National Science president of the Society for Industrial whose abilities, vision and judgment will Foundation-funded multi-institution grant and Applied Mathematics (SIAM), an lead to continued success,” said William addressing issues in applied mathematics international professional society for J. Hrusa, acting department head and and mechanics that arise from the materials applied mathematicians with more than professor of mathematical sciences. sciences. 13,000 individual members and almost “Irene has a superb combination of Fonseca has a strong international 500 institutional members. organizational and scientific abilities,” presence in the mathematics community. SIAM advances the application of added David Kinderlehrer, the Alumni She sits on committees and the boards of mathematics and computational science Professor of Mathematical Sciences and several major international universities and to engineering, industry, science and so- professor of materials science and engi- research centers. In 1997, she was bestowed neering. “This election raises her visibil- o f Irene Fonse c a P hoto Courtesy knighthood in the Military Order of St. ciety. Of SIAM’s 35 presidents, Fonseca I r e n e F o n s e c a is only the second woman to hold this ity in the field of applied mathematics, in James (Grande Oficial da Ordem Militar de leadership role. which she is already very prominent.” Her ability to introduce and apply Sant’Iago da Espada) by the president of “Mathematics is the common Fonseca came to CMU in 1987 as a new mathematical techniques to the ma- Portugal. This order is generally reserved denominator behind everything we visiting assistant professor and became terials sciences complements her work for accomplishments in cultural fields, but experience in our daily lives,” Fonseca professor in 1989. as director of the Center for Nonlinear in Fonseca’s case the award also recognized said. “As president of SIAM I hope that Fonseca is an internationally Analysis (CNA) at CMU. The CNA fo- her contributions to scientific progress in I can lead the society as we address and respected educator and researcher in ap- cuses on research and training in applied the European Union. respond to the issues and current events plied mathematics. Her research involves mathematics at the interface between In 2004, she received a Women of that impact the world.” the mathematical study of a variety of mathematics, the physical sciences and Distinction Award in Math and Technology She will serve a one-year term as novel man-made materials, including engineering; it is one of the few cen- from the Western Pennsylvania Girl Scouts president-elect in 2012, followed by a ferroelectric, magnetic and magneto- ters in the Unites States that receives Trillium Council, and she was chosen to two-year term as president. strictive materials, shape memory alloys, significant federal funding for research in deliver the prestigious Sonia Kovalevsky composites and liquid crystals. applied mathematics. Lecture at SIAM’s Annual Meeting in 2006.

SEI Staffer Goes Hollywood in Pittsburgh C o n t i n u e d f r o m pa g e n i n e “One Shot,” Balmert has played a his undergraduate degree, and at the site/program/) under the guidance of ad- said he’s heard that Jack Black, Steve Carell, state trooper and bartender in “She’s ETC. He has experience in video, sound viser Ralph Vituccio, who he credits for Nicolas Cage and Kevin Kline are interested Out of My League,” a coal miner in design, graphic design, Web design, teaching him about camera angles, how in making a movie in Pittsburgh early next “My Bloody Valentine,” and a hospital photography, animation, and he’s even to frame a scene and how to tell a story. year. He’s also heard that facilities for feature security guard in “Abduction.” Yet to created his own short films. “Jeff is very talented in a number of film post-production work may soon be built be released is “The Perks of Being a At the ETC, he was part of project ways,” said Vituccio, a faculty member in the city. Wallflower,” in which he plays two roles, teams that produced videos for several and director of special projects at the “They’re just rumors, but a lot of these a hospital administrator and hospital clients, including Cosmic Contact and ETC. “His organization and sense of rumors have proven to be true,” he said. “It’s visitor. Lockheed Martin. For his final project, directing and producing is very good.” really an exciting time in Pittsburgh for some- Balmert honed his multimedia skills he produced an interactive marketing Balmert, a member of the Penn- one who wants to get into the movies. You at Duquesne University, where he earned video for the ETC (http://etc.cmu.edu/ sylvania Film Industry Association, may not have to go to Hollywood anymore.”

