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VOLUME CV, NUMBER 11 oonlnIi Provost By MATTHEW WALKER President Baltimore announced to tion ofprovost, he said, "Caltech is the campus in a Friday afternoon about extraordinary people doing e-mail that Professor Steven extraordinary things. The opportu Koonin would be stepping down as nity to foster that process is one of Caltech's seventh Provost after nine the main attractions ofthe job. The years on the job. Dr. Koonin will biggest challenge facing Caltech is also be taking a leave of absence to continue to have exceptional ef from his professorship to pursue a fects on science, technology and career in industry. education, as we have in the past." The Brooklyn native first came to During his nine years as provost, Caltech as a member ofthe class of Koonin has had a chance to tackle '72. He successfully completed his his challenge and enjoy fostering degree in physics and moved on to Caltech's extraordinary work. Once MIT where he received his PhD in asked about what he hoped his physics in 1975. Koonin then re legacy as provost would be, he re turned to Caltech to join the faculty. sponded, "I think having helped to After only a year on the job, he was hire good faculty and energizing awarded the Caltech Associated and facilitating life for faculty and Students Teaching Award. He also others on campus would certainly received the Humboldt Senior Sci be one of the prime things." At the entist Award in 1985 and the E.O. same time, the "identification and Lawrence Award in Physics in 1999 hiring and nurturing ofnew faculty" •• •<- ._• • Courtesy ofmarsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov from the Department of Energy. has been one ofthe joys he's had in ThIS Image ofthe Mars landscape from the lander SpIrIt IS one ofthe first color images ever transmitted In 1981, Koonin became a full the job. Since becoming provost, from the surface of the red planet. professor of physics. He served as Koonin has hired 30% of the cur the Chairman of the Faculty from rent faculty, by his own estimate. 1989 to 1991 before he began his Undertaking large projects has JPL, NASA Triumphant After Spirit stint as vice president and provost been another ofhis delights. Among on February 20, 1995. At nearly his favorites was the Biological Successfully Makes Planetfall on Mars nine years, Koonin is one of Sciences Initiative that he spear Caltech's longest serving provosts. headed, beginning in 1998. This By GUY WEBSTER and learned that NASA's Deep Space twin rover, headed for the opposite When Koonin accepted the posi- initiative was a three year effort that FRANKLIN O'DONNELL Network had received a post-land side ofMars. ing signal from Spirit. The cheer Dr. Charles Elachi, JPL director, Continued on Page 2, Column 1 January 4 ing resumed about three hours later said, "To achieve this mission, we when the rover transmitted its first have assembled the best team of A traveling robotic geologist from images to Earth, relaying them young women and men this coun NASA has landed on Mars and re through NASA's Mars Odyssey or try can put together. Essential work turned stunning images of the area biter. was done by other NASA centers around its landing site in Gusev "We've got many steps to go be and by our industrial and academic Crater. fore this mission is over, but we've partners. Mars Exploration Rover Spirit retired a lot of risk with this land Spirit stopped rolling with its base successfully sent a radio signal af ing," said JPL's Pete Theisinger, petal down, though that favorable ter the spacecraft had bounced and project manager for the Mars Ex position could change as airbags rolled for several minutes follow ploration Rover Project. deflate, said JPL's Rob Manning, ing its initial impact at 11 :35 p.m. Deputy project manager for the development manager for the EST (8:35 p.m. Pacific Standard rovers, JPL's Richard Cook, said, rover's descent through Mars' at Time) on January 3. "We're certainly looking forward to mosphere and landing on the sur "This is a big night for NASA," Opportunity landing three weeks face. said NASA Administrator Sean from now." Opportunity is Spirit's O'Keefe. "We're back. lam very, Continued on Page 7, Column 1 very proud of this team and we're on Mars." Members of the mission's flight team at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., cheered and clapped when they By LEA HILDEBRANDT On Sunday, November 23, 2003, The audience, enjoying a great se- MusicaAntiqua Koeln initiated this lection ofmusic and exemplary per year's Coleman Chamber Music formance, thanked the artists with Heavy concert series. The concert, starting plentiful applause. One member of ------==------at 3.30pm was held inCaltech's the audience remarked after the By KEVIN BARTZ it, "is just one GQR butt-l
