Professional Documents
Culture Documents
This is ambitious, but purposely so. Our gadget: for example, going below the
Dean’s Message
curriculum needs to evolve as fields in- wires and teasing apart the fundamental
creasingly come together and science and discoveries in physics, microelectron-
technology infuse every aspect of daily ics, and materials that led to the 10,000
life, from politics to the environment. songs in their pockets. The counterpart
to this “learning by disintegration” is
Exposure “learning by integration.” Through
Engineering and applied sciences (E&AS) hands-on design and an introduction to
often get grouped, and lost, under the basic function and form, we teach stu-
broader term “science.” Like medicine dents how to synthesize: moving from
and law, our practice is distinct and must an idea (such as modeling a circuit) to
be treated as such. Our community is in an application (actually building one).
an ideal position to emphasize three of In addition, we are also
E&AS’s most defining characteristics: • introducing new core courses such as
Applied<—>basic. The push-pull relation- “Bits” and “Energy, Environment, and
Industrial Development,” and in the
Inside Education ship between basic and applied research
is our golden rule. Strength in founda- near future, developing a tentatively
tional disciplines, from applied physics titled “Tech A&B” sequence—an over-
S ome of the greatest engineering suc-
cesses are those that go unnoticed. We
sit in comfort as a plane lands without a
to computer science, provides a basis for
advancing the boundaries of knowledge.
view that will provide perspectives on
science and technology
At the same time, students should under- • expanding our high-school education-
hitch during high winds. As we type a
stand how to use resulting technologies al programs, like GK-12, to provide a
letter, our computer traps a virus behind
to promote the social good. path that may lead students directly
the scenes. It is an age of the “invisible
engineer,” not only because of advances Integrative. E&AS is inherently inter- to our door and help inspire interest in
in small-scale science, but because the disciplinary and integrative. Not only engineering
ingenuity of engineering and applied does E&AS expose students to multiple • offering more ways for students to
sciences often lies hidden behind a fields, but it also inspires them to col- discover who we are and what we do
seamless interface. This leads me to ask laborate and learn together—skills that by supporting clubs and societies,
a tough question: How do we inspire are essential in everyday life and work. creating a new social center/café in
those who will never be professional Linking. Given its roots in mathematics Maxwell Dworkin, and increasing our
engineers or applied scientists to better and science, E&AS has an exceptional presence on campus through concen-
understand and appreciate technology way of linking with the professional tration fairs, research demonstrations,
when they seldom need to go beyond schools. Tools developed in engineering and general lectures.
the interface or open the hood? are used to drive discovery in areas such Opening up the black box to discover
As I mentioned in my last message, after as biology and medicine. Advances play “the how and the why” leads to a greater
a period of great renewal the Division a critical role in informing policies and understanding of our world and of
has indeed emerged and is poised to go practices in business. With a parallel em- ourselves, which in turn informs many
on to even greater heights. Our plans, phasis on “systems-level” thinking, E&AS of our decisions and gives us greater
from our size to our structure to the also provides students with approaches control. The power and rewards of such
environment, all stem from one over- useful for tackling any problem. discovery should not be limited to the
arching goal: giving students the best few, but need to be made accessible to
possible education. With that in mind, Experience
all students. The next generation of
we hope to accomplish two critical The “Harvard experience”—immersion political, business, academic, and tech-
tasks in the years ahead: in a multifaceted intellectual setting—is nical leaders who will help run coun-
part of what makes learning engineering tries and companies will take what they
• exposing all undergraduates to key
and applied sciences at DEAS singular. have learned with them. They will share
areas of science and technology,
We have increasingly become a key part that knowledge with everyone they
especially the relationship between
of that “experience” through promoting work with—and that, ultimately, will
science, technology, and society
experiential learning. While incorpo- make engineering and applied sciences,
• using innovative ways to teach stu- rating the use of everyday technology and the Division, shine. J
dents, especially experiential learning provides a start, a better investment is
through hands-on experiments. letting students get inside the latest
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a broad snapshot of diversity at DEAS
and to highlight past trends. The data reflect
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more about enrollment in computer science.
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sites listed in the Resources section on page 4.
