The 2014 CenTennial Medals p.17 Intellectual engagement p.20 summer 2014 storing energy from the sun Harvard researchers are developing ways to generate and capture energy from renewable sources that could transform energy use throughout the world p. 12 12 Storing Energy from the Sun How Harvard ResearcHers Will Change tHe World 17 The 2014 Centennial Medalists Honoring science advocate Bruce AlBerts, museum curator Keith CHristiansen, sociologist JuditH lasKer, and American studies pioneer Leo Marx 20 Intellectual Engagement alumni Day 2014 brings tHe GSAS community togetHer 22 Physics Reunion Physics graduate alumni return for reunion 24 363 The 2014 graduates join tHe ancient and universal company of scHolars summer/14 an alumni publication of Harvard University’s graduate School of Arts and Sciences 3 From unIversIty hAll 4 news & Notes The 2014 Harvard Horizons Scho- lars, success in grant funding and admissions, and Real-Life Stories from the academic job search. 8 Q&A wIth Ray JAyAwArDhAnA Telling stories of the very large and the very small. 10 SHElF LIFe Nicholas Carr warns of overreliance on digital technology, Suzanne Keen delves into Thomas Hardy’s brains, and more. 26 noteD News from our alumni. 28 Alumni ConneCtIons Investigating nonacademic careers, the Davis Center turns 65, and “Your Harvard” visits NYC. summer cover illustration: Heads of State facing image: Bagpipers lead the traditional commencement parade to Tercentenary /14 theatre. Photograph by Neal Hamberg CONTRIBUTORS Xiao-Li Meng dean, PhD ’90 Ann Hall joined GSAS as director of Margot N. Gill administrative dean communications in April. A twenty- Jon Petitt director of alumni relations and publications Ann Hall editor year veteran of Harvard Univer- Visual Dialogue design sity, she has developed and written Colloquy is published three times a year by the Graduate School Alumni diverse content for alumni and Association (GSAA). Governed by its Alumni Council, the GSAA represents other marketing publications and and advances the interests of alumni of the Graduate School of Arts and authored top level communications. Sciences through alumni events and publications. Ann wrote this issue’s feature about CoNtact the work Harvard researchers are The Graduate School Alumni Association, Suite 350, 1350 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138-3846, 617-495-5591 conducting to change how energy [email protected], www. gsas.harvard.edu/alumni is generated and stored. Access current and back issues of Colloquy, as well as a range of other alumni services and information, at www.gsas.harvard.edu/alumni. For over 10 years, Jason Kernevich GraduAte SchooL ALumni AssoCiAtioN (GSAA) CounciL and Dustin Summers have been reinier Beeuwkes, COL ’62, PhD ’70, division of medical sciences working together as the Heads of Lisette Cooper, PhD ’84, geology State. They’ve created award win- Mia de Kuijper, MPA ’83, PhD ’83, economics Stacy Dick, AB ’78, PhD ’83, economics ning posters, book covers, branding, A. Barr Dolan, AM ’74, applied sciences and illustration for a diverse and richard ekman, AB ’66, PhD ’72, history of American civilization impressive list of clients. In 2012, they Yonatan eyal, PhD ’05, history John C. C. Fan, SM ’67, PhD ’72, applied sciences launched Pilot and Captain, a design Kenneth Froewiss, AB ’67, PhD ’77, economics venture focused on creating t-shirts, Homer Hagedorn, PhD ’55, history posters, and products inspired by r. Stanton Hales, PhD ’70, mathematics David Harnett, PhD ’70, history the golden age of travel. They lecture LaVaughn Henry, PhD ’91, economics frequently about their work and Karen J. Hladik, PhD ’84, business economics process and teach graphic design Daniel r. Johnson, AM ’82, East Asian history, AM ’84, business economics Gopal Kadagathur, PhD ’69, applied sciences and illustration at Tyler School of Art Gyuri Karady, PhD ’80, applied sciences where they both studied. robert e. Knight, PhD ’68, economics imad Kordab, PhD ’09, applied mathe matics Felipe Larraín, PhD ’85, economics elisabeth Moch, who illustrated Jill Levenson, PhD ’67, English and American literature and language portraits of the 2014 Centennial See-Yan Lin, MPA ’70, PhD ’77, economics Medal winners, contributes to Jean Liu, SM ’02, computer science Abraham Lowenthal, AB ’61, MPA ’64, PhD ’71, government international publications such as Suzanne Folds McCullagh, PhD ’81, fine arts the New York Times and Esquire, John J. Moon, AB ’89, PhD ’94, business economics as well as to Swedish fashion labels Sandra o. Moose, PhD ’68, economics Betsy M. ohlsson-Wilhelm, AB ’63, PhD ’69, medical sciences Acne and Minimarket. She has drawn Maury Peiperl, MBA ’86, PhD ’94, organizational behavior on the terrace of a colonial villa in M. Lee Pelton, PhD ’84, English and