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THE CALIFORNIA TECH JANUARY 12, 2004 3 ._------~------=-COMMENTARY Wilmot to Speak on Evolution of Swimming Showing Strong Diversity, Genomic Science, Africa Basketball Teams Improving By MIKE RUPP By ROBERT TINDOL Some Notes on the Evolution of Western Cape dming SouthAfrica's Human Diversity." He will talk first democratic elections in 1994 Wilmot James, executive director about the implications ofthe human and was chairman ofthe Green Pa Athlete of the Week of the Human Sciences Research genome sequencing effort for re per Task Team on International Mi Athlete ofthe Week for the Council in Cape Town, South Af search and development in Africa, gration. James was also a member Week of December 8th was rica and cofounder oftheAfrica Hu the need for partnerships with glo of the White Paper Task Team on Jason Lee of Men's Swim man Genome Initiative, will speak bal science institutions and fresh Immigration and project leader of ming. The junior from at the California Institute of Tech approaches to diversity. the Values in Education Initiative Gardena, CA had one of the nology onThursday, January 15, at Ja.'11es is currently the Moore Vis in the Ministry of Education. best performances for the 4 p.m. The event will be held in iting Professor of History and So James holds a doctorate in soci Caltech Swim Program at the Ramo Auditorium in the center of ciology at Caltech and is conduct ology from the University of Wis 2003 Claremont-Mudd campus andis free and open to the ing research at Caltech on the hu consin at Madison. He has also held Scripps Swim Invitational. public. man genome sequencing effort. visiting positions atYale University, Lee swam the 100 Fly in an The title of James's lecture is James is the author, coauthor, or Indiana University, the American impressive :57.49, and then "Africa, Genomic Science and editor of 14 books, including What Bar Foundation and served as an followed up with an equally Holds Us Together: So associate editor ofthe Cape Argus. impressive time in the 100 cial Cohesion in South The lecture is part of the Backstroke, coming in at Africa; Nelson Mandela: President's Lecture Series on 1:01.19. Further demonstrat From Freedom to the Achieving Diversity in Science, ing his versatility, Lee added Future; and Spirit ofthe Math and Engineering. The series a 2: 14.84 time in the 200 1M. Nation: Reflections on was established to bring to campus "Jason usually doesn't get South Africa's Educa speakers who have had highly suc this fast until late in the sea tional Ethos. He is a cessful experiences in promoting son," stated Head Coach former dean of humani women and underrepresented mi Clint Dodd. ties at the University of norities in science and technology. For the week of January Cape Town and is cur The event is sponsored by the Of 5th, Scott Davies of Men's rently a tmstee and com fice of the President, the Office of Basketbal is theAthlete ofthe mittee chairman of the Minority Student Education, Offic Week. The sophomore guard education, media, arts ers of the Faculty and the Division from San Diego, CA had the and culture global portfo of the Humanities and Social Sci best overall performance dur lio of the Ford Founda ences. ing Caltech's back-to-back tion of New York. He is No tickets or reservations are re home tournaments this past also chairman of the quired. Free parking will be avail week. Davies lead the team South African able in the parking strncture at 370 in scoring overthatfour game The California Tech archives government's Immigra South Holliston Avenue, where di stretch (34 points/8.5 ppg), Dr. Wilmot is currently a visiting professor tion Advisory Board. rections to the auditorium will be and lead the rebounding (2.3 at Caltech. His leCture on humau diversity He was head of elec provided. rpg) and steals (4), and had 1 aud geuomics takes place this Thursday. toral information for the of 2 blocks for Caltech over the four game span. For the season, Davies leads the team in scoring, assists, free~throw percentage and blocks. He The California Tech archives NANOSYSTEMS SCIT Minutes Dec. 9, and the rest ofthe Men's Bas Jasou Lee '05 (top) and Scott Davies '06 ketball team will open their are theAthletes ofthe Week for the past conference schedule Wednes two academic,weeks for their great ath s day, January 14th at Occiden letic performauces. tal College. December 2003, 12:01 PM, moved out ofSteele within the next Olive Walk six months to a year. The commit Women's Basketball Month in Review Present: Joanna Cohen, Will tee needs more information about Caltech 25 WATSON LECTURE BY DR, HEATH Coulter, Abe Fetterman, Tom which computer resources students , WHITWORTH 101 Fletcher, Kathryn Hsu, Galen currently use in order to detennine Women s ~asketball (0-9) By ROBERT TINDOL Loram, Jeremy Pitts, Anna anew location (orlocations) for the Th.e Wome?s Baske~bal} team c~ntmued,to r~prove 1th Caltech 37 Perhaps the earliest introduction Sczaniecka, & Corinna Zygourakis. lab. A pan will go up on http:// I ':'1 Its per: BETHANY 101 donut.caltech.edu shortly. fcrmances agamst Whitworth ana of"nanotechnology" to the general Guests: Joe Johnson, Candace 8. Parth Venkat came and spoke Bethany College~. Against Div. III public was the 1966 movie Fantas Seu, Vi Tran, Parth Venkat, & Matt on the behalf of the Athletics De- powerhouse Whrtworth College, themselves. Sophomore Guard Day tic Voyage, in which an entire sub Walker. partment. He presented the BoD the te~ scored a then-season high Ivy has lead the team in rebound marine and crew were reduced to in the last 9 games, and Agenda with the exact cost ofjackets, blan- 25 porn~s, lea;! by. fresh~an For ing 7 times microscopic size and into have 5 steals for the week. Senior 1. Call to Order kets and The current bud- ward Kristen Ward's 14 pomt, 6 re a man's bloodstream order to Guard Kenny Ly came back after 2. There will be Midnight Donuts get deficit prevents the BoD from bound: 2. steal effort. Comir;,g back destroy a life-threatening blood missing 7 games to score a team Wednesday allotting any more money to from~ lllJury, sophon;rore ~helby clot. high 13 points against Cabrini Col While the idea ofshrinking a sub 3. Interviews for Election Chair letterman jackets at this time. Montague added 6 P?rnts and 5,re- 9. The BoD will have lunch with bounds. The team would top tnat lege. Junior Guard Christian marine remains firmly grounded