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Sources: CST, data derived from Engineering Workforce Commission, Engineering and Technology Enrollments; Women in Engineering
Programs and Advocates Network, www.wepan.org
As part of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, students have an opportunity to join dozens Selected articles related to women in
science and engineering at Harvard:
of organizations that support a wide range of interests, from the Harvard-Radcliffe Chi-
nese Students Association to the Harvard Society of Black Scientists and Engineers. “Summers: Women in Science”
Harvard Crimson, April 18, 2005
1 Advising, mentoring, and educational programs www.thecrimson.com/
article.aspx?ref=506949
With the 2004 addition of Assistant Dean for Academic Programs Dr. Marie
“Sciences Struggle to Draw Women”
Dahleh, DEAS is in a better position to offer increased levels of support to all
Harvard Crimson, December 17, 2004
students. Dr. Dahleh is devising a comprehensive plan to assess all aspects of the www.thecrimson.com/
Division’s undergraduate programs, recruitment efforts, and quality of learning. In article.aspx?ref=505150
addition to a lead role for DEAS in representing engineering and applied sciences
Feature from Harvard Magazine
in the College’s curriculum review, tentative plans include offering new types www.harvardmagazine.com/features/
of courses designed to be of interest to a wider population of Harvard students. february15.html
Already, through Dahleh’s guidance, the University has become a member of
For a broader view of undergraduate
MentorNet, an online program that provides guidance for women in the sciences. life and education, including diversity
Alums are encouraged to join; contact mdahleh@deas.harvard.edu. on campus, mentoring, and teaching
Dr. Kathryn Hollar is the Director of Educational Programs, overseeing an effort science and engineering at Harvard,
see:
that extends beyond DEAS and provides outreach to the Cambridge-area K–12
student populations. Programs such as GK–12 and Project TEACH expose DEAS Making the Most of College: Students
graduate students to diverse student populations, provide a resource for local Speak Their Minds, by Richard Light
(Harvard University Press, 2001)
teachers who want to teach engineering and applied sciences, and allow junior-
high and high-school students to link up with potential role models. Those two
RESOURCES
programs, along with the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program,
designed to offer research experience to undergraduates from across the country, The following resources offer compre-
hensive national data and statistics
bring a diverse group of students to DEAS each year. One sign of success: Several
on enrollment and graduation trends
REU students have been accepted to Ph.D. programs at the Division this year. among undergraduates and graduates
in engineering and computer science,
2 Support and social groups
as well as information about current
Women in Science at Harvard-Radcliffe (WISHR) and the related Women in and past faculty makeup and hiring/
Computer Science (WICS) are devoted to fostering a sense of community among promotion trends in these areas. Most
women engaged in science and computer science at Harvard College. In addition, of the information is freely available.
the Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Racial Relations sponsors events for National Science Foundation
the entire Harvard community, and the W.E.B. du Bois Graduate Society caters to www.nsf.gov/statistics/
supporting ethnic groups among the graduate student population. Computing Research Association
www.cra.org
3 Scholarships The American Society for
The Dean’s Office announced the first annual Innovation Fellowship this past Engineering Education
www.asee.org
spring. Fellowships of $15,000 will be given each year to help attract and retain
the best and the brightest applicants.
4 Task forces
The President’s Office recently created two related task forces: the University
Task Force on Women in Science and Engineering, chaired by DEAS’s own Barbara
J. Grosz, and the University Task Force on Women Faculty, chaired by Evelynn
M. Hammonds, Professor of the History of Science and of African and African
American Studies.
Looking forward
DEAS is evolving to meet the challenges facing the University and society. Sustaining
diversity is part of that evolution; it must be carefully integrated into all aspects of
the current planning process. The greatest challenges are treating the issue thought-
fully and sensitively, and realizing that a robust solution will not be centered on one
institution or in one area of education. We will continue to keep you informed on
issues of diversity through our newsletter, Web site, and other materials. Your feed- Marie Dahleh serves as the Assistant
back and input (communications@deas.harvard.edu) are welcome and encouraged. J Dean for Academic Programs at DEAS.
John H. Van Vleck (left), Harvard Dean of Engineering and Applied Physics from 1951–1957 and new arrival Jenny Hoffman (right), Assistant
Professor of Physics. The formula for yttrium barium copper oxide is in the background.