Suparak To Participate PSC Wins High-Performance (Jan. 31-Feb. 12 at the Benedum Center). To Are You a Notary Public? order tickets, go to www.culturaldistrict.org In Philadelphia Exhibit Computing Award Human Resources is updating notary public and login using the promo code CMU1112 to Miller Gallery Director Astria Suparak was HPCwire, a leading electronic-news outlet for information listed in the online Faculty/Staff receive the discount. selected to participate in the Philadelphia high-performance computing and communi- Directory. If you are a notary public and willing Exhibitions Initiative at The Pew Center for Arts cation (HPC), has awarded a 2011 Reader’s to provide notary public services free of charge Bookstore Streamlines & Heritage. The interview series, titled “Pigeons Choice Award to the Pittsburgh Supercomput- to employees and students for official university on the Grass, Alas: Contemporary Curators ing Center (PSC) for Best Use of HPC in an Textbook Adoption Process business, and would like to be included in the Talk About the Field,” focuses on curators and Edge HPC application. The Carnegie Mellon Bookstore has a new directory, please send email to Darlene Scalese their individual practices. The Pew Center se- The award recognizes PSC for its work with streamlined textbook adoption process for this at [email protected] and include lected Suparak because her work “reflects the Blacklight, PSC’s SGI® Altix® UV1000 system, year at http://cmu.verbacollect.com/session/ your name, department, location and phone values” that guide the Pew Center, “excellence, the world’s largest shared-memory system, selfassign. For a brief tutorial visit vimeo.com/ number. imagination and courage.” a resource of XSEDE, the National Science verba/review/29697633/09a101d693. For Foundation cyberinfrastructure program. assistance, contact Matt Senvisky at 412-268- Students Recognized at Slavick Curates War Exhibit Because of Blacklight’s large amount of 2967 or [email protected] or Chris Qatar Research Forum shared memory, scientists have been able to Coleman at 412-268-1033 or ccoleman@ “OUT OF RUBBLE,” curated by the Andrew W. Two computer science students at Carnegie access up to 16 terabytes at a time, a feature andrew.cmu.edu. Mellon Professor of Art Susanne Slavick, is on Mellon in Qatar were recognized for their excel- that has enabled ground-breaking work in display at the SPACE Gallery, 812 Liberty Ave., lence in pioneering innovative scientific research several fields, including fields of computer in Pittsburgh. Review Online Directory in computing at the 2011 Qatar Foundation science — natural language processing and The exhibit presents the work of interna- Human Resources reminds faculty and staff to Annual Research Forum. machine learning — that haven’t traditionally tional artists who consider the consequences review their department and individual informa- Amna Al Zeyara and Nawal Behih, both made substantial use of HPC. of war, from decimation and disintegration to tion in the Faculty/Staff online directory (www. sophomores, received the Best Student the possibilities of regeneration and recovery. cmu.edu/hr/directory/index.html). Changes/ Research Award in Computing and a 20,000 The exhibit runs through Jan. 29. Purchase Discounted edits can be made throughout the year. Quick Qatari Riyal grant for their work on enhancing For more information go to www.space- Tickets to Cultural Events search tip: When searching individuals (https:// facial expressions in bilingual humanoid robots. pittsburgh.org/flash.html. The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust is offering stu- directory.andrew.cmu.edu/services/people/ The test bed for the research project was dents, faculty and staff discounted tickets to search) you may use an * as a wild card to Hala, a 3-D animated female robot that inter- Lunar Robot Named to several performances in January and February. search for a partial name. Contact Darlene acts with visitors, switching between English “Best of What’s New” List They include Memphis (Dec. 27-Jan. 1 at Heinz Scalese with directory questions at and Arabic languages and crafting responses Hall); The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs [email protected]. that are culturally sensitive to the user. To do Popular Science has named the Astrobotic (Jan. 21 at the Byham Theater); Suite Bill (Jan. this, Hala takes linguistic cues from the user to Technology lunar robot to its Best of What’s 21 at the August Wilson Center); Sean Jones determine the cultural background — ensur- New list, noting the team headed by the Robot- Duets Generations (Jan. 26 at the August ing effective communication and minimizing ics Institute’s Red Whittaker “took the lead this Wilson Center); PMT’s Spring Awakening misunderstandings. year over 26 competitors” in the race to win the (Jan. 26 – Feb. 6 at the Byham); and Billy Elliot $20 million Google Lunar X Prize. E l e v e n GigaBlitz Event Seeks Citizen Scientists To Capture Images of Nature

n Byron Spice From a bike path in Montana to a back- water underneath a highway overpass in Austria, citizen scientists fanned out last June to capture high-resolution images for the first Nearby Nature GigaBlitz. Organizers are hoping for even broader participation in the second GigaBlitz, scheduled for the solstice week of Dec. 19-26. The GigaBlitz is organized by a trio of biologists and their partners at Carnegie Mellon’s CREATE Lab. It is similar in concept to a BioBlitz, an intensive survey that attempts to iden- tify all living species within an area at a given time. But instead of sending volunteers into a park or nature preserve to do a count, GigaBlitz asks people to create high-resolution panoramic images

of their backyards, nearby woodlots or an adjacent vacant lots. Participants around the world can then access these images, crowdsourcing the process of species identification. “The idea is that biodiversity isn’t

