A New, Improved Dabney Hall I
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u. 1- 1- u. Cl) 1- The campus community biweekly September 23, 2004, vol. 4, no. 13 A new, improved Dabney Hall I Maverick scientist Memorial for Westphal dies Ed Lewis slated James A. Westphal, who parlayed a bach He was small of stature but a scientific elor's degree into a major scientific career giant. Edward Lewis-a Nobel laureate, a as a professor at Caltech, a leader of one Caltech alum, and the Thomas Hunt Mor of the original instrument teams on the gan Professor of Biology, Emeritus-will Hubble Space Telescope, and the director be honored at a memorial service on of Palomar Observatory, died September Monday, October 25, at 2 p.m. in Ramo 8 after a long illness. He was 74. Auditorium. All Caltech-JPL community Westphal earned his bachelor's degree members are invited to attend. in physics from the University of Tulsa in Lewis, who shared the 1995 Nobel 1954, a year after he went to work as geo Prize in physiology or medicine for his physical research group leader at Sinclair groundbreaking studies of how genes Research Lab in Tulsa. In 1961 he took a regulate the development of specific body job as senior engineer at Caltech and re regions, died Wednesday, July 21, at Hun mained at the Institute for the remainder tington Hospital after a long battle with of his career. He was named associate cancer. He WiiS 86. professor of planetary science in 1971 A faculty member since 1946 and a re and professor in 1976. vered campus figure, Lewis spent his life Westphal first got into the business of studying fruit fly genetics. His work had scientific instrumentation right after high profound implications for understanding school, when he did well-logging in Texas the genetic regulation of human devel and Gulf Coast oil fields. In fact, his work opment. In a recent book, author and at Sinclair Research Labs involved devis longtime collaborator Howard Lipshitz de Jean Ensminger, chair of the Division of the Humanities and Social Sciences, speaks at the reception for the renovated Dabney Hall of the Humanities on September 17. The project, which President David ing unorthodox methods for oil discovery, scribed Lewis's research as "the bridge" Baltimore called the "first fruit" of Caltech's fund-raising campaign, restored details from architect and one of his discoveries first brought linking early 20th-century genetics experi Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue's original designs. him to the attention of Caltech professor ments with the revolutionary approaches Hewitt Dix, who is often considered the of the century's end. Lipshitz also lauded father of exploration geophysics. Lewis's lesser-known work in understand Caltech takes part in Westphal arrived at Caltech initially on ing radiation and cancer, and the related a four-month leave of absence to devise issue of nuclear weapons testing policy. Tender Land festival a data processor for Dix, but never left. see Lewis, page 6 He discovered that the academic freedom An exciting arts festival kicks off at more individual professors enjoy was amenable than a dozen Pasadena venues next to his own predilections, so he soon began month. "The Tender Land: A Festival of branching out to other areas of scientific 336 survey: Art, History, Music, and Science" begins investigation at Caltech. Before long, he The people speak Paul Jennings on Saturday, October 9 and Caltech had teamed up with Bruce Murray (later to will serve as a venue for events like the see Westphal, page 6 When we asked for input, we didn't foresee screening of high-definition films and as returns as provost the tidal wave of more than 800 replies. We're the site of two public art installations. grateful for your time and comments in tak A familiar face to many on campus, Paul Encompassing exhibitions, sculptures, ing the Caltech 336 survey. Jennings begins his term as the new pro musical and theatrical performances, A week of memorials To begin, a disclaimer: Each issue of 336 vost this term. It's a position he's familiar workshops, lectures, family events, and is a balancing act. Our charge is to present with, having been vice president and pro tours, the festival takes its title from an Two more campus greats will also be news for a diverse audience of staff, faculty, vost as well as professor and student during opera by the American composer Aaron remembered during the last week of postdocs, and grad students-all with differ his 45-year association with the Institute. Copland. The theme explores the relation October. A celebration will be held Tues ing interests-in a limited amount of space. A specialist in earthquake engineering, ship between humans and the environ day the 26th for Robert Sharp, the Sharp While we try to give 336the