piper10/07 Issue

5 Q & A w i t h J a n e B e r n s t e i n Randy Pausch’s “20/20” Vision 6 H o m e c o m i n g P r e v i e w

7 A t h l e t i c F a c i l i t y R e n o v a t i o n s

1 2 L e c t u r e s p o t l i g h t

Carnegie Mellon Team Competes in Solar Decathlon

n Eric Sloss

Scraps of metal, wood and debris were still visible around Carnegie Mellon’s solar house after a long summer of con- struction in preparation for the Depart- ment of Energy’s (DOE) Solar Decathlon

event this month in the nation’s capital. Photo by ken andreyo But on Sept. 17 students scrambled P r o f e s s o r R a n d y P a u s c h w a s r e c e n t ly i n t e r v i e w e d o n c a m p u s b y a b c - t v ’ s D i a n e S a w y e r f o r a n to make the site presentable for their u p c o mi n g f e a t u r e o n t h e n e t w o r k ’ s “ 2 0 / 2 0 ” n e w s d o c u m e n t a r y . T h e 2 0 / 2 0 p i e c e i s p a r t o f a g r o u n d s w e l l invited dinner guest, President Jared L. o f m e di a c o v e r a g e P a u s c h h a s r e c e i v e d a f t e r g i v i n g h i s l a s t l e c t u r e h e r e S e p t . 1 8 . I n h i s l e c t u r e , Cohon, who cruised to the Point Breeze P a u s c h , w h o h a s t e r mi n a l p a n c r e a t i c c a n c e r , s p o k e a b o u t a c h i e v i n g h i s c h i l d h o o d d r e a m s a n d g a v e a d v i c e construction site in a battery-operated o n h o w o t h e r s c a n m a k e t h e i r d r e a m s c o m e t r u e . T h e a b c c r e w a l s o a r r a n g e d f o r P a u s c h t o v i s i t t h e Global Electric Motorcar, in keeping P i t t s b u r g h S t e e l e r s ’ t r a i n i n g f a c i l i t y o n t h e S o u t h S id e , w h e r e h e g o t t o c a t c h a p a s s f r o m H i n e s W a r d a n d m e t s e v e r a l o f t h e S t e e l e r s ’ p e r s o n n e l , i n c l u di n g o w n e r s D a n a n d A r t R o o n e y a n d C o a c h M ik e with the green theme. T o m l i n . W h i l e t h e v i s i t did n ’ t r e a l ly f u l fi l l h i s d r e a m o f p l a y i n g i n t h e N F L , P a u s c h s a id “ a t m y a g e , Ben Saks, a fifth-year senior in the t h i s i s s a f e r . ” F o r m o r e o n P a u s c h , s e e p a g e e i g h t . C o n t i n u e d o n p a g e f o u r

Lanes Establish Computational Biology Center

n Amy Pavlak Computational Biology. But the Lanes’ motivation for supporting this field and Computational depth — the best in the Carnegie Mellon is much more personal. world. An interdisciplinary culture. “The real reason is to eliminate Visionary faculty. These ingredients the possibility that my father’s make up Carnegie Mellon’s “secret grandchildren and great-grandchildren sauce” and are some of the reasons will have to go through what he went Carnegie Mellon trustee Raymond through,” Lane said at the center J. Lane and his wife Stephanie have announcement ceremony. His father donated $5 million to establish the died from lung cancer at age 43.

Ray and Stephanie Lane Center for C o n t i n u e d o n p a g e e l e v e n Photo by david bachman

A f t e r t h e a n n o u n c e m e n t o f a $ 5 mi l l i o n g if t e s ta b l i s h i n g t h e R a y a n d

S t e p h a n i e L a n e C e n t e r f o r C o m p u tat i o n a l B i o l o g y , R a y a n d S t e p h a n i e L a n e

( t o t h e r i g h t o f t h e mi c r o s c o p e ) t o u r e d a C a r n e g i e M e l l o n l a b wi t h g r a d u -

at e s t u d e n t E lv i r a G a r c i a O s u n a a n d L a n e C e n t e r D i r e c t o r R o b e r t M u r p h y . O n e GigaPan System Enables Digital Cameras piper To Produce Gigapixel Panoramas 10/07 Issue

P u b l i s h e r Teresa Thomas

E d i t o r Bruce Gerson

M a n a g i n g E d i t o r Kelli McElhinny

W r i t e r s Amy Pavlak Jonathan Potts Byron Spice Chriss Swaney Ken Walters Anne Watzman

D e s i g n e r Melissa Stoebe Communications Design Group

P h o t o g r a p h y Ken Andreyo Communications Design Group

To contact The Piper staff, call 412-268-2900 or email [email protected].