Collaborations ter for Nanoscale Systems (CNS), and equally taken advantage
of the two NSF-funded research centers, NSEC and MRSEC. The
“me casa es su casa” attitude will extend to new physics faculty
Traversing physics and applied sciences member Jenny Hoffman, whose work focuses on how electrons
behave in novel materials. Her future lab will reside comfort-
“Joining Cruft Laboratory to Pierce Hall is an aerial structure
ably on the “other side,” in the basement of Pierce Hall.
known unofficially as the Van Vleck Bridge. Traversing it, we are
“One of our group’s initial projects will be the construction of
reminded that it was Van himself who served in the crucial years
a low-temperature, high–magnetic field, scanning tunneling
as the bridge between physics and applied sciences at Harvard. microscope, to investigate the field-dependent properties of
In that figurative sense, Van Vleck bridges stand out as landmarks vortices in high-temperature superconductors,” she says. Hoff-
in 20th-century Harvard and 20th-century physics.” man plans to use her imaging technology to investigate how
— Edward M. Purcell, remarks at a memorial for John various types of crystal defects may pin the vortices in place in
Hasbrouck Van Vleck, Harvard Dean of Engineering yttrium barium copper oxide–coated conductors (critical for
and Applied Physics, 1951–57 developing small, lightweight power systems).
Despite the emphasis on technology, Huth is a great fan of
Come fall 2005, the Division will boast 15 joint faculty ap- For more, see
pointments (14 senior and 1 junior) with Physics. In addition, www.physics.harvard.edu
researchers have long shared facilities, such as the Harvard Cen- www.hno.harvard.edu/guide/faculty/fac6.html
“We combined a working engineer’s pragmatic Winfield Hill (left) and Paul Horowitz (right), among international
versions of their book, look forward to completing their third edition.
approach to design with a teacher’s approach to
course was transformed in a text that captured their intuitive
conveying that kind of know-how. Electronic “back-of-the-envelope” approach to electronic design. This
newly created text proved popular with students, even in its
design is best seen as an enabling part of scientific
unwieldy draft form. After the requisite rejection by several
research,” says Winfield Hill. “In other words,” book editors (who are no doubt wondering how they missed
a hit), Cambridge University Press eventually converted the
continues Paul Horowitz, “this was not a book
pack of papers into a smoothly bound, shiny hardback.
written by two professors retelling what they The secret to the book’s success might be the homespun style
learned from their professors.” that provides the patient reader with some unexpected humor.
Here’s a typical passage: “This example illustrates a frequent
I t’s rare for any book to get fan mail. It’s almost unthink- designer’s quandary, namely a choice between a complicated
able when the tome in question weighs in at 1,000-plus circuit that meets the strict worst-case design criterion, and is
pages, unabashedly offers equations and circuit diagrams, and therefore guaranteed to work, and a simple circuit that doesn’t
definitely comes with homework. But mention the title, The meet worst-case specifications, but is overwhelmingly likely
Art of Electronics, to any physicist or engineer and they will to function without problems. There are times when you will
likely proclaim, “Well, that’s not surprising at all!” The classic find yourself choosing the latter, ignoring the little voice
silver and black doorstop and favorite line-item entry of its whispering into your ear.”
