RENSSELAER ON THE MOVE Research Roundup Studying Proteins Under Pressure The National Science Foundation has awarded Angel Garcia, senior constellation chaired professor in biocomputation and bioinformatics, a five-year, $947,000 grant to study how proteins behave under pressure. The research, which involves creating molecular simulations of protein behavior through computations on the folding and unfolding of specific proteins, seeks to address gaps in scientific knowledge regarding the role of water pressure in protein structure and function that could aid in the understanding and treatment of disease. State Funds River Research New York State Governor George Pataki announced plans to include $25 million in the 2006-07 Executive Budget for the construction of a Center for Advanced Environmental Technology at the Rivers and Estuaries Center on the Hudson in Beacon, N.Y. Arthur Sanderson, professor of electrical, computer, and systems engineering at Rensselaer, is chair of the science advisory committee for the Rivers and Estuaries Center. The funding will foster research along the length of the Hudson River and Estuary, and will support the development of emerging technologies such as robotics, distributed sensors, and information technology for networks. These advancements will be critical to the future of environmental research and monitoring. Rensselaer and its Darrin Fresh Water Institute are at the forefront of research on distributed sensor networks that enable real-time environmental monitoring of the Hudson River and other rivers, lakes, and waterways. Harnessing the Power of the Sun Rensselaer researchers have received a $300,000, three-year grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to develop a thin-film active building envelope (ABE), a solar-powered heating and cooling system that could potentially render traditional air conditioning and heating equipment obsolete. Made up of photovoltaic cells that collect and convert sunlight into electricity and thermoelectric heat-pumps that emit hot or cool temperatures based on the direction of the electric current, the ABE system could be applied like a glaze to a building’s walls and windows, giving them the ability to regulate interior temperatures.

NANOTECHNOLOGY
Researchers Develop Flexible, Conducting "Nano Skins"
A team of researchers has developed a new process to make “nano skins” for a variety of applications, from electronic paper to sensors for detecting chemical and biological agents. The materials combine the strength and conductivity of carbon nanotubes with the flexibility of traditional polymers.  Read more

BIOTECHNOLOGY
Powerful Imaging Tool Unveiled
In March, Rensselaer President Shirley Ann Jackson and New York Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno joined biotechnology researchers and business leaders at the Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies to unveil a powerful new tool — a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometer — that aids in research on the cause and treatment of disease.  Read more

LALLY SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY
Trading Floor Training
Eight graduate and undergraduate students from Rensselaer’s Lally School of Management and Technology tested their skills in trading, financial analysis, and econometric modeling while participating in the third annual Rotman International Trading Competition at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management on Feb. 24-25.  Read more

ARCHITECTURE
Celebrating History Through Art
Since January, a poster hanging in subway stations and bus terminals across New York City has been reminding commuters of the city’s rich history of bus transportation.  Read more

BIOCATALYSIS AND METABOLIC ENGINEERING
Synthetic Heparin
Researchers at Rensselaer and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have discovered an alternative way to produce heparin, a drug commonly used to stop or prevent blood from clotting. The findings could enable the current supply of the drug — now extracted from animal organ tissue — to be replaced or supplemented by the synthetic version. The new process also can be applied as a tool for drug discovery, according to the researchers.  Read more

RENSSELAER UNION
Revamped Rathskellar
Dining on the ground floor of the Rensselaer Union is an entirely new experience thanks to extensive renovations made to the Rathskeller, which were unveiled in a grand-opening ceremony on Feb. 13.  Read more

HAWK TALK
Making Hoops History
In a home game against Hobart on Feb. 10, 2006, Rensselaer men’s basketball star Tom Schneider accomplished a feat only a handful of Red Hawks before him have achieved. In front of fans, friends, and family members who drove from his hometown in New Hampshire to watch, Schneider became the 12th player in Rensselaer history to score 1,000 career points.  Read more