January 4, 2010 - The Whistle

Georgia Tech’s Faculty/Staff Newspaper • Vol. 35, No 1 • January 4, 2010
Whistle
THE
PEOPLE
Waste Tracking
[Professor Valerie Thomas’] prototype
technology called Smart
Trash aims to better manage all
forms of waste that carry product
ID tags. (New York Times)
http://tinyurl.com/yetufx9
NEWS
Obama to choose Nobel winner
for TVA board
The White House announced
the president’s plans to nominate
Marilyn A. Brown for one of two
vacant seats on the nine-member
[Tennessee Valley Authority
Board of Directors].
(Washington Post)
http://tinyurl.com/yb8dht3
RESEARCH
Georgia Tech students how to
help kids learn science
Researchers at Georgia Tech are
beginning a five-year study to see
if robotics competitions and other
related activities can actually teach
students about math, science and
engineering and get them interested
in these subjects. (Atlanta
Journal-Constitution)
http://tinyurl.com/yatvcyu
EVENTS
Arts & Culture
January 17
The Moscow State Radio Symphony
Orchestra will perform at the Ferst
Center for the Arts at 5 p.m. Tickets are
$20, $30 and $40, or $20, $24 and $32
with a subscription.
www.ferstcenter.gatech.edu
January 23
The New York Gilbert and Sullivan
Players present “The Pirates of
Penzance,” at 8 p.m. in the Ferst
Center for the Arts. Tickets are $20,
$32 and $42 ($20, $25.60 and $33.60
with subscription).
www.ferstcenter.gatech.edu
Conferences
and lectures
January 14
Washington University Professor
Daniel Chiu presents “Physical Tools
for Probing Biological Complexity
with Single-Cell and Single-Molecule
Resolutions,” at 3 p.m. in room G011 of
the Molecular Science and Engineering
Building.
www.chemistry.gatech.edu
January 19
Tom Dierking with Procter & Gamble will
be the next presenter in the Design for
the Global Corporation Lecture Series,
from 6 to 7 p.m. in room 1443 of the
Klaus Advanced Computing Building.
www.coa.gatech.edu
Calendar continues on page 2
2009 year in review
A new president, strategic planning and economic
challenges form the critical events of the past, present
Communications & Marketing
Tech closes the book on 2009,
finishing the calendar year while
reaching the midpoint of the academic
year.
In the past 12 months, the Institute has
welcomed President Bud Peterson and
Val Peterson to Atlanta from Boulder,
Colorado; the campus community has
participated in providing “big ideas” for
Tech’s next 25 years and economic challenges
have impacted every member of the
community, from students to faculty to
staff.
Named the sole finalist and then the
11th president of the Institute, Peterson
took the reins from Interim President and
Provost Gary Schuster in April. Eager to
begin working with the Tech community,
he came to campus in April rather than
finish the academic year as chancellor of
the University of Colorado at Boulder.
And although officially beginning
with Peterson’s investiture ceremony in
September, the strategic vision process
In Brief . . .
Administration and
Finance names
Assistant VP
Following an Institute-wide
search, Executive Vice President
for Administration and Finance
Steve Swant appointed JulieAnne
Williamson as assistant vice
president of Administration and
Finance, effective in November.
An alumna, Williamson was
previously director of Georgia
was talked
about when the
new president
arrived in April.
Peterson spoke
about his desire
to find those
key aspects that
define Tech’s
graduates and
separate them
from alumni of
other schools.
Through
engaging students,
faculty
and staff in fall
2009, nearly 60
town hall-style
meetings were held, with more than 1,200
big ideas submitted.
Preliminary plans from the eight subcommittees
were submitted for initial
review prior to the furlough in December.
These plans will now be subject to review
by core contributors from the larger community.
Designing the Future: The strategic vision process for Tech’s next 25 years began in
earnest on the day of President Bud Peterson’s investiture ceremony. Members of the
campus community met in groups discussing one of nine themes.
Tech Consulting Services in
the Office of Organizational
Development. After graduating,
she was a consultant with
Andersen Consulting in Atlanta
before returning to Tech in 1996.