Carnegie Mellon University does not discriminate and Carnegie Mellon University is required not to discriminate in admission, employment, or administration of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex or handicap in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 and Section 504 of the Photo by ken andreyo Rehabilitation Act of 1973 or other federal, state, or local laws or executive orders. T h e G i g a P a n C a m e r a S y s t e m c r e a t e d b y C a r n e g i e M e l l o n researchers a l l o w s a n y di g i t a l c a m e r a t o p r o d u c e In addition, Carnegie Mellon University does not discriminate in admission, employment or administration of its programs on g i g a p i x e l im a g e s t h a t c a n b e e x a mi n e d i n g r e a t d e t a i l o n t h e I n t e r n e t . the basis of religion, creed, ancestry, belief, age, veteran status, sexual orientation or gender identity. Carnegie Mellon does not discriminate in violation of federal, state, or local laws or execu- tive orders. However, in the judgment of the Carnegie Mellon n Anne Watzman image that can consist of tens of billions Nourbakhsh and Sargent. With support Human Relations Commission, the Presidential Executive Order directing the Department of Defense to follow a policy of, “Don’t ask, don’t tell, don’t pursue,” excludes openly gay, lesbian and of pixels. from the Fine Foundation of Pittsburgh, bisexual students from receiving ROTC scholarships or serving If an ordinary picture is worth a thou- in the military. Nevertheless, all ROTC classes at Carnegie Mel- “We have taken imagery and made they plan to foster this effort by making lon University are available to all students. sand words, what’s the value of a picture Inquiries concerning application of these statements should it a new tool for exploration and for several dozen GigaPans available to lead- be directed to the Provost, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 that can produce a thousand images? Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, telephone 412-268-6684 enhancing global understanding,” Nour- ing researchers. or the Vice President for Enrollment, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, telephone 412- The GigaPan Camera System recently 268-2056. bakhsh said. “An ordinary photo makes “It’s a different way of dealing with Carnegie Mellon University publishes an annual campus introduced by Carnegie Mellon research- security report describing the university’s security, alcohol and it possible to cross language barriers, but imagery,” Nourbakhsh said. “We’re ex- drug, and sexual assault policies and containing statistics about ers offers some amazing answers to that the number and type of crimes committed on the campus a GigaPan provides so much information pecting the GigaPan system to change the during the preceding three years. You can obtain a copy by question. contacting the Carnegie Mellon Police Department at 412-268- that it leads to conversations between current ways of thinking about photogra- 2323. The security report is available through the World Wide Web at www.cmu.edu/police/statistics.htm. The GigaPan system is a low-cost Obtain general information about Carnegie Mellon the person who took the panoramas and phy. You learn a lot about the site at which University by calling 412-268-2000. robotic device that enables any digital Produced for Media Relations by the Communications the people who are exploring them and a picture was taken.” Design Group, October 2007, 08-202. camera to produce gorgeous gigapixel discovering new details.” Sargent got the idea for GigaPan (billions of pixels) panoramas called GigaPans, which can be explored in minute detail on the Internet. “W e ’ r e e x p e c t i n g t h e G i g a P a n s y st e m t o c h a n g e t h e c u r r e n t Tepper School Its creators — Illah Nourbakhsh, way s o f t h i n k i n g a b o u t p h o t o g r a p h y .” — I l l a h N o u r b a k h s h , associate professor of robotics in the Ranked Fifth School of Computer Science, and Randy A ss o c i at e P r o f e ss o r o f R o b o t i c s i n t h e S c h o o l o f C o m p u t e r S c i e n c e . Sargent, senior systems scientist at in WSJ Poll Carnegie Mellon’s West Coast campus Nourbakhsh hopes to build cross- when he was a technical staff member at — developed the system in a two-year cultural and global understanding Ames Research Center, helping to develop The Tepper School of Business main- collaboration with scientists at NASA’s through this new dimension in photogra- software for combining images from tained its top 10 position in the Wall Ames Research Center. They’ve also phy. Earlier this year, the Pennsylvania NASA’s Mars Exploration Rovers into Street Journal’s annual survey of the worked with Google to create a GigaPan Department of Tourism adopted the panoramas. He became convinced that the nation’s best graduate business programs layer on Google Earth so that anyone system to make images of the Common- same technology could open people’s eyes with a number five overall ranking for using that site can now zoom into the wealth’s Civil War sites available on the to the diversity of their own planet. 2007. The Tepper School was also GigaPan panoramas and explore them Web. The technology is also being used “It is increasingly important to give second in the “Most Improved” program as they’re exploring the Earth. for Robot250, an arts-based robotics pro- people a broad view of the world, par- category; fourth for producing “Innova- To promote further sharing of this gram in the Pittsburgh area. Robot250 ticularly to help us understand different tive Leaders;” and ninth for minority imagery, Carnegie Mellon has launched will increase technical literacy by teach- cultures and different environments,” he MBA recruitment. In academic disci- a public Web site, www.gigapan.org, ing students, artists and other members said. “It’s too easy to have blinders on and plines, the Tepper School ranked second where people can upload and interac- of the public how to build customized to only see and understand what is local.” in operations research and information tively explore panoramic images in robots. (See www.robot250.org.) The GigaPan Camera System is technology; fourth in finance; sixth in any format. Most recently, Nourbakhsh and his part of a larger effort known as the entrepreneurship and strategy; and ninth GigaPan uses a robotic camera colleagues began a project with UNES- Global Connection Project (www.cs.cmu. in general management. In industry mount jointly designed and manufac- CO’s International Bureau of Education edu/~globalconn), which is also led by sectors, the school ranked fifth in tured with Charmed Labs of Austin, and its Associated Schools Network Nourbakhsh and Sargent. Its purpose is to management consulting; sixth in health Texas, which is offering beta units for that will use GigaPan technology to link make people all around the world more care; seventh in energy and industry; sale for an introductory price of $279 at middle school children in Pittsburgh aware of their neighbors. Global Connec- and eighth in technology. The Tepper the company’s Web site (www.charmed- with their peers in South Africa and tion’s earlier accomplishments include the School also ranked eighth in recruiting labs.com). The tripod-like mount allows Trinidad and Tobago so they can explore publication of the National Geographic MBAs with high ethical standards. The a digital camera to take hundreds of each other’s neighborhoods, lives and magazine photography and story layer in rankings are based on surveys of and overlapping images of landscapes, build- cultures. Google Earth. interviews with recruiters who hire ings or rooms. Then, using software de- In addition to its role in educa- To embed a GigaPan on your Web full-time b-school graduates. veloped by Carnegie Mellon and Ames, tion, the GigaPan system may also be site, visit http://gc.cs.cmu.edu/gigapan/ the images can be arranged in a grid and an important tool for ecologists, biolo- embed.html. digitally stitched together into a single gists and other scientists, according to T w o Tartan Racing Gears Up for Urban Challenge Moon Shot: Tartan n Byron Spice Racing to Enter The Urban Challenge robot race their roundhouse to access vacant Tartan Racing has more than a few Google-sponsored will be decided on the roadways roads for testing. It’s why the team technical advantages up its collec- unar over of a former U.S. Air Force Base in escaped the cold and snow of Pitts- tive sleeve, he said, both in terms L R California, so naturally that’s the burgh last February for two months of analytical tools for evaluating Competition environment in which Carnegie of testing at General Motors’ Desert vehicle performance and in the Mellon’s Tartan Racing team is Proving Ground in Arizona. And road behaviors programmed into its n Byron Spice testing its robotic vehicles — just it’s why half of the team decamped software. The DARPA Urban Challenge may the not at the former Georgia Air Force to Merced last month and, in recent During the competition, the most pressing topic on Red Whittaker’s Base in Victorville, Calif., where days, the other half has joined them. robots will be sent on several “mis- mind these days, but it’s by no means the sions” totaling about 60 miles on only thing. So, Tartan Racing’s team leader urban/surburban roadways where didn’t hesitate last month to commit to an “T h e t e a m t h at t e sts t h e b e st i s t h e t e a m t h at w i n s .” they must obey traffic laws, negoti- even bigger technical challenge: landing — T a rta n R a c i n g T e a m L e a d e r W i l l i a m “R e d ” W h i tta k e r ate intersections and deal with traf- fic, which will include other robots. a privately funded robot on the moon. In addition to the $2 million prize Whittaker revealed he would form the Nov. 3 race will be held. Chris Urmson, the team’s earned by whichever team finishes a team to win the Google Lunar X-Prize The Defense Advanced Re- director of technology, said the first in less than six hours, DARPA only an hour after the $30 million interna- search Projects Agency (DARPA) reunited 45-member team will have will award $1 million for second tional competition was announced Sept. has banned all teams from the site about 10 days together to make place and $500,000 for third. 13 at WIRED NextFest in Los Angeles. of the $2 million race until qualify- final preparations for the National DARPA wants to see a leap From his perspective, it only made ing events begin Oct. 24. Instead Qualification Event, where Tartan in autonomous capabilities, as the sense to jump into the fray first. of testing in the Mojave Desert, the Racing will join 34 other semifinal- Pentagon moves ahead with plans team has taken up residence further ists jockeying for one of the race’s to deploy self-driving military “We have spent decades building and north in the San Joaquin Valley, at 20 starting slots. vehicles in the coming decade. But testing robotic technologies for just this the former Castle Air Force Base in The team’s entry, named Boss, the technology has even greater purpose,” he said. “We are also veterans Merced, Calif. faces tough competition, including potential in the civilian world, as of competitive technology challenges. Arid Castle provides the team a Stanford team that won the 2005 evidenced by the presence of such These are the things we do, so combining with the most realistic environment DARPA Grand Challenge, and corporations as GM, Caterpillar and lunar rovers with a competitive race to possible for testing its two robotic teams from such military contrac- automotive component maker Con- the moon is a great opportunity.” vehicles under race conditions. And tors as Honeywell, Oshkosh and tinental AG in the ranks of Tartan The Field Robotics Center, which testing has been a hallmark of the Raytheon, as well as academic con- Racing’s sponsors. Whittaker directs, has built a variety of team from the beginning, according tenders MIT, Cornell and Caltech. “The outcome is far from to team leader William “Red” Whit- Testing is but one of Tartan foregone,” Urmson said, noting machines for field-testing planetary robot- taker. Racing’s strong points, Whittaker that while the Merced testing has ics technology on Earth. They include “The team that tests the best is said. Sponsors not only provide gone well, the robots must make Nomad, which searched for meteorites in the team that wins,” he said. That’s money or technology but in several a significant technological leap to Antarctica using its own vision and intelli- why Tartan Racing has its head- cases also have been integrated complete the Urban Challenge suc- gence, and Dante II, an eight-legged robot quarters on the former LTV site in into the team, offering full-time cessfully. “Anything could happen that retrieved gas samples from inside the Hazelwood, where team members engineers to work side-by-side with in the race, which is exciting and Mt. Spurr volcano. merely have to open the doors of other team members. Furthermore, terrifying at the same time.” Just the day before the Google Lunar X-Prize announcement, NASA made a site visit to campus to see a demonstration of the center’s latest creation, a robotic pros- pector called Scarab. A combination dune buggy and drilling platform, Scarab will test robotic drilling technology that could be used to find ice and other resources that could be mined on the moon. The Google Lunar X-Prize, which will award $20 million for driving a robot on the moon and transmitting images to Earth by 2012, will require more than just build- ing a groundbreaking robot. So, Whittaker must recruit partners with the financial and technical wherewithal to launch the robot payload and land it safely on the lunar surface. “This is a tremendous opportunity to pioneer the endless frontier and I am ex- cited that Carnegie Mellon will be there,” said Jay Apt, a former astronaut who is now associate research professor at the Tepper School of Business and a Distin- guished Service Professor in Engineering

Photo courtesy of tartan racing and Public Policy. S h o w n h e r e a t T a r t a n R a c i n g ’ s H a z e l w o o d h e a d q u a r t e r s , B o s s wi l l c o m p e t e a g a i n s t 3 4 o t h e r

s e mifi n a l i s t s b e g i n n i n g O c t . 2 4 t o e a r n o n e o f 2 0 s t a r t i n g p o s i t i o n s i n t h e D e f e n s e A d v a n c e d

R e s e a r c h P r o j e c t s A g e n c y ’ s 2 0 0 7 U r b a n C h a l l e n g e . T h r e e Solar Decathlon House Will Be Tough To Beat, Says Steve Lee