something you find just in a distant o f G ig a P photo Courtesy national park or some far-flung field A f r o g w a s i n c l u d e d i n a G i g a P a n i m a g e o f a f o r e s t p o n d n e a r H a u s e n a m A l b i s , S w i t z e r l a n d . T h e i m a g e w a s site, but it’s around all of us, all of the t a k e n d u r i n g t h e f i r s t G i g a B l i t z l a s t J u n e . time,” said Ken Tamminga, professor of landscape architecture at Penn State Uni- croplands in Brazil; and a vegetable Second GigaBlitz Seeks and Huntington, W.Va., will explore the versity and one of the event organizers. garden in Spain. Others are a bike path More Sites GigaBlitz images with their students “Gigapixel imagery is a means for us to near West Glacier, Mont.; a forest pond Now, the organizers are hoping to as part of a biodiversity project. The record and share data for sites that may near Hausen am Albis, Switzerland; a expand the number of participants and schools participate in GigaPan School be widely separated, but nevertheless are botanical garden in Mexico City; and the number of sites, while also encourag- Dialogues, an international program that part of our everyday lives.” seashell and coral debris on a Singapore ing previous participants to revisit their enables students to use GigaPan technol- beach. sites so that changes in the habitats can ogy to exchange information with each Magazine Features Images Tamminga and his fellow orga- be tracked over time. Tamminga said other. It works in conjunction with the From First GigaBlitz nizers, Dennis vanEngelsdorp, senior rigorous study of the images ultimately United Nations Education, Scientific and About 80 people participated in the inau- extension scientist in Penn State’s De- will depend on development of content Cultural Organization. gural GigaBlitz during the June solstice partment of Entomology, and M. Alex analysis software for gigapixel images. GigaPan technology, developed by and uploaded images from 15 countries Smith, assistant professor of integrative For the upcoming Nearby Na- Carnegie Mellon and NASA, can com- to the GigaPan website, said Mary Jo biology at the University of Guelph, ture GigaBlitz, participants again are bine hundreds of digital photos into a Daines, who coordinates the GigaBlitz Ontario, are co-editing the issue. asked to create gigapixel panoramas, or large panorama that can be interactively for the CREATE Lab in the Robot- “Coordinating the first Nearby Na- GigaPans, of nearby habitat during the explored via computer. More than 5,000 ics Institute. The best of these images ture GigaBlitz was very rewarding and solstice week. Each will then upload GigaPan camera systems, which can be will be featured in an upcoming issue we all learned from each stage of the their GigaPans of nature in their neigh- used with virtually any digital camera, of GigaPan Magazine, the lab’s online process,” they write in the introduction borhoods to the GigaPan website, where are in use worldwide and available com- publication. to the magazine. “In the end, we were they and other participants can share mercially through GigaPan Systems Inc. Among them is an image of a re- delighted in the geographic breadth in the process of identifying the visible Smith, Tamminga and vanEngels- sidual part of the Danube River beneath represented in the submitters.” plant and animal species. dorp are fellows of the Fine Outreach a highway overpass in Vienna, Austria; In January and February, secondary for Science, a project funded by the Fine school teachers in South Africa, Brazil Foundation of Pittsburgh to foster scien- tific use of gigapixel imagery.

President Cohon Attends White House Meeting C o n t i n u e d f r o m pa g e o n e A statement released by the White attendees shared how they have worked In addition to President Cohon and • King Alexander, president of Califor- House read: to promote innovation, reduce costs and Duncan other attendees included: nia State University at Long Beach; “The president hosted White House increase productivity during a time of • Nancy Zimpher, chancellor of the • Thomas Snyder, president of Ivy Tech senior officials, Secretary of Educa- reduced funding for higher education at State University System of New York; Community College in Indiana; tion Arne Duncan and a dozen college the state level.” • Francisco Cigarroa, chancellor of • Larry Shinn, president of Berea presidents and higher education thought “The key message was a challenge the University of Texas System; College in Kentucky; leaders from across the country to dis- to us to question all our strongly held as- • William “Brit” Kirwan, chancellor of • Robert Mendenhall, president of West- cuss rising college costs and strategies sumptions, including getting our faculty the University System of Maryland; ern Governors University in Utah; to reduce these costs while improving to think differently about teaching,” • Holden Thorp, chancellor of the • Jane Wellman, executive director of quality. Cohon told The New York Times. “I University of North Carolina at the Delta Project on Postsecondary “During the meeting, the president personally get very uncomfortable when Chapel Hill; Education Costs, Productivity and conveyed the urgent need to pursue people start talking about replacing • Freeman Hrabowski, president Accountability; and bold and innovative solutions to help faculty with technology. But I do think of the University of Maryland at • Jamie Merisotis, president and more Americans attain a higher educa- technology can help us educate more Baltimore County; CEO of the Lumina Foundation T w e l v e tion at an affordable price. In response, students faster and better.” for Education.