in will take place Sunday night at 9 Margo Marshak on Thursday, De- output the ext day against Bethany Gutierrez had team and season high science fiction, nanotechnology pm. r:- cember lIth. co~lege wrth a team total of 37 11 points against Manchester. Jun manipulating single atoms to some 4. Hawaiian Club requested $200 for Hula Lessons, which will be lO, The BoC and BoD have both po~nts, again lead by Ward with 13 ior Forward Jeffery Lamb came day create useful molecular de back from an injury two games be open to the entire Caltech commu" expressed concern over the GSC pomts and 12 rebounds. Junior ~n vices-:-is a science whose time is fore to score 11 points with 5 re nity. Vote: 5-0-0, approved. survey, in particular the results in drea. would add a sea~on h,rgh about to come. p~mts. ~~ntag~e t~ bounds against Cabrini. The team For example, in the area of diag 5. Anita Choi and Jason Quimby regards to cheating among gradu- 12 contrn1!ea want to take Professor Camerer out ate students. The BoC will to put contnbute. rnsrde wrth 10 pomts, , opens its conference schedule nosing disease, a new wave of Wednesday January 14th at Occi nanotechnologies is being devel to lunch. Vote: 5-0-0, approved. together a survey about the Honor rebounds and 1 block. 6. Broomball with Ruddock and Code and cheating for undergradu dental College. oped that will revolutionize virtu Men's Basketball (0-10) Ricketts went well. Over 40 people ate students shortly. ally every aspect of medicine. On The Men's Basketball Team showed up from both houses. 11. A lot ofclubs have posted tJ.jeir Swimming/Diving Wednesday, January 14, at 8:00 hosted back-to-back home tourna 7. Joe Johnson came to talk to the events on the calendar on http:// The Swimming and Diving pro p.m., James Heath, the Elizabeth W. ments last week, with teams from gram had a strong performance at Gilloon professor and professor of BoD on behalf of the Computer donut.caltech.edu. Good work Advisory Committee. ITS will be guys! ' Babson, Benedictine, Manchester, the 2003 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps chemistry at Caltech and a leading Cabrini, UC Santa Cruz; and Invitational. In addition to Jason 12. The little thas yet to publish nanosystems researcher, will Whitworth all participating. The its corrections sheet. Lee's AOW performance, sopho present the background, the early Braun Center saw some great bas more Ashley Grant were among cent advances in nanoscience and successes and some of the chal ketball during both tournaments, Caltech's best, wowing the coach technology, it may be possible to Meeting adjourned at 12:38 PM. lenges that will be undertaken over which resulted in Manchester and ing staff with 118.98 in the 100 carry out a systems biology analy the next couple of years. His talk, Cabrini winning tournament cham Breaststroke. Preetha Seena had a sis at the level of a single cell and January 7th, 2004, 12:04 PM, "Nanosystems Biology," is part of pionships. In addition to Scott 2: 10.28 in the 200 Free, and Jacki in real time. However, the experi Olive Walk the 2003-2004 Earnest C. Watson Davies' performance, a number of Wilbur had a 1:05.98 in the Back mental challenges are daunting. In Lecture Series at Caltech. other Caltech players distinguished stroke and a :25.90 in the 50 Free. Imagine that a complete molecu response, says Heath, several Present: Joanna Cohen, Abe lar-based diagnosis of, say, cancer, groups from Caltech, UCLA and Fetterman, Tom Fletcher, Kathryn could be accomplished using just a the Institute for Systems Biology in Hsu, Galen Loram,' Jeremy Pitts, ity Statements, so that the transition 8. The first draft on Housing few cells, at low cost, within sec Seattle, have come together to form Anna Sczaniecka, Andrea withthe new BoD will go smoothly. Renovations will be completed by onds. With a drop ofblood or with the NanoSystems BiologyAlliance Vasconcellos, & Corinna 5. The BoC is putting together an Thursday, January 15th. a low-risk outpatient biopsy proce to work on such problems. Zygourakis. HonorCode survey for undergradu 9. Joe Jewell is the new Election dure, a cancer patient could be cor Heath's lecture will take place in Guests: Rumi Chunara, Will ates. 6. The Bookmart is back up at Chair. rectly diagnosed, even in the very Beckman Auditorium, near Michi Coulter, & Matt Walker http://donut.caltech.edu and the 10. Jason Schadewaldhas stepped early stages of the disease, within ganAvenue south ofDel MarBou new DVD scanner is up and mn down as Ruddock president and minutes. This could literally revo levard, on Caltech's campus in Agenda ning. $1000 worth of new DVD's Barrett Heyneman has taken his lutionize dmg discovery and clini Pasadena. Seating is available on a 1. Call to Order for the Coffeehouse will be pur place. cal treatment. free, no-ticket-required, first-come, 2. Andrea Vasconcellos is back chased shortly. Such a breakthrough will come first-served basis. Caltech has of and will take over as UDAL. 7. Seniorclass co-president Rumi Meeting adjourned at 12:48 PM. only when scientists coordinate the fered the Watson Lecture Series 3. Signups for BoC Chair and Chunara requested $100. The fields of nanotechnology with since 1922, when it was conceived ASCIT president will go up on money will go towards a prize that Respectfully Submitted, microfluidics and systems biology by the late Caltech physicist Ear Wednesday, January 14th. will be given to the house that has in which a biological system is stud nest Watson as a way to explain 4. The current members of the the largest percentage of people Anna Sczaniecka ied as a single unit. By merging re- science to the local community. BoD are working on their Continu- contribute to the senior gift. ASCIT Secretary 4 THE CALIFORNIA TECH FEATURES JANUARY 12, 2004 Taking Full Advantage Q£the College Experience: Exchange Programs and What They Offer Copehnage Exchange: An Opportunity for an Adventure By JULIAN GREENE, '05