C o n t i n u e d f r o m p a g e o n e

School of Architecture and the Solar Decathlon team’s student project manager barked to his teammates to pick up the pace. “We have one hour left to clean up this mess. Let’s move a little faster,” he said. Miraculously, the students wrapped up their cleaning duties and made it to the dinner table with clean clothes and washed faces, eager to talk to President Cohon about the solar house. The students got a taste of déjà vu Sept. 20 when they repeated the clean-up routine. This time the stakes were a bit Photos by glenn brookes higher, as the house’s interior needed to T h e U . S . D e p a r t m e n t o f E n e r g y ’ s S o l a r D e c at h l o n D i r e c t o r R i c h a r d K i n g

be spotless for its unveiling to the media s p o k e t o C a r n e g i e M e l l o n S o l a r D e c at h l o n t e a m p a r t i c i p a n t s at t h e S o l a r and the public. Irritation and tension built A p p r o x im a t e ly 1 5 0 p e o p l e a t t e n d e d H o u s e ’ s p u b l i c u n v e i l i n g , a s F a c u lt y A d v i s o r S t e v e L e e s ta n d s b y . T h e

as some team members swept the grounds a p u b l i c s h o wi n g o f t h e C a r n e g i e C a r n e g i e M e l l o n e n t r y i s o n e o f 2 0 f r o m u n i v e r s i t i e s a r o u n d t h e w o r l d .

and discarded the trash, while others were M e l l o n s o l a r h o u s e o n S e p t . 2 0 . still installing shelves and placing furni- ture at the last minute. The DOE’s Richard King, who is the Solar Decathlon event director, and Antidepressant Black Box Warnings City Councilman Bill Peduto, co-chair of the city’s Green Government Task Force, May Do More Harm Than Good were among the approximately 150 people who came out that day to see the latest n Jonathan Potts to find an increased risk of suicide or possible problems with that conclu- Carnegie Mellon creation, an 800 square- suicidal behaviors among youths who sion. One is that the clinical trials ex- The grim news came as no surprise to foot modular solar house. use antidepressants. cluded participants who were deemed Statistics Professor Joel Greenhouse. A large central linear space houses Greenhouse and colleagues to be at a high risk of suicide, so it is In 2004 the suicide rate among the structure’s mechanical systems, and have already published a study in difficult to generalize those results to people ages 10 to 24 climbed 8 per- the core holds removable sections or which they found an increased risk of the entire population of adolescents cent following a previous decade of “pods” that can be swapped with larger suicidal thinking and behaviors only who would be affected by the black decline, according to a recent report or smaller versions. among adolescents who suffered from box warning. Further, the studies were by the U.S. Centers for Disease Con- Although the house’s public debut major depressive disorder, and then not designed to measure a relation- trol. That spike followed on the heels was a success, the team’s work was not only among those who took a specific ship between antidepressant use and of an order by the Food and Drug Ad- yet complete. On Oct. 2 the solar house class of antidepressants — selective suicide — their purpose was simply ministration that manufacturers place was disassembled by crane and shipped serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Antide- to determine whether the drugs were a “black box” warning on the labels to the National Mall in Washington, D.C., pressants are prescribed for a variety effective in treating mental illness. of antidepressants advising that they via three tractor-trailers and a box truck. of other psychological ailments, such Perhaps most significant, there is increase the risk of suicidal thoughts The team then had one week to reconstruct as obsessive-compulsive disorder and no demonstrated connection between and behavior in youths. the solar house in Washington to prepare general anxiety disorder. expressing suicidal thoughts and Simultaneously, an independent for the Solar Decathlon’s Oct. 12 opening “There may be a group of suicide itself. Greenhouse said that study out of the University of Illinois ceremonies. children at risk for increased suicidal many psychiatrists report that as their at Chicago has found that prescrip- The entries in this year’s field, which thinking,” Greenhouse said. “Unfor- patients’ conditions improve, they tions for antidepressants plummeted includes the work of 20 university teams, tunately, the controversy about the are more likely to express suicidal 22 percent following the black box are judged in 10 categories: architecture, black box warning has shifted atten- thoughts simply because they are warning. engineering, market viability, communica- tion away from trying to identify who better able to articulate their feelings, “The results of these two stud- tions, comfort zone, appliances, hot water, these children are.” phenomena known as activation. ies raise the question whether this lighting, energy balance and transporta- Greenhouse first dove into this As part of his research, Green- increase in the number of suicides is tion. The competition’s judging process contentious issue back in 2004, when house is reviewing psychotherapy due to seriously ill children not get- continues through Oct. 20. a reporter with the Dallas Morning studies to see whether there is an ting prescriptions for drugs that would Following the Solar Decathlon, the News contacted him to help her make increase in suicidality among teens have helped them,” Greenhouse said. Carnegie Mellon entry will continue to sense of the data the FDA used to who were successfully treated with Last year, Greenhouse and fellow influence environmental research after the reach its decision. methods other than antidepressants, Statistics Professor Howard Seltman, competition ends. In fact, the students’ The agency had performed an which would provide evidence for the along with colleagues at Ohio State legacy will endure well beyond their analysis of 23 clinical trials conducted activation hypothesis. University, received a five-year, $1.2 graduation from Carnegie Mellon. After by pharmaceutical companies to “The FDA’s decision was only million grant from the National Insti- the house returns to western Pennsylvania, test the efficacy of antidepressants based on a consideration of possible tute of Mental Health to investigate it will become the laboratory for Powder- in treating mental illness in children harmful effects. There are children, the link between antidepressants and mill Nature Reserve, which is a biological and adolescents. None of the youths however, for whom these drugs are suicidal thoughts, attempts and suicide research station for Carnegie Museum of who participated in those studies effective, and if they are not receiving deaths. The researchers are analyz- Natural History in Ligonier. committed suicide, and the number adequate treatment, their lives are ter- ing multiple data sources that might “Every year the houses get better and of suicide attempts was too low to be rible,” Greenhouse said. “There really shed light on what relationship, if any, better, but I’m not quite sure how we can statistically significant. Nonetheless, is a need to balance the benefits and antidepressant use has with suicidal top this entry. The collaborative effort the FDA found that antidepressants the risks. behavior. across the college and around the city has increased the risk of what it termed “One has to wonder, with the re- When issuing the black box made this an exceptional experience,” “suicidality,” or suicidal thoughts and ported increase in adolescent suicide, warning order, the FDA did not con- faculty advisor Steve Lee said. behaviors. whether the black box warning on bal- sider the results from large observa- For more information on the team’s Greenhouse pointed to several ance has done more harm than good.” tional studies that have been unable design visit www.andrew.cmu.edu/org/ F o u r SD2007/house/index.html. Q&A With Jane Bernstein: Her Latest Memoir Explores Mentally Challenged Daughter’s Transition to Adulthood n Jonathan Potts

English Professor Jane Bernstein’s Q: One of the impressions I got is latest book, “Rachel in the World,” is a that it’s never just one agency you follow-up to her 1988 memoir “Lov- deal with. It’s never just one per- ing Rachel: A Family’s Journey from son. You have to navigate this maze of bureaucracies. Grief.” That recently republished book A: It is a maze. It’s deadening. It’s was a searing portrait of Bernstein’s life difficult to navigate because services after the birth of her second daughter, change and programs change and fund- Rachel, who is mentally retarded. Ra- ing streams change and the people who chel, 24, lives with two other women in work for agencies change, and you a townhouse apartment that is managed cannot necessarily guarantee that the by an organization that provides support people who are helping you understand to people with cognitive and social the system better than you understand challenges. the system.

