Dean's Letter • Feature Stories • Media Watch

DEAN'S LETTER

Last month, during one full day, we hosted three events that focused on our School's contributions to research and education.

In the morning, we officially celebrated the establishment of the NSF Science and Technology Center for Embedded Networked Sensing (CENS) at UCLA with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and luncheon. Chancellor Albert Carnesale and California State Senator Debra Bowen attended to congratulate CENS director Deborah Estrin and her team. Researchers from almost every department in the School as well as partners from other institutions are embarking on a multifaceted research initiative that could change how we interact and manage our complex physical environment.

In the afternoon we held a symposium on the national role our School plays in the growing fields of nanotechnology, bioengineering and information technology. More than 300 people attended, including the Chancellor.

The speakers included a number of leaders in the scientific community, including Raymond Orbach, director of the Office of Science, Department of Energy; Carol Lucas, biomedical engineering program director at the National Science Foundation; and Tim Krabach, from the Center for Space Microelectronics Technology at the Jet Propulsion Lab.

Faculty members Chih-Ming Ho, Leonard Kleinrock, Deborah Estrin, John Villasenor and Carlo Montemagno provided research overviews that brought home our School's deep involvement in this nation's scientific endeavors. I greatly appreciate the participation of all in our event.

That evening, at the UCLA Engineering awards dinner, we recognized alumni, students and industry partners who have been great friends to this School and achieved excellence in their chosen fields. (Read our story about the award-winners in this E-Bulletin.)

Events like these are always great reminders of the impact the School makes on the community through its research, teaching and service. I thank everyone who attended these events and helped to make them an enormous success.

Sincerely,

Vijay K. Dhir
Interim Dean

FEATURE STORIES

Prop 47 PASSED: With the passage of Proposition 47 on the Nov. 5 election ballot, UCLA is set to receive $24.9 million to rebuild its Engineering 1 building. The $13 billion ballot measure, Kindergarten-University Public Education Facilities Bond Act of 2002, is a general obligation bond measure that provides $1.65 billion to be shared by the University of California, California State University and California Community Colleges. The engineering building poses a serious seismic safety hazard that will be eased by a phased demolition and replacement of the existing building with a new, modern laboratory building supporting the needs of programs in engineering.

Learn more about Proposition 47 from an October 11 news release.
"Statewide Bond Would Benefit UCLA With New Engineering Building If Approved on the November Ballot"
http://www.newsroom.ucla.edu/page.asp?menu=morenews&submenu=announcements&id=3594

Watch for more news about what the passage of Proposition 47 means for the Engineering School in next month's E-Bulletin.

BIOMOTOR: UCLA researchers have developed a chemical switch that gives them control over a biomolecular motor just 11 nanometers, or 11 billionths of a meter, in size -- bringing scientists one step closer to using such devices to repair cellular damage, manufacture medicines and attack cancer cells.
"UCLA Researchers Develop Chemical Switch to Control Biomolecular Motor"
http://www.engineer.ucla.edu/stories/2002/biomotor.htm

CONSORTIUM: a Wireless Consortium of researchers and industry leaders is set to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing the wireless Internet, from security to reliability. The consortium, organized by engineering professor Rajit Gadh, includes some of the tech industry's heaviest hitters.
"Wireless Consortium at UCLA Tackles Security, Reliability Problems"
http://www.engineer.ucla.edu/stories/2002/wireless.htm

NEW FACULTY

Laurent Pilon became the newest member of our School's faculty this fall when he joined the mechanical and aerospace engineering department as an assistant professor. Find out more about him at http://www.engineer.ucla.edu/bulletin/11-02/pilon.htm.

AWARDS AND HONORS

Ann Karagozian, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, had her membership on the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board approved by the White House for a four-year term. The Secretary of the Air Force selected 13 from a field of 119 nominees for this honor. Members of the Board include scientists, engineers, industry leaders and retired military general officers.
Learn more about the Board at http://www.sab.hq.af.mil/.

Jack Judy, professor of electrical engineering, received the Okawa Research Grant from the Okawa Foundation, for his research on neural-electronic interfaces. The Foundation is a non-profit organization established in Japan that subsidizes studies in the information and telecommunications fields.
Learn more about Judy's research at http://www.ee.ucla.edu/research/judylab/.

Chang-Jin Kim, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, received the 2002 ALA Achievement Award from the Association for Laboratory Automation (ALA) for contributions to the development of a programmable digital microfluidic circuit chip as a new paradigm in the manipulation of liquids.
Learn more about Kim's research at http://cjmems.seas.ucla.edu/.

John J. Gilman, adjunct professor of materials science and engineering, was elected to the rank of Fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). The honor is based on Gilman's contributions to dislocation behavior of ceramics, disclination behavior of polymers and leadership in the development and production of metal glasses. Gilman will receive the traditional certificate and rosette at the Association's annual meeting February 23 in Denver.
Learn more about AAAS at http://www.aaas.org/.

ENGINEERING ON CAMPUS

AWARD WINNERS: Alumni, students and industry partners were acknowledged for their contributions to the Engineering School at an awards dinner held October 11. More than 300 people attended, including Roberto Peccei, UCLA's vice-chancellor for research. Winners included Dwight Streit, Alumnus of the Year; Edward K. Rice, Engineering Alumni Association Service Award; Andy Fong, Outstanding Graduate Student; Raymond Pon, Outstanding
Undergraduate Student; and Intel Corporation, Industry Award.
Read about the deserving recipients and the awards they received at http://www.engineer.ucla.edu/bulletin/11-02/awards.htm.

MEDIA WATCH: UCLA ENGINEERING IN THE NEWS

CYBER SECURITY: Peter Reiher, professor of computer science, commented about the rise in importance of Internet-based security concerns ordinary people face when they go online, in an article appearing in South Carolina newspaper, The Greenville News.
"Poll: Voters seek safer trips in cyberspace"
http://greenvilleonline.com/news/2002/10/10/2002101029776.htm

ANIMATION: The UCLA Daily Bruin published a story about a software program being developed by Petros Faloutsos, professor of computer science. The program creates anatomically correct animated skeletons whose movements are entirely based on physics. These skeletons may one day be used as virtual stunt doubles in feature films.
"Animation Meets Physical Reality"
http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/news/articles.asp?ID=20962

CENS: Deborah Estrin, professor of computer science and director of the UCLA Center for Embedded Networked Sensing, is featured in the October issue of Forbes magazine in a story about miniature sensor networks that will allow the monitoring of everything from patient health to structural flaws in buildings. Specific projects involving CENS are highlighted.
"Sensors Gone Wild"
http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2002/1028/306.html (free registration required)

WATER MARKS: Michael Stenstrom, professor of civil and environmental engineering, is quoted in a Daily Breeze article about the UCLA Institute of the Environment's report card rating Southern California's environmental efforts. Stenstrom is co-author of the report.
"Region Gets High Water Marks"
http://www.dailybreeze.com/content/bln/nmsgrades23.html

TINY STRENGTH: MIT Technology Review printed an article about a $50 million plan to give the U.S. Army super-protective uniforms and other gear based on nanotechnology. UCLA professor Eli Yablonovich comments on some of the research involved.
"Super Soldiers"
http://www.technologyreview.com/articles/talbot1002.asp to view abstract.

Read more UCLA Engineering news at http://www.engineer.ucla.edu

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