On Campus
Memorial Symposium for Giuseppe Attardi
A memorial symposium for Giuseppe Attardi will be held from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Friday, August 29, in Beckman Institute auditorium. Attardi, whose work linked degenerative diseases and aging to genetic mutations, died at his home in Altadena on April 5, 2008. He was 84 years old. Attardi, the California Institute of Technology's Steele Professor of Molecular Biology, was among the first scientists to delve into the processes through which DNA's information is transferred. He identified all the genes of the DNA in human mitochondria—often called the powerhouses of biological cells. He then developed techniques for investigating genetic diseases, including Alzheimer's, and aging in general, which he discovered is associated with changes in mitochondrial DNA.
Caltech Archives Oral History Program
Since 1978, Caltech Archives has conducted an oral history program centered on the Caltech community and its distinguished scientists, including interviews on specific projects such as the Keck Telescope and LIGO. Selected oral histories are now available online at http://oralhistories.library.caltech.edu. Users can browse a list of oral histories in the Archives' collections or search their entire catalog for related materials. |
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 J. Kent Clark Oral History Available Online
J. Kent Clark (1917–2008), Caltech professor of literature, emeritus, came to campus in 1950. In an oral history interview for the Caltech Archives with Shelley Erwin in 1990, he describes his youth in rural Utah and the beginnings of his dramatic and comedic activities during his student years at Brigham Young University. At Caltech, he took seriously Robert A. Millikan's mandate to produce literate scientists from an all-male student population affectionately dubbed "trolls." Having recognized Caltech for what it was, namely a grand subject for comedy, he and coconspirators from the Caltech Stock Company wrote, produced, and performed, a series of hilarious musicals based on campus life. The first show, The Road to Stockholm, celebrated Linus Pauling's Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1954. The hit song from this production (rendered by a female cast member) began: "Linus Pauling is the man for me. / He makes violent changes in my chemistry." Individual songs from the musicals, notably "The Richter Scale" and "Let's Advance on Science," have stood the test of time and can be purchased on CD in the Caltech Bookstore. The Kent Clark interview, which contains an audio sample, may be read or downloaded at the Caltech Archives' oral histories website at http://oralhistories.library.caltech.edu.
 Applications for Childcare Assistance Program Due by October 1
Many parents feel the heavy weight of their childcare bills every month, but that burden can be lightened for many members of the Caltech community. With the Childcare Assistance Program (CCAP), participants who meet certain financial criteria won't have to worry about paying a hefty chunk of next year's bills. As CCAP enters its sixth year, this childcare reimbursement program is more popular than ever. The program is open to Caltech faculty, staff, postdoctoral scholars, and graduate students who have dependent children age 10 and under. The application period for 2009 awards is August 18 through October 1, 2008. Details, including CCAP policies, care-provider criteria, and an online application, are available on the Web at
http://cit.hr.caltech.edu/ccap_program.htm.
 Great Rebate - Big Savings!
From now through September 8, CEFCU is offering a rebate of 1 percent of your entire auto loan amount (up to a cash-back limit of $450) on any new or used vehicle you finance or refinance from another institution at CEFCU. Plus, save even more with our great low rates. Get pre-approved and take advantage of the big summer auto sales with the power of cash in hand. And talk about easy! You can now apply directly online, anytime. Visit www.cefcu.org for more details and get started today. Remember CEFCU for American Express Travelers Cheques. Single-signature checks are fee-free. Campus Branch Hours:
Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closure: Labor Day--Monday, September 1
 Read the Chronicle of Higher Education for Free
Caltech Library Services has recently negotiated a website license for the Chronicle of Higher Education, which makes the publcation available online for free to the campus community. This means that when your individual or office subscription comes up for renewal, there's no need to pay to renew your subscription. It's now free. For more information, e-mail library@caltech.edu. Off-campus users can access the site-licensed Chronicle of Higher Education at https://clsproxy.library.caltech.edu/login?url=http://chronicle.com.
Caltech General Announcements
 Emergency Information Hotline
Did you know that Caltech has phone numbers to call for information in time of emergency? These numbers provide recorded information about the impact of an emergency on the campus, including whether or not employees should come to work. From campus, dial ext. 3291; from off campus, dial (626) 395-3291 or toll-free 1 (888) 427-7465. Read about security resources and crisis resources at the security office website at security.caltech.edu.
 And the Oscar Goes to . . .