Q: What is “Rachel in the World” Q: What are Rachel’s disabilities, about? and how do they manifest

A: It’s about the long process of trying Photo courtesy of jane bernstein themselves? to help my developmentally disabled A: She has an uncommon condition that E n g l i s h P r o f e s s o r J a n e B e r n s t e i n v i s i t s t h e B r o o k ly n B r id g e wi t h h e r daughter make a meaningful life and was probably an accident of develop- d a u g h t e r , R a c h e l . B e r n s t e i n ’ s l a t e s t b o o k , “ R a c h e l i n t h e W o r l d , ” find her place in the world — at this ment. It’s called optic nerve hypoplasia. di s c u s s e s h e r o n g o i n g j o u r n e y o f r a i s i n g h e r d e v e l o p m e n t a l ly di s a b l e d time in this country when social services d a u g h t e r What it means is that her optic nerve . are really poor. and some areas of her brain didn’t de- Q: What are some of the particular a graceful sentence using the words velop fully. The way it manifests itself Q: You spend a lot of time in the challenges of writing a memoir? “developmental disabilities.” I cared a is that she is brain-damaged, essentially. book talking about the challenges A: The “what-will-people think” chal- lot about the writing itself — word by She has, for instance, terrific auditory you face in getting Rachel services lenges are gigantic. That’s probably the word and sentence by sentence. It’s hard skills. She’s a very good mimic. She can and education. Is it simply a matter biggest one. Then there’s the challenge to have elegant prose when you are writ- of money, or are there other chal- mimic the way people talk so when you of making my small, personal story ing about social services. I sweated over lenges in addition to funding? first meet her she seems extremely artic- interesting to readers. Recently I said things I needed to say that I couldn’t A: There are all kinds of challenges if ulate, with great language skills, but her to Yona Harvey, a poet in our program, express as elegantly as I wanted. you take the attitude that a person with ability to converse is impaired. …She’s that it was very difficult trying to write any disability deserves the right to be in visually impaired. She has some (gross) our community and our society, which motor problems. …She has fine motor I believe. There are lots of issues that problems so that she can’t write. She have to do with community acceptance, can use the computer and — who knows Just Hop on the Bus, Gus and those range from seeing that she is how — somehow figured out how to treated with respect when I’m with her use a mouse, which I think is pretty and when I’m not with her, in restau- miraculous. She’s very ADHD so she’s rants and on the street and in commu- extremely distractible, and she has other nity centers. And then, because she can’t cognitive and perceptual problems. For advocate for herself and could never tell instance, she can’t read. me when she had been harmed, there was also the struggle of trying to make Q: You’ve said that you wrote sure the people I entrusted with her care “Loving Rachel” because so many were responsible and were doing the accounts by people with children kinds of things that I thought would be with disabilities were sanitized and written for an emotional uplift. Did best to help her grow up and become ed- you get any kind of reaction from ucated and be part of the world as much other parents with children with as possible. That was a big struggle, disabilities? apart from social services. A: That book had a very rewarding history for me. It was not promoted at At some point, parents have to let go all by Little, Brown when it was first of their child’s hand and suddenly that published, but it made its way into the Photo by bruce gerson child is going to be with bus drivers world anyhow. T h e P o r t A u t h o r i t y B o a r d h a s a p p r o v e d a n e w fi v e - y e a r a g r e e m e n t and teachers and teacher’s aides, and t h a t a l l o w s C a r n e g i e M e l l o n s t u d e n t s , f a c u l t y a n d s t a ff t o c o n - t i n u e t o r id e P o r t A u t h o r i t y v e h i c l e s wi t h a v a l id u n i v e r s i t y I D . T h e caregivers, this world of people who I wrote “Loving Rachel” just as a B o a r d o f T r u s t e e s m u s t a p p r o v e t h e n e w d e a l t o m a k e i t o ffi c i a l . are entrusted with the care of a child. book. I didn’t write it for something. I t h e n e w c o n t r a c t c a l l s f o r p a y m e n t s t o PAT t o i n c r e a s e 1 5 Well, I had that for 23 years. And she didn’t know it would find this audience p e r c e n t e a c h y e a r . A c c o r di n g t o A s s o c i a t e V i c e P r e s id e n t M i c h a e l didn’t get to the point that most children of parents and professionals. I never M u r p h y , t h e r e s u l t i n g i n c r e a s e i n s t u d e n t f e e s w o u l d b e o n t h e will, where she is going to be able to thought of that book — or any book o r d e r o f 5 t o 1 0 p e r c e n t . C u r r e n t ly , s t u d e n t s , f a c u l t y a n d s t a ff say to you “Mrs. Green is mean to me” of mine — as being used. And then a c c o u n t f o r 1 . 3 mi l l i o n r id e s p e r y e a r . C a r n e g i e M e l l o n wi l l p a y or “Tommy hurt me” or something like over the years, when I saw that it had $ 8 8 1 , 0 0 0 i n t h e fi r s t y e a r o f t h e n e w c o n t r a c t . that. Rachel could never do that. That become a resource, it made me feel that “ C a r n e g i e M e l l o n p r o v id e s b u s p a s s e s t o i t s c o mm u n i t y t o was a big piece of helping her make her I should write the second book. I wanted e n c o u r a g e s t u d e n t s t o e x p l o r e a n d e n g a g e t h e v i t a l i t y o f t h e way into the world — working with this the second book to be good to read and P i t t s b u r g h r e g i o n , a s w e l l a s t o s u p p o r t t h e e n v i r o n m e n t a l b e n e fi t s huge group of teachers and aides and to have a sense of life as it was lived, o f p u b l i c transportat i o n , i n c l u di n g dimi n i s h i n g t r a ffi c a n d p a r ki n g caregivers and behavior management but I also wanted the chapters to circle i n O a k l a n d . T h e r e l a t i o n s h i p wi t h P o r t A u t h o r i t y h a s b e e n a p o s i t i v e therapists and counselors and around issues. o n e f o r o u r c o mm u n i t y o f s t u d e n t s , f a c u l t y a n d s t a ff , ” M u r p h y s a id . bus drivers.

F i v e Carnegie Medals of Philanthropy To Be Awarded in Oakland

n Ken Walters Carnegie Mellon will co-host the David Baltimore; Agnus Gund, a Carnegie Medals of Philanthropy 2005 Carnegie Medalist and president awards presentation at 2 p.m. on emerita of The Museum of Modern Art Wednesday, Oct. 17 at the Carnegie and National Gallery of Art Director Music Hall in Oakland. Considered to Earl Powell III. be the “Nobel Prize for Philanthropy,” There will also be a special the medals are awarded every two years Carnegie Symposium, titled News from by the Carnegie Corporation to families the Future, beginning at 10 a.m. on and individuals who have dedicated Oct. 17 at McConomy Auditorium in their private wealth to the public good the University Center. Experts from a and who have sustained impressive variety of fields, including Baltimore careers as philanthropists. and Powell, will weigh in on the future, This year’s honorees are the Heinz with time for audience discussion Family, the Mellon Family, Eli Broad afterward. The symposium and awards and the Tata Family. The medalists ceremony is open to the university are selected by an international jury community. comprised of the leaders of seven of In addition to Carnegie Mellon, the the more than 20 Carnegie institutions event’s other host institutions include around the world endowed by Andrew the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, Carnegie during his lifetime. Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh and The master of ceremonies for Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh. This the event will be former NBC News year’s event is sponsored by UPMC and anchor Tom Brokaw. Presenters United States Steel Corporation. include the former president of India, For more information, please visit A.P.J. Abdul Kalam; Nobel Laureate www.carnegiemedals.org.

U n i v e r s i t y t o A wa r d H o n o r a ry D e g r e e t o F o r m e r I n d i a n P r e s i d e n t

While in Pittsburgh to speak at Rangos Hall, University Center. Auditorium, where a simulcast scientists, Kalam made significant the Carnegie Medal of The event is free but seating is of the event will be shown. contributions as project director Philanthropy event, former limited. Tickets are required, and Kalam, who completed to develop India’s first indigenous Indian President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul they are available on a first- his five-year presidency in Satellite Launch Vehicle, which Kalam will be presented with an come, first-served basis at the July, focused his efforts on successfully injected the Rohini honorary Doctor of Science and University Center Information transforming India from its Satellite in the near earth orbit in Technology degree from Carnegie Desk beginning at 8:30 a.m., present developing nation status July 1980, marking India’s initial Mellon in a special ceremony at Monday, Oct.15. Overflow seating to a developed nation by 2020. effort in space exploration. 5 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 17 in will be available in McConomy One of India’s most distinguished

