Campus.News: Features

Xi-Cheng Zhang, professor of physics, has been named the J. Erik Jonsson '22 Distinguished Professor of Science.

The campus is invited to a reception honoring Zhang on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 4-5 p.m., in room 1C13 of the Jonsson-Rowland Science Center.

"Dr. Zhang is breaking new ground in terahertz science, which has profound effects on biology and medicine," said Joseph Flaherty, dean of the school of science. "I'm delighted that we're able to reward him for this exciting work."

Zhang is a pioneer in the field of terahertz (THz) imaging, which uses a heretofore untapped region of light that may be more revealing than X-rays. THz imaging could make it possible to now view such things as diseased tissue or electric fields. Zhang's research has generated more than $7 million in support from the National Science Foundation, Army Research Office, and Department of Energy.

Zhang joined the physics department in 1992. In less than 10 years, he built a world-class research lab and amassed numerous honors and awards in addition to contributing to more than 200 books, scientific journals, and lectures. He holds 12 patents and is a fellow of both the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and the Optical Society of America.

In November, Zhang will be the honorable chair of the first International Conference on Biomedical Imaging and Sensing Applications of THz Technology to be held at Leeds, United Kingdom.

Zhang holds a master's and Ph.D. in physics from Brown University, and a bachelor's degree from Peking University in Beijing. Prior to joining the Rensselaer faculty, he conducted research at the Amoco Research Center, Columbia University.

President Jackson Honored for Election to NAE
James Tien '66 Also Inducted as an Academy Member

A banquet and reception was held at Washington, D.C.'s Willard Hotel on Friday, Oct. 5, to celebrate President Jackson's induction as a member of the distinguished National Academy of Engineering. More than 190 guests attended the black-tie event, hosted by Samuel Heffner Jr. '56 and Judge Arthur Garjarsa '62, chair and vice chair respectively of the Rensselaer Board of Trustees.

Guests included government leaders, heads of federal agencies, and many of President Jackson's close friends and family members. Rensselaer patrons, cabinet members, and members of the Deans Council were also present, along with NAE members from the Rensselaer faculty.

President Jackson and James Tien '66, professor and chair of decision sciences and engineering systems, were inducted as NAE members at the organization's annual meeting Sunday, Oct. 7. Jackson's election recognized her contributions to industry research, education, and the formation of the International Nuclear Regulators Association. Tien's election recognized his contributions to the development and application of systems engineering concepts and methodologies to improve public services and engineering education.

Researchers in the acoustics program in the School of Architecture are investigating how the design of a classroom can affect how easily students hear. The researchers believe that if more attention is paid to classroom acoustics when designing the space, students will have an easier time learning and understanding what's going on.

The researchers believe that if more attention is paid to classroom acoustics when designing the space, students will have an easier time learning and understanding what's going on.

Yasushi Shimizu, senior research associate professor of architecture, and architecture research specialist Abigail Stefaniw have been studying how reverberation, background noise, and other factors make it difficult for students to understand what is being said by an instructor. Their research, published in the October issue of Discover magazine, focuses on an area of architecture that Stefaniw says is paid little attention by most traditional designers—the listening environment itself and the variable acoustics in the classroom.

"Most architects just don't have any education in acoustics, and certainly not for small spaces like classrooms," Stefaniw says.

Computer models were constructed for three types of rooms: a traditional shoebox shape, a rectangular shape with two clipped corners (similar to a musical performance space), and a trapezoidal shape. Those computer room models were combined with recorded words modified to simulate the acoustics of each room. Those recordings were then played to listeners sitting in an anechoic (echo-free) chamber.

Stefaniw said she was pleasantly surprised to find that the trapezoidal classroom model offered the best acoustics, or "ease of hearing."

Research of this kind could lead to the development of new standards for classroom acoustics. Regulators for the Americans with Disabilities Act are currently working on such standards, which exist already in countries such as Germany and the United Kingdom.

Lemnios Announces Retirement
Search Committee Will Seek New Vice President for Rensselaer at Hartford

Andrew Lemnios, interim vice president of Rensselaer at Hartford, has announced his retirement, effective June 30, 2002. President Jackson has initiated a nationwide search for the new position of vice president and dean at Hartford.

The new position will serve a broader role to provide academic leadership for the engineering, science, and management programs at Hartford. The new hire also will have the responsibility for the overall operation and management of the Hartford campus.

