June 17, 2002

John P. Harrington Named Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences

John P. Harrington, dean and professor of humanities at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, has been named dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Rensselaer. He will begin his tenure in August. More

Drew Named Chair of Mathematical Sciences

Donald Drew '67 has been appointed chair of the Department of Mathematical Sciences. His appointment begins July 1. Drew, the Eliza Ricketts Professor of Applied Mathematics for the past eight years, has been a Rensselaer faculty member for nearly 30 years. More

Noah's Flood Hypothesis May Not Hold Water
In 1996, marine geologists William Ryan and Walter Pitman published the scientifically popular Noah's Flood Hypothesis. The researchers presented evidence of a bursting flood about 7,500 years ago in what is now the Black Sea. This, some say, supports the biblical story of Noah's ark. But, such a forceful flood could not have taken place, says Jun Abrajano, professor of earth and environmental sciences at Rensselaer. More