Schedule Set for Homecoming 2007 A t A G l a n c e n Abby Houck Alumni, Terry L. Babcock-Lumish (HS1997), Mia K. Markey (S1998) and Stephanie C. Staff and Faculty Alumni Reception (by invitation only) Carnegie Mellon’s Homecoming and Reunion Palmer (A1997); Faculty Service, Lawrence G. 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 25 Weekend, Oct. 25–28, provides a variety of Cartwright (E1976,1987); and Student Service, Rangos Ballroom, University Center (UC) opportunities for faculty, staff, students and Noor AlAthirah (TPR’08), Piyush Gupta Welcome Home Reception alumni to show their Tartan pride. The follow- (S’08), Brittany A. McCandless (HS’08), ing are highlights of events that will take place 7:30–10 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 25 Jinanne Tabra (TPR’08) and Bradford L. Alumni House on campus. Yankiver (HS’07). Did you know that Carnegie Mellon is President Jared L. Cohon will address The History of Carnegie Mellon the alma mater for more than 800 faculty and the campus community on Carnegie Mellon’s 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m., Friday, Oct. 26 staff members? An invitation-only Staff and current state and plans for the future at 10 a.m., UC Faculty Alumni Reception will be held 11:30 Saturday, Oct. 27 in McConomy Auditorium, 2007 Alumni Awards Ceremony a.m.–1:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 25 at Rangos UC. Spice up your weekend with the fourth Ballroom, University Center (UC). 6–8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 26 annual Homecoming Chili Cook-Off and Pep Rangos Ballroom, UC All members of the campus commu- Rally at noon followed by the Parade of Class- nity are invited to the 2007 Alumni Awards es at 12:45 p.m. football game vs. Washington KidZone and Mini Carnival Ceremony from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, Oct. 26 in University (Mo.) begins at 1 p.m. 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 27 Rangos Ballroom. The following alumni will Visit http://alumni.cmu.edu/homecoming/ Kirr Commons and surrounding area, UC be honored: Alumni Distinguished Achieve- for an updated schedule of events and online ment, Ray H. Baughman Jr. (S1964); Alumni Homecoming Chili Cook-Off and Pep Rally registration. The general registration fee is Noon, Saturday, Oct. 27 Service, Alexander K. Bacas (HS1989) and W. waived for all Carnegie Mellon faculty and East/West Walkway & between the UC/West Wing David Mills (TPR1982); Alumni Achievement, staff, current students and participants under Donna M. Auguste (CS1983), Prodipto Ghosh the age of 18. Locations of events are tentative Loyal Scot Dinner and Reception (HNZ1989,1990), David A. Kofke (E1983) and subject to change. 6–9 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 27 and Richard M. Lackner (HS 1979); Recent UC S i x Athletic Facility Renovations Taking Shape Upcoming Events University Lecture Series International Festival n Mark Fisher The “Journeys” series continues with “Global Exchange: Trade, Rights & Welfare Dick Tucker, the Paul Mellon University in a New World Economy” Professor of Applied Linguistics. Charles Fishman, author of “The Wal-Mart “Journey Through Languages” Effect,” will give the keynote address at 4:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 15 12:30 p.m., on Nov. 2 in Rangos Ballroom, Adamson Wing, Baker Hall 136A UC. Thursday–Saturday, Nov. 1–3 Intel Research Pittsburgh Further information: www.studentaffairs. Open House cmu.edu/internationalfestival/ Explore the full range of research activities and collaborations taking place at Intel University Lecture Series Research Pittsburgh. Joel Mokyr, professor of economics and 4–6 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 24 history at Northwestern University Collaborative Innovation Center, 4th floor “Mechanization, the Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution in Britain” University Lecture Series Co-sponsored by The Humanities Center Ray H. Baughman (S1964) of the Nano- 4:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 2 Tech Institute, University of Texas at Dallas Adamson Wing, Baker Hall 136A Baughman is the recipient of the 2007

T h e C o s t V a r s i t y W e i g h t R o o m , n a m e d i n h o n o r o f C h a r l e s ‘ C o r k y ’ C o s t , Alumni Distinguished Achievement Award. University Lecture Series w a s b u i lt i n s u mm e r 2 0 0 6 . W i t h m o r e t h a n 4 , 5 0 0 s q u a r e f e e t at i t s di s p o s a l , “Nanotechnology for Fun and Profit” Beverly Tatum, president of Spelman 4:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 25 t h e w e i g h t r o o m f e at u r e s t h e l at e s t fi t n e s s e q u i p m e n t f r o m t o p m a n u f a c t u r - College Adamson Wing, Baker Hall 136A e r s a s w e l l a s a w o o d f l o o r s pa c e f o r p ly o m e t r i c a n d a g i l i t y t r a i n i n g . Topic: TBA 4:30 p.m., Monday, Nov. 5 Shortly after Susan Bassett was hired as weight room thanks to contributions Homecoming Adamson Wing, Baker Hall 136A Carnegie Mellon’s Director of Athletics from football alumni in conjunction Class reunions, college receptions, in July 2005, she set out to transform with Charles ‘Corky’ Cost. The Cost intriguing presentations and performances, School of Art Lecture Series campus tours, the Alumni Awards and Tartan sports venues and recreation Varsity Weight Room is more than 4,500 Rachel Whiteread, creator of large-scale the pageantry of college football are just facilities for the benefit of the entire square feet and houses the latest fitness sculptures and installations of everyday some of the highlights of this year’s objects campus community as well as its varsity equipment from the makers of Hammer annual Homecoming celebration. 6 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 6 athletes. That endeavor began with an Strength, Life Fitness and ProStar. The Thursday Oct. 25–Sunday, Oct. 28 Carnegie Lecture Hall, athletics facility master planning process weight room also features a wood floor Various campus locations Carnegie Museum of Art conducted in spring 2006. The master space for use in plyometric and agility Further information: http://alumni.cmu. planning process shaped many changes training. edu/homecoming/index.html University Lecture Series that are already visible on campus and This past summer, Gesling Sta- Kevin Bickart, a student in the Anatomy Football others that are yet to come. dium’s eight-lane track was resurfaced. and Neurobiology Department at Boston The Tartans play host to the Bears of “Our vision for the future includes A new scoreboard featuring a message University’s School of Medicine Washington University (Mo.) “The Believing Brain” a major facility project that we expect center and graphics display was 12:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 27 4:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 8 to transform student life through the installed, allowing for track and field Gesling Stadium Adamson Wing, Baker Hall 136A century,” Bassett said. “In the meantime, event scores to be viewed during meets. “From Flapping Birds to Space Football Telescopes: The Modern Science The Tartans play host to Washington of Origami” “Our vision for the future includes a major facility project & Lee University. Robert J. Lang, one of the foremost 1 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 10 that we expect to transform student life through the century.” origami artists and a pioneer in compu- Gesling Stadium — Athletic Director Susan Bassett tational origami and the development of formal design algorithms for folding School of Art Lecture Series 4:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 29 Ken Rinaldo, an artist and theorist who McConomy Auditorium, University Center we have improved current facilities.” Skibo Gymnasium also received a creates interactive multimedia installations (UC) The Gesling Stadium track and field much-needed facelift this past summer. that blur the boundaries between the resurfacing, new athletic weight room The floor was sanded and repainted, organic and inorganic University Lecture Series 5 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 13 and renovations to the athletic training creating a bright atmosphere inside The “Journeys” series continues with Kresge Theater, College of Fine Arts facilities and Skibo Gymnasium are the one of the oldest playing facilities in Jay Apt, associate research professor most prominent changes and renovations the NCAA. The playing surface was at the Tepper School of Business and School of Art Lecture Series that have been made. realigned to allow for more room for a Distinguished Service Professor in Osman Khan, who uses technology to Engineering & Public Policy. Of those renovations, the athletic crowd traffic between the court and construct artifacts and experiences for “Science, Exploration and Emotion” training room updates came first, in the bleachers. The hoops on the main social criticism and aesthetic expression 4:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 29 January 2006. That project added a new basketball floor were replaced as well. 5 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 20 Adamson Wing, Baker Hall 136A functional floor for athletic training Before the ’06-’07 season, a new Kresge Theater, College of Fine Arts rehabilitation activities, and the tables scoreboard was installed, allowing Health & Fitness Fair Hunt Institute Exhibition were reupholstered for student athletes’ updated statistics to be shown during a 11 a.m.–4 p.m, Tuesday, Oct. 30 “12th International Exhibition of Botanical comfort. contest. Rangos Ballroom, UC Art & Illustration” That summer, the playing surface While much progress has already Features 111 works by 64 artists from School of Art Lecture Series at Gesling Stadium was replaced with been made in updating Carnegie 14 countries. FieldTurf, the world’s most advanced Mellon’s athletic facilities, Bassett Public Art Fund Director Rochelle Steiner Previously, Steiner was chief curator at the Through Dec. 20 synthetic surface. With a grass-like notes that the best is yet to come. One Serpentine Gallery in London. Hunt Library, fifth floor surface made of fibers and a soft of the master plan’s ultimate goals is 5 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 30 composite of sand and rubber, FieldTurf the construction of a new athletics and McConomy Auditorium, UC For more events, visit http://my.cmu.edu/site/events/ is dramatically different from traditional recreation wellness center. synthetic turf, which has the texture of a “It has been and will continue to Music Concert dense, abrasive rug. be a priority to upgrade athletic and Carnegie Mellon Wind Ensemble with A new varsity athletic weight recreation facilities and equipment to Denis Colwell conducting. The Bach Choir of Pittsburgh will also perform. room was also built during summer enhance the student experience,” she 8 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 30 2006. Thistle Gymnasium became the said. “In doing this, we want to provide Carnegie Music Hall (Tickets at the door.) new Carnegie Mellon varsity athletic the tools and staff that students need for S e v e n Internet Black Markets On the Rise; Carnegie Mellon Researchers Monitor, Analyze Illegal Web-based Vendors