Send Kristina Valenzuela a funny or inspirational Rideshare story and be nominated as this year's "Oscar" winner. The catagories are Biker of the Year,Walker of the Year, Carpooler of the Year, Vanpooler of the Year, and Transit Rider of the Year. Send your stories to Kristina via e-mail at Kristina.Valenzuela@caltech.edu. Winners will be announced at this year's Rideshare Fair on October 3. Details about fair to follow. The deadline for submitting stories is September.
With the price of gas close to $5 per gallon, vanpools are being formed rather quickly here at Caltech. Currently there is one seat available in the Santa Clarita II vanpool and three seats available in the West Covina vanpool. A carpooler is wanted for the Maywood area. For more information, contact Caltech's transportation coordinator, Kristina Valenzuela, or 395-4729 at Kristina.Valenzuela@caltech.edu.
The SFCC Is Relationship Central
The SFCC is all about relationships! Whether issues are with your romantic partner, friends, roommate, children, parents, boss, or coworkers, SFCC staff members can help. SFCC provides individual, couple, family, and group services for staff, faculty, and postdocs. It's on campus, free, and confidential. The SFCC office is located on the third floor of the Millikan Library, room 322. Call 395-8360 or e-mail sfcc@caltech.edu for an appointment.
The Associated Retirees of Caltech/JPL (ARC) has been organizing trips and events for Caltech and JPL retirees since the mid '80s. What many don't know is that ARC membership is also available to current employees.
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Campus Specials
 Buy a Mac Computer and Get a Free iPod
Until September 15, 2008, Caltech students, faculty, and staff who use their educational discount to purchase a Mac computer at Wired will receive an iPod Touch or Nano free after rebate. Rebates must be submitted online by October 15. For more information, contact Caltech Wired at 395-8006 or citbook@caltech.edu.
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Spotlight on Staff
 Caltech's transportation coordinator, Kristina Valenzuela, helps employees find convenient, affordable, and environmentally conscientious ways to get to and from the Institute. Having earned her black belt in Tae Kwon Do, she is now studying Muay Thai.
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Archived Stories
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Welcome to Caltech | | |
Daniel Bahmiller, researcher, control and dynamical systems; Ana DeCrow, cashier, Dining Services; Nancy Elias de la Rosa, postdoctoral scholar in the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center; Laura Flower Kim, international-student advisor, Human Resources; Belita Hall, administrative assistant, private events, Athenaeum; Marin Kobilarov, postdoctoral scholar in control and dynamical systems; Jim Latchney, electronic access librarian, Library Services; George Maltezos, visitor in electrical engineering; Juan Santos, environment, health, and safety technician, Environment, Health, and Safety Services; Reyna Sauza, assistant animal lab technician, biology; Keisuke Shimizu, visitor in applied physics; Paul Tarr, postdoctoral scholar in biology; Barnaby Wainfan, visitor in aeronautics; Lichun Zhang, research assistant/lab manager, geochemistry.
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Retirements | |
Dian De Sha, who worked in information-technology training for Enterprise Systems and Consulting, Information Management Systems and Services, retired on July 8, after more than 20 years at Caltech. Ann Patterson retired on July 8 after 11 years with Caltech; a member of the Financial Services staff, she worked in budget-planning analysis.
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Honors and Awards | |
Dick Bond, visiting associate in theoretical astrophysics, has been selected to receive the 2008 Gruber Cosmology Prize, which will be awarded in September at the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. The award citation reads: "Bond's approach to cosmological questions combines a unique blend of original theory and full involvement in the observations made by experimental teams. He has helped usher the field through three decades of what has been described as its 'golden age.'" A Caltech alumnus, he received his MS here in 1975, and his PhD in 1979; he received his BSc from the University of Toronto in 1973. He holds the title of University Professor at the University of Toronto and is director of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research's Cosmology and Gravity Program.
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Alexei Borodin, professor of mathematics, received an EMS Prize on July 14. Awarded by the European Mathematical Society in recognition of distinguished contributions in mathematics by young researchers not older than 35 years, the EMS Prize is presented every four years at the European Congress of Mathematics. The award citation commends Borodin for his "substantial contributions to the representation theory of 'big' groups, to combinatorics, interacting particle systems and random matrix theory," and his prize winner's lecture was titled "Random surfaces in dimensions two, three, and four." A professor at Caltech since 2003, he received his MSc from Moscow State University in 1997 and his PhD from the University of Pennsylvania in 2001.