publisher’s CFO will likely grace shelves for decades to come. It was good foresight for the authors, and for all their future
Nothing captures the devotion many feel toward the book bet- readers and fans, that they did listen to their own little voices
ter than a reader’s comment: “Your book is a crown jewel in the when it came to creating the book. The text has gone on to
branch of electronics literature. It is my recreation, reading it another edition, enjoyed record sales of a million copies world-
in free evenings.” The book’s authors, Paul Horowitz, Professor wide, and been translated into eight languages. Perhaps more
of Physics and of Electrical Engineering, and Winfield Hill, impressive, The Art of Electronics has changed how students
Director of Electronics Engineering at the Rowland Institute learn about electronics and how faculty teach the course. The
at Harvard, never anticipated that such success (and a large fan next time someone says they are going to curl up with a good
base) would come from a pile of photocopied pen-and-ink lec- book, don’t be surprised if it comes with equations. J
ture notes bound together with an overstretched rubber band. For more information on the book, the authors, and
The Art of Electronics came to life as part of Physics 123, a 1974 some outlandish uses for the volume, check out
Harvard course started by Horowitz. With the aid of Hill, the www.artofelectronics.com/
Awards
in Materials Science … tool librarians can use to
Quantum creativity … preserve long-term access
Federico Capasso has to content published on
Foundational research …
been co-awarded one the Web. The system is
Navin Khaneja has been
of the 2005 King Faisal currently being deployed at
granted a Friedrich Wilhelm
International Prizes (KFIP) about 100 libraries around
Bessel Research Award,
for Science (Physics). He the world. Brooks was cited
which recognizes “young,
shares the prize with Frank for work on embedded
top-flight scientists and
Wilczek (MIT) and Anton computing and power
scholars from abroad who
Zeilinger (University of issues. The NSF CAREER
are already recognized as
Vienna). The King Faisal program recognizes and
outstanding researchers in
Foundation called Capasso supports the early career
their fields” … Open bound-
one “of the most creative Assistant Professor of development activities of
aries … Division collabora-
and influential physicists in Computer Science those teacher-scholars who
tor George Whitesides has Mema Roussopoulos
the world, having achieved are most likely to become
been named a member of
international recognition the academic leaders of the
the National Academy of grants for their research.
through his design and 21st century … Peer review
Engineering and, with MIT’s In her paper, “Reliable
demonstration of the … The Division’s Michael
Robert Langer and C.N.R. Peer-to-Peer Data Pres-
Quantum Cascade laser” J. Aziz, has been awarded
Rao of the Nehru Center ervation,” Roussopoulos
… Career move … Mema the distinction of American
for Fundamental Research outlined a peer-to-peer
Roussopoulos and David Association for the
in Bangalore, India, has digital preservation system
Brooks have both been Advancement of Science
won the Dan David Prize called LOCKSS (Lots of
awarded NSF CAREER (AAAS) Fellow. J
for Future Dimensions Copies Keep Stuff Safe), a
the Division
Provence), Jan M. Skotheim (Cambridge
University and Harvard), and Jacques
Dumais (Harvard), reported in the Janu-
Federico Capasso (left) ,
and Mariano Troccoli (right) ary 27, 2005, issue of Nature how the Ve-
hope their work on the nus flytrap snaps up its prey in a mere
Raman injection laser will
lead to a new generation tenth of a second by actively shifting the
of “tuneable” compact lasers curved shape of its mouth like leaves.
that can operate at almost
any wavelength of the To trap its prey, the carnivorous plant
invisible light spectrum,
including the Terahertz relies on both an active biochemical
range. and a passive elastic process. When an
insect brushes up against a hair trigger,
ing the power source the plant responds by moving water
and the Raman material, to actively change the curvature of its
literally creating a laser leaves. “In essence, a leaf stretches until
within a laser, the team reaching a point of instability, where it
“Plug and play” laser has created the first current-driven can no longer maintain the strain,” Ma-
Raman laser. Because the pump laser is hadevan says. “Like releasing a reversed
packs a punch now self-generated, the device is highly plastic lid or part of a cut tennis ball,
Federico Capasso, Robert L. Wallace efficient, reducing the standard decline each leaf folds back in on itself, and in
Professor of Applied Physics and Vinton that happens when an external power the process of returning to its original
Hayes Senior Research Fellow in Electri- source is used. shape, ensnares the victim in the
cal Engineering, and his colleagues have Capasso’s co-authors included the middle. The hydrated nature of the leaf
demonstrated the feasibility of a new Division’s Mariano Troccoli and Er- quickly dampens the vibrations caused
type of plug-in laser that could lay the tugrul Cubukcu, Alexey Belyanin of by the movement, so the unlucky bug
groundwork for wide-ranging security Texas A&M University, and Deborah doesn’t spill out. It then takes the plant
applications. As reported in the February L. Sivco and Alfred Y. Cho, both of Bell up to eight hours to ready its leaves for
24, 2005 issue of Nature, their invention Laboratories, Lucent Technologies. The the next unsuspecting bug.”