Let's face it: Caltech is definitely not the typical gets over one thousand international students ev American college experience. There are no football ery year, many courses in science as well as hu rivalry games, no frat parties, classes are hard, there manities are taught in English. Copenhagen seemed is almost always work to do, and many people can different enough to be the new experience I was count the times they get further offcampus than Old looking for, but similar enough to still be comfort Town in a month on one hand. Then again, the able and sensible academically. American college experience is not the only kind in The exchange has lived up to its promise. Dur the world, northe best as some would argue. In many ing the first few weeks ofthe optional summer lan places, there is no such thing as a board plan, on guage course I met a wild a crazy group of'inter campus dorms, or maid service for students. Some national students from Australia, Germany, Poland, universities don't rely on drudging through weekly France, and Holland. The warm summer days were Andrea found the busy environment of London a stiJillUhWing eXlpeI'ieIIce problem sets and four hour exams to impart knowl spent at waterside bars (the drinking age is 16), and used her free time to travel around the COlllI:lj·rv. edge. There are even institutions where just going swimming, and exploring Copenhagen. The nights to class every day students are exposed to culture, were much of the same: bars, dance clubs, or just architecture, and artwork that has existed for the sitting and talking in the town squares. The Danish better part of a millennium. Copenhagen Univer students in the private dorm I moved into were im sity (KU) is one of these. mediqtely and In the first week They say variety is the spice of life, and I've al Iwas ways agreed with that sentiment. My college years a Once academic were supposed to be some of the most exciting and year down a bit. While the ANDREA VASCONCELLOS '05 tumultuous years ofmy life. While arguably one of science major When I got the opportunity to name to student dis the best research institutions in the world, Caltech I had made to never have work to does not offer much excitement aside from academ a.broad, it was a dream come true. and bought tick do and their weekend on Wednesdays, I was love to travel and meet new ets for the week night parties, ics. The infamous workload often conflicts with the only able to join them once or twice a week. The and I wanted to experience sOlnethll1lg mcludlmg the semi-formal Fresher's ability to go out to such an extent that proximity to cultural experiences continued though, with weekly different from Caltech. In the Ball. of course, I signed up for the LA metropolis may seem taunting rather than lectures on Danish history and culture offered ex preceding my flight to London, I the Christian Union. This was going alluring. These considerations and more weighed clusively to international students and field trips to to imagine what it would be like, what to be lot of fun. I was set. heavily on my mind freshman and sophomore year, attractions such as museums, castles, and film fes and contributed greatly to my decision to pursue a activities to do, what places to visit. I But circumstances began to remove tivals. resolved to get involved in a variety one by one those things I had consid term of studying abroad. Coming to Copenhagen for a term turned out to ofnew activities, clubs, societies, and ered pursuing. I did not make it into A change of setting seemed the natural way to ex be a great decision. I've met lots of new people, perience something completely new. I decided to sports. At Caltech, I participated in the the drama club, could not attend the seen many interesting sights, experienced a differ Caltech Christian Fellowship, ASCIT, concerts and shows, could not partici apply for Copenhagen rather than the various pro ent culture, andhad opportunities to get out and have and cross-country. My plans for Lon pate in Lacrosse, and had a conflict grams in England because it was the furthest I could fun that I would not have had at Caltech. Ifyou too don were to join a Christian club, try with the Fresher's ball. This was dis get away from Caltech andAmerican lifestyle while have been thinking that your college experience has still being able to navigate in society and progress a new sport, audition for a part in the appointing at first'Dut soon new av not been all you hoped it would be thus far, maybe school theater production, play in the enues opened up. I joined cross-coun" in my physics option. I did not speak a word of a term in Copenhagen will be the adventure you Danish, but was assured (correctly) that nearly ev- orchestra, go clubbing, attend parties, try. There, I met fun people, and the seek, as it was for me. see many musicals and cop.certs, and! team organized weekly socials, where sin~c~e~K~U~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ eryone in Denmark speaks English. Also, or anything else that would grab my I could develop new friendships. I also attention while I was there. got more involved in the Christian But the need to be open to the unex Union, and discovered a variety ofdif pected was a significant lesson ferent London-wide events and trips. learned. It started by experiencing