Williamson joins a threeperson
staff leadership team in
the Carnegie Building, which
includes Executive Assistant
to the President Lynn Durham
and Assistant Provost Jennifer
Herazy.
www.admin-fin.gatech.edu
Search under way
for SEI director
The Institute has launched a
national search for a new director
of the Strategic Energy Institute
(SEI) and has created three new
part-time associate director positions
within SEI.
The new director will hold an
endowed chair in Energy Systems
and have an academic appointment
in the appropriate school.
The past
year also
brought extensive
budget
reductions to
every member
institution of
the University
System of
Georgia, due
to declining
state revenues.
Faculty and
staff were
required to
take four furlough
days
prior to the
winter break
in an effort to help with these reductions,
and campus administration has said other
measures will be taken in 2010.
Incidents around the campus have also
increased the community’s awareness of
crime. Several town hall forums were held
by students to address the issues, and
Tech Police have entered into an expanded
collaboration with Atlanta Police.
On the brighter side, the Institute continued
to shine with national and global
recognition. Tech held its position in the
U.S. News & World Report rankings, and
continues its commitment to sustainability
as its score on the Princeton Review’s
Green Honor Roll improved.
Milestones were reached and celebrated
as the Georgia Tech Research Institute
celebrated its 75th anniversary and the
College of Architecture marked 100 years
of architecture education at the Institute.
This issue of The Whistle takes a look
back at many of the items reported on
during 2009. Let us know if we missed
something or if there’s something we can
cover better in the year ahead.
editor@comm.gatech.edu
The associate director positions
will focus on three major areas:
ChBE Professor David Sholl,
Energy Conversion; Chemistry
Professor Thomas Orlando,
Alternative Energy and Storage;
and ECE Professor Deepak
Divan, Energy Deployment and
Utilization.
Nominations and applications
are currently being solicited for
director of the Strategic Energy
Institute.
www.energy.gatech.edu
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EVENTS
2009 Year in Review
faculty/staff
development
January 12
The College of Management Evening
MBA Program will hold an information
session from 5:30 to 8 p.m. in the
College of Management.
mgt.gatech.edu
February 1
Nominations for the Don Bratcher
Human Relations Award are being
accepted until Feb. 1. The award, recognizing
campus community members
for exemplary human relations work,
grants one faculty and one staff member
$3,000 and one undergraduate or
graduate student $1,500.
www.ohr.gatech.edu
/2010donbratcher
Ongoing
Georgia Tech Training Services offers
a Web-based tutorial on the basics of
using a state purchasing card (p-card).
www.orgdev.gatech.edu/training/
The “Emergency Preparedness”
certificate program, which consists
of several smaller courses, including
“Fire Safety” and “Facilities Hazard
Training,” provides faculty and staff
with valuable information in case of a
campus emergency.
www.orgdev.gatech.edu
The “Defining Customer Service” certificate
program provides campus groups
and employees with the foundation for
offering exemplary service to those both
on and off the campus. Four required
courses and two electives are offered.
www.orgdev.gatech.edu
MISCELLANEOUS
Ongoing
CATEA (Center for Assistive
Technology and Environmental
Access) seeks full-time employees
with a mobility disability to take part
in telephone interviews. Participants
will be reimbursed. Call Claire Yang
at 385-8589 or e-mail her at
hsiang-yu.yang@coa.gatech.edu.
For a more comprehensive listing of
events updated daily, visit
www.gatech.edu/calendar.
CLASSIFIEDS
Automobiles/
motorcycles
2007 Toyota Corolla. Burgundy, tan/
wood grain interior. 36K miles. Airbags,
exc. maintenance history. $13,100, OBO.
Pics avail. E-mail walterdc9@gmail.com.
Seeking a small reliable car for a college
student in the price range of
$1,000–$1,500. E-mail Vince at
photopro44@yahoo.com.
1997 Subaru Outback Wagon, red
5-spd, 133K miles, exc. cond., $4,000.
E-mail whrinatl@aol.com.