of the Raman injection laser combines work was partially supported by the One day, engineers might be able to
the advantages of nonlinear optical de- Texas A&M Telecommunications and emulate the plant’s ingenious alterna-
vices and semiconductor injection lasers Informatics Task Force Initiative. tive to muscle-powered movements in
with a compact “plug and play” design. Adapted from a February 25, 2005, press release tiny artificial devices, such as those that
“While our paper merely demonstrates prepared by the DEAS and Faculty of Arts and control the flow of minute amounts
proof of concept, one day it may lead Sciences Offices of Communications. of liquids or gases. Common applica-
to the sort of security experts dream of Related articles appeared in Science, the Harvard tions that already use related technol-
Gazette, Texas A&M News Office releases, Photon-
having: a portable device that you could ogy include valves and switches in
ics.com, and Optics.org.
use to detect things like weapons or microfluidic devices, hydraulic sensors
and actuators, and timed-release drug-
explosives, simply by shining an invis-
ible light to see what someone might be
How the Venus flytrap delivery mechanisms.
hiding,” says Capasso. “The work also snaps up its prey Related media stories appeared in the Boston
represents an important advance in L. Mahadevan, Gordon McKay Professor Globe, New Scientist, Scientific American, the
quantum design, since we are now able Los Angeles Times, Popular Mechanics, and the
of Applied Mathematics and Mechanics New York Times. NPR produced a radio story on
to engineer, from the bottom up, a new at the Division and affiliate in the De- the research. Future stories are slated to appear in
Raman material and laser and tailor its partment of Organismic and Evolution- Boys’ Life and on the Discovery Channel. Videos
property for a given application.”
To reveal how
Conventional Raman lasers depend on the Venus flytrap
a fundamental phenomenon in physics snaps, L. Mahade-
van and colleagues
called the Raman effect. When light painted ultraviolet
from an intense laser beam, known as fluorescent dots on
the external face
the “pump,” deflects off the molecules of of the leaves and
certain materials, some of the incident filmed them under
ultraviolet light
photons lose part of their energy. As a using high-speed
result, a secondary laser beam, with a video.
frequency shifted from that of the first,
emerges from the material. By combin-
The racing circuit CS graduate student Elaine Ou hits the roadways (above)
and the airways (below).
Elaine Ou, a G2 Computer Science Ph.D. student, designs release stress. The feeling is really hard to describe; it’s purely
high-speed circuits for use in fault-tolerant memory as part interactive and definitely gives you an adrenaline rush.
of the Harvard VLSI Group, led by Professor of Electrical My other hobby, flying, offers a completely different, and much
Engineering and Computer Science Woody Yang. She’s also more technical, experience. It’s closer to doing engineering: If
dedicated to exploring a different type of circuit, where anything is a little bit off, the entire system can fail. In short,
you don’t want to get an adrenaline rush when you’re in the air,
speed is calculated in miles per hour (often up to 180), not in
since that probably means you are going to have a problem!
megahertz, and when a burning smell is a sign of success,
Of course, my parents disapprove of both my hobbies—and
not system failure. Here Elaine writes about the thrill of
after cracking three motorcycle helmets (and there’s only one
building cool stuff, the stress-reducing benefits of motorcycle surefire way to do that!) in less than a year, I understand their
racing, and how her other hobby keeps her well grounded. concern. But over time I’ll get better at performing my own
form of error correction. At the very least, I’m now highly mo-
“By incorporating our knowledge of search at the border between applied struments, and looking inside the vocal
human hearing into the noise reduc- mathematics and the engineering sci- tract, researchers can get a glimpse of
tion process, we gain a more robust ences, combining a strong theoretical what’s happening on the inside. “While
framework,” explains Wolfe. “The noise foundation with practical experience. we can model and accurately replicate
removal algorithms [intelligent pieces While he could have gone either way, simple vowel sounds with existing tech-
of software that know what to save and engineering or statistics, he felt that niques, things like shh, fff, kkk, and all the
what to throw out] concentrate on re- engineering, perhaps because of his other sounds we make are a bit harder.”
moving the most perceptually salient own musical inclinations—the desire Mahadevan, however, might have to
noise—in other words, what we would to build and play—was a better fit. wait for a solo performance, even for
most notice.” the good of research. “I am ashamed to
Imagine listening to a damaged CD In his case, the high- say that I’ve been so busy getting things
that skips every few seconds, but apart up and running, I have not unpacked
from the skip, plays normally. Compare
school marching band my horn since I’ve arrived,” says Wolfe.