In addition, there were opportunities slight culture shock. The lack ofa lan to travel on the weekends. So far, I guage barrier was deceiving--so much have been able to visit the towns of was different. The beginning weeks Bath, Cambridge, Oxford, and Battle, were much tougher than I thought they spend some time in English country would be. I missed everyone and ev side, and make a trip to the near~by erything at Caltech. Although I had cities of Paris and Brussels. I've also traveled before, there was never this seen all the tourist attractions in Lon feeling of homesickness and I started don. UCL is situated in the heart of to more fully appreciate life in Cali the big city, close to everything, in fornia. Being in England was outside cluding museums, parks, and shops. my comfort zone, from the cold So although this has not been the The California Tech archives weather to the food to the manner of exact exchange adventure that I ex Julian Greene '05 (above) living. This was not necessarily a bad pected or planned, it has been a worth and Andrea Vasconcellos thing; in fact, it turned out to be a while experience. I have really en '05 both cited their ex blessing. joyed my classes. I have met a lot of change experiences as ex I was still interested in doing a lot fun British and international students. citing and worthwhile. of activities, and so had great fun at I have used the additional free time to the "Fresher's Fayre," the British travel. I will leave London more adapt equivalent ofa club fair. I picked up a able and thankful for what it has to million pamphlets, decided that the offer. And I will return to Caltech with Courtesy ofwww. . Copenhagen University offered Julian a "new sport" would be Lacrosse , a greater appreciation for all that is variety of interesting classes, all within signed up for drama club auditions, got there. its historic huildin s. a schedule of all the__upcomingfIIIIIiIIIcon- ... As a CalTech student or staff., you get the following discounts:
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*Limited Time Offer! Some restrictions apply. THE CALIFORNIA TECH COMMENTARY JANUARY 12, 2004 5 Ironing Out the Honor Code, Elections Approach
By TOM FLETCHER Honor Code Survey the next President will have to handle include: relocating both the http://www.its.caltech.edu/-sur UGCS and ITS labs to new loca veyldocslHonor_CQde.pdf tions while not decreasing the level The graduate students have done ofservice Caltech students receive, a wide-ranging survey on quality of keeping the fundraising process for life. They presented the results at new student houses alive, laying the the faculty board meeting in De groundwork the next Student-Fac cember, with the most interesting, ulty Conference, dealing with the and frightening results relating to results ofthe honor code survey we the honor code. The survey showed will conduct, be good or bad, that around one quarter ofgraduate supporting the CUE and the con students had violated the honor tinual improvement ofCaltech edu code at some point in their time at cation, and doing all the regular and that the graduate students business as well. If of these believed that honor code violations particularly interest you, encour were more prevalent among the un age you to run, as you will be in dergraduates. strumental in solving them. The In an attempt to examine the situ next president will also most likely ation and defend the honor of the be responsible for to find a undergraduate student body, we new provost, as well as a few stu·· will be hosting a parallel survey. dent affairs positions. Participation is impOliant, and 1ask that you all do so Whom I Met With This to ensure good coverage. Week
UpcOlnil.1l~ Elections! This past week was rather slow as got their OnWednesday, at 8 AM, Sll?Jl-UlJS schedules set up. week- for BOC Chair and end, Galen attended Make the S'lnRrt Choice and Join CEFCU. The opportunity is yours for the taking! Whether you're a student, faculty or staff member at Caltech, you're eligible to join Caltech Employees Federal Credit Union. And, that's simply the best game plan for your money. We offer: Sqroe of the highest rates on savings in the nation.. .among the lowest rates on loans...dependable low-eost nSA...convenient branch on camp'Us.. fee-j'ree ATMon campus.. free online access to your funds. Oh yes. And, we're unbeatably safe. Your savings are federally insured to $100,000. So, don't be a pawn at a bank. We're better across the board! Come in, sign up, and share the success at CEFCU. NOTYETA,.MEMBERP All it takes to join is a $5 deposit in our high-y~eld,federally insured savings account, and a 25¢ member~hip fee. Just visit our on-campus branch. C.AMPlfS OFFICE: 515 S.WilsonAve.• MS 100-63 e National Credit Union4dministration, u.s. Government agency. CEFCU is an Equal Opportunity Lender. (626) 395-6300 • www.cefcu.org 6 THE CALIFORNIA TECH COMMENTARY JANUARY 12, 2004 ---=------_~_----- Dance Classes Learn the sexy Latin Samba with CDBC members Marcel Gavriliu and Sharon Liu. The class is in Braun Gym from 9 to 10 pm for PlU:D HIGHER five Tuesday nights starting Jan 6. Cost: Free! AND DEEPER (However, there is a $5 Braun gym entrance by Jorge Cham The Monticello Foundation and Robert fee without a Caltech ID.) Both beginners and and Delpha Noland Summer Internships more advanced dancers welcome. This class 2004. The Deans' Office is accepting propos will be more routine based; i.e they'll teach a als for the Monticello Foundation and the Rob routine probably covering a range of begin NOW YOJ ! You need to be 21-35, healthy and able to make a 1yr. commitment excicing chings are happening @ www.statravel.com l!.mTRAVELI Pacific Reproductive Services _' WE'VE BEEN THERE. 