The Bridge - March 2005

Help Us Build a Bridge to Your Friends

There are about 3,500 subscribers to The Bridge. When you consider that there are more than 26,000 WPI alumni, it's clear that many potential readers are missing out on a great way to keep in touch with their alma mater. We're doing our best to spread the word, but we could use your help.

If you enjoy this monthly newsletter on campus news and events, why not tell your friends and classmates about it. Better yet, forward your copy of this issue (or this Web link) to them so they can see what they're missing. If you have other ideas about how we can build our base of subscribers, we'd love to hear them. Send your suggestions to thebridge@wpi.edu.

Question Of The Month

As NASA prepares to return the space shuttle to service, debate swirls around the future of the U.S. space program.

What do you think NASA’s primary focus should be?

To register your opinion, please visit the WPI Alumni Home Page to answer this month's question. Look for the results and a new question in the April Bridge.

WPI News Alerts

1. The Inauguration of WPI’s 15th President

You and your family are cordially invited to join the WPI community for the inauguration of President Dennis D. Berkey on Friday, May 20, at 2:30 p.m., on the Quadrangle (rain location: Harrington Auditorium). The historic ceremony, steeped in tradition, will feature an address by the president to alumni, students, faculty, staff, representatives of other colleges and universities, learned societies, and other important groups. A reception will follow in the Campus Center. For more information or to register, visit the Inauguration Web site.

2. Best Season Yet for Men’s Basketball

For the first time in two decades, the WPI men's basketball team advanced to the national Division III NCAA tournament. While WPI's road to the Final Four ended with a loss in the Sweet Sixteen, that didn't dampen the excitement of a record-setting season: 24 wins (breaking the previous record of 20), clinching the New England Women's and Men’s Athletic Conference regular season title, and winning the NEWMAC postseason tournament. Read more about the 2004-05 men's basketball season and other news about WPI's sports teams...

3. World-Renowned Mathematician Joins WPI Faculty

Umberto Mosco, one of Europe's leading mathematicians, has joined WPI as the Harold J. Gay Professor in mathematical sciences. Mosco has been at the forefront of mathematical research in analysis for the past 40 years, focusing his studies on partial differential equations, convex analysis, optimal control, and variational calculus. The Mosco Convergence, which he introduced, is now included in most textbooks on variational calculus. Read more about Umberto Mosco...

4. Radzicki to Head System Dynamics Society

Michael J. Radzicki, associate professor of economics, has been elected president of the System Dynamics Society. A founding member of the society, Radzicki will serve a one-year term in 2006. With members in more than 60 countries, the society encourages the development and use of systems thinking and system dynamics around the world. Read the full news release...

5. Two WPI "Women of Consequence" Honored

The city of Worcester recently recognized two WPI women for their efforts to encourage girls to consider careers in engineering and science. Receiving the 10th annual Women of Consequence Award at a special ceremony on March 2 were Stephanie L. Blaisdell, director of diversity and women’s programs, and Denise W. Nicoletti, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering (honored posthumously). Read more about the recipients...

6. Aravind Elected Fellow of Physics Society

P.K. Aravind, professor of physics, has been elected a fellow of the London-based Institute of Physics. This senior class of membership is reserved for individuals with a high level of achievement and outstanding contributions to the profession. Aravind, whose research is in quantum mechanics and quantum information theory, joins WPI professor L.R. Ram-Mohan as a fellow of IOP. Read the full news release...

7. "Gompei the Burninator" Wins Award

Team 190, the FIRST Robotics team made up of about 120 WPI students and 30 students from the Massachusetts Academy of Mathematics and Science at WPI, took its latest creation, "Gompei the Burninator," on the road recently to regional FIRST competitions. In New Hampshire, the team won the Delphi "Driving Tomorrow's Technology" award. The team heads next to the national competition in Atlanta in April. Read the full news release...

8. Sign Up Your Kids and Grandkids for WPI Sports Camps

WPI's summer sports camps offer daily instruction in the fundamentals of baseball, basketball, rowing, field hockey, and soccer for boys and girls ages 7 to 17. The camps are staffed by some of the best college and high school coaches in New England. Learn more and download a registration form...