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Mani Chandy, Ramo Professor and professor of computer science, Mathieu Desbrun, associate professor of computer science, Sarkis Mazmanian, assistant professor of biology, David Politzer, Tolman Professor of Theoretical Physics, and Joel Tropp, assistant professor of applied and computational mathematics, are faculty recipients of 2007 ASCIT (Associated Students of Caltech) Teaching Awards. The Teaching Award for research mentor has gone to John Eiler, professor of geochemistry, and, for teaching assistant, to grad students Aadel Chaudhuri, in biology, Kristin Gleitsman, in chemistry, and Nahid Walji, in mathematics, and to Po-Ling Loh, undergraduate in mathematics, class of '09.
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Robert Clayton, professor of geophysics, has received the 2007 Graduate Student Council (GSC) Mentoring Award. Graduate students James Swan, in chemical engineering, Chris Wegg, in physics, and Ling Zheng, in mechanical engineering, have received the GSC Teaching Assistant Award, and Flora Hinz, graduate student in biology, an Honorable Mention.
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Kenneth Farley, Keck Foundation Professor of Geochemistry and chair of the Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, has been named the 2008 recipient of the Arthur L. Day Medal, which is "awarded for outstanding contribution to geologic knowledge through the application of physics and chemistry to the solution of geologic problems." The medal will be presented in October at the Geological Society of America 's annual meeting in Houston, and the honor also includes life fellowship in the society. Farley received his BS from Yale in 1986 and his PhD from UC San Diego in 1991. He came to Caltech as an assistant professor in 1993 and became professor in 1998 and Keck Foundation Professor in 2003. He served as director of the Tectonics Observatory in 2003–04.
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Ryan Patterson, Richard Chace Tolman Postdoctoral Scholar in Experimental Physics, is a corecipient of the Fermilab/URA Graduate Thesis Award; he and fellow recipient Peter Wagner of the University of Pennsylvania will split a $3,500 prize funded by the Universities Research Association. Patterson's dissertation, "Search for Muon Neutrino to Electron Neutrino Oscillations at Delta M Squared > 0.1 eV Squared," presented findings declared by the American Institute of Physics to be among the top science results of 2007. Patterson received his BS from Caltech in 2000 and his PhD from Princeton this year.
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Tom Prince, professor of physics, received the Distinguished Service Medal at JPL's annual NASA Honor Awards ceremony on July 23. The medal is the highest honor conferred by NASA. Prince has been recognized "for distinguished scientific contributions to, and leadership of, NASA astrophysics programs, and for distinguished management of NASA science programs as JPL chief scientist." Prince joined Caltech as a research fellow after receiving his PhD from the University of Chicago in 1978. He was appointed assistant professor in 1983 and professor in 1992, and he served as associate director of the Center for Advanced Computing Research from 1995 to 2001 and as chief scientist at JPL from 2001 to 2006. He is currently a JPL senior research scientist.
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Maarten Schmidt, Moseley Professor of Astronomy, Emeritus, has been named a corecipient of the Kavli Prize in Astrophysics. Jointly sponsored by the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters, the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research, and the Kavli Foundation, the prize consists of a scroll, a medal, and $1 million, which Schmidt will share with Donald Lynden-Bell of Cambridge University, "both of whose work underpins our understanding of quasars." Schmidt received his PhD from the University of Leiden in 1956 and his ScD from Yale in 1966. He joined Caltech's faculty in 1959, and served as chair of the Division of Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy from 1976 to 1978 and as director of the Hale Observatories from 1978 to 1980.
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Kip Thorne, Feynman Professor of Theoretical Physics, received an honorary doctor of science degree from the University of Chicago on June 13. The award citation reads: "Kip Thorne has deepened our understanding of space, time, and gravitation through his research on black holes, gravitational waves, and other aspects of general relativity. He has trained and inspired generations of graduate students, and has provided leadership and vision to scholars and students in the general relativity community." Thorne received his BS from Caltech in 1962 and his PhD from Princeton in 1965. Returning to Caltech as a research fellow in 1966, he became associate professor in 1967, professor in 1970, and Feynman Professor in 1991. He was William R. Kenan Professor from 1981 to 1991.
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Zhen-Gang Wang, professor of chemical engineering, has been awarded the Richard P. Feynman Prize for Excellence in Teaching. Caltech's most prestigious teaching honor, the prize comes with a $3,500 cash award plus an equivalent raise in annual salary. Wang was chosen for the award in recognition of "his mastery of thermodynamics and polymer physics, clarity of presentation, and ability to empower students through the knowledge and experience they gain from his teaching." Wang received his BSc from Beijing University in 1982 and his PhD from the University of Chicago in 1987. He joined Caltech as an assistant professor in 1991, becoming associate professor in 1997 and professor in 2002.
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