widest appeal Jennings succeeds Steve Koonin, who ment, and how one influences, shapes, Professor of Geology, Emeritus, who died possible, we won't be able to please every served as provost from 1995 until earlier and interacts with the other. The word May 25 at age 92. The campus commu one all the time. this year when he took a leave of absence tender, as a description of the region that nity is invited to the event, which begins That said, there's always room for im from his faculty appointment to work in became Pasadena and its environs, im at 4 p.m. at the Athenaeum, followed by a provement, and that's where your feedback London as chief scientist of BP. Jennings plies fragility as well as gentleness. reception. Please RSVP to Marcia Hudson comes in. Comments ranged from encour was provost from 1989 to 1995. Caltech's participation begins with at [email protected] or ext. 6111. aging to constructive to unhelpful. "No "The faculty and staff of the Institute "Gobo Gobo: Sounds of Nature," which On Thursday, October 28, at 4 p.m., idea what 336 is." Okay, we need to publi have made Missy and me feel quite wel features a screening of La Mer, an un Arnold Beckman will be honored in Beck cize 336 more and work on our distribution. come to be back, and that's very much dersea tour of coral formations and a man Auditorium-one of several campus "It's boring most of the time! "-with no appreciated," Jennings said recently in his visit with the rich variety of flora and buildings bearing his name. A Caltech other details. Well, thanks, but if you don't Parsons-Gates office. "I've enjoyed working fauna that call the ocean home, and Form alum (PhD '28), a former professor, a tell us what would be interesting, how are with old acquaintances. I'd lost touch with of Forest, Color of Forest, a trip to the chairman emeritus ofthe Board of Trust we supposed to know? some of them, but now I'm working with Japanese island of Yakushima, a World ees, and an Institute benefactor, Beckman The most requested articles were top sto them here again, and that's very enjoyable. Heritage Site blanketed with a forest of died May 18 at age 104. All campus com ries I campus news and profiles of people or see Provost, page 6 munity members are invited to attend. sacred sugi, or ancient Japanese cedars. see Survey, page 6 see Tender Land, page 6 2 Caltech 336, September 23, 2004 New positions Elbert to fill in as VP Arden Albee, professor of geology and planetary science, emeritus, and chair of the Athenaeum Art Elbert has been named as acting vice House Committee, has been named interim Ath NewsBriefs president for business and finance, ef enaeum general manager, a position he has held previously. He replaces general manager Crystal fective September 15, President David electrical engineering, and David Kaplan, in as Thomas, who recently resigned. Albee joined Baltimore announced in an e-mail to the tronomy; Bonnie Khang-Keating, project manager, Caltech's faculty in 1960, and has also served as Caltech community. Architectural and Engineering Services; visitors academic officer for geological and planetary sci Elbert is assuming the role formerly ences, 1971-79; chief scientist at JPL, 1979-84; Ung-Jin Kim, in biology, and Joachim Krieger, held by AI Horvath, who accepted a posi and dean of graduate studies, 1984-2000. in mathematics; Erika Lee, research assistant, tion at Columbia University, while a com Caltech Precollege Science Initiative; Shao Vi Lee, research aide, planetary sciences; Wonchul Lee, Fred Culick, Hayman Professor of Mechanical En mittee led by Provost Paul Jennings seeks postdoctoral scholar in chemistry; Zailo Leite, gineering and professor of jet propulsion, became a new vice president. The appointment systems administrator, Information Technology emeritus on June 1, after 43 years at Caltech. He was made "to ensure that the respon received all of his degrees from MIT, including his Services; postdoctoral scholars Melvin Leok, in sibilities of this key office are properly PhD in 1961, and joined Caltech that same year control and dynamical systems, Douglas Leonard, covered during this interim period and to in astronomy, and Jiao Lin, in materials science; as a research fellow in jet propulsion. He was ap Rowena Lohman, assistant scientist, Seismologi pointed assistant professor in 1963 and professor enable the search process to proceed at cal Laboratory; Dagny Looper, research assistant in 1971 and was named Hayman Professor in 1997. an appropriate pace," Baltimore said, not II, Infrared Processing and Analysis Center; Carlos ing that "the complex nature of this posi Federico Echenique has been appointed an as Lourenco de Serpa Soares, postdoctoral scholar tion" and its significant role in Institute sistant professor of economics, effective June 1.