During Phase I of the competition, six of the 12 architects who responded to the competition invitation were chosen by the Presidential Advisory Committee on EMPAC and President Shirley Ann Jackson. The Architect Selection Committee pared that number down to four. The four architects have entered the second, and final, phase of the competition. A panel of distinguished professionals and Rensselaer representatives will announce a winner in early June. An invited forum with the international architects and representatives from Rensselaer faculty, staff, and students will take place Friday, March 23. The purpose of this meeting will be to provide greater focus on the EMPAC design. "Life Sciences" Fundamental to Research Portfolio, Biotechnology Committee Reports The Internal Strategic Planning Committee for Biotechnology has issued its report regarding strategic opportunities for research in biotechnology at Rensselaer.
"Life sciences are fundamental to the portfolio of any research university in the 21st century. Rensselaer must make a commitment to reinforcing the core of life sciences faculty, programs, and infrastructure in order to build new programs in biotechnology and related fields," the 14-member faculty committee concludes in its executive summary. The report identifies four core technology areas as primary opportunities for expanding biotechnology research at Rensselaer: functional tissue engineering, integrative systems biology, biocomputation and bioinformatics, and biocatalysis and metabolic engineering. It also identifies bioinstrumentation, biosensors, and biochips as opportunities in an enabling technology area. To encourage such opportunities, the report strongly endorses the planned construction of the Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies Building at Rensselaer.
The report identifies these research areas as important to Rensselaer's future growth from "existing building blocks of excellence," as identified in The Rensselaer Plan: bioprocessing and bioseparations; nanotechnology; microelectronics and microsystems; polymer synthesis; scientific computation, modeling, and simulation; intelligent systems and robotics; image and signal processing; and the social science of technology. "To pursue the new research directions described in this report will require selective seed funding of projects. Investment in specific, pre-proposal science and technology projects will provide the credibility and qualifications needed to achieve a competitive position in these new fields," the report says.
Director of Athletics Retires After 34 years at Rensselaer
"This is a position and a school that I feel passionately for," Ducatte said. "It's hard to say goodbye. But, it's time I moved on to the next stage of my life." During his tenure as athletics director, Ducatte led the growth of the department from 12 sports to 23, including all 11 of Rensselaer's women's intercollegiate varsity teams. Among Rensselaer's 23 varsity teams is the Division I men's hockey team, which won the NCAA National Championship in 1985. Ducatte also helped establish and coordinate the Transit Trophy Game in football as well as the annual men's hockey "Big Red Freakout!"
Ducatte,
64, came to Rensselaer in 1967 as head coach of the baseball For more information, link to the press release http://www.rpi.edu/dept/athletics/features/duke.htm
A day off from school and a string of student activities across campus will mark Rensselaer's celebration of Grand Marshal Week from March 30 to April 8.
Most of the more than 100 student organizations in the Rensselaer Union have plans for the celebration that focuses on the election of new student government representatives for the next school year. Wednesday, April 4, will be a highlight of the week, when students will have the day off for GM debates and to attend many activities, including the annual egg drop competition, touch football games, and the "Provost Barbeque" in the Armory, where Provost Bud Peterson and faculty members will serve students lunch. For a schedule of events and other information, contact GM Week Chair Matt Light '01 at ext. 8688, the Union at ext. 6505, or visit the Web site at http://www.rpi.edu/dept/union/gmweek/. Constellation Searches Under Way Searches are under way to fill critical positions in six "constellations" called for in the Rensselaer Plan. These constellations will be comprised of "stars"—distinguished faculty who have earned outstanding reputations in the information technology and biotechnology focal areas in which Rensselaer is choosing to invest.
The Information Technology and Biotechnology Constellation Search Committees are seeking suggestions and nominations for the professorships from campus. Both committees have placed advertisements in leading national journals and periodicals, calling for "outstanding faculty candidates for chaired senior- and junior-level professorships." Georges Belfort, professor of chemical engineering, is heading up the Biotechnology Constellation Search Committee. Joseph Flaherty, Amos Eaton Professor and acting chair of computer science, leads the IT Constellation Search Committee. Nominations are due no later than March 31 and should be sent to Suzanne Collins, Constellation Search Committee, Ricketts Building. Rensselaer
Hosts Community Telecommunications Conference Local community officials, school representatives, and youth leaders gathered at Rensselaer for a two-day conference, "Media Matters: Connecting Communities in the Digital Age." The March 16-17 conference was held in the Darrin Communication Center at Rensselaer and the Arts Center of the Capital Region in downtown Troy. Hosted by Rensselaer and the Northeast Region of the Alliance for Community Media (ACM), the 25 workshops, exhibitions, and other events focused on community telecommunications planning, youth projects that employ the Internet and cable access, and building local media and technology centers. Experts from state and regional agencies as well as from Washington, D.C., and Sacramento, Calif., were among the more than 300 expected to attend. Governor
Nominates Erin Crotty for DEC Commissioner: Governor George E. Pataki has nominated Erin M. Crotty '92 to be commissioner of the State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), succeeding John P. Cahill, who has left the top post at the agency to become the governor's senior policy adviser. Since October 1999, Crotty has been director of state and local government relations for Plug Power of Latham. Plug Power is a designer and developer of on-site, electricity generation systems utilizing fuel cell technology for residential applications. Crotty earned her master's in urban and environmental studies from Rensselaer in 1992.
"I am confident that Erin Crotty's extensive experience and her demonstrated commitment to the environment and natural resources will build on John's impressive record," the governor said. "Erin's skills and vision will effectively lead DEC into the future, enabling us to continue New York's unprecedented environmental and economic resurgence." Prior to joining Plug Power, Crotty served two years as deputy commissioner for water quality and environmental remediation at DEC, where she was responsible for overseeing the state's programs to clean up contaminated properties, implementation of the $1.75 billion Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act and all activities impacting New York's water quality. As deputy commissioner, Crotty is credited with crafting the legislation proposed by Governor Pataki to reform and refinance the state Superfund program. Crotty's nomination is subject to confirmation by the Senate. Front
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On
Thursday, March 22, the campus is invited to an open forum to
meet the four world-renowned architects who are finalists in the
design competition of the proposed Electronic Media and Performing
Arts Center (EMPAC). From 6 to 9 p.m. in room 3303 of Russell
Sage Laboratory, the architects will talk about previous work
they have done and about their respective companies.
Rensselaer
Director of Athletics Robert F. Ducatte announced his retirement
after 34 years at the university. Ducatte, who has spent the
past 30 years as the athletics director, will remain in his
position until June 30.