Lester Gerhardt, associate dean of engineering, has been named chair of the search committee, which includes faculty and staff members from both the Hartford and Troy campuses. Boston executive search firm, Isaacson, Miller, will augment the search committee's role.

Lemnios has been serving as interim vice president since November 1999. He reflected on his decision to retire saying, "The time has come when I must pass the torch to new leadership for Rensselaer at Hartford. After much thought and with mixed emotions, I think now is the appropriate time. I would like to spend more time with my family—my wife, children, and grandchildren."

Lemnios joined Rensselaer's faculty in 1993 as clinical professor in the Mechanical Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, and Mechanics Department and has taught at both the Troy and Hartford campuses. Lemnios also served as director of the Rotorcraft Technology Center in Troy. He is an associate fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and an honorary fellow of the American Helicopter Society.

Prior to joining Rensselaer, Lemnios was vice president of research and technology at Kaman Aerospace Corporation.

Rensselaer students are encouraged to attend a free media arts conference to learn more about career opportunities in digital media, communications, and entertainment.

The conference, part of the two-day Media Arts Career Festival, is sponsored by the Career Development Center and the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. It will be held on Oct. 27, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Heffner Alumni House.

The conference is composed of several workshops, ranging from how to conduct an effective Internet job search, to designing an electronic portfolio, to discovering available career opportunities. Among those facilitating the workshops will be representatives of Monster.Com, a major online career center; Disney World; IBM; financial consulting firm Arthur Andersen; and marketing firms from New York City and Boston.

"The job market is competitive right now, and this is a great opportunity for students of all disciplines to find out how they can break into this technologically innovative field," says Diana Leis Delker, senior associate director of the Career Development Center (CDC).

On Friday, Oct. 26, the career festival kicks off with a 5 p.m. reception at the Alumni House at which the campus is invited to view Rensselaer students' electronic artwork. At 6 p.m., Dean Winker '81, chief technology officer at Crossroads Films in New York City, will deliver the keynote presentation about where the entertainment industry is headed.

Students Sell T-Shirts to Raise Funds for Victims of Sept. 11 Terrorist Attacks

t-shirt inspired by President Jackson's remarks

Three MBA students have designed a T-shirt to commemorate the events of Sept. 11. The shirt is being sold to the campus community and all proceeds will go to three charity organizations in New York City.

As they listened to President Jackson address the tragic terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 at a recent campus town meeting, Gina Musselwhite, Michael Lobsinger, and Jeffrey Betz agreed that three words kept resonating— empathy, dignity, and mutual respect.

So, as eager young MBA students, they designed a product, developed a business plan to market it, and sought funding to bring it to reality. The three enlisted Renee Rosen, an artist and MBA peer, to design a graphic around the three words that could be printed on a T-shirt.

The shirts are for sale to the campus and alumni community to raise funds for the victims of the attacks. All proceeds will go directly to a charity of choice: the American Red Cross, the New York Fire and Police Widows and Children's Benefit Fund, or Windows of Hope.

"We wanted to represent the Rensselaer community and its diversity with this T-shirt," said Lobsinger. "We didn't want to be exclusive by representing just the American flag. This event has affected everyone."

Approximately 500 shirts will be manufactured, says Musselwhite. The group is requesting a minimum donation of $10 per shirt, but buyers are encouraged to donate above that sum.

Shirts can be purchased on the third floor of the Pittsburgh Building, as well as from tables in the Union, and from Rita Thompson, coordinator of graduate programs, at ext. 4800.

When purchasing a shirt, please make checks payable directly to the fund of choice.

The Office of the First Year Experience (FYE) has created a new initiative, called "Preparing the Global Citizen," that will, among other things, build a global citizenship program for students that will revolve around issues of diversity and cultural awareness.

The initiative has been funded with a three-year, $150,000 grant from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.

"Preparing the Global Citizen" also will establish a mini-grant system for faculty and staff to seek support for cultural awareness outside of the classroom, and enhance the First Year Studies curriculum.

"This is our first secured grant since the Office of the First Year Experience was established in April, and is very important to the success of our students," says Lisa Trahan, FYE dean. "The objectives of the First Year Experience are to advance the overall student experience at Rensselaer and ultimately lay the foundation for a life-long attitude of cultural awareness and tolerance."

Trahan secured the grant in a collaborative effort with the offices of Foundation Relations and Institute Diversity at Rensselaer.