626.440.7450 ~ online» on Hie PHone» on CAmpUI » on THe ITReeT -. THE CALIFORNIA TECH NEWS JANUARY 12, 2004 7 Jubilant Staff Spirit To Exit Lander, Explore Surroundings Continuedfrom Page 1 Column 5 . . , presence ofwater, but It'S too early ager. In the followmg hours, the NASA chose Spirit's landing site, to tell whether the amounts detected rover was raised by a lift mecha within Gusev Crater, based on evi- come from interaction with water nism under its belly and its front dence from Mars orbiters that this vapor in Mars' atmosphere or are wheels were fully extended. Then crater may have held a lake long evidence ofa watery local environ- the rover was set back down, raised ago. A long, deep valley, apparently ment in the past, scientists empha- again and set down again to check carved by ancient flows of water, sized. whether suspension mechanisms leads into Gusev. The crater itself "We came looking for carbonates. had latched properly. isbasinthesizeofConnecticutcre- We have them. We're going to Pictures returned from the rover's ated by an asteroid or comet impact chase them," said Dr. Phil navigation camera and front haz early in Mars' history. Spirit's task Christensen of Arizona State Uni- ard-identification camera, plus is to spend the next three months versity, Tempe, leader ofthe Mini- other data, confirmed success. exploring for clues in rocks and soil TES team. Previous infrared read- "We are very, very, very pleased about whether the past environment ings from Mars orbit have revealed to see the rover complete the most at this part of Mars was ever wa- a low concentration of carbonates critical part of the stand-up pro tery and suitable to sustain life. distributed globally. Christensen cess," Wallace said. Next steps in- Courtesy of marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov The flight team expects to spend has interpreted that as the result of clude retracting the lift mechanism Spirit landed in this area to search for evidence that there was once more than a week directing Spirit dust interaction with atmospheric and extending the rear wheels. surface water on Mars by analyzing carbonate levels. through a series ofsteps in unfold- water. First indications are that the A tug on airbag tendons by the rocks from all over Earth for com from the side facing west-northwest ing, standing up and other prepara- carbonate concentration near Spirit airbag retraction motor Thursday parison. "Send me your rocks and on the planet - also the direction tions necessary before the rover may be higher than the Mars glo- evening did not lower puffed up we'll see if there are rocks in your ofan intriguing depression that sci rolls offofits lander platform to get bal average. portions of airbag material that are back yard that are silnilar to what entists have dubbed Sleepy Hollow. its wheels onto the ground. Mean- After the rover drives off its a potential obstacle to drivingthe we're seeing on Mars," he said. Current plans call for the rover to while, Spirit's cameras and a lnin- lander platform, infrared measure- rover straight forward to exit the complete that tum in three steps, eral-identifying infrared instrument ments it takes as it explores the area lander. The most likely path for January 11 saidArthurAmador, one ofthe lnis will begin examining the surround- may allow scientists to judge driving off will be to tum 120 de sion managers at NASA's Jet Pro ing terrain. That information will whether the water indicated by the grees to the right before rolling off. NASA's Spirit rover now has its pulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Ca help engineers and scientists decide nearby carbonates was in the air or "This is .something. we haveprac arm and Continuedfrom Above grees. In addition, they plan to complete two re After taking and analyzing pictures to maining "octants" (each a pie slice showing ~e verify the ftrst part ofthe tum, engineers an an eighth of the horizon) with the rover's A HometowVl Hero ticipate completing it on sol 11 (night ofTues miniature thermal elnission spectrometer. day-Wednesday, Jan. 13-14). First, the rover These areas will also be rephotographed with will tum an additional 50 degrees and stop to the rover's panoramic camera in order to al take pictures. Then, if all is well, it will tum low the camera and spectrometer data to be a final 20 to 25 degrees to position it pre co-registered. Plans also call for the spec cisely in front of one of its three exit ramps. trometer to "stare" at three selected .sites to Ifno issues crop up as those steps are com collect very low-noise data, as well as cali pleted, the rover could drive off onto the bration of another science instrument, the martian soil no earlier than sol 12 (night of alpha particle X-ray spectrometer. Wednesday-Thursday, Jan. 14-15). "But we Spirit traveled 487 million kilometers adjust our schedule every day, based on flight (302.6 lnillion) lniles to reach Mars after its events, so this remains an estimate," said launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Sta Amador. tion, Fla., on June 10,2003. Its twin, Mars The rover's status overall is "pretty darn Exploration Rover Opportunity, was perfect," said Amador. He described the com launched July 7,2003 and is on course for a munication link from Mars to Earth as ex landing on the opposite side ofMars on Jan. cellent, allowing the team to receive 170 25 (UniversalTime and EST; 9:05 p.m. on megabits ofdata during the past day. All sci Jan. 24, PST). ence data stored on the rover