9. Register Today for Summer Session at WPI

Spring is here, and summer is just around the corner. Now is the perfect time to register for summer classes. WPI offers undergraduate and graduate courses, online graduate courses, continuing education seminars and certificate programs, and customized corporate training. To learn more, call 508-831-5999 or visit the Summer Programs Web site.

10. Corporate Gifts Surpass $2M in First Half of 2004-05

From July 1 to Dec. 30, 2004, WPI received over $2M in gifts from corporations and foundations. They include funds from the George I. Alden Trust to build a "little theatre" on campus, money from Pfizer for a first-year chemistry laboratory renovation and curriculum design, and funds from the GE foundation for the extension of the Mathematics in Industry Institute for Teachers. See the full list...

11. Dean Kamen to Join Inventors Hall of Fame

On May 14, Dean Kamen '73, inventor of the world's first portable drug infusion pump and the Segway Human Transporter, will become the fourth member of the WPI community to be inducted into the Inventors Hall of Fame . Other WPI members are Robert Goddard '08, the father of modern rocketry; Harold Black '21, developer of the principle of negative feedback; and Richard Whitcomb '51, developer of the Area Rule of high-speed aircraft design. Read more about the achievements of these and other alumni...

Alumni Events

View the complete listing of alumni events.

April 6: "Birds of Prey," a lecture by Thomas Ricardi, is the April program for the Tech Old Timers, 9:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., Campus Center, Odeum. For more: alumni-office@wpi.edu or call 508-831-5600.

April 6: Graduates of the Last Decade (GOLD) meeting, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., Campus Center, Mid-Century Room. For more: gold@wpi.edu or 508-831-5600.

April 8-10: The Student Alumni Society (SAS) will host the Northern Atlantic Regional District One student conference (ASAP) on the WPI campus. Keynote speaker Michael Miller will address the topic of student leadership. For registration and schedule visit the conference Web site.

University Events

View the complete listing of campus events.

April 4: "Einstein's Boxes," by Travis Norsen, Marlboro College, a World Year of Physics 2005 Lecture, Olin Hall 107, 4 p.m. Learn more...

April 7: "Poetry and the Healing Arts," readings and discussions by poets who teach at the Mass. College of Pharmacy in Boston, Campus Center, Bookstore, 7:30 p.m. Sponsored by the Humanities and Arts Department.

April 13-16: New Voices 23, the annual festival of short plays written, directed, and produced by students and other WPI community members, in Alden Memorial. A schedule and information on the plays will be posted at the New Voices Web site.

April 19: Project Presentation Day, the day when students present their results of the Major Projects to faculty advisors and sponsors. View the schedule of presentations...

Reunion Weekend 2005: June 10-12

The Alumni Office is working closely with Reunion committees for the classes of '40, '45, '50, '55, '60, '65, '70, '75, '80, and '85 to plan a Reunion weekend filled with entertainment, learning, banquets, and much more. To register, visit the Reunion Web site.

Careers

The WPI Alumni Association's Career/Employment Program assists alumni in the search for new employment or with making a career change and provides counseling and mentoring on a private, one-to-one basis. For more information, e-mail alumni-office@wpi.edu or call 508-831-5600.

Here is recent job information:

GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEER: GFA International has an immediate opening in its fast-growing Fort Myers, Fla., office. Candidates should have Florida El or PE (or the ability to obtain) and 2 to 10 years of relevant experience. Competitive salary based upon qualifications and experience. Excellent career advancement opportunities. Send resume and salary history in confidence to Christopher J. Pacitto '98 at cpacitto@gfa-intl.com or (fax) 239-489-3438.

K-12 JOBS: WPI is a member of the Massachusetts Educational Recruiting Consortium, which holds its job fair on April 21 at the Bayside Expo and Conference Center in Boston. Advance registration is required. For information, contact Jeanette Doyle in the WPI Career Development Center, jmdoyle@wpi.edu, 508-831-5260, or visit the job fair Web site.

EMPLOYERS: Send open position listings to thebridge@wpi.edu. Deadline is the first week of the month, for posting in that month's issue.

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Last modified: Aug 11, 2006, 10:05 EDT