Real Estate/
Roommates
1BR/1BA, 8th floor unit of Windsor Over
Peachtree. $1,180 a month, incl. utilities.
Classifieds continue on page 3
INSTITUTE
Tech is rated as a “best value”
among public colleges and
universities In three separate
surveys conducted by Kiplinger,
SmartMoney and the Princeton
Review.
G.P. “Bud” Peterson,
chancellor of the
University of Colorado at
Boulder, is selected as
the sole finalist for Tech’s
president. The investiture
is held in September.
The Department of Biomedical
Engineering announces a
groundbreaking joint doctoral
program with the Department
of Biomedical Engineering at
Peking University in Beijing.
Musician inventors from across
the globe showcase their
new musical instruments at
the annual Guthman Musical
Instrument Competition.
The Digital Lounge serves as a
virtual showcase for research
and work from faculty members.
“Buzz Around Town”
initiative and auction offer
pieces of
Institute
history.
Associate
Professor
Valerie
Thomas and
students
work with
the city of
Atlanta to
reduce its
carbon dioxide
output.
St. Joseph’s Hospital and
Tech initiate the first regional
research program to study
genetics and cell biology of
pancreatic cancer.
Despite a weakening economy,
Tech graduates are still in
demand by potential employers.
Tech’s business school jumps
to No. 22 from No. 29 in U.S.
News & World Report’s “Best
Graduate School” rankings.
Engineering remains strong at
No. 4.
Tech students receive a Harry
S. Truman, Morris Udall Scholar
and George J. Mitchell scholarships.
Georgia Tech-Lorraine brokers
a major international collaboration
between the Centre
National de la Recherche
Scientifique and the Atlanta
campus of Georgia Tech.
College of Architecture
celebrates 100 years of
architecture at Georgia
Tech.
Georgia Tech
Research
Institute marks
its 75th anniversary.
The Global
Center for
Medical
Innovation—
supported by Tech, St.
Joseph’s Translational
Research Institute, Piedmont
Healthcare and the Georgia
Research Alliance—is the first
of its kind in the Southeast.
Dedication of the Old
Civil Engineering Building
marks the first
LEED-certified
Board of
Regents historic
renovation project.
OIT and the
Office of
Emergency
Preparedness
launch an emergency
notification
system to
deliver messages
to classrooms
and campus digital signage.
Inaugural
InVenture
Prize winners
are
announced.
Bobby Dodd
Stadium receives
upgrades to infrastructure
and entertainment
system.
Georgia Tech plays a key role
in the relocation of NCR to
Georgia.
Ivan Allen College of
Liberal Arts
Dean Sue
V. Rosser
announces
she will
take the
provost’s
position
at San
Francisco
State
University.
The Institute’s
unique
Landscape
Master Plan
directs green space, water conservation
projects.
According to U.S.
News & World
Report,
Tech
maintains
eighth
place in
World
University
Rankings.
Tech continues to be
recognized for sustainability
efforts by the
Princeton Review.
The Chronicle of Higher
Education names Tech to the
top 10 of the Great Colleges to
Work For.
Enrollment experiences a spike
at Georgia Tech-Lorraine.
The Korean government chooses
Tech to develop new digital
technology for
connecting communities.
Meetings among
the campus community
begin for
the Institute’s next
strategic plan.
Furloughs are
enacted for most
faculty and staff
across campus to
offset budget cuts.
Tech holds its
position in the U.S.
News & World Report undergraduate
rankings.
The Marcus
Nanotechnology Building
is formally dedicated.
The Institute joins the Center for
Sustainable Engineering.
OMED Educational Services
celebrates 30 years with alumni,
students, faculty and staff.
Nobel Laureate Harry S. Kroto
speaks at the Ferst Center for
the Arts.
Provost
Gary B.
Schuster
announces
plans
to return
to teaching
and
research
after a
successor
is
named.
Management receives a $25
million anonymous commitment.
Dead Week policy revised.
College of Architecture reestablishes
its programs as schools.