American literature and language China, in the State Library of Victoria Nancy ramage, PhD ’69, classical archaeology John e. rielly, PhD ’61, government in Melbourne, in various crammed Allen Sanginés-Krause, PhD ’87, economics cafés in New York City, and under David Staines, PhD ’73, English and American literature and language the eucalyptus trees in Sri Lanka. She Marianne Steiner, MEN ’78, SM ’78, applied mathematics Dennis e. Vaccaro, PhD ’78, medical sciences now works from a studio in Berlin. Donald van Deventer, PhD ’77, economics; chair Lee Zhang, AM ’01, medical sciences Visual Dialogue is the Boston-based Gustavus Zimmerman, PhD ’80, physics firm that designs Colloquy. Creative Letters to the editor Director Fritz Klaetke won a Grammy Colloquy does not print letters, but we welcome your feedback and story Award in 2013 for his album design ideas. Write to: Colloquy, Harvard University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Suite 350, 1350 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138- for Woody at 100, a boxed set from 3846; or e-mail [email protected]. Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. Moving? Please e-mail your new address to [email protected] or send your The firm recently completed an ad Colloquy mailing label and your new address to Alumni Records, 124 Mount campaign for the city of Cambridge Auburn Street, 4th Floor, Cambridge, MA 02138-3654. (“Cambridge Is for Squares”), cel- Colloquy is printed by PrintResource/DS Graphics. ebrating its diverse neighborhoods. ann hall photo: tony rinaldo neal hamberg FROM UNIVERsITY hALL Colloquy 3 summer 2014 the skills to flourish Commencement is bittersweet for all of us at the Graduate xiao-li Meng, critically about the essence of their scholarly work. This School of Arts and Sciences. While it is inspiring to stand phD ’90, Dean, thought process has made “the dissertation itself richer graduate School of on the stage of Sanders Theatre and look out at the sea of arts and Sciences, as well as clearer,” as the thesis advisor of one scholar crimson robes—and at enthusiastic friends and family—it whipple V. N. Jones wrote to me, a sentiment echoed by many Horizons Schol- is hard to say goodbye to the talented women and men with professor of Statistics ars. We are working with the Bok Center to develop pro- whom we connected during their years here. It is a time of grams that will provide similar experiences to many more endings and new beginnings, when our graduates go on to graduate students. make their own special contributions to their chosen fields. To excel as communicators, graduate students must While Commencement marks the culmination of our Our mission also possess advanced writing skills, so that they can craft students’ work at GSAS, it by no means signals an end to our at GSAS is to the ideal dissertation, draft a compelling proposal, or con- efforts to ensure that all graduates possess the skills to flour- vince readers of the strength of their arguments. That is why ish in their chosen professions. Students can easily become attract the we are moving forward with a new initiative, the creation so absorbed in their disciplines that they lose sight of the best talent of a writing center located on the second floor of Dudley importance of communicating their research. We continue House. Construction is already under way and will continue to foster new professional development opportunities, from around through the summer. Plans are in place to hire a director and which range from courses on proposal preparation and the globe discipline-specific tutors, who will mentor their respective finance career workshops during January@GSAS to public students in the art of conveying their thoughts and scholarly speaking training led by the Derek Bok Center for Teach- work clearly and effectively. ing and Learning. I am particularly happy to report that our As dean, I want to ensure that our graduates exit the alumni, via the Alumni Council, play a critical role in orga- Sanders Theatre stage with both advanced scholarly train- nizing and offering courses during January@GSAS and be- ing and well-developed personal and interpersonal skills yond, a testament to the “Harvard Forever” experience that so that they can launch a fulfilling career, not merely land extends from entering GSAS students to engaged alumni. a job. After all, our mission at GSAS is to attract the best For the second year, Harvard Horizons has demonstrated talent from around the globe, provide them with world- the value of these professional development opportunities. class academic instruction and professional development, The Horizons Scholars’ inspiring and absorbing presenta- and help them to launch careers that embrace their passion tions showcased the impressive scholarship