n Chriss Swaney

Buyer beware. Con artists lurk behind every click of your computer mouse. Most of their scams are conducted through underground “black markets,” where attackers use well-developed business practices to hawk viruses, stolen data and attack services. Carnegie Mellon’s Adrian Perrig and Jason Franklin, working in conjunction with Vern Paxson of the International Computer Science Institute and Stefan Savage of the University of California, San Diego, have designed new computer tools to better understand and potentially thwart the growth of Internet black markets. “These troublesome entrepreneurs even offer tech support and free updates for their malicious creations that run the gamut from denial of service attacks researchers warned that the cards seen dealing with ‘honest’ criminals, run Operation Firewall three years ago. designed to overwhelm Web sites and may not have been valid when they Franklin said. That operation against the notorious servers to data-stealing Trojan viruses,” were observed, because checking the In a slander attack, an attacker Shadowcrew resulted in 28 arrests said Perrig, an associate professor of card numbers’ validity was not possible eliminates the verified status of a buyer globally, according to Carnegie Mellon electrical and computer engineering and without credit card company assistance. or seller through false defamation. researchers. engineering and public policy. A buyer will typically contact the “By eliminating the verified status “The scary thing about all this is To understand the millions of lines black market vendor privately using of the honest individuals, an attacker that you do not have to be in the know of data derived from monitoring the un- e-mail, or in some cases, a private establishes a lemon market where buy- to find black markets. They are easy to derground markets for more than seven instant message. Money generally ers are unable to distinguish the quality find, easy to join, and just a mouse click months, Carnegie Mellon researchers changes hands through non-bank pay- of the goods or services,” Franklin said. away,’’ Franklin said. developed automated techniques to ment services such as e-gold, making The researchers also propose to “We believe these black markets measure and catalogue the activities of the criminals difficult to track. undercut the burgeoning black market are growing, so we will have even more the shadowy online crooks who profit To stem the flow of stolen credit activity by creating a deceptive sales incidents to monitor and study in the from spewed spam, virus-laden PCs and cards and identity data, Carnegie environment. future,” Perrig added. identity theft. The researchers estimate Mellon researchers proposed two “So, when the unwary buyer tries That growth is reflected in the lat- that the total value of the illegal materi- technical approaches to reducing the to collect the goods and services prom- est Computer Security Institute (CSI) als available for sale in the seven-month number of successful market transac- ised, the seller fails to provide the goods Computer Crime and Security Survey period could total more than $37 million. tions, including a slander attack and and services. Such behavior is known as that shows average cyber-losses more “Our research monitoring found another technique aimed at undercutting ‘ripping.’ And it is the goal of all black than doubled after a five-year decline. that more than 80,000 potential credit the cyber-crooks verification or reputa- market sites’ verification systems to The 2007 CSI survey reported that U.S. card numbers were available through tion system. minimize such behavior,’’ said Franklin. companies on average lost more than these illicit underground Web econo- “Just like you need to verify that There have been successful take- $300,000 to cyber crooks compared to mies,” said Franklin, a doctoral student individuals are honest on E-bay, online downs against known black market $168,000 last year. in computer science. However, the criminals need to verify that they are sites, such as the U.S. Secret Service- Fund, Footbridge To Help Keep Pausch’s Legacy Alive

Randy Pausch’s final Carnegie Mellon important academic project, the Alice lecture, “Really Achieving Your Child- 3D authoring system. Pausch, who is hood Dreams,” has touched tens of thou- dying of pancreatic cancer, is a professor sands of people around the world. As of computer science, human computer many as 1,800 people saw the Sept. 18 interaction and design; co-founder of lecture on campus, according to Carne- Carnegie Mellon’s Entertainment Tech- gie Mellon’s Network Media Group, and nology Center (ETC); and the creator of the lecture is available on three univer- the Alice interactive educational soft- sity Web sites — the Journeys lecture ware used to teach computer program- series, Entertainment Technology Center ming to students worldwide. and School of Computer Science (SCS) In addition to the fund, the univer- — which have filled a total of more than sity is naming the pedestrian bridge that 200,000 requests for the video. Further, will link the Purnell Center for the Arts Pausch has received so many personal to the new School of Computer Science messages in response to his talk that Complex “The Randy Pausch Memorial plans are in the works to hire a tempo- Footbridge.” The bridge connects the rary employee to sort through them all. disciplines of computer science and the

Photo by ken andreyo In recognition of Pausch’s remark- arts, which Pausch successfully accom- E n t e r ta i n m e n t T e c h n o l o g y C e n t e r c o - f o u n d e r R a n d y P a u s c h r u n s t h e b a l l able story and his contributions to the plished in his work at the ETC and with d o w n fi e l d a f t e r r e c e i v i n g a pa s s f r o m P i t t s b u r g h S t e e l e r H i n e s W a r d . university, Carnegie Mellon has estab- the Alice software. P a u s c h w a s a b l e t o a c h i e v e t h e l a s t o f h i s c h i l d h o o d d r e a m s di s c u s s e d lished the Randy Pausch Honorary Fund For further information about the i n h i s S e p t . 1 8 l e c t u r e , p l ay i n g i n t h e N F L , w h e n h e at t e n d e d a n O c t . 3 to help enable the university to continue fund, visit www.cmu.edu/giving/pausch. E i g h t S t e e l e r s p r a c t i c e . the professor’s work, including his most shtml. New SCS Complex Rising Upward

After months of excavation and site preparation, the new School of Computer Science Complex is going vertical, as construction of the concrete walls for the 150-car underground garage is under way. Once the garage walls and floors are completed, which will take about six months according to Campus Design and Facility Development (CDFD), work will begin on the foundation and retaining walls for the Gates Center, followed by foundation work for the yet-unnamed research building of the complex. Support columns for the Randy Pausch Memorial Footbridge (see story on page eight) linking the Purnell Center for the Arts to the Gates Center will be constructed over the next month, and steel erection is expected to begin in February. The complex will be completed by summer 2009. This past May, the Board of Trustees approved a $9 million increase in the budget for the SCS Complex bringing the total project cost to approximately $97 million. Ralph Horgan, associate vice provost for CDFD, said the increase was needed due to the site’s complexity and the rising costs of steel and concrete. He said the additional resources were needed to keep all the proposed building components intact. The SCS Complex will seek Silver Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Photo by bruce gerson