Whistle
THE
Georgia Tech’s
Faculty/Staff Newspaper
Published biweekly throughout the academic
year and the summer by Georgia Tech
Communications & Marketing.
Editor: Robert Nesmith
Photos: Rob Felt, unless noted
Calendar submissions e-mailed to
editor@comm.gatech.edu, or faxed to
404-894-7214 must be sent at least 10 days
prior to desired publication date. Classified
submissions are on a first-come, firstserved
basis. For more information, call
404-385-4142.
Archived issues of The Whistle can be accessed
electronically through the Georgia Tech Web
page, or directly at www.whistle.gatech.edu.
Georgia Tech is a unit of the University System
of Georgia.
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w w w . w h i s t l e . g a t e c h . e d u THE WHISTLE • JANUARY 4, 2010 • PAGE 2

2009 Year in Review
RESEARCH
Two technologies
named
as the “top
10 in the next
30 years” by
New Scientist
magazine
pioneered
by Tech
researchers.
The College of Computing
develops a Web-based tool for
tracking blood safety.
Tech’s flight testing of “continuous
descent arrivals” helps save
fuel and time for airlines.
A new wireless
standard
approaches
reality thanks
to research at
the Georgia
Electronic
Design Center
(GEDC).
National Electric
Energy Testing Research and
Applications Center works to
protect against lightning damage.
A City and Regional Planning
study shows that “smart
growth” in cities could reduce
PEOPLE
Physics researchers
Uzi Landman and
Predrag Cvitanovic
win the Humboldt
Research Award.
Assistant Professors
Kim Cobb, Nick
Feamster and Justin
Romberg awarded
the Presidential Early
Career Award for Scientists and
Engineers.
The American Association for
the Advancement of Science
names Professors Bridgette
Barry, Charles Eckert and Gary
May 2008 Fellows.
The Georgia Cancer Coalition
names Assistant Professor
Michelle Dawson a recipient
of the 2009 Georgia Cancer
Research Awards.
Associate Professor Robert
Butera is recognized in
Washington, D.C., as one of
seven 2008 Jefferson Science
Fellows.
Researcher
Hang Lu
is named
as one of
118 Sloan
Research
Fellows.
CO2 emissions.
School of
Civil and
Environmental
Engineering
study could
boost highway
capacity
by managing
lanes.
GEDC commits
to help build mobile
Internet.
The Institute reports that
research activity has exceeded
the $500 million mark for the
first time.
Student designs
“HappyHR” to elevate
fitness enthusiasm.
Tech powers Suniva,
the Southeast’s first
solar cell manufacturer.
GEDC, the Georgia Research
Alliance, the Georgia
Department of Economic
Development and Microsoft
Research announce a two-year
alliance in RFID technology.
New research technique
Associate
Professor
Ayanna
Howard
named the
Golden
Torch
Award
winner
by the
National
Society
of Black
Engineers.
Professor Mostafa
El-Sayed named
winner of the
Ahmed Zewail
Prize in Molecular
Sciences by the
international
journal Chemical
Physics Letters.
Former Dean
of Students James Dull dies.
Tech student
a
member
of USA
Today’s
All-USA
College
Academic
First Team.
into seaweed could lead
to improved drug compounds.
Researchers
develop a new
way to see
single RNA
molecules in
living cells.
WIRES conference
kicks
off international
networking
and research into gender
equity in higher education
institutions around the globe.
Tech faculty among those
awarded DOE funding for nuclear
research.
Computing at the Margins symposium
examines computing
needs of global communities.
The National Science
Foundation awards funding
to Tech for a new Materials
Research Science and
Engineering
Center
(MRSEC).
The Strategic
Energy
Institute
awards four
Assistant
Professor
Carl DiSalvo
presents the
exhibition
“Consequential
Matters” at the
CDC’s Global
Health Odyssey
Museum.
Six Tech students
receive Fulbright
Scholarships.
Former American
Conservatory Theater
conservatory general
manager George
Thompson named director
of the Ferst Center
for the Arts.
Tech alum
Stephen
Fleming
named
vice provost of
the Enterprise
Innovation Institute.
