illumiNationVOLUME TWO // 2018–2019 Virginia Tech College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences the Watching DetectiveSCold Case Files, Missing Person Investigations, and Other Adventures in Discovery Contents SPECIAL REPORT watching the detectives 10 True Detectives The search for truth and meaning makes sleuths of us all. 12 Cold Case Files Virginia Tech historians uncover clues to mysteries of the past. by A. Roger Ekirch, Melanie Kiechle, and Trudy Harrington Becker 16 Inspector Gadgets Tools of detection come in all shapes and sizes. by Leslie King 22 Missing Persons Some disappearances are more subtle than others. by Paula Byron 28 Cyber Sleuthing How do you uncover clues about online operations veiled under a cloak of darkness? 36 by Richard Lovegrove FUN FOR ALL: An instrument petting zoo, a muted movie, 48 Brain Teasers and an advance viewing of a flea circus are just a few of by Paula Byron What can detective fiction teach us? the alterations Amy Azano has helped devise to make public events accessible to features children with autism spectrum disorder. 30 Behind the Camera Alumni bring stories to life on screens large and small. by Leslie King 36 Humanity at the Core 41 College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences faculty DOLLARS FOR SCHOLARS: members place people at the center of their work. In seeking to fund her own education, Danielle Jeffers found a way to pay it forward. departments From the Dean..........................................2 In Brief........................................................3 Arts + Tech..................................................8 Tech Support...........................................40 Hokie Tracks............................................42 Great Expectations..................................47 16 WORKING WONDERS: From point clouds to shapefiles, algorithms, and old-fashioned interviews, researchers reach for the right tool for each job. COVER ILLUSTRATION BY JAMES STEINBERG From the Dean illumiNation An annual publication of the Virginia Tech College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences Volume Two, 2018–2019 Around the Drillfield and Beyond The Discovery Channel Editor In Brief Paula Byron I’M A GERONTOLOGIST WHO Associate Editor studies the family and friend rela- Leslie King NEW ORIGINALS tionships of older adults. We teach Art Director students about heterogeneity—as Laura McFadden AMAZON’S DECISION in November people go through life, choosing Contributing Writers to locate one of its headquarters in Mason Adams, Trudy Harrington Becker, Alexandria, Virginia, was based in diverse pathways and experiences, Erica Corder, A. Roger Ekirch, Olivia Jones, they become more differentiated Melanie Kiechle, Richard Lovegrove, part on Virginia Tech’s track record Thomas Murray, Elise Monsour Puckett from one another. Some people of molding future leaders, thinkers, and innovators with educational have large families and many DEAN depth complemented by interdisci- friends, while others are socially Rosemary Blieszner plinary know-how. isolated. Some people retire in ASSOCIATE DEANS E. Thomas Ewing An initial focus of Virginia Tech’s their 50s; others work into their 80s. Health and wealth vary, interests diverge, Brian Shabanowitz FUTURE FORECASTING: Innovation Campus, to be located personalities can be sunny or glum. Debra Stoudt Sylvester Johnson, Daniel Thorp less than two miles from Amazon’s With all this complexity, we also teach our students about the dangers of as- a professor in the ASSISTANT DEANS Department of Religion new site, will be on computer science sumptions, the importance of nuanced detective work, and the need for a range of Daniel Cleveland and Culture, focuses his education to meet growing industry Monica Kimbrell own research on investigative tools. We learned long ago that discovery for our students—and for demands. Yet humanities and social ourselves—is rarely through just one channel. DEPARTMENTS AND SCHOOLS humanity in the age of Apparel, Housing, and intelligent machines. sciences will play key roles as well. Two of my colleagues in the Department of Human Development and Family Resource Management “The Innovation Campus is ASPECT (Alliance for Social, Political, Science—Karen Roberto and Tina Savla—and I study the challenges families face happening as we are launching Ethical, and Cultural Thought) in helping loved ones manage memory loss. We knew from previous research that Communication the ‘Tech for Humanity’ initiative,” caregiving for someone with advanced memory loss, such as Alzheimer’s disease, English An Accent on Humanities said Sylvester Johnson, director of History is difficult and stressful. But at the early stage of forgetfulness, called