Purdue News Roundup
Purdue News Roundup
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March 13, 1998
State officials beat a path to Purdue Road SchoolWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- More than 1,200 people, from street commissioners to mayors to highway engineers, will learn about what's new and talk about what could be for Indiana's roads and highways March 24-25 at the 1998 Purdue University Road School.The annual highway conference begins at 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 24, in Purdue's Stewart Center and continues through Wednesday, March 25. The conference is free and open to the public, but attendees should register in Stewart Center beginning at 8 a.m. the first day. Highlights include:
Other sessions at the Road School will focus on planning of local transportation projects, project management, maintenance issues and how air quality standards relate to transportation issues. Purdue's annual Road School is sponsored by the School of Civil Engineering and the Indiana Department of Transportation. CONTACT: Kumares Sinha, professor of transportation and infrastructure systems engineering and director of the Joint Transportation Research Project, (765) 494-2211; e-mail,
Internet pioneer to speak at PurdueNOTE TO JOURNALISTS: Vinton Cerf will be available for interviews immediately following his presentation. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Vinton Cerf, widely known as the "father of the Internet," will give a public presentation at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday (3/18), in Purdue University's Class of '50 Lecture Hall. Cerf, senior vice president of Internet architecture and engineering for MCI Communications Corp., will talk about "The Internet in the 21st Century." The presentation is sponsored by the Purdue Connectivity Club, a student organization associated with the Department of Computer Technology. Cerf is the co-inventor of the computer networking protocol TCP/IP, the common computer language that made the Internet possible. A recognized expert in Internet development and technologies, Cerf speaks to groups around the world about the Internet. In 1992, he founded the Internet Society, was its president until 1995 and now is on its board of directors. He played a major role in sponsoring the development of Internet-related data packet technologies while with the Department of Defense's Advanced Research Projects Agency from 1976 to 1982. Cerf is responsible for the development of MCI's Internet network, one of the world's fastest and largest Internet backbones for delivery of a combination of data, information, voice and video for businesses and consumers. Cerf is a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and is a member of the Board of Trustees to Gallaudet University. In 1997, Cerf was appointed to a presidential panel to review the U.S. government's program for the Next Generation Internet. He also was named a co-recipient of the National Medal of Technology with Robert E. Kahn for their joint development of TCP/IP and the Internet. In addition to his work with MCI and the Internet, Cerf is technical consultant for Gene Roddenbury's "Earth: Final Conflict," a syndicated television show. People Magazine named Cerf one of the year's "25 Most Intriguing People" in 1994.
CONTACTS: Kenyatte Simuel, Purdue Connectivity Club, (765) 746-5851; e-mail ksimuel@purdue.edu;
web, http://www.tech.purdue.edu/cpt/students/conclub/
Humans vs. robots in space exploration is topic of forumWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- A public forum at Purdue University will address the question of what roles humans and robots will play in the future exploration of space."Astronauts or Astrobots? What Is the Future of Space Exploration?" will feature two national experts from the space community presenting their differing viewpoints on the topic beginning at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 25, in Loeb Playhouse in Stewart Center. After the speakers' brief presentations, a panel of Purdue professors and the audience will have the opportunity to ask questions and join the discussion. Presenting the case for extended human exploration of space will be Robert Zubrin, author of the book "The Case for Mars: The Plan to Settle the Red Planet and Why We Must." Arguing for the use of robots in space exploration will be Louis Friedman, director of the Planetary Society, the largest space-interest organization in the world. Vernard Foley, professor of history at Purdue, will moderate the forum. Panelists will be Michael Smith, professor of history; James Longuski, professor of astronautical engineering; James Ward, associate professor of management; and David Filmer, associate professor of biological sciences. The event will be the first in a series of annual forums sponsored by the Purdue chapter of Students for the Exploration and Development of Space. The series is intended to provide an avenue of discussion and interaction between prominent members of the space community and the public on space-related issues. CONTACT: Michael Burke, president, Purdue chapter of Students for the Exploration and Development of Space, (765) 494-5143.
Engineering alum endows new distinguished professorshipWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- A Purdue University alumnus has given the School of Mechanical Engineering a $3 million endowment to establish a new distinguished professorship.Donald W. Feddersen, a general partner of Charles River Ventures, Boston, will be honored at a ceremony Friday, March 20, for his gift to the school. Purdue President Steven C. Beering is expected to speak at the 2 p.m. ceremony in Room 256 of the Mechanical Engineering Building, where a plaque will be unveiled. Feddersen's gift is the largest the school has received for an endowed professorship. The individual who holds the Feddersen Distinguished Professorship in Mechanical Engineering will conduct research at the interface between mechanical engineering and information technologies. A search committee for the position has been established. "Don Feddersen's entrepreneurial vision has contributed to the commercial success of many information technologies," said Frank Incropera, professor and head of the School of Mechanical Engineering. "Once named, the Feddersen Professor will significantly strengthen the school's education and research programs in this important field." Feddersen earned his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue in 1956 and was a first lieutenant in the United States Air Force from 1957 to 1960. His early career involved developing data processing systems in the fledgling information technologies industry. Recognizing the great potential for using computers in design and manufacturing, he pioneered the development of the first generation of computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing tools. From 1973 to 1977 Feddersen was president and CEO of Entrex, Inc., where he built sales from $6 million to $55 million. As president and CEO of Applicon, Inc., a leading supplier of computer-aided design equipment, from 1978 to 1984, Feddersen increased annual sales from $18 million to $125 million. In 1984 he became a general partner in Charles River Ventures, which specializes in venture capital for high technology companies. CONTACT: Shari Rodriguez, School of Mechanical Engineering, (765) 494-9769.
Purdue researchers seek families of special needs childrenWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Purdue University's Department of Child Development and Family Studies needs Greater Lafayette families for a study on how children with special needs make the transition from childhood to adolescence, and the influence their families have on that process.Researchers are looking for children with special needs who are in the fourth through eighth grades. These needs can include a wide variety of challenges, such as physical disabilities, chronic illness, learning disabilities, communication disorders and emotional or behavioral difficulties including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Children and their parents will complete several surveys either at Purdue or in their homes. Researchers then will interview each participating family member on their responses and other personal information. The project is designed to help researchers better understand how children's relationships with parents, peers and teachers influence how they feel about themselves. "We hope to learn how to better create healthy learning environments for children with special needs," said project director Laura Hess, assistant professor of child development. There is no cost for participating in this study, and steps will be taken to ensure each family's privacy. All families who participate will be entered into a raffle for a special family prize, such as a certificate for dinner at a restaurant or tickets for a special event. For more information on participating in the study, contact Hess at (765) 494-1029. CONTACT: Hess, (765) 494-1029.
Compiled by J. Michael Willis, (765) 494-0371; e-mail, mike_willis@purdue.edu
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