that experience to listening to a poorly had to fill a slot. “It’s like any other physical activity. You
recorded analog cassette tape that has a have to get into the regimen of playing
constant hiss in the background. From thirty to forty-five minutes a day.” As for
Wolfe jokes that “the chance to join
a purely mathematical perspective, the the eternal question, “Why the trom-
Harvard is like what they say about the
amount of noise, or “error,” would be bone?” he admits that he cannot think
Mafia: It’s an offer you can’t refuse.” In
much greater in the tape than in the of any professional trombonist who
his case, the combination of the Divi-
CD, which jumps only occasionally. Yet chose the instrument on purpose. In
sion and Harvard left him with little
Wolfe argues that despite the greater his case, his school marching band had
reason to go anywhere else. Even before
overall error, “You would likely prefer to fill a slot (in the front row, naturally).
he arrived in the summer of 2004, Wolfe
listening to the less distracting under- The trombone, however, is a mainstay
had made strong links with members
lying white noise of the tape than the in classical orchestras and is frequently
of the Statistics Department. He’s now
jarring, if less frequent, CD skip.” Thus, employed in jazz and pop.
looking forward to working with the
he takes human preferences—or what’s While at Cambridge, where Wolfe held
Statistics faculty to design and teach
called a perceptual cost function—into a fellowship and college lectureship
a new course in signal processing and
consideration when trying to obtain the jointly in engineering and computer
statistics next year—a sign, he says, of
most “listenable” restored signal. science at New Hall and eventually
the great way the Division reaches out
Anyone with an MP3 player has already across campus. served as dean, he frequently had music
benefited from a similar approach. To gigs, played in the orchestra, led a big
Links down the hall are also emerging.
create a compressed yet high-quality band, and even directed the musical
When applied mathematician L. Ma-
audio file, sound engineers reduce the scholarship program. Once he settles
hadevan realized that Wolfe plays the
number of bits needed to represent the into the Division, he will benefit from
trombone, he immediately offered to
signal. The error caused by what’s miss- the close proximity of the Harvard Mu-
film him in action with the same high-
ing is made inaudible by the remaining sic Department, a few steps away from
speed camera he used to capture the
signal. In return, music listeners can fit Maxwell Dworkin.
motion of the Venus flytrap. “The basic
more songs on a player’s internal hard In the meantime, his work and collabo-
longstanding models for how the vocal
drive. Wolfe hopes to refine the use of rations in electrical engineering, statis-
tract works are only a small part of the
a similar distilling process to optimally tics, and related fields are likely to keep
picture,” says Wolfe. “The eventual goal
remove the most perceptually salient him busy, as is the attitude of his fellow
is to analyze the entire vocal production
noise when restoring audio data. In this faculty. “Everyone at DEAS thinks like a
mechanism; once you have a parametric
reverse procedure, the important “bits” scientist—engineers included. I think
description for this (how the air columns
are effectively added back in (or re- that really sets us apart. People here
vibrate in trombones and how the vocal
stored) while the din is de-emphasized. start at a different point, blending basic
cords vibrate in humans), you can invert
Given his success in mixing disciplines, it and synthesize speech sounds.” Using science and technology to create some-
Wolfe strongly advocates pursuing re- clear plastic mouthpieces on wind in- thing new.” J
Home schooling
When Nesson talks, it’s clear that she get students excited about something bers on a piece of paper and stand at the
has the air of a teacher and the patience- potentially even more daunting: math, front of the class and run the sorting
tempered passion necessary to compete science, and engineering. She appeals to algorithm ourselves,” she says. “The
for the dwindling teenage attention what students know and love—technol- students then can get a sense that [the
span. She always knew that teaching ogy, whether in the form of their MP3 information] is already there in their
was in her future, but her academic path players, cell phones, Xboxes, or PS2s. heads, making it easier to put it into the
was not as clear. Nesson studied folklore To make physics more appealing and code”—in this case, Java.