I n t e r n at i o n a l D i s pat c h e s

Carnegie Mellon in Qatar areas in the future. Our goal is to generate future leaders who are able to lead global enterprises New IS Degree For Qatar Campus and conduct interdisciplinary research.” KAIST was established in 1971 as Korea’s foremost center of science and engineering Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar is adding a third undergraduate degree, Information Systems, research and higher education. The agreement with Korea’s top technology institute requires all to its course offerings. courses to be taught in English with each candidate meeting the admission standards of both “The new IS program is an obvious and welcome addition to our two existing programs. institutions. The program also will be structured so that candidates will spend part of their time at It is the natural bridge between Computer Science and Business Administration,” said Charles E. both Carnegie Mellon and KAIST. Thorpe, dean of Carnegie Mellon Qatar. “Besides the IS majors themselves, our other students James H. Garrett Jr., head of Carnegie Mellon’s Civil and Environmental Engineering Depart- will benefit from the new major. The courses offered in IS will be natural electives for CS students ment, said the new program will take advantage of the breadth of potential intellectual collabora- wanting to understand the application of computer science in a business setting, or for business tions between the two departments at Carnegie Mellon and KAIST. Garrett and Hoon Sohn, who administration students wanting to understand how to process information.” is a KAIST faculty member and an adjunct faculty member at Carnegie Mellon, will serve as the The Information Systems program focuses on giving students the knowledge and skills nec- program’s primary contacts. essary to design systems for the effective use of information. This has now become central for the support of organizations, decision makers, researchers and policy makers. IS majors master the Australia skills needed to bring together people, process and technology in a way that yields results. Gradu- Students From China’s Shandong Province, ates of the IS program are ideally situated to take a leading role in shaping our information-based Kazakhstan To Study at Carnegie Mellon Australia future as technology managers, software developers, technical specialists, Web design specialists, consultants and entrepreneurs. Future leaders from Shandong Province in the People’s Republic of China will undertake master’s “We anticipate Information Systems will be a successful and popular addition to the curricu- degree programs at Carnegie Mellon’s Heinz School Australia under a new scholarship program lum at Carnegie Mellon Qatar,” said Randy Weinberg, IS program director in Pittsburgh. “We look established jointly by the State of South Australia and Shandong Province. forward to being active members of the Education City community and, in years to come, a major The Carnegie Mellon University Shandong Future Leaders Scholarships program will support source of information systems graduates trained and ready to serve the diverse and expanding up to four students over the next two years. Students can choose either the Master of Science in needs for information technology and systems management, IT infrastructure, management sup- Public Policy and Management or the Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT) at the port, IT innovation and entrepreneurship of the growing national and regional economy.” university’s Adelaide campus. Carnegie Mellon Qatar is the first university in Education City to add an additional major to “We are absolutely delighted to welcome our first students from China in 2008 to our recently its course offerings. Since August 2004, Carnegie Mellon has been offering bachelor of science established Heinz School campus in South Australia, especially the Shandong Future Leaders degrees in business administration and computer science. Scholars,” said Tim Zak, executive director of the Heinz School in Adelaide. — Nona Al Afifi He noted that the scholars were specifically selected by senior Shandong Provincial govern- ment officials for their high academic qualifications, exemplary work experience, and future poten- Seoul, Korea tial as key decision-makers in the region’s public service. Dual Degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering “After visiting Shandong earlier this year to sign the agreement with our colleagues from the with KAIST South Australian government, I know that we’ve secured another great, long-term international government partner for our Australian operations,” Zak said. Carnegie Mellon and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have cre- Additionally, two students from Kazakhstan arrived in Adelaide in late September to study at ated a new dual degree program for doctoral students in civil and environmental engineering. Carnegie Mellon under a deal signed with the government of Kazakhstan, brokered by the Agent- President Jared L. Cohon signed an official agreement for the program Oct. 5 during a gala General’s office in London. Under the deal students will study in Australia under the Bolashak celebration at KAIST, 90 miles south of Seoul, Korea. The agreement is the result of discussions Award, the government of Kazakhstan’s international scholarship program. begun in 2006 at the urging of KAIST President Suh Nam Pyo, who received his doctorate in Manshuk Sultanova and Anar Assylkhan are the first two students to arrive in Australia under mechanical engineering from Carnegie Mellon in 1964. this agreement and will complete the one-year MSIT program. The students will undertake some “Carnegie Mellon is well-suited to collaborate with KAIST. We believe this agreement will be a supplementary English tutoring in Adelaide before starting the MSIT program in January 2008. catalyst for future educational and research opportunities. I am especially pleased that this partner- The scholarship covers tuition fees, visa fees, accommodation and meals, books and study ship is with an institution of KAIST’s stature,” Cohon said. materials, health insurance and travel expenses. “I am delighted to sign this memorandum of understanding between the two universities for student/faculty exchange programs, joint research, and the dual-degree program in civil and environmental engineering,” Suh added. “We hope to expand our scholarly collaboration to other

N i n e Andy Award Winners Cited for Attitude, Dedication, Performance and Innovation

Joseph Sullivan, John Hannon, Dolores Heagy and teams from the Children’s School and the Office of International Educa- tion were named this year’s Andy Award winners. The Andy Awards honor individuals and teams whose outstanding dedication and performance have had a significant impact on the university. Sullivan, manager of pre- award systems and administration for the Office of Sponsored Pro- grams, received the Andy Award in the Dedication category for being a dedicated, organized, skilled and exceptionally helpful manager. Hannon, director of student devel- opment, earned the Andy in the J o s e p h S u l l i v a n Commitment to Students category for his energy, enthusiasm and

willingness to help students reach O ffi c e o f I n t e r n a t i o n a l E d u c a t i o n their full potential. Heagy, a Help Center consultant, was presented with the Andy for Culture for fostering an enjoyable, welcoming and light-hearted working environment. The Children’s School team was honored for its innovation, passion for excellence in early childhood education and commitment to creative work. Team members are: Jean Bird, Erlina Mae Bowers, Alexa Brough- ton, Linda Hancock, Violet McGillen, Beth McMichael, Donna Perovich, Maggie Rosenblum, Tim Salinetro, Jean Simpson, Estelle Solomon, Charline Tomer and Gina Williams. The Office of International Education team was recognized in the University Citizenship category for providing international students and faculty with much-needed assistance and for helping to recruit extremely talented students from around the world. Team members are Tricia Dugan, Linda Gentile, Emily Half, Nancy Knezevich, Lisa Krieg, Jennifer McNabb, Eva Mergner, Neslihan Ozdoganlar and Stephanie Pratt.

T h e C h i l d r e n ’ s S c h o o l T e a m

N e w s B r i e f s

Phil Says “No Phishing” into revealing personal information or bank Swedish research initiative to recognize and or credit card account information. Often, encourage young, innovative people in the field Carnegie Mellon computer scientists have they involve emails that appear to be from a of robotics and automation. Stilman’s research developed an interactive, online game featuring legitimate business, such as a bank, and direct focuses on robots that can move obstacles a little fish named Phil that can teach people recipients to visit a Web site that likewise ap- out of their way. “Traditional planning for robots how to better recognize and avoid email pears to belong to that business. There they focuses on avoiding obstacles when going “phishing” and other Internet scams. In test- are asked to “verify” account information. from a start to a goal. However, in the real ing at Carnegie Mellon’s Usable Privacy and world, search and rescue, construction, home Security (CUPS) Laboratory, people who spent and nursing home assistance domains contain 15 minutes playing the Anti-Phishing Phil game New Rover’s a Lunar debris, materials clutter, doors and objects that were better able to identify fraudulent Web Drillin’ Buggy have to be moved by the robot,” Stilman said. sites than people who spent the same amount If you think the hull of the new four-wheeled

Photo by debraHis tobin advisors are professors James Kuffner and of time reading anti-phishing tutorials or other robotic prospector that the Robotics Institute that a lunar rover will need to find concentra- Chris Atkeson. online training materials. built for NASA resembles a Spring Carnival tions of hydrogen, water and other volatile Phishing attacks attempt to trick people buggy, you’re definitely on to something. chemicals on the moon that could be mined Student engineer John Thornton, who builds to produce the fuel, water and air that are those torpedo-like vessels that race their way essential for supporting lunar outposts. around campus every April, headed the team that designed and built the carbon-composite Stilman Wins body. Scientific Award The new autonomous rover can creep Michael Stilman, a doctoral student in the over rocky slopes and anchor itself as a stable Robotics Institute’s humanoid group, recently platform for drilling deep into extraterrestrial received 1,000 euros (about $1,375) as one soils. Called “Scarab,” the rover will never leave of three finalists for the first Robotdalen (Robot the Earth, but it will demonstrate technologies Valley) Scientific Award established by a courtesy of mike stilman

T e n Computational Biology Center Aims To Help Conquer Cancer

C o n t i n u e d f r o m p a g e o n e

The difference between health and biologists have begun to tap into the “Carnegie Mellon, this center disease can start with one rogue gene power of computers and computational and Bob Murphy and his staff will or protein whose aberrant behavior methods to help make sense of it all. play a critical role in the dawning of may lead to a major illness like cancer. “The beauty of the Ray preventative medicine by providing the Because a cell houses thousands of and Stephanie Lane Center for leadership in the development of closed- genes and tens of thousands of proteins, Computational Biology is the power of loop active-learning systems that span identifying the miscreant is no easy combining this biological data together and integrate many types of biological task. But computational biologists, with machine learning and data mining research. Other major institutions a new breed of scientist capable of and using the wonderful strength and involved in biomedical research will applying computational methods to power we have here at Carnegie Mellon be attracted to and influenced by Bob’s solve biological problems, are up for the to solve real problems in biomedicine,” work and indeed come to Carnegie challenge. As is Carnegie Mellon. “Carnegie Mellon is uniquely positioned to make major contributions “The center will be absolutely crucial in training the future and advances in the field of scientific leadership in this field.” computational biology,” said Carnegie — Carnegie Mellon President Jared L. Cohon Mellon President Jared L. Cohon, as he announced the establishment of the Lane Center on Sept. 20. said Rick McCullough, vice president Mellon because of our unique capability J o h n H a n n o n “The Lane Center will allow for research and former dean of the in this area,” Ray Lane said during the Carnegie Mellon to apply its unique Mellon College of Science. center announcement ceremony. approach to attacking the challenges in Specifically, Lane Center scientists A goal of the Lane Center is to dealing with and eventually conquering aim “to develop the computational “train students who have firm, solid diseases like cancer, Alzheimer’s tools that automatically create detailed foundations in biology and computer disease, multiple sclerosis and others. models that enable us to predict how science. The idea behind that is not At the same time, the center will be cells work and how tissues work,” said just to let them solve problems that absolutely crucial in training the future Lane Center Director Robert Murphy, somebody else has identified, but to scientific leadership in this field.” who has also been named the inaugural frame and solve new problems. And During the past decade or so, Ray and Stephanie Lane Professor of that’s really what the heart of advancing biological and medical researchers Computational Biology. “We anticipate this field is all about,” said Murphy, who have been churning out vast amounts that these efforts will lead not only to has played a key role in establishing of data. The sequencing of the human deep biological knowledge but also to Carnegie Mellon’s computational genome is complete. Now, work is under tools for individualized diagnosis and biology programs at all three levels way to understand the relationship and treatment of disease.” – bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral. coordinated activity of genes (genomics) With their $5 million gift, Ray “One can well appreciate the and to determine the structure, location, and Stephanie Lane also endowed a incredible power of this interdisciplinary function and interaction of the tens of professorship and provided support for collaboration in computer science, thousands of proteins for which the postdoctoral and graduate training to machine learning and biology. It truly genome codes (proteomics). Such work develop future leaders in computational is exciting and indicates a pathway D o l o r e s H e a g y generates large amounts of data, and biology. forward. We expect great things,” Cohon added.