Chester “Chet”
Warzynski named
executive director
of the Office
of Organizational
Development.
The Tech community
faculty proposals with Creating
Energy Options funding.
MRI simulation
of blood
flow helps with
delicate heart
surgery.
The Library and
Information
Center takes the
lead in federal
grant for digital
repository.
The Institute teams with Emory
University and Children’s
Healthcare of Atlanta on kidney
replacement devices.
Tech named to the top 10 in
“Patent Scorecard.”
Clough Undergraduate Learning
Commons prototype classroom
to be used for spring semester.
Search committee named for
the new executive vice president
for research.
Institute team
brings The
Tower undergraduate
research journal
to publication.
remembers researcher
Adrian Arakaki and Ivan Allen
College Development Director
Ferdinand “Ski” Hilenski.
Assistant Professors Melissa
Kemp and Christine Payne are
the first at Tech to receive the
National Institutes of Health
New Innovator Award.
Researcher Bahareh Azizi sets
her sights on an Atlanta City
Council seat.
Tom Akins, longtime director
of the Division
of Professional
Practice, announces
plans to retire.
Professor
Robert
Guldberg is
named the
new director
of the
Parker H.
Petit Institute for
Bioengineering and
Bioscience.
CLASSIFIEDS
Close to restaurants and night clubs.
Walk to Tech or Piedmont Park.
Easy
access to interstates, and MARTA is only
a block away. Spectacular views of the
Fox, midtown and pool. 24-hour concierge,
gated parking commons areas.
Call Rick at 770-366-4174.
Rent or sell: Marietta 3BR/2BA ranch,
2-car carport, partial basement. HW floors,
tiled kitchen and baths. Approx. 2,000 sq.
ft. Fenced private yard, quiet neighborhood.
Convenient to I-75. $1,195/mo.,
$1,200 deposit, 1-yr lease. Call Mickey
Register at 678-488-1845 or e-mail
mickey.register@comcast.net.
For rent: 2BR/1BA in Howell Station, west
of Tech. 1,350-sq.-ft. bungalow, large
office or bonus room, large living and
separate dining rooms. Off-street parking.
W/D included. Pets OK. $1,000/mo. Call
404-792-7777 or e-mail
grahamt@oit.gatech.edu.
2BR/2BA condo, bonus room connected
to terrace. Clean, high-quality modernist
style. Granite, stainless, great amenities,
located in Decatur at 335 W Ponce.
MARTA within walking distance, surrounded
by shops and cafes. Great sq.
footage. Call Ty at 254-541-6450 or e-mail
ty@gatech.edu.
For rent: 1BR/1BA loft in Cabbagetown.
Gated community. Granite, hardwoods,
open floor plan. Includes 1 parking space,
washer/dryer, DirecTV, pool, clubhouse,
24-hour gym. $995/mo. $500 security
deposit. Call Katie at 404-819-9040.
Rooms for rent: 3BR/3.5BA, fully furnished
with 4-space carport and back
yard on almost 1 acre in Lithonia, close
to Stn. Mtn. Park and Stonecrest Mall.
Individual rooms are $450 per room with
utilities. Call 404-316-9682.
1BR/1BA, $775 a month, near Piedmont
Park. Walk to area restaurants and night
clubs. HW floors and off-street parking.
true separate 1BR unit. 
Water incl.
in rent. Call Sabrina at 678-315-9648 or
Rick at 770-366-4174.
2BR/2BA, 1,400-sq-ft condo for rent.
Great room, sun room, dining room,
kitchen, w/d connection, fresh paint
and new carpet. Electricity and gas not
incl. $900 month, $800 deposit. 2.4
miles from Doraville MARTA station. Call
770-939-0671 or 770-205-0175.
Furniture/Appliances
Office refrigerator, white, 14.4 cubic
ft. Purchased March 2008 for minimal
office use. $300 or reasonable offer. Call
Barbara at 404-385-2360 or e-mail
barbara.miller@gatech.edu.