has been sent to Earth. The rover is generating 900 watt hours ofpower per day and using 750 watt hours and its thermal condition is good, he 'ltbe Q.California 'ltecb added. Caltech 40-58, Pasadena, CA 91125 editorial desk: (626) 395--{j153 ~olAr While engineers are completing and test advertising desk: (626) 395-6154 (bring meetings nome to Pasadena! ing commands to execute the rover's tum and editorial e-mail: [email protected] If !:lou belong to an association, corpomtion or other group that holds egress, the science team is enjoying an "un advertising e-mail: [email protected] meetings or conventions, wh!:l not bring expected dividend" of time to collect data, VOLUME elV, NUMBER 16 said Dr. John Callas, Mars ExplorationRover them home to Pasadena? Tammy Yee Wing Ma Vi Tuong Tran science manager at JPL. Managing Editor Business Manager Pasadena's accessibilit!:l, first-class meeting facilities and Until now, all science observations have been planned far in advance, but the unfold Matthew H Walker Circulation renowned leisure pursuits make it the ideal meeting destination. You will be ing schedule ofrover activities gave the team News Director Natalia Deligne a hero for suggesting Pasadena to !:lour group. Additionall!:l, !:lour meeting the opportunity to do their first on-the-fly Tearsheets Tim Tirrell will genemte tax revenues for our cit!:l'S geneml fund, which benefits planning for observations driven by previous results, Callas explained. In doing so they ever!:10ne. P.,)ut how wn !:10u get the ball rolling? The Tech is published weekly except duriug vacation segued to a working style that they will prac and examination periods by the Associated Students of Just wll Matt Hourihan at (626) 795-9311 or e-mail him at tice on a day to day basis as the rover rolls the California Institute ofTechnology, Inc. The opinions expressed herein are strictly those ofthe authors and ad [email protected]. If !:lour group decides across the surface ofits landing site in Gusev vertisers. Crater, named the Columbia Memorial Sta Letters and submissions are welcome; e-mail submis to meet in Pasadena, !:lou could be eligible to receive sions to [email protected], tion. including the author's name, by Friday of the week be one of seveml fabulous prizes! fore publication. Sorry, the Tech does not accept anony In the next 24 hours, the team will collect mous contributions, The editors reserve the right to edit 270 megabits of science data, considerably and abridge all submissions for any reason. All written PCAsCAdenCA: The cit!:1 thGlt feels like (A vii! CAg e. work remains property ofits author. more than on any previous martian day. This The advertising deadline is five p.m, Friday; all adver Pasadena Convention & Visitors t::Jureau will include a high-quality, 14-color mosaic tising should be submitted electronically or as camera ready art, but the Tech can also do simple typesetting and 171 J Los Robles Avenue taken by the panoralnic camera of a third of arrangement. All advertising inquiries should be directed the horizon toward Sleepy Hollow, the direc to the business manager at [email protected], For (626) 795-9511 (800) 507-7977 www.pasadenawl.com subscription infonnation, please send mail to "Subscrip tion in which the rover will leave its lander. tions" or call (626)-395-6154, 8 THE CALIFORNIA TECH NEWS JANUARY 12, 2004 Libbrecht and Photographer Team To Unveil The Secrets of By ROBERT TINDOL added. "The pictures are substan cists who make it their business to tially better than any snowflake control the formation ofcrystals of PASADENA, Calif.-Ifyou're still images that have ever been captured various materials. shopping for a Christmas present to before." A real-world application of re give to that flaky uncle, how about In addition to the many stunning search on crystals is the growth of giving him the flakiest book in sci plates of snowflakes in dazzling semiconductors for our electronic ence? colors, the book also contains a gadgets, which are made possible The Snowflake: Winter's Secret nontechnical discussion of crystal in part by painstakingly controlling Beauty, by California Institute of formation in general, snow-crystal how certain substances condense Technology professor of physics symmetry, a "field guide to falling into solid structures. Ken Libbrecht and Wisconsin pho snow," and, of course, a detailed "In the case of snowflakes, there tographer Patricia Rasmussen, answer to the perennial question of are pieces to the puzzle that are not takes an elegant look at the humble whether any two snowflakes are ex understood yet," Libbrecht says. flake of snow, from the viewpoint actly alike. Courtesy of www.anl.gov ofthe scientist as well as the artist. "The short answer is yes MusicaAutiqua Koeln presented a well received concertin Beckman Containing numerous full-color and no," says Libbrecht. "If Auditorium before winter break. photographs, the book provides an you look closely enough, in-depth look at a frozen phenom there will always be differ Beckman Limits Evident enon of nature that is still, perhaps ences, but sometimes you surprisingly, not completely under have to look pretty Continuedfrom Page 1, Column 5 stood. closely." In many cases, ter, has been a regular guest at Eu ano Trio (April 4) and Edgar Meyer Libbrecht believes the photo-mi there are very clear differ ropean musical centers and has also (April 18). crographs in the book are the best ences between snow crys undertaken numerous concert tours The Coleman Chamber Music that have ever been taken ofsnow tals and what's more, there to the USA, Australia, South Association was founded in 1904 