Waste Not, Want Not bins will make it easy for students to recycle Stay Alert With “Alert Now” Carnegie Mellon Signs materials they use to complete assignments, The September “Green Scene,” published The university’s Alert Now emergency notifica- Agreement With Caterpillar such as wood, cardboard and foam core. by the Green Practices Committee, reports tion service is available to all students, faculty Carnegie Mellon and Caterpillar Inc., the that Carnegie Mellon generates 3,000 tons of and staff. The Alert Now service sends voice world’s leading manufacturer of construc- waste a year, but recycles only 19 percent of it Media Boot Camp Tackles messages to designated phones in the event tion, mining and other heavy equipment, have signed a three-year sponsored research (710 tons). The newsletter says trash inspec- the Web of an emergency on campus. All members of agreement. Initial projects involve work at the tions have revealed that 40 percent of what is Carnegie Mellon’s Steinbrenner Institute for the campus community are encouraged to National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC) thrown out could have been recycled. Environmental Education and Research (SEER) participate in this program by registering online in Lawrenceville, where research will explore With that in mind, initiatives to increase and its College of Engineering will host five at https://my.cmu.edu/site/main/page.alert. applications using advanced outdoor sensors, recycling efforts are being implemented this fall, journalists at a special media panel about har- (When you click on this link, you will need to operator-assist systems and increased autono- thanks to ideas generated by the “Design and nessing the Web from 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., login to the Carnegie Mellon Web Portal to mous capabilities for enhancing the safety and Social Change” project course last spring. New Wednesday, Oct. 24 in the Singleton Room of access this page). Nearly 6,000 students, productivity of Caterpillar products. Caterpillar, tactics include new recycling labels and ad- Roberts Hall. faculty and staff have registered to receive the based in Peoria, Ill., also plans to establish a ditional recycling containers on campus, includ- The Media Boot Camp series is designed Alert Now messages. Center of Excellence for Field Robotics and ing “Share Your Junk” reuse bins for design, to help faculty and researchers better under- Alert Now will contact you only if there Automation in Pittsburgh, a research and art, architecture and drama students. These stand the needs of reporters and broadcast pro- is an incident or event that threatens public development office that will work in close col- laboration with Carnegie Mellon researchers as Composition of an Average Landfill ducers covering science and the environment. safety. If you have any questions or problems well as pursue independent research projects. The event is open to Carnegie Mellon faculty. registering your information, please contact Paper “This working relationship exposes Carn- 10% Panel participants include James R. Hager- the Computing Services Help Center at Yard Waste egie Mellon researchers to the rigors of applied 10% ty, a Wall Street Journal reporter; John Byrne, 412-268-HELP (4357) or send email to Metal science and engineering and to leading-edge 37% Business Week executive editor; Todd Woody, [email protected]. 8% Glass automation challenges,” said NREC Director Fortune Magazine senior news editor; Seth John Bares. “We’re confident that it also will 7% Food Waste Bauer, editorial director of National Geographic provide Caterpillar with access to some of the 10% Plastic 18% Green Guide; and Jennifer Yates, Pittsburgh best minds in the business.” Other bureau chief of the Associated Press. E l e v e n Lecture Spotlight: International Festival Features Wal-Mart Effect Author

n Ken Walters

While Wal-Mart is often considered ever permitted inside a Tupperware fac- an American institution, the company tory, he was also the first reporter in 30 has far-reaching social and economic years to be allowed inside the nation’s impact around the world. The corporate only bomb factory. giant’s global influences will be explored Since 1996, Fishman has been a by author Charles Fishman at Carnegie senior writer at Fast Company maga- Mellon’s International Festival, Nov. 1-3. zine. His revelatory Fast Company cover Fishman, who wrote “The Wal-Mart story, “The Wal-Mart You Don’t Know,” Effect: How the World’s Most Powerful generated the strongest reader response Company Really Works — and How It’s in the magazine’s history and won best Transforming the American Economy,” business magazine story of the year from will deliver the festival’s keynote lecture the New York Press Club in 2004. He at 12:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 2 in Rangos received the Gerald Loeb Award for dis- Ballroom, University Center. tinguished business journalism in 2005. Photo courtesy of charles fishman Now in its 18th year, the Interna- The International Festival will fea- tional Festival provides the campus ture workshops, lectures, performances, W h o : Charles Fishman, Author of “The Wal-Mart Effect” community with the opportunity to food and films that are intended to bring W h e n : 12:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 2 explore world cultures, pressing issues to light the changing economies of the W h e r e : Rangos Ballroom, UC and fascinating traditions through a world. Festival highlights include: wide range of activities. The theme of this year’s festival is “Global Exchange: • An interactive art gallery depicting Trade, Rights and Welfare in a New wage inequality across the globe; • Presentations on various global topics, Bhangra is a lively and energetic World Economy.” • An illustrated lecture on the signifi- including fair trade, the prospect of folk dance that originated in the Fishman is well versed to speak on cance of Chinese tourism and what it micro-lending and illegal immigration East Pakistan and Northwest India this theme. An award-winning investi- means for the country; in the United States; regions and has spread in popularity, gative and magazine journalist, he has • Poverty Simulation, in which partici- • Bhangra in the Burgh, a national particularly in the United Kingdom, spent the last 20 years examining impor- pants assume the roles of different Bhangra dance competition hosted by Canada and the United States. tant organizations from NASA to Wal- families facing poverty to gain a the international Chak De Bhangra Mart to try to understand and explain greater understanding of the difficul- Team and Carnegie Mellon’s Ma- For more information about the festival, them to his readers. The first reporter ties poor families face; yur-South Asian Student Alliance. please visit www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu.

O r i g a m i A rt i st a n d P h y s i c i st R o b e rt L a n g T o S p e a k

n Kelli McElhinny Likewise, the practice of origami presented jointly by the Mellon College unique origami designs. Through his has been shaped by advanced geomet- of Science’s Department of Physics and work at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Labora- At first glance, folded paper cranes ric and computational principles that the College of Fine Arts’ School of Art, tory, Spectra Diode Laboratories and seem to have little in common with a enable increasingly complex design will be given at 4:30 p.m. at McCo- JDS Uniphase, Lang has authored 80 football field-sized telescope lens. But algorithms to lead to more realistic nomy Auditorium, University Center. papers and 45 patents in lasers and over the past few decades, the ancient creations. It is free and open to the public. optoelectronics. He is also the editor- Japanese art of paper folding known Robert Lang will discuss this Lang, who holds a doctorate in in-chief of IEEE Journal of Quantum as origami has inspired solutions to a unique convergence of art and science applied physics from Caltech, is a full- Electronics. number of engineering conundrums, in his Oct. 29 lecture, “From Flapping time artist and consultant on origami’s More information on Lang such as transporting the aforemen- Birds to Space Telescopes: The Modern applications to engineering problems. and his work can be found at tioned telescope lens into outer space. Science of Origami.” The talk, which is He has diagrammed more than 400 www.langorigami.com.

Read more about what’s going on at Carnegie Mellon in the Upcoming Events on page seven. Students Present Research at State Capitol Two Carnegie Mellon University students were selected to participate in the Oct. 2 Undergraduate Research at the Capitol of Pennsylvania event at the State Capitol Building in Harrisburg. This was the first year for the statewide event, which is designed to bring together college students, faculty and Pennsyl- vania legislators to share the experiences of students engaged in research or scholarship at their colleges and universities. Carmeline Dsilva, a chemical engineering major, presented research on decreasing the costs of fuel cell catalysts. Biology major Galit Fydman presented research on the effect of human touch on an elephant’s heart rate at the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium. Carnegie Mellon was one of 13 western Pennsylvania colleges and universities participating in the event. hanie wallach p

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T w e l v e Photo by ste