Hardwood futon w/ mattress. $350 ($800
new). Frame is solid hardwood with
mission-style detailing. Mattress is 8” thick
foam, firm. Handsome sofa, also makes
perfect occasional guest bed for 2 people.
Red mattress cover. E-mail nirmal.trivedi@
lcc.gatech.edu for pics. Cash only, must
be picked up from Midtown location.
Dining room table. Glass top with cast
iron support. Asking $100 OBO. E-mail
beverly.brown@coa.gatech.edu for pic.
Miscellaneous
Dell XPS M2010 Mobile PC. $2,000. Intel
Core 2 Duo processor (2GHz), 20-inch
display, SoundBlaster Audigy, 8 built-in
speakers w/ subwoofer, slot-loading DVD
burner, BlueTooth wireless keyboard/
mouse. Two 160 GB SATA drives (RAID
1), 2GB RAM, edia Center remote control,
Web camera, 256MB ATI Radeon X1800
graphics card, Vista Ultimate (32-bit),
Office 2007 small business edition. Call
Chuck at 404-610-9090 or e-mail chuck@
myloopyfamily.com.
Check out more ads at
www.whistle.gatech.edu.
Ads appear and run for three weeks in
the order in which they are received.
E-mail submissions to
editor@comm.gatech.edu.
THE WHISTLE • JANUARY 4, 2010 • PAGE 3
w w w . w h i s t l e . g a t e c h . e d u

2009 Year in Review
COMMUNITY
Amid growing economic concerns, the
annual Charitable Contributions campaign
raises more than $300,000 for
2009.
The Microelectronics Research
Center welcomes
“Wednesday’s
Child” to Tech.
from the student body to ask incoming
President Bud Peterson.
Tree replacement plan eases removal of
older specimens.
Institute teams with
students for annual
Tech Beautification
Day.
Tech summer camps
serve as an outreach
for high school students.
Campus members
turn out for annual
“Take Back the
Night.”
year, nearly doubling
the amount of recyclables
collected in 2008.
Vice Provost for
Academic Diversity
Gilda Barabino begins
the academic year by
launching the Diversity
Symposium.
Offices located primarily
in Lyman Hall
unite for annual charity
dirive, benefiting an
area shelter as well as
Georgia Tech families
in need.
Speakers and events highlight Body
Image Awareness Month, hosted by the
Women’s Resource Center.
Due to incidents
around campus, the
Student Government
Association facilitates
forums with Tech
Police, surrounding
neighborhoods and the
campus.
Students, staff and faculty recognized by
OMED Tower Awards.
Students get dorm
room makeovers with Oprah’s help.
The Alumni Association’s Living History
program marks its 15th anniversary.
Bench, tree donation
program
honors individuals
and fosters a
greener campus.
The Institute’s first Gold Tower Awards
spotlight communications and marketing
efforts by campus offices and departments.
Mayoral and city council
candidates address students
prior to November’s
election.
Go T.E.C.H. (Teams
Encouraging
Campus Health)
seeks campus cooperation
in addressing
Institute health
initiatives.
Freshman Council helps
plant trees for campus
beautification.
FInding Common Ground panel discussion
offers community dialogue.
Students on the Special Committee for
the Presidential Transition solicited input
Tech becomes a founding
partner in Mission Zero, an
organization striving to create
a community of people
working to become carbon
neutral.
School of
Applied
Physiology
group works
to recycle prosthetics
and orthotics.
The Institute holds its
12th annual Earth Day
Celebration.
Tech holds
its inaugural
Legislative
Day at the
President’s
residence.
The Summer
Undergraduate
Research in
Engineering/Science
(SURE) Program “graduates”
its largest class
yet.
Tech’s Game Day
Recycling program
moves into its second
Institute
ombuds program
offers
ear for confidential,
alternate
resolutions.
Campus
group
unites
survivors and those suffering
from cancer across the Institute.
TOP PHOTOS OF 2009
The following images were chosen by photography services
in Communications & Marketing as favorite photos of the year.
w w w . w h i s t l e . g a t e c h . e d u THE WHISTLE • JANUARY 4, 2010 • PAGE 4