flakes. He began his collaboration are several very distinct America and the People's Repub by Alice Coleman (later Alice with Rasmussen by building her a forms the crystals can take. lic of China. Coleman Batchelder). In addition to special camera and hauling it half In fact, this is one of the Their exciting, milestone inter this annual series of six chamber way across the country to her stu issues that Libbrecht ad pretations of both unknown works music concerts in Caltech's dio..She was already an avid snow dresses when using the ex and familiar repertoire have brought Beckman Auditorium, the flake photographer before contact perimental "cold cham them wide recognition, as is docu association's activities also include ing Libbrecht-perhaps the world's bers" in his Caltech phys mented by many prizes including a nationally recognized annual leading authority on snowflake for ics lab to create "designer" the "Artist of the Year" award by competition for young chamber mation-but was relying on conven snowflakes. Depending the Deutsche Phonoakademie in music performers. The winners of tional photography equipment, primarily on very subtle changes in 1981. the 58th annual Competition will which Libbrecht says justisn'tquite temperature and humidity, snow "But when you're a researcher, The next concert in this series, perform in Caltech's Ramo Audi good enough. crystals falling from the sky grow you're happy to see this. You don't scheduled for January 25, 2004, torium onApril 25, 2004 at 3.3Opm. "Patty had the snow and the pho into different shapes-small plates want to work on a problem that's will feature the Tokyo String Quar In addition, each year the associa tographic know-how and I had the justbelow freezing, pencil-like col already solved." tet with Joan Panetti. The remain tion also conducts sixty demonstra optical knowledge," said Libbrecht umns of ice a few degrees colder As for the reason ~yone would ing concerts will feature the Cassatt tion performances for children in a recent interview in his office and large, ornate plates at about spend enough time on snowflakes String Quartet with Humber grades K through 6 in San Gabriel on the Caltech campus. "It was a 15 C (5 F). for an entire book, Rasmussen's Lucarelli (February 29), the Julliard Valley public schools. very successful collaboration." The ones most favored by pho afterword perhaps gives a clue: Quartet (March 14), the Eroica Pi- "The proof is in the pudding," he tographers have names like "stel "For me, snow-crystal photography lar dendrites" and "sectored plates," is an escape from the stress ofmod some possessing a near-perfect ern life into a sanctum ofbeauty and symmetry that can put the best hu wonder and solitude. It's a treasure Wendell Quick Study in Broadcasting; man-made glass chandelier to hunt. It's a photographic harvest shame. from nature's bounty." Libbrecht can grow these differ The Snowflake: Winter's Secret Supporters Hype Show on Web Sites ent snowflake forms at will in his Beauty, is now available in book stores and on the Web. The book is Continued/rom Page 1, Column 3 lab, but says there are still subtle Wendell. "Talk radio? I'd never lis did it." issues that are of interest to physi- published by Voyageur Press. Koreatown headquarters for a test tened to it, I can't understand it, I Part ofWendell's appeal lies in his run, where mainstay host Wayne don't know why people listened to uniqueness. "Talk radio already has Resnick first assessed the it." But with a regular paycheck the angry white male!" he ex newcomer's prospects. Prospects a rarity for Weekly writers, laughs claimed. The market saturated, he's looked bleak: Wendell had zero Wendell-dangled before him, he confident he'll carve out his niche broadcasting experience and staring took the chance. in L.A., where, he's quick to point at him ominously from behind the And before the first commercial, out, 71 % voted for AI Gore or Ralph studio was a laundry basket ofother the verdict was in: "pure gold," in Nader in 2000. hopefuls' tapes, submitted and re Resnick's words. "Once you figure Web sites have sprung up encour jected. out how it's done, you either can aging the sympathetic to support "When Jeffcalled, I said 'What're do it or you can't," recalled Wendell's show and even KFI man you calling for?'," recalled Wendell. "I saw I could do it and I agement acknowledged a groundswell of e-mail support when it expanded Wendell's air timelastsummeL "You have to have something to say," he explained. "The irony is that you'd never talk this way to someone ifyou were sitting infront ofthem. It's like playing punk-rock guitar: anyone can play Johnny Ramone, but you didn't invent it. He did." But could this radio Ramone be the long-awaited Limbaugh of the left? "If there is a liberal Limbaugh," he said, "it won't be someone like Michael Moore orAl Franken. It'll be someone with knowledge of common people, someone who doesn't condescend and someone who's much brighter than the dittoheads." Someone like Courtesy of ligo.caltech.edu K. Bart:zJThe California Tech Professor Keu Libbrecht creates designer snowflakes in his lab and Talk radio personality Johnny Wendell has quickly become one of Wendell? LAs most popular hosts and has received lots oflistener support. uses them to study crystal formation. 'lrbe Beagle. State of the State: The Governator presents his budget, starting by implementing a total recall ofcampaign prom ises. Kindergarten robber steals from education budget. Provost Leaves: Steve Koonin announces resignation, takes leave ofabsence for unnamed industry jobs. Balti more promises updates. Toon in next week.