and mythology as an undergraduate at accessible, Nesson created a module on Amazingly, Nesson doesn’t see herself as
Harvard, received a J.D. at Harvard Law sound, centered on recording technol- a role model. For her, participating in the
School in 2001, and then, finding inspi- ogy—from how to build a speaker or mi- GK-12 program is a privilege, a rare op-
ration in that school’s Berkman Center crophone to what happens in a modern portunity to pursue teaching and bring
for Internet and Society, took classes music studio. “I was doing some of the the latest research off the bench (or the
in computer science part-time at DEAS songs that they liked and tried to relate monitor) and into a classroom—one
before deciding to pursue a Ph.D. in the [the songs] specifically to the stuff they she herself sat in not that long ago.
field in fall 2003. were learning about, such as amplitude, She says she simply wants to provide
Rindge, she says, is “a tough school frequency, and filters.” support, encourage teamwork, and
system because students come in with Her own field of computer science was help students realize that “in science
low skill levels when they start in ninth a tougher sell because, Nesson says and engineering, failure is likely”—but
grade, and teachers are not necessarily frankly, “the stuff is hard and it really that’s not a bad thing, since failure often
in a position, with classes as large as requires students to push through logi- inspires creative solutions. J
they are, to catch everyone up.” cal thinking, and they are going to make
mistakes. If we are working on sorting To learn more, visit
That hard reality, which she learned
firsthand, is what inspires Nesson to an array of numbers, we will take num- www.eecs.harvard.edu/~nesson/
Early admits
Mallinckrodt Professor of Applied Phys- and spin...
ics and of Physics and Director of NSEC,
E very year a group of Cambridge let the students take a spin (see photos
seventh graders has an opportunity at right) to understand the physics of
to get into Harvard early—about five motion (code for a short course in basic
years early. Thanks to Project TEACH mechanics).
(The Educational Activities of Cam- By reaching out to kids well before they
bridge-Harvard), a partnership with the begin dreaming of ivy, Project TEACH
city’s public schools created more than aims to bring out the nascent scientist
15 years ago by Harvard’s Office of Com- or engineer in each of them. J and miss.
Events
the Internet,” she says. “I’d be far more and Harvard.
concerned about cyberplanning than
I n addition to almost daily seminars cyberterrorism.” Butler Lampson, Distin- Going with the flow
and colloquia—from computer sci- guished Engineer at Microsoft, followed
up with some timely advice on why The Industrial Outreach Program (IOP)
ence to squishy physics—the Division delved into the “wet” world with its
also sponsors major workshops. Visit robust computer security is so tough to
implement. “Real-world security is about spring workshop, “Bioengineering and
www.deas.harvard.edu/newsandevents/ Medicine: A Confluence of Innovation.”
for the latest details, dates, and times. value, locks, and especially punishment
for misdeeds. When it works, you get The event attracted some of the best
Graduates are welcome (and encour- and brightest in the field, including ris-
aged) to attend events. Here are some good enough locks (not too many break-
ins), good enough police (so break-ins ing bioengineering star Kristi Anseth
highlights from the past several months. (U. Colorado); Robert Langer (MIT),
aren’t a paying business), and minimum
High-tech society interference with daily life.” one of the fathers of the field; Dean of
Engineering Matt Tirrell (UCSB); and
The Center for Research on Computa- Check the Web site (www.crcs.deas.har- Harvard’s George Whitesides with the
tion and Society (CRCS) Distinguished vard.edu) to watch past lectures by oth- Division’s David Edwards. J
Lectureship series has succeeded in er speakers, including Barbara Simons
providing a dynamic forum for the high of IBM, and to see a related talk by Andy For more details, check out
society of high tech. In March, Louise Neff, Science Officer at VoteHere. www.deas.harvard.edu/industry
Alum Danielle Feinberg ’96 (inset) is responsible for the incredible lighting effects in the film
The Incredibles. (Image © Disney Enterprises, Inc./Pixar Animation Studios. All rights reserved.)
Two cultures
come together
I n 1956, pundit C. P. Snow famously quipped that
scientists and nonscientists (whom he called
“literary thinkers”) lived in two separate cultures.
At the Division, we use the term “renaissance
engineer” to celebrate the way our students and
faculty are not bound to a particular culture of
thought but possess broad expertise and diverse
2 interests. As the pictures at left demonstrate, some
of our community members take the renaissance
metaphor more literally—pun intended, Mr. Snow. J