mild cognitive Human Development and Family Science the Center for Humanities. “This impairment, the diagnosed person usually needs some guidance and assistance Modern and Classical Languages Automated drones, driverless cars, and The center builds on collaborations university-wide initiative focuses and Literatures › from care partners, not intensive caregiving. Still, we wondered about the effects Philosophy intelligent robotics are all marvels of across the university, where historians on human-centered approaches to of early memory loss on everyday life. Political Science technological ingenuity, yet insights from already work with computer scientists technology, because technology Religion and Culture During interviews with spouses and adult children of people with mild cog- ROTC (Air Force, Army, and Naval) the humanities are needed to understand to gain insights into deadly epidemics, must be guided by human inter- nitive impairment, we heard stories of frustration mixed with the instinct to be School of Education their full impact, according to Sylvester philosophers work with engineers to ests, and one of Virginia Tech’s School of Performing Arts Johnson, Virginia Tech’s assistant vice detect patterns in nature, and literary goals is to serve humanity. respectful. We saw that even early memory loss can be disruptive in many ways, (Music, Theatre, and Cinema) which seemed to bother some care partners more than others. So we took our Science, Technology, and Society provost for the humanities. scholars engage in iconic moments “In an age of big data, Virginia Sociology research a step further by asking care partners to collect saliva samples five times a “As advancing technologies “What’s at of space exploration. Tech is delivering big humanities— day for a week. We analyzed those samples for cortisol, a hormone that responds continue to transform modern stake in the rapid These areas of inquiry, John- humanistic approaches that sup- College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences to stress, and found that even when the care partners did not report high levels of life,” Johnson said, “the con- advance of digital son said, show that the moment port a comprehensive university.” Virginia Tech sequences for humanity only technologies is of the humanities is not behind worry or anxiety, their bodies were responding as if they were very stressed. This Liberal Arts and Human Sciences Building heighten the overarching literally what it us, shimmering in a now-for- hidden information is important, because if daily cortisol patterns are disrupted for 200 Stanger Street Blacksburg, VA 24061 significance of humanities means to be gotten golden age, but before us. too long, the caregiver can become ill. 540-232-8574 • [email protected] research and teaching.” human.” “After decades of handwring- This research is just one of the many initiatives that faculty and students pursue liberalarts.vt.edu @VT_LiberalArts Johnson, an award-winning ing over whether the expansion of across our college. Every day, we detect hidden information, uncover unexpected @VT_LiberalArts scholar engaged in exploring humanity in technology threatens the relevance of the research findings, and solve challenging riddles, all for the benefit of humanity. We Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, the age of intelligent machines, has launched humanities,” he said, “we’re beginning to invite you to discover in this issue the many paths we take. students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, a new, forward-thinking center with just that witness our technological age pushing big national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, or veteran focus. The Center for Humanities, based in humanities questions to the forefront of status; or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sci- our most urgent concerns. their compensation or the compensation of other ences, reflects Virginia Tech’s commitment “What’s at stake in the rapid advance employees, or applicants; or any other basis protected BREAKING NEW GROUND: An artist’s Rosemary Blieszner by law. For inquiries regarding nondiscrimination to elevating the presence and profile of hu- of digital technologies is literally what it rendering of the Innovation Campus Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences policies, contact the executive director for Equity hints at the vibrancy to come. and Access at 540-231-8771 or Virginia Tech, North manities disciplines across the university. means to be human.” End Center, Suite 2300 (0318), 300 Turner Street, NW, Blacksburg, VA 24061. 2 ILLUMINATION VOLUME TWO PHOTO: RICHARD ALLNUTT PHOTO: RAY MEESE; ILLUSTRATION: COURTESY OF VIRGINIA TECH VOLUME