Rochester Institute of Technology news&eventsNovember 15, 2007 Inauguration celebrates RIT’s legacy of leaders Bill Destler installed as ninth president during campus event The legacy of RIT presidents runs deep from Carleton Gibson to Albert Simone. RIT mourns the loss of two Now the leadership torch is in the hands students in a tragic fire, page 4 of Bill Destler, who was installed as RIT’s ninth president Friday at an inaugura- it is posed to be. He brings to this new tion ceremony in the Gordon Field role extensive experience in higher House and Activities Center. education, profound commitment to the Nearly 2,000 spectators, including future of this institution, and a cluster more than 40 college and university of ideas for RIT’s future that are sound, leaders from throughout the nation, far-sighted, and indeed essential.” attended the event. Destler was officially installed “Bill Destler is a superb choice for as president by Michael Morley ’69 the presidency of Rochester Institute (business administration), chairman of Technology,” said Cornell Univer- of the RIT Board of Trustees; Christine A. Sue Weisler | photographer A. Sue Weisler | photographer sity President David Skorton, keynote Whitman, vice chair; and Donald Boyce speaker. “He is a ‘Category of One’ ’67 (business administration), chair of Left: RIT President Bill Destler receives the presidential collar of authority from RIT Board of Trustees members Christine Whitman and president equal to the task of making the presidential search committee. Donald Boyce during the inauguration of Destler as RIT’s ninth president on Nov. 9 in the Gordon Field House and Activities Center. RIT the ‘Category of One’ university Destler inauguration, page 4 Right: Cornell President David Skorton gave the keynote address during the inauguration ceremony. The legacy of RIT’s presidents comes to life RIT researcher studies deaths caused by marine emissions Pollution from marine shipping causes approximately 60,000 prema- ture cardiopulmonary and lung- cancer deaths around the world each year, according to a report scheduled to appear in the Dec. 15 issue of Environmental Science and Technol- ogy, the journal of the American Chemical Society. The report benchmarks for the first time the number of annual deaths caused globally by pollution A. Sue Weisler | photographer from marine vessels, with coastal regions in Asia and Europe the most The images and memorabilia shown above are part of the latest exhibit affected. The above map shows cardiopulmonary mortality attributable to ship emissions worldwide. at the RIT Museum located on the third floor of Wallace Library. RIT Conducted by James Corbett of The figure illustrates research findings posted on the Environmental Science and Technology Presidents: A Legacy of Leadership, installed to coincide with President Bill University of Delaware and James Web site, http://pubs.acs.org/journals/esthag. Destler’s inauguration, looks at the nine presidents of RIT using photographs Winebrake from RIT, the study cor- and documents to give a look at their lives and what they have accomplished. relates the global distribution of par- heart disease and lung cancer mor- year from shipping-related emis- The exhibit runs until March 7. ticulate matter—black carbon, sulfur, talities in adults. The results indicate sions. Under current regulation, and nitrogen and organic particles—re- that approximately 60,000 people die with the expected growth in shipping leased from ships’ smoke stacks with prematurely around the world each activity, the authors estimate the an- nual mortalities from ship emissions could increase by 40 percent by 2012. Corbett and Winebrake’s results Student Spotlight Engineering student re-examines a career in the classroom come in the midst of current discus- sions by the International Maritime Organization to regulate emissions Webster’s definition of education is curriculum, assisted in class lectures from ships. “knowledge acquired by learning and and tutored students who needed “This study will help inform poli- instruction.” additional instruction. Kane also cymakers about some of the health That description has taken on new used his microelectronics experience impacts associated with ship emis- meaning for RIT student Nathaniel to set up several labs for use by the sions, and the long-range transport Kane, thanks to an innovative co-op class, including testing of a diode of those emissions to population assignment that allowed him to and resistor to illustrate the current- centers,” says Winebrake, chair of enhance his own learning while voltage characteristic of the devices. the Department of Science, Technol- bringing knowledge to others. Kane, The experience was an excellent op- ogy and Society/Public Policy. “We a fifth-year microelectronic engi- portunity for Kane to apply his own now have a benchmark by which we neering major in the Kate Gleason learning experiences in a real-world can begin to evaluate the benefits of College of Engineering, completed setting, while also opening up new emission-reduction policies.” a service-learning assignment last ideas for his future career path. Annual deaths related to shipping spring with Irondequoit High “I had never really considered emissions in Europe are estimated School, where he served as an education as a potential profession,” at 26,710, while the mortality rate assistant to physics teacher Thomas Kane notes. “But I got a lot out of is 19,870 in East Asia and 9,950 in Schulte. transferring my enthusiasm for a South Asia. North America has ap- Working in senior physics and topic to the students and assisting A. Sue Weisler | photographer proximately 5,000 premature deaths, advanced-placement courses, Kane them in furthering their own knowl- Nate Kane was pleased to share his engineering expertise with students at Irondequoit High concentrated mostly in the Gulf helped Schulte develop course Student Spotlight, page 4 School. His experience at the school has caused him to reconsider a career in education. Marine emissions, page 4 In the community Student projects Scholarship and Research Sports update Library staff, athletes Computer engineers Latest black holes research RIT Tigers wrap up spend time at School #5, showcase their creativity, lands RIT scientists in successful fall season, page 2 page 2 national publication, page 2 page 4 November 15, 2007 | 1 | www.rit.edu/newsevents News briefs Library staff, athletes lend a hand to School #5 Second Life coursework For Julia Lisuzzo, ‘TGIF’ means more for example. Lisuzzo says that it’s like Cyberspace has become Second than just anticipating the upcoming walking into an international festival Life to thousands of people who weekend. Every Friday, Lisuzzo, seven of every Friday. literally work at leading imagi- her colleagues at RIT’s Wallace Library “These children collectively speak nary lives. Some even make and six RIT student athletes look forward more than 40 different languages, so it’s a good living at it—and big to volunteering at Rochester City School hard for their teachers to work with them advertisers are taking notice. District’s John Williams School. They’re one-on-one to meet all of their reading In touch with virtual reality all part of a new partnership among needs,” says Lisuzzo. “This school really are Professors Neil Hair (E. Wallace Library, RIT Athletics and the has some unusual needs. In fact, they Philip Saunders College of Busi- elementary school, thanks, in part, to have an influx of refugees each spring. ness) and Sue Barnes (College a grant from RIT’s Division of Student We’re just happy to provide any support of Liberal Arts) who will teach Affairs. Other funds are being provided that we can.” a state-of-the-art class in Online by the athletics department and Wallace The RIT staff and student volunteers Advertising during winter Library. The program has helped to pro- plan to continue the partnership through quarter. Interested students will mote literacy and stress the importance the end of the school year—and beyond. learn how to advertise organiza- and viability of a college education. The ultimate goal of the project is to tions and themselves in virtual Lisuzzo, manager of administrative promote literacy and the understanding A. Sue Weisler | photographer space with a special focus on operations at Wallace Library, leaves of the importance of a college education. Nine-year-old students Kenneth Cruz and Sara Perez, from Rochester’s School #5, get extra help Second Life. For information, campus every Friday morning with The presence of RIT student athletes in from Julia Lisuzzo as part of a partnership between Wallace Library and the elementary school. contact [email protected]. the other volunteers and devotes her the classrooms serves a dual purpose. morning to working with children in 14 Not only do the youngsters get the futures. We hope to show them that something to open during the holidays. Systems symposium classrooms on reading and math—or attention they need from volunteers, they education can make a difference and The children need basic items—pillows, RIT’s Department of Computer whatever assistance the teachers need at can ask questions about college from attaining a college degree is possible.” toothbrushes, combs, hats, gloves and Engineering and Freescale the moment. those who know it best—RIT students. The school’s population has a poverty scarves, among other things. Semiconductor are hosting the Lisuzzo mentions that she is amazed The children at School #5 will also have rate of 91 percent. For this reason, the “It’s an amazing feeling to know that second annual embed systems by the sense of multiculturalism that the opportunity to take a field trip to RIT Wallace Library staff is coordinating the we can help make a difference in a child’s symposium 8 a.m.-5 p.m. is apparent when she and the other this spring to get a real taste of the college “adoption” of the fifth grade for